When real things happen to imaginary people

I did indeed spend yesterday reading Prince Lestat and the Realms of Atlantis. It was entertaining, in a mostly WTF Anne you've lost your marbles sort of way. It was NOT as fun as Prince Lestat was, because there was less focus on the vampires, and more philosophical monologues from space aliens. Excuse me, Replimoids.

If you've read a lot of Anne Rice books, you are aware of how every few books or so, she goes on a philosophical binge, and wants her characters to expound on Good and Evil, the Value of Suffering, and so on. Usually in the guise of some ancient being (spirit, creature, millennia-old newly-wakened vampire) telling Their Life Story. I will be honest, this is not what I read Anne Rice books for. I read them for morally-ambiguous vampires struggling with their nature, and for bombastic and lurid descriptions of shimmering preternatural flesh swathed in velvet and lace. Because one thing Anne Rice excels at is luscious purple prose, and I wish she'd stick to it. Or at least have more of it and maybe cut down on rhapsodizing about what a utopia Atlantaya was. More gothic excess, less philosophy and New Age space aliens, that's what I want.

( Things I did like. Spoilerriffic, obvs. )

I don't think I'll be rereading PLatRoA anytime soon, whereas I do reread Prince Lestat. And neither of these books come anywhere NEAR supplanting Interview with the Vampire or The Vampire Lestat in my heart.

If you want to read my liveblogging descent into madness from yesterday, it's all over on my Tumblr, tagged with THREAT LEVEL: PRINCE LESTAT

One of the lesser-known perils of re-reading a bunch of the Vampire Chronicles books by Anne Rice: Lestat talking about his modern-day wardrobe leads one to browsing eBay and Etsy for grey velvet blazers and antique buttons. But a grey velvet blazer over a black high-collared blouse with ruffles and a black skirt with petticoats would look fabulous, you must admit.

(Yes, I’m re-reading the Vampire Chronicles, and am almost done with The Body Thief. Maybe this time I’ll actually finish reading the book about Marius, instead of giving up after three chapters. Marius is … not my favorite, no. That would be the Brat Prince himself, Lestat.)

(Well, movie, singular.)

Y'know, Queen of the Damned *could* have been a semi-good movie (although nothing like the book) if they had only cast someone who could actually act in the role of Jesse. Stuart Townsend does a perfectly acceptable job as a spoiled, self-indulgent vampire who wants to be a rock star. The guy playing Marius? Campy fun. Aaliyah as Akasha? Works. But oh lord, that actress playing Jesse. Dearie, dearie me.

It would also be a better movie if they had gotten a band other than Korn to provide the music for Lestat's band, but I freely admit that I hate the voice of Korn's vocalist. A lot.

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In other news, I have decided to wear an almost entirely white outfit when I go out dancing with the Stunt Husband tonight. Because I CAN. The question is, black lipstick or dark wine lipstick?

My follow-up mammogram shows no changes from last year (which was supposed to be six months ago, but hey!), so I am now on a schedule of yearly check-ups. Which I swear I'll schedule in a timely fashion.

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In other news, it seems that if I find a hardback 1st edition Anne Rice book in a thrift store, chances are good that I will end up buying it. I know, I know, it's a sickness. But maybe I can replace all of my battered paperbacks with 1st editions for cheap!

Would you people believe that I had never actually heard anything by Nox Arcana?^* I told you, I live in this weird musical bubble.

Anyway, thanks to a random email, I went to their site, and discovered that each release has a sample medley you can listen to. It turns out that Nox Arcana make exactly the sort of spooky, oh-so-gothic, and did I mention GOTHIC, instrumental music I like. Some of it about vampires! Or creepy circuses! I had no idea! I am so gleeful about the instrumental bombast that I am stuck on exclamation points!

I've now put a bunch of their CDs on my wish list on Amazon, so I will occasionally remember to purchase them. Which do I want to get first: Transylvania, Carnival Of Lost Souls, or Shadow Of The Raven? (clicky-links to each release's page.)



