Cureuphoria

Cureuphoria becomes a Social Network for Cure fans. (But do THEY actually get it?).

Gian — Sun, 02 May 2010 15:36:51 +0000

I had this in mind since last summer already. I just needed time, and time is my worst enemy. I wanted to go and use my design and development skills to build a free place for those who, like me, love The Cure. And so, when I finally could, I did it.

Cureuphoria started out just as a blog, than evolved into a full site (with News, Tour Dates, a Forum, Links directory), and now has become a real social network, with the main features from common social media (like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter), plus discussion forums around specific subjects (Groups).

I’ve launched this new version while still in development process, with the intention of making it evolve “on-the-fly” by getting users’ feedback. Only, users – Cure fans, that are – turned out not to be so CURIOUS about discovering a new interface, and about what you can do and how to do with it.

So I wondered, why the lack of enthusiam or curiosity? Why they don’t seem to be all that keen about using a new tool, which after all was specifically created for them?

I sense that most of the members didn’t actually get it!
A friend told me that it can be frustrating to constantly try to pull members in and make them active on a forum. I am not frustrating about that. What I am, instead, is sad. Sad that members are passing by it, and wouldn’t recognize the value and the potential of a community tool that is unique in that, unlike other generic social media out here, is designed and built around a common interest and a shared passion (The Cure).

With this I am not suggesting to use Cureuphoria over, don’t know, Facebook or MySpace, because those allow one to interact with friends also on stuff that is not always and necessarily Cure-related. But when it actually comes to Cure stuff, why shouldn’t we use a tool that is, in fact, 100% Cure?

Another matter I’d like to bring up is… Forums!
Ah, Cure forums. There are so many out there, and I get the feeling that they’re all in war with each other. The silly war is about getting fans to use THEIRS over OTHERS (I could expand on that with real examples, but don’t get me started on that).

Well, I may come across a little (or a lot) dry here, but “I don’t need your US OR THEM”, if you know what I mean. I never thought about creating “another Cure forum”. But I have a clear vision and I am trying to make it real.

The vision is to have a social tool where fans, Cure lovers, can interact with each other on different levels, and I though about allowing those different level of interaction. And so I did.

What the hell am I talking about?
You see, I believe there are two layers of activity between fans.

One is the SHALLOW layer (and please don’t get offended by the term), and is made by those who don’t get particularly involved in conversations and discussions, but they limit themseves to a minimum, effortless way of interaction, like posting a video or a photo, or commenting with a “That’s cool!”, a smiley, or a “Thanks!”, and that’s it!

Than there is the more IN-DEPTH layer, when people get involved in a given discussion, like on a forum topic, for example, or some news.

Well, with Cureuphoria I allowed both layers to coexist and users can choose one or an other as they like best.

How is that?
Well, with the option to post simple “updates” (text, photos, videos) to the activity stream (in their profile or a Group’s home), AND to create Topics or reply other’s, in Groups of discussion.

I believe there is a considerable flexibility in this (you just have to unknowledge it), and this is where Cureuphoria marks a difference with regular social media and traditional forums: it puts the two worlds together.

Now, I got a few: “This is all too complicated, why Groups, and why Forums? What’s the difference between them?”.

Mmmh… About that!
If you go on traditional forums (and they all work the same way, and will soon be obsolete, believe me), you’ll notice that topics are classified into categories or folders or whatever you call them, right? Well, Groups are also way to classify discussions under a specific subject. That is not so difficult to get, is it?

BUT. The notion of “a Group”, is much stronger than just “a folder to classify topics”, if you see it the right way. You can choose to join the “Lyrics” group because that interests you, but not join the “Playlists” because you got none to share and it’s really not your thing.

Plus, beside having a Forum, a Group got a members list (members who join in), a Home, to display activity stream and post updates, like a Facebook Wall, and in the future we may have other things attached to a group (links,media, ect…).

It is just a matter of finding out more by being a little curious about stuff, in order to enjoy the stuff, really.

