Squier Fender gets in my family

My nephew had planned this for a while now... Buying a Fender electric guitar with the Squier marque. It's a Squier stratocaster! Different from Telecaster...

Back in the 80's I was dreaming about this guitar and its reversed F logo signature...

I sent a message to Wendy and Lisa

Yes, unfair to leave the old continent out of the loop...
I have always wanted to tell how much I love you since I bought my first "wendy and lisa" copy in summer 87. My parentsleft some money for food while they were on holidays but I spent it in Paris' shop 'Fnac' to buy Prince CDs and your first record. It was worth starving.
And after my 8th copy, I am still listening to it with pleasure and tears sometimes.

I almost travelled to LA when your concert in a jazz club was scheduled couple years ago, some time in January or February...

Please try to setup the next session at a more appropriate time for your european fans and you are also very welcome for a concert. Any chance you would visit or play a couple songs in Paris, send an email and I'll be your guide.

How can I ever thank you for all you brought to my world?

Love you both XXXXX

Philippe

Check http://www.wendyandlisa.com/news/live-here-now to know more

Become Daft Punk!

http://www.najle.com/idaft/

Anita Baker? Happy Birthday!

Anita Baker... caressing my soul with her silky voice.

When 'just because' started, the world around faded away. That was good because I needed to focus on my work again. Then, 'Body and soul' started and it took me to daydreaming too : "all of me wants all of you".

To be further continued... In the meanwhile, happy birthday and thank you for the contribution to more love in the world. This is the one resource we lack badly of.

Pavarotti singing Puccini in the blue & cloudy winter sky

Tears in my eyes at work as I needed to isolate myself from the relentless noisy collegues in our open space offices...

Puccini's wonderful melodies are sung by Luciano Pavarotti. It reminds me of my grandfather's stories told by my mom : he used to sing in the car when he was driving the family to the south of France. The 'sound of music' was the one of happiness.

that feeling I knew also with PN when stopped on the road to Bordeaux to buy the Puccini's CDs we were listening to in the rental car. Another good idea she had...

I look through the window and the mirror plated building sends the reflection of the speeding clouds in the beautiful blue sky. Boy do I want to be back to my woods and lose myself in nature near my lake. I must be a real 'nature boy' to feel the nature's call like this. Couple years ago I would walk for hours with my Olympus camera (same brand as my dear friend Dee Ann's) and stop anytime a picture would be imagined by my mind. The most wonderful time being in winter when I arrived late for work. Surrounded by the white comfy snow turning the wwods in a silentful and mysterious area. The special lite of the dark sky, the day not fully born yet gave that special quality light enhanced by the snow. The winter skies are some of the purest.

I have to get back to work. Instead of smoking, I dream...

Reborn after 10 years... Le Palace, Paris

I am so fan of Prince. No matter what he did, his best years will always remain the 80's. Whatever he did, can he go beyond Purple Rain and Lovesexy. Try some unreleased tracks and you'll understand why.

Anyway, the only time I got tickets to a Prince related event in Paris was the one time Le Palace got closed. It was closed many times on various grounds.

If you want to visit : 8, rue du Faubourg Montmarte 75009, Paris.

I'll post a picture later

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Le_Palace_(Paris)

NSLU2 by Linksys

What is that? A new Need for Speed game?

Nope. A real otaku toy!!! NSLU2 is a Linksys device that shares two Hard Disks on a network. It can also act as an MP3 server, like the old MP101 by Netgear. Though NSLU2 can work independantly from any PC as it acts like a server, unlike the MP101. I want to turn it into an iTunes server.

With its fexible design, it can run a Linux system. Check these pages :
http://linuxdevices.com/news/NS6152296875.html
http://www.nslu2-linux.org/wiki/Main/Articles


And hacking tutorials :
http://linuxdevices.com/news/NS5922195910.html
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/how-to-nslu2-hack-pt1,review-293.html
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/how-to-nslu2-hack-pt2,review-297.html
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/how-to-nslu2-hack-pt3,review-303.html
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/how-to-nslu2-hack-pt4,review-312.html
http://www.tomsguide.com/us/how-to-nslu2-hack-pt5,review-323.html
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/content/view/24302/166/

New options :

http://www.nslu2-linux.org/
http://www.batbox.org/nslu2-linux.html
http://www.homebrewcpu.com/minix_port.htm

And it can work with an older release of TwonkyVision :
http://www.nslu2-linux.org/wiki/Applications/TwonkyVision

