The beauty of this song sort of creeps up on you. Ahhh Waits.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Friday, February 26, 2010
Bad Lyrics: "Same Script, Different Cast" - Cox and Houston
I like "fight over someone" songs. Like...
* McCartney & Jackson's "The Girl Is Mine"
* Carnes & Streisand's "Make No Mistake He's Mine"
And I like Whitney Houston and Deborah Cox's "Same Script, Different Cast." Whitney is the Current Girlfriend, and Deborah Cox is the mistress, and Whitney is warning her about the man who's about to leave Whit for Deb. And the point is, Deborah is getting all shocked to hear that the same things her man has told her, he told Whitney too. (Same script, different cast - get it? Good title.)
What sorts of things is the dog saying to Deborah that he has also told Whitney? "You are the only woman in my life" ? Or "Before you my life was nothing" or "I've never felt this way with another woman"?
"Oh my GOD. He told you you're BEAUTIFUL??!!" "Yes, and he tells his mother and sisters too!" "THE DAWG!"
Bad lyrics. And I can't listen to bad lyrics in the background--the lyrics catch my attention every time, which is horrible. However, I forgive this songwriter because of these lines:
Deb - Don't say no more. La La La La La La La La La
Whit - Uncover your ears, girl!
Deb - I'm not listening. La La La La La La La La La
Heh heh heh.
* McCartney & Jackson's "The Girl Is Mine"
* Carnes & Streisand's "Make No Mistake He's Mine"
And I like Whitney Houston and Deborah Cox's "Same Script, Different Cast." Whitney is the Current Girlfriend, and Deborah Cox is the mistress, and Whitney is warning her about the man who's about to leave Whit for Deb. And the point is, Deborah is getting all shocked to hear that the same things her man has told her, he told Whitney too. (Same script, different cast - get it? Good title.)
What sorts of things is the dog saying to Deborah that he has also told Whitney? "You are the only woman in my life" ? Or "Before you my life was nothing" or "I've never felt this way with another woman"?
Deb - He told me that he loved me.
Whit - I heard that.
Deb - He told me I was
Whit - Beautiful.
Deb - Beautiful. How did you know? How did you know?
Whit - Because I played that scene before.
"Oh my GOD. He told you you're BEAUTIFUL??!!" "Yes, and he tells his mother and sisters too!" "THE DAWG!"
Bad lyrics. And I can't listen to bad lyrics in the background--the lyrics catch my attention every time, which is horrible. However, I forgive this songwriter because of these lines:
Deb - Don't say no more. La La La La La La La La La
Whit - Uncover your ears, girl!
Deb - I'm not listening. La La La La La La La La La
Heh heh heh.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Oh the racism of it all!
Worth a read: 50 Most Racist Films... and here's something a commentor wrote:
Ok I thought about the list and I wanted to throw it out there: INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM.
Ugh. I felt ashamed and embarrased to be Indian for a long time after I first saw it on a VHS tape in 1989. The movie really FUCKED me up. I felt that Indians were filthy, inferior, primitive humans who liked to eat monkey brains and baby snakes, that we were all silly, brainwashed followers who’d fall to our knees on the floor and bow down to a statue of an evil god.
Authenticity
Good article at Stuff White People Do. This is just an excerpt:
While in America, I remember a time when she went to a Chinese restaurant and told me about it (she's always been interested in international cultures and cuisines), and mentioned, "It was so good, because it was 'authentic.'"
As someone who is half-Chinese (or of Chinese descent, if the "half" is too politically charged), I asked her, "What makes you think it was authentic?"
My own previous experience with Chinese food in America had led me to deduce, that, much like all franchises attempting to make international cuisines more appealing, said cuisine had been tweaked in order to suit local palates. Which didn't mean they were any less delicious, only that they were not necessarily traditionally Chinese.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
And so it has ended
Alright, I'm finished the book. Phew! And yes MyAmericanFriend, it did get circus-ee right at the end. When the mentally ill heroine carves the name of the hero into her skin, and sits there in the middle of her gargoyle statues, covered in dust, bleeding to death. Melodramatico.
There was one line in the book that I liked, however. It's from another burn victim, speaking to our hero:
I like that. Not in a burn patient way, but for anyone. I'm not sure if I think it's true, but it's an interesting, thought-provoking line. The only one in the book.
There was one line in the book that I liked, however. It's from another burn victim, speaking to our hero:
"And just when you start thinking that you've accepted who you are, that changes too. Because who you are is not permanent."
I like that. Not in a burn patient way, but for anyone. I'm not sure if I think it's true, but it's an interesting, thought-provoking line. The only one in the book.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
too dramatico-perfectimundo
Slogging my way through Gargoyle... trying to get to the end. (Actually, I read the end on the bus today, so I could decide whether to go back and read the intervening 100 pages.) I can see why many people love it, just as I understood why so many loved Twilight, but it's just not my style. The love story is a bit too melodramatic for my taste. The beginning was great, the concept is interesting, but in the end I just didn't come to care very much for the characters. I don't really see/understand why they're in love. And the flashback stories are too dramatico-perfectimundo. (Super melodramatic things happening to the characters; and the characters are nigh on perfect. Except for the baddies, who are perfectly bad.)I'm balancing it off by reading PG Wodehouse. And I've got a Zadie Smith book lined up next. I'm dying to move on!
Monday, February 22, 2010
"Positively 4th Street" by Bob Dylan, and "Backstabber" by The Dresden Dolls
Two great songs that are apparently/might be/can be about musicians feeling backstabbed, and my favourite lines from each.
I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
You'd know what a drag it is
To see you
So don't tell me what to write
And don't tell me that I'm wrong
And don't tell me not to reference my songs within my songs
I wish that for just one time
You could stand inside my shoes
You'd know what a drag it is
To see you
So don't tell me what to write
And don't tell me that I'm wrong
And don't tell me not to reference my songs within my songs
Sunday, February 21, 2010
The Games
During the Sidney Olympics CBC showed this Australian comedy in the middle of the night -- a faux reality show about the people organizing the games. I wish it was on North American dvd, but not since I last checked.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Olympics
As someone with very little interest in sports I don't watch the Olympics--but I incidentally watch them, because Fernando does. (Or I sit in my room reading, and he brings me updates about all the interesting stuff.) One year I somehow found myself watching pairs skating the year of the famous Salé and Pelletier scandal! Ooh.
So far I've enjoyed...
* All the crazy accidents on the women's downhill skiing.
* The turtle-thunderbird helmet. Fernando was watching skeleton racing, and we both kept trying to see the helmet cause it's so beautiful, and immediately identifiable as a West Coast aboriginal design. It was designed by Tsimshian-Cree artist Phil Gray, though it was Montgomery's idea to add the turtle (it's hard to see the thunderbirds, they're on the sides.
So far I've enjoyed...
* All the crazy accidents on the women's downhill skiing.
* The turtle-thunderbird helmet. Fernando was watching skeleton racing, and we both kept trying to see the helmet cause it's so beautiful, and immediately identifiable as a West Coast aboriginal design. It was designed by Tsimshian-Cree artist Phil Gray, though it was Montgomery's idea to add the turtle (it's hard to see the thunderbirds, they're on the sides.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Songs We're Sick Of (the before they release edition): We Are the World Redux
Alright, here's FriendPaul's choice for "Songs We're Sick of" -- in this case, he was sick of it before it released.
I met FriendPaul 14 years ago when he was still the brother-in-law of the manager where I worked. He used to kick the troublesome elements out of our store for us, and explain ice cream. This is my one and only Transportation Friendship, because after I changed stores, I would still run into him on the bus going to my new store; then we returned to school at the same time, so I'd run into him on the commuter train. It was the weirdest thing.
In the beginning I enjoyed talking about music with him, cause he's a musician and that's what he studied. But then he went into history, and a lot of what he specialized in were things like critiquing development aid groups. He felt like a jerk doing it, but honestly somebody has to do it--no free passes (as those people who tried kidnapping Haitian maybe-orphans discovered.)
I think one of his specific projects (his MA?) was studying BBC radio broadcasts during all the 1980s "Ethiopian famine" time. So "We Are the World" and all those charity singles, and how they represented Africa and African people, is something he's thought a lot about.
