Since January, my blog, hosted at Blogger, has been mirrored to this LiveJournal account. The mirroring process has worked without a hitch, but I’ve become dissatisfied that although the articles on both sites are the same, I haven’t found a way to do the same for any comments made.
Category: General Blog
These are my normal blog posts.
This is possibly a common occurrence for people with more common surnames, but Googling my name – as you do – I’ve just discovered that there is another Chris Malme in the world.
Quite weird, but I felt obliged to drop him an email and say hello.
I haven’t spoken about this up to now, as I didn’t want to spoil any surprises.
At the end of November, last year, Mike Whitaker asked me if I would play drums for a live dramatic performance of the "Before The Dawn" song series (or, at least, a reasonable subset of the songs).
At the end of November, last year, Mike Whitaker asked me if I would play drums for a live dramatic performance of the "Before The Dawn" song series (or, at least, a reasonable subset of the songs).
There were a few problems with this.Apart from several parodies I had written of the BTD songs, and one original non-canon song (that blew up the shared world that BTD takes place in), I had had nothing to do with BTD, and knew only a few of the more popular songs.My diary was already full, and I would not be available for rehearsals until January, just weeks before the performance.I hadn’t played drums in about 2 years, and knew that one of the other participants in the project was a professional-standard drummer.So I did what any sensible person would do – I said yes.
Although I had no free weekends in December, I did manage to get some private practice in at home, so when I turned up to the first weekend rehearsal in January, I was relatively confident that I could at least put the kit together. We had agreed that we would be using my Arbiter Flats kit, which is smaller and easier to transport than a full kit, and has less volume – great for a small venue, in fact.
In fact, I was quite happy – the three songs that Mike wanted me to play on – "War", "Only The Innocent", and "Midnight at the Tower" – were all songs I knew quite well. Similarly, I wasn’t concerned when Mike suggested I put some light drums over the song "Before The Dawn" itself. However, as the Saturday went on, the list of songs that I was playing on grew, until I was playing for almost all of the first Act, and much of the second. Some of this was my own fault – while sitting through the Sergeant’s comedy patter song, I toyed with a beat on high-hat which seemed to fit – luckily no-one except Mike really noticed. However, later when Tim (the drummer) lent me a woodblock, I tried it again, and it sounded perfect. At the end of the song, everyone turned and cheered, and another song had been added to my list.
Technique wise, there was nothing that demanding from me for most of the set – all that was required was a good steady beat. My biggest problem was my scanty knowledge of the material – before I could learn my cues, I had to actually get familiar with the songs involved.
However, there was one song that required a lot from my meager talents – "Excuse Me" is written in 7/4 with two sets of triple quaver beats,followed by a four beat. I managed to pick up the beat early on, and practiced it like crazy. But on the very last rehearsal, I lost it completely, so that was something that would worry me until the day of the performance.
Which came around on Sunday, with Act 1 before lunch and Act 2 afterwards. The whole thing went much better than I could have ever expected (both from a personal level, and for the production as a whole). I got through both Acts without too many fluffs (and those that I made were not show-stopping), and I managed to get the right beat for "Excuse Me".
So I survived to play another day, and I also managed to get through that couple of hours of elation after such performances without volunteering for something else.
From what I can gather, everyone – both in the cast, band, and audience – thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and that is what really matters the most.
I had to make a business trip to Liverpool this week, and had an evening to kill. I was fortunate to wonder along to the Liverpool 1 Odeon, just as Seven Pounds was about to start.
I don’t want to say too much about it, except GO TO SEE IT, NOW!
This is particular relevant to me at the moment, with my current drumming practice.
Coming soon: Pills to ‘turn down’ your ears at clubs
On the 16th of May 2008 the High Court ruled that MPs’ expenses must be published under the Freedom of Information Act.
As a result, the Government has come up with a draft Freedom of Information (Parliament) Order 2009, which is being voted on tomorrow. This legislation, which Harriet Harman claims to be a "significant enhancement in transparency" will effectively exempt details of MPs’ expenses from the Freedom of Information Act. It will also act retroactively, nullifying any pending Freedom of Information requests still in the system.
Have just discovered that the Menier Chocolate Factory production of Little Shop of Horrors, which received excellent reviews, is due to go on tour during 2009. So far, the closest it comes to here is Cambridge, from March 9 to March 14.
I saw a different production of this show on Broadway, a couple of years ago, and it was fantastic.
For the past couple of years, I have celebrated my birthday by doing a show in London with my mum. This year we were joined by my brother, Steve (who has a birthday 6 days later) and his wife Sue.
This year’s show was Wicked, which tells the story of the Wizard of Oz from the witches’ point of view – in particular the "Wicked" witch Elphaba.
Every now and then, a friend asks "so when are you coming onto LiveJournal?", and seems to be surprised to hear I already have a blog running, on Blogger. The question then turns into "so when are you going to move it over to LiveJournal?"
Recently I was persuaded to open an LJ account so I could participate in some discussion for an event I am involved with. Despite the statement that the LJ account was for access only, and would not be updated, I was surprised that several people signed up as friends, and others said they were intending to.
No, it is not a sequel to Jim Carrey’s movie, although it is almost as funny.
While I was away for the holidays, my CPAP mask split. Fortunately it happened towards the end of the holiday, and I managed to make a running repair, which got me through the last couple of days. I keep a couple spare at home, so once I got back, I was fine.
However, I’ll now use it as an opportunity to rant about the medical supplies industry in the UK.
Following my earlier post, I found myself inspired to write this.
Hallelujah
I heard there was a secret song
That Cohen wrote and we sung along
But it seems you never listen to it, do you?
For if you did it might sink in
It’s a song of passion, not a hymn
But all you ever hear is Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Well if there ever was a song
That as a Christmas hit was wrong
You would agree that this one was, now do you?
But just because that blessed word’s
Right at the end of every verse
All anybody hears is Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Just like that girl who won the show
With Cowell, Walsh, Cole and Minogue
But then you never watch that programme, do you?
She sang it proud with Factor X
But skipped each verse that mentioned sex
A broken and an empty Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
And take the case of Katherine J,
Mezzo soprano of our day,
You’d think that she’d know better than this, do you.
But in picking tracks for her CD
Of “Sacred Arias” to be
She made the choice of singing Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Now nationwide, it is a fad
We’ve all gone Hallelujah mad
I’d hoped it was a thing that had outgrew you
But choirmasters think it cool
From churches down to primary schools
To sing a verse or two of Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
I’ll stop before this gets too long,
Please understand, don’t get me wrong
I used to love this song before I knew you
But it’s a song of lust and love
And not of angels up above
A secular and worldly Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
Hallelujah, Hallelujah
I am becoming increasingly amused and irritated – in roughly equal parts – by the number of people who seem to think Leonard Cohen’s "Hallelujah" is some kind of religious hymn, and particularly suitable for Christmas.
Most recently, this has been evidenced by all the contestants of the X-Factor performing it, with the idea that the winner would release it as a "certain" Christmas Number One. However, at the moment, it seems that X-Factor’s winner Alexandra Burke may be edged out by campaigns to promote Cohen’s original, or the extremely popular Jeff Buckley interpretation.