Since leaving sixth form it’s been an unspoken truth between my parents and me that my appearance on the family holiday was a thing of the past. The only problem I have now is I never want to repeat the whole messiness of a ‘cheap hotel in Magaluf or wherever experience’ and few students (not to mention myself) can afford much more than a week in that kind of place minus the ‘rents.
After a few weeks of sulking over the fact that this summer I wasn’t going to Rome, or Barcelona or anywhere that would in some epic novel type way- change my life forever I found an article from the guardian published back in April 2011: “Summer holidays: 10 of the best trips for students” and though most of it didn’t appeal to me (or my price range) there was one suggestion that I believe will become a holiday tradition for me. Workaway Worldwide.
Workaway is an unbelievably profound idea. By yourself or in a group, ‘Workaway’ set up communications between ‘hosts’ and volunteers internationally to trade five hours of work per day for food and board. The rest is up to you. Type of accommodation? Up to you. Type of work? You decide. I CAN’T UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVEN’T HEARD OF THIS BEFORE!!
In an experimental search I pick Canada as my destination, the first inviting choice I see is to volunteer in the Canadian Rockies at a white water rafting company. Already the website has banished any of my pre-conceptions of digging wells in the dessert and gives me an offer that seems to be far from back breaking work.
The best part of this website is that once a connection has been made between a host and their volunteer(s) is that you are given email addresses to contact each other, get to know each other and address any issues that could be raised, but more importantly personalize your visit.
I can’t think of a better way to spend my summer, how long I go for is up to me, where I go is up to me, WHO I go with is up to me and the only thing it will cost me is a €22 registration fee to upload my profile for two years, (oh and a new passport.)
Completely out of the blue, New York based band Scissor Sisters have released a new track called Shady Love which features vocals from Azealia Banks (who’s meant to be destined for big things this year) under the pseudonym Krystal Pepsy.
What’s it sounds like?
It’s quite a departure from their previous work, it’s a lot more disco/electronic than their usual glam rock sound, and you know what? It’s actually quite a nice new sound, and in theory, it’s the first big dance track of 2012 that has been revealed.
When I first heard this song, I was a little taken aback, it’s a completely different sound! When you first listen to it you question it; seriously? Is this the band that brought us Filthy/Gorgeous? Indeed it is the Scissor Sisters
Being completely honest, the song doesn’t really have the best start off - you first hear Jake Shear’s new rapping skills (yes, really) with the lyrics:
Give me your bum and I hop off the whip
Girl what you drinking, boy give me a sip
I’mma get lose it, then you do And then do my voodoo, then chillin’
Then move with your (meow!)
Which might make you turn it off and slowly walk away from your laptop/computer in confusion- but don’t! Wait for the absolutely flawless chorus, the versus might be a tad weak but that chorus is simply divine, and the lyrics do get better once the song continues with:
I was walking and talking about this …
I met out in Boston
I didn’t see very often, but mmm huh, mmm huh
She gon’ vote for Obama, and she likes to dance with Madonna
See, I think if you can rhyme Obama and Madonna in one verse you’re onto a winner? Right?
Will it be hit?
I think this track definitely has potential, it’s an already loved tune of Annie Macs, it first premièred on her Radio 1 on January 2. It’s a really infectious song, I swear listen to this about 10 times and you will be hooked, especially with that sublime chorus! It’s a crazy, hyper song that will with a doubt, be played a million times on radio. Scissor Sisters have themselves a sure hit.
Wise Words
By Nicola Moors
I’m single - and it’s DEFINITELY going to stay that way!
I went to my uncle’s house for advice, a cup of tea and hugs from my lovely goddaughter - I’ve realised that ANYBODY can treat you like crap, no matter how much they mean to you or you’re supposed to mean to them.
I’ve also realised that yes, breaking up sucks but I’m still only 20 years old: I’ve got the whole world at my feet, and man…have I got some walking to do.
