The Bubblegum Complex 02.13.03: Amiel Daemon Special
Posted by Claire Flynn Boyle on 02.13.2003
T.A.T.U...lesbians, pop act, geniuses, anti smoking lobbyists...
The Bubblegum Complex
By Claire Flynn Boyle
Welcome to the Bubblegum Complex, the column that tried so hard to understand you, lot of good it did me.
I knew I’d get a Steps reference in this week. It’s been where the mood has taken me. They were great. Just great. The alternates were Craig David, Public Enemy (?) and Amiel Daemon. More on that later! Oh and very quickly…England 1, Australia 3…….yesssssssssssssssssssss!
Congrats to the OFFICIAL (fuck the haterz!) band of the Bubblegum Complex, the fab and funky TATU. I finally saw the ultra controversial video yesterday. Good job rain machine guy. TATU not only made the top of the UK charts for week number 2 (whipping Timberlake and Oasis AND the Counting Crows and Good Charlotte, thank fuck!), and not only got tattoos to celebrate, but I actually heard All The Things She Said for the first time on an Australian radio. At least I think it was the radio. I had a leisurely day in Tasmania on Sunday, went for a hit of golf at a driving range and when I got my bucket of golf balls, there it was in the background. I was pretty stoked. Go Tasmanian radio! Shame I can’t play golf. Still, two weeks in row. I’m doubling my credit from last week to 0.00000000002%! Incidentally, TATU are at #3 on the interactive musical funky countdown thing on this very website, which spins me a bit. It’s a very big pipe dream it could knock Nirvana off the top spot, but get voting kids! You could make a young girl very happy! And you could make me happy too (I’m not young at all). Interestingly this week, I was idly looking for news about everyone’s favourite comedy lesbians, I found the following information, courtesy of lungusa.org
You have reached the Teens Against Tobacco Use (T.A.T.U.) website (www.tatuusa.org), sponsored by the American Lung Association®. T.A.T.U. is growing and is currently implemented at Lung Associations in 37 states including the District of Columbia. The T.A.T.U. Program employs a peer-teaching model as the delivery mechanism to teach young people about tobacco use and become advocates for tobacco-free communities. Peer involvement and communication are based on face-to-face interactions and planned activities. Planned activities stimulate active participation, learning and role-playing, which provide real world, age-appropriate experiences.
Several studies have indicated the effectiveness of this approach:
according to the book "Growing Up Tobacco-Free: Preventing Nicotine Addiction in Children and Youths", peer-led programs were more effective than other models
March 1998 Journal of School health documents the effectiveness of peer education in reducing alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs use among youth.
The program is a vehicle for a school or community-based service-learning project to discourage and reinforce teenagers not to use tobacco products. The program connects meaningful community service with academic learning, personal growth and civic responsibility. Approximately 40,000 youth are educated annually in the T.A.T.U. Program.
Of course the kids in T.A.T.U program don’t get a course in kissing by a fence while a nun watches. Shame. Anyway, if you’d like to e-mail TATU@lungusa.org, and ask them questions about Russians, just to see what they say, this column would be most grateful.
I’m in a pretty tops mood this week for other, more uncertain reasons. I’m sitting watching a Shelley Long movie, so I know that’s not what’s causing it. Yes folks, I’ve signed to be part of the creative process in the JC from N-Sync album! Well, sort of. If you go to www.onlyartist.com, and register, you get a questionnaire about his forthcoming solo album! Exciting or WHAT! Well sadly there isn’t a comments part where you can suggest he hooks up with two teenage lesbians or Sarah Whatmore, but hey, you can’t have everything. You can tell him exactly what parts of his album to change (well there’s three questions to start with, with more questions to come!) so you never know. I’d put a quiz on this site asking you to submit ideas for the album, but no-one responds to my quiz questions, so I’ll leave it alone and move onto the one part of the site that ALWAYS get a reaction!
The CFBBC countdown
Which is now over. No really. It’s done. Why? Well…just look at the results…
Billy Ray Cyrus – Achy Breaky Heart (26)
Everything Else combined (0)
Even our own Widro was moved to write in and vote. From across the continents people voted. One guy was in Guam! Yes, I went for Guam at the Olympics! Anyway, I don’t know if my blonde power brain can come with anything that would be able to compete with this kind of dominance, but hey, I’ll give it a go! Remember newbies, the vote is for the worst of music.
