Oh, Susan

I found it hard to concentrate on anything (there's too much exciting things going on in my life at the moment) so I ended up with spending some time with one of my favorite ladies.

Oh Susan, what have you done to me. Gorgeous lady is gorgeous. I could listen to you speak for days. And what makes it even more better, you always seem to have something meaningful and witty to say.

And I love the way your curls descend and frame your face. I love your personality and your smile. I really just feel like writing haikus to praise your gorgeousness...

I'm trying to figure out what makes this video so hot. Probably her working out… is she doing Pilates or something similar? She seems so laid-back and relaxed in a way. I also don't mind her her talking about lesbian vampires. But to be honest, she could talk about anything and I'd listen.

Okay, I'll stop before I start sounding a bit creepy. But I just really love her and she has inspired me so much. She's also one of the hottest ladies out there, period.

Weekend Jam: Dusty Springfield – I Only Want To Be With You

I've been having so surprisingly action packed weekend: so much so that I forgot the entire Weekend Jam! As my quick pick, here's one of my all time favourite feelgood songs. 

I've absolutely loved Dusty Springfield for ages and in the more gay years of my life I've found this even deeper interest towards her: not only was she a tragic and troubled artist (which always fascinates me) but she mainly had relationships with women. Gives a whole new level to upbeat pop song from 1963 where one only wants to be with the certain person. Sweet! So let's have a quick dance party here at the end of the weekend to Dusty's first hit!

For your eyes only: Bond girls & such

I said I would and so I will. Combine my love for the Bond films and blogging, that is. But after all, I decided to keep it short and just write one mega entry instead of several ones. I have a tendency to get a bit carried away whenever I get to talk about things I love, so consider yourselves warned.

First of all, let me start by pointing out that I get how the entire concept of Bond girls can be seen as problematic and I'd be more that willing to give it a little twist. People could really get more creative with the casting! How about even a someone bit older for starters? Or like for instance, my favourite time of the year, aka the Eurovision song contest, was the best one for years really. Mainly because of Conchita Wurst. The winning song, Rise Like A Phoenix, sounds like a Bond theme – the name and the melody – and Conchita would be a dashing Bond girl if you ask me. I mean, come on: how is this not perfect in every possible way?!
 
Besides, in Skyfall, the villain Raoul Silva has James Bond tied to a chair: he's caressing him and saying how there's always a first time for everything. To which James replies with ”What makes you think this is my first time?”. Maybe just keeping it cool, maybe not. I wouldn't be surprised though.

Anyway, the girls: so basically there are two types of women in the Bond films. The ones that don't end up messing with James and the ones that do. The ones that don't include the secretary Miss Moneypenny who for 23 years was played by Lois Maxwell. It was never quite clear whether their constant flirt was as harmless in her viewpoint than it was from James' (likely not) but I definitely liked her character. In 1987 Maxwell was replaced by a 26-year-old Caroline Bliss and in the Brosnan era she was played by Samantha Bond (talk about a fitting name). The latest, Skyfall, is one of my absolute favorites in the fim series and I was so jazzed to get another Moneypenny for whom I totally fell for and look forward to seeing more of her! And then there's my all time favourite character M, who became that once Judi Dench was casted. Basically she's James Bond's boss and made her first appearance in 1995 in Pierce Brosnan's first film. I definitely enjoyed their chemistry. Daniel Craig hasn't kept the flirting game going that strong so there's been a slight shift in that relationship during his time but I love it none the less. Especially in Skyfall.

Lois Maxwell as Miss Moneypenny and Judi Dench as M.

But well, I guess its' about the time we get to the business and talk about that other lot, the actual Bond girls. I've made a top seven of my favourites. Mainly because, not that I don't like the others or find them gorgeous, I didn't want there to be any fillers. These seven are the best of the best and I love them dearly. For me being a perfect Bond girls isn't so much about the looks: it really is the personality and the ability to kick some ass that makes me swoon. And also I apparently do have a tendency to fall for somewhat tragic characters. 

7. Anya Amasova (Barbara Bach)

The Spy Who Loved Me, 1977

Anya Amasova also goes by the name XXX: she's a Soviet spy who's originally against James and what he stands for. For example she has no problem whatsoever to leave him passed out in some random desert if it means she can gain from it. However since they both are after the same dude it turns out to be more efficient to work side by side. And a bit more that that actually... But nevertheless Anya Amasova is a capable woman and not some poor little creature: don't let her sweet looks fool you! 

