Onomatopoeia

In Case You Missed It...

Actually, the above is how a competitor bannered an ad inaccurately stating we were in big trouble.  That's another story.  This post ids to make sure you have seen a couple of YouTube items.

First, the now famous Thriller video. Here is an article from SFGate.com describing what you are seeing...

Secondly, this frankly brilliant routine from OK Go.

Enjoy

Thriller, Michael Jackson

Turkey on the Stairway

So I am listening to KFOG yesterday on my way to work and they are having people call in with songs that are turkeys (Thanksgiving week, get it?). The criteria for a turkey is that is should have been popular, like a hit, but is actually dumb, lame, or plain bad.

They never mentioned what number to use to call in because I have a good one. It's controversial, I know, but so far everyone I have discussed this with agrees.

It's Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven.

Think about it.  This song is the fourth on a truly classic rock album, Led Zeppelin IV (sometimes referred to as ZOSO because of the four seals used on the cover and label of the actual record).  People tend to classify Zep as Heavy Metal but in fact I think they are hard rock rhythm and blues.  I point to I Can't Quit You Babe, The Lemon Song, and Since I've Been Lovin' You from their first three albums as examples of their raunchy and hard but undeniably blues style.  Heck, on IV, When The Levy Breaks is a serious contender in that catalog...

I digress.  Some may wonder why I label Stairway - a song held by many to be "the greatest rock song ever" - a turkey.  In truth it is not a bad song (True Confessions: Loved it in High School I did), although it is kinda dumb, but to those who query my answer is "Have you listened to the rest of the album?"

Black Dog kicks it off, demanding your involvement.  Right on its heels is Rock And Roll (just try to deny that is not R&B).  No. It does not make me want to buy a Cadillac, but watching Cadillac commercials now makes me want to listen to more Zep.  Next up is Battle For Evermore, homage to Tolkein and clearly there as the song during which one refreshes one's refreshments-of-choice so you can be all set for...

...What's this?  Sounds like overwritten and painfully wrought acoustic guitar with lame flute accompaniment. Plant 's vocals are angst-to-the-gills-with-a-message-of-maybe-wisdom. "Um, am I supposed to learn something about materialism here?  Will it hurt?"  There is a little bit of "uh-oh" when the May Queen starts her spring cleaning (in my worst moments I see a foreshadowing of Safety Dance moments, mayhaps?).  Then trumpet-like guitar fanfares herald a change in mood and suddenly Page is taking us through a guitar solo... ... ... that sounds a touch too-carefully crafted to my ear ("Wasn't Rock And Roll like two songs ago?  Who is this guy and where's Jimmy?").  Best line of the song is "shadows taller than our souls" in the end bit that has the heavy guitar, bass, and drum double rhythm reminiscent of  Good Times, Bad Times and Whole Lotta Love.  This suddenly winds down to "AAAnd she's buy-yiy-ying a star-air-way...  (wait for it) ... to hea-veh-hennn"

Silence.

I'm starting to worry a little here.  Maybe I'd better turn the record over.

Der-der-de-de-de Der-der-de-de-de
Bow-bow-bow-bow-bow Bow-bow-bow-bow-bow Tinkata-Bim-Bam-BOOM

Misty Mountain Hop!  The guys are back from their break - everyone on their feet!  Four Sticks follows.  Four Sticks, people.  Going To California is next.  Not a bad little tune and a nice break to set you up for John Bonham's This-Is-What-You-Came-For opening of the storm doors to let in When The Levy Breaks.

Fantastic rocking album with seriously good and hard music with plenty of variety and passion.  In all this, Stairway, albeit worthy in it's own way, falls gobbling into shadow.  The tempo is terrible, the imagery puerile, the music unenthusiastic, and now when I listen to it I have a bit of an "is it over yet?" feeling.

As I say above, used to love it, but it's all over now (apologies to the Beatles). 

Misty Mountain Hop, Led Zeppelin

**ADDENDUM 18-Jan-07**
Now that you've read the above, read this.

Oh My God, It's EUROVISION!!!

I can't believe I have been traveling to the UK on business for 23 years, made many valued and close friends, even lived here for 20 months, and Nobody  told me about the Eurovision Song Contest!  Gotta be experienced to be believed.

Every year since I guess 1955, European countries select and enter a song and a performer to the contest.  Selected songs are all presented in a massive televised extravaganza, each country votes on their favorites, and the winner gets to host next year's pageant.  This year 38 countries submitted and 24 were selected for the contest (although all 38 got to vote).

In the UK the event is commented by Terry Wogan, who has been adding a sardonic twist to the show since 1980.  In some cases this is a cherished occasion, accompanied by dinner parties and so forth.  This year my fiends remembered it at the last minute, so we tuned in for the last two numbers and the voting.  The last two contestants were Turkey and Armenia.

Holy mackerel.  The Turkish singer was Sibel Tüzün, who belted out Süper Star (yes, the umlaut is for real) accompanied by 4 male dancers.  This was a pretty athletic routine and even featured a Buzby Berkeley type overhead shot of them interlinking arms to form - that's right, kids - a star. Andre delivered Armenia's Without Your Love, with 6 (count 'em) statuesque female dancers.  This one was equally energetic and involved ornate maneuvers with long black satin straps or ribbons, ending up with him on a large plinth, the dancers seemingly harnessed like two sets of chariot horses.  Submissive chariot horses by the way. And folks objected to the cover for Smell The Glove!