Should I go on with this long, useless bla-bla talk about the new Cureuphoria?
I think I’ll stop here. Except, I need to point out one last thing.

I my have come up with this (Cureuphoria) myself, but the place is NOT my site. It’s YOUR site. For the moment being, most Curemates pass by and say “hello”, and I appreciate that, but I kind of feel that they do pass by and say “hello” to ME.

Well, this is not about me. I’ve spent months on doing this for YOU, and out of nothing else but passion. No rewards, nothing (and I did have to turn down some paid job to finish it, so it even costed me money, in a way, but hey, I am of the “if-I-don’t-do-what-I-feel-I-may-as-well-die” kind, so, no complains).

That said, I invite everyone to start changing the way you see Cureuphoria, and make it about you, whatever that means (Example? If a new member is joining in, don’t let me be the only one to welcome him or her, but do it too, because it’s your place that they have joined in).

Anyway, Cureuphoria is here and it’s in your hands, and will surely continue to evolve. But in the end, who knows, maybe Cure lovers will never exploit its full potential or never get involved as they should, out of lazyness or dull unappreciation or whatever, or… maybe… someday…

PS: I apologize for the crazyness of the following analogy, but if instead of words I could write notes, this article would ended up being a song like “The Kiss”, trust me (and if that doesn’t make sense, than it just doesn’t…).

Robert on Almost Alice Soundtrack

Gian — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 13:14:14 +0000

Robert Smith is featured on the Almost Alice album, the official soundtrack for the Tim Burton’s movie Alice In Wonderland.

The recorded song is a cover version of Fain/Hilliard’s Very Good Advice (the old Walt Disney version of Alice In Wonderland movie).

The Soundtrack album is out in on 3rd March 2010.

More info about the album here.

The Cure for Valentine’s Day

Gian — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 23:40:57 +0000

To be honest, I am not much of the Valentine’s Day kind (or, to be more precise, I am not at all).

However, why not to take the occasion and make a Cure playlist, a selection of songs that inspire, you know, the feeling that is associated with the Day Of Love?

After all, I already did it for Halloween, and even if I am sure that for many the Day Of The Dead is more associated with The Cure and easily calls for an Halloween Cure playlist, there are so many songs in the Cure repertory that seats on the bright side of the spectrum whose evoke the feeling of falling or being in love, so let’s put them toghether.

Or, maybe, let’s put toghether those about the joyful and saddish moments that sometimes relationships produce.

Surely enough, I left out songs that others would have put in, which are obviously associated with LOVE in the Cure universe. Songs such as “Just Like Heaven”, for example, as with the meaning of the song and the video and all.

But the criteria for this selection of mine is based on the way a particular song make me think and feel about “the one”, or about “it” in general.

So, rather than making a selection of Cure songs that talk about love, I’ve listed those that talk “to me” about love, and maybe more with the music that in the lyrics, I must say.

The playlist, in non particular order, goes like this:

Pictures Of You
Catch
Sirensong
Sugar Girl
(I Don’t Know What’s Going) On
Lovesong
This Twilight Garden
There Is No If…
Close To Me
Trust
A Letter To Elise
Halo
Before Three
Treasure
Six Different Way
Home
Ocean
The 13th
Strange Attraction
High
Bare
The Only One
The Perfect Boy

Anyway, you are welcome to share your personal list, here in the comments, or on the forum.

And… happy Valentine’s Day! (I never thought I’d say something like this. I am getting old. Or pink. Or something. Mmm…).

The Cure for Halloween

Gian — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:01:39 +0000

Halloween time, and for those who can’t help but thinking of what Cure songs best suits the darkest night of the year, there are quiet some to choose from the lot, aren’t there?

Well, I’ve put up a selection of what I consider the songs from The Cure that better evoke the Halloween atmosphere, and I tried to omit those that even being dark or obscure or sad or whatever, just don’t make me think of an Halloween soundtrack or feeling, kind of thing.

I must say that of all, the most representative for me is Fear Of Ghosts, and surely not because of the title. The sound of this song really outputs this overall atmosphere that is just so… well, Halloween, I might say.

