Greetings,
I've noticed something of a stigma attached to the world of YA fiction, particularly, when it comes to adults. I've heard people say that if someone writes YA books, it's probably because they aren't good enough or smart enough to write for grownups. To say nothing of the adults who choose to read those books. Now, if we are speaking of Twilight and Stephenie Meyer and her middle-aged minions, that might be true, and that also goes for most of her copycats. However, I don't believe this theory generally. I think there is much intelligence flowing through the genre of YA, and when I find a book that proves it, I am happy to share it with others. And last month, I had the pleasure of discovering one - Ugly Stick by Joy Givens.
Okay, before I begin, I must give a disclaimer. The reason that I found this book is because I had a table at a book festival to sell my wares, and I happened to meet a lovely, fellow author named Joy Givens. We had a chance to talk quite a bit and even traded copies of our books with each other. I certainly enjoyed her company, and we've had a few exchanges by way of social media. Bottom line, I really like this person. However, I would never let that cloud my judgement as a critic. It never matters to me how much I like someone. If they do something of which I am not a fan, I will say so. I mean, come on. I'm planning to marry Tom Hiddleston one day, but that won't stop me from saying that I don't like The Avengers. Yeah...And Stalker/Creepy Fan Mode off. Anywho, I know that this blog is pretty unofficial, but despite what many people have said over the past couple of years, especially on Twitter, I happen to think that journalistic integrity is a thing that should exist. So, let's begin, shall we?
Ugly Stick is a 2013 novel telling the story of April Somerfield, a fifteen-year-old girl who has very few fans out in the world and none in the mirror. Yes, she is quite unhappy with herself, being a shy outcast who is far from a beauty queen. What makes things harder is that her family has always been full of beautiful, successful women, and April is certain that she will never be able to carry on that tradition.
So, you may be thinking ahead, assuming that she might have been adopted or was switched at birth, and that is what the story is about. Well, now that's just boring. No, as it happens, the titular "ugly stick" could be more than just part of an infamous expression. It might just be an actual thing. And no, I am not giving spoilers. This is all on the back of the book, because this is merely the setup to lead us into the journey of this young girl. And that journey ends up being quite a fascinating and enjoyable one. Frankly, this is a tale I have never heard before. That's right, folks! I am pretty darn sure that we have...AN ORIGINAL IDEA! And for some reason, that causes the celebratory Price is Right theme to play in my head.
Now, though I admit that this is a new idea, you might be wondering if the author uses any of the tropes we tend to find in YA fiction. Of course, she does. But using tropes doesn't make anyone a bad writer; using them in the wrong way does. Fortunately, that is not the case here, and it particularly does not apply to the types of characters about whom she writes. Yes, we have the loyal best friend, the mean girl and the cute boy our protagonists sets her sights on, but they are all written so well and so uniquely, with a few personal twists of their own, that they don't just feel like lifeless props to push the main character to her next activity. They are there, they are in her life, but the story is hers. Even the boy. Yes, imagine that. Someone writing about a teenage girl liking a boy and having it be just one of those things that she goes through, rather than giving a message of "Life begins at man". You know? The way that some other writers do with their female "characters". Oh, and speaking of the word "character"...
I am happy to say that our protagonist, April, is, in fact, an actual character. She has a distinct personality and special qualities about her, whilst still managing to be relatable, particularly to readers in the same age bracket. It's almost as though you don't have to make your lead character a blank slate in order for people to identify with her. In short, she is something of an anti-Bella Swan. Sorry, I had to bring up the "T" word again, but I can't think of a better example. Seriously, what Joy Givens has proven is that one can create a character that the audience can connect with without making her nothing more than an empty skin suit for people to slip on in order to fantasize themselves into the story. I know that sounded weird, but I think I've made my point.
So, let me wrap this up by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed this book, even being someone who does not often delve into the world of YA. As I said, if a book is written well, with an interesting, unique and original story and ideas, I'm always willing to take a look. Therefore, I recommend Ugly Stick to anyone who simply likes good books, but I especially recommend it to anyone who might be the age of the protagonist here. In fact, if you're a parent of said type of person, I say let your youngsters read this. It says a lot of good things about family and honesty and how we look at ourselves and others. It has wonderful life lessons, really for all ages, and I'm happy to spread the word about a book that can do that.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, October 5, 2015
Thursday, September 10, 2015
I'm Not There - Music Movie Review
Greetings,
Have you ever seen a trailer and thought, "That movie looks interesting...and confusing". I have, several times, and I used to let that deter me from seeing the film. Fortunately, I started to take some chances and see movies that I would not have otherwise, and it led me to some really amazing cinema. Such was the case with what I'll be talking about today, I'm Not There.
I'm Not There is a 2007 film that kinda sorta tells the story of Bob Dylan through his music and by way of six different characters that represent different aspects of his personality and/or life. And - surprise! - it is told in a nonlinear fashion, because, of course it is. Confused yet? Good. It doesn't even matter. See, as I mentioned before, some films that seem confusing are actually quite easy to follow. This is one of them. But let me give a quick synopsis of those six characters, the actors that portray them and what they do. Ready? Okay.
