Taking a break from spoiling Harry Potter to discuss some summer Television.
SYTYCD: Now that we're in our top 10, I've gotta say that I don't like the format of them all performing the same solo routine. I'd rather they get a theme and get to perform in their own style (maybe even working with a choreagrapher to come up with it). The same performance concept might be more fair but it's a little boring. Sabra is still The ONE and I think she should win the competition. This should be a year for a woman to win because the 5 guys, outside of Danny, aren't really spectacular dancers. Also, Sarah has great legs.
Damages and Saving Grace: Damages was stylish but a little boring and maybe a little too obtuse. Saving Grace, meanwhile, has just about every character totally overacting but I was committed. I've been a Holly Hunter fan since Always (not to mention Raising Arizona) though and I'm a sucker for her most of the time.
Anthony Bourdain's No Reservations: I'm actually watching a show on Travel Channel! Amazing. And really quite good.
After the moral themes of the book on meritocracy, freedom and equality, I was a bit disappointed by the ending. I won't give anything away. All I am saying is that this last book offered an opportunity to be as clear as possible about the evils of hypocrisy, self-hatred and of racism -- for both individuals and society at large. After a title like Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (the previous book), I was expecting a bit more. Perhaps J.K. Rowling thought it might be overkill to state things clearly. I for one am not so sure.
- On Harry Potter and Mudbloods, Jack and Jill Politics, 07.23.07
I think JK was spot on in the way she handled these themes. Always a running undercurrent of her 7 novels, the prickly problems of race and class are rarely the primary theme but are often the key turning points in the relationships and fortunes of characters on both sides of the wand. The characters I most associate with racism, The Malfoys and The Dursleys, consistently get their just desserts and The Malfoys, in particular, have an absolutely awful go of it over the last two books (while still clinging heartily to their beliefs in blood purity). Meanwhile, everyone except Hermione accepts the concept of an elfen underclass that they generally treat horribly, to such a degree, in fact, that an elf's entire world view is overthrown by simple acts of kindness and appreciation. And, in the Deathly Hallows, we are presented with the complication of goblins. Goblins, while generally distasteful, seem to have a pretty compelling reason for distrusting and disliking humanity.
The strongest statement that JK could and does make is that while we all must navigate this maze of societal ooze, life is happening. It goes on.
note: I can't contain myself anymore so I'm going to start discussing The Deathly Hallows. Read on at your peril.
Perhaps it's blasphemy to even suggest it, but didn't the epilogue read to you as a perfect seven-page treatment for the pilot of Hogwarts: The Next Generation, airing at 5:30 weekdays on The N? Think of it! Short, silly half-hour stories, set among students preoccupied not by the specter of unthinkable evil but by the more daunting prospects of homework, cliques, and navigating their way through adolescence.
- SPOILER! The real wizardry in Deathly Hallows, Slate, 07.24.07
One of the most interesting and debatable areas of the book is the epilogue and where our heroes are as adults. We're given an unexpected result -- normalcy -- and a quick peek at the next generation of wizards. I'm willing to put Harry's adventures to rest but I could get down with checking out the new kids and a world of fantasy and magic where death isn't lurking around every corner. With a little teen angst thrown in for good measure.
If you’ve watched Live before, you know the top of the show is usually the most entertaining. That’s the part called “Host Chat”, when Regis and Kelly tell you the news, their opinions, and their crazy lives. Well, now if you miss that part of the show, it’s being streamed online. Not too many syndicated shows stream their content online. I’ve been told it’s usually due to contracts with affiliates. It’s nice to see those walls finally coming down.
- Live with Regis and Kelly streaming online, Lost Remote, 07.17.07
I haven't been too happy with my last.fm recommendations of late (outside of some recent suggestions of some old favorites like The Futureheads, Scissor Sisters, and MF DOOM) but this week, some very pleasant surprises...
The last.fm recommendation was for Jneiro Jarel but that sent me to this compilation which is filled with some hot soul records like this Rich Medina joint.
- EpitonicMarc Bianchi of AudioInformationPhenomena Records has been making records under the name her space holiday since 1997, creating lovely, simple pop full of soothing vocals, warm guitar sounds, mechanical beats, and twinkling piano lines. Over the years, her space holiday's sound has evolved, incorporating electronic and jazz elements.
Perfect.
Her Space Holiday, I'm sure, has to do with my recent heavy rotation of Bjork, Feist, and Peter Bjorn & John. The rest have to come from my current obsession with recent Jazzanova compilations and the Eccentric Soul: Twinight's Lunar Rotation 2-Disc collection.
Whatever the cause...me likey.
It would require a separate essay to break down every beat of this episode’s climax, which I will hyperbolically state to be the greatest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Faced with the dreadful possibility of killing it with both analysis and over-praise, I find I’d rather go off on a tangent and mention how cool it is that Meyer Dickstein’s (Willie Garson) fiancée is played by Baby-in-a-corner Jennifer Grey, or how awesome it is to see Deadwood’s Trixie, Paula Malcomson, doing tight T-shirt waitress duties. Such greatness, you see, strikes me fanboy dumb, leaves me gasping for air in its wake. I wouldn’t dream of ruining such a potentially profound experience for others with my inadequate words. Better, like Shaun with Tina, to trust in the quiet gaze, in the hope that – by merely bearing witness – the mystery, the miracle, shall reveal itself.
