Greetings,
There was this adorable and hilarious video floating around the internet a few years ago wherein Leah Remini meets her BFF Jennifer Lopez at the pool. Leah, who is wearing no make-up, accusingly points the camera at the "looking to the nines" J-Lo and says, "Can you be ugly once? Just be normal once!" It's great. Go check it out. What is my point to bringing this up? Well, every time Tori Amos releases a new album, I, and probably others who delve into songwriting, often feel the need to say, "Can you just make a normal album for once?" Let me explain.
To be honest, no Tori Amos album has ever been normal, because they are all extremely unique to who she is. Like when you hear one of her songs, you know that it's her. But around the turn of the century, she started doing what I would call "concept albums". Again, they all might have had that, but less blatantly. I think it really started with 2002's Scarlet's Walk, which is a phenomenal record about a trip across America, getting to know her and the stories within. And if you can get your hands on a deluxe copy, do it. It has pictures and stickers (YAY!) and a map of the country that shows where the songs take place, which I have framed and hung in my house, thank you very much. Anyway, Tori started to get really creative, even more so, with the themes of albums, putting together, not just a collection of songs, but almost using the songs like chapters in a book. Frankly, I love it, and it inspired me greatly. So, I chose one to talk about today, The Beekeeper.
The Beekeeper was released in 2005. It uses the theme of gardens and something that Tori calls a "sonic shape", a place for all the songs to live. If you look at the actual physical album, you can see that the songs are divided into different sections: The Desert Garden, The Rock Garden, Roses & Thorns, The Greenhouse, The Orchard and Elixers & Herbs. For real! Anyway, each place has a theme of its own, so that they can be expressions of whatever emotion or story that they choose. Tori also explores some religious themes, but from the female perspective. That sounds like something she would do, and to be honest, she does it well.
As far as the songs themselves go, there really aren't any bad ones, but, of course, I have my favorites. So, I'll try to stick to some highlights. There was the first single, which usually gets the most attention, "Sleeps With Butterflies". I love the piano work on this, as it matches the lyrical content so well. As I like songs that are named after and/or inspired by books, I've got a soft spot for the song "Jamaica Inn". Now she also mentions the name Rebecca in this, which makes me wonder. Was this a thinly veiled ode to one Ms. Daphne du Maurier? Maybe. Or Hitchcock, because he did both movies.
Songs like "Cars and Guitars" and "Ireland" stand out to me, because, musically, stylistically, they strike me as being quite . . . spunky. Sorry. I know that might be a strange word to describe anything that Tori does, but that's the one that comes to mind. Deal with it. "Witness" is a great song that has a gospel choir singing on it, which was a perfect fit for it and makes it . . . here's another out of left field word . . .
groovy. What! I'm sorry. My favorite of all the songs is actually the last track called "Toast". I can't really put my finger on why I love the most. There's nothing specific. I just do.
One of the best things about this album is where Tori opens up about some personal things in her life. I know, she does that often, but this time she's dealing with her mother. In an interview, she discusses how she had recently been faced with the idea of losing her mother, and this is greatly explored on this title track. It's extremely moving, but in a way, it's also uplifting. Same is the case with the song "Ribbons Undone", where Tori connects her feelings of seeing her mother as she is, but also her daughter. It's a tearjerker, in my opinion, but again, there's such beauty in how she sees the world where these two people are concerned. It breaks your heart, then hugs it with comfort. And if you ever get a chance to listen to that interview, where she discusses some things her mom told her, you won't be disappointed.
In case it's not clear, I am definitely recommending this album. If you're not a fan of Tori's already, this isn't a bad place to start. Now, whilst she and I don't agree on everything in real life, when it comes to her artistry and creativity, she has always inspired me, like I said. This work was one that pushed me with my own creativity. I know I can't be her, nor should I try to be, but artists like Tori show us how to tell our best stories and put forth the best versions of ourselves and our work.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Monday, August 21, 2017
Charmbracelet / Mariah Carey - Album Review
Greetings,
Be honest. You forgot that this album even existed, didn't you? Okay, fair enough. I wouldn't blame you if you did, considering where it lies in the oeuvre of Mariah Carey. I mean, we all remember the debacle that was Glitter in 2001, not to mention all the personal shenanigans that surrounded it, and we all remember the comeback brought on by The Emancipation of Mimi in 2005. But nestled between those two extremes was the album Charmbracelet, the only thing released during this time, aside from a greatest hits compilation from Columbia, which doesn't count. They never count, unless it's from The Eagles. So, what can be said about this oft forgotten recording and is it justifiably oft forgotten? Well...let's talk about that.
Charmbracelet was released in December of 2002 and was Mariah's first release on Island Records. This, of course, was after she was bought out of her Virgin contract for... $50,000,000! All that money to not sing. I'd take that deal. Anyway, she started working on it in early 2002, a mere months after the whole Glitter fiasco. Now, I'm all for her trying to get through her personal issues by way of her music and writing. After all, I do that myself. But I think it may have been better for her to do that just...to do it. To work through everything and have whatever she wrote be her own, rather than turn it into an album. I have no problem with her eventually sharing all of this with the world, as artists tend to do, but part of me thinks she just wanted to release something to replace her previous work. It may have been rushed and it might have been for the wrong reasons. But that's just my opinion. And I did appreciate some of the more personal and uplifting songs that she gave us here. Yeah, let's get to the actual songs, shall we?
