Greetings,
If any of you read my Top Ten list of Law and Order episodes, you may remember that I gave a pretty big shout out to my girl, Jill Hennessy. I loved her as Claire Kincaid on that show, and her departure left me sad and hoping for more from her, especially on a weekly basis. Well, it took five long years, but, in 2001, I finally got the thing for which I had been waiting when Crossing Jordan debuted on NBC. If you haven't seen it, let me give you some insight. Fair warning, this post may be long. Quite. But if you like this show, it hopefully won't be a problem.
This show centered around the lives of medical examiner's in Boston, and Jill starred as Jordan Cavanaugh. Frankly, I think she is one of the greatest female characters of all time. Jordan is very complex, to say the least. She can be funny, and she's very intelligent, definitely with a mind of her own and a pretty thick skin. I think that aspect of her character stems from her troubled childhood, which included a mentally unstable mother who was eventually murdered and a father who had become quite distant. Ironically, while I believe this is what made her tough, it also made her empathetic, sympathetic, and a woman who always had a small part of her that was still that little girl, just looking for love and security in her life. Finding that love and security was difficult since she also, understandably, developed trust issues, even though as an adult, she was surrounded by people who genuinely loved and cared for her. In short, Jordan Cavanaugh was and still is an extremely interesting character who always kept the fans enthralled. But as great as she was, Jordan was not the only one in this world. Here's a quick look at the others. Quick, because I want to get to the top ten task at hand.
Let's begin with Jordan's co-workers, starting with Dr. Garret Macy, played be Miguel Ferrar, son of Rosemary Clooney, quite possibly my favorite singer ever. Macy is the boss of the M.E.'s office and he tends to be very "by the book" and strict, though he is often influenced by Jordan's "out of the box" thinking. It is his willingness to do that which really shows the depth of their friendship and how much he trusts her instincts. Then, we have Lily Lebowski played by Kathryn Hahn. Lily eventually becomes the grief counselor, something I'm assuming is needed in a place like that. It was a good choice to have this happen to her character, since she always came across as the most sympathetic. Lily has close relationships with everyone, but especially Dr. Mahesh Vijay, who we all know as "Bug". They are great friends, but he clearly wants more out of their relationship. Bug pretty much fills the role as the (I hate to say this) science geek and he does so in a crowd of scientists of all places. But his character did expand and develop more over the years. Finally, we have Nigel Townsend played by Steve Valentine. Though I love everyone, Nigel is probably my favorite character. Most people would easily classify him as a little weird, with his ideas and style of dress. To me, he's just quirky, smart, fun and lovable. And Nigel usually provides the comic relief that people in this job need. I just love this guy a lot.
Outside of that office, we also have Detective Woody Hoyt played by Jerry O'Connell. He showed up in the first season, and his character just got bigger and more important to the show. Naturally, he became something of a love interest for Jordan, but there were a ton of ups and downs in their relationship, hinting at a romance, then doing it blatantly, trying and trying again at it, while always keeping their friendship intact. And speaking of Jordan's relationships, we also get her dad, Max, played by Ken Howard, who I absolutely love. He was fantastic on this show, playing the part just right. You can clearly see how much he loves his daughter, but there is always a bit of tension just under the surface due to their past. Oh, and he is pretty much the only person on this Boston set show that, in fact, does have the classic Boston accent. Other characters came and went over the seasons, some of which were played by fantastic actors and actresses, like Wallace Shawn, Lorraine Toussaint, Jeffrey Donovan and many others, but these are the most important.
Okay, maybe when I used the word "quick" a couple of paragraphs ago, I may have miscalculated. And now, finally, my Top Ten episodes of Crossing Jordan. As always, I may be giving spoilers, but nothing that will deter anyone from checking out the show. Here we go.
#10. "Don't Leave Me This Way" (Season 5) - Normally, I am not a fan of a cliffhanger ending for a season, but this episode was so well done, cutting off at just the right moment, that I had to include it. The tension built and left us with a strong hunger for what would happen next. I know I hate having to wait for the payoff or resolution, but it ended up being well worth that wait.
#9. "Fire in the Sky" (Season 4) - In season three, the very talented Jennifer Finnigan joined the cast as Dr. Devon Maguire for a handful of episodes that spilled into season four. Her character butted heads with a lot of her co-workers, not the least of which was Jordan. In this one, however, she is apparently and sadly killed in a plane crash. This one was interesting because, at the start, the M.E.'s were literally waiting for that plane to crash, because they knew it would. How? Guess you'll have to watch it. I think what I love about this one is that it is very emotionally charged for the characters, despite their efforts to put things aside for their work. But we really do see them coming to appreciate even more so their friendships with each other.
#8. "Crash" (Season 6) - This is the finale episode, and I'm sorry I have to follow up with another plane crash show. This time, though, it is most of our main characters on the plane. They crash in snowy mountains, trying desperately to survive and be rescued. Initially, this was going to be another cliffhanger ending that would pick up in season seven, but there was no season seven, unfortunately. Still, I think this was a good way to end the show. My only complaint is in who they chose to be a part of this accident. I understand why Lily wasn't there, considering she had just had a baby and was never involved in much field work anyway, but I couldn't figure out why the character of Kate Switzer was included. She came in this final season and was played by Brooke Smith. Don't get me wrong. I think she is a fantastic actress, and I did like her addition to the cast. But I thought, for this pivotal moment, it should have been confined to just the people who had known each other for so many years. The core family of the show, if you will. But that's a small complaint. I did hate that the show was ending, but we did get the one thing for which we had been waiting all these years. We finally saw Jordan and Woody professing their love for each other. FINALLY!
#7. "Secrets and Lies" (Season 1) - This was the two part finale of season one. Here, we get a lot of info about Jordan's childhood concerning her mother. It reveals some very important things, but it also sets up a lot more of the mystery that will come as the show progresses. We become even more invested in Jordan and the answers for which she will spend much time looking.
#6. "Revealed" (Season 3) - As I said, I love the character of Nigel, and in this episode, he is a main player. Nigel shows up at a crime scene, at which Woody has already arrived, where a body has been found in the bathtub of a locked apartment completely exsanguinated (their word, not mine!). Oh, and one more thing. The body has what appears to be bite marks in the neck. Naturally, being a man of science, Nigel believes that the obvious killer must be a vampire. I am dead serious, pardon the pun, about his thinking this is a legit explanation. What follows is a pretty funny episode, especially concerning exchanges between Nigel and Woody, and Nigel and Macy. And I loved seeing Jerry O'Connell in a Goth club. Just saying.
#5. "Forget Me Not" (Season 4) - Again, this episode is focused on Nigel, but in a far more serious manner. Here, the daughter of his current girlfriend is kidnapped in the middle of the night, and Nigel tries desperately to find her with Jordan's help. I really like the way they carried out the story, and I liked the pay off and reveal in the end. But, hands down, the most entertaining part is Steve Valentine. He is truly at his best as an actor here. What with his usual peripheral and often light comedic role on the show, even hardcore fans may forget how good he is when it comes to dramatic acting. Thanks for the reminder with this one, Steve.
#4. "Slam Dunk" (Season 3) - Ah, and here it is. The obligatory episode where a character gets jury duty, is the lone holdout, and eventually sways the other jurors to see things her way. Yeah, I think a lot of shows have done this. I can think of at least three right now. But this one is a little different. Jordan is the one on duty, and we know we can trust her instincts as a medical examiner who is an expert at looking for evidence, as opposed to just someone who has a "bad feeling" that the defendant isn't guilty like the other jurors believe. We do get the typical Twelve Angry Men scenario in the jury room, but the exchanges between everyone are very well written and thought out. We even get a good motive as to why one juror refuses to vote Not Guilty. And, again, there is a great and unexpected reveal in the end.
#3. "Ockham's Razor" (Season 2) - This is an episode with the main story line seeming to be the investigation of a woman's death. The woman just happens to be the wife of a major rival to Dr. Macy, and he is the one who must lead that investigation. That story does play out greatly, but there is also something else going on here. Jordan finds some old, home movie type, film reels which feature her mother years before Jordan was born. I don't want to give a ton away with this story, since it is a pretty big part of the series, but I have to bring it up. Mostly because it includes my very favorite guest star in all of Crossing Jordan land - Michael T. Weiss. If you don't know who that is, go back and read my post, "The Great Pretender", which was a tribute to the show The Pretender, which starred Michael T. Weiss. And I was absolutely thrilled to see him. Eventually, we learn more about who he is and how he is connected to Jordan, and it is truly one of the best story lines in the series.
