Greetings,
As of right now, I have never once, in all my years as a writer, been officially part of a writing group. I don't know why. Maybe I like to work alone too much. Maybe I am not a fan of criticism, which is a tad ironic. Maybe I just never could find one at all. Yeah, that last one might be it. Although, whatever the benefits of being in a writing group are, it can also go the other way. This is quite evident in the film Authors Anonymous.
Authors Anonymous is a movie I find quite interesting. The first thing that caught my attention was the framing device, which is that someone we never actually see or hear is making a documentary about a writing group. Now this doesn't really look like a documentary for the entirety film, but all the characters take part in Real World style confessionals or interviews. Also, someone not a part of the project will sometimes wonder about the cameras following the seemingly mundane actions. Other than that, it feels fairly typical. The good news is that these people, whomever they are, making this documentary caught some good stuff.
The basic plot is that there are six members of the group, varying a lot when it comes to their talent, their ambition, their success and even their grasp on the reality of their writing life. We see how all of these things affect their relationships and the life of the group. If this does not seem like much to you, I can understand why, but this really is about the characters, helped along by those who portray them. So, let's talk about that.
First is Alan Mooney, played by Dylan Walsh. Alongside his attempts of being a writer, he is officially an eye doctor. He is also constantly recording ideas for novels on his tiny recorder. And I do mean constantly, whether they lead anywhere or not. Usually not. He is the self-proclaimed leader of the group and takes much pride in its existence. His wife, Colette, is played by Teri Polo. She writes romance novels in the style of all those paperback books you can get on a monthly basis. And what people have always said about the quality of those books, or lack thereof, is pretty much confirmed by Colette. She is completely oblivious to the fact that she is not good, though she has a massive amount of rejection letters to prove it. Next is William Bruce, played by Jonathan Bennett. He worships Charles Bukowski, calling him the best writer ever, and wanting to be just like him, if he doesn't think he is already. Of course, while William thinks he is very motivated in his work, he rarely brings forth any worthwhile material, as he is more infatuated with the idea of being a writer. Then, there's John K. Butzin, played by the legendary and beloved Dennis Farina in one of his last roles. Now, if you happen to forget his character's name, relax. He repeats it...A LOT! Mostly referring to himself in the third person, he resorts to self-publishing (nothing wrong with that!) on his quest to be just like Tom Clancy, not to mention having his book made into a film by Clint Eastwood. He is the textbook definition of a curmudgeon. Henry Obert is next, played by Chris Klein. He is going through a bout with writer's block, which is ironic, since he is arguably the most legit writer in this entire group. He is in love with literature and has read countless classic novels, and he wants nothing more to be respected alongside those authors that he admires. Also, he is in love with Hannah. Hannah Rinaldi, played by Kaley Cuoco, seems...a bit...airhead-y. Well, a lot, at first, but she grows. She is not a reader, nor does she know much about those book thingies. Pay attention to what she says about Jane Austen to get the full effect. There is a running gag about her being asked who her favorite writer is and she never has an answer. However, she is a writer who is very dedicated, working constantly on her book, and it pays off. It pays off for her, which doesn't exactly set well with the rest of her group.
The movie basically follows the progression of how the people who you consider friends, helpers, colleagues, what have you, can become something a bit more resentful when they realize that they are also your competitors. And they do this in quite a hilarious way. The fake smiles and congratulations are priceless and accurate, and they keep up until no one can handle it anymore and things explode. I assume that anyone who has been in a writer's group where one person stands out has seen this occur.
Now, if you listen to other critics, you may know that this film did not exactly get stellar reviews. I suppose I can understand why. Whilst I enjoyed this thing immensely, and I think anyone can, it seems to enhance the entertainment if you are also a writer. It helps a lot. It may be because we can look at any of these people and say, "Oh, I have known that person" or "I have been that person", or we can look at some of these scenarios and say, "I've been there". I certainly can.
What I liked best about this film were the characters and, in turn, the actors. Everyone really captured what they were supposed to portray, and even when the characters were being unlikable through actions or otherwise, you still can manage to enjoy them and be entertained by them. That is a very good thing, because there are many of those moments where you might want to slap someone, but you're too busy being amused by them.
So, in closing, I say give Authors Anonymous a shot, especially if you're writer, as I said. It will either make you want to find yourself a really great writing group, or avoid them all like the plague. Talk about range.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, September 8, 2014
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Cinematic Writers Week
Greetings,
A while back I informed everyone here that I may not be posting much on this blog due to the fact that I would be working overtime on my books. Well, that is exactly what I've been doing. And it's hard work, being a writer, especially if you do it right. I certainly hope I'm doing it right. It is also, again if done right, something that can lead one to having a very rich life. I love what I do, and some people appreciate that. Others, not so much. Still, I think some of the best exposure people get to the life of a writer can come by way of films.
So, starting tomorrow, in honor of the work of all writers out there, I will spend a week dedicated to movies that give everyone a glimpse into the life of writers. There are quite a few of these films, so I tried to narrow it down while still being a bit diverse. I wanted to show how writing can affect people's lives and what their process might be, for better or worse. Some are known, some are not. I like them all. Some more than others, but at the very least, I like them all.
If you are a writer, then I say this week is dedicated to you. If you are not, then I hope you read these reviews even more, enough to want to see the films and find out what we do.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
A while back I informed everyone here that I may not be posting much on this blog due to the fact that I would be working overtime on my books. Well, that is exactly what I've been doing. And it's hard work, being a writer, especially if you do it right. I certainly hope I'm doing it right. It is also, again if done right, something that can lead one to having a very rich life. I love what I do, and some people appreciate that. Others, not so much. Still, I think some of the best exposure people get to the life of a writer can come by way of films.
So, starting tomorrow, in honor of the work of all writers out there, I will spend a week dedicated to movies that give everyone a glimpse into the life of writers. There are quite a few of these films, so I tried to narrow it down while still being a bit diverse. I wanted to show how writing can affect people's lives and what their process might be, for better or worse. Some are known, some are not. I like them all. Some more than others, but at the very least, I like them all.
If you are a writer, then I say this week is dedicated to you. If you are not, then I hope you read these reviews even more, enough to want to see the films and find out what we do.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story - TV Movie Review
Greetings,
As you may know, whenever I see a movie at the theater, I immediately do a review of it here. Well, I don't think I've ever done this with a TV movie, until now. I'm going to be fairly brief today, but I just had to say something about this. This being The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story, courtesy of the good people at Lifetime.
In my opinion, 'true stories turned into movies from Lifetime' tend to be hit or miss with me and probably a lot of people. And I mean that from the perspective of what the truth actually is, as well as the quality of what they're putting out there. Let's talk about the artistic end of this first, particularly the acting. It wasn't terrible. In something of an homage to the show, I think they may have gotten actual teenagers to play the teenagers. The good old days. I could be wrong about that. Whether or not, though, they were pretty good. I was pleasantly surprised by all of them.
