Greetings,
I have done a lot of top ten lists during my time on this blog. Some have been easy; some, not so much. This one might be the most difficult one of all. Or maybe second most difficult after my Top 100 Law & Order Episodes series. See, I have decided to not do a Top Ten list but rather a Top Fifty list. I am doing this, because we're talking about what is arguably the most influential band of all time, The Beatles. There are just way too many good songs from this band to narrow it down to just ten. Yes, I could have gone above ten on other artists, but, for now, this is the only time when I think going all the way up to fifty would be appropriate. And yet, it was still difficult to narrow it down. Go figure.
So, starting today and continuing throughout the month of November, I will be counting down my Top Fifty favorite Beatles songs. Why November? Well, it was actually this month, several years ago, in which I became a full fledged admirer of this group. Indeed, I remember it that specifically. And if your personal favorites aren't on this list, don't judge me. It's The Beatles! Almost everything is good, but not everything can make it. Anyway, let's kick things off with Numbers 50 to 41. Off we go.
#50. "Something" - I heard someone once say that this was the best love song ever. Obviously, I disagree, but it is a pretty good song. Now, I'm not a huge fan of George's music. Credit where it's due, though, when he was on, he was very on. And you can't not like a song that uses the word "woos".
#49. "P.S. I Love You" - Hey, they stole this title from that Gerard Butler movie. Okay, no, they didn't. The song came first, in case you didn't know. This is just a sweet little tune with a sweet little premise about letter writing. Which I love, by the way. Oh, and it might be about being in love a little.
#48. "Don't Let Me Down" - I know The Beatles were very much influenced by a lot of different genres. Seems they went a bit bluesy with this one. Maybe. Look, I'm not great with identifying genres that aren't super obvious. All I know is that this is great. Great enough to be played on a rooftop. What does that tell you?
#47. "All I've Got To Do" - This seems like such a simple song, but I happen to think it holds an important message. Something about mutual respect and feelings and being there for your significant other. How nice. It sucks when one person has to do all the work. Trust me. I know.
#46. "Good Day Sunshine" - I first heard this in a Sun Chips commercial. I hate you, Michael Jackson! What? He owned it; he sold it. He sucks. Moving on. Whatever commercialization has been thrust upon this tune, it's still some superb songwriting at work. And the fact that I like it, even though I love rainy days, says a lot.
#45. "You Won't See Me" - Communication is such an important thing in relationships. Imagine how much more that was true in the days before call waiting and voice mail, when communication was so much more difficult. Or so I've been told. This is a little something to remind us of that.
#44. "Every Little Thing" - Okay, this seems to be a song about a guy who really appreciates his girlfriend...because "every little thing" she does, she does for him. Really? EVERY little thing? I mean, doing things for the one you love is nice and all, but that might be a bit much.
#43. "Only a Northern Song" - I have no idea what this song is about (you might hear that a lot with this countdown), but it's the only one I included from the Yellow Submarine soundtrack. I must have thought it was the best. And it's another George song. Interesting.
#42. "Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds" - Okay, everyone who thinks this song is about LSD, you get on the left sidewalk. Everyone who thinks it was inspired by a picture that John's son drew, you get on the right sidewalk. And everyone who has no idea what I'm talking about can get off the street entirely and just go home.
#41. "Lovely Rita" - I must say, what I love most about this song is the unique rhythm and beat. It just makes me really happy. And that end part where they sing "Lovely Rita, meter maid"? Sweet! And it's about a career woman, so there you go.
And there you have the first installment of my Top 50 from The Beatles series. Stay tuned. The next one will be posted shortly. So, if you haven't seen your favorite yet, be patient. You never know.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Friday, November 4, 2016
Friday, October 28, 2016
Saving Talk Shows...One Harry Connick, Jr. At a Time
Greetings,
In my misguided youth, I fancied myself quite a connoisseur of the talk show. I may have been a tad infatuated with them. Yes, even the trashy ones. Perhaps, mostly the trashy ones, but let's not discuss that. Over the years, I've done my best to avoid the genre at all costs, though sometimes, it would reel me in again. Still, none of them ever made me put them on my daily "To Do" list. And then came along a magic man by the name of Harry Connick Jr., and everything changed.
As always, I must be completely honest. Ever since he first showed up, Harry Connick Jr. has just always kind of been there in my life, floating around in my peripheral vision, occasionally drifting over into my line of sight, and each time that happened, I would think, "Hey, I like that guy." And that's all it has ever been between us. I've always liked him, but I realized that I had never fully embraced him. Thankfully, I have decided to finally do that, and it has to do with, of all things, a talk show. Specifically, Harry's new talk show.
The first time I even heard of it was when I was scrolling down on the channel guide and I saw that there was a show called simply Harry. I wondered who is this Harry person. Is it that Harry Smith guy? Maybe Harry Hamlin? Perhaps, even a talk show hosted by Dirty Harry. (Side Note: Somebody needs to put that on the air yesterday!) Alas, no, it was none of those contenders, but rather Harry Connick Jr. And as I have done in the past, I saw him and said, "Hey, I like that guy!" So, I decided to watch. And then, I became very happy. Good times.
Yes, that's the thing about Harry's new talk show. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be "Joyful". I just can't not smile when it's on. There's something special these days about a celebrity who seems to only want to make people happy through entertaining them. And doing that on a talk show makes him even more of a rarity. I mean, he won't belittle you because of your politics, he won't mock you for what you believe in and he probably wouldn't pick a fight with Candace Cameron-Bure...unless it involved some kind of super fun game or something. My point is that his show is there to put smiles on the faces of the people watching, to take their minds off the negative things, if even for just an hour. And that is invaluable right now. What's even more precious is the way he appreciates people. He loves his fans and he honors those everyday folks who have done extraordinary things. It's enough to bring a tear to my eye. The good kind of tear.
