With ABBA LPs and Flip-Flops to U2

So the other night I was out getting coffee and checking out my favourite flea market (How else are you going to get Cher stuff?!) when I ended up in Polo Park here in Winnipeg. Coincidently that was the night that U2 had their Winnipeg concert at the Stadium. I was there at around 6.30 and people were just pushing and shoving to get inside. Personally you could hit me over the head with a U2 song and I’d have no f-ing clue. So I just watched the security and the stage – which was huge, way taller than the stadium walls. I went to catch a bus to finally grab dinner but ended up back at Polo(stupid buses don’t run the same routes they do during the week). On a patio not too far from the stadium I had a great salmon and margarita – gotta love those - and quickly decided that I’d join the hundreds of people around the stadium watching the huge screens all for free. It was quite magnificent.

Despite the fact that I really wasn’t a fan they were cool. Unfortunately I found out that flip flops and a leather jacket thrown over a tank top doesn’t keep you warm at, what felt like -5°. Despite that I stayed the full two hours – covered with a way too big parka of some pot smoker that had shown up there and pitied that shivering mess I must have been.

However they completely ruined ‘In the name of love’ - widely known through Baz Luhrman’s ‘Moulin Rouge’(2001) – for me. It didn’t carry emotion for me. It was just a beautiful love song that had lost it’s meaning in deafening guitar riffs.
All in all through considering we’re talking about a rock band here it was a very mainstream concert. It songs were mixed, yes there were guitar riffs but rarely and far apart. One song almost reminded me more of the once shocking glam rockers of Kiss, their “I was made for loving you baby” was, I’m sure, a huge inspiration.
The whole concert was great but somehow their music seemed watered down from cutting edge rock to a more mainstream version that would for sure not offend anybody. While you can think about the band what you want Bono's politics are honorable... well that is if he'd actually live and breath them himself instead of just preach.
Over a 150 trucks are employed just to transport the three huge stages through North America. (One is used while one is set up and another one is being transported into the next city)

Somehow that just doesn't work for me... Save the earth, safe electricity and all that jazz and then he's using all that fuel(not to mention the electricity for the lightening effects of the stages during a show) just so? Just because he's Bono and has the money. It's hypocrictical in my eyes and not right.
Cher - a huge U2 supporter and fan herself - once said 'One never knows their believes until their faced with them'. Something along those lines. Bono obviously knows his believes but also knows that a more hippish, utopic approach sells more records, not to mention gets better publicity.

Honestly I was disappointed by the concert. Maybe it was because I wasn't part of the estatic crowd or oculdn't sing a single one of their songs but I wasn't too impressed. About an hour into the show two girls passed me and gave me their tickets. No charge, nothing. However I couldn't use them due to the strict 'No reentry' policy which really sucks.

Anyway, U2 is too rock to be considered pop and too mainstream to really count as rock. In my eyes they combine the least desireable aspects of both genres. The musics too flat, not offensive enough to be played when you've just found out your boyfriends been cheating you all along with your best friend. On the other hand though it's not light and fluffy enough to be played at a girl's night out or party. And then there's the not unimportant looks department, even the band members know that they are by no means sex symbols and probably never will be. Therefor they aren't even trying which is almost a point in their favor.

I'm not sure why they are so popular but they are. Good bless mainstream.

Getting home was somewhat easy, considering the route and the time. By the time the show was over - after 2 long, cold hours - it was 11 at night on a sunday. Upon finally getting downtown I realized that there were only 2 more buses going in my direction. Already knowing that without having phoned I was way passed my curfew I prayed to god that I wouldn't miss them. Staying out till midnight on a school night, not giving any kind of notice and then to top it all off being irrespondsible enough to get stuck down town at night? Yeah right, now that would make my host mother real proud. I caught the last bus just in time. I was freezing to death and then just as we were about to leave downtown(00:13) we were stopped and stood there for 6 fricken minutes just to wait for all the other ones coming from the concert.

It was quite amazing seeing all those empty buses wait and then leave all at the same time when the transit supervisor gave his okay. It was cool.

Getting home was not, but that's a story for another day.

Just another day...

This is a shortstory I had to write for my English class, maybe you like it, it's loosely based on what Chastity(Cher) went through in her movie Chastity.



Unconsciously her fingers entwined and unlaced from each other again only to repeat the process, her face was forced into a tight, un-readable expression. She followed a female figure, old enough to be her mother but much shorter than the woman the raven-haired teen had once called ‘mommy’. As she stepped over the threshold she was greeted by muffled sounds of pleasure, moans, the rustling sounds sheets made when they were moved… Her breath labored despite all her effort to keep it calm. She knew she wasn’t supposed to be here. Good girls didn’t go to the cathouse, but then again, where else could she go? Both of them came to a lobby, a living room almost were woman clad in camp fashion, slugged in ripped, filthy leather chairs and a couch. There were about seven of them, eyeing her in an assessing gesture, making her cross her arms defensively in front of her not too small, not too big, just right B cup chest. “This is—“, The older woman began, looking at her like she only realized now that she didn’t know the runaway's name. “Chastity” Was the soft spoken reply of the brunette with the extraordinary scrany figure and long hair. It wasn’t the girl’s real name, she had just picked it once out of a dictionary and had liked it.

