This week has seemed to circulate quite a
bit around the ideals of beauty, freedom, truth, and love... The
Bohemian ideals heralded by the artists wandering around Montmartre
during the turn of the century. The main reason for this is that I
will soon be auditioning for a tour guide position with an American
company, and that is the area in which I will be commencing my
speaking skills. Two of my American friends had family visiting the
other day, and they did me the honor of letting me practice my little
script for the first time. I didn't know the script by heart yet, nor
did I really know the route, but it was great fun taking them around
and getting the lay of the land. As I was waiting for them in a local
Starbucks, I had an amazing view of the Moulin Rouge sitting right
across from me, bringing home the memories of all the crazy decadence
that used to exist in this neighborhood.
Even more than that, I found
myself going home at night and watching Moulin Rouge the film,
starring Nicole Kidman and the ever-adorable Ewan McGregor, while memorizing the tour guide script. In my own
New York cabaret, in addition to my daily life, I have often referred
to this film as “the movie that describes my soul.” I think this
was one of the first indicators that I wanted to frolic in Paris and
experience even a whiff of the lingering culture that embraced such
ideals. The movie itself is pure absurdity, with costumes, songs, and
completely ridiculous moments that in my opinion are what make life
truly worth living. On top of that, I recently bought myself a new
guitar, so I could start composing some little ditties. This week was
the first opportunity I really had to get back into an instrument I
frankly haven't really played in several years. As I tried to get my
little hands all calloused up again, I reacquainted myself with the
chords for Elton John's “Your Song”, which was the first tune I
ever officially played publicly, in front of an audience of about 700
people in college. Now, I am no guitar phenom. I like to try my hand
at it so as to accompany my own dulcet tones, and at the time I was
very much infatuated with a musician, so of course I had to impress
him by doing my best to be musically awesome. I chose that specific
song because of my Moulin Rouge obsession, loving the way that Ewan
McGregor belted out his innocent diatribe in order to win his
courtesan's heart. It's always funny how things come full circle, as
I hope to be giving a weekly tour of this artistic area. Not only
that, but I am off to London again this weekend to celebrate my
cousin's 30th birthday! And when I was studying abroad
soooooo very many years ago, my best friends there shared my love of
Moulin Rouge, its songs and spirit. The amount of times we would have
a bit too much to drink (or frankly no alcohol at all) and run around
the apartment acting out the characters, singing the melodies, and
enchanting our own romantic beliefs, was infinite. From Paris to London and back
again, I will continue my Bohemian lifestyle as best I can.
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