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ON JANUARY 9, 2009
Hi, everyone, I thought it would be nice to let you all know a little bit about myself (no, I am not related to Ken Starr - LOL [Okay, had to say that - even though he is old news now and half of you don't even know or remember who he is....LOL]). I am new at this sort of thing, so please bear with me while I gather my thoughts. I am also not good at expressing my feelings, but I am going to try here (by the way, you are listening to "White Lines (70s Club Remix)" by Duran Duran)!
Where to begin? Well, for one thing, "Starr" isn't my real name. That's my internet name, as I don't believe in posting my real name on the net (my family and friends know my name, that's all that counts!). I was born in Brooklyn, New York and moved to New Jersey when I was 4 1/2. I am of Haitian-American descent.
I have anxiety. That's it, just anxiety. It's a combination of social anxiety, a little OCD, and some GAD. So, basically, it's anxiety. You, honestly, wouldn't think I have this if you saw me. A lot of people say I'm "quiet". However, I've been lucky in that I've been "surviving" without medication. I am much more confortable writing things down than talking to people. I used to "hide" the fact that I even have anything, but not anymore.
I graduated from Franklin High School (go Warriors!) in 1991, and went to Raritan Valley Community College until January, 1994 (that's when I decided I needed a "break" from college). I did return in 1997, 1998, and 1999 for a few classes, but I didn't seriously return to school until September 2001. I got accepted to Kean University the day before Thanksgiving in 2002 (so I really had something to be thankful for), and transferred there in January 2003 to pursue my BA degree in Music Education. In September of 2007, I decided to change my major and drop the education to only get my BA in Music (against my parents' wishes but that was their problem. They wanted me to be Music Ed. It's a long story which I won't get into here). One of my ultimate goals was to graduate from college, and guess what? I did it! On May 15, 2008 I graduated from Kean University! It was a long road, but I finally made it. If you want to read about my graduation experience, you can click here.
As part of the requirement for all music majors, I had to audition to be accepted into the department. Auditions went very well and the professors loved me!
For those of you who are not familiar with Kean University, it is one of the top Universities in New Jersey for education (in any field) - which was why I went there originally. I couldn't wait to start, and since I've already been on the campus, I wasn't nervous about driving there. I was so happy to finally be in and now I am finally happy to be out. :)
Okay now that's out of the way, what do I like to do in my spare time? Well, I like to sing (first soprano) and I play piano (although I need to brush up on a few things). I used to play guitar and violin as well as the electronic keyboard. However, I do plan on taking guitar lessons again. I have been teaching kids keyboards once a week at an after school program, I currently give private voice and piano lessons (adults and children), and I've been substitute teaching here and there. I hope to become certified full time someday and I can since I took all the required education classes at school. :)
I surprised my teacher at Raritan Valley one day (a couple of years ago - when I was still going there of course) doing an a cappella scale in ear training perfectly (and this wasn't your average C scale. It was something like C melodic minor or harmonic minor - I can't remember for sure. I know he had me doing intervals as well). My teacher said to me, "you have perfect pitch don't you?" I told him, "yes!" (Ha, ha, ha, ha!) Watch out, folks, if you're singing off key, or "improperly" (meaning, not pronouncing the words correctly, or connecting certain ending consonants with words that begin with a vowel), I will pick it up....LOL (like "You're only", "there's always", etc....)! I don't know, that can be a good thing and a bad thing for me. If one is singing wrong, I can "feel" it, so that's the bad part. :) Also, since I have that "perfect pitch" I have to adjust my hearing to our 440 system sometimes because I think sharp (which means slightly higher than 440). Techinally, though, 440 is "flat" and you should always tune things slightly above 440 anyway.
Okay, enough rambling about music. I could go on and on, but I don't want to confuse those who have no idea what I'm talking about....LOL! This is what happens when you take four semesters of Music Theory. Hee, hee!
I also like to write (although no expert). I have a poetry section on my main page, so if you hadn't checked it out, go to it after you've read this boring "bio" about me....LOL! :)
[The poems are really, really bad, I must warn you; but you can take a look if you want....LOL!]
Now onto the good stuff, DURAN DURAN! I've been collecting on DD since 1993, but have been a fan since 1985. How did I become a fan you ask? Well, my next door neighbor actually introduced me to them in 1984, but I was way too much into Michael Jackson to care (yes, I was a Michael Jackson fan. Who wasn't in 1984? He was "normal" back then. LOL! I, recently got back into his music however)! It wasn't until I saw "A View To a Kill" in 1985 was when I became a "true" fan. As of this time, it'll be 23 years come this May....Wow!!
