Let's sing about debauchery in the douchiest way possible.
I'm just going to let you know that it took me waaay to long to track down the earlier era song for this part. Let's just say if I die without ever hearing "Let's Put the X in Sex" again, I will be happy. Game on!
"Lovin' You's a Dirty Job" by Ratt
The big grossout with this song begins with the band's name which is more reminiscent of the nastiest haircut of my early years than bad boy. I don't really want to know how lovin' somebody is a dirty job, but I know that my favorite part is the bridge where they pretend this is a tender proposition rather than the pure early 90s filth that it is.
"Up All Night" by Hinder
While incorporating another great rock band trope (the live show music video), Hinder manages to make we want die. With it's douchey beginning whine-fest for people to "shut the f--- up" to the scenes of them taking shots, it's just trying way too hard to be awesomely wasted. But I think the one important thing to note is that it sounds almost exactly like the butt rock era that Ratt hails from. In other words, in 20 years, party songs are just as bad if not worse since their hair is so emo.
Hinder - Up All Night
Questions to ponder:
1. Do visible bras increase the effectiveness of gas masks?
2. Does showing yourself rocking a crowd actually mean you're awesome or that you need others to think that you're awesome?
Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 , 6, and 7 of The Audacity of Rock.
4/29/2009
4/27/2009
Confessions of a Shopaholic
1. Stupid girl = completely uninteresting.
2. Stupid decisions = completely uninteresting.
3. Hugh Dancy (my British boyfriend) = once again being consigned to an underused boyfriend role and therefore uninteresting.
4. High fashion clothing = ugly and uninteresting.
5. John Goodman and Joan Cusack = awesome in anything else, but are also boring and uninteresting.
Total damage to my brain: I can't tell. I forgot I was even watching a movie. I think I lost my ability to react to things.
Anyway, I'm going to completely forget about the movie by remembering why I adore Hugh Dancy in the first place:
2. Stupid decisions = completely uninteresting.
3. Hugh Dancy (my British boyfriend) = once again being consigned to an underused boyfriend role and therefore uninteresting.
4. High fashion clothing = ugly and uninteresting.
5. John Goodman and Joan Cusack = awesome in anything else, but are also boring and uninteresting.
Total damage to my brain: I can't tell. I forgot I was even watching a movie. I think I lost my ability to react to things.
Anyway, I'm going to completely forget about the movie by remembering why I adore Hugh Dancy in the first place:
Hugh Dancy rowing in Daniel Deronda. Masterpiece Theatre productions always suck me in.
4/25/2009
Falling in Love
I had no idea that Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro starred in a fairly light-hearted romance Falling in Love (1984), but they did.
Points to make:
1. The soundtrack of this movie utilizes Dave Grusin's kind of jazzy hit "Mountain Dance."
I feel like I heard this song a lot as a child. I wonder if my dad had this somewhere or played it on the piano or something. Anyway, it's suprisingly timeless in feel, but definitively 80s. It also makes this film definitively full of Hollywood happy romance.
2. This is based on the British film Brief Encounter (1945). And while Falling in Love follows the same almost adulterous affair between two adults on a train plot, it's far less proper and less repressed than Brief Encounter. What I love about the latter is that it is so suppressed. It's told from the perspective of a woman in flashbacks. We witness a scene where she's saying goodbye to a man and then drives off with her husband. She reflects on her relationship with that man until we see the first scene again and really see why she was so irritated and anxious the whole time. I cannot recommend it enough.
Spoilers ahead:
Anyway, Falling in Love eventually has the two leads reveal to their respective spouses their severe attachment to someone outside their marriages. So, instead of bravely continuing on in their (what looks to be very good) relationships, they give up on them. It's just seemed like a cop out to me so their could be a "happy" Hollywood ending, but I just felt bad for the left spouses. They seemed pretty cool to me, so the film lost me in the end.
3. I kind of like De Niro in a romantic role. He's not especially charming, but he acts like a decent man and is pretty low key. And Streep is, as always, just lovely and fun. She brings a lot of emotion to a very minimally scripted role. There's a moment when she's getting dressed to see De Niro and she keeps trying on different outfits. Suddenly, she stares at herself in the mirror and asks herself, "What are you doing?" It's a seriousness about consequences that gets lost by the end of the film. But overall, the chemistry between the two leads is sweet and comfortable. They are awkward for most of the film, but it seems to come from respect for their other attachments. It's nice to see the pair of them be so natural.
