Time and time again I am asked how I managed to obtain access to a US iTunes store account. Well, the answer is fairly simple. I just created one.

I know what you are thinking: “How the heck did he do that”?

Any South African who owns an iDevice of some kind dreams of accessing the US music and application store. It is not hard to imagine why, considering the crippled and lackluster state of the content within the South African iTunes marketplace.

With that said, gone are the days of being unable to legally and easily purchase music online or fantasizing about the latest must have US only iDevice applications. Now everyone can join in on the fun!

These are the steps to take to gain a US iTunes account:

1. First, head over to http://www.maximuscards.com and purchase a US $10 iTunes voucher (the cheapest one available). By the way, I use Maximus Cards all the time for my Xbox 360/Zune Microsoft Points, for which I have a joint US account. I have always found Maximus Cards to be efficient and reliable, and I would recommend using PayPal or Google Checkout for peace of mind.
2. Once you have your voucher code, which will be e-mailed to you, open iTunes. If you already have an account, click on the drop down arrow next to your ‘Log-In’ name and click on ‘account’. If you do not have an account, just follow the prompts and skip to part 4 of this guide.
3. The next window will show your account information. Next to the country registered for the account will be an option to ‘change country’. Click on the ‘change country’ button.
4. Next, select the country you want your new iTunes account to be set in and follow the rest of the instructions. Once you reach the page which requests ‘credit card’ & ‘billing’ information, do the following:

   A: Ignore the credit card options, for now.
   B: Insert your pre-purchased iTunes voucher code into the available text box.
   C: Use your real name & e-mail address & contact number (wherever possible use your real information).
   D: Use your real physical address (excluding city, state/province & postal code).
   E: Use a US city, state & postal code (For example: New York, New York 10001)
   Once you have entered all of the information, excluding any ‘credit card’ details, hit ‘continue’.

5. The next window should display all of your information again, but the area in which you inserted the iTunes voucher will now glow green. Additionally, there should now be a ‘none’ option under the credit card information section. Select ‘none’ before continuing with the rest of the registration process.

Please bear in mind that you modify your iTunes account at your own risk and that the above guide does not guarantee a user access to a US iTunes account. Furthermore this guide is only accurate as of the time of publication of this blog post.

There you go! Everything should work and you should now be the proud owner of a US iTunes account. Easy as pie!

It is important to note that your pre-purchased iTunes store voucher is not claimed during the registration process. It is merely used to indicate that you have a certain level of funds. As a result, you will still need to claim the voucher within iTunes. This is a simple process. You can either go into account settings and fund the account from there or merely select any item from the iTunes store and follow the prompts for adding a ‘payment method’ to your account (aka use the voucher option).

Happy shopping!

Until the next time “Milieunairs”!

It is Music Monday and thus time for another Vivaciously Varietal Vibe!  

• Flavour: Pop

• Artist: Shakira feat. Freshly Ground

• Album: CD Single

• Song: Waka Waka (This Time For Africa/The 2010 Official Fifa World Cup Song)

Rationale: For those who do not know, and unless you have been hovelled in some cave somewhere, South Africa will be hosting the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Other than our beautiful country scrambling to get ready for the event, quite a process in patience for its citizens, FIFA have released the official 2010 FIFA World Cup song.

Although many South Africans were rather peeved that the song was not performed entirely by a South Africans, I do believe that FIFA did the right thing by approaching Shakira. Truth be told, and in my opinion, we needed a famously ‘international’ artist to carry the song. Granted, we do have a lot of talent in South Africa but the problem is, how much of that talent is really recognised by the rest of the world? Knowing FIFA, they wanted to make a big splash and there was no better way to do that then to associate their brand with an already popular and well known artist.

Besides, our very own Freshly Ground feature in the song. Take that, all you naysayers.  I still think they should have thrown in a few Vuvuzela’s for authenticity… *runs off to irritate the neighbours with his own Vuvu*.

Check the song out below and let me know what you think!