#1 – Billy Ray Cyrus – Achy Breaky Heart
#2 – Michael Jackson – Bad
#3 – Michael Jackson – Living With Jacko
#4 – Counting Crows w/ Vanessa Carlton – Big Yellow Taxi
I don’t think it’s gonna be enough to topple the mullet but hey, I tried…
So with last weeks mad props to Sarah Whatmore (go buy Automatic, like, now. It’s #8 in the midweek UK charts, so don’t read this, go buy it, now) working OK, this week it’s time to learn about Amiel Daemon. Sadly facts about Amiel are thin on the ground, so these facts might be made up, but her song “Lovesong” is blisteringly good and sweet and all those kind of things, so throughout the article this week will be Amiel Daemon facts! Like this one!
#1 Fun Amiel Daemon fact – She was the singer on Josh Abrahams/Puretone “Addicted To Bass” hit, and she’s on the Moulin Rouge soundtrack in one of only two things that have anything redeemable and the Moulin Rouge stamp, the other of course being Ozzy Osbourne screaming as the Green Fairy. No really.
Michael Jackson has brought out a tape in which Martin Bashir calls him a loving father and an all round good guy, rather than a BIG SICKO FREAK MAN! However (Aussie joke alert) it turns out it was Joe the Cameraman. The rest of you non-Aussies might be surprised that a British journalist said one thing and then said another when the person wasn’t looking. Surely not! Anyway, I have first hand experience of this kind of spin doctoring. Once at a Chelsea game I got asked my opinion on one of the players and I said he was shit. It appeared in the paper as “He’s got to try harder”…
#2 – Fun Amiel Daemon fact – She was in incredibly bad Australian TV Show Raw Fm, an alleged teen drama series. A trio of teens create their own hip and happening radio station - the Raw FM of the title. She also may have been in the Silver Brumby with Russell Crowe, but the site was in French, so I’m stretching on that one.
The 14th of February is of course Valentines Day, and since I’m in a funky new lover relationship, I thought I would do a little bit of research and find out if my UNNAMED local radio station would do me a small favour…the following conversation is totally true…
CFB (that’s me) “Hello, I’m in a new relationship and I wanted to dedicate two songs to my love!”
Radio phone chick: “That’s wonderful, that’s so sweet. Would you come on the air and talk about them with us?”
CFB: “Sure, that’s no problems at all.”
Radio phone chick: “What songs are they?”
CFB: “One for Sorrow by Steps and Your Kid Committed Suicide because you Suck by Anal Cunt.”
Radio phone chick: “Er…that second one, I don’t think we have it…”
CFB: “It was on when me met. You know, on in the background. It would mean a lot…”
Radio phone chick: “I don’t think we could play a song by Anal Cunt”
CFB: “You could say it was by A.C”
Radio phone chick: “We could play some Rick Astley or Shania Twain…”
CFB: “It wouldn’t be the same.”
Radio phone chick: “Well…no…”
CFB: “This is a request show isn’t it! I want to dedicate a song to my love! There’s nothing wrong with that!”
Radio phone chick: “Who’s your love?”
CFB: “Darren Lehmann.”(A beloved Australian sportsman Non Aussies)
Radio phone chick: “Oh go fuck off…”
I’d send a similar request to MTV DJ Hilarie Burton (“Give ME, like, your love songs!”) if I had MTV! Peace and love on the 14th lovers! Just don’t request Anal Cunt love songs…
Fun Amiel Daemon fact #3 – I actually met Amiel Daemon at the launch party for Raw FM, and had a conversation that went something like. “Shit party” “Yeah” “What’s the show like?” “Shit…wanna get out of here?” “Can’t…brought a date…” “Oh…fine…see ya…” Then Hayden came over and…anyway, that’s another story!
You might remember that I’ve speculated a little bit about Bubbles the chimpy chimp of Michael Jackson fame. There were apparently 4 different chimps, 3 who died, and one who got his arse shaved. The one with the bare bum is alive and well and seeing out his days in an animal sanctuary. Just thought I’d clear that up.
Fun Amiel Daemon Fact #4 – She doesn’t have a website, and I don’t know why! Get onto it people!
It’s really terrible when you don’t have an ending to your column, mainly because it’s a very quiet week, and there isn’t any way I’m submitting anything under 2000 words, so to finish this week, I thought I’d close with something close to my heart: as you may know I was turned onto pop by UK boy band Take That. When they broke up, I got sent this article that has since been immortalised on the web. It’s long, but it’s close to my heart. Enjoy the magic of people taking their pop seriously…
Unsubstatiated rumours of the impending break up of Take That were first aired in the Sun newspaper in the UK on 12th February 1996. The article stated that "Pop band Take That are to split later this year after a farewell tour. A senior music industry source was reported as saying the band had decided that "enough is enough". The paper said that lead singer Gary Barlow had made initial preparations for a solo album but the other three members were believed to be leaving showbiz.
