I was enthusastic yet anxious to attend Jane Birkin’s concert Feb 12th at the French Institute Alliance Française in the city. Enthuastic because Jane Birkin is a fashion icon and muse over the decades to some of the best fashion designers and musicians, including Serge Gainsbourg of course. Anxious because I didn’t know quite what to expect sitting in a small, intimate theater listening to lyrics sung in French. What I found out is that her voice was whispery and almost frail sounding, which matches her waif-like figure and cropped pixie hair style. I was not expecting her to wear mens baggy tweed trousers with a suede keeper, a loose untucked white button down shirt with the sleeves half rolled/shoved up her thin arms, a matching tweed unbuttoned vest, and a loose tie. The masculininty and oversized garments accentuated her ultra petite frame. However, despite her initial appearance and the sound of her voice, what became clear throughout the concert was her strength and openess to the human experience. She pulled the audience in close to her heart, showing her vulernability and the humaness we all share.
Check out her music and enjoy some pics that capture the icon over the years.
Vampires. Everyone around me was obsessed with the Twilight book series about vampires. I always listened with skepticism as women gushed about how amazing the four books in the Twilight series were. They all insisted with total seriousness that I must rush to the nearest book store so that I too could read the books. One day about a year ago, I was at Barnes and Nobles bookstore wanting to buy a book because of all the time I had commuting to work everyday. Displayed in front of the store, prime real estate, were the Twilight books neatly propped up ready to lure the next customer. Hmmm. It worked. I figured I’d buy the first book and see what all the fuss was about. Two and a half weeks later I had bought the other three books and read them all. I had become one of them… a crazed Twilight fan. What can I say, I even purchased The Twilight Saga: New Moon’s movie soundtrack. And just like the books, the soundtrack surprised me because it showcases various talented artists – Death Cab for Cutie, Thom Yorke, The Killers, Ok Go – just to name a few. This CD is on constant repeat and I highly recommend it. Do you love it too?