All this to say... while Optimism Moi and Cynical World-Weary He will never quite see eye to eye, I can understand why he'll hate a song before he's even heard it. Or maybe he just musically hates the song. Or maybe he was just tired of hearing about the making of it, and I'm reading too much into his choice. ;-)
I actually think they did a better job with this Haiti version than the original, and I like it better than the Haiti "Hold On" video (also below.) 1st: Sometimes these charity singles purposely don't show the people singing, I suppose to downplay the importance of the artists. But it just annoys me cause the whole time I'm like "who's singing now? Who's that now??" For heaven's sake, you're trying to leverage star power, so might as well show them.
2nd: The images they have of Haiti aren't pitiful. I like the dancing kids. And they seemed to have filmed some portions on Haiti, though I can't find an article about that. There's one shot in the "Hold On" video where this one guy is looking at the camera like "Can I have one fucking moment alone? Ease!"
3rd: I can't help but think it's (for lack of a better word) "nice" that the song was written and produced by African-Americans (Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie & Quincy Jones) with a ton of African-American artists, and the latter is a repeat of that.
4th: There's a lot of debate over the role (if any) of celebrities in aid; but lately I'm starting to feel... if we're going to (rightly I think) criticize them for playing the role of experts and diplomats, need we also criticize the singers when they sing? I mean, that's what they do.
5th: It's gotta be a fun experience for a bunch of diverse artists to get together for one day and chat and sing together. --> "I'm standing there between Tony Bennett and Bizzy," Josh Groban said, referring to the jazz icon and the member of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. "That's not ever really going to happen again." Groban said the small talk between takes was especially riveting. "Everyone is talking about what they're working on next. It's fascinating." <-- LA Times
6th: I like the "let's leave in Michael" bit. I think he would have been pretty heart broken by what Haitians are going through.
7th: Jamie Fox's Ray Charles bit was funny.
8th: Some people are criticizing the lack of star power. ...Are you telling me you still listen to Kim Carnes and Kenny Loggins? Please. And this one music reviewer says he doesn't recognize half the people. I'm going to assume he's a jazz critic.
9th: Finally... I LOVE the rapper's bit in the middle. I was blasé til we hit that part. My prediction: If someone makes an aces remix, built off that section, then we'll have a kickass song on our hands.
Now here you go--a song to be sick of.
Side by side with the old version:
The Haiti "Everybody Hurts"
I met FriendPaul 14 years ago when he was still the brother-in-law of the manager where I worked. He used to kick the troublesome elements out of our store for us, and explain ice cream. This is my one and only Transportation Friendship, because after I changed stores, I would still run into him on the bus going to my new store; then we returned to school at the same time, so I'd run into him on the commuter train. It was the weirdest thing.
In the beginning I enjoyed talking about music with him, cause he's a musician and that's what he studied. But then he went into history, and a lot of what he specialized in were things like critiquing development aid groups. He felt like a jerk doing it, but honestly somebody has to do it--no free passes (as those people who tried kidnapping Haitian maybe-orphans discovered.)
I think one of his specific projects (his MA?) was studying BBC radio broadcasts during all the 1980s "Ethiopian famine" time. So "We Are the World" and all those charity singles, and how they represented Africa and African people, is something he's thought a lot about.
All this to say... while Optimism Moi and Cynical World-Weary He will never quite see eye to eye, I can understand why he'll hate a song before he's even heard it. Or maybe he just musically hates the song. Or maybe he was just tired of hearing about the making of it, and I'm reading too much into his choice. ;-)
I actually think they did a better job with this Haiti version than the original, and I like it better than the Haiti "Hold On" video (also below.) 1st: Sometimes these charity singles purposely don't show the people singing, I suppose to downplay the importance of the artists. But it just annoys me cause the whole time I'm like "who's singing now? Who's that now??" For heaven's sake, you're trying to leverage star power, so might as well show them.
2nd: The images they have of Haiti aren't pitiful. I like the dancing kids. And they seemed to have filmed some portions on Haiti, though I can't find an article about that. There's one shot in the "Hold On" video where this one guy is looking at the camera like "Can I have one fucking moment alone? Ease!"
3rd: I can't help but think it's (for lack of a better word) "nice" that the song was written and produced by African-Americans (Michael Jackson, Lionel Richie & Quincy Jones) with a ton of African-American artists, and the latter is a repeat of that.
4th: There's a lot of debate over the role (if any) of celebrities in aid; but lately I'm starting to feel... if we're going to (rightly I think) criticize them for playing the role of experts and diplomats, need we also criticize the singers when they sing? I mean, that's what they do.
5th: It's gotta be a fun experience for a bunch of diverse artists to get together for one day and chat and sing together. --> "I'm standing there between Tony Bennett and Bizzy," Josh Groban said, referring to the jazz icon and the member of Bone Thugs-N-Harmony. "That's not ever really going to happen again." Groban said the small talk between takes was especially riveting. "Everyone is talking about what they're working on next. It's fascinating." <-- LA Times
6th: I like the "let's leave in Michael" bit. I think he would have been pretty heart broken by what Haitians are going through.
7th: Jamie Fox's Ray Charles bit was funny.
8th: Some people are criticizing the lack of star power. ...Are you telling me you still listen to Kim Carnes and Kenny Loggins? Please. And this one music reviewer says he doesn't recognize half the people. I'm going to assume he's a jazz critic.
9th: Finally... I LOVE the rapper's bit in the middle. I was blasé til we hit that part. My prediction: If someone makes an aces remix, built off that section, then we'll have a kickass song on our hands.
(Look, even Snoop is there!)
Now here you go--a song to be sick of.
Side by side with the old version:
The Haiti "Everybody Hurts"
Bad Lyrics: "Fire" by Bruce Springsteen
I love "Fire" from Bruce Springsteen, but the last two verses have never felt completely comfy to me, especially the last one. That's what bad lyrics do... they sort of stand out, instead of just blending into the song.
Good lyrics:
I'm driving in my car, I turn on the radio
I'm pulling you close, you just say no
You say you don't like it, but girl I know you're a liar
Cause when we kiss, fire
Good lyrics:
Late at night I'm taking you home
I say I wanna stay, you say you wanna be alone
You say you don't love me, girl you can't hide your desire
Cause when we kiss, fire
OK Lyrics:
You had a hold on me, right from the start
A grip so tight I couldn't tear it apart
My nerves all jumping acting like a fool
Well your kisses they burn but your heart stays cool
You don't really tear apart your own grip on something. And the "nerves all jumping acting like a fool" line is pretty vague. Bit of a cheap send up for "cool."
Running Out of Ideas:
Romeo and Juliet, Samson and Delilah
Baby you can bet their love they didn't deny
Your words say split but your words they lie
Cause when we kiss, fire
1. He couldn't think of any other famous lovers who would provide a better rhyme than Juliet and bet?
2. Did he choose two doomed lovers on purpose? Isn't he trying to persuade this woman? 3. Of course Delilah didn't hide how she felt... she was paid to seduce Samson. If Bruce knew anything about love stories, he'd know it's a good sign that this woman is denying her feelings. How else can you fill up 90 minutes of movie time? It's no good turning to famous love stories to help his cause.
3. The word "bet" is completely unnecessary, because he doesn't rhyme those parts of the verse in the previous verses. I guess he thought it was really punchy.
4. "Baby you can bet" is a throwaway line. It's a line you could put into just about any song on the planet, cause it's so non-specific. For example: "Baby youuuu can beeeet... I'm all out of love, what am I withooout you..." or "Oh daddy dear you know you're still #1, but daddy you can be-et that girls just wanna have fun!" or "But my haaaand was made strong, and this you can bet. We forward in this generation, triumphantly."
You see what I mean? Most of the rest of the lyrics in this song can not be transplanted to Air Supply, Cyndi Lauper, and Bob Marley.
...But it's still not as bad as "can I have some of your cookies." Mind you... "can I have some of your cookies" is so bad, it's almost good.
Good lyrics:
I'm driving in my car, I turn on the radio
I'm pulling you close, you just say no
You say you don't like it, but girl I know you're a liar
Cause when we kiss, fire
Good lyrics:
Late at night I'm taking you home
I say I wanna stay, you say you wanna be alone
You say you don't love me, girl you can't hide your desire
Cause when we kiss, fire
OK Lyrics:
You had a hold on me, right from the start
A grip so tight I couldn't tear it apart
My nerves all jumping acting like a fool
Well your kisses they burn but your heart stays cool
You don't really tear apart your own grip on something. And the "nerves all jumping acting like a fool" line is pretty vague. Bit of a cheap send up for "cool."