As far as I'm concerned, there is but one thing that gives me pause about Harry's show, and that is this: my mother LOVES it! Now my mother and I agree on very, very little, so I became hesitant when she told me how much she likes it. However, I got over it, and now it is the most enjoyable part of our daily phone calls.
Oh, and Harry was one of the only famous people that I follow on the Twitter who acknowledged National Poetry Day. As a poet myself, he gets major, MAJOR points for that one!
Bottom line, there is so much..."UGH!" in the world right now. We need things to make our hearts smile. I know that much about the entertainment industry seems frivolous or worse, but every now and then, something or someone comes along to give us hope for it. I believe that Mr. Harry Connick Jr. and his show are exactly that. There's just something very special about a person who can bless your day with his jubilant presence, and even more, a person who thrives to do it. So, if you're having a crap day and you need something to make you laugh or feel warm and fuzzy inside, I suggest that you, first, say a prayer, because I always have to suggest that, and second, tune in to Harry. You won't be disappointed.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
In my misguided youth, I fancied myself quite a connoisseur of the talk show. I may have been a tad infatuated with them. Yes, even the trashy ones. Perhaps, mostly the trashy ones, but let's not discuss that. Over the years, I've done my best to avoid the genre at all costs, though sometimes, it would reel me in again. Still, none of them ever made me put them on my daily "To Do" list. And then came along a magic man by the name of Harry Connick Jr., and everything changed.
As always, I must be completely honest. Ever since he first showed up, Harry Connick Jr. has just always kind of been there in my life, floating around in my peripheral vision, occasionally drifting over into my line of sight, and each time that happened, I would think, "Hey, I like that guy." And that's all it has ever been between us. I've always liked him, but I realized that I had never fully embraced him. Thankfully, I have decided to finally do that, and it has to do with, of all things, a talk show. Specifically, Harry's new talk show.
The first time I even heard of it was when I was scrolling down on the channel guide and I saw that there was a show called simply Harry. I wondered who is this Harry person. Is it that Harry Smith guy? Maybe Harry Hamlin? Perhaps, even a talk show hosted by Dirty Harry. (Side Note: Somebody needs to put that on the air yesterday!) Alas, no, it was none of those contenders, but rather Harry Connick Jr. And as I have done in the past, I saw him and said, "Hey, I like that guy!" So, I decided to watch. And then, I became very happy. Good times.
Yes, that's the thing about Harry's new talk show. If I had to describe it in one word, it would be "Joyful". I just can't not smile when it's on. There's something special these days about a celebrity who seems to only want to make people happy through entertaining them. And doing that on a talk show makes him even more of a rarity. I mean, he won't belittle you because of your politics, he won't mock you for what you believe in and he probably wouldn't pick a fight with Candace Cameron-Bure...unless it involved some kind of super fun game or something. My point is that his show is there to put smiles on the faces of the people watching, to take their minds off the negative things, if even for just an hour. And that is invaluable right now. What's even more precious is the way he appreciates people. He loves his fans and he honors those everyday folks who have done extraordinary things. It's enough to bring a tear to my eye. The good kind of tear.
As far as I'm concerned, there is but one thing that gives me pause about Harry's show, and that is this: my mother LOVES it! Now my mother and I agree on very, very little, so I became hesitant when she told me how much she likes it. However, I got over it, and now it is the most enjoyable part of our daily phone calls.
Oh, and Harry was one of the only famous people that I follow on the Twitter who acknowledged National Poetry Day. As a poet myself, he gets major, MAJOR points for that one!
Bottom line, there is so much..."UGH!" in the world right now. We need things to make our hearts smile. I know that much about the entertainment industry seems frivolous or worse, but every now and then, something or someone comes along to give us hope for it. I believe that Mr. Harry Connick Jr. and his show are exactly that. There's just something very special about a person who can bless your day with his jubilant presence, and even more, a person who thrives to do it. So, if you're having a crap day and you need something to make you laugh or feel warm and fuzzy inside, I suggest that you, first, say a prayer, because I always have to suggest that, and second, tune in to Harry. You won't be disappointed.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Hailey Dean Mystery: Murder, With Love - TV Movie Review
Greetings,
Not a lot of things make me giddy in my life, but having one of my favorite actresses returning to television is definitely one of them. And that is exactly what I got a couple of nights ago on the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel when I watched Kellie Martin star in Hailey Dean Mystery: Murder, With Love.
I may have mentioned this, but the Mystery Woman series, which also starred Kellie Martin as Samantha Kinsey, is something I thoroughly enjoyed. I still do, actually, as they are repeated quite a bit. Well, they aired about ten years ago, and I've been eager to get her back on the screen. Thankfully, this new movie, which I assume will be a series of such, has given us all that gift. The character she plays is a former prosecutor who is now a therapist, and the story is based on the books of Nancy Grace, who also makes an appearance here. In fact, I'd say that Hailey Dean is pretty much a fictionalized version of Nancy Grace herself. Hey, I'm not judging. If you read any of manuscripts, you will see that I am an expert on self-insert lead characters. Moving on.
The plot of the story is that Hailey's friend has both of her parents die in what may or may not be accidents. Isn't that always the way it is? When it is also discovered that tons of money is missing from her family, the grieving daughter is looked upon as a suspect. Hailey goes on a mission to help prove her friend's innocence. If it even exists. Dun, dun, DUUUNNN! Yeah, that just happened.
Honestly, when it comes to the actual writing of the mystery, I'd say it's one of the best this channel has ever served up. And they serve up a lot. A LOT! I was even quite surprised by what happens in the end. No, I'm not going to spoil it for you, because I think you should watch it for yourself. Actually, it was so good, I might have to read some of these books that Nancy Grace wrote. I didn't even know they existed until I heard about this movie. So, we'll have to see if they're just as good.
