Greetings,
I don't think I've ever done this before, reviewing a podcast. I have mentioned a few in the past, but never a full on review. But I like doing new things and when I find something great, I get excited to share it. Such is the case with this new scripted podcast called Rewrites. And most of you who have read this blog before are probably asking the same question: "This is about writers, isn't it?" Yes, it is. It's common knowledge that I love stories, movies, books, so on and so on, about writers. Sue me.
Anyway, Rewrites is a recently released podcast written by bestselling author, Tawni O'Dell, whom you may have heard of when her book, Back Roads, was one of Oprah's picks several years ago. Now, disclaimer. I actually met Tawni O'Dell last year at a book festival. She was very nice, signed my old copy of Back Roads and even bought one of my books, but as always, I will be completely honest. Lucky for her, and all of us, this is very good. Actually, Rewrites was originally written as a screenplay for a film, but Tawni decided to switch it up and make it a "podplay". I find that quite interesting and fitting for what the story is about. Movies are a visual medium, but this is about books, which are not. At least, not on their own. You have to create your own visuals from the words you read. And with something like this, a scripted podcast, you have to create the visuals from the words you hear. So, this method ended up being quite perfect.
Anyway, the seven episode series is about a guy named Theo, who absolutely loves books, and he feels that people just don't read enough. Gee, I can't imagine why I was drawn to this. Ironically, he gets an idea wherein he will use something that distracts people from reading to get them to read more - television. Specifically, a reality TV show that just so happens to be about writers. They will compete to win a chance to have their novels published, dealing with weekly challenges, each other and possibly even the effects of notoriety. After much resistance, struggles to be funded and trying to find the writers to participate, Theo manages to assemble a unique cast of characters for a unique show. We get to learn so much about Theo, his family, his friends, his past and through him, we get to learn much more about the people who go on this journey with him, the writers. In the end, everyone who listens to this will probably have their favorite characters, but they will also, most likely, find themselves rooting for all of them to land on the path that is meant for them. And I really don't want to go into too much detail on what unfolds over the course of this series, because I want everyone to experience all of it as they would a book. New surprises with every turned page and all that. Although, I will link their website below, so you can learn more if you like, particularly about the people involved.
To be honest, I don't think I've ever even listened to a scripted podcast like this before, so I didn't really know what to expect as far as production goes. But I must say, I was very impressed by the way this was put together. The direction, the sound effects, the wonderful cast of actors who brought it all to life, it's just so well done. But, of course, I do believe that the heart and soul of this is the writing. And, no, that is not my being biased, as I am a writer myself. I'm just being honest. Tawni O'Dell is absolutely brilliant with characters and that is what really drives this whole thing, not to mention how skilled she is at writing from a male perspective, as anyone who has read her books will know. As I mentioned before, each one of these characters is so distinct, yet they blend together so well and have great chemistry. That is actually a very fine line that, I think, many writers have to walk, between having characters who are so similar that the whole story seems monotonous and having ones that are overly different to the point where it's not believable in the least that they would ever associate with one another. Thankfully, Tawni has created a wonderful mix of personalities that come together, like puzzle pieces, making a fantastic work of art.
Now I know I said the whole series was seven episodes, but I truly hope it goes beyond that. I honestly wouldn't even mind if it did become a movie someday. Though, if not, I'm still glad that we got what we did because I highly recommend Rewrites for everyone. I especially recommend it if you're a writer. I personally found it very inspiring. It made me want to write more, which seems impossible, considering how much I already do that. Still, sometimes the things about which we are passionate can go through times of feeling mundane when we do it, day in and day out. Every now and then, we need something to remind us why we love what we do. We need something to be the spark to start the flame up again. Well, for me, Rewrites has become one of the things I turn to when I need exactly that.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
RewritesWebsite
Monday, June 19, 2017
Saturday, June 10, 2017
Small is Beautiful: A Tiny House Documentary - Documentary Review
Greetings,
A while back, I wrote about my love/hate relationship with the show House Hunters. It's complicated. Well, as it happens, that show has a spin-off called Tiny House Hunters, which I find even more interesting...and more infuriating. Seriously, the amount of times I hear people on that show walk into a TINY house and say "I don't know. This is kinda small" makes me want to punch a wall. No kidding, it's small! That's the point. But whatever. I still watch, because I find the concept of the Tiny House craze quite intriguing. And if you can do it? Well, God bless. You go right ahead. So, when I noticed this doc, I had to check it out.
Small is Beautiful is from 2014 and, keeping in the spirit of tiny things, it is barely over an hour long. That might be a good thing, because there is really only so much you can say about this whole phenomenon. This documentary chose a few people to tell their stories, and they just so happen to also be people who are into the tiny house movement. They talk about what led them to choosing this way of life, how they've dealt with the process and we even get to watch the process of building the houses, which is a task that many of them take on themselves. Now as much as I enjoy watching house building shows on HGTV, that was probably the most boring part of this film. Not that the rest of it fared much better.
Look, there were some moments that I found interesting, but not too much of it. I mean, I do like hearing stories of people who have lived different lives than I have, and especially with this, I was hoping for more about the actual experience. That does interest me. As much as I think that some people are just buying into a fad when they go the tiny house route or they just want to not spend as much money, I know that some of them are just natural vagabonds who never want to stay in one place for a long time. And I know that there are people who have occupations like photography or music, where they travel constantly and would do well to invest in a very small and mobile home. I guess I just wanted to hear more of their stories. I would have even liked it if they followed someone who was traveling across the country with their house. That would have been something. Then, it could have been a road trip movie, and I love those.
I suppose, if I could change anything else about this, it would be adding some of the history of people living like this, not just those who do it nowadays. We could have learned more about how it was done hundreds of years ago when it was the only choice to live with limited means. It may have been interesting. I also would have loved to hear more stories from people who tried it and regretted it. You know they're out there.