- The House Next Door: John From Cincinnati Mondays, Ep. 6 "His Visit: Day 5" by Keith Uhlich, 07.16.07
Somehow, despite it's concept, sometimes oft-putting performances, and my own general skepticism, "John From Cincinnati" has become my favorite show of this Summer. This most recent episode which was chock full of revelations and one absolutely amazing and engrossing scene was one of the finest pieces of television since "Six Feet Under" went off the air.
- International Players Anthem (I Choose You) (f/ Outkast) - UGK
- Innocence - Bjork
- Black Mirror - The Arcade Fire
- Body Never Lies - Miguel Migs
- Crushin' (Yeeeeah!) - Jay Dee
- Put Your Hands On Me - Joss Stone
- Unlike Me - Kate Havnevik
- He Can Only Hold Her - Amy Winehouse
- I'm A Flirt (Remix)(Feat. T.I. & T-Pain) - R.Kelly
- Give It To Me (f/ Nelly Furtado & Justin Timberlake) - Timbaland
Honorable Mention:
- Hip Hop (RMX f/ Jadakiss & Saigon) - Joell Ortiz
- My Loss, Your Gain - Money Mark
- Lookin' At Me Sideways - Brother Ali
- A Moment In Time - Evidence
- Solta o Frango - Bonde Do Role
- Don't Act (f/ Freeway) - Skillz
- Lazy Girls - Jill Cuniff
It's that time of year isn't it? My 10 favorite 2007 releases so far.
And the rest:
6. Feist - The Reminder
7. Jay Dee - Ruff Draft
8. Evidence - The Weatherman LP
9. Peter Bjorn & John - Writer's Block
10. Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
2 conversations this week have had me thinking back on potential loves and actual relationships and the differing emotions they evoke now. One, on reflection, was bittersweet and genuine and led to my single favorite piece of my own writing and not to mention lives on as one of the finest friendships of my life. The other was sexy and exciting and a soap opera and kind of fucked up then but incredibly fucked up now more than a year after it ended in light of some screwy new information. I wrote about that one as well.
So while I think about one with a smile and the other with a mad screw face, let's dig into the negro please archives:
AUTHOR: Jason Toney
TITLE: Distractions
DATE: 06/07/2004 10:48:42 AM
-----
"I don't think you love me. Confusion setting in. I don't think I'll be staying around here anymore." - Zero 7, Passing By
Sia took the stage during the second encore for what would be her last song with Zero 7 for the evening on the last night of their North American tour in the beautiful John Anson Ford Ampitheatre. She thanked the band, the crew, and us for making their last show so enjoyable.She also said, "And now everybody kiss each other on the lips. With tongues."
And we stood next to each other, two thirds of the way up from the stage on the left hand side, not kissing.
The weird thing about falling for one of your friends is that when it doesn't work out as planned, you don't really know what happens next. It's not as if you can just stop seeing that person. At least, I know I can't do that. The whole point is that I love spending time with her.
But now, in your head, it's awkward. There are things you want to say but can't. There are things you want to do but don't.
Is it okay to hold her hand, give her more than the cursory hug, mention how cute she looks?
How does that make her feel? If you talk to another girl in her presence does that make her feel uncomfortable? Does it hurt you if she doesn't feel uncomfortable? Of course it does. You want her to want you like you want her.
But she doesn't. So...so what?
While the Lakers were losing to a team that shouldn't beat them, Jason Bentley was spinning the tracks in front of a decidedly scenester crowd. Expensive jeans and gaudy blouses, camera phones and bright tennis shoes, all the pretty people in LA who, at least this year, care more about music than basketball were in attendance.
Cree Summer and a woman who looked like she might be her sister were down the row from us dancing. Most of the rest of the capacity crowd, however, were not. When Zero 7 finally took the stage, most folks continued to sit.
I did not.
How can you sit when Mozez, Ms. Tina Dico, Sophie Barker, and the lovely and talented Sia are performing with the band that I would want to compose the soundtrack for the movie to my life?
Fuck a scenester crowd.
I'm sure the drama is all in my head. We're having a great time, really. We're discussing Harry Potter and bad fashion choices and my sister and her brother and the summer and how we should convince someone to have a Skin to Win Party during these hot, sunny months (because, in the Year of the Sexy, Skinning is Winning!) and I'm happy.
But why isn't it more? Why isn't it ever more?
Maybe in the Year of the Sexy, I've been hoping way more than sexing.
Hope is for Herbs.
The Lovely Ms. Tina Dico takes the stage and begins to sing the sultry Home. She sways her hips in her black mini dress with aqua leggings and high heels below. It totally shouldn't work but it does and I'm lost in the moment.
