elisi's humble abode

Further re. Good Omens, then the thing that is making everyone excited (apart from all the other things) is that John Finnemore was announced as co-writer. Darcy for example was utterly indifferent to the news of S2 (and he very much enjoyed S1) but the moment I mentioned Finnemore's name he declared that S2 might just be better. Here is the man himself to explain a little about who he is. His stuff is very funny, clever and meta. I'm not terribly familiar tbh, but what I have heard has reminded me of Wodehouse in the way he creates a wide and humourous canvas and then pulls everything together with incredible skill and ingenuity. Also he apparently has a thing for replicating the structure of the show within the show. (I hope that makes sense. Feeling better than I was, but brain still... not firing on all cylinders.)

This is not me trying to sell my stuff, because it’s free... but if you’re an anxious Good Omens fan who’s never heard of me, and wants to know what kind of a writer I am, this is the last show I wrote. https://t.co/1RPB1hjnPW

— John Finnemore (@JohnFinnemore) June 29, 2021

ETA: He talks mostly about his most recent series of John Finnemore's Souvenir Programme. Money quote:

'Now the more metaphysical answer. This series is rather different from the previous eight series. I'm very proud of it, and I'd love you to hear it. However, it turns out to be one of those shows where it takes a couple of episodes to get into it... but I think it's fair to say the people who do get into it REALLY get into it. Two days after the final episode aired, I was invited to a Zoom meeting where about a hundred people had got together to share theories, analysis, and poetry about it. That... didn't happen with any of the previous series. And not just because Zoom wasn't a thing then. '
^This sounds so awesome I am actually listening. (It helps that I am in recovery mode and RESTING.)

~

And via Kerk, have a wonderfully heartwarming story [from 2019]:

Frank's coffee stand

~

Daily Dimash: Ulisse

Another one from the Igor Krutoy celebration event. Dimash Qudaibergen (in full baritone/tenor ♥) & Aida Garifullina signing, Igor on the piano AND ice dancers!



ETA: More info (from ju1ietta in the comments to this reaction):

[You can] watch this amazing concert on Igor Krutoy’s channel in its entirety: 2019/11/03 Ace show of Igor Krutoy, Moscow, Russia: https://youtu.be/JxFIInXqaGk

This number is plot related to the previous number performed by Dimash "Olimpico". Both songs are in Italian (Dimash and Aida costumes in European style). Skaters depict the plot of the ancient Greek poet Homer "Odyssey" (another name is "Ulysses"). In the song "Olimpico" Dimash portrayed the Olympic gods, who sent trials to Ulysses in the form of a storm, but also motivating him to overcome the elements. The number ends in a shipwreck. Therefore, at the beginning of the next issue you see the defeated Ulysses at the bottom of the ocean. Around the fragments of the ship are scattered and fish, stingrays swim ... A vision of the waiting Penelope saves Ulysses and brings him ashore. The costumes of the skaters should correspond to the style of ancient Greece, but they remind me more of Russian ethnic costumes. The director of dance numbers is Olympic champion in figure skating Ilya Averbukh.

And I threw the original lyrics into google translate (since I couldn't find a translation):

Polarity, ambiguity,
silver peaks in the blue
My Ithaca!
I am at the mercy of your vices and virtues.
For Ulysses Odyssey, life, death and idea,
journey that pierces the soul, the infinite love.
Take me with you in your mind and heart.
Prisoners of the chase,
we are always the mirage.
God of the sea, of the great love,
guide the ship because in sailing, in waiting
there is the search for oneself
For Ulysses Odyssey, life, death and idea,
journey that pierces the soul, the infinite love.
Take me with you in your mind and heart.
Prisoners of the chase,
we are always the mirage.
For Ulysses Odyssey, life, death and idea,
journey that pierces the soul, the infinite love.
Take me with you in your mind and heart.
Prisoners of the chase,
we are always the mirage.
Always us, always us.


Dimash Masterpost

So, update on the school situation! (Please note, it's not unusual for them to have cases pop up and having certain bubbles isolating. This happens fairly regularly and the 15 y.o. has already spent several miserable quarantines doing online learning.) But this one's in another league...

Apparently some of the kids went to a party Friday night (which they obviously shouldn't have) and cases have popped up all over, so it's not possible to isolate any specific group. Ergo, the whole year group has to stay at home until next week. Ah, teenagers. Here's to hoping that the fall-out is minimal.

And look, a very apropos article: Should schoolchildren still have to self-isolate?

~

In news closer to home Darcy is feeling crap and has spent most of the day watching Rick & Morty, curled up on the sofa. And Impish Girl is under the weather too. Guess we'll see how it goes. (Incidentally both Miss M and Impish Girl are still at their respective unis. I don't have a house full of poorly ppl, just the one patient.)

The Delta variant apparently tends to look like a cold (as well as possible nausea and aching joints) so look out for that!