I guess that's all I can say about this documentary. Keeping my analysis tiny, as well, it would seem. Look, if you're someone who likes the Tiny House Hunters show, you might enjoy this. Like I said, it's not that long, so you wouldn't be spending too much time on it. But I certainly wouldn't call it a must-see. It does have a few stand out moments, but altogether, this just wasn't completely a film about what the title implies. The tiny house aspect was almost incidental. I wish they either would have delved deeper into the history of it, as I said, or have it be completely about the process of the experience, the cost, the labor and all that. The technical side of it, if you will. Rather, they had a mix of both of those things, but I'm not sure it was executed in the best way from those angles. So, I can't exactly highly recommend it, but if you do take a look, you might find something you like.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
A while back, I wrote about my love/hate relationship with the show House Hunters. It's complicated. Well, as it happens, that show has a spin-off called Tiny House Hunters, which I find even more interesting...and more infuriating. Seriously, the amount of times I hear people on that show walk into a TINY house and say "I don't know. This is kinda small" makes me want to punch a wall. No kidding, it's small! That's the point. But whatever. I still watch, because I find the concept of the Tiny House craze quite intriguing. And if you can do it? Well, God bless. You go right ahead. So, when I noticed this doc, I had to check it out.
Small is Beautiful is from 2014 and, keeping in the spirit of tiny things, it is barely over an hour long. That might be a good thing, because there is really only so much you can say about this whole phenomenon. This documentary chose a few people to tell their stories, and they just so happen to also be people who are into the tiny house movement. They talk about what led them to choosing this way of life, how they've dealt with the process and we even get to watch the process of building the houses, which is a task that many of them take on themselves. Now as much as I enjoy watching house building shows on HGTV, that was probably the most boring part of this film. Not that the rest of it fared much better.
Look, there were some moments that I found interesting, but not too much of it. I mean, I do like hearing stories of people who have lived different lives than I have, and especially with this, I was hoping for more about the actual experience. That does interest me. As much as I think that some people are just buying into a fad when they go the tiny house route or they just want to not spend as much money, I know that some of them are just natural vagabonds who never want to stay in one place for a long time. And I know that there are people who have occupations like photography or music, where they travel constantly and would do well to invest in a very small and mobile home. I guess I just wanted to hear more of their stories. I would have even liked it if they followed someone who was traveling across the country with their house. That would have been something. Then, it could have been a road trip movie, and I love those.
I suppose, if I could change anything else about this, it would be adding some of the history of people living like this, not just those who do it nowadays. We could have learned more about how it was done hundreds of years ago when it was the only choice to live with limited means. It may have been interesting. I also would have loved to hear more stories from people who tried it and regretted it. You know they're out there.
I guess that's all I can say about this documentary. Keeping my analysis tiny, as well, it would seem. Look, if you're someone who likes the Tiny House Hunters show, you might enjoy this. Like I said, it's not that long, so you wouldn't be spending too much time on it. But I certainly wouldn't call it a must-see. It does have a few stand out moments, but altogether, this just wasn't completely a film about what the title implies. The tiny house aspect was almost incidental. I wish they either would have delved deeper into the history of it, as I said, or have it be completely about the process of the experience, the cost, the labor and all that. The technical side of it, if you will. Rather, they had a mix of both of those things, but I'm not sure it was executed in the best way from those angles. So, I can't exactly highly recommend it, but if you do take a look, you might find something you like.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, June 5, 2017
Winter Passing - Movie Review
Greetings,
The world of independent film is a fascinating one. I don't know of any other genre that is such a crap shoot for whether or not you are going to get something decent. There are many people, myself included, who believe that this is the place where one can go to find hidden gems. Still, sometimes we forget that a lot of not so great stuff comes out of it as well. And what of those indie films that fall somewhere in between, where you watch it and think you should be liking it more than you do? That's kind of how I feel about today's movie, Winter Passing.
Winter Passing is a 2005 film starring Zooey Deschanel as Reese Holdin, a young woman who splits her work time between bartending and acting in, where else, New York. She suffers from depression and tries to deal with it through drugs and self-harm. One night, she is approached by a publishing agent, played by Amy Madigan, who is interested in a series of letters that were exchanged between Reese's parents. Her father, Don, played by Ed Harris, is a once-famous writer and her mother passed away nor long ago. Reluctantly, Reese heads off to Michigan to try to locate them, but she finds her father not doing well and living with a musician, Corbit, played by Will Ferrell, and Shelly, a former student of Don's, played by Amelia Warner. Reese just wants to find the letters and leave, but she gets sucked in to everything that is happening in her father's life and house, and many things are revealed to her that she may not have wanted to know but needed to know.
I would call this another of those character heavy films, though there is a steady narrative to it. But watching these characters learn about each other is what pushes that narrative forward. I think that, for the most part, they are interesting enough to keep you engaged, and I do like a story where the players are finding things out about each other right along with the audience. In addition to that, all the while, there is the mystery of these letters. Will they be found, what is in them, and will it have an effect on the strained father/daughter relationship? And on a personal note, I am someone who is infatuated with handwritten letters, so, naturally, this aspect of the story tugged and my heart.
So, since I find this very character driven, I should talk about the actors portraying them. The performances here range from brilliant to passable. The brilliance, of course, comes from Ed Harris, who is pretty much always great. And this was a heavy role to play, difficult even, but probably not for him. Don is a heartbreaking character, being this once amazing writer who is just struggling to live, and he goes for the emotion hardcore on this one. Will Ferrell and Amelia Warner handle their roles very well, the former with some familiarity, as Ferrell, in these kinds of films, always tends to replace the energy he usually puts into straight forward comedy with injecting a lot of heart into his performance. Sadly, the weak link in the movie is Zooey Deschanel. I personally think that dramatic acting is not her strong suit, and her style of acting is a better fit for comedy. Yes, she has been in good dramatic movies, but usually as a supporter, not the lead. She's not terrible, by any means. In fact, there are moments when she can be effective. But, overall, I just don't think I buy her performance as much in this role, and when it IS the lead, that can weigh everything down a bit.
