In a few hours, I’m going to see Idina Menzel at the Birchmere. I’m not sure about her solo music – I’ve never heard it. But I do know she’s one hell of a singer, so it should be entertaining.
In preparation for this evening, I listened to the Wicked cast album today. (Seriously, girl can sing.) I could go on and on about how much I love this album, this show, and how it should have won the Tony (no offense, Avenue Q), but I won’t. I discovered the show in late 2005, which is about the time I decided I needed to change my situation and leave Chicago. So, like any other female between the ages of 16 and 30 during the Wicked craze, I felt like the show spoke to me.
“Something has changed within me. Something is not the same. I’m done with playing by the rules of someone else’s game.”
Man. Sometimes I hate being a cliche. But seriously, who can’t relate to those lyrics?
Video of the Day: While preparing for this evening I came across this video, which is kind of awesome. (And yes, I do prepare for concerts. Doesn’t everyone?) Watching this is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. I love you, Raul Esparza.
There were a few catchy tunes – the title track, “No Line on the Horizon” as well as “I’ll Go Crazy If I Don’t Go Crazy Tonight”, “Get On Your Boots”, “Snow”, and “Breathe.” But, while pleasant enough, none of those tunes spoke to me. And as a lifelong U2 fan, I find this upsetting. Usually, there is at least one song on each album that, the first time I hear it, makes me feel something. I know I’m hearing something special and beautiful.
The memory of hearing “Staring at the Sun” for the first time in 1997 is so vivid, it nearly transports me back in time. I was sitting in my living room, curled up on the couch next to the stereo, the CD jacket for Pop in my hands. I was transfixed. Later that night, I told my high school boyfriend (and fellow U2 fanatic), “I think listening to this album made me fall in love with U2 all over again.” It was that powerful.
The first time I listened to “Walk On” I was in my car in Greensboro, NC, running errands, and started crying. I was 19, I was miserable, and I felt like Bono was speaking to me through the car stereo.
I was walking through downtown Chicago the first time I listened to “City of Blinding Lights” and I was so moved by the guitar/keyboard riff, I got tears in my eyes.
Today, I was sitting at my desk, editing a document, and I waited. I waited for that one song. I anticipated the start of each track. “This will be the one,” I told myself. “This has got to be the one.” Many of them started promising, with that patent Edge guitar sound, a sound that has comforted me for years. But it never came.
It was so disappointing.
I’m not writing off No Line on the Horizon. (Yet.) I’m confident that after a few listens, I’ll like it. But, for the first time in 15 years, I didn’t get that special feeling.
A part of me wonders if I am outgrowing U2. If maybe I don’t need them as much anymore, now that I’m not a maudlin teenager or insecure young adult.
I don’t think so, though. Maybe I don’t want to believe it, but I don’t think I’ll ever outgrow U2. But my other thought is even more scary: The notion that maybe, just maybe, U2 has missed the mark with this one. Maybe, for the first time in 15 years, I just don’t like their product.
I hope I’m wrong.
Video of the Day: Let’s go back to a simpler time, shall we. A time when I didn’t doubt my love. A time when all I wanted was U2.
Ahh. That’s better.
*Bonus points to anyone who gets the reference. Hint: “There was abuse in my family, but it was mostly musical in nature.”
I have to admit, I’m not as excited about No Line on the Horizon as I should be. Maybe it’s because it’s been so long since they released an album. Maybe it’s because I’m not really digging their single. Maybe it’s because the online U2 group I belong to is posting like 12 times a day and it’s driving me insane. And yet, I can’t leave the group because what if there is news I must know, like Bono calling Chris Martin a wanker? (HA!)
Or maybe it’s all of the above.
But I’m not worried. I’ve loved U2 since the tender age of 12. I will love them forever, no matter what they do. I stuck by them through Pop (totally underrated, BTW) and through Bono’s bad haircuts. I stand by the politicization of the band. Anytime I go to a concert, I inevitably stand in front of some…wanker…who complains when Bono starts preaching about his latest cause. To which I always want to say: Dude, you’re at a U2 concert. What did you expect? Sure, he preaches, and sure, he’s way too pompous for his own good. But at least he’s using his celebrity for good, and standing up for what he believes in.
…Somehow when Bono does this, I don’t mind; when Sean Penn does, I want to rip his tongue out. Go figure.