First, we have Arthur Rimbaud played by Ben Whishaw. His scenes consist of him participating in something of an interrogation where he gives what I would call very poetic answers. A lot Dylan's quotes from interviews were used for this part. Second, there's Woody Guthrie (not his real name) played by Marcus Carl Franklin. He's an 11-year-old boy who is basically a drifter obsessed with, you guessed it, Woody Guthrie, as was Dylan in his youth. Then, we have Jack Rollins/Father John played by Christian Bale. Now, even though he has two different names, he is still only one person. I think. Look, I just don't want to be wrong about saying there are only six characters. Anywho, he represents Dylan both during his time as a folk singer and also his time after becoming a born again Christian. And, yes, it was super awesome seeing Christian Bale as a preacher. Next, we have Robbie Clark played by Heath Ledger. His character is an actor who portrays the aforementioned Jack Rollins. This part also tells the story of him and his wife and their tumultuous relationship, which parallels the marriage of Dylan and his first wife, Sara. (Blood on the Tracks, baby! Sorry.) After that, there's Jude Quinn played by Cate Blanchett. Yes, she's a woman playing a man, and, contrary to some other actors playing the opposite gender and my totally not buying it, she was rather brilliant here. Brilliant enough to be robbed of the Oscar, but what do I know? Anyway, Jude Quinn is Dylan as he makes his way into playing electric and therefore, alienated his "fans". I say "fans" because, if you truly admire an artist, you will let them grow. Finally, we have a character known as Billy the Kid played by Richard Gere. This is a reference to when Dylan had a role in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. I also heard this theory that it might be referring to when Dylan kind of ran away to do the Basement Tapes, but who knows? And that is the basic layout for the movie. Sorry if I was long-winded.
Now, of course, these six actors are the foundation, but they had much help in filling out the whole thing. And they got some great people to support them. We get Bruce Greenwood, David Cross, Kris Kristofferson, and the late, great Ritchie Havens. Even people of whom I am not a fan were kind of okay in this, like Michelle Williams, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Julianne Moore. Yeah, I just conceded on that. I told you I can be honest, no matter how painful it is.
Bottom line, this is a very well put together film. And I think all things considered, with the structure and all, it could have been a hot mess in less capable hands. But, thankfully, it just ended up being thought-provoking and interesting. Now, you may be wondering if Bob Dylan fans will love this or hate this. Of course, it could go either way. Things like this usually do. But speaking as an admirer of his myself, I believe that this was a very creative and artistic way to explore all the facets of his life and career. And at no time did I feel like it was being disrespectful to him at all. That would be a major plus.
So, I say if you do love Bob Dylan, check out I'm Not There, if you haven't already. Actually, if you've never known much about him and are interested, I recommend it even more. Even though it's technically a fictional account of his life, it might intrigue you to know more. I mean, I already knew a lot and it even did that for me. That is not easy to do. Congrats, movie.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Have you ever seen a trailer and thought, "That movie looks interesting...and confusing". I have, several times, and I used to let that deter me from seeing the film. Fortunately, I started to take some chances and see movies that I would not have otherwise, and it led me to some really amazing cinema. Such was the case with what I'll be talking about today, I'm Not There.
I'm Not There is a 2007 film that kinda sorta tells the story of Bob Dylan through his music and by way of six different characters that represent different aspects of his personality and/or life. And - surprise! - it is told in a nonlinear fashion, because, of course it is. Confused yet? Good. It doesn't even matter. See, as I mentioned before, some films that seem confusing are actually quite easy to follow. This is one of them. But let me give a quick synopsis of those six characters, the actors that portray them and what they do. Ready? Okay.
First, we have Arthur Rimbaud played by Ben Whishaw. His scenes consist of him participating in something of an interrogation where he gives what I would call very poetic answers. A lot Dylan's quotes from interviews were used for this part. Second, there's Woody Guthrie (not his real name) played by Marcus Carl Franklin. He's an 11-year-old boy who is basically a drifter obsessed with, you guessed it, Woody Guthrie, as was Dylan in his youth. Then, we have Jack Rollins/Father John played by Christian Bale. Now, even though he has two different names, he is still only one person. I think. Look, I just don't want to be wrong about saying there are only six characters. Anywho, he represents Dylan both during his time as a folk singer and also his time after becoming a born again Christian. And, yes, it was super awesome seeing Christian Bale as a preacher. Next, we have Robbie Clark played by Heath Ledger. His character is an actor who portrays the aforementioned Jack Rollins. This part also tells the story of him and his wife and their tumultuous relationship, which parallels the marriage of Dylan and his first wife, Sara. (Blood on the Tracks, baby! Sorry.) After that, there's Jude Quinn played by Cate Blanchett. Yes, she's a woman playing a man, and, contrary to some other actors playing the opposite gender and my totally not buying it, she was rather brilliant here. Brilliant enough to be robbed of the Oscar, but what do I know? Anyway, Jude Quinn is Dylan as he makes his way into playing electric and therefore, alienated his "fans". I say "fans" because, if you truly admire an artist, you will let them grow. Finally, we have a character known as Billy the Kid played by Richard Gere. This is a reference to when Dylan had a role in Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. I also heard this theory that it might be referring to when Dylan kind of ran away to do the Basement Tapes, but who knows? And that is the basic layout for the movie. Sorry if I was long-winded.
Now, of course, these six actors are the foundation, but they had much help in filling out the whole thing. And they got some great people to support them. We get Bruce Greenwood, David Cross, Kris Kristofferson, and the late, great Ritchie Havens. Even people of whom I am not a fan were kind of okay in this, like Michelle Williams, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Julianne Moore. Yeah, I just conceded on that. I told you I can be honest, no matter how painful it is.
Bottom line, this is a very well put together film. And I think all things considered, with the structure and all, it could have been a hot mess in less capable hands. But, thankfully, it just ended up being thought-provoking and interesting. Now, you may be wondering if Bob Dylan fans will love this or hate this. Of course, it could go either way. Things like this usually do. But speaking as an admirer of his myself, I believe that this was a very creative and artistic way to explore all the facets of his life and career. And at no time did I feel like it was being disrespectful to him at all. That would be a major plus.
So, I say if you do love Bob Dylan, check out I'm Not There, if you haven't already. Actually, if you've never known much about him and are interested, I recommend it even more. Even though it's technically a fictional account of his life, it might intrigue you to know more. I mean, I already knew a lot and it even did that for me. That is not easy to do. Congrats, movie.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Saturday, September 5, 2015
Snowpiercer - Movie Review
Greetings,
Why do great movies constantly get shelved or swept under the rug whilst movies that are, at best, "meh" are the ones making all the money? I don't know. I guess with enough advertising/indoctrination you can convince enough people to see those sub par ones. Which means it's up to us to spread the word about stellar pieces of art that aren't appreciated nearly as much as they should be. That's why I've chosen to talk about Snowpiercer. Spoilers: It's good. It's very good.