And misc & reviews :
http://www.techbookreport.com/tbr0303.html
http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/nslu2-linux/
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124036
http://reviews.cnet.com/network-storage/linksys-nslu2-network-storage/4505-3382_7-30733762.html

iTunes server:
http://www.google.com/url?sa=U&start=1&q=http://www.nslu2-linux.org/wiki/Unslung/Mt-daapd&usg=AFQjCNEL-Oz8EYjR5snAcEBzgzUw4uZbZA
http://www.google.com/url?sa=U&start=10&q=http://www.tomsguide.com/us/how-to-nslu2-hack-pt3,review-303.html&usg=AFQjCNEdDQZz7XEGFi_1C-pJ5Zzk6C9-8Q

Forums :
http://forums.linksys.com/linksys/board?board.id=Network_Storage

Tools :
http://www.diskinternals.com/linux-reader/screenshots.shtml

It came with two speeds 133Mhz and 266 :
http://forums.linksys.com/linksys/board/message?comm_cc=US&comm_lang=en&board.id=Network_Storage&message.id=3311&query.id=328288#M3311

To start with the NSLU2 :
The network storage IP address will be “192.168.1.77” and the username and password will be “admin” after resetting.
http://192.168.1.77

Très confidentiel... with Caroline L. back to 1986

Look at this video from the 80's... Do you know this singer? You can only answer yes if you're French.





Today I walked with PN to her famous haidresser, Bernard Friboulet "très confidentiel". This hair artist has developed his own style with classical black shoes, back jeans, dark shirt and typical tainted glasses. He is even listed on IMDB and quoted on L'Oréal web site! And also in Le Figaro Madame and Psychologies...

We had already been waiting for more than 2 hours when I noticed a lady with many bangles and bracelets and a different look. I thought "she's good for my pictures" and at the same time I didn't know why my eyes wouldn't stop staring at her. Suddenly it came back to my mind! I was facing Caroline Loeb! The one from the above video, singing "c'est la ouate" in 1986. You can listen to her new songs.

It was a strange experience to talk to the lady from the video ; Caroline Loeb was just so nice, simple and funny. She hasn't really changed. She reminded me of the times we were singing in classs with my mates.

She invited us to her new show "Mistinguett, Madonna et moi"

Watch out for the volume with this video and enjoy

PS : for adults and kids beyond 18 YO, she also produced this

Palmer, Robert

Johnny and Mary reminds me 1980 when a friend called Jean Marc R****s offered me his skateboard. We were supposed to travel to south of France where it was said people saw extra terrestrials. I did not know my first time with ET would happen about two years after in the US...

With "addicted to love" (1986, refers to Patrick Nagel's art, very 80's style and to some respect close to Olivia de Bernardinis. Both artists I discovered in Playboy magazine, international edition) I further elaborated my fantasies of ultra feminine ladies (thanks again to Olivia de Bernardinis) and heavy make up on sexy tight dresses and high heels. I'll stop here ;-)

Wikipedia details

Wendy and Lisa in the LA times

Read it here... A short article about Wendy and Lisa's contribution to Heroes. It does not tell much and certainly does not depict their fantastic talent.

You can also check WendyandLisa.com, their website. At the moment you can freely download a track of their forthcoming album!

Girlbros is also available.

When I think I discovered Wendy and Lisa in 1987 with their first album... That makes it a 21 year long story.

Wendy and Lisa... Yatta

As you grow older you learn that you wishes will probably never get granted. Yet you leave a little piece of blue sky open to surprises and serendipities.

Here's one : Wendy and Lisa will soon release a new record. Last time I heard that was with their collaboration to "Heroes". I so loved their first album Wendy and Lisa with the magnificient songs that were enlightened wth the color of sadness (1987) ; I remember buying this CD from Fanc Les Halles and listening to it over and over with tears in my eyes. And 11 years after, Girl Bros with some wonderful songs (e.g. Reaching one, I've got a big bowl of cherries, ...).

I found the news from MySpace.

You can download for free and legally one track of their forthcoming album : Balloon.

Look at their website also!

I wish I could have attended their concert early January in 200x? in L.A.

Wendy and Lisa have alwyas been in my life and they will stay forever...

Fusion Sama aka Colombier, Michel

I was browsing the web on some of my fav sites.

On the most knowledgeable lady's web site I found a shocking post. Shocking the teenager who still lays in me. Kind of changed my perception of the world (again!)...

