Samples and Swatches

I have to give my love to Todd in the Shadows. Since watching his wonderful commentaries on pop music, my music wish list has grown. And a lot of the time, it is full of music I'm a little ashamed that I want. But in addition to that, my game of music roulette has morphed from will we hear Adele or Lady Gaga first to taking a running tally of songs reviewed by Todd to see which one wins.

His recent review of Pittbull's Back in Time (I must point out that I had never heard of Pitbull until I saw the review of Give Me Everything) had me revisit a previous observation I had that about remakes or songs that sample. When I was younger, I considered this practice blasphemy. I was too naive to understand this is a long time practice and sadly I admit that I was well into high school when I realized that Queen is responsible for Vanilla Ice's we'll call "fame". But many songs that I liked that I thought were pure were remakes of lesser know artists (I think is the best way to go. Enhance a little known song and improve. Or place a flavor and make it your own. It is really difficult to improve that which is already considered to be wonderful and what is the point if it is a generic version. Yeah I mean you, MADONNA!) So now that I've become less judgmental, I understand remakes and samples have their place in the world.

I will point out however, that most of the time remakes and samples not done with care will end up ruining both songs for me. If you did listen to Back in Time, the guitar riff from Mickey and Sylvia's Love is Strange is great. I do not know why he decided to take the same chorus and having a hard time figuring out how "you're the one" works with the rest of the song. I bet it was like the free pile at a garage sale. Pitbull was already picking so even though he didn't need it, he already stole the riff so might as well take the chorus. Well, the techno beat added to the song and speeding it up is now what has been pounded into my head. I'm a little ashamed to admit I like the song, but my husband points out that I like the original song so the sum of its parts is good if not better. But now if I go back and listen to the original, it's too damn slow for my enjoyment. So Back in Time leaves something to be desired and Love is Strange is too slow to be enjoyed. Screw you Pittbull. And while I'm at it, fuck you Sean Kingston for killing Ben E. King and a mild slap on the wrist to Me First andtThe Gimmee Gimmees for Walking on Sunshine. I like that song, but their version isn't on the radio as much as their now too slow predecessor. 

Some do get it right. The Fugees' Killing Me Softly does not step on Roberta Flack's version. The Fugees changed the pace but since it did not speed it up the delicacy of Roberta Flack's version remains in tact. In fact, they sped it up in some spots and slowed it down in others so how can we be pissed? Well, my mom is, but that's okay.

Lesson is be original, people. You will not have this problem with an original idea. You'll have other problems, but still. I know that it is difficult to hear a declaration to be original from someone who is half ripping off Todd in the Shadows. Fine, I'll take off my mask (As far as you know).

Magic Abs

The other night I had a dream that it would be a good idea to see Magic Mike. I do not care for Channing Tatum and he kind of annoys me because for someone who is very famous, he hasn't been in very much (sort of like Clive Owen) and it makes it difficult to explain who the hell he is. My husband thinks Dakota Fanning every time his name comes up. Makes sense since they both have last names as first names.

I think the hard part of the male stripper movie is that I will probably see this before Goodfellas or Apocalypse Now. Before you take away my Entertainment Junkie status, let me point out that these are very important movies that I hesitate to watch because they are considered to be holy in many circles. The last time I watched a movie that fit into the category of excellent film making, it was Glengarry Glen Ross and it hurt me to watch it.

I'll call it a great film, but I do not want to watch important films with my tiny window of time between work and sleep. I want to laugh or feel more than vicarious desperation. I will admit that while my time is precious, I took a weekend to watch three Twilight films. Again, before the outrage comes out, they were laced with Rifftrax. I made a decision to be an informed hater of Twilight and the jokes inter-spliced made it possible to not want to kill myself like Bella tried in the second one(or something).

You may be thinking, oh sure, you have time for the movies with guys who are constantly shirtless, what's up with that? Coincidence. I find that movie pulp seems to include shirtless men since women seem to have money too. Also, you people are sick because Taylor Lautner was underage in those movies and you know with my Josh Hutcherson crush, I like them legal and not Taylor Lautner. I sway more in the direction of Doctor Vampire or Mustache Dad. The point is they all have their clothes on so leave me alone.

