Armitage’s voice in the dark
[ETA: photos from the set of the current film have appeared on Armitage Army Forum and the story around the meeting. You must be a member to see them. He looks great! And so much younger without the facial hair.]
So, yeah, you can guess what I’ve been doing the last few days: listening to Venetia. Well, of course, that’s not the main thing I’m doing — it’s a collateral benefit of what I’ve been doing. And an incentive to continue doing it even when I’d rather stop.
For some reason, for me, driving during the day demands music — usually something with a very insistent rhythm. I haven’t been a leadfoot since I was about 22, so I need the rhythm to force me to make time. And then, sometime in the late afternoon, I want to quit — and then it’s time for Regina Spektor, something like this:
And when that’s played twice, and it’s dark enough that I’ve taken off my sunglasses, my soul is calm enough to attend to Armitage. As the sun falls, and the world around me darkens to just the space illuminated by the headlights, he sits in the passenger seat, reading Georgette Heyer to me. In the darkness, I can pay attention to every consonant, every vowel, every articulation, every voice, every accent, every lilt, every moment of suppressed humor, every second of delight his voice reveals in Heyer’s ornate formulations.
Tonight it was disc 2 that caught my attention, and the deep-voice Damerel’s attempt to flirt with Venetia. What I love the most, as Armitage describes the way the two look over the garden and discuss Damerel’s past, is the way that Damerel’s voice becomes even deeper when Venetia expresses her sympathy for him — as if he’s surprised by an emotion he can’t fairly express and he only sign of his appreciation is the way his vocal tone drops even more. As if being able to receive sympathy makes Damerel even more of a man.
Richard Armitage makes me want to go on long drives by myself at night. Or rather: at night, with his voice surrounding, calming, moving me, as the miles drop behind me.
I will have to wait until tomorrow to read about the meeting. I had to re-register at AA and now someone has to approve me. Anyway, something else to look forward to. I’m glad you have that wonderful, expressive, delicious voice to keep you company in your travels, Serv.
LikeLike
angieklong said this on August 16, 2012 at 5:45 am |
I’ve had to re-register too angie, it’s been so long since I logged into AA, I’d forgotten the original details I used!
Isn’t it possible that the photos and write-up will appear on RANet or one of the others though? The sites are usually so good at sharing anything that comes up like this.
LikeLike
Mezz said this on August 16, 2012 at 9:13 am |
I’m not a member of that forum…and it won’t let me register 😦 Might go and find a quiet corner to sob quietly to myself!
Those pesky Captcha things are a right pain…keeps saying I’ve put it in wrong when I haven’t!
LikeLike
kathrynruthd said this on August 16, 2012 at 6:29 am |
I got registered but now I am waiting for an administrator to approve me. 😦 So I am sort of in the same boat, my girl. *sigh*
LikeLike
angieklong said this on August 16, 2012 at 6:42 am |
Hey – no sobbing allowed here! 😉
I think if you are a member of C19 – they have a copy posted of the same story with pics.
LikeLike
UK Expat said this on August 16, 2012 at 7:02 am |
Alas, not a member there, either. I should simply GO TO BED (1 a.m. here) and hope they will get around to approving me tomorrow. Hopefully my nemesis isn’t in charge of approving or I’m up the creek without a paddle! LOL
LikeLike
angieklong said this on August 16, 2012 at 7:08 am |
I am a member on C19 but couldn’t find it…I’m not overly familiar with the forum so struggling to know where to look! Have now managed to register on AA forum though & awaiting approval…so sobs are being held at bay for the moment! 😉
LikeLike
kathrynruthd said this on August 16, 2012 at 7:14 am |
On C19, look for a Richard Armitage folder and under there look for a Category 6 folder (I’ve never ventured outside of the fanfiction folders, so I know how you feel about the forum format). It should have the latest post by someone recently on there. I really hope it works for you. 🙂
http://c19.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=cat6&action=display&thread=58768&page=2
LikeLike
UK Expat said this on August 16, 2012 at 7:27 am |
OMG thank you! I love you! 🙂 Now I can go and do the cleaning with a big smile on my face and that never happens!! 🙂
LikeLike
kathrynruthd said this on August 16, 2012 at 7:38 am |
Excellent, Kathryn!!!! My work here is done. 🙂
LikeLike
UK Expat said this on August 16, 2012 at 7:40 am |
Thank you, thank you, thank you, UK Expat! I found it! Loved it! Read it 3 times… Haven’t done a spot of work yet!
