Amsterdam

I haven't written here in ages, probably because of university, and maybe a little because I usually come here when I'm feeling down to vent and I usually just go to tumblr or twitter for giving short snippets of my opinion.

 I thought I'd change it up instead and tell you about my trip to Amsterdam. I've really just fallen in love with the city. It's so beautiful and still, but never is a boring way (lets not forget the whafts of weed you get ever so often). The arichitecture, the canals and just the vibes you get from this city are wonderful . It was so nice to have such a quiet and collected public transport system that runs 24/7, and a bit odd to have nights out be so calm and have almost no one hollering down the streets drunk at 9:30pm (thanks for that England, you're great, I just needed a break). Honestly, you could really just aimlessly walk around Amsterdam and have a great time just taking in how everything looks, trying out nice cafes and going to museums.

Speaking of museums, I was so happy about getting to go to see Van Gogh because he's one of my favourite artists. I'd highly recommend it. Most people know Van Gogh for some of his later work like Starry Night or one of my favourites of all time: Almond Blossoms, but the museum really takes you through his development as an artist. From when he first decided to become one, and started practising and learning through his development through other artists' influences; pieces that influenced him and that he influenced are also included, and its just so nice to see the wide, interconnected web of artist on artist that spreads out through time and place and runs through into our everday lives.  A lot of other things from Van Gogh's life are also displayed, like his correspondence with Theo - his brother, best friend and confidant, and Theo's widow's journey to make Van Gogh's work known. The world would have missed out on him if it wasn't for Johanna -  she was a boss as bitch tbh, check her out.  I feel like I am so attracted to Van Gogh's work just because I find a solidarity with who he is as a person, as from what we know he comes across as a fervid observer of life that wanted so badly to be a part of all that is beautiful in it, love, companionship and art in everything, but someone found it difficult to fully integrate himself into every aspect of it, struggling to accept that as he dealt with mental illness.

   We went on a paddle boat ride, which is extremely touristy but what the hell we were tourist and it really is such a nice way to see the city, especially in nice weather. We had sun and it wasn't too cold and it takes just over an hour to see so much and you can plan your own route. I'd recommend it over hop-on hop-off tours on larger boats, just because the canals are small and you really don't need a larger boat with all the windos and roofs that stop you from seeing all of what's in front of you.

A lot of the time we did just spend in our airbnb just chilling out together. We cooked dinners and made breakfasts and just talked (over some really tragic wine one of the nights), it was really nice. we hadn't really had the time to be together in ages and wow, I miss my friends from school so much. It makes me so sad to think that all of us could never all be together in the same place again because we're all over the world and on different schedules and I'm such a sentimental person, its so hard to let go.

Anyway, we spent our last night at The 1975, and wow good thing I brought my chunky heeled boots, because everyone is

so much taller here and I woud have not been able to see anything if I didn't. This was my second time seeing them, and it was such a different but equally amazing experience as the first. Their tour for the self-titled album had stage and lights set up to make everything look pretty greyscale - like the album aesthetic. This one had the most amazing stage set up with black drop and light box changing for every song to look like a city, or a wall of noise or just a display of neon wonder. Matty was definitely stoned, probably a little drunk as well but it made for such entertaining little quips and talks between songs. At one point he alternated between affectedly telling everyone to applaud more and then saying "ohhh stop it guys", it was adorable. They played If I Believe You during the encore which is one of my favourite songs on the album because of the topic and gospel infleunces, and Matty was moving like he was preaching during the chorus and it was almost a religious experience - if they had their amazing backup singers it would probably have been one. They also played Me, which always makes me incredibly emotional, because Matty always tells everyone to put their phones away right before this one and its just a song that dredges up so many feelings.

We had pancakes and just strolled around the city center for our last morning. Caught the pillow fight in Dam square which was fun and there was the most adorable dog there that was just tearing up pillows and play-chasing with everyone that wanted to play with him. It was such a warm note to leave on. I want to be back in the city again soon.

THE 1975

Matty and George progressively wore less clothes from this point onwards

Got the stage photos off Heather's Tumblr, there's more over there and on her instagram if you want to check them out.

So this was one of the best nights of my life, granted it was hot and hell, the most I've ever sweated at a gig and people were fainting all around me - which did leave me worried and asking "Are you okay" to everyone around me like after every song. Nevertheless it was still fucking amazing.
I painted my own band tee, because the last time I did that for fall out boy it just made the whole experience so much more memorable.

Matty came out and said "your country does terrible things to my hair" and I was like "YESSS I KNOOOWWW, JA FEEL",  seriously though, I don't remember the last time I coped with letting my hair down in Singapore - it just gets more and more fizzy in the humidity and it is like a scarf here, I can't deal with that.





They played:

 I was so happy that they played Milk because it's such a fun song to jam out to, and So Far (It's Alright) was exactly what I needed because that song just makes you feel better no matter what. I was basically screaming out every song (and trying really hard to dance with all the people in the way).  Head.Cars.Bending. (enough said) Heart Out was freaking magnificent with John on the sax, literally nothing beats a live saxophone.


There was a minor issue when everyone shoved forward and our area just like domino-ed over each other, and I ended falling on Clara, but we were okay and Heather helped me up before I got trampled (there was literally no space to push yourself up, it was just bodies against bodies and you are probably had as much foreign sweat on you as you had your own sweat) Matty started giving water out (my video on instagram of Talk! shows that), and refused to play until people got hydrated and water was in being given to the audience because he is a sweetheart. The security guards started giving water out and I shared water with about the 20 other people around me so yeah...that happened but oh well, it's so much better than passing out.

Matty got everyone to put their phones away, and they started Me, and dear lord I was just completely taken away because that song just makes me feel so many things and it says so many things without saying much at all. Basically "I was thinkin' 'bout killing myself, don't you mind? Don't you mind?" and the very subtle "I love you, don't you mind? Don't you mind".... and they flawlessly followed that up with fallingforyou which is a beautiful fucking song and actually kind of gives me mixed feelings but how can you not stand there at just feel it all over you, and be completely there in that moment, utterly taken by it? Ross and Matty did fabulous harmonies, and mannn Adam is amazing on the guitar.

Energy levels were up again at You, (I just really love all their songs) and at "Do you wanna dance" I I just completely let loose. The beat in Menswear just makes it utterly impossible to not get stuck on it. Girls was incredibly fun to sing along to, more than you could imagine.

Robbers was just amazing like the entire performance plus the audience involvement, like everyone around you was as in to it as you were and you were there in this crowd of people all screaming "NOW EVERYBODY'S DEAD!!!!" Chocolate was perfect as always, //T H A T'S  W H A T  S H E  S A I D// Matty was just leaving gaps for the audience to fill and making the cutest little movements and faces. and the whole crowd was cheering for SEX before the encore, and they closed with SEX and George did this epic drum solo where he continued to make more epic drum faces, as he did throughout the show.

I wish that night lasted forever, I was completely unaware of the pain in my foot till after, and I forgot I had been sick before and when the music was playing or Matty was talking everything was freaking ace and like was perfect.

I literally cannot wait till their next album because I more than liked every song on this one! In an interview Matty said the wanted to release it exactly 2 years from the first one, which means September 2nd 2015. (That will be a great early birthday present)