There are so many great things about this video: 1. Patti Smith on a kids' show? Yes, please. 2. Her considerate and insightful answers, all spoken with that drawling Chicago accent. 3. Patti Smith earnestly singing "You Light Up My Life", the Debby Boone that is considered one of the sappiest ballads of all of time. Confession: I secretly love that song and Patti totally rocks it in a weird, "can't really sing" sort of way. 4. Her performance is to be followed by an appearance from Count Dracula. Awesome.
I've been feeling it for awhile, but last night's Beach House concert cemented it for me: I'm feeling for California.
Okay, so this band's wispy musical stylings are based in Baltimore. Nonetheless, they reflect an on-going resurgence in the dream-cool that's taking place on all fronts.
For me, it started last fall with the collections of cool kid designers Proenza Schouler and Thakoon. Their Spring '10 collections showcased surf-inspired looks that had just the right amount of long-limbed insouciance, messiness, and gracefulness. Proenza Schouler from style.com Thakoon from style.com
I love the electric blues and yellows that they showed - enough to reconsider a diversion from my normal black, gray, and dark blue. Maybe this summer will have me sporting vintage Oakley's and one of those bright pink swimming shorts so popular in the nineties?
But my obsession with California has less to do with most American's associations. In fact, I've always been kind of disgusted with the reality of California, especialyl SoCal. Instead, I've meshed a sort of laid-back utopia out of the surf culture and Laurel Canyon-era electic bohemianism. Imagine waking up in a house with white-washed wood floors surrounded by lush trees (something like this), driving barefoot to some shack to get fish tacos, and getting stoned by the beach while wearing an oversize t-shirt with holes in it. Sort of Joni Mitchell on a surf board. Privileged, a little bit unthinking, and young.
Anyway, I've already been listening to them for awhile, but I'm going to soothe my California-less woes this summer by listening to the Girls while driving to the lake. To follow up, I'm temporarily changing the colors of this blog.