4. Have you listened to it yet?
It'll be stuck in your head the rest of the day.
5. Anyway, you can find Falling in Love online, but I'd recommend seeing Brief Encounter first.
Points to make:
1. The soundtrack of this movie utilizes Dave Grusin's kind of jazzy hit "Mountain Dance."
I feel like I heard this song a lot as a child. I wonder if my dad had this somewhere or played it on the piano or something. Anyway, it's suprisingly timeless in feel, but definitively 80s. It also makes this film definitively full of Hollywood happy romance.
2. This is based on the British film Brief Encounter (1945). And while Falling in Love follows the same almost adulterous affair between two adults on a train plot, it's far less proper and less repressed than Brief Encounter. What I love about the latter is that it is so suppressed. It's told from the perspective of a woman in flashbacks. We witness a scene where she's saying goodbye to a man and then drives off with her husband. She reflects on her relationship with that man until we see the first scene again and really see why she was so irritated and anxious the whole time. I cannot recommend it enough.Spoilers ahead:
Anyway, Falling in Love eventually has the two leads reveal to their respective spouses their severe attachment to someone outside their marriages. So, instead of bravely continuing on in their (what looks to be very good) relationships, they give up on them. It's just seemed like a cop out to me so their could be a "happy" Hollywood ending, but I just felt bad for the left spouses. They seemed pretty cool to me, so the film lost me in the end.
3. I kind of like De Niro in a romantic role. He's not especially charming, but he acts like a decent man and is pretty low key. And Streep is, as always, just lovely and fun. She brings a lot of emotion to a very minimally scripted role. There's a moment when she's getting dressed to see De Niro and she keeps trying on different outfits. Suddenly, she stares at herself in the mirror and asks herself, "What are you doing?" It's a seriousness about consequences that gets lost by the end of the film. But overall, the chemistry between the two leads is sweet and comfortable. They are awkward for most of the film, but it seems to come from respect for their other attachments. It's nice to see the pair of them be so natural.
4. Have you listened to it yet?
It'll be stuck in your head the rest of the day.
5. Anyway, you can find Falling in Love online, but I'd recommend seeing Brief Encounter first.
4/24/2009
College pop culture retrospective
In honor of my college graduation, I give a list of my favorite pop cultural finds of my college years. It's pretty random list, some of which is completely cliche, but here you go:
1. Bollywood. My freshman roommate started me on Bollywood films with Dil Chahta Hai. While in recent years my consumption has slowed down, they're usually good for a laugh or cry or just fun if you've got a spare 3 hours.
Om Shanti Om is fantastic. I never wrote a review on it, but if you love super-meta, making a movie within a movie, genre mixing movies, than this one is for you. It's funny, a little tragic, and randomly spooky. Plus, Hamlet and Singin' in the Rain references.
2. The Beatles. Like anyone who likes music, I've always loved the Beatles, but I owe a guy I will always remember as Hot Hot Brian in my psych class for pointing me toward Rubber Soul during a class presentation. After that, I was hooked to the Beatles' later (and more awesome) albums.
Seriously. Buy it. Love it.
3. Led Zeppelin. *cough*
Jimmy Page is inviting you into the dangerous world of Led Zeppelin fandom. Warning: it can be obsessive.
4. K-dramas. Next time in search for a corny series I might branch out from Korean dramas, but My Lovely Sam Soon was a good place to start.
I know right? From this picture alone My Lovely Sam Soon is already too adorable to resist. FYI, it's like a Korean Bridget Jones except way more adorable...adorable.
Shockingly, it's probably just as cheesy.
5. House. I have found that a good way to tell if you're going to like a roommate is if they'll sit down and watch an episode of House with you.
The original team smilier than they are ever on the show; I just love this picture.
6. Online television. I'm counting both legal and more sketchy means. It's so much more convenient to find catch up on tv shows since I got to college, and I love the internet for that.
It's like magic.
