The perfect film clip?

My one true love, Childish Gambino, released his film clip for Sober yesterday, and I'm going to make a bold statement...it may be one of the most fitting film clips I have seen created for a song.

I am massive fan of all of Donald Glover's works, and I was delighted to see him produce yet another amazing piece. This film clip is super simple, showing Donald dancing in an empty restaurant to impress the one other customer (a super bangin' gal).

I think the effectiveness of the film clip basically comes down to its simplicity. Childish Gambino's film clips tend to always have extremely engaging themes, and are portrayed with simple and easy-to-watch camera shots. Take for example Sweatpants - that film clip was extremely effective and engaging to watch due to the bizarre themes and interesting concepts in conjunction with the simple camera shot following Childish Gambino through the diner. It's this whole "easy to watch" concept I think. There's not too many things to watch, or too many angles so you have to be actively watching the entire time...it's just simple - easy - effective.

Nah, I just watched this film clip again...this is brilliant. I thoroughly enjoy this video. It's realistic and therefore engages the audience more because we can relate to it more easily. It's humorous plus Donald Glover can actually dance...which for some reason I was surprised by.  It isn't predictable...the girl doesn't get up and dance with him at the end THANK GOD...she gets up and gives the impression she's going to groove, but then she just collects her food and walks out...it's awkward and exactly how it would happen in real life.

I give this film clip five stars...I know that's a bold move. It will probably piss off my Dad because "if it's five stars that means it cannot possibly get any better", and in most people's eyes there probably are things they would add to make it better for them personally. But I think, for a film clip to be this popular and effective for such a wide audience - of course there are things individuals would add to make it better for them - but this seems to be simply perfect for a wide range of astute music lovers. Five stars God dammit.

Stella xxx

Sia - Elastic Heart

So, if you have been on the internet recently you have probably heard about Australian musician Sia's new film clip for Elastic Heart. Starring Shia Lebeouf (Transformers, Nymphomaniac, Holes) and Maddie Ziegler (who you may recognise from Sia's previously film clip for Chandelier, or from Dance Moms if you're that way inclined) the clip has unfortunately been at the sharp end of the knife after some pedophilia rumours and backlash from the public.

I found this so upsetting to hear and honestly it makes me incredibly angry. Before I go any further, view this clip for yourself, gather your own opinion and meet me in the next paragraph.

When I first began researching this topic a couple of days ago I never expected to become as passionate and supportive of this clip as I am. This is art, and the negative energy that it has created honestly breaks my heart because I have fallen into a deep love with this video. I find this one of the most beautifully confronting, artistic and thoughtful film clips to be produced in recent years. To tell the truth I am not a huge Sia fan, but that could be mostly to blame on the fact that Chandelier was playing constantly on the radio at work for months on end...but I think I have been converted with Elastic Heart.

When I watched the clip with my boyfriend, he suggested it seemed very father/daughter like. I can see that idea especially in the caring nature of the choreography, although my interpretation was that they were the same person, each character playing different sides of one personality. Upon research I discovered this to be correct. Sia created the clip with the intention of both Shia and Maddie playing herself.





I find it extremely confronting that there were so many viewers suggesting the video had pedophilic intent. Is it the fact that they are wearing minimal clothing? Was it the intense emotion they showed towards eachother? Because I found neither of these things to be provocative nor suggesting of anything sensual. You can see by the movements of Shia's character that he is caring of Maddie's character despite their battle - the way he wakes her, the way he picks her up whilst she lies on his back, the way he places her down. In the same way, Maddie's character seems in control throughout the entirety of the dance - the way she can escape the enclosure, the way she looks at him, the way she approaches him with strength rather than fear, and finally the way she begs for him to escape the enclosure with her at the end. This is clearly not a romantic relationship, nor is it a sinister one.

Although I respect everyones opinions, I do think that anyone making such disturbing claims as to suggest that certain artists, whether that's Sia, Shia Lebeouf, choreographer Ryan Heffington, or director Daniel Askill intended the film clip to present pedophilic values is absolutely revolting. Without coming across too harshly, I do think if you are disturbed by this film clip and find it sexual/sinister than that may say a lot more about you and your mind set than it does of the film clip itself.