The older woman proceeded to introduce the other women to her, but somehow all the brunette could hear was her own blood coursing through her veins. She sat down on one of the filthy, roughly used chairs and just waited. For what? She didn’t know. Her breath had calmed, her muscles relaxed slightly and she leaned back as a man was led in. Looking at the woman across from her like she was just a piece of meat; making her turn around for him to touch her full bottom and examine her flabby chest. He seemed to like what he saw, the woman looking indifferent to the touches. He turned around, looking at the short, older woman and nodding in approval. Chastity swallowed hard, having a hard time keeping her eyes straight forward and expression stern. It sent chills down her spine that she had no control over. The man couldn’t take his eyes of the woman, devouring her like a wolf with his eyes as he absent mindedly handed a Benji to the short woman, the owner of this establishment.
Then she took his hand, leading him, disappearing into one of the rooms and shut the door. Finally the young runaway cast her glance elsewhere, just to hide the disgust in her eyes. As the hours turned darker, more and more men started coming and repeating the process she had witnessed, finally a younger fellow was brought in and expressed interest in her. Focusing on an old oil painting of a corn field she let him touch her, let him assess whether she was worth his dirty money. Something in her face must have given her away though, the owner suddenly interrupted. “Not her, for your first time you deserve someone experienced.” She gently nudged him to the only other girl in the room. That’s when Chastity released the breath she hadn’t even known she had held. Once they had left the room the owner started looking at her in a strange, yet familiar manner. It took her a heartbeat to put her finger on it, it was the way her father had looked at her, that lustful glance like she was just a property. Her instinct told her to back down, take a step back and try to ignore her, but not this time, she forced herself to vainly return the older woman’s look. She was used to taking care of herself so she was going to handle this like the adult she wasn’t.

Unnoticed by her, the maroon top she was wearing was wet in just the right spots, clinging to her developing frame. Slowly, as if not to startle a young, innocent doe the older woman crossed the small room, Chastity’s heart beating faster with every step she took, a drop of perspiration forming on her neck and gliding down the smooth skin of her back. With a swift motion the older woman tugged a loose strand of black hair behind her ear, letting her hand softly brush the runaway's cheek who in turn had to force herself not to flinch. The soft caress raised the little hair on the back of her neck and sent her mind flying with questions. Why was this woman prompting such a reaction from the girl? Was just one of them.
Somehow she liked the soft touch but in another way it frightened her, scared her. She just wanted to run out the door and go back to her old life... what kind of life it was though; there was nothing that hadn't been controlled by abusive men, maybe this was a chance to change things. She opened her mouth as to say something but ended up turning her head quietly, while a clear question was ringing in her ears; “What are you doing?!” As if the woman was sensing the girl's concerns, she grasped her slender fingers with her own wrinkled hands. “Come on,” she said a soft smile gracing her features while a patronizing gentle tone carried her soft words, “you must be starving, have dinner with me.” The girl followed her like a lost puppy, still not sure what this would lead up to. No that wasn't true, she knew exactly what was going to happen but for some reason she was curious. They went up a flight of stairs, the older woman's hand never leaving the girls all the while walking through the dimly lit hallways – the paint on the wall crumbling off while the few paintings that had been hung clung desperately to their frail nails. Chastity didn't need to guess that the average guest wasn't supposed to see this part of the house.
Then suddenly the surroundings changed as she was led into what seemed to be private chambers. Everything in this room – a huge room – looked old and expensive. Something Chastity had seen in old Hollywood movies that her grandmother had watched while babysitting her. Those days in the sun, playing hide and seek with her older cousins in the woods just behind- “Sit,” abruptly she was drawn back into reality, away from the innocence of former days.

She stepped further into the room, following the older woman who had already taken a seat at the large table that could have easily held a dozen people. Pulling out a heavy wooden chair clad in soft velvet she swiftly sat down where another table set had been arranged, apparently for a girl the owner would take up there. The teen with the nose that was just a tad too long for her face was overwhelmed by the choice of delicate food she found in front of herself. In the months since running away she hadn't seen anything like this anymore, and even before that she couldn't recall ever seeing this amount; everything from chocolate cover strawberries, chicken, cooked fish to a large choice of nonalcoholic as well as alcoholic beverages of all kinds. She didn't bother to pray like she had been forced to so many times before but started right after her hostess had taken the first bite. Quickly she munched down as much as she could, but even she couldn't finish it all. Unbeknownst to her the older woman watched her curiously, a smirk playing on her face. Spoiling the deprived teen brought joy to her heart, she liked helping young girls get by and this wasn't the first time she was doing this. After their hunger had been stilled in silence the older woman got up walking behind the much younger female.