#2. "Digger" (Season 1) - This is another two-parter, and, speaking as a Law and Order fan, it is pure gold. Why? Well, we get a little guest star appearance by Chris Noth. That's right. After over five years, we finally get to see Claire Kincaid and Mike Logan together again. It was a joy. Now the main plot is about someone kidnapping women and burying them alive, and Jordan is working with an FBI profiler, played by Noth, to try and solve the case. However, there is a very humorous subplot, which obviously juxtaposes the feel of the main story, and it is centered on - you guessed it! - my boy, Nigel. Both stories together really make this episode priceless.
#1. "Strangled" (Season 2) - In my circle of, let's say, acquaintances, I tend to be the person who finds great group activities in which I can never get anyone to participate. It makes me long to have friends like the folks on Crossing Jordan, who would gladly take part in something like what they did in this episode. Now, starting in the first season, we are shown that Jordan and her dad, who is a former cop, do something special to help solve crimes. They partake in these reenactment or role playing activities to really get into the head of whomever the criminal may be. It helps her a lot with her job. In this one, though, it's no work and all play. Jordan invites everyone to her dad's bar to try and solve a forty year old case that Max was never able to solve at the time. Each character is given, well, a character from the original investigation to portray and try to come up with an answer. Do they? Again, better watch. You know, I do know some cops, and I've asked for them to get me some cold case files, so I can do something fun like this. No such luck yet. I guess I'll just have to watch this episode when I want my inner detective to be satisfied. Thank you, show!
Wow, that WAS long. Anyway, there you have it. Now, while I've only seen one season of Crossing Jordan available on DVD, all six seasons are streaming on Netflix. When that happened, I was ecstatic. I highly, highly recommend this show, especially to anyone who likes crime dramas with very rich characters and stories. It truly was and is an excellent show and should be appreciated and honored. I hope I'm doing my part to make sure that happens.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, October 22, 2012
Saturday, October 20, 2012
The Wonder of the Rosenbaum
Greetings,
We all have secrets. I can admit that even I have things I like to hide away. But one thing that I have never kept hidden is my love for one Mr. Michael Rosenbaum. I made that abundantly clear when I did my Top Ten Smallville episodes list. Yeah, I was not shy when it came to giving him some massive accolades, and I had really had no reason to be. Not when it comes to Smallville anyway. He was nothing short of brilliant on that show. Still, as we all know, the careers of even the best actors have mountains and valleys, some more than others, and Michael Rosenbaum is no exception. But if you never slip and fall, it usually means you were never brave enough to take a risk . . . or it means you're Daniel Day-Lewis. Having said that and due to my great admiration for this man both as an actor and a person, I decided to throw him one of my infamous (they are to me) tributes. And away we go.
Okay, we may as well just start with the thing from which everyone knows him - Smallville. I think anyone who is even slightly informed of Michael's career would agree that the work he did on this show was probably his best. Of course, I spoke about it a lot on that aforementioned Smallville post, but I'll expand some here.
Now the show was technically on for ten years, but our dear Michael only graced us with his fine portrayal of Lex Luthor for seven, so those last three years, while not bad, could have been better had he been there. Of course, we would have missed out on the excitement of his return in the final episode, but I still kind of wish we had not been told of this return, because I would have loved to have been watching that night and gotten totally surprised. But I have no other complaints. To be honest, his appearance in that last show truly did remind us of what a talent he is. It cannot be easy portraying so well a character whom we all know will one day be a very bad man and still make us all love him and even root for him to do the right thing and be happy in his life. You know what else isn't easy, I bet? Portraying a character that has already been played by Gene Hackman. For real, he should have gotten a slew of awards just for not passing out every day at the prospect of having to do that. And if he had, I'm sure we would have heard about it, because, as we all know, Tom Welling is a blabbermouth. Kidding . . . I hope. But maybe playing the character in a different way, less for laughs and whatnot, made it easier. Kind of doubt it, though. Bottom line is, Michael was fantastic on this show, and I could go on for hours about that fact. I don't want to be that obsessive here, though, so may I suggest you watch some reruns if you don't believe me.
Since we're on the subject of TV shows and superheroes, let me tell you that Michael Rosenbaum's experience with these two things is not limited to the Smallville world. He has been quite successful as a voice actor, most notably was his portrayal as The Flash on the Justice League cartoon series. So here, he got to play a hero instead of a villain in training, and he was a very fun-loving character, the young guy of the group, occasionally annoying the other members, especially Batman. But Batman's always in a mood, so how could we ever tell? And, very recently, Michael was gracious enough to show up again in the latest DC cartoon movie, Justice League: Doom. I suppose mention of that can be a nice segue into some talk of his movie career. This may be a bit of a bumpy trip.
If I could sum up the movie career of Michael Rosenbaum in three simple words, they would be . . . good, bad and ugly. And by sheer coincidence, those words bring us to one of his first movie roles, or possibly his VERY first, in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil directed by Clint Eastwood. You understand the connection. Now I know there are no small parts, only small actors, and he proves that here. It has been a while since I've seen this one, but, if memory serves, he did not have a ton of screen time. Still, being in a film directed by such a legend is a good add on to any resume.
Just after this movie came Urban Legend, where he played a guy named Parker. Clearly, this film was part of the teen horror film bandwagon that came along after Scream, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't too critically acclaimed. But I always found this movie quite enjoyable. The idea was original, as far as I was concerned, and the cast was good . . . for the most part. Yes, the least part is exactly who you think. But I thought Michael stood out in the crowd in this one, even though he was most likely one of the least known members of the cast. Not bad at all.
About four years later came a film that I'm sure most of you have, sadly, not seen, Poolhall Junkies. This is all about a guy named Johnny who is obsessed with pool and Rosenbaum plays . . . not that guy, but his younger brother, Danny. The cast in this one is pretty impressive. To be honest, I never heard of the guy who plays the lead, but we do get Christopher Walken, Chazz Palminteri, Rick "call me Ricky and I'll punch you" Schroder, the legendary Rod Steiger, in his last role, and Allison Eastwood, daughter of Clint, who was also in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. And it is that stellar cast that made me enjoy this quite a lot. But we are talking about Michael Rosenbaum here, and not only does he fit in with these amazing actors extremely well, he also gives a little something extra - he sings! He sings, and it is awesome. Probably my favorite scene in the movie. Seriously, that better had not been someone else's voice dubbed in! But considering how good I am at research, it probably was.
Now I can't help but give a shout out to a film called Father of Invention. Again, Michael didn't have a huge part, but there was one scene that was very . . . interesting. See, the star of this is Kevin Spacey who, as we all know, played Lex Luthor in Superman Returns. In this particular scene, they have a big fight. Yes, one Lex is fighting with another. It was like watching a chicken peck at itself in the mirror. Watch the film just for that.
Okay, that was the good. Now we must move on to the bad. Where to begin? Well, let's start with Sweet November, a film many people refer to as a snooze fest which stars two of my least favorite people, Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron. But what about Rosenbaum? Who did he play? Well, he played Brandon. Unless he was in drag, and then he was Brandy. No, seriously. And apparently, he enjoyed this wardrobe so much that he then moved on to Sorority Boys, where he got to break into the lady closet for nearly the entire film. I can't even get too deeply into this one because it brings me such sadness. Call me judgmental, but I do not like seeing one of my major crushes in this state of apparel. At least, in Bringing Down the House, he only had to don what I'm certain was a bad wig, thanks to the daily head shavings for Smallville. And finally, I think the title Kickin' It Old School speaks loudly enough that I need not say a word. I'm harsh, because I care.
Let me end the movie talk on a high note, hopefully. According to my sources, Michael is currently working on a new film called Back In the Day. And not only is he acting in it, but he is also the director and writer. What? He's a writer, like me. I knew we were soul mates. Kidding. I can't be that crazy. But it is very nice to know that he is expanding himself so he can share with us his other talents. If his directing and writing is even in the neighborhood of how good his acting is, then I have very high hopes for this production.
I know I took some hopefully humorous jabs at Michael Rosebaum in this post, but I certainly was not kidding about his talent. This man is extremely gifted, and there is no doubt about that. Also, from what I've seen and heard, he's just a genuinely good guy. So I do have great admiration and respect for him. As with all the people I admire, I wouldn't mind having the privilege of meeting him someday. There are many reasons as to why, and I've mentioned many right here. Yet, there is one reason that sits high above the rest. There is one of life's great question's that pertains to the most famous character he has portrayed, one I spoke of in this very article. I feel that only a person as closely related to this character as he can even attempt to answer it. It is a question that I'm certain, men, women and children alike have pondered for nearly a century. What is that question, you may ask? Simply this: "Why does Lex Luthor have eyebrows?" Do NOT tell me you never wondered that. Seriously, I need an answer, and I hope my beloved Michael Rosenbaum can be the chosen one to give it to me. Oh, well. Someday.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
We all have secrets. I can admit that even I have things I like to hide away. But one thing that I have never kept hidden is my love for one Mr. Michael Rosenbaum. I made that abundantly clear when I did my Top Ten Smallville episodes list. Yeah, I was not shy when it came to giving him some massive accolades, and I had really had no reason to be. Not when it comes to Smallville anyway. He was nothing short of brilliant on that show. Still, as we all know, the careers of even the best actors have mountains and valleys, some more than others, and Michael Rosenbaum is no exception. But if you never slip and fall, it usually means you were never brave enough to take a risk . . . or it means you're Daniel Day-Lewis. Having said that and due to my great admiration for this man both as an actor and a person, I decided to throw him one of my infamous (they are to me) tributes. And away we go.
