Legally Blonde the musical? Really?

It has come to my attention that a musical based on the movie “Legally Blonde” is in existence.  “Legally Blonde” is a fantastic movie.  It’s one of my favorite sleeper hits.  But a musical based on it.  I’m having a hard time wrapping my head around that one.  The only thing I could come up with to say upon hearing this is ‘why’ and ‘really’?

I haven’t seen it so I’m in no way judging it because that would be stupid.  But it’s so hard trying to imagine how they took that premise and added music to it.  I’ve only seen the opening song,”‘Omigod You Guys”.  And I have to admit rather red-faced that I really liked it.  It was catchy, campy and cute.  It actually wrapped up the first 20 minutes of the movie quite nicely.

As much as I’ve been fighting it like mad, I’d like to see the rest of it.  I’d like to see how they took the premise of a girl going completely out of her element to an environment that she stereotypically doesn’t belong in, for a guy.  That’s not musical, that’s day time soap opera.  At least I’d like to say that, but the existence of “My Fair Lady” is out there to prove me wrong.

I’m not going to say it was a dreadful idea.  A musical of “Judge Dredd” would be a dreadful and tragic idea.  I just have a hard time trying to figure out why someone felt the need to do something like this.  I had no knowledge of it’s existence until now.  I don’t think it’s even being played anymore.  Did anyone see it?  Was there someone out there that wanted to see it?  These are questions that I demand answers to.

To turn back time or not?

I’m pretty sure that the cosmos are trying to get my attention.  Every day for the past 4 days whenever I got into my car the radio station I listen to would play Cher’s “If I Could Turn Back Time” as if they sensed my presents behind the wheel.  It’s a great song.  But I haven’t heard it in years.  I think the last time I heard it was around the time it was really big.

So having not heard it in that long of a time to hearing it for days in a row, I’m gonna take that as a sign that I need to talk about it in some way.  What would I do if I could turn back time.  What would I change?  How would that change affect me in the future or present rather if I did?  Would it matter?  Would I still be the same person?  Would I change anything at all?  So many questions to such a simple question.

It’s all rather thought provoking.  It’s something I’d rather not think of personally.  You know, NOT being able to turn back time and all.  All I can do is live in the present.  Take whatever I’ve learned in the past and try to make a better future for myself.

When this song came out I remember that I really liked it.  I didn’t comprehend it on an intellectual level of course.  To me it was just another cool song.  The other thing I remember is the music video.  And how I was sure I’d have nightmares for the rest of my days.  I mean, good gracious alive, what was she thinking?

Cher has always been an interesting looking person to me.  No not ugly at all, but not classically beautiful.  She has a unique, exotic look that no one else has been able to pull off.  Though in the defense of that, I don’t think anyone has tried.  But watching her strut around in that outfit was too much for my mind to bear.  On top of that what did that video have to do with the song?  It made absolutely no sense.

Whatever the reason, the video got just as much attention as the song did.  Which was probably the point at the end of the day.  There is no one on earth who hears that song and not have the visuals of that video pop into their mind like an invading alien probe.  I’ll give it to Cher though.  She has never lacked in guts.  And I’ll bet if she could turn back time, she probably wouldn’t change how that video went.  I admire that most about her.

That place called Kokomo

The song “Kokomo” by the Beach Boys takes me back to about 4th grade possibly 5th grade.  It was during this time that the song was really popular.  I was living in Florida at that time to.  So it felt kind of cool to have a song about a place that was so close to where I lived.  Until I found out that no such place existed.

Aside from the line of the song that listed all the different island, I had no idea what this song was about.  All I know is that because I hung out with a bunch of girls that loved the song, I was forced by association to learn the words.  I don’t even think back then we comprehended who the Beach Boys were no that I think on it.  But listening to it now and actually understand what’s going on in the song, gives me a new appreciation for it.

I don’t know if this makes any sense, but the song is so tropical feeling.  It’s just so relaxing.  You can see yourself on a beach somewhere, possibly in a hammock, drinking some fruit cocktail with an umbrella in it and taking in the ocean view.  That’s what this song does for me anyway.  If every state in the union had a theme song, this should be for Florida.  So what it’s fictional.  Mickey Mouse is fictional and he has an entire estate here.

Also gave me a new appreciation for the Beach Boys.  I think by the 80s they’d been around for like 20 years.  And from what I understand they are still kicking and recording.  I may write about them at some point.  Today, that little place called Kokomo is where I wanna go to get away from it all.