LikeLike
Judit said this on August 16, 2012 at 9:30 am |
Yay!! I was really agitated that Angie and Kathryn weren’t able to see the pics and read the story so I enclosed the link hoping it would work. I am SO DELIGHTED to hear it did!! Yahooo!!!!
And work can take a small coffee break as you fill up on the tank of happy feelings!
LikeLike
UK Expat said this on August 17, 2012 at 10:37 am |
you have a truly generous heart, UK Expat.
LikeLike
servetus said this on August 18, 2012 at 4:32 am |
Thanks so much UK Expat! *Mwah!* Now I don’t have to wait for my AA registration to come through. Squeeing like mad here. He looks gorgeous, and yes, quite a bit younger without the beard. I love it when accounts like this confirm that he is what he seems to be…an absolute sweetheart.
LikeLike
Mezz said this on August 16, 2012 at 10:01 am |
*big hug & kiss back*
So glad I could perform this little service for all and sundry. 🙂
LikeLike
UK Expat said this on August 17, 2012 at 10:39 am |
Maybe I’ll try later from my PC…perhaps it doesn’t like the device I’m using. Not that I really want to see the pics or anything…nooooo…not me! 😉
LikeLike
kathrynruthd said this on August 16, 2012 at 7:04 am |
Kathryn, don’t remind me how often I desperately tried to get registered at the AA board (it took me a couple of month) and then to enter it, as this Captcha thingy kept tricking or more precisely refused me all the time. It wasn’t quite helpful either that my English wasn’t as sophisticated as it is now!! (cough) 😉 Frustrating! Even today it took me another couple of attempts to finally get logged in…
LikeLike
linda60 said this on August 16, 2012 at 6:32 pm |
Venetia while making Sunday dinner, what a treat. Really anything Richard reads is great. Never thought I would like audio books, but if the story teller is great, I don’t mind being read to. But I must say it was Christopher Timothy that got me hooked on audio books. For anyone who don’t know he played James Herriot on All Creatures Great and Small. He did a great job of all those voices just like Richard.
LikeLike
katie70 said this on August 16, 2012 at 7:28 am |
thanks for the comment, katie70, and welcome!
LikeLike
servetus said this on August 16, 2012 at 2:34 pm |
Excusez moi, Ladies!..but how to become a member of that forum?:)
LikeLike
Joanna said this on August 16, 2012 at 7:35 am |
Hi Joanna, the C19 link is posted to the right under fan sites – try
http://c19.proboards.com/index.cgi?
Click on Register after the ‘Welcome Guest’ greeting.
LikeLike
UK Expat said this on August 16, 2012 at 7:40 am |
Goto armitagearmy.proboards.com and click on Register. Alternatively try c19.proboards.com
LikeLike
kaprekar said this on August 16, 2012 at 7:41 am |
Thanks for the link, I’ve read the report and seen all the lovely pics!!! Lucky girl!!!
LikeLike
kaprekar said this on August 16, 2012 at 7:38 am |
Awwww..:) such a rapid response. Thank you UK Expat and Kaprekar!:*
LikeLike
Joanna said this on August 16, 2012 at 8:06 am |
How are you, Servetus!:):)
This song is beautiful!<3
LikeLike
Joanna said this on August 16, 2012 at 8:21 am |
Thanks — I think she’s really something special.
LikeLike
servetus said this on August 18, 2012 at 4:33 am |
Too funny you posted this today. I was just telling my friends, over our morning coffee, how RA audiobook are perfect for Americans who drive long distances, like you going home for Christmas and listening to Sylvester 🙂 I try to listen to them before I go to sleep, and end up waking up 10 chapters later, having missed most of it LOL!
