The post that NO ONE has been waiting for!
Well, I am super excited to write it, so awesome!
Last night I saw Wicked. It was the third time I have seen it, I first time was in New York (and NO, not with Idina... I've said that a lot recently. I wish it was Idina), and then last year in Sydney.
You can read all about what I thought about the New York production here. That is actually a good post about my fleeing the country since it features the link to my quote in the New York Post.
I just reread that post, I was nowhere near as harsh as what I'm about to be. Then again, I think the talent pool of musical actors in New York is much wider. Or I was just super excited to be in New York, which just as likely.
Now, as a precursor to this. I love Wicked. It is one of my favourite musicals.
I'm very much of the "with all it's faults, I love it still" school of thought.
I am not blinded by the awesome and the lights, so if you are going to come in with a "oh noes! Wicked is awesome, how dare you say these horrible things"
Then I laugh a little bit because I can easily say it because I'm not deaf!
So, if you are one of those fanboys who are gonna throw stuff at me for being "mean" or whatever, pretend like I care, since your fanboy status probably has nothing on me.
Ok, I realised something was strange when I started writing.
I didn't have the right soundtrack to my writing happening, but that's now been rectified, hello Idina, I've missed you so.
Last night, the ever present KT and I went on a hot date of pancakes and Wicked.
I am pretty sure I should not word it like that on here.
The pancakes WERE delicious, thanks for asking!
KT was also sick and delirious and almost killed children on the train. It was fun!
The KT part is important part of the story, because it features me getting slapped a lot.
The thing I was most excited about in seeing Wicked this time was the complete and utter lack of Millsy as Fiyero. He is just bad. So bad.
The understudy who was on last night was good, much better.
He managed to get the high notes in As Long As Your Mine. That makes him a keeper in my eyes.
The tight pants at the begining... Well, that's a different issue, he looked much better when he got some looser pants on.
Ok, I just went on a Idina YouTube fest. I'm sorry world.
But that's part of my problem.
I will always compare whoever plays Elaphba and Glinda to Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenowith, and it is is easy to compare to the Original Broadway Cast Recording, because that's what I hear so much, but that's not what I compare it to.
Because I am completely aware of the things that you can do in the recording process, the mixing, the mastering. There is LOTS you can do.
"Ok, Idina, that was great, but just want you to do that last chorus of Defying Gravity again to overdub it. Awesome".
To destroy the magic, that's what happens. I have a further post I want to make about this.
Thus, comparing anything live to a recording is stupid. Yes, I said. You simply can't do it. Unless it is a live recording, but that's a different kettle of fish.
But YouTube? YouTube is a whole nother ballgame. YouTube that is illegally taken, hello copyright, didn't see you there!
Which generally has crappy audio, and you know it's live, and I'm not going to lie, I've watched A LOT of those of Idina and Cheno, so that's the live performance and thus my standard.
And, well, it's Idina and it's Cheno!
As we walked into the theatre KT was all like "I think I like this Glinda more than Cheno" and for the record, yes, Cheno IS how we say it. I was completely devestated.
How could I know someone that would make such outrageous statements about the awesomeness that is Cheno?
Seriously, Cheno should beat you to death with her Tony!
Sorry, where was I?
Now, something you may not know about me is that I enjoy making sarcastic commentary. I know it is a shocking, shocking revelation but you know, sarcastic commentary.
Yes, I will be on that special level of hell for people who talk in the theatre.
Now, KT has threatened to slap me A LOT. Some times I feel if she hasn't threatened to slap me once every time I see here I am not doing my duty as a friend.
She has never carried through with this threat, I found out the reasoning is because I don't like sudden movement and her going to slap me is enough to freak me out.
Yeah, this isn't the Wicked standard though, since I got slapped a fair bit. She didn't care much for my commentary and if anyone is wondering, no, no one did try and kill me.
I stopped writing for some reason and now I don't really remember my issues that I had, but considering that we bitched all throughout intermission and for the train trip home.
Dammit! Why did I stop writing earlier?
I remember there was an issue with some weird harmonies and them sounding off key, well, probably true, but in Defying Gravity, there are some weird harmonies.
It's just strange.
I could try and analyse it with my mad musical skillz, but I can't be bothered.
But there are just some harmonies that aren't the most consonance of a note combination and just say if you are having an off night than it just sounds bad.
My remembering of details is fuzzing.
So in conclusion: I'm a harsh, harsh judge.
I watch too many things on YouTube.
I'm a massive, massive fangirl.
Good times.
Enjoy!
Showing posts with label not-so angry rant. Show all posts
Showing posts with label not-so angry rant. Show all posts
Some times I just like to talk in to a camera...
- 1:53 PM
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Yes, I have another vlog for you.
I actually did this one a couple of weeks ago and didn't upload it for some strange reason or I thought it wasn't very interesting but then I figured, no one has told me I'm uninteresting and it really amuses me. So enjoy.
There is another one to go up in the next or so.
That one features a preview of what's upcoming next on Elyse's Adventures Talking to the Camera.
Yeah, I'll eventually get around to making actual videos with proper editing and stuff, but you know, Lazy.
I think the begining of this is my favourite...
Procrasinating VIA GUITAR! from Super Flyse on Vimeo.
That and I love the screen caps of those.
I just want to know how to change them.
Enjoy.
Please comment. I need external validation.
I actually did this one a couple of weeks ago and didn't upload it for some strange reason or I thought it wasn't very interesting but then I figured, no one has told me I'm uninteresting and it really amuses me. So enjoy.
There is another one to go up in the next or so.
That one features a preview of what's upcoming next on Elyse's Adventures Talking to the Camera.
Yeah, I'll eventually get around to making actual videos with proper editing and stuff, but you know, Lazy.
I think the begining of this is my favourite...
Procrasinating VIA GUITAR! from Super Flyse on Vimeo.
That and I love the screen caps of those.
I just want to know how to change them.
Enjoy.
Please comment. I need external validation.
Helping out my googlers... The May Edition...
- 4:22 PM
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It's the 2nd of the Month, which means only one thing.
And that one thing only means something to me, but that one thing is all those Google Questions answered!
This is the third part of a series which I hope is ongoing because it my favourite thing to write!
This Month's Google Searches, that lead many people here. I am here to answer the questions you never asked!
1. Elyse and the aftermath
I am not entirely sure why so many of these searches include my name, but it happens a lot. Maybe I should stop referring to myself in the third person so much....
Nah... That's not going to happen.
Though, I am assuming you are asking about my role in the aftermath.
So, I did a quick dictionary search of "aftermath", just so we are all clear on the matter.
Here are the meanings:
Well, I don't actually have a role in any kind of farming.
Thus, my story of Elyse and the aftermath.
"As the workers slaved away in the field at the hands of a master that was very unforiving, Elyse, the name they spat out whenever it was mentioned. Whenever something even sounded like that very name there was a united shudder. They were trapped in this field, untited in the hatred of this Elyse character.
They planned, the schemed and under the moon of the harvest they decided that finally they would have action.
Once their duty was done and their debts apparently paid off as the corn was collected and bundled together to sell at the market. They would rise up and take control of the land.
They would be free.
At least, the day was done and the fields were clear.
They took their posestions and the plan began.
The small ringleaders had expected the masses to follow, but they did not.
They were defeated and their cries of the defeat cried out into the night as their blood made way for the new growth of land.
Their blood would create the aftermath of the next harvest".
That is why I'm not a writer.
So, another story of Elyse and the first definition of aftermath.
Consequence?
Well, we all have consequence.
What kind of thing are you looking for?
My consequence is that I get to see who people really are.
It's interesting.
It's not in good times that you find out who people are, it's when they are challenged.
That's the fun of the aftermath.
That's where things are revealed.
I really wish that wasn't the case.
But alas.
Stick with the first story...
It's kind of funny.
2. Hugging Problem
Admitting you have a problem is the first step.
Or is the second step?
Is it even a step?
Whatever, so you have a hugging problem.
Do you feel unconformtable hugging people or being hugged?
