ABSTRACT(!)

This Delicate Film We’ve Made is a magnificent piece of work. Every single moment of the film was truly breath-taking. Individually each video tells a story, each completely special and outstanding in its own way, resulting in a collection of videos that is truly phenomenal. The videos really bring the music to life and it is great to get a deeper insight into the tracks.

The film takes you on a great journey – much akin to travelling through time. As the lights go down you progress through a variety of emotions including, excitement, warmth, enthrallment, amazement, wonder, delight, sadness, all ending in an awe-struck silence as the credits begin to roll.

All of this is on top of the incredibleness of the album as we already know it; it is an amazing achievement and one that nobody should miss out on. If you haven’t already ordered the DVD – do it now!

Beware... Although there are no spoilers in the summary there are in the rest of it so if you want to keep the DVD a surprise I wouldn’t read further than this!

THE FILM

Before the film started Darren gave a little introduction, thanking everyone for coming and explaining a little about the album and the videos. He also explained the absence of Richard – who is quite shy and would have felt uncomfortable being around. He joked that he’d text him to tell him we’d all hated it.

Then he took his seat and the lights went down and the opening bars of A Fear Of Falling Under began with a shout from Darren demanding to know “Where’s the popcorn?!” which gave everyone a giggle. As the opening sequence was being played I became completely overwhelmed with excitement, feeling extremely privileged and proud that I was finally going to be able to see this film – and be one of the first to see it.

I did make a mental note to remember something about the credits at the beginning, but I have of course forgotten what it was! However the main image that sticks in my mind is that the majority of them were in smaller case – which gave of a brilliant effect with the roaming underwater backdrop. The words (and this is probably a paraphrase!) ‘Powdered Sugared Productions and Pixelfing presents..’ were in a coloured font and again brought home to me why I was there and I had to warn myself that it would be a time before I got to see the videos again so I needed to relax and take in as much as I can (as if I had this sort of thing at home I’d at first be so excited I was watching it that I would have to rewind to find out what actually happened). The opening was great, along with the music it appeared as if the viewer was in a submarine, exploring the bottom of the ocean – it really epitomised the start of a journey.

Each video is outstanding, there was so much to see and take in, and for this reason throughout much of the DVD I felt a sense of overwhelming awe which may make this review even less coherent than my regular waffles – but I am doing my best! To try and emphasise the overall magnificence of it, it was like when you discover something new and exciting, a CD, book, play, film…., and you immediately want to watch/see/hear it again to see if it really was as amazing as you believe it is. I don’t get this feeling very often but it is something I certainly felt here.

As for favourites.. I don’t really have one... each video got me thinking to myself “This one is my favourite!”.. “Oh.. no! THIS one is my favourite…” “WOW, THIS ONE is my favourite..” which is unusual, but definitely a positive thing! Even though the videos are all linked together by various factors (there were some symbols occurring in every video) and of course the links we can already identify from the music I believe that each video is able to stand on its own too. They all tell a small story and I truly believe that if I did not know the music beforehand, or any of the information revealed to us, or even perhaps if I wasn’t a Darren fan, the brilliance of each video shines through – and I defy anyone to not recognise the talent and genius behind them. Every single video was special.

Some videos caused tears to be shed, and from the rustling of tissues I could hear from next to me assured me that I wasn’t the only one! A Hundred Challenging Things.., Maybe, and Neverland all brought at least one tear to my eye! All three were emotionally charged. I thought the story in Maybe was very powerful and the animation truly beautiful. A Hundred Challenging Things… drew heavily on the use of stars and it is quite amazing how something so simple (I say simple, it probably wasn’t as simple when they were drawing and animating it… I don’t know much about the technical side of things!) can be so effective. Neverland was one of the two videos that Darren actually starred in (the other being Casey) and was brilliantly put together. The use of the different set pieces, puppets, lighting and shadows was perfect, I felt the video really bought the song alive, and you could feel the emotion radiating from it.