If there's one thing I noticed more than anything, it's how much Kellie Martin has grown as an actor. She has, after all, been doing it since she was a kid on Life Goes On, and her performance here is some of her best and most sophisticated work to date. She has always played great characters, as far as I've seen anyway, and this is no different. Kellie seems to be on point the most with these intelligent and strong women that she chooses to play.
So, I know that this review is a tad short, but I've only watched the movie once. Plus, I didn't know I was going to review it at the time, so I didn't take notes, and it's not on IMDB yet, thus, I have little information about the actors in the cast. Perhaps, I will have to update this when that becomes available. But what's important is that I tell you to check this out. I guarantee that it will be repeated, so keep your eyes open for the next airing. Once again, Murder, With Love is much in the vein of the other mystery movies on Hallmark. They deal with some heavy occurrences, like murder for example, but they are written is such a way that you really can watch it with the whole family without having to be cringing through the whole thing. What more could we ask for.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Not a lot of things make me giddy in my life, but having one of my favorite actresses returning to television is definitely one of them. And that is exactly what I got a couple of nights ago on the Hallmark Movies and Mysteries channel when I watched Kellie Martin star in Hailey Dean Mystery: Murder, With Love.
I may have mentioned this, but the Mystery Woman series, which also starred Kellie Martin as Samantha Kinsey, is something I thoroughly enjoyed. I still do, actually, as they are repeated quite a bit. Well, they aired about ten years ago, and I've been eager to get her back on the screen. Thankfully, this new movie, which I assume will be a series of such, has given us all that gift. The character she plays is a former prosecutor who is now a therapist, and the story is based on the books of Nancy Grace, who also makes an appearance here. In fact, I'd say that Hailey Dean is pretty much a fictionalized version of Nancy Grace herself. Hey, I'm not judging. If you read any of manuscripts, you will see that I am an expert on self-insert lead characters. Moving on.
The plot of the story is that Hailey's friend has both of her parents die in what may or may not be accidents. Isn't that always the way it is? When it is also discovered that tons of money is missing from her family, the grieving daughter is looked upon as a suspect. Hailey goes on a mission to help prove her friend's innocence. If it even exists. Dun, dun, DUUUNNN! Yeah, that just happened.
Honestly, when it comes to the actual writing of the mystery, I'd say it's one of the best this channel has ever served up. And they serve up a lot. A LOT! I was even quite surprised by what happens in the end. No, I'm not going to spoil it for you, because I think you should watch it for yourself. Actually, it was so good, I might have to read some of these books that Nancy Grace wrote. I didn't even know they existed until I heard about this movie. So, we'll have to see if they're just as good.
If there's one thing I noticed more than anything, it's how much Kellie Martin has grown as an actor. She has, after all, been doing it since she was a kid on Life Goes On, and her performance here is some of her best and most sophisticated work to date. She has always played great characters, as far as I've seen anyway, and this is no different. Kellie seems to be on point the most with these intelligent and strong women that she chooses to play.
So, I know that this review is a tad short, but I've only watched the movie once. Plus, I didn't know I was going to review it at the time, so I didn't take notes, and it's not on IMDB yet, thus, I have little information about the actors in the cast. Perhaps, I will have to update this when that becomes available. But what's important is that I tell you to check this out. I guarantee that it will be repeated, so keep your eyes open for the next airing. Once again, Murder, With Love is much in the vein of the other mystery movies on Hallmark. They deal with some heavy occurrences, like murder for example, but they are written is such a way that you really can watch it with the whole family without having to be cringing through the whole thing. What more could we ask for.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Friday, October 14, 2016
Top Ten Worst Hit Songs of 1966
Greetings,
It is true that the mid-sixties were a profoundly great time in music. I think I proved that yesterday with my Best Songs of 1966 list. Sadly, in the midst of all the awesomeness...sorry, grooviness, there was also some seriously not good stuff on the charts. The strange thing is that a lot of the not so great songs were by people I, otherwise, like. And a few of them will be featured here. So, let's go down the bad road to the past and talk about what I consider the Worst Hit Songs of 1966. Prepare yourself.
#10. "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" B.J. Thomas - Yeah, sorry, but I've never liked this song. Many will disagree with me, but I really do not like this song. It's so...just kinda there, ya know. And it's just a shame that someone with a good voice, which is what I think about B.J. Thomas, had to cover it this year.
#9. "Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?" The Lovin' Spoonful - Again, I dig some songs from this band, but just not this one. It feels super weak to me. Although, it may not be their fault. I kind of got sick of this song after this one episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 played it over and over and over again. If you've seen that one, you'll know.
#8. "Secret Agent Man" Johnny Rivers - I've seen a lot of low budget movies where you can tell they couldn't get rights to a song they wanted to use, so they hire someone to write a soundalike. That's what this song sounds like to me. It's like a Poor Man's Bond theme. Turns out, this was the theme to a show called Danger Man, which sounds to me like a Bond knockoff...though it kinda came first. Yeah, timelines are weird, so...forget all that. I just don't like this song.
#7. "Li'l Red Riding Hood" Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs - And here we thought Johnny Depp in Into the Woods was the first one to make the Big Bad Wolf super creepy! No, he wasn't the first...but he was the most. No, this tune has always made me feel a little uncomfortable, and I love wolves. So, shame on whoever wrote this thing. My frilly feels should be more important than the success of that person's career. Am I right?
#6. "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" Nancy Sinatra - Oh, I'm gonna get in trouble for this one, I bet. Once again, I enjoy Nancy Sinatra's voice. I think she's very talented. But this comes on and, almost on command, my eyes roll. I mean, yelling at people on the TV is one thing, but talking to your shoes and telling them what to do? No.
