Greetings,
"Magic is the word that comes to mind for me when I think of Muscle Shoals"
Those are the first words spoken in the film Muscle Shoals, and they are spoken by Bono. I may complain often about the quantity of talking this man does, but, every now and then, he hits the nail on the head when it comes to quality. When he's right, he's right, and he is definitely right about Muscle Shoals. Don't believe me? Well, watch this movie. Okay, I'll tell you some things about it first.
Muscle Shoals is a documentary about the legendary music that was made in the titular small town in Alabama, particularly in two places, FAME Studio and Muscle Shoals Sound Studio. There was a LOT of music that came from this area, and we get to hear plenty about how that came to be. This film is full of some of the best interviews I've ever seen about said music. We get stories from some great artists who recorded in Muscle Shoals, like Aretha Franklin, Percy Sledge, Steve Winwood, just to name a few. Oh, and the Rolling Stones talk about how this was the place they recorded "Wild Horses", their best song ever, so, yeah, good times on that one. Of course, we get even more interesting tales from people you might not recognize. These were the phenomenal musicians behind the big names who created what came to be known as the Muscle Shoals sound.
More than anyone else it seems, we get stories from a guy named Rick Hall. He was the founder of FAME Studios, and I have to say, I came to really, really like this guy. He did not have an easy life, not in childhood nor adulthood, but what he did have was a love of music. He was passionate about creating it in the best way possible. He still is. And when I say that, I mean it in the purest, most realistic way. Rick Hall is tough in the recording studio. He does not stop, nor will he let any of the artists stop until the music is as perfect as it can be. Everyone says this about him, and this is why they love to work with him. They know he has a gift. They know that if he's still pushing them, it means they haven't gone as far as they can go. They know he will get them there. If anything, this man reminds us that, yes, there was a time when people cared intensely about the music they were making. One of my major complaints about music today is that it seems like no one cares. I'm not saying that no one actually does; I'm just saying it seems that way. If you also feel this way, you might spend a lot of time whilst watching this film wishing we could clone this guy and stick one of him in every studio in the world. He would be that good for the music world.
Anyway, there are a few themes that run through this movie. Music is obviously one of them, and also race. Of course. This sound which is discussed began in the South in the fifties. Yeah, racial issues might be brought up a little. The interesting thing is that, most of the time when they talk about this subject, particularly when it come to prejudice, it's done in a positive way. Let me explain. The musicians who were working at the studios in Muscle Shoals were predominantly white. Not always, I think, but a lot of the time, that was the case. But no one thought that was the case. No lie, someone tells a story about Paul Simon wanting the "black players" who were the rhythm section on "I'll Take You There" by The Staple Singers. The response he got was that it was possible to have that happen, but the guys he was looking for were "mighty pale". By the way, those pale guys were The Swampers, one of the greatest rhythm sections ever, and a lot of people were surprised at how soulful they could be. Apparently, this was a learning experience for all.
Another theme that comes up is water. Muscle Shoals lies right near the Tennessee River, a river that was once known by the Yuchi tribe as Nunnuhsae, "the river that sings". A man named Tom Hendrix sits at a place called Ishatae, a holy place of music and people. He is a descendant of the Yuchi tribe, and he tells a story of his great-great-greandmother, who was taken away in the 1800's to a place where they couldn't hold their ceremonies or sing or dance, so she went back. Walked back to the singing river. This is my favorite part of the film. It may be because of my own Native American blood, or because this man tells the story with such reverence for the place from which he came. I don't know, but it's worth the watch just for this.
I suppose what I came away with from this movie was a feeling, an almost indescribable feeling. It's odd, because, when they show Muscle Shoals, they show the river and trees and grass and buildings, and at first, I thought, 'Okay, I've seen these things. I live by these things. But why do I feel something different when I see those things in this place?' Well, Jimmy Cliff says that certain places have energy, and so many people talk about the power of this place. I agree. Things we deem as ordinary can become extraordinary because of where they are and what and who surrounds them. All I have to say is that, given the opportunity, I would definitely want to record here, even just one song would be enough.
So, in case it's not obvious, go watch this documentary. I'm saying that to everyone, but especially if you are a musician or a writer or an artist, or if you love to hear the stories of the people who are those things. It might be life-changing, or at least, very, very inspiring.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Friday, June 13, 2014
Sunday, June 8, 2014
Straight From the Theater Review - Maleficent
Greetings,
I seem to remember a time when villains were just villains, and that was it. When stories and movies needed them, they came, did their villainy things, entertained us with those things and then left, one way or another. Well, those good times seem to be gone forever. Now every bad guy needs a back story, and I don't necessarily have a problem with that. Actually, I enjoy when they can be not as one dimensional as they have tended to be on several occasions in the past. I don't even mind all that much if they are made a little sympathetic. A LITTLE. Yeah, there has to be a line drawn, and with many films these days, including the new Maleficent, they didn't really think to do that.
So Disney's Maleficent is being touted as, basically, Sleeping Beauty from the villain's point of view. Obviously, that means she gets back story. Fine. And from the trailers and whatnot, you can easily see that Maleficent is about how she is who she is because she was wronged in some way. Again, fine. It makes sense. But the way in which she was wronged is so far beyond where I thought they would go. I found this to be a negative and a positive, if that's possible. Positively, I like the way that she has more of a reason for cursing Aurora than "What! You didn't invite me to your party?", though that is the reason for it in many different versions of Sleeping Beauty. Negatively, it's just one more incident of taking an amazing, strong-willed, female character and making it a statement about how women get broken so easily that one unforeseen moment will control the rest of their lives. Yeah, I think some of us are a little tougher than that...BOYS! Actually, in this case, I shouldn't say that, since they had nothing to do with it. Yes, I seriously cannot believe a woman wrote this screenplay.
Okay, the story. Without giving too much away, we see Maleficent as a child fairy with wings and everything. She lives in the magic land of The Moors, where all the, of course, magical creatures live. They are separated from the world of the humans and their bad, crooked king or whatever. Anyway, she grows up as the protector of The Moors, does battle with the king and then, eventually loses her wings. I assumed after that she would turn evil, but it's more like she's just jaded. Soon, Aurora is born and the curse thing happens, and then things just go nuts. By nuts, I mean that the story is so completely different from anything you might be thinking. Look, I expected some changes, naturally, but holy crap, this thing...I don't even know. And that's all I can say without being too spoilery.
So let's talk about some of the cast. Angelina Jolie as Maleficent. I am not a fan of hers for many, many, many reasons. I used to be a big fan of hers, but things happen. Still, I must say, she did a decent job here. She certainly looked the part, and she really did nail a great sinister sounding voice. A lot of high pitched "Hmmm"s, if you know what I mean. Then, there's Aurora played by Elle Fanning. Now, some vicious people were saying that she is "not beautiful enough to play Sleeping Beauty". Well, she doesn't look much like the one from the Disney animated movie, but that one looked about twenty-five years old. So, no, Elle Fanning does not look like her. She looks pretty and fresh and SIXTEEN! Because she is sixteen, as is Aurora, and this is what they're supposed to look like. Moving on. As far as her acting goes, I think she did a good job. Elle, I see as a young actress who is coming into her own, but who has a lot of potential to become great. She's proving it with roles like this.
We also get a Prince Phillip in this, played by Brenton Thwaites. He's barely in it, maybe two or three scenes, but he does fine for what he gets. One of the highlights, however, is a character named Diaval played by Sam Riley. He's the raven, but he becomes a shapeshifter, so he's a guy sometimes. This was a very enjoyable character to me. He was funny and even touching at times. Of all the changes made from the original, I'd say this was the best.
And now, more bad news. King Stephan played by Sharlto Copley. Wow, I despise what they did to his character in this movie. I know he was barely a character in the original, but if they wanted to increase his quantity, why could they not have improved his quality? They did not. But what was done to him has nothing on the fairies. HATE! HAAAAAATE! Remember the fairies from Sleeping Beauty? Remember Flora, Fauna and Merryweather who were funny, who took wonderful and vigilant care of Aurora, who, even though they bickered, still loved each other and were great friends? Well, forget that! They suck in this movie! Aside from the creepy CGI when they're tiny that is done on Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple and Lesley Manville, who do an okay job with the acting, for the record, these characters are totally different. Not in a good way. First, their names are changed to Knotgrass, Thistlewit and Flittle...why? I don't know. And they are just incompetent. Again, I won't go into detail, but their time of taking care of Aurora, whilst I think they meant it to be funny, was ridiculous. Just...no!
So will I say anything else good about Maleficent? Yes. I absolutely love how it looks. The visuals are breathtaking, and I didn't even see it in 3-D. It's colorful and huge and the landscapes are stunning. I give them an A on this part of it. It would have been an A+, but...creepy fairy CGI, as you remember. And, as much as the story bugs me, it was still interesting. You won't be bored in this film, and it's only about an hour and a half, so it finishes rather quickly. Would I recommend to see it in the theater? I suppose if you are really into the visual aspects of film, it is certainly one you would be wanting to see on the big screen. You really get to see everything that way. Otherwise, if you're not that interested, wait. It is worth, at least, one watch, but where and when you watch it is not such a big deal.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I seem to remember a time when villains were just villains, and that was it. When stories and movies needed them, they came, did their villainy things, entertained us with those things and then left, one way or another. Well, those good times seem to be gone forever. Now every bad guy needs a back story, and I don't necessarily have a problem with that. Actually, I enjoy when they can be not as one dimensional as they have tended to be on several occasions in the past. I don't even mind all that much if they are made a little sympathetic. A LITTLE. Yeah, there has to be a line drawn, and with many films these days, including the new Maleficent, they didn't really think to do that.