Running Out of Ideas:
Romeo and Juliet, Samson and Delilah
Baby you can bet their love they didn't deny
Your words say split but your words they lie
Cause when we kiss, fire
1. He couldn't think of any other famous lovers who would provide a better rhyme than Juliet and bet?
2. Did he choose two doomed lovers on purpose? Isn't he trying to persuade this woman? 3. Of course Delilah didn't hide how she felt... she was paid to seduce Samson. If Bruce knew anything about love stories, he'd know it's a good sign that this woman is denying her feelings. How else can you fill up 90 minutes of movie time? It's no good turning to famous love stories to help his cause.
3. The word "bet" is completely unnecessary, because he doesn't rhyme those parts of the verse in the previous verses. I guess he thought it was really punchy.
4. "Baby you can bet" is a throwaway line. It's a line you could put into just about any song on the planet, cause it's so non-specific. For example: "Baby youuuu can beeeet... I'm all out of love, what am I withooout you..." or "Oh daddy dear you know you're still #1, but daddy you can be-et that girls just wanna have fun!" or "But my haaaand was made strong, and this you can bet. We forward in this generation, triumphantly."
You see what I mean? Most of the rest of the lyrics in this song can not be transplanted to Air Supply, Cyndi Lauper, and Bob Marley.
...But it's still not as bad as "can I have some of your cookies." Mind you... "can I have some of your cookies" is so bad, it's almost good.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
I love Etheridge's tear-out-your-heart-and-stomp-on-it songs
I think Melissa Etheridge is one of the best love song writers around. Not any old love song, but the "if I lose you my soul with shatter and I shall lay here in the gutter of love and slowly expire" type love songs. The kinds of love songs Weird Al parodies so well.
* One More Minute
I'd rather rip my heart right out of my rib cage with my bare hands
And then throw it on the bare floor and stomp on it til I die
Than spend one more minute with you
* You Don't Love Me Anymore
Oh, why did you disconnect the breaks in my car?
That kind of thing is hard to ignore
Got a funny feeling you don't love me anymore
*During the filming for this video Etheridge met her long-term partner, who would later cheat on her with kd lang, and then decide she wasn't gay.*
Somebody bring me some water
Can't you see I'm burning alive
Can't you see my baby's got another lover
I don't know how I'm gonna survive
Don't you think I know there's so many others
Who would beg, steal and lie, fight, kill and die
Just to hold you hold you like I do
*Looking for another crappy relationship?*
I got bad intentions on the soles of my shoes
With this red hot fever and these chromium blues
And I will feel another lovers wheel
And drive for miles and not look back
* She found one! 1990 is when Julie Cypher left Lou Diamond Phillips for Melissa.*
Burn the pictures break the records
Run far away to a northern town
Sell your fear and leave me standing here
With no souvenirs
Please baby can't you see
My mind's a burnin' hell
I got razors a rippin' and tearin' and strippin'
My heart apart as well
Nothing fills the blackness
That has seeped into my chest
I need you in my blood
I am forsaking all the rest
Just to reach you
I will crawl through my past
Over stones blood and glass
In the ruins
* She can also sing the hell out of everyone else's heartbreak songs*
Janis Joplin's
Joan Armatrading's
Bruce Springsteen's
*2000 is when she and Cypher broke up, and Etheridge wrote her memoir.*
I have wrestled with my demons
And woke up with only me
I have been around the block
Three times maybe four
And I think I deserve just a little more
Somewhere, somehow, somebody must have kicked you around some
Tell me why you want to lay there and revel in your abandon
* Etheridge re. going through cancer treatments:
Let's hope so!
* One More Minute
I'd rather rip my heart right out of my rib cage with my bare hands
And then throw it on the bare floor and stomp on it til I die
Than spend one more minute with you
* You Don't Love Me Anymore
Oh, why did you disconnect the breaks in my car?
That kind of thing is hard to ignore
Got a funny feeling you don't love me anymore
1988
*During the filming for this video Etheridge met her long-term partner, who would later cheat on her with kd lang, and then decide she wasn't gay.*
Somebody bring me some water
Can't you see I'm burning alive
Can't you see my baby's got another lover
I don't know how I'm gonna survive
Don't you think I know there's so many others
Who would beg, steal and lie, fight, kill and die
Just to hold you hold you like I do
1989
*Looking for another crappy relationship?*
I got bad intentions on the soles of my shoes
With this red hot fever and these chromium blues
And I will feel another lovers wheel
And drive for miles and not look back
* She found one! 1990 is when Julie Cypher left Lou Diamond Phillips for Melissa.*
Burn the pictures break the records
Run far away to a northern town
Sell your fear and leave me standing here
With no souvenirs
1993
Please baby can't you see
My mind's a burnin' hell
I got razors a rippin' and tearin' and strippin'
My heart apart as well
1994
Nothing fills the blackness
That has seeped into my chest
I need you in my blood
I am forsaking all the rest
Just to reach you
I will crawl through my past
Over stones blood and glass
In the ruins
* She can also sing the hell out of everyone else's heartbreak songs*
Janis Joplin's
Joan Armatrading's
Bruce Springsteen's
*2000 is when she and Cypher broke up, and Etheridge wrote her memoir.*
2001
*Which makes it all the more poignant that after allll those tortured songs, she went on to write something like this. She told Dolly Parton: I made this wishlist, and I got it all. In 2003 she got married.*I have wrestled with my demons
And woke up with only me
I have been around the block
Three times maybe four
And I think I deserve just a little more
2005
*And now she's helping others. Happy ending.*Somewhere, somehow, somebody must have kicked you around some
Tell me why you want to lay there and revel in your abandon
* Etheridge re. going through cancer treatments:
"I couldn't have done it without her. She was the best, most loving, completely dedicated... I lived for weeks in our bedroom, and she knew the days she couldn't make any noise because it's so painful that noise hurts. But even when she had to be completely still, when she couldn't watch television, even tap the keys on a computer - she would just sit and read and turn the pages quietly, just to be in the same room with me. And now there's nothing in the world that can come between her and I."
Let's hope so!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Sean Penn is in the house!
Sean Penn is on Larry King, talking about his three week trip to Haiti. I'd like to make fun of him, but as soon as people talk about how Haiti is, I lose my sense of humour. He says Haiti is two weeks away from the rainy season, when things will take another turn for the worse.
PORT-AU-PRINCE–(ENEWSPF)– One month after the catastrophic quake that leveled most of Port-au-Prince, CARE and other aid agencies are in a race against time to get people waterproof shelter and decent sanitation before the rainy season hits at the end of March. Most people crammed into overcrowded temporary camps are huddled under bed sheets strung between poles or sticks – hardly enough to block out the sun, but useless against the torrential downpours of Haiti's rainy season.
"The coming month will be all about the rain. We need to get these people waterproof shelter. Acute respiratory infection is rising, because they are sleeping on the bare ground, and they get damp at dawn from the dew," said Lizzie Babister, senior shelter advisor for CARE in Haiti. "Drainage will be the next issue, partly because of excrement near the sites, and partly because they'll have rivers running through their shelters. It's going to be a real push to get this done in time for the rainy season at the end of March."
...
Sanitation is the other half of the ongoing crisis in post-quake Haiti. While organizations like CARE are building latrines in the camps, we are doing "sanitation triage" in camps built on hills or areas without access to latrines, said Paul Shanahan, CARE's senior water and sanitation advisor.
"We're still fighting the latrine battle in the sanitation war, but we've also started the second line of defense, which is going into the camps and removing the excrement that is piling up. It's not pretty, but it needs to be done," said Shanahan. "Our biggest fear at this point is the outbreak of disease. It's one thing to see half your family die in an earthquake, but it's another to watch the other half die slowly from diarrhea. It's more than any flesh and blood can bear." (From ENWSPF, sourced from Care)
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Best internet comment of the day
turtlelvr45
[From youtube]
Race: The Whole Shebang-a-bang
Howdee all. I wanted to answer MyAmericanFriend's comments from the last post, but it's a bit long to comment in the comments. And if I only email her my comments, then it looks like I'm
hiding
something.
So here are MAF's comments, and my replies. Don't worry... I won't be offended if you don't read it! But do scroll down for the videos!
***
Eh, not wanting to be language police, but just pointing out... No one has said "Afro-American" since the 1970's. Last I remember is Michael Richards in that TV apology. I think "Afro-European" has a different connotation, but "Afro-American" is borderline racial slur, very dated at minimum. Just wanted to make a note. ... Or, in other words, calling someone "Afro-American" is kind of like using "negro" down here. It's not *that* n-word, but it's old and kind of offensive. Maybe the equivalent of calling an Asian person "Oriental" or something.
