Category: Music

Peter’s nut — ow! — buster

To the surprise of many in these recessionary times, this year’s live presentation of Piotr (or Pyotr or Peter) Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker by the Boston Ballet is selling out. The other big thing in entertainment going on right now isn’t typical holiday fare, it’s James Cameron’s “Avatar.” Frankly, I’m not fond of computer-generated characters, except the cartoonish varieties, and the previews for “Avatar” looked stupid to me. But it’s been getting good reviews, at least when the 3D projection is done right. And Bismo liked it, so I’m planning to see it in IMAX next week with Eric.

What I have to acknowledge and admire about James Cameron is that his attitude is similar to that of Walt Disney, who was told that “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” and, later, Disneyland were crazy ideas. Disney’s most far-out movie venture was “Fantasia,” which didn’t turn a profit for 30 years. As Cameron has done with “Avatar,” “Fantasia” in its day pushed every technical boundary there was. Its use of multi-channel surround sound was, to say the least, groundbreaking. Unfortunately, it’s not possible to hear Fantasound exactly as it was originally presented, as explained here…

YouTube doesn’t have a good copy of the Nutcracker Suite from “Fantasia,” so I have done my own transfer, in stereo, with the original, restored Stokowski soundtrack. Walt came up with the idea of using fish for the “Arabian Dance,” which I think is the only sequence that doesn’t work.

[flv:http://www.dograt.com/Video/2009/DEC/Fantasia.flv 512 384]

The Decemberists in December

My friend tastewar’s favorite band is The Decemberists. Their site is very intelligently organized and presented, except it could use a favicon. Give it a try.

Stephen Colbert is also a Decemberists fan, although for him it’s perhaps more of a mutual admiration society. The connection started three years ago…

The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Green Screen Challenge – Counter Challenge
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Economy

Earlier this year, Colbert had The Decemberists on his show to promote their new album, “The Hazards of Love.”

The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Decemberists
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Economy

In an era where playlists and homemade compilations rule, I applaud The Decemberists for doing what Green Day did five years ago with “American Idiot” — they’ve put together an album that needs to be heard in its entirety, as a complete work.

The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Decemberists – The Wanting Comes in Waves
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor Economy

At this moment it says the last video is no longer available. Don’t know if this is one of Comedy Central’s usual glitches, or if it’s really been pulled. So let’s go with a substitute…

I love the solo bit that sounds like Grace Slick in The Jefferson Airplane. I’ll use that as a springboard for this delightfully trippy live take of Donovan’s “Fat Angel” by the Airplane.

[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/2009/DEC/FatAngel.mp3]

Here is Donovan’s original recording of “The Fat Angel.”

[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/2009/DEC/TheFatAngel.mp3]

As Donovan says on his “Sunshine Superman” DVD, that I excerpted here, he was interested in the development of what he called Celtic Rock. Another musical group that comes to mind when listening to The Decemberists, that can be categorized as Celtic Rock, was The Incredible String Band. They did a sort of mini-Rock Opera, like the Who’s “A Quick One,” with their evocative “Darling Belle.” Listening to this, I’m reminded of how much I enjoyed Jethro Tull’s “Thick As A Brick” when I was in high school.

[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/2009/DEC/DarlingBelle.mp3]

K1 Christmas

Kathleen Aerts, formerly of K3, turns “Somethin’ Stupid” into a Christmas song, of sorts.

K3 fan Theo Hendriks, pictured here, wrote and said that Kathleen is his favorite. Kathleen’s replacement, Josje, is on the left. It’s good to see Kristel Verbeke and Karen Damen looking bright and happy again, because they were so miserable at Kathleen’s farewell performance.

For myself, I’m miffed that Kathleen left the group, but I feel that Kristel and Karen are so strong together they could have carried on just fine as K2. That doesn’t mean Kathleen was any less essential to the success of K3, but it seemed to me that she got tired of the ride. So when she quit the group I was disappointed, but not surprised.

Follow-up: Theo sent another picture of himself, with Kristel. It’s at this link.

A Little about Annie

Maybe you’ve seen this charming TV commercial. It’s the one that seems it should be from Apple, but it’s from Amazon…

[flv:http://www.dograt.com/Video/2009/DEC/KindleCommercial.flv 512 288]

…and maybe you’ve wondered, “wow, who is that?” She’s Annie Little, and not only is that her singing, she wrote the song, too. Annie is an actress with real star quality — beauty, talent, versatility, personality — yet she’s still looking for her big break. Besides the commercial, Annie’s in the first episode of the third season of “Mad Men.”

Another actress who is best known for her TV commercials had a recurring role on “Mad Men.” Know who she is? Roll over the picture to see.

Retro Rock-it Xmas

Lia Pamina recommends this great retro Christmas song, harkening back to 1964, the year “Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer” first appeared on American TV. Although miniskirts and go-go boots didn’t really make the scene until ’65.

[flv:http://www.dograt.com/Video/2010/DEC/MariahCareyChristmas.flv 480 360]

I’ve heard this recording quite a few times on the radio, but not once did I ever happen to hear an announcer say who sings it. Sincerely! Everybody else will immediately recognize Mariah Carey, who I’ve never knowingly listened to, before now.