Now let's discuss how true this true story really was. Well, they did use the term "unauthorized" which can let you get away with a lot of stuff. However, it was based on the book that Dustin Diamond wrote, so much of it was from his point of view. He even got to do the Zack Morris-esque fourth wall breaking and time out/time in thing. Factor that in, as well as the seemingly acrimonious relationship he appears to have with his former co-stars, I kind of expected it to be more scandalous where they were concerned. It really wasn't. Actually, if anyone was made to look like a non-angel, it was Dustin Diamond himself. I mean, sure, he told about how he wasn't exactly treated well by a lot of people, and that seems plausible, but he shared his own mistakes, too. Everything else with everyone else just seemed like typical teenager stuff, though they were famous teenagers. Still, sometimes that doesn't matter. So, yeah, I don't exactly know how accurate these stories were, but if the weren't, no one is coming off looking all that bad. At least, as far as I could tell. Yeah, let's just say I tried to give this thing my full attention.
In short, this movie . . . exists. I watched until the end, though I may have drifted a couple of times, as I mentioned. And again, the acting was alright. And since this is a cable network movie, I feel as though they may rerun it a few more times. If they do, I say give it a watch. Especially if you lived through it the first time. Ah, nostalgia.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
As you may know, whenever I see a movie at the theater, I immediately do a review of it here. Well, I don't think I've ever done this with a TV movie, until now. I'm going to be fairly brief today, but I just had to say something about this. This being The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story, courtesy of the good people at Lifetime.
In my opinion, 'true stories turned into movies from Lifetime' tend to be hit or miss with me and probably a lot of people. And I mean that from the perspective of what the truth actually is, as well as the quality of what they're putting out there. Let's talk about the artistic end of this first, particularly the acting. It wasn't terrible. In something of an homage to the show, I think they may have gotten actual teenagers to play the teenagers. The good old days. I could be wrong about that. Whether or not, though, they were pretty good. I was pleasantly surprised by all of them.
Now let's discuss how true this true story really was. Well, they did use the term "unauthorized" which can let you get away with a lot of stuff. However, it was based on the book that Dustin Diamond wrote, so much of it was from his point of view. He even got to do the Zack Morris-esque fourth wall breaking and time out/time in thing. Factor that in, as well as the seemingly acrimonious relationship he appears to have with his former co-stars, I kind of expected it to be more scandalous where they were concerned. It really wasn't. Actually, if anyone was made to look like a non-angel, it was Dustin Diamond himself. I mean, sure, he told about how he wasn't exactly treated well by a lot of people, and that seems plausible, but he shared his own mistakes, too. Everything else with everyone else just seemed like typical teenager stuff, though they were famous teenagers. Still, sometimes that doesn't matter. So, yeah, I don't exactly know how accurate these stories were, but if the weren't, no one is coming off looking all that bad. At least, as far as I could tell. Yeah, let's just say I tried to give this thing my full attention.
In short, this movie . . . exists. I watched until the end, though I may have drifted a couple of times, as I mentioned. And again, the acting was alright. And since this is a cable network movie, I feel as though they may rerun it a few more times. If they do, I say give it a watch. Especially if you lived through it the first time. Ah, nostalgia.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Friday, August 29, 2014
Top Ten Community Episodes, the Traditional Years
Greetings,
If you are a fan of the show Community, then you were most likely saddened by the news that, after a five year run on NBC, the series would be coming to an end. But you would most likely be quite happy at the news that it was going to be brought back to life by way of Yahoo! This way, we will hopefully be getting our "six seasons and a movie", at the very least. Honestly, the only thing that made me smile, where the initial cancellation was concerned, was the fact that I would get to do a top ten episodes list. And, though the show is continuing, I thought I'd get around it by calling this a top ten from the traditional years, a.k.a. the years spent on that old timey thing called television. I don't call that cheating; I just call it being creative. Wouldn't Jeff Winger be proud of me?
So, as of late, I have decided to forego giving long descriptions about shows and characters when I do these lists, the way I used to do. I figure, unless you're a fan or you know enough about the show, you might not stop to read this. Although, as always, I may be giving spoilers and talking about things that only those who watch Community know, so check it out first, then come back. It will get more views for me and this cool, cool, cool show. Yeah, that's one of the things you need to watch the show to understand. Anyway, let's get started with my personal favorite episodes of Community.
Honorable Mention: "Regional Holiday Music"(Season 3) - Not only do we get to hear the musical stylings of the cast, for better or worse, this episode could have been called, "Hey, Glee! You guys suck!" Good times. Or am I the only one seeing it that way?
#10. "Heroic Origins"(Season 4) - Okay, 'elephant in the room' time. Also, harsh honesty time. If I had to pick a worst,or least good season of Community, I would go with season 4. Why? Mostly, because this was the year without Dan Harmon, the genius who created the show in the first place. And he got fired, because...I don't know. Maybe the person in charge had the same philosophy as the person who let Edward Norton go from his Hulk role. In other words, "Hey, what's the best thing we've got here? That? Okay...kill it". Look, I'm not saying that this season was 100% horrible. It had its moments, especially considering we still had our amazing cast. And, though Dan had nothing to do with this one, it reminded me of him a bit. Seeing the story of how these friends had always been connected and somehow found their way to Greendale gave me a good feeling of Harmon-y. Yeah, I went there.
#9. "A Fistful of Paintballs"/"For Few Paintballs More"(Season 2) - This is not a tie. This is a two-parter episode, so I had to include both. In Season 1, there was a paintball episode called "Modern Warfare", where the prize was first choice at classes for the next year. Well, the stakes have been raised this time with a prize of $100,000. Not suspicious at all. Anyway, the first half is done in the style of a spaghetti western, hence the title, and the second half switches over to having a Star Wars theme, hence the...well, okay, they kept the joke going with the titles from the first part, but whatever. It works. Also, if you are a fan of Lost, you're gonna get a little surprise.
#8. "Basic Intergluteal Numismatics"(Season 5) - First of all, the middle word in this title got called into question by my Spell Check, so I think someone made it up. Anyway, season 5 was pretty good and interesting, behind the scenes as well. We got back Dan Harmon, but, sadly, Chevy Chase as Pierce left and so did Donald Glover as Troy, eventually. It was sad, because they were both so great. Still, we got Jonathan Banks, and he brought a lot to the show. Okay, this episode. It's another one of those stylized ones, which I love, and they do a take off on all those really dark, crime genre shows. And the criminal they are dealing with is the, ahem, Butt Crack Bandit. Okay, yeah, they use the other word, but I just can't! I'm sorry. Aside from the main plot, the end of this one gives us a very important event in the series. Just watch.