Or are you just really bad at it and need some guidance into how to hug.
If that is the case, I am in the process of working on an instructional video about hugging.
I promise it won't include any rap and that hurts me most of all.
The first thing when it comes to hugging is an understanding between the person more active in the hugging process (the hugger) and then the person who is kind of relecant (the huggee).
Hey, if you are having a problem with the hugging, there is gonna be a hugger and a huggee...
If it's a mutual problem, then you are probably hugging wrong and you need to sit down with your behugged and talk some stuff out.
Especially if you feel a need to be doing the Christian Side Hug because otherwise the sexual tension is making everyone feel uncomfortable.
If you hugging someone has ever made a non-hugging particapiant leave the room.
You need to have a "Hug Chat" which is the discussing of when your hugs became less hugging more canoodling.
Now the understanding needs to take into account the fact of what kind of hug is it going to be?
Is gonna be a side hug?
Is it gonna be a they are sitting down, I'm standing up and thus there needs to work out how they hugging is gonna work like that?
Awkward car hug?
There are so many questions to be asked.
And I will provide solutions in the Ramblings of Elyse presents: Hugging Problems- What's up with that?
Trust me googler, I got your back. I'll work on this day and night until I have an answer!
3. Literal Songs
I get this one a lot.
Which is kind of awesome and hilarious.
What is a literal song?
It is a song that accompanies the original song's filmclip but the words have been changed to describe what is happening in the film clip.
Though, for a dictionary definition:
Literal: taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or allegory
Song: a short poem or other set of words set to music or meant to be sung.
So, taking words in their most basic sense without metaphor set to music.
Ummm... that's not helpful.
Just read the original post.
4. Stalking
Dictionary: harass or persecute (someone) with unwanted and obsessive attention
I assume you already knew that, perhaps you were looking for some tips on stalking.
I suppose I could supply some...
Not really my area of expertise, but I do have a friend that her alternative use is her knowledge of stalking.
I could ask, since she is totally stalking me.
I think she is outside my window right now.
But, from what I've learnt from TV.
Stalking will totally get you the girl of your dreams...
It may just be if you are a vampire.
So, if you are a vampire. Stalk her until she gives in. Just remember: Be Safe.
5. Ramblings of Elyse
That would be here.
I hope you found what you were looking for.
Which seems like a ramble from Elyse and I am only too happy to provide such a service.
6. Whatever Happened to Elyse?
Good question.
Anyone know the answer?
Until next month, Search hard.
And that one thing only means something to me, but that one thing is all those Google Questions answered!
This is the third part of a series which I hope is ongoing because it my favourite thing to write!
This Month's Google Searches, that lead many people here. I am here to answer the questions you never asked!
1. Elyse and the aftermath
I am not entirely sure why so many of these searches include my name, but it happens a lot. Maybe I should stop referring to myself in the third person so much....
Nah... That's not going to happen.
Though, I am assuming you are asking about my role in the aftermath.
So, I did a quick dictionary search of "aftermath", just so we are all clear on the matter.
Here are the meanings:
aftermath |ˈaftərˌmaθ|
noun
1 the consequences or aftereffects of an event, esp. when unpleasant : food prices soared in the aftermath of the drought.
2 Farming new grass growing after mowing or harvest.
Well, I don't actually have a role in any kind of farming.
Thus, my story of Elyse and the aftermath.
"As the workers slaved away in the field at the hands of a master that was very unforiving, Elyse, the name they spat out whenever it was mentioned. Whenever something even sounded like that very name there was a united shudder. They were trapped in this field, untited in the hatred of this Elyse character.
They planned, the schemed and under the moon of the harvest they decided that finally they would have action.
Once their duty was done and their debts apparently paid off as the corn was collected and bundled together to sell at the market. They would rise up and take control of the land.
They would be free.
At least, the day was done and the fields were clear.
They took their posestions and the plan began.
The small ringleaders had expected the masses to follow, but they did not.
They were defeated and their cries of the defeat cried out into the night as their blood made way for the new growth of land.
Their blood would create the aftermath of the next harvest".
That is why I'm not a writer.
So, another story of Elyse and the first definition of aftermath.
Consequence?
Well, we all have consequence.
What kind of thing are you looking for?
My consequence is that I get to see who people really are.
It's interesting.
It's not in good times that you find out who people are, it's when they are challenged.
That's the fun of the aftermath.
That's where things are revealed.
I really wish that wasn't the case.
But alas.
Stick with the first story...
It's kind of funny.
2. Hugging Problem
Admitting you have a problem is the first step.
Or is the second step?
Is it even a step?
Whatever, so you have a hugging problem.
Do you feel unconformtable hugging people or being hugged?
Or are you just really bad at it and need some guidance into how to hug.
If that is the case, I am in the process of working on an instructional video about hugging.
I promise it won't include any rap and that hurts me most of all.
The first thing when it comes to hugging is an understanding between the person more active in the hugging process (the hugger) and then the person who is kind of relecant (the huggee).
Hey, if you are having a problem with the hugging, there is gonna be a hugger and a huggee...
If it's a mutual problem, then you are probably hugging wrong and you need to sit down with your behugged and talk some stuff out.
Especially if you feel a need to be doing the Christian Side Hug because otherwise the sexual tension is making everyone feel uncomfortable.
If you hugging someone has ever made a non-hugging particapiant leave the room.
You need to have a "Hug Chat" which is the discussing of when your hugs became less hugging more canoodling.
Now the understanding needs to take into account the fact of what kind of hug is it going to be?
Is gonna be a side hug?
Is it gonna be a they are sitting down, I'm standing up and thus there needs to work out how they hugging is gonna work like that?
Awkward car hug?
There are so many questions to be asked.
And I will provide solutions in the Ramblings of Elyse presents: Hugging Problems- What's up with that?
Trust me googler, I got your back. I'll work on this day and night until I have an answer!
3. Literal Songs
I get this one a lot.
Which is kind of awesome and hilarious.
What is a literal song?
It is a song that accompanies the original song's filmclip but the words have been changed to describe what is happening in the film clip.
Though, for a dictionary definition:
Literal: taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or allegory
Song: a short poem or other set of words set to music or meant to be sung.
So, taking words in their most basic sense without metaphor set to music.
Ummm... that's not helpful.
Just read the original post.
4. Stalking
Dictionary: harass or persecute (someone) with unwanted and obsessive attention
I assume you already knew that, perhaps you were looking for some tips on stalking.
I suppose I could supply some...
Not really my area of expertise, but I do have a friend that her alternative use is her knowledge of stalking.
I could ask, since she is totally stalking me.
I think she is outside my window right now.
But, from what I've learnt from TV.
Stalking will totally get you the girl of your dreams...
It may just be if you are a vampire.
So, if you are a vampire. Stalk her until she gives in. Just remember: Be Safe.
5. Ramblings of Elyse
That would be here.
I hope you found what you were looking for.
Which seems like a ramble from Elyse and I am only too happy to provide such a service.
6. Whatever Happened to Elyse?
Good question.
Anyone know the answer?
Until next month, Search hard.
Glee- What's up with that?
- 1:29 AM
- Write comment
One of the current massive shows hitting the Australian airwaves is Glee.
You know it's massive, because it is only one week behind the States and oh em gee, they promo the fuck out of it!
Now, I watch an embarrassingly lack of TV. It brings me shame the amount of TV I don't watch. Television pays me, I should watch it more.
The very little television I watch is a result of walking through a room and the TV is on.
My mum is loving the Masterchef, which is funny because it is so overdramatic. I just saw a group on facebook with the caption "More Cooking, Less Sooking", though my favourite was "Less crying, more frying".
That's not the point.
So last night, I was watching TV while eating my dinner and mocking the melodrama that is Masterchef. One of those contestants was a cop! A COP! And she had this breakdown in one of the challenges. What's with that?
Harden up, princess.
Then I started to watch Glee and saw something awesome in the credits... IDINA MENZEL! WAS IN GLEE!!
Idina Menzel!