^* I vaguely remember there was some sort of DRAMA! concerning Nox Arcana, but I didn't find reference to any during my half-hearted googling.

cass404 and I went to the HIM concert. Bombastic metal for the win! We both liked one of the opening bands (Dommin); enough so that I purchased their CD from the merch booth. (Even tho' I couldn't shake the feeling that they were a metal version of Low Shoulder.) (There will be, what, three of you who get that joke?)

Part of the entertainment (for me, at least) in going to shows like that one is to people and outfit watch. A word of advice, folks: Acid-wash stretch denim is NO ONE's friend. No, pairing it with knee-high stiletto boots, a skin-tight tank top, and aggressive blond highlights does not improve things. AT ALL. Learn from the horrors of the late 80s, okay?

There was one very ... friendly young lady (who I suspect was indulging in recreational chemicals) who saw me, clapped her hands, threw herself at me for a hug, said "I LOVE you!", patted my skirts, and then stumbled off. She made no mention of Gothic Charm School, so I think it was just a case of really liking my outfit.

HIM played at least two of the songs I really really wanted to hear ("Join Me In Death" and "Wicked Game"); alas, they did not play "Poison Girl" or "Vampire Heart". But still, the show was all sorts of fun, and I'm glad we went.

Hey people I know in Seattle! I don't suppose any of you would be interested in going to see HIM on April 17th? You know, the wildly-overwrought bombastic pop metal band? Because I would like to go, and I also know that the Stroppy One nor the StuntHusband would be willing to accompany me.

(I will give you a minute to imagine the nigh-identical expressions of distaste and "OH GOOD GOD, WHY" that would be affixed to their faces if I somehow managed to persuade either of them to go with me.)

Anyone? It would be especially helpful if it was one of you nice people with a car. :)

Everyone must go look at this picture right now! http://www.life.com/image/93166253

Those are my darling ladies kambriel and acid_poptart at the MOMA film benefit honoring Tim Burton. I am so, SO happy for them that they were able to be there!

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Thank you for all the Bombast!/Symphonic Metal recommendations, peeps! I now have more Within Temptation on Renfield the iPod, and will be sure to check out the other bands you mentioned. Except Evanescence, because I already know that there is something about the vocalist's voice that makes me want to grind my teeth.

As I said to someone in the assorted comments, I really kind of live in a musical isolation chamber. I have the stuff that I listen to, and don't learn about anything else unless someone waves their hands and says "Jilli! You must listen to this!" Let me put it this way: I have been known to not only listen to the same playlist or band over and over for days, I have been known to listen to the same song on repeat for hours at an end, because my brain goes now is the time we listen to "Last Of The Famous International Playboys" and nothing else.

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See that very spiffy stripey blazer I'm wearing? Proof that the Infamous BlueJay is a rock star.

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You all have seen that "literal interpretation" video of "Total Eclipse of the Heart", haven't you? (If you haven't, here, have a clicky-link.)

I will not lie: I LOVED TEotH when it was first released. Wildly overemotional! Strange music video with vaguely ookie-spooky imagery! Schoolboys with glowing eyes! Ninjas! Heavy eyeliner! Bombast everywhere!

The person behind the bombast was Jim Steinman. Who also produced Meatloaf's "Bat Outta Hell" album, a bunch of other stuff, aaaaaand ... "This Corrosion" and "Dominion/Mother Russia" for the Sisters of Mercy. Now that I have shared that bit of information with you, your dreams will be haunted with visions of Andrew Eldritch singing "Total Eclipse of the Heart". And no, I won't apologize for inflicting that image on you.

(As an aside, I would LOVE to see the literal interpretation people tackle the video for "Dominion". That would be hysterical.)

Hmmm, talking about over-the-top bombast and excess, what movie should I watch tonight? Phantom Of The Opera (the recent big-budget version)? Coppola's Dracula? I feel in the need for Big! Dramatic! Spectacle!, and there's only so many times I can watch the "literal interpretation" TEotH video before I'll do myself an injury from laughing so hard.