I know every word to these songs of love, love lost, love won, and the thoughts that rumble through my brain that I likely should be saying aloud.
I'm standing, one of only maybe 4 people doing so, and I'm rocking back and forth to the music and her voice and I'm singing. For the next 90 minutes, I'll be alive. Truly alive.
I'm not even mad at her. What is there to be mad about? We have friendship. Great, wonderful, special friendship.
I'm sad, though. Sad for myself. Throwing my own little pity party.
I'm sure I hide it well in her presence.
I'm a master at bullshit. I'm a master at breezy.
At what point, though, will I put my feelings first and stop being so damn accomodating?
When do I start forcing people to make some choices?
When do I start making choices of my own?
I love Sia. It's really quite terrible this crush. I would absolutely be her groupie. I should have gone to the after party last night and tried to steal her away from her man. I've never had this kind of Tiger Beat crush before. I fall for fictional characters, never the real deal, but Sia? Her voice, her spirit, her absolute magnificence fills me with warmth and joy. She touches something deep in me.
Mozez commands the crowd. Sophie is elegant and poised. Tina is sexy and alluring. Sia, though, is infectious. She encourages Tina to dance. She brightens an already well lit stage.
"This is a song about love," she said. It's much more than that. Somersault is a song about life. About, really, all I want in life. All I want to be for someone in this life.
You're the prince to my ballerina
You feed other people's parking meters
You encourage the eating of ice cream
You would somersault in sand with meYou talk to loners, you ask how's your week
You give love to all and give love to me
You're obsessed with hiding the sticks and stones
When I feel the unknown
You feel like home, you feel like homeDistractions is the last song. Sia has just asked us all to kiss. After a few moments, she looks back out into the audience and most of us are not following orders.
"Well, get started", she said and laughed. We're all standing now. I closed my eyes, thought about the week I'd had, the truth in my heart, and sang along as passionately as I could.
I love you, I love you, I love you, I do
I only make jokes to distract myself
From the truth, from the truth.It was an amazing show.
I just wish I was still distracted from the truth.
Sweet, right?
And then there's...
AUTHOR: Jason Toney
TITLE: Not Dancing With Myself
DATE: 02/26/2006 07:49:44 PM
-----"Afficianado. So fashionable. With a confident swagger. International. With a game so tight that the ladies have to go 'And You Don't Stop'" - Beanie Sigel, Don't Stop (with Snoop Dogg)
I'm in a cult.We meet regularly. We have trouble talking about anything other than the cult when we're together. We're constantly trying to recruit new members. We sweat all over each other a lot.
We have leaders. One great guru guides our way, mostly from afar, but he has many disciples and they push us as hard as they can on our personal quests for...for what? Enlightenment? Strong mind and body? Sexiness?
Each person's journey is their own.
In Studio City, there is a club. It is on the second floor of a strip mall. It has leather booths and a full attractive bar with overpriced drinks but a bartender with a heavy hand. It also has a dance floor.
On Wednesday nights, lately, it has us. And, at least for now, only us.
We members of the cult start rolling in around 10, no longer in our sweaty uniforms. We dress up. Despite the fact that we are only going to see the same people we just
worked out withworshipped with a few hours prior, we put our best feet forward. One of our instructors is spinning records here. He demands our presence so we are here.We complain that he only plays music we can hear in class. We argue with him that he can't be calling himself a DJ if he is putting his mixes on autoplay while he dances on the dance floor with us. I complain for real. I'm serious. I want to hear something real and new and fresh. They complain in jest. In flirtation. They want him to notice them. To pay just a little more attention. To show them love.
I laugh. It is amusing to me. Besides, I am here with the MVP. We dance hand in hand, eyes locked on each other. Synchronous motion.
Except now we're not. Here he is. He pushes into our space as if I'm not even there. It's alright. It's cool. I'll dance with the other ladies while they shoot daggers at him and her. He does this to taunt his fan club. It's cool. I get it. He goes back to his records. The MVP returns to my side with a hug and a whisper in my ear.
It's cool.
We're all dancing in a circle. He's back on the floor with us. We're all in unison. Two girls not with us have decided to put on a show in the corner. Gyrating and grinding on each other. Grabbing in places best left for the bedroom. I, of course, crack up. While I do so, he swoops in again.
It ain't cool. Nah, it is. It's alright. I go get a drink. I mean, we're here together as friends. Nothing more. He's my friend, too, right? What's the big deal? My manhood is bruised a bit but that's just ego. She comes over and expresses concern. We return to the dance floor hand in hand.
It's cool.
This motherfucker does it again. Apparently, I'm looking dejected now. I've drank too many drinks to continue to wear the mask. Another woman comes up to me. She sees I have murder in my eyes. She asks if I would like to dance. I agree. She asks what's wrong.
"I'm gettin' punked out by a friend and there's nothing I can do about."
"Why not," she asks.
I don't have an answer.
The MVP and I leave. It's cold. I have my arms wrapped around her to keep her warm.
From behind I hear, "She's riding with me."
We turn to face him. She's still in my arms.
I will not be punked again.