So Disney's Maleficent is being touted as, basically, Sleeping Beauty from the villain's point of view. Obviously, that means she gets back story. Fine. And from the trailers and whatnot, you can easily see that Maleficent is about how she is who she is because she was wronged in some way. Again, fine. It makes sense. But the way in which she was wronged is so far beyond where I thought they would go. I found this to be a negative and a positive, if that's possible. Positively, I like the way that she has more of a reason for cursing Aurora than "What! You didn't invite me to your party?", though that is the reason for it in many different versions of Sleeping Beauty. Negatively, it's just one more incident of taking an amazing, strong-willed, female character and making it a statement about how women get broken so easily that one unforeseen moment will control the rest of their lives. Yeah, I think some of us are a little tougher than that...BOYS! Actually, in this case, I shouldn't say that, since they had nothing to do with it. Yes, I seriously cannot believe a woman wrote this screenplay.
Okay, the story. Without giving too much away, we see Maleficent as a child fairy with wings and everything. She lives in the magic land of The Moors, where all the, of course, magical creatures live. They are separated from the world of the humans and their bad, crooked king or whatever. Anyway, she grows up as the protector of The Moors, does battle with the king and then, eventually loses her wings. I assumed after that she would turn evil, but it's more like she's just jaded. Soon, Aurora is born and the curse thing happens, and then things just go nuts. By nuts, I mean that the story is so completely different from anything you might be thinking. Look, I expected some changes, naturally, but holy crap, this thing...I don't even know. And that's all I can say without being too spoilery.
So let's talk about some of the cast. Angelina Jolie as Maleficent. I am not a fan of hers for many, many, many reasons. I used to be a big fan of hers, but things happen. Still, I must say, she did a decent job here. She certainly looked the part, and she really did nail a great sinister sounding voice. A lot of high pitched "Hmmm"s, if you know what I mean. Then, there's Aurora played by Elle Fanning. Now, some vicious people were saying that she is "not beautiful enough to play Sleeping Beauty". Well, she doesn't look much like the one from the Disney animated movie, but that one looked about twenty-five years old. So, no, Elle Fanning does not look like her. She looks pretty and fresh and SIXTEEN! Because she is sixteen, as is Aurora, and this is what they're supposed to look like. Moving on. As far as her acting goes, I think she did a good job. Elle, I see as a young actress who is coming into her own, but who has a lot of potential to become great. She's proving it with roles like this.
We also get a Prince Phillip in this, played by Brenton Thwaites. He's barely in it, maybe two or three scenes, but he does fine for what he gets. One of the highlights, however, is a character named Diaval played by Sam Riley. He's the raven, but he becomes a shapeshifter, so he's a guy sometimes. This was a very enjoyable character to me. He was funny and even touching at times. Of all the changes made from the original, I'd say this was the best.
And now, more bad news. King Stephan played by Sharlto Copley. Wow, I despise what they did to his character in this movie. I know he was barely a character in the original, but if they wanted to increase his quantity, why could they not have improved his quality? They did not. But what was done to him has nothing on the fairies. HATE! HAAAAAATE! Remember the fairies from Sleeping Beauty? Remember Flora, Fauna and Merryweather who were funny, who took wonderful and vigilant care of Aurora, who, even though they bickered, still loved each other and were great friends? Well, forget that! They suck in this movie! Aside from the creepy CGI when they're tiny that is done on Imelda Staunton, Juno Temple and Lesley Manville, who do an okay job with the acting, for the record, these characters are totally different. Not in a good way. First, their names are changed to Knotgrass, Thistlewit and Flittle...why? I don't know. And they are just incompetent. Again, I won't go into detail, but their time of taking care of Aurora, whilst I think they meant it to be funny, was ridiculous. Just...no!
So will I say anything else good about Maleficent? Yes. I absolutely love how it looks. The visuals are breathtaking, and I didn't even see it in 3-D. It's colorful and huge and the landscapes are stunning. I give them an A on this part of it. It would have been an A+, but...creepy fairy CGI, as you remember. And, as much as the story bugs me, it was still interesting. You won't be bored in this film, and it's only about an hour and a half, so it finishes rather quickly. Would I recommend to see it in the theater? I suppose if you are really into the visual aspects of film, it is certainly one you would be wanting to see on the big screen. You really get to see everything that way. Otherwise, if you're not that interested, wait. It is worth, at least, one watch, but where and when you watch it is not such a big deal.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Sunday, June 1, 2014
Growing Up Brady: I Was a Teenage Greg by Barry Williams with Chris Kreski - Book Review
Greetings,
We all have these moments in our lives when we find out that what we see on TV is not exactly the same as what goes on behind the scenes. Many of these moments are depressing as all heck. For example, it makes me quite sad that Fred and Ethel hated each other in real life, and that the people on ALF did not exactly enjoy being on ALF. And don't even get me started on the legitimacy of The Hills. Of course, not all the stories are bad. Some are good, some are great, some are...interesting. That brings me to The Brady Bunch. I'd say that this is one show that has a lot of lore, true or otherwise, and in 1991, some of those tales were confirmed in an autobiography by Barry Williams(helped by Chris Kreski) called Growing Up Brady: I Was a Teenage Greg.
This book came out at quite a perfect time. It was released just after A Very Brady Christmas, which was a huge success, and the reboot show of sorts, The Bradys, which was not so successful. Still, during this time, interest in The Brady Bunch appeared to be higher than it had been in years, and it continued on to the two big screen movie releases. Of course, since the show had been on the air, there were many rumors and stories floating around when it came to the goings on behind the scenes. Growing Up Brady certainly addressed some, if not all, of those.
Now, as I said, this is technically Barry Williams' autobiography, and he does talk a lot about his personal life. Still, seeing as how The Brady Bunch was a huge part of his life, it is a huge part of the book. I mean, for crying out loud, it's called Growing Up Brady. Anyway, Barry talks about the pressures of becoming so famous so young, witnessing the head-butting between Robert Reed and Sherwood Schwartz, and, of course, his relationships with cast mates, particularly Maureen McCormick, if you know what I mean. That's right, kids. Parts of A Very Brady Sequel were actually a documentary. There is also a lot about what happened as the show expanded due to their music, as well as how they tried to carry on after the cancellation, both personally and professionally. And we also get a hundred plus pages where he talks briefly about every, single episode of the show. Some people may call that a weak attempt at filler, but, again, this is all from his point of view, so that we can get a few extra anecdotes and fun facts. Works for me. I really like that part. And we also get a lot of sweet pictures. Yay, pictures. Point is, this is just a really great collection of stories told by someone who was there and witnessed everything. I'm certain that there are several books about this show, but most are written by people who weren't there, and there is something that I love about firsthand accounts. It adds so much more to the experience of learning all these stories, and it makes them so much more real.
I should probably point that the book I own is a first edition paperback from 1992. Several years later this book was re-released, so that one apparently includes some different aspects, such as Barry's feelings about the 90's movies and some thoughts on the death of his TV father, Robert Reed. Admittedly, I have not read that version, but I don't doubt that it's good. Also, it is probably that later version that was used as source material for the 2000 TV movie, Growing Up Brady. Yeah, this thing became a TV movie. As an author myself, I should be so lucky.
I actually bought this book when the first theatrical movie came out, and I, like many people, really got into The Brady Bunch again. At this point, I'm a bit indifferent to it. If I see that the show is on in a rerun, I may or may not watch it, but if I do, I tend to enjoy myself. I can be entertained by it, and I can certainly appreciate the pop cultural impact that it had. But we're talking about this book here and, bottom line is, I really like it. I thought it was very interesting. And, you know what? I really like Barry Williams. I like him because he is one of those people who can embrace his past and all the things he's done in his career. He's not one of those entitled celebrities who think they're so above the things that got their foot in the door in the first place. I can't stand those people. No, Barry has been able to find joy and contentment in what he has done and what he continues to do. He seems to love to entertain people, and he seems grateful that he is still able to do so. So, if you see Growing Up Brady in a store or in your library, I say it's worth a read.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
We all have these moments in our lives when we find out that what we see on TV is not exactly the same as what goes on behind the scenes. Many of these moments are depressing as all heck. For example, it makes me quite sad that Fred and Ethel hated each other in real life, and that the people on ALF did not exactly enjoy being on ALF. And don't even get me started on the legitimacy of The Hills. Of course, not all the stories are bad. Some are good, some are great, some are...interesting. That brings me to The Brady Bunch. I'd say that this is one show that has a lot of lore, true or otherwise, and in 1991, some of those tales were confirmed in an autobiography by Barry Williams(helped by Chris Kreski) called Growing Up Brady: I Was a Teenage Greg.
This book came out at quite a perfect time. It was released just after A Very Brady Christmas, which was a huge success, and the reboot show of sorts, The Bradys, which was not so successful. Still, during this time, interest in The Brady Bunch appeared to be higher than it had been in years, and it continued on to the two big screen movie releases. Of course, since the show had been on the air, there were many rumors and stories floating around when it came to the goings on behind the scenes. Growing Up Brady certainly addressed some, if not all, of those.
