Medley of the Day: Sun worship

It's sunny in the Pacific Northwest today, which means it is both gorgeous and not raining. In celebration, have a medley.

First up, Local Natives give us chant-filled ode to the sun, "Sun Hands" (2009).


Also, does the lead singer looks like a more adorable version of mustachioed Freddie Mercury, or am I just obsessed with Freddie Mercury and mustaches?


More hipster pagan-rhythms, you say? Here's Yeasayer's "Sunrise" (2008):


Good to see David Byrne's dance moves live on.

But what if you want a made up, pseudo-Romance language to describe your love of the sun? "Sun King" from The Beatles' Abbey Road (1969):


Sounds like someone learned Iberian Spanish!

Go outside already.

The Iron Man franchise

is completely on the inherent charisma of its actors. RDJ is always magic, Mickey Rourke was appropriately grizzled, and Don Cheadle and Gwyneth Paltrow were reliably spot on in their character's reactions to Tony Stark. Even Sam Rockwell made the not-quite-as-awesome-as-Tony-Stark Justin Hammer so interesting, I almost liked him, even at his whiniest.

Also, fabulous 3-piece suits.

My one complaint: Scarlett Johansson. She lacks an on-screen present needed to meet the enormity of her castmates' presence and the film's genre. Frankly, she does better in small films that focus on reigned in performances, and that's fine. Really, her casting is another example of Hollywood giving undeserving young actresses roles that they can't live up to. I like to think of it as Winona Ryder Syndrome. She was great in quirky and spunky roles with modern sensibilities (I even include Little Women here), but faded into the background in the big-name directed and big-presence acted Dracula and The Age of Innocence.

Really, where are all the fun actresses with lots of personality and presence? Why does Hollywood always rely on young talent that doesn't necessarily bring the goods, acting-wise?

You're the Best

I'm mildly obsessed with Joe Esposito's hit song "You're the Best Around," the theme song from The Karate Kid (1984). It's just so damn catchy:

And then I thought I would never love the song more than when used for a working-out-and-taking-steroids montage on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (lame YouTube pulled that sweet clip).

But then I saw its best usage yet: The King on Kong: A Fistful of Quarters (2007). The fantastic documentary perfectly sets up the reigning champion of the original Donkey Kong, Billy Mitchell, against an up-and-comer who's always been short of greatness his whole life, Steve Wiebe. The immersion into the gaming world is surprisingly engaging, and you ultimately root for the underdog, even if he doesn't have a head of glorious locks. Honestly, you can't make this stuff up.

Anyway, the moment in the documentary when this song started playing, I knew this was one of the greatest films I had ever seen. In dedication to this great work, I embed somebody's Steve Wiebe fan video with the classic song itself:

Seriously. Awesome.

Everyone covers Dylan: "Tangled Up in Blue"

Inspired by Cubism, "Tangled Up in Blue" attempts to defy time and to bring multiple perspectives into one song. All I know is that it paints a lovely picture. It was released as a single on the 1975 album, Blood on the Tracks.


1974 performance in which Bob Dylan has a case of cocaine face:


No really, what's on his face?

The Indigo Girls from their live album, 1200 Curfews (1995). I love how the words sound coming from women:


Sorry it cuts off early. It's lovely.

More lady singer action with KT Tunstall. Love her voice:


I wish I liked her original work as much as I like her covers.

Great White (yes, that Great White) tangled up on their 2002 cover album, Recover. Surprisingly mellow:

Shark attack?

The Jerry Garcia Band in 1990. It's pretty long, but it's a good cover:


Who knew I'd liked Jerry Garcia?

Musical Addition

Chris and Thomas' "Don't Hang Your Heart" (2006):

+ Radiohead's "Subterranean Homesick Alien" (1997):

= Genesis' "Harlequin" (1971):

In which I talk about The Thorn Birds

I read The Thorn Birds my junior year of high school in a Vicodin-addled fit of AP test studying procrastination*. Needless to say, I loved the forbidden romance between a priest and the woman he helped raise. In the outback of Australia. In the early 20th Century. Truth, my favorite part of the book was the last part with the cast-off daughter Justine and her German lover, but you can't beat a good star-crossed romance. Especially when it's turned into an epically awfsome miniseries.

Now, I bought the miniseries about 5 years ago and have only made it all the way through once. Today, my roommate was watching disc 2, and I remembered why it was so great:


Does it blow anyone else's mind that Richard Chamberlain is almost 50 here? Seriously.

Right? RIGHT? Just when you couldn't get any campier, it DOES. And boy, does that barn see a lot of action.


*Passed 'em all, suckers.