It’s that not only have I acquired a new single status but also some new found wisdom - I’ve decided that from now on I’m doing things my way because life’s about living and it’s too short to waste on thinking about what you can do - just go out there and do it!
Don’t worry about things that may never happen - keep yourself happy, go places you’ve only dreamed of going, do things that teach you and meet people that inspire you.
In short:
- Don’t let anybody block your view of the stage.
- Explore, travel, inspire, enjoy: whatever makes you happy.
- Live life your way - if people are truly yours, they’ll still be there for you or they’ll be down for one hell of ride!
Of course, I wouldn’t even be here without my friends and family.
So thanks to my three beautiful best friends: my fellow blogger, my blonde babe and my Swedish raver, my lovely flatmates for being so understanding (and for the many hugs!) and my amazing family - you all know who you are, I love and appreciate you all so much!
I was travelling on my way to London Euston and decided to write a post on the travelling part of journey. With a selection of pictures taken from a moving vehicle.
Travelling is fun… Isn’t it? Although at times it can be majorly stressful, all those bags you have to carry from one place to another, especially on trains.
I love listening to the busyness of platforms and observing. On the bus journey to the station I noticed it’s a right old socializing ground for OAPs! It was sort of cool hearing the ellos and hi s. I felt a little left out to be perfectly honest! Then again with a 5 minute bus journey I could have done without the stories of their kids’ and grandkids’ life stories, however sweet and cute they normally are… I decided to just sit back and observe.
I also like how when on a moving vehicle you peer outside the windows craning your neck to see that one sight that catches your eye and makes the whole journey meaningful, except when you are driving then naturally you can’t capture the shot other than in your mind! Which is what happened to me the other day with the giant moon… By the time I had got in reached for my camera the moon had already risen in height so my anticipated shot will have to wait for another 28 days.
One last thing I want to post is a quote which I heard in the London underground recently; two work colleges were talking about travel in london. It was a very packed and cosy train they were joking about, the woman then said, ” when I first arrived in London, I used to think… Meh I’ll just wait for the next train it should be less packed… How wrong could I be!” to which everyone in the standing section burst out in laughter and the poor woman was left so embarrassed.
My opinion in the size zero obsession
By Niamh Burns
I think its absolutely terrible how insecure girls are these days. The quest to find ‘perfection’ today is more wanted than ever before thanks to unattainable beauty you see on the covers of magazines, unattainable beauty that was created by Photoshop.
Who said models have to be size zero? Why can’t they be size 12, 14, or 16? Who allowed this disgusting anorexic look models seem to sport?
Girls need to understand that they are beautiful. It doesn’t matter if you’re a size 6 or a size 16, beauty is skin deep and mirrors on the outside. I’m a ‘fan of fashion’ but I do not agree with anorexic models walking down catwalks. I don’t think that is a example to girls, being anorexic and sick looking is not ‘beautiful’.
Being a teenager is tough, especially when there are pressures out there where you have to find ‘perfection’ and not eat. This is not the way forward. Too many girls suffer from body dimorphism. And that needs to stop.
Why can’t we all be happy with the way we look? Why can’t we love what we see in the mirror? Why can’t we all just find happiness instead of all this negativity with the way we look?
I present to you, Alex Day.
By Charlotte Sidwick
Wooooohooooo its 2012! A new year, new start…blah blah blah. Wait who are we trying to kid that we are going to change, succeed on a detox mission or completely cut alcohol or junk food out of our lives? It’s who we are! (Although if you are trying to give up smoking, I do wish you all the luck in the world J)
Anyway, I wanted to introduce you to one man (the funky looking guy in the photo above) who is set to have an incredible 2012 and his name is Alex Day. The Essex born singer/songwriter come video blogger was born in 1989 and 17 magical years later he laid the foundations for his future success in joining YouTube in 2006. In August 2008 Day formed the band ‘Chameleon Circuit’ who is known for creating music inspired by British television series ‘Doctor Who’ and inventing a new music genre ‘Trock’ short for ‘Time Lord Rock’. ‘Well that’s unusual and a ‘bit out there’’ I hear you say…well it must have been a hit as the band was later signed by DFTBA records.
