Musically, I have always believed my tastes to be reasonably eclectic, although a rock chick at heart (who can say no to a bad boy flanked by guitar and drum?) I can get dizzy over Rachmaninov, Annie Lennox, Tinariwen and Mumford & Sons, with equal gusto, hell the first CD I ever bought was Doris Day's Greatest Hits. But one thing I do know: I don't like rap. That is until recently. It started with Eminem (doesn't it always) and then I found myself humming along to Dizzee Rascal, asking Snoop Doggy Dogg, what's my name? Urging Kanye West to drive slow, homie, and when Alicia Keys put me in an Empire State of Mind it was the Jay Z version I waved my arms aloft to. I used to find it a bit scary, what with all those hoes and bitches and brand new trainers everyday, badly worn baseball caps and bling. But no. It's not just scratching, sampling, hip hop and beatbox, check out the lyrics. Eminem's Lose Yourself is pure poetry and don't get me started on Not Afraid. Not only that, some of these guys are the richest artists in the world, they seem to have incredible business acumen, 50 Cent invested in a vitamin water and made millions.....not too shabby. But fear not, although I shall be definitely embracing my inner hoodie this summer, I can still be found dancing bare foot to Patti Smith at the Serpentine Sessions.
In lieu of any sign of a proper summer kicking in, I have decided to eat my way to a sunny disposition. My current obsessions to brighten up these dull days are: oily tomato salads heavy with garlic and basil, tender English asparagus squeezed with lemon, round, pink radishes dipped in salt and lashings of Rose. Just stick a hot water bottle up your jumper, close your eyes and enjoy the Mediterranean ....... on a plate.
Top tip: homemade houmous: a can of chick peas, olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, tahini and a pinch of salt whizzed in the blender. Delicious, nutricious, cheap and aparently very good for pre and meneopausal women!!
My daughter is very into hip hop as she loves street dance. My son proudly announced the other day that the only "bands" we all agree on as a family are Snow Patrol and Prodigy - I feel very cool!!
ReplyDeleteI do understand what you mean. I consider myself a real indie rock girl, and yet find myself downloading and singing all sorts of different stuff. That's the beauty of music, but we still have our favourites. There is nothing like home made houmous - once you've had it, and then taste the supermarket shite, you can never go back! x
ReplyDeleteThough I prefer hip hop, my younger brother was seriously into rap for a while and so I've actually been to see the Wu Tang Clan in New York. Down with da homies, that's me!
ReplyDeleteThe perpetually white trainers and beat-boxing I can live with, it's the VPL that makes me nervous.
ReplyDeleteTruthfully, it's not a VPL, it's just VP, isn't it?
I very much enjoy a good swear along with the rest of them, but the bitch/ho thing leaves me feeling 'a bit Presbyterian'.
I very much enjoy Nelly Furtado with the Timberland edge, and a bit of Bouncy. I know, not really down with the homies, but it's as close as I'm going to get.....
Although my last CD was the currently cool Seth Lakeman, my previous one was....*whispers* Glee.
Ali xxx
Love the idea of sticking the hot water bottle up your jumper. Can't believe I've never thought of it, but what a great way to get through and English summer - thanks! x
ReplyDeleteAh, so THAT's where I have been going wrong. I have been eating myself into oblivion rather than a sunny disposition! :O)
ReplyDeleteI like a bit of everything too. I've always liked Snoop and Eminem, I have really started liking Dizzee over the past year or so. Can't stand Kanye West for some reason. I shall give homemade houmous a try. You've made me hungry now! xx
ReplyDelete