The Weather and Everyone's Health

Friday, August 25, 2006

Friday 5pm--Poppin' Fresh (Culture) time!

I am at least intrigued by "Idlewild" and would like to see it, all you smirkers aside. Another attempt to revive the movie musical--given my personal mission statement I think I'm obligated. What says Mr. BG?

Last night's repeat of the Simpsons featured Nelson Munz singing the actual opening 4-5 lines of "Papa, Can You Hear Me?" from Yentl. This was surprising because it's more likely that Simpsons writers will cut off a song after fewer lines or write a sound-alike to avoid copyright issues. But my point is, would you have truly appreciated that moment if you didn't know those were the actual lines? If you hadn't seen Yentl? 4 times?

Edward Tufte (thank goodness I saw this story, because I could not for the life of me remember his name) has a new book out, which reminds me that I would very much like to read one of his other books or attend his seminar.

Evidence that Corinne Bailey Rae was an indie artist co-opted by $tarbuk$: When she played SF, it was at the Cafe du Nord, not some big stadium thing. So there. *$ co-opts plenty of perfectly decent (if somewhat middlebrow) artists, but it seems to me that this happens after the artist's reputation has been established. It's like when you see a commercial with a Beatles ("Taxman" for some tax service firm), Stones, Iggy Pop ("Lust for Life"--for a family cruise) song; the problem is not with the artist or the song, but rather who's using it for what (whether based on the artist's reputation, or in Iggy Pop's case, in spite of it).

Finally, before they start playing it at Starbucks so I have to start pretending I don't like it, I want to say that I really liked the Raconteurs' "Steady As She Goes" the first time I heard it on the radio and am continuing to enjoy it now that it's every other song on the radio. I hadn't thought I would like this group. I will have to see if I like anything else on their album.

- posted by k @ 5:43 PM