If you do not know who that is, get out of my blog. Just get out...
Ok, I'll play nice. Idina Menzel is the original Broadway Maureen from Rent (So thus, plays Maureen in the movie) and is also the original Elaphba from Wicked... So on a show... Where they sing?
FUCKING AWESOME!
She didn't sing. That made me sad.
But I watched Glee.
The entire episode.
It's interesting.
I saw the pilot and this was like the second season or something, I don't really follow.
I watched and then the singing started.
I'm a musical fan, randomly singing doesn't bother me at all.
Though, Glee it isn't just random singing... It's in-show singing. Part of the context.
With apparently the most awesome band ever, who just happen to know all these songs all the time.
Yeah, I did think that when I watched it.
Especially when the teacher is all "Play anything, the band knows it!" So, that amused me. That is not a direct quote, I am clearly making it up.
Now, so we get the singing.
And Oh Em Gee...
What the hell is with the singing?
Now before someone is all like "There singing is awesome. You don't know what you are talking about".
I preemptively say shut up.
I do know what I'm talking about because I have both muso cred and musical nerd cred and well, shut up, this is my blog.
I don't have a problem with the actual singing but it is just so processed!
You can tell that they are lip syncing... badly.
Well, it's in time, it's just really obvious that it isn't live.
This leads me to a rant about live music and processing and how CDs have destroyed expectations about the live music experience, but that's for another blog.
It sounds exciting doesn't it?
Remember, I'm a 1/6th of a Sound Engineer.
The musical numbers are good, but I still think the thing that would make it better is if Idina Menzel sang.
Though, plot wise I am expecting something horrible to happen to Rachel, I'm also predicting it is revealed that Rachel is the secret lovechild of Idina Menzel's character (I don't know her name due to the squee-ing. Yes, I am totally a Idina Menzel fangirl)
Because really... Those two, look exactly the same.
I stole photos and everything!
<----- Idina
Lea Michelle --->
See what I'm saying.
I would completely buy that.
I'm buying it now without it even being in existence!
I think I should have found photos that imply it better, but still...
Totally needs to happen.
I had one of the songs from Glee in my head all day and then it came on the radio. That radio was cursed today. We'd talk about songs and then they'd play.
Thus, we were talking about Glee.
Glee was created by the same dude that created Popular, an awesome, awesome so underrated series from the late 90s/early 00s. Fricken awesome show.
Which gives the show a massive head start with me, because I did love that show.
That being said, super quotable. That's a plus.
At this stage, I'll remain a geek and the L will be because of my loser status.
So, this writer is not a Gleek.
The "This writer" was for my own amusement and to emphasis the loser status, but oh well...
Glee... That's what is up with that.
That is not a good tag line.
You know it's massive, because it is only one week behind the States and oh em gee, they promo the fuck out of it!
Now, I watch an embarrassingly lack of TV. It brings me shame the amount of TV I don't watch. Television pays me, I should watch it more.
The very little television I watch is a result of walking through a room and the TV is on.
My mum is loving the Masterchef, which is funny because it is so overdramatic. I just saw a group on facebook with the caption "More Cooking, Less Sooking", though my favourite was "Less crying, more frying".
That's not the point.
So last night, I was watching TV while eating my dinner and mocking the melodrama that is Masterchef. One of those contestants was a cop! A COP! And she had this breakdown in one of the challenges. What's with that?
Harden up, princess.
Then I started to watch Glee and saw something awesome in the credits... IDINA MENZEL! WAS IN GLEE!!
Idina Menzel!
If you do not know who that is, get out of my blog. Just get out...
Ok, I'll play nice. Idina Menzel is the original Broadway Maureen from Rent (So thus, plays Maureen in the movie) and is also the original Elaphba from Wicked... So on a show... Where they sing?
FUCKING AWESOME!
She didn't sing. That made me sad.
But I watched Glee.
The entire episode.
It's interesting.
I saw the pilot and this was like the second season or something, I don't really follow.
I watched and then the singing started.
I'm a musical fan, randomly singing doesn't bother me at all.
Though, Glee it isn't just random singing... It's in-show singing. Part of the context.
With apparently the most awesome band ever, who just happen to know all these songs all the time.
Yeah, I did think that when I watched it.
Especially when the teacher is all "Play anything, the band knows it!" So, that amused me. That is not a direct quote, I am clearly making it up.
Now, so we get the singing.
And Oh Em Gee...
What the hell is with the singing?
Now before someone is all like "There singing is awesome. You don't know what you are talking about".
I preemptively say shut up.
I do know what I'm talking about because I have both muso cred and musical nerd cred and well, shut up, this is my blog.
I don't have a problem with the actual singing but it is just so processed!
You can tell that they are lip syncing... badly.
Well, it's in time, it's just really obvious that it isn't live.
This leads me to a rant about live music and processing and how CDs have destroyed expectations about the live music experience, but that's for another blog.
It sounds exciting doesn't it?
Remember, I'm a 1/6th of a Sound Engineer.
The musical numbers are good, but I still think the thing that would make it better is if Idina Menzel sang.
Though, plot wise I am expecting something horrible to happen to Rachel, I'm also predicting it is revealed that Rachel is the secret lovechild of Idina Menzel's character (I don't know her name due to the squee-ing. Yes, I am totally a Idina Menzel fangirl)
Because really... Those two, look exactly the same.
I stole photos and everything!
<----- Idina
Lea Michelle --->
See what I'm saying.
I would completely buy that.
I'm buying it now without it even being in existence!
I think I should have found photos that imply it better, but still...
Totally needs to happen.
I had one of the songs from Glee in my head all day and then it came on the radio. That radio was cursed today. We'd talk about songs and then they'd play.
Thus, we were talking about Glee.
Glee was created by the same dude that created Popular, an awesome, awesome so underrated series from the late 90s/early 00s. Fricken awesome show.
Which gives the show a massive head start with me, because I did love that show.
That being said, super quotable. That's a plus.
At this stage, I'll remain a geek and the L will be because of my loser status.
So, this writer is not a Gleek.
The "This writer" was for my own amusement and to emphasis the loser status, but oh well...
Glee... That's what is up with that.
That is not a good tag line.
Hello Lover
- 6:21 PM
- Write comment
Some days I need to watch something entirely fictional that I know will break my heart into tiny, tiny pieces.
There are two things that will do it so incredibly well, well that I think will, I haven't entirely tested the second one but the first that I know will do it incredibly well is Becoming. The Season Two finale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Yes, I said "Becoming" because I mean the full episode. It is really the last part of Becoming part 2 that does it, but the entire double header is fantastic.
But before I get started allow me to explain some things.
Buffy is definitely, without a doubt my favourite TV show of all time. I know every episode and know a lot of quotes and trivia, I can quote it in my sleep.
That isn't a lie, I was once at a Buffy night and I was super tired and started to fall asleep on the lounge and as doing so I was talking along with the TV. It was School Hard, episode three of Season Two. The introduction of Spike. *shudder*.
I can go in a lot of depth about Buffy and I can and will identify the faults. I've yet to find a Buffy fan that has a problem with this, I know plenty of Firefly fans that seem to take great issue with it.
The Fanboys make me not like Firefly.
I'll probably write my issues with Firefly at a later stage and I'm sure it will get me plenty of abuse.
I've been told that my Firefly views would get me either killed, maimed or banned from a Geek Club.
Which, I find insulting to geeks because clearly talking about these details to a crazy degree is awesome! It's also fun with people that have opposing views.
Oh sorry... Firefly fans... They don't have that.
Anyway, where was I?
Becoming part 2 is the high point of Buffy.
Becoming part 1 is all set up, so it is a bit hard to judge, I like it enough, but all the pay off is in part two.
That being said, I love Angel flashback episodes... Except Amends coz that kind of sucks, but all the episodes that deal with Angel's past are awesome!
When they involve more Spike, not so awesome. I'm looking at you, Fool for Love and Why We Fight. Though, Fool for Love is more Spike's story and pales compared to Darla, which is the Angel episode that aired at the same time.