To be fair, there isn't ton of memorable material on this album, but there is some. The first single was called "Through the Rain". It clearly chronicled the difficulties that Mariah had faced in the previous year. It wasn't bad, but some people were critical of it because it reminded them too much of another of her songs, "Hero". Which was a good song, so I don't know why that's exactly a bad thing. You can make more than one inspirational ballad, last time I checked. The second single was "Boy (I Need You), practically a 180 from its predecessor. I wasn't a fan of it, mostly because it just didn't click for me. That was another complaint many critics made about the album as a whole. It wasn't hooky enough. I kind of agree with that, overall. The third, and I believe final, single was a cover of Def Leppard's "Bringin' On the Heartbreak". Now, I always get suspicious when people cover songs from artists that are of a very different genre than their own, but considering that Mariah grew up in the 80's surrounded by all kinds of music, I don't doubt that she was a legit fan. And I think this is a pretty good version. Props to Dave Navarro for his contribution as well.
Aside from the singles, there were a few other stand out tracks on the album. "Clown", for one, is memorable, but mostly because it appears to be chronicling her relationship...or "relationship"... with Eminem. Um, good times? I liked "Subtle Invitation", especially musically, as it sounds very old school. Good horn work and all that. And then there's a song called "Sunflowers for Alfred Roy", which was about her father who had passed away. It is certainly the most personal of all the songs on this album. Maybe the most personal she has ever done.
Overall, I'd say that Charmbracelet is okay. It has its moments to shine, but there are also a lot of down time. It's not her worst album, but if you were going to rank them all, it would most likely be in the bottom half. I mean, if you're a hardcore Mariah fan, you probably already own this. If you're not a fan, I'd say you can skip the majority of it. But check out those few gems. Still, as much as I think that she, perhaps, should have held off on releasing this one, I can respect her for trying to work through her issues the best way she knew how, with her music. Can't fault her for that.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Be honest. You forgot that this album even existed, didn't you? Okay, fair enough. I wouldn't blame you if you did, considering where it lies in the oeuvre of Mariah Carey. I mean, we all remember the debacle that was Glitter in 2001, not to mention all the personal shenanigans that surrounded it, and we all remember the comeback brought on by The Emancipation of Mimi in 2005. But nestled between those two extremes was the album Charmbracelet, the only thing released during this time, aside from a greatest hits compilation from Columbia, which doesn't count. They never count, unless it's from The Eagles. So, what can be said about this oft forgotten recording and is it justifiably oft forgotten? Well...let's talk about that.
Charmbracelet was released in December of 2002 and was Mariah's first release on Island Records. This, of course, was after she was bought out of her Virgin contract for... $50,000,000! All that money to not sing. I'd take that deal. Anyway, she started working on it in early 2002, a mere months after the whole Glitter fiasco. Now, I'm all for her trying to get through her personal issues by way of her music and writing. After all, I do that myself. But I think it may have been better for her to do that just...to do it. To work through everything and have whatever she wrote be her own, rather than turn it into an album. I have no problem with her eventually sharing all of this with the world, as artists tend to do, but part of me thinks she just wanted to release something to replace her previous work. It may have been rushed and it might have been for the wrong reasons. But that's just my opinion. And I did appreciate some of the more personal and uplifting songs that she gave us here. Yeah, let's get to the actual songs, shall we?
To be fair, there isn't ton of memorable material on this album, but there is some. The first single was called "Through the Rain". It clearly chronicled the difficulties that Mariah had faced in the previous year. It wasn't bad, but some people were critical of it because it reminded them too much of another of her songs, "Hero". Which was a good song, so I don't know why that's exactly a bad thing. You can make more than one inspirational ballad, last time I checked. The second single was "Boy (I Need You), practically a 180 from its predecessor. I wasn't a fan of it, mostly because it just didn't click for me. That was another complaint many critics made about the album as a whole. It wasn't hooky enough. I kind of agree with that, overall. The third, and I believe final, single was a cover of Def Leppard's "Bringin' On the Heartbreak". Now, I always get suspicious when people cover songs from artists that are of a very different genre than their own, but considering that Mariah grew up in the 80's surrounded by all kinds of music, I don't doubt that she was a legit fan. And I think this is a pretty good version. Props to Dave Navarro for his contribution as well.
Aside from the singles, there were a few other stand out tracks on the album. "Clown", for one, is memorable, but mostly because it appears to be chronicling her relationship...or "relationship"... with Eminem. Um, good times? I liked "Subtle Invitation", especially musically, as it sounds very old school. Good horn work and all that. And then there's a song called "Sunflowers for Alfred Roy", which was about her father who had passed away. It is certainly the most personal of all the songs on this album. Maybe the most personal she has ever done.
Overall, I'd say that Charmbracelet is okay. It has its moments to shine, but there are also a lot of down time. It's not her worst album, but if you were going to rank them all, it would most likely be in the bottom half. I mean, if you're a hardcore Mariah fan, you probably already own this. If you're not a fan, I'd say you can skip the majority of it. But check out those few gems. Still, as much as I think that she, perhaps, should have held off on releasing this one, I can respect her for trying to work through her issues the best way she knew how, with her music. Can't fault her for that.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Saturday, August 5, 2017
Finding Forrester - Movie Review
Greetings,
Have I mentioned that I love movies about writers? Because I do. And today I want to talk about one of my favorites, that just so happens to star one of my favorite people. Not to mention that I think some aspects of the plot are quite relevant today. But more on that later. Let's talk about Finding Forrester. Yes, this is the movie that gave us that "You're the man now, dog" thing. God bless.