Now that she was full she knew she had to pay the bill. The older woman gently lifted her long dark hair that the young woman was so proud of from her small shoulder. Causing the girls hand's to clench in her lap and her heartbeat to race. 'Why is this making you so nervous old girl? You've been there before with your mother. All those men you parted with before the sun even rose, maybe this will be a change.' The young girl thought to herself, reminded of her past. So instead of playing dead she took actions in her own hand. She stood up and turned in the embrace of the woman, facing her, leaning into the soft caress of her cheek this time. The touch was softer than anything she had felt in the past, yet it felt wrong. Before she could form another coherent thought her lips were covered by the woman's, sealing them silent and robbing her of oxygen the more experienced tongue gently begging for entrance. Somehow as Chastity withdrew as the need for oxygen became greater than her curiosity – or whatever it was that drove her – the back of her legs connected with the soft sheets on the only bed in the room. Neither one had noticed that they had moved, yet somehow they ended up in the sleeping corner of the room. A gentle push from the older woman and Chastity flopped down on the soft mattress without much resistance. The older woman following her in a more graceful motion.
After hours of moans, groans, writhing in passion underneath the experienced lover's hands she felt spent. And dirty. Ashamed but somehow satisfied. The only thing she wanted was to get out of here. The older woman held her gently in her arms, one hand entangled in her long tresses while the other was loosely draped over her bare midriff. Gently she untangled herself, very carefully not to wake the older woman. Through the only window - that was cover in red drapery, like the rest of the room – she could guess that the sun hadn't even risen yet. 'Just another day...' She thought to herself before getting up, gathering her meager belongings and heading for the door after putting own her a little too hip hugging jeans and maroon top. She didn't cry, she hadn't since her father had left for good when she had only been three. She just went on, running down the stairs and out of the cathouse. One experience richer and a with a lot less self worth if she even had any left at all.
Back to the street where she had come from, hitchhiking, waiting for another man, another night, another meal, another trade...

William and Catherine

So I'm awake again after staying up the whole night for the Royal wedding. This post has nothing to do with Cher but everything with the English Royals. Being European just required me to stay up. And it was worth it.

The dress was unbelievable. Personally I preferred Diana's dress but this is much more understated.It indeed is vintage out of the house of Alexander McQueen - who passed away last year - designed by Sarah Burton. It is very understated with lace covering the strapless upper shoulder part of Kate. It is timeless. Very elegant, she couldn't have made a better choice. The tiara was the one of Queen Mother's, she had been given it on her 18th birthday by her mother. It carries a long history and was a smart choice. Made in 1936 by Cartier it's a masterpiece of work, yet very delicate.


The coverage started at 2 in the morning though the wedding was at 5. Personally that was a little long for me to look at crowds moving and the ridiculous hats of some people. The only one of the Canadian commentators that I recognized was Tracy Ullman, her comments were inappropriately funny and really kept me up a lot of the time. However I missed being introduced to all the royalty as they arrive at the church, recognizing only Fergie and her daughters. I would have loved to have seen Mette Marit or Princess Letizia from Spain whose wedding I slept through.

The wedding was everything one could expect from such an event. It was the material dreams are made of, just beautiful. The princes looked dashing in their uniforms - Harry in a Blue one while the groom wore a red/golden uniform. Unfortunately Willims hairloss was all too obvious. The most magical of moments was though when the bride stepped out of the Rolls Royce, her father by her side and straightened herself. Before walking down the aisle led by her father through a sea of people and trees, the green made the old Westminster Abbey church really come to live. Just before she entered the church Harry also mouthed to his older brother 'Just wait till you see her' which describs it perfectly, no words could ever measure up to Kate's beauty, the dress, the atmosphere etc.

None Nuns and my own delusional little dream setlist

Finally good news: Cher is going to be focusing on her upcoming album as well as her tour (tourdates will be announced in November 2011) and not on a new movie role. She has declined the offer to play the superior nun in the new Farrelly Brothers movie about the comedy trio The 3 Stooges.
She's also been twittering, asking her fans to help her with a new setlist. It's just amazing to think that after 7 years she's going to tour again. Now personally I can only pray that she comes to Europe because my student exchange year ends in the beginning of July and then I'll have to wait for her to come to Europe, Germany in particular. Personally my dream would be a tour like the Heart of Stone tour in 1989/1990. Less elaborate costumes, a little more singing and the whole show geared towards rock rather than exotic dancers and Bob Mackie costumes. I mean don't get me wrong, those costumes are great, but comparing the Farewell Tour DVD and the Cher Extravaganza - Live at the Mirage one just makes me wish I was born ten years earlier. Just watch this video:

One of my favorite songs that she's performed live so far.

Of course Believe is nice but aren't her real hardcore fans slowly getting a little sick of having a Cher - Greatest Hits for the 4 time in two decades? I'd wish she'd do something new.

Why not pick her Black Rose time back up? Belting out rock songs containing the f-word. I mean that's how I love Cher. Being a member of the biggest German forum of Cher, I read that some people would like her to get rid of all the 'old stuff' and the 'boring Sonny and Cher crap'. Personally that would kill it for me. I own her last albums, Living Proof, Believe, It's a man's world and I've downloaded Not.com.mercial as well as Love Hurts but especially the first 3 albums are a nightmare. Aside from Believe, Walking in Memphis and Song for the lonely I can't listen to them.

For me the best Playlist would be a mix out of classic rock songs and Cher songs. Maybe even a little goodies for her fans? Something like Dangerous Times, Working Girl or Soft Feathers and War Paint would just be fantastic live. I know I'm dreaming and the setlist is gonna read like a Cher-Greatest Hits CD but hey if it would be up to me her setlist would be:

1. You haven't seen the last of me
2. I found someone
3. All I really wanna do
4. We all sleep alone
5. Song for the lonely
6. Old Time Rock'n'roll
7. If I could turn back time
8. Taking it to the Streets
9. Half Breed
10. Sunny
11. Dangerous Times
12. Working Girl
13. Jailhouse Rock
14. Walking in Memphis
15. Do you believe in magic?
16. Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves
17. War Paint and Soft feathers
18. Take me home
19. Outrageous
20. Hell on wheels
21. Will you still love me tomorrow?
22. Believe

Okay somewhere I really wanted to put Ringo I love you, but seriously I'm not delusional, she'd never play that. But it's a dream but still I like those songs. It's not very realistic, but at least youtubes there and lets me watch all those videos.