In closing, I would say I give Winter Passing a soft recommendation. If anything, it's worth seeing just for Ed Harris, so, in that regard, it won't be disappointing. But if the story doesn't interest you, I wouldn't say it's something you need to see right now. Still, if you are ever at home channel surfing and it pops up, I say give it a chance. You might be pleasantly surprised.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
The world of independent film is a fascinating one. I don't know of any other genre that is such a crap shoot for whether or not you are going to get something decent. There are many people, myself included, who believe that this is the place where one can go to find hidden gems. Still, sometimes we forget that a lot of not so great stuff comes out of it as well. And what of those indie films that fall somewhere in between, where you watch it and think you should be liking it more than you do? That's kind of how I feel about today's movie, Winter Passing.
Winter Passing is a 2005 film starring Zooey Deschanel as Reese Holdin, a young woman who splits her work time between bartending and acting in, where else, New York. She suffers from depression and tries to deal with it through drugs and self-harm. One night, she is approached by a publishing agent, played by Amy Madigan, who is interested in a series of letters that were exchanged between Reese's parents. Her father, Don, played by Ed Harris, is a once-famous writer and her mother passed away nor long ago. Reluctantly, Reese heads off to Michigan to try to locate them, but she finds her father not doing well and living with a musician, Corbit, played by Will Ferrell, and Shelly, a former student of Don's, played by Amelia Warner. Reese just wants to find the letters and leave, but she gets sucked in to everything that is happening in her father's life and house, and many things are revealed to her that she may not have wanted to know but needed to know.
I would call this another of those character heavy films, though there is a steady narrative to it. But watching these characters learn about each other is what pushes that narrative forward. I think that, for the most part, they are interesting enough to keep you engaged, and I do like a story where the players are finding things out about each other right along with the audience. In addition to that, all the while, there is the mystery of these letters. Will they be found, what is in them, and will it have an effect on the strained father/daughter relationship? And on a personal note, I am someone who is infatuated with handwritten letters, so, naturally, this aspect of the story tugged and my heart.
So, since I find this very character driven, I should talk about the actors portraying them. The performances here range from brilliant to passable. The brilliance, of course, comes from Ed Harris, who is pretty much always great. And this was a heavy role to play, difficult even, but probably not for him. Don is a heartbreaking character, being this once amazing writer who is just struggling to live, and he goes for the emotion hardcore on this one. Will Ferrell and Amelia Warner handle their roles very well, the former with some familiarity, as Ferrell, in these kinds of films, always tends to replace the energy he usually puts into straight forward comedy with injecting a lot of heart into his performance. Sadly, the weak link in the movie is Zooey Deschanel. I personally think that dramatic acting is not her strong suit, and her style of acting is a better fit for comedy. Yes, she has been in good dramatic movies, but usually as a supporter, not the lead. She's not terrible, by any means. In fact, there are moments when she can be effective. But, overall, I just don't think I buy her performance as much in this role, and when it IS the lead, that can weigh everything down a bit.
In closing, I would say I give Winter Passing a soft recommendation. If anything, it's worth seeing just for Ed Harris, so, in that regard, it won't be disappointing. But if the story doesn't interest you, I wouldn't say it's something you need to see right now. Still, if you are ever at home channel surfing and it pops up, I say give it a chance. You might be pleasantly surprised.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
Christine (2016) - Movie Review
Greetings,
I've said this many times, but it bears repeating today. Biopics are difficult to make. I think they are especially difficult when there are sensitive subjects in the mix. But, in turn, these stories are among the ones that need to be told the most. In many cases, people who are famous or infamous for one thing get films made about them, and the task is to not only focus on that one thing, but rather show the whole person. A whole life that consists of more than one moment. This is what was done with the movie, Christine.
Christine is a 2016 film about news reporter Christine Chubbuck. Sadly, most people only know this woman because of how her life ended, which may be understandable considering what happened, but this movie was made to show who she was as a person, not merely an event. Driven by a brilliant performance from Rebecca Hall, not to mention a great supporting cast consisting of Tracy Letts, J.Smith-Smith Cameron, John Callum and Michael C. Hall, we are exposed to the struggles that Christine dealt with, both personally and professionally, including issues with depression, health troubles and problems at her job as she tried to move ahead.
As far as a plot goes, I'm not sure there really is one, per se. However, I don't mean that in a negative way. This truly is a character heavy film, that character being a real person, and the narrative journey we take consists of us watching her live her life, which, believe it or not can be one of the most fascinating things in the world. Again, I honestly think the whole point of making this movie was so we could get to know who Christine Chubbuck really was. I'll take more about that later. In the process of that, we can see how intriguing it can be to simply observe someone's existence, especially knowing what we already know about her and being told things that we never did know.