Finding Forrester is a 2000 film directed by Gus Van Sant. It's about a young man named Jamal Wallace, played by Rob Brown. He lives in New York in not the best of neighborhoods with his mother and brother, played by Busta Rhymes. Yeah. He gets the chance to go to a very prestigious school, due to his skills on the basketball court, but he also has a passion for reading and a gift for writing. There, he befriends Coleridge, played by Michael Pitt and Claire, played by Anna Paquin, who he develops a close relationship with. He also butts heads with a professor named Crawford, played by F. Murray Abraham, due to his suspicions about Jamal's skills as a writer. Because of where he comes from, I presume. Oh, no. Is he one of those people who thinks that Shakespeare didn't write Shakespeare because he was poor and didn't have a degree? Mercy.
Outside of his academic life, Jamal inadvertently meets a recluse named William Forrester, played by Sean Connery. It turns out that he is also a writer, publishing a superb and highly praised book fifty years earlier with nothing to follow. And the book they show in the film looks quite short for being considered a masterpiece of literature, might I say. It's nice to know that not all of those have to be the size of War and Peace. Moving on. Though the two have some tempestuous encounters, caused by how they originally become acquainted, they eventually begin to learn more about and from each other, and become genuine friends. The scenes between them are the highlights of the film, and thankfully, they take up a big portion of it. Despite how different these two actors are, especially in experience, they have incredibly good chemistry and seem so natural carrying on these conversations with each other. They perfectly portray the exchanges that would happen when someone is being mentored. I can't help but wonder if the off-screen friendship between Connery and Brown was reflected in the film.
It is this relationship that is the core of the story, which is really about finding out about people from more than what we see. Or what we assume. And that it's never too late to learn something in life and change for the better. Both Jamal and Forrester learn from one another and grow as people thanks to the time they spend together. It didn't matter that they were different ages or races or that they came from different places with different experiences. They took the time to put aside whatever assumptions they may have had about each other and listened to each other instead. And because they were open to that, because they didn't scoff at the idea that one can learn from something other than a clone of one's self, they were able to improve. They affected each other's lives, and, had they not taken a chance on this friendship, they would have been worse off.
And this lesson of looking passed what we see to discover who someone is does not confine itself to only the friendship between Jamal and Forrester. In fact, there are quite a few instances of characters judging one another based on assumptions rather than the truth of who they are. Once they open their eyes and look more closely and honestly, they realize what is truly there at the core of every person they meet. That is why I think this film is important, even today. Maybe especially today.
So, in case you haven't guessed, I highly recommend this movie. It's a well-written story and the acting is superb. And, yes, it is a great film about writers, which gives it automatic points in my book, but as you can tell by what I said, it is also about so much more.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Have I mentioned that I love movies about writers? Because I do. And today I want to talk about one of my favorites, that just so happens to star one of my favorite people. Not to mention that I think some aspects of the plot are quite relevant today. But more on that later. Let's talk about Finding Forrester. Yes, this is the movie that gave us that "You're the man now, dog" thing. God bless.
Finding Forrester is a 2000 film directed by Gus Van Sant. It's about a young man named Jamal Wallace, played by Rob Brown. He lives in New York in not the best of neighborhoods with his mother and brother, played by Busta Rhymes. Yeah. He gets the chance to go to a very prestigious school, due to his skills on the basketball court, but he also has a passion for reading and a gift for writing. There, he befriends Coleridge, played by Michael Pitt and Claire, played by Anna Paquin, who he develops a close relationship with. He also butts heads with a professor named Crawford, played by F. Murray Abraham, due to his suspicions about Jamal's skills as a writer. Because of where he comes from, I presume. Oh, no. Is he one of those people who thinks that Shakespeare didn't write Shakespeare because he was poor and didn't have a degree? Mercy.
Outside of his academic life, Jamal inadvertently meets a recluse named William Forrester, played by Sean Connery. It turns out that he is also a writer, publishing a superb and highly praised book fifty years earlier with nothing to follow. And the book they show in the film looks quite short for being considered a masterpiece of literature, might I say. It's nice to know that not all of those have to be the size of War and Peace. Moving on. Though the two have some tempestuous encounters, caused by how they originally become acquainted, they eventually begin to learn more about and from each other, and become genuine friends. The scenes between them are the highlights of the film, and thankfully, they take up a big portion of it. Despite how different these two actors are, especially in experience, they have incredibly good chemistry and seem so natural carrying on these conversations with each other. They perfectly portray the exchanges that would happen when someone is being mentored. I can't help but wonder if the off-screen friendship between Connery and Brown was reflected in the film.
It is this relationship that is the core of the story, which is really about finding out about people from more than what we see. Or what we assume. And that it's never too late to learn something in life and change for the better. Both Jamal and Forrester learn from one another and grow as people thanks to the time they spend together. It didn't matter that they were different ages or races or that they came from different places with different experiences. They took the time to put aside whatever assumptions they may have had about each other and listened to each other instead. And because they were open to that, because they didn't scoff at the idea that one can learn from something other than a clone of one's self, they were able to improve. They affected each other's lives, and, had they not taken a chance on this friendship, they would have been worse off.
And this lesson of looking passed what we see to discover who someone is does not confine itself to only the friendship between Jamal and Forrester. In fact, there are quite a few instances of characters judging one another based on assumptions rather than the truth of who they are. Once they open their eyes and look more closely and honestly, they realize what is truly there at the core of every person they meet. That is why I think this film is important, even today. Maybe especially today.