Now, as I said, this is technically Barry Williams' autobiography, and he does talk a lot about his personal life. Still, seeing as how The Brady Bunch was a huge part of his life, it is a huge part of the book. I mean, for crying out loud, it's called Growing Up Brady. Anyway, Barry talks about the pressures of becoming so famous so young, witnessing the head-butting between Robert Reed and Sherwood Schwartz, and, of course, his relationships with cast mates, particularly Maureen McCormick, if you know what I mean. That's right, kids. Parts of A Very Brady Sequel were actually a documentary. There is also a lot about what happened as the show expanded due to their music, as well as how they tried to carry on after the cancellation, both personally and professionally. And we also get a hundred plus pages where he talks briefly about every, single episode of the show. Some people may call that a weak attempt at filler, but, again, this is all from his point of view, so that we can get a few extra anecdotes and fun facts. Works for me. I really like that part. And we also get a lot of sweet pictures. Yay, pictures. Point is, this is just a really great collection of stories told by someone who was there and witnessed everything. I'm certain that there are several books about this show, but most are written by people who weren't there, and there is something that I love about firsthand accounts. It adds so much more to the experience of learning all these stories, and it makes them so much more real.
I should probably point that the book I own is a first edition paperback from 1992. Several years later this book was re-released, so that one apparently includes some different aspects, such as Barry's feelings about the 90's movies and some thoughts on the death of his TV father, Robert Reed. Admittedly, I have not read that version, but I don't doubt that it's good. Also, it is probably that later version that was used as source material for the 2000 TV movie, Growing Up Brady. Yeah, this thing became a TV movie. As an author myself, I should be so lucky.
I actually bought this book when the first theatrical movie came out, and I, like many people, really got into The Brady Bunch again. At this point, I'm a bit indifferent to it. If I see that the show is on in a rerun, I may or may not watch it, but if I do, I tend to enjoy myself. I can be entertained by it, and I can certainly appreciate the pop cultural impact that it had. But we're talking about this book here and, bottom line is, I really like it. I thought it was very interesting. And, you know what? I really like Barry Williams. I like him because he is one of those people who can embrace his past and all the things he's done in his career. He's not one of those entitled celebrities who think they're so above the things that got their foot in the door in the first place. I can't stand those people. No, Barry has been able to find joy and contentment in what he has done and what he continues to do. He seems to love to entertain people, and he seems grateful that he is still able to do so. So, if you see Growing Up Brady in a store or in your library, I say it's worth a read.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
White Oleander - Movie Review
Greetings,
I like a good book, and I like a good movie. I certainly like it when a good book can get adapted into a good movie. Yeah, that doesn't always happen, though. So when I come across one that succeeds at this, I tend to gravitate toward it. Take the book, White Oleander, for example. This book was released in 1999, and it is pretty great. Of course, it is. Would Oprah endorse it if it wasn't ? Well, okay, sometimes she gets things wrong, but she has a decent track record when it comes to literature. Anyway, in 2002, it was adapted into a film. Now, because I enjoyed the book so much, I was a bit concerned about the film, but, soon enough, I realized I needn't have worried. Why? Well, let's talk about it and find out.
White Oleander follows the story of a girl named Astrid Magnussen from the age of fifteen into her early adulthood. She is played by Alison Lohman, who was actually about twenty-two at the time. Don't worry, though. If I didn't tell you this, you probably wouldn't have known. She truly was able to convincingly play the character through all the years. When the film begins, Astrid is living with her mother, Ingrid, a visual artist played by Michelle Pfeiffer. She is a woman who has a great love for her daughter, and it is reciprocated. Astrid adores her mother, but also knows that she can be a cold woman. Anyway, Ingrid starts dating a guy named Barry played by Billy Connelly. Well, sort of. I heard that his part was criminally cut down which is one of my only complaints here. Now, their relationship takes a turn for the not-so-great and, after Ingrid does something that gets her sent to prison, Astrid is put into foster care. We then follow her throughout her journey of going from place to place in these temporary homes, as she waits for her mother and as she grows up. I don't want to give away too much of what happens in these places, but let me just give a brief description of whom she encounters.
The first home she is sent to is that of Starr Thomas played by Robin Wright. She is former stripper and alcoholic turned Christian. Although, perhaps, she doesn't follow everything the Bible says about certain things. This is something that Starr's rebellious daughter often points out, like the fact that she's living with her boyfriend, Ray, played by Cole Hauser. Still, Starr is trying to make up for past sins by being something of a do-gooder, which has led her to take in a lot of foster children. Though it is difficult for Astrid, what with this being her first foster home, she settles in as best she can. Still, due to some unforeseen events, she is forced to leave the house sooner than she thought.
Eventually, Astrid leaves this house and goes on to something of a a modern day orphanage. I love what they say about it in the book and the film, when talking about why some kids choose to go there. They call it "the floor you can't fall below". While there, she meets a guy named Paul, played by Patrick Fugit. She becomes close to him, initially due to the fact that he is also an artist, but she it is also obvious that she just needs someone to be there. And Paul is someone who comes to genuinely care for her. Astrid does quite a bit of growing up in a short time in this place, because it is full of 'tough' kids, and she learns that she has to be the same way. She basically just learns to survive.
After a while, Astrid is moved to another foster home, this time that of Claire and Mark Richards played by Renee Zelwegger and Noah Wyle. Mark works in the movies and is gone for most of the time, so Claire, a struggling actress, is the one taking care of Astrid. She is a kind, but very sensitive woman, yet she gives Astrid some much needed stability. Of course, she must also move on from this home as well, again, due to circumstances beyond her control. It's at this point that Astrid seems to just stop trying. (P.S. You get to see what a good sense of humor Renee has here, because Claire shows Astrid a short scene from a horror movie she was in, and it's Renee in that Texas Chainsaw movie! Yes, she let the world be reminded of that. Dedication to her craft, that is.)
Anyway, during these experiences and as she continues on to even more, Astrid sporadically visits her mother in prison. It is clear that they still love each other, but their relationship becomes understandably strained. Things get more difficult with each visit and everything culminates with secrets that have been kept for years being revealed. The movie comes to a close, bookending with the opening scene, and it does so perfectly. I love when this is done so well in films.
So I think this movie is pretty much amazing. I know it seems as though I said a lot about the plot, but I barely scratched the surface. This film really is so much about the performances, particularly those of the four main actresses, so let me discuss that a bit. First, Alison Lohman is unbelievably great here. Not only does she act well, but she basically carries the entire movie. I don't think there is a single scene that she isn't in. That's got to be hard for an actress who has been doing it for decades, so to see such a young woman pulling it off is overwhelming. Then, there's Robin Wright. She plays her character over the top, but that's okay because Starr is over the top. She's outrageous and excessive in her personality, and she's kind of fun, though in a way that's almost uncomfortable. Robin does it impeccably. Then, we get Renee Zelwegger. Her character Claire is probably the most fragile person she has ever played, and Renee's performance is incredibly sad. And I mean that in the best way. She just breaks my heart every time I watch this, and to be able to be so effective emotionally is quite a gift. But, if I had to pick the most outstanding performance, I have to give it to Michelle Pfeiffer. I love Michelle Pfeiffer. I love her as an actress, and as a woman, I think she is so wonderful and beautiful and classy. Ingrid, however, is kind of an awful person. Yes, she loves her daughter, but she loves her to the point where she wants to control everything that comes in and out of her life. She is narcissistic and vicious and believes that her way is THE way, and she has no problem hurting people so long as she is able to make her point. And Michelle plays her perfectly. I think this is her best role ever, as a matter of fact.
Okay, one more thing. Yes, I think White Oleander is a fantastic movie, but I also would like to say how well it is made as an adaptation. As I said, I read the book and, as expected, there were several changes made for the movie. They condensed things, changed some character ages and even eliminated some characters altogether. The thing is, the changes, at best, made perfect sense to me, and at worst, just made me shrug my shoulders and say "I don't get it, but whatever!" For example, it made sense to turn Ingrid from a poet to a visual artist, because, to quote the author, Janet Fitch "What could be more exciting than watching a writer write? It's like watching the paint peel off the wall". But they also changed the name of Claire's husband, from Ron, as it was in the book, to Mark. I don't see why they did that, but it's just a cosmetic change, if you will. Actually, if you're looking for a good example of how to do an adaptation, what to keep, what to cut, you could do a heck of a lot worse than this movie.
So, in closing, go read the book, White Oleander, then go see the film, White Oleander. It's a beautiful, gripping, heartbreaking story, and it needs to be exposed to the masses. Guaranteed, not enough people have seen this. Again, it's so much about the characters, particularly this young girl, having life thrown at them from unexpected angles. That usually is life, so, no matter everyone's individual experience, I think this story can affect anyone.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I like a good book, and I like a good movie. I certainly like it when a good book can get adapted into a good movie. Yeah, that doesn't always happen, though. So when I come across one that succeeds at this, I tend to gravitate toward it. Take the book, White Oleander, for example. This book was released in 1999, and it is pretty great. Of course, it is. Would Oprah endorse it if it wasn't ? Well, okay, sometimes she gets things wrong, but she has a decent track record when it comes to literature. Anyway, in 2002, it was adapted into a film. Now, because I enjoyed the book so much, I was a bit concerned about the film, but, soon enough, I realized I needn't have worried. Why? Well, let's talk about it and find out.
White Oleander follows the story of a girl named Astrid Magnussen from the age of fifteen into her early adulthood. She is played by Alison Lohman, who was actually about twenty-two at the time. Don't worry, though. If I didn't tell you this, you probably wouldn't have known. She truly was able to convincingly play the character through all the years. When the film begins, Astrid is living with her mother, Ingrid, a visual artist played by Michelle Pfeiffer. She is a woman who has a great love for her daughter, and it is reciprocated. Astrid adores her mother, but also knows that she can be a cold woman. Anyway, Ingrid starts dating a guy named Barry played by Billy Connelly. Well, sort of. I heard that his part was criminally cut down which is one of my only complaints here. Now, their relationship takes a turn for the not-so-great and, after Ingrid does something that gets her sent to prison, Astrid is put into foster care. We then follow her throughout her journey of going from place to place in these temporary homes, as she waits for her mother and as she grows up. I don't want to give away too much of what happens in these places, but let me just give a brief description of whom she encounters.
