My two favourite singer-song writers: Fiona Apple and Sharon Van Etten need to be BFFs.
I can’t believe it – there isn’t even a photo of them together, a cover of each other’s songs, or a duet by either of them. I’m hoping they don’t see each other as direct competition or foes…
Therefore, I have collated five compelling reasons why they need to be besties forever:
1. They are both from New York and are of a similar age.
Fiona from New York City – now 38 – released her first single in 1996. Sharon from New Jersey (then moved to Brooklyn), New York – now 34 – released her first in 2009.
2. They have similar styles of music.
It’s safe to say they are of the same genre… Mellow alternative rock, I guess. Both have a jazz/folk tone to them too. They both have incredibly emotive lyrics and hooks in their songs that you just can’t get out of your head.
Fiona’s songs are perfect for those times when you’re royally pissed off, or bitter about something. Sharon’s songs are perfect for those times when you’re feeling a tad melancholy or nostalgic. Fiona and Sharon’s vocals are both natural-sounding, as in, their live and recorded versions tend to sound identical. PURE TALENT.
3. Powerful songs.
Fiona’s Not About Love and Sharon’s Your Love is Killing Me are their most powerful songs (both of which I have over-played).
Not About Love
Conversation once coloured by esteem
Became duologue as a diagram of a play for blood
Took a vacation, my palate got clean
Now I could taste your agenda
While you’re spitting your cud.
Your Love is Killing Me
There he let it go, his temper, standing there
See her with his gun and he, steals love so he can feel alive
Everyone’s knees knockin’ at the fear of love
Taste blood
Everybody needs to feel.
As a side note: Both singers have a song called ‘I Know‘.
4. Similar style and character.
Besides their musical style being similar, they are both grunge, messy, quirky, yet stylish at the same time. I bet they shop at the same stores… They’re both kind of shy and humble in interviews, too.
5. It appears they both write only when they’re unhappy.
In the case of Sharon, she uses song writing as an outlet, a way to process the hard times. Fiona’s work is a ‘pep talk’ to herself when feeling low. Neither singer has a happy song… I think the closest to a happy song of Sharon’s is ‘One Day’ or ‘Our Love’ at a pinch… And Fiona’s ‘Extraordinary Machine’.
Despite their similarities, I think Fiona’s writing is more complicated and broader with her use of language, but Sharon’s melodies and harmonies are beautiful.
Nevertheless, both artists punch you in the feels. Hard. Both FiFi and Shazza (if I may be so bold as to give them nicknames…) have the ability to transform strong emotion into relatable music. Both tell stories incredibly. And their work always brings back vivid memories of people, places or instances in my life, which is a talent and gift in itself.
Jodie
Watching it in the cinema, I was clutching my handbag and holding my breath… Any second now, the mild-tempered Maud Watts (Carey Mulligan) is going to flip her sh*t. But she didn’t. She remains meek throughout the entire film. She just cries more and more as the story goes on.
And, no make-up! Like, usually there’s the ‘no make-up, make-up’ look. But it actually looks like the Hollywood actresses are bare-faced. Kudos.
A timely and heart-breaking video to match a strong and inspiring song.
2015 is finally over.
Now 22, I am ready to continue in this adventurous fashion, by following my passion for writing and travel. I am ready to see things that can’t be found in an air-conditioned office, and tick off some things from my bucket list.
But, I really did get to ride a bus for free. The machine that takes your money broke, and the bus driver was all like, “WTF, OMG, YOLO” and let me on for free.
Despite this obvious rush of achievement, I am actually planning to tick larger things off my bucket list this year. Keep an eye out on my blog for developments.
But after listening to much of the album 15 Seconds of Fame, I found a couple of songs that were a bit below the belt – no pun intended… Like Escort Girl – a literal explanation of a night spent with an escort.
You may have noticed I have done 
This time last year, I gifted you people with a splendid collection of my personal Christmas film favourites. However, I am here to refresh this post with one additional film.
A Christmas Carol
The Polar Express
Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Probably the best family Christmas comedy.
it to the screen. And was popular.