Ultimately, the biggest set up is my favourite scene in all of the Buffy, Angel and Firefly and that is the scene after Angel and Buffy fight in the cementary and lays the trap that brings the entire season full circle.
It's not always about Buffy and indeed, she does fall for it every time and in that moment Buffy gets the fucks out of there and runs to the library, but alas, she is too late.
That scene as Buffy runs through the hall way of Sunnydale High in Slow mo as the music plays, it is the Angel and Buffy theme which is called "Close Your Eyes", very apt, no?
With the voice over from Whistler and I'm not going to lie, I kind of love voice overs.
That and the voice over from Passion are some of the greatest lines ever.
Not so much in quoting, because I think one day if started quoting them, I'd get called a nutbag.
So, I'm going to block quote, because I can.
This is the Becoming part 1 Whistler Voice Over:
And the Passion Monologue.
This is actually broken up into three pieces in the episode.
I kind of wish I didn't love them so much, I have a way too deep association with them.
It is the passion that kind of makes things interesting.
I've been told far too often statements regarding passion in various things, it's generally in a work context that you've got to be passionate about it and I think it was thrown around at the meeting on Sunday.
I really don't think they'd appreciate me quoting that in the context of a Christian Youth Group. It would be kind of funny though.
The big moments are gonna come, nothing is gonna stop them, but it is what happens afterwards that counts.
I lost my train of thought somewhere.
I think it was when I was called downstairs for more or less a family meeting... which now makes that Whistler speech very appropriate.
I know it is a very big call to state that my favourite scene is the Buffy running down a hall, but it is beautifully shot, combined with the music and the voice over. Nothing can come close to that.
The thing that makes the big difference between this season of Buffy and what comes afterwards is that they weren't afraid to not go all the way out. No one was safe.
I watch Passion and EVERY Single Time, I think that Buffy is going to save Miss Calender or that Giles is, anything other than "This is where you get off", with the shot of Angel taking great glee in snapping the neck of Miss Calender.
In Becoming, Kendra dies and not a heroic death. Kendra doesn't save anyone, she dies, Giles is kidnapped and tortured, Willow is almost killed, Xander's arm is snapped and Cordy stands around until told to get out and runs for it- "not so brave".
The thing that is even better, much like in Season One when Buffy is prophesied to die, she does. They don't find a magic bullet that saves the day. She dies. It was written. She died. There was no twist, nothing to save her.
Xander brings her back, but not in time.
Becoming is the same, if Angel opens it, then only Angel can close the portal. Willow gets her spell in time, but it's not enough.
There was no magic bullet.
It was straight, He opens it, then he has to die.
After that, it doesn't happen any more.
In Season three- Faith survives. She's in a coma, but she survives.
Season four- no one is in any serious danger
Season five- Dawn HAS to die! If the portal opens, then she dies! Oh wait... no... It's ok, Buffy can die for her.
You try season 5, you try so hard, but got nothing.
Season 6- Tara dies, much controversy on the interwebs! Willow wants revenge... Kills Warren, wants more revenge tries to kill Andrew and Jonathon and then tries to destroy the world?
Wait... what?
Sorry?
But yes, unlike everyone else that has ever tried to destroy the world doesn't get killed in the end. Buffy doesn't even get to save the day.
Season 7, oh season 7. You cause so much heartache for my Buffy loving ways. So, so much heartache.
I've watched you in full once. I hate Chosen most of all.
Chosen recieves a lot of my ire.
Once again, Buffy doesn't save the day and her plan is STUPID!
However, not the place for that rant.
Xander should have died in Dirty Girls. He should have died instead of just getting his eye removed.
How much more fucking awesome would it be if Xander died and then the First used his form to taunt everyone.
Seriously.
Fucking awesome, but nope, not how they went through with it.
Basically, they tried for the shocking in later seasons, but nothing can compare to the unbridled shocking revelations that happened in season 2.
Season 2 is perfection.
Not technical perfection, there are a lot of holes and some of the one offs are pretty dodgy, but the entire emotion of the season?
I can't beat that.
Faith ending up at the Mayor's Door at the end of Consequences is nothing compared to Buffy coming to Angel's door during Innocence wondering what happened to her boyfriend. The "you were a pro" statement, way more shocking.
Angel returning to the Spike and Dru fold, changed the dynamics of that crew as well as the season, if not the entire show, way more then Faith's turn to the dark side.
I need to clarify.
I like Faith, I think she is pretty awesome. In Season 3 and definitely in Season Seven, when once she is back is a different ball game and it brings it up to a completely different level.
I love what Faith does in Season 3 to everyone, the not so stable aspect and all that kind of thing.
Faith and Buffy have the best fights of the entire series, from Revelations to Graduation Day part 1 and the epic This Years Girl fight where the entire Summers' House is a weapon. The only fight that comes close is the sword fight in Becoming part 2, no matter how obvious the stunt doubles are.
I lose my track way too easily when I talk about Buffy, too many tangents.
I'm trying to stick with purely Becoming part 2, but it's hard to do not in context with anything else.
So, I'll go back to the beginning.
The reason why the episode breaks my heart like no other?
It's the montage.
I lose it every time as soon as Sarah McLachlan's Fully of Grace starts up.
I actually have that song on my iPod, ok, I have a lot of music that has appeared on Buffy on my iPod but every time that song comes up, I just get the montage in my mind and lose it a little bit.
It's actually not the only time Sarah McLachlan is played in Buffy, she also has a song in Grave, the finale of Season 6, the song being "The Prayer of St Francis"
Which is the actual Prayer of St Francis of Assisi being sang, which a little weird now I think of it.
That montage just WISHES it was the Full of Grace version.
It is the imagery that goes with it.
Buffy won. She beat the bad guy... except, in the end he wasn't the bad guy because Plan A had worked. Willow worked the mojo, Angel got his soul, except too late. She still had to send him to hell.
Buffy walks home in the early dawn...
Sarah McLachlan continues...
If I could find the montage legally, I would link it.
It also features my favourite piece of Buffy clothing.
The Sad Overalls!
I forgot they were even the montage, which shocks me.
But Buffy watching her friends from afar and thinking that is the last she'll see of them.
Man, just man.
I have no words to describe the utter hopelessness.
One of the things that I have never noticed before my viewing today is Buffy's own resolve face.
Joyce gets a lot of crap on the interwebs for throwing out the "you leave here, don't expect to come back", which is the only card she has left.
Buffy has just laid everything on the table and explained the past 2 or 3 away and just dropped it and has to leave. She's just discovered that ultimately she has no power in the mother/daughter game EXCEPT for the threat of you leave, don't expect to come back.
And there is just this look when Buffy leaves that is very much a mentally preparing that she is going back, she leaves and Joyce regrets it there.
It's that look of resolution that I've never noticed, Willow points hers out, but no way as impressive as that one scene.
Then leaving the note and fleeing.
Talking about card metaphors... We have the ace in the hole of Spike.
I have no problem with Spike is Season 2. Well, other then a few inconsistencies, which were much more apparent over time.
The main one is in the first description of the books of Spike.
Spike has always been shown that he is way too impulsive and rash for torture, the whole railroad spike through the head?
Nah, I could never believe it. Thankfully, Fool For Love agrees with me on that one.
There was also a few times when he got away way too easily, but I do appreciate the survival instinct and the flight option, it was a nice change.
My issues with Spike come from his later appearances and generally back track, but he annoys me less.
I like the Spike ace in the hole, other then Buffy invites him in to her house and leaves him unaccompanied with Joyce. Still sworn enemy and hasn't done all that much for that kind of trust.
I'm thinking of the Darla incident in Angel... The episode Angel.
I particularly like the exchange "I hate you" "and I'm all you've got".
Spike was coming from a purely selfish point of view and not trying to be noble, but trying to save his own skin and get Dru back because he is a ponce trying to act tough to try and match up to the top dog.
Which is the most consistent portrayal of Spike there is.
The Spike rant in all it's glory will eventually come to a computer screen near you.