6. Octavia "Octopussy" Charlotte Smythe (Maud Adams)

Octopussy, 1983

Maude Adams made a pretty forgettable appearance in a Bond film nine years earlier but she returned in quite a spectacular way! Because oh Octavia! She has an island only for women where she describes these women share some sisterly love. Yeah right. In addition to this pretty titillating island she has a circus and an octopus. That's my kind of a girl! Also, I am totally into that how she's not a goody good kind of a person but a diamond smuggler and a cool headed business woman.  

5. May Day (Grace Jones)
A View To a Kill, 1985

May Day is a woman of a few words but she makes it up with her impeccable sense of style and inhuman strength that makes her throw her enemies literally out of the way. She's teamed up with the mean guy which makes it pretty awkward that she hooks up with James, too, but whatever. Anyways, she's played by Grace Jones – does one need more reasons really. 

4. Teresa "Tracy" Draco aka Countess Teresa di Vicenzo (Diana Rigg)
On Her Majesty's Secret Service, 1969

Okay, let's make it clear: this in one of my favourite Bond films and I totally dig the sad love story! Tracy has a history and a deadwish and all these things make her way more interesting than most Bond girls out there. When she's first introducing herself she makes it clear: ”Teresa is a saint; I'm known as Tracy.” Also, Diana Rigg is Rachael Striling's mother. Like mother like daughter! Love them both.

3. Wai Lin (Michelle Yeoh)
Tomorrow Never Dies, 1997

Wai Lin is breathtakingly efficient spy who's also really skillfully mastered in combat sports. In the film they mainly toil in Wai Lin's comfort zones so she's really on top of James for most part (metaphorically, mainly, although probably in other ways, too). And like all my other fave Bond girls, she doesn't warm up to James just like that

2. Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman)
Goldfinger, 1964

Pussy Galore – well, not the best name out there. To be honest,  I did not expect much from a Bond girl named like that. But oh boy was I mistaken! Because Pussy Galore: what a cool cat. First of all, she's the oldest Bond girl having been 36 when filming (that really isn't much: for example Daniel Craig turned 46 this year and 35+ generally is that best age for women if you ask me!). Also, in the book version, Pussy Galore's a lesbian. In the film she falls for James just like they all will. But then again that's kind the the thing. Pussy Galore works for the bad guy, too, and she's a top pilot. Like her part namesake Octopussy, she also has a circus: a flying one. She leads a group of  female pilots. Sweet! 

1. Vesper Lynd (Eva Green)

Casino Royale, 2006

Oh Vesper! I don't even know what to say about you! First of all, Eva Green: one of the hottest women out there. And second of all: she as a tragic Bond girl you're not certain whether you can trust or not = LOVE. I was pleasantly surprised by this film altogether and I don't even know how many times I've seen it. Mainly because of Vesper/Eva. The character's interesting and she has some killer outfits, too.

I really tried to keep it short! You are welcome!

Weekend Jam: Siouxsie - These Boots Are Made For Walking

When I was a teenager, I had my goth-phase. I wore only black, I wore long black leather jackets, black boots and lots of eyeliner… I'll always remember how one little girl in the library started to cry when she noticed me. Needless to say, I'm grateful those days are long gone. But somehow I'm also a bit sad I didn't know Siouxsie back then, she'd surely had bring some class into my so called neverending darkness.

I love her attitude and I also love her voice. But the most I love the atmosphere of her music, specially with Siouxie and the Banshees. There's something magical and haunting in those tunes, something that I rarely listen to but when I do it's such an intense feeling. It brings strange kind of melancholic nostalgia into my heart.

I'm also wishing to point out she's actually around 54 years old in this performance. How breathtakingly amazing is that? Would I mind if she walked over me with those boots? Probably not.

Sarah Waters and her glorious storytelling

I've been sick all weekend so I've mostly just reading in bed. I read one book yesterday, it was rather good but not marvellous and I was left needing for more. Today I finally started reading Tipping The Velvet by Sarah Waters. God bless you Waters, such a wonderful, wonderful book. I remember dreaming about books like this when I was a teenager, world was so different back then. Waters describes all the little details of sapphic admiration and longing so beautifully, I can feel myself just holding my breath, at times like I was a part of the story. It's such a bittersweet feeling. I cherish every page of this novel, I truly do. I can only admire such talent she possesses. How she creates a new world, so vivid and full of life and all the little details.

