-fuck yeah richard oakes-

We had a chat and sat around in the lobby couch while the band were checking out of the hotel. I never imagined I’d ever be sitting around having a chat with Suede. Here’s the chronology.

WARNING: Beware of random outbursts of IDIOTIC WORD VOMIT due to my hopeless Suedestruckness. Safe to say, whether I’m meeting Suede in my dreams or in real life, I turn into an idiot.

STORY OF EPIC FANGIRL PROPORTION (AGAIN) AND LOTS OF PICTURES BEHIND THE LINK:

I got sucked into Liyanna, Singapore Suedehead’s plan to stalk Suede at their hotel. So by 7am we met at the lobby.

AND LO AND BEHOLD! It started with a sight of NEIL CODLING looking somewhat dazed, as he walked past the corridor.

SIMON GILBERT was next.

Me & L: Good morning, Simon.

Simon: (smiles) Hi there. Bit early for me girls. I haven’t even done my hair, so no photos yet. I’m just about to have breakfast now…..lots of coffee.

Me & L: Of course, we’ll wait.

Simon: Oh, that’s OK, I’ll talk to you now.

Me & L: The gig last night was awesome!

Simon: Yea, it was great, wasn’t it? (while signing autograph on one of L’s stuff)

So he went to get breakfast. Btw L, I really don’t know how you managed to stay so cool and collected the wholte time.

Then MAT OSMAN appeared. He greeted us briefly on the way to the cafe for breakfast and then went back to his room to pack up.

Finally, at around 9.45, the band came down one by one and sat with us (read: SAT WITH US in the best group of couches in the lobby), while we asked for photos and autographs, obviously. Needless to say, they are all SO FRIENDLY, SO DOWN TO EARTH AND SO LOVELY and treated us like we were just old friends. Here are some highlights of our conversation:

Me: (at one point Simon left his luggage with us while he briefly dissappeared to check out) I’m surprised you trust us with your luggage here. We were talking about selling it on eBay.

Simon: Oh go on, you won’t get much out of it.

Me & L: We were also just talking about how you don’t seem to age. You look exactly the same in the past 10-14 years we’ve known Suede.

Simon: Aw, nah, not really.

L: (She and Simon had a conversation about the weather earlier) Didn’t I tell you, the rain followed you from Korea to Singapore?

Simon: It did, right? What did I tell you?

Me: Well, it wasn’t raining in Jakarta when you were there in March…only 2 bombs exploded.

Simon: (laughs) Rain…bombs…hahaha.

Me: You may not remember, but we met in Jakarta.

Simon: I’m sorry, but my memory span is only 24-hours long. I probably can’t remember anything.

Me: That’s cool. Yea, you’ve been everywhere. I followed you guys from Australia. You haven’t been there since 1999. I went to see you too back in 1999.

Simon: We played at a club, right? I can’t remember anymore.

Me: At the Forum, Melbourne.

Simon: Right, I remember we played at a rock festival in Brisbane, between 2 other bands.

Me: And Sydney…how was it? I couldn’t go to that one.

Simon: I can’t remember it being any good.

Me: Melbourne’s the best (hehe!) I remember I had to make a fake ID to watch you because I was only 17 back then.

Simon: Hehe, I get that. I used to have to do that all the time, they wouldn’t believe me.

Me: Yea, but in the end they didn’t check, it was only for people who were going to the bar.

Simon: Where was it again?

Me: Forum, Melbourne. I saw the Manics at that same venue last year.

Then he signed some more stuff and at one point when he asked how to spell my name, he said “That’s a beautiful name”…AAAWWW!

L: Please come back again quickly. Don’t wait another 8 or 9 years for your next gig here.

Simon: Actually….we might be playing Thailand next February (2012). So, yeah, see if you can catch us then. (NOTE: HEAR THAT, THAI SUEDEFANS???)

Me & L: Oh, cool!

Simon: So, you’re going straight to sleep after this then?

L: No, I’m going straight to work.

Me: (speechless)…I think I forgot the meaning of ‘sleep’ now.

Then Mat joined us.

Me: I’m the one flying from Australia to see you guys.

Mat: From Australia (shakes head) ck…ck…ck, you crazy girl (while signing my card).

Me: Last night was great, we really enjoyed the gig.

Mat: That’s good, so when are you flying back?

Me: This Sunday.

Mat: Where in Australia?

Me: Melbourne. Boring.

Mat: I thought Melbourne was nice.

Me: Not the weather, no XD but yea, I have to apologise I didn’t have time to speak to you when I met the band in Jakarta.

Mat: Oh, that’s right you flew there too.

Me: You probably couldn’t see me ‘cos you’re so tall and I’m a midget (BEWARE lame attempt at being funny)

Mat: That must be it! I must’ve looked right over your head! (laughs)

And then Neil appeared. Looking very sharp, I couldn’t decide whether he looked like he’s going to a Giorgio Armani suit modelling shot or a real estate job interview.

Me: Good morning, Neil.

Neil: Hi there. (sat behind Mat)

Me: Thanks for the show last night, it was brilliant.

Neil: Thank you, glad you enjoyed it.

Me: My sister was so happy about your note.

Neil: I’m sorry?

Me: My sister, Sasha, when we met in Jakarta you signed a note for her. She was really happy about it, but she keeps missing your shows, she’s in Europe now.