Snowpiercer is a 2013 sci-fi South Korean film that is based on a French graphic novel called Le Transperceniege by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette. Calm down! Calm down, people who hate reading. This is not a heavily subtitles film. In fact, it's pretty much all English. Bless your ethnocentric little souls, it's in English. Actually, this is the English language debut of director, Bong Joon-ho, who also wrote the screenplay along with Kelly Masterson.
Anyway, it's all about an ice age that occurs after an idea to end global warming goes terribly wrong. Most of the life on Earth is gone, and those who are left live on a constantly moving train, which continually pierces the snow that has covered the planet. Hey! I just got the title! Much like it was in the world they once lived in, the passengers are subject to class separation, with the "lesser" humans shoved in the back, cold and hungry, and the more "valuable" people living in a state of luxury. I wonder if some of the people in the train aren't happy about that and intend to make changes. Yes, that might be what happens. And that is all I'm going to say, because this is one of those films where the plot is the journey and the struggle of the people within it, and you must go along for the ride, if you will.
When it comes down to it, that's what I think this movie is about. It's about people who are fighting with all their might for their worth to be seen, for their lives to be appreciated and for their right to exist as human beings. It's almost like something that is ultimately an action film can have a whole lot of depth to it, and not just be a toy commercial. Who knew? At the heart of this, beneath all the bells and whistles, so to speak, is just a good story. And THAT should always be the foundation of any movie. It isn't always, but when it is, I am happy.
Of course, this wonderful story was helped along by the amazing cast that they assembled. At the helm, we have Chris Evans. And may I just say to Mr. Evans, should he ever read this...ahem...HOLY CRAP, DO MORE STUFF LIKE THIS MOVIE!!!!! Sorry, didn't mean to shout, but not every film he has done has been worthy of his talent. THIS is worthy of his talent. Seriously, Chris, pick stuff like this always. Besides him, we get Tilda Swinton, looking unrecognizable. I just knew it was her by the stellar acting. Also, there's Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, Ed Harris and my man, John Hurt. In addition to them, we are introduced to South Korean actors Song Kang-ho and Go Ah-sung. I had never heard of them before, but I'm glad I did through this movie. Everybody here was just about perfect.
You know what? I am going to take back something I've said before, possibly on this blog, certainly in real life. I, along with many other people, are just plain tired of all the redundancy of Hollywood. What with all the remakes and reboots and franchises, it's easy for us to believe that there is nothing new being thought of out there. But there is. There are original ideas being created in the minds of writers and film makers. And, yes, I know this is an adaptation, but the book gave us a literary new idea, which was transferred to a cinematic new idea, so it all counts as original. Problem is, as I mentioned, all the attention goes to those big budget, familiarly themed movies, whether they're good or not, because people will gravitate toward things they recognize. It's just the easy way to live. But I would rather do a little work to find things like Snowpiercer. Maybe if we ALL try a bit harder to find them, maybe if people, who have the power to do so, do a little extra sifting through that slush pile, we can turn the tide and get more excellent films like this one. Now go watch it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Why do great movies constantly get shelved or swept under the rug whilst movies that are, at best, "meh" are the ones making all the money? I don't know. I guess with enough advertising/indoctrination you can convince enough people to see those sub par ones. Which means it's up to us to spread the word about stellar pieces of art that aren't appreciated nearly as much as they should be. That's why I've chosen to talk about Snowpiercer. Spoilers: It's good. It's very good.
Snowpiercer is a 2013 sci-fi South Korean film that is based on a French graphic novel called Le Transperceniege by Jacques Lob and Jean-Marc Rochette. Calm down! Calm down, people who hate reading. This is not a heavily subtitles film. In fact, it's pretty much all English. Bless your ethnocentric little souls, it's in English. Actually, this is the English language debut of director, Bong Joon-ho, who also wrote the screenplay along with Kelly Masterson.
Anyway, it's all about an ice age that occurs after an idea to end global warming goes terribly wrong. Most of the life on Earth is gone, and those who are left live on a constantly moving train, which continually pierces the snow that has covered the planet. Hey! I just got the title! Much like it was in the world they once lived in, the passengers are subject to class separation, with the "lesser" humans shoved in the back, cold and hungry, and the more "valuable" people living in a state of luxury. I wonder if some of the people in the train aren't happy about that and intend to make changes. Yes, that might be what happens. And that is all I'm going to say, because this is one of those films where the plot is the journey and the struggle of the people within it, and you must go along for the ride, if you will.
When it comes down to it, that's what I think this movie is about. It's about people who are fighting with all their might for their worth to be seen, for their lives to be appreciated and for their right to exist as human beings. It's almost like something that is ultimately an action film can have a whole lot of depth to it, and not just be a toy commercial. Who knew? At the heart of this, beneath all the bells and whistles, so to speak, is just a good story. And THAT should always be the foundation of any movie. It isn't always, but when it is, I am happy.
Of course, this wonderful story was helped along by the amazing cast that they assembled. At the helm, we have Chris Evans. And may I just say to Mr. Evans, should he ever read this...ahem...HOLY CRAP, DO MORE STUFF LIKE THIS MOVIE!!!!! Sorry, didn't mean to shout, but not every film he has done has been worthy of his talent. THIS is worthy of his talent. Seriously, Chris, pick stuff like this always. Besides him, we get Tilda Swinton, looking unrecognizable. I just knew it was her by the stellar acting. Also, there's Jamie Bell, Octavia Spencer, Ed Harris and my man, John Hurt. In addition to them, we are introduced to South Korean actors Song Kang-ho and Go Ah-sung. I had never heard of them before, but I'm glad I did through this movie. Everybody here was just about perfect.