How To Build A Time Machine was, I felt a simple concept but one of my favourite stories and effects out of all the videos. Much of the video was showing the progress through a time vortex and various pictures from Darren’s life whirling around, breaking up, and disappearing. I really liked the effect of all the pieces orbiting the planets. At parts the photos after breaking up started mixing with other pieces and then going blank – which I took as a brilliant metaphor for the idea that if you could go back in time and change things then nothing would be the same (that’s my perception anyway, I could be wrong!). At the end of the video it settled on the family photo, which I took as meaning that despite everything he wouldn’t change the past (which I believe he expressed on tour too).

Waking the Monster and Setting Sun were both black and white videos. Waking The Monster was very scientific and seemed to be roaming around a ‘mad’ scientist’s desktop, with formulae, doodles, diagrams, and various pieces of equipment. Setting Sun showed war time, and bomber planes bringing down skyscrapers. The graphics in A Conversation with God were amazing, and I really became absorbed with watching the car spinning out of control on the bridge.

The Future Holds a Lions Heart was the 3D video, and before it started there came up instructions to put on your glasses – which was helpful as I heard that some people had started wearing their glasses from the start until Maggz crept round telling them to take them off! Darren shouted out which way round the glasses were meant to be round which I am immensely appreciative of as I of course had mine on backwards. The video was surrounding Victorian magic tricks (stole this from Darren – think my initial reaction was more like Wow look at all the cards!), and the 3D effect of the house of cards, and shuffling cards etc. was remarkable. There was a lot to take in and with the ‘wow’ factor of it being in 3D, I think this is the video I most want to see again as I know while I was wowing over various things I was neglecting to notice a lot of what was happening. Darren did say at the end that it would drive you crazy to analyse it all, though I am looking forward to be driven crazy by it!

I must say I was even impressed by the videos that we have already seen – Words, Step Into The Light, Casey and Who Would Have Thought all looked brilliant up on the big screen. I must admit it has been a while since I have watched them so for me it was like rediscovering what I loved about each of them. I completely forgot how striking the Who Would Have Thought video is and how much I loved the story of the paper bird until I saw it again.

When the film had finished and the credits started to roll there was a stunned silence until Darren called out “That’s it!” which got everyone applauding.

All in all, I really cannot stress how amazing I found this film! Everything about it was just brilliant, the order was perfect, and everything flowed together really well. I know earlier I mentioned that each video stands alone and can be appreciated separately, but I do think that the overall effect of the package is phenomenal. There did not seem to be any ‘filler’ type videos where something was shoved in to make up the numbers, nor were there any videos that were just rehashes of each other. Each video was distinctively different and it was apparent that every single decision had been made carefully and a lot of hard work went into the creation. I do have a huge amount of admiration and respect for everyone who worked on it, in particular Richard, who does seem to be every bit the ‘Braniac’ that Darren described him as; he is certainly extremely talented and has a genius mind.

In addition to the pictures it was extremely cool to hear the album in surround sound. When watching the film it was almost easy to forget the music and the lyrics accompanying them. To have just the album was magnificent enough, but the brilliance of the videos on top of the album – the result is just incredible! It really is an extremely special achievement. I really cannot wait to watch it all again, I am looking forward to catching bits I’ve missed and getting a closer look at the videos, the pause button will become my friend!

QUESTION & ANSWER

At the end Darren came forward for a question and answer session he joked that originally one of his friends were supposed to host the question session but they had all chickened out so we would have to put our hands up instead – because he had been a teacher! When no hands went up he said ‘Don’t make me scan the room!’

There weren’t many questions at all but I will try and recall the answers to things that were asked. At the lack of questions he did joke about being uninteresting and sang out ‘Am I so uninteresting?’ which gained a laugh and started the questions rolling. I do think the lack of questions can be explained by nerves and people still being in awe over the DVD rather than disinterest. Being on the quiet side I had to force myself to ask my question so it did feel a little school like!