I think there is too much Buffy knowledge right there.
So, til next time,
I'm Elyse and that was my rant.
I will take requests on rants, especially if they are Buffy related.
There are two things that will do it so incredibly well, well that I think will, I haven't entirely tested the second one but the first that I know will do it incredibly well is Becoming. The Season Two finale of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Yes, I said "Becoming" because I mean the full episode. It is really the last part of Becoming part 2 that does it, but the entire double header is fantastic.
But before I get started allow me to explain some things.
Buffy is definitely, without a doubt my favourite TV show of all time. I know every episode and know a lot of quotes and trivia, I can quote it in my sleep.
That isn't a lie, I was once at a Buffy night and I was super tired and started to fall asleep on the lounge and as doing so I was talking along with the TV. It was School Hard, episode three of Season Two. The introduction of Spike. *shudder*.
I can go in a lot of depth about Buffy and I can and will identify the faults. I've yet to find a Buffy fan that has a problem with this, I know plenty of Firefly fans that seem to take great issue with it.
The Fanboys make me not like Firefly.
I'll probably write my issues with Firefly at a later stage and I'm sure it will get me plenty of abuse.
I've been told that my Firefly views would get me either killed, maimed or banned from a Geek Club.
Which, I find insulting to geeks because clearly talking about these details to a crazy degree is awesome! It's also fun with people that have opposing views.
Oh sorry... Firefly fans... They don't have that.
Anyway, where was I?
Becoming part 2 is the high point of Buffy.
Becoming part 1 is all set up, so it is a bit hard to judge, I like it enough, but all the pay off is in part two.
That being said, I love Angel flashback episodes... Except Amends coz that kind of sucks, but all the episodes that deal with Angel's past are awesome!
When they involve more Spike, not so awesome. I'm looking at you, Fool for Love and Why We Fight. Though, Fool for Love is more Spike's story and pales compared to Darla, which is the Angel episode that aired at the same time.
Ultimately, the biggest set up is my favourite scene in all of the Buffy, Angel and Firefly and that is the scene after Angel and Buffy fight in the cementary and lays the trap that brings the entire season full circle.
It's not always about Buffy and indeed, she does fall for it every time and in that moment Buffy gets the fucks out of there and runs to the library, but alas, she is too late.
That scene as Buffy runs through the hall way of Sunnydale High in Slow mo as the music plays, it is the Angel and Buffy theme which is called "Close Your Eyes", very apt, no?
With the voice over from Whistler and I'm not going to lie, I kind of love voice overs.
That and the voice over from Passion are some of the greatest lines ever.
Not so much in quoting, because I think one day if started quoting them, I'd get called a nutbag.
So, I'm going to block quote, because I can.
This is the Becoming part 1 Whistler Voice Over:
Bottom line is, even if you see 'em coming, you're not ready
for the big moments.
No one asks for their life to change, not really. But it
does.
So what are we, helpless? Puppets? No. The big moments are
gonna come. You can't help that. It's what you do afterwards that
counts. That's when you find out who you are.
And the Passion Monologue.
This is actually broken up into three pieces in the episode.
"Passion. It lies in all of us. Sleeping ... waiting ... and though unwanted, unbidden, it will stir ... open its jaws and howl. It speaks to us ... guides us. Passion rules us all. And we obey. What other choice do we have?
Passion is the source of our finest moments. The joy of love ... the clarity of hatred ... the ecstasy of grief.
It hurts sometimes more than we can bear. If we could live without passion, maybe we'd know some kind of peace. But we would be hollow. Empty rooms, shuttered and dank. Without passion, we'd be truly dead.
I kind of wish I didn't love them so much, I have a way too deep association with them.
It is the passion that kind of makes things interesting.
I've been told far too often statements regarding passion in various things, it's generally in a work context that you've got to be passionate about it and I think it was thrown around at the meeting on Sunday.
I really don't think they'd appreciate me quoting that in the context of a Christian Youth Group. It would be kind of funny though.
The big moments are gonna come, nothing is gonna stop them, but it is what happens afterwards that counts.
I lost my train of thought somewhere.
I think it was when I was called downstairs for more or less a family meeting... which now makes that Whistler speech very appropriate.
I know it is a very big call to state that my favourite scene is the Buffy running down a hall, but it is beautifully shot, combined with the music and the voice over. Nothing can come close to that.
The thing that makes the big difference between this season of Buffy and what comes afterwards is that they weren't afraid to not go all the way out. No one was safe.
I watch Passion and EVERY Single Time, I think that Buffy is going to save Miss Calender or that Giles is, anything other than "This is where you get off", with the shot of Angel taking great glee in snapping the neck of Miss Calender.
In Becoming, Kendra dies and not a heroic death. Kendra doesn't save anyone, she dies, Giles is kidnapped and tortured, Willow is almost killed, Xander's arm is snapped and Cordy stands around until told to get out and runs for it- "not so brave".
The thing that is even better, much like in Season One when Buffy is prophesied to die, she does. They don't find a magic bullet that saves the day. She dies. It was written. She died. There was no twist, nothing to save her.
Xander brings her back, but not in time.
Becoming is the same, if Angel opens it, then only Angel can close the portal. Willow gets her spell in time, but it's not enough.
There was no magic bullet.
It was straight, He opens it, then he has to die.
After that, it doesn't happen any more.
In Season three- Faith survives. She's in a coma, but she survives.
Season four- no one is in any serious danger
Season five- Dawn HAS to die! If the portal opens, then she dies! Oh wait... no... It's ok, Buffy can die for her.
You try season 5, you try so hard, but got nothing.
Season 6- Tara dies, much controversy on the interwebs! Willow wants revenge... Kills Warren, wants more revenge tries to kill Andrew and Jonathon and then tries to destroy the world?
Wait... what?
Sorry?
But yes, unlike everyone else that has ever tried to destroy the world doesn't get killed in the end. Buffy doesn't even get to save the day.
Season 7, oh season 7. You cause so much heartache for my Buffy loving ways. So, so much heartache.
I've watched you in full once. I hate Chosen most of all.
Chosen recieves a lot of my ire.
Once again, Buffy doesn't save the day and her plan is STUPID!
However, not the place for that rant.
Xander should have died in Dirty Girls. He should have died instead of just getting his eye removed.
How much more fucking awesome would it be if Xander died and then the First used his form to taunt everyone.
Seriously.
Fucking awesome, but nope, not how they went through with it.
Basically, they tried for the shocking in later seasons, but nothing can compare to the unbridled shocking revelations that happened in season 2.
Season 2 is perfection.
Not technical perfection, there are a lot of holes and some of the one offs are pretty dodgy, but the entire emotion of the season?
I can't beat that.
Faith ending up at the Mayor's Door at the end of Consequences is nothing compared to Buffy coming to Angel's door during Innocence wondering what happened to her boyfriend. The "you were a pro" statement, way more shocking.
Angel returning to the Spike and Dru fold, changed the dynamics of that crew as well as the season, if not the entire show, way more then Faith's turn to the dark side.
I need to clarify.
I like Faith, I think she is pretty awesome. In Season 3 and definitely in Season Seven, when once she is back is a different ball game and it brings it up to a completely different level.
I love what Faith does in Season 3 to everyone, the not so stable aspect and all that kind of thing.
Faith and Buffy have the best fights of the entire series, from Revelations to Graduation Day part 1 and the epic This Years Girl fight where the entire Summers' House is a weapon. The only fight that comes close is the sword fight in Becoming part 2, no matter how obvious the stunt doubles are.
I lose my track way too easily when I talk about Buffy, too many tangents.
I'm trying to stick with purely Becoming part 2, but it's hard to do not in context with anything else.
So, I'll go back to the beginning.
The reason why the episode breaks my heart like no other?
It's the montage.
I lose it every time as soon as Sarah McLachlan's Fully of Grace starts up.
I actually have that song on my iPod, ok, I have a lot of music that has appeared on Buffy on my iPod but every time that song comes up, I just get the montage in my mind and lose it a little bit.