You know what? I am going to take back something I've said before, possibly on this blog, certainly in real life. I, along with many other people, are just plain tired of all the redundancy of Hollywood. What with all the remakes and reboots and franchises, it's easy for us to believe that there is nothing new being thought of out there. But there is. There are original ideas being created in the minds of writers and film makers. And, yes, I know this is an adaptation, but the book gave us a literary new idea, which was transferred to a cinematic new idea, so it all counts as original. Problem is, as I mentioned, all the attention goes to those big budget, familiarly themed movies, whether they're good or not, because people will gravitate toward things they recognize. It's just the easy way to live. But I would rather do a little work to find things like Snowpiercer. Maybe if we ALL try a bit harder to find them, maybe if people, who have the power to do so, do a little extra sifting through that slush pile, we can turn the tide and get more excellent films like this one. Now go watch it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Tuesday, September 1, 2015
Consenses: The Story - Documentary Review
Greetings,
I'm going to do something a little different today. Normally, when I review a documentary, it's one that has been released in the theaters or on DVD or some other widespread way, and they are usually feature film length. Not the case today. This documentary is less than an hour long and found on a website that I follow called Consenses. Hence, the title. But, perhaps, I should give some back story first.
If there's one thing I love about social media, it's the way that like-minded people can find each other quite easily. Okay, I know that has potential to be a bad thing, too, but we'll stay positive today. Now I had never heard of Consenses, until they started following me on Twitter. I'm pretty sure they found me because I started following Sally Taylor. What's the connection? Well, as it happens, Sally Taylor is the one who founded Consenses. And I'm so glad that she did.
Consenses, if you don't already know, is something that was created to connect artists to each other, and this documentary tells the story of how it came to be and about some of the people who have taken part in it. It's something of a game of artistic "Telephone" where one person shares a piece of their own art and it inspires another person to interpret it by way of another medium and another of the senses, and then it goes on to another person and another person, until the whole thing somehow manages to come full circle. Sally actually uses this fable called "The Elephant and the Blind Men" to show the spirit of what she's trying to accomplish with this. How some things, even the whole world, can only make sense when we come together and see what others are experiencing, so we can build their entire existence. It's almost as though bringing things forth by way of our individual perceptions can create a whole new life.
I have to say it is so refreshing to see everyone connect the intricate way we were all made with the intricate way that everything was made through art, so that we can make, with our own hands, even more beauty. I feel like the world through the eyes of artists is like clouds through the eyes of children. A million eyes can look at the same thing, but come up with a million different interpretations of what that can be. Now, I happen to be one of those strange people who believes in absolutes, but I also believe that some things are open for interpretation. Art is number one on that list. In fact, I think it is our duty in life to show everyone how many ways and how many angles that can be used to expose every facet of every thing we encounter each day of our lives. And through Consenses, so many amazing artists have been able to do that, hand in hand with their fellow creators.
Okay, I see now that I have gone off on a bit of a tangent, maybe more reviewing the project than the documentary, and I apologize for that. Getting back to the task at hand, I will say that this short film is a wonderful account of what the project is and the gifted people who are holding it together, pushing it forward and giving it life. I sincerely feel honored to be connected to it any way that I can be. If you're interested in this, you can go to consenses.org, watch this documentary and find out for yourself about the fantastic things that are happening.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I'm going to do something a little different today. Normally, when I review a documentary, it's one that has been released in the theaters or on DVD or some other widespread way, and they are usually feature film length. Not the case today. This documentary is less than an hour long and found on a website that I follow called Consenses. Hence, the title. But, perhaps, I should give some back story first.
If there's one thing I love about social media, it's the way that like-minded people can find each other quite easily. Okay, I know that has potential to be a bad thing, too, but we'll stay positive today. Now I had never heard of Consenses, until they started following me on Twitter. I'm pretty sure they found me because I started following Sally Taylor. What's the connection? Well, as it happens, Sally Taylor is the one who founded Consenses. And I'm so glad that she did.
Consenses, if you don't already know, is something that was created to connect artists to each other, and this documentary tells the story of how it came to be and about some of the people who have taken part in it. It's something of a game of artistic "Telephone" where one person shares a piece of their own art and it inspires another person to interpret it by way of another medium and another of the senses, and then it goes on to another person and another person, until the whole thing somehow manages to come full circle. Sally actually uses this fable called "The Elephant and the Blind Men" to show the spirit of what she's trying to accomplish with this. How some things, even the whole world, can only make sense when we come together and see what others are experiencing, so we can build their entire existence. It's almost as though bringing things forth by way of our individual perceptions can create a whole new life.
I have to say it is so refreshing to see everyone connect the intricate way we were all made with the intricate way that everything was made through art, so that we can make, with our own hands, even more beauty. I feel like the world through the eyes of artists is like clouds through the eyes of children. A million eyes can look at the same thing, but come up with a million different interpretations of what that can be. Now, I happen to be one of those strange people who believes in absolutes, but I also believe that some things are open for interpretation. Art is number one on that list. In fact, I think it is our duty in life to show everyone how many ways and how many angles that can be used to expose every facet of every thing we encounter each day of our lives. And through Consenses, so many amazing artists have been able to do that, hand in hand with their fellow creators.
Okay, I see now that I have gone off on a bit of a tangent, maybe more reviewing the project than the documentary, and I apologize for that. Getting back to the task at hand, I will say that this short film is a wonderful account of what the project is and the gifted people who are holding it together, pushing it forward and giving it life. I sincerely feel honored to be connected to it any way that I can be. If you're interested in this, you can go to consenses.org, watch this documentary and find out for yourself about the fantastic things that are happening.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, August 24, 2015
Top Ten Worst Hit Songs of 1958
Greetings,
And now for the Worst Hit Songs of 1958. I tell you, I have nothing against people being happy and writing happy songs, but a lot of this stuff is uncomfortably, overly happy. To say nothing of the (gasp!) novelty songs. Oh, they were abundant. Anyway, let's get this over with.
