ommadawn.dk - Music

Nakskov and New York

Fri, 28 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +0100

Tags: Me, Mike Oldfield, Movies, Music, New York, Pat Cadigan

Nakskov and New York are just like each other. Right?

Storyboard
Lise Andreasen

Camera
Lise Andreasen

Edited by
Keld R. Hansen
HeartWare Productions

Video equipment
IMMA

Music
"In dulci jubilo"
interpreted by
R. L. Pearsall
arranged and performed by
Mike Oldfield
courtesy of Virgin Records
&
"In dulci jubilo", BWV 729
interpreted by
J.S. Bach
performed by
Kevin Bowyer
courtesy of Nimbus Records

Filmed on location
Nakskov, Denmark, Dec 2004
&
New York, NY, USA, Feb 2005

Edited on a
Casablanca Avio

(C)2008 Lise Andreasen

KANG - KA'NANG - KAKA

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Mike Oldfield, Music

For your listening pleasure, and if you've already worn down all your Oldfield albums, here's something new: KANG - KA'NANG - KAKA.

Music

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Me, Mike Oldfield, Music, Olivia Newton-John

As I said, my main hobby is music. I started singing when I was 12 years old, and for many years my biggest dream was to sing like Olivia Newton-John. I've also admired the Danish band Shubidua for years, they have such great lyrics, and I wanted to write as good as they do. (In fact I've had new tunes written for a few of my texts :-) Queen was added to the collection of idols later, after I had a chance to sing Bohemian Rhapsody. Oh, Freddie has such a great voice as well. Miss you, Freddie! And recently, Robbie Williams has been added to the CD collection. Great lyrics. But I guess my favorite piece of music of all times (the one I put on when I'm stressed, sad, or just want to enjoy life a bit more) is Tubular Bells by Mike Oldfield. This led to me listening to other pieces of his music, going to Hamburg to a concert and so on. And now - well, I'm hooked. And it doesn't help one bit that a lot of my friends are bigger fans than me!

And let me just repeat that: Olivia Newton-John, Shubidua, Queen, Mike Oldfield, Robbie Williams.

Or you can listen to my contribution to the tributation project (a project to make a CD with Mike Oldfield music, played by his fans), one clap.

Or how about an Olivia Newton-John discography. Why? Because nobody else had made it!

Check out Events, with some Oldfield events from my life.

London, 2002

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Books, Events, London, Me, Movies, Music, Pictures, Science fiction, Vacation

In the summer of 2002, July 3-9, I had a summer holiday in London. This time I didn't have much planned before I left home - only some addresses, some vague ideas, and a feeling that I would get up every morning and then decide what I wanted to do that day. Actually I ran out of ideas the last day, bought a guide book, and went to the first place that sounded interesting. It worked!

This review of my trip won't mention dates and stuff like that, and I won't include every single thing I did. Only those I found very interesting, and would recommend to others.

Forbidden planet

For the first time I had a strong feeling, I would shop while in London, and this feeling primarily had something to do with going to Forbidden planet. This shop has everything a fantasy and/or science fiction fan could wish for: books, videos, merchandise, autographs, a discount system for Star Trek fans... I found some books, I very much look forward to reading, including a book of Star Trek quotes - boy, at some point I was planning to do one of my own! It feels great to have been here (I heard about it for the first time a few years ago), it didn't quite meet my expectations, but I will still come back here, I hope.

The store

Tate and National Gallery

One of my big plans was to see a lot of paintings, and I had a couple of guided tours at Tate and National Gallery. I have this feeling seeing a painting is just like reading a book: a story is being told, or a feeling is being conveyed, or... Trouble is, in this case the book is in Japanese, or in other words: I don't quite know the language of painting yet. Which is why I need the guided tours, because they translate the paintings for me. I saw a depressing picture (1), and didn't know that depressing was "bad" at the time it was painted - today it is accepted. I saw a picture with nature showing its teeth (2) - and didn't know, that at the time grandeur of any kind usually was connected with the greatness of God. And then one of the really complicated pictures, where everything was a symbol for something (3): the number 9 on the sun dial (the holy trinity if I remember correctly), the poppy flower (opium addiction), the dove (innocence) and so on. I saw Virgin Mary in a blue dress (4) - blue usually meant royalty, because the color blue was very expensive. And so on, and so forth. I just loved the guide mentioning the hover tiger (5)! And for some reason, I quite liked the few van Goghs I saw (6). And of course, with some pictures (7), the story wasn't that important - the colors were beautiful, that was everything that mattered. And with other pictures (8), I never quite understood why the painting was ever done - there was no story I could see, it was ugly and so on.