Neil: Oh wow. Well, we’ll just have to organise it better next time, then (smiles while signing my card)

Next, the great Brett Anderson. He sat down with us, looking a million dollars as usual. I’m so glad I stopped being stupid and actually had an ALMOST PROPER NORMAL MATURE DEEP MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION with him.

Me: Thank you for last night, it was a great show we really enjoyed it. Did you have fun? Cos we did. (hands my card over to sign)

Brett: Thanks, glad it was good. (signs my card)

Me: I’m the one who flew from Australia, speaking of which, it’s 12 years late, but the Melbourne gig I went to in 1999 was brilliant.

Brett: Nah, I think it wasn’t our best.

Me: (speechless, stupid attack) Because at one point there were rumours about you playing Splendour or something.

Brett: Yea, there were talks about it, but no, we’re not going (to Australia) at this point.

Me: I know, that’s too bad.

Brett: So you live in Melbourne?

Me:Yes, boring Melbourne. Not looking forward going back, it’s freezing.

Brett: I thought Melbourne was really nice.

Me: You know, I never really properly thank you for what you did to me in Jakarta.

Brett: (looks paranoid) What, what did I do to you in Jakarta?

Me: You know, letting me in for the press conference.

Brett: Oh, it’s a pleasure. 

Me: Anyways, just so you know The Lovers by The Tears will be playing at my wedding this January. It’s our first date song.

Brett: Aw, that’s really sweet, thank you. What about Suede songs?

Me: (gulp) Um, my fiance likes Filmstar…

Brett: Try Wild Ones, it’s a good one for weddings (Alright, now I have to play it on my wedding because Mr.Anderson said so). We had What a Wonderful World by L. Armstrong for our first dance.

Me: Oh, that’s beautiful. How long ago was that?

Brett: We’ve been married 2.5 years now.

Me: Aw, congratulations, 2.5 years late.

Brett: Thank you.

Me: I’m getting married this January.

Brett: Oooh, is that an invitation?

Me: Yes, of course! Free brunch…hehe (OMG more idiot wordvomit)

Me: And just so you know, Suede songs mean alot in our lives. I went through school, university, work, bad relationship, good relationship, and your music has been part of it.

Brett: Thank you, that’s lovely, it’s always nice to hear that…

And then, Brett, Mat, Simon and Neil saw that I was carrying around a little photo of Richard, this one:

They were so amused by this and started MAKING FUN OF IT!!!

Brett (took it in his hand, showed it to Neil): Hey Neil, look, why don’t you sign that.

Neil (laughs): Oh look, it’s AUNTIE RICHARD.

Everyone laughed and the photo got passed around. I was just dumbstruck and didn’t know what to say. The photo that’s always been somewhere between my room and my wallet since 1998, printed from a dead Suede site - has suddenly resurfaced - and it’s like all of Suede just discovered ancient treasure.

Simon/Mat: Look, it’s the world’s youngest grandma.

Others: Wow, yeah, a 12-year old grandma. Hahaha, look at this picture of Richard…this is priceless.

OMG!!! OMG!!! OMG!!! I couldn’t even decide if this was cute, funny or embarrasing. Everyone found that photo really amusing.

Poor Richard, he wasn’t around yet when this happened - I would’ve liked to know his reaction - or maybe it was a good thing he wasn’t. If the band suddenly started talking about “Auntie Richard” he wouldn’t have a clue what it was all about.

SUDDENLY I CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF RICHARD FROM THE DISTANCE and of course I turned into an idiot again. Brett saw this and I think he was amused. At this point, Richard dissapeared again.

Me (turned to L): Great, I scared him. Well done.

Brett: He’s scared by everyone. He’s very shy.

So, Richard finally came, he looked way dazed, exhausted and clearly in a hurry. It was obvious they were about to leave the hotel. I was torn between asking for another photo/autograph or just let him be. BUT MY FANGIRL BRAIN HAD OTHER PLANS OF COURSE.

So I walked up to him and…

Me: Good morning, Richard. Thank you for last night (THIS COULD BE INTERPRETED IN SO MANY WRONG WAYS I DON’T KNOW WHY I SAID IT) - you were great.

Richard: Oh wow, hello there. I just woke up like 2 minutes ago.

At this stage, I decided that I may not have the chance of getting another photo with him, so I just put my arms around him and he hugged me back with one free arm.

Me: Have a safe trip. Thank you again.

Richard: Thank you (rushed off outside)…

I managed to get a close-up photo of him while signing one of L’s stuff. And also, at this stage, Don Shiau, another S’pore Suedehead managed to rush in WITH HIS AWESOME COMING UP LP ZOMG! And he got it signed by EVERYONE and Richard at the very last minute!

But on a sidenote, I managed to hug Neil, Brett, Mat and Simon - and the wonderful Mr.CC of course - wishing them a pleasant trip and all the best with their next gig. I remember them also being really sweet by wishing me a safe trip back to Oz. 

OMG I COULDN’T BELIEVE WHAT JUST HAPPENED. It’s been 3 hours now and I’m still in a daze. Thanks for dragging me into this Liyanna, and thanks for giving me that postcard to sign ^_^

SUEDE, YOU ARE THE BEST EVER! YOU ARE FOREVER IN MY LIFE.

And Mr.Oakes, I’ve said it a million times before, I’m saying it now, and I’m gonna keep on saying it: YOU ARE BEYOND BEAUTIFUL, YOU ARE BEYOND LOVELY, YOU ARE BEYOND SWEET!!!

You have all the love in the world (or at least in this blog) FOR YOU AND ONLY YOU!