#10. "Short Shorts" Royal Teens - Spoilers if you didn't read my Worst Of 1961 list, but if you did, you may recall that I had a bit of a breakdown having to put a song written by Barry Mann on it. Well, this time, it's gonna be a major breakdown, because this song was written by Bob Gaudio. If you don't know who Bob Gaudio is, first, get out, and second, he wrote pretty much all the songs for Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. In short, he's one of my favorite songwriters ever. But even the greatest can falter, and in my opinion, this is an oopsie. He did, after all, write it when he was like sixteen, so I can forgive a little. Although, if you feel bad for Bob because I put him on this list, don't. Thanks to selling it off for a certain commercial we all know, I think he's made more money off of this song than any of his others. And I still love him, regardless.
#9. "Sugartime" The McGuire Sisters - Do you know why we have an obesity problem in America? THIS is why! Okay, fine, they might not be talking about actual sugar. They're talking about...relations. If you know what I mean. Though they may deny it. It's just the way they had to do it in the 50's. Although, I kinda wish it really was about sugar, so that, five years later when Tab came along, we would have gotten an updated version called "Saccharin Time".
#8. "Catch a Falling Star" Perry Como - No, I do not want to catch a falling star and put it in my pocket. That sounds dangerous. Plus, I tend to have small pockets. Anyway, this song is weak.
#7. "Splish Splash" Bobby Darin - Sir, I'm very happy that you make time to take baths, but I do not need to know the details. Inappropriate. Stick to singing about other things, Bobby Darin. Like dream lovers, or knives names Mack, or the sea and all that lies beyond it.
#6. "The Book of Love" The Monotones - Who calls their group The Monotones, like it's a good thing? Sorry, I'm supposed to be judging the song, not the group. I don't like this song. It didn't help when I found out how they came up with it. I've been inspired by some strange things, but never a toothpaste commercial.
#5. "Tom Dooley" The Kingston Trio - Wait, did I say that music from this time was uncomfortably, overly happy? Okay, all of it was except this one. This song makes me wanna jump off a bridge, it's so depressing. According to my research, it's from a genre known as "sweetheart murder ballads". Which is apparently a thing that exists. Charming!
#4. "Kewpie Doll" Perry Como - Fire your agent, Perry Como. Okay, bad enough I have to hear about your weak date at the carnival. Bad enough you're comparing your girl to an inanimate object. But a kewpie doll? Really? Those things are evil. I mean, pretty much all dolls are evil, sure, but these ones have that look, like they're always being shady and plotting the demise of their owners. Mm-hmm.
#3. "Witch Doctor" Davis Seville - I love the Chipmunks. It's just sad that this is kind of where they began. I mean, as much as I'm not a fan of most 80's music, I'd rather hear those sped up voices singing something from that era than this. Plus, I doubt most parents want to explain to their kids what a witch doctor is.
#2. "The Purple People Eater" Sheb Wooley - I'm sorry. I thought hard drugs didn't hit the mainstream until the 60's. Apparently, I was wrong, because you'd have to be on something to come up with this. So, it's about an alien that comes to Earth looking to be in a rock band? Weird. The bad kind of weird. Now, a vampire rising from his grave to join a rock band? That works. What's up, Anne Rice?
#1. "Yakety Yak" The Coasters - This cannot be the same group that did the song "Down In Mexico". THAT song was awesome. THIS song is not. So, it's about a bratty kid being a brat and his parents saying "Shut it!" Which is fine, but what's with the nonsense title? Yet again. But putting those two ideas together isn't the worst thing about this. The legendary Jerry Lieber, who wrote this song, said that The Coasters were portraying "a white kid's view of a black person's conception of white society". Seriously? Look, I'm fine with adding some social commentary to a song, but to a song called "Yakety Yak"? Try again. At least, I know that both Lieber and The Coasters can do better. But this song? No, thank you.
And there you have my Worst Of picks for this year. Look, like I said, I enjoy a lot of the music from this era. They just happened to have quite a bit of down time. But what year doesn't?
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
And now for the Worst Hit Songs of 1958. I tell you, I have nothing against people being happy and writing happy songs, but a lot of this stuff is uncomfortably, overly happy. To say nothing of the (gasp!) novelty songs. Oh, they were abundant. Anyway, let's get this over with.
#10. "Short Shorts" Royal Teens - Spoilers if you didn't read my Worst Of 1961 list, but if you did, you may recall that I had a bit of a breakdown having to put a song written by Barry Mann on it. Well, this time, it's gonna be a major breakdown, because this song was written by Bob Gaudio. If you don't know who Bob Gaudio is, first, get out, and second, he wrote pretty much all the songs for Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. In short, he's one of my favorite songwriters ever. But even the greatest can falter, and in my opinion, this is an oopsie. He did, after all, write it when he was like sixteen, so I can forgive a little. Although, if you feel bad for Bob because I put him on this list, don't. Thanks to selling it off for a certain commercial we all know, I think he's made more money off of this song than any of his others. And I still love him, regardless.
#9. "Sugartime" The McGuire Sisters - Do you know why we have an obesity problem in America? THIS is why! Okay, fine, they might not be talking about actual sugar. They're talking about...relations. If you know what I mean. Though they may deny it. It's just the way they had to do it in the 50's. Although, I kinda wish it really was about sugar, so that, five years later when Tab came along, we would have gotten an updated version called "Saccharin Time".
#8. "Catch a Falling Star" Perry Como - No, I do not want to catch a falling star and put it in my pocket. That sounds dangerous. Plus, I tend to have small pockets. Anyway, this song is weak.
#7. "Splish Splash" Bobby Darin - Sir, I'm very happy that you make time to take baths, but I do not need to know the details. Inappropriate. Stick to singing about other things, Bobby Darin. Like dream lovers, or knives names Mack, or the sea and all that lies beyond it.
