South Africans are a buzz.

That’s right folks U2 is here  and, believe it or not (I still cannot), I was privileged enough to crack an elusive invitation to an exclusive behind the scenes look at the inner workings of the U2 360° Tour.

“The Claw”, or as it is known locally “The Prawn”, is a magnificent structure. I have never seen a stage construction like it before. It is so big that it actually begins to make the FNB Stadium, previously known as Soccer City, feel small. Let me tell you, that is no easy feat. Check out the video I created below for an indication of the true immensity of this structure.

Here are a few more interesting facts about “The Claw” and the U2 360° Tour:

• Before reaching South Africa, over 4.5 million people would have seen U2 360°.
• The design can support up to 180 tonnes and was conceptually designed using forks over ‘dinner’ during the Vertigo Tour in 2006.
• The steel structure is 28 meters tall with the center pylon reaching a  height of 45 meters.
• The cylindrical video screen is made up of 1 million pieces, weighs 54 tonnes, is 4300 square feet when closed and opens to a size of 14 000 square feet.
• The steel structure takes four days to build with a further 12 hours to load the screen, stage and production equipment.

Behind the Scenes VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL

In addition to getting all close and personal with “The Claw” while on the ‘behind the scenes tour’, we were also extremely lucky to have the chance to speak to Jake Berry (U2 360° Tour Production Director), Paul McGuiness (U2’s Manager) and John Langford (Chief Operating Officer of Big Concerts).

In order, from left to right: Jake Berry, Paul McGuiness and John Langford.

Whether you are a fan of U2 or not, this is most certainly a show you do not want to miss. I would even go so far as to fully agree with the U2 360° Tour Production Director Jake Berry, who exclaims how being able to attend this production would be “an opportunity of a lifetime”.

360° Panorama of the FNB Stadium and U2 360 Claw

I would like to offer my sincerest thanks to 94.7 Highveld Stereo, Primedia and everyone else who contributed towards allowing me to be a part of such a privileged and incredible “behind the scenes” experience. Thank you!

Until the next time “Milieunairs”!

To be precise, U2 will be performing to a sold out crown of sweaty palmed South Africans in exactly 300 hours from the time of this post (yes, I worked it out).

The best part? You could win a set of double tickets to either the Johannesburg or Cape Town shows as well as other incredible prizes.

The very cool folks over at 94.7 Highveld Stereo, who are also the main media partners for the tour, are giving anyone who was not lucky or adept enough to buy tickets to the U2 360° Tour (like myself) another chance at being able to say “I was there… and I made out with my steak out”!

The process is simple.

From now until Friday 11th February 2011, there will be a 94.7 Highveld Stereo branded stage touring Gauteng. To win awesome prizes all you need to do is find the stage, whip up the courage to get up on it, and belt out your favourite U2 song to the crowd. It is that easy!

For clues to the whereabouts of this nomadic stage you will need to follow 94.7 Highveld Stereo: on-air, through Facebook or via Twitter (#U2Highveld is the official Twitter hashtag).

Even better, those lucky enough to find the stage and sing to the world will have their 360 seconds of fame uploaded to 94.7 Highveld Stereo’s official YouTube.

With a cylindrical video system of interlocking LED panels, and a steel structure rising 45 meters from the floor over a massive stage with rotating bridges, the U2 360° tour will be a truly unmissable experience. Seriously, it is going to be spectacular!

So what are you waiting for? Start following, finding, singing & winning!

For those who are interested, here is a little bit more about the tour:

U2 will kick off their 360° tour in South Africa at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium on Sunday 13th February 2011 before moving to Cape Town and performing on Friday 18th February 2011. U2 will be the first band to stage a live concert in both World Cup 2010 built stadia.

Some interesting facts about the U2 360° tour:

• Before reaching South Africa, over 4.5 million people would have seen U2 360°.
• The design can support up to 180 tonnes.
• The steel structure is 28 meters tall with the center pylon reaching 45 meters tall.
• The cylindrical video screen is made up of 1 million pieces.
• The steel structure takes four days to build with a further 12 hours to load the screen, stage and production equipment.

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

This week:

Flavour: Electronica/Alternative Rock

Artist: Pendulum

Album: Immersion

Song: The Island, Part 1: Dawn

Rationale: Pendulum is one of those bands who you have heard on the radio, on multiple occasions, whose music you have probably thought is great but a band whose name you have never really got around to learning.

One of the reasons for this may be because Pendulum shares a very similar sound to South Africa’s very own Zebra & Giraffe (yes the band, not the animals we have running about). Although most of Pendulum’s songs on Immersion have less of an alternative rock element to them when compared to Zebra & Giraffe, there are times when the two bands sounds uncannily alike.