I'm going to try to stay awake for the royal wedding now.

Love and Peace

Three Stooges and a new tour

So for a long time I've avoided the subject and with an upcoming tour I hope that this is just a joke gone wrong but Cher is supposed to star in the Three Stooges movie, directed by the Farrelly brothers - the guys that already directed Cher in Stuck on you. Personally I'm not too fond of them. Stuck on you might be the only movie I was never able to finish despite the fact that two of my favorite actresses(Meryl Streep & Cher) were in it. It's pathetic and stupid in my eyes and it's even painful to fastfoward to the Cher scenes alone. The appeal of that kind of comedy just passed me.

The reason I bring this topic up is that two elderly men in the bus today were discussing a movie that the Stooges made a cameo appearance in. They seemed like the
three Stooges were the hottest act ever. While I admit that they have to be respected for their endurance in a cut-throat business like show-business I don't quite find them funny either. It's just not something I'd like to watch, however I'm sure there are people out there that would watch it, the same people that are actually able to sit through a whole Chaplin movie. Or Laurence and Hardy. But one thing I just can't believe is Cher - leather clad, swearing, dating 20 years her junior Cher - playing a nun. To quote Blanche Deveraux, 'Nun the word says it, none.' Personally I can't imagine Cher actually doing that, at least if she wants to keep her credibility - or what's left of it anyway.


I hope that her new Tour that she twittered about will be x-ing those plans. According to Cher's official twitter - which she has been updating herself while lying in her bed, like we all know - she's going on tour in November 2012. Fine that's a long time, but it's better than no Cher at all. I can't even believe my luck, to be able to see Cher in concert. One question though, how does she want to top her Farewell tour? Or her Vegas show?
I wouldn't know, but if anyone can do it it's our favorite chicka with 9 lives. Exact Tour dates will be released by early 2012 according to Cher herself so let's keep our fingers crossed.

Oh and just on an unrelated note, I made some icons, take them if you want but credit.

Childstar meets church

Remember Candace Cameron Bure? No? Don't worry nobody else does either. Well at least not until they see her picture. She played Donna Joe Tanner on the beloved sitcom Full House for 6 years - she played the oldest sister of the much more known Olsen Twins.

The moment I found out that she had a signing by my usual saturday bookstore browsing I knew I would HAVE TO be there.
I arrived at the mall where the bookstore is an hour and a half early - had to pick up a Cher Extravaganza DVD and then went for a bite to eat. I went back into the chapters around 6 pm and there already was a lineup! I mean come on she's over the hill but a few crazy fans had lined up an hour ahead. Oh well I got in line with my already paid copy of her book 'Reshaping it all'. For those of you who've never heard about it, it's about the former childactress coping with her bingeeating, weight problems and eventually finding spiritual release in god. For me as having abandoned the Roman-Catholic faith - or any for that matter - and someone who hates working out and diets it's not an easy or recommended read.

Anyway waiting in line I met a very nice woman with her 13 year old son. He was a sweetheart teaching me how to use his PSP. The woman was very nice, and had been a fan of Candace because of Full House - as were most other people showing up in Chapters tonight if you ask me. Nobody really knew what the book was about or had even gotten beyond page 3. Every now and then employees of Chapters went through the rows of people and asked if anyone wanted it dedicated - if you did you got a sticky note with your name written on it stuck on your book - just don't talk to the star. Like one of the really big ones she arrived late. Only ten minutes though, after all she is sort of over the hill and wants to go to bed early now. At this point it really hit me that this was not some little signing a book and talking with the author kind of thing that I had attended previously. No this was going to be a big, she's a major star, ooh and ahh about her but don't talk or dare touch her. I skimmed through 'Reshaping it all' in between talking to the woman and her little boy and finishing off my Starbucks Caramel Machiatto. After about half an hour I got up to her. It was just great. It wasn't that bad after all. She was friendly smiling and inquired politely how I was.

My voice almost broke replying. She looked so much like she did on Full House and that had always equalled the perfect family for me. Security. Fun. Music. The only words I could choke out after that was that I loved her song in Full House. She looked at me like she didn't even remember it(- which come to think of it, she probably didn't.)
If you don't either check this one out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mnPQ5ba1gI0
I loved it as a child and even now I catch myself whipping along with her. And oh my gosh I wanted her hair! Growing up she was the optimum of coolness for my pre-teen 90s ass.


Back to the signing: A chapters employee took all the peoples cameras and shot pictures while one was talking to Candace - again more praise for her early work on Full House than anything else. After everything was done I took a lot of other pictures of her. Hardly any turned out good, either someone stepped in front of the lense or it became all blurry - I was freaking out to have met her and be close to her and my hand was trembling. Anyhow, I admire that Candace really stayed till even the last fan was satisfied - yes I stayed too making me look like some crazy, fanatic stalker. After two hours of constant smiling she left her position at 9:17 pm to go home, in her case a hotel or a plane.