7. pandora.com. Check out this station that was developed from artists I discoverd on pandora. I now can enjoy bluegrass and other musical genres new to me.
8. Emo. Sometimes, it doesn't suck. But as a friend said, everyone has a quota of how much emo they can take. Personally, emo better come with some pop hooks or I'm out. Less offensive emos: Panic at the Disco (since they're either electronica or Beatles in their approach), Cartel (pop-y!), about 4 of My Chemical Romance's songs, about 5 of Fall Out Boy's songs, a smattering of others. But for the most part, still kind of a whiny/mediocre genre.
9. The rock musical/opera. Possibly the best film genre possible in that the musical is usually good and the plot is usually preposterous. This magical blend makes sure that you feel both pleasure and guilt if you like it. Great examples: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Across the Universe, Tommy.
1. Bollywood. My freshman roommate started me on Bollywood films with Dil Chahta Hai. While in recent years my consumption has slowed down, they're usually good for a laugh or cry or just fun if you've got a spare 3 hours.
Om Shanti Om is fantastic. I never wrote a review on it, but if you love super-meta, making a movie within a movie, genre mixing movies, than this one is for you. It's funny, a little tragic, and randomly spooky. Plus, Hamlet and Singin' in the Rain references.2. The Beatles. Like anyone who likes music, I've always loved the Beatles, but I owe a guy I will always remember as Hot Hot Brian in my psych class for pointing me toward Rubber Soul during a class presentation. After that, I was hooked to the Beatles' later (and more awesome) albums.
Seriously. Buy it. Love it.3. Led Zeppelin. *cough*
Jimmy Page is inviting you into the dangerous world of Led Zeppelin fandom. Warning: it can be obsessive.
I know right? From this picture alone My Lovely Sam Soon is already too adorable to resist. FYI, it's like a Korean Bridget Jones except way more adorable...adorable. Shockingly, it's probably just as cheesy.
The original team smilier than they are ever on the show; I just love this picture.It's like magic.7. pandora.com. Check out this station that was developed from artists I discoverd on pandora. I now can enjoy bluegrass and other musical genres new to me.
8. Emo. Sometimes, it doesn't suck. But as a friend said, everyone has a quota of how much emo they can take. Personally, emo better come with some pop hooks or I'm out. Less offensive emos: Panic at the Disco (since they're either electronica or Beatles in their approach), Cartel (pop-y!), about 4 of My Chemical Romance's songs, about 5 of Fall Out Boy's songs, a smattering of others. But for the most part, still kind of a whiny/mediocre genre.
Do yourself a favor and never image search 'emo.'
9. The rock musical/opera. Possibly the best film genre possible in that the musical is usually good and the plot is usually preposterous. This magical blend makes sure that you feel both pleasure and guilt if you like it. Great examples: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Across the Universe, Tommy.
I was going to subject you to Mean Mr. Mustard's robots in Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, but thought better of it and instead I give you the Barry Gibb and his fabulous locks, the rest of the Bee Gees, and Peter Frampton in the film.
And in case you're concerned about what happens to Mr. Frampton...
Billy Preston magically appears from a weather vane to save the day! yay!
And in case you're concerned about what happens to Mr. Frampton...
Billy Preston magically appears from a weather vane to save the day! yay!
4/22/2009
The Audacity of Rock: Part 7
Church organ intro.
I love the organ. A lot. But today I'm just going to be focusing on churchy sounding organ. Usually a song featuring cathedral-like chording at the beginning eventually starts to rock by the time the drums and/or guitars come in and/or take over, but by that point the organ has already sucked me in. Mostly, it's usually a hilarious attempt to make rock "edgier" by mixing it with sacred things...like the organ. For this collection of church organ songs, I've chosen fairly sterile organ parts (so not gospel church organ). We're also doing more than two generation, and I'm using Grooveshark because I find no need to use an example from a Zeppelin cover band. So here we go:
1. "Your Time is Gonna Come" by Led Zeppelin (1969)
I've probably gushed over John Paul Jones and his mad organ/keyboarding skills before, but they are on full display here. It's innocuous enough that it could probably be played in a church, that is before it starts to play the riff the guitar will later take up. It's an interesting blend of the blues anchored rock with a decidedly less bluesy intro by the organ.