Okay, we may as well just start with the thing from which everyone knows him - Smallville. I think anyone who is even slightly informed of Michael's career would agree that the work he did on this show was probably his best. Of course, I spoke about it a lot on that aforementioned Smallville post, but I'll expand some here.
Now the show was technically on for ten years, but our dear Michael only graced us with his fine portrayal of Lex Luthor for seven, so those last three years, while not bad, could have been better had he been there. Of course, we would have missed out on the excitement of his return in the final episode, but I still kind of wish we had not been told of this return, because I would have loved to have been watching that night and gotten totally surprised. But I have no other complaints. To be honest, his appearance in that last show truly did remind us of what a talent he is. It cannot be easy portraying so well a character whom we all know will one day be a very bad man and still make us all love him and even root for him to do the right thing and be happy in his life. You know what else isn't easy, I bet? Portraying a character that has already been played by Gene Hackman. For real, he should have gotten a slew of awards just for not passing out every day at the prospect of having to do that. And if he had, I'm sure we would have heard about it, because, as we all know, Tom Welling is a blabbermouth. Kidding . . . I hope. But maybe playing the character in a different way, less for laughs and whatnot, made it easier. Kind of doubt it, though. Bottom line is, Michael was fantastic on this show, and I could go on for hours about that fact. I don't want to be that obsessive here, though, so may I suggest you watch some reruns if you don't believe me.
Since we're on the subject of TV shows and superheroes, let me tell you that Michael Rosenbaum's experience with these two things is not limited to the Smallville world. He has been quite successful as a voice actor, most notably was his portrayal as The Flash on the Justice League cartoon series. So here, he got to play a hero instead of a villain in training, and he was a very fun-loving character, the young guy of the group, occasionally annoying the other members, especially Batman. But Batman's always in a mood, so how could we ever tell? And, very recently, Michael was gracious enough to show up again in the latest DC cartoon movie, Justice League: Doom. I suppose mention of that can be a nice segue into some talk of his movie career. This may be a bit of a bumpy trip.
If I could sum up the movie career of Michael Rosenbaum in three simple words, they would be . . . good, bad and ugly. And by sheer coincidence, those words bring us to one of his first movie roles, or possibly his VERY first, in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil directed by Clint Eastwood. You understand the connection. Now I know there are no small parts, only small actors, and he proves that here. It has been a while since I've seen this one, but, if memory serves, he did not have a ton of screen time. Still, being in a film directed by such a legend is a good add on to any resume.
Just after this movie came Urban Legend, where he played a guy named Parker. Clearly, this film was part of the teen horror film bandwagon that came along after Scream, and I'm pretty sure it wasn't too critically acclaimed. But I always found this movie quite enjoyable. The idea was original, as far as I was concerned, and the cast was good . . . for the most part. Yes, the least part is exactly who you think. But I thought Michael stood out in the crowd in this one, even though he was most likely one of the least known members of the cast. Not bad at all.
About four years later came a film that I'm sure most of you have, sadly, not seen, Poolhall Junkies. This is all about a guy named Johnny who is obsessed with pool and Rosenbaum plays . . . not that guy, but his younger brother, Danny. The cast in this one is pretty impressive. To be honest, I never heard of the guy who plays the lead, but we do get Christopher Walken, Chazz Palminteri, Rick "call me Ricky and I'll punch you" Schroder, the legendary Rod Steiger, in his last role, and Allison Eastwood, daughter of Clint, who was also in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. And it is that stellar cast that made me enjoy this quite a lot. But we are talking about Michael Rosenbaum here, and not only does he fit in with these amazing actors extremely well, he also gives a little something extra - he sings! He sings, and it is awesome. Probably my favorite scene in the movie. Seriously, that better had not been someone else's voice dubbed in! But considering how good I am at research, it probably was.
Now I can't help but give a shout out to a film called Father of Invention. Again, Michael didn't have a huge part, but there was one scene that was very . . . interesting. See, the star of this is Kevin Spacey who, as we all know, played Lex Luthor in Superman Returns. In this particular scene, they have a big fight. Yes, one Lex is fighting with another. It was like watching a chicken peck at itself in the mirror. Watch the film just for that.
Okay, that was the good. Now we must move on to the bad. Where to begin? Well, let's start with Sweet November, a film many people refer to as a snooze fest which stars two of my least favorite people, Keanu Reeves and Charlize Theron. But what about Rosenbaum? Who did he play? Well, he played Brandon. Unless he was in drag, and then he was Brandy. No, seriously. And apparently, he enjoyed this wardrobe so much that he then moved on to Sorority Boys, where he got to break into the lady closet for nearly the entire film. I can't even get too deeply into this one because it brings me such sadness. Call me judgmental, but I do not like seeing one of my major crushes in this state of apparel. At least, in Bringing Down the House, he only had to don what I'm certain was a bad wig, thanks to the daily head shavings for Smallville. And finally, I think the title Kickin' It Old School speaks loudly enough that I need not say a word. I'm harsh, because I care.
Let me end the movie talk on a high note, hopefully. According to my sources, Michael is currently working on a new film called Back In the Day. And not only is he acting in it, but he is also the director and writer. What? He's a writer, like me. I knew we were soul mates. Kidding. I can't be that crazy. But it is very nice to know that he is expanding himself so he can share with us his other talents. If his directing and writing is even in the neighborhood of how good his acting is, then I have very high hopes for this production.
I know I took some hopefully humorous jabs at Michael Rosebaum in this post, but I certainly was not kidding about his talent. This man is extremely gifted, and there is no doubt about that. Also, from what I've seen and heard, he's just a genuinely good guy. So I do have great admiration and respect for him. As with all the people I admire, I wouldn't mind having the privilege of meeting him someday. There are many reasons as to why, and I've mentioned many right here. Yet, there is one reason that sits high above the rest. There is one of life's great question's that pertains to the most famous character he has portrayed, one I spoke of in this very article. I feel that only a person as closely related to this character as he can even attempt to answer it. It is a question that I'm certain, men, women and children alike have pondered for nearly a century. What is that question, you may ask? Simply this: "Why does Lex Luthor have eyebrows?" Do NOT tell me you never wondered that. Seriously, I need an answer, and I hope my beloved Michael Rosenbaum can be the chosen one to give it to me. Oh, well. Someday.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Like a Man / Adam Cohen - Album Review
Greetings,
A while back, I did a list of my favorite singing offsprings, the children of famous singers who may or may not have become famous themselves. I thought it best to explain why one of those lesser known prodigies made the list with an album review. So today, I will be giving my thoughts on the Adam Cohen's Like a Man.
Okay, if you haven't figured it out yet, Adam Cohen is the son of Leonard Cohen. And if you don't know who Leonard Cohen is, stop now because you are no longer allowed to read my blog. For the rest of you, I'm happy to say that Adam Cohen is one second generationer who has managed to balance embracing his legacy with maintaining his own identity. That is something that takes skill, and he certainly has it.
Now Like a Man is not his first album. He has done other work, both for himself and others. Actually, it was writing for other artists that got him most of his success in the past. I've heard some of his past efforts and, to be honest, while I could certainly hear the spark there, he had yet to reach his height of potential. Thankfully, he has done so on this album. Let's begin, shall we?
The album begins quite gently with the song "Out of Bed", which is a good precursor to the mood of the rest of the tracks. The music is great, but I love the story being told with the lyrics. I find them almost humorous, and I hope that's okay, since it seems to be about a guy who would do anything for the one he loves, if he could just get around to doing it. Isn't that just like a man? Speaking of which, let's move on to the title track. This one is even more mellow than the opener, but the melodies are more strongly driven and almost fight against the calmness of the music. But in a good way. Next up is "Sweet Dominique" which I love because the lyrics tell a good story and are very visually stimulating. I love a song I can see. And the use of the words "kisses deep" certainly hearken back to the work of his father. Or am I the only one who noticed that?
Now not everything on the album is all that mellow. In fact, one of my favorites is one of the more, for lack of a better word, pop sounding tracks. "What Other Guy" is more up beat than some of the other songs, and the lyrics talk so much of a man who really knows his lady, I can't imagine any woman not loving this. Especially any woman who has a man who MIGHT buy her flowers once a year, and when he does, they're ones she's allergic to. I mean, come on, guys. Speaking of the pop world and the repetition and derivativeness of it, we also get a song called "Beautiful". Everyone gives us a song called "Beautiful". Lucky for Adam, though, he manages to be more lyrically creative than most, so he gets a pass. He also gets one because the song is - let's just say it - beautiful.