Day has since become a YouTube phenomenon thanks to his music and humorous video blog posts on a miscellany of subjects including his musings on the Bible, his own personal take on the Twilight Saga (watch them to find out if Day is TEAM JACOB or TEAM EDWARD ;) ), his outrage at Lady Gaga adding a new verse to her cover of ‘White Christmas’ (before he adds his own verse to the song ‘Happy Birthday’ cheeky…) and his reaction to the cartoon ‘My Little Pony’.
Having accumulated an impressive fan base nearing 500’000 subscribers on his own channel, ‘nerimon’ and by uploading his hilarious music video ‘Forever Yours’ on friend/fellow band mate/YouTube sensation Charlie Donnell’s channel ‘charlieissocoollike’, Day’s life just keeps getting better!
He released his effervescent single without the backing of a label making his bid for the Christmas top spot, an honourable one. It is apparent from his YouTube blogs that the boy oozes ambition and self-drive, and what is more as Louis Walsh would say ‘He’s got the likeability factor!’
The cheeky Essex lad used his initiative in finding a loop hole in the campaign to be 2011’s Christmas number one: by releasing varying versions of his single ‘Forever Yours’ such as remix’s or demos. Each sale made increased his chart position which finished at 4th – commendable as Day came above arguably one of the world’s best bands, Coldplay with their song ‘Paradise’. Conscientious Day assured his loyal fans that the proceeds of the extra releases go to children’s charity World Vision which strives to eliminate poverty and whom Day volunteered with in Zambia(awwww serious brownie points awarded).
Since its upload on YouTube on December 1st 2011 (a whole month and a day ago-well while I’m writing this) the track has been viewed over 3 million times-Wooooohooooo! I suppose the reason why people are becoming so fond of Day is his genuine gratitude for the support from his fans and constant updates of video blogs with attention to detail showing us who exactly writes the lyrics, composes the tunes and ultimately who we are buying the records from.
Day has since been signed with DFTBA records as a solo artist and he explained on Radio 1’s Greg James’ show that he wrote and recorded the track ‘Forever Yours’ in 24 hours having simply ‘had a nice day with his friend’ he went on to state that he wanted to write about something different from love and heartbreak and felt the prospect friendship would subsequently be an appropriate choice.
Anyhow, enough of me chatting, you can make up your own mind, so here it is, the aforementioned single ‘Forever Yours’, enjoy! (http://www.youtube.com/user/nerimon)
Welcome!
By Naughty Horse Media
So here it is! The Naughty Horse Media blog! Here you can find the ultimate hub of student activity involving blogs, music, videos, photos and reviews! We have no limits! Our writers can write about what they want! DJs can post whatever mixes they want! Photographers can upload any pictures they want! You get the gist..
Want to get involved? Are you someone that always has something to say? Are you a DJ we must know about? We have experts in industries that can offer you advice and recommendations on what you post, be it a photo from your travels, a short film you’ve made, a review of a show you’ve seen, a mix you’ve made in your room - whatever it is, we want to hear from you!!
Do you want to get involved?? We’d love to hear from you! Email us for info at naughtyhorsemedia@gmail.com or go all out and send us something to upload!!
— Uploads/Posts will always include the authors name so please make sure what you send us is your own work—
Students.. what do you want to hear about? Everything on this blog is student-related. Written by students, for students. Current affairs, music, fashion, films, events, news, reviews, nights out...
Are you a student DJ, photographer, film-maker, journalist...want to get involved?
Email us at naughtyhorsemedia@gmail.com
Our Team
Abi Rewhorn
University of Sheffield
Twitter: @abirewhorn