* I was just writing fast. In Canada I guess it was still in use in the 80s (by my Barbados-Canadian music teacher for course on "Afro-American" music.) But thanks. Usually when I'm feeling lazy I just write Af-Am. Which sounds like a charity.
Erm... Also, please tread carefully in representing US ethnicities... Since this is the one you're shopping around, especially. I guess that's why I'm taking the time to point this out.
* As I wrote at length sometime last year... (mostly here, here and here) I started this whole thing off by reading reams and reams of "race fails 09" which was all about how non-people-of-color can/should write about POC. (And POC in other countries of course, unless you're writing fantasy.) The conclusion I took away was that yes, white people SHOULD make the effort to write about POC (and I would apply this to other differences, like sexual orientation); do as much research as you can (though without expecting POC, or your buddies who are POC to do all the work for you, or to speak for all POC); and yes you ARE going to fuck up; and when you do just apologize and do better the next time. The general consensus seemed to be that this was the better course of action than only writing about white people; or being all "well if you guys are going to jump on me every time I make a mistake, I can't win can I! So I won't even try! (wounded wounded)" --> I have given this enormous amounts of thought, and the research is ongoing.
...and disability too.
* Sorry, the word, or how I write about it? I never write about anything without thinking it through as best I can. I have too much of the academic in me to just "wing it" (except when I'm Nanowrimo-ing.) When you're a writer, you're almost always writing about people who aren't like you--and the ones who are the most unlike you, you just have to put more work into. --> I just read a really popular book which takes place in WW2 Guernsey, and a lot of inhabitants are pretty sad about how poor the research was.
* I don't even name characters without some research, and I take things like state differences into account. (Okay no, I didn't when I made those girls from Tennessee. But that was another nanowrimo story!)
Sons of Anarchy, the FX (cable network) show about a motorcycle gang in California, is based on Hamlet. It's also one of the best TV dramas that I've ever seen--and Season 1 is on DVD now. I'd recommend checking that out for examples on how people do this modern day huge cast of Shakespearean characters. If you're looking for examples. Particularly when the show gets into the second season, the characters are beautifully developed. ... But honestly they do a lovely job in Season 1 as well... I fell in love with the show in Season 2 and went back to Season 1 once I'd become a hardcore fan.
* I've seen 2-hour movie adaptations, but never a series. Interesting! It's easier to tell people apart on tv, though, cause you see them. You can have absolutely HUGE casts on screen. In a book, just naming two people with the same first letter is problematic. (Most epic fail of all time: Sauron and Saruman. What was Tolkien thinking??) But I'll have to watch that series one day, sounds good.
* And the problem with the history plays isn't just the casts themselves but I've got three casts in one book (Hen Iv.1, 2 and Hen V). And worse, this is all real history he's dealing with, so he could assume his audience knew a lot of it. They would have known what the French King was saying in this scene:
Think we King Harry strong...
And he is bred out of that bloody strain
That haunted us in our familiar paths:
Witness our too much memorable shame
When Cressy battle fatally was struck,
And all our princes captiv'd by the hand
Of that black name, Edward, Black Prince of Wales
Whereas I have to invent Edward, create the equivalent of the Battle of Cressy, and then explain it. Mehhhhh. Whine whine whine.
Other thing is... People don't so much distinguish "black-Chinese" in the States. At least not in popular culture. Obama is a Black President, not a Caucasian/Asian/African-American. I mean, we *know* he's all those things, but he's read as a Black person. That's why people understood the SC senator's "You lie!" heckling as meaning something like, "You lie, boy!" It's more "mixed," or people get pressured to identify primarily as one side of their heritage. Sometimes it's because of how they're "read" in life (One of my grad school friends is always read as black, while her brother is always read as white.). Basically, I'm saying... If you're writing a book using mixed characters, I hope you'll read some stuff about biracial identities in the US. Because there are a lot of tensions around biracial identities (and light skinned people tend to be socially privileged over darker skinned people), and all I'm saying is... I hope you're doing your reading on this stuff. I think it's very specific to the US (and totally different from the all-mixed culture of, say, Brazil or the multiculturalism of Canada).
* Ya I get that. It's pretty much the basis for this Chappelle skit (the second skit in this clip):
Racial Draft
Tim | MySpace Video
[Mos Def loved playing this character so much, he walked off with the suit. Don't miss the end to see who the Asians pick. "Konnichiwa bitches."]
* I only identified all these identities in this post because when I'm looking for actors/singers etc. to "picture" my characters, I start by trying to find people who actually *are* biracial, so I can get a realistic idea of how they might look. (How dark skinned they might be, their hair etc.) In fact, for the Chinese-African combination, I ended up looking at the Caribbean where it's much more common.
Also, it's true, there aren't a ton of African-Americans in California... Any chance you could relocate to N'awlins or something?
* I actually looked up the demographics for San Fran, and am somewhat following, as silly as that is. I'd actually have the right "mix" if it weren't for my heroine's group of friends who are all... ex Somali pirates. Yes, you read that right. Don't ask how they managed to immigrate to the US... this is a comedy after all. Everything is possible, including too many African-Americans.
*Anyway, a lot of the characters are all related to each other, so really it's like you're looking at one family.
* You begin to see why I'm saying I'm screwed. It's not just complex in terms of introducing all these characters in a way that the reader can keep straight; and telling all the back story in a way that the reader can keep straight; but I've got to do a certain amount of research on each "community" so that they read right. So that a letter written by a Guernsey farmer doesn't read like a letter written by an Alabamian, so to speak.
* ... ... I complain a lot, but of course it's vair vair interessant.
* I can't change the location at this point, I've already done waaaay to much research. I originally picked California because the initial kernel idea all centered on Paris Hilton, so it was West Coast. And then I had to choose where in California, and decided I'd much rather travel to San Francisco than LA, so the final city of choice was vair vair selfish. (Plus there are a lot of musicians in San Fran, and this whole thing is music industry based.) ...But I'd love to visit New Orleans. That'll have to be the next book! (Tourism based fiction writing.)
Basically, I guess... Remember what Harry Reid (the House majority leader) said? Something about Barack Obama being a viable candidate because he was a "light skinned man without a Negro dialect"? Even though he was ignorant to use "negro," he was kind of making a statement about something that has long been a pattern here. Light-skinned Blacks *are* socially privileged above darker-skinned Blacks in this country. (A lot, a lot of that plays into, for instance, the rebuilding of New Orleans. Mayor Ray Nagin was/is seen by many Black Americans as a corrupt official who upheld a system of light-skinned racial privilege in the city.)
* The light-skinned thing is one of the few things I understood before researching, and it's constantly coming up on the blogs I read. Though I'm only JUST getting to the point where I automatically notice women's hair, and the darkness of skin, when I'm watching tv or something. It's kind of a weird thing to make yourself sensitive to.
And one more thing... I'm not meaning to lecture, but... Racial politics is very, very different in every single region of this country (I keep meaning to write a post about Southern racism and Northern racism). It gets over-simplified in almost every representation that comes out of media in this country. Certainly, it's...usually problematic when it's written by white people. And often problematic even when it isn't. Note how in "Precious," Lee Daniels cast all light-skinned Blacks--Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz--as the "good characters" who could inspire Precious to rise above her life situation. Or the ridiculous stereotypes perpetuated by the awful Tyler Perry franchise (about which I very much agree with Spike Lee). Basically, I'm thinking... If you're updating a Shakespearean tragedy with a bunch of minorities, you will undoubtedly touch on US racial politics. Which are *really really really* fraught. Which I realize that you know, but... Please give as much thought to historical and sociological research about this stuff as to plot. Especially to contemporary stuff about racial relations and racial solidarity and biracial identity. Because it's almost always rendered in a *really* offensive way in fiction. Is what I'm getting at. And... Oy. Sorry, I'll shut up now.
* Thanks. I'll just make you make it when it's done. ;-) The good thing is that the chances of me ever being published are about the same (or worse) than the chance of me winning the lottery. Literally.
* It's still a comedy. The plot itself is not supposed to be realistic, the actions people take are ridiculous, the situations they're in , the way they respond, etc etc all has to be un-realistic in order to be funny (to do the sort of humour I like.) It's not realistic-social-commentary humour. It's not a Spike Lee comedy. And it's not Chappelle either, where it's very silly, but the race-stuff is still at the heart of all the comedy. I just want the details to be accurate enough so that you don't notice them.