It's actually not the only time Sarah McLachlan is played in Buffy, she also has a song in Grave, the finale of Season 6, the song being "The Prayer of St Francis"
Which is the actual Prayer of St Francis of Assisi being sang, which a little weird now I think of it.
That montage just WISHES it was the Full of Grace version.
It is the imagery that goes with it.
Buffy won. She beat the bad guy... except, in the end he wasn't the bad guy because Plan A had worked. Willow worked the mojo, Angel got his soul, except too late. She still had to send him to hell.
Buffy walks home in the early dawn...
Sarah McLachlan continues...
If I could find the montage legally, I would link it.
It also features my favourite piece of Buffy clothing.
The Sad Overalls!
I forgot they were even the montage, which shocks me.
But Buffy watching her friends from afar and thinking that is the last she'll see of them.
Man, just man.
I have no words to describe the utter hopelessness.
One of the things that I have never noticed before my viewing today is Buffy's own resolve face.
Joyce gets a lot of crap on the interwebs for throwing out the "you leave here, don't expect to come back", which is the only card she has left.
Buffy has just laid everything on the table and explained the past 2 or 3 away and just dropped it and has to leave. She's just discovered that ultimately she has no power in the mother/daughter game EXCEPT for the threat of you leave, don't expect to come back.
And there is just this look when Buffy leaves that is very much a mentally preparing that she is going back, she leaves and Joyce regrets it there.
It's that look of resolution that I've never noticed, Willow points hers out, but no way as impressive as that one scene.
Then leaving the note and fleeing.
Talking about card metaphors... We have the ace in the hole of Spike.
I have no problem with Spike is Season 2. Well, other then a few inconsistencies, which were much more apparent over time.
The main one is in the first description of the books of Spike.
Spike has always been shown that he is way too impulsive and rash for torture, the whole railroad spike through the head?
Nah, I could never believe it. Thankfully, Fool For Love agrees with me on that one.
There was also a few times when he got away way too easily, but I do appreciate the survival instinct and the flight option, it was a nice change.
My issues with Spike come from his later appearances and generally back track, but he annoys me less.
I like the Spike ace in the hole, other then Buffy invites him in to her house and leaves him unaccompanied with Joyce. Still sworn enemy and hasn't done all that much for that kind of trust.
I'm thinking of the Darla incident in Angel... The episode Angel.
I particularly like the exchange "I hate you" "and I'm all you've got".
Spike was coming from a purely selfish point of view and not trying to be noble, but trying to save his own skin and get Dru back because he is a ponce trying to act tough to try and match up to the top dog.
Which is the most consistent portrayal of Spike there is.
The Spike rant in all it's glory will eventually come to a computer screen near you.
I think there is too much Buffy knowledge right there.
So, til next time,
I'm Elyse and that was my rant.
I will take requests on rants, especially if they are Buffy related.
Literal Versions of songs
- 10:04 PM
- Write comment
I'm actually a little bit excited to be writing today, for a few reasons and I shall list them.
1. It has been a while, I've been on twitter a fair bit and I don't think in 140 Characters, I'm a rambler, it's just how I roll. So much so I could make this point about 3 words but that just doesn't seem right to me, so thus I don't.
2. I actually have a topic to write about, which just odd.
3. I give into peer pressure.
They are my three reasons.
Today is going to be link heavy and those links will by sponsored by YouTube. So they are videos, so just a heads up.
Over the years, I've spent a very long time on the internet, I've done many things and one of my greatest hobbies is random linkage. I've discovered and lost so many great things over the years but one of my favourites has always been the literal versions of film clips.
Which is the film clip of a song, they are generally from the '80s due to the sheer oddness of the 80s film clips.
It was the 80s, MTV was in it's prime and the film clip was an important part of getting music out there and had developed into just being really, really odd. Oh, the 80s, I love you so.
And by love, I mean love to mock. We got that, right?
I'm not sure who makes them, I think the first one I found was on Collegehumor.com and was for the delightfully 80s song Take on Me by A-Ha. Those links are completely misleading, but as your faithful blogger here, shouldn't we trust me?
Well, no. I guess not. Here's the link for the Literal Version, the other ones or for some background listening and well, because the Reel Big Fish are fricken awesome.
That is the literal version, years ago I thought it was hilarious. There was also a link for another song but I can't remember the song, thus pretty pointless.
That was many years ago and life was different.
Then came a day...
I was at work one day and we were discussing various promo lines we could use, for those playing at home this is the land of bad puns, and the particular teaser we were writing was for a caravan park, it might have been a caravan show, that's not important and one of the suggestions thrown around was "Caravan of Love".
That sounds kind of dirty and I believe my comment was that it wouldn't fit into our G Rating.
Apparently, it was a song... From the 80s.
I decided to YouTube it, as so often happens when I'm at work, so off to YouTube I went and that's when I found it. The Greatest 80s Film Clip of All Time.
THE GREATEST!
I saw it and my heart melted like the polar ice caps will due to Global Warming. Now, I know what you are thinking... "Elyse, this is a terrible, terrible song... Are you high?"
The answer is yes and no, I'm not high.
I love it BECAUSE it's dodgy.
My favourite thing is the literal dance moves, yes, this is the original version of the film clip. The actual standing up at the line "Stand Up".
Seriously, what is not to love?
Unless, you are one of those crazy people who can't see humour in this kinds of things. That just makes me sad for you.
I have the film clip on my iPod now and if I'm ever having a bad day, I watch it on the train and laugh hysterically (on the inside because I believe in Train Etiquette).
Love it!
I took my knew found knowledge and love for this brilliant 80s clip to someone who I know dodgyily brilliant film clips as well, and we discussed, his opinion was "it was good, but the film clip for "Total Eclipse of the Heart" was the ultimate winner".
I see his point, but come on man, the dude has a cross shaved in his head which he reveals in the most dramatic move ever.
It's like I directed the clip.
I compared, I contrasted and then I played Random Linkage. I need to find a better name for that.
And that's where I found this, which is so much greater than the actual film clip, it is the Literal Version of Total Eclipse of the Heart.
I have this one on my iPod as well, this one I share the love a lot for.
This clip reignited my love for the literal film clip and then I looked at the related videos and there were more of them!
MORE!
Not just the Take on Me clip!
But so many literal videos!
Random comments about those clips: 80s songs are clearly the best songs to use. Seriously, what is with the Daydream Believer one?
Just odd.
My favourite part of those has to be the description of the dance break in Love is a Battlefield.
The Lion King theme of Creed is just weird, I'm just gonna assume it's some MLIA obsessed kid
The meme is becoming very disturbing and the longer it goes the lower in quality it becomes. I'm not going to lie, if it doesn't start off well, I tend not to listen to the rest of it. Which is why, I actually haven't looked at ALL the clips because I really don't like James Blunt. His voice is whiny and the guy that sang as him managed to be even more whiny. It was just an example!
There is one exception to this, when the version is so bad, that you can't turn away or the Train Wreck.
I present to you the Train Wreck of Literal Versions.
The literal version of Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne.
Now, just so we are clear, I have nothing against Avril except her pseudo-punk thing REALLY annoys me. I like her ballads and when she actually tries to sing and do that kind of thing as opposed to her upbeat things which just annoy me to know end.
The Girlfriend clip is everything I don't like about Avril Lavigne.
So much about the clip I don't like, especially that the "punk" Avril ends up with the dude at the end even though she is a bitch and the dude doesn't seem into her.
Those are my own issues with with can be neatly summarisied with a nice "Shut up, Avril" but that is not what makes this Literal Version awful.
Go back and take it in, click the link, take a moment and really take in the badness that is the song.
It's ok, I'll wait.
In fact, why you are doing that, I'll watch it myself, just to refresh my memories.
So, we are done?
Ready to discuss.
First thing is first, it is a biased literal video and while some of the other versions, which in my mind are the Classic Liter Videos" of Total Eclipse of the Heart, Take on Me and whatever Meatloaf song that was.