So, in case you haven't guessed, I highly recommend this movie. It's a well-written story and the acting is superb. And, yes, it is a great film about writers, which gives it automatic points in my book, but as you can tell by what I said, it is also about so much more.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
Top Ten Carpenters Songs
Greetings,
Someone once said that you'd have to dislike music to dislike The Carpenters. Agree! Okay, fine. I know that they weren't everyone's cup of tea, perhaps, due to their being a tad lightweight, according to some people. But they were a much loved act in their day. And why not? They were, and still are, a soothing escape from the craziness of the world.
I've been a fan of theirs for a huge part of my life, and their music had a wonderful effect on me. So did their story. Richard and Karen Carpenter created something very unique together. While there has always been a nice, massive bunch of the easy-listening type of pop music available to us, they were able to add a spark to it that no one else could. Yet to this day, as remembered as they are, I think that, at times, they are quite underrated. And that's a shame.
So, I thought I would do my part, to spread the word to a new generation, and tell them about The Carpenters. What better way for me to do it than through sharing my favorite of their songs. Okay, let's do this.
#10. "Yesterday Once More" - Yes, I know that the chorus of this one may be considered lyrically cringe-inducing by certain people. I get it, okay? It's hard not to make a face when you hear the words "Shing-a-ling"! But I happen to like the way it talks about music, and how all of it can affect you and bring back memories. Perhaps, almost to the point where it's all the same. Like sad songs are all the same to a broken heart.
#9. "Top of the World" - The Carpenters go country! How many groups go through that phase? Well, that's what happens when you visit Nashville, which is apparently where this song was inspired. This gets put on the list because of that great vocal arrangement near the end of the song. It's my favorite part!
#8. "(They Long To Be) Close To You" - This is probably the first song I ever heard from The Carpenters. It might be that for quite a few people, since I'd say it's one of their signature songs. It's just a sweet, almost sappy, love song, but in the best way. And let's be honest. We need songs like that. We knew songs that remind us of the sweet side of being in love with someone.
#7. "We've Only Just Begun" - As an artist, I can confirm 100% that we can get inspired by anything. Richard Carpenter heard this song on a commercial of all things, and he loved it so much that he wanted to record a full version. Turns out, he was able to get in touch with the writers, one of whom was the legendary Paul Williams, and got a full version. The rest is history and all that.
#6. "For All We Know" - Well, this would make a good wedding song...for an arranged marriage. No, for real. Listen to those lyrics! Either way, though, this is a beautifully written song, and maybe it's actually about how, when you make a full on commitment to someone, you get to know them in a whole new way.
#5. "Rainy Days and Mondays" - So...I may or may not have sung this song in the talent show back in my high school days. I may have. Look, I'm ashamed of myself for thinking that I could dare to sing anything that Karen sang first. I mean, as a singer, I'm not bad, but I'm not her. What a fool I was! Still, I do love this song. Strange, because I also love rainy days, so they never get me down. Mondays? It depends.
#4. "Goodbye To Love" - And here we have another interesting story of inspiration. There's a movie called Rhythm on the River, and in it, they keep talking about this masterpiece song called "Goodbye to Love", but the song is never in the movie. So, Richard decided to write that unheard song. Best writing prompt ever. And it is often said of writers that we need to write the story we want to read. Same goes for songs, it would seem. We write the ones we want to hear.
#3. "A Song For You" - So, this one was never released as a single for the group, but it was actually the title track for an album. Why they didn't release this, I'll never know. I mean, Karen's vocal is amazing on this song. How unusual, right? But it is kind of a testament to how incredible this song is when both the writer, Leon Russell, with his gravelly voice, and Karen with her smooth as silk voice, can both make the song sound like magic.
#2. "Superstar" - And yet another song that has Leon Russell's fingerprints on it. Of course. Anyway, I heard that the original title of this was..."Groupie". Oh, my, indeed. I mean, let's be honest. With or without that title, we all know what this song is about. I guess it just sounds more innocent with this newer title. And that certainly fit the persona of The Carpenters better. Also, I don't care that they say the word "Baby" like 100 times. I still love this song.
#1. "Hurting Each Other" - I didn't know this little fact until I started researching for this list, but, apparently, one of my other favorite singers did a version of this song - Rosemary Clooney! What I wouldn't give to have been able to hear her and Karen sing this song together. Can you even imagine the spectacularness of such a thing? Anyway, there's just something about this one that makes me love it the best. Everything just came together so perfectly. The music, the arrangement, the vocals, of course. Seriously, I always get chills when Karen hits that "Tearing each other apart" line. Just unbelievably wonderful. All of that makes it my absolute favorite song by The Carpenters.
As I said at the start of this post, I know that The Carpenters may not be for everyone, stylistically. But I don't think anyone can deny that they had something special. Richard was a master arranger, and what more can I say about Karen's voice. Even though, we have tons of new music acts coming out all the time, not all of them have a spark that could make them classic and memorable and very much loved for a very long time. The Carpenters were exactly that kind of artists. And while we sadly lost Karen far too soon, I know that Richard has always does his best to preserve their legacy. I think it's our job, as admirers of their work, to do the same.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Someone once said that you'd have to dislike music to dislike The Carpenters. Agree! Okay, fine. I know that they weren't everyone's cup of tea, perhaps, due to their being a tad lightweight, according to some people. But they were a much loved act in their day. And why not? They were, and still are, a soothing escape from the craziness of the world.
I've been a fan of theirs for a huge part of my life, and their music had a wonderful effect on me. So did their story. Richard and Karen Carpenter created something very unique together. While there has always been a nice, massive bunch of the easy-listening type of pop music available to us, they were able to add a spark to it that no one else could. Yet to this day, as remembered as they are, I think that, at times, they are quite underrated. And that's a shame.
