So, I need to write a post about my trip to Oregon last weekend but I've been kind of swamped lately. But I will tell you now, one of the most exciting things about the weekend is that I heard the song "Summer of '69" by Bryan Adams twice in five minutes on the radio. Oregon has got some great radio (exception: one time a DJ said he was going to play Bryan Adams, but instead of playing S of 69, he played "Heaven"). Anyways, this is an important song, and as such, I have provided a viewing guide to the music video, below.
Obviously in the first three seconds we get the most famous riff in all of rock music history.*
*Not verified; rock music history narrowly defined here.
We start with young Bryan very literally getting his first real six string (not at the five & dime)
He is too cool for the guitar case, and so into guitar that he plays while walking.
I don't really think Bryan "tries real hard" with this band, as he claims, because all he does is drink beer in the rehearsal scenes. But he blames the band's failure on Jody and Jimmy. What an ass.
Then the house falls down. A metaphor for lost youth? The guitar gets buried below the house, so one would think so, but then we cut to Bryan in a hammock. IN COLOR. Look, I can't even begin to explain the metaphorical implications of switching back and forth from color to black and white in this video, but it probably has something to do with either nostalgia or the Wizard of Oz. But the metaphor for lost youth loses some kick here, because lying around in a hammock...who has time for that?
He's in a therapy session. Then the hammock falls, much like the house. Perhaps foreshadowing the fall down the charts Bryan Adams would take?
Back to black and white. Bryan has some weird indiscernable job at a drive-in. He meets a girl (we are getting to the love part of the song). Are all the falling scenes metaphors for falling...in love?
Then black and white love scene turns into color scene and Bryan walks away. You may think, why is he walking away from the girl? Well, I will tell you, it's so we can get to the COOLEST part of the video, which is in black and white, and BRYAN ADAMS JUMPS ON A STREET FIRE AND KICKS THE FIRE AROUND. This moment happens at about the minute-forty mark and is probably the best thing ever in music video history. It is showing how "young and restless" he is, cause then he throws some stuff, breaks things, etc. and you kind of wonder, hey, if he had all these outlets like love and the guitar and whatnot, why can't he just calm down a little bit? Can all this recklessness truly constitute the best days of your life? The answer of course is yes, because the album that this song was on was called "Reckless" (I'm not proud I know that, but I've been reading about this song lately).
The cops are foiled by the old fruit on the floor trick, while Bryan talks about times changing...just as it goes from black and white to color again. So deep.
Now, if Bryan jumping on the fire is the coolest moment in music video history, then the moment when Bryan catches the guitar mid-session is probably at least in the top 100 other moments for me. Then the video kind of falls apart, with a generic jam session (in color). This scene provides no insight into the mystery of song, which is of course whether the song refers to a year, a car, or a sexual position. Obviously with this kind of artistry, we are not meant to know.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
update/resolution
I think I'm going to get into royal families. Their histories, their scandals, their genealogies...the like. I don't have a particular country in mind, but it seems like there'd be some pretty good books about monarchs.
For example, did you know that know that the term queen mother is not just for every mother of a queen, but for mothers of queens who were once queens themselves. I myself did not know that until I was reading the AP Style Guide recently.
I think this new hobby will dovetail nicely with my interest in popes.
For example, did you know that know that the term queen mother is not just for every mother of a queen, but for mothers of queens who were once queens themselves. I myself did not know that until I was reading the AP Style Guide recently.
I think this new hobby will dovetail nicely with my interest in popes.
Sunday, May 6, 2007
My feud with Drew Barrymore continues
As if ten minutes of watching Drew Barrymore on David Letterman wasn't bad enough, what with her annoying giggling, and her gobbledy gook about living a beautiful life and being your own person, and a clip of her being a bad actress, and her awkward flirting with Dave that's just based on her flashing him like 15 years ago....well, then she drove me crazy by playing with her hair CONSTANTLY. Seriously, if I had a nickel for every time she poofed her hair or put it to a side or behind her ear or whatever, I'd have almost three dollars. Anyways, a good reminder not to play with my hair in public.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
cinco de mayo
This morning I went to the gym. My bus to downtown was driven by a driver-in-training, who I don’t think is going to make it…she kept “spazzing” as she put it and not listening to the guy who was training her. It took awhile to get downtown.
Then, I was walking to the gym. Outside the gym is a sandwich board with balloons, advertising the smoothies and the membership specials. As I approached the gym, I watched a homeless man take a cigarette, and hold it to the string holding one of the balloons, until the balloon burned off and flew away. The man kept walking at that point, satisfied, I guess, by the destruction he had created.