All in all I got a signed Full House DVD and her new signed book out of it. Both will undoubtly go back to Germany with me in July and get a special spot in my room, when do you ever get to meet someone who inspired you when you were a tiny little kid?! I was shocked at home much she still looked like my teen idol (ha I'm talking about teen idol when I'm only 18 right now =P). Make that pre-teen. She's definitely a nice person but all that mentioning of god and the bible quotes put me off her book, once and if I do read it cover to cover I'll write a review.

Till then, thank you so much for a lovely evening Mrs. Cameron Bure.

Cher '87

1987 was a fabulous year for Cher-deprived fans, after a half a decade of abstinance from music she released her third self-titled album of her career. The same year enduring fans could also admire her on the big screen again; first as head witch of Eastwick, then as relentless laywer and then finally as an Italian widow. The latter earning her her 'Best Actress' Academy Award.

The album starts very powerful, with the Bolton composed rock-ballad 'I found someone'. It's one of those songs, that shows how much her has matured, not only vocally, but as a person. When she belts out 'I found someone to take away the heartache, to take away the loneliness, I've been feeling since you've been gone', one can perfectly imagine her pinning this song at her ex-husband Sonny Bono while in the arms of her bagel boy. None the less the video to accompany the song is one of the most empowering and simply best that she's ever done. When Cher gets dumped she doesn't just crawl up in her bed crying, no, she goes out dressed smokin' hot and gets a new boy-toy.
Cher in her I found someone get up, often falsely labeled as her Turn back time outfit.

The next number is yet another number one hit from this extrodinary album, 'We all sleep alone'.

- Not in the mood right now, I'll finish by the 22nd the latest sorry-

Bellbottoms

We all know those things, some hate them, some love them but everybody knows them. And that's thanks to Cher. Being the dutiful Cher fan I am I tried for the longest time to get a pair of real bellbottoms and finally yesterday I got them. They look great, and huge. I don't mean huge as in, wow they aren't skinny but holy crap they are like a skirt!

I love them! It's annoying to walk in them when there's wind outside but who cares? I have Cher-like bellbottoms. Later today I even got those sunglasses in an aweful brownish black color that were so hip during the 70s. They are kind of ike a traffic accident, horrific but one just can't look away. Having dark hair, bellbottoms and a lot of big earings and bling all over my clothes makes me feel a little bit like Cher!

It's just fun!
Cher (here with Sonny in the late 60s) made the former manwear unisex. If one looks into the history of bellbottoms they were THE thing to wear. If you were in the navy in the 19th century that is. And then a suddenly they became hip again in the 1960s with the arrival of Sonny and Cher!

Isn't it amazing how a trend a shy, sharp tongued girl from El Centro, CA could set a world wide trend like this one. That's just the miracle that is Cher. Back in the 60's she saw a girl wearing Bellbottoms on the street and just couldn't help but walk up to her and as where she got those unique pants. The answer: A friend of hers had sewn them for her. At this point Cher was hooked. She got the friend to sew her own creations for Sonny and her outlandish look.
By '62 they lived in a little loft above S&C's garage and sewed all of Cher's creations together. They would even be featured on the backside of the Sonny and Cher Album Look at us.

By the 1970s when many youngesters, even those who now labled the Bonos as square wore Bellbottoms it was Bob Mackie who took over. With the start of their own weekly variety show he started to really get into the business, he started dressing Sonny and Cher in the most outrageous yet classy clothes TV-land had seen till then. 3 years later even TVs most beautiful private detectives copied what Cher had already worn in the 60s, bellbottoms.

By the 1970s however Cher(here with daughter Chastity in '75) herself preferred to push the envelope to new heights and instead of hippyish unisex clothes she started wearing destinctavely female clothes, mid-riff baring tops, cropped tops, all sorts of low-cut and generally cut out tops and pants or skirts. Once general public caught on to the trend that she had set she simply choose to follow her own, new trend - at least on stage. Many 'private' or at least cassual pictures of that time still show Cher in bellbottoms.

During the 1980s however she abandoned the style completely. It was replaced with much wilder(did we even think that was possible after the Take me home cover?!) and much skimpy costumes. Like the seat belt she wore for her infamous Turn Back Time video or the racy sado-maso outfit in Save up all your tears.

By the late 1990s however she wore them again, her bellbottoms. The only recent interview I can think of however is the one with Jay Leno in 1998, but see for yourself:


'They are older than some of my boyfriends!' That's the kind of tongue in cheek humor Cher fans - including me - love so much.
Personally I'm absolutely in favor of a return of the Bellbottoms and that is not just for 1970s revival parties but forever. Heck if a trend can last 40 years - I'm talking about bellbottoms here not Cher though it does fit her too - then we are all ought to respect that! Now go get your old Gypsys Tramps and Thieves record, put on your bellbottoms and make love, not war.

Peace out!

Psychological Analysis of Cher

So for my 12 Grade Psychology class we were supposed to pick a friend or make a person up that we would analyse and then help them reach a goal. In my Cher obsession I naturally choose Cher, well that's what I wanted at least. Finding a goal she could have was not easy but finally I decided on writing it in a past time, kind of like a newspaper article released in 1975. The year she was married to Allman, pregnant with his child and had a public - professional - reunion with Sonny. Also the last year she was smoking.
A perfect example I thought.