And, Pornography is there almost in its entirety, obviously.

So, here’s the list, in no particular order at all:

Lost
The Scream
Anniversary
Prayers For Rain
Watching Me Fall
The Promise
The Drowning Man
Pornography
Bloodflowers
Lament
The Kiss
All I Want
Fight
Fear Of Ghosts
Last Dance
All Cats Are Grey
The Figurehead
Charlotte Sometimes
Shake Dog Shake
Want
Adonais
Cold
Pornography
A Short Term Effect
End
At Night
One Hundred Years
The Hanging Garden

Everything’s there, I think, or did I let out anything?

Related reading on the web:

Disintegration remastered (3CDs deluxe edition)

Gian — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 16:39:32 +0000

The remastered version of the Disintegration album will be released on 24th May 2010, in the series of the Remastered Deluxe Editions.

The long awaited deluxe version of the album will be available as a 3 CDs edition, as a single disc and on double vinyl, and it will be relaeased worldwide by Universal and Rhino.

Here is the complete tracklist of the 3 CDs editions:

CD1: DISINTEGRATION (remaster of the original album)

PLAINSONG
PICTURES OF YOU
CLOSEDOWN
LOVESONG
LAST DANCE
LULLABY
FASCINATION STREET
PRAYERS FOR RAIN
THE SAME DEEP WATER AS YOU
DISINTEGRATION
HOMESICK
UNTITLED

CD2: RARITIES (1988 – 1989)
(* previously unreleased songs)

PRAYERS FOR RAIN (instrumental), RS Home Demo (04.88)
PICTURES OF YOU (instrumental), RS Home Demo (04.88)
FASCINATION STREET (instrumental), RS Home Demo (04.88)
HOMESICK (instrumental), Band Rehearsal (06.88)
FEAR OF GHOSTS (instrumental), Band Rehearsal (06.88)
NOHEART (instrumental), Band Rehearsal (06.88) *
ESTEN (instrumental), Band Rehearsal (09.88) *
CLOSEDOWN (instrumental), Band Rehearsal (09.88)
LOVESONG (instrumental), Band Rehearsal (09.88)
2LATE (alt version, instrumental), Band Rehearsal (09.88)
THE SAME DEEP WATER AS YOU (instrumental), Band Rehearsal (09.88)
DISINTEGRATION (instrumental), Band Rehearsal (09.88)
UNTITLED (alt version, instrumental), Studio Rough (11.88)
BABBLE (alt version) (alt version, instrumental), Studio Rough (11.88)
PLAINSONG (guide vocal), Studio Rough (11.88)
LAST DANCE (guide vocal), Studio Rough (11.88)
LULLABY (guide vocal), Studio Rough (11.88)
OUT OF MIND (guide vocal), Studio Rough (11.88)
DELIRIOUS NIGHT (vocal), Rough Mix (12.88) *
PIRATE SHIPS (vocal, RS solo), Rough Mix (12.89) *

CD3: ENTREAT PLUS
Recorded live at Wembley Arena 1989, Remixed by Robert Smith 2009
(* previously unreleased performance)

PLAINSONG *
PICTURES OF YOU
CLOSEDOWN
LOVESONG *
LAST DANCE
LULLABY *
FASCINATION STREET
PRAYERS FOR RAIN
THE SAME DEEP WATER AS YOU *
DISINTEGRATION
HOMESICK
UNTITLED

Official announcement: official site

Official link: official site

My Top 5 Cure moments

Gian — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:43:35 +0000

To answear to my own topic on the forum, titled What are your Top 5 Cure moments, here are my Top Cure moments.

As it got too long to suit a forum post, I decided to publish the thing on the blog section. Feel free to go to forum, and publish your list.

Here’s mine…

1) The sneaking into the soundcheck at the Royal Albert Hall in London, 2006.