I've seen the boys play live lots of times. My first one was at RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL on JANUARY 13, 1994 (check out my new page FLASHBACK CONCERT to read all about that one and other shows people have submitted - PLEASE NOTE, ONLY ONE PERSON HAD SENT ME A REVIEW AND THAT WAS YEARS AGO. I HAVE, SINCE, STOPPED ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS DUE TO THE FACT THAT NO ONE WAS SENDING ANY. PLUS, I CHANGED MY E-MAIL ADDRESS DUE TO SPAMMERS SO THE E-MAIL DOES NOT WORK). The second one was on November 19, 1997 at ROSELAND. Interested in my review of that show also? Click on Medazzaland Concert Review (or you can read it at the FLASHBACK CONCERT PAGE). There are also other shows I went to as well, but there are too many to count (27 to date)! Click here to read my reviews from the 1999 ("LET IT FLOW TOUR") shows. Click here to read my reviews from the 2000 ("POP TRASH") tour. Click here to read my reviews from the 2001 ("UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL") tour.
Anyway, for awhile I've been "bouncing around" SIMON, JOHN, and NICK as my favorite members; but now I really don't have a favorite (although I tend to be a JoSi girl....Hee hee!). I am in it just for the music, and those guys play great songs! I met SIMON three times and NICK twice. I was very psyched about the reunion since I never saw the original line up live before, and I was lucky enough to catch them in November 2003 ("REUNION TOUR"). Click here to read my review of the Atlantic City show.
Well, I must have won the lottery or something because I hit paydirt when I got a second chance to see them when they returned to the U.S. in 2005 ("ASTRONAUT TOUR"). I saw the guys three times! I saw them at Madison Square Gardens on April 13, 2005 (click here to read my review of that show), PNC BANK ARTS CENTER on July 30, 2005, and JONES BEACH on July 31, 2005! Those were some great times. I guess that was meant to happen for me because unfortunately, Andy Taylor left the group once again back in October 2006; but I am thankful for the memories and glad that the band decided to move on. It's not like this would be the first time the band has moved on without the original line up....LOL!
I had another opportunity to see the boys live at a "special" one night only "fan member community" show at the Hammerstein Ballroom on June 17, 2007. The boys decided to play five of their songs from their new album Red Carpet Massacre (studio versions - only one of their songs they played live) and the new songs sounded great. Well, after hearing those songs, I was so ready to hear the new album (which was released on November 13, 2007)!
Well guess what? I was able to hear the album before it was released! The boys did a two week run on Broadway from November 1st until the very day the album was released on November 13th (which kicked off their "RED CARPET MASSACRE TOUR"). They played the whole album live for all of us lucky enough to catch them. I saw them on November 9th and took my friend to his first Duran Duran concert (it was my 25th). It was great! It was one of the best DD shows I've been to in a long time. Check out my review here.
I got to see them again on May 30, 2008 at Central Park and December 14, 2008 at the Wellmont Theater. Those shows were awesome! They were their best yet! What a great Christmas present and a wonderful way to end the New Year!
Other groups I like are MATCHBOX TWENTY, ROB THOMAS (Okay, I know, same thing. Work with me here! LOL!), BRANDY, DONNA SUMMER, SUGAR RAY (Actually more like Mark McGrath, formerly of SUGAR RAY, now he's on EXTRA), VANESSA WILLIAMS, WILL SMITH, ALICIA KEYS, JOE, AVANT, MAXWELL, INDIA ARIE, HEATHER HEADLEY, STING, MICHAEL JACKSON, songs from the 80's, Broadway musicals, and countless others. Feel free to check out my OTHER ARTISTS section. It hasn't really been updated in awhile, so that does not represent all that I like....LOL! However, DD is the only group I collect on (have no room to collect on other groups, nor the time. I barely have the time to collect on DD....ha ha!). Don't forget to check out my Duran Duran audio and video collection on my main page (if interested - WARNING THOUGH, IT HAS NOT BEEN UPDATED IN AWHILE, but you can check anyway).
Well, let's see, what else is there to say? I guess that's about it. Sorry, I am new at this. Hope you find something of interest on my main page and have a nice day! :)
Click here to read about my experiences at Kean University!
I LOVE PIZZA! (Visit Pizza Hut!)
GOT CHEESE? (Visit Kraft Foods for some great menu ideas - click the cheese picture [and they don't just serve cheese either]!)
TO MY HOMEPAGE
TO STARR'S MYSPACE PAGE
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