2. "Let's Go Crazy" by Prince (1984)
Prince, being quite the showman, decided to not only give us a warbly church organ solo, but also a church sermon. This time, the organ segues into a pop song, hitting chords to the beat of the only coherent lyrics in the song, "Let's Go Crazy," proving that the organ can be both serious and catchy.
3. "Faith" by George Michael (1987)
I know this is The Audacity of Rock*, but how can you not include this song? This is entirely poppy and catchy and terrible all at once. With the blending of church organ and sexual lyrics, how edgy is this? Although Mr. Michael does give up on the organ as soon as the guitar comes in, demoting his song into acoustic ridiculousness.
4. "Like a Prayer" by Madonna (1989)
I've given up on the rock thing entirely at this point, but I had to include this song, what with its suggestive lyrics. But unlike "Faith," this poptastic single maintains the organ throughout the verses of the song, subtly changing chords in the background. Also double points for including a gospel choir**.
5. "Intervention" by Arcade Fire (2007ish)
The ultimate cathedral organ at the beginning of a rock song. It's majestic and actually reflects the lyrics of the song. It reinforces the power of "the church" to take over a life by remaining a strong presence with the other instruments. Also, a children's choir*** takes up the back-up vocals by the end. Love.
Questions to ponder:
1. How awesome is the organ? Why?
2. Are there any other examples of the church organ intro?
*I count Prince as rock for his leadership of a band and musicianship.
**Which is great idea for another one of these.
***I love choirs!
Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ,and 6 of The Audacity of Rock.
I love the organ. A lot. But today I'm just going to be focusing on churchy sounding organ. Usually a song featuring cathedral-like chording at the beginning eventually starts to rock by the time the drums and/or guitars come in and/or take over, but by that point the organ has already sucked me in. Mostly, it's usually a hilarious attempt to make rock "edgier" by mixing it with sacred things...like the organ. For this collection of church organ songs, I've chosen fairly sterile organ parts (so not gospel church organ). We're also doing more than two generation, and I'm using Grooveshark because I find no need to use an example from a Zeppelin cover band. So here we go:
1. "Your Time is Gonna Come" by Led Zeppelin (1969)
I've probably gushed over John Paul Jones and his mad organ/keyboarding skills before, but they are on full display here. It's innocuous enough that it could probably be played in a church, that is before it starts to play the riff the guitar will later take up. It's an interesting blend of the blues anchored rock with a decidedly less bluesy intro by the organ.
2. "Let's Go Crazy" by Prince (1984)
Prince, being quite the showman, decided to not only give us a warbly church organ solo, but also a church sermon. This time, the organ segues into a pop song, hitting chords to the beat of the only coherent lyrics in the song, "Let's Go Crazy," proving that the organ can be both serious and catchy.
3. "Faith" by George Michael (1987)
I know this is The Audacity of Rock*, but how can you not include this song? This is entirely poppy and catchy and terrible all at once. With the blending of church organ and sexual lyrics, how edgy is this? Although Mr. Michael does give up on the organ as soon as the guitar comes in, demoting his song into acoustic ridiculousness.
4. "Like a Prayer" by Madonna (1989)
I've given up on the rock thing entirely at this point, but I had to include this song, what with its suggestive lyrics. But unlike "Faith," this poptastic single maintains the organ throughout the verses of the song, subtly changing chords in the background. Also double points for including a gospel choir**.
5. "Intervention" by Arcade Fire (2007ish)
The ultimate cathedral organ at the beginning of a rock song. It's majestic and actually reflects the lyrics of the song. It reinforces the power of "the church" to take over a life by remaining a strong presence with the other instruments. Also, a children's choir*** takes up the back-up vocals by the end. Love.
Questions to ponder:
1. How awesome is the organ? Why?
2. Are there any other examples of the church organ intro?
*I count Prince as rock for his leadership of a band and musicianship.
**Which is great idea for another one of these.
***I love choirs!
Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 ,and 6 of The Audacity of Rock.
4/21/2009
In the spirit of finals and graduation week...
I give you Europe's "The Final Countdown" until I have time to post anything else. You're welcome in advance.
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