So here it is now, I've handed it in but I didn't get a mark. Yet. We'll see how it turns out. Anyway the facts in the background are well researched so I thought some of you, my readers, may enjoy this. So here we go:


Psychology Unit 2 Project
Mr. --
Psychology
Grade 12
Barbara --

Cher quits smoking - 1975

Headlining a TV variety show is an unpredictable and precarious art that Cher has mastered amazingly well. Like everything else she’s done lately – whether it be her recent reunion with ex-husband Sonny Bono or her newly found happiness with her husband Gregg Allman, her unborn child’s father.
She’s just 29, but already has a number one hit in the last two decades, 2 marriages, a child and a 13 year long entertainment career under her belt. She’s a typical type A personality. She came from a broken home, meager belongings – merely two pants, 3 T-shirts, 2 pairs of shoes and a coat when she moved in with her future husband Sonny Bono in 1962 – a purely platonic arrangement at the time. After all he was 12 years her senior and she an underage runaway. She’s very optimistic about her future, after all how else can she deal with critics and reporters constantly telling her that she’s on her way out for over a decade?
Cherilyn Sarkasian Bono Allman is the American dream, she’s everything she ever wanted and now it finally looks like her husband has kicked heroine and his alcohol problems for good. But to ensure a healthy young baby for the Allman’s Cher needs to kick a habit she’s nurtured since her rebellious teens – especially with the recent surface of the health risks of smoking. She’s miscarried at least 4 times before and is at risk to do so again especially with the added stress of her weekly TV-show – this time again with Sonny, a purely professional reunion of course. Or is it?
There are rumors now that she’s pregnant she wants security again and not a unpredictable husband who she needs the babysit and might just go back to the habits of his shady past. Friends of Cher’s report that she has been seeking Bono’s advice - not just regarding the show, but also in personal matters.

Her goal is be to stop smoking Malboro Light cigarettes, a brand she loves.

The action plan:
1. Find out when and why she smokes: When she’s stressed, because it gives her a little break.
2. Figure out which Psychological needs are satisfied by smoking: It calms and at the same time stimulates the body. It calms and sooths her, but at the same time her pulse and breathing increase and hormones that stimulate happiness are pumped through the veins.
3. Find ways to condition her not to smoke: Like for example she does a brief power work out to release stress instead of smoking and have the long time reward of a killer body. And in other situations she could substitute the fag for a chocolate bar – her weak spot - or even a sugar-free mint that she can chew on.
4. Find extrinsic motivations: Definitely the health of her little daughter and the unborn child she's carrying.
5. Find intrinsic motivations: She doesn't want to miscarry again.
6. Slowly turn down frequency: She slowly cuts down from 3 packs a day that she's smoking right now 5 cigarettes a week till she finally is able to quit.
7. Support from family and friends: None of her friends, nor her (ex-)husbands should smoke around her for an optimal outcome. Also her friends should congratulate her and offer positive and supportive feedback(e.g. What you're doing is great, I couldn't do that etc.)
8. Finally throw the fags away: Get rid of all the smokes that are handily deposited in glove departments, around the house and in purses. They are not needed as comforter anymore.
9. Goal reached!!!

The single biggest and strongest motivation will be intrinsic to have a child with the man she loves at the moment. She doesn't want to miscarry, she wants for her family to be happy and healthy. But Cher knows that by smoking she subjects not only herself but also the ones she loves to an unpredictable health risk. With a seven year old and another one on the way she doesn't want to take that risk.
And of course there are her looks that are said to fade faster and more horrific when you smoke. Cher is one of the mega superstars of our time but even though she's at the top of her game there are always younger, newer, prettier girls coming up trying to take somebodies place. Somebody that has outgrown the fans, somebody that's old and forgotten, but Cher doesn't want to be that somebody. She's optimistic about her life in the lime light but she's not delusional. She knows that her time will come but by quitting smoking she ages slower, more natural and especially avoids those nasty wrinkles around her lips – in which lipstick/gloss can run into, creating a vampire-that-just-drank effect.

On the other hand there are always set backs and obstacles. For example in this case her husband is a heavy smoker and drinker ever since he kicked his heroine addiction. He won't approve of his wife's new idea of suddenly being a non-smoker. He will disapprove which collides with Maslows hierachy of needs – In this pyramid shaped drawing we see the 9 fundamental needs every single person has. In this pyramid the need for approval, acceptance and love is on the third level. As a smoker Cher has that approval of her social environment but once she stops she might lose it. Actually very likely she is to losing it and causing fights over it with her husband which can ultimately destroy her relationship and bring her back to the more basic need for security and safety.
Of course on the other hand Greg could also just put his own feelings aside and respect his wife's choice for a smoke-free environment for her and her unborn child. He just has to realize how painful and devastating it would be if Cher lost another baby. And eventually he has to make up his mind whether smoking is more important to him than Cher, he just can't have both anymore.

It plays a very large role because addictions are never purely psychological. There's always something else playing in there, in this case it's the nicotine. It stimulates and relaxes the body at the same time. Because it's inhaled, it takes only ten to fifteen seconds after a puff to reach the brain – much faster than intravenous drugs or alcohol. Once there, nicotine attaches to brain cells in a way that causes them to release a flood of neurotransmitters. This action, among other things, affects the reward center of the brain, which encourages people to repeat whatever behavior stimulated it. After a few more puffs, the level of nicotine in the blood soars , the heart bats faster, and blood pressure increases. As a result, smokers become more alert and may actually even think faster. Simultaneously, nicotine may calm the body by churning out natural opiates called endorphins. Thus, as a smoker, she can feel alert and relaxed at the same time.