I was amazed. Flabbergasted. Stunned. Delighted. Renewed. Amused. Almost shocked.  Definitely intrigued.

And the winner?  Finland!  Their band was Lordi, who performed Hard Rock Hallelujah.  These guys have a zombie-viking-orc thing going, complete with articulated masks and huuuuge platforms.  Their winning made my day.  I felt so metal.

Feel The Rhythm.

King Tut, Steve Martin

Art School Never Ends

Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.

Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends. Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.  Art School Never Ends.

Art School Never Ends.

You know who you are.

America Is Waiting, Brian Eno + David Byrne

4 Mini-Reviews: Thank You For Taking the Smoking Vendetta Lead Inside, V-Man

V For Vendetta

A nicely realized gothic future vision.  Nothing earth-shatteringly new in the vision itself: fascist 1984 Emperor stuff with Secret Police and Disappearances.  Hugo does a surprisingly good acting job considering you never see his face.  Natalie continues to develop a solid style (hope they paid her a gajillion for the Star Wars stuff). Good design. I’d give this a 3.5 out of 5.

The Inside Man

Gotta love a good heist film. This is an easy 4 for me.  Denzel is terrific paying a likeable smart cop – updates Hammett type character IMHO.  Jodi plays against type as a very classy, hard-boiled problem mechanic.  And Clive?  Hey, I used to say if Sean Connery did cat food commercials I’d consider buying a cat.  If Clive did them I’d think about a pet store.  Great fun and good soundtrack.

Thanks You For Smoking

Hilarious.  4.5.  One of the best treatises I’ve ever seen on hypocrisy.  See it.

Take The Lead

Antonio saves the day and these kids’ future.  EW panned it.  Others liked it.  I enjoyed it more than I thought, but agree with EW that the makers dropped the chance to show a true street/ballroom fusion.  Still, I was entertained and had a good time.  Honorable 3.

Love Is A Stranger, Eurythmics

Good Night And Good Luck

Fantastic.  Should be required viewing for all high-school and some middle-school students.  Excellent portrayals done in the style of the age (slightly updated).  Well worth it.  Go see it now.  Yes, right now.

Hamster Dance from Eric Conveys An Emotion Website (www.emotioneric.com).  Somebody please help me.

Capote

Saw Phillip Seymour Hoffman give a solidly crafted performance as Truman Capote last night.  The movie was not what I expected; I had not read a lot about it and assumed it was his life story.  In a big way it was.  It did not start with his birth or childhood, nor did it end with his death.  The movie is really about his experience writing In Cold Blood and how it changed him.  I recommend it.  As I say, his portrayal of Capote is right on, at least from my memories of seeing him in the media earlier in life.

And the car chases in space are really rad.

Pickling today.  More later.

Baby's On Fire, Brian Eno

Public Service Message

Mark Morford writes for the SF Chronicle - OpEd type pieces. He is as liberal as you can get and has a tendency to rant a bit. Inflamatory? Kinda, yeah, at times. I actually like his writing, although sometimes it can get a bit depressing and vitriolic and bitter.

This piece is one of the more important ones. In fact I sent a copy to Claudia. This election is different and important. Vote. I won't tell you how - that's your business. Just make damn sure you do it.

If you don't vote, you have no right to complain.

Superstition, Stevie Wonder

Mind Yer Place, Boyo...

In Entertainment Weekly, Stephen King has provided a series of opeds. Regardless of whether you think his work is good or better/nmediocre or worse, he tends to hold true to his own character in his expression. I like the guy more easily when he is telling me what he thinks. I like his storytelling as well, although that can be hot-or-miss.

This article, Download steven_king_article_ew_041008.pdf, appeared in Entertainment Weekly's Oct 8 2004 issue. I post it with the follwing thoughts:

…I like Springsteen’s response – who is ANYONE to tell you (me) how to vote? On the back of that: do your homework (Jeez, sound familiar?). No shit this time, either.

…if you like what an artist says in their work, how close IS that work to who you are/what you think/how you feel/what is “right”? No, really. Is it the music or the poetry or both or what? Litnmus for hypocrasy is pushing it, methinks, but only pushing it. How close is that to an informed opinion?

Pride, U2

The Queen and King of Cool

OK we just got back from seeing Annie Lennox and Sting.

Annie Lennox is so cool it is a reminder of how awesome cool can be. She was on for an hour or so including a 2 number encore. Prrple leather jacket and jeans; later she removed the jacket to show off a sequined top. No special effects, just Awesome Annie. Quite emotional at times, really. Love her.

And, hey, it's Sting. I mean THE Sting. It was his 53rd birthday so we all sang to him. Incredible musicians, excellent lighting and enriching specials (3 screens behind him showing film/computer graphics, intense lighting, etc etc etc, all conntrolled on stage by a guy they treated as one of the band). His hair is longer, which I prefer to the shaven and rattled look. Resplendent in Helmut Lang, he led a cranking show with some intense musical solos (Roxanne was 15 minutes and included references to a number of other songs, for instance). Keep your eyes/ears open for the name Joy Rose, one of the backup singers who can truly belt - did a long number with Sting.

All in all a truly excellent evening. Memorable.

Little Bird, Annie Lennox