#5. "Somewhere, My Love" The Ray Conniff Singers - 'Zzzz...Zzzz...No, Dr, Phil, stop judging me. I don't wanna get real!..Wh-what? What? I'm..I'm up. I'm awake.' Yeah, the point I'm trying to make here is that this song is sleep-inducingly boring. And apparently, it can make me have weird dreams. It comes from the movie Doctor Zhivago, which I've never seen all the way through. Perhaps, it is boring as well. So...match made it Heaven?
#4. "Elusive Butterfly" Bob Lind - "I chase the bright, elusive butterfly of love." Sigh. I give up. For real, I give up on this year in music. I just...WHAT! Look, as a poet, I can attest to the fact that some of us use words that go beyond conversational. We try to paint a picture. But we also need to learn to reel it in every now and then. I don't think anyone taught that to this writer. When it comes to writing about butterflies, you, sir, are no Mariah Carey.
#3. "Baby, Scratch My Back" Slim Harpo - This is literally a how-to guide on scratching someone's back. Why? I have no idea. Is is supposed to be a metaphor or something? I'll give it this though, it had some sweet guitar playing. If only that could have been wrapped around some better lyrics.
#2. "Ballad of the Green Berets" SSgt. Barry Sadler - I want to make this abundantly clear. I cannot express with mere words how much I respect and honor the men and women in uniform who protect us and our country. Having said that, this song is so not good. I know it meant something to people at the time, and maybe it still does, but message aside, it's just not a very well constructed song. Now I know it's supposed to be about a real person who died, and that's tragic. I guess maybe I feel this way because I think he deserved better.
#1. "Born a Woman" Sandy Posey - Okay, quick musical plot synopsis: Apparently, all of us women are inherently weak and victims and we were predisposed to be the world's doormat. But wait, ladies! There's hope! There's a light at the end of the tunnel! If we find ourselves a boyfriend, then we will finally have reason to live. Oh, deep joy! WHAT...the serious crap!?! Listen, if you have found yourself a good, loving, caring man, God bless you and I wish you much happiness. But having a man does not give a woman an identity. We can be strong and independent on our own, or we can be strong and independent within a relationship. Look, I have never seen the timeline of the Women's Movement, but I think this song may pinpoint one of the times that pushed it into overdrive.
So, there you have it. The Worst Of 1966, according to me. Now, I know that some of you may have your curiosity peaked by what I said about these songs, but if you are going to have a listen, don't say I didn't warn you.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
It is true that the mid-sixties were a profoundly great time in music. I think I proved that yesterday with my Best Songs of 1966 list. Sadly, in the midst of all the awesomeness...sorry, grooviness, there was also some seriously not good stuff on the charts. The strange thing is that a lot of the not so great songs were by people I, otherwise, like. And a few of them will be featured here. So, let's go down the bad road to the past and talk about what I consider the Worst Hit Songs of 1966. Prepare yourself.
#10. "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" B.J. Thomas - Yeah, sorry, but I've never liked this song. Many will disagree with me, but I really do not like this song. It's so...just kinda there, ya know. And it's just a shame that someone with a good voice, which is what I think about B.J. Thomas, had to cover it this year.
#9. "Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?" The Lovin' Spoonful - Again, I dig some songs from this band, but just not this one. It feels super weak to me. Although, it may not be their fault. I kind of got sick of this song after this one episode of Beverly Hills, 90210 played it over and over and over again. If you've seen that one, you'll know.
#8. "Secret Agent Man" Johnny Rivers - I've seen a lot of low budget movies where you can tell they couldn't get rights to a song they wanted to use, so they hire someone to write a soundalike. That's what this song sounds like to me. It's like a Poor Man's Bond theme. Turns out, this was the theme to a show called Danger Man, which sounds to me like a Bond knockoff...though it kinda came first. Yeah, timelines are weird, so...forget all that. I just don't like this song.
#7. "Li'l Red Riding Hood" Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs - And here we thought Johnny Depp in Into the Woods was the first one to make the Big Bad Wolf super creepy! No, he wasn't the first...but he was the most. No, this tune has always made me feel a little uncomfortable, and I love wolves. So, shame on whoever wrote this thing. My frilly feels should be more important than the success of that person's career. Am I right?
#6. "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" Nancy Sinatra - Oh, I'm gonna get in trouble for this one, I bet. Once again, I enjoy Nancy Sinatra's voice. I think she's very talented. But this comes on and, almost on command, my eyes roll. I mean, yelling at people on the TV is one thing, but talking to your shoes and telling them what to do? No.
#5. "Somewhere, My Love" The Ray Conniff Singers - 'Zzzz...Zzzz...No, Dr, Phil, stop judging me. I don't wanna get real!..Wh-what? What? I'm..I'm up. I'm awake.' Yeah, the point I'm trying to make here is that this song is sleep-inducingly boring. And apparently, it can make me have weird dreams. It comes from the movie Doctor Zhivago, which I've never seen all the way through. Perhaps, it is boring as well. So...match made it Heaven?
#4. "Elusive Butterfly" Bob Lind - "I chase the bright, elusive butterfly of love." Sigh. I give up. For real, I give up on this year in music. I just...WHAT! Look, as a poet, I can attest to the fact that some of us use words that go beyond conversational. We try to paint a picture. But we also need to learn to reel it in every now and then. I don't think anyone taught that to this writer. When it comes to writing about butterflies, you, sir, are no Mariah Carey.
#3. "Baby, Scratch My Back" Slim Harpo - This is literally a how-to guide on scratching someone's back. Why? I have no idea. Is is supposed to be a metaphor or something? I'll give it this though, it had some sweet guitar playing. If only that could have been wrapped around some better lyrics.