During the whole ordeal she's put through the wringer of ever changing emotions. At first she goes into denial, she doesn't believe that her smoking is a problem. After a while – and doctors advice – she finally admits to herself and then to everybody else that her smoking is indeed a problem, a risk. Then she has a sudden urge to change, to quit, which makes her depressed because suddenly she gains weight and can't smoke anymore. At the end though, successfully going through the quitting process she only feels accomplishment.

The smell and taste senses will be very much involved in this as well as a slow adaptation of her senses. It is definitely an absolute treshold – meaning that a human can tell the difference of the change very easily and clearly. To top it off it belongs into the humanistic field – humanistic means that it concerns itself with the individual human being.


PS: Constructive critisim is always very helpful so go for it.

The River Wild

I've been fortunate enough to catch it on TV every now and then, tonight is such a semi-rare occasion. I like the movie a lot, Meryl Streep does an amazing job, as does Kevin Bacon, scaringly amazing. The movie is captivating, the effects - that as I later found out weren't even effects - are realistic.

I've seen it for the first time when I was maybe 5 or 7ish or so. My whole household is huge on Meryl Streep resulting in me seeing almost every Streep movie, most of them boring me to death. The River Wild was always an exception! It reminds me a lot of Marilyn Monroe's The River of No Return - without the songs and the tackyness. And OMG for the first time ever I noticed that even Catwoman hottie Benjamin Pratt is in it.


The movie shows the interesting journey of a family that is going on a vacation, just canoing through the US/Canadian border backcountry. The couple's marriage is crumbling under the fathers workaholic tendencies and the mother's high expectations. While at the beginning of the movie they act like most parents, fighting as soon as their son is out of sight and trying to push out the inevitable divorce that the viewer knows in the first scene is waiting for them in the near future. On the canoeing trip they met three men and their son Roarke easily makes friends with Wade, the leader of the three men much to his parents dismay. They know that something is up with the men but don't give another thought to it as they are heading out into the nature.

Even on this trip the father can't leave his work behind and Roarke starts to see Wade more and more as a father figure. They keep meeting up on the river and later on even on the shore. By that time the men met the family this time they are only two. The third one is gone and now Wade and his friend don't know how to get down the dangerous stream. Due to her son's insistence Gail, a former guide on the river, agrees to take them down the river to the first safe place where they can leave the river and return to civilization. While traveling together with the two men the Hartman's notice more and more that there's something off about their new 'friends', however the straw that breaks the camel's back is Wade watching Gail as she skinnydips. It's a creepy scene in the dark with lightning and gentle rain pouring down her naked body as she steps into the water. All the while the audience sees Wade leaning against a tree, the music contributes greatly to the atmosphere as well. Suddenly the dog starts barking, alarming Gail that there's something or rather someone that isn't supposed to be there... Then with a bolt of lightning we see Wade clearly standing against a tree watching with a sinister and undeniably horny grin plastered all over his face.

As they try to escape the following day they are caught. The father is beaten up, Gail is wrestled down and her son stroke hard across the face. Now the family's on a trip for survival, in the course of the movie the father is shot at, the dog is chased away and one of Gail's childhood friends that is a ranger now is shot in the chest and pushed into the river(A scene I personally can't even watch today, it just disgusted and freaked me out as a little girl and it still transforms me back to that little girl).

For everyone that hasn't seen the whole movie I won't spoil it, but the ending is utterly satisfying.

It's almost a little like Out of Africa, the epic lovestory with the fantastic countryside images. Living in Canada now I would have never believed that this country could be so beautiful.
Despite the scenes of frightening violence this movie should definitely be shown to children, of younger and older children alike. It conveys the ideas and morals of family, loyalty and bravery. It shows what a mother would do for her child, a role Meryl Streep has always excelled in, would it be her two Academy Award winning performances in Kramer vs. Kramer and Sophie's Choice or in the critically aclaimed A cry in the Dark. The audience really feels how torn Gail is, help the men escape their legal punishment and save her family or risk her family to take revenge on the men that threated her life and killed others?

Heart of Stone

Originally this was gonna be a review for a German fansite but my German has gotten pretty bad since it's never used. I realize that many of you may not even care about this piece of art anymore... Or just think of Cher as the woman with the countless wigs, the boyfriends that could be her sons and the worst example of plastic surgery.

But in 1989 when Heart of Stone was released on vinyl it was a burner! This album opens with the unforgotten 'If I could turn back time'. A time-less anthem of love, regrets and pride or short, a signature Cher song. She puts more than just her heart into it, one can tell that She's had her fair share of regrets and she has been hurt. It's not an act. Not for her. Even more so than the song itself the video to accompany it has acclaimed fame due to it's controversy. A 43 year old woman clad in what could have been a car seat belt with a flimsy fishnet on top of it singing for hundreds of horny soldiers while humping their canons. In between all that was her 13 year old son, Elijah Blue Allman playing the guitar. Which man over the age of 30 could ever forget that video or the song? It does belong in every good rock collection, it's just an absolute classic. And if you've ever broken up with someone or been dumped there's nothing better than one of the sexiest women alive belt her pain out.