The first home she is sent to is that of Starr Thomas played by Robin Wright. She is former stripper and alcoholic turned Christian. Although, perhaps, she doesn't follow everything the Bible says about certain things. This is something that Starr's rebellious daughter often points out, like the fact that she's living with her boyfriend, Ray, played by Cole Hauser. Still, Starr is trying to make up for past sins by being something of a do-gooder, which has led her to take in a lot of foster children. Though it is difficult for Astrid, what with this being her first foster home, she settles in as best she can. Still, due to some unforeseen events, she is forced to leave the house sooner than she thought.
Eventually, Astrid leaves this house and goes on to something of a a modern day orphanage. I love what they say about it in the book and the film, when talking about why some kids choose to go there. They call it "the floor you can't fall below". While there, she meets a guy named Paul, played by Patrick Fugit. She becomes close to him, initially due to the fact that he is also an artist, but she it is also obvious that she just needs someone to be there. And Paul is someone who comes to genuinely care for her. Astrid does quite a bit of growing up in a short time in this place, because it is full of 'tough' kids, and she learns that she has to be the same way. She basically just learns to survive.
After a while, Astrid is moved to another foster home, this time that of Claire and Mark Richards played by Renee Zelwegger and Noah Wyle. Mark works in the movies and is gone for most of the time, so Claire, a struggling actress, is the one taking care of Astrid. She is a kind, but very sensitive woman, yet she gives Astrid some much needed stability. Of course, she must also move on from this home as well, again, due to circumstances beyond her control. It's at this point that Astrid seems to just stop trying. (P.S. You get to see what a good sense of humor Renee has here, because Claire shows Astrid a short scene from a horror movie she was in, and it's Renee in that Texas Chainsaw movie! Yes, she let the world be reminded of that. Dedication to her craft, that is.)
Anyway, during these experiences and as she continues on to even more, Astrid sporadically visits her mother in prison. It is clear that they still love each other, but their relationship becomes understandably strained. Things get more difficult with each visit and everything culminates with secrets that have been kept for years being revealed. The movie comes to a close, bookending with the opening scene, and it does so perfectly. I love when this is done so well in films.
So I think this movie is pretty much amazing. I know it seems as though I said a lot about the plot, but I barely scratched the surface. This film really is so much about the performances, particularly those of the four main actresses, so let me discuss that a bit. First, Alison Lohman is unbelievably great here. Not only does she act well, but she basically carries the entire movie. I don't think there is a single scene that she isn't in. That's got to be hard for an actress who has been doing it for decades, so to see such a young woman pulling it off is overwhelming. Then, there's Robin Wright. She plays her character over the top, but that's okay because Starr is over the top. She's outrageous and excessive in her personality, and she's kind of fun, though in a way that's almost uncomfortable. Robin does it impeccably. Then, we get Renee Zelwegger. Her character Claire is probably the most fragile person she has ever played, and Renee's performance is incredibly sad. And I mean that in the best way. She just breaks my heart every time I watch this, and to be able to be so effective emotionally is quite a gift. But, if I had to pick the most outstanding performance, I have to give it to Michelle Pfeiffer. I love Michelle Pfeiffer. I love her as an actress, and as a woman, I think she is so wonderful and beautiful and classy. Ingrid, however, is kind of an awful person. Yes, she loves her daughter, but she loves her to the point where she wants to control everything that comes in and out of her life. She is narcissistic and vicious and believes that her way is THE way, and she has no problem hurting people so long as she is able to make her point. And Michelle plays her perfectly. I think this is her best role ever, as a matter of fact.
Okay, one more thing. Yes, I think White Oleander is a fantastic movie, but I also would like to say how well it is made as an adaptation. As I said, I read the book and, as expected, there were several changes made for the movie. They condensed things, changed some character ages and even eliminated some characters altogether. The thing is, the changes, at best, made perfect sense to me, and at worst, just made me shrug my shoulders and say "I don't get it, but whatever!" For example, it made sense to turn Ingrid from a poet to a visual artist, because, to quote the author, Janet Fitch "What could be more exciting than watching a writer write? It's like watching the paint peel off the wall". But they also changed the name of Claire's husband, from Ron, as it was in the book, to Mark. I don't see why they did that, but it's just a cosmetic change, if you will. Actually, if you're looking for a good example of how to do an adaptation, what to keep, what to cut, you could do a heck of a lot worse than this movie.
So, in closing, go read the book, White Oleander, then go see the film, White Oleander. It's a beautiful, gripping, heartbreaking story, and it needs to be exposed to the masses. Guaranteed, not enough people have seen this. Again, it's so much about the characters, particularly this young girl, having life thrown at them from unexpected angles. That usually is life, so, no matter everyone's individual experience, I think this story can affect anyone.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Friday, May 23, 2014
The One Seasoner's Club - Running the Halls
Greetings,
I don't know if you guys have noticed this, but when one thing gets popular, 'copycats' tend to start popping up. It gets even worse when said popular thing goes away, and a ton of things come around hoping to take its place. This kind of happened in the early-to-mid-nineties, after the super popular Saved By The Bell went off the air on Saturday morning. By 1993, when that happened, we were already a year into the amazing show that was California Dreams. Some people called it a Saved By The Bell knockoff; I called it that show's cooler cousin. Then, NBC started this whole thing for Saturday mornings called TNBC. "T", I assume, standing for teen. Because all the actors playing teens on these series' were actual teenagers. Of course. Anyway, one of the shows that was part of this new idea was Running the Halls.
Running the Halls began airing in 1993 and stopped airing in 1993. Yep, September to December, thirteen whole episodes. There you go. It was all about a bunch of students at a boarding school called Middlefield Academy and all their shenanigans. I mean, what else would it be about? I will say this, though. This show was a tad different from the others being aired at this time. Whilst most of them all looked like they were made from the same company or whatever, which they pretty much were, Running the Halls, quite literally, did have a different look to it. It was not filmed in front of an audience, but probably on location, and they used the kind of camera that is more like the ones used today for everything. You know, the ones that make it look 'not live', if you guys know what I'm talking about. So, it did manage to stand out, in a way. Now let's talk about those characters. And keep in mind, I haven't seen this show in a LONG time, so I'm working off mostly what I can remember. Fingers crossed.
We got your typical mix of a few girls and a few guys, who don't exactly have much in common, but still all end up as "best friends". First the guys. We had Andy McBain, or just McBain, as he was called, played by Richard Hayes/Hillman(I've seen him credited with both names, so...). He was, for lack of a better comparison, the Zack Morris of the show. He was constantly scheming, was popular with the girls and was overwhelmingly arrogant, yet still had a few moments of selflessness. Oh, and he was good at sports, too, so I guess he had some Slater in him as well. Next came David Reese, or just Reese, as he was called, played by Trevor Lissauer. I could never figure out if he was supposed to be a little nerdy or a quirky, cool guy. Maybe the show couldn't figure it out either. I guess he was just well-rounded. Then, there's Miles Taylor, or just Taylor, as he was - okay, you guys know what the deal is by now! He seemed to be the brainiest of the guys, though not really a full-on nerd. Also, he tended to get kind of spazzy about his grades. Hey, it happens.
And now for the ladies. First up is Holiday Friedman played by Laurie Fortier. She was the edgy girl from New York City, where all edgy girls come from, it seems. As time went on, she softened a bit, mostly thanks to the friendships she acquires. I have to say, she was my favorite. Probably because I, too, am an edgy girl from New York. No, wait. I want to be one. Moving on. Next, Molloy Simpson. I would call her the brainiest of the girls, but she was a tad calmer about things. Well, give or take a few situations, but you know, females be freakin' out a lot and whatnot. Finally, we have Nikki Watson played by Senta Moses. I don't know if this is true, but she seemed to be the character that they had the most fun with. By 'they', I mean the writers. She was funny and sweet, and she just tried so hard with everything, sometimes to her own detriment. But, with everything she did, she was so entertaining.
Okay, so we can't have just kids here. We need a couple of adults. Enter Headmistress Karen Gilman played by Pamela Bowen. Where she was concerned, the words 'tough but fair' come to mind. The students might not have been buddy-buddy with her, but they liked her and, amazingly enough, they respected her. And then, we have Mark 'The Shark' Stark played by Richard Speight, Jr. Yeah, to this day, I don't exactly know or remember what he was on campus. He wasn't a teacher, but he also wasn't a student. I think he was something of an RA, like they have in dorms at colleges. Maybe. Anyway, he often bore the brunt of a lot of the hijinks of the students, which he did not exactly appreciate. While Miss Gilman was held in high regard, I don't think that Shark was afforded such a luxury. Still, he was funny.
So those are the characters, and during the run, they went through most of the experiences one would expect from such a show. Struggles with school, relationships, family, etc. Still, they had some unique twists on story lines, which I appreciated. It should have been enough to give this series some longevity. And yet, as I've mentioned, a mere thirteen episodes was all this show got. Why? I have no idea. Maybe it was timing or luck of the draw or behind the scenes stuff. Who knows?
Now did it deserve a second season? Yes, definitely. I know that they did adopt a lot of the tropes used in teen television, but they also put forth an effort to make things a bit different. I certainly enjoyed it for the time it was on. It was legitimately funny, witty even, and everyone was pretty darn good with the acting. I take comfort in knowing that about everyone went on to have some success, in varying degrees (seriously, IMDB them to get some good credits), and it was all well-deserved. Sadly, though, I heard that Richard Hayes/Hilman passed away about five years ago. That is unfortunate. He had talent.