God Bless Garfunkel and Oates

Eventually I will get to my post about the politics of Facebook and what one should post, but because the majority of my Facebook friends are mothers, it is best my thoughts are here instead.

Garfunkel and Oates have wonderfully captured my pain and put it in a song that had me feel a little better after having issues on Mother's Day. I had a theory that Mother's Day is to Valentine's Day as non-mothers are to singles, but then my husband pointed out that it shouldn't be non-mothers, it should be orphans. (This also explains why he did so much better on the SATs than I did. Also, I didn't study.)

So I would like to extend my gratitude to these two fantastic artist that have put a great spin on my issues. They are helping me not hate and instead laugh. 

Choices...Take Them Away!

May has been a tough month for me. I was anticipating the graduations and confirmations for months in advance so watching family members transition from one part of life to another was an expected punch to my brain. What I didn't expect was to come home to my husband with a concerned, but strangely happy look on his face with the news that he was to be laid off in two weeks. The smile was from all the perks they were throwing at him before they gave him the boot. "No paycheck, but whatever you can carry out of your office that isn't bolted down is yours." 

For two weeks I went through a nervous period of preparing myself with being the sole breadwinner. To soothe my control freak, my husband began his job search and through a series of calls, interviews, and negotiations, was hired on with a new company making very much more money and receiving better benefits. My sigh of relief very quickly turned into a downward spiral of cries from depression. What I knew since the day I met him was smacking me in the face eleven years later. This man has more potential, intelligence, and will accomplish more than I could ever hope. That's why I locked him down early while he was an insecure mess of a college freshman.

Of course this is good news for us and our familial unit. But as a hard nosed, "get the hell away from me I can do it myself" girl, this was a huge blow to my ego. My mother-in-law without knowing how much this has damaged my self esteem keeps telling me that it's okay, and he can take care of us when it's time to.....It occurred to me she hasn't blatantly stated let the man take care of you, and make some babies, but the words don't have to come out of her mouth for the message to sting my uterus.

So baby issues, job issues, I've taken a few blows from work it make me realize that I'm horribly unhappy there, but I've been testing myself to see what the breaking point is to leave a well paying job five minutes from home. Seeing other people's successes are enough to make me cry and throw tantrums like a five year old. Hearing my sister ask me what's wrong and relieved that it's only about work crushes me even more and teaches me that my first instinct to never share my petty problems with people who have children (and therefore real problems) was correct.

This has become a bit heavy for an entertainment blog so what is my point in sharing all this? Well, back in September I received a "gift" of a newspaper subscription from my boss. I quote the word gift because my boss didn't tell me when the paper started to come to the office that is was for me. When he did, he told me that he got it from my other bosses son's fund raiser, he already got the paper so, you know, Merry Christmas. Then December 28th rolled around and I realized he wasn't kidding. That was my Christmas present. It is a great present in general, but it was a steak served to me on a trash can. I keep getting letters telling me my subscription is about to end and I couldn't be happier because during my busy period I'm letting them stack up and can't get to them. I hate being wasteful and I will read all the articles I can. 

This weekend I left the office with a two week's worth of pile in the corner. I was pissed that I forgot them at the office and couldn't use the weekend to catch up. So I walk in and the pile is gone. It occurred to me that the cleaning service people saw them next to the recycling bin and not in their usual pile next to my filing cabinet so they gathered them up and took them away. Before I get judged that the maid stile my precious not appreciated present from my diamond encrusted cubicle, everyone shut up, this is my life.

I was pissed for about five seconds because my project was taken from me. Then I was happily relieved. Something thrown on me that I just let accumulate like the very reason I avoid a Netflix subscription was taken from my possession, against my choice, and it is glorious. If you were to read the blog Get Rich Slowly, this would be referred to as The Tyranny Of Stuff. But for me it was the Tyranny of Choice. I was happy to have this tiny burden lifted from me. It now makes me sad to have such a small thing bring me such great comfort. 