LikeLike
agzym said this on August 16, 2012 at 8:30 am |
yes. It also would have come in handy the time I took the train from Berlin to Krakow … 🙂
LikeLike
servetus said this on August 18, 2012 at 4:33 am |
Safe travels servetus, IMO you couldn’t have better company than RA, his Damerel is just delicious! 🙂
LikeLike
Mezz said this on August 16, 2012 at 9:18 am |
I’ve said this more than once but I really wish TPTB would make Venetia into a movie! Richard would make THE most fantastic Damerel and he did say at one point that he was looking for another N&S!! 🙂 Who wouldn’t love to see him in a cravat again?? Doesn’t he have THE most perfect voice for audio books and the perfect legs for the pantaloons/breeches they wore in those days? 😀 If i ever need a pick-me-up it is Venetia I turn to. That scene in the barn is quite toe-curling!! 😉
LikeLike
Teuchter said this on August 17, 2012 at 12:17 am |
absolutely. When he explains how to kiss a girl most effectively!
LikeLike
servetus said this on August 18, 2012 at 4:34 am |
Quite sets one’s pulses racing! 🙂
LikeLike
Teuchter said this on August 18, 2012 at 7:30 am |
yeah, no falling asleep in the car on disc 2.
LikeLike
servetus said this on August 18, 2012 at 11:34 pm |
I totally agree with everything you’ve said here Teuchter. Venetia and The Devil’s Cub are my favourite Georgette Heyer books, but the former is the one I would dearly love most to see onscreen. Richard’s wonderful narration has brought it to life so vividly that I have no problems seeing it in my mind. It ticks all the boxes for me: brooding,handsome hero and beautiful feisty heroine, romance and angst, breeches and cravats, fabulous dialogue and humour. 🙂
As for the barn scene… Jump now. I’ll catch you. *swoon*
LikeLike
Mezz said this on August 17, 2012 at 1:03 am |
Deep voice. Mmmmmm.
LikeLike
servetus said this on August 18, 2012 at 4:34 am |
Oh yessss! Can’t forget the voice! Makes me melt!!
LikeLike
Teuchter said this on August 18, 2012 at 7:29 am |
Safe journey, serv. You have a perfect passenger with you! 🙂
His reading of Venetia is a top favourite. Sylvester is right up there, too. I’m just getting into Lords of the North, and it looks destined to be one I re-listen to, as well.
Venetia as the darkness falls … great ambiance for that reading. My most recent listen to it was through headphones with my eyes closed, while by myself at home. Sounds strange, using headphones when alone, but the quiet they afforded underlined the intimacy of Damerel’s dialog with Venetia. And it gave me a heightened awareness of, as you noted, every nuance of Mr. A’s delivery … inflection, breathing, voice, humor … all just perfect.
Well *sigh* … maybe I’ll just give it another listen when I get home today. 😉
LikeLike
zan said this on August 17, 2012 at 2:50 pm |
yeah, there’s something about the falling light that makes it that little bit more special.
LikeLike
servetus said this on August 18, 2012 at 4:35 am |
I’ve done the headphones thing too Zan! Worked for me. 😉 Delicious!
LikeLike
Teuchter said this on August 18, 2012 at 7:33 am |
You’re probably almost home by now, but I’m hoping you have a safe journey and are enjoying your trip with Mr. Armitage reading along in the dark of night. Enjoy
LikeLike
sloan said this on August 18, 2012 at 3:17 am |
Thanks. One more light day. Or maybe I’ll delay the drive so I can listen to him, while driving into town …
LikeLike
servetus said this on August 18, 2012 at 4:35 am |
[…] on the set of his new film. She mentions the experiences of RALover, which I also linked to earlier this week. Unspeakably, immensely pleasing on about a jazillion […]
LikeLike
Legenda 40: stuff worth reading « Me + Richard Armitage said this on August 19, 2012 at 1:26 am |