One of the criticisms, I've heard about the movie is that they didn't focus enough on her actual mental issues very specifically. There are allusions to it, but it's never really in the forefront. But this isn't a movie like Touched With Fire, where the bipolar conditions of the main characters are the whole point and the story is based on a nonfiction book about the issue. What Christine was going through mentally was not the central theme, as far as I could tell. Now, I can see where people are coming from, as we are still trying to take the stigma away from this, but trust me, no one who deals with these issues wants to be defined by them completely. Like I said before, this was meant to humanize her. I mean, if you mention the name Christine Chubbuck, those who know who she was will immediately bring up the one thing for which she is famous, and usually the assumption that she must have had some problems. Yes, we all know about that. But I don't think that any of us knew who she was before then. The filmmakers clearly wanted to show us who she was as a complete woman, who she loved, who she affected, who she helped, her accomplishments, her hopes, her dreams, and that she was so much more than this one moment in time. It succeeds in this, I believe, because you don't watch the movie like it's a timer ticking down to the ending event, but rather you are engaged in her life, her struggles and her existence. As tragic as what happened to her was on its own, once we get to know her, it makes it all the more devastating and heartbreaking, because you almost find yourself rooting for to succeed and get the life for which she longed.
Now, I have heard that her brother responded to the film, though I'm not certain this information is accurate. But what I did hear was that he had not seen the film but he was worried that everyone would focus on the sensationalism surrounding what happens in the end. I certainly understand why he wouldn't want to see it, and I can understand his concerns, because there will always be those people who are only interested in the sensational aspect of it. But the truth is, this movie does the exact opposite of what he fears. Once again, and I really can't say this enough, we get the opportunity to see his sister as a person, not a moment. Ultimately, when we now think of her, so many more things about who she was can enter our minds.
In closing, I highly recommend Christine. One reason is, again, for the magnificent performance by Rebecca Hall, who is at her absolute best here. And also, for one more reason. History is full of infamous events, actions and fixed moments in time. Sadly, we often forget that there are real human beings behind them. But it's films like this, and the people who make them, which help us to remember exactly that.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I've said this many times, but it bears repeating today. Biopics are difficult to make. I think they are especially difficult when there are sensitive subjects in the mix. But, in turn, these stories are among the ones that need to be told the most. In many cases, people who are famous or infamous for one thing get films made about them, and the task is to not only focus on that one thing, but rather show the whole person. A whole life that consists of more than one moment. This is what was done with the movie, Christine.
Christine is a 2016 film about news reporter Christine Chubbuck. Sadly, most people only know this woman because of how her life ended, which may be understandable considering what happened, but this movie was made to show who she was as a person, not merely an event. Driven by a brilliant performance from Rebecca Hall, not to mention a great supporting cast consisting of Tracy Letts, J.Smith-Smith Cameron, John Callum and Michael C. Hall, we are exposed to the struggles that Christine dealt with, both personally and professionally, including issues with depression, health troubles and problems at her job as she tried to move ahead.
As far as a plot goes, I'm not sure there really is one, per se. However, I don't mean that in a negative way. This truly is a character heavy film, that character being a real person, and the narrative journey we take consists of us watching her live her life, which, believe it or not can be one of the most fascinating things in the world. Again, I honestly think the whole point of making this movie was so we could get to know who Christine Chubbuck really was. I'll take more about that later. In the process of that, we can see how intriguing it can be to simply observe someone's existence, especially knowing what we already know about her and being told things that we never did know.
One of the criticisms, I've heard about the movie is that they didn't focus enough on her actual mental issues very specifically. There are allusions to it, but it's never really in the forefront. But this isn't a movie like Touched With Fire, where the bipolar conditions of the main characters are the whole point and the story is based on a nonfiction book about the issue. What Christine was going through mentally was not the central theme, as far as I could tell. Now, I can see where people are coming from, as we are still trying to take the stigma away from this, but trust me, no one who deals with these issues wants to be defined by them completely. Like I said before, this was meant to humanize her. I mean, if you mention the name Christine Chubbuck, those who know who she was will immediately bring up the one thing for which she is famous, and usually the assumption that she must have had some problems. Yes, we all know about that. But I don't think that any of us knew who she was before then. The filmmakers clearly wanted to show us who she was as a complete woman, who she loved, who she affected, who she helped, her accomplishments, her hopes, her dreams, and that she was so much more than this one moment in time. It succeeds in this, I believe, because you don't watch the movie like it's a timer ticking down to the ending event, but rather you are engaged in her life, her struggles and her existence. As tragic as what happened to her was on its own, once we get to know her, it makes it all the more devastating and heartbreaking, because you almost find yourself rooting for to succeed and get the life for which she longed.
Now, I have heard that her brother responded to the film, though I'm not certain this information is accurate. But what I did hear was that he had not seen the film but he was worried that everyone would focus on the sensationalism surrounding what happens in the end. I certainly understand why he wouldn't want to see it, and I can understand his concerns, because there will always be those people who are only interested in the sensational aspect of it. But the truth is, this movie does the exact opposite of what he fears. Once again, and I really can't say this enough, we get the opportunity to see his sister as a person, not a moment. Ultimately, when we now think of her, so many more things about who she was can enter our minds.
In closing, I highly recommend Christine. One reason is, again, for the magnificent performance by Rebecca Hall, who is at her absolute best here. And also, for one more reason. History is full of infamous events, actions and fixed moments in time. Sadly, we often forget that there are real human beings behind them. But it's films like this, and the people who make them, which help us to remember exactly that.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Friday, May 26, 2017
Top Ten Worst Hit Songs of 1984
Greetings,
I previously mentioned that I have never been a big fan of music in the 80's, generally speaking. But I managed to dig up some good ones from this particular year. Well, sadly, I have nothing left for that. So, let's move on to some of my justifications for not liking this decade all that much, with my personal opinions of the worst songs of 1984. Off we go.
#10. "Adult Education" Hall & Oates - Hey, remember yesterday, when I said that I LOVED Hall & Oates? Well, that stands. But this song does not. It's just so not their best. Not even close. For real, guys, I'm not mad. I'm only disappointed. But I like all your other stuff, so I'll just assume we're good.