As always, whenever I post about Vivaciously Varietal Vibes on Music Monday’s, simply click on the name of the song to be taken to a web page that displays the songs lyrics.

Until the next time, “Milieunairs”!

It is Music Monday and thus time for another Vivaciously Varietal Vibe!

• Flavour: Pop

• Artist: Adam Lambert

• Album: For Your Entertainment

• Song: Broken Open

Rationale: I have, on many an occasion, written about songs which I have labelled as ‘hauntingly beautiful’. As it so happens, ‘Broken Open’ by Adam Lambert, is another song which fits into this category.

At first listen, one could be forgiven for thinking that ‘Broken Open’ is simply a mock rendition of ‘Mad World’ by Gary Jules; another of my favourite songs. Both songs share an eerily similar melodic pattern, one which is a pleasure to listen to. On a purely basic auditory level, Lambert’s ‘Broken Open’ is quite different to ‘Mad World’, offering more of an upbeat pop synth loop with spacey techno buzzes and pings added for good measure. Even so, the song has a beautiful sound made even better with Lambert’s sultry voice. Surprisingly, Adam co-wrote ‘Broken Open’ as well.

I must say, Adam Lambert has created a stellar debut album. He has managed to cater for almost every genre, proving his versatility as an artist. Even more impressive, is the amount of talent that was wired behind the scenes into helping him create his first album, from the likes of MUSE, Pink, Lady Gaga, Ryan Tedder (OneRepublic) and Sam Sparro, among others; all adding their own personal touches to each of Lambert’s songs. ‘For Your Entertainment’ is a brilliant pop album and is definitely worth listening to.

As always, whenever I post about Vivaciously Varietal Vibes on Music Monday’s, simply click on the name of the song to be taken to a web page that displays the songs lyrics.

Truth be told, this post was initially inspired by the song “You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon, with a particular emphasis on the line ‘I Bet You Think This Song Is About You’. Why, you ask? Well, I have been told that someone, out of a group of people who are no longer a part of my life, continues to harbour some sort of unfounded resentment toward me and my family. To the extent that this person has resorted to ‘cyber stalking’ me and then, apparently, posting libelous thoughts about me on social networks, all because this person thinks that my ‘updates’ refer to them. Although this may, in certain circumstances, have been probable before; it is most definitely no longer the case. Hence the change of song for this post.

Look, I have moved on. The last time I paid any attention to any of these people was toward the end of last year (excluding this post, of course). It was painful enough having to let go, to be ‘Broken Open’. Consequently, before leaving for Australia last year, I decided that I was not going to torture myself by looking into their lives when they clearly indicated that they could not be interested in having us in their lives anymore. The only reason I bring it up now is because I am being told about what is being ‘said/written’ by others. I have actually told these ‘sources’ that I’m not interested and to keep the information to themselves; I do not want negativity in my life.

It is 2010. A new year and the beginning of my new life, in many ways. To be honest, I actually wish them all well. I truly and honestly mean that. They were an important part of my life and I have many memories and life moments that I will always treasure and think back upon; with loving nostalgia. Although I have personally forgiven them for what they have done, I will never forget how they made me feel nor what they have proven to be capable of. They are now a merely a part of my past, nothing more.

To the future, “Milieunairs”!

It is Music Monday and thus time for another Vivaciously Varietal Vibe!

• Flavour: Pop/Rock 

• Artist: Thom Yorke

• Album: Twilight Saga: New Moon OST

• Song: Hearing Damage

Rationale: For quite some time I have spoken about songs which I have labelled as ‘hauntingly beautiful’. A majority of songs by MUSE, such as ‘Sing for Absolution’, fall into this category. ‘Hearing Damage’ by Thom Yorke, in my opinion, is another song which can be described as such.

I am not sure if it is Yorke’s surreal voice or the constant electronic and hypnotic pop synth buzz, but this is one of those rare songs that I can listen to over and over again without fail. The song is simply addictive. As it stands, I think that Hearing Damage is by far one of the most listened to songs in my entire music collection. I am actually listening to the song, and have it on a loop, as I write this post.

