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Thread started 05/07/07 7:23am

heartbeatocean

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Goldfrapp dissertation

I've been taking some notes.

Okay, so there is a real nostalgic element to Goldfrapp dating back as far as the 1930's I'd say, but definitely covering musical idioms of 1950's sci fi soundtracks, 70's disco and 80's new wave.

The use of her voice feels very old school, like Barbara Streisand.

Her lyrical themes are decidedly early 20th century: fascism, technology, aliens, monsters, Cold War, brainwashing

She presents a sado-masochistic relationship between humanity and technology, a mix of pleasure and alienation, an irony.


Lovely Head
It starts in my belly
Then up to my heart
Into my mouth I cant keep it shut
Do you recognize the smell
Is that how you tell
Us apart
I fool myself
To sleep and dream
Nobodys there
No-one but me
So cool
Youre hardly there
Why cant this be killing you
Frankenstein would want your mind
Your lovely head
Your lovely head


Is this a song about dismemberment, birth, sex?

The formal elegance of the voice is nostalgic, but there is dis-ease with the crashing scrunched notes of the synthesizer. It's like a horse that can't run. And there's that wailing sound.
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Reply #1 posted 05/07/07 10:59am

sextonseven

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That wailing sound is Alison's voice filtered through some kind of effect.

You can also hear the influence of Yma Sumac on the first album, particularly the song "Human"--which is like a 1950's sci-fi soundtrack by Desi Arnaz. If that makes any sense.

Great dissertation!
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Reply #2 posted 05/07/07 8:04pm

heartbeatocean

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biggrin It takes me a while. biggrin

Human

They fall
From your mouth
Propelled by your belly
And your tongue
I shiver when you shake
And I fold into jelly
I think I loved you more than me

Are you human?
Or a dud?*
Are you human?
Did you make it up?

My baby cherry slipped
Pass me through your fingertips
Throw me down like an old rag
I'm not standing
Dont look back

Are you human?
Or a dud?
Did you make it up?

They went searching
For your body
They went looking but there's nobody
Who smells like you
Who looks like you
Your not human too

Are you human?
Or a dud?
Are you human?
Did you make it up?


*some lyric sheets show Or a dog?

Another image of giving birth to an alien. I'm wondering if she's writing songs about old sci fi movies or TV shows. Indeed, this one sounds like a 1950's James Bond/TV soundtrack -- a thriller, intrigue, danger! Interesting thing is the lyrics are so odd, but the music so recognizable. And then it has that modern touch of the scratched synthed notes, like in Lovely Head that bring in an element of struggle, or disabledness -- and at the same time reference needle scratching vinyl.

There's a lot packed in there! I think this is my favorite single in the collection.
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Reply #3 posted 05/07/07 8:05pm

heartbeatocean

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sextonseven said:

That wailing sound is Alison's voice filtered through some kind of effect.


cool
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Reply #4 posted 05/09/07 12:30am

heartbeatocean

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Utopia

It's a strange day
No colours or shapes
No sound in my head
I forget who I am
When I'm with you
There's no reason
There's no sense
I'm not supposed to feel
I forget who I am
I forget

Fascist baby
Utopia, utopia

My dog needs new ears
Make his eyes see forever
Make him live like me
Again and again

Fascist baby
Utopia, utopia

I'm wired to the world
That's how I know everything
I'm super brain
That's how they made me

Fascist baby
Utopia, utopia






It's like a lullaby or a love song about the bliss in ignorance, a pleasant amnesia. Like a baby going to sleep in a rocketship, the chill of the past and the chill of the present, as we fall asleep, cradled by our controllers.
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Reply #5 posted 05/09/07 12:01pm

sextonseven

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I love reading these. My fave from the first album is "Pilots" (love the video!) so I'll be waiting for your post about that one.
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Reply #6 posted 05/09/07 2:58pm

heartbeatocean

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Pilots

Armoured cars sail the sky
They're pink at dawn
If I lived forever
You just wouldn't be
So beautiful
As the sun
When it shines
All over the world

We're pilots watching stars
The world pre-occupied
We're pilots wathcing stars
Who do we think we are?

Ice and clouds
Shimmers outside
Rain just falls
At Magic hour
It's just the sound
Of you and me
Time twitching
Murmurs of
Our friendly Machine


We're pilots watching stars
The world pre-occupied
We're pilots wathcing stars
Who do we think we are?