I actually did that. They let everybody in while the band was still busy with the soundcheck. Of course, all the doors to the theater were shout and there was this “no-access belt” in front of them. I had a ticket for the 3rd row on the ground floor, right in front of the stage, but while waiting to go in I decided to go to the bar that was on the 3rd level.

I was with this japanese girl I just met outside the venue. While walking to the bar you could hear the sound of the band playing inside. I looked around and noticed that there was no security stuff in that particular area and moment. So I went under the “no-access belt” and tried to open the doors to the balcony. Surprisedly they weren’t locked or anything, so I helped myself in and said “Come, come!” to the japanese girl (her name was Nobuko).

I couldn’t believe it: I found myself on the balcony of the totally empty arena of the Royal Halbert Hall with just the band right there in front of me, busy playing Open. I was on the left side of the stage. I felt like I was stealing a magic moment to life.

Adrenaline kicked in, and for that little while I imagined that I was having the immense privilege of having The Cure playing a private concert in one of the most prestigious venues in the world, and for me only. Well, AND for the japanese girl that I pulled in.

She was so happy. She never actually saw The Cure before then, and that show was to be her very first Cure concert. So she must have felt so special seeing them like that, in secret, outside of the normal concert context.

I made sure we would both keep our heads low. I was sure that at any point someone from the security staff would get there and walked us out by the ears and that we would be forbid to see the actual concert as a punishment for breaking the rules (it’s England, what do you know?).

At some point Robert spotted us and turned his look toward us and stared at us for a while, with his head a little inclined, you know, the way he does when he stares up at people on the balconies when he’s performing actual shows.

I instinctively waved at him, kindly, not frantically, and he kept looking toward us.

So, there I was, living the dream of having The Cure playing just for me, and having Robert’s attention on me for a moment.

Well, as cocky as it is, for me the episode makes it number one of the list.

2) The announcement of the Trilogy Concert in Brussels

When the Trilogy concert – and the concept behind it – was announced, one couldn’t help but feeling that the event was going to be a big milestone in the history of The Cure.

The fact that it was to be performed on two exclusive nights in Berlin and filmed for a DVD release, made it even more exciting.

Despite the great pleasure for such an epical event, I felt frustrated of knowing I wasn’t likely to make it to Berlin to see the albums Pornography, Disintegration and Bloodflowers performed live in their integrity.

Then something magic happened: The Cure announced that there would be a third concert, just a couple of days before Berlin, and that it would be in Brussels, at Forest National.

Now, not only I live in Brussels, but I did live at five minute walking from Forest National. Pure magic.

Call me crazy, but I felt like it was a deserved gift for loving The Cure so much.

And when I walked there – because I just had to walk to get there! – the moon was right up the venue, big and bright and full, and that moment seemed like the perfect night to watch The Cure playing three amazing sets. And it was.

3) The Taormina concert, 2005

Well, I will never mention it enough, you know, the beautifulness of the Taormina show. Never.

Watching The Cure in the ancient greek-roman theater, under the summer sky, has been the most joyful and amazing Cure experience I’ve had. It all just felt so much different than a standard concert.

Everybody’s mood, from the band to the fans, was so special and the sound was the best ever. It didn’t even felt like a concert. It felt like a Cure party, with The Cure them self playing for us. Can I say more about it? I could, believe me, I could.

4) The release of the Wish album

Even thought in retrospective it feels weird to me, Wish has actually been the first new album since I start loving The Cure.

I started to gradually get into the Cure world and music right after the Disintegration release. Then I started to literally get my hands on everything that The Cure ever made. And of course, there was so much stuff to catch up with, and almost about anything was new to me. So it was exciting to dive into that world, made of so many different things – mostly being songs, of course.

But somehow the excitement I got when a brand new album was released after I was officially addicted to The Cure, is the kind you don’t forget. Also, at that time, there was no internet yet, so, back then, those were the days where one couldn’t find much information about the upcoming songs, and the surprise factor made the waiting and the discovery of an album, much more exciting, I think.

5) Making and publishing Cureuphoria.