No, Prince did not write all the music in his first movie. I felt like the music atmosphere was very Prince like and I have always loved that movie for its atmosphere with very detailed elements to sustain the story and convey deep feelings to the audience & listeners. Music was the main part of it. It was sort of a magical trip, like the score of UTCM. And as with most records from Prince : "this is a trip" defines perfectly what happens after the CD starts playing... So many memories from the 80's with the landing of Prince in my Life. Including the first time I saw the purple motorbike outiside of the movie premises outside the mall where we always went shopping with my mom. 1984 is just the day before yesterday...

I am reading a new post and then came Michel Colombier. Known as 'Fusion Sama' (the god of fusion) in Japan. His career is impressive, not because of all the stars and big names he worked with, but because he was chosen and he touched on so many styles and genres.

Michel Colombier perfectly understood Prince's music : listen to God, Across the generations, and , of course, the wrong lake (Minnetonka)... How sensitive is that music...

Purple Rain but also Against all odds with more than a 100.

Michel Colombier is listed on IMDB with an impressive soundtrack record!

Last shock : he died only 4 years ago. I wish I could have talked to him, even briefly. I owe him.

Hamasaki Ayumi was in Paris

More fans were waiting around 3:20. Excitment & sadness, already! Ayumi appeared about 4:40PM... Right after some of her staff had left.

A teenager came with his mom and they travelled 500 Km at night to be here. He also brought 3 New Year cards, ordered on the web, and wrote each of them with a different language : French English, Japanese!Many fans asked for my pictures so I'll post later this week with my best shots...

This picture looks very much like yesterday's. Her sunglasses reflect her own picture.

24 hours after getting to know her, I will get her CDs when I go to Japan. I'll get to know her, to enjoy her art.

The unknown artist really touched me! Even more after one fan told me she lost hearing of her left hear because of too many rehearsals, concerts and loud music. Now she is closer to me since it happened to the dearest person in my own family.

Iterashai! And welcome back. And you are welcome to contact me, should you ever read this blog, ever!

Hamasaki Ayumi leaves Paris today

I came back to the luxurious hotel with all the expensive cars always parked in front of the entrance. Just to meet with the fans about 9:30. Time was not planned but I knew they would be there.

A new lady fan was here. She reported that yesterday was a bit messy since she always directs operations for fans but she could not make it yesterday. That may explain why I found Ayumi's reaction a bit cold : she may have been a bit frightened or overwhelmed. This lady fan said that "Ayu" is always looking at the support fans give her for an autograph and she does look at people.

Ayumi came to Paris last weekend in order to shoot a video. The fan director reported that they even managed to find Ayumi & her crew on Thursday or Friday near the Eiffel Tower and they managed to attend some of the shooting.

So touching to see so many young women from all over France who took the train "just to have the chance to see her". Some even mentioned they do not want to disturb...
Look at the lyrics printed and kept in a special carton folder next to the mobile phone with full sound... 4 of them were singing Ayumi's new song!
Let me show you the devotion of one of her female fan : she got a Japanese mobile (that works in Europe, i.e. with SIM card) and customized it.No need to mention that all fans are different : model-like twins, regular French girls, 2 men, and a cute geek with her girl friend.

I'll get back there for the "Aurevoir". Before flying to Japan to attend this summer's A Nation '08?

Hamasaki Ayumi in Paris

You know I love music and Japan... Guess what happened today as I was strolling with my Nikon camera homebound? Near the very classy B****** hotel [I was inside one late evening to have a drink with PN and one of her favourite customer], I saw a group of youg people. I approached and asked them why they would gather on a cold saturday afternoon.

They were here to talk about, greet, praise, and eventually cry for Hamasaki Ayumi. How ashamed was I! I do not know this lady. Yet I enjoy Japanese music : Utada Hikaru (I love "automatic" which is PN's song forever) and the talented Sakamoto Ryuichi. Still this lady was unknown to me until one young lady fan said that she will be arriving soon in a black german branded car. When I asked her how she knew about the details, her answer really surprised me. Yet I will not disclose the source.
Some of the fans speak a little Japanese! All had mobile or real cameras.

5 minutes had elapsed since my fortunate arrival when the black car arrived. German brand indeed. I did not notice the singer immediately.
I followed the fans and got into the exciting moment. I had to extend my body and make full use of my size to get some pictures too. I managed to get this one which is pretty much showing the star behind her shades, surrounded by papers with her name printed on and so many hands trying to pass the paper in order to get her autograph. I asked a girl to show me her autograph as I could not get one : no paper!