* I've thought somewhat about the state differences. California has had more Hispanic and Chinese people lynched than African-Americans, for example. The group they considered ethnically cleansing from San Fran after the 1906 earthquake was the Chinese. The Native American communities are really small. The history with Mexico is very unique. And there are now less Af-Americans than ever before. Etc etc... Because I started with the historical research (for my back story), it's given me an ok idea of California's particular racial history. Doesn't mean I would fully understand how that plays out today, but one thing at a time...
* I've never seen any of Perry's movies, only the ads. Chappelle has criticized the fact that almost every Af-Am male actor is, at some point, expected to dress as a woman. (Perhaps homophobic or sexist, but still an interesting observation.)
* But I have a nice Perry story. I just read about this pool in 2009, in Philadelphia, that kicked out the mostly children-of-color who were signed up to come swim there once per week that summer as part of summer camp. And Perry was so angry, he paid for them all to go to Disney.
* What I also wrote about last year on one of my blogs, is the challenges of writing about POC, or gay characters etc., and not immediately fucking up. When I wrote the first rushed draft in 2008, it was of the back story -- I did it for nanowrimo (50 000 words in one month.) I had two Chinese characters--an abrupt, sort of rude woman, and this laid-back butler guy. At one point they get together to try to figure out how to get the heroine and her old friend together, and though it's meant as a nice thing, after writing it I thought: "Hmm. I now have two Scheming Asians on my hands." Doh!
* And when I wrote this year's nanowrimo, which was the first draft of my present-day story, I suddenly introduced a Mexican character, and she gets into one of the fight scenes, and she's really fierce. And afterwards I'm like... she's a Fiery Latina. Fuck! I'd still like her in the fight scene, because the bad guys need her, but she can't be all crazy. She'll have to be a cool fighter instead. Maybe I'll give her some martial arts skills, or maybe she does boxing.
* Or I'm plotting out all this back story, and if I mirror the actual history this is all based on, it means lots of people have to die. So I'll have a Muwekma character, and she's based on the Black Prince. Well the BP was killed in battle in real life. But if I kill of MY character, it means the one Native American in my story has to die. ...I don't want to kill off anyone gay or Native, because it's happened so much in Hollywood. It's the old "the gay cannot be happy and must die." So I have to find other endings for them. Which is fine really, because the whole point of "comedy" in the Shakespeare sense is that everyone lives, baddies are transformed, everyone falls in love, and the chaotic world is brought into harmony. So I have to turn what is basically a lot of tragic history, and turn it into harmony. Sort of artistically interesting.
* The most difficult challenge is this: It's normal in comedy that the main characters are well-drawn and somewhat complex. They might be silly, but they're not Just Silly, because you need to know what motivates them, what they're fighting for, a bit of their past etc. And the side characters are often caricatures. Which is normally a great thing--that's how you get all these AWEsome sidekicks and best friends and bad-guy's-patsies etc. They don't need to be complex, and complex is just less funny. Simplistic is where a lot of the great humour comes in.
* But I have to be very careful of buffoonish black side characters. Spike Lee's Bamboozled is a perfect example--the "Mau Maus" are funnier than almost everyone else, because they're side characters.
"How do you fucking pronounce that shit?"
But to have funny black side characters, when your heroine is white and blonde... is potentially problematic.
Oh who was it that said--dying is easy, comedy is hard!
hiding
something.
So here are MAF's comments, and my replies. Don't worry... I won't be offended if you don't read it! But do scroll down for the videos!
***
Eh, not wanting to be language police, but just pointing out... No one has said "Afro-American" since the 1970's. Last I remember is Michael Richards in that TV apology. I think "Afro-European" has a different connotation, but "Afro-American" is borderline racial slur, very dated at minimum. Just wanted to make a note. ... Or, in other words, calling someone "Afro-American" is kind of like using "negro" down here. It's not *that* n-word, but it's old and kind of offensive. Maybe the equivalent of calling an Asian person "Oriental" or something.
* I was just writing fast. In Canada I guess it was still in use in the 80s (by my Barbados-Canadian music teacher for course on "Afro-American" music.) But thanks. Usually when I'm feeling lazy I just write Af-Am. Which sounds like a charity.
Erm... Also, please tread carefully in representing US ethnicities... Since this is the one you're shopping around, especially. I guess that's why I'm taking the time to point this out.
* As I wrote at length sometime last year... (mostly here, here and here) I started this whole thing off by reading reams and reams of "race fails 09" which was all about how non-people-of-color can/should write about POC. (And POC in other countries of course, unless you're writing fantasy.) The conclusion I took away was that yes, white people SHOULD make the effort to write about POC (and I would apply this to other differences, like sexual orientation); do as much research as you can (though without expecting POC, or your buddies who are POC to do all the work for you, or to speak for all POC); and yes you ARE going to fuck up; and when you do just apologize and do better the next time. The general consensus seemed to be that this was the better course of action than only writing about white people; or being all "well if you guys are going to jump on me every time I make a mistake, I can't win can I! So I won't even try! (wounded wounded)" --> I have given this enormous amounts of thought, and the research is ongoing.
...and disability too.
* Sorry, the word, or how I write about it? I never write about anything without thinking it through as best I can. I have too much of the academic in me to just "wing it" (except when I'm Nanowrimo-ing.) When you're a writer, you're almost always writing about people who aren't like you--and the ones who are the most unlike you, you just have to put more work into. --> I just read a really popular book which takes place in WW2 Guernsey, and a lot of inhabitants are pretty sad about how poor the research was.
* I don't even name characters without some research, and I take things like state differences into account. (Okay no, I didn't when I made those girls from Tennessee. But that was another nanowrimo story!)
Sons of Anarchy, the FX (cable network) show about a motorcycle gang in California, is based on Hamlet. It's also one of the best TV dramas that I've ever seen--and Season 1 is on DVD now. I'd recommend checking that out for examples on how people do this modern day huge cast of Shakespearean characters. If you're looking for examples. Particularly when the show gets into the second season, the characters are beautifully developed. ... But honestly they do a lovely job in Season 1 as well... I fell in love with the show in Season 2 and went back to Season 1 once I'd become a hardcore fan.
* I've seen 2-hour movie adaptations, but never a series. Interesting! It's easier to tell people apart on tv, though, cause you see them. You can have absolutely HUGE casts on screen. In a book, just naming two people with the same first letter is problematic. (Most epic fail of all time: Sauron and Saruman. What was Tolkien thinking??) But I'll have to watch that series one day, sounds good.
* And the problem with the history plays isn't just the casts themselves but I've got three casts in one book (Hen Iv.1, 2 and Hen V). And worse, this is all real history he's dealing with, so he could assume his audience knew a lot of it. They would have known what the French King was saying in this scene:
Think we King Harry strong...
And he is bred out of that bloody strain
That haunted us in our familiar paths:
Witness our too much memorable shame
When Cressy battle fatally was struck,
And all our princes captiv'd by the hand
Of that black name, Edward, Black Prince of Wales
Whereas I have to invent Edward, create the equivalent of the Battle of Cressy, and then explain it. Mehhhhh. Whine whine whine.
Other thing is... People don't so much distinguish "black-Chinese" in the States. At least not in popular culture. Obama is a Black President, not a Caucasian/Asian/African-American. I mean, we *know* he's all those things, but he's read as a Black person. That's why people understood the SC senator's "You lie!" heckling as meaning something like, "You lie, boy!" It's more "mixed," or people get pressured to identify primarily as one side of their heritage. Sometimes it's because of how they're "read" in life (One of my grad school friends is always read as black, while her brother is always read as white.). Basically, I'm saying... If you're writing a book using mixed characters, I hope you'll read some stuff about biracial identities in the US. Because there are a lot of tensions around biracial identities (and light skinned people tend to be socially privileged over darker skinned people), and all I'm saying is... I hope you're doing your reading on this stuff. I think it's very specific to the US (and totally different from the all-mixed culture of, say, Brazil or the multiculturalism of Canada).
* Ya I get that. It's pretty much the basis for this Chappelle skit (the second skit in this clip):
Racial Draft
Tim | MySpace Video
[Mos Def loved playing this character so much, he walked off with the suit. Don't miss the end to see who the Asians pick. "Konnichiwa bitches."]