Which is basically just a literal version of what is happening without outside commentary, which kind of comes into play with the anti-Avril vibes.
That being said I do enjoy the "I'm pretty sure that's not how Newton's Laws of Motion Work". That line is just gold.
As is "Why won't someone call security"
Then again, I just maybe overly sensitive to the phrase "Guitars make me feel cooler". Coz dude, guitars make me feel cooler.
In fact the coolest I will ever look is a photo of me playing electric guitar.
All of that is pretty meaningless, the main reason why I find it an absolute train wreck is because it sounds like an absolute train wreck.
I'm pretty sure it is derailing as it plays.
The audio quality of the track is TERRIBLE.
I've heard some poor quality audio, but that is just a new level.
It's all distorted and bad and the singer needs to just move the microphone back. It can pick you up, just please stop screaming it... I just have no words.
I'm also not entirely sure if it is actually the song, it is vaguely similar, but if push came to shove, I do not think that the song that is singing sounds like "Girlfriend" Avril Lavigne.
And the harmonies are horrible.
The performance of this song is beyond bad.
I have no words to define just how bad the actual version of the song is.
Which is a shame since some of the lines, as noted above, are just hilarious.
That and LEAVE AVRIL ALONE!!
Except Girlfriend, someone needs to slap her for that.
That concludes this super long post.
As an added bonus, I offer you this clip, which the literal version just failed to acknowledge the complete randomness of the clip.
This one doesn't make me angry. It just disappoints me.
Until Next time, I'm Elyse and this is where my rants go to die.
1. It has been a while, I've been on twitter a fair bit and I don't think in 140 Characters, I'm a rambler, it's just how I roll. So much so I could make this point about 3 words but that just doesn't seem right to me, so thus I don't.
2. I actually have a topic to write about, which just odd.
3. I give into peer pressure.
They are my three reasons.
Today is going to be link heavy and those links will by sponsored by YouTube. So they are videos, so just a heads up.
Over the years, I've spent a very long time on the internet, I've done many things and one of my greatest hobbies is random linkage. I've discovered and lost so many great things over the years but one of my favourites has always been the literal versions of film clips.
Which is the film clip of a song, they are generally from the '80s due to the sheer oddness of the 80s film clips.
It was the 80s, MTV was in it's prime and the film clip was an important part of getting music out there and had developed into just being really, really odd. Oh, the 80s, I love you so.
And by love, I mean love to mock. We got that, right?
I'm not sure who makes them, I think the first one I found was on Collegehumor.com and was for the delightfully 80s song Take on Me by A-Ha. Those links are completely misleading, but as your faithful blogger here, shouldn't we trust me?
Well, no. I guess not. Here's the link for the Literal Version, the other ones or for some background listening and well, because the Reel Big Fish are fricken awesome.
That is the literal version, years ago I thought it was hilarious. There was also a link for another song but I can't remember the song, thus pretty pointless.
That was many years ago and life was different.
Then came a day...
I was at work one day and we were discussing various promo lines we could use, for those playing at home this is the land of bad puns, and the particular teaser we were writing was for a caravan park, it might have been a caravan show, that's not important and one of the suggestions thrown around was "Caravan of Love".
That sounds kind of dirty and I believe my comment was that it wouldn't fit into our G Rating.
Apparently, it was a song... From the 80s.
I decided to YouTube it, as so often happens when I'm at work, so off to YouTube I went and that's when I found it. The Greatest 80s Film Clip of All Time.
THE GREATEST!
I saw it and my heart melted like the polar ice caps will due to Global Warming. Now, I know what you are thinking... "Elyse, this is a terrible, terrible song... Are you high?"
The answer is yes and no, I'm not high.
I love it BECAUSE it's dodgy.
My favourite thing is the literal dance moves, yes, this is the original version of the film clip. The actual standing up at the line "Stand Up".
Seriously, what is not to love?
Unless, you are one of those crazy people who can't see humour in this kinds of things. That just makes me sad for you.
I have the film clip on my iPod now and if I'm ever having a bad day, I watch it on the train and laugh hysterically (on the inside because I believe in Train Etiquette).
Love it!
I took my knew found knowledge and love for this brilliant 80s clip to someone who I know dodgyily brilliant film clips as well, and we discussed, his opinion was "it was good, but the film clip for "Total Eclipse of the Heart" was the ultimate winner".
I see his point, but come on man, the dude has a cross shaved in his head which he reveals in the most dramatic move ever.
It's like I directed the clip.
I compared, I contrasted and then I played Random Linkage. I need to find a better name for that.
And that's where I found this, which is so much greater than the actual film clip, it is the Literal Version of Total Eclipse of the Heart.
I have this one on my iPod as well, this one I share the love a lot for.
This clip reignited my love for the literal film clip and then I looked at the related videos and there were more of them!
MORE!
Not just the Take on Me clip!
But so many literal videos!
Random comments about those clips: 80s songs are clearly the best songs to use. Seriously, what is with the Daydream Believer one?
Just odd.
My favourite part of those has to be the description of the dance break in Love is a Battlefield.
The Lion King theme of Creed is just weird, I'm just gonna assume it's some MLIA obsessed kid
The meme is becoming very disturbing and the longer it goes the lower in quality it becomes. I'm not going to lie, if it doesn't start off well, I tend not to listen to the rest of it. Which is why, I actually haven't looked at ALL the clips because I really don't like James Blunt. His voice is whiny and the guy that sang as him managed to be even more whiny. It was just an example!
There is one exception to this, when the version is so bad, that you can't turn away or the Train Wreck.
I present to you the Train Wreck of Literal Versions.
The literal version of Girlfriend by Avril Lavigne.
Now, just so we are clear, I have nothing against Avril except her pseudo-punk thing REALLY annoys me. I like her ballads and when she actually tries to sing and do that kind of thing as opposed to her upbeat things which just annoy me to know end.
The Girlfriend clip is everything I don't like about Avril Lavigne.
So much about the clip I don't like, especially that the "punk" Avril ends up with the dude at the end even though she is a bitch and the dude doesn't seem into her.
Those are my own issues with with can be neatly summarisied with a nice "Shut up, Avril" but that is not what makes this Literal Version awful.
Go back and take it in, click the link, take a moment and really take in the badness that is the song.
It's ok, I'll wait.
In fact, why you are doing that, I'll watch it myself, just to refresh my memories.
So, we are done?
Ready to discuss.
First thing is first, it is a biased literal video and while some of the other versions, which in my mind are the Classic Liter Videos" of Total Eclipse of the Heart, Take on Me and whatever Meatloaf song that was.
Which is basically just a literal version of what is happening without outside commentary, which kind of comes into play with the anti-Avril vibes.
That being said I do enjoy the "I'm pretty sure that's not how Newton's Laws of Motion Work". That line is just gold.
As is "Why won't someone call security"
Then again, I just maybe overly sensitive to the phrase "Guitars make me feel cooler". Coz dude, guitars make me feel cooler.
In fact the coolest I will ever look is a photo of me playing electric guitar.
All of that is pretty meaningless, the main reason why I find it an absolute train wreck is because it sounds like an absolute train wreck.
I'm pretty sure it is derailing as it plays.
The audio quality of the track is TERRIBLE.
I've heard some poor quality audio, but that is just a new level.
It's all distorted and bad and the singer needs to just move the microphone back. It can pick you up, just please stop screaming it... I just have no words.
I'm also not entirely sure if it is actually the song, it is vaguely similar, but if push came to shove, I do not think that the song that is singing sounds like "Girlfriend" Avril Lavigne.
And the harmonies are horrible.
The performance of this song is beyond bad.
I have no words to define just how bad the actual version of the song is.
Which is a shame since some of the lines, as noted above, are just hilarious.
That and LEAVE AVRIL ALONE!!
Except Girlfriend, someone needs to slap her for that.
That concludes this super long post.
As an added bonus, I offer you this clip, which the literal version just failed to acknowledge the complete randomness of the clip.
This one doesn't make me angry. It just disappoints me.
Until Next time, I'm Elyse and this is where my rants go to die.
