Captian Oogie and Linda Blair

Wow! What a super creepy commercial. So...where does Captain Oogie get his souls for the dolls?



Holy crap! Another creepy Ideal Doll commercial.



Not sure how you explain this one. This is an Ideal doll commercial with Linda Blair. Weird.

Oh, and btw, I never liked dolls. Now I know why.

Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage

The first movie of the year - Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage. Based on the previous postings, I see a musical pattern here. If you're a Rush fan, put this in your NetFlix queue! I put the DVD in the player last night thinking a I'd watch a few minutes and come back later; I didn't move! Great footage of the band in the early days. I laughed out loud and at times I sang out loud (and yikes I cannot carry a tune). Some of these songs I hadn't heard in quite a while. I didn't know until recently (someone at work brought it up - Geddycorn) that they really didn't have many female fans. They make mention of this in the film, but I'm not sure why they attracted a predominately male audience.

Growing up in a teeny tiny town when this stuff came out I used to listen to these early albums over and over. Godz these guys were clever! I never had a problem with Geddy's voice either. I just loved the fact that they didn't have this fairy king lead singer; they had a regular looking guy who was a talented musician as well. I appreciate the fact that they didn't do these sweaty sex-rock-god-type songs. Their songs were about interesting little known or cleverly developed mythical themes. I drew pictures of the band on my notebooks in high school with a black pen.

Several things are explained in this film. We hear the story of how the Oriental robes become stage wear, where "I can't pretend the stranger is a long awaited friend" line originated, and we get now know why they changed musically after Hemispheres.

Honestly, for two cents, a mere two cents, I could stay home from work today, watch the film again, and listen to Rush albums the rest of the day.

Kula Shaker, Headswim, and The Seahorses

I saw Kula Shaker @ the Cabaret Metro in Chicago on April 12, 1997. The Cabaret Metro was a very small, intimate concert experience with a tiny floor area in front of the stage and a balcony that ran around the top. It was a very Elizabethan-type theater. It was quite magical; everyone sang along to every song on K. I really like the BritPop sound but not necessarily all the bands. I want my BritPop a certain way. I love the British reference points in the lyrics, the 60's jangly-clangly guitar riffs, and the nod to the mod hair cuts. Sorry, I can't help it. I never liked bands like Oasis or Blur. No appeal there really.



Headswim opened for Kula Shaker and they did this song - Tourniquet. Oddly enough, this video was recorded on Feb 13, which happens to be my birthday.



I ran across this video of a band named The Seahorses. They appear to have gotten close to fame, opened for the Stones and U2, but a break up in 1999 pretty much sealed their fate. Never heard of them. Love the guitars! Really nice job on the video - the bobby on the boneshaker is a hoot.

Peppermint Trolley Company

Wow! Talk about sugar sweet pop music! Yikes, my teeth hurt already.

According to Wikipedia, Peppermint Trolley Company made a handful of TV appearances. In this little gem they appear in an episode of The Beverly Hillbillies and are really into Robin Hood (deep lyrics that). Now that's how you further your career. I hope they fired their manager after this. I dig the cat dressed as Old Abe!



 

2012 Wrap Up

Some really terrible things happened in 2012.

Sigmund passed away in June. I really thought I'd have him for a long time. 

Some good things happened.

I got a new job. 

I joined ToastMasters. 

I discovered Zumba. 

I got a new MacBook (finally). 

My favorite movies for 2012 (they're not movies that came out in 2012). In no particular order, as I like them each equally. The one thing they all have in common: They are all quite innovative in story and camera work. 

Rare Exports

Submarine

Gainsbourg: A Heroic Life

Madonna's Pig

Tokyo!

The Rest of the Movies I've Seen in 2012

Tokyo! will no doubt end up on my best films watched in 2012 list. Three short films directed by three different directors - Michel Gondry, Leos Carax and Joon Ho Bong. Each film is very cleverly written and directed. The character Merde, who appears in Leos Carax's mini film of the same name, is resurrected in Holy Motors. 

 My hats off to Mel Gibson for Apocalypto! Believable story line, great characters! Wait until you see a use for those really steep temple steps.

A Woman, a Gun, and a Noodle Shop was a visual fest, but I got  pretty bored by the end. I gotta give props to a Blood Simple homage.

I actually got out to the theater and watched the new Bond flick. Boring!!!! Everyone just tried too hard. I like over the top, but this one just took itself a little too serious. I did of course like Ben Whishaw as Q. The gadget guy would be young. 
 

The Rolling Stones 1963 - 1969 Music in Review was a documentary with "experts" explaining why some of the early songs worked. Meh! Some of these experts weren't even born until well after Brian Jones had died. I wanted more technical background than some guy giving his learn-to-play-this-song explanation. NPR did a good job back in November to honor the Stones's 50th Anniversary by having  each member talk about a favorite song. With Keith's pick "Street Fighting Man", he shares the technical insight of using the cassette machine and an acoustic guitar.  In the interview for Mick's pick, "Gimme Shelter"  he shares his tidbit about Merry Clayton singing the ....rape...murder.....chorus in pink curlers. Now that's interesting!

I watched Sherlock Homes: A Game of Shadows while my mom stayed @ my house after her kidney stone removal. The on screen chemistry between Downey, Jr and Mr. Law is the magic part Guy Ritchie's Sherlock flicks. I would never have thought of putting the two of them together. A steam punk visual feast!

Another flick we watched while my mom was here was Best in Show. I love this film! I think I've only seen it about 4 times. I still squeal out loud during some scenes. 

Moves I've seen but neglected to document

I saw Island of Lost Souls back in September @ one of Gary's Saturday night Movie nights.  Apparently Devo were quite the fans. The other movie that night: Curse of the Demon.

I saw Queen Live in Budapest @ Landmark Cinema. The film was made in 1986 and follows Queen after a triumphant Live Aid performance. That musical period of Queen was just not my cup of tea. The movie repeated some of the songs 4 times throughout the movie. Yuck! 

This is how I like my Freddie Mercury - rings, black nail polish and eyeliner (I'll even forgive you for the fur gladrag, darling). I still remember the first time I heard Killer Queen. I was delivering papers after school and heard it on a car radio. It was unbelievable. I'd never heard anything like that before. What the hell was that guitar doing? What a name for a band!  I have Sheer Heart Attack on my iPhone.