Things like that make me realize that I can’t say anything to anybody, because you just don’t know what people are capable of anymore, or what they’ll do to find a little peace of mind.
In happier news, I went to see the Decemberists last night. They put on a great show, but since I’ve seen them a few times before, I was also happy that it wasn’t the same show over and over. I would really like to be friends with Colin Meloy…I think we would just go to coffee shops and read stuff.
But I did come up with a theory of work at the concert, that might be naïve, but here we go…obviously all members of the Decemberists are talented and original, but in concert, people watch Colin, because he’s singing songs he wrote, playing guitar, jumping around, etc. But everyone has to play a part, and they have to put up with a lead singer who gets all the attention. I should probably remember that at work, that even though I would like to be Colin Meloy, I might just be a drummer or an accordion player right now. I hope that is suitably vague, but even so, I can probably never tell anyone at work about my blog now.
But back to sad/weird things: last night, two seconds after I got dropped off, a truck crossed over from the wrong side and drove into a telephone pole. A few seconds later, the car I had been in might have been hit, or if I hadn’t had a head start walking away, something might have flown off and hit me. If a pole hadn’t been there, he might have driven into an apartment complex. This morning, I saw a car that had been in the way…the side of it was almost completely destroyed. It was the best advertisement for off-street parking I’ve ever seen. Anyways, very scary.
Now I’m doing laundry because I had a dream that I did laundry last night. In the dream, my clothes got completely dyed and destroyed, and I couldn’t figure out how to work the machine. I hope it goes better in real life.
Then, I was walking to the gym. Outside the gym is a sandwich board with balloons, advertising the smoothies and the membership specials. As I approached the gym, I watched a homeless man take a cigarette, and hold it to the string holding one of the balloons, until the balloon burned off and flew away. The man kept walking at that point, satisfied, I guess, by the destruction he had created.
Things like that make me realize that I can’t say anything to anybody, because you just don’t know what people are capable of anymore, or what they’ll do to find a little peace of mind.
In happier news, I went to see the Decemberists last night. They put on a great show, but since I’ve seen them a few times before, I was also happy that it wasn’t the same show over and over. I would really like to be friends with Colin Meloy…I think we would just go to coffee shops and read stuff.
But I did come up with a theory of work at the concert, that might be naïve, but here we go…obviously all members of the Decemberists are talented and original, but in concert, people watch Colin, because he’s singing songs he wrote, playing guitar, jumping around, etc. But everyone has to play a part, and they have to put up with a lead singer who gets all the attention. I should probably remember that at work, that even though I would like to be Colin Meloy, I might just be a drummer or an accordion player right now. I hope that is suitably vague, but even so, I can probably never tell anyone at work about my blog now.
But back to sad/weird things: last night, two seconds after I got dropped off, a truck crossed over from the wrong side and drove into a telephone pole. A few seconds later, the car I had been in might have been hit, or if I hadn’t had a head start walking away, something might have flown off and hit me. If a pole hadn’t been there, he might have driven into an apartment complex. This morning, I saw a car that had been in the way…the side of it was almost completely destroyed. It was the best advertisement for off-street parking I’ve ever seen. Anyways, very scary.
Now I’m doing laundry because I had a dream that I did laundry last night. In the dream, my clothes got completely dyed and destroyed, and I couldn’t figure out how to work the machine. I hope it goes better in real life.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Today I think I swallowed a bug
Did you know 29 years ago today the first spam email was sent out? Well, actually that day is over if you are on the east coast, but I have another few hours to do a spam email update.
Lately the spam has not been so interesting, but there is a new set of spam that has come out from places like Target, and the subject line will be, "$1000 Target gift card for Molly!" But you know it's not real when you're getting offered $1000 gift cards from Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Home Depot, Sears...every store. But now they're getting a little weird:
From: Laptop
Subject: Mollymeade, a free laptop!
I picture a big laptop giving away its tiny little laptop babies.
From: Big
Subject: Bigger collection, Mollymeade
This one made me sad, because it's as if "Big" is acknowledging that he is not enough, and that I should upgrade to "Bigger"
From: Things
Subject: Linens-n-things, Mollymeade
I wonder if Linens agreed to this offer, or if Linens doesn't even know that Things made this offer.
EDIT--WEDNESDAY EVENING: Linens is reading my blog! I got a spam email from Linens, telling me "Mollymeade, Linens-n-things!" An exclamation mark and everything!