#7. "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas"(Season 2) - Oh, Abed. Sometimes I think you're my imagination soul mate. So, as a child of the 80's, I loved this episode, because it was all in stop motion animation. Or, as we always called it, claymation. It was a tribute of sorts to those old Rankin/Bass Christmas specials, which, as the Nostalgia Critic put it, had more stop than motion. He's not exactly wrong, but I still watched them. Anyway, since Abed's imagination is working quite potently this time, his friends are concerned about his mental state, and they get help from Duncan, played by the great John Oliver, to perform Christmas-nosis. Just go with it. And Snowman Chang? I mean, come on. Awesomeness all around, and Ken Jeong makes an adorable little snowman. A tad feisty, but adorable. It's just one of the most creative things they've done, and that is saying a lot for this show. I know it took a lot of time and work to produce, but it was worth it. And, even in this form, Danny Pudi excels at playing the wonderful weirdo. I call him that with love, by the way.
#6. "Pilot"(Season 1) - As far as character introduction goes, I'd say this is one of the best pilot episodes I've ever seen. Sure, they eventually build on the characters, but, on a show that's very driven by the world around them, they got the foundation out, right off the bat. Jeff's a manipulator, Abed is strange, Annie is a sometimes psychotic overachiever, so on and so forth. Got it. And now let's get this party started. Isn't that what a pilot supposed to do anyway? Well done. And hats off to Joel McHale. I think a lot of the pressure to get this series off the ground was resting on his shoulders, since he was kind of the central character in this first episode. No worries. He did a fantastic job.
#5. "Home Economics"(Season 2) - There's a lot going on in this one. First, Jeff is revealed to be living in his car after some condo fee issues and ends up living with Abed, adapting all too well to his carefree lifestyle. Britta tries to convince Jeff to get his life together, all the while she's dealing with her ex, a hippie guy named Vaughn, played hilariously by Eric Christian Olsen. He's bitter about their breakup and goes all Alanis Morrisette/Adele/Taylor Swift by writing songs about her with his band. Pierce tries to "help" and ends up in that band. And then, there's Annie trying to "help" Troy impress a girl. Weird, because she was kind of in love with him. But it's Annie, so, of course. Amazingly enough, though this episode is quite full, it does not feel bloated. See, it is possible.
#4. "Digital Estate Planning"(Season 3) - After the death of his father, Pierce must go to a warehouse with his closest friends and ends up having to play a special video game in order to, literally, win his inheritance. Much like the claymation episode, we are going nostalgic for this one, with a tribute to old school video games. Why the old school kind? Probably because it's cheaper graphics. I don't fault them for that. Anyway, there are a ton of comedy gems in this episode, including our guest actor, Giancarlo Eposito. I personally know him best due to his role on Homicide: Life on the Street. I've rarely, if ever, seen him do comedy, but he should do it more often.
#3. "Remedial Chaos Theory"(Season 3) - Hmmm, chaos theory. Insert Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park joke here. As a writer, I am overwhelmingly impressed with this episode. The plot is that, while at Abed's and Troy's housewarming party, a die is cast to decide who will go to the pizza delivery guy. A die with six sides, creating, as who else but Abed tells us, six different timelines. And it does! We get to see what happens depending on what number is rolled. Every one has obviously different events, but they manage to give us some running gags, which are funny every time. The whole thing is just genius. And God bless Gillian Jacobs and her "Me so hungry!" dance. Wait, me so...hungry? I feel like that could have gone in a less appropriate direction. Keeping it classy, Community.
#2. "Cooperative Calligraphy"(Season 2) - So, remember how I said that Annie can be a little psychotic? Um, yeah. After a study session where the group works on yet another diorama, they are all looking forward to the puppy parade. How could they not be with all the sporadic announcements from Dean Pelton? God bless you, too, Jim Rash. But, alas, Annie cannot find her pen, and she subsequently accuses and interrogates every member of the study group, determined to find it. So, therefore, they are all stuck in the study room, missing the puppy parade. Why? Because this is a "bottle episode". And one of the best ever. Oh, and speaking of best ever, Alison Brie is THE BEST SCREAMER EVER!!!
#1. "Basic Lupine Urology"(Season 3) - So, I sure do love me some Law & Order, as I may have mentioned. And I clearly love Community. I wonder how I would feel if someone combined these two. Oh, look at that! Someone did, and I feel amazing about it. I was so excited when I heard about this one, and I was not disappointed. This is a full on tribute to the long-running series, Law & Order, complete with a thanks to Dick Wolf at the end. The plot is that the yam being used by the study group for a biology project has been murdered...or whatever, and they must find the guilty party. And do they EVER get into this? We've got Abed and Troy playing the detectives, dressed just as they should be, and Jeff and Annie as the male and female prosecutors. It probably takes a hardcore L&O fan to notice this, but they paid a lot of attention to detail here, as they always do. But, I have to say, everything and everyone kind of got blown away by Yvette Nicole Brown's performance. She became Lt. Van Buren. The way she talked, her mannerisms, even the way she moved her hands. It was perfect. By this time, two years after cancellation, I had really been missing my Law & Order. What a nice little present for me. Oh, and Michael Ironside. I don't think I have to say anymore about that.
And so, those are my favorite episodes from Community's time on traditional television. You know, some people have referred to this show as being "too weird". If that means that it's creative and unique and like nothing else you'll be seeing on TV, then I will take it. I do love it when people are willing to take risks in order to be artistically innovative. That is about the rarest thing these days in the entertainment industry. I'm happy that someone chose to be a little different, so that those of us who appreciate creativity can have something to watch. And I wish them much success in the future.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
If you are a fan of the show Community, then you were most likely saddened by the news that, after a five year run on NBC, the series would be coming to an end. But you would most likely be quite happy at the news that it was going to be brought back to life by way of Yahoo! This way, we will hopefully be getting our "six seasons and a movie", at the very least. Honestly, the only thing that made me smile, where the initial cancellation was concerned, was the fact that I would get to do a top ten episodes list. And, though the show is continuing, I thought I'd get around it by calling this a top ten from the traditional years, a.k.a. the years spent on that old timey thing called television. I don't call that cheating; I just call it being creative. Wouldn't Jeff Winger be proud of me?
So, as of late, I have decided to forego giving long descriptions about shows and characters when I do these lists, the way I used to do. I figure, unless you're a fan or you know enough about the show, you might not stop to read this. Although, as always, I may be giving spoilers and talking about things that only those who watch Community know, so check it out first, then come back. It will get more views for me and this cool, cool, cool show. Yeah, that's one of the things you need to watch the show to understand. Anyway, let's get started with my personal favorite episodes of Community.
Honorable Mention: "Regional Holiday Music"(Season 3) - Not only do we get to hear the musical stylings of the cast, for better or worse, this episode could have been called, "Hey, Glee! You guys suck!" Good times. Or am I the only one seeing it that way?