Many UK fans did not take the news seriously given the notoriety and sensationalism of this newspaper and casually urged fans from more remote parts of the globe not to take the rumour seriously. Despite this, some fans couldn't help but wonder if there might have been some truth to the rumour. After all, it was the one and the same Sun newspaper, that first announced the departure of Robbie Williams before it had been officially announced.
A Western Australian newspaper, leaping into action fast on the heels of the Sun, also reported the rumoured split, most of its content being drawn from the Sun article. This article also added that Nigel Martin-Smith had already met with lawyers to discuss details of the break up and plan a farewell tour. Quoting the same senior music source that The Sun did it goes on to say that the lads have always wanted to go out on top and this is exactly what they will do if they split now.
The rumours still did cause a frenzy in some areas. The reporter with his or her prize story decided to go underground, the record company, RCA, refused to comment and the Nigel Martin-Smith (NMS) management offices were in the dark saying it was news to them. Apparent reports from Take That's Record Company denying the split and stating that Take That always let the fans know before anyone else of important developments just added to the swirl of confusion. All this vagueness left fans trully uncertain as to what was actually happening. The Manchester Evening News also stated that RCA were not sure of the bands plans in the long term but there was no split going to happen in the short term. The article also stated that Nigel Martin-Smith was very angry about the reports.
The announcement of a press conference to be held the following day on 13th February 1996, that day ironically being ex-Thatter Robbie Williams birthday, soothed the worried minds of many fans who were certain that the lads were going to assure their loyal and devoted followers, as they had done so many times in the past, that this was a false rumour, joke , or even a dumb publicity stunt and that they would be around as long as the fans wanted them, as they'd always promised.
This announcement came from several sources. BBC news stated that Take That were splitting up and they were giving the press conference to say what exactly their next plans were going to be. BBC also added that Take That would do a tour first with details being announced mid February. The Net on Radio 1 also said that according to RCA they have no plans for splitting in the short term. The following day, GMTV also announced a press conference by Take That at a secret location in Cheshire but some fans were hurt by the response of GMTV who, after announcing the press conference, spent the whole time taking the micky out of the whole issue very insensitivly.
While there were fans heaving sighs of relief, there were still a number of fans not so sure about the outcome of the press conference. These wary ones waited with nervous anticipation for the last words from the lads themselves.
The official press conference that had half the world jet setting to Manchester, was aired on GMTV with the report going out live on Radio 1 and Piccadilly Key 103 FM around about the same time.
To the utter shock and crushing disappointment and dismay of all fans all over the world, Take That confirmed that the rumours were indeed true. They also said that they had planned to make the announcement the following week, but the leaked story and fast-spreading rumours had brought their plans forward by one week. They even apparently hesitated just before doing the press conference to double check that they were doing the right thing but then agreed that it was and (sadly for us all) went on with it.
Gary informed the viewers and listeners that the next single, "How Deep is Your Love" would be the last one. All of the boys had further plans, and had not ruled out the possibility of getting back together, at some future date. They see that Take That has gone as far as it can go at present. Gary also appeared to imply that they had all grown up, their music had grown up and all their fans had grown up as well.
Gary's plans included continuing with a solo career and, with the material that he has, hopes to have a single out by summer with an album following shortly after towards the end of 1996. He apparently looked quite happy and even tried to make a few jokes.
Mark possible plans included a solo project, but would probably get into TV/radio presenting. Howard and Jason did not state their intentions. Jason apparently looked calm, but Howard looked sad.
Take That have said they would continue to do promos and it is not the last we will hear of the boys. They all have private projects to go on to and that the fans should not be too sad as the lads would be back.
Mark, trying to appear quite happy, but not fooling the fans, said that the time was now right, and they had done all they could do, there were also problems behind the scences. The decision to split was 50% their own and 50% due to problems back-stage.
They will go ahead with the Brit Awards and informed the fans that they will have their finale live performance on 5th April 1996 in Holland. It will only be a tv performance. Without a final concert, some fans feel sad that there won't be a chance to even say their proper goodbyes. After that Take That will officially cease to exist (except in the memory and hearts of the fans).
Despite the reason for the press conference, they were apparently in good humour though but extremely nervous.