And then the album closes with a song called "Stranger". Should I ever make a top ten list of the best closing songs, this one definitely has a shot at making it. It is a very thoughtful and even comforting song. And, forgive me for sounding sappy, but it's one of those songs that makes you feel not so alone. I think that this and "Out of Bed" are the perfect bookends for the entire album.
Like I said, and I hope no one minds me saying it again, Adam Cohen's work is certainly reminiscent of some things his father did, but I would never confuse any music from one of them with that of the other. I must say, though, one of the most interesting gifts that Adam has is his voice, and it can also be compared to that of his father's. You can really tell that they are related by listening to it, and yet, because they have each lived their own lives and experiences, you can feel those subtle differences that set them apart from each other. Sometimes it's not only what you have, but it's what you've done that makes you who you are as an artist. And everything about this album really gives great insight on who Adam Cohen is.
So, obviously, I am recommending this album, especially to those of you who like music that is not too harsh and that has lyrics with which you can really take your time and slowly drink in. It truly is a work for other writers and true listeners.
Since I am both of those things, I love it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
A while back, I did a list of my favorite singing offsprings, the children of famous singers who may or may not have become famous themselves. I thought it best to explain why one of those lesser known prodigies made the list with an album review. So today, I will be giving my thoughts on the Adam Cohen's Like a Man.
Okay, if you haven't figured it out yet, Adam Cohen is the son of Leonard Cohen. And if you don't know who Leonard Cohen is, stop now because you are no longer allowed to read my blog. For the rest of you, I'm happy to say that Adam Cohen is one second generationer who has managed to balance embracing his legacy with maintaining his own identity. That is something that takes skill, and he certainly has it.
Now Like a Man is not his first album. He has done other work, both for himself and others. Actually, it was writing for other artists that got him most of his success in the past. I've heard some of his past efforts and, to be honest, while I could certainly hear the spark there, he had yet to reach his height of potential. Thankfully, he has done so on this album. Let's begin, shall we?
The album begins quite gently with the song "Out of Bed", which is a good precursor to the mood of the rest of the tracks. The music is great, but I love the story being told with the lyrics. I find them almost humorous, and I hope that's okay, since it seems to be about a guy who would do anything for the one he loves, if he could just get around to doing it. Isn't that just like a man? Speaking of which, let's move on to the title track. This one is even more mellow than the opener, but the melodies are more strongly driven and almost fight against the calmness of the music. But in a good way. Next up is "Sweet Dominique" which I love because the lyrics tell a good story and are very visually stimulating. I love a song I can see. And the use of the words "kisses deep" certainly hearken back to the work of his father. Or am I the only one who noticed that?
Now not everything on the album is all that mellow. In fact, one of my favorites is one of the more, for lack of a better word, pop sounding tracks. "What Other Guy" is more up beat than some of the other songs, and the lyrics talk so much of a man who really knows his lady, I can't imagine any woman not loving this. Especially any woman who has a man who MIGHT buy her flowers once a year, and when he does, they're ones she's allergic to. I mean, come on, guys. Speaking of the pop world and the repetition and derivativeness of it, we also get a song called "Beautiful". Everyone gives us a song called "Beautiful". Lucky for Adam, though, he manages to be more lyrically creative than most, so he gets a pass. He also gets one because the song is - let's just say it - beautiful.
And then the album closes with a song called "Stranger". Should I ever make a top ten list of the best closing songs, this one definitely has a shot at making it. It is a very thoughtful and even comforting song. And, forgive me for sounding sappy, but it's one of those songs that makes you feel not so alone. I think that this and "Out of Bed" are the perfect bookends for the entire album.
Like I said, and I hope no one minds me saying it again, Adam Cohen's work is certainly reminiscent of some things his father did, but I would never confuse any music from one of them with that of the other. I must say, though, one of the most interesting gifts that Adam has is his voice, and it can also be compared to that of his father's. You can really tell that they are related by listening to it, and yet, because they have each lived their own lives and experiences, you can feel those subtle differences that set them apart from each other. Sometimes it's not only what you have, but it's what you've done that makes you who you are as an artist. And everything about this album really gives great insight on who Adam Cohen is.
So, obviously, I am recommending this album, especially to those of you who like music that is not too harsh and that has lyrics with which you can really take your time and slowly drink in. It truly is a work for other writers and true listeners.
Since I am both of those things, I love it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, October 15, 2012
Top Ten Platinum Hit Songs
Greetings,
I know that, after reading this post title, you may be thinking one thing. You may think that I have narrowed down every song I've ever heard that has gone platinum to my top ten favorites. Well, no, I haven't. Actually, I don't think any of these songs have gone platinum, sadly, but they have all spawned from a little reality show on Bravo called Platinum Hit. Get it!
Okay, I don't know how many of you have seen this show, but this list is best suited to those who have seen it in its entirety. I don't think I'll be giving spoilers, necessarily, but I will tell you who wrote each song, which will give you hints as to who stuck around the longest. Maybe.
For those of you who haven't seen the show but are opting to continue, let me give you the lowdown on how it worked. They started with twelve songwriters. Each episode had a different theme, and the contestants had thirty minutes to come up with a hook. Then, the best (sometimes) hooks were chosen, and those winners got to pick a team of people with whom to write and finish the song. That was the process up until the last couple of episodes. Oh, and the show was hosted and judged by two ladies you might know - Jewel and Kara DioGuardi. Remember that second one? From American Idol? Apparently, she's some kind of songwriter.
You may be wondering what is interesting about watching people write songs. Well, in theory, maybe nothing. But I am a bit of a behind the scenes voyeur, and I like to witness the process of creating. And trust, there was plenty of drama that went along with these writing sessions. Now if you did watch the show and know how liked or unliked some of these songs were by the "judges", you'll know that they often had little effect on me and my opinion. I like what I like. But enough with all that. Let's get to the music.
#10. "The Road is Where the Heart Is" (Karen Waldrup, Jackie Tohn, Nick Nittoli, Sonyae Elise) - This may have placed higher on the list, but, as we all know, whilst one bad apple don't spoil the whole bunch . . . girl, more than one can do the trick. You all know I'm a lyric snob, and there is one line in the bridge that is so trite and pretentious, in my opinion, I cringed. And yet, most of what remained in the song, not the least of which was a very infectious melody, sustained it enough to give it a place here.
#9. "It's You" (Melissa Rapp, Jes Hudak) - I have to be honest. Like the previous song, the best thing about this is the melody. The lyrics got knocked a bit in judging, and, where some of them were concerned, I agreed . . . a little. There are some good moments and some not so good moments. I think, had more time been given, the whole song would have turned into an even better composition. But as it is, there is something about this little tune that really puts a smile on my face. Sometimes that's enough for me.
#8. "My Ridiculus (Jackie Tohn, Brian Judah, Jes Hudak) - So since not many of the contestants were adept at writing dance music, someone thought, "Let's make them write dance music!" Well, it is called a challenge for a reason. The hook challenge that spawned this little gem was won by Brian. Even though this was only the second episode, I got a vibe from him that made me not see that one coming at all. Not to say he isn't good. He's very good, actually, but I never would have put him in that dance music category. And yet, he and the girls managed to parlay that into this truly original song. Original, and a tad naughty in places. Unnecessary, my children. But it's your song, so . . . hugs and kisses.
#7. "All Day Sunrise" (Johnny Marnell) - Yes, despite what it says on iTunes, I am giving songwriting credit to only one person. Do not get me started on why. You'd really have to watch the episode. And also despite what certain people had to say, I happen to think this is a very good song. It's simple but beautiful, it was performed quite well, and it has got some great lyrics in it. I'm pretty sure a lot of people built careers writing songs like that, and I'm certain this talented man can do the same.
#6. "Walk Through Walls" (Johnny Marnell, Scotty Granger, Jes Hudak) - Much like the situation with the dance music challenge, someone thought, "Let's make them rap!" Yeah, I had a feeling that, one way or another, this was going to be quite entertaining. No disappointments. This hook challenge was won by the previously mentioned Johnny Marnell, and, again, I did not see this one coming. But somehow, he and his team turned this great hook into an even greater song. And he rapped. Hosanna! He rapped!
#5. "Free" (Amber Ojeda, Melissa Rapp, Jes Hudak) - Like I said, I like simple and beautiful, and this song is certainly both of those things. Everything really came together here. The lyrics were eloquent, the melodies were ethereal. Frankly, the song was fantastic. It shows that you don't need a ton of unnatural tricks to make some truly good music.