#2. "Ballad of the Green Berets" SSgt. Barry Sadler - I want to make this abundantly clear. I cannot express with mere words how much I respect and honor the men and women in uniform who protect us and our country. Having said that, this song is so not good. I know it meant something to people at the time, and maybe it still does, but message aside, it's just not a very well constructed song. Now I know it's supposed to be about a real person who died, and that's tragic. I guess maybe I feel this way because I think he deserved better.
#1. "Born a Woman" Sandy Posey - Okay, quick musical plot synopsis: Apparently, all of us women are inherently weak and victims and we were predisposed to be the world's doormat. But wait, ladies! There's hope! There's a light at the end of the tunnel! If we find ourselves a boyfriend, then we will finally have reason to live. Oh, deep joy! WHAT...the serious crap!?! Listen, if you have found yourself a good, loving, caring man, God bless you and I wish you much happiness. But having a man does not give a woman an identity. We can be strong and independent on our own, or we can be strong and independent within a relationship. Look, I have never seen the timeline of the Women's Movement, but I think this song may pinpoint one of the times that pushed it into overdrive.
So, there you have it. The Worst Of 1966, according to me. Now, I know that some of you may have your curiosity peaked by what I said about these songs, but if you are going to have a listen, don't say I didn't warn you.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Top Ten Best Hit Songs of 1966
Greetings,
Well, the year will soon be coming to a close, and, before I do my annual Best/Worst Songs of this year list, I figured I should do one about another random year. I haven't in a long time, so it just feels right. And this time, I put it to a vote. On social media and in the real world, I asked what year I should do, giving three choices, and 1966 is the year that won, obviously. It was tough to choose songs for this list, as this was a fantastic time in music, but I did it. And, holy crap, were there some terrible songs to choose from. But that's a conversation for another day. Now, we're going to talk about my favorites from the year 1966
#10. "Cryin' Time" Ray Charles - There's just nothing sadder than being with someone you love and knowing that it's only a matter of time before they leave. Thanks's a lot, Ray Charles. You made me cry. Then again, since this song is called "Cryin' Time"...Mission Accomplished!
#9. "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" Dusty Springfield - Did you know this song was originally written in Italian and in a very operatic fashion? So, naturally, who else could handle it but Ms. Dusty? That woman had so much soul to her voice, and I'm not sure she always gets the proper recognition she deserves. Well, this is me, just trying to do my part to help put that to an end.
#8. "Love is a Hurtin' Thing" Lou Rawls - Is there anything that Lou Rawls can sing that won't sound good? No. The answer is no. And he's so great on this song about how love can break your heart. Gee, that's depressing. But he's so awesome. Oh, and as I am writing this list in October, I should remind everyone to watch the Garfield Halloween special to hear more singing from Lou Rawls. A bit off topic, but necessary.
#7. "I Am a Rock" Simon and Garfunkel - I may have mentioned on this blog before that I am kind of a loner. Sometimes by choice; other times, not so much. But it's always nice to have a song that can describe pretty well how you feel. This is one of those songs.
#6. "Paperback Writer" The Beatles - What a shocker. I put a song by The Beatles on here. And it's the one about a writer. Again, shocking, coming from me. But I have always wondered, did people specifically aim to be paperback writers back in the day? I mean, I was always told that the hardcovers held more prestige. Or am I over-analyzing this. Oh, well. That aside, I do love the harmonies on this one. I love good harmonies in general. More on that later.
#5. "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" Jimmy Ruffin - That's a good question, sir. I may have also mentioned in this blog that I've dealt with one or two broken hearts. So, I can't really tell if this song is depressing or uplifting. I suppose it can be neither or both, depending on how you decide to handle said broken heart. Either way, it's sounds so nice.
#4. "Good Vibrations" The Beach Boys - Hey, remember a minute ago when I said I loved good harmonies? Well, here you go. As many people know, this song is one of the best representations of a troubled yet extremely creative time for Brian Wilson. It's still feels groundbreaking, even today, and that is the sign of a legendary song from a legendary artist.
#3. "California Dreamin'" The Mamas & The Papas - Again with the harmonies! Now I know that in the past few years, we've heard some very bad stories about one of the members of this group...which was just added on to the rest, but I'm here to talk about the music, so...Hey, did you know that Mama Michelle Phillips got half of the publishing rights just for writing down this song? Not writing it; writing it down. Fun fact? Okay, talking about this group can make us all a little uncomfortable now, but it's still a great song.
#2. "Reach Out I'll Be There" The Four Tops - There are few groups that can put a smile on my face every single time I listen to them. The Four Tops are certainly one of those groups, and this is one of my favorite songs of theirs. It might even be my most favorite. Well, there's another list I can work on. Point is, they were amazing performers and it all shines through in songs like this.
#1. "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" The Righteous Brothers - You know, a while back, when I did my Worst of 1961 list, I had to include a song by Barry Mann on it. What? I have to be honest. But I am happy to say that he redeemed himself with this song. I love the way The Righteous Brothers sound and, with a fantastic song like this, everything falls perfectly into place. Thus, making it my favorite of the year.
And there are my Top Ten Best Songs from 1966. I know many were predictable, but tune in tomorrow. It's the not so great songs that people have forgotten. And, frankly, I can't blame them.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Well, the year will soon be coming to a close, and, before I do my annual Best/Worst Songs of this year list, I figured I should do one about another random year. I haven't in a long time, so it just feels right. And this time, I put it to a vote. On social media and in the real world, I asked what year I should do, giving three choices, and 1966 is the year that won, obviously. It was tough to choose songs for this list, as this was a fantastic time in music, but I did it. And, holy crap, were there some terrible songs to choose from. But that's a conversation for another day. Now, we're going to talk about my favorites from the year 1966
#10. "Cryin' Time" Ray Charles - There's just nothing sadder than being with someone you love and knowing that it's only a matter of time before they leave. Thanks's a lot, Ray Charles. You made me cry. Then again, since this song is called "Cryin' Time"...Mission Accomplished!
