Drifting across the raised stage area in the nightclub, my body is at boiling point, butterflies thrash around in the pit of my stomach, tall, roaring, violent waves surge through me, a panic attack, tachycardia, I’m going to explode any minute. But I know it won’t last. This chaotic, out of control sensation will bottom out and soon my mind will relax into, lock onto the music and my body will dance as if on autopilot for hours on end.
The dj is mixing seamlessly, playing his signature brand of uplifting, hypnotic music with minimal singing, but layer upon layer of gorgeous, echoing sounds which vibrate deep inside my body, and build to crescendos so indescribably gorgeous they are almost unbearable. There is a whooshing sound and I’m soaring, hands reaching upward, body tingling all over, arms bristling with goosepimples, thighs teased by the touch of my gauzy dress which glows under the UV lights.
I’m oblivious to the other people around me, whether they be friends or strangers. Some guy whispers incomprehensible words in my ear and I flash him a beatific smile as I turn away, close my eyes and carry on dancing, locked inside my own private world, mesmerised by my own eyelids, heart racing, chest a little heavy and tight…
…and then my bulky cd walkman falls out of my bra, yanking the headphones out of my ears, forcing me brutally out of my flashback and back into the disappointing reality of my bedroom.
I open my eyes and see the pile of ironing on the bed, groaning as I slide off the exercise bike to pick up the walkman.
I wonder when my Ipod is due to arrive.
This post is not intended to address the subject of whether certain recreational activities are right/wrong/ill-advised/dangerous. It is simply me trying to put into words how my body remembers certain feelings with the right musical stimulus.
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petite anglaise 
Reach for the lasers! Reach for the lasers!
Yeah the weekend has landed!
What kind of club music are you into Petite?
Comment by Chninkel — January 14, 2005 @ 10:25 am
lots and lots of very different things
but this was a flashback to circa 1994 and Renaissance nights.
I’m far too old and responsible for that sort of thing now!
Comment by petite — January 14, 2005 @ 10:55 am
Hmmm. I’d say you nearly blew your cover the first time you posted your response. Don’t worry, I shan’t say a word.
I must admit I was a little disappointed when I realised you were doing the old flashback thing – my admiration at your allowing yourself a big night out on a Thursday night was growing with every sentence.
Incidentally, here in Geneva Thursday is often the best night to go out. There are too many fourteen-year-olds in the bars and clubs on a Saturday night (they’re probably 21, but they look 14 to me), and on Friday night people with families go home to be with the kids, while a lot of single people jet off for the weekend elsewhere. So on a Thursday night you’ll find lots of late twenty and thirtysomethings having just the sort of experience you described above (without, perhaps, the additional stimulus)- after all, even I can just about make it through a Friday on two hours sleep.
Comment by Waterhot — January 14, 2005 @ 11:03 am
no! it’s just that chameleon had trouble posting yesterday and emailed me something to put on for her -and IE remembered the wrong name…. I’ve corrected it now. We are not one and the same!
Comment by petite — January 14, 2005 @ 11:09 am
*sigh*
sometimes it’s so boring to be a grown up…
Comment by vitriolica — January 14, 2005 @ 11:17 am
I love euphoric, trancy music with multiple layers which break down to the constituent parts. The music is so “perfect” and rhythmic, it really can transport your mind…
Comment by witho — January 14, 2005 @ 12:06 pm
Those heady days of clubbing in the early mid-90’s were some of the best years of my life and I’ll never forget them. We were lucky being at college in the North of England, I reckon that’s where the best clubs were.
Of course now I rarely consume anything stronger than a glass of red wine and the mere idea of it makes me feel a bit queasy….
Comment by stressqueen — January 14, 2005 @ 12:19 pm
It’s a terrible thing to realize that those days are gone and not coming back, isn’t it? :cry:
Comment by ViVi — January 14, 2005 @ 1:15 pm
*sighs*
I hate not being in my teens. I guess it won’t be long before Saturday night becomes all about a glass of red wine and a game of pictionary.
Comment by crumb — January 14, 2005 @ 2:18 pm
oh, god, everyone’s got all depressed!
petite, cherie, I’ve just put up four auction lots at eBay for Tsunami relief.
Comment by vitriolica — January 14, 2005 @ 3:59 pm
God this post rings a bell… hanging somewhere light-years away. One should never have regrets but if I had one, it would be to not have indulged in clubbing quite as much as I could have done in my 20s…
Comment by céline — January 14, 2005 @ 4:07 pm
I’ve never really been to a club (how sad is THAT for a 32-year-old lol?) but I do know the pain of baing into the music and having it fall or something equally annoying. hehehe
Comment by Tricia — January 14, 2005 @ 5:16 pm
Very evocative. Can’t say I’ve ever had an experience in real life anything much like that (much to my disappointment), but it certainly felt like I was there for a few minutes! :grin:
Comment by Maura — January 14, 2005 @ 7:32 pm
when are you gonna come dancing with me? Maybe Mr. Frog is a terrible babysitter, but, girlfriend, you need a night out.
p.s. – I think I’m getting a job at Club Med!
Comment by nardac — January 15, 2005 @ 3:38 am
Sneaky hidden link. Maybe all this depression is serotin deficit rather than getting old … may be not. I’ve got to put a wash in. Any light colours lying around?
Comment by Ria — January 15, 2005 @ 9:51 am
Still no iPod! Beware of charities bearing gifts I guess.
Comment by BHR — January 15, 2005 @ 2:22 pm
I know it doesn’t replace the real thing, music can certainly bring back the vibes! Thats what I blame for the time I opened my eyes during a really good, late night/early morning air guitar solo under the influence of the headphones to see the missus standing there in her dressing gown.:eek:
Comment by brom-man — January 15, 2005 @ 5:25 pm
Lol! I love it. An iPod is the perfect way to bring a little uninterrupted euphoric trance to your workout experience.
Comment by Sarah — January 15, 2005 @ 8:37 pm
Came over through BHR’s blog :) I know the feeling, I wish I had an ipod. For now it’s a wishful luxury.
Comment by Sinta — January 16, 2005 @ 10:30 am
Great post Petite!
I’d love to go clubbing again, if only the music wasn’t so…loud
;-)
Comment by PPQ — January 16, 2005 @ 7:16 pm