The next song is less of a rock anthem in fact it's a country song. 'Just like Jesse James' is a forgetable country song. It's not bad but it's not good either. Somehow it became a rather successful single which forces Cher - who hates the song herself - even nowadays to sing it at concerts and live appearances. And no this song is not about Sandra Bullock's ex-husband.

The third song almost sounds like Cher has looked for inspiration in Sandra's Jesse, but in truth this song was written by Michael Bolton. Again a typical rock ballad with strong female vocals by Cher. In an instant you know it's the 80's. In 1990 this was the last single release(Europe only) of one of Cher's most successful albums. 'You wouldn't know love' deals with a woman who has to face a man who's been cheating on her yet always comes back to her. Not as forgetable as it preceder but it doesn't stick long.

Next is the title track... Heart of Stone. A beautiful, melancholic song about the insanity we created for ourselves. The song has been relevant in '89 no question about it but in 2011 it has become even more so. The president of the US bombs countries which's names people usually can't even spell on a daily basis while Anarchism and Racism is the new Love and Peace. Especially the video shows how sad and tradgic some of those developments have been, but for Cher fans this video is very valuable due to the rare content of homevideos showing Cher with her Children and even her husbands, dating back to the early Sonny and Cher moments. The listener is encouraged to think about all that's going on in the world these days, not just about their own little blue-collar neighborhood.

'Still in love with you' deals again with a lost love. Naturally the man is the one breaking a woman's heart. She's never trusted her head even though she has had a hunch that her sweetheart wasn't quite as much in love with her as she was with him.
The drums are nicely accenturating Cher's matured voice and the E-guitar gives it a nice rockish sound. She's not Bonnie Tyler but it's a pleasant bawling-your-eyes-over-a-broken-relationship-song.

The next song was written by the man behind 'You give love a bad name', Desmond Child. It is one of those songs that are sung so sweet you almost miss the underlying sadness. Almost. In Cher's rendition it sounds more hopeful, like life's gonna change again and the protagonist couple is finally gonna live the life they want to live. The passages about the memories seem a tad bitter but that comes with Cher's own life experience, all in all 'Love on a Rooftop' is one of the finest love songs - for sure the most underrated one - of her career.

Passion and need rule the next track and likewise the song is rendered emotionally. The guitars are blearing, the drums are beating in a heavy, steady beat. Here's a woman singing about her inner most desires, it is to be with the man she loves and how he set's her on fire. 'Emotional Fire' is one of those rock-ballads that were so typical for the '80's, empowering... feminine... passionate. It is one of those songs you can listen to over and over and you always discover a new nouncé everytime you hear it.

A much gentler version of Emotional Fire is 'All Because of You'. It centers around the love that won't just subside even after a relationship ends. It's a beautiful love song but Cher's interpretation is so real, so emotional that it almost hurts to listen to it. A very underrated, beautiful song, a must for every Cher fan since Cher's voice is clearly at it's height and the center of the song. The instrumental background music is softer that in any of the other songs which really hightlights her voice.

Again 'Does anybody really fall in love anymore' is a nice little filler between the more memorable songs on this album. It's nice, but not overwhelmingly great or memorable. One listens to it, but as soon as the next song's on they have forgotten about this number.

The beginning with the mouth organ just inspires to dream and escape whatever worries might press the listener down at that moment in the next song. This song is uplifting, finally life goes on. There's a life after love. 'Starting over' is a beautiful song about moving on and finding new strength after the end of a relationship, but really this song can be applied to any situation.
Cher's voice is as soft and reassuring as can be, it's like the hot tea your mother used to make when you were sick. It's comforting, knowing and ultimately helping you get well again.

'Kiss to Kiss' is a nice popsong that could easily be a hit in the 2010s would it be re-released. The beginning is very much like the intro of 'I found someone' was during the Heart of Stone tour. It's a dreamy, desperate song.
This time it is not about breaking up, it's about living just for another kiss from one's lover. It's very soft and a perfect song for a romantic evening/night with a intimate.

'After all' closes the most successful pre-'Believe' Cher album. Personally it was never a song I could relate to nor like. It was too slow, too schmalzy, too... well it just wasn't right. Nothing worked for me, nonetheless this became a big hit with many fans - which is beyond me.
Once you watch the 'Farewell Tour' DVD though this song is beautifully arranged with scenes of Cher's life on screen, everything's there from Mask to Witches of Eastwick to Mermaids. Only Good Times and Chastity are missing.

All in all this album is a must have for every Cher fan. It touches hearts and is one of the most sincere albums of the grand diva. Despite the many songs circling around love and lost love, Cher herself was in a relationship with her true love - bagel boy Robert Camilletti. Maybe however the Cher-anthem 'If I could turn back time' was already a harbinger of things to come, Robert and Cher split just a year after due to the pressure of the constant press coverage.

Anyway, this album is a must-have for 80's and Cher fans. But even for those who don't fall into those characteristics it is one of those albums that can help you through rough times. May it be a break up or being separated from your family.
By now the original cover with Cher kneeling beside a Heart of Stone - which forms a skull if you look at it from afar - is a real rarity and a collectible among many Cher fans.