Now, unfortunately, I don't believe this show had some big cult following, like your My So-Called Life or your Freaks and Geeks. Why, I don't know. I wish it did. Then, maybe I would have the chance of getting it on DVD. For now, though, I must live with my memories. And they were good memories, if only of what could have been. But, hey, if they ever do release this, I say give it a watch. It was good. And there was a guy on the show named SHARK, for crying out loud! What have you got to lose?
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I don't know if you guys have noticed this, but when one thing gets popular, 'copycats' tend to start popping up. It gets even worse when said popular thing goes away, and a ton of things come around hoping to take its place. This kind of happened in the early-to-mid-nineties, after the super popular Saved By The Bell went off the air on Saturday morning. By 1993, when that happened, we were already a year into the amazing show that was California Dreams. Some people called it a Saved By The Bell knockoff; I called it that show's cooler cousin. Then, NBC started this whole thing for Saturday mornings called TNBC. "T", I assume, standing for teen. Because all the actors playing teens on these series' were actual teenagers. Of course. Anyway, one of the shows that was part of this new idea was Running the Halls.
Running the Halls began airing in 1993 and stopped airing in 1993. Yep, September to December, thirteen whole episodes. There you go. It was all about a bunch of students at a boarding school called Middlefield Academy and all their shenanigans. I mean, what else would it be about? I will say this, though. This show was a tad different from the others being aired at this time. Whilst most of them all looked like they were made from the same company or whatever, which they pretty much were, Running the Halls, quite literally, did have a different look to it. It was not filmed in front of an audience, but probably on location, and they used the kind of camera that is more like the ones used today for everything. You know, the ones that make it look 'not live', if you guys know what I'm talking about. So, it did manage to stand out, in a way. Now let's talk about those characters. And keep in mind, I haven't seen this show in a LONG time, so I'm working off mostly what I can remember. Fingers crossed.
We got your typical mix of a few girls and a few guys, who don't exactly have much in common, but still all end up as "best friends". First the guys. We had Andy McBain, or just McBain, as he was called, played by Richard Hayes/Hillman(I've seen him credited with both names, so...). He was, for lack of a better comparison, the Zack Morris of the show. He was constantly scheming, was popular with the girls and was overwhelmingly arrogant, yet still had a few moments of selflessness. Oh, and he was good at sports, too, so I guess he had some Slater in him as well. Next came David Reese, or just Reese, as he was called, played by Trevor Lissauer. I could never figure out if he was supposed to be a little nerdy or a quirky, cool guy. Maybe the show couldn't figure it out either. I guess he was just well-rounded. Then, there's Miles Taylor, or just Taylor, as he was - okay, you guys know what the deal is by now! He seemed to be the brainiest of the guys, though not really a full-on nerd. Also, he tended to get kind of spazzy about his grades. Hey, it happens.
And now for the ladies. First up is Holiday Friedman played by Laurie Fortier. She was the edgy girl from New York City, where all edgy girls come from, it seems. As time went on, she softened a bit, mostly thanks to the friendships she acquires. I have to say, she was my favorite. Probably because I, too, am an edgy girl from New York. No, wait. I want to be one. Moving on. Next, Molloy Simpson. I would call her the brainiest of the girls, but she was a tad calmer about things. Well, give or take a few situations, but you know, females be freakin' out a lot and whatnot. Finally, we have Nikki Watson played by Senta Moses. I don't know if this is true, but she seemed to be the character that they had the most fun with. By 'they', I mean the writers. She was funny and sweet, and she just tried so hard with everything, sometimes to her own detriment. But, with everything she did, she was so entertaining.
Okay, so we can't have just kids here. We need a couple of adults. Enter Headmistress Karen Gilman played by Pamela Bowen. Where she was concerned, the words 'tough but fair' come to mind. The students might not have been buddy-buddy with her, but they liked her and, amazingly enough, they respected her. And then, we have Mark 'The Shark' Stark played by Richard Speight, Jr. Yeah, to this day, I don't exactly know or remember what he was on campus. He wasn't a teacher, but he also wasn't a student. I think he was something of an RA, like they have in dorms at colleges. Maybe. Anyway, he often bore the brunt of a lot of the hijinks of the students, which he did not exactly appreciate. While Miss Gilman was held in high regard, I don't think that Shark was afforded such a luxury. Still, he was funny.
So those are the characters, and during the run, they went through most of the experiences one would expect from such a show. Struggles with school, relationships, family, etc. Still, they had some unique twists on story lines, which I appreciated. It should have been enough to give this series some longevity. And yet, as I've mentioned, a mere thirteen episodes was all this show got. Why? I have no idea. Maybe it was timing or luck of the draw or behind the scenes stuff. Who knows?
Now did it deserve a second season? Yes, definitely. I know that they did adopt a lot of the tropes used in teen television, but they also put forth an effort to make things a bit different. I certainly enjoyed it for the time it was on. It was legitimately funny, witty even, and everyone was pretty darn good with the acting. I take comfort in knowing that about everyone went on to have some success, in varying degrees (seriously, IMDB them to get some good credits), and it was all well-deserved. Sadly, though, I heard that Richard Hayes/Hilman passed away about five years ago. That is unfortunate. He had talent.
Now, unfortunately, I don't believe this show had some big cult following, like your My So-Called Life or your Freaks and Geeks. Why, I don't know. I wish it did. Then, maybe I would have the chance of getting it on DVD. For now, though, I must live with my memories. And they were good memories, if only of what could have been. But, hey, if they ever do release this, I say give it a watch. It was good. And there was a guy on the show named SHARK, for crying out loud! What have you got to lose?
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Saturday, May 17, 2014
Top Ten Episodes of The Facts of Life
Greetings,
It would seem that the last review I did put me in something of a nostalgic mood. Although, this time, rather than talking about music that I began enjoying in my childhood, I'm going to talk about some good TV. Specifically, The Facts of Life, one of the greatest shows from the 80's, maybe of all time. Shut up! Yes, it was!
Yeah, that's the thing about this show. Some people who, perhaps, weren't as much fans as I have been, seem to not remember just how successful The Facts of Life was. It ran for nine years, for crying out loud, and whilst I know that longevity doesn't exactly equal quality, anyone who really watched it can agree that it had both, for the most part.
Even those who never watched it officially still know about the show that takes place at an all girls school called Eastland, and, of course, they know the characters. We had the den mother, if you will, Mrs. Edna Garrett; shallow girl with a heart of gold, Blair Warner; tough chick, but not always tough, Jo Polniaczek; hilarious and creative, Natalie Green and finally, the youngest yet most dramatic, Tootie Ramsey. They were portrayed by Charlotte Rae, Lisa Whelchel, Nancy McKeon, Mindy Cohn and Kim Fields, respectively. Love these ladies!
Of course, this was the main line up for all the seasons, excluding the first and the later ones after Mrs. Garrett's departure. Whilst everyone but Jo was also there during that opening year, the girls were also joined by Sue Ann Weaver, the sheltered but sweet girl from the Midwest; Cindy Webster, the pre-Jo tomboy; Molly Parker, the opinionated and precocious girl with a ukulele; and Nancy Olsen, the...hmmm. I hate calling anyone a ditz unless they really deserve it, but they implied that maybe she wasn't the sharpest stake in Buffy's weapons chest. Also, she had this boyfriend, Roger, who literally was never seen. Ever. BTW, those girls were played by some amazing actresses, namely Julie Piekarski, Julie Anne Haddock, Molly Ringwald (Yep!) and Felice Schacter. Oh, yeah, and there was also this Mr.Belding-ish headmaster named Mr. Bradley played by John Lawlor and another teacher, Miss Mahoney played by Jenny O'Hara. I liked them, and they were good for some laughs. Honestly, though I've heard reasons, I really don't know why all the changes were made for the second season. I really loved the first year.
Anyway, I guess I should mention the later seasons, specifically Eight and Nine, since they brought forth upheaval. For one thing, as I mentioned, Mrs. Garrett left and was replaced by her sister, Beverly Ann, played by Cloris Leachman. Also, two formerly recurring characters became regulars, Andy Moffat played by Mackenzie Astin, and George Burnett. Oh, I'm sorry. Did I need to remind you that he was played by George Clooney? 'Cause he was. Anyway, I'm not going to say that this is when the show began to run out of steam a bit, as all shows do, but...well, just check out which seasons most of my favorites come from.
That reminds me. I am here to do a Top Ten list, aren't I? Sorry for rambling. Off we go.
#10. "Doo Wah" (Season 7) - Am I the only one who loves when sitcoms have special celebrity guest stars playing themselves? Especially in the 80's? Well, that's what we get here when the girls are entered into a contest to sing backup for El DeBarge. Of course. And of course, they win. Mostly by default, but they'll take it any way they can get it.
#9. "Take My Finals, Please" (Season 4) - In the words of Abed from Community, it's a bottle episode. Well, sort of. Most of the episode is spent confined to the bedroom of Blair, Jo, Natalie and Tootie as they study for finals. And eat. And fight. Just another day for high school girls, as I recall. Still, when you stick a group of already stressed out teenagers in a room together, the funny will come. For us, anyway. And it did.
#8. "Cruisin'" (Season 6) - And from a sort of bottle episode to an actual one. Yep, here we are with the four girls in a car and that is it. Hence the title, they are, in fact, cruisin'. I don't know why, but I love things that are road trip-py, and this is that in a shorter form. Oh, and since they are in a car, with a radio, you may be expecting a random sing-along. You will not be disappointed. Trust. You will not.