#4. "Come Alive" (Jes Hudak) - Oh, Jes. You really did it with this one, girl! Forgive the personal exposition, but I love this song. Of all the ones featured on the show, I think this is certainly one from which I got some of the greatest impact. There was something deeply intimate about the story being told here, and having the ability to do that is what makes an artist remarkable.
#3. "Where I Need To Be" (Johnny Marnell, Brian Judah, Scotty Granger) - I don't know what the current status of The Eagles is, but, should they ever make an album again, I suggest they buy this song and record it, because it is right up their alley. I love a good old American classic sounding folk song, and that is what we got here. These boys really knew what they were doing with lyrics, melodies, harmonies, the whole shebang. That is why we got this phenomenal piece of art to enjoy. I doff my hat to you fine music makers.
#2. "Bettin' My Life On You" (Johnny Marnell, Brian Judah) - Look, I don't mean to bring up race here, but I kind of have to since I think there are few things better in this world than two white boys doing some reggae. And when they can do it this awesomely good, I have nothing more to say. Except that I agree with Miss Bonnie McKee. These guys are both adorable! That can always help.
#1. "The Last Candle" (Brian Judah, Jes Hudak) - This song proves beyond any doubt that the judges on this show were, on occasion, insane or high or deaf or something, because if you heard the alleged song that beat this, you'd be dumbfounded. But let me concentrate on this one. It is amazing. I do love the music, but I absolutely love the lyrics. Both Brian and Jes really, and I mean REALLY, opened up about their pasts and put a lot out there with their words and stories, while keeping it where others could relate to it as well. I know I did. Funny thing, the judges didn't seem to think that was a good idea. Jewel said it sounded too Hannah Montana, and Kara nodded in agreement. I'm sorry, but didn't Kara write some songs for a Disney movie called Camp Rock, and The Cheetah Girls . . . and HANNAH MONTANA! So I don't why she considers it a negative to sell out to Radio Disney. Perhaps, she doesn't want the competition. But since I don't think Brian and Jes did that, maybe the point is moot. Look, bottom line, this song is exceptional, in my opinion, and the best of the show. So there.
You know what's interesting? I've talked to some people who watched this show, and there is a slight consensus among them that some aspects of it may have been fixed. And I mean more so than they usually are on reality TV. But who knows? Frankly, that may be a distinct possibility, because anything's possible these days. But despite certain outcomes and events of the series, I'm just glad that we did get some terrific music out of it.
Anyway, if what I said about any of these songs intrigued you, they can be found on iTunes or I'm sure you can even go to You Tube for a listen. I know if you give them a chance you won't be disappointed. I just hope that Bravo does a second season and maybe does some things a little better.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I know that, after reading this post title, you may be thinking one thing. You may think that I have narrowed down every song I've ever heard that has gone platinum to my top ten favorites. Well, no, I haven't. Actually, I don't think any of these songs have gone platinum, sadly, but they have all spawned from a little reality show on Bravo called Platinum Hit. Get it!
Okay, I don't know how many of you have seen this show, but this list is best suited to those who have seen it in its entirety. I don't think I'll be giving spoilers, necessarily, but I will tell you who wrote each song, which will give you hints as to who stuck around the longest. Maybe.
For those of you who haven't seen the show but are opting to continue, let me give you the lowdown on how it worked. They started with twelve songwriters. Each episode had a different theme, and the contestants had thirty minutes to come up with a hook. Then, the best (sometimes) hooks were chosen, and those winners got to pick a team of people with whom to write and finish the song. That was the process up until the last couple of episodes. Oh, and the show was hosted and judged by two ladies you might know - Jewel and Kara DioGuardi. Remember that second one? From American Idol? Apparently, she's some kind of songwriter.
You may be wondering what is interesting about watching people write songs. Well, in theory, maybe nothing. But I am a bit of a behind the scenes voyeur, and I like to witness the process of creating. And trust, there was plenty of drama that went along with these writing sessions. Now if you did watch the show and know how liked or unliked some of these songs were by the "judges", you'll know that they often had little effect on me and my opinion. I like what I like. But enough with all that. Let's get to the music.
#10. "The Road is Where the Heart Is" (Karen Waldrup, Jackie Tohn, Nick Nittoli, Sonyae Elise) - This may have placed higher on the list, but, as we all know, whilst one bad apple don't spoil the whole bunch . . . girl, more than one can do the trick. You all know I'm a lyric snob, and there is one line in the bridge that is so trite and pretentious, in my opinion, I cringed. And yet, most of what remained in the song, not the least of which was a very infectious melody, sustained it enough to give it a place here.
#9. "It's You" (Melissa Rapp, Jes Hudak) - I have to be honest. Like the previous song, the best thing about this is the melody. The lyrics got knocked a bit in judging, and, where some of them were concerned, I agreed . . . a little. There are some good moments and some not so good moments. I think, had more time been given, the whole song would have turned into an even better composition. But as it is, there is something about this little tune that really puts a smile on my face. Sometimes that's enough for me.
#8. "My Ridiculus (Jackie Tohn, Brian Judah, Jes Hudak) - So since not many of the contestants were adept at writing dance music, someone thought, "Let's make them write dance music!" Well, it is called a challenge for a reason. The hook challenge that spawned this little gem was won by Brian. Even though this was only the second episode, I got a vibe from him that made me not see that one coming at all. Not to say he isn't good. He's very good, actually, but I never would have put him in that dance music category. And yet, he and the girls managed to parlay that into this truly original song. Original, and a tad naughty in places. Unnecessary, my children. But it's your song, so . . . hugs and kisses.
#7. "All Day Sunrise" (Johnny Marnell) - Yes, despite what it says on iTunes, I am giving songwriting credit to only one person. Do not get me started on why. You'd really have to watch the episode. And also despite what certain people had to say, I happen to think this is a very good song. It's simple but beautiful, it was performed quite well, and it has got some great lyrics in it. I'm pretty sure a lot of people built careers writing songs like that, and I'm certain this talented man can do the same.
#6. "Walk Through Walls" (Johnny Marnell, Scotty Granger, Jes Hudak) - Much like the situation with the dance music challenge, someone thought, "Let's make them rap!" Yeah, I had a feeling that, one way or another, this was going to be quite entertaining. No disappointments. This hook challenge was won by the previously mentioned Johnny Marnell, and, again, I did not see this one coming. But somehow, he and his team turned this great hook into an even greater song. And he rapped. Hosanna! He rapped!
#5. "Free" (Amber Ojeda, Melissa Rapp, Jes Hudak) - Like I said, I like simple and beautiful, and this song is certainly both of those things. Everything really came together here. The lyrics were eloquent, the melodies were ethereal. Frankly, the song was fantastic. It shows that you don't need a ton of unnatural tricks to make some truly good music.
#4. "Come Alive" (Jes Hudak) - Oh, Jes. You really did it with this one, girl! Forgive the personal exposition, but I love this song. Of all the ones featured on the show, I think this is certainly one from which I got some of the greatest impact. There was something deeply intimate about the story being told here, and having the ability to do that is what makes an artist remarkable.
#3. "Where I Need To Be" (Johnny Marnell, Brian Judah, Scotty Granger) - I don't know what the current status of The Eagles is, but, should they ever make an album again, I suggest they buy this song and record it, because it is right up their alley. I love a good old American classic sounding folk song, and that is what we got here. These boys really knew what they were doing with lyrics, melodies, harmonies, the whole shebang. That is why we got this phenomenal piece of art to enjoy. I doff my hat to you fine music makers.
#2. "Bettin' My Life On You" (Johnny Marnell, Brian Judah) - Look, I don't mean to bring up race here, but I kind of have to since I think there are few things better in this world than two white boys doing some reggae. And when they can do it this awesomely good, I have nothing more to say. Except that I agree with Miss Bonnie McKee. These guys are both adorable! That can always help.
#1. "The Last Candle" (Brian Judah, Jes Hudak) - This song proves beyond any doubt that the judges on this show were, on occasion, insane or high or deaf or something, because if you heard the alleged song that beat this, you'd be dumbfounded. But let me concentrate on this one. It is amazing. I do love the music, but I absolutely love the lyrics. Both Brian and Jes really, and I mean REALLY, opened up about their pasts and put a lot out there with their words and stories, while keeping it where others could relate to it as well. I know I did. Funny thing, the judges didn't seem to think that was a good idea. Jewel said it sounded too Hannah Montana, and Kara nodded in agreement. I'm sorry, but didn't Kara write some songs for a Disney movie called Camp Rock, and The Cheetah Girls . . . and HANNAH MONTANA! So I don't why she considers it a negative to sell out to Radio Disney. Perhaps, she doesn't want the competition. But since I don't think Brian and Jes did that, maybe the point is moot. Look, bottom line, this song is exceptional, in my opinion, and the best of the show. So there.