The willing of making Cureuphoria has been present in my soul for a long, long time. Putting a lot of efforts and some of my professional competencies in web design to build a website that would be at the same time a personal tribute to the band and their work, and to all fans out there – Cure lovers like me – has been and is my way to give what I can to the Cure world. And it is an experience that I enjoy very, very much. The publishing of this project, to me, represent one big moment in my life as a Cure lover.

Otherwise, other than the Top 5…

Ok, the list was actually quiet hard to make for me. I was tempted to extend it to a Top 10 or something, considering all the other Top Moments that I thought deserved to be in mentioned. Anyway, I feel like sharing some of the moments that didn’t make my list but that really could or probably should. Think of them as… b-sides.

B-side #1: The New York double show in 2008

Well, being in wonderful New York, knowing that you are going to see the band playing two show in a row, one day after the other, in two epic venues (Madison Square Garden and Radio City Hall), is just the kind of thing that would deserve to make a list like this one.

B-side #2 Listening to Want live, when it was an unknow song

When the band played some festival in the summer of 1995 they decided to open the show with Want. It was a new, never played before song. And right then, to me, it sounded like the most Curish thing ever. And I got tears in my eyes.

B-side #3 The first time I saw The Cure

Well, I guess that this should be an “everybody’s top moment”, you know… watching The Cure live for their very first time. Mine was in Florence and I got there with my super friend Roy, with a night train. And after all this time, it is still such a beautiful souvenir.

Wrap up.

Ok, there it is, long as it sometimes get when emotions are called to play.

Anyway, without it having to be this long, I’d enjoy knowing everyone else’s Top 5 moments in their Cure life. I am sure there are some, and that you don’t need to dig that deep to find them. Right?

Official Forum Closed!

Gian — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 16:27:42 +0000

Sadly enough, as lots of you have surely noticed, the forum on the official website is currently closed. While the reason for this are officially unknown, there are big chances that the shutting down of the forum service has something to do with the rumors of The Cure leaving Universal.

Anyway, since a lot of funs on that forum have signed up here at Cureuphoria, I suggest you to use the forum here to keep your Cure life going…

Really, the forum doesn’t bite, I promise, and it will be imporved in the future, so it seems to be the perfect time to liven it up a little.

Suggestions are always welcomed and taken into consideration.

So, go on and rock it on!

Moving on…

Gian — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:27:01 +0000

Hi all! Summer’s closing down, I am back from holiday and switched passing time on the beach with sitting in front of the computer again, so Cureuphoria will be active again after a month’s rest.

I’ve actually got a lot of posts that are waiting to be finished and published to the blog section.

Also, I will work on some enhancements, especially for the forum section.

And… I am designing a Cureuphoria newsletter to keep all members up to date with news and stuff.

And… surprise-surprise, as I already mentoned earlier, some cool stuff and features is to come on Cureuphoria, but I won’t reveal what it is yet. Just know that I am working on it and when everything’s ready, you’ll enjoy the site even more (much more).

Otherwise, I hope that everyone had good time with their summer’s holidays and to see you all here soon…

Funny videos

Gian — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:50:12 +0000

the cure- newman and baddiel tv sketch(1993)

Title: the cure- newman and baddiel tv sketch(1993)
Runtime: 1:26
Views: 53,936

Title: Robert Smith of the Cure on This Old House
Runtime: 1:39
Views: 32,842

Title: Play At Home Robert Smith
Runtime: 2:54
Views: 14,300

Title: Paddy meets Robert Smith
Runtime: 0:59
Views: 7,568

Official Videos

Acoustic Session for the Greatest Hits album

Gian — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 19:48:02 +0000

The Cure --" Lullaby" Acoustic Music Video

Title: The Cure --" Lullaby" Acoustic Music Video
Runtime: 4:13
Views: 670,078

Title: Close To Me (acoustic) :The Cure
Runtime: 3:42
Views: 402,527

Title: The lovecats (acoustic) :The Cure
Runtime: 3:33
Views: 270,055

Title: A Forest (acoustic)
Runtime: 4:50
Views: 135,529