All hippies use the back door...
I would like to start this post off with a huge, gigantic *WIBBLE*
So tomorrow is my 19th birthday bash. Over sixty people are coming. That's right, 60. I don't think I've ever had such a big party in my life. Let alone organise it.
Alexandra
Andre
Angelique & Charlie
Anje & Heinrich
Anke + 1
Belinda & Ninon
Bjorn
Brad
Bronwyn & Hein
Christo + 2
CK + 2
Cor (hopefully)
Corn (& maybe Charl)
Damian
Damon & Meline
Franz
Gareth
Gertie
Illimar
Inge
Iwona
Jako
James + 2
Jan
Janko + 1
Jean Pierre
Johan (for a little while)
JP
Julian + 1
Kayleigh & Rose
Kevin
Lerissa (hopefully)
Malcolm & Jez
Margaux
Marianne
Marilise & Daniel
Marko + 2
Martin
Monique
Nobantu
Peter (maybe)
Rainier
Rian
Ryan
Sanel
Scott
Shana
Shane
Spanna
Stephanie (hopefully)
Suz & Johnny
Ulrich + 3
Vaughan & Tracy
Will
...and some other people who may just come without RSVP'ing.
And I still have so much to do. Music, band setup, lighting, decor... But at least the Band and the (very fucking cheap) Cash Bar is organised, and that's enough to keep any party going.
If it rains, I will be f*cked in the ass. EVERYTHING is outside. I don't even think you can fit 60 people into my house. If it does, maybe we can build a huge fire and everyone can do an anti-rain dance.
So yeah. PLEASE DON'T RAIN PLEASE DON'T RAIN PLEASE DON'T RAIN PLEASE DON'T RAIN PLEASE DON'T RAIN PLEASE DON'T RAIN PLEASE DON'T RAIN PLEASE DON'T RAIN PLEASE DON'T RAIN PLEASE DON'T RAIN PLEASE DON'T RAIN. (although in general, i would absolutely love it to rain. But, just.not.tomorrow.)
So yeah. Hopefully I'll be taking lots and lots of photos which I can post after. My mom bought me a beautiful hippy dress. Because that's what the party's theme is: HIPPIES! That's also the reason I'll be taking so many photos. >.<
So yeah.
...
Oh god. I just started three paragraphs with "So Yeah" consecutively. I think I may be going crazy. Or maybe I'm just nervous. Or something.
ANYWAY, this is the last post I will be making before my party, so wish me goodluck guys! I really hope everything runs smoothly.
ETA: A reply I wrote to Koula (dj of a radio station in SA) who bad-mouthed the bass guitar as an instrument.
I read the article by Koula about the state of South African Music, and I can definitely see where she is coming from. I read just about the entire article and had absolutely no problem with it. But drawing to the end of her article, she made a comment about playing the bass guitar which was, at the very least, unnecessary.
According to Koula, playing the bass guitar is an “easy way out.” She goes on to say that if the readers are considering playing a musical instrument, they should not even think about playing the bass guitar. Because that’s the only instrument that girls ever play. And SWG is all about being different, right? Fair enough.
All I’m wondering is whether Koula has ever tried to pick up a bass guitar herself, let alone play it. You know, just wondering (and judging by the way she is holding the guitar in the photo accompanying her article). I would be surprised at a comment like that from someone who plays or has tried to play the instrument - or has knowledge and respect for musicians and good music for that matter.
The reason I am so adamant about this is because Koula is not the only one who views the bass guitar to be the easiest option when looking to play in a band. So many people have the pre-conception that all a bass player needs to do is play a couple of root notes in accordance with the chords of the song - as simple as that. If that was all one could do with a bass guitar, I would understand it being labeled “easy.”
I think the reason most people look down on the bass guitar is the fact that there are many bassists in the local rock scene who have the same pre-conception. One of the first things that puts me off about a song is an uninvolved, uninteresting bass line. And yet so many bands are out there doing it. I just don’t get it. Don’t get me wrong - there are some awesome rock bands whose bassists really work hard at using their techniques and ideas to the max. But one only has to take a glance at South African jazz bassists like Denny Lallouette and the like, to realize that the bass guitar is anything but an easy instrument to play. In so many cases, the bass line is what keeps the band’s music interesting, keeps the song moving… One of the many examples would be the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s bassist - Flea. Do yourself a favour and listen to an RHCP song - any RHCP song. Pay attention to the bass line, and then try to imagine what the song would be like without it. I think you’ll soon see my point, if you haven’t already.
My intention is not to preach to everyone about playing the bass - and of course everyone is entitled to different opinions. But the truth is, even if I wasn't a bass guitar fan, I would still be writing this letter. All I’m asking for is a little respect from the people who feel they can tell everyone else what’s cool and what’s not. In my own humble opinion, Koula has used her stature and status in South Africa to bring across an opinion (that is not necessarily supported by knowledge or experience) and has potentially influenced the SWG readership opinion in a negative way that is very undeserved. I simply feel that people with that amount of control over general opinion have a certain responsibility to conmmunicate opinions that are accurately based on fact or experience. Of course opinion does play a role, but a statement such as Koula's is a drastic one. I don't feel that this is unreasonable in the least.