#9. "Miss You Blind" Culture Club - I used to think this group was a One Hit Wonder, until I saw their Behind the Music episode. Turns out, they had quite a few hits. This is one of them. I don't like it. I'm allowed. Also..."Bet you got a good gun"? That's a weird line. Because I don't know what it means. And I have a sneaking suspicion that I'm better off not knowing.
#8. "Head Over Heels" The Go-Go's - There are a few important decisions we must make in life and one of them is...Bangles or Go-Go's. The answer is The Bangles. They are better, without a doubt in my mind. As far as The Go-Go's...go...Look, I can get down to "We Got the Beat"...a little, but that was top tier for them. This wasn't. In fact, I'm pretty sure this was about the time they started floundering a bit.
#7. "She Bop" Cyndi Lauper - Yes, yes. We all know what this song is about, and that's one of the reasons why I don't like it. Not that I'm a prude...much, but this is one of those proto- "Look, I'm edgy and grown up, because sex things!" kind of songs. And we've had an overabundance of those in the last 20 years. This probably helped push that along, so...BOO! Also, I just don't like how it sounds
#6. "Somebody's Watching Me" Rockwell - Really? This song came out in 1984? Um...topical. Look, let's be honest. There is but one reason why this became a hit. Because Michael Jackson sang back-up on it. And at this point in time, anything he was involved with was bound to become a hit of some kind. Even it is was awful. Yeah, more on that later.
#5. "Breakdance" Irene Cara - I think we can all agree that Irene Cara has a beautiful voice. So, who decided to pair it up with this song? I mean, I like a good, consistent beat, but holy crap, this thing sounds like a drill. Not cool. Not cool at all. And not a good enough partner for the lovely voice of Ms. Cara.
#4. "Union of the Snake" Duran Duran - WHAT the serious heck? Okay, I hate when the music video affects my opinion on a song too much, but this is different. This song is not good, sure, but the video is straight up horrifying. I can't even explain it. I'll just tell you to go watch it. Fair warning, though, the best time to watch it would be at a time when you don't need to be getting any sleep.
#3. "I Just Called To Say I Love You" Stevie Wonder - Okay, I just want to make it abundantly clear that my decision to put this on the list was in no way influenced by Jack Black's character in High Fidelity. Because, let's be honest, who would do anything that Jack Black tells them to do? No, I've never liked this song. Let's just say I expect more from Stevie Wonder. I mean, come on now. We all know what magic of which he is capable.
#2. "Dancing In the Dark" Bruce Springsteen - So, this may come as a surprise, but I LOATHE Bruce Springsteen. Yeah, I might have liked that song from Philadelphia...a lot, but I still keep the man at a distance. For so many reasons. And this song...this song. I just don't get it. And maybe it's his voice, but everything he says, or sings, just sounds creepy to me.
#1. "State of Shock" The Jacksons feat. Michael Jackson & Mick Jagger - Remember, when I said that, during this time, even awful things that Michael Jackson did could be popular? Yeah, well...this! I don't even know where to start. This is incredibly terrible. I mean, even though, I may not be a fan of Michael Jackson, or The Jacksons, or Mick Jagger, at the very least, I am aware that they are capable of having some musical standards. WHAT happened here? This is just the worse. Of 1984. In my opinion.
Well, there you have it. The songs of 1984 that scraped the bottom of the barrel, according to me anyway. Again, these are just my opinions. If any of these songs brought you joy, I'm happy for you. But for me? All I got from them was a feeling of "ick". It happens. Also, sorry I abused the ellipses so much in this post. That also happens.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I previously mentioned that I have never been a big fan of music in the 80's, generally speaking. But I managed to dig up some good ones from this particular year. Well, sadly, I have nothing left for that. So, let's move on to some of my justifications for not liking this decade all that much, with my personal opinions of the worst songs of 1984. Off we go.
#10. "Adult Education" Hall & Oates - Hey, remember yesterday, when I said that I LOVED Hall & Oates? Well, that stands. But this song does not. It's just so not their best. Not even close. For real, guys, I'm not mad. I'm only disappointed. But I like all your other stuff, so I'll just assume we're good.
#9. "Miss You Blind" Culture Club - I used to think this group was a One Hit Wonder, until I saw their Behind the Music episode. Turns out, they had quite a few hits. This is one of them. I don't like it. I'm allowed. Also..."Bet you got a good gun"? That's a weird line. Because I don't know what it means. And I have a sneaking suspicion that I'm better off not knowing.
#8. "Head Over Heels" The Go-Go's - There are a few important decisions we must make in life and one of them is...Bangles or Go-Go's. The answer is The Bangles. They are better, without a doubt in my mind. As far as The Go-Go's...go...Look, I can get down to "We Got the Beat"...a little, but that was top tier for them. This wasn't. In fact, I'm pretty sure this was about the time they started floundering a bit.
#7. "She Bop" Cyndi Lauper - Yes, yes. We all know what this song is about, and that's one of the reasons why I don't like it. Not that I'm a prude...much, but this is one of those proto- "Look, I'm edgy and grown up, because sex things!" kind of songs. And we've had an overabundance of those in the last 20 years. This probably helped push that along, so...BOO! Also, I just don't like how it sounds
#6. "Somebody's Watching Me" Rockwell - Really? This song came out in 1984? Um...topical. Look, let's be honest. There is but one reason why this became a hit. Because Michael Jackson sang back-up on it. And at this point in time, anything he was involved with was bound to become a hit of some kind. Even it is was awful. Yeah, more on that later.
#5. "Breakdance" Irene Cara - I think we can all agree that Irene Cara has a beautiful voice. So, who decided to pair it up with this song? I mean, I like a good, consistent beat, but holy crap, this thing sounds like a drill. Not cool. Not cool at all. And not a good enough partner for the lovely voice of Ms. Cara.