Again, I like the deconstruction of human and machine in the sound of the synthesizer (the machine). The synth "singing" unfolds as something between human and electronic, an amalgamation of both. The lyrics point to our connection to and longing for nature (the stars), but only from the seat of a machine, "an armoured car". Like there's no more direct access between people and nature (the cosmos), as technology becomes a romantic intermediary between the two, even in the realm of dreams. eek

Pilots is thus about the mix of romance and science fiction, fantasy and technology, nostalgia and futurism. It's a brilliant closure to a millenium. Amazing timing considering she's singing in the 00's, giving us a piece of emotional history now disappearing.

Interesting to note Goldfrapp also contains the history of pop music, as a daydreamer in the tradition of a torch singer.

"A torch song is a sentimental love song, typically one in which the singer laments an unrequited or lost love, where one party is either oblivious to the existence of the other, or where one party has moved on. Singers (predominantly female) of the Pop Vocal tradition are referred to as "torch singers" when their repertoire consists predominantly of such material." -wikepedia

http://www.youtube.com/wa...dNbuB6PLiU

geek
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Reply #7 posted 05/09/07 5:30pm

TheSkinMechani
c

Fucking students
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Reply #8 posted 05/09/07 11:49pm

heartbeatocean

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TheSkinMechanic said:

Fucking students


Is this a problem for you?
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Reply #9 posted 05/10/07 12:00am

heartbeatocean

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My student days are long gone, bucko. I only write dissertations for fun now. geek
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Reply #10 posted 05/10/07 7:13am

sextonseven

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heartbeatocean said:

My student days are long gone, bucko. I only write dissertations for fun now. geek


Yeah, that guy's comment couldn't have been more wrong. If anything you would be the teacher now.
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Reply #11 posted 05/10/07 7:32am

LittleSmedley

There's a very pronounced T Rex/glam rock influence on some of "Supernature"
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Reply #12 posted 05/10/07 1:30pm

heartbeatocean

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sextonseven said:

heartbeatocean said:

My student days are long gone, bucko. I only write dissertations for fun now. geek


Yeah, that guy's comment couldn't have been more wrong. If anything you would be the teacher now.


I did teach a couple classes at the university. shhh
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Reply #13 posted 05/10/07 1:31pm

heartbeatocean

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LittleSmedley said:

There's a very pronounced T Rex/glam rock influence on some of "Supernature"


Yay! another dissertation!
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Reply #14 posted 05/10/07 1:39pm

SupaFunkyOrgan
grinderSexy

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Woman, you have made my titties rock hard! lol Lovely Head is one of the most amazing songs EVER to me lol I think they are seriously one of the most exciting things to happen to music in a long time. I am fascinated, captivated, thrilled and so much more by Goldfrapp mushy

speaking of disertations, did you ever get to listen to that PJ Harvey album? lol
2010: Healing the Wounds of the Past.... http://prince.org/msg/8/325740
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Reply #15 posted 05/10/07 3:53pm

TheSkinMechani
c

heartbeatocean said:

TheSkinMechanic said:

Fucking students


Is this a problem for you?



Not at all, I just like fucking students.
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Reply #16 posted 05/12/07 12:45pm

heartbeatocean

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SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:



speaking of disertations, did you ever get to listen to that PJ Harvey album? lol


I owe you a dissertation.

PATIENCE!!!! biggrin
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Reply #17 posted 05/14/07 8:55am

sextonseven

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Were you just doing the singles from the first album? Are there any more dissertations to come?
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Reply #18 posted 05/16/07 10:16am

heartbeatocean

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sextonseven said:

Were you just doing the singles from the first album? Are there any more dissertations to come?



There's more to come. cool
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Reply #19 posted 05/16/07 12:26pm

Slave2daGroove

I used to write about songs/albums like this with a little help. weed

I once wrote 20 pages on the genius of Miles Davis and all in one night. I wonder what I ever did with that?

I find that it helps me as an artist by over-analyizing lyrics and sounds.

Nice work, btw, I need to read your words with the music...
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Reply #20 posted 05/17/07 6:40pm

heartbeatocean

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Slave2daGroove said:



I find that it helps me as an artist by over-analyizing lyrics and sounds.


Exactly. The closer you can get to a song and understand the mechanics -- it can truly teach you about your craft -- songwriting, playing an instrument, or can inspire any kind of artistic endeavor whatsoever. It's learning to know what makes it tick...like a sackful of secrets.

Nice work, btw, I need to read your words with the music...


well, thanks. Are you a Goldfrapp fan or know their music?
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Reply #21 posted 05/18/07 7:49am

Slave2daGroove

heartbeatocean said:

Slave2daGroove said:



I find that it helps me as an artist by over-analyizing lyrics and sounds.


