Blog Posts

The Hills Are Alive With The Sound of Singing Nuns

3/2/2017

I feel like there are some things we can learn from The Sound of Music in today's social climate. Never pass up the chance to tear a Nazi flag in half, seven children is excessive, and if given the opportunity be Julie Andrews.

The film is one of the cornerstones of Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer's careers as actors. It's their signature film. Christopher Plummer might not appreciate that, but for Julie Andrews it flows with her Mary Poppins / Princess Diaries aesthetic. The Sound of Music was once one of the highest grossing films in history, having made over $280,000,000. The soundtrack was also one of the best selling in the world, it was a particular success in the United Kingdom placing 7th overall in album sales. I happen to have a copy of it on vinyl.

The Sound of Music is a film on par with Grease or Mama Mia. If you watch musicals, if you hate musicals, you've seen these movies, or at the very least know the working concept of their plot. It's the kind of film, you can still see 8 year olds singing in the streets of Barcelona and if that's cross-cultural film I don't know what is.

Mad About You

2/23/2017

Helen Hunt (left) and Paul Reiser (right) portrayed Jamie Buchman and Paul Buchman respectively

There were 3 inescapable New York sitcoms on air during the 90s. 2 have stood as cultural landmarks & the other is memorable to those who lived through the era. NBC had the trifecta Seinfield, Friends, & Mad About You.

Mad About You followed the lives of average couple Paul and Jamie Buchman. They had a dog Murray, a screw up older sister, the Fran Drescheresque best friend, and the player with a receding hairline. We even have the lesbian sister. The show starred Helen Hunt and Paul Reiser as the ever loving couple. They fought and they always made up.

That time Ellen Degeneres stopped by

It was quality television. It's rarely laugh out loud funny, but it offers casual reassurance. Just a normal married couple living in New York City. A documentary filmmaker and a public relations specialist. Mad About You had crossover appeal with both Friends and Seinfield. Kramer appeared in the first season of Mad About You, Ursula predated Phoebe's (you may recall that Phoebe had a recurring evil twin sister named Ursula) rise to fame on Friends, and Jamie and Fran made their way over to Central Perk.

Lisa Kudrow as the incompetent waitress Ursula

Lasting for 7 seasons, Mad About You was a juggernaut of television. The final season saw both Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt pulling in a million an episode. It's not the most called upon pop culture statement of the 90s, but it's still one of the most loveable.

The Mighty Protest Song

2/16/2017

The election of our current president has led to a national fervor of patriotism via protestation. Our president can boast that he managed to turn an entire gender against him less then a day into his place in office. Rebecca Ferguson agreed to sing at his innaguration given she was allowed to perform “Strange Fruit”, a song that delves into the lynching of black men in the United States. An act carried out now through the criminal justice system. Her request was denied.

Music has always reflected the times, faster then film, as music can demonstrate a quicker turn around. Katy Perry slipped in a political statement between the silky beats of “Chained To The Rhythm”. We need to wake up and see what's happening before it's too late! All, while being discreet enough not to offend radio programmers in red states who exemplify the most disillusioned of our country.

Music history is rife with songs against injustice. Lesley Gore's “You Don't Own Me” spurred on a second wave of feminism, John Lennon's “Imagine” was a plug for world peace as was Bette Midler's “From A Distance”, Sia dedicated “The Greatest” to the LGBT+ community after the Pulse shooting in 2016. Music has always been a great place for discourse and with a country led by a racist reality TV star, it's time for Kim Kardashian to return backed by a Kanye produced beat.

The Madonna Superbowl

2/9/2017

After Lady Gaga's jaw dropping performance this weekend at the Superbowl, I thought it only fair to reminisce on past performances. I know Bruno Mars has performed, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers took off their shirts, and certainly Queen Bey having all the Destiny's Childs members pop out together was a spectacle, but my heart will always be tied to Madonna.

Madonna performed at the halftime show for Superbowl XLVI. She came out on a throne, had everyone from Cee Lo Green to LMFAO light up the spectacle. She brought her show stopping stadium skills to a worldwide platform.