The boring details. (1) The field of Waterloo; JMW Turner. (2) The fall of an avalanche in the Grisons; JMW Turner. (3) Beata Beatrix; Dante Gabriel Rossetti. (4) The virgin and child; Masaccio. (5) Tiger in a tropical storm (surprised!); Henri Rousseau. (6) Sunflowers; Van Goghs chair; Long grass with butterflies; A wheatfield, with cypresses; all by Vincent van Gogh. (7) Norham Castle, sunrise; JMW Turner. (8) Sunny morning - eight legs; Lucian Freud.

A wheatfield

IMAX

Before leaving home, I accidentally read about 3D movies in London. I sought out IMAX and saw Space Station 3D. They were very friendly at IMAX - I bought my ticket very early, and was allowed to see the end of the movie before mine! The 3D effects were very good - at some point I was sure I could have touched a thing on the screen! Alas, that was only the intro - the actual movie was very sober, and didn't abuse (?) the effects... It was a good movie, with a serious narrative by Tom Cruise. I learned a few things I didn't know about ISS - a project that has sort of snuck up on me, a big surprise for an old space program and SF fan!

Space Station 3D

Elvis

Saturday night I was lucky enough to be at a party. Some of the music was live, a man and a woman and a tape player or something. Suddenyl the man left, and in came - Elvis! I guess my fast mind thought: if he can be an Elvis copy, I can be a fan copy! So I threw myself on the floor in front of him, fondling his knees, looking at him with big, wet eyes. Well, he liked the joke, and played along! Before I knew it, he was singing a love song (Can't help falling in love with you) mainly for me, we were dancing and holding hands, and I even think he gave me a kiss, before finishing the song. The other party guest also liked the joke, and laughed. This was a very personal, very strong experience for me: Elvis sang a love song to me! And the biggest thing I remember from this vacation.

Smiling

Les Miserables

I had half a plan, and found the energy to turn it into a full plan: buying a very good ticket for Les Miserables. The musical, you know. Running for 18 years or something like that. Way back when it was playing in Denmark, everybody asked me whether I had seen it - after the show had ended! So for 10 years, I've wanted to see this. And now I had the chance! I knew the music quite well, but hadn't quite figured out the plot. Well. Now I know the plot. And I like this musical, and have plans to see it again, if possible. I actually cried a couple of times near the end - only quality does that to me! Since then, I've read the book.

Miserable child

The loot

And finally. As I said, I shopped a bit. And here's the loot.

Books and stuff

Quotes

Wed, 04 Jun 2008 00:00:00 +0200

Tags: Books, Mike Oldfield, Movies, Music, Olivia Newton-John, Quotes, Science fiction, Star Trek

I include a quote in my signature, changing once every week. And I try to choose quotes, that tells you something about me: my hobbies, my beliefs and so on. If you don't want to wait and send me a letter every week, just to see a new quote, you can cheat and look here. Quotes in italics are now retired.

Music

Olivia Newton-John

And if I close my eyes to the wild silent ruin, then I'm just like everyone else.: -- Olivia Newton-John, Gaia
I can sing one song - you can sing another, doesn't mean I'm wrong, don't let anything get in the way of love.: -- Olivia Newton-John, Gaia

Mike Oldfield

So if you feel a little glum, to Hergest Ridge you should come. In summer winter rain or sun, it's good to be on horseback.: -- Mike Oldfield, "On Horseback"

Others

Angels we have heard on High Tell us to go out and Buy.: -- Tom Lehrer
All you need is love: -- Beatles

Books

The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy / Douglas Adams

Anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.: -- D.Adams, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
The large yellow ships hung in the sky in exactly the same way that bricks don't.: -- D.Adams, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy"
Duleek: Sudden realisation, as you lie in bed waiting for the alarm to go off, that it should have gone off an hour ago.: -- Douglas Adams, "The Meaning of Liff"

Terry Pratchett

The light was misty and actinic, the sort of light to make Steven Spielberg reach for his copyright lawyer.: -- Terry Pratchett, "Equal Rites"
Time passed, which, basically, is its job.: -- Terry Pratchett, "Equal Rites"
What time�s sunset around here? We normally manage to fit it in between night and day: -- Terry Pratchett, "Mort"

Isaac Asimov

Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent: -- Isaac Asimov, "Foundation"
I do not fear computers. I fear the lack of them.: -- Isaac Asimov
The most exciting phrase in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not "Eureka" (I found it!) but "That's funny...": -- Isaac Asimov