One teenager male next to me suddenly started to cry and shiver saying "this is too much for me". He cracked under the pressure of waiting and eventually getting closer to his dream singer... She did not look at him or speak at all. She must have come straight from the airport (with 2 mini bus filled with suitcases).

Anyway, the crying boy scene hurted me a bit and it reminded me of Prince's concert in Paris Bercy in the 80's [the one with the Brazilian "trio esperanza"]. I was so disappointed and left alone when the concert was over... Even a real encounter with him would not have changed anything to my state of mind at this time. I even left the concert tickets to Sandy S (my short time girlfriend).

I was really touched by the close relationship between the singer and her fans : an adult had a small transparent plastic box with small sized presents, many had postcards and printed pictures, albums, CD jackets... Hamasaki san's attendant eventually stopped the short encounter. And she disapperead inside the hotel. The fans immediately gathered on the walkway in front of the hotel : good people.

I cannot measure how lucky I was today : Ayumi, you still don't know me but I do!

Chinsagu No Hana ["I'd like to be involved"]

Sakamoto Ryuichi's most beautiful song with Okinawa inspired music had me cry a couple times simply because it spoke to me long before I would actually find its title and meaning (it just happened a couple minutes ago and lead me to write this quick post).

This is the feeling I have when I am among foreigner people who 'do not seem to care' about me.
Have you ever experienced that feeling : you can't speak a language that you love and the people around you are talking so much. You feel like you do not belong to the party and nobody cares about you. Of course they do care but they enjoy their culture. Yet you feel lonely like the guy outside the restaurant looking at the people enjoying ; he feels more hungry for company than for the food itself.

Next time it happens to you, focus on the beauty of the language and try to decode some expressions on the faces and in the eyes.

Listen to this beautiful song and raise volume at 2:00 to get the emotional musical background melody. The women's voices give humanity to the song too.

Sadness and yet hope are in this song. I can almost picture a movie scene with a daunted human being who finds the courage to stand up and look at the rising sun with a slow moving smile on their tear covered face.

Chinsagu No Hana, Beauty, Sakamoto Ryuichi

And on YouTube!

Chinsagu No Hana

Chisagu nu hanaya, chimisashi ni sumiti.

Uya nu yushigutu ya, chimu ni simiri.

Yuyu harasu funi ya, ni nu fa fushi mi-ati.

Wan nacheru uya ya, wan du mi ati.

Tun nu buri-bushi ya, yumiba yumariyun.

Uya nu yushigutu ya, yumin naranu.

Takara tama yatin, migikaniba sabisu.

Asayu chimu migachi, uchiyu watara.

Agari akagariba, shimi nare ga ichun.

Kashira yuti tabori, wa uya-ganashi.

Chinsagu nu hana ya, chimisachi ni sumiti.

Uya nu yushigutu ya. Chimu ni siniri.

The Flower of Balsam, one dyes on one's fingernails.

The words of one's parents, one must dye in one's heart.

Ships sailing the night seas take their bearing by the pole star.

The parents who gave me birth take their bearings by me.

One has to study and to master the name of constellations.

But the lessons taught by one's parents are no mastered by study alone.

Even gems and treasures will rust unless polished.

Polishing my spirit night and days, I traverse this transient world.

When the sun rises, I shall go off to study.

Please plait my hair, my dear mother.

The Flower of Balsam, one dyes on one's fingernails.

The words of one's parents, one must dye in one's heart.

Thanks to Xtopher for sending the link of the original movie : a Japanese story. I missed the movie which I only noticed on walls ; I'll catch up with the DVD some day...

Chichin, Frédéric

Fred Chichin... Another myth has gone. Not worldwide but France lost a guitar player from the 80's hype band "les Rita Mitsouko"

Legend has it that Prince took a sample from Rita Mitsouko's music. Just listen to singing in the shower tonight!

TO BE COMPLETED

One week ago in Paris

With direct access to this blog, I'll post more... So I decided to dig in my archives and publish some of my favorite pictures.

This guitar player (you can meet him in the streets of Paris) is a Fender fan (you can tell!). So am I. Couple months ago, I found a blog of a very talented young woman who is very knowledgeable about guitars : I found out Prince does not use one brand but several...

Someday, I'll buy a USB guitar and plug it in my MacBook. As PN would say "Phil No Manga" (You're dreaming your life like in a Manga). I'll get back to work now!

Prince concert in london

Wish I could go there! I don't own my life for I couldn't attend because of work!