#10. "Heroic Origins"(Season 4) - Okay, 'elephant in the room' time. Also, harsh honesty time. If I had to pick a worst,or least good season of Community, I would go with season 4. Why? Mostly, because this was the year without Dan Harmon, the genius who created the show in the first place. And he got fired, because...I don't know. Maybe the person in charge had the same philosophy as the person who let Edward Norton go from his Hulk role. In other words, "Hey, what's the best thing we've got here? That? Okay...kill it". Look, I'm not saying that this season was 100% horrible. It had its moments, especially considering we still had our amazing cast. And, though Dan had nothing to do with this one, it reminded me of him a bit. Seeing the story of how these friends had always been connected and somehow found their way to Greendale gave me a good feeling of Harmon-y. Yeah, I went there.
#9. "A Fistful of Paintballs"/"For Few Paintballs More"(Season 2) - This is not a tie. This is a two-parter episode, so I had to include both. In Season 1, there was a paintball episode called "Modern Warfare", where the prize was first choice at classes for the next year. Well, the stakes have been raised this time with a prize of $100,000. Not suspicious at all. Anyway, the first half is done in the style of a spaghetti western, hence the title, and the second half switches over to having a Star Wars theme, hence the...well, okay, they kept the joke going with the titles from the first part, but whatever. It works. Also, if you are a fan of Lost, you're gonna get a little surprise.
#8. "Basic Intergluteal Numismatics"(Season 5) - First of all, the middle word in this title got called into question by my Spell Check, so I think someone made it up. Anyway, season 5 was pretty good and interesting, behind the scenes as well. We got back Dan Harmon, but, sadly, Chevy Chase as Pierce left and so did Donald Glover as Troy, eventually. It was sad, because they were both so great. Still, we got Jonathan Banks, and he brought a lot to the show. Okay, this episode. It's another one of those stylized ones, which I love, and they do a take off on all those really dark, crime genre shows. And the criminal they are dealing with is the, ahem, Butt Crack Bandit. Okay, yeah, they use the other word, but I just can't! I'm sorry. Aside from the main plot, the end of this one gives us a very important event in the series. Just watch.
#7. "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas"(Season 2) - Oh, Abed. Sometimes I think you're my imagination soul mate. So, as a child of the 80's, I loved this episode, because it was all in stop motion animation. Or, as we always called it, claymation. It was a tribute of sorts to those old Rankin/Bass Christmas specials, which, as the Nostalgia Critic put it, had more stop than motion. He's not exactly wrong, but I still watched them. Anyway, since Abed's imagination is working quite potently this time, his friends are concerned about his mental state, and they get help from Duncan, played by the great John Oliver, to perform Christmas-nosis. Just go with it. And Snowman Chang? I mean, come on. Awesomeness all around, and Ken Jeong makes an adorable little snowman. A tad feisty, but adorable. It's just one of the most creative things they've done, and that is saying a lot for this show. I know it took a lot of time and work to produce, but it was worth it. And, even in this form, Danny Pudi excels at playing the wonderful weirdo. I call him that with love, by the way.
#6. "Pilot"(Season 1) - As far as character introduction goes, I'd say this is one of the best pilot episodes I've ever seen. Sure, they eventually build on the characters, but, on a show that's very driven by the world around them, they got the foundation out, right off the bat. Jeff's a manipulator, Abed is strange, Annie is a sometimes psychotic overachiever, so on and so forth. Got it. And now let's get this party started. Isn't that what a pilot supposed to do anyway? Well done. And hats off to Joel McHale. I think a lot of the pressure to get this series off the ground was resting on his shoulders, since he was kind of the central character in this first episode. No worries. He did a fantastic job.
#5. "Home Economics"(Season 2) - There's a lot going on in this one. First, Jeff is revealed to be living in his car after some condo fee issues and ends up living with Abed, adapting all too well to his carefree lifestyle. Britta tries to convince Jeff to get his life together, all the while she's dealing with her ex, a hippie guy named Vaughn, played hilariously by Eric Christian Olsen. He's bitter about their breakup and goes all Alanis Morrisette/Adele/Taylor Swift by writing songs about her with his band. Pierce tries to "help" and ends up in that band. And then, there's Annie trying to "help" Troy impress a girl. Weird, because she was kind of in love with him. But it's Annie, so, of course. Amazingly enough, though this episode is quite full, it does not feel bloated. See, it is possible.
#4. "Digital Estate Planning"(Season 3) - After the death of his father, Pierce must go to a warehouse with his closest friends and ends up having to play a special video game in order to, literally, win his inheritance. Much like the claymation episode, we are going nostalgic for this one, with a tribute to old school video games. Why the old school kind? Probably because it's cheaper graphics. I don't fault them for that. Anyway, there are a ton of comedy gems in this episode, including our guest actor, Giancarlo Eposito. I personally know him best due to his role on Homicide: Life on the Street. I've rarely, if ever, seen him do comedy, but he should do it more often.
#3. "Remedial Chaos Theory"(Season 3) - Hmmm, chaos theory. Insert Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park joke here. As a writer, I am overwhelmingly impressed with this episode. The plot is that, while at Abed's and Troy's housewarming party, a die is cast to decide who will go to the pizza delivery guy. A die with six sides, creating, as who else but Abed tells us, six different timelines. And it does! We get to see what happens depending on what number is rolled. Every one has obviously different events, but they manage to give us some running gags, which are funny every time. The whole thing is just genius. And God bless Gillian Jacobs and her "Me so hungry!" dance. Wait, me so...hungry? I feel like that could have gone in a less appropriate direction. Keeping it classy, Community.
#2. "Cooperative Calligraphy"(Season 2) - So, remember how I said that Annie can be a little psychotic? Um, yeah. After a study session where the group works on yet another diorama, they are all looking forward to the puppy parade. How could they not be with all the sporadic announcements from Dean Pelton? God bless you, too, Jim Rash. But, alas, Annie cannot find her pen, and she subsequently accuses and interrogates every member of the study group, determined to find it. So, therefore, they are all stuck in the study room, missing the puppy parade. Why? Because this is a "bottle episode". And one of the best ever. Oh, and speaking of best ever, Alison Brie is THE BEST SCREAMER EVER!!!
#1. "Basic Lupine Urology"(Season 3) - So, I sure do love me some Law & Order, as I may have mentioned. And I clearly love Community. I wonder how I would feel if someone combined these two. Oh, look at that! Someone did, and I feel amazing about it. I was so excited when I heard about this one, and I was not disappointed. This is a full on tribute to the long-running series, Law & Order, complete with a thanks to Dick Wolf at the end. The plot is that the yam being used by the study group for a biology project has been murdered...or whatever, and they must find the guilty party. And do they EVER get into this? We've got Abed and Troy playing the detectives, dressed just as they should be, and Jeff and Annie as the male and female prosecutors. It probably takes a hardcore L&O fan to notice this, but they paid a lot of attention to detail here, as they always do. But, I have to say, everything and everyone kind of got blown away by Yvette Nicole Brown's performance. She became Lt. Van Buren. The way she talked, her mannerisms, even the way she moved her hands. It was perfect. By this time, two years after cancellation, I had really been missing my Law & Order. What a nice little present for me. Oh, and Michael Ironside. I don't think I have to say anymore about that.