#9. "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" Dusty Springfield - Did you know this song was originally written in Italian and in a very operatic fashion? So, naturally, who else could handle it but Ms. Dusty? That woman had so much soul to her voice, and I'm not sure she always gets the proper recognition she deserves. Well, this is me, just trying to do my part to help put that to an end.
#8. "Love is a Hurtin' Thing" Lou Rawls - Is there anything that Lou Rawls can sing that won't sound good? No. The answer is no. And he's so great on this song about how love can break your heart. Gee, that's depressing. But he's so awesome. Oh, and as I am writing this list in October, I should remind everyone to watch the Garfield Halloween special to hear more singing from Lou Rawls. A bit off topic, but necessary.
#7. "I Am a Rock" Simon and Garfunkel - I may have mentioned on this blog before that I am kind of a loner. Sometimes by choice; other times, not so much. But it's always nice to have a song that can describe pretty well how you feel. This is one of those songs.
#6. "Paperback Writer" The Beatles - What a shocker. I put a song by The Beatles on here. And it's the one about a writer. Again, shocking, coming from me. But I have always wondered, did people specifically aim to be paperback writers back in the day? I mean, I was always told that the hardcovers held more prestige. Or am I over-analyzing this. Oh, well. That aside, I do love the harmonies on this one. I love good harmonies in general. More on that later.
#5. "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" Jimmy Ruffin - That's a good question, sir. I may have also mentioned in this blog that I've dealt with one or two broken hearts. So, I can't really tell if this song is depressing or uplifting. I suppose it can be neither or both, depending on how you decide to handle said broken heart. Either way, it's sounds so nice.
#4. "Good Vibrations" The Beach Boys - Hey, remember a minute ago when I said I loved good harmonies? Well, here you go. As many people know, this song is one of the best representations of a troubled yet extremely creative time for Brian Wilson. It's still feels groundbreaking, even today, and that is the sign of a legendary song from a legendary artist.
#3. "California Dreamin'" The Mamas & The Papas - Again with the harmonies! Now I know that in the past few years, we've heard some very bad stories about one of the members of this group...which was just added on to the rest, but I'm here to talk about the music, so...Hey, did you know that Mama Michelle Phillips got half of the publishing rights just for writing down this song? Not writing it; writing it down. Fun fact? Okay, talking about this group can make us all a little uncomfortable now, but it's still a great song.
#2. "Reach Out I'll Be There" The Four Tops - There are few groups that can put a smile on my face every single time I listen to them. The Four Tops are certainly one of those groups, and this is one of my favorite songs of theirs. It might even be my most favorite. Well, there's another list I can work on. Point is, they were amazing performers and it all shines through in songs like this.
#1. "(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" The Righteous Brothers - You know, a while back, when I did my Worst of 1961 list, I had to include a song by Barry Mann on it. What? I have to be honest. But I am happy to say that he redeemed himself with this song. I love the way The Righteous Brothers sound and, with a fantastic song like this, everything falls perfectly into place. Thus, making it my favorite of the year.
And there are my Top Ten Best Songs from 1966. I know many were predictable, but tune in tomorrow. It's the not so great songs that people have forgotten. And, frankly, I can't blame them.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Arsenic and Old Lace - Movie Review
Greetings,
Okay, this week I've been dealing with films with some heavy subject matters. Let's lighten things up a bit by talking about a movie that has - murder! Calm down, it's funny murder. Specifically, it's Arsenic and Old Lace, one of my favorite films of all time and the catalyst for my lifelong crush on Cary Grant. Yes, I can be shallow, too. But let's move on, shall we?
Arsenic and Old Lace is a 1944 film by director Frank Capra and starring the aforementioned Cary Grant. As you may have predicted from my "funny murder" comment, this is a dark comedy. A good one, by the way, which are hard to find. Grant plays Mortimer (really?) Brewster, a writer who specializes in books about how marriage is totes not cool...and old-fashioned. So, naturally, the first time we see him, he is preparing to get married to the woman he loves, Elaine Harper, played by Priscilla Lane, who is just so sweet in this, by the way. Actually, these two, together, are incredibly adorable. Hopefully, their first few days of marriage will be filled with nothing but utter happiness. Yeah.
Meanwhile, we meet Mortimer's two aunts, Abby and Martha, played by Josephine Hull and Jean Adair, respectively. They are nice and generous and much beloved in their community, which happens to be Brooklyn. So enjoyable, before the hipsters took over. Fun fact: Aunt Abby and Aunt Martha were the Two Broke Girls of their day. Anyway, they are known for being extremely kind especially to lonely people who need it the most. They even take care of their other nephew, Teddy, played by John Alexander, who believes that he is Theodore Roosevelt (There are worse presidents to want to be), but they are planning on having him committed to a place where he can be taken care of after these little old ladies have passed on, the Happydale Sanitarium. Please do not try to fool me with that sunshiny name. I mean, I'm sure it's no Arkham, but still.
However, when Mortimer returns home, he discovers that the acts of kindness that his aunts perform are a bit more...um...particular(?) than he thought, which leads him to being ever so slightly conflicted. But as if that's not enough for him to deal with, his long lost brother, Jonathan shows up, accompanied by a man named Dr. Einstein. No, the other one. They are played by Raymond Massey and Peter Lorre, and there is a chance that they are not on the up and up. Like, a pretty good chance. To be honest, they are a little strange...creepy...scary. It depends on what you're into. And when they show up things go from hijinks to shenanigans to...whatever comes after shenanigans. Capers? Antics? Loki-osity? Ugh, no! Not that last one. I hate Marvel! Anyway... Let's just hope that someone in this family gets a happy ending. Or at least, an amusing one.