The song that keeps on trolling

I’m sure I’m not alone.  At least that is my hope.  You ever hear a song or a whole record and end up loving it despite the shame and stigma that may go along with it?  You hear it on the radio and you find yourself turning it down a bit so that you can groove in peace and not let the next car over hear what you’re listening to.  It’s on your Ipod and you hit the button for the next song when someone comes up on you.  You’ve never done that? You LIE!!

So I’m sitting at work the other night.  The radio is blowing my eardrums to hell as usual and it’s a night like any other.  Then it happens.  The first chords of the beat machine hits my ears, my toes start to tap and I know I’m in for 4 minutes of euphoric embarrassment in front of a lot of people.  The song…Lou Bega’s Mambo No.5.  He begins to sing and in spite of myself so do I.

I can’t explain why this song is so powerful.  I both love it and hate it.  It brings me such nostalgic joy.  I know all the words.  I can dance to it.  I can own it.  It’s the perfect karaoke song.  Then the song ends and I realize once again that it’s a stupid song.  The music is stupid.  The lyrics are stupid.  The whole thing is stupid.  At first I couldn’t understand why the song existed.  But then I came to the conclusion that it is around simply to troll me.  That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Luigi Boccherini

I am a huge fan of the website That Guy with the Glasses.  It’s entertaining and funny and I love all the talented reviewers and critics there.  It was on this website that I heard a great classical tune that has since captured my heart and opened me up to the experience of a great classical composer.  One of the sketches I watch called the Bum Reviews always opens up with the piece called “Minuetto” by Luigi Boccherini.  I love this tune.  It makes me want to be in one of those uncomfortable Renaissance dresses and sipping tea somewhere extravagant.

Boccherini is an Italian composer and cellist.  He isn’t a classical composer I am familiar with.  I’d heard “Minuetto” for years and never knew the name of the piece or the composer.  I actually finally found out earlier this week while watching one of my favorite Let’s Players of all people.  And thus the search for more of his music began.

So far I’ve listened to a couple of his Sonatas.  Whoever is playing these pieces are excellent musicians.  They have captured the soul of the cello and have brought the music to life.  I find them soothing.  Very soothing.  One particular violin sonata makes me sleepy.  It’s not easy trying to stay awake to hear the beautiful music when it relaxes every bone in my body.

As a huge fan of the violin I like the violin sonata that I heard earlier, but I can’t remember it now because I’m currently listening to his “Rondo for violin & harpsichord” and whoever is playing the harpsichord is killing it.  It is fascinating.  I know what a harpsichord is of course, but it’s rare that I come across getting to hear one.  No modern musician uses the thing, which is a real shame.  It’s an amazing instrument that produces a very unique sound.  I hear it more in certain game soundtracks than anywhere else.

I’ve not heard a whole lot.  The man has over 500 compositions.  It’s going to take me a while to A. track them all down and hear them, and B. to understand them and form a more educated opinion.  From what I’ve heard so far, I’m sure I’m going to be blown away.  Classical music is music in its purest and honest forms.  It’s easy to write a song.  Not so easy to compose a piece.  It’s one of those unexplainable cosmic things where a person has to take all that they are and translate it into music.  It’s hard, it’s exhausting, but in the end you have something really beautiful.

Game music rules!

How often have I express my love for video game music?  In my opinion, NOT ENOUGH!!!  It’s so happy and fun.  If you’ve actually played the game of the music you’re listening to it always gives you that feeling of nostalgia.  I love how I’ve come across so many people who appreciate the genre as much as I do.  Yes!  It is a genre of music.  I don’t care what anyone says.

Speaking of these other people, I’ve been going to Overclocked ReMix and have discovered people who love game music so much that it’s brought out their fantastic musical abilities.  These people have taken game music, gave it a feel all their own and made greatness.

I’ve been going to the site since the early 2000’s.  But I hadn’t really been listening to a lot of the music there.  Which I’m ashamed of myself for.  Like I said, the things that I’ve so far heard are nothing short of greatness.  But that was months ago.  I have been increasing my frequency at the site for the past couple of weeks.  There are some real gems there.

I’m not big into RPG games like Final Fantasy because I’m not into their gameplay mechanics.  However, the music to those games are freaking amazing.  It’s sad I won’t ever know where these musical pieces fall within the gameplay or their context.  But it’s not stopping me from enjoying it.

Same with the Metroid series.  Though I haven’t played that series due to the opportunity not presenting itself as of yet, I love the music to that series.  It’s so dark and edgy and ominous.  For a Nintendo game that is different in and of itself since people seem to think they can only to perky and happy games.  I can’t wait to play Super Metroid.  It’s on my list of things to do.