This aftermath of the press conference left fans stunned, shocked, hurt, angry, disbelieving, gutted, stunned, at a loss for words, desparate, disappointed, deeply saddended, betrayed, lied to, cynical, resigned. Many of us have yet to really realise that this is not all a dream that we'll be able to wake up from. For others, this press conference was the last straw that confirmed the niggling suspiscions they were having for some time especially after the announcement of the Greatest Hits album, which artists usuallly only release as a finale to their career, and the ebbing and flowing vibes ever since Robbie left.
Some questioned Gary's sincereity given his immediate re-signing for a solo career and wondered whether he was a main instigator in the break-up. Others were angry with Robbie's apparent callous disinterest; "to be honest, I'm more worried about whether Port Vale will win their match tonight".
There were also questions still left unanswered even after the press conference with fans feeling that there was more to the break-up than met the eye. What is the truth ?!
In seeking answers to try and ease their pain, many fans have already logically inferred that the 50% behind the scenes problems that Mark mentioned are legal problems due to Robbie's court case on 26th Feb. Given that Take That always seemed to want to do a world tour and other things but have now ruled them out, there is the feeling that something must have hurried this decision along, and the court case seems like the most likely reason. It could be that the lads were worried about the possible nasty press that would come out from the court case or maybe they were threatened in some way. Maybe this was an action to protect the fans and go out on top without any "mud" attached to their names. Unfortunately, we can only speculate and keep our ears and eyes open for more developments once the court case proceeds.
Many news fans, especially from the USA, Canada and Australia are disappointed that their music idols have ceased to be so soon. Many have questioned why they stopped when they were just getting onto a good thing by breaking North America and other previously un-TakeThatted parts of the world with their number one chart hit "Back for Good". Many of these fans in particular are extremely disappointed that they will never have a chance to see Take That live concert. Many fans in Europe are disappointed that Take That have not returned to their faithful followers for such a long time and now they will never return as Take That. Probably most understandable of all is the pain that many hometown Mancunians are feeling about their homegrown lads not conducting their farewell performance in Manchester. Many fans echoed each others' sentiments whishing there would be a final tour so they could get the chance to say their final goodbyes, instead of being cut off so clinically.
But answers and reasons that satisfy the many aching hearts are going to be hard to come by ....for now.
Despite all the low feelings, one etrememly bright spark has emerged in the midst of the turmoil. It has been most encouraging to see Thatters unite and provide the emmense support that has come to fans from fans worldwide over the Unofficial Take That Pages. All fans should congratulate themselves over the wonderful way they have come out in droves to support each other in this trying time. Also, on IRC fans have come together, supporting each other and helping each other through the rough times. What a TT vibe, bringing fans from all over the world together. There wasn't much need of words to understand and console each other. Unfortuantely not all fans have access to the internet so support groups and help lines have also been set up to assist devastated fans come to terms with their grief.
When all has been said and done about our greif and pain, if we are to each move on more positively in our lives and see the lads we've grown to love so much do the same, we've got to let them go as Take That. Fond memories will always remain and no one can or should try to take them away.
But we must realise that even though it is an extremely sad moment, this was probably the best move for the guys we care so much about. They've taken Take That, in its current image, as far as possible - and even beyond what they themselves or anybody else would have expected. It must have been a long, hard and extrememly stressful 6 years for Take That at the top. They've grown up, matured and obviously need this space to breathe and move on, for their own personal peace of mind. Their decision to call it a day is yet another proof of their intelligence and maturity. Even the release of Nobody Else showed clearly that they had outgrown the boys band-concept. The future has to be different - and there is no reason to stop admiring and loving them. Be sad, because something beautiful has ended, but keep on loving them for their decency, sweetnes and their talents. But remember that we've not heard the last of "the band formerly known as Take That".
Finally, think of this: Take That will always be Take That for us as long as we keep them in our hearts! DON'T LET THE TT SPIRIT DIE!!! Please all, hang in there, cry as much as you need to but *don't* do silly things!
And with this eulogy, we wish you all the best Gary Barlow, Mark Owen, Howard Donald and Jason Orange. We will not forget you and we will be as supportive of each of you as we always were when you were collectively Take That.
Dominique & Veronica with tons of help from Thatnews subscribers and the Unofficial Take That Pages*
I totally agree and concur, cos I nearly cried! Well that was great, I’ve enjoyed writing this (and I can’t say that EVERY week!) so until next time, when the planets align and the world is plunged into Avril Grammy darkness, adieu my very sweet rabbits and dream a little dream of me!
