hiPop I hip. I Pop. I op.

Da se upoznamo, ja sam Milica, wannabe groupie. Vadiću se da je zato što su sedamdesete davno prošle i bendovi se uglavnom odmah posle koncerta pakuju i odlaze, na avion, ili pravo u hotel, kako bi bili odmorni za sutrašnji nastup u pretrpanom rasporedu turneje. Šalu na stranu, danas je teško biti Penny Lane, ali uvek se trudim da uđem u backstage ili makar pokupim neki koncertni suvenir (kada bih na gomilu skupila sve trzalice, setliste, bubanj palice ili daire, bilo bi dovoljno početnog kapitala za formiranje jednog povećeg benda sa sve pratećom fanbazom :).  

Recept za uspeh je, naravno, prvi red. Jeste, ume da bude gužva, ali ne računam da sam bila na koncertu ako mi neko malo ne preuredi raspored unutrašnjih organa. Ili ne poljubim frontmena. Dobro, da ne preterujem sa (wannabe) groupie lovačkim pričama, desilo se jednom, na Whitest Boy Alive koncertu. Ko se zagleda, videće da oko 5:00 počinjem da pratim Erlenda sa sve usnama skupljenim u kiss pozu. Nažalost, na snimku je moj drug Boža baš tu negde sletao posle ture crowd-surfinga i sprečio da taj istorijski momenat (to je možda mali poljubac za čovečanstvo, ali veliki za mene :) uđe u Youtube istoriju.

Drugi wannabe groupie uspeh vezuje me za ovu majicu. Elem, bilo je to u periodu moje opsesije IAMX-om i njihovim frontmenom, Chrisom Cornerom. Karte za koncert u Madridu kupljene šest meseci unapred, DIY majica sa stihovima omiljene pesme spremna, fascinator na glavi, sada je samo trebalo zauzeti dobru poziciju. Koncert počinje, i traje...i prevazilazi sva moja očekivanja - IAMX su sjajni, definitivno jedan od onih bendova koji uživo zvuče još bolje nego studijski. Chris počinje da deli suvenire - ode jedna trzalica, ode jedna palica, a za njom i peškir, shvatam da ću ostati praznih ruku. Neće to moći tako, kažem sebi, moram brzo da razmišljam, i još brže da delam - skinuti majicu i baciti je na scenu deluje kao potpuno logično rešenje.  Chris podiže moju majicu koja je nežno sletela ispred njega i počinje da je nosi na nepropisan način, dok peva Kiss+Swallow. Samo ću reći da imam dovoljno DNK materijala, ukoliko ikad poželim Chrisovo dete :)

Za vas koji ste mislili da je ovo sav zaplet, prava drama tek dolazi. Posle završenog plesnog performansa sa mojom majicom, Chris istu zafrljači u kraj bine, koji ja, naravno, ostatak koncerta grozničavo nadgledam, u strahu da mi neko ne ukrade groupie blago. Koncert se završava, ja vičem roadiju da mi donese majicu i on je umalo daje drugim vrištećim devojkama. Nije mu se dopalo što sam nekoliko minuta pre toga, koristeći nadmoć svoje visine u štiklama nad onižim Špankinjama osvojila (da, borba je to :) jednu od trzalica. Posle dužeg ubeđivanja po sistemu vidi-me-u-brusu-sam-majica-je-stvarno-moja, popustio je, i Your Simple Girl napokon je bila u pravim rukama.

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Let me introduce myself, my name is Milica, and I'm a wannabe groupie. Seventies are long gone and most bands rush straight to the airport or hotel after the gig, so they can be ready for another one in an overbooked tour.  Of course, it's not easy being Penny Lane these days, but I always try to get beackstage or at least leave with some concert memorabilia. If you put all my guitar picks, setlists, drum sticks and cymbals together, I believe there would be enough to form quite a big band, along with a fanbase :)

First-row position is usually a key to success. Yes, I know it can be quite crowded, but I don't count being on a gig if I don't get my internal organs rearranged a bit. Or get to kiss a singer. Okay, okay...it happened only once, on a Whitest Boy Alive gig in Belgrade.  If you look closely enough, somewhere around 5:00 you will see me waiting for the right moment, with my lips ready in the kiss pose. The right moment has arrived, but my friend Boža stood (or, should I better say - fell) between me and Youtube eternity, as he chose to land in front of us after his crowd-surfing round. It was a small kiss for manhood, but surely a giant one for me :)

My other wannabe groupie tale is about this DIY shirt. It was at the peak of my obession with IAMX and their singer Chris Corner. Concert tickets for Madrid bought six months in advance, shirt with lyrics to a favorite song and fascinator ready - now it was all about taking the right position and enjoying the music. The gig starts, and goes and goes...beyond all my expectations - IAMX are so amazing live, definitely one of those bands that sound (even) better live than in studio! Chris starts to give away concert memorabilia - couple of guitar picks, drumsticks and one towel (that haven't landed into my arms) later, there's this moment of crystal clarity where I realize that I'm gonna be leaving empty-handed. I need to think fast and act even faster, at that point throwing my  shirt onto a stage seems perfectly logical. Chris takes the shirt that has landed gently in front of him and starts playing with it, or should I say 'wearing' it in an improper way, to the sounds of Kiss+Swallow. I'll just reveal that I have enough DNA, in case I want Chris' child one day :)

And for all of you that thought this is the end of the story, the more nerve-wrecking twists are yet about to happen. After a dance performance with my shirt, Chris throws it on the side of the stage which I monitor anxiously till the end of the concert, scared that someone might take my groupie treasure. The gig is over and I yell from the top of my lungs at a roadi, trying to get my possesions back. It's one of those moments where you simply freeze and cannot believe what's happening to you - obviously not satisfied with the way I used the advantage of my height in heels over quite petite Spanish girls to get hold of one guitar pick couple of minutes earlier, he approaches those same Spanish girls with a clear intention to set the groupie justice straight and - give them MY shirt! After a longish look-at-me-wearing-only-bra-that's-really-my-shirt kind of argument, Your Simple Girl finally arrives where it belongs - into my hands :)

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Postkoncertno poziranje sa novostečenim groupie trofejom :) //
After-gig posing with a freshly-won groupie trophy :)

Majicu naravno ne perem, i koristim je samo u specijalnim prilikama :)

Fotke koje su pred vama rezultat su vežbe iz dizajna svetla koju sam radila za Akademiju - ovde outfit nije bio u prvom planu, već samo u službi svetla i atmosfere.

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Of course, I haven't washed it since and I only wear it in special occasions :)

Following photos were done as a part of a lighting design project for a faculty and that's why it's not all about clothes, as usual - they're here just to create atmosphere and reflect light.