And so, those are my favorite episodes from Community's time on traditional television. You know, some people have referred to this show as being "too weird". If that means that it's creative and unique and like nothing else you'll be seeing on TV, then I will take it. I do love it when people are willing to take risks in order to be artistically innovative. That is about the rarest thing these days in the entertainment industry. I'm happy that someone chose to be a little different, so that those of us who appreciate creativity can have something to watch. And I wish them much success in the future.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, August 25, 2014
The One Seasoner's Club - Defying Gravity
Greetings,
I suppose I would consider myself a fan of the science fiction genre. However, with me, it tends to be hit or miss more than any other. So, when something good and unique pops up, I tend to take notice. That brings us to today's subject of The One Seasoner's Cub, Defying Gravity. And, no, it has absolutely nothing to do with Wicked. Thank God.
In 2009, ABC began airing Defying Gravity, a series that was inspired by a BBC fictional documentary (What?) called Space Odyssey: Voyage to the Planets, released in the U.S. as Voyage to the Planets and Beyond. That was all about how a mission to visit other planets might play out in reality. I haven't seen it yet, but, after watching this series, it definitely has a place on my Netflix queue.
So, as you may have guessed from that and if you saw any of the promos, Defying Gravity is about a team of astronauts in 2052 on a six year mission to Venus for...reasons. Yeah, the reason as to why they are going there gets revealed as the show continues on. Until it stops abruptly. We'll get to that. Anyway, this is not shot in a documentary form, though there is a subplot of one of the team members shooting a documentary intended to be shown to children. But the children cannot see everything, and we have much else going on here.
Okay, there are a lot of characters in this show, the central one being Maddux Donner. First of all, what's up with that awesome name? Second, I call him central because, as I recall, he did most, if not all, of the voice-over narrations. Also, he was played by Ron Livingston, probably the best known actor in this series. Anyway, this is a bit of a timeline jumping show, though it's not at all confusing. See, ten years earlier, on a trip to Mars, Donner was put in a situation where he was forced to leave two colleagues behind. It has haunted him ever since, and he has become well-known as a "tragic American here". We don't see a ton of the Mars stuff, as we mostly jump between "present" day and the events of only five years earlier. Those events centered around would be astronauts trying to get into the program and eventually make the team for the Venus mission.
But, as astronauts are people, they have much human drama by way of their personal relationships and life decisions. I could go into specifics, but, as I said, there are many characters and, thus, many plots going on. Everything from the two points in time are connected, though, so it makes it much easier to follow. Also, no shock here, we begin to realize that their may be some shady goings on within the hierarchy of the space program, and they are intent on sending specific people for the mission. As I said, we learn more as time progresses, as do the previously uninformed astronauts. By the end, such as it is, we can see that everyone, audience included, is just scratching the surface of the mystery. Sadly, it is a mystery for which we will never get an explanation. Thanks a pantload, network.
I suppose I should make mention of the cast, since, whilst largely unknown, it was very good. Besides Ron Livingston, some of the others you may recognize are Malik Yoba, Christina Cox and Laura Harris. Oh, yeah, one of the reasons why it's so easy to tell the two points in time apart is much thanks to the hairstyle of Miss Laura here. Long hair = past, short hair = present. The rest of the cast is full of a ton of lesser known actors. At least, I personally did not recognize any of them. But if you get a chance, I say look them up, because there was a lot of talent on this show.
So, we had a unique story line, good writing, great actors and stunning visuals. Why was it cancelled? Perhaps, it was because it had all those things I just mentioned, and television often has no use for quality shows. Seen the lineup lately? I suppose it was because of ratings. Why else? Actually, I have no concrete proof of this, but I've heard that ABC had poised this to be something of a replacement for Lost, which was on its way out. Unfortunately, Defying Gravity did not have a pilot that was a massive hit. And, of course, shows like this can never get big thanks to word of mouth and develop a loyal following. Nope! That never happens. It's not like there was a show that premiered in 1963 about a time traveling alien that had a fairly slow start and then ended up lasing fifty+ years with a rabid fan base. And before said fan base has a meltdown, I am not comparing Defying Gravity to you beloved Doctor Who. I'm just saying the principle is the same. Also, the eighth series just began, and it's on my mind. Point is, some shows deserve a chance to build an audience. You never know what might become of them.
Okay, let's just get to the question that I've pretty much already answered. Did this show deserve a second season? Yes, without a doubt. Actually, of all the shows I've covered in this little series of mine, I'd say this is in the top three of ones that most deserved to go on. And not just because I and many others wanted to know what the heck was happening, but because it was a well-made, interesting and entertaining show. We do not have many of those these days. Why take any away? I don't know. Still, with the phenomenon of Netflix choosing some past series to resurrect, I certainly hope Defying Gravity gets a nomination.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I suppose I would consider myself a fan of the science fiction genre. However, with me, it tends to be hit or miss more than any other. So, when something good and unique pops up, I tend to take notice. That brings us to today's subject of The One Seasoner's Cub, Defying Gravity. And, no, it has absolutely nothing to do with Wicked. Thank God.
In 2009, ABC began airing Defying Gravity, a series that was inspired by a BBC fictional documentary (What?) called Space Odyssey: Voyage to the Planets, released in the U.S. as Voyage to the Planets and Beyond. That was all about how a mission to visit other planets might play out in reality. I haven't seen it yet, but, after watching this series, it definitely has a place on my Netflix queue.
So, as you may have guessed from that and if you saw any of the promos, Defying Gravity is about a team of astronauts in 2052 on a six year mission to Venus for...reasons. Yeah, the reason as to why they are going there gets revealed as the show continues on. Until it stops abruptly. We'll get to that. Anyway, this is not shot in a documentary form, though there is a subplot of one of the team members shooting a documentary intended to be shown to children. But the children cannot see everything, and we have much else going on here.
Okay, there are a lot of characters in this show, the central one being Maddux Donner. First of all, what's up with that awesome name? Second, I call him central because, as I recall, he did most, if not all, of the voice-over narrations. Also, he was played by Ron Livingston, probably the best known actor in this series. Anyway, this is a bit of a timeline jumping show, though it's not at all confusing. See, ten years earlier, on a trip to Mars, Donner was put in a situation where he was forced to leave two colleagues behind. It has haunted him ever since, and he has become well-known as a "tragic American here". We don't see a ton of the Mars stuff, as we mostly jump between "present" day and the events of only five years earlier. Those events centered around would be astronauts trying to get into the program and eventually make the team for the Venus mission.
But, as astronauts are people, they have much human drama by way of their personal relationships and life decisions. I could go into specifics, but, as I said, there are many characters and, thus, many plots going on. Everything from the two points in time are connected, though, so it makes it much easier to follow. Also, no shock here, we begin to realize that their may be some shady goings on within the hierarchy of the space program, and they are intent on sending specific people for the mission. As I said, we learn more as time progresses, as do the previously uninformed astronauts. By the end, such as it is, we can see that everyone, audience included, is just scratching the surface of the mystery. Sadly, it is a mystery for which we will never get an explanation. Thanks a pantload, network.