When Madonna performed at the Super Bowl she set a record audience of 114 million viewers,-higher then the games 113.3 million. The record is now held by Katy Perry

Through one show Madonna showed her prowess for a next stadium tour (The MDNA Tour would become one of the highest grossing in history), launched a top ten single with the cheerleader chant of “Give Me All Your Luvin'” and raked up just a little bit of controversy when M.I.A flashed America the middle finger. The show had it all.

It catapulted MDNA into selling over 500,000 copies in the United States without a radio hit, and Gaga must also be hoping it will do the same for Joanne. However, her album has been selling at a steady (and surprisingly) solid place despite neither of it's singles becoming radio staples. Gaga has certainly convinced America to bring out their cowboy hat and buy a ticket for her new show.

You Keep Me Hangin' On

1/26/2017

Single Cover Release of "You Keep Me Hangin' On"

The production trio Holland-Dozier-Holland created one of their more long lasting hits in 1966 when The Supremes sent “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” to Number One in the United States. The production trio made up of Lamont Dozier and brothers Brian and Eddie Holland composed multiple Motown this with one another over the course of their career together. They scored over 30 top ten hits and helped to define the Motown sound.

“You Keep Me Hangin’ On” has the distinction of being one of the few singles to reach number one by multiple artists. In1986, twenty years after the original topped the charts, Kim Wilde reimagined “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” as a Hi-NRG track and scored her only number one single in the United States. This version is my personal favorite, eschewing the upbeat soul of The Supremes, to really dig out the emotional struggle behind the song.

Buy "You Keep Me Hanging On"

Over the years the song has shown great diversity being reworked and covered by artists of multiple different genres. Country icon Reba McEntire recorded a version for her album Starting Over and Vanilla Fudge went top ten with their psychedelic reimagining of the track.

I Will Always Love You

1/19/2017

The Whitney Houston classic is the hallmark of The Bodyguard soundtrack. It sold over 45 million copies worldwide. I own a copy and even though I would not say it's a great soundtrack, “I Will Always Love You” makes up for any shortcomings.

The song was originally penned by Dolly Parton was a hit on country radio in it's original format, but it wouldn't become an iconic torch song until Whitney Houston covered it. The song stands alongside “My Heart Will Go On” as one of the cornerstone ballads of the 90s (sorry Mariah!).

Dolly Parton

Spending 14 weeks at number one in the United States, “I Will Always Love You” dominated the country for over three months. Becoming a multi platinum smash it solidified not only the success of her onscreen role in The Bodyguard, but also her continued musical longevity. It became her second to last number one and one of her more publicly lauded commercial successes.

Buy "I Will Always Love You"

Notably, the song was used in The Gilmore Girls by matriarch Lorelai Gilmore in a karaoke bar when she sang it to diner owner Luke Danes as a way of letting him know she still loved him.

What ARe You Doing New Year's Eve?

12/29/2016

Saturday night will usher in 2017. A year that in order to be successful must simply avoid nuclear fallout. The New Year is the night everyone is expected to find a partner to kiss at midnight. It's the concept behind one of the enduring songs in the Christmas catalogue.

“What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?” is a holiday song that expouses the sentiment of asking the one they love if they'll be their date on New Year's Eve. It's a song that need not relegate itself to December, take the line “maybe it's much too early in the game”. Is the first of January too early to ask for someone's lips on New Year's Eve? I say there's nothing wrong with preperation. Prepare ahead for failure.

Like all great Christmas songs, there's a touch of melancholy to the song. The narrator wants love, but they realize how unlikely it is. The song was written in 1947 and follows the grand tradition of bitter sadness that “I'll Be Home For Christmas” and “Blue Christmas” settle on.

The song (like all) great Christmas music has been covered by numerous versions. You have the classic covers. The Orioles, Nancy Wilson, etc. Along with modern interpretations from Idina Menzel, Kacey Musgraves, Zooey Deschanel all run the gamut of tradition. My personal favorite is the version eschewed by Bette Midler on her 2006 album Cool Yule.

Buy "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?"

Scream Queens Recap

12/22/2016

Emma Roberts (front) and Billie Lourd (back)

The second season of Scream Queens ended. If you haven't caught up on the finale this post will be riddled with spoilers. The second season of Scream Queens found the cast transferring from a sorority to a hospital (The C.U.R.E. Institute).

