.. but Prince was on American Idol last night. I still haven't recovered. It was like I saw my entire life flash before me ... I have SO MANY MEMORIES attached to Prince songs, and there he was ... with those HOT BABES doing Laugh-in-esque go-go dancing, although robotically. It was, frankly, smokin' hot and I lost my mind. I mean ... he is such a showman.
SHIIIIIIT. I love Prince and I have been ignoring him for way too long.
My jaw literally dropped when he came out.
All the stars came out last night - I mean: DIONNE WARWICK AND FECKIN' BURT BACHARACH!!!!!!! I can't stand it. I cannot stand it. Bacharach looked kinda rickety, but come on - he's an octogenarian, practically - but what a nice vibe he has, what ease he has, right?? And Dionne. Talk about ease. Please. She looked fantastic, and she sounded even better.
Mary J. Blige came on and pretty much showed, in person, why Katherine McPhee sucks. Katherine McPhee sucks, people. I will not lower my standards of what I expect from performers just because the American Idol people are amateurs. Nope. I'm with Simon on that one. Will people PAY to see you do that? Does it stand up to real performers? To my mind, Katherine is a glorified version (prettied up by stylists) of a musical-theatre geek, on a community theater level. She's stiff - she looked like she didn't know HOW to commit to the arm movements in "I'm every woman" - she kept glancing at the girls on either side of her ... EW. She's a very lucky girl to have gotten that far on so little natural ability. Maybe she has a pretty vibrato, and white teeth but in terms of putting herself out there? Actually USING herself? Actually sharing herself? She SUCKS. Give me Taylor any day. He seems to know who he is, and he is not shy about sharing it. And THAT is what a star is ... way more than the voice. (I also don't think McPhee is all that good a singer. I just don't. She has about 10 notes where she can feel confident - and that's not enough. Or - it's certainly not enough if you're going to be stiff, precious, cautious, and afraid to move your arms. I find her INTENSELY BORING to watch.) But back to Mary J. Blige ... I've always liked her, but watching her last night was truly remarkable. She just GOES for it when she sings. There is no barrier between herself, her voice, and her audience. She lets her talent flow - I just loved how generous she was to Elliot too, holding his hand, but still: I got goosebumps watching her.
But let's get back to Prince.
Holy mackerel. He looked great, he sounded great - and I'm serious: about 10 separate VERY SPECIFIC memories floated through my head as I watched him.
Prince. I'm a fan of his for life - in the same way that I'm a fan of Margaret Atwood's for life - even through her bad books, her pretentious nonsense - don't care. I'll buy every damn book she writes. Same with Prince. I don't care what he does, become a symbol (literally), tattoo stuff on his body, pose nude, go into hiding like Kane ... whatever. He's incredible. I just forgot about him for a while.
Prince showing up made the night for me. The memories .... good, bad, ugly, life-changing ... I've got so many that are attached to his music. Need to buy a ton of his albums - I used to have them all (on CASSETTE TAPE) and this must be rectified. I can't not have Prince in my life anymore.
Oh yeah. And congrats, Taylor! I'm psyched for you. You deserve it.
But for me the whole night was about Mary J. Blige and Prince. Now THOSE people are stars.
Posted by sheilabut Prince was on American Idol last night. I still haven't recovered. It was like I saw my entire life flash before me ...
You crack me up!
Hey - I caught part of Eternal Sunshine the other night and thought of ya!
Posted by: Jon F. at May 25, 2006 8:36 AMThe wife and I were surprised by Prince as well. I think she summed it up nicely when she told me, "You know, out of all the artists who are really odd, at least you can still listen to Prince."
I also like Mary J. although I really don't like her version of One.
Posted by: Cullen at May 25, 2006 8:44 AMWhat great artist ISN'T odd? I would call that oddness genius. But I'm biased.
Jon - hahahahaha I know, I'm so dramatic!! But it's true! I haven't bought a Prince album in a couple of years - but back in high school and college, he was IT for me.
I now need to go out and buy a ton of Prince ... I've abandoned him for far too long!
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 8:47 AM//I've abandoned him for far too long!//
hahaha Like he even gives a shit.
But still - I watched him last night and thought: Okay. Need to listen to him more. Starting NOW.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 8:48 AMI will say this: Prince is no Lordi. But then again: who is??
I absolutely love that Eurovision has been going on in conjunction with American Idol - it's just perfect!
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 8:56 AMI had a friend who loved Prince so much that when she wrote me notes she used "2" for "to" and "4" for "for" and so forth. "Hope U live 2 C the dawn" and that kind of thing. Prince is indeed amazing, talented on so many instruments, including his own voice. And a skilled songwriter. He's a great showman with the musical chops to back it up and a real knack for surrounding himself with talented people. I'm convinced that he'll go down in history as one of the greats.
Posted by: Eric the...bald at May 25, 2006 9:02 AMI have a Greatest Hits compliation of Prince's in my car's CD player right. now. He is the king. I mean, seriously, who does a TRUE dance groove better? NO ONE. Just listen to "I Wanna Be Your Lover" -- that song was released in 1979 and it is STILL a better dance song that just about anything else out there today.