You know what's interesting? I've talked to some people who watched this show, and there is a slight consensus among them that some aspects of it may have been fixed. And I mean more so than they usually are on reality TV. But who knows? Frankly, that may be a distinct possibility, because anything's possible these days. But despite certain outcomes and events of the series, I'm just glad that we did get some terrific music out of it.
Anyway, if what I said about any of these songs intrigued you, they can be found on iTunes or I'm sure you can even go to You Tube for a listen. I know if you give them a chance you won't be disappointed. I just hope that Bravo does a second season and maybe does some things a little better.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Top Ten John Lennon Songs
Greetings,
And so it is October 9th once again. I bet a lot of people know why this date might be significant to me and all the fans of a particular man. That man would be John Lennon, and today is his birthday. I know he passed away years ago, but I like the idea of using the day where his life started to celebrate it. The best way I can think to do that for myself, since he did so much to inspire my writing, is to devote some of it to him. Specifically, I wanted to share my favorite songs of his.
Before I begin, let me clarify. These songs are only from his solo career, so no Beatles songs. Yeah, I'm not sure I could never make a top ten list of those. Maybe top one hundred. I think these are all ones that people know, and I may have omitted some that would seem like slam dunks for the list. But we all have our personal favorites. These are mine.
#10. "Cold Turkey" - Hey, wanna know why I'm never going to do heroine? Well, it pretty much has to do with this song. It goes through the horrific experience of getting oneself clean from drugs and doing it "cold turkey". It's raw and harsh and vicious even, but sometimes the truth hurts.
#9. "#9 Dream" - What an appropriate spot for this song. Anyway, I'm a person who loves dreams and has been quite affected by some of my own. Apparently, I'm not the only one, since this song was very much inspired by a dream that John had. Oh, we artists can't even take a break when we sleep.
#8. "Working Class Hero" - This probably would have placed higher, but he just had to go and drop those F-bombs. It was pretty controversial at the time for him to do so. I guess I understand that he was very passionate about the things he was singing, and this was his way of punctuating it. Regardless of that, I think the song is great.
#7. "Mother" - Much like "Cold Turkey", this song has a foundation built on pure and very strong emotions. Each note makes you feel something and that is what a gifted songwriter is supposed to do for those of us who hear his music. John really makes us understand the life he had and didn't have with his parents. Being that honest takes some courage.
#6. "How Do You Sleep?" - Whoever said that women are the cattiest of all creatures probably never heard this song. Here we have some good firing back between former best friends, John Lennon and Paul McCartney. I say "former" in the technical sense. Clearly, at this time, they were mad at each other, but we do hurt the ones we love most. In my opinion, the fact that they were taking the time to have these musical arguments proves that they still cared. That's pretty much the reason why this song stands out.
#5. "Grow Old With Me" - I've heard this wild rumor that people used to get married and then stay married until they got old and died. Weird, I know. I guess John wanted to do that with Yoko. Now no matter what I or anyone else may feel about her or their relationship, this song he wrote about them was absolutely beautiful. The idea of it may seem dated by today's standards, and what life held for them makes the song a little sad, but it is still something for which some people strive.
#4. "Love" - There's not much to say about this song, and yet it places pretty high on this list. I think it is because of how simple it is. Sometimes love is simple and very straight forward. I have yet to find a song that expresses that idea so well.
#3. "Jealous Guy" - This one was actually begun during John's Beatle days during their time in India. The lyrics were different then, and the song was planned to be recorded a few times but never was. The music and the officially known lyrics were finally made into this song on 1971. See, this is why I try not to throw anything I write away.
#2. "How?" - I love when even the best of us can still have questions, and he had a lot of questions in this song. Whether or not any of them were answered, I have no idea. But knowing that he was in the same position as so many people was probably a comfort to them.
#1. "Watching the Wheels" - I decided a long time ago that I can't live my life to please other people in the world, just God and myself, in that order. That is why this song speaks to me so much. I know that John was writing this to respond to people who said he should come out of his retirement and get back to making music, but it can really be the story of a lot of us. Myself included. More than any other.
I know that John Lennon was far from a saint, though some people like to put him in that category. I just think he was an ordinary man with extraordinary talents. He was flawed, but there were also great things about him. I think the great things were what he shared with us, his songs. And to me, these are the best of those.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
And so it is October 9th once again. I bet a lot of people know why this date might be significant to me and all the fans of a particular man. That man would be John Lennon, and today is his birthday. I know he passed away years ago, but I like the idea of using the day where his life started to celebrate it. The best way I can think to do that for myself, since he did so much to inspire my writing, is to devote some of it to him. Specifically, I wanted to share my favorite songs of his.
Before I begin, let me clarify. These songs are only from his solo career, so no Beatles songs. Yeah, I'm not sure I could never make a top ten list of those. Maybe top one hundred. I think these are all ones that people know, and I may have omitted some that would seem like slam dunks for the list. But we all have our personal favorites. These are mine.
#10. "Cold Turkey" - Hey, wanna know why I'm never going to do heroine? Well, it pretty much has to do with this song. It goes through the horrific experience of getting oneself clean from drugs and doing it "cold turkey". It's raw and harsh and vicious even, but sometimes the truth hurts.
#9. "#9 Dream" - What an appropriate spot for this song. Anyway, I'm a person who loves dreams and has been quite affected by some of my own. Apparently, I'm not the only one, since this song was very much inspired by a dream that John had. Oh, we artists can't even take a break when we sleep.
#8. "Working Class Hero" - This probably would have placed higher, but he just had to go and drop those F-bombs. It was pretty controversial at the time for him to do so. I guess I understand that he was very passionate about the things he was singing, and this was his way of punctuating it. Regardless of that, I think the song is great.
#7. "Mother" - Much like "Cold Turkey", this song has a foundation built on pure and very strong emotions. Each note makes you feel something and that is what a gifted songwriter is supposed to do for those of us who hear his music. John really makes us understand the life he had and didn't have with his parents. Being that honest takes some courage.
#6. "How Do You Sleep?" - Whoever said that women are the cattiest of all creatures probably never heard this song. Here we have some good firing back between former best friends, John Lennon and Paul McCartney. I say "former" in the technical sense. Clearly, at this time, they were mad at each other, but we do hurt the ones we love most. In my opinion, the fact that they were taking the time to have these musical arguments proves that they still cared. That's pretty much the reason why this song stands out.
#5. "Grow Old With Me" - I've heard this wild rumor that people used to get married and then stay married until they got old and died. Weird, I know. I guess John wanted to do that with Yoko. Now no matter what I or anyone else may feel about her or their relationship, this song he wrote about them was absolutely beautiful. The idea of it may seem dated by today's standards, and what life held for them makes the song a little sad, but it is still something for which some people strive.
#4. "Love" - There's not much to say about this song, and yet it places pretty high on this list. I think it is because of how simple it is. Sometimes love is simple and very straight forward. I have yet to find a song that expresses that idea so well.
#3. "Jealous Guy" - This one was actually begun during John's Beatle days during their time in India. The lyrics were different then, and the song was planned to be recorded a few times but never was. The music and the officially known lyrics were finally made into this song on 1971. See, this is why I try not to throw anything I write away.
#2. "How?" - I love when even the best of us can still have questions, and he had a lot of questions in this song. Whether or not any of them were answered, I have no idea. But knowing that he was in the same position as so many people was probably a comfort to them.
#1. "Watching the Wheels" - I decided a long time ago that I can't live my life to please other people in the world, just God and myself, in that order. That is why this song speaks to me so much. I know that John was writing this to respond to people who said he should come out of his retirement and get back to making music, but it can really be the story of a lot of us. Myself included. More than any other.
I know that John Lennon was far from a saint, though some people like to put him in that category. I just think he was an ordinary man with extraordinary talents. He was flawed, but there were also great things about him. I think the great things were what he shared with us, his songs. And to me, these are the best of those.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Saturday, October 6, 2012
The One Seasoner's Club - Kidnapped
Greetings,
During my time writing this blog, I have reviewed many things. Movies, albums, even a play. But today I'm going to try something new and see how it works out. I will try my hand at reviewing shows that either deservedly or undeservedly were only granted one season. And when I say one season, keep in mind that sometimes this may mean only thirteen episodes. You know the drill of the networks. Now I have decided to start this on a positive note by reviewing one of my favorite "one seasoners", Kidnapped. I touched a bit on this one in my tribute to Timothy Hutton, one of the stars of the show, but, hopefully without giving spoilers, I will go more in depth today.
Kidnapped debuted in 2006 with a premise I don't recall ever seeing on a television show, though I could be, and probably am, wrong. Every season, they were going to have a new kidnapping victim, and all the episodes would take us through the entire ordeal. There would be a core cast, the searchers, if you will, and a guest cast that would last throughout the season. Seemed like a good idea to me, but I guess after the cancellation, it didn't much matter.