Anyway, despite my lackluster attitude now, I’m confident that within a month, I’ll have the album memorized. I’ll like 80 percent of the songs, be not so crazy about one or two, fall in love with at least three, and be there when they come to DC. This has been my pattern for almost 16 years now; no reason it should change.
It’s been almost five years since How To Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Five years, people. When their last album came out, I had just graduated college and was living in Chicago. I still remember the day I bought the album, and walked around the city on my lunch break, listening to it on my discman. (Aww. Remember the discman?) That’s how long it’s been: The last time they released an album, I didn’t have an iPod. It’s been far, far too long. Welcome back, boys.
Video of the Day: No matter how many great songs they put out, I will never love another U2 song more than this. The great Stay, as seen on the ZooTV tour.
“….my life got flipped turned upside down, and I’d like to take a minute just sitting right there and tell you how I became the prince of a town called Bel Air.”
I could go on. Do you want me to go on? I’m doing this all from memory, you know. (Ok there is no way for you to check that, but trust me, I am.)
For awhile now, I’ve been wanting to do the counter to my blog last fall on my top 10 opening sequences. That blog focused on the credits as a whole – including both song choice and creativity with video. But let’s face it – there’s a lot of boring opening credit sequences with kick ass theme songs. So today, I’m going to present to you my 10 favorite. The choice was not easy. Ultimately, I decided to go with original theme songs (sorry Gilmore Girls!) with one notable exception, because it kicks that much ass. (I’ll give more of an explanation when it comes up below.)
Requirements: 1.) It must kick ass, and, as an added bonus, psych me up to watch the show. 2.) Have amazing harmony. 3.) Have either clever or hilarious lyrics (or both). 4.) Be catchy, to the point where I can’t get it out of my head. (I currently have about 25 theme songs rolling around in my head as a result of this blog.)
Here they are in no particular order….
“Stand behind me come one May…” A Different World
For the youngesters who may be reading this: Back in the 80s, there was The Cosby Show. From that came a spinoff called A Different World. Originally it was supposed to focus on Huxtable daughter, Denise, but she left the show after one season, and it was retooled. A lot. So, even though it’s technically a spin-off, it really has nothing to do whatsoever with The Cosby Show, except when Denise is brought up occasionally, usually by Dwayne Wayne (hee!) who had a major thing for her. Denise eventually returned to New York, married a Navy man, had a stepdaughter who would later star in a show that Dawnn Lewis, who played Jaleesa Vinson, one of Denise’s roommates on A Different World was in for the first season. Until Denise left. The moral of this history lesson is twofold: 1.) I watched way too much TV growing up and 2.) I freaking loved A Different World. It’s totally a guilty pleasure show, and I know that. Still though, you could do a lot worse then Debbie Allen as executive producer, Jasmine Guy as your lead, Patti LaBelle as a frequent guest star, and freaking Aretha Franklin singing your theme song.
“On a wing and a prayer.” The Greatest American Hero
Ok, full disclosure: I’ve never seen this show. It was before my time, and I guess never in repeats on Nick at Nite. Considering it only ran from 1981 to 1983, I’m guessing most people didn’t see it. But the theme song! Oh, the theme song! If it’s good enough for George Costanza, it’s good enough for me.
“Your dreams are your ticket out.” Welcome Back, Kotter
Now this DID rerun on Nick at Nite. Probably for John Travolta, but either way, I spent my youth watching the Sweathogs try to make something of themselves.
“You’re gonna make it after all.” Mary Tyler Moore
I mean, obviously. I never really got into this show – in high school, it began to rerun on Nick at Nite, and my parents were delighted. I’m all for watching reruns of shows of yore, but for a solid six months, this was ALL THEY WATCHED. EVERY NIGHT. TWICE A NIGHT. I’d come downstairs from doing my homework, it’d be on. I’d head into the den after dinner, wanting to watch a current show, and it’d be on. I’d wake up in the middle of the night to get a glass of water, it’d be on. So you’ll excuse me for not having MTM as part of my TV history. I’m all for watching now – it’s been 10 years, I think I’m recovered. Plus, you know, Liz Lemon before there was a Liz Lemon. Regardless of my history with the show, I can’t deny the theme song rocks.