I find it very interesting that Sia said Maddie and Shia were the only too people able to capture the two sides of the 'Sia personality'. Throughout performances and interviews Sia does not show her face to the audience nor cameras. She does this as a way of keeping her privacy, and be recognised for her voice rather than her appearance. And what does a super star who does't want their face to be shown remind you of?
...Perhaps Shia's attempt to be not famous -



All in all, I have fallen head over heals in love with this film clip. It is moving, engaging, emotional and simply beautiful. I genuinely feel moved by the section seen at 3:07 where Shia screams through the bars of the enclosure. If that isn't some of the best acting you have seen...pwoah. I have no words.
I am hurt by the disturbing claims and could not disagree with them more if I tried. I commend Sia, Maddie Ziegler, Shia Lebeouf, Ryan Heffington, Daniel Askill on coming together to create such a brilliant piece of art.

- Stella xx

triple j Hottest 100

I swear it was only about a month ago that I was writing up my nominations for 2013's hottest 100. To think that I found last year's choices difficult...this year was excruciating.

I find this stressful...do you pick your favourite song by the artist? Or do you pick their most popular song therefore increasing their chance of winning? Yeah...it's a difficult decision. This year my plan of attack was to simply pick my favourite song by each artist...songs that were important to me throughout this year pretty much.
I spent a couple of hours with Will going through the nominations and by the time I had picked my favourite song by each of my favourite artists I had nominated 50 songs. Narrowing them down to my top 10 was almost impossible. I gave up 4 times. Then I had to go through the whole journey again as Will did his nominations. But we did it, and here they are for your pleasure at your leisure:

I actually found great sadness in narrowing down my long list of nominations to my top 10...because of this, I want to mention the artists that I really am hoping whole heartedly to see in the Hottest 100 despite not receiving my vote:

Saskwatch - Born To Break Your Heart
King Gizzard And The Lizard Wizard - Hot Wax (luckily Will included this is his top 10)
Delta Riggs - Gooey (Like A Version)
Broods - Mother and Father
Childish Gambino featuring Chance The Rapper - The Worst Guys
Kasabian - Eez-Eh (Again, Will including this gem)
Every other Sticky Fingers song that was nominated...a part of my nearly wanted to nominate everyone of their songs, but I pushed through the temptation and picked my favourite.

So, if you haven't already, it's your turn! I've left the link below. Honestly, get yourself a drink...you'll need it, this is stressful and if you're like me it will cause you to make the biggest decisions you have all month.

http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hottest100/14/

- Stella xx

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Images from:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/the-orwells-react-to-instantly-infamous-letterman-performance-20140116
http://www.mtv.com/artists/alt-j/photos/
http://pitchfork.com/features/guest-lists/9386-courtney-barnett/
http://www.kiss925.com/2014/11/17/watch-mark-ronson-and-bruno-mars-debut-uptown-funk-music-video/
http://www.theartsshelf.com/2014/06/30/glastonbury-headliners-kasabian-announce-autumn-uk-tour/
http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/amity_affliction_joel_birch_near_death_experience_new_album
http://www.outinperth.com/alison-wonderland-get-ready-australian-tour/
http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/QOh8ukyCrhr/Annual+ARIA+Nominations+Event/ZnWGdQRcIlJ/Chet+Faker
http://musicfeeds.com.au/feeds/king-gizzard-the-lizard-wizard/
http://www.projectu.tv/tag/allday/
http://www.emimusic.com.au/angus-julia-stone/
http://sureshaker.wix.com/sureshaker#!artists-bootleg-rascal/cy9l
http://www.table9mutants.com/dmas-delete/
http://www.thekitestringtangle.com/
http://macdemarco.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/stickyfingersmusic?fref=ts

Steroid filled Stereo

I really try to not making any harsh judgements on things without having experienced them myself or having enough really great evidence in my favour. So honestly, I have attempted for long enough to give Stereosonic a chance. Don't get me wrong, never have I once even contemplated thinking about wanting to attend the festival...I just thought I wouldn't completely discourage it as I never have (and hopefully never will) experienced it personally.