‘Hearing damage’ was written and recorded by Radiohead front man Thom Yorke, who specifically wrote and recorded the song for the New Moon soundtrack. Fans of the Twilight Saga will recognise ‘Hearing Damage’ from the scene in New Moon when Victoria pursues Charlie before being chased by Jacob. As a matter of fact the New Moon soundtrack, in its entirety, is actually very good and, oddly enough, was even given the ‘thumbs up’ by my father – a good thing because it means that the old folks will enjoy listening to the music no matter how loud you play the album. Consequently, regardless of whether you like the Twilight Saga or not, listen to the album for New Moon because you may be pleasantly surprised by the experience.

– Thom Yorke Lyrics

As always, whenever I post about Vivaciously Varietal Vibes on Music Monday’s, simply click on the name of the song to be taken to a web page that displays the songs lyrics.

Until the next time “Milieunairs”!

For starters, Britney’s last show in Melbourne was on the 13th November and we were only set to arrive in Melbourne on the 16th. Furthermore, tickets to the event were not exactly cheap, ranging from stadium seating at $250 (R1700) per person to the insanely priced ‘Love Seats’ for $1500 (for two tickets –> R10 000 ). Consequently, chances of me attending Miss Spears’ performance were pretty thin.

Or so I thought.

Through a fortunate turn of events, Britney had actually extended her tour due to popular demand, adding three extra shows to her repertoire. One of those shows, as luck would have it, was in Melbourne.

I would be lying if I said that I was not excited at the possibility of watching the princess of pop perform in the flesh. After all, like the Queen (Madonna), it is not as if Britney would be making her way to South Africa. So it was pretty much a ‘This Is It’ kind of scenario.

Amazingly, my parents ascertained that this would be a fantastic experience and wholeheartedly agreed to buy tickets to the show. Not only that, but they even allowed me to opt for the ‘stool’ seating, which is directly behind the ‘Love Seats’ and, as it turned out, was literally a meter and a half away from the stage.

Without a doubt, ‘The Circus presenting Britney Spears’ was the best concert I have ever been to. I am unable to truly relay how awesome the experience was. The circus elements to the show, alone, were worth the price of admission; from acrobats, to martial artists, clowns, mimes, weapon artists, magicians… you name it and it was there (animals excluded). In addition to the circus element, I have never before been privy to a live performance with as much pyrotechnics and stage theatrics as this. The ‘wow’ factor was simply phenomenal. I do think that the experience was made just that much better courtesy of our seats which, as I have mentioned before, allowed us to be almost within two arm lengths of the pop princess.

Contrary to the controversy surrounding Britney’s performance in the land down under, I can honestly admit that I would watch it again. So what if she lip-synchs? Anyone who has heard of Britney Spears knows that she is infamous for lip-synching (along with many other famous artists). So this was really of no surprise. In my opinion, if you want to hear an artist sing, buy the album. If you want to watch them perform, go to a concert. Whether they sing ‘live’ or not is irrelevant. With that said, it is worth noting that Britney did sing at least one song live, the ballad ‘everytime’. To all the naysayers who think Britney Spears cannot sing, let me tell you, this chick has a good voice. As a matter of fact, she actually sounds better live than through her recordings. So it is a shame that she does not perform ‘live’ more often.

Considering how close I was able to get, I was quite surprised to realise how small Britney Spears actually is. She is tiny. Then again, I am 6’4”, so a lot of people are smaller than I am. After two kids, she does look very good. While I’m on the topic of her body, it is worth noting that she is rather fit. She has good muscle tone; most definitely what could be described as a dancers body. So she is not petit and does appear to have some extra junk in her trunk. I think the biggest surprise to me was how small her boobs were. For those who know we, I’m a boob man. Britney has a good handful, but not what one would expect after all of the boob job debates. Have a look for yourself, in the album below.