So, I thought I would do my part, to spread the word to a new generation, and tell them about The Carpenters. What better way for me to do it than through sharing my favorite of their songs. Okay, let's do this.
#10. "Yesterday Once More" - Yes, I know that the chorus of this one may be considered lyrically cringe-inducing by certain people. I get it, okay? It's hard not to make a face when you hear the words "Shing-a-ling"! But I happen to like the way it talks about music, and how all of it can affect you and bring back memories. Perhaps, almost to the point where it's all the same. Like sad songs are all the same to a broken heart.
#9. "Top of the World" - The Carpenters go country! How many groups go through that phase? Well, that's what happens when you visit Nashville, which is apparently where this song was inspired. This gets put on the list because of that great vocal arrangement near the end of the song. It's my favorite part!
#8. "(They Long To Be) Close To You" - This is probably the first song I ever heard from The Carpenters. It might be that for quite a few people, since I'd say it's one of their signature songs. It's just a sweet, almost sappy, love song, but in the best way. And let's be honest. We need songs like that. We knew songs that remind us of the sweet side of being in love with someone.
#7. "We've Only Just Begun" - As an artist, I can confirm 100% that we can get inspired by anything. Richard Carpenter heard this song on a commercial of all things, and he loved it so much that he wanted to record a full version. Turns out, he was able to get in touch with the writers, one of whom was the legendary Paul Williams, and got a full version. The rest is history and all that.
#6. "For All We Know" - Well, this would make a good wedding song...for an arranged marriage. No, for real. Listen to those lyrics! Either way, though, this is a beautifully written song, and maybe it's actually about how, when you make a full on commitment to someone, you get to know them in a whole new way.
#5. "Rainy Days and Mondays" - So...I may or may not have sung this song in the talent show back in my high school days. I may have. Look, I'm ashamed of myself for thinking that I could dare to sing anything that Karen sang first. I mean, as a singer, I'm not bad, but I'm not her. What a fool I was! Still, I do love this song. Strange, because I also love rainy days, so they never get me down. Mondays? It depends.
#4. "Goodbye To Love" - And here we have another interesting story of inspiration. There's a movie called Rhythm on the River, and in it, they keep talking about this masterpiece song called "Goodbye to Love", but the song is never in the movie. So, Richard decided to write that unheard song. Best writing prompt ever. And it is often said of writers that we need to write the story we want to read. Same goes for songs, it would seem. We write the ones we want to hear.
#3. "A Song For You" - So, this one was never released as a single for the group, but it was actually the title track for an album. Why they didn't release this, I'll never know. I mean, Karen's vocal is amazing on this song. How unusual, right? But it is kind of a testament to how incredible this song is when both the writer, Leon Russell, with his gravelly voice, and Karen with her smooth as silk voice, can both make the song sound like magic.
#2. "Superstar" - And yet another song that has Leon Russell's fingerprints on it. Of course. Anyway, I heard that the original title of this was..."Groupie". Oh, my, indeed. I mean, let's be honest. With or without that title, we all know what this song is about. I guess it just sounds more innocent with this newer title. And that certainly fit the persona of The Carpenters better. Also, I don't care that they say the word "Baby" like 100 times. I still love this song.
#1. "Hurting Each Other" - I didn't know this little fact until I started researching for this list, but, apparently, one of my other favorite singers did a version of this song - Rosemary Clooney! What I wouldn't give to have been able to hear her and Karen sing this song together. Can you even imagine the spectacularness of such a thing? Anyway, there's just something about this one that makes me love it the best. Everything just came together so perfectly. The music, the arrangement, the vocals, of course. Seriously, I always get chills when Karen hits that "Tearing each other apart" line. Just unbelievably wonderful. All of that makes it my absolute favorite song by The Carpenters.
As I said at the start of this post, I know that The Carpenters may not be for everyone, stylistically. But I don't think anyone can deny that they had something special. Richard was a master arranger, and what more can I say about Karen's voice. Even though, we have tons of new music acts coming out all the time, not all of them have a spark that could make them classic and memorable and very much loved for a very long time. The Carpenters were exactly that kind of artists. And while we sadly lost Karen far too soon, I know that Richard has always does his best to preserve their legacy. I think it's our job, as admirers of their work, to do the same.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Saturday, July 22, 2017
Shark Night - Movie Review
Greetings,
It's a day before the best week of the year. Oh, yes. I am talking about Shark Week! Squee, indeed! So, I thought, to kick things off a day early, I'd do a review of a shark related movie. No, not that one. Not that one either. Listen, I'll give you a minute to sift through the oeuvre of SyFy movies. Done? Good, but I'm sorry to say that today's discussion will not be centered around any of those. We're gonna talk about Shark Night. Not the best of this genre, but definitely not the worst.
Shark Night is a 2011 horror film directed by David R. Ellis, who was also a stuntman and who also directed the cult classic Snakes on a Plane. Sadly, he passed away a few years ago and this was his last film. The plot follows a group of college students on a vacation where things get unfortunate. Maybe not the most original of stories thus far. But let's set that faux pas aside for now, because things in this film do make a turn with some never-before-seen ideas. As far as I know.
The group of friends head to the vacation home of Sarah, played by Sara Paxton, and since this is her home, we get introduced to some of her old friends, who she may or may not be on good terms with, including an old boyfriend, Dennis, played by Chris Carmack. Calm down, Nashville fans. He doesn't sing in this movie. Now, the aforementioned house just so happens to be on a lake. A private lake. Or is it? No, it is. But no one told the sharks that!! Yeah, as you may have guessed, sharks start showing up. And they're hungry. Because movie sharks are always hungry. ALWAYS!