I suppose I should make mention of the cast, since, whilst largely unknown, it was very good. Besides Ron Livingston, some of the others you may recognize are Malik Yoba, Christina Cox and Laura Harris. Oh, yeah, one of the reasons why it's so easy to tell the two points in time apart is much thanks to the hairstyle of Miss Laura here. Long hair = past, short hair = present. The rest of the cast is full of a ton of lesser known actors. At least, I personally did not recognize any of them. But if you get a chance, I say look them up, because there was a lot of talent on this show.
So, we had a unique story line, good writing, great actors and stunning visuals. Why was it cancelled? Perhaps, it was because it had all those things I just mentioned, and television often has no use for quality shows. Seen the lineup lately? I suppose it was because of ratings. Why else? Actually, I have no concrete proof of this, but I've heard that ABC had poised this to be something of a replacement for Lost, which was on its way out. Unfortunately, Defying Gravity did not have a pilot that was a massive hit. And, of course, shows like this can never get big thanks to word of mouth and develop a loyal following. Nope! That never happens. It's not like there was a show that premiered in 1963 about a time traveling alien that had a fairly slow start and then ended up lasing fifty+ years with a rabid fan base. And before said fan base has a meltdown, I am not comparing Defying Gravity to you beloved Doctor Who. I'm just saying the principle is the same. Also, the eighth series just began, and it's on my mind. Point is, some shows deserve a chance to build an audience. You never know what might become of them.
Okay, let's just get to the question that I've pretty much already answered. Did this show deserve a second season? Yes, without a doubt. Actually, of all the shows I've covered in this little series of mine, I'd say this is in the top three of ones that most deserved to go on. And not just because I and many others wanted to know what the heck was happening, but because it was a well-made, interesting and entertaining show. We do not have many of those these days. Why take any away? I don't know. Still, with the phenomenon of Netflix choosing some past series to resurrect, I certainly hope Defying Gravity gets a nomination.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
Top Ten Worst Hit Songs of 1989
Greetings,
Remember yesterday, what I said about the not-so-great music of this year? How I could barely handle talking about it? Yeah, well, I say we don't do a lot of small talk today. Let's just get down to the task at hand and deal with the especially awful awfulness of this year in music with the Top Ten Worst Hit Songs of 1989. Sigh. Let's get this over with.
#10. "Shower Me With Your Love" Surface - Okay, this one is placing quite low on the list, because I am being a bit nitpicky here. I have little issue with the verses of the song. They're not that bad, actually, and the singing is fine. But the chorus? That phrase, 'shower me with your love'? I don't know. It just sounds wrong, so wrong. At worst. At best, it's just cringeworthy.
#9. "After All" Cher and Peter Cetera - As I previously mentioned, I like Chicago, so I don't really have a major problem with Peter Cetera. I even like a little of his solo work. A little. And I like Cher. Even saw her in concert one time. But this song is one I never, ever liked. It just doesn't do anything. It's...there, and that's about it. I need more, especially from these two.
#8. "Rock Wit'cha" Bobby Brown - First of all, what is up with that spelling? Yes, I am not a fan of this so-called phonetic spelling with song titles. I can tolerate a 'wanna' or a 'gonna', even a 'kinda', but that's about it. Don't ask me why? Also, if you want to make a song about romancing...well, 'romancing' the ladies, try not to make references to Marvin Gaye. I mean, I don't remind people of Wolfgang Puck when I make smoked salmon. It's just...no, thank you.
#7. "I Wanna Have Some Fun" Samantha Fox - Speaking of a 'wanna' song, there's this. So apparently, in the 80's, a lot of people wanted to be Madonna. Her fans doing this was bad enough, but it seems that a few musical acts were going in this direction as well. Whether it was on purpose or not, I get a feeling that Samantha Fox was attempting to follow in her footsteps. Why, I have no idea, but this song and its accompanying video kind of proved that, though I never considered Madonna a paradigm of fine music, this girl was not even close. At least, not with this song.
#6. "Rock On" Michael Damian - You know how we all kind of roll our eyes at the thought of actors doing the music thing? Well, if you are a soap opera actor doing it, you've got even more strikes against you. Not everyone can be Jack Wagner. No lie, I love him. But this guy, I just don't know. I have no idea what he was like as an actor, save a brief stint on The Facts of Life, and to be fair, he doesn't have a bad voice. He sounds very 80's, actually. And this song sounds 80's...times a hundred. I get how some people might like that, but I just don't in this case. And don't get me started on the lyrics.
#5. "Girl, I'm Gonna Miss You" Milli Vanilli - You didn't think I was going to forget these guys, did you? Well, there's more to come, but let's just deal with this now. They had four -FOUR!- songs that ranked in, not only the Top 100 of the year, but the Top 30. What the heck, 1989? This was, apparently, their love ballad. Oh, it had some slow, slow rapping...ish, because why not? Forget the pantomime scandal. I have no idea how they got successful with this stuff.
#4. "I Like It" Dino - Ever look at a new act in music and know that they are going to be a one-hit-wonder? And barely so. Yeah, I think this was something of a hello/goodbye situation here. I actually don't even think I've ever heard this thing on the radio. Even Rick Astley gets played on legit radio these days, but not this guy. How sad is that?
#3. "Batdance" Prince - What in the heck is this? Look, I am not exactly a fan of Prince, but I can, at least, appreciate that he has done some good stuff. He certainly is a talented musician and songwriter. So why? Why does this exist? It does not need to exist.
#2. "Baby, I Love Your Way/Free Bird" Will to Power - This is not a tie of two songs. This is a mash-up...Glee style! You know what, no. I take that back. At least Glee, doing its best to ruin good music since 2009, can do a proper mash-up where the two or more songs are somehow related, either lyrically or melodically...sometimes. But what do these to songs have in common? The 70's? For crying out loud, "Staying Alive" and "Disco Duck" would be a better combo. The only reason that this is only Number 2 is because, whoever the girl is in this act, she's actually got some vocal chops. Otherwise, I've got nothing. Did I mention this song made it to Number 9 on the Year End Chart? Number 9! For the entire year! Confused face, for real.
#1. "Baby, Don't Forget My Number" Milli Vanilli - Welcome back, boys. Don't forget your number, you say? Oh, I will forget, but I will not forgive. Not for this. I mean, come on! There is nothing, NOTHING right with this song. Pretty much everything I detest about 80's music can be found right here. So, if you're looking to torture someone, I just made it way easier for you.
And there you have the worst of the year, again, in my opinion. I will, for sure, be doing lists like this in the future, but I think it will be a long while before I venture into the 80's again. If I ever go back at all.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Remember yesterday, what I said about the not-so-great music of this year? How I could barely handle talking about it? Yeah, well, I say we don't do a lot of small talk today. Let's just get down to the task at hand and deal with the especially awful awfulness of this year in music with the Top Ten Worst Hit Songs of 1989. Sigh. Let's get this over with.