Exactly. The closer you can get to a song and understand the mechanics -- it can truly teach you about your craft -- songwriting, playing an instrument, or can inspire any kind of artistic endeavor whatsoever. It's learning to know what makes it tick...like a sackful of secrets.

Nice work, btw, I need to read your words with the music...


well, thanks. Are you a Goldfrapp fan or know their music?


Oh yeah, thanks to Org a year or more ago...

The italic quote is very well spoken, I like you more and more with every post.
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Reply #22 posted 05/18/07 10:57am

heartbeatocean

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Slave2daGroove said:



The italic quote is very well spoken, I like you more and more with every post.


You are so sweet!!!! I wish you could come see my band play tomorrow night. cool
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Reply #23 posted 05/18/07 11:19am

heartbeatocean

avatar

Train

Plastic brain scar
I want laser
I'm your chauffeur
With high gloss highs
Take you where you want

Can't stop, oh off the train
Train, yeah, yeah, yeah

Wolflady
Sucks my brain
Apricot
Sunrise came
L.A. nights
Just roll in

Can't stop, oh off the train
Train, yeah, yeah, yeah

Nasal douche
Poolside line
Softlit tan
What's your sign?
Hold my hand
Just roll in

Can't stop, oh off the train
Train, yeah, yeah, yeah

Can't stop, oh off the train
Train, yeah, yeah, yeah

Can't stop, oh off the train
Train, yeah, yeah, yeah



A more direct critique of plastic culture, soul-lessness and conformity. The heavy processed synth could be oozing tubes of plastic. (And is that a telephone ringing in the background?) Rhythmically and structurally, the beat represents the monotonous drive of a train which overpowers the voice, the human once again belittled by the machine, but half-willingly, for there is a tension between false relaxation in the present (abdicating control of the mind) and a suspect destiny -- where is the train going? And what exactly is the train -- a monolithic loss of individuality?
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Reply #24 posted 05/18/07 11:21am

SupaFunkyOrgan
grinderSexy

avatar

heartbeatocean said:

Slave2daGroove said:



I find that it helps me as an artist by over-analyizing lyrics and sounds.


Exactly. The closer you can get to a song and understand the mechanics -- it can truly teach you about your craft -- songwriting, playing an instrument, or can inspire any kind of artistic endeavor whatsoever. It's learning to know what makes it tick...like a sackful of secrets.

Nice work, btw, I need to read your words with the music...


well, thanks. Are you a Goldfrapp fan or know their music?


OK, I'm not a musician but music helps me write nod
2010: Healing the Wounds of the Past.... http://prince.org/msg/8/325740
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Reply #25 posted 05/18/07 11:27am

heartbeatocean

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Taken together, all these songs investigate the boundaries between humanity and technology, autonomy and abdication. They seem to be proposing that there is no longer such a thing as pure HUMAN - but that we've all morphed into half-aliens and half-robots (we're not 100% machine yet). But there's also a bit of pleasure in being the modern age freaks we've become.
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Reply #26 posted 05/18/07 11:35am

SupaFunkyOrgan
grinderSexy

avatar

heartbeatocean said:

Taken together, all these songs investigate the boundaries between humanity and technology, autonomy and abdication. They seem to be proposing that there is no longer such a thing as pure HUMAN - but that we've all morphed into half-aliens and half-robots (we're not 100% machine yet). But there's also a bit of pleasure in being the modern age freaks we've become.

this is marvelous clapping I wonder how many fans even think of music on this level. I love that you do. I'm the same way. Always trying to figure shit out lol
2010: Healing the Wounds of the Past.... http://prince.org/msg/8/325740
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Reply #27 posted 05/18/07 11:48am

heartbeatocean

avatar

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

heartbeatocean said:

Taken together, all these songs investigate the boundaries between humanity and technology, autonomy and abdication. They seem to be proposing that there is no longer such a thing as pure HUMAN - but that we've all morphed into half-aliens and half-robots (we're not 100% machine yet). But there's also a bit of pleasure in being the modern age freaks we've become.

this is marvelous clapping I wonder how many fans even think of music on this level. I love that you do. I'm the same way. Always trying to figure shit out lol


don't get me started biggrin

This reminds me of a paper I wrote in college. I took this classical music class that was way over my head and actually cried in the professor's office boxed because I didn't know what I was doing or how to write a paper about music. Then I just made up an interpretation about March of the Scaffold by Hector Berlioz and analyzed all the various instrumental tracks and what they symbolized about this man's trip to the guillotine.