Stereosonic is a music festival pretty much known purely for having a lot of DJ's, shirtless steroid filled, fake tanned, dyed and gelled haired men in wife beater singlets shirtless...they are all shirtless. Exhibit A:



There could be the same photo twice there...sorry if there is, I just couldn't tell BECAUSE THEY ALL LOOK THE SAME ANYWAY, and I can't look at them for long enough to notice because I feel like I'm getting all their bleach, and tanner, and chemical enhancers in my eyes purely by looking at the photos.

Anyway, there's a bit of an uproar at the moment because of the violence that has occurred at the festival's Sydney event. Men are swinging punches and going crazy, showing off their overly high testosterone levels by acting like complete and total imbeciles in public.

So to be honest, as hard as I am ripping on this festival, I do understand there are fights everywhere. Although I will point out that this particular fight left a man unconscious and yet it's said the fight has not yet been reported to officials, and it is unknown whether the man suffered any serious injury.
That's the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard...but the question is what can be done to avoid this sort of thing? Is it going to come down to even tighter drinking and drug restrictions? Or will it be more severe consequences for those acting disorderly?

But with that all in mind...here's the link to their website, buy a ticket, get a tan, bleach your hair, steroid it up, burn all your shirts. It will be fun:

http://stereosonic.com.au/

Winterbourne - Our Love's A Lie

I wrote this is 20 minutes, so don't judge me too harshly. I logged off social media 2 hours ago, telling people I was going to bed. I thought I was going to bed. But then I started watching some shitty TV show. There was something one of the characters said that wasn't a very significant line but for some reason it stuck with me. I'm going to be a bitch here and not tell you what the line was, I don't know why...perhaps so I am keeping at least some of this to myself.

I hate showing negative emotion. I don't like people knowing that I am sad. I want to look strong and I enjoy putting up a facade that I am unaffected and too strong in who I am to let others wear me down.
But sometimes that is not the case. I have distracted myself over months of emotional torture and persuaded myself that I am fine. I am fine. It's not a facade this time round, I am okay. There are people in my life who have made me okay again. But tonight has been rough, for no apparent reason.

I feel like it would be stupid to waste this emotion when I could put the energy into writing. I was going to write about Selena Gomez's live performance of 'Heart Wants What It Wants' at the AMA's. Not because it affected me at all, because I'm not going to lie...it didn't. I'm not a fan of Selena Gomez at all, but I was just going to talk about how much I respect her for performing such an emotional song for such a wide audience, especially after all she went through to create that song (breakup. Justin. Sad. Heartbreak. :( boys suck).

So I started talking someone who I knew could make me happy and distract me from being sad, and I listened to Winterbourne's 'Our Love's A Lie' whilst doing so. From the first time I heard this song it really made an impact on me. And this song seems to keep popping up, which I think is less of a coincidence, and more of a sign. I think it is apparent when listening that the lyrics come from a deep emotional place in the songwriters past. The boys do an amazing job at connecting with an audience of people who may have experienced the themes that prevail in the song.

It has a really fun, uplifting, festival vibe to it which I find super interesting because it contradicts the lyrics almost completely. I love when songs do this. Because it is almost like the emotion itself...melancholy.
The song is all about a great love that falls apart and is questioned. Now, yeah, ugh, super depressing, love sucks, but if you have experienced something similar you will be able to agree that much like the contradiction of the happy sound to sad lyrics...the experience of lost love shares a similar contradiction. All the experiences whilst being in love were happy and made you and the significant other happy...but the fact that it all fell apart can cause you to feel unbearably sad. For a long time as well...as suggested by the lyric "pull me from this never ending sadness".
Despite this, and despite my relation with this song...it doesn't make me sad. I think mainly because I connected it to a time when I was happy...so instead of focussing on the lyrics, I focus on what it reminds me of, which is smoked salmon, stolen cups and lost car keys.

Now this is has all been super depressing and I apologise so much for that. But do you want to know what's even more sad...the fact that Winterbourne are playing at a local venue in a couple of weeks BUT IT'S AN OVER 18 SHOW. "Our Love's A Lie" and my life's a joke.

- Stella xx