View Full Album

I am truly so thankful that I could have this opportunity and would like to send a huge ‘I love you’ and ‘thank you’ to my loving parents who made it all possible.

Until the next time “Milieunairs”!

It is Music Monday and thus time for another Vivaciously Varietal Vibe!

• Flavour: Rock 

• Artist: MUSE

• Album: Origin of Symmetry

• Song: Feeling Good

Rationale: MUSE are truly an amazing band. They have such a unique sound, one which I have dubbed as ‘hauntingly beautiful’. They are, without a doubt, one of my favourite artists. A title which I do not bestow likely.

Although they have released a new album entitled ‘The Resistance’, I felt it would be good to dedicate a post to a song which has been ‘covered’ more times than one can count.

The song, ‘I am Feeling Good’, was originally written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the 1965 musical The Roar of the Greasepaint—the Smell of the Crowd. The MUSE rendition of ‘Feeling Good’ is one of the most unusual versions of the song that I am currently aware of, but one that is equally as beautiful as the rest.

With that said, I wish that you all ‘Feel Good’, no matter the day or the circumstance. Life is too short for regrets and grudges. So, ‘cheers’ to a new dawn, a new day, and one day soon, a new life!

– Muse Lyrics

As always, whenever I post about Vivaciously Varietal Vibes on Music Monday’s, simply click on the name of the song to be taken to a web page that displays the songs lyrics.

Until the next time “Milieunairs”!

A quick Google search informed me that the legitimate winner of the last season of American Idol was actually Kris Allen. Who would have thought, considering that Adam “media-whore-and-loving-it” Lambert is the one stealing all of the spotlight!

Truth be told, the last time I actually watched any variant of the show was when local Anke Pietrangeli beat out Pussy Poseletso Sejosingoe for the top spot, back in 2003 on the South African version of the show. Since then, I have pretty much lost all interest in anything Idols related.

However, what I do care about is when I have to begin pulling out facial recognition software to correctly identify artists. Case in point: Rihanna VS Adam Lambert.

Molly good golly do these two look alike!

Even though we all know that Rihanna had some unwilling and unconventional ‘remodeling done’, one would be hard pressed to deny the similarities between everyone’s favourite Jamaican princess and American’s latest flamboyant Queen. That said, would it not be delicious if it was uncovered that one of these two ‘stars’ was, in fact, an illegitimate love child?

I can already picture the headline on the next cover of Heat - “Exclusive: Lambert is Rihanna’s brother, but he was too ‘White’ to keep”. Alternatively, and of course the most likely scenario, is that someone at Lambert’s record label got a little too excited with Photoshop – 21st century technologies, “making you look like everybody else”!

As if the two stars looking alike was not enough, both are releasing their new albums on the same day, Monday the 23rd of November 2009.

To ensure that you do not accidentally buy the wrong album, which you would be forgiven for given the ‘twin’ factor, Lambert’s debut album is entitled For Your Entertainment, which is also blue and sparkly, whereas Rihanna’s latest album is called Rated R, which is all dark and ‘emo’.

Since both albums are hitting the streets on the same day, which are you going to “buy” first?

Until the next time “Milieunairs”!

It is Music Monday and thus time for another Vivaciously Varietal Vibe!

• Flavour: Rock 

• Artist: Story of the Year

• Album: The Black Swan

• Song: The Truth Shall Set Me Free (iTunes Bonus Track)

Rationale: In truth, I do not listen to heavy rock. Any song where the lead singer sounds like he has swallowed a flea ridden cat and is attempting to cough the poor sodden creature back up, is simply not a part of my vibe. Although not impossible but highly unlikely, I dare say that I would rather listen to the constant ‘bitches and ho’ motif’s of droning Rap and R&B driven artists than the cat call enthused rhythms of hard rock.