From: Lime
Subject: Free Lemon Soda for Mollymeade
Very sneaky, Lime!
Lately the spam has not been so interesting, but there is a new set of spam that has come out from places like Target, and the subject line will be, "$1000 Target gift card for Molly!" But you know it's not real when you're getting offered $1000 gift cards from Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, Home Depot, Sears...every store. But now they're getting a little weird:
From: Laptop
Subject: Mollymeade, a free laptop!
I picture a big laptop giving away its tiny little laptop babies.
From: Big
Subject: Bigger collection, Mollymeade
This one made me sad, because it's as if "Big" is acknowledging that he is not enough, and that I should upgrade to "Bigger"
From: Things
Subject: Linens-n-things, Mollymeade
I wonder if Linens agreed to this offer, or if Linens doesn't even know that Things made this offer.
EDIT--WEDNESDAY EVENING: Linens is reading my blog! I got a spam email from Linens, telling me "Mollymeade, Linens-n-things!" An exclamation mark and everything!
From: Lime
Subject: Free Lemon Soda for Mollymeade
Very sneaky, Lime!
Thursday, May 3, 2007
Book #13: Wide Sargasso Sea
The book: Wide Sargasso Sea, by Jean Rhys
What is this book about: It is the prequel to Jane Eyre, the tale of Mr. Rochester's first wife, the madwoman.
Why did I read this book: Because I read Jane Eyre earlier this year, and this book frequently shows up on those lists of best books of all time.
What did I think of this book: It was a beautiful book--dreamy scenes that flow into each other that tell a sad story of heartbreak and fear.
What was my favorite part of this book: Please don't sue me, estate of Jean Rhys, but I want to use a quote for this:
'Why did you make me want to live? Why did you do that to me?'
'Because I wished it. Isn't that enough?'
'Yes, it is enough. But if one day you didn't wish it. What should I do then? Suppose you took this happiness away when I wasn't looking...'
'And lose my own? Who'd be so foolish?'
'I am not used to happiness,' she said. 'It makes me afraid.'
'Never be afraid. Or if you are tell no one.'
'I understand. But trying does not help me.'
'What would?' She did not answer that, then one night whispered, 'If I could die. Now, when I am happy. Would you do that? You wouldn't have to kill me. Say die and I will die. You don't believe me? Then try, try, say die and watch me die.'
'Die then! Die!' I watched her die many times. In my way, not hers. In sunlight, in shadow, by moonlight, by candlelight. In the long afternoons when the house was empty. Only the sun was there to keep us company. We shut him out.
What did I learn from this book: I don't know what I learned, really, because reading the Wikipedia entry, I found out I missed the whole postcolonial theme. But I think it's important to remember that behind the crazy people is likely a sad story, and circumstances beyond their control. I need to remember that when the crazy people get on the bus.
What grade do I give this book: B-
What is this book about: It is the prequel to Jane Eyre, the tale of Mr. Rochester's first wife, the madwoman.
Why did I read this book: Because I read Jane Eyre earlier this year, and this book frequently shows up on those lists of best books of all time.
What did I think of this book: It was a beautiful book--dreamy scenes that flow into each other that tell a sad story of heartbreak and fear.
What was my favorite part of this book: Please don't sue me, estate of Jean Rhys, but I want to use a quote for this:
'Why did you make me want to live? Why did you do that to me?'
'Because I wished it. Isn't that enough?'
'Yes, it is enough. But if one day you didn't wish it. What should I do then? Suppose you took this happiness away when I wasn't looking...'
'And lose my own? Who'd be so foolish?'
'I am not used to happiness,' she said. 'It makes me afraid.'
'Never be afraid. Or if you are tell no one.'
'I understand. But trying does not help me.'
'What would?' She did not answer that, then one night whispered, 'If I could die. Now, when I am happy. Would you do that? You wouldn't have to kill me. Say die and I will die. You don't believe me? Then try, try, say die and watch me die.'
'Die then! Die!' I watched her die many times. In my way, not hers. In sunlight, in shadow, by moonlight, by candlelight. In the long afternoons when the house was empty. Only the sun was there to keep us company. We shut him out.
What did I learn from this book: I don't know what I learned, really, because reading the Wikipedia entry, I found out I missed the whole postcolonial theme. But I think it's important to remember that behind the crazy people is likely a sad story, and circumstances beyond their control. I need to remember that when the crazy people get on the bus.
What grade do I give this book: B-
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