#4. "Union of the Snake" Duran Duran - WHAT the serious heck? Okay, I hate when the music video affects my opinion on a song too much, but this is different. This song is not good, sure, but the video is straight up horrifying. I can't even explain it. I'll just tell you to go watch it. Fair warning, though, the best time to watch it would be at a time when you don't need to be getting any sleep.
#3. "I Just Called To Say I Love You" Stevie Wonder - Okay, I just want to make it abundantly clear that my decision to put this on the list was in no way influenced by Jack Black's character in High Fidelity. Because, let's be honest, who would do anything that Jack Black tells them to do? No, I've never liked this song. Let's just say I expect more from Stevie Wonder. I mean, come on now. We all know what magic of which he is capable.
#2. "Dancing In the Dark" Bruce Springsteen - So, this may come as a surprise, but I LOATHE Bruce Springsteen. Yeah, I might have liked that song from Philadelphia...a lot, but I still keep the man at a distance. For so many reasons. And this song...this song. I just don't get it. And maybe it's his voice, but everything he says, or sings, just sounds creepy to me.
#1. "State of Shock" The Jacksons feat. Michael Jackson & Mick Jagger - Remember, when I said that, during this time, even awful things that Michael Jackson did could be popular? Yeah, well...this! I don't even know where to start. This is incredibly terrible. I mean, even though, I may not be a fan of Michael Jackson, or The Jacksons, or Mick Jagger, at the very least, I am aware that they are capable of having some musical standards. WHAT happened here? This is just the worse. Of 1984. In my opinion.
Well, there you have it. The songs of 1984 that scraped the bottom of the barrel, according to me anyway. Again, these are just my opinions. If any of these songs brought you joy, I'm happy for you. But for me? All I got from them was a feeling of "ick". It happens. Also, sorry I abused the ellipses so much in this post. That also happens.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Top Ten Best Hit Songs of 1984
Greetings,
Well, I haven't done one of these in a while. Maybe it's because dealing with what came out musically in 2016 drained me a bit. But we all must move on from all that mess, so I chose a random year to examine. I promise. I know this is an iconic year, but I just looked at the Year End Billboard charts and saw that I had already heard most of the songs. Thus, I wouldn't have to spend too much time exposing myself to new music that might be crap. Also, it meant this did not take as long as these lists normally do.
Now, if I'm being honest, I am not the hugest fan of 80's music, though there are some gems of course. And I found quite a few that came out in this particular year. So, the rules of my list-making once again? Everything comes from the aforementioned Year End Charts and nothing can appear on a list twice. Okay, let's get started with the songs I liked.
#10. "When Doves Cry" Prince - Believe it or not, I am not that much of a Prince fan...at all. But credit where it's due, I like this song. And hearing it against everything else that was being made at the time, you can really appreciate how innovative Prince was as a musician. Not that anyone needs to be reminded.
#9. "Break My Stride" Matthew Wilder - Quite a few songs on this list are going to fall into the category of "It just makes me happy!" This is one of them. It's just one of those songs that fun and silly and makes me joyfully bounce back and forth to the beat. Sometimes that is all we need.
#8. "Let The Music Play" Shannon - It's strange listening to a nostalgic song that was kind of nostalgic in its own time. For real, this song kind of sounds like a throwback to the disco era. Of which I am an occasional fan. Of course, because of the disco backlash of the previous years, dance music like this wasn't as front and center as it had been. But leave it to a good song with some great singing to survive and become a hit.
#7. "They Don't Know" Tracey Ullman - No, seriously. A song by Tracey Ullman is one of my favorite songs of this year. And it's not even a comedy song. As far as I know. It is, however, just adorable. Again, it sounds a bit..."throwback-y" for its time. Throwback-y to when, I don't know, but it is such a delight.
#6. "If Ever You're In My Arms Again" Peabo Bryson - See, he did non-Disney things. Like this, for example...which was a soap opera thing. Yeah. No bull crap. It was the theme song for a couple on Santa Barbara. Hey, whatever works. And who cares what is has been associated with? This guy has a great voice and I love a good love song.
#5. "Say It Isn't So" Hall & Oates - So, I love me some Hall & Oates. Ain't no getting around that. Sadly, they only two songs on the Billboard list this year, and...sadly, this is the only good one. According to me anyway. But it's darn good. Kinda understated in my opinion, at least, for them. Still, I'll take it.
#4. "Wrapped Around Your Finger" The Police - Well, Sting, is this another song about something creepy that you've tricked people into thinking is just a nice love song and then they end up playing it at weddings and whatnot? Yes. Yes, it kind of is. Which makes it awesome! Oh, sorry. We're in the 80's right now. It's...rad! Also, I like the video. But I like candles a lot, too, so...
#3. "Against All Odds" Phil Collins - So, this is a song from a movie of the same name, which I've never seen, and it starred Rachel Ward, Jeff Bridges, James Woods and the dad from Webster. Good times. Oh, and it was nominated for an Oscar. See, Phil Collins also did non-Disney things. But we already knew it, because this is one of his best.
#2. "The Longest Time" Billy Joel - This is my 2nd favorite song on this list AND my 2nd favorite song by Billy Joel of all time. My 1st? All in good time. A Top Ten Piano Man songs list is a to-do for me. Anyway, it's yet another song that feels out of its own time, but in the best way. Well, I did say I didn't like 80's music much, so of course, I'll gravitate towards songs that sound nothing like the 80's. Fun fact: I always thought this was done a capella. Nope. Apparently, it's not. How 'bout that?
#1 "Drive" The Cars - I can't imagine a song title and an artist name going together any better than this. Unless Taylor Swift releases a song called "Overrated". Anywho...Yeah, this song is just so soothing and lovely. It's darn near perfect in my book. And lest we forget the great video that went along with it. I mean, we get to see Paulina and Ric together before they got married, and it's so sweet knowing what a long and loving relationship they would eventually have. AND it was directed by...my man, Timothy Hutton! What? WHAT!! It can't get better than that. No wonder this is my number one.