Sort of a sad commentary on my life as of late. But I will find courage to face my well paid husband and show him that if he wants to take care of me, he can go fuck himself. I'm just kidding, my husband is very supportive my bringing home the Bacos.

My Gift, My Curse

One of my oldest and closest friends celebrated her birthday last week. I'm having issues. This has been a problem for a while. Gift giving is a competitive sport for me with no other participants. Her husband had a birthday back in February and my issues were minimized because the stakes were lower. We got him a book and a DVD. 

But I had to think was this a book he'd enjoy? There is no guarantee that he would just because he liked the author. Also, it's only available in hard cover, and that's a pain in the ass. Would have he preferred the electronic format and does he even have an e-reader? Fortunately, I knew he is a collector and would want a prominent copy on his bookshelf, but the only copy we could find at Target had a slashed cover. Who the hell knows if a copy was at Barnes and Noble and how much more we'd have to pay out of the ass to get it?

After all that was said and done, he posted on Facebook that it was his favorite book to date. SCORE. But my brain did not stop the train wreck of getting someone a gift. What to do when they are done consuming it and the space it takes up? Do they want a hard or digital or both copy of it? What happens when I give them something they have never experienced and it turns out they don't like it and I've wasted their lives with the experience? A gift is a very personal thing to me that says so much about my relationship with a person. And this is coming from someone who grew up exchanging cash with her parents for Christmas.

So back to my friend. During her birthday celebration we talked about how she has so little time to go out and do things since having her daughter. Not to mention a random conversation came up about not buying the things you have functional but not fun versions. I know I shouldn't give a crap if the knives and forks aren't a matching set since I have them, but something about that set of eight with matching serving utensils is so great. Damn girly shit. Finally, the conversation of being sick and tired of shopping at Winco because it's filled with...ummm...less desirable people. Okay, ghetto people. 

So my brain has gone in several directions of getting her a gift card to Raley's for a ghetto free shopping experience. Then it went to a matching set of glassware and utensils so she can get that which she never thinks to get herself. They there's the old standby of a gift certificate to get her a manicure and pedicure while getting her mom to watch the baby so she can relax for an hour. Let's not forget my uber-grandma version of a gift of shaving a payment off her student loan. What about all of the above? But them am I an asshole for going too far? It is my business to buy someone kitchen stuff without consulting their preferences? And grocery shopping is not gift (as I've heard from normal people. I still have starving college student thoughts I can't shake.) so much as a chore. And her mom is very busy right now. And how can I really organize that as if it's gift to take her child away? What if her husband and her have plans that day and I'm butting in? And student loans shit? That's not supposed to be my business. What ever happened to the ’80s reference T-Shirt gift? Oh, right, never been my style. I got them a Britta pitcher for Christmas. Someone help me.

If it's the thought that counts, I'm missing the point entirely and giving the most elaborate gift ever. It does not help that I want to give the world to everyone. That is everyone who means the world to me. Thank goodness it's only a handful of people. And most of them take cash.

Author's note: I realize that I have a similarly titled post from 2007. However the content is different and the stats provided show no views, so suck it. I'm leaving this as is. Wow, I have anger issues with my non existent readers.

Mind Games Make Me Hungry

I'm trying to avoid the media frenzy of The Hunger Games being released in less than twelve hours. I've read one review and that's all I'd like to do. I want to do the best that I can (despite the many times I've watched the trailer and a few clips) to go in pure. And by pure, I mean I read the book and will of course compare. I'm debating taking some time off work to see it early Friday afternoon. It should say something that I'm willing to go to the damn theater. I will not say that this is the thinking person's Twilight because thinking people would not dare have any reason to compare this to Twilight.