~

In happier news, have a Spuffy vid rec - can't believe I didn't rec it already:

Truth or Dare by double_dutchess

warning/incentive to watch: It is packed with sex scenes from Season 6, and gets pretty steamy. So, rated R and possibly not worksafe.

~

Should I add this? I feel I ought to add current news now and again...

HMS Defender: Russian jets and ships target British warship

~

I have thoughts on music, but they'll have to wait... I'm still thinking through it all, and am not quite sure how to formulate it properly.

Daily Dimash: Know

To quote a comment by a Dear (Dimash fan) from somewhere (I don't have a link, thank you unknown fan, whoever you are):

One of his best is a song also written by Igor called Know. He does it with lyrics at New Wave. Then he honestly takes it to a whole different level in both New York and in Kiev where he simply sits flat on his bum and vocalizes the song, differently both times of course.

Here is the New Wave performance (with subtitles):

Dimash Qudaibergen - Know ~ New Wave 2019


Below the cut the vocalising performance & the official music video (impressive but SO STRANGE) + more. :)

( Read more... )

I feel very out of the loop. But I have this week off work, so I am trying to do things like clean the house and catch up with stuff and Darcy thinks we might even go away - like, overnight! - one day.

~

I feel I should talk about what I've been watching, because I have been watching stuff, just nothing that's caught me, fannishly. We re-watched the whole of The Bridge (the original Scandinavian one) and it's basically brilliant and I love it so much. Saga is the best, and there is a ton of meta in there too. I will try to make myself write it up.

( Nattering about The Boys )

Currently we are watching The Killing (the original Danish one - not very keen so far, I am SO OVER murdered young women), and Shadow and Bone which is interesting Fantasy and comes with a warning that it might cause obsessive fannishness. :)

~~

Now, since I have the week off I think I'll declare it Igor Krutoy Week, and post one of his compositions every day. He is a Ukrainian and Russian music composer, performer, producer and musical promoter, and his work is just... ♥ ♥ ♥

I've posted a few so far, but they all require a lot of work hence the gaps. But he is doing a lot of work with Dimash (and has written a fair few songs for him, since Dimash is basically a composer's dream), so you will often see Igor at the piano when Dimash is singing. (Follow the tags, or check out the masterpost.)

Daily Dimash: The Love of Tired Swans

I will post several performances, and almost did an eeny-meeny-miny-mo to choose which performances to put outside the cut. But this one has the best subtitles (turn on closed captions!) which is important because the lyrics are gorgeous, matching the melody beautifully. It's very distracting trying to post this, because all I want to do is watch. <3 This song is originally one of Krutoy's instrumental compositions, which now has been rearranged for singing. (Turn on closed captions for lyrics. I also chose this one for the ending - Dimash picks up the song again to get the audience to join in, and Igor's 'Oh heck, best get back to the piano' is one of the most aumising moments I've yet seen in a performance. Also just the way he interacts with his audience/the Dears is ♥ Literally just one of the nicest, most humble creatures on this planet.)

Dimash Qudaibergen, Igor Krutoy - Love of Tired Swans ~ New Wave 2019


And today you get another video outside the cut, because a very clever fan edited together one of Dimash's performances with Lara Fabian's and created a stunning virtual duet. (They need to do this for real once the pandemic is over!)

Dimash Kudaibergen & Lara Fabian - The Love of Tired Swans:


( More under cut, including the official music video which is a whole different experience again! )

First and foremost - LOOK IT IS DONE:

Chapter 4 of Meet the Neighbours

This one's Owls' - I provided a basic base and then they created a fantastical castle [of Good Omens brilliance] and I'm just sat here, admiring. ♥ This has evolved SO far beyond the vague ideas I had initially and there is a great deal more crossover crack to come. Trust me, you have no idea what we have in store for you!

(This is the one where the Doctor & Missy move in next door to Aziraphale & Crowley. South Downs fic of course.)

~

Aurora borealis: How northern lights are created has now been discovered

~

Perfect shot of a solar eclipse framing a man and his camel in the desert, by Joshua Cripps pic.twitter.com/eXzqygoylw

— Rob N Roll (@thegallowboob) June 13, 2021

~

Daily Dimash: Ti Amo Cosi

This performance features Dimash Qudaibergen, Lara Fabian and Aida Garifullina, and is from a Jubilee Creative Evening celebrating Igor Krutoy. The complete opposite of yesterday's song. Igor Krutoy is a Ukrainian/Russian composer and musician and has worked with many different singers, most notably Lara Fabian - and now Dimash. You'll spot him a lot, usually behind the piano, like here. :) Oh and it's a performance with MORE - not just a gorgeous operatic trio, but also ice dancers!

Chosen because I think Aziraphale would absolutely adore it it; the lyrics are incredibly romantic and the singing is divine. :)



Behind the scenes stuff under the cut, including Dimash meeting Andrea Bocelli.

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Dimash Masterpost