This has the potential to be really quite interesting...

[rosiespark]

From fajrdrako:

Ask me seven questions. Not just any seven questions though. No, to keep it interesting, use the seven questions as per below - just copy and paste the following, replace the blanks with something you want to know/ask (e.g. 3. Donkeys or sandcastles and why?), anything you want, personal, silly, surreal or deep, comment away and I'll answer honestly as I can!

1. What do you think of _____________ ?
2. When did you last ____________?
3. __________ or ___________ and why?
4. What did you ______________?
5. What is/are your favorite ______________?
6. How would you ______________?
7. Who would you most like to ________ ?

Have at it! *g*

Comments

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I've been meaning to post to this, but never (whimper!) get the time.

1. What do you think of Watchmen?
2. When did you last reread the Lymond chronicles?
3. Arthur or Merlin and why?
4. What did you have for supper?
5. What is/are your favorite MCR songs?
6. How would you like to spend a day off work, if you had no reponsibilities to nayone?
7. Who would you most like to cast as the Doctor?

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

Ooh, interesting questions! I wasgoing to watch last week's Supernatural but maybe I'll have a bash at your questions instead. :)

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

1. I haven't finished it yet - Nite Owl and Rorschach have just hacked Veidt's (very primitive-looking!) computer and come to the conclusion that he's implicated in, if not masterminding, everything. I'm enjoying it, but with some reservations. After all the hype, I'm a bit disappointed that I don't love it more or feel all that attracted to any of the characters. And the art feels dated, even to me who has had fairly limited exposure to other comic books or graphic novels. The colouring is certainly far from subtle... I do like the addition of text sections, and I appreciate the complexity and the way important information is scattered throughout - the Dunnett-like puzzle nature of it. And now I'm looking forward to watching the trailer again.

2. Oh dear. I abandoned a read-through last year and can't remember how far I'd got. I was going so slowly, reading other things at the same time, that eventually I ground to a halt almost without realising it.

3. Difficult one! It was Merlin's spell I fell under first, but I slowly came to appreciate Arthur as he was revealed to be more than just an arrogant prat. Prat, certainly, but with hidden depths. *g* One of my favourite moments from any episode is Arthur's final test in The Labyrinth of Gedref, where he drops all pretence and shows that he is noble and pure of heart. I also love the scene with Uther where Arthur confesses to thinking that he's always thought he was a disappointment to his father. Very Faramir-like - except that Uther is a considerably better father than Denethor. Another memorable scene-let is Arthur letting Lancelot out of prison - the way he says "I need-" and cuts himself off, then turns away and changes it to "Camelot needs-" and sounds like he despises himself for admitting to needing anyone... Yes, I have watched that scene several times - why do you ask? ;) I've watched all Arthur's scenes with Lancelot numerous times for the purposes of research. *g*

4. A bowl of fusilli with a sun-dried tomato sauce (from a jar) and a generous sprinkling of freshly grated Parmesan. Was good.

5. Ngggh. It would be A LOT easier to identify my not-favourites. But I won’t do that, since the purpose of this question is to allow me to squee endlessly over MCR’s music… Let me see:
Bury Me in Black from Life on the Murder Scene is a particular favourite. I tend to love the fast aggressive songs. And this one has some amazing lyrics. Don’t ask me what they mean, but they’re very compelling. And there’s a line which is given here (”http://www.plyrics.com/lyrics/mychemicalromance/burymeinblack.html”) as: “Just give us war-worn lipstick by the door if I inflame” but which I am convinced is really: “Just give us war, war, lipstick, blood and purifying flame”> What do you think?

If I had to chose favourites from The Black Parade, then it would have to be The Sharpest Lives, Welcome to the Black Parade, Mama and Sleep. But the whole album works so perfectly as a coherent whole that I’l rarely, if ever, just listen to individual tracks. I always think the lyrics of Sharpest (as Gerard refers to it somewhere) must be painfully personal and wonder if that’s the reason they left it out of the commentary they did. And then I wonder if I’m not being a crazy stalkery fangirl. *g* Least favourite track (with apologies to Mikey who apparently had a thing about it) is Disenchanted. And Famous Last Words WAS a favourite but isn’t so much any more. Not sure why.