I asked how he chose which tracks to use for the DVD and he talked a bit about the original intentions of the album – that one disc was going to be more conceptual – based around time travel etc. and the other disc was going to be more of a pop record. He said that he hadn’t consciously picked his favourite tracks or anything for the DVD, but it was more of an organic choice. He then talked about how he loved working with people he respected and trusted – Richard didn’t just get the gig because Darren was in love with him! And that he felt comfortable leaving decisions and such to Richard, and the others that were working on it, because he knew they would do an amazing job.

He talked about Willie Williams and mentioned his exhibit ‘Lumia Domestica’ which sounds like it would be worth going to see, I think its staged lighting, showing the different effects of light as they bounce of different household objects.

Someone asked him what was next but he didn’t give anything away! He said lots of things, but did express an interest in writing a musical! He said how he wants to take a break before embarking on the next album even though he knows what he’s going to call it and the style it’s going to be. He said he hasn’t written anything as such for it yet because that will lead him into completing it and he does want to have a break! Someone asked him his favourite song in terms of lyrics and he answered Neverland.

Maggz asked him if he would ever do anything like this project again and he said no. He said he saw the next album being simple – not simple musically but perhaps a ten or eleven track album, and a concert without the massive production, but with still nice venues and larger venues.

I think it was Izzy who asked at which stage he first saw the videos in his head, at which stage, and if he drew or sketched out the videos. He again talked about the benefit of working with other people he respected, and mentioned that Richard really had free reign, and the only video he himself actually directed was Neverland (which he did storyboard). He said how Richard did the original drawings for Maybe, that were then used by Damien Hale (I think!) who worked on them for the final video.

Ema asked where he got the idea for the 3D video and he said that it was from the original idea for the live performance – that of Victorian magic. Originally, it was intended that the show wouldn’t turn into a large tour but be a one-off at the Roundhouse in London, where there would be a live magic trick as part of the performance. He talked about how they were going to build the time machine from bits of the stage setup throughout the show and at the end reveal what had been built – ‘This Delicate Thing We’ve Made’. The show was originally going to be called ‘This Delicate Thing We’ve Played’ and he joked about how people had been telling him that all he was missing was the vinyl figures to complete the set. He also mentioned how it was good that things didn’t always turn out according to his original plans because the last time that had happened, the result was the Insatiable video that we will never see!

THE END

After question time Darren waited outside in the lobby-ish area to say hello and take pictures with people. He was as lovely and charming as ever and talked to everyone, laughing and joking with everyone. There were plenty of jokes about the number of photo flashes going off every time and there were some great posed shots!

And I think that’s about it! Those are my thoughts. I apologise for the length but really it just shows how memorable each video actually was – they all really stuck in my mind and I was able to recall quite easily the main details of each video – something which is not always easy. It may be interesting to see if I agree with myself upon a second viewing! The main message I can give you is this: If you have not yet ordered a DVD – Do it now!! You do not want to miss out on this; it truly is a magnificent piece of work.

Thank you Darren, and everyone, for the opportunity to see this stunning and special film early and in such a gorgeous setting. It was definitely a brilliant day. And big congratulations on such a fantastic achievement!

Birmingham - 17th February 2008

Last night was completely amazing! Of course I don't expect any less but it would be a pretty poor account of events if I just wrote 'the usual.. met expectations'.. and in fact it would be a little untrue! No matter how many times I see Darren live, he ALWAYS amazes me at some point, be it by his voice (flawless.. and this tour sounding better than ever) or how long he can hold notes (seriously long amount of time) or just the notes he can reach! At one point he let out an extremely high pitched 'woo' which put my brother and I's high pitch squealing competition we had the other day to shame. The thing is, though me and my brother managed to sound like cats being strangled, Darren still manages to be pitch perfect - it really does amaze!