So this core cast I mentioned was going to consist of three people. To start, we have, my man, Jeremy Sisto as Lucian Knapp, an ex-FBI operative and a current private investigator whom the families of kidnap victims call for help when they don't want to go to the police. Because, you know, ransom calls always include the line "Don't call the cops" Apparently, some people don't. We get a little peak into Knapp's back story, which clearly involves a botched rescue that still haunts him. Not getting to learn more about this character was probably one of the worst things about this show's cancellation. Oh, well, enough of that.
Next, we have Knapp's coordinator and assistant, Turner, played by Carmen Ejogo. Yeah, I don't know who that actress is either, but she was pretty good here. Maybe it's just because it's cliche, but I got the impression that they were eventually going to have her and Knapp get together in some capacity. I like to think they would have avoided that, though, and it has nothing to do with my crush on Sisto. Nothing at all. Finally, there's Delroy Lindo playing FBI Agent Latimer King. First of all, I love that character name. Second, and I did previously mention this, but . . . really? Delroy Lindo playing an agent looking for a missing kid? Can you say Ransom? Well, I guess since he was so good in that, they wanted him to do it again. So as you can tell, the victims' families would opt for some rogue help, but somehow the cops would show up anyway. Isn't that always the way?
Now, for the presumed seasonal cast, which ended up being just the rest of the cast. In this first and only season, our kidnap victim is a teenager named Leopold Cain played by Will Denton. Again, don't know much about this young actor, but props for his work here. Oh, and in case you couldn't tell by his first name, the character comes from a very wealthy family. His parents, Ellie and Conrad, are played by Dana Delaney and Timothy Hutton. Oh, Timothy. Another character named Conrad? Well, it brought good things the first time. Now I really liked these two as the parents, although, they seemed a bit of an odd couple. How often do you see an affluent New York husband and wife who kind of seem to like each other a little? Still, it may have been the current crisis that was bringing them together. Moving on.
There are actually quite a few talented and/or well-known faces in this supporting cast. We get Mykelti Williamson, still trying to remind us that there is more to him than being Forrest Gump's best friend, and Linus Roache, who would go on to co-star with Jeremy Sisto on Law and Order. There are also appearances by Anthony Rapp of Rent fame, and Doug Hutchinson, who some people know as Horace on Lost and, more recently, as a guy who married a 16 year old (that was in real life, BTW!). There is also an actor here by the name of James Urbaniak. Look, I'm sure he's a nice guy, and he is a very good actor. But for some reason, he always gives me the major creeps. Probably because he always plays creepy characters. Stop it, and things will be better between us, sir.
This show's one season did only last for thirteen episodes, and I wonder if they were planning more than one per year. But these thirteen were actually just the right amount to move the story forward without letting things get stale. Like I said, I don't want to give spoilers, but there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you interested. Not to mention, a pretty decent payoff in the end. If you factor in everything, cast, concept, story, I think this show was brilliant. So naturally, it couldn't have survived. There is very little room on television for shows that are this good. I do wonder what might have been, though. I suppose I have to look on the bright side. I mean, if this show would have lasted for years, we never would have been treated to Jeremy Sisto's fine portrayal of Detective Cyrus Lupo on Law and Order. So despite the loss, things seem to work out for the best. For some people.
So the question to be asked is this: did it deserve a second season? Yes, yes and yes, again. It was pretty fantastic and deserved much better than it got. Now did it need a second season? Not exactly. They did manage to wrap up the story of the season, which was the point. However, I regret not being able to dig deeper into the character of Knapp. We got some teases here and there, probably because they were hoping to build things up over future seasons, but there were a lot of unanswered questions about him and his past. Honestly, I think, had this show lasted longer, Lucian Knapp would have been remembered as one of the greatest characters of television. I mean, we only got a taste here and it was incredible. Oh, what could have been!
So if you are interested in watching this show, it is available on DVD and it's also streaming on Netflix. It really is worth the watch. Like, a lot!
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
During my time writing this blog, I have reviewed many things. Movies, albums, even a play. But today I'm going to try something new and see how it works out. I will try my hand at reviewing shows that either deservedly or undeservedly were only granted one season. And when I say one season, keep in mind that sometimes this may mean only thirteen episodes. You know the drill of the networks. Now I have decided to start this on a positive note by reviewing one of my favorite "one seasoners", Kidnapped. I touched a bit on this one in my tribute to Timothy Hutton, one of the stars of the show, but, hopefully without giving spoilers, I will go more in depth today.
Kidnapped debuted in 2006 with a premise I don't recall ever seeing on a television show, though I could be, and probably am, wrong. Every season, they were going to have a new kidnapping victim, and all the episodes would take us through the entire ordeal. There would be a core cast, the searchers, if you will, and a guest cast that would last throughout the season. Seemed like a good idea to me, but I guess after the cancellation, it didn't much matter.
So this core cast I mentioned was going to consist of three people. To start, we have, my man, Jeremy Sisto as Lucian Knapp, an ex-FBI operative and a current private investigator whom the families of kidnap victims call for help when they don't want to go to the police. Because, you know, ransom calls always include the line "Don't call the cops" Apparently, some people don't. We get a little peak into Knapp's back story, which clearly involves a botched rescue that still haunts him. Not getting to learn more about this character was probably one of the worst things about this show's cancellation. Oh, well, enough of that.
Next, we have Knapp's coordinator and assistant, Turner, played by Carmen Ejogo. Yeah, I don't know who that actress is either, but she was pretty good here. Maybe it's just because it's cliche, but I got the impression that they were eventually going to have her and Knapp get together in some capacity. I like to think they would have avoided that, though, and it has nothing to do with my crush on Sisto. Nothing at all. Finally, there's Delroy Lindo playing FBI Agent Latimer King. First of all, I love that character name. Second, and I did previously mention this, but . . . really? Delroy Lindo playing an agent looking for a missing kid? Can you say Ransom? Well, I guess since he was so good in that, they wanted him to do it again. So as you can tell, the victims' families would opt for some rogue help, but somehow the cops would show up anyway. Isn't that always the way?
Now, for the presumed seasonal cast, which ended up being just the rest of the cast. In this first and only season, our kidnap victim is a teenager named Leopold Cain played by Will Denton. Again, don't know much about this young actor, but props for his work here. Oh, and in case you couldn't tell by his first name, the character comes from a very wealthy family. His parents, Ellie and Conrad, are played by Dana Delaney and Timothy Hutton. Oh, Timothy. Another character named Conrad? Well, it brought good things the first time. Now I really liked these two as the parents, although, they seemed a bit of an odd couple. How often do you see an affluent New York husband and wife who kind of seem to like each other a little? Still, it may have been the current crisis that was bringing them together. Moving on.
There are actually quite a few talented and/or well-known faces in this supporting cast. We get Mykelti Williamson, still trying to remind us that there is more to him than being Forrest Gump's best friend, and Linus Roache, who would go on to co-star with Jeremy Sisto on Law and Order. There are also appearances by Anthony Rapp of Rent fame, and Doug Hutchinson, who some people know as Horace on Lost and, more recently, as a guy who married a 16 year old (that was in real life, BTW!). There is also an actor here by the name of James Urbaniak. Look, I'm sure he's a nice guy, and he is a very good actor. But for some reason, he always gives me the major creeps. Probably because he always plays creepy characters. Stop it, and things will be better between us, sir.
This show's one season did only last for thirteen episodes, and I wonder if they were planning more than one per year. But these thirteen were actually just the right amount to move the story forward without letting things get stale. Like I said, I don't want to give spoilers, but there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you interested. Not to mention, a pretty decent payoff in the end. If you factor in everything, cast, concept, story, I think this show was brilliant. So naturally, it couldn't have survived. There is very little room on television for shows that are this good. I do wonder what might have been, though. I suppose I have to look on the bright side. I mean, if this show would have lasted for years, we never would have been treated to Jeremy Sisto's fine portrayal of Detective Cyrus Lupo on Law and Order. So despite the loss, things seem to work out for the best. For some people.
So the question to be asked is this: did it deserve a second season? Yes, yes and yes, again. It was pretty fantastic and deserved much better than it got. Now did it need a second season? Not exactly. They did manage to wrap up the story of the season, which was the point. However, I regret not being able to dig deeper into the character of Knapp. We got some teases here and there, probably because they were hoping to build things up over future seasons, but there were a lot of unanswered questions about him and his past. Honestly, I think, had this show lasted longer, Lucian Knapp would have been remembered as one of the greatest characters of television. I mean, we only got a taste here and it was incredible. Oh, what could have been!
So if you are interested in watching this show, it is available on DVD and it's also streaming on Netflix. It really is worth the watch. Like, a lot!