* I only identified all these identities in this post because when I'm looking for actors/singers etc. to "picture" my characters, I start by trying to find people who actually *are* biracial, so I can get a realistic idea of how they might look. (How dark skinned they might be, their hair etc.) In fact, for the Chinese-African combination, I ended up looking at the Caribbean where it's much more common.
Also, it's true, there aren't a ton of African-Americans in California... Any chance you could relocate to N'awlins or something?
* I actually looked up the demographics for San Fran, and am somewhat following, as silly as that is. I'd actually have the right "mix" if it weren't for my heroine's group of friends who are all... ex Somali pirates. Yes, you read that right. Don't ask how they managed to immigrate to the US... this is a comedy after all. Everything is possible, including too many African-Americans.
*Anyway, a lot of the characters are all related to each other, so really it's like you're looking at one family.
* You begin to see why I'm saying I'm screwed. It's not just complex in terms of introducing all these characters in a way that the reader can keep straight; and telling all the back story in a way that the reader can keep straight; but I've got to do a certain amount of research on each "community" so that they read right. So that a letter written by a Guernsey farmer doesn't read like a letter written by an Alabamian, so to speak.
* ... ... I complain a lot, but of course it's vair vair interessant.
* I can't change the location at this point, I've already done waaaay to much research. I originally picked California because the initial kernel idea all centered on Paris Hilton, so it was West Coast. And then I had to choose where in California, and decided I'd much rather travel to San Francisco than LA, so the final city of choice was vair vair selfish. (Plus there are a lot of musicians in San Fran, and this whole thing is music industry based.) ...But I'd love to visit New Orleans. That'll have to be the next book! (Tourism based fiction writing.)
Basically, I guess... Remember what Harry Reid (the House majority leader) said? Something about Barack Obama being a viable candidate because he was a "light skinned man without a Negro dialect"? Even though he was ignorant to use "negro," he was kind of making a statement about something that has long been a pattern here. Light-skinned Blacks *are* socially privileged above darker-skinned Blacks in this country. (A lot, a lot of that plays into, for instance, the rebuilding of New Orleans. Mayor Ray Nagin was/is seen by many Black Americans as a corrupt official who upheld a system of light-skinned racial privilege in the city.)
* The light-skinned thing is one of the few things I understood before researching, and it's constantly coming up on the blogs I read. Though I'm only JUST getting to the point where I automatically notice women's hair, and the darkness of skin, when I'm watching tv or something. It's kind of a weird thing to make yourself sensitive to.
And one more thing... I'm not meaning to lecture, but... Racial politics is very, very different in every single region of this country (I keep meaning to write a post about Southern racism and Northern racism). It gets over-simplified in almost every representation that comes out of media in this country. Certainly, it's...usually problematic when it's written by white people. And often problematic even when it isn't. Note how in "Precious," Lee Daniels cast all light-skinned Blacks--Mariah Carey and Lenny Kravitz--as the "good characters" who could inspire Precious to rise above her life situation. Or the ridiculous stereotypes perpetuated by the awful Tyler Perry franchise (about which I very much agree with Spike Lee). Basically, I'm thinking... If you're updating a Shakespearean tragedy with a bunch of minorities, you will undoubtedly touch on US racial politics. Which are *really really really* fraught. Which I realize that you know, but... Please give as much thought to historical and sociological research about this stuff as to plot. Especially to contemporary stuff about racial relations and racial solidarity and biracial identity. Because it's almost always rendered in a *really* offensive way in fiction. Is what I'm getting at. And... Oy. Sorry, I'll shut up now.
* Thanks. I'll just make you make it when it's done. ;-) The good thing is that the chances of me ever being published are about the same (or worse) than the chance of me winning the lottery. Literally.
* It's still a comedy. The plot itself is not supposed to be realistic, the actions people take are ridiculous, the situations they're in , the way they respond, etc etc all has to be un-realistic in order to be funny (to do the sort of humour I like.) It's not realistic-social-commentary humour. It's not a Spike Lee comedy. And it's not Chappelle either, where it's very silly, but the race-stuff is still at the heart of all the comedy. I just want the details to be accurate enough so that you don't notice them.
* I've thought somewhat about the state differences. California has had more Hispanic and Chinese people lynched than African-Americans, for example. The group they considered ethnically cleansing from San Fran after the 1906 earthquake was the Chinese. The Native American communities are really small. The history with Mexico is very unique. And there are now less Af-Americans than ever before. Etc etc... Because I started with the historical research (for my back story), it's given me an ok idea of California's particular racial history. Doesn't mean I would fully understand how that plays out today, but one thing at a time...
* I've never seen any of Perry's movies, only the ads. Chappelle has criticized the fact that almost every Af-Am male actor is, at some point, expected to dress as a woman. (Perhaps homophobic or sexist, but still an interesting observation.)
* But I have a nice Perry story. I just read about this pool in 2009, in Philadelphia, that kicked out the mostly children-of-color who were signed up to come swim there once per week that summer as part of summer camp. And Perry was so angry, he paid for them all to go to Disney.
* What I also wrote about last year on one of my blogs, is the challenges of writing about POC, or gay characters etc., and not immediately fucking up. When I wrote the first rushed draft in 2008, it was of the back story -- I did it for nanowrimo (50 000 words in one month.) I had two Chinese characters--an abrupt, sort of rude woman, and this laid-back butler guy. At one point they get together to try to figure out how to get the heroine and her old friend together, and though it's meant as a nice thing, after writing it I thought: "Hmm. I now have two Scheming Asians on my hands." Doh!
* And when I wrote this year's nanowrimo, which was the first draft of my present-day story, I suddenly introduced a Mexican character, and she gets into one of the fight scenes, and she's really fierce. And afterwards I'm like... she's a Fiery Latina. Fuck! I'd still like her in the fight scene, because the bad guys need her, but she can't be all crazy. She'll have to be a cool fighter instead. Maybe I'll give her some martial arts skills, or maybe she does boxing.
* Or I'm plotting out all this back story, and if I mirror the actual history this is all based on, it means lots of people have to die. So I'll have a Muwekma character, and she's based on the Black Prince. Well the BP was killed in battle in real life. But if I kill of MY character, it means the one Native American in my story has to die. ...I don't want to kill off anyone gay or Native, because it's happened so much in Hollywood. It's the old "the gay cannot be happy and must die." So I have to find other endings for them. Which is fine really, because the whole point of "comedy" in the Shakespeare sense is that everyone lives, baddies are transformed, everyone falls in love, and the chaotic world is brought into harmony. So I have to turn what is basically a lot of tragic history, and turn it into harmony. Sort of artistically interesting.
* The most difficult challenge is this: It's normal in comedy that the main characters are well-drawn and somewhat complex. They might be silly, but they're not Just Silly, because you need to know what motivates them, what they're fighting for, a bit of their past etc. And the side characters are often caricatures. Which is normally a great thing--that's how you get all these AWEsome sidekicks and best friends and bad-guy's-patsies etc. They don't need to be complex, and complex is just less funny. Simplistic is where a lot of the great humour comes in.
* But I have to be very careful of buffoonish black side characters. Spike Lee's Bamboozled is a perfect example--the "Mau Maus" are funnier than almost everyone else, because they're side characters.
"How do you fucking pronounce that shit?"
But to have funny black side characters, when your heroine is white and blonde... is potentially problematic.
Oh who was it that said--dying is easy, comedy is hard!
Friday, February 12, 2010
I'm so screwed part deux
Today I worked on building and rebuilding the family trees today, deciding on names, relationships, nationalities, personalities, and appearances -- for my Henry V story.
I started this family tree last year sometime, after trying out a few family tree programs. This one's the easiest to use. You should be able to see the whole tree here, but you have to click on various people to see all of it (you can't see it all at once.)
Here's the main branch of my heroine's family. No, she's not related to Princess Leia, Caravaggio, Pussy Galore, Sophie Marceau and Terrence Howard.
I really wish Jilly Cooper had written a book on how she writes, because she's one of the few authors who uses this many frikkin' characters every time. I guess I'll read a Cooper book next.
I started this family tree last year sometime, after trying out a few family tree programs. This one's the easiest to use. You should be able to see the whole tree here, but you have to click on various people to see all of it (you can't see it all at once.)
Here's the main branch of my heroine's family. No, she's not related to Princess Leia, Caravaggio, Pussy Galore, Sophie Marceau and Terrence Howard.