I'll get to the rest of the questions tomorrow. Because I'm up past my bedtime! As usual. So - goodnight!

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

*sigh* Mind like a sieve. MCR did comment on Sharpest - I even talk about it here (http://rosiespark.livejournal.com/85785.html#cutid1). It was This is How I Disappear that they left out of the commentary.

I think it's in the booklet in the limited edition Black Parade that Gerard leaves Sharpest out - he writes about all the other songs. Scans of the whole booklet (http://www.theimmortalityproject.com/fansite/ltded/01.html). :)

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Did I answer this? I thought I answered this last night... was I so tired I sent it somewhere else?

Maybe!

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately, I have to conclude that you probably did. ::iz sad::

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

...I hate it when that happens! I'm sure I can never recapture the clever insights and the general brilliance of my reply when I was 3/4 asleep last night. You know the messages that get lost are always the best ones.

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

No one's got back to you yet with a comment saying, "Er, wot?", have they?

Now I'm pining for a reply. It'll be different brilliance.

I'll try and do the rest of the questions later. Because I have more to say about MCR for question 5! *g*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

No one's got back to you yet with a comment saying, "Er, wot?", have they?

No. I'm not sure whether to hope it happens or not.... Once upon a time I sent a fic to Marcelle by e-mail for proofreading and it was (as fate tends to go with such things) a rather sexually explicit BDSM sex slave story.... It went to some random stranger who works in the government somewhere, and I was fearing I'd be getting the RCMP knocking on my door to arrest me for random disbursement of subversive porn. But the person who got it sent it back to me with a note saying "I don't think you meant this for me" and then added a p.s., "do you have any more?" I was chuffed.

That hasn't happened this time.

I'm pining for a reply.

That pleases me. But it's already sent, and you no doubt have it by now. Right? I hope so, anyway!

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

LOL at your misdirected porn. But what a compliment to be asked for more!

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

what a compliment to be asked for more!

Yes - I was pleased! And relieved. Really.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Your opinions of Watchmen sound very like my opinions of it. There's some brilliant work there, in terms of use of semiotics in art, works and meaning; but I don't like the characters or the story much. This was disappointing, as Alan Moore has written some of the best prose in comics, and some of the most moving stories. And yes, the puzzle aspect is terrific.

It's been a few years since I've reread the Lymond books, or even parts of them. And I miss them. Just can't find the time. Especially when it seems kind of self-indulgent. In a good way. Self-pampering, even.

I started out as mostly a fan of Merlin, and I do love Colin Morgan - loved him as Jethro in Doctor Who too, even though it was a small part. But as I watched Merlin I came to love and appreciate Arthur more and more. Which is fun. I like the way Arthur's pragmatism contrasts with Merlin's randomness. Hmm: Maybe a bit of insight there... I identify with Merlin, who is scattered but purposeful. People like me and Merlin need practical, strong-willed people like Arthur in our lives.

Uther is a considerably better father than Denethor.

The joy of Uther (and there are many joys to Uther) is that he is a good father and his strong will is based on bad experience. I am a big fan of Uther, too, and not just because of Anthony Head. Though he's a good part of the reason.

I watched "Lancelot" again on Sunday. Mmm. Very nice indeed.

Re fusilli: yum.

MCR music: I like your interpretation of the lyrics. Good either way, but better your way. I agree with you both on the difficulty of picking favourites and the ones you picked. I'm not sure about Famous Last Words; still a favourite, I think.

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

Re. the lyrics of Bury Me in Black, I don't think an official version exists. They're not given on the the cd of Life on the Murder Scene, probably because all the other songs on it, apart from Desert Song, are live versions of previously released stuff. Someone needs to ask Gerard. Preferably in person. *g*

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I don't think an official version exists.

That's a pity.

Preferably in person. *g*

Yes. You could volunteer. Or we could write to him.

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

5. (cont.)

A comment on Mama: I often think of it as a follow-up to the Ghost of You video - the line "We all carry on, when our brothers in arms are gone" is a clear reference to Mikey getting killed in the video. In my head it is, anyway.

I also appreciate the mention of “A Séance down below" in This is How I Disappear. *g*

Black Parade was my starting point for listening to MCR. First three tracks I ever listened to were Welcome to the BP, Famous Last Words and Teenagers which you could stream on their old website. I was intrigued enough to buy the album, and I'm sooo glad I did!

Okay, favourite tracks from the other albums. I'm still amazed by how accomplished Bullets is for a first album. Personal favourites are Vampires (I mean, how not?), Our Lady of Sorrows (and its early title Bring More Knives), and Headfirst for Halos - “and as the fragments of my skull begin to fall, fall on your tongue like pixie dust, just think happy thoughts” – I mean, lyrics like that set to an bright aggressive almost poppy beat… Sheer genius.

And then there's Demolition Lovers which I adore. The beginning, with just the acoustic guitar and the words “Hand in mine, into your icy blues, and then I say to you, we could take to the highway, with this trunk of ammunition too, I’d end my days with you, in a hail of bullets,” gives me the shivers. I think Gerard has said it’s linked thematically to Revenge. I always think of it and Hang ‘Em High as a matched pair – Bonnie and Clyde-style outlaws on the road together…

Like with The Black Parade, I like pretty much all of Revenge. I always think that I’m not all that keen on Ghost of You, and then I find myself listening to it and thinking it’s not half bad after all. And I love the video and the making of, and Gerard talking about cutting off all his fucking hair, and the others having theirs hairpinned out of sight, and Ray’s ‘fro being folded into a tiny little bun. ::dies::

And the Helena video is wonderful, isn’t it? Actually all three videos by Marc Webb are very good, really enhancing the story-telling aspects of the songs. And I have a very soft spot for the early version of the video for I’m Not Okay, with the footage from the Ways’ house and them in the van and on stage…

Least favourite track from Revenge is probably Cemetery Drive, which I find slightly meh, and I don’t think I like To the End quite as much as the rest of the tracks. Other than those two, I’m bowled over every time by how amazing the rest of the album is, and don't have firm favourites, and hope that I'll never get tired of listening to it.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

No time - yeah, feels like the story of my life.

Mama: I often think of it as a follow-up to the Ghost of You video

I hadn't thought of that, but it's a very plausible idea. Well done, spotting that.

Black Parade was my starting point for listening to MCR.

Me too. Stiff a special soft spot for it.

Gerard has said it’s linked thematically to Revenge.

I love that, when one idea or theme gets a follow-up.

[rosiespark.livejournal.com]

Never answered the last two:

6. How would you like to spend a day off work, if you had no responsibilities to anyone?

This question made me think, because I don't think it's my responsibilities to other people that would stop me doing anything. It's more my financial limitations and my stupid lack of energy that mean a day off work is likely to be spent quietly at home recuperating from the previous few days. That's a very depressing answer but it's honest.

7. Who would you most like to cast as the Doctor?

Hah! Ever since reading this fic (http://svilleficrecs.livejournal.com/351463.html) by svilleficrecs, I have yearned for Paul Bettany to be cast as the Doctor.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Well: I've been off work for two days now (not counting the weekend) and because I have a nasty cold, I've spent most of my time alternately sleeping and reading. Which pretty much sounds like my idea of heaven these days. Theoretically if/when I get caught up on rest, get over illness and lingering stress, I won't be craving sleep all the time and might be able to do something else besides reading. Yoga? Walking? Talking with friends? Writing, even? Dare I hope?

Alas, I will soon have to find work again. But I'm hoping for just a little recuperation and recovery time first.

...Paul Bettany? Really? I'll have to read the fic. So far I don't like Paul Bettany; for reasons I can't explain (esepcially since the rest of the world finds him attractive) he gives me the creeps. But that's a visceral reaction that I might get over. After all, I pretty much got over it with David Boreanaz, where the situation was similar. I can't picture Bettany as the Doctor simply because I have trouble picturing him at all, having avoided looking at him in anything he's been in. I'll try to rethink
this.