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, October 1, 2012
The Marriage Counselor - Play Review
Greetings,
I have mentioned on a few occasions that I can be a Tyler Perry fan. So it seems only right that the first time I review a play it would be one of his, namely The Marriage Counselor. Now I must first say that I did not have the opportunity to see this play live in a theater, and, though I would someday love to do so, I have never seen any of his plays in that manner either. But being the nice guy that he is, Mr. Perry puts the performances of his plays on DVD so everyone can see them. Therefore, this is technically a play on DVD review.
For those of you who don't know, there are a few differences between the plays and the movies of Tyler Perry. The plays tend to be longer, and they feature a lot of music, original songs, classics and gospel. It's a show, basically, and I can certainly understand why. People pay more to see a play than a movie, so they want to get their money's worth, and they do. Also, the movies that share titles with a particular play aren't exactly the same story. Mr. Perry tends to take elements of different plays and put them together for the plot of the movie. For example, his Madea's Big Happy Family movie had the main plot of the play of the same name as well as some things from his play What's Done in the Dark. I don't why he does it like that, but people, including myself, do like them, so let him do it. Okay, the play.
The Marriage Counselor in this story is named Judith, and she lives with her husband, Roger, her mother, T.T., and her father-in-law, Floyd, who had to move in after Hurricane Katrina. The marriage of Judith and Roger is a bit stressed because of a few things, like their parents living with them and their respective work loads. Though Judith works a lot as well, she begins to feel neglected by her husband due to his job and his financial concerns. This poses some extra problems when former her boyfriend, Ronald, reenters the picture. That is the core plot of the story, but there are some peripheral things happening which serve to be very entertaining.
As we are exposed to Judith's work life, we get to meet some of her patients, specifically, two couples. One is Oscar and Michelle, whose problems stem mostly from Oscar being dissatisfied with Michelle's appearance. The other is Tank and Patrice. Tank is a pastor and his new wife Patrice is a former stripper, or as she would say, "Exotic dancer, boo!" Mm-hmm. We also meet an office cleaner named Lisa, who has some serious problems of her own, and Judith's very inquisitive and spirited receptionist, Becky. She is the lone white girl, and I only bring this up because the characters do it quite often in the play. It's practically a plot point.
Throughout the play, Judith's personal and professional lives intertwine. This is how it succeeds in strongly building the story. Everything interconnects very well, and it seems very true to the way our lives tend to work. Okay, now on to speaking about some of the performances.
I can honestly say that there really is not a weak link when it comes to the actors. Everyone plays their roles as they should be played but takes them to a special level that makes us feel invested in all of them and their stories. However, there are three particular people who I think stood out best.
First is Brandi Milton. She plays Patrice, and, though the performance is over the top, you really feel like that was the best thing she could have done. And when it comes to the rare quiet moments of the character, she manages to handle that very well. Next is Palmer Williams, Jr. as Floyd. Most of this performance consists of him fighting with T.T. and being high from his home grown pot. Yes, you read that correctly. Call it cliche if you must, but the man played this part brilliantly, to say nothing of his ability to convincingly turn an R&B song into a gospel song. Just Add Jesus. Finally, we have my girl Stephanie Ferrett. She plays Becky, and she pretty much stole the show, in my opinion. About her acting, first, she truly made this character a "character", and her delivery was hilarious. But as great as her talent is as an actress, it pales in comparison to her gift as a singer. In the plays of Tyler Perry, we are usually treated to a group, medley, singalong type of scene, and it is there that we get to hear Miss Stephanie knock everyone out of their seats. The scene is pretty far into the play, and after getting to know the character, I don't think anyone saw that coming. But I'm certainly glad it did, so may I suggest you YouTube this girl. She is amazing.
And so there you have my first review of a play. I would certainly recommend this to anyone who enjoys Tyler Perry's movies, because here you really do get the entertainment and the message we have all come to expect from him. And despite the fact that there is no Madea in this one, it is still quite enjoyable. Actually, I like that it shows how well he can produce a play without his most famous character. It proves that there is more to him than that one thing.
Now there is currently a movie being made that is based on this play, or at least, it shares the title. There has been a bit of buzz due to the "controversy" of Mr. Perry casting Kim Kardashian. I guess some of his fans don't exactly like her. Do I? Well, as a Christian, I love her with the love of the Lord, just like I am supposed to do with everybody in the world. So . . . that's my answer. I have no idea how much of the story of the play will infiltrate the movie, but if it is just as good, I will certainly have to see it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I have mentioned on a few occasions that I can be a Tyler Perry fan. So it seems only right that the first time I review a play it would be one of his, namely The Marriage Counselor. Now I must first say that I did not have the opportunity to see this play live in a theater, and, though I would someday love to do so, I have never seen any of his plays in that manner either. But being the nice guy that he is, Mr. Perry puts the performances of his plays on DVD so everyone can see them. Therefore, this is technically a play on DVD review.
For those of you who don't know, there are a few differences between the plays and the movies of Tyler Perry. The plays tend to be longer, and they feature a lot of music, original songs, classics and gospel. It's a show, basically, and I can certainly understand why. People pay more to see a play than a movie, so they want to get their money's worth, and they do. Also, the movies that share titles with a particular play aren't exactly the same story. Mr. Perry tends to take elements of different plays and put them together for the plot of the movie. For example, his Madea's Big Happy Family movie had the main plot of the play of the same name as well as some things from his play What's Done in the Dark. I don't why he does it like that, but people, including myself, do like them, so let him do it. Okay, the play.
The Marriage Counselor in this story is named Judith, and she lives with her husband, Roger, her mother, T.T., and her father-in-law, Floyd, who had to move in after Hurricane Katrina. The marriage of Judith and Roger is a bit stressed because of a few things, like their parents living with them and their respective work loads. Though Judith works a lot as well, she begins to feel neglected by her husband due to his job and his financial concerns. This poses some extra problems when former her boyfriend, Ronald, reenters the picture. That is the core plot of the story, but there are some peripheral things happening which serve to be very entertaining.
As we are exposed to Judith's work life, we get to meet some of her patients, specifically, two couples. One is Oscar and Michelle, whose problems stem mostly from Oscar being dissatisfied with Michelle's appearance. The other is Tank and Patrice. Tank is a pastor and his new wife Patrice is a former stripper, or as she would say, "Exotic dancer, boo!" Mm-hmm. We also meet an office cleaner named Lisa, who has some serious problems of her own, and Judith's very inquisitive and spirited receptionist, Becky. She is the lone white girl, and I only bring this up because the characters do it quite often in the play. It's practically a plot point.
Throughout the play, Judith's personal and professional lives intertwine. This is how it succeeds in strongly building the story. Everything interconnects very well, and it seems very true to the way our lives tend to work. Okay, now on to speaking about some of the performances.
I can honestly say that there really is not a weak link when it comes to the actors. Everyone plays their roles as they should be played but takes them to a special level that makes us feel invested in all of them and their stories. However, there are three particular people who I think stood out best.
First is Brandi Milton. She plays Patrice, and, though the performance is over the top, you really feel like that was the best thing she could have done. And when it comes to the rare quiet moments of the character, she manages to handle that very well. Next is Palmer Williams, Jr. as Floyd. Most of this performance consists of him fighting with T.T. and being high from his home grown pot. Yes, you read that correctly. Call it cliche if you must, but the man played this part brilliantly, to say nothing of his ability to convincingly turn an R&B song into a gospel song. Just Add Jesus. Finally, we have my girl Stephanie Ferrett. She plays Becky, and she pretty much stole the show, in my opinion. About her acting, first, she truly made this character a "character", and her delivery was hilarious. But as great as her talent is as an actress, it pales in comparison to her gift as a singer. In the plays of Tyler Perry, we are usually treated to a group, medley, singalong type of scene, and it is there that we get to hear Miss Stephanie knock everyone out of their seats. The scene is pretty far into the play, and after getting to know the character, I don't think anyone saw that coming. But I'm certainly glad it did, so may I suggest you YouTube this girl. She is amazing.
And so there you have my first review of a play. I would certainly recommend this to anyone who enjoys Tyler Perry's movies, because here you really do get the entertainment and the message we have all come to expect from him. And despite the fact that there is no Madea in this one, it is still quite enjoyable. Actually, I like that it shows how well he can produce a play without his most famous character. It proves that there is more to him than that one thing.
Now there is currently a movie being made that is based on this play, or at least, it shares the title. There has been a bit of buzz due to the "controversy" of Mr. Perry casting Kim Kardashian. I guess some of his fans don't exactly like her. Do I? Well, as a Christian, I love her with the love of the Lord, just like I am supposed to do with everybody in the world. So . . . that's my answer. I have no idea how much of the story of the play will infiltrate the movie, but if it is just as good, I will certainly have to see it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
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