Look, if nothing else, this movie will make you either really want a house with a window seat or really NOT want a house with a window seat. Again, depends on what you're into.
So, I don't know when the idea of a "dark comedy" was first introduced in film, but I can't think of any, in my opinion, that do it better than Arsenic and Old Lace. I mean, it's easy to throw that label on a movie and then throw in some jokes and maybe a mildly disturbing thing or two and call it a day. But this one marries all of that together beautifully. The laughs you get are genuine and the darker moments are extremely effective. Even I get some chills with the "operating" scene. Don't ask; just watch.
Alright, I guess it's time to praise some actors. I don't say this often, and I use no hyperbole today, but this might be the most perfectly cast movies I've ever seen. No lie, they got the absolute best actors for every single part. But, as a Cary Grant fan girl, I will have to pat him on the back the most. Here's how good he was. This was actually the first thing I ever saw him in, and I was convinced that slapstick was his specialty. It's not, really, but he was so good at it that I was sure he was an expert. That says a lot.
In closing, I highly, highly recommend Arsenic and Old Lace. It's one of my favorites, and it is excellently made. This is what cinema should be. So, grab yourself a glass of elderberry wine...preferably some you've made yourself (You'll get that joke if you've seen the movie) and just sit back and enjoy one of the most entertaining films of all time.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Okay, this week I've been dealing with films with some heavy subject matters. Let's lighten things up a bit by talking about a movie that has - murder! Calm down, it's funny murder. Specifically, it's Arsenic and Old Lace, one of my favorite films of all time and the catalyst for my lifelong crush on Cary Grant. Yes, I can be shallow, too. But let's move on, shall we?
Arsenic and Old Lace is a 1944 film by director Frank Capra and starring the aforementioned Cary Grant. As you may have predicted from my "funny murder" comment, this is a dark comedy. A good one, by the way, which are hard to find. Grant plays Mortimer (really?) Brewster, a writer who specializes in books about how marriage is totes not cool...and old-fashioned. So, naturally, the first time we see him, he is preparing to get married to the woman he loves, Elaine Harper, played by Priscilla Lane, who is just so sweet in this, by the way. Actually, these two, together, are incredibly adorable. Hopefully, their first few days of marriage will be filled with nothing but utter happiness. Yeah.
Meanwhile, we meet Mortimer's two aunts, Abby and Martha, played by Josephine Hull and Jean Adair, respectively. They are nice and generous and much beloved in their community, which happens to be Brooklyn. So enjoyable, before the hipsters took over. Fun fact: Aunt Abby and Aunt Martha were the Two Broke Girls of their day. Anyway, they are known for being extremely kind especially to lonely people who need it the most. They even take care of their other nephew, Teddy, played by John Alexander, who believes that he is Theodore Roosevelt (There are worse presidents to want to be), but they are planning on having him committed to a place where he can be taken care of after these little old ladies have passed on, the Happydale Sanitarium. Please do not try to fool me with that sunshiny name. I mean, I'm sure it's no Arkham, but still.
However, when Mortimer returns home, he discovers that the acts of kindness that his aunts perform are a bit more...um...particular(?) than he thought, which leads him to being ever so slightly conflicted. But as if that's not enough for him to deal with, his long lost brother, Jonathan shows up, accompanied by a man named Dr. Einstein. No, the other one. They are played by Raymond Massey and Peter Lorre, and there is a chance that they are not on the up and up. Like, a pretty good chance. To be honest, they are a little strange...creepy...scary. It depends on what you're into. And when they show up things go from hijinks to shenanigans to...whatever comes after shenanigans. Capers? Antics? Loki-osity? Ugh, no! Not that last one. I hate Marvel! Anyway... Let's just hope that someone in this family gets a happy ending. Or at least, an amusing one.
Look, if nothing else, this movie will make you either really want a house with a window seat or really NOT want a house with a window seat. Again, depends on what you're into.
So, I don't know when the idea of a "dark comedy" was first introduced in film, but I can't think of any, in my opinion, that do it better than Arsenic and Old Lace. I mean, it's easy to throw that label on a movie and then throw in some jokes and maybe a mildly disturbing thing or two and call it a day. But this one marries all of that together beautifully. The laughs you get are genuine and the darker moments are extremely effective. Even I get some chills with the "operating" scene. Don't ask; just watch.
Alright, I guess it's time to praise some actors. I don't say this often, and I use no hyperbole today, but this might be the most perfectly cast movies I've ever seen. No lie, they got the absolute best actors for every single part. But, as a Cary Grant fan girl, I will have to pat him on the back the most. Here's how good he was. This was actually the first thing I ever saw him in, and I was convinced that slapstick was his specialty. It's not, really, but he was so good at it that I was sure he was an expert. That says a lot.
In closing, I highly, highly recommend Arsenic and Old Lace. It's one of my favorites, and it is excellently made. This is what cinema should be. So, grab yourself a glass of elderberry wine...preferably some you've made yourself (You'll get that joke if you've seen the movie) and just sit back and enjoy one of the most entertaining films of all time.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Friday, October 7, 2016
A Trip to the Moon - Movie Review
Greetings,
Today, we're going to focus on the idea of quality over quantity. And yes, that is my way to try and justify reviewing a movie that is less than twenty minutes long. For real. Oh, what? I'm talking about classics this week, and what could be more classic than going back to basics? Going all the way back to 1902 for a look at a silent film that just so happens to be very groundbreaking and influential, A Trip To the Moon. Or as all the 90's kids call it, The Movie That The Smashing Pumpkins Thought Was Cool Enough To Base One Of Their Videos On. Mm-hmm. Also, I will probably just give a rundown of the whole, tiny plot, such as it is, because, let's be honest, this movie is completely about the visuals. So, if you'd like to watch without knowing, skip the next four paragraphs. You've been warned.