Amazingly, the professor loved it, but wrote in big huge letters - WHERE ARE YOUR SOURCES????? because I had no footnotes. And I was like, "Sources?" confuse I just came up with this stuff off the top of my head! I never even opened a book!

I still regret that I never went back and told him that I made it all up. He just thought I was lifting other people's ideas.
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Reply #28 posted 05/18/07 12:11pm

SupaFunkyOrgan
grinderSexy

avatar

heartbeatocean said:

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:


this is marvelous clapping I wonder how many fans even think of music on this level. I love that you do. I'm the same way. Always trying to figure shit out lol


don't get me started biggrin

This reminds me of a paper I wrote in college. I took this classical music class that was way over my head and actually cried in the professor's office boxed because I didn't know what I was doing or how to write a paper about music. Then I just made up an interpretation about March of the Scaffold by Hector Berlioz and analyzed all the various instrumental tracks and what they symbolized about this man's trip to the guillotine.

Amazingly, the professor loved it, but wrote in big huge letters - WHERE ARE YOUR SOURCES????? because I had no footnotes. And I was like, "Sources?" confuse I just came up with this stuff off the top of my head! I never even opened a book!

I still regret that I never went back and told him that I made it all up. He just thought I was lifting other people's ideas.


I hope your braver than that in your grown life because you need to own your shit! clapping

Ok, not sure if you knew or not but I submitted a proposal to write a book. Here is the pitch I sent them:


Hello, my name is Richard Corona and I am completely interested in writing one of these books and my selection is Me'Shell N'Degeocello's "Peace Beyond Passion".

My approach:

The approach I will take with this book is primarily lyrically driven. I will no doubt discuss various angles about the music, as musically this album is stellar, however the true approach to this album is the lyrics. One song off this album contains more depth than most of entire albums, and eclipses a lot of the trash that's being passed off for music these days. I would like the main focus to be on the lyrics and their meanings.

Brief Bio:

I grew up as Nondenominational Evangelical Christian, or Born Again, and I am also Gay. I come from an abusive background as well. Domestic abuse was prevalent on both sides of my family and eventually I went on to live through an abusive relationship myself. I have written about my experience here:

http://www.prince.org/msg/100/114206

When Peace Beyond Passion was released, I was out of the church for 8 years. I was out of my relationship for only 2 years at that point. When I heard this album I was just floored that someone was asking the same questions I was asking my Lord. I had a very tough and sad childhood and being in the church was not a positive experience for me. For the first time in my life, I had begun questioning what I believe and why I believe it and her album made navigating those psychotic waters so much less threatening and scary.

I have written briefly about this album on a website I have belonged to for the past 10 years. It was in reaction to 1 star reviews I saw on Amazon.com and the charges of racism lobbed against her. I couldn't let that stand and so I wrote a small review and submitted it to Amazon and then I created this thread for public discussion in the music section of the site (Prince.org)

http://www.prince.org/msg/8/146200

Obviously, I couldn't write an actual book or people would be scared to read the thread. But you'll see I love discussing music smile

Why I should write this book:

Well as I have explained to friends of mine, I got to meet Me'Shell very briefly at an in-store appearance. Most of the folks there were acting very stalkerish and I wanted to respect her space and not push myself on her when the time came for me to speak with her. In about 15 seconds I thanked her for sharing her art with the world and that she could never know how much her music has changed peoples lives. 15 seconds simply could not scratch one cell off the person I have become because of this album. I would love the proper chance to express my gratitude for this album and explain what this album really means and that is why I would love to write this book.

As a gay man raised in a faith that very often rejects me, I truly identify with the pain of her struggle and the absolute need to find peace in one's life. Very often, I stand alone in the gay community with the artists I hold dear. Artists like Prince, Me'Shell, PJ Harvey, Bjork....well they are not Madonna. Most people stare at me with blank faces when I mention these people. Well, I would consider it an extreme honor and privileged to be able to explain to my community exactly how much salvation can be found in this woman's music.

33 1/3 book series:

To be honest, I have never read one of these books. I had never even heard of them either. A friend of mine recently thought of me when he found out that you were accepting proposals and while I have been published a couple times for small things that I have written, I love the idea of writing an in depth piece about this album. I am interested in the Prince & PJ books and will be purchasing them to read. So as of now, I don't have any opinion other than I absolutely love the concept of these books.

Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Richard Corona



I did not get accepted! bawl BUT I'm still writing this book nod In a way it's a blessing because I can write this thing the way it needs to be written and I can write it without regard for an editor. When it comes time to shop around the finished product, then we'll haggle on what to keep lol So I really identify with the way you talk about music and probably the way you wrote your paper is very much the same way I will write this book. nod I love that we are becoming friends! smile I really really love you and that brilliant brain of yours mushy

.
[Edited 5/18/07 12:11pm]
2010: Healing the Wounds of the Past.... http://prince.org/msg/8/325740
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Reply #29 posted 05/18/07 12:27pm

heartbeatocean

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SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:



I hope your braver than that in your grown life because you need to own your shit! clapping


I was a total wimp back then. In the last year or so, I've gotten better at owning my sh** and expressing myself. To be honest, I think this website has had a lot to do with it. I've always known I'm smart, but my whole life, I really shut it down around other people. To experience how you guys react to my posts really helps me see my gifts. biggrin


Ok, not sure if you knew or not but I submitted a proposal to write a book. Here is the pitch I sent them:


Hello, my name is Richard Corona and I am completely interested in writing one of these books and my selection is Me'Shell N'Degeocello's "Peace Beyond Passion".

My approach:

The approach I will take with this book is primarily lyrically driven. I will no doubt discuss various angles about the music, as musically this album is stellar, however the true approach to this album is the lyrics. One song off this album contains more depth than most of entire albums, and eclipses a lot of the trash that's being passed off for music these days. I would like the main focus to be on the lyrics and their meanings.

Brief Bio:

I grew up as Nondenominational Evangelical Christian, or Born Again, and I am also Gay. I come from an abusive background as well. Domestic abuse was prevalent on both sides of my family and eventually I went on to live through an abusive relationship myself. I have written about my experience here:

http://www.prince.org/msg/100/114206

When Peace Beyond Passion was released, I was out of the church for 8 years. I was out of my relationship for only 2 years at that point. When I heard this album I was just floored that someone was asking the same questions I was asking my Lord. I had a very tough and sad childhood and being in the church was not a positive experience for me. For the first time in my life, I had begun questioning what I believe and why I believe it and her album made navigating those psychotic waters so much less threatening and scary.

I have written briefly about this album on a website I have belonged to for the past 10 years. It was in reaction to 1 star reviews I saw on Amazon.com and the charges of racism lobbed against her. I couldn't let that stand and so I wrote a small review and submitted it to Amazon and then I created this thread for public discussion in the music section of the site (Prince.org)

http://www.prince.org/msg/8/146200

Obviously, I couldn't write an actual book or people would be scared to read the thread. But you'll see I love discussing music smile

Why I should write this book:

Well as I have explained to friends of mine, I got to meet Me'Shell very briefly at an in-store appearance. Most of the folks there were acting very stalkerish and I wanted to respect her space and not push myself on her when the time came for me to speak with her. In about 15 seconds I thanked her for sharing her art with the world and that she could never know how much her music has changed peoples lives. 15 seconds simply could not scratch one cell off the person I have become because of this album. I would love the proper chance to express my gratitude for this album and explain what this album really means and that is why I would love to write this book.

As a gay man raised in a faith that very often rejects me, I truly identify with the pain of her struggle and the absolute need to find peace in one's life. Very often, I stand alone in the gay community with the artists I hold dear. Artists like Prince, Me'Shell, PJ Harvey, Bjork....well they are not Madonna. Most people stare at me with blank faces when I mention these people. Well, I would consider it an extreme honor and privileged to be able to explain to my community exactly how much salvation can be found in this woman's music.

33 1/3 book series:

To be honest, I have never read one of these books. I had never even heard of them either. A friend of mine recently thought of me when he found out that you were accepting proposals and while I have been published a couple times for small things that I have written, I love the idea of writing an in depth piece about this album. I am interested in the Prince & PJ books and will be purchasing them to read. So as of now, I don't have any opinion other than I absolutely love the concept of these books.

Thank you for your consideration and I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Richard Corona



I did not get accepted! bawl BUT I'm still writing this book nod In a way it's a blessing because I can write this thing the way it needs to be written and I can write it without regard for an editor. When it comes time to shop around the finished product, then we'll haggle on what to keep lol So I really identify with the way you talk about music and probably the way you wrote your paper is very much the same way I will write this book. nod I love that we are becoming friends! smile I really really love you and that brilliant brain of yours mushy

.
[Edited 5/18/07 12:11pm]

[/quote]

hug Maybe even if you have one chapter fully written, you could use that as a proposal then they could see your mind in action. But the most important thing is to keep going forward with it, and do what you love despite other people's approval. If you can't go to them, eventually, they'll come to you. nod
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