#7. "Breaking Point" (Season 2) - In case you kids don't know, the 80's was the era of the "very special episode". That occurred when a normally lighthearted sitcom tackled a heavier topic, such as drugs, abuse, whatever. I suppose we look back on them now with a bit of an eye roll, and to be fair, sometimes that might be warranted. But every now and then, one would be done very well. Such is the case with this episode. I actually don't want to give away too much about the plot of this one, but it does deal with the very serious subject of suicide. Still, it does so in the most respectable and realistic way. They managed to balance everything out so that it all remained true to life. That was quite an accomplishment.
#6. "Starstruck" (Season 3) - Okay, I am the last person to be judgmental of anyone who happens to crush on a celebrity. I wrote a whole book about some of my own, so, yeah, I'm quite understanding about the subject. Still, I realize that things can get a tad out of hand. Take Tootie, for example, when she, in this one episode anyway, develops an intense infatuation with Jermaine Jackson. Not Michael, Jermaine. Just wanna make sure you're clear on that. Her fanaticism becomes so intense that she shirks responsibilities and breaks promises...to Jo, of all people! Seriously, Tootie, are you insane? I guess so since she also has a full on freak out moment, one that frightens Mrs. Garrett. Sure, this episode is mostly funny, but it does also make you think, especially about how much or, even better, how little we should let celebrities affect our lives.
#5. "Dope" (Season 1) - What could be a more fitting way to close out the first season of a show than to talk about the drugs? In this episode, Blair manages to get Sue Ann into - wait for it!- The Group. Yep, nothing specific about this group. It's just...The Group. Small school, I guess. Anyway, the leader of said group is Tumpy Barksdale, who was only mentioned in previous episodes, along with her sister(?) Kedgie, but this time she actually shows up. I'm sorry, what? You need me to rewind a bit? Oh, is it that you can't believe that there were actually characters named Tumpy and Kedgie? Well, believe it. Gee, I wonder if they come from old money. Moving on. Turns out that The Group partakes in some extra curricular activities that may be illegal. Probably dope, since that's the name of the episode. And as it happens, breaking the rules leads to consequences. I know, right? Kids getting disciplined for disobeying? My, how times have changed. Also, look for young Helen Hunt in this episode. And listen...for Mrs. Garrett...swearing! Gasp! It's okay. She only did it once, and she apologized. All is forgiven.
#4. "Pretty Babies" (Season 2) - So, men are pigs, am I right? Okay, not all of them, but some. In this episode, a famous fashion photographer is visiting Eastland, looking for fresh faces. And the fresher the better, if you get my drift. Blair, of course, wants to be chosen because she's Blair, but, at sixteen, she's way too old. The photographer would rather use young, YOUNG Tootie. Am I being clear enough when it comes to what this episode ends up being about? Relax, though. In the end, as per usual, Mrs. Garrett comes to the rescue. Don't cross Mrs. Garrett. I am SO putting that on a T-shirt.
#3. "Read No Evil" (Season 3) - This episode certainly resonated with me. Natalie discovers that the school library has been banning a few choice books. Yeah, you can see why I might get a tad upset about that, being a writer. Well, Natalie is a writer, too, and someone who loathes censorship, so she also becomes very upset about it, as do the others. In an attempt to make a stand against this, however, she faces a few hurdles, some very devastating for her, in fact. Still, despite that, the whole episode is a lesson in standing up for what you believe in. Not a bad lesson, I'd say.
#2. "Emily Dickinson" (Season 1) - Speaking of writing, this episode is all about poetry and the theft of it, therein. All the girls are assigned by Mr. Bradley, who I guess is also the English teacher now, to write one poem. As it happens, that one poem counts for like half their grade for the semester. Wait a minute, what? ONE poem, for HALF their grade? Maybe it's because I've been known to knock out ten poems per day, but this seems...a tad...underwhelming. Honestly, girls, what are you having so much trouble with this? Anyway, Blair puts off her work until the last second and ends up turning in a poem by Emily Dickinson. It is quite praised by Mr. Bradley, far more than the poems of the other...whoa, wait another minute! Are you trying to tell me that the English teacher could not spot a poem by one of the most famous poets of all time? Okay, I'm not going to say that public school teachers can't be as good as private school teachers, but if the parents of these particular students are shelling out the big bucks in tuition, I think they deserve an English teacher who can spot an Emily Dickinson poem. I'm just saying. And yet, I still absolutely love this episode.
#1. "Runaway" (Season 3) - I love New York City. I'm going to live there one day, mark my words. Guess who else loves New York Cty? The girls of the upstate New York Eastland, a world away. So Blair, Jo, Natalie and Mrs. Garrett make plans to go to Broadway, but it's Tootie who truly wants to go there, because she wants to be an actress and therefore, must see a Broadway show. For some reason, though, the other girls and Mrs. Garrett keep going without her. Well, not this time! Though she is not given permission by either her parents or Mrs. Garrett to go with her friends, Tootie runs away, by herself, to meet them there. Sounds safe to me, a teenage girl in New York City on her own in 1982, a year that had a %60 rise in crime. Hey, no guts, no glory! Anyway, while there, she meets another very young girl named Kristy. They begin to talk and get to know each other, but eventually, Tootie learns that she is a prostitute, with a pimp wanting her to do some recruiting. It's actually a pretty heartbreaking episode and everyone is on their A-game with the acting. No wonder it's my favorite.
I have to say, this was another one of those tough to make lists. It's not just that there are so many episodes that I really love, but I also have so many good memories attached to them. Maybe it's because of the disgraceful state of most of television these days, but I truly appreciate the work that was done on this show. It was legitimately funny and was also able to deal with mature subjects, all the while remaining a show that can be enjoyed by the whole family. The Facts of Life is a series that never failed to put a smile on my face. I am very grateful to the actresses and actors, the writers, and everyone else involved who gave us such a great show.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
It would seem that the last review I did put me in something of a nostalgic mood. Although, this time, rather than talking about music that I began enjoying in my childhood, I'm going to talk about some good TV. Specifically, The Facts of Life, one of the greatest shows from the 80's, maybe of all time. Shut up! Yes, it was!
Yeah, that's the thing about this show. Some people who, perhaps, weren't as much fans as I have been, seem to not remember just how successful The Facts of Life was. It ran for nine years, for crying out loud, and whilst I know that longevity doesn't exactly equal quality, anyone who really watched it can agree that it had both, for the most part.
Even those who never watched it officially still know about the show that takes place at an all girls school called Eastland, and, of course, they know the characters. We had the den mother, if you will, Mrs. Edna Garrett; shallow girl with a heart of gold, Blair Warner; tough chick, but not always tough, Jo Polniaczek; hilarious and creative, Natalie Green and finally, the youngest yet most dramatic, Tootie Ramsey. They were portrayed by Charlotte Rae, Lisa Whelchel, Nancy McKeon, Mindy Cohn and Kim Fields, respectively. Love these ladies!
Of course, this was the main line up for all the seasons, excluding the first and the later ones after Mrs. Garrett's departure. Whilst everyone but Jo was also there during that opening year, the girls were also joined by Sue Ann Weaver, the sheltered but sweet girl from the Midwest; Cindy Webster, the pre-Jo tomboy; Molly Parker, the opinionated and precocious girl with a ukulele; and Nancy Olsen, the...hmmm. I hate calling anyone a ditz unless they really deserve it, but they implied that maybe she wasn't the sharpest stake in Buffy's weapons chest. Also, she had this boyfriend, Roger, who literally was never seen. Ever. BTW, those girls were played by some amazing actresses, namely Julie Piekarski, Julie Anne Haddock, Molly Ringwald (Yep!) and Felice Schacter. Oh, yeah, and there was also this Mr.Belding-ish headmaster named Mr. Bradley played by John Lawlor and another teacher, Miss Mahoney played by Jenny O'Hara. I liked them, and they were good for some laughs. Honestly, though I've heard reasons, I really don't know why all the changes were made for the second season. I really loved the first year.
Anyway, I guess I should mention the later seasons, specifically Eight and Nine, since they brought forth upheaval. For one thing, as I mentioned, Mrs. Garrett left and was replaced by her sister, Beverly Ann, played by Cloris Leachman. Also, two formerly recurring characters became regulars, Andy Moffat played by Mackenzie Astin, and George Burnett. Oh, I'm sorry. Did I need to remind you that he was played by George Clooney? 'Cause he was. Anyway, I'm not going to say that this is when the show began to run out of steam a bit, as all shows do, but...well, just check out which seasons most of my favorites come from.
That reminds me. I am here to do a Top Ten list, aren't I? Sorry for rambling. Off we go.
#10. "Doo Wah" (Season 7) - Am I the only one who loves when sitcoms have special celebrity guest stars playing themselves? Especially in the 80's? Well, that's what we get here when the girls are entered into a contest to sing backup for El DeBarge. Of course. And of course, they win. Mostly by default, but they'll take it any way they can get it.
#9. "Take My Finals, Please" (Season 4) - In the words of Abed from Community, it's a bottle episode. Well, sort of. Most of the episode is spent confined to the bedroom of Blair, Jo, Natalie and Tootie as they study for finals. And eat. And fight. Just another day for high school girls, as I recall. Still, when you stick a group of already stressed out teenagers in a room together, the funny will come. For us, anyway. And it did.