#6. "The Book of Love" The Monotones - Who calls their group The Monotones, like it's a good thing? Sorry, I'm supposed to be judging the song, not the group. I don't like this song. It didn't help when I found out how they came up with it. I've been inspired by some strange things, but never a toothpaste commercial.
#5. "Tom Dooley" The Kingston Trio - Wait, did I say that music from this time was uncomfortably, overly happy? Okay, all of it was except this one. This song makes me wanna jump off a bridge, it's so depressing. According to my research, it's from a genre known as "sweetheart murder ballads". Which is apparently a thing that exists. Charming!
#4. "Kewpie Doll" Perry Como - Fire your agent, Perry Como. Okay, bad enough I have to hear about your weak date at the carnival. Bad enough you're comparing your girl to an inanimate object. But a kewpie doll? Really? Those things are evil. I mean, pretty much all dolls are evil, sure, but these ones have that look, like they're always being shady and plotting the demise of their owners. Mm-hmm.
#3. "Witch Doctor" Davis Seville - I love the Chipmunks. It's just sad that this is kind of where they began. I mean, as much as I'm not a fan of most 80's music, I'd rather hear those sped up voices singing something from that era than this. Plus, I doubt most parents want to explain to their kids what a witch doctor is.
#2. "The Purple People Eater" Sheb Wooley - I'm sorry. I thought hard drugs didn't hit the mainstream until the 60's. Apparently, I was wrong, because you'd have to be on something to come up with this. So, it's about an alien that comes to Earth looking to be in a rock band? Weird. The bad kind of weird. Now, a vampire rising from his grave to join a rock band? That works. What's up, Anne Rice?
#1. "Yakety Yak" The Coasters - This cannot be the same group that did the song "Down In Mexico". THAT song was awesome. THIS song is not. So, it's about a bratty kid being a brat and his parents saying "Shut it!" Which is fine, but what's with the nonsense title? Yet again. But putting those two ideas together isn't the worst thing about this. The legendary Jerry Lieber, who wrote this song, said that The Coasters were portraying "a white kid's view of a black person's conception of white society". Seriously? Look, I'm fine with adding some social commentary to a song, but to a song called "Yakety Yak"? Try again. At least, I know that both Lieber and The Coasters can do better. But this song? No, thank you.
And there you have my Worst Of picks for this year. Look, like I said, I enjoy a lot of the music from this era. They just happened to have quite a bit of down time. But what year doesn't?
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Sunday, August 23, 2015
Top Ten Best Hit Songs of 1958
Greetings,
So, I've done one of these lists for every decade at least once, but I never covered anything from the 50's. And since there were only two, possibly three, years from that decade with Year End Charts for Billboard, I just picked this one. This was tough, because, as much as I like music from this era, I had my work cut out for me finding the songs I didn't know. But mission accomplished. I found some really good ones from 1958, and here they are.
#10. "Born Too Late" The Poni-Tails - I can't be the only one who dealt with this, but when I was younger I never had crushes on guys my own age. Nope, always older, because my hormones hated me, it would seem. So, every time this song came on that compilation CD commercial, I would say, "This is my jam". Or whatever people said that was the equivalent to that when I was a kid.
#9. "Tears On My Pillow" Little Anthony and the Imperials - My, we've come a long way. Nowadays, tears/teardrops fall on guitars, back then, they fell on pillows. Well, they've gotta go somewhere. Anyway, I like this song. It's actually one of my favorites from the Grease soundtrack. Granted, that was the Sha Na Na version, but I say it still counts.
#8. "Tequila" The Champs - This song makes me think of Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. Next!
#7. "Peggy Sue" Buddy Holly & the Crickets - And here everyone thinks that nerdy guys being popular is a thing that this generation came up with. No, like I've said, no one invents anything new anymore. Kidding aside, Buddy Holly was pretty great, but, of course, there's always a bittersweet edge to his music, because we'll never know what could have been. No, we do know. He just would have gotten greater.
#6. "All I Have To Do Is Dream" The Everly Brothers - I've noticed that during certain years in music, things can get kind of samey sounding. So, in order to stand out, you really have to stand out. And easily, The Everly Brothers are one of my favorite artists of this time. Maybe of all time. And this is obviously one of their best known songs, again one of my favorites. But not my actual favorite. Stay tuned.
#5. "Fever" Peggy Lee - I've heard so many versions of this song. Some good, some bad, some that should completely not exist. You know who you are! But, let's be honest, Peggy Lee's version is the best. Anyone who can add a little edge to the music world in the 50's will get my vote every time.
#4. "All the Way" Frank Sinatra - Okay, truth time. The first time I heard this song was by way of a Celine Dion cover. What? It was the 90's. Everyone liked and listened to Celine Dion. Even if you didn't, you did. But whomever may be singing it, I really enjoy this song. Just because love songs are plentiful does not mean it's easy to write a good one. This is a good one.
#3. "Twilight Time" The Platters - Some groups have the kind of music that will always calm you down in the best possible way. The Platters are very good at this. Just lie back, sigh and enjoy. Also, SEE! Not everything with "Twilight" in the title is awful.
#2. "Do You Wanna Dance?" Bobby Freeman - Again, I know this song, mostly, because of the cover by The Beach Boys. It also didn't hurt that Dennis took the lead that time. But this version is fantastic, too. Considering my skill as a dancer, I rarely gravitate toward dancing songs. So, it takes something really special for me to want to hear one. It's okay, though. I dance on the inside. It's really best for everyone that way.
#1. "Devoted to You" The Everly Brothers - Oh, look at that. The Everly Brothers again. I told you guys I love them. And this song is actually my favorite of theirs. It's one of the most beautiful love songs I've ever heard, and it's from a time that, when people spoke of being devoted to someone else forever, I honestly believe them. Don't get much of that these days. I guess some things about the 50's weren't so bad, after all.
Oh, wait. Did I say that things weren't so bad in the 50's? I have a feeling I might change my mind about that tomorrow. Tune in again for my Worst Of list. Seriously, though, THESE 50's songs are great!