James McAvoy (we named our pet goat ‘Mr. Tumnus’ after McAvoy’s performance as this character in Narnia),
Arthur Christmas was as magical as the 
After watching this exciting adventure, you too will feel secure in the existence of Santa, as many of these questions are thoroughly answered with imaginative and quirky explanations.
Oh! And you needn’t be put off by the presence of a Justin Bieber tune – despite the hype all over the DVD cover, I didn’t even notice the song.
I’m obsessed. Absolutely.
If you marry that up with this beautiful music video, it supports this idea so well.
She holds up her arms, which are drenched in red before falling to the floor. He rushes over and pulls back her sleeves to find there’s not a mark on her. The woman looks up at him with a look of relief, smiles at him and walks out.
could tell the difference between this video and the one-shot intro to
Suffragette is based on a group of British women in the late 19th century and early 20th century who demanded gender equality. Their political action shook the system, which goes to show what a threat they were to the societal hierarchy.
We’ve reacted to it – even on the red carpet at the film’s premiere, there were demonstrations fully welcomed by the cast. And now: I’m writing about it. Just from seeing the trailer, it has inspired me.
Director: Rob Reiner
Cruise’s character is over-confident, and he asks super awesome questions to people ranked way above him. But he has to be careful when he begins questioning Jack Nicholson’s character, because if he can’t get him to admit that he knew about the Code Red, then Tom Cruise’s character will be down the pan for accusing a Colonel… Basically.
Oh! And, Captain Jack Ross (Kevin Bacon) – not to be confused with popular Disney pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow – is the lawyer person on the other side, trying to get Dawson and Downey out of the Marines for supposedly murdering Santiago.
A laid-back song that has been very well mastered. 
This is the second song I’ve reviewed of Billy Roberts’.
Director: Ben Affleck
In the first robbery of the film, a masked Doug (Ben Affleck) is calming Claire (Rebecca Hall) who is franticly opening the safe, while the rest of the robbers intimidate the hostages.
I like movies where you’re on the side of the ‘badies’. Kind of like in 
Director: Tim Burton
Nevertheless! This was not a totally predictable Burton tale because it was based on real people and events.
Over 10 years, that lie snowballed into something much larger, where Margaret was lying to her daughter, lying to herself and losing her identity in a dominated relationship.
There were some great scenes, like when everyone’s eyes were like dinner plates in the supermarket. I was mesmerised by how believable Amy Adams is! She is an incredible actress for sure. I could completely understand how blinded she was in her marriage, just by her nervous gestures and mannerisms.
Director: Dale Driver
This is a story about a child, Rosie (Aimee Branson), who in basic terms has Alzheimer’s disease. The mother, Anna (Lindsay Bennett), has a choice: To enjoy the final 18 months with her daughter, or have a procedure that allows Rosie to survive, but with a 99 percent chance of her having no existing memories remain.
But I think this is a heart-warming, yet tragic story. The harsh lighting, score and believable acting certainly carries the emotions across.
Easy listening for the over 25-year-old single or broken-hearted ladies out there.
She has a natural ability to make mundane experiences into hilarious stories, with her subtle expressions and bizarre metaphors.
Each are relatable and lovable, each with pros and cons, strengths and weaknesses. No mood is less important than the other, or more favourable than the other. Which is a moral within itself.
Director: Alan Clay
Having not seen the whole shebang, I’m not sure if the moral of the story is ‘change who you are to make someone like you’, or if it’s ‘be who you really want to be – even if it’s not what most deem to be acceptable’.
Good on the cast and crew!
I really love this track!
I reckon their music would suit movies like 
First of all, I should declare that rap music really isn’t my jam.
The first thing I thought was ‘Nick Cave’. I think it’s David Arn’s gravelly voice and story-telling songs.
These two suggestions are simply to reinforce the intensity of the song. So that the weight of the deep and bold vocals, guitar and lyrics can be fully supported by the rest of the instruments.
NZ Film Freak 