#8. "Cruisin'" (Season 6) - And from a sort of bottle episode to an actual one. Yep, here we are with the four girls in a car and that is it. Hence the title, they are, in fact, cruisin'. I don't know why, but I love things that are road trip-py, and this is that in a shorter form. Oh, and since they are in a car, with a radio, you may be expecting a random sing-along. You will not be disappointed. Trust. You will not.
#7. "Breaking Point" (Season 2) - In case you kids don't know, the 80's was the era of the "very special episode". That occurred when a normally lighthearted sitcom tackled a heavier topic, such as drugs, abuse, whatever. I suppose we look back on them now with a bit of an eye roll, and to be fair, sometimes that might be warranted. But every now and then, one would be done very well. Such is the case with this episode. I actually don't want to give away too much about the plot of this one, but it does deal with the very serious subject of suicide. Still, it does so in the most respectable and realistic way. They managed to balance everything out so that it all remained true to life. That was quite an accomplishment.
#6. "Starstruck" (Season 3) - Okay, I am the last person to be judgmental of anyone who happens to crush on a celebrity. I wrote a whole book about some of my own, so, yeah, I'm quite understanding about the subject. Still, I realize that things can get a tad out of hand. Take Tootie, for example, when she, in this one episode anyway, develops an intense infatuation with Jermaine Jackson. Not Michael, Jermaine. Just wanna make sure you're clear on that. Her fanaticism becomes so intense that she shirks responsibilities and breaks promises...to Jo, of all people! Seriously, Tootie, are you insane? I guess so since she also has a full on freak out moment, one that frightens Mrs. Garrett. Sure, this episode is mostly funny, but it does also make you think, especially about how much or, even better, how little we should let celebrities affect our lives.
#5. "Dope" (Season 1) - What could be a more fitting way to close out the first season of a show than to talk about the drugs? In this episode, Blair manages to get Sue Ann into - wait for it!- The Group. Yep, nothing specific about this group. It's just...The Group. Small school, I guess. Anyway, the leader of said group is Tumpy Barksdale, who was only mentioned in previous episodes, along with her sister(?) Kedgie, but this time she actually shows up. I'm sorry, what? You need me to rewind a bit? Oh, is it that you can't believe that there were actually characters named Tumpy and Kedgie? Well, believe it. Gee, I wonder if they come from old money. Moving on. Turns out that The Group partakes in some extra curricular activities that may be illegal. Probably dope, since that's the name of the episode. And as it happens, breaking the rules leads to consequences. I know, right? Kids getting disciplined for disobeying? My, how times have changed. Also, look for young Helen Hunt in this episode. And listen...for Mrs. Garrett...swearing! Gasp! It's okay. She only did it once, and she apologized. All is forgiven.
#4. "Pretty Babies" (Season 2) - So, men are pigs, am I right? Okay, not all of them, but some. In this episode, a famous fashion photographer is visiting Eastland, looking for fresh faces. And the fresher the better, if you get my drift. Blair, of course, wants to be chosen because she's Blair, but, at sixteen, she's way too old. The photographer would rather use young, YOUNG Tootie. Am I being clear enough when it comes to what this episode ends up being about? Relax, though. In the end, as per usual, Mrs. Garrett comes to the rescue. Don't cross Mrs. Garrett. I am SO putting that on a T-shirt.
#3. "Read No Evil" (Season 3) - This episode certainly resonated with me. Natalie discovers that the school library has been banning a few choice books. Yeah, you can see why I might get a tad upset about that, being a writer. Well, Natalie is a writer, too, and someone who loathes censorship, so she also becomes very upset about it, as do the others. In an attempt to make a stand against this, however, she faces a few hurdles, some very devastating for her, in fact. Still, despite that, the whole episode is a lesson in standing up for what you believe in. Not a bad lesson, I'd say.
#2. "Emily Dickinson" (Season 1) - Speaking of writing, this episode is all about poetry and the theft of it, therein. All the girls are assigned by Mr. Bradley, who I guess is also the English teacher now, to write one poem. As it happens, that one poem counts for like half their grade for the semester. Wait a minute, what? ONE poem, for HALF their grade? Maybe it's because I've been known to knock out ten poems per day, but this seems...a tad...underwhelming. Honestly, girls, what are you having so much trouble with this? Anyway, Blair puts off her work until the last second and ends up turning in a poem by Emily Dickinson. It is quite praised by Mr. Bradley, far more than the poems of the other...whoa, wait another minute! Are you trying to tell me that the English teacher could not spot a poem by one of the most famous poets of all time? Okay, I'm not going to say that public school teachers can't be as good as private school teachers, but if the parents of these particular students are shelling out the big bucks in tuition, I think they deserve an English teacher who can spot an Emily Dickinson poem. I'm just saying. And yet, I still absolutely love this episode.
#1. "Runaway" (Season 3) - I love New York City. I'm going to live there one day, mark my words. Guess who else loves New York Cty? The girls of the upstate New York Eastland, a world away. So Blair, Jo, Natalie and Mrs. Garrett make plans to go to Broadway, but it's Tootie who truly wants to go there, because she wants to be an actress and therefore, must see a Broadway show. For some reason, though, the other girls and Mrs. Garrett keep going without her. Well, not this time! Though she is not given permission by either her parents or Mrs. Garrett to go with her friends, Tootie runs away, by herself, to meet them there. Sounds safe to me, a teenage girl in New York City on her own in 1982, a year that had a %60 rise in crime. Hey, no guts, no glory! Anyway, while there, she meets another very young girl named Kristy. They begin to talk and get to know each other, but eventually, Tootie learns that she is a prostitute, with a pimp wanting her to do some recruiting. It's actually a pretty heartbreaking episode and everyone is on their A-game with the acting. No wonder it's my favorite.
I have to say, this was another one of those tough to make lists. It's not just that there are so many episodes that I really love, but I also have so many good memories attached to them. Maybe it's because of the disgraceful state of most of television these days, but I truly appreciate the work that was done on this show. It was legitimately funny and was also able to deal with mature subjects, all the while remaining a show that can be enjoyed by the whole family. The Facts of Life is a series that never failed to put a smile on my face. I am very grateful to the actresses and actors, the writers, and everyone else involved who gave us such a great show.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Thursday, May 15, 2014
Step By Step / New Kids on the Block - Album Review
Greetings,
There aren't a ton of things from my younger days that I still enjoy almost as much now as I did back then. One of those things, however, is the music of New Kids on the Block. And I know they have new music from the past few years, but I am talking about the old stuff only, back from the first time they were a group. Way back in the 80's. Yeah, you kids today don't even know what a boy band phenomenon is. You think you do, but you don't. I know that, since the days of Elvis, every generation has had its own hoard of screaming fan girls. Call me biased, but I think we were the best, or at least, the scariest. Am I right, Donnie Wahlberg? Remember that mob of insane, teenage girls chasing you? Jigsaw's got nothin' on them! Keep in mind, though, when I use the word 'we', I am only marginally including myself. I was never a screamer or a squealer when it came to this. Certainly not in public, anyway. What were you girls thinking? But I digress. I'm here to talk about the music. Specifically, I'm here to talk about Step By Step, the fourth album bestowed upon us by these fine Boston gentlemen, and it's my favorite. Still, in order that you appreciate it fully, I may have to give a quick synopsis of what came before. I'll be as brief as possible.
In 1986, they released their first album, the self-titled New Kids on the Block, or at least, it was self-titled once they changed their name. It was not that successful, at first, but after they became super-famous, we all went back and bought it because it apparently and magically turned brilliant. Is it actually brilliant? Not even close. But is it entertaining and fun to listen to? Oh, all of the hecks yeah. This thing is straight up, unadulterated, bubblegum pop in its purest and possibly finest form, and it is a joy. When I think of the pleasures of being nostalgic, this album certainly comes to mind. Next came, Hangin' Tough, in 1988. This was the one that pushed their success to the rooftop and then kept going. It is nowhere near as bubblegum pop as the first one, not that anything ever could be, but it is still pop. Whether it is due to subject matter or the quality of the music, it is definitely much more mature and a vast improvement. After that, they did the obligatory Christmas album, Merry, Merry Christmas. It exists. Look, I'm not that into Christmas, and, therefore, not that into Christmas music. Still, it's actually not bad at all. There are only three traditional holiday songs, and the rest are originals, which are pretty good. Except for "Funky, Funky Xmas". That one isn't pretty good. That one is pure gold. And now on to the subject at hand.
Step By Step was released in 1990, and at this point, the boys were experiencing an overwhelming amount of success. This album was going to do well no matter what they put on it. They could have coasted by quite easily, just phoning it in, and still sold a boatload of copies. They didn't do that, though. In fact, they did what every artist is supposed to do. They grew. Though most of the songs were still being written by Maurice Starr, they began to get more involved in writing, production and even started playing instruments. Again, it was still pop, but with a richer, fuller sound than they had been creating before. And they ended up with what I consider their best work. So let's talk about some of those songs.
The album opens with the track "Step By Step", and it is a strong one with which to start, ultimately becoming one of their best known songs. With good reason. It's catchy and gives each member a chance to have their moment, even if it does last only a mere moment. After that, comes "Tonight". This song is...interesting. It is way different from anything they had ever done. It is way different from anything anyone was doing. Very random, with the sound of it and all, and yet it became a hit. It may have done so, at the time, simply because it was their song, but, in hindsight, I think we can all really appreciate how unique it was.