So tomorrow is my 19th birthday bash. Over sixty people are coming. That's right, 60. I don't think I've ever had such a big party in my life. Let alone organise it.
Alexandra
Andre
Angelique & Charlie
Anje & Heinrich
Anke + 1
Belinda & Ninon
Bjorn
Brad
Bronwyn & Hein
Christo + 2
CK + 2
Cor (hopefully)
Corn (& maybe Charl)
Damian
Damon & Meline
Franz
Gareth
Gertie
Illimar
Inge
Iwona
Jako
James + 2
Jan
Janko + 1
Jean Pierre
Johan (for a little while)
JP
Julian + 1
Kayleigh & Rose
Kevin
Lerissa (hopefully)
Malcolm & Jez
Margaux
Marianne
Marilise & Daniel
Marko + 2
Martin
Monique
Nobantu
Peter (maybe)
Rainier
Rian
Ryan
Sanel
Scott
Shana
Shane
Spanna
Stephanie (hopefully)
Suz & Johnny
Ulrich + 3
Vaughan & Tracy
Will
...and some other people who may just come without RSVP'ing.
And I still have so much to do. Music, band setup, lighting, decor... But at least the Band and the (very fucking cheap) Cash Bar is organised, and that's enough to keep any party going.
If it rains, I will be f*cked in the ass. EVERYTHING is outside. I don't even think you can fit 60 people into my house. If it does, maybe we can build a huge fire and everyone can do an anti-rain dance.
So yeah. PLEASE DON'T RAIN PLEASE DON'T RAIN PLEASE DON'T RAIN PLEASE DON'T RAIN PLEASE DON'T RAIN PLEASE DON'T RAIN PLEASE DON'T RAIN PLEASE DON'T RAIN PLEASE DON'T RAIN PLEASE DON'T RAIN PLEASE DON'T RAIN. (although in general, i would absolutely love it to rain. But, just.not.tomorrow.)
So yeah. Hopefully I'll be taking lots and lots of photos which I can post after. My mom bought me a beautiful hippy dress. Because that's what the party's theme is: HIPPIES! That's also the reason I'll be taking so many photos. >.<
So yeah.
...
Oh god. I just started three paragraphs with "So Yeah" consecutively. I think I may be going crazy. Or maybe I'm just nervous. Or something.
ANYWAY, this is the last post I will be making before my party, so wish me goodluck guys! I really hope everything runs smoothly.
ETA: A reply I wrote to Koula (dj of a radio station in SA) who bad-mouthed the bass guitar as an instrument.
I read the article by Koula about the state of South African Music, and I can definitely see where she is coming from. I read just about the entire article and had absolutely no problem with it. But drawing to the end of her article, she made a comment about playing the bass guitar which was, at the very least, unnecessary.
According to Koula, playing the bass guitar is an “easy way out.” She goes on to say that if the readers are considering playing a musical instrument, they should not even think about playing the bass guitar. Because that’s the only instrument that girls ever play. And SWG is all about being different, right? Fair enough.
All I’m wondering is whether Koula has ever tried to pick up a bass guitar herself, let alone play it. You know, just wondering (and judging by the way she is holding the guitar in the photo accompanying her article). I would be surprised at a comment like that from someone who plays or has tried to play the instrument - or has knowledge and respect for musicians and good music for that matter.
The reason I am so adamant about this is because Koula is not the only one who views the bass guitar to be the easiest option when looking to play in a band. So many people have the pre-conception that all a bass player needs to do is play a couple of root notes in accordance with the chords of the song - as simple as that. If that was all one could do with a bass guitar, I would understand it being labeled “easy.”
I think the reason most people look down on the bass guitar is the fact that there are many bassists in the local rock scene who have the same pre-conception. One of the first things that puts me off about a song is an uninvolved, uninteresting bass line. And yet so many bands are out there doing it. I just don’t get it. Don’t get me wrong - there are some awesome rock bands whose bassists really work hard at using their techniques and ideas to the max. But one only has to take a glance at South African jazz bassists like Denny Lallouette and the like, to realize that the bass guitar is anything but an easy instrument to play. In so many cases, the bass line is what keeps the band’s music interesting, keeps the song moving… One of the many examples would be the Red Hot Chili Pepper’s bassist - Flea. Do yourself a favour and listen to an RHCP song - any RHCP song. Pay attention to the bass line, and then try to imagine what the song would be like without it. I think you’ll soon see my point, if you haven’t already.
My intention is not to preach to everyone about playing the bass - and of course everyone is entitled to different opinions. But the truth is, even if I wasn't a bass guitar fan, I would still be writing this letter. All I’m asking for is a little respect from the people who feel they can tell everyone else what’s cool and what’s not. In my own humble opinion, Koula has used her stature and status in South Africa to bring across an opinion (that is not necessarily supported by knowledge or experience) and has potentially influenced the SWG readership opinion in a negative way that is very undeserved. I simply feel that people with that amount of control over general opinion have a certain responsibility to conmmunicate opinions that are accurately based on fact or experience. Of course opinion does play a role, but a statement such as Koula's is a drastic one. I don't feel that this is unreasonable in the least.