Here's the deal. After seeing the first trailer after fully consuming the trilogy I knew without hesitation that I would develop a crush on the actor playing Peeta. Hell, I already had a crush on Peeta. It was a natural transference. It came up in conversation with my husband and the second it came out of my mouth, I demanded that he go on IMDb to make sure I was not about to have a crush on a minor and have to lock myself up until he was legal. With this type of story telling, I might just (okay, I already do) have a crush on Jennifer Lawrence. It is difficult admitting this considering I have a long history of hating celebrities my age, let alone many, many years younger than me. But if the talent is there, let go of your hatred.

So being in the clear, I spoke of my (SIGH) Team Peeta affiliation with my sister who introduced me to the books. And by that, I mean she was a legitimate source that these are good instead of the books shoved into my face like a good chick book frenzy does. Actually, her endorsement came from saying it was not like Twilight and she is a fan. She said confidently you Hunger Games is no Twilight. After gushing that Woody Harrelson as Haymitch is the greatest casting idea since Kelsey Grammer as Beast, (Quick, someone come up with an amazing role for George Wendt!) she aligned herself with Team Gale.

I balked as I was not attached to Gale nor did I find a real reason to become attached. Many days later I read about Liam Hemsworth and girlfriend Miley Cyrus and felt once again to go into that "not until you're not a pedophile room" and sob, but instead thought how can I really have a crush on someone that not only has touched Miley Cyrus, no doubt the same day she was near a penis cake, but... wait I'll stop there.

Get off him you bitch! What?..... Oh. Never mind. He's all yours. (Image stolen from the internet here.)

My slip into my mother's territory of not knowing actor's names off the top of my head lead me to many uncomfortable days of thinking my beloved Peeta was portrayed by Thor's little brother, and not Josh Hutcherson. I blame the fact that their natural hair colors are the opposite of their characters.

 As Ricky Bobby once insightfully said, "Please be eighteen." (Image stolen from the internet here.)

For a time longer that I am comfortable admitting, I was pouting over this and didn't want to fall for Peeta in real time since I'm a fourth grader and am upset he touched that icky girl. I'm in the clear now, but what the hell is wrong with me?

Discomfort aside, I will pull myself up by my anxiety medication, make the trip to the discounted movie theater as to not get raped by box office prices, and enjoy this damn movie. I fear that in the coming month I will admit that I missed the movie in theaters and instead will just have to wait until DVD. But if there will be one straw that will get me to that large screen it will be two words: THE TOOCH!

Comedy In Moderation

I heard a rumor (and hopefully it will stay this way) that a Dwight Schrute spinoff is being considered. (Yes, I realize I can figure out the legitimacy of this rumor with a quick Google search, but I like to live in this small world of hope.) I enjoy Dwight's antics and he has made me laugh, but I imaging that the only way for this to be successful is if some other character can steal this show away from him. Dwight in the spotlight is too much. I've done research on this. 

Okay, not research, but I've done a sort of Doug Benson Build a Title style chain of how this doesn't work. I start with Adam Sandler.

Ben Stilller stole from Adam Sandler in Happy Gilmore.

Will Ferrell stole from Ben Still in Zoolander.

Steve Carell stole from Will Ferrell in Anchorman.

Seth Rogan  stole from Steve Carell in 40 Year Old Virgin.

Jason Segal stole from Seth Rogan in Knocked Up.

Russell Brand stole from Jason Segal in Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Russell Brand was also in Arthur with Jennifer Garner who was in Juno with Dwight Schrute himself Rainn Wilson who was in Super with Kevin Bacon!

I went off the rails because I have not seen Get Him to the Greek, or Arthur and I'm not sure how the comedic stealing works when Jonah Hill is the real comic in charge and according to reviews, Arthur wasn't funny so how can you steal from it? I suppose the point is I'm happy that comedic big shots allow their cohorts to shine not truly realizing a little it being taken from them.

I guess a better lesson here is if you have all your ducks in a row Frasier style and give the familiar character some good people to work with, you can have a good thing develop. If you pluck a beloved character(I use this loosely) and put him in a new scenario so hijinks can ensue, get ready for a mid season replacement pronto.