Shiny Black Rainbows #3

Tori Amos Unplugged

I hope you guys saw this, because it was really good. If not I'm sure empteevee will be playing it a few hundred times more. It was Tori, her piano, Harpsichord, and one guitar player playing. She sang songs off of all three of her albums, but mostly songs off "Boys for Pele". She also sang "Somewhere Over the rainbow" really well. I had flashbacks of the Wizard of Oz just hearing it. I've never seen her play before on TV or live, so it was really nice. She's got a funny personality, making weird faces and stuff. On "Caught a Lite Breeze" she alternated between piano and harpsichord. If you get the chance watch it.

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Poems

An Act

If life is a stage, everything I do is an act.
Sometimes i forget what is fake and what is fact.
I don't live my life to amuse you,
You don't know what you put me through.
Outside I'm always smiling
When inside I feel like crying.
Why should i be doing this?
My old life is what I miss.
Is my life a lie?
I'll wonder till I die

(c) Maria Kucparic

Flowers

The delicate petals are blood red,
Someday the flowers will be dead.
Every rose has its thorn,
Every night has its morn.
Wounds are difficult to mend,
All good things come to an end.
Is there such a thing as joy?
Or am I just a toy?
Being controlled by someone else,
Never caring how I felt?
Like the flowers being clipped
And then being dipped
In a vase on a table,
Or being pressed and being labeled.
There are flowers in the garden
Watching the ground harden,
Swaying in the wind....
I'm tired of being pinned!
Let me go, can't you see?
All I want is to be free.....

(c) Maria Kucparic

These are the first poems anyone has sent and they're really good. Feel free to send your own poems in to be put in here. Any subject is okay.

I wrote this next poem, but you have to read it like a story, sort of. Think about it, it's interesting.

They Didn't See

Kathy: Teenage angst suicide?
Mary: Is it fake or bonafide?
kathy: Linda's in the bathroom with a gun.
Mary: When do you think she'll be done?
Kathy: I think this might be a sign.
Mary: Don't worry, she'll be fine
Kathy: Do you think she'd do it??
Mary: She'll come out in a bit
Kathy: This might be for real.
Mary: Do you know how she feels??
Kathy: Yes, I've been there before.
Mary: Maybe we should knock on the door?
Kathy: I don't know, maybe not.
Mary:What was that? I heard a shot!
Kathy: Slowly we open the door.
Mary: If only we had gone before.
Blood on the mirror
Blood on the floor
Kathy: Linda's bleeding from her head.
Mary:Oh no, I think she's dead!
Kathy: Linda was full of sadness
Mary: Now look, she's made a mess.
Kathy: Why did we wait?
Mary: It's too late
Kathy: Why didn't we know?
Mary: She never let her feelings show.
Kathy: What was wrong with her?
Mary: Maybe we should have checked sooner......

This next poem is at the beginning of "Valley of the Dolls". It was written by Jaqueline Susann, and doesn't really have a name. It gives you a feel about what the actual story is about.

You've got to climb to the top of Mount Everest
to reach the Valley of the Dolls.
It's a brutal climb to reach that peak,
which so few have seen.
You never knoew what was really up there,
but the last thing you expected to find
was the Valley of the Dolls.
You stand there, waiting for
the rush of exhileration
you thought you'd feel--- but
it doesn't come.
You're too far away to hear the applause
and take you bows.
And there's no place left to climb.
You're alone, and
the feeling of loneliness is overpowering.
The air is so thin you can scarcely breathe.
You've made it---- and the world says
you're a hero.
But it was more fun at the bottom
when you started,
with nothing more than hope and
the dream of fulfillment.
All you saw was the top of that mountain----
there was no one to tell you
about the Valley of the Dolls.
But it's different
when you reach the summit.
The elements have left you battered,
deafened, sightless--- and too weary
to enjoy your victory.

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Reviews

Albums

[Wild Mood Swings], by The Cure

I love this album. It's so cute. I don't know why,but that's the only word I can use to describe it. Maybe it's Robert Smith. He's cute with all his hair and make up. Anyway, The songs are a lot happier than some of their other stuff. The music video for "The 13th" is cool and kind of strange. "Mint Car" and "Strange Attraction" are my favorites. They sound so happy. (Not a bad happy, a good happy). Gone and Numb are good too. I think this is one of their best albums. (Note: I really love that song "Burn" off of the Crow soundtrack. Check it out.) I would recommend this to anyone. Its a 10.

[Load], by Metallica

Everyone is making a really big deal out of this album. Empteevee has that Motherload contest and a rockumentary. It's a good album and I guess a big deal, but I don't know. All the publicity gets kind of old sometimes. Anyway back to the review part. I like this album a lot more than their last "Black" album. It's kind of more "alternative" sounding to me. Their songs are a lot different, than before. I like "until it Sleeps" and "The house that Jack Built". "2x4" and "Thorn Within" anre also good. I dont like "Ain't My Bitch" for title reasons. All in all, it's good. A 10. Well maybe a 9? Whatever.