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
So, I've done one of these lists for every decade at least once, but I never covered anything from the 50's. And since there were only two, possibly three, years from that decade with Year End Charts for Billboard, I just picked this one. This was tough, because, as much as I like music from this era, I had my work cut out for me finding the songs I didn't know. But mission accomplished. I found some really good ones from 1958, and here they are.
#10. "Born Too Late" The Poni-Tails - I can't be the only one who dealt with this, but when I was younger I never had crushes on guys my own age. Nope, always older, because my hormones hated me, it would seem. So, every time this song came on that compilation CD commercial, I would say, "This is my jam". Or whatever people said that was the equivalent to that when I was a kid.
#9. "Tears On My Pillow" Little Anthony and the Imperials - My, we've come a long way. Nowadays, tears/teardrops fall on guitars, back then, they fell on pillows. Well, they've gotta go somewhere. Anyway, I like this song. It's actually one of my favorites from the Grease soundtrack. Granted, that was the Sha Na Na version, but I say it still counts.
#8. "Tequila" The Champs - This song makes me think of Pee-Wee's Big Adventure. Next!
#7. "Peggy Sue" Buddy Holly & the Crickets - And here everyone thinks that nerdy guys being popular is a thing that this generation came up with. No, like I've said, no one invents anything new anymore. Kidding aside, Buddy Holly was pretty great, but, of course, there's always a bittersweet edge to his music, because we'll never know what could have been. No, we do know. He just would have gotten greater.
#6. "All I Have To Do Is Dream" The Everly Brothers - I've noticed that during certain years in music, things can get kind of samey sounding. So, in order to stand out, you really have to stand out. And easily, The Everly Brothers are one of my favorite artists of this time. Maybe of all time. And this is obviously one of their best known songs, again one of my favorites. But not my actual favorite. Stay tuned.
#5. "Fever" Peggy Lee - I've heard so many versions of this song. Some good, some bad, some that should completely not exist. You know who you are! But, let's be honest, Peggy Lee's version is the best. Anyone who can add a little edge to the music world in the 50's will get my vote every time.
#4. "All the Way" Frank Sinatra - Okay, truth time. The first time I heard this song was by way of a Celine Dion cover. What? It was the 90's. Everyone liked and listened to Celine Dion. Even if you didn't, you did. But whomever may be singing it, I really enjoy this song. Just because love songs are plentiful does not mean it's easy to write a good one. This is a good one.
#3. "Twilight Time" The Platters - Some groups have the kind of music that will always calm you down in the best possible way. The Platters are very good at this. Just lie back, sigh and enjoy. Also, SEE! Not everything with "Twilight" in the title is awful.
#2. "Do You Wanna Dance?" Bobby Freeman - Again, I know this song, mostly, because of the cover by The Beach Boys. It also didn't hurt that Dennis took the lead that time. But this version is fantastic, too. Considering my skill as a dancer, I rarely gravitate toward dancing songs. So, it takes something really special for me to want to hear one. It's okay, though. I dance on the inside. It's really best for everyone that way.
#1. "Devoted to You" The Everly Brothers - Oh, look at that. The Everly Brothers again. I told you guys I love them. And this song is actually my favorite of theirs. It's one of the most beautiful love songs I've ever heard, and it's from a time that, when people spoke of being devoted to someone else forever, I honestly believe them. Don't get much of that these days. I guess some things about the 50's weren't so bad, after all.
Oh, wait. Did I say that things weren't so bad in the 50's? I have a feeling I might change my mind about that tomorrow. Tune in again for my Worst Of list. Seriously, though, THESE 50's songs are great!
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Annie (1982) - Movie Musical Review
Greetings,
I know I've spoken a lot about appreciating things in your life, and how something unfortunate may have to happen in order so you do exactly that, but considering what I'm talking about today, it bears repeating. I recently visited some relatives, and they have a small child whose cinematic taste buds have yet to develop, as it happens. So, whilst I was there, she forced me to watch Annie - the 2014 remake. Spoilers, it was awful. But it sure did make me remember how much I liked the 80's version. So, let's talk about that one.
Annie is a 1982 film based on the Broadway musical of the same name which centers around the titular character, an orphan who longs for the day she will find her parents. I mean, do I really have to tell you the story of Annie? We all know it and love it. But for those of you who were deprived as children, I will continue to give you the highlights.
It begins in an orphanage full of children, which would normally make me say, "And I'm out!", but when you usher it in with a lovely song sung by Aileen Quinn, who plays Annie, I am actually in. Yes, red-headed Annie, sticking out like a sore thumb amongst a barrage of brunettes and maybe a couple of dirty blondes, sits in the window and sings her expected "I want" song that must be included in every musical. At this point, we begin to get introduced to some of the other girls, like tough and bossy, Pepper, the girl with the pigtails, the "Oh, my goodness" girl, and Molly, the one who I can't decide whether she is annoying or adorable. It just depends on the scene, I guess. Although, I have no idea why they're so upset. They get to live with Carol Burnett. Okay, fine, it's Carol Burnett as mean Miss Hannigan, but still. She's the best thing about this movie, bar none.
Of course, after some jail break shenanigans, a woman named Grace Farrell, played by Ann Reinking, shows up and chooses Annie to spend a week with Oliver Warbucks. He is played by Albert Finney, and is a billionaire...during the Great Depression. Wow, that's rude. Anyway, though he's not thrilled about it, miss Farrell convinces him to agree to the arrangement, in order to help his public image. Wait, so, celebrities doing insincere charity work to make themselves look good isn't a new thing? Crap, this generation hasn't invented anything! But aside from that, I don't know why Warbucks would have a problem with an orphan hanging around when his entire staff seems to break into song out of nowhere. I'd think that would be more intrusive. Oh, and Punjab. Just Punjab. Thank you, Geoffrey Holder for being awesome every second. And for convincing us that if we, too, drink 7Up, we can be just as cool as you. Allegedly.