Anyway! Last night was at the academy 2, which despite being as small as a postage stamp, has a stage a little bigger than the Manchester and Bristol venues had. There seemed to be loads more lights and the stage looked really pretty. The pre-show music was much louder last night than it has been, which was good as I finally was able to hear and appreciate the songs picked out! Admittedly most I could not recognise lol, but actually being able to hear the music made the waiting time seem to go quicker, either that or my discussion with Charlotte that she really needs to come to the last London gig ;)

As I was standing a little closer to the left hand speaker I was able to pick up more on Steves guitar (who really is quite fantastic) and just in general get a better appreciation of the backing sound. Darren sounded amazing and as funny and sweet as ever. He seemed to have a little trouble reading the setlist and asked for Steve to play the loop for Mine a couple of times in the wrong place and made a joke that he should be wearing his glasses all the time because his eyesight was getting bad as he was getting older and he couldn't see it! He also remarked on how it was terrible that he couldn't get the order right as it was the 7th time! When it really was time for the loop for Mine he made a show of saying that at least he was paying attention to the setlist and knew where things were lol. 100 Challenging Things last night seemed extra beautiful, as did Darrens explanation preceeding it.
Dirty was brilliant! He added bits of Vogue and Prince's Kiss which was extremely exciting! The bit from Quake was removed though, which is quite funny as me and my Mum have been practicing the 'We Do!' response bit as noone seems to do it and usually we get swept along with the moment and don't remember to do it fast enough! I really love Dirty on this tour, it is so cool how he adds little bits in from everywhere, and it always sounds fantastic.
There was another brilliant performance of Casey, and Darren looked really chuffed when everyone was singing along. I can't wait to get the downloads as it always sounds special, and everytime I get the shiver! When Darren introduced the song after Casey he remarked on the singing saying 'and this is Sing To Me which you all do so well!'.
Darren remarked a few times on how he liked being around the Brummie accent and that he liked Brummies! And he was glad he was doing two concerts as being around the Brummie accent more could only be a good thing!
After he came back on for the encore, he said how he really wanted to thank everyone for turning up, and for everything, and how he knew he wouldn't be there if it wasn't for everyone. He said that he didn't know how he could ever thank everyone enough for helping him to reach his dreams and that he owed a lot. It was so sweet, he also mentioned about taking a break but 'I promise, I will always come back'. He then sung Unloveable with Steve on the electric guitar rather than.. well I'd guess acoustic guitar he usually uses but my knowledge on different guitars isn't too wide! It sounded amazing and perhaps because it had followed his little speech more emotional than ever, pure brilliance!
He finished off with the So Beautiful remix which I still think is the perfect end to the perfect show, it just rounds things off really well.
Other things.. Setting Sun was as great as ever, I still completely love that song, and have decided that I want a keytar now lol. I Don't Care is another of my favourites of the tour, I think everyone clapping and singing along emphasises the themes of the song, and it just sounds brilliant every time.

So once again, a definite WOW, amazing show! Can't believe it's nearly all over and I only have London left!

Side 2 Tour - 11th February 2008 - The Bristol Thekla (WHICH IS A BOAT!)

Last night I got to see Darren.. ON A BOAT!!! Lol, when booking the tickets we were trying to be strict with ourselves with the number we went to.. but how can you turn down a concert on a boat?! Anyway despite my Mums slight worry we were going to sink, and my hopes that the boat would sway along with the music the boat didn't seem to move at all (which is probably a good thing really lol) and seemed more club like than boat like anyway! Definitely wasn't the fancy cruise ship I'd secretly imagined!

As always, Darren was amazing! In fact he still seems to get better every time I see him (which seems impossible as I am always saying how amazing and brilliant he is, but it really is true!). He seemed extra chatty last night which was fab, he seems to talk more each night! He was funny as ever, at one point he was asking someone at the front to turn his fan on, and when they did he told the guy helping out that it was OK, his fan had turn his fan on lol, he then said how that was a really bad joke, and that whenever jokes that bad are told they call it 'dropping the funny egg' and that when someone does it you're supposed to pick it up and hand it to them. He then said his joke was so bad he'd made a whole omelette. When introducing 100 Challenging Things he was talking about reviews he'd had, and how he'd had a Malaysian phone interview and they asked him did he realise that his album was so GAY and that him being GAY was so controversial and did he realise that he was being so controversial.. the way he said the word gay can not be portrayed by text but it was very funny and then a few times later in the night he brought it back up again making everyone laugh.
At one point someone shouted out something, and Darren said 'is that a Thekle heckle?!' and said that he'd been waiting all night to say that lol. He also mentioned a few times about being on a boat! And teased us saying that he was sure we were tilting and perhaps we ought to move over to the left some. He then sang out Don't Rock the Boat, Don't Rock the Boat Over! (he also fitted this into one of the songs.. I think it was Dirty) which was cool -and fortunately for us all the boat did not tip over!