Elyse v Tone
- 1:30 PM
- Write comment
I don't think it is hear that I have the title as the battle wages on between Elyse and other things or maybe I've been watching too many episodes of Chuck.
I was just internet stalking Lexi and was reading something in her blog about comments and the dos and don'ts, and one of them was about swearing.
I personally think swearing looks funny in text, seriously, it looks really weird. So much so that I try not to swear on the internet and as a result I have had a few people convinced that either I don't swear or am offended by swearing.
My personal favourite example of this is when Davey informed me that Adam made a comment about having never me swear, of which Davey scoffed at.
Not that long after we had a picnic day thing with the ultimate Westies and cards were played.
Nothing makes me swear quite like cards and the comment when walking back to the station "I can't believe I thought you didn't swear".
Hilarious.
Old story though, shame.
But Elyse vs Tone.
Tone is everything, communication isn't really about the words, that's only 10%. It's the tone and body language that communicate so much more.
Sarcasm is dead in text and then the difference between hot anger and cold fury?
Can't really tell the difference.
And it's an important difference.
I had a fairly Antioch central weekend with renew and on Friday night I got to play bad cop to keep people in the non-sleeping room quite so people could sleep.
I was in the corridor, neither asleep or being that loud. Ok, I was being a little loud.
I am pretty much always loud and am often told to use my inside voice, they say it a lot. I don't think they've caught on that I don't really have an inside voice, but yeah, so carrying on and I got to do the yelling at them to shut up.
On about the third attempt of telling them to be quite, my calm rationality had all but departed so it was time to crack out my angry yelling.
My angry yelling is very easy to realise because of the massive tonal shift from my loudness to my angry voice.
I yelled, and then before I had left the room I then yelled again that "I hadn't even left the fucking room yet".
This yelling freaked out Mary, and may have keep her a little paranoid that I was going to come back and yell at them again.
It's the fine line, but yeah, the tone.
On the internet, it just isn't all that possible. It is the major side of text, at least in books there is the narrative of "I haven't left the room yet" Elyse roared as the noise in the room increased rapidly. Even plays have stage directions, but any of this stuff?
Forums, MSN, blogs.
Nope, it's just impossible to tell.
It makes me sad.
Words seem really empty without the passion and emotion behind them.
Tones. They are important.
I really should work.
I was just internet stalking Lexi and was reading something in her blog about comments and the dos and don'ts, and one of them was about swearing.
I personally think swearing looks funny in text, seriously, it looks really weird. So much so that I try not to swear on the internet and as a result I have had a few people convinced that either I don't swear or am offended by swearing.
My personal favourite example of this is when Davey informed me that Adam made a comment about having never me swear, of which Davey scoffed at.
Not that long after we had a picnic day thing with the ultimate Westies and cards were played.
Nothing makes me swear quite like cards and the comment when walking back to the station "I can't believe I thought you didn't swear".
Hilarious.
Old story though, shame.
But Elyse vs Tone.
Tone is everything, communication isn't really about the words, that's only 10%. It's the tone and body language that communicate so much more.
Sarcasm is dead in text and then the difference between hot anger and cold fury?
Can't really tell the difference.
And it's an important difference.
I had a fairly Antioch central weekend with renew and on Friday night I got to play bad cop to keep people in the non-sleeping room quite so people could sleep.
I was in the corridor, neither asleep or being that loud. Ok, I was being a little loud.
I am pretty much always loud and am often told to use my inside voice, they say it a lot. I don't think they've caught on that I don't really have an inside voice, but yeah, so carrying on and I got to do the yelling at them to shut up.
On about the third attempt of telling them to be quite, my calm rationality had all but departed so it was time to crack out my angry yelling.
My angry yelling is very easy to realise because of the massive tonal shift from my loudness to my angry voice.
I yelled, and then before I had left the room I then yelled again that "I hadn't even left the fucking room yet".
This yelling freaked out Mary, and may have keep her a little paranoid that I was going to come back and yell at them again.
It's the fine line, but yeah, the tone.
On the internet, it just isn't all that possible. It is the major side of text, at least in books there is the narrative of "I haven't left the room yet" Elyse roared as the noise in the room increased rapidly. Even plays have stage directions, but any of this stuff?
Forums, MSN, blogs.
Nope, it's just impossible to tell.
It makes me sad.
Words seem really empty without the passion and emotion behind them.
Tones. They are important.
I really should work.
I really hate titles... are these the kind that even need titles?
- 4:34 PM
- Write comment
So, I've tried using twitter. I just don't like it, plus as a rant who enjoys typing full words it doesn't work for me at all. I mean, my title is almost longer then what I'm allowed on Twitter. Yeah, I don't get the fuss and it's kind of hard to stalk other people and what use is a social network if not for stalking people?
I mean come on!
The internet is all about stalking, well, call it what you want.'
Facebook for starters, if you really wanted to stay in contact with people, you would have.
Well maybe not the internet, but social networks. In my facebook I have about 50 or so people I went to school with, most I haven't seen since school finished and if I have seen them it's been a chance meeting and sometimes we don't even acknowledge each other, though I always found that strange and it's not my fault if people run into me in Penrith on the way to uni and am not feeling socialable. It's a bus to Richmond where I have to wait around for an hour and a half. Wow, that was a while ago.
Other forms of internet things I'm all for, forums are awesome. The Forum obviously be the most awesome. May it rest in peace. I have nothing punny for that.
This is another blog coming at ya from work.
It is 4.38 and I'm the only person in the office.
Strange, but it makes me less paranoid.
We've lost the key to the office. I have spent the last hour looking for it.
Whoever lost it did a damn good job of it. We are also trying to work out WHO lost it, but have nothing.
On the reverse of all of that, I have a new computer to play with... at home. It's a MacBook and I need to adjust to all it's mac-ness.
I am calling it Mac, because most things need names and it is a Veronica Mars reference and named after Mac, because it's short for McKenzie. Word.
I'm not going to get a good chance to play with it before renew though because I have things to do on a computer I know and love for renew.
Making awesome nametags for one and then tomorrow night is finalising nametags and having a last meeting with James and then a music practise. Oh, I need to ring Jacob to get him to bring Felix so I have a guitar for said music practise. I'm really not up for taking Patrick Joe on the train really early.
Hmmm... writing crap. I've missed you.
'til next time non-existent readers (and procrastinating Davey!)
Elyse
I mean come on!
The internet is all about stalking, well, call it what you want.'
Facebook for starters, if you really wanted to stay in contact with people, you would have.
Well maybe not the internet, but social networks. In my facebook I have about 50 or so people I went to school with, most I haven't seen since school finished and if I have seen them it's been a chance meeting and sometimes we don't even acknowledge each other, though I always found that strange and it's not my fault if people run into me in Penrith on the way to uni and am not feeling socialable. It's a bus to Richmond where I have to wait around for an hour and a half. Wow, that was a while ago.
Other forms of internet things I'm all for, forums are awesome. The Forum obviously be the most awesome. May it rest in peace. I have nothing punny for that.
This is another blog coming at ya from work.
It is 4.38 and I'm the only person in the office.
Strange, but it makes me less paranoid.
We've lost the key to the office. I have spent the last hour looking for it.
Whoever lost it did a damn good job of it. We are also trying to work out WHO lost it, but have nothing.
On the reverse of all of that, I have a new computer to play with... at home. It's a MacBook and I need to adjust to all it's mac-ness.
I am calling it Mac, because most things need names and it is a Veronica Mars reference and named after Mac, because it's short for McKenzie. Word.
I'm not going to get a good chance to play with it before renew though because I have things to do on a computer I know and love for renew.
Making awesome nametags for one and then tomorrow night is finalising nametags and having a last meeting with James and then a music practise. Oh, I need to ring Jacob to get him to bring Felix so I have a guitar for said music practise. I'm really not up for taking Patrick Joe on the train really early.
Hmmm... writing crap. I've missed you.
'til next time non-existent readers (and procrastinating Davey!)
Elyse
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