On the right are the French. They don't show up until Henry V... I'm still on Henry IV. So I haven't developed anything but their names and their villainy.
Afro-Americans are over-represented in my story, for California. But almost everyone descends from the Hawkins brothers (Red, Green and Pinky) so one branch is Afro-Chinese, one is Afro-Hispanic, and the third is Afro-Euro, with an adopted Native woman. It's the "it's a small world" approach to multi-representation--Taishanese (Chinese), African-American, Puerto Rican, Dominican, Mexican, New Orleans Francophones, Muwekma (Nat Amer), several gay people, probably all sorts of mental illness, and so far one disabled guy (there are two World Wars in here after all.) And not everyone is this beautiful... I just choose actors to anchor my mental image on.
I really wish Jilly Cooper had written a book on how she writes, because she's one of the few authors who uses this many frikkin' characters every time. I guess I'll read a Cooper book next.
Songs We're Sick Of: Anything Taylor Dane
Lillian's Choice. I knew Lillian from church, and we shared lockers in Cegep, along with another church friend, who had a crush on her, but unfortunately he didn't have a good handshake, and anyway she was in love with Bryan Adams. She went to church-university and married The Bad Boy (or so I gather from facebook.)
There are some excellent 80s fashions in here.
Antidote:
There are some excellent 80s fashions in here.
Antidote:
Thursday, February 11, 2010
I'm so screwed
I've got a problem. My story not only has a lot of characters, which is always confusing, but they're all related to each other in a complicated back story. This isn't my fault, it's the source material--the lead up to the War of the Roses. I've even cut out an entire generation (Edward III's) but it's still confusing.Isabella the She Wolf was the daughter of a French King, and married the English King Edward II. Then came Ed III. Then his kids, Richard II and John of Gaunt. Richard II was King for awhile, but he was party-hearty, and he also stole all of Gaunt's lands. So Gaunt's son, Henry Bolingbroke (who Richard had banished) came roaring back to town, with some allies, and dethroned Richard, and then had his murdered. Bol became Henry IV. Then Henry's allies weren't too pleased with him, so he had to kick their asses--Mortimer, Glendower, Hotspur, Hot's dad, Hot's uncle, York and Douglas. And then Bol dies and his son becomes Henry V, and decides to take on the French (whose throne he claims through the She Wolf), but only after cutting one of his best friends, and hanging another for treason.
Once you translate this into a modern setting, it gets even more confusing, cause you can't have modern day people running around killing each other over throne succession.
Wodehouse for everyone!
I didn't realize that much of (or all?) PG Wodehouse's works were public domain. Kobo--the Canadian ebook site, with an open download format (meaning you can read it on a number of devices, or on your computer) has a ton of Wodehouse's works available for free.
So if you've got a device, or don't mind reading on your computer, it's time to discover Wodehouse!
So if you've got a device, or don't mind reading on your computer, it's time to discover Wodehouse!
here is some free advice
I just watched the entire interview of Dave Chappelle on Inside the Actor's Studio. Here is some very good advice that his father gave him at the start of his career, and which he clearly followed by getting out of Hollywood when he couldn't take it anymore:
"'But name your price in the beginning, if it ever gets more expensive than the price you named, get out of there.' Thus Africa."
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Why I Love the Song: The Nightshift
"Nightshift" by The Commodores was written for Marvin Gaye and Jackie Wilson who both died in 1984 in their forties. Gaye was shot by his father in an argument, and Wilson had a heart attack and was in a coma for 9 years, then died.
I grew up on this song (it was on the radio and my mother probably owned it), but it was only a year or so ago that I heard it in the background at a restaurant and thought to go home and buy it that night. (iTuuuuunes!) I love it more and more, in part because I've reached the point in my life where I'm getting into classic soul artists. (I add on an appreciation for an older artist, or genre, every year. I'm saving contemporary jazz for when I'm 80.)
The music and the singing on "Nightshift" are both beautiful--I love the churchy feeling of reverence. But lyrically, the song is genius. Four minutes without a single cheap rhyme* or filler line:
In the first verse he...
- works in Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" ("I can still hear him say: Talk to me so you can see what's going on")
- pays tribute to the content and social impact of Gaye's songs ("he opened up our minds") as well as his delivery ("his heart in every line")
- and by using their names, the song takes on this really intimate feeling... you're being given a glimpse into the heart and mind of the person writing the song, of how he felt when these two greats died young within the same year. It's a bit like listening in on a prayer.
Marvin, he was a friend of mine
And he could sing a song
His heart in every line
Marvin sang of the joy and pain
He opened up our minds
And I still can hear him say
Aw talk to me so you can see
What's going on
Say you will sing your songs
Forevermore (evermore)
In the second verse he...
- works in two of Jackie's songs ("Work It Out" and "Higher and Higher")
- switches to second person, which now moves the song to an even more intimate level
- refers to his electric on stage style which influenced so many artists and drove the crowds wild ("you set the world on fire")
- and has one of the most beautiful, tender, perfect lines: "you came and gifted us"
Jackie (Jackie), hey what you doing now
It seems like yesterday
When we were working out
Jackie (Jackie, oh) you set
The world on fire
You came and gifted us
Your love it lifted us
Higher and higher
Keep it up and
We'll be there
At your side
Oh say you will sing
Your songs forevermore (evermore)
And then the chorus with its great image of death as being the night shift, and of these great artists still existing somewhere, "pulling crowds" and entertaining people. And considering how much influence they've had in music (see the Jacksons movie clip below) it's pretty accurate to say that they're still alive. Just look at Gaye's "Mercy Mercy Me (the Ecology)" - how many songs are that perfectly relevant after 39 years? And as far as I know, soul singers didn't sing about trees dying back then--folk singers did that.
Gonna be some sweet sounds
Coming down on the nightshift
I bet you're singing proud
Oh I bet you'll pull a crowd
Gonna be a long night
It's gonna be all right
On the nightshift
Oh you found another home
I know you're not alone
On the nightshift
In the repeat of the chorus, at the end, he then plays on the "night shift" metaphor: "at the end of a long day, it's gonna be okay" -- which I take both as a reference to the role of music in our lives, when things suck; or it's addressing the grief of losing someone.
Gonna miss your sweet voice
That soulful voice
On the nightshift
We all remember you
Ooh the songs are coming through
At the end of a long day
It's gonna be okay
On the nightshift
You found another home
I know you're not alone
On the nightshift
"What's Going On"
"Mercy Mercy Me"
"Sexual Healing" What awesome music, it would sound sexy even if there were no lyrics (though hear the gals scream at the first "baby.") Everytime I listen to the Ben Harper version I too think I'm capsizing. (And then I get up and dance! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up! Wake up!) And for those of you who prefer girls. And if you're Swis and your last name starts with B: this version. And if you're my dad: this version. And if you're in a uke band. So versatile.
Movie version of little Michael Jackson being inspired by Jackie Wilson's "Work It Out". (That's a great mini-series by the way. Joe Jackson is played by Freddie Boom-Boom Washington!)
Jackie Wilson "Higher and Higher" - look how effortlessly this guy sings and dances. You can see why they called him Mr Excitement. (I love the Otis Redding version too.)
And the first Jackie song I knew. She's sooooo fine. ("Reet Petite")
* I love Bruce Springsteen's "Fire" but it is a lyrical mess. But that's for another post.
cats in the hood
This is Sherry's personal basket, next to my bed. It's just filled with blankets and such for him to stretch out on. He's so cute. Look at him! Look!!
Here's me stretched out with the laptop, and the Demon Monkey demanding attention.
new sade
I'm sampling the new Sade album, because the first single is gorgeous. But I didn't post the actual video cause it detracts from the music. There's some serious cheese, and the dancers are out of sync with each other, which is annoying. (Now that we've all watched America's Best Dance Crew, we have Standards right?) Look at the above picture--see how their arms are all at a different position? Tsk tsk tsk.
Songs We're Sick Of: Summer of '69
Swissgirl's choice. While I'm not sick of it, I have to admit I liked it much better in the 80s, and probably did hear it too much to want to listen to it now.
Gotta love the fruit-throwing Rebellious Behaviour! And the oh so funny Cops Slip on Fruit! And Brian... he's so little!
Does this version help at all? It gets better halfway through when the guy switches to Hindi!
Gotta love the fruit-throwing Rebellious Behaviour! And the oh so funny Cops Slip on Fruit! And Brian... he's so little!