Okay, I hope you enjoyed reading about my favorite songs of this year. Nothing but crap tomorrow. Tune in!
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer.
Well, I haven't done one of these in a while. Maybe it's because dealing with what came out musically in 2016 drained me a bit. But we all must move on from all that mess, so I chose a random year to examine. I promise. I know this is an iconic year, but I just looked at the Year End Billboard charts and saw that I had already heard most of the songs. Thus, I wouldn't have to spend too much time exposing myself to new music that might be crap. Also, it meant this did not take as long as these lists normally do.
Now, if I'm being honest, I am not the hugest fan of 80's music, though there are some gems of course. And I found quite a few that came out in this particular year. So, the rules of my list-making once again? Everything comes from the aforementioned Year End Charts and nothing can appear on a list twice. Okay, let's get started with the songs I liked.
#10. "When Doves Cry" Prince - Believe it or not, I am not that much of a Prince fan...at all. But credit where it's due, I like this song. And hearing it against everything else that was being made at the time, you can really appreciate how innovative Prince was as a musician. Not that anyone needs to be reminded.
#9. "Break My Stride" Matthew Wilder - Quite a few songs on this list are going to fall into the category of "It just makes me happy!" This is one of them. It's just one of those songs that fun and silly and makes me joyfully bounce back and forth to the beat. Sometimes that is all we need.
#8. "Let The Music Play" Shannon - It's strange listening to a nostalgic song that was kind of nostalgic in its own time. For real, this song kind of sounds like a throwback to the disco era. Of which I am an occasional fan. Of course, because of the disco backlash of the previous years, dance music like this wasn't as front and center as it had been. But leave it to a good song with some great singing to survive and become a hit.
#7. "They Don't Know" Tracey Ullman - No, seriously. A song by Tracey Ullman is one of my favorite songs of this year. And it's not even a comedy song. As far as I know. It is, however, just adorable. Again, it sounds a bit..."throwback-y" for its time. Throwback-y to when, I don't know, but it is such a delight.
#6. "If Ever You're In My Arms Again" Peabo Bryson - See, he did non-Disney things. Like this, for example...which was a soap opera thing. Yeah. No bull crap. It was the theme song for a couple on Santa Barbara. Hey, whatever works. And who cares what is has been associated with? This guy has a great voice and I love a good love song.
#5. "Say It Isn't So" Hall & Oates - So, I love me some Hall & Oates. Ain't no getting around that. Sadly, they only two songs on the Billboard list this year, and...sadly, this is the only good one. According to me anyway. But it's darn good. Kinda understated in my opinion, at least, for them. Still, I'll take it.
#4. "Wrapped Around Your Finger" The Police - Well, Sting, is this another song about something creepy that you've tricked people into thinking is just a nice love song and then they end up playing it at weddings and whatnot? Yes. Yes, it kind of is. Which makes it awesome! Oh, sorry. We're in the 80's right now. It's...rad! Also, I like the video. But I like candles a lot, too, so...
#3. "Against All Odds" Phil Collins - So, this is a song from a movie of the same name, which I've never seen, and it starred Rachel Ward, Jeff Bridges, James Woods and the dad from Webster. Good times. Oh, and it was nominated for an Oscar. See, Phil Collins also did non-Disney things. But we already knew it, because this is one of his best.
#2. "The Longest Time" Billy Joel - This is my 2nd favorite song on this list AND my 2nd favorite song by Billy Joel of all time. My 1st? All in good time. A Top Ten Piano Man songs list is a to-do for me. Anyway, it's yet another song that feels out of its own time, but in the best way. Well, I did say I didn't like 80's music much, so of course, I'll gravitate towards songs that sound nothing like the 80's. Fun fact: I always thought this was done a capella. Nope. Apparently, it's not. How 'bout that?
#1 "Drive" The Cars - I can't imagine a song title and an artist name going together any better than this. Unless Taylor Swift releases a song called "Overrated". Anywho...Yeah, this song is just so soothing and lovely. It's darn near perfect in my book. And lest we forget the great video that went along with it. I mean, we get to see Paulina and Ric together before they got married, and it's so sweet knowing what a long and loving relationship they would eventually have. AND it was directed by...my man, Timothy Hutton! What? WHAT!! It can't get better than that. No wonder this is my number one.
Okay, I hope you enjoyed reading about my favorite songs of this year. Nothing but crap tomorrow. Tune in!
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer.
Monday, May 22, 2017
Neil Gaiman: Dream Dangerously - Documentary Review
Greetings,
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a review of a graphic novel/comic book/whatever you call them, and I believe it was my first of its kind. So, today, in keeping with the spirit of that, I thought I would review a documentary I recently saw about a guy who writes those kinds of books. Also, regular books. And by that, I mean books with all words and no pictures. Good times. Anyway, let's discuss Neil Gaiman: Dream Dangerously.
This is a 2016 documentary that I didn't even know existed until I was browsing around and just so happened to come upon. Now, I'm not exactly a huge fan of Neil Gaiman's. At least, not in comparison to the hardcore ones, which I will discuss later. Yeah, I've never dressed up as Coraline (in public) or anything, but I have read some of his stuff, and it's impressive. Still have to read all those Sandman books. Which cost a lot for the complete series, so...click the donate button! Yeah, anyway...
As I've mentioned, I love movies about writers, so I had to stop and check this one out. Much of it was what you'd expect from your basic bio-doc stuff. We learn about Gaiman's younger days, which included his love of books and the fact that he was in a punk band. Of course, he was. We also learn about his family life, both past and present. And later, how he got into writing. I'll discuss that in a moment. But a big chunk of this was showing him with his fans. They are very interesting, and he clearly loves and appreciates them all. However, there was a nice, creative twist to how some of the stories of his life were presented.