The album, Immersion, is a bit of a mixed bag in terms of aural stimulation. There are songs that will give even the most conservative of people an eargasm such as the hauntingly beautiful Watercolour and Witchcraft, while others like the death metal influenced Self vs Self will leave your ears yearning for an impotence inducing muffler. Of course, this all depends on your personal taste in music. Even so, the stark contrast in tracks on this album make one wonder if Pendulum really know who they are or want to be. Personally I think that Pendulum should stick to the electronic alternative rock sound that 70% of the album Immersion is comprised of.

According to good old Wikipedia, the band originates from Perth in the ‘land down under’ and was founded in 2002 by Rob Swire, Gareth McGrillen and Paul harding. Immersion is Pendulum’s third studio album release. Click here to read more about Pendulum.

Ultimately, I think that Pendulum’s latest album Immersion is good but not great. Obviously I make no delusions to the fact that I am an avid fan of the style of music I have dubbed as hauntingly beautiful. Thus, for me, this album was worth the purchase.

Check out the  video below of ‘The Island, Part 1: Dawn’ the latest single from Pendulum and be sure to let me know what you think!

Any ideas where they got the idea from for this music video? Hint: the music video is clearly inspired by this pre-Transformers’ “I did it five years ago” directors action movie. The answer is in the song’s title. If you have no clue, click here or watch the trailer here.

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: Electronic/Dance

• Artist: Swedish House Mafia vs Tinie Tempah

• Album: Until One

• Song: Miami 2 Ibiza

Rationale: I may not be the kind of person who goes clubbing every weekend but I am definitely one who enjoys a song with a good beat. Especially one that I can suggestively gyrate my hips to. Oh yeah, that’s right!

Unlike most people, I almost never listen to the words of a song. To me, music is all about the melody, tone and beat.

Truthfully, I had no idea who or what the Swedish House Mafia was or even that they existed. Not until last week when a cousin of mine introduced their music to me. Since then, I have been hooked.

According to good old Wikipedia, Swedish House Mafia is a group of three house disc jockey’s and producers known as Axwell, Steve Angello and Sebastian Ingrosso. Those who are familiar with dance/electro/techno/whatever-this-kind-of-music-is-called-now-a-days will no doubt recognise the names as some of the most influential in this particular genre of music.

Simply put, Swedish House Mafia’s debut studio album is fantastic. It is the perfect party album and I can foresee that a majority of the songs on their debut album will no doubt become ‘club anthems’ in the very near future.

The album is out this week. If you like it, buy it online via iTunes or Zune or simply head out to your nearest music store.

Check out the  video below of the latest single from Swedish House Mafia and be sure to let me know what you think!

Usually whenever I post about Vivaciously Varietal Vibes on Music Monday’s, you would be able to simply click on the name of the song and be taken to a web page that displays the songs lyrics. However, this song has no real substance since it is all about the beat (aka I could not find the lyrics).

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: 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”!

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: Pop / R&B

• Artist: Chris Brown

• Album: Exclusive: The Forever Edition
• Song: Forever

Rationale: Okay, look. I did not actually want to feature Chris Brown today. Not only am I not a great fan of ‘R&B’, but I certainly do not like the guy for what he did to Rihanna. In fact, I believe he should have been  sent to prison so he could have been given his ‘just-ice’ filled chocolate starfish destroying desserts.

The fact that he got away with molesting Rihanna’s perfectly symmetrical ebony face, with only a slap on the wrists, is unlawful. What kind of message is the American justice system sending to the youth of the world? Evidently, if you are rich and famous enough, you could get away with almost anything. Is that not right, hey OJ? Then again, who am I to judge, considering our president, the fanatical Jacob Zuma, is a politically corrupt polygamist who enjoys raping AIDS victims before taking long STI cleansing showers?!

Although Chris Brown is a douche, he has, admittedly, produced a few good songs with addictive beats. One such song is the sexually charged Matric Farewell induced Forever. It is, apparently, such a great song that an American couple decided to rewrite tradition by using the song as their wedding march, complete with choreography. I kid you not.

Craziest Wedding Entrance Yet

Although I have determined, via an assumption, what the couple were trying to do, a valiant attempt at breaking free from the confines of conformity, I could not stop myself from gasping in disbelief while laughing hysterically at the circus which prevailed. As entertaining as the bride and groom’s entrance was, I keep wondering if they realise that this video, and those memories, will, quite literally, be around Forever. What do you think?

Take Our Poll

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”!