Even with that said, I can actually see the appeal to hard rock. Primarily in that I assume hard rock to be the audio equivalent of an extreme emotion; perhaps such as a raging anger or deep wounded sadness. That does not mean that people who listen to hard rock are inherently angry or prone to masochism, for those are merely unequivocal stereotypes. Instead I believe that the music serves as an aid, a medium of sorts, where an individual is able to channel his/her feelings through an emotional relation to an artists sentiment infused lyrics and tone. It is this emotional relation which drove me to dedicate this Music Monday post to The Story of the Year’s ‘The Truth Shall Set Me Free’.

“And you shall know the TRUTH, and the TRUTH shall make you free” ~ John 8:32

Recently it has come to my grave attention that various family members, of the paternal disposition, have taken it upon themselves to directly target myself and my immediate family in a rather negative and callous light. All seemingly because it appears that they are, unfortunately, inbred with the vehement disposition to automatically assume the worst in people, rather than attempting to find out the truth and the subsequent solace it will undoubtedly bring. This is incontrovertibly brought on by their infallible inability to face problems directly, instead resorting to hurtfully shameless acts of passive aggression. Consequently, myself and my family have been thrown into a rather emotionally taxing conundrum, which does not appear to have a clear end in sight, despite our reconciliatory advances. Ultimately, it truly is a sad state of affairs, one which has resignedly forced us, myself in particular, to re-evaluate the distressing indispensability of particular familial ties. I cannot relay the kind of soul ripping anguish I have felt over this purposefully vague description of a very real and unnecessary predicament. A predicament doubtlessly bore of uninformed, refutable and capricious suppositions. All in the aid of nothing, resulting in an unfounded quandary. If only they had chosen to seek the truth, instead of purposeful damnation, for the truth would have set them free!

"…Life is too short to be unhappy! You have to take the good with the bad; smile when you’re sad; love what you’ve got; and always remember what you had. Always forgive but, never forget. Learn from your mistakes, but never regret. People change and things go wrong, but always remember… that life goes on"! ~ George Carlin

George Carlin has, unknowingly, crafted an ethos with which to live by. One which has regrettably imbued me with the necessary counsel needed to allow me to inauspiciously and fundamentally, along with a sense of deep sadness, move on and away. The last few days have, without question, been incredulously taxing. However, as the infamous adage denotes: ‘what does not kill you, only makes you stronger’. Thus, I know that my family and myself will persevere, against all.

I will take, this chance, To break from your traditions
And I will burn, your worth, I’ll burn all that you said
And I’ll finally face, this day, With my eyes open wide
And I will erase, your lies, Tear off this [your] disguise
And now I can say, The truth shall set me free

When the sun is gone, And the rain starts to fall
I will be the one, I will rise…
Rise up through it all!

An excerpt from the lyrics of ‘The Truth Shall Set Me Free’ by Story of the Year.

As always, whenever I post about Vivaciously Varietal Vibes on Music Monday’s, simply click on the name of the song to be taken to a web page that displays the songs lyrics.

Until the next time “Milieunairs”!

Since that time, I have been kept up to date and privy to the latest in South African box office records, figures and events. Often incorporating the information into my posts whenever I deem the data to be informative, applicable and or appropriate. To my surprise, it appears that the fruits of my labour have begun to ripen.

Last week, I unexpectedly received an official invitation to an actual ‘press screening’ of an as yet unreleased film. It goes without saying that I was incredibly taken aback and immensely excited. After all, it was the first time that I had been invited to an event as a ‘recognised’ member of the press.

The invitation was to the screening of ‘The Human Contract’, which serves as Jada Pinkett Smiths debut as both a writer and director.

The Human Contract focuses on charming, self-made marketing entrepreneur Julian Wright (Jason Clarke), who is constantly tormented by a viciously disturbing secret that he has harboured from childhood. With his personal life in shambles and physical pain his only means of solace, Julian becomes entrapped in an open styled love affair with a gorgeously elusive stranger, Michael Reed (Paz Vega), who tempts him from the rigid confines of corporate life to try and explore a bohemian laden lifestyle. A decision that will not only dramatically affect his life, but also the lives of his co-workers, friends and family.