#10. "Shower Me With Your Love" Surface - Okay, this one is placing quite low on the list, because I am being a bit nitpicky here. I have little issue with the verses of the song. They're not that bad, actually, and the singing is fine. But the chorus? That phrase, 'shower me with your love'? I don't know. It just sounds wrong, so wrong. At worst. At best, it's just cringeworthy.
#9. "After All" Cher and Peter Cetera - As I previously mentioned, I like Chicago, so I don't really have a major problem with Peter Cetera. I even like a little of his solo work. A little. And I like Cher. Even saw her in concert one time. But this song is one I never, ever liked. It just doesn't do anything. It's...there, and that's about it. I need more, especially from these two.
#8. "Rock Wit'cha" Bobby Brown - First of all, what is up with that spelling? Yes, I am not a fan of this so-called phonetic spelling with song titles. I can tolerate a 'wanna' or a 'gonna', even a 'kinda', but that's about it. Don't ask me why? Also, if you want to make a song about romancing...well, 'romancing' the ladies, try not to make references to Marvin Gaye. I mean, I don't remind people of Wolfgang Puck when I make smoked salmon. It's just...no, thank you.
#7. "I Wanna Have Some Fun" Samantha Fox - Speaking of a 'wanna' song, there's this. So apparently, in the 80's, a lot of people wanted to be Madonna. Her fans doing this was bad enough, but it seems that a few musical acts were going in this direction as well. Whether it was on purpose or not, I get a feeling that Samantha Fox was attempting to follow in her footsteps. Why, I have no idea, but this song and its accompanying video kind of proved that, though I never considered Madonna a paradigm of fine music, this girl was not even close. At least, not with this song.
#6. "Rock On" Michael Damian - You know how we all kind of roll our eyes at the thought of actors doing the music thing? Well, if you are a soap opera actor doing it, you've got even more strikes against you. Not everyone can be Jack Wagner. No lie, I love him. But this guy, I just don't know. I have no idea what he was like as an actor, save a brief stint on The Facts of Life, and to be fair, he doesn't have a bad voice. He sounds very 80's, actually. And this song sounds 80's...times a hundred. I get how some people might like that, but I just don't in this case. And don't get me started on the lyrics.
#5. "Girl, I'm Gonna Miss You" Milli Vanilli - You didn't think I was going to forget these guys, did you? Well, there's more to come, but let's just deal with this now. They had four -FOUR!- songs that ranked in, not only the Top 100 of the year, but the Top 30. What the heck, 1989? This was, apparently, their love ballad. Oh, it had some slow, slow rapping...ish, because why not? Forget the pantomime scandal. I have no idea how they got successful with this stuff.
#4. "I Like It" Dino - Ever look at a new act in music and know that they are going to be a one-hit-wonder? And barely so. Yeah, I think this was something of a hello/goodbye situation here. I actually don't even think I've ever heard this thing on the radio. Even Rick Astley gets played on legit radio these days, but not this guy. How sad is that?
#3. "Batdance" Prince - What in the heck is this? Look, I am not exactly a fan of Prince, but I can, at least, appreciate that he has done some good stuff. He certainly is a talented musician and songwriter. So why? Why does this exist? It does not need to exist.
#2. "Baby, I Love Your Way/Free Bird" Will to Power - This is not a tie of two songs. This is a mash-up...Glee style! You know what, no. I take that back. At least Glee, doing its best to ruin good music since 2009, can do a proper mash-up where the two or more songs are somehow related, either lyrically or melodically...sometimes. But what do these to songs have in common? The 70's? For crying out loud, "Staying Alive" and "Disco Duck" would be a better combo. The only reason that this is only Number 2 is because, whoever the girl is in this act, she's actually got some vocal chops. Otherwise, I've got nothing. Did I mention this song made it to Number 9 on the Year End Chart? Number 9! For the entire year! Confused face, for real.
#1. "Baby, Don't Forget My Number" Milli Vanilli - Welcome back, boys. Don't forget your number, you say? Oh, I will forget, but I will not forgive. Not for this. I mean, come on! There is nothing, NOTHING right with this song. Pretty much everything I detest about 80's music can be found right here. So, if you're looking to torture someone, I just made it way easier for you.
And there you have the worst of the year, again, in my opinion. I will, for sure, be doing lists like this in the future, but I think it will be a long while before I venture into the 80's again. If I ever go back at all.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Tuesday, August 19, 2014
Top Ten Best Hit Songs of 1989
Greetings,
So, I think this is the fourth time I've done one of these lists, ranking songs of whatever year. And, yet again, I have chosen a year because of someone specific. I'm pretty much doing this as a gift to someone who was born in 1989, because it's cheaper than buying an actual gift. I'm not sure I would have picked this year, otherwise.
Even though I was born in the 80's, I have never been a huge fan of the music what came from it, generally speaking. Of course, there was some good stuff, but I don't really think that 1989 had much of it. It has a few gems, some was meh, and the rest...I can't even...just wait for tomorrow. Anyway, let's take care of the good stuff today. We'll tackle what's left later. As always, I get these from Billboard's Year End chart of said year. Gotta have some focus. And oh my, if this isn't going to expose my love of easy listening. Off we go.
#10. "Stand" R.E.M. - I've promised to always be completely honest with you guys. So, when it comes to R.E.M., let me be honest and say...I loathe this band. I have my reasons. Unfortunately, I have the rare gift of being able to separate artist and art, occasionally, and I do like some of their songs. It's weird, I know. Point is, I have an odd infatuation with this particular song. Maybe because it's not as, let's say, mopey and possibly pretentious as some of their other stuff. Thumbs up?
#9. "All This Time" Tiffany / "Lost in Your Eyes" Debbie Gibson - Yeah, I'm throwing in a tie again. Look, I had to do it. I wanted to include both of these songs, but I didn't want to cause another rivalry between these two ladies. Not that I'm certain there was one to begin with. Okay, I really like these songs, and they certainly let the girls show off some of their strengths. I'd like to think these made people notice their skills a bit more than usual, Tiffany with her voice and Debbie with her songwriting. I think these girls had more to offer than they were ever given proper credit for.
#8. "Look Away" Chicago - If one of my music review mentors ever sees this, he may hate me. But I cannot help it. I love Chicago. By this time, their former leader of sorts, Peter Cetera, had been gone for quite a while, and they had been trying to keep up with the success they had gained. It might not have been as prominent, but it was certainly still there.
#7. "How Can I Fall?" Breathe - Yeah, I know utterly nothing about this band. I think most people might know them better by way of another song, "Hands to Heaven", but that's about it. I have no fun facts, at all. But this song is awesome, in its own special way.