The second season mirrored the first in numerous ways. The 3 Chanels were all present. They are after all the main draw of the cast led by Emma Roberts. They had steamy affairs with Dr. Holt and Dr. Cascade who was tragically one of the Green Meanies who ended up getting machetted by Dr. Hoffel in the season finale.

This year there was a baby in the belly, multiple killers, and a blood curdling cliff hanger. It might sound strangely reminiscent of the first, because it is. One qualm I have with the season finale is that there were no new killers. We knew who all the Green Meanies were prior. Also leaving Chanel Oberlin in a state of mortal danger at the end. Is. Not. Cool. She climbs into her car at her new daytime TV spot and there's the Red Devil Killer sitting in her backseat.

Scream Queens is hopefully going to be renewed for a third season. The second season had notable (but expected) dips in views. The show is a millennial favorite and because of that it's true popularity and ratings are not always adequately reflected in the traditional methods. The show's transfer to it's primary filming in LA also led to lower costs that may or may not have been delineated by the addition of high profile names like John Stamos, Taylor Lautner, Brooke Shields, Colton Haynes, etc. to the cast.

New cast members John Stamos (left) and Taylor Lautner (right) and returning matriarch Jamie Lee Curtis (middle)

For season 3 we will find that Chanel Oberlin is okay. The Red Devil is after all the mascot of her school and not necessarily a serial killer in her backseat. Hopefully, Dr. Hoffel played by the perfect Kirstie Alley is not really dead after drowning in quick sand. Taylor Lautner's character on the hand can choke. In the third season a slew of returning ghosts would also be appreciated. Ariana Grande, Glen Powell? Do you hear me? WE WANT YOU BACK! They might be in the after world, but where's there's a Toys R Us there's a Ouija Board.

Your favorite blogger can't wait for the return of a new season of Scream Queens and (hopefully) it's renewal.

Kirstie Alley protrayed nurse Hoffel who was the last surviving members of the Green Meanies.

Ashley Abbott

12/15/2016

Whenever, I hear the name Ashley, I think of two things: Ashley Madison, the website married men go to have discreet affairs and Ashley Abbott, the fictional but ever in our hearts soap star of Young and the Restless.

To be fair I should probably think of my sister first. She was named after Ashley Abbott (although the spelling didn’t stick). My mother had an infinity for the character and an infinity for Eileen Davidson. The character has been on the air, since 1982, although it has not always been portrayed by Eileen Davidson.

The character has had a rocky if charmed life. Who wouldn’t after thirty years on the air? Especially, her decision to have a child with Victor Newman. The show's ever despicable patriarch. He's practically the Y&R's Godfather. Ashley Abbott most notably chose to have an abortion during the height of the eighties. The decision came from a well-educated woman from a prosperous socioeconomic standpoint and it was the hardest choice she ever had to make.

Ashley Abbott ranks right up there with Erika Kayne in notoriety from daytime characters. The endurance of the character on the Young and the Restless and it’s crossover to Bold & The Beautiful have made Ashley Abbott a staple to women of a particular age. The role is also largely responsible for Davidson’s historically high starting salary on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, a reality TV platform that’s shown she’s just as sweet as the Ashley Abbott façade has shown.

Joaquin Murrieta

12/8/2016

Joaquin Murrieta is an early example of a dime novel. A type of cheap literature prevalent during the 19th century and the early precursor for comic books. The novel was written by John Rollin Ridge, most notable for being one of the first published Native American authors.

The story of Joaquin Murrieta isn't as famous as it's succeeding storyline. This knife, gun slinging, blood bath tells the story of a Mexican bandit, who's lineage includes Zorro. While, Zorro has his own blockbuster franchise, Joaquin was put on the back burner. He was less vigilante and less hero, then our masked Antonio Banderas.

The original Joaquin Murrieta was loosely based on real life events, although was highly fictional. The real Joaquin is said to be based on four separate outlaws. The novel was highly plagiarized, however in it's original format by John Rollin Ridge, it featured an undercurrent of social justice, showing the harm that discrimination and hatred creates in society. It's a lesson of the old west that the United States still hasn't picked up.