dotinthesky: (Default)
Dot in the Sky ([personal profile] dotinthesky) wrote2004-11-10 01:53 pm

Something Conjured From a Dream

I listened to Siouxsie and the Banshees this morning. Christine, strawberry girl; one-two-three, Israel; my arms are like palm trees flailing in the wind; a tourist oasis reflects your seedy sunshades; I heard a rumour, what have you done to her?

Brought me back to my high school years, and the summer I spent in Hong Kong after my first year in university. I used to work for Carrefour, this giant French chain of supermarkets, in the heart of Hong Kong. I worked in one of the tallest skyscrapers of the city as an assistant to the manager of the brazilian section. On my lunch breaks, I would ride the glass elevator downstairs, eat in McDees and wander around listening to Siouxsie on my walkman. Hong Kong's heat and humidity melded my body and clothes; mosquitoes bled me dry. The buses, offices and shops, on the other hand, blasted subzero air-conditioning. I was constantly chewing on aspirins and smoking Malboro Lights.

When I took my first acid, that same Summer, Siouxsie and Puressence rescued my sanity the days afterwards. My hair was long, down to my shoulders. I dyed it black and my brother called me Maga Patologica (the portuguese name for a Disney character who was always plotting against Donald Duck). I felt so much younger and different from all the other suits around me. I didn't listen to Green Day, Hootie and the Blowjob, or other bands clogging the charts. I had my own brand of escapism and I lived a decade behind.

My boss was openly gay (when I came home, his boyfriend would sometimes be there having tea with my mom) and everyone whispered about our relationship. I was naive, innocent and had yet to perfect the art of sucking up. There was usually little work for me so I wrote short-stories about murders in my office, or pornographic adventures set in my old high school. I wasn't out back then - maybe I should have taken advantage of my boss and asked him to be my gay mentor. But we really had nothing in common. He held grudges against other people in the company and pushed one secretary to quit in tears. He was an asshole. Years later, I found out that he split up from his boyfriend and had a nervous breakdown. His boyfriend moved to Sao Paulo, joined a gym and lost a lot of weight. He wrote emails to my mom occasionaly telling her how happy he was.

I played my Siouxsie cds for years. They grew in my collection and moved centre stage. I went through spells of not listening to them at all, then returning in full force. Lately, I've been playing old songs in my head. I just woke up today with the need to hear her voice again. If I had a walkman, I would have walked down London's streets this morning listening to "Dear Prudence".


My heart is an oasis to drink from as you please

[identity profile] sarcaustik.livejournal.com 2004-11-10 02:00 pm (UTC)(link)
Siouxsie has rocked my world for twenty years!

[identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com 2004-11-10 02:03 pm (UTC)(link)
She's amazing... she made me realize there was interesting music in this world. I have to make it my mission to see her live next time she plays (with The Creatures or not.)

I'm assuming you've seen her live many times? :)

[identity profile] sarcaustik.livejournal.com 2004-11-10 02:06 pm (UTC)(link)
No, only twice. Once with the Banshees two and a half years ago, and once at the Festival Hall last month. Both shows were amazing.

[identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com 2004-11-10 02:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, yes, the 7-year Itch Tour. I wanted my boyfriend to come with me to see them at the Empire, but he declined... I should have gone by myself. I think [livejournal.com profile] delomenas also went to the show at the Festival Hall. Now that she seems more active again in the music scene, I'm sure I'll be able to see her live soon.

[identity profile] sarcaustik.livejournal.com 2004-11-10 02:45 pm (UTC)(link)
[livejournal.com profile] delomelas and [livejournal.com profile] perverse_idol did indeed go to the RFH show, I saw them there! ;-)

[identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com 2004-11-10 02:48 pm (UTC)(link)
Next time you must invite me! :P

[identity profile] starfuker.livejournal.com 2004-11-10 04:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I adore the way you write.

[identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com 2004-11-10 05:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks babe.
(deleted comment)

[identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com 2004-11-11 09:42 am (UTC)(link)
You didn't want to go see them?

*Swoons*

[identity profile] ickycrawlything.livejournal.com 2004-11-10 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
I love her...she brings me back to my teen yrs as well!

Re: *Swoons*

[identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com 2004-11-11 09:46 am (UTC)(link)
Nobody like her before, or since.

[identity profile] roguejournal.livejournal.com 2004-11-11 01:29 am (UTC)(link)


wow....i feel so old!

lol.

[identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com 2004-11-11 09:46 am (UTC)(link)
So do I! ;)

[identity profile] dawnkitten.livejournal.com 2004-11-11 12:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Siouxise is just awesome - I have a video of her doing 'Love in a Void' from the 'Sounds of the 70's' show - with a young Mr Robert Smith from The Cure on guitar- which is oh-so-cool

There is a new generation who love her too- a highlight of a friends recent wedding celebrations was sitting with a friend's 6 year old daughter singing 'Cities in Dust' together. :)

[identity profile] commonpeople.livejournal.com 2004-11-11 12:40 pm (UTC)(link)
I have a friend in Philadelphia, 16-17 years old, who also discovered her recently and loves her to bits. I think the music is aging well too. I have two videotapes of the band, The Best I & II, but they don't have "Love in a Void". :(