Recently I asked a group of seventeen-year-olds whether any of them had ever heard of Tom Petty. They just stared at me. (more…)
Archive for the ‘Rike Horstmann’ Category
Earworm of the day: Into the Great Wide Open by Tom Petty
Wednesday, July 11th, 2012Old friends
Tuesday, June 26th, 2012
Next weekend, I will be travelling to Berlin for the first time in years. After procrastinating for several months, a few days ago I finally called an old friend whom I hadn’t talked to in about three years. We used to live the same town and shared the same workplace, but then she moved to another company and to Berlin. We kept in touch regularly over several years, but then we just stopped. (more…)
Earworm of the day: Twist in my Sobriety
Wednesday, June 20th, 2012
This is one of the songs about which I can’t really explain why they stick to my brain the way they do. It’s incredibly ’80s in the almost negligent way it’s presented. I still haven’t figured out what it’s about. I don’t know any other songs by Tanita Tikaram. (more…)
What do you do while watching sports on TV?
Saturday, June 16th, 2012
Do you like to watch sports on TV? If so, I am sure you have watched one (or more) of those matches that were, well, a tad boring. Dragged for a while. That didn’t hold you interest because honestly, both teams were equally unappealing. On the other hand, I am sure you have also watched matches that got you so worked up that you were ready to throw the TV magazine at the screen, that you needed something, now, to distract you. In either of these cases, what do you do? (more…)
Earworm of the day: Times Square
Wednesday, June 6th, 2012
Times Square is not an earworm for me in the sense that I sing it myself all day long, instead I press the “repeat button” and listen to it five times in a row or more.
I discovered Marianne Faithfull as a performer in the 1990s through a track sung on a compilation of Kurt Weill songs. The first album of hers that I bought was Vagabond Ways. I quickly acquired more of her albums, old and new ones. The contrast between her 1960s and her present voice continues to fascinate me. I was lucky enough to listen to her live in Munich some years ago, and wow does she have stage presence!
Do you like Marianne Faithfull? What is your favorite song by her?
- Rike Horstmann
An update to last week’s post
Thursday, May 31st, 2012Because you gave such excellent advice following my post last week, I wanted to inform you that the visit has passed, and that it went far easier than anticipated. (more…)
Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof
Tuesday, May 22nd, 2012This is Matthew 6:34, and a bible verse that means a lot to me. I grew up with a mother who, while delightful otherwise, is also one of the world’s great pessimists. So a pattern developed between us that worked/works like this: Mom worries about something. I try to reassure her. She worries some more. I list all the arguments why the situation is not as bad as that. She leaves somewhat comforted. I feel utterly drained. (more…)
I can’t wear royal blue
Wednesday, May 16th, 2012
I recently ordered some T-shirts online, among them a lovely print in royal blue with a bit of black and while. I am a sucker for blue. Unfortunately, quite a number of blue shades don’t like me. Like, royal blue and navy blue and all really bright blues and all really pale pastel blues. What does that leave? (more…)
Complicated song titles
Monday, April 30th, 2012
The song title that got me started on this topic is not even real, it’s fictional: In Marcia Muller’s Sharon McCone mysteries, Sharon’s brother-in-law Ricky Savage is a country star, and his first big hit in the novels is called Cobwebs in the Attic of My Mind. (more…)
Meeting an old pet
Tuesday, April 24th, 2012
On a recent visit to my brother’s house, one family member I was looking forward to meeting was Orpheus the cat, commonly known as ‘Orfi’. My brother and sister-in-law got him from a shelter when they first moved into a shared apartment when they still were students. He was about a year old then and had spent all his life indoors. He was also extremely active and never settled down for a cuddle with a stranger. (more…)
