'Great things come in small packages', they say. The 'thing' I'm referring to is a light arm stretcher, roughly resembling the form of the '8' digit. It's a cheap product , but one that could prove to be quite effective.
I doubt if it creates the muscles shown on the little box; it helps, however, tone the upper arms, and that's good enough for me. You can use it at home, take the little pack with you to work or on travels. You can practice stretching anyway you feel comfortable; but practice, you must, if you want results. A few minutes, several times a day, is all that's needed.
Summer is here and we wish to be able to wear a sleeveless top if and when we fancy that.(I usually don't go out sleeveless, but sometimes, the weather is so hot here that I'm tempted to wear something that looks like a 'beach outfit'- that is, bare arms and shoulders). It's common knowledge that certain places of work have a dress code which doesn't allow sleeveless outfits during working hours. In addition, entering religious sites dressed in a sleeveless top , is regarded as disrespectful.
If you ask me, the showing off of bare arms by the lady stars at events such as the Oscar festivity is not elegant, and far from glamorous. The same goes for sleeveless wedding gowns ; no sleeves gives a casual, common look to the dress worn by the bride on her most important day. Anyway, during summer, I often wear sleeveless tops, even if mainly inside my home, and it's a good feeling to try and succeed to improve the condition of the upper arms.
'Spente Le Stelle' ('The stars have gone out') is one of my all time favorite songs. Both its lyrics and music are very dramatic, and this is a challenge for most singers, musicians, coreographers, stylists, translators....and viewers. The lyrics are in italian, and cover rhymes mentioning an empty/ hopeless night, dull stars, pale moonlight, a broken/ deceived heart, cries of love and pain. The original performer - a young french soprano, Emma Shapplin; this song has become completely identified with her.
Any young soprano, anywhere in the world, east or west, finds it a vocal challenge and an honor to undertake the performance of this song. Emma Shapplin was and is my favorite. (I wrote in the past about her great duet with the greek singer Dalares , at the concert in Herodion; see my post from June 11, 2009). Besides Emma, I like the italian Gessica La Verde ; beautiful voice, solid orchestra (Rondo Italiano), good choir behind her, a violin player near her.
The israeli Limor Shapira offers a modern, jazzy version; tiny orchestra (piano, drums, contrabass, sometimes accordeon), no choir, rather unconventional outfit (sleeveless little black dress and high red boots). Not bad, but not the real thing. I like, though, how she moves on the stage. Worth watching .
To create drama that adequately matches the lyrics, there's need for good drums and choir - these are indispensable . The beat of the drums and the somber sound of the choir create that special atmosphere that makes this song 'spine tingling'. Just a pretty face, good voice and awsome outfit won't do it. Once in a while, I check Youtube for new additions, new versions of the song. I prefer the 'live' ones with full performance of singer, orchestra, choir, special fog effects, dramatic outfit. Well, the search is often disappointing. The song was released around the year 2000 (in 1997 precisely). The original clip ,is also the most powerful, fascinating one; the lover here hasn't just betrayed and disappeared, he looks ...dead...lying on the sofa, around which the whole clip is centered. She's in despair. Quite a masterpiece!