Books

[Romeo and Juliet], by Shakespeare

I know, I know. This is one of those books they make you read at school, and everyone hates to read it. Am I the only person on earth that loved it?? I thought it was very good, it made me go out and read [Hamlet] and some of [Macbeth]. It's much easier when you read them in school though, because they explain everything to you(hopefully). It was really sad and a lot more modern sounding than a lot of books I've read. People say it's not realistic, but once you get past the familes feuding and the accents everyone has, it's a really good book. There's a lot of jokes that are hard to understand, but once you do, they're funny. III, ii, 5, "For know, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring." Think about it.

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Advice Column

I finally have my first advice question. I'm so happy, and to think I was ready to give up on this one. Well here it is:

"I'm really into practicing magic, chanting, and meditating. I enjoy these activities, but hate to be into them alone. None of my friends are into this kind of stuff. How do I catch their interest??"

Send in your advice and I'll print them next week.

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Survey results

And the survey says........

1. How do you feel about labels??

The majority of people said they didn't like labels, because they use them to be trendy or cool. Also people misjudge other people, by their labels. Tigress79 said "The only place labels belong is on soup cans".

Some people thought labels are okay, as long as what your being labeled for is true. Also they help to identify people that haven't met before. KurdtsPoly said" labels are okay. But I think it's stupid to say you only like "skaters" or only "homie-g-mac-daddies".

2. What's your favorite band??

It was very close. Almost everybody picked a different band. Nirvana had the most votes (8 votes), Hole came in second (with 5 votes). And the Beatles came in third with 3 votes. Some of the other bands that were mentioned were: Babes in Toyland, Smashing Pumpkins, The Doors, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Stone Temple Pilots, Sonic Youth, and way too many more to print.

3. What do you think of the word alternative?? Is it appropriate??

The majority of people said no they didn't like the word alternative because it doesn't mean anything anymore. Blandst666 said "The word alternative is supposed to be something different or out of the mainstream"and ONESTAR170 said "It used to be appropriate when it meant something.

Everyone else (i.e. not many people) said it was okay only when appropriately used or didn't care. Lalivystia said "no what is it saying - an alternative to what?"

4. What do you think of Kurt Cobain??

The majority of people thought Kurt was a great musician and would live on in our hearts. Even though they were angry that he killed himself and thought he was a human being that needed help, they still loved his music. SuperGerl said "Kurt Cobain was a very talented yet disturbed person, who was basically drowned in his problems, people's ignorance, and his pain." and HoLe1965 said "I think Kurt was a very good musician. I admire his music and I always will. I cried a lot when he died, but I think he was a very selfish asshole for leaving Courtney and Frances."

Then there were the ever-present few that think Courtney killed him or that he should be forgotten. Soul17 said "He wrote that song "Where Did you Sleep Last Night", obviously about her... Think about it." (uh, I believe Leadbelly wrote that song not Kurt. Check your facts next time.)

5. What would you change about this zine?? About AOL??

Most people thought it should be longer with more reviews, poems, and different people's views. Others said it's fine the way it is.

Just about everybody said AOL should be cheaper and that they should get rid of some of the art.

6. What do you think of annoying fonts??

Most people said they didn't care whether they're there or not. Other's thought they were annoying.

7. What's your favorite store??

The only store that got picked more than once was Hot Topic. Some other's were Spencers, Smash, Utopia, Hot Licks Guitar, Subzero, any thrift stores, any music store, The Red Light Lounge,and Record Runner.

8. What's your favorite zine??

Almost everyone said Pattycake. I like Pattycake the best too because Danielle is really honest with everyone about her feelings, that's unique in a person. Some others were Handsome and Gretel, Pasty (I don't even want to know what that one is.), Percolator Press, and one.. no make that two, ass kissing people (J/K!) said this one. Punk586 (I could only quote you once, sorry) said, "My favorite zine WAS Sad Tamato's, but I never got any more of them. I guess it's yours now."

9. What do you think of thrift stores??

Everybody said they liked them, except two people, because there are some really cool things in them. Nirvabean said, "I love them and I shop at them all the time. You can get such great deals. " They do need to be better organized though.

10. How do you feel about people that are hapy all the time?? Annoying??

Most people said they were annoying, but could be nice sometimes. KiedisLvr said "people that are happy all the time fool no one except maybe themselves and i hate then so incredibly." Soul17 said, "People who are always happy disgust me, definately a #1 sign for a fake. What kind of people are constantly happy unless they have something to hide?"

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Closing

Well that's all. I hope it's long enough this time. If it isn't oh well, I'm tired of typing and it's late. Next week I'll probably have more poems, reviews, a new survey (you can stop answering the old one now), and some ther stuff. I really need some new ideas of what you'd like to hear. Poems and reviews are nice, but they get old after a while. Also I need some advice questions!! I could use some new poems too. Even if they aren't yours send them in, but make sure you put the authors name and a (C) at the bottom. If anyone has any cool stories I could print a little bit each week of one. Send them in. As always send your comments / hatemail / love letters / reviews / poems / stories / survey answers / advice questions / and anything else that's on your mind to: KITENZ@aol.com. Have fun and stay cool. Bye bye

Luv,

Laura

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