"Let's Try It Again" is a ballad and I think one of their best. The lead vocals are sung by Jordan, of course, and surprisingly, Danny, who rarely got solos. It was quite lovely to hear the contrast of their voices together. What with Jordan and his great falsetto and Danny, with his low baritone. I think he would be considered baritone, anyway. I'm not good with technical, musical terms. But whatever, it sounds amazing. That's what counts. And speaking of those who rarely got solos, Jonathan gets a song to sing on this album! Yay! I say 'Yay!' because he has a really nice voice. Anyway, the song is called "Happy Birthday". Not the song sung before you blow out your candles. That would be silly. No, this is new, and it's fine. Actually, it seems to have a bit of a slow, 50's, doo-wop type feel to it, which is kind of nice. Or am I just imaging that? Who knows?
Now let's go to Side Two. What's that? You don't know what I'm talking about? Well, I first bought this on something called a cassette tape, which had a Side One and a Side Two. Google it, kids. Moving on.
Side Two (I love saying that!) begins with "Games". It's possible that they were attempting to recreate "Hangin' Tough" here, but just with more of an edge. It was probably the most edgy thing had done at the time, not to mention a way to make a statement to all their haters. Yes, they had haters. Those people made it personal, so why not respond in a personal way as well? They eventually did a remix for it, which was even better, and I recall them performing it at the AMA's one year. Either my memory about that is wacky or Flavor Flav really did show up to perform with them and J-Lo was one of the backup dancers. I know, right? And from a bit of a somewhat angry song to a song that is easily the most fun from this collection, "Stay With Me Baby". I totally think they were trying to go reggae on this one, especially Donnie, who was singing lead, and my response to that is...why the heck not? Many have tried and failed, but I'm gonna give this a thumbs up.
Now Step By Step has a nice range to it when it comes to the sound of the music. We get upbeat songs, like "Call It What You Want" and "Never Gonna Fall In Love Again", but also nice, gentle ballads, like "Baby, I Believe in You", "Time is On Our Side", "Where Do I Go From Here?" and, hands down, my favorite song on the album, "Funny Feeling". Yeah, this is not only my favorite song from this album, but it might just be my favorite song by the New Kids on the Block period. Strange thing is, there is not a particular reason as to why. I mean, it has a beautiful melody, as many of their songs do, and lyrically, it's not exactly overwhelmingly groundbreaking. And yet, I just love to listen to it, and I love how it makes me feel when I listen to it. Just all warm and fuzzy inside. Now whilst Jordan did sing on the chorus, it was Joe who handled the verses. So, naturally, I gravitated toward that part of the song, since Joe was my favorite at that time. Because you had to pick a favorite. No lie, it was like a rule. And this song may be a bit simple, but sometimes, if it's done well, that's all you need. Clearly, it's all I needed.
So there you have it, my review of the best album, in my opinion, from New Kids on the Block, Step By Step. If you're an old school fan, as I am, you probably already own this, and probably in more than one form, so I hope this prompts you to go back and give it another listen. Writing this review certainly prompted me to go and finally follow all the guys on Twitter. But if you're one of the newer, younger fans who discovered this group through their 2008, miracle of miracles, reunion (that's what I call it), and you don't yet own this album, go get it, any way you can. It's worth it. And it just goes to show you that, take away the hype and the insane merchandising and the crazy fan girls, you're still left with five guys who were and still are extremely talented. They deserve a lot of respect, and I am more than happy to give it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
There aren't a ton of things from my younger days that I still enjoy almost as much now as I did back then. One of those things, however, is the music of New Kids on the Block. And I know they have new music from the past few years, but I am talking about the old stuff only, back from the first time they were a group. Way back in the 80's. Yeah, you kids today don't even know what a boy band phenomenon is. You think you do, but you don't. I know that, since the days of Elvis, every generation has had its own hoard of screaming fan girls. Call me biased, but I think we were the best, or at least, the scariest. Am I right, Donnie Wahlberg? Remember that mob of insane, teenage girls chasing you? Jigsaw's got nothin' on them! Keep in mind, though, when I use the word 'we', I am only marginally including myself. I was never a screamer or a squealer when it came to this. Certainly not in public, anyway. What were you girls thinking? But I digress. I'm here to talk about the music. Specifically, I'm here to talk about Step By Step, the fourth album bestowed upon us by these fine Boston gentlemen, and it's my favorite. Still, in order that you appreciate it fully, I may have to give a quick synopsis of what came before. I'll be as brief as possible.
In 1986, they released their first album, the self-titled New Kids on the Block, or at least, it was self-titled once they changed their name. It was not that successful, at first, but after they became super-famous, we all went back and bought it because it apparently and magically turned brilliant. Is it actually brilliant? Not even close. But is it entertaining and fun to listen to? Oh, all of the hecks yeah. This thing is straight up, unadulterated, bubblegum pop in its purest and possibly finest form, and it is a joy. When I think of the pleasures of being nostalgic, this album certainly comes to mind. Next came, Hangin' Tough, in 1988. This was the one that pushed their success to the rooftop and then kept going. It is nowhere near as bubblegum pop as the first one, not that anything ever could be, but it is still pop. Whether it is due to subject matter or the quality of the music, it is definitely much more mature and a vast improvement. After that, they did the obligatory Christmas album, Merry, Merry Christmas. It exists. Look, I'm not that into Christmas, and, therefore, not that into Christmas music. Still, it's actually not bad at all. There are only three traditional holiday songs, and the rest are originals, which are pretty good. Except for "Funky, Funky Xmas". That one isn't pretty good. That one is pure gold. And now on to the subject at hand.
Step By Step was released in 1990, and at this point, the boys were experiencing an overwhelming amount of success. This album was going to do well no matter what they put on it. They could have coasted by quite easily, just phoning it in, and still sold a boatload of copies. They didn't do that, though. In fact, they did what every artist is supposed to do. They grew. Though most of the songs were still being written by Maurice Starr, they began to get more involved in writing, production and even started playing instruments. Again, it was still pop, but with a richer, fuller sound than they had been creating before. And they ended up with what I consider their best work. So let's talk about some of those songs.
The album opens with the track "Step By Step", and it is a strong one with which to start, ultimately becoming one of their best known songs. With good reason. It's catchy and gives each member a chance to have their moment, even if it does last only a mere moment. After that, comes "Tonight". This song is...interesting. It is way different from anything they had ever done. It is way different from anything anyone was doing. Very random, with the sound of it and all, and yet it became a hit. It may have done so, at the time, simply because it was their song, but, in hindsight, I think we can all really appreciate how unique it was.
"Let's Try It Again" is a ballad and I think one of their best. The lead vocals are sung by Jordan, of course, and surprisingly, Danny, who rarely got solos. It was quite lovely to hear the contrast of their voices together. What with Jordan and his great falsetto and Danny, with his low baritone. I think he would be considered baritone, anyway. I'm not good with technical, musical terms. But whatever, it sounds amazing. That's what counts. And speaking of those who rarely got solos, Jonathan gets a song to sing on this album! Yay! I say 'Yay!' because he has a really nice voice. Anyway, the song is called "Happy Birthday". Not the song sung before you blow out your candles. That would be silly. No, this is new, and it's fine. Actually, it seems to have a bit of a slow, 50's, doo-wop type feel to it, which is kind of nice. Or am I just imaging that? Who knows?
Now let's go to Side Two. What's that? You don't know what I'm talking about? Well, I first bought this on something called a cassette tape, which had a Side One and a Side Two. Google it, kids. Moving on.
Side Two (I love saying that!) begins with "Games". It's possible that they were attempting to recreate "Hangin' Tough" here, but just with more of an edge. It was probably the most edgy thing had done at the time, not to mention a way to make a statement to all their haters. Yes, they had haters. Those people made it personal, so why not respond in a personal way as well? They eventually did a remix for it, which was even better, and I recall them performing it at the AMA's one year. Either my memory about that is wacky or Flavor Flav really did show up to perform with them and J-Lo was one of the backup dancers. I know, right? And from a bit of a somewhat angry song to a song that is easily the most fun from this collection, "Stay With Me Baby". I totally think they were trying to go reggae on this one, especially Donnie, who was singing lead, and my response to that is...why the heck not? Many have tried and failed, but I'm gonna give this a thumbs up.
Now Step By Step has a nice range to it when it comes to the sound of the music. We get upbeat songs, like "Call It What You Want" and "Never Gonna Fall In Love Again", but also nice, gentle ballads, like "Baby, I Believe in You", "Time is On Our Side", "Where Do I Go From Here?" and, hands down, my favorite song on the album, "Funny Feeling". Yeah, this is not only my favorite song from this album, but it might just be my favorite song by the New Kids on the Block period. Strange thing is, there is not a particular reason as to why. I mean, it has a beautiful melody, as many of their songs do, and lyrically, it's not exactly overwhelmingly groundbreaking. And yet, I just love to listen to it, and I love how it makes me feel when I listen to it. Just all warm and fuzzy inside. Now whilst Jordan did sing on the chorus, it was Joe who handled the verses. So, naturally, I gravitated toward that part of the song, since Joe was my favorite at that time. Because you had to pick a favorite. No lie, it was like a rule. And this song may be a bit simple, but sometimes, if it's done well, that's all you need. Clearly, it's all I needed.
So there you have it, my review of the best album, in my opinion, from New Kids on the Block, Step By Step. If you're an old school fan, as I am, you probably already own this, and probably in more than one form, so I hope this prompts you to go back and give it another listen. Writing this review certainly prompted me to go and finally follow all the guys on Twitter. But if you're one of the newer, younger fans who discovered this group through their 2008, miracle of miracles, reunion (that's what I call it), and you don't yet own this album, go get it, any way you can. It's worth it. And it just goes to show you that, take away the hype and the insane merchandising and the crazy fan girls, you're still left with five guys who were and still are extremely talented. They deserve a lot of respect, and I am more than happy to give it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
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