He sounded great, and you know it never fails to amaze me how stunning his voice actually is! Sometimes when I'm listening I just feel a sense of awe and realise how lucky I am to be there listening.
He sang Dublin Sky after the encore, acoustically with only Steve on the guitar and it sounded amazing. I got all excited when it started realising that we was getting a chance to hear something different! He then sang Unloveable, but very sweetly reminded people that the questions in the song are actually rhetorical and that it is not a pantomime and people aren't actually meant to respond. He put it much more tactfully than I could have done lol! But it worked, and people just listened rather than shouting throughout the song, and it sounded stunning.

The atmosphere on the boat was brilliant, and everyone seemed to be singing along, especially in Casey which to me seemed like the best performance of the song yet.. I really can't wait to hear the recordings of these performances! I Don't Care was probably my favourite song of the night, it just seemed extra special!

All in all another fantabulous night, and I can't believe I've passed the half way mark in concerts I'm attending! Only two left ;( But so far I am enjoying every minute of the gigs, and even the excitement inbetween the gigs. Definitely loving the Side 2 Tour!!

Darren Hayes, Side 2 Tour, Manchester - 7/2/08

OK so Darren was PHENOMENAL tonight. It surpassed amazing, and in my opinion even better than the London gig. I don't know if it was because of the new order of songs (which I liked and think flowed really well), or the touches added to Dirty (All Around Me - YAY!! Quake - Coolness! I Want You, and I Need You Tonight - Brilliant!), Mine (Keep Bleeding, Keep Keep Bleeding!), and Conversation with God (Running Up That Hill), or perhaps just the audience - who were fabulous! Certainly louder than the London crowd, everyone seemed to love every minute of the show, and did not stop chanting for him to come back on in the break before the encore! It must be so weird to have three hundred odd people chanting for you to come back on stage lol. The atmosphere was great!

I could see a lot more of the stage this time (I couldn't really see any of it in London!) and its really pretty with a some fairy lights and those flowery lights in a vase. It's cool because it kinda give the whole thing the more relaxed feel I was talking about in my last blog, great!

Darren himself seemed a lot more relaxed too, perhaps as it was the 4th gig for him now so he's had time to settle into it all! He looked and sounded amazing, and was extremely funny when telling us about the 'theiving bitch' who took his mug yesterday and emailed him to ask what tea he drank. He then went on to tell us how he had the runs last night and how she probably had it now and it served her right! lol! He slipped up at the same place in Setting Sun - which is probably still my favourite bit of the gig, I completely love the song anyway but it sounds even better live! I want a keyboard that can play that beat!! He also slot in Unloveable at the start of the (fake)encore which was beautiful, at one point he was singing in almost a whisper and then cranked it up to sing loud again and the effect was quite stunning.

Anyway I think thats about everything without repeating myself over and over (which I would quite willingly do but then the two readers I have would probably abandon me!), needless to say I had a completely brilliant night (again) as Darren was fantastic (again) and I SO can't wait (though can wait at the same time!) for the next one! Which I think is Bristol - on a boat!! How cool!!! It feels so weird not doing them all this time (and I keep getting seriously tempted by the ones I'm not going to), though when I remember that we were only supposed to be doing two and ended up doing five, I am more than happy about it!!!!!

The Side Two Tour - London, 3rd February 2008.

Brilliant. 'nuff said.