As I stated before I love the music to Okami and Wind Waker.  Two of my favorite games and I listen to those soundtracks constantly.  Ever since I got Super Smash Bros. Brawl, I’ve got to hear some amazing music from games I’ve never even heard of.  The composers of that games soundtrack even mixed some of the music from games I do know and made them even more loveable.  It rules!

It has made me so happy to have come across people who appreciate game music as much as I do.  I can now talk about it and know that someone will understand what I’m talking about and spark conversation.  I love being a game geek.  I love being a game music geek even more.  Makes me feel special even though there are more people out there now that aren’t afraid or ashamed to admit it.  Game on my people!  And rock on while you’re at it.

Katamari Damacy!

I’ve been watching a lot of Let’s Plays lately.  For those who don’t know what that is, it’s a video of someone playing a video game of some sort while doing live commentary.  It is infinitely more entertaining than it should be.  At this very moment I’m watching a Katamari Damacy LP.  I do so love my games.  Especially now since I can’t play them like I want since I don’t have any of my stuff since I moved.

Katamari Damacy is one of the strangest games I have ever seen.  It’s the game equivalent of an acid trip.  But it is SO much fun.  Of course it didn’t do well when it first came out and is severely underrated.  But a part of what makes this game great is it’s awesome music.  It is such happy music.  Well I think it’s happy.  It’s in Japanese so I do not understand what is being said.

It’s actually kind of funny to think about.  I mean what could you possibly sing about as you are rolling up balls of crap to fling into space and make stars and comets out of?  There was a level in the game where you have to search for a cow.  Is the song on that level about cows?  Or the one where you had to find sets of twins.  I think I may actually look up the song meanings now that it’s on my mind.  I have to know if they are singing a song about cows.

My favorite entity in the game is The King of All Cosmos.  He is an interesting character to say the least.  He wears David Bowies’ pants straight out of Labyrinth.  That alone makes him awesome.  He’s a bit of a jerk though.  But he’s a funny jerk.  I have taken it upon myself to appoint the song “King of Kings” as his theme music.  It has that sweeping epic feel of someone who is mighty and awesome and speaks of themselves in third person.

I will definitely make a concentrated effort to find the soundtrack to this game and the other Katamari games.  If those soundtracks are as awesome as this one, I’m in for a treat.  OK, I’m done expressing my undying love for another game and it’s music. See ya next week.

Songs for mama

Today is a very special day for me.  Today is my mothers birthday.  My mom is an amazing woman.  Sad it took me almost 30 years to appreciate her awesomeness.  I think that’s the normal time frame for most people.  Those who discover it earlier have my envy.

Got me thinking about songs that are dedicated to moms.  I really had to think long and hard.  As well as search my ipod and I must say that I don’t have many.  Which is kind of depressing.  Moms should have an entire category of songs dedicated to them and their fantastic impact on our lives.

I came across two on the pod.  One being Boys II Men’s beautiful “Song For Mama”.  Which I believe came off of the movie soundtrack of “Soul Food”.  Regardless of where it came from, it is such a heartfelt and beautiful song.  It’s Anoalso a very accurate musical representation on how I feel for my mom.  I love the line ‘mama, you’re the queen of my heart’.  That is so perfect.  She is definitely that.  She will always be the number one woman in my life.

Another song that is a good one is “Sadie” by The Spinners.  This one is classic.  I believe this is my fathers favorite song.  It reminds him of grandma who has been beyond us for quite a long time.  I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to live without my mom.  I don’t want to imagine it.  Makes me glad that I smartened up finally and stop taking my mother for granted.  So this song makes me think of two great women as well as my dad.  Triple awesome.

Here next one could be considered controversial, but I don’t care.  “Dear Mama” by Tupac is one of my favorite songs.  I was lucky enough to have my entire life spent in a two parent home with happy parents.  But with my father being in the military and being away a lot, mom had to do things on her own at times.  She would go to work, come home, make sure my siblings and I were taken care of, do other mom and responsible adult things, then do the same thing again the next day.  I’m sure it was hard on her sometimes.  I sure didn’t make it easy for her.  But she handled those times with a grace and finesse that I remember to this day.

Words nor songs will ever express how much I love and appreciate my mom.  They help but none of it will ever do her justice.  All I can do is continue to learn from her, revere her, honor her and lover her as best I can.  She has done so much for me that I will never be able to repay.  Only thing I can hope for is that I continue to use her teachings to live life to the fullest, be a blessing to others and just make her proud in general.