Does this version help at all? It gets better halfway through when the guy switches to Hindi!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Songs We're Sick Of: Feelings
We have our first entry! My father with "Feeeeeliiiiings. Woah woah woah feeeeliiiings."
I can't say I'm sick of this song, because I've only really ever heard it made fun of. So I listened to the whole thing. Well... I tried. Made it to 2:17
Snottdook (3 days ago) Show Hide
This song makes me lol so hard.
binkle1 (2 days ago) Show Hide
Yes, truly one of the most god-awful songs to ever come out of the 70s. Sorry for all of you who love this Julio wannabe. Whoa-whoa-whoa .... FEELINGS!!!!
Does Nina Simone make it any better? She's pretty awesome and kooky.
Who's up next? What song are you sick of??
I can't say I'm sick of this song, because I've only really ever heard it made fun of. So I listened to the whole thing. Well... I tried. Made it to 2:17
Snottdook (3 days ago) Show Hide
This song makes me lol so hard.
binkle1 (2 days ago) Show Hide
Yes, truly one of the most god-awful songs to ever come out of the 70s. Sorry for all of you who love this Julio wannabe. Whoa-whoa-whoa .... FEELINGS!!!!
Does Nina Simone make it any better? She's pretty awesome and kooky.
Who's up next? What song are you sick of??
Monday, February 8, 2010
Sick-of Songs
Not sure why I hated Michael Bolton so much in the '80s. Probably because it was so baffling why a man this good looking...
would insist on wearing hair like this. I think it made me suspicious of him. Any song this man covered, couldn't possibly be a good song.
Or it could be the fact that I got sooo monumentally sick of "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay" which was on the air allll the time.
Man I got to hating that song. Only now, when I play my Best of Otis Redding, have I been able to appreciate its beauty.
It wouldn't be until 3 years later that I would come to detest a song this much, simply through over-over-play, and that was Marc Cohn's "Walking in Memphis."
I was painting houses that summer, and my fellow painters refused to EVAH change the radio station. All they would ever play, every day, was mother-bleeping CHOM (the rock station.)
It doesn't take more than one week, working full-time, listening to the radio 8 hours/day, to know a radio station's playlist off by heart. I don't know why the rest of them didn't get so monumentally sick of the playlist as I did. Possibly they had no souls.
I sent the rest of the summer listening to CBC Radio.
What song are you still, to this day, sick of? I'm not asking this to be cute... I'd like to know!
would insist on wearing hair like this. I think it made me suspicious of him. Any song this man covered, couldn't possibly be a good song.
Or it could be the fact that I got sooo monumentally sick of "(Sittin' on) The Dock of the Bay" which was on the air allll the time.
Man I got to hating that song. Only now, when I play my Best of Otis Redding, have I been able to appreciate its beauty.
It wouldn't be until 3 years later that I would come to detest a song this much, simply through over-over-play, and that was Marc Cohn's "Walking in Memphis."
I was painting houses that summer, and my fellow painters refused to EVAH change the radio station. All they would ever play, every day, was mother-bleeping CHOM (the rock station.)
It doesn't take more than one week, working full-time, listening to the radio 8 hours/day, to know a radio station's playlist off by heart. I don't know why the rest of them didn't get so monumentally sick of the playlist as I did. Possibly they had no souls.
I sent the rest of the summer listening to CBC Radio.
What song are you still, to this day, sick of? I'm not asking this to be cute... I'd like to know!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
In music news...
I'm becoming obsessed with Motown music. I've become a Rod Stewart song, and I am not ashamed. "Hmmm the plaid or the leopard?"
Saturday, February 6, 2010
food and writing and tv
I seem to have fallen back into cooking again, over the past month. I think it started in November when I got into the Making Soup habit; and now the husbando is eating healthier, so I want to make sure there are things to eat.
I think I can eat a lot of homemade if I...
- make a couple veggie-filled big things on the weekend, which I can bring to lunch at work. They don't need to turn out great, cause at work I don't care what I eat.
- make a couple easy things, a couple times during the week when I get home from work -- like pasta with oil and lemon.
And I'm back to making my own muffins and cookies, and eating them Moderately.
Tonight I'm trying to make hot breakfast cereal (corn meal with dates and nuts, from that slow cooker book), as something healthy to eat for breakfast.
Okay. I've got to do some writing now. (I've actually taken my Mail program out of my mac dock, so that I'm not inclined to check it all the time and procrastinate. So I only have to resist my Home page (which has blog updates) and facebook. Which apparently I'm better at than resisting Mail. Oh, and I found a program that will email me all my twitter updates once a day, in one email. Like that too.
And I haven't got back into any TV shows yet. If anyone asks me "Are you watching XYZ it's amaaazing!" I'm just going to nod my head enthusiastically and give a thumbs up. I'm not a tv snob. It's just that movies and tv are at the bottom of my Entertainment Pole--they're easier to cut out than books and internets.
PS - I'm back with a bowl of hot cereal. It's pretty nice. This may turn out to be my favourite use for the slow cooker.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Edna St Vincent Millay's voice - & - bland cooking
Still really enjoying this book of letters by American women, but I've finally found the right inspiration for Genie's diary entries (for my Henry V book.)
I started looking only at women either 10 years older or younger than Genie (born in 1900) and whose letter sounded distinguished enough that I could lift some expressions and language from it, and give Genie's entries a distinctive feel. Sometimes I come across great lines, but no one will believe they're from the early 1900s... they'll think I haven't done my research! The best was: "That's the dope!"
Finally I came across the poet Edna St Vincent Millay, born 1892, and she's hilarious. She's sitting bored on a train, and writes out the interchange she had with room service at the last hotel she stayed in: "it advertises itself as Chicago's Most Home-like Hotel. Well, that's it. It's so... home-like that if you want a cup of coffee you have to go down to the kitchen and make it yourself."
(To read the exciting exchange between Millay and Room Service, click here!)
There's a book of Millay's letters that's out of print, and I was going to order it online; but then I read reviews of her biography, and they all same the same thing--"It's just an infodump of Millay's journals and letters! No editing! Journal entries and letters! This sucks!" So it sounds like the bio will be perfect for me.
And so an Unprecedented Winter Trip to the Library is called for. Wish me luck.
In other news: I once again tried a recipe from Robin Robertson's slow cooker cookbook, and it was, as usual, completely lacking in flavor. It had 8 spices, and yet zero flavor--like the other things I've tried from this book. And this is a woman who writes international cookbooks! I have her "meat and potatoes" book and it's just fine. I guess crockpots are her weakness. If you read the reviews of it on her web site, it doesn't sound like anyone actually cooked from it before reviewing.
Oh well, I'll pack them into lunch tupperwares and eat it at work.
Bad Lyrics: "Scream" by Timbaland
I really enjoy this song, it's kinda Prince-like (especially the moaning), but these lyrics are so insanely bad that I did a double take the first time I heard them. I was walking along the highway towards my bus stop after work, and I was bopping my head and thinking "oh I've never really noticed this song, it's gre--" and then she says the cookie line. And I had to rewind my ipod and hear it again.
Him: I got a plan for you and I
Let's journey across the Venetian skies.
Her: Can I have some of your cookies?
Him: Can I have some of your pie?
May I cut the first slice?
Him: I got a plan for you and I
Let's journey across the Venetian skies.
Her: Can I have some of your cookies?
Him: Can I have some of your pie?
May I cut the first slice?
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Need more music? More more more!
Don't know if y'all are tweeters. I don't use it for much, but I recently started following the Song of the Day from RocketReducer.
RocketReducer is a guy I've known for years who has excellent and varied musical taste. I listen to a lot of music, but I don't go to concerts and I don't expose myself much to the less-mainstream, so my horizons remain a bit constrained. I rely on a few others to chuck a Go! Team or Melissa Ferrick my way.
Anyway, if you want some regular music recommendations, I recommend you Twitter yourself and follow:
http://twitter.com/rocketreducer
UNLESS!
Unless you hate this:
And love this:
RocketReducer is a guy I've known for years who has excellent and varied musical taste. I listen to a lot of music, but I don't go to concerts and I don't expose myself much to the less-mainstream, so my horizons remain a bit constrained. I rely on a few others to chuck a Go! Team or Melissa Ferrick my way.
Anyway, if you want some regular music recommendations, I recommend you Twitter yourself and follow:
http://twitter.com/rocketreducer
UNLESS!
Unless you hate this:
And love this:
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