Random Thoughts or Whatever

[SuperjazzyJa]

Today I watched White Christmas with Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye and Vera Ellen. First time I saw it at least 10 years and the first time since before I got married that I actually got to enjoy it without my ex-wife constantly making stupid comments about the picture, actors etc. Gotta do that more often.

 

[noogies]

Today I watched White Christmas with Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney, Danny Kaye and Vera Ellen. First time I saw it at least 10 years and the first time since before I got married that I actually got to enjoy it without my ex-wife constantly making stupid comments about the picture, actors etc. Gotta do that more often.

My wife doesn't consider it Christmas unless we watch that move at least three times over the duration of the season. In our case, it's usually me making the stupid comments.

 

[Pio1980]

I managed to miss The Sound of Music this year, on purpose, tho' it is probably much better than Cats and should be watched again and again, under hypnosis.
Fwiw, the male lead referred to it as "The Sound of Mucus", he hated the film but enjoyed working with Julie Andrews. He thought the characterisation he was directed to play was "dull and uninteresting".

 

[DeadRock]

My go-to-must-watch annually at Christmas is It's A Wonderful Life. I think it's one of the greatest films ever made...let alone in the Christmas category.

 

[SuperjazzyJa]

I managed to miss The Sound of Music this year, on purpose, tho' it is probably much better than Cats and should be watched again and again, under hypnosis.
Fwiw, the male lead referred to it as "The Sound of Mucus", he hated the film but enjoyed working with Julie Andrews. He thought the characterisation he was directed to play was "dull and uninteresting".

Christopher Plummer. I like but, it's quite predictable.

 

[Quadman2]

I managed to miss The Sound of Music this year, on purpose, tho' it is probably much better than Cats and should be watched again and again, under hypnosis.
Fwiw, the male lead referred to it as "The Sound of Mucus", he hated the film but enjoyed working with Julie Andrews. He thought the characterisation he was directed to play was "dull and uninteresting".

Gotta chime in as well on that movie "TSOM".

If must be difficult for an actor to "hold back" certain emotions, in the case of "Plummer", who was to be the staunch severe aristocrat that Julie had to "melt".
Can you imagine being on the set and the director calling out, "Saw a bit of a grin on that last take. Keep in mind who you are". And only later in the movie is this aristocrat allowed to be more human. This is what makes the movies/plays...the dynamic characters.

For usen with the Yuletide movie, it's "The Christmas Story", with that darn old "Red Rider" BB gun, even though... you could shoot some one's eye out with it.


Q

 

[Pio1980]

I managed to miss The Sound of Music this year, on purpose, tho' it is probably much better than Cats and should be watched again and again, under hypnosis.
Fwiw, the male lead referred to it as "The Sound of Mucus", he hated the film but enjoyed working with Julie Andrews. He thought the characterisation he was directed to play was "dull and uninteresting".

On first hearing the score as a kid, I thought the song was about a "lonely gopher", at least not a lonely goat turd. Seeing the film made the lyric clear.
I haven't anything against the movie, I've just seen it many times and wanted a break to something else.

 

[DeadRock]

Sesame Snaps are really good...

 

[Mr.White]

Just had some awesome homemade lasagna at a going away party. One of the best I've ever tasted. Lasagna is the cat's pajamas.

 

[Quadman2]

Random thought...what constitutes a great song?

What's in it for you?

Q

 

[DeadRock]

Random thought...what constitutes a great song?

What's in it for you?

Q

Based on the wildly diverse and divergent examples of what I think are great songs...the only response I can muster is: a great song is one that grabs me by the heart and mind within the first 30 seconds off the top, and doesn't let go for years...if ever...

 

[LF240]

a great song is one that grabs me by the heart and mind within the first 30 seconds off the top, and doesn't let go for years...if ever...

True, but sometimes a great song will require some degree of evolution on the listener's part before its greatness can be realized. Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" comes to mind in my case.

 

[DeadRock]

True, but sometimes a great song will require some degree of evolution on the listener's part before its greatness can be realized. Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" comes to mind in my case.

Also true...a lot of early Genesis comes to mind for me...

 

[Quadman2]

Well, the first two shares...it's gotta relate!

Q

 

[Quadman2]

Within that "relating", there's an emotional connection.

What causes these "hooks" can be lyrics, melody, or instrumental...some or all of these.

I suppose it's the reaction/impact that causes you to want to hear more. If you dissect any of the three factors, you'll find even more parameters that define the three aspects of a song. And these cause that longing to hear it again and again. It's a good song, and on the way to being a great song.

Q

 

[DeadRock]

...once you scratch the surface...it becomes sooooooo subjective....otherwise...it would be formulaic...

 

[Quadman2]

...once you scratch the surface...it becomes sooooooo subjective....otherwise...it would be formulaic...

So true, SD.

There just that something..."mystical" about some tunes that does that number on the mind.


Two people can listen to the same song, yet get completely different reactions from it.

To one it is a pleasurable hearing event, yet to the other...it's crap! There's certain songsters I can't stand, and others think that same singer is great.

It is subjective, but sometimes that one "something" comes through, and to those around playing it... they just know when it hits that proverbial; sweet spot!


Q

 

[SuperjazzyJa]

During my tenure in Texas, 2 expressions (that I'm aware of, there might be more) got ingrained in me. The first was "y'all", obviously. The other was "howdy". People here in MA don't know what to make of the latter. They think it means "how are you?" or something like that. It means "hi" and that's all. So, when I say it and people say "okay, how about you?" I just smile at them until they say "what?" "You do realize 'howdy' just means 'hi', right?" What follows is usually awkward for them and amusing for me.

 

[SuperjazzyJa]

The Music Choice channel is on playing Christmas songs. On the screen, the "Did you know?" box appears with interesting facts. One thing they pointed out is that "mistletoe" translates to "dung on a twig" because birds leave droppings on it. Still want to share a kiss underneath it? Another one is that the first commercially marketed artificial Christmas tree was made from toilet brushes. Crappy holidays anyone?

 

[Pio1980]

The Music Choice channel is on playing Christmas songs. On the screen, the "Did you know?" box appears with interesting facts. One thing they pointed out is that "mistletoe" translates to "dung on a twig" because birds leave droppings on it. Still want to share a kiss underneath it? Another one is that the first commercially marketed artificial Christmas tree was made from toilet brushes. Crappy holidays anyone?

Goes nicely with this weird Catalan tradition.

Caganer — the strangest, most scatological part of Catalan nativity scenes — explained

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