The movie, in the simplest sense, is a standard erotic thriller in the vein of Basic Instinct and Fatal Attraction. Consequently, if you have seen previous entries in this genre, then you will have a good idea of what this movie is about and what to expect in terms of the story. That said, with a handful of obligatorily gratuitous sex scenes and a few token scenes of violence thrown in for good measure, lest not forget the infused debilitating psychological baggage which, at the crux of the movie, causes the unravelling of one characters hidden secrets to intensify another characters irrational and violent impulses; the story, unfortunately, does not try anything new. So even though I felt immersed in the intertwining lives of Julian and Michael for most of the film, there were times when predictability overcame lustful suspense. I presume this was Smith’s attempt at following the adage “better safe than sorry” for her directorial debut, which is a shame because the story is by no means bad, but it can feel somewhat incomplete and tawdry at times. To be fair, the plot is relatively solid and entertaining enough to sustain itself. Furthermore, it appears that Smith does indeed have a good ear for dialogue, with writing that is sharp, coherent, amusing and, most importantly, believable.

Casting unknown actors, for leads in any movie, is quite a risky endeavour. However, in this case, the outcome proved to be worth the risk, since both Jason Clarke and Paz Vega handle almost all of their lines with absolute aplomb. Jason Clarke  plays his part with just the right amount of sly arrogance and contemptuous sincerity, with a hint of an underlying and menacing streak, which helps to keep the viewer guessing at the truth of what lies beneath his emotionless facade. Similarly, Paz Vega (who looks and sounds remarkably like Penelope Cruz – really, they could be sisters, if not twins) proves that not only is she more than able to play the curious seductress, whose lustfully carnal agendas result in her teetering on the edge of precariously dangerous scenarios, but she is also able to handle the subtle nuances of a character who is burdened by a history of physical and emotional abuse. Ultimately though, the two leads do a magnificent job of carrying the film, even when more absurd content is dealt with.

Lastly, where the The Human Contract excels, is in the department of visual style and flair. For a majority of the time, Smith proves her worth as a director. Allowing for a level of moody cinematography that lends an intoxicatingly charged, rhythmically sexual overlay, to scenes involving Julian’s embrace of Michael’s offer of an unconventional lifestyle. This juxtaposes very well with the sleek, urban, glass and steel corporate sterility of the business environment where Julian is employed. This juxtaposition, although subtle, is tantamount to the progression of the story and the development of both Julian and Michael’s characters. As a result, I was extremely pleased with the visual appeal of the film.

The Human Contract – Trailer

The film may not be without its problems, but for a directorial debut, the film is good. Although The Human Contract may not be the most original film it does do an adequate job of filling another slot in the erotic thriller genre. I personally look forward to see what else Jada Pinkett Smith will do in the near future.

Verdict: 6/10.

On a side note: this movie actually inspired the previous Music Monday post.

Until the next time “Milieunairs”!

It is Music Monday and thus time for another Vivaciously Varietal Vibe!

• 

  Flavour: Alternative Rock

• Artist: Placebo

• Album: Meds

• Song: Running Up That Hill

Rationale: I am a great fan of MUSE, especially songs such as Ruled By Secrecy and Sing For Absolution, which I have dubbed as ‘hauntingly beautiful’. Thus, when I heard this song during the screening of The Human Contract, I knew that it would become one of my favourite songs.

I absolutely adore the rhythmic beat of this song. I find it strangely hypnotic, akin to listening to your lovers heartbeat when your ear is pressed against their chest. As a result, I felt I needed to share it with you all. Perhaps this song may take you to another place, like it did with me.

‘Running Up That Hill’ by Placebo

As always, whenever I post about Vivaciously Varietal Vibes on Music Monday’s, simply click on the name of the song to be taken to a web page that displays the songs lyrics.

Until the next time “Milieunairs”!