Now, a boring movie would just let Annie enjoy her life with Warbucks, swimming in the indoor pool, going to movies where no one else is allowed in and meeting presidents, but, oh, no! We need some third act hijinks. And who better to give us that than Tim Curry and Bernadette Peters. Yeah, this thing just got cranked from a ten to an eleven. Okay, that's a bit generous. This film is not perfect, but I'll say it went from a seven to an eight and a half. That sounds fair. Point is, Burnett, Curry and Peters. Good times will be had by all. Right up until the end. Which I won't spoil for you. Unless I just did.
Okay, since this is a musical, I guess it's time to talk about the music. It's pretty darn good. A lot of classics from "Maybe" to "It's a Hard Knock Life" to, of course, "Tomorrow", which I think all came from the Broadway show. But as much as I like the music on its own, I absolutely adore the dancing, especially from Ann Reinking. I really hope that in some circles, somewhere, she is regarded as one of the greatest dancers of all time. I certainly think she is. So, even if you have issues with the non-musical aspects of this film, you'll probably be entertained by the rest of it.
So, even though I and many other people really like this movie, apparently, it had some mixed reviews. Very mixed. I don't know how many movies have gotten Academy Award nominations AND Razzie nominations, but this is one of them. Go figure. But who are you going to trust? Them or me? That's right. I guess it could be worse. It could have gotten Razzie noms and NOTHING from the Oscars, like Mommie Dearest criminally did, but that's a discussion for another day...that we will have!
Look, I know most people have already seen Annie, but if you haven't, go ahead and do it. It's very good, in my opinion, and it was part of my childhood. I sang and danced along, when no one was watching, of course, and I'm totally not being blinded by my nostalgia goggles. It's just a good movie. Show it to your kids. They'll appreciate you more. Or they'll want an elephant in the back yard. One or the other.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I know I've spoken a lot about appreciating things in your life, and how something unfortunate may have to happen in order so you do exactly that, but considering what I'm talking about today, it bears repeating. I recently visited some relatives, and they have a small child whose cinematic taste buds have yet to develop, as it happens. So, whilst I was there, she forced me to watch Annie - the 2014 remake. Spoilers, it was awful. But it sure did make me remember how much I liked the 80's version. So, let's talk about that one.
Annie is a 1982 film based on the Broadway musical of the same name which centers around the titular character, an orphan who longs for the day she will find her parents. I mean, do I really have to tell you the story of Annie? We all know it and love it. But for those of you who were deprived as children, I will continue to give you the highlights.
It begins in an orphanage full of children, which would normally make me say, "And I'm out!", but when you usher it in with a lovely song sung by Aileen Quinn, who plays Annie, I am actually in. Yes, red-headed Annie, sticking out like a sore thumb amongst a barrage of brunettes and maybe a couple of dirty blondes, sits in the window and sings her expected "I want" song that must be included in every musical. At this point, we begin to get introduced to some of the other girls, like tough and bossy, Pepper, the girl with the pigtails, the "Oh, my goodness" girl, and Molly, the one who I can't decide whether she is annoying or adorable. It just depends on the scene, I guess. Although, I have no idea why they're so upset. They get to live with Carol Burnett. Okay, fine, it's Carol Burnett as mean Miss Hannigan, but still. She's the best thing about this movie, bar none.
Of course, after some jail break shenanigans, a woman named Grace Farrell, played by Ann Reinking, shows up and chooses Annie to spend a week with Oliver Warbucks. He is played by Albert Finney, and is a billionaire...during the Great Depression. Wow, that's rude. Anyway, though he's not thrilled about it, miss Farrell convinces him to agree to the arrangement, in order to help his public image. Wait, so, celebrities doing insincere charity work to make themselves look good isn't a new thing? Crap, this generation hasn't invented anything! But aside from that, I don't know why Warbucks would have a problem with an orphan hanging around when his entire staff seems to break into song out of nowhere. I'd think that would be more intrusive. Oh, and Punjab. Just Punjab. Thank you, Geoffrey Holder for being awesome every second. And for convincing us that if we, too, drink 7Up, we can be just as cool as you. Allegedly.
Now, a boring movie would just let Annie enjoy her life with Warbucks, swimming in the indoor pool, going to movies where no one else is allowed in and meeting presidents, but, oh, no! We need some third act hijinks. And who better to give us that than Tim Curry and Bernadette Peters. Yeah, this thing just got cranked from a ten to an eleven. Okay, that's a bit generous. This film is not perfect, but I'll say it went from a seven to an eight and a half. That sounds fair. Point is, Burnett, Curry and Peters. Good times will be had by all. Right up until the end. Which I won't spoil for you. Unless I just did.
Okay, since this is a musical, I guess it's time to talk about the music. It's pretty darn good. A lot of classics from "Maybe" to "It's a Hard Knock Life" to, of course, "Tomorrow", which I think all came from the Broadway show. But as much as I like the music on its own, I absolutely adore the dancing, especially from Ann Reinking. I really hope that in some circles, somewhere, she is regarded as one of the greatest dancers of all time. I certainly think she is. So, even if you have issues with the non-musical aspects of this film, you'll probably be entertained by the rest of it.
So, even though I and many other people really like this movie, apparently, it had some mixed reviews. Very mixed. I don't know how many movies have gotten Academy Award nominations AND Razzie nominations, but this is one of them. Go figure. But who are you going to trust? Them or me? That's right. I guess it could be worse. It could have gotten Razzie noms and NOTHING from the Oscars, like Mommie Dearest criminally did, but that's a discussion for another day...that we will have!
Look, I know most people have already seen Annie, but if you haven't, go ahead and do it. It's very good, in my opinion, and it was part of my childhood. I sang and danced along, when no one was watching, of course, and I'm totally not being blinded by my nostalgia goggles. It's just a good movie. Show it to your kids. They'll appreciate you more. Or they'll want an elephant in the back yard. One or the other.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)