#6. "Toy Soldiers" Martika - If anyone knows this song today, it may most likely be because it was sampled by Eminem. Whatever. Those of who can remember the original, in its purest form, know that nothing can touch it. Also, I heard it was about drug addiction, and the lyrics used are quite creative and unique. I guess that can happen occasionally with hit songs.
#5. "Eternal Flame" The Bangles - Life has many great questions, and one of the greatest is this - Bangles or Go-Go's? Well, with me, I am always going to choose The Bangles. Save "Walk Like an Egyptian", I think this may be their most well-known song. And it's great. Sadly, though, according to Behind the Music, this was when things really started going downhill for the band personally. At least, they went out on something this good.
#4. "Listen to Your Heart" Roxette - Sweden has given us some great groups. We've got ABBA, Ace of Base(Shut up!) and these guys, Roxette. I don't know how well they may be remembered these days, but I guarantee their songs are still being played on the radio, as well they should. They had a few pretty good hits, but I consider this song to be their best. It's got all the things that a good, epic, power ballad of the 80's needs.
#3. "I'll Be Loving You(Forever) New Kids on the Block - Have I mentioned that I love New Kids on the Block? Because I do. This year was a good year for the Boston boys. They were everywhere. Therefore, if you did not like them, it was a bad year for you. Good for me, I liked them, still do. This was one of the biggest hits of their career, and it's a well-deserved honor. Oh, but if you have issues with a little thing called falsetto, run away. Run far, far away.
#2. "What I Am" Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians - So, when I watched the I Love the 80's specials on VH-1, they told me that in that decade there was a resurgence of hippies. Not just 'I have a tie-dye shirt, so I'm a hippie', but full-on hippies. I either was not aware of this or I forgot about it. Either way, I think this song may have been a reflection of that. At least, it didn't sound like anything else we were getting on the radio during that time. How nice that an artist can go against the flow ad still have some success.
#1. "Right Here Waiting" Richard Marx - I know, I know, but I can't help it. I just can't help it. I love this song SO MUCH! Some men just know what the ladies want to here, and he always did. Kidding aside, I have always thought that Richard Marx was an immensely talented musician. As I said, in amongst all the...whatever, there were a few gems this year. And this gem was the sparkliest.
And there are the best of 1989, according to me. I must say, finding ten(or eleven) good songs was not as hard of a challenge as I thought it would be. Of course, narrowing down the bad ones? Yeah, that took some effort. Join me tomorrow for that one.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
So, I think this is the fourth time I've done one of these lists, ranking songs of whatever year. And, yet again, I have chosen a year because of someone specific. I'm pretty much doing this as a gift to someone who was born in 1989, because it's cheaper than buying an actual gift. I'm not sure I would have picked this year, otherwise.
Even though I was born in the 80's, I have never been a huge fan of the music what came from it, generally speaking. Of course, there was some good stuff, but I don't really think that 1989 had much of it. It has a few gems, some was meh, and the rest...I can't even...just wait for tomorrow. Anyway, let's take care of the good stuff today. We'll tackle what's left later. As always, I get these from Billboard's Year End chart of said year. Gotta have some focus. And oh my, if this isn't going to expose my love of easy listening. Off we go.
#10. "Stand" R.E.M. - I've promised to always be completely honest with you guys. So, when it comes to R.E.M., let me be honest and say...I loathe this band. I have my reasons. Unfortunately, I have the rare gift of being able to separate artist and art, occasionally, and I do like some of their songs. It's weird, I know. Point is, I have an odd infatuation with this particular song. Maybe because it's not as, let's say, mopey and possibly pretentious as some of their other stuff. Thumbs up?
#9. "All This Time" Tiffany / "Lost in Your Eyes" Debbie Gibson - Yeah, I'm throwing in a tie again. Look, I had to do it. I wanted to include both of these songs, but I didn't want to cause another rivalry between these two ladies. Not that I'm certain there was one to begin with. Okay, I really like these songs, and they certainly let the girls show off some of their strengths. I'd like to think these made people notice their skills a bit more than usual, Tiffany with her voice and Debbie with her songwriting. I think these girls had more to offer than they were ever given proper credit for.
#8. "Look Away" Chicago - If one of my music review mentors ever sees this, he may hate me. But I cannot help it. I love Chicago. By this time, their former leader of sorts, Peter Cetera, had been gone for quite a while, and they had been trying to keep up with the success they had gained. It might not have been as prominent, but it was certainly still there.
#7. "How Can I Fall?" Breathe - Yeah, I know utterly nothing about this band. I think most people might know them better by way of another song, "Hands to Heaven", but that's about it. I have no fun facts, at all. But this song is awesome, in its own special way.
#6. "Toy Soldiers" Martika - If anyone knows this song today, it may most likely be because it was sampled by Eminem. Whatever. Those of who can remember the original, in its purest form, know that nothing can touch it. Also, I heard it was about drug addiction, and the lyrics used are quite creative and unique. I guess that can happen occasionally with hit songs.
#5. "Eternal Flame" The Bangles - Life has many great questions, and one of the greatest is this - Bangles or Go-Go's? Well, with me, I am always going to choose The Bangles. Save "Walk Like an Egyptian", I think this may be their most well-known song. And it's great. Sadly, though, according to Behind the Music, this was when things really started going downhill for the band personally. At least, they went out on something this good.
#4. "Listen to Your Heart" Roxette - Sweden has given us some great groups. We've got ABBA, Ace of Base(Shut up!) and these guys, Roxette. I don't know how well they may be remembered these days, but I guarantee their songs are still being played on the radio, as well they should. They had a few pretty good hits, but I consider this song to be their best. It's got all the things that a good, epic, power ballad of the 80's needs.
#3. "I'll Be Loving You(Forever) New Kids on the Block - Have I mentioned that I love New Kids on the Block? Because I do. This year was a good year for the Boston boys. They were everywhere. Therefore, if you did not like them, it was a bad year for you. Good for me, I liked them, still do. This was one of the biggest hits of their career, and it's a well-deserved honor. Oh, but if you have issues with a little thing called falsetto, run away. Run far, far away.
#2. "What I Am" Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians - So, when I watched the I Love the 80's specials on VH-1, they told me that in that decade there was a resurgence of hippies. Not just 'I have a tie-dye shirt, so I'm a hippie', but full-on hippies. I either was not aware of this or I forgot about it. Either way, I think this song may have been a reflection of that. At least, it didn't sound like anything else we were getting on the radio during that time. How nice that an artist can go against the flow ad still have some success.
#1. "Right Here Waiting" Richard Marx - I know, I know, but I can't help it. I just can't help it. I love this song SO MUCH! Some men just know what the ladies want to here, and he always did. Kidding aside, I have always thought that Richard Marx was an immensely talented musician. As I said, in amongst all the...whatever, there were a few gems this year. And this gem was the sparkliest.
And there are the best of 1989, according to me. I must say, finding ten(or eleven) good songs was not as hard of a challenge as I thought it would be. Of course, narrowing down the bad ones? Yeah, that took some effort. Join me tomorrow for that one.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
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