“Sha nananaa” Family Ties
So 80s. So corny. So great. And not that it has anything to do with the song, but without this intro, I couldn’t do my Merideth Baxter Birney impression. (Anyone can do it really; it just consists of spinning around in a kitchen and stopping by placing your hand on the table.) Man. What happened to this show? It was fantastic! Alex P. Keaton, ditsy Mallory and her boyfriend Nick…great stuff. I’m not inspired enough to go out and get the DVDs, but why isn’t it in reruns anymore? I’d totally go for a Family Ties marathon. Especially if they showed the one where Tom Hanks plays Alise’s alcoholic brother, who is so hard up that he drinks a bottle of vanilla.
“We gotta be the luckiest dreamers…” Growing Pains
There’s a lot of versions of the song; this one is my favorite. (Don’t tell anyone but I secretly love a Capella.) Do I really need to say anything more?
“Here we cooooommeeeee!” The O.C.
Here is my exception to the rule: The O.C. It’s actually a song by Phantom Planet that was written years before Seth Cohen existed. But I had to include it because it’s one of the few theme songs that actually gets me pumped, every single time. The piano, the surf, Adam Brody..it all works for me. (In the interest of full disclosure, I will admit I stopped watching the show somewhere in season 3. But I think we can all agree: It was amazing in its prime. It’s just too bad the prime only lasted about a year and a half.)
“In west Philadelphia born and raised, on the playground was where I spent most of my days.” The Fresh Prince of Bel Air
I’ve not seen this show in years, and can still recite the song on command. (Well, not this long version, but the shorter, regular one that normally ran.) The lyrics – remember the requirement of hilarious and/or clever? Well this is the epitome, don’t you think?
“We’re bopping along in our barrell…” Wonderfalls
Most of you didn’t see this show that only aired four episodes. I’m doing you a favor now by showing you the theme song. (You’re welcome, Liz. Look, there’s your boyfriend!) Not only was the show brilliant (all 13 episodes are available on DVD and a must-have) so was the theme song. Oh Wonderfalls. I miss you. You were so great.
And saving the best for last…..
“Be glad there’s one place in the world…” Cheers
This song is so great, I spent about 15 minutes trying to decide which version to embed. (They’re subtle differences, but they are there.) I finally decided to go with original. Y’all, Where Everybody Knows Your Name is the reason I am writing this blog. In my Great Cheers Rewatch, I not only rediscovered the bar, I rediscovered the theme song. (Not that I forgot about it, but you know what it’s like when you watch/read/listen to an old favorite again after a long absence.) Others may disagree, but in my humble opinion, this is the greatest theme song ever written. It meets all four requirements with flying colors. (Not sure about the humor? Check out the full version, below.) Not to get all corny on you, but this song, to me, is like coming home. Maybe because I grew up watching the show and it was my Favorite Thing Ever for many years, but, it’s just comforting, you know? And it gets me excited, every time. (Again with the piano; what is it about that instrument?)
More on this after I finish my great rewatch.
I know there’s a lot I missed. Runners up include Friends, Everwood (though it is all instrumental), Laverne and Shirley, Who’s The Boss?,Different Strokes and Saved by the Bell. Any more you would have included?
Video of the Day: Rounding out the TV Theme Songs, here is the full version of my ultimate TV theme song.
Brings a tear to your eye, doesn’t it? My personal favorite clip is the water gun fight.
Don’t worry, I didn’t get swallowed up by Thanksgiving. After a long car trip, a fun four days and a 14 -fucking-hour car trip home, I am back. Note to self: Never go anywhere over the Thanksgiving holiday ever again. People will just have to come to me. (This is totally going to work.)
So. Now that it’s officially Christmas season and the end of the year, I’m getting ready for my annual (if you read my old blog last year) blog on my top 10 Favorite Things of the Year in Popular Culture. There’s the obvious (Dr. Horrible, anything that NPH touched); the not-so-obvious (how the Tony Awards totally restored my love of musical theater. Not that it was waining. So maybe I should say enhanced my love); and the surprising (Mad About You Rewatch! Discovering the awesomeness that is This American Life! Discovering Wally Lamb and all of his glory!)
But anyway, back to the Best of 2008 – I am open to suggestions! What did you love best in popular culture this year? I might split it up into different categories (music, film, etc.) Not sure yet. It’ll be a pretty tough competition. There was a lot of great stuff in 2008.
Video of the Day:
So, I made some mixes for the drive to and from Boston over Thanksgiving. One was a collection of some of my favorite show-tunes (shut up!) and the other was a collection of cover songs. This was one of the cover songs. It’s the performance that made me realize, “Hey, this guy could win this thing. This guys is GOOD. I guess I have to stop hating him, now.”
Retrowatching 