Stephen King

It's a long walk back to Eden, dear, so don't sweat the small stuff.: -- Stephen King, Insomnia
When asked, "How do you write?" I invariably answer, "one word at a time.": -- Stephen King

Other science fiction writers

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.: -- Arthur C. Clarke
What sane person could live in this world and not be crazy ?: -- Ursula K. LeGuin

Movies

Star Trek

Without freedom of choice, there is no creativity. Without creativity, there is no life.: -- Kirk, "Star Trek"
Live long ... and prosper.: -- Spock, "Star Trek"
In any case, were I to invoke logic, logic clearly dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.: -- Spock, "Star Trek"
(When asked why he saved Spocks life) Because the needs of the one outweigh the needs of the many.: -- Kirk, "Star Trek"

Star Wars

Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter.: -- Yoda, Star Wars V

Red dwarf

No Silicon Heaven? Preposterous! Where would all the calculators go?: -- Kryten, "Red Dwarf"
Given that God is infinite, and that the Universe is also infinite, would you like a toasted tea cake?: -- Talkie Toaster, "Red Dwarf"

Monty Python's Flying Circus

Always look on the bright side of life: -- Monty Python, Life of Brian
And pray that there's intelligent life somewhere up in space, Because there's bugger all down here on Earth.: -- Monty Python

When Harry met Sally

When you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.: -- Harry Burns, "When Harry met Sally"

Shadowlands

We can't have the happiness of yesterday without the pain of today. That's the deal.: -- Joy Gresham, "Shadowlands"

Simpsons

The truth is not out there: -- Bart Simpson writing on the black board
I will not use abbrev.: -- Bart Simpson writing on the black board
I will finish what I sta: -- Bart Simpson writing on the black board
When you love somebody, you have to have faith that in the end, they will do the right thing.: -- Marge Simpson to Lisa

Other movies

Well, Miss Vale; ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight? I always ask that of all my prey. I just kinda like the sound of it!: -- The Joker
If you want something very badly, set it free. If it comes back to you, it's yours forever. If it doesn't, it was never yours to begin with.: -- Diana, "Indecent Proposal"
That which does not kill us, makes us stronger.: -- Friedrich Nietzsche

Other stuff

Greenpeace

Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned and the last fish has been caught will we realise that we cannot eat money.: -- 19th Century Cree Indian

The holy bible

... thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself ...: -- Leviticus 19:18
To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven
A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is plantd;
A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance
A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing
A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away
A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak
A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace: -- Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Other sources

On the whole, human beings want to be good, but not too good, and not quite all the time.: -- George Orwell
It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.: -- Anonymous
Happiness: The full use of your powers along lines of excellence.: -- John F. Kennedy
Beware of bugs in the above code; I have only proved it correct, not tried it.: -- Donald Knuth
Shift to the left, shift to the right, pop up, push down, byte, byte, byte!
If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulders of giants.: -- Isaac Newton
In the sciences, we are now uniquely privileged to sit side by side with the giants on whose shoulders we stand.: -- Gerald Holton
If I have not seen as far as others, it is because giants were standing on my shoulders.: -- Hal Abelson
In computer science, we stand on each other's feet.: -- Brian K. Reid
Call on God, but row away from the rocks.: -- Indian proverb
Trust in Allah, but tie your camel.: --Old Muslim Proverb
Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other but in looking outward together in the same direction.: -- Antoine de Saint-Exupery
There are only two ways to live your life: One is as though nothing were a miracle, The other is as though everything is.: -- Albert Einstein
I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones.: -- Albert Einstein
Imagination is more important than knowledge.: -- Albert Einstein
To work is good as long as we remember to live!: -- Anonymous
You cannot teach a man anything; you can only help him find it within himself.: -- Galileo
Education's purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.: -- Malcolm S. Forbes
It has been said "it is not by amusing oneself that one learns," and, in reply: "it is *only* by amusing oneself that one can learn.": -- Edward Kasner and James R. Newman
We are not human beings having a spiritual experience. We are spiritual beings having a human experience.: -- Teilhard de Chardin
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.: -- Attributed to Benjamin Franklin
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. ... --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government...: -- Declaration of independence, Thomas Jefferson

Hobbies

Sun, 11 Dec 2005 00:00:00 +0100

Tags: Books, Me, Movies, Music, Science fiction

Wanna know some more about my hobbies? Here they are: