Fantabelidadelidoodoo -thats what she is
A new description for your best friend.
A major event unites European countries this weekend and strengthens international friendships: The Musikbrauerei in Berlin-Mitte opens its doors for the Labyrinth, an unrivalled event. A collective of 28 artists - including dancers, musicians and actors - created an evening full of goosebumps and amazement under the motto ‘Rides of Spring’. In small groups, you lose yourself in the corridors and rooms of the brewery and are guided by mystical characters through the different modernities and cultures. It is incredibly inspiring. For my part, I feel that the cello is once again one of THE super instruments, I want to go back to the theatre, see Brecht plays and go to light exhibitions - and preferably all at once.
Oh, and by the way, there was also the Eurovision Song Contest.
May 19
Music
Jan and Olli have been stood up again. This is now the third year in a row that I've made a point of attending the commentary live, and it's the third year in a row that I listen to the show like a podcast on the days after (and maybe it's also the third year in a row that I'll eventually give up because the zeitgeist has moved on and nobody will talk about it anymore).
So far, I kind of like England's contribution the best. It reminds me of Six, the musical I was allowed to attend in New York - as a German accent coach for one evening. But I also liked the contributions from Luxembourg and Italy.
I was also accompanied by The Roches. A great band for a grey and cold day in Berlin in the middle of May. Incidentally, a band consisting of three sisters who were first heard together as backing singers for Paul Simon.
Other Inspirations
My star sign app says I have the heart of an ox. I feel very connected.
Movie
The Shrink Next Door is based on the podcast of the same name, starring Will Ferrell and Paul Rudd - and the fun is available on Amazon. I was expecting a light, funny, slightly beyond-therapeutic series about two men who become friends through therapy sessions. Well, that's not quite the case. The story is more about a narcissistic therapist who takes advantage of his patients and manages to bind one of them completely to himself - manipulating him into giving up his life and playing into the hands of his ‘protective agent’ with his money, house and company. Fantastically acted - which doesn't make you any less angry that this really happened (and still happens). 7.3 out of 10 stars.
The King's Speech is just such an absurdly emotionally beautiful film. Colin Firth is in one of his acting masterclasses, Bonham Carter shines and no one can do voice acting quite like Geoffrey Rush - and the fact that Dumbledore becomes King George V just tops it all off. 9.9 out of 10 stars.
Other Inspirations
Opera takes on a new form and moves into a new dimension. What a difference a day's work can make!
Sometimes it also helps to make a phone call instead of sending minutes of audio back and forth on WhatsApp. Old school, I know - but helpful too. And when you're watching swan babies in Treptower Park, everything seems to be right.
Music
I started listening to the podcast because of The Shrink Next Door series AND I THINK IT'S A FRUSTRATION TO PAY MONEY FOR IT WHEN I'M ALREADY PAYING MONEY FOR IT. Why are they doing this now, with this unlocking?
Movie
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning, or as I call it: Part 119, has been released in cinemas, and after almost two years of waiting, the time has finally come - unfortunately, IMAX have decided to show the film in German only for the time being. But thank goodness for the Yorck cinemas. Armed with nachos, cheese dip, chocolate and Toffifee (the film is three hours long, friends), we set off.
I had the feeling that the film was writing a love letter to its predecessors. I also realised that I probably haven't seen more than three parts - the first, the third and the seventh. There are still a few films in between. Will catch up. The two big action scenes are amazing - you really sit on the edge of your seat in the cinema and get really excited. A great experience. It's far too long - but somehow it's allowed to be. And it's just Tom. All in all: a good 7 out of 10 stars for a Mission: Impossible, 5.8 out of 10 stars in the general film ranking. 10 out of 10 for a Monday night pastime.
May 20
I have a new game: I turn on the Fidi-and-Bumsi playlist (created by my favourite podcast) and listen to the albums of artists I either don't know or haven't listened to in a while. Like The Roches yesterday, like Too Dumb for Suicide and Ryan Adams' Prisoner.
Movie
Because of the podcast preparation, I clean the balcony while Tom Cruise documentaries play on the side. Who has something helpful against the invasion of pigeons?
Music
BAWSR is a fantastic hip-hop album, makes me feel cool again as I walk down Warschauer Strasse - and is just a grenade. Thanks guys.
Other Inspirations
The doors of my favourite comedy booty are opening again, and I get to sit on the comedians' side for the very first time. It starts with Ludwig - and we love Ludwig. There was a spontaneous act and I really enjoyed the whole evening. How nice to be right on the water, with the right temperature outside, a beer and the luck of organising a little after-party with the host. Unfortunately, it went on a bit long.
I haven't travelled on a night bus for a very long time and find Ostkreuz very scary without any people or trains.
May 21
I'm deservedly feeling well this morning. The sun is shining and it's a pleasant 23 degrees.
Music
In my case, that means podcasts instead of music. The wonderful Jim Kroft has finally released new episodes. I'm also three episodes behind on Moritz and Till, and nothing cheered me up as much today as the live episode Fest und Flauschig from Freiburg, which reminded me of my time on Tatort there. Good times, good times. Very entertaining.
Movie
The Studio is exhausting. I'm slowly realising the overhype and also that I'm not that big a Seth Rogen fan. Well produced and fun/surprising to see who else shows up besides Scorsese - like Olivia Wilde or Zac Efron.
In Liebe, eure Hilde is a super-classic Dresen film, which means it feels like it goes on forever - but the after-effects are intense. It's a film biography about Hilde Coppi, who was a member of the resistance group Rote Kapelle with her husband Hans. Great acting, exciting story, very lengthy. Not easy entertainment.
Other Inspirations
Nevertheless, the nice thing is that you can be a bit creative on days like this - without the pressure of having to be productive. Maybe that's where the good ideas come from.
Walking through the neighborhood is also nice when the sun goes down and the whole atmosphere shimmers and glitters. The bars are buzzing and the streets are humming, and there they are - cornerd on the corners and at the late-night bars. It's about time, summer.
May 22
The alarm clock rings at eight, and with plenty of motivation and a little nervousness, the first journey to Mahalla begins. There, the equipment is packed: lights, cameras, lenses, and tripods. Mahalla seems very harmonious at this time of day. The pigeons coo, and their call echoes through the huge building. People are still sitting together at the table with their first coffee before going to work.
The second journey takes us to The Famous Goldwatch Studio, which is like entering another world. In a basement in Weißensee, a world opens up that could be from the 1920s - only better equipped. There, the equipment is unpacked again, it is lit up and recorded. What? Ben Berrits' new three songs. How are they? Fantastic.
I continue to be a big fan of the musicians in my life who allow me to sit in on studio recordings. It's so wonderfully inspiring - plus Alfie the black cat makes the experience there all the more special.
Once the work is done, the third trip goes back to Mahalla, where everything is unpacked again to get ready for the last journey, which takes us back home - and it feels like -13 degrees. Summer, what's going on?
May 23
This day also begins with an early wake-up call from the alarm clock set on the mobile phone. This time the journey takes us to Mitte. There you meet up with your colleagues, with whom you rehearse and write the opera - and get it back into everyone's memories. This takes a whole morning. Not tired, you then quickly pitch your children's book idea, only to get lost in the maze of the Charité shortly afterwards.
When you find your destination, you go up to the 15th floor. You're bound to suffer a lot there - but at least the view is nice. Loaded up with all kinds of snacks, you spend some time holding hands and sit opposite a camera - because it's casting time.
Wish me luck.
See you next week,
Bussi Baba