A Trip To The Moon, as I mentioned is a silent film from 1902. It was directed by George Melies and stars some French actors, including Melies himself, Bleuette Bernon, Francois Lallement, and Henri Delannoy. Interestingly enough, none of them were credited, and we only found out who they were after the fact.
The movie tells the tale of Professor Barbenfouillis, the president of the Astronomic Club, and his plan to take - you guessed it - a trip to the moon. Some are resistant to the idea, but eventually, it is accepted. They build a ship that looks like a bullet and literally shoot it into space, culminating with the moon getting shot in the eye. Because, in this world, the moon has a face. And that is one of the most plausible things that happens in this story. Of course, this image of the moon getting shot in the eye is probably the most iconic from this film. Go Google it and you'll find out.
Anyway, when the professor and his group land on the moon, they just kinda get out and start walking around, like they were in Times Square or something. Protective space suits are for wimps! Of course, the fact that this shows breathing in space as a thing, clearly, it inspired a few scenes in Superman IV: The Quest For Peace. Amazing! As the astronomers sleep, we see images of comets and planets and stars with people's faces in them, because why not? And then, we see snow and giant mushrooms, and of course, aliens! But what are aliens without a king and what's a king without a palace? And what is a good sci-fi movie without some explosions! Indeed.
After some fascinating mayhem, everyone returns to Earth in a totally realistic way, and they are met with a parade and celebration. Isn't that what every explorer wants? The end.
There are a few reasons why I, not only enjoy this film, but am fascinated by it. Obviously, seeing this early history of cinema is captivating, not to mention how much it has influenced other works. I also love the manner of storytelling. Unlike other silent films that would come later, this is told entirely with visuals. There's no cutting in so the audience can read a placard. You have to experience the story just by watching the images. Now, as a writer, I know the difficulty in trying to create pictures in someone's head by only using words, so I can empathize with those who had to create a narrative story in someone's head by only using pictures. But it is done so well here.
Now if you choose to watch this short movie, you will find quite a few ways to do so. For example, right now you can watch two versions on Netflix. One black and white; one in color. You can find pros and cons to both, like the music being changed in the color one, also its artificiality, and the B&W one having a bizarre voice over narration, which I think defeats the purpose. Either way, you will be able to find ways to watch the film if you want to. And you should want to.
A Trip To The Moon is a must see if you are someone who relishes in the visual art from of cinema. This is where it started and this is why we got to where we went. It's a mere fifteen or so minutes of celluloid that changed history. That is an astounding feat, one that should never be forgotten and always appreciated.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Today, we're going to focus on the idea of quality over quantity. And yes, that is my way to try and justify reviewing a movie that is less than twenty minutes long. For real. Oh, what? I'm talking about classics this week, and what could be more classic than going back to basics? Going all the way back to 1902 for a look at a silent film that just so happens to be very groundbreaking and influential, A Trip To the Moon. Or as all the 90's kids call it, The Movie That The Smashing Pumpkins Thought Was Cool Enough To Base One Of Their Videos On. Mm-hmm. Also, I will probably just give a rundown of the whole, tiny plot, such as it is, because, let's be honest, this movie is completely about the visuals. So, if you'd like to watch without knowing, skip the next four paragraphs. You've been warned.
A Trip To The Moon, as I mentioned is a silent film from 1902. It was directed by George Melies and stars some French actors, including Melies himself, Bleuette Bernon, Francois Lallement, and Henri Delannoy. Interestingly enough, none of them were credited, and we only found out who they were after the fact.
The movie tells the tale of Professor Barbenfouillis, the president of the Astronomic Club, and his plan to take - you guessed it - a trip to the moon. Some are resistant to the idea, but eventually, it is accepted. They build a ship that looks like a bullet and literally shoot it into space, culminating with the moon getting shot in the eye. Because, in this world, the moon has a face. And that is one of the most plausible things that happens in this story. Of course, this image of the moon getting shot in the eye is probably the most iconic from this film. Go Google it and you'll find out.
Anyway, when the professor and his group land on the moon, they just kinda get out and start walking around, like they were in Times Square or something. Protective space suits are for wimps! Of course, the fact that this shows breathing in space as a thing, clearly, it inspired a few scenes in Superman IV: The Quest For Peace. Amazing! As the astronomers sleep, we see images of comets and planets and stars with people's faces in them, because why not? And then, we see snow and giant mushrooms, and of course, aliens! But what are aliens without a king and what's a king without a palace? And what is a good sci-fi movie without some explosions! Indeed.
After some fascinating mayhem, everyone returns to Earth in a totally realistic way, and they are met with a parade and celebration. Isn't that what every explorer wants? The end.
There are a few reasons why I, not only enjoy this film, but am fascinated by it. Obviously, seeing this early history of cinema is captivating, not to mention how much it has influenced other works. I also love the manner of storytelling. Unlike other silent films that would come later, this is told entirely with visuals. There's no cutting in so the audience can read a placard. You have to experience the story just by watching the images. Now, as a writer, I know the difficulty in trying to create pictures in someone's head by only using words, so I can empathize with those who had to create a narrative story in someone's head by only using pictures. But it is done so well here.
Now if you choose to watch this short movie, you will find quite a few ways to do so. For example, right now you can watch two versions on Netflix. One black and white; one in color. You can find pros and cons to both, like the music being changed in the color one, also its artificiality, and the B&W one having a bizarre voice over narration, which I think defeats the purpose. Either way, you will be able to find ways to watch the film if you want to. And you should want to.
A Trip To The Moon is a must see if you are someone who relishes in the visual art from of cinema. This is where it started and this is why we got to where we went. It's a mere fifteen or so minutes of celluloid that changed history. That is an astounding feat, one that should never be forgotten and always appreciated.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
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