Alternative, Altern, Alt, Alt-J

'Proper' music. Headphones on, lights off, proper music.

That it all.

My beef with Haylor, the media and everything else inbetween

I'm sorry, but I have a beef with the Press at the moment. 

Firstly let me say, I am in NO WAY A HAYLOR SHIPPER. Ew. But, I do like Harry Styles and Taylor Swift individually. So when they broke up, I was all like "THANK FUCK FOR THAT" but after reading a few articles on (supposedly) why they broke up, I am very much on Taylor's side. (If you haven't read said articles then I'll give you a basic run down. So apparently Harry dumped Taylor because she didn't put out). 

So does this automatically give the Press the right to call her a prude? I don't think so. It's her body. Do I need to repeat myself? HER body. She shouldn't be pushed into doing anything she doesn't want to, not by a boyfriend, not by fans and certainly not by the media. 

ALSO, for those people that are all like 'sooo, I wonder when the next album's coming out', just stop. Please. As someone who also writes songs, I can empathise because sometimes writing a song about it can allow you to express yourself and give you the closure that you need. You liked Taylor for singing about boys nobody knows, so don't hate her for writing songs about boys who are famous.

Rant over.

What do you think of the whole Haylor situation? Ship it or hate it? Tell us in comments below!

Keep Dorking On,

A x

Fangirling, A history

This may seem like a very long-winded explanation of how I got onto this topic but, please, bear with me.

I was reading this Rookie article yesterday and I watched the video attached. It's a fan-video of most Brat Pack movies to the song Lisztomania by Phoenix. I personally love Phoenix (they wrote 1901and Long Distance Call), so I naturally bought the song on iTunes. After listening to it a couple more times, I started to wonder what 'Lisztomania' actually was. But with trusty Google at my side, I searched Lisztomania and it turned out to be right in my area of expertise; fangirling.

Franz Liszt was a piano virtuoso in the 19th century and 'Lisztomania' as it was officially coined by Heinrich Heine in 1844. Characterised by a hysterical reaction to Liszt and his concerts (standard practice for many fangirls these days), admirers would 'swarm over him, fighting over his gloves and handkerchiefs', wear brooches of his portrait and try to get locks of his hair. I believe this to be the first mass amounts of fangirling.  

After this, there was nothing that cause as much of a fan frenzy until Beatlemania in the 1960s. Paul, John, George and Ringo caused mass hysteria all over the world during the early years of their success. Their gaining of "Superstar" status came in 1963 with the release of 'She Loves You'. Beatlemania is still felt in the music industry today as the transatlantic journey of Beatles fangirling started a phenomenon known as the 'British Invasion' that was a major change in US attitudes to pop music.

And now, we fangirl on all types of things. SPN, Sherlock, Harry Potter and Doctor Who, just to name a few. Books, TV shows, films, bands, everything. 

What ever your chosen medium, let your fangirl flag fly!

Keep Dorking On,
A x

Indie movies, yes please!

I love a rom-com just as much as the next girl, the up beat music, the infectious 'go get-um' attitude and the angelic faced cast. But indie movies are where it's at. I'm not trying to go all hipster, 'I liked that before you did', but indie movie do have that slight underground way about them. Life is always slightly better with a pink or blue tint filter.

So here's my recommendations:

Submarine 

Set in Swansea in the 80s, this is centred around two misfits navigating teenagerdom, school and family life. Oh, and it's directed by Richard Ayoade, need I say more?

Moonrise Kingdom

Two wayward pre-teens run away together in the 60s (read:best costumes ever) on an island on the East Coast. Also, Bruce Willis.

Cemetery Junction

Reading in the 70s. Hideously sexist and copious amounts of snobbery (both up and down). Tom Hughes, Christian Cooke, Ricky Gervais and Felicity Jones, an all-(indie)star cast (in my eyes). Written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. 'Nuff said.

Any more suggestions? Leave them in the comments below.

Keep Dorking On,

A x

OKAY HERE'S THE PLAN

Hi all, I'm afraid the blog has been pushed back a couple of days as my best friend/side-kick/better half is currently still in New York and I really need her so the next post can be as KICK ASS as I'd like. I'll be writing, photographing, modelling and editing it into awesomeness as soon as she gets home tomorrow!

PATIENCE GRASSHOPPER

I hope you understand. Big love.

Keep Dorking On,

A xx