As the story goes on, the friends, as expected, start getting picked off one by one, though some of these incidents happen in very UNexpected ways. Ways that are extremely entertaining and quite memorable in some cases. I'll just say "Jet Ski". If you've seen this movie, you'll know what I mean. But what I really like about this film is the twist. Yes, it has a twist, which explains why there are sharks in a place where sharks don't tend to be. Again, as far as I know. And I think it was a pretty decent twist. I mean, it was decent enough that when I heard it I said, "Wait, what?" And it was the part where we got some of the most entertaining acting. I may have even chuckled a bit, and for the right reasons. Because I think it was supposed to be a thing that is meant to be frightening for the characters in the film, but rather amusingly ridiculous for the audience.
Oh, and speaking of acting, how are the actors in this film? Not too bad. And we get some familiar faces, like Joel David Moore (that one guy from Avatar). Josh Leonard (that one guy from The Blair Witch Project), Katherine McPhee (that one girl from...OK, I'm done with this) and the awesome, awesome Donal Logue. I have loved him since I first saw him on an a rerun of The Commish! Good times. Yeah, he is definitely the best thing about this movie. He tends to be that.
All in all, I'm not gonna say this was a great movie, but it was definitely entertaining. It's no Jaws, of course. It's not even Jaws 2. But there are moments that you will remember, and like I said, I thought the twist was not a bad story element. Look, it's a shark movie. These days, we haven't exactly been trained to consider them synonymous with high art, but who says it has to be? Shark Night is a fun time with a movie, and I've never even seen it in 3D. So, if you get sad when Shark Week ends and you still want some teeth and fins, this isn't a bad way to get them. That sounded a bit menacing. Sorry.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
It's a day before the best week of the year. Oh, yes. I am talking about Shark Week! Squee, indeed! So, I thought, to kick things off a day early, I'd do a review of a shark related movie. No, not that one. Not that one either. Listen, I'll give you a minute to sift through the oeuvre of SyFy movies. Done? Good, but I'm sorry to say that today's discussion will not be centered around any of those. We're gonna talk about Shark Night. Not the best of this genre, but definitely not the worst.
Shark Night is a 2011 horror film directed by David R. Ellis, who was also a stuntman and who also directed the cult classic Snakes on a Plane. Sadly, he passed away a few years ago and this was his last film. The plot follows a group of college students on a vacation where things get unfortunate. Maybe not the most original of stories thus far. But let's set that faux pas aside for now, because things in this film do make a turn with some never-before-seen ideas. As far as I know.
The group of friends head to the vacation home of Sarah, played by Sara Paxton, and since this is her home, we get introduced to some of her old friends, who she may or may not be on good terms with, including an old boyfriend, Dennis, played by Chris Carmack. Calm down, Nashville fans. He doesn't sing in this movie. Now, the aforementioned house just so happens to be on a lake. A private lake. Or is it? No, it is. But no one told the sharks that!! Yeah, as you may have guessed, sharks start showing up. And they're hungry. Because movie sharks are always hungry. ALWAYS!
As the story goes on, the friends, as expected, start getting picked off one by one, though some of these incidents happen in very UNexpected ways. Ways that are extremely entertaining and quite memorable in some cases. I'll just say "Jet Ski". If you've seen this movie, you'll know what I mean. But what I really like about this film is the twist. Yes, it has a twist, which explains why there are sharks in a place where sharks don't tend to be. Again, as far as I know. And I think it was a pretty decent twist. I mean, it was decent enough that when I heard it I said, "Wait, what?" And it was the part where we got some of the most entertaining acting. I may have even chuckled a bit, and for the right reasons. Because I think it was supposed to be a thing that is meant to be frightening for the characters in the film, but rather amusingly ridiculous for the audience.
Oh, and speaking of acting, how are the actors in this film? Not too bad. And we get some familiar faces, like Joel David Moore (that one guy from Avatar). Josh Leonard (that one guy from The Blair Witch Project), Katherine McPhee (that one girl from...OK, I'm done with this) and the awesome, awesome Donal Logue. I have loved him since I first saw him on an a rerun of The Commish! Good times. Yeah, he is definitely the best thing about this movie. He tends to be that.
All in all, I'm not gonna say this was a great movie, but it was definitely entertaining. It's no Jaws, of course. It's not even Jaws 2. But there are moments that you will remember, and like I said, I thought the twist was not a bad story element. Look, it's a shark movie. These days, we haven't exactly been trained to consider them synonymous with high art, but who says it has to be? Shark Night is a fun time with a movie, and I've never even seen it in 3D. So, if you get sad when Shark Week ends and you still want some teeth and fins, this isn't a bad way to get them. That sounded a bit menacing. Sorry.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Tuesday, July 11, 2017
All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records - Documentary Review
Greetings,
I often tell people about how much I love going to bookstores, and how sad I am that there are no longer any bookstores in my area. The reason I love them so much, and why I'm willing to travel a bit to get to one, goes beyond just what you may think. I don't only go there to buy books. I go there for the atmosphere and the feeling of being surrounded by all those books. It's not unlike why I and many other people still enjoy going to stores that sell music as well. Yes, those still exist, believe it or not. But, as we all know, many have been forced to close down. Even ones that bore a name that is pretty much legendary. And they are the subject of the documentary I will discuss today, All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records.
All Things Must Pass is a 2015 documentary directed by Colin Hanks, and, from what I heard, it took him quite a few years to put this together. It tells the story, obviously, of Tower Records, from its very humble beginnings to being synonymous with music buying to its eventual demise, which did not happen exactly for the reasons you may think and isn't exactly complete as some stores still exist overseas. The journey through this tale is told much in the way of most documentaries with a lot of archival footage and talking heads. Of course, the stories that those talking heads are what make this really enjoyable.
