"...some unforeseen INSANITY is about to happen to me"
Princess Diana! Rina Sawayama! Little Mix!
This switch off isn’t really going to plan. I feel busier than ever? I was lucky the first time round. I didn’t have to work, I had been saying no to making plans in the lead up and my messaging apps were off completely. All time was me time. This week I’ve been at back to back Rina Sawayama shows, introduced a pal to my favourite “fuck the world” activity - isolation tanks - and today I’m heading out to do what is essentially a dog meet and greet with Hoops, who is also desperate to get a puppy but is also not allowed.
On top of that some unforeseen INSANITY is about to happen to me, and I’ve had to spend the last couple days preparing for that insanity, which is why there has been no paid subscriber content this week and I will instead do a double next week. (Trust me, when you find out what this insanity is, you will absolutely forgive my shambolic scheduling.)
I have lots to say at the moment, but honestly not the time to say it, which is the exact opposite of what I wanted from this time out. Last week I was miserable about the prospect of being in Coventry for three weeks, but today I’m lowkey looking forward to it. When my family life was just in the process of imploding instead of being the bombed out crater it is today, I actually used to retreat back to my dad’s house to cloister on a regular basis. I’m starting to think this exile is actually exactly what I need right now.
Something to watch…
I can’t really recommend Spencer as a movie, because I never want to watch it again, but Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana absolutely has to be seen to be believed. It’s the performance of a lifetime. Give her the Oscar.
I can recommend the Rina Sawayama “live”stream she’s selling tickets to right now, which I would describe as “not perfect, but pretty fucking close”. Two backing vocalists and maybe four extra dancers at the very least would have nailed down the 10/10, but these are budget concerns rather than a criticism of the show, which was such a moment. Choreo and staging was tight, excellent use of levels, Britney-level hair flips, multiple costume changes, an unrelenting setlist full of smashes… Also she’s like, super hot. I know we’re in a different era now where we have to pretend certain things don’t matter but it will be a cold day in hell before I lie that a hot popstar doesn’t hit harder than an average looking one. Bring on the arenas.
Something to listen to…
I’m not much for podcasts, but I have loved The Power of Little Mix from PopBuzz, hosted by Little Mix superfan and angel human Sam Prance. I’ve always felt very ambivalent towards Little Mix - I was happy to have them around, wouldn’t have missed them if they were gone - but Littl3 Mix really have me in a vice grip, I love them and I want them to stick around for another ten years. This podcast is very much by fans for fans, and the access Sam has to the girls themselves, and to the various members of their team who have been crucial to their development over the years gives a lot of insight into how they have beat the odds to become one of the world’s longest running and most successful girlbands. All five episodes are out now.