OK no that really isn't enough. The gig was fantastic and I really really really REALLY enjoyed myself. However, it was extremely different to the other shows of his I have been to (not that it's a bad thing.. just different!). The Time Machine tour was amazing, and very much a show, thinking back to the first gig I was hit almost immediately with Darrens star quality and a real disbelief that more people didn't see it - and even after all this time I can't think of any other word to describe it except for amazing. Last night was extremely different. It didn't really feel like a proper concert, it was more like we were just popping along, listening to some songs.. most of which have not been heard live for a long time and some not at all. I have a friend who sings, and it was almost like when we get together with him and we're all calling out random requests (most of which he doesn't sing in regular live gigs), going play this one.. OK now do this one.. ooo great.. now this one! If you can sort of understand what I mean!

Because of this, it felt almost more relaxed and even at times more respectful of the music. One of the songs he sand was 100 Challenging Things.. and noone made a sound, (Or at least around me they didn't seem to be), and I got a completely new perspective on the song and just thought wow! And then we got to hear stuff I've never heard live before.. I don't Care and Mine, and RBL and it was so cool to hear these, because even when I'm plotting in my head prospective lineups I tend to think how unlikely it is they will come up - but they did! SO good to hear things from such a long time ago. And then things I haven't heard live in an age, Dirty brought flashbacks of TCFC which was just cool.

And then theres the stuff off Delicate.. Sing to me was brilliant live and I am so glad he sung it! Ever since hearing the album I seem to keep dreaming of him singing it live so was a bit weird for it to actually happen! Casey was brilliant, even when Darren had to start again because of people clapping out of time! Lol, everyone got so excited and in to the song as the beat properly kicked in that the clapping was all over the place and Darren missed his 'click' or something and started laughing that he had to start again, specially after saying at the start that as he was recording this he better do it properly!

Aside from the singing Darren was his usual charming and funny self, he told of his hat theory which was brilliant, particularly as I know someone who actually seems to be like that (though not with a hat, a particular jacket), he made a joke about the 'fake encore' and stayed on the stage throwing out phrases that we would be saying if he had of gone off.. 'he's much better looking in real life!' 'he didn't sing I want you.. that pissed me off!' etc, very funny. Shave and Steve went off but they were back super speedy and it was the shortest fake encore I've ever seen! Darren said that in other gigs he might try going off, so for the people going again, if that happened make sure we clap as if he's never coming back lol.

Set list time..
Hero
Bombs Up In My Face
Sense of Humour
A Conversation With God
Gunning Down Romance
Random Blinking Light
100 Challenging Things A Boy Can Do
Setting Sun
Maybe
Mine
Dirty
Casey
Sing to Me
*Fake encore*
I Don't Care
So Beautiful

Which reminds me Setting Sun.. was possibly the song I was most hoping he would sing and most looking forward to and he didn't dissapoint. It was brilliant! And funny too with Shave on the keytar and when Darren messed a bit up he sang along saying how great it was that the beat was the same throughout so he could just join in again. But it sounded fab live and can't wait to hear it again :D

All in all, was a completely brilliant night, though I am glad my friends I was trying to bring a long declined as I don't think they would have known any of the songs.. but it was the perfect gig for me (and I'm sure other fans too lol). Complete brilliance!!

I also picked up a bit of merchandise.. a faberoonie mug and bag, and some badges (can not resist merchandise), the CD was also on sale which before I identified properly I nearly bought aswell lol. The only slightly annoying thing was despite it being announced before hand that there were to be no cameras there seemed to be many people clicking, flashing and even filming away - how rude!

As I don't want to end on a bad note, I will just mention again how completely amazingly fabulously brilliant Darren is and how fantastically great the gig was ;)

Not only am I addicted to blogging I'm addicted to making new blogs..

Hah! Anyway, as much of my hobbying time is devoted to Darren in some way or another, I figured I'd make it all separate. Maybe even when I find masses of time I can add in all my old bits and bobs I've written about him! Flashback mania :D

Anyway.. ON WITH THE BLOG!