It took me this long to get into this book because it hasn't been translated and I was a bit nervous to read it in English. I have read everything else from Waters and to be honest, I wish she'd go back to sapphic storytelling. I understand she wants to be diverse but this kind of novels are so rare and they matter so much to people like me. I'd be forever grateful if she wrote one more sapphic novel in the coming years. But I love her novels nevertheless, I see her as a literal genius, unique storyteller.

Tipping The Velvet must be my favorite of her novels, I've seen the TV mini-series adaption many times. It's wonderful. Needless to say, I'm really fond of Diana Lethaby and her relationship with Nan. I remember when I saw the series for the first time, I was nearly shocked. It felt like wathing all of my wildest dreams in a moving image... It was visually astounding, I loved the atmosphere, I fell for the characters. I feel the same when I'm reading the novel now. Everything comes alive in my eyes in such intense way it's almost too much for me. I think I'll go back to bed now and open the book again.

Weekend Jam: Grace Jones - Slave To The Rhythm

I think it will rather unevitable that at some point I shall combine my interest in this blogging thing and my love for the Bond films. In practice that will likely be in the form of listing my all time favourite Bond girls. Although in all honesty, that's kind of off topic regarding the older women theme: the oldest Bond girl was just under fourty years old. But well, that's not really my fault: I would definitely cast more mature women in most roles. But we'll see. Anyhow, I'm not puffing this possible series just randomly here for - spoiler! - one of my favourite Bond girls is played by our weekend jammer.

That being said, Grace Jones is above all a recording artist to me. And a style icon. Because I do appreciate dramatic outfits. I saw her live once and I almost peed my pants because of... oh so many reasons. It's not every day that you see a pretty scarcely and in somewhat eccentric way dressed woman in her 60s singing while hula hooping in front of you. Not that I wouldn't mind. And I surely didn't. The amount of cool pretty much had me paralysed. And also she freaks me out a bit. But that's definitely part of why she's so intriguing.

 

Grace Jones performing Slave To The Rhythm live in 2010.

Weekend Jam: Madonna - Like it Or Not

It feels a bit funny to realize I haven't yet posted anything Madonna-related. My love for her has started to fade a bit but she really meant a lot to me when I was a teenager. I could even call her one of the women who made me realize I'm gay. My love for her holds so many memories… I think I could just write a novel about them.

I'm not denying I'm kind of upset with the way she looks like nowadays. In my opinion, she worked out a bit too hard (lost too much weight) and it started to show on her face. Then she fixed it and at the same time it hid the way her face started to age naturally. It also upsets me to point these things out because even though I have mixed feelings about cosmetic surgery I do believe every woman has the right to decide about the things they wish do with their bodies. I'm not saying I'm judging Madonna here but I do praise the world of natural aging. I'm also kind of nervous what she'll end up looking like in a few years. But anyway, enough of this subject for now.

I have actually talked with Puppe a few times that I have hard time releasing my "can't handle the hot" posts here because deep inside I feel like I should actually write about something. But this time I'm just going to free myself because to be honest, these emotions are like building blocks of my heart. So many charismatic, gorgeous women! So little time! I have a friend who actually calls me a "woman lover" and she explained this very beautifully: "You see beauty in so many different kind of women and I admire that thing about you". So there, it's true. I'm a true woman lover. Now if only I had enough courage to ask some of these women out in real life. I'm going there… slowly. I have actually someone in mind right now. So I'm just wishing myself a lot of luck, again.

But to get back to the subject, I have so many memories of Madonna. It's intriguing when you're that connected to someone who's so popular, she's close and so far away at the same time. And by connection I mean that I've been intrigued and inspired by her for almost twenty years. That's a long time. When I was young, she guided me to discover new things about myself and I'm grateful for that. Something in her turns me off sometimes but something in her also moves me a lot.

Of her tours my favorite must be Confessions Tour. I love it so much that one of my friends, a gay boy, has actually disagreed to watch it with me sometimes because he can't always bear with the way I behave. But I just can't handle the hot. Like it or not, I really just can't handle the hot...

Like seriously, my dreams are made of this.