The most amazing thing about this film is the way we find out how this store affected so many people's lives. Whether it was the employees who absolutely loved working there because they loved music, or the regular customers who could find the artists they were into that never got radio airplay, or even the artists themselves who often visited the store to find new music for themselves. It was just a special place that, whilst becoming a massive, worldwide corporation, still managed to keep the feel of a neighborhood record store. Again, I think the reason for that is because everyone who was connected to it had a true love of music. It was even something of a hangout spot in some areas, a place where people with a common interest could gather and discuss and have a lot of fun.
Now, I personally never went to a Tower Records, as far as I can remember, because we did not have a Tower Records in my where I lived. We were more of a Sam Goody and The Wall kind of a town. But I knew of the legend. So, I can't actually speak firsthand on it, but there are enough stories where anyone can feel like they know the place.
Hearing the story of Tower Records from start to finish is fascinating. It has its own arc as though it was a living breathing being, and in some ways, it was exactly that. It had a birth and a kind of death and a lot of living in between. It had friends, enemies, loved ones, highs, lows, but most importantly, it had a lot of heart. And I think that's what the message at the core of this film is.
How many people start businesses everyday? A lot. How many people start businesses concerning something that they are hardcore passionate about? Probably not as many. I know I keep saying this, but it should be said. Tower Records was started and nurtured by people who had a very real love of music and those who created it, and all kinds, not just what was popular at the moment. It was that passion that led to its success, and what makes the fact that these places aren't as plentiful anymore all the more tragic. Yes, the music is still out there and you can still get it, just like books. But there is something magical about going to one place, a journey to a destination, to seek it out and share it with others face to face. It's sad that this doesn't happen much anymore, but at least, films like All Things Must Pass can remind us of that time and help to ensure that we never forget it.
So, I do recommend this documentary. I'd say it's for music lovers most of all, but I bet there are a few history buffs out there that might find it intriguing. This story, this place, after all, are a very important part of history.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I often tell people about how much I love going to bookstores, and how sad I am that there are no longer any bookstores in my area. The reason I love them so much, and why I'm willing to travel a bit to get to one, goes beyond just what you may think. I don't only go there to buy books. I go there for the atmosphere and the feeling of being surrounded by all those books. It's not unlike why I and many other people still enjoy going to stores that sell music as well. Yes, those still exist, believe it or not. But, as we all know, many have been forced to close down. Even ones that bore a name that is pretty much legendary. And they are the subject of the documentary I will discuss today, All Things Must Pass: The Rise and Fall of Tower Records.
All Things Must Pass is a 2015 documentary directed by Colin Hanks, and, from what I heard, it took him quite a few years to put this together. It tells the story, obviously, of Tower Records, from its very humble beginnings to being synonymous with music buying to its eventual demise, which did not happen exactly for the reasons you may think and isn't exactly complete as some stores still exist overseas. The journey through this tale is told much in the way of most documentaries with a lot of archival footage and talking heads. Of course, the stories that those talking heads are what make this really enjoyable.
The most amazing thing about this film is the way we find out how this store affected so many people's lives. Whether it was the employees who absolutely loved working there because they loved music, or the regular customers who could find the artists they were into that never got radio airplay, or even the artists themselves who often visited the store to find new music for themselves. It was just a special place that, whilst becoming a massive, worldwide corporation, still managed to keep the feel of a neighborhood record store. Again, I think the reason for that is because everyone who was connected to it had a true love of music. It was even something of a hangout spot in some areas, a place where people with a common interest could gather and discuss and have a lot of fun.
Now, I personally never went to a Tower Records, as far as I can remember, because we did not have a Tower Records in my where I lived. We were more of a Sam Goody and The Wall kind of a town. But I knew of the legend. So, I can't actually speak firsthand on it, but there are enough stories where anyone can feel like they know the place.
Hearing the story of Tower Records from start to finish is fascinating. It has its own arc as though it was a living breathing being, and in some ways, it was exactly that. It had a birth and a kind of death and a lot of living in between. It had friends, enemies, loved ones, highs, lows, but most importantly, it had a lot of heart. And I think that's what the message at the core of this film is.
How many people start businesses everyday? A lot. How many people start businesses concerning something that they are hardcore passionate about? Probably not as many. I know I keep saying this, but it should be said. Tower Records was started and nurtured by people who had a very real love of music and those who created it, and all kinds, not just what was popular at the moment. It was that passion that led to its success, and what makes the fact that these places aren't as plentiful anymore all the more tragic. Yes, the music is still out there and you can still get it, just like books. But there is something magical about going to one place, a journey to a destination, to seek it out and share it with others face to face. It's sad that this doesn't happen much anymore, but at least, films like All Things Must Pass can remind us of that time and help to ensure that we never forget it.
So, I do recommend this documentary. I'd say it's for music lovers most of all, but I bet there are a few history buffs out there that might find it intriguing. This story, this place, after all, are a very important part of history.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown - Movie Review
Greetings,
So, it's summer, apparently. And what do people do in the summer? Well, don't the kids go to summer camp or something? At least, that's what I was told. I personally never did anything like that, as my summers were more...indoorsy. But I could live vicariously through the stories I heard from my friends, and also through the stories of a little round-headed boy and his friends. So, let's talk about one of my favorite animated movies, Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown. It's not as serious as it sounds. Or is it?
Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown was released in the summer of 1977. Hey, that makes this year its 40th anniversary. Congratulations. The plot is about our titular character and his group heading off to summer camp. It's entertaining from the start, with a pretty fun theme song, IMO, and an amusing ride on the bus. Or, lack thereof, for some of them. Once they arrive, the kids try to settle in and get used to the way the camp is run, like using what I believe is military time and all that. The boys and girls split up into their respective cabins, and we get some interesting voting strategies from Peppermint Patty, as well as an hilarious scene on a waterbed. Oh, 70's. You had weird things.
One issue that both the boys and girls must deal with, however, is a group of bullies, who have, of course, a cat. And as we all know, cats are evil. Okay, to be fair, we've got Snoopy and Woodstock, so what else would be part of the nemeses. Anyway, these kids are legit awful. I mean, they do some things that would make Eric Raymond and the Misfits say, "Whoa, kids. That's a bit much." Although, the bully group did wear matching outfits, if memory serves, so it's not like the kids had o ammunition to fight back. Oh, well. Maybe they didn't want to risk it, because like I said, those guys were vicious.
And nowhere is this more evident than in the main event of the summer and the film, the big river race. So, ya know how, in the Charlie Brown specials, we often ask the burning question "Where are the parents?" Well, in this movie, we are asking "Where are the camp counselors?" Of course, even if we could find them, I don't think I'd trust them. Who in the heck lets children take part in, what ends up being, a very dangerous river race, and in rafts that they made themselves, no less? I feel as though, come September, there may be some lawsuits.
Anyway, this is where the real adventure begins, because the kids face all kinds of interesting things whilst on this race, including, but not limited to, explosions and blizzards...in the middle of summer. Yeah, I know they're kind of in the mountains, but...no. And while we enjoy these ventures, we are also wondering who, indeed, will win the race. I mean, we do have more than one team that we can be rooting for, so the ending isn't totally easy to predict, certainly not for a child seeing it for the first time. But, even as an adult, I do find the ending rather satisfying. So, it fits the rest of the film quite nicely.
As it is probably evident, I have always been a fan of the Peanuts gang, and like I said, this is one my favorites of their productions. As usual it has some great writing with great comedy, but it also has many elements of an adventure movie. Even some moments that, dare I say it, may be a bit tense. At least for the kids. Either way, I still find this one extremely enjoyable, and not just because of the nostalgia goggles. I'd say that most of the Peanuts stuff holds up, and if you haven't seen it yet, or if you've some kids and want to give them something better than the crap movies they've been releasing lately, I say this one should be very high on your "To Watch" list. It might just be the perfect summer movie. It might be.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
So, it's summer, apparently. And what do people do in the summer? Well, don't the kids go to summer camp or something? At least, that's what I was told. I personally never did anything like that, as my summers were more...indoorsy. But I could live vicariously through the stories I heard from my friends, and also through the stories of a little round-headed boy and his friends. So, let's talk about one of my favorite animated movies, Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown. It's not as serious as it sounds. Or is it?
Race For Your Life, Charlie Brown was released in the summer of 1977. Hey, that makes this year its 40th anniversary. Congratulations. The plot is about our titular character and his group heading off to summer camp. It's entertaining from the start, with a pretty fun theme song, IMO, and an amusing ride on the bus. Or, lack thereof, for some of them. Once they arrive, the kids try to settle in and get used to the way the camp is run, like using what I believe is military time and all that. The boys and girls split up into their respective cabins, and we get some interesting voting strategies from Peppermint Patty, as well as an hilarious scene on a waterbed. Oh, 70's. You had weird things.
One issue that both the boys and girls must deal with, however, is a group of bullies, who have, of course, a cat. And as we all know, cats are evil. Okay, to be fair, we've got Snoopy and Woodstock, so what else would be part of the nemeses. Anyway, these kids are legit awful. I mean, they do some things that would make Eric Raymond and the Misfits say, "Whoa, kids. That's a bit much." Although, the bully group did wear matching outfits, if memory serves, so it's not like the kids had o ammunition to fight back. Oh, well. Maybe they didn't want to risk it, because like I said, those guys were vicious.
And nowhere is this more evident than in the main event of the summer and the film, the big river race. So, ya know how, in the Charlie Brown specials, we often ask the burning question "Where are the parents?" Well, in this movie, we are asking "Where are the camp counselors?" Of course, even if we could find them, I don't think I'd trust them. Who in the heck lets children take part in, what ends up being, a very dangerous river race, and in rafts that they made themselves, no less? I feel as though, come September, there may be some lawsuits.
Anyway, this is where the real adventure begins, because the kids face all kinds of interesting things whilst on this race, including, but not limited to, explosions and blizzards...in the middle of summer. Yeah, I know they're kind of in the mountains, but...no. And while we enjoy these ventures, we are also wondering who, indeed, will win the race. I mean, we do have more than one team that we can be rooting for, so the ending isn't totally easy to predict, certainly not for a child seeing it for the first time. But, even as an adult, I do find the ending rather satisfying. So, it fits the rest of the film quite nicely.
As it is probably evident, I have always been a fan of the Peanuts gang, and like I said, this is one my favorites of their productions. As usual it has some great writing with great comedy, but it also has many elements of an adventure movie. Even some moments that, dare I say it, may be a bit tense. At least for the kids. Either way, I still find this one extremely enjoyable, and not just because of the nostalgia goggles. I'd say that most of the Peanuts stuff holds up, and if you haven't seen it yet, or if you've some kids and want to give them something better than the crap movies they've been releasing lately, I say this one should be very high on your "To Watch" list. It might just be the perfect summer movie. It might be.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)