So, about his foray into writing. He talks about when he realized a writer, and it truly came out of nowhere. That's how it happens many times. That's how it happened for me. AND it also happened to him late at night, when he couldn't sleep. Same here. We have so much in common. Truth is, sometimes your purpose in life just hits you, and I think that's good, because it usually means you didn't force it. You didn't try too hard. If it's your true purpose, that's how it usually works.
Oh, and speaking of things we have in common, apparently, he writes longhand first. He even has a favorite kind of pen. Oh, can I relate to that! Seriously, my fellow writers who still do things long hand, is there anything better than finding a perfect brand of pens? No. No, there is not. Although, due to all the long hand writing of his autograph countless times in a row, he has developed hand issues. Fear not, though. He has found a good remedy. But it is nice to see someone appreciating the written word...being actually written. If you know what I mean.
Of course, we had an array of special guests, none of whom were Tori Amos, which I found odd, but whatever. Still, we got appearances from the likes of Bill Hader, Michael Sheen, George R.R. Martin, and the late Terry Pratchett, with whom Gaiman had a wonderful relationship, both personally and professionally. The most heartfelt moments from this were when he spoke of his friend and how much he missed him.
Now, I have heard some interesting criticisms about this film. One is that it spends too much time focusing on his interactions with fans, and the other is that the documentary does not portray him as, well, a jackass. I even heard the word "niceties" thrown around as though it's a bad thing. Apparently, documentaries are supposed to show their subjects in a not-so-great light. O-kay? Ya know, it is possible that Neil Gaiman is just a nice, normal guy, and that's the only way he could be seen. And too much time with his fans? As I said before, he loves and appreciates all those people. Why wouldn't he want to spotlight their devotion? To be fair, I could have done with a little more delving into his process and how he comes up with stories, but it's not my documentary, and I thought it was done fine.
So, is this movie perfect? No. It has its flaws, and I can understand how some people may want more. But I think if you're one of those hardcore fans, you'll take what you can get when the subject is Neil Gaiman. And considering how popular he is, especially with those who are creative types themselves, I don't doubt that someone will do another movie about him in the future. In the meantime, I personally enjoyed this film, and I think it's worth a watch.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a review of a graphic novel/comic book/whatever you call them, and I believe it was my first of its kind. So, today, in keeping with the spirit of that, I thought I would review a documentary I recently saw about a guy who writes those kinds of books. Also, regular books. And by that, I mean books with all words and no pictures. Good times. Anyway, let's discuss Neil Gaiman: Dream Dangerously.
This is a 2016 documentary that I didn't even know existed until I was browsing around and just so happened to come upon. Now, I'm not exactly a huge fan of Neil Gaiman's. At least, not in comparison to the hardcore ones, which I will discuss later. Yeah, I've never dressed up as Coraline (in public) or anything, but I have read some of his stuff, and it's impressive. Still have to read all those Sandman books. Which cost a lot for the complete series, so...click the donate button! Yeah, anyway...
As I've mentioned, I love movies about writers, so I had to stop and check this one out. Much of it was what you'd expect from your basic bio-doc stuff. We learn about Gaiman's younger days, which included his love of books and the fact that he was in a punk band. Of course, he was. We also learn about his family life, both past and present. And later, how he got into writing. I'll discuss that in a moment. But a big chunk of this was showing him with his fans. They are very interesting, and he clearly loves and appreciates them all. However, there was a nice, creative twist to how some of the stories of his life were presented.
So, about his foray into writing. He talks about when he realized a writer, and it truly came out of nowhere. That's how it happens many times. That's how it happened for me. AND it also happened to him late at night, when he couldn't sleep. Same here. We have so much in common. Truth is, sometimes your purpose in life just hits you, and I think that's good, because it usually means you didn't force it. You didn't try too hard. If it's your true purpose, that's how it usually works.
Oh, and speaking of things we have in common, apparently, he writes longhand first. He even has a favorite kind of pen. Oh, can I relate to that! Seriously, my fellow writers who still do things long hand, is there anything better than finding a perfect brand of pens? No. No, there is not. Although, due to all the long hand writing of his autograph countless times in a row, he has developed hand issues. Fear not, though. He has found a good remedy. But it is nice to see someone appreciating the written word...being actually written. If you know what I mean.
Of course, we had an array of special guests, none of whom were Tori Amos, which I found odd, but whatever. Still, we got appearances from the likes of Bill Hader, Michael Sheen, George R.R. Martin, and the late Terry Pratchett, with whom Gaiman had a wonderful relationship, both personally and professionally. The most heartfelt moments from this were when he spoke of his friend and how much he missed him.
Now, I have heard some interesting criticisms about this film. One is that it spends too much time focusing on his interactions with fans, and the other is that the documentary does not portray him as, well, a jackass. I even heard the word "niceties" thrown around as though it's a bad thing. Apparently, documentaries are supposed to show their subjects in a not-so-great light. O-kay? Ya know, it is possible that Neil Gaiman is just a nice, normal guy, and that's the only way he could be seen. And too much time with his fans? As I said before, he loves and appreciates all those people. Why wouldn't he want to spotlight their devotion? To be fair, I could have done with a little more delving into his process and how he comes up with stories, but it's not my documentary, and I thought it was done fine.
So, is this movie perfect? No. It has its flaws, and I can understand how some people may want more. But I think if you're one of those hardcore fans, you'll take what you can get when the subject is Neil Gaiman. And considering how popular he is, especially with those who are creative types themselves, I don't doubt that someone will do another movie about him in the future. In the meantime, I personally enjoyed this film, and I think it's worth a watch.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
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