I think the deal with Katharine whats-her-face -- and I'm saying this as a person who's never heard her sing or even seen more than two seconds of her on stage -- is that men were blinded by the boobies. Boobies are bad that way; they cover a multitude of sins like lack of talent.
Posted by: Lisa at May 25, 2006 9:03 AMLisa - totally - The stuff from the 70s, 80s - has not dated at ALL. There are very few artists you can say that about - because the 80s were so weird.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 9:05 AMNot BAD, but weird.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 9:06 AMLisa - and about Kat: I'm glad she didn't win. Taylor winning made it truly seem like what it should be: a TALENT contest.
Even watching people like Mandisa and Paris sing (other contestants earlier on in the show) made Kat McPhee seem like a stiff mannequin.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 9:07 AMYou know, I was thinking that if I ever get an Ipod or other MP3 player, I would download the Purple Rain soundtrack first because I have literally worn OUT every copy I've ever had of it, from vinyl to cassette to CD. I'm on my second copy of it on CD even as we speak.
(And speaking of memories, have you been able to catch Heavy: A History of Metal on VH1 any? Talk about flashbacks! Last night was the section on the 80s and let me tell you, the years have not been kind to the members of Motley Crue and W.A.S.P. Or anyone else for that matter. Sebastian Bach's interviews were intercut with excerpts from his videos and I was thinking maybe they didn't need to do that. Too much of a contrast.)
Posted by: Lisa at May 25, 2006 9:11 AMI remember seeing an interview with Prince and Chris Rock. And CR asked him if it made him mad that the whole world persisted in thinking Michael Jackson was fantastic even though he had the Neverland and the llamas and the little boys and all that (this was a while ago) while he, Prince, was considered the crazy weirdo one. Chris Rock was clearly PISSED about the situation, the injustice.
Prince's answer was SO awesome, like, "Yeah, it really is pretty weird, considering. But my fans are my fans, I'm not making music to please the mainstream, people who are into my music get it, and that's all I care about ..."
He was the most mellow, cool, NORMAL seeming person. It was great.
Posted by: Another Sheila at May 25, 2006 9:20 AMSheila - hahahahaha Yeah, really ... like PRINCE is the weirdo??
I always thought he seemed like he totally had his shit together. He follows his own star, first of all - he also encourages other talent - he's a great mogul - but he also takes risks, and isn't afraid to alienate his entire fan base - to do his own thing. (Ahem - Bob Dylan, anyone?)
I've always really respected him.
And I've read a couple of bad reviews of those hottie dancers - I TOTALLY disagree. They were awesome!! I loved how he kind of would give them sly grins, he was acknowledging that he was sharing the stage with them - It was funny. LIke: "what are you girls doin' over there??"
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 10:19 AMhis new album, 3121, is smokin. it's an every-track-is-good kind of album
Posted by: siobhan at May 25, 2006 10:43 AMAll this talk about Prince, and I just read elsewhere that Dionne Warwick sang "Walk on By" last night. That, I would have liked to see. Was she any good--still have her chops, etc?
DBW - totally. Not too much old-lady quaking or quavering - her voice is smooth - you can tell she's not a woman in her 20s anymore, but she's smooth, and easy - and the main thing about her is her EASE. I mean, she's always had that, but she hasn't lost it.
She looked fabulous too - in a glimmering black over-the-top ballgown - Classic.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 10:52 AMToni Braxton on the other hand seemed like she was on some sort of hallucinogenic substance. Like - what?? did she get one sustained note out? What the hell was going on there?
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 10:54 AMso much to say...
-Burt and Dionne..ahhhh...he is elegance personified and while she may not ahve the notes of a twenty yr. old..she showed why most of those kids suck..its called phrasing...the act of using the lyric in musical way..she's a
master.
-what was UP with the crazy guy/Clay Gayken duet??? please please dont put clearly mentally ill people on stage...and what the fuck with pudgy Gayken and his hair????
-Prince rules the world! period. end of story. r.e. his dancers...Julie said they have the best job in the world and i agreed and added they had the best bodies as well...wooooowww..when a gay guy gets wood..u know ur hot!!!
-Is there something wrong with Meatloaf?? Parkinson's maybe? He had a very pronounced tremor...anyone know?
-Al Jarreau is one handsome older gentleman..and soooo underrated..did Paris choose him?? Classy choice. So good to see him. Sounded great..as did Paris...for the first time in my opinion.
-Toni Braxton sang so quietly ..i couldnt hear her...she's about to open a big show in Vegas???!! Doing what exactly?? Nice legs tho!
-totally agree with Sheila on the Kat "communtiy theater" vibe...boring...sweet rack..boring!
-I admit it..i think Elliot is sexy..i know, i know..bad teeth..premature age lines, bags under his eyes...goat-like vibrato..i kinda love him!
-Pickler??? is she for real? if she is...wow...if not..she could take over Goldie Hawn's career.
-where was Kelly? Justin(teehee)?,Rueben? Diana?
okay..enuf..im a loser.
I actually had to peak through my fingers, as if I was watching a scary movie, when Toni Braxton sang. What was that? I cringed and felt embarrassed for Taylor and what he had to endure.
And about Prince...I can't remember at whose house this occurred, but you and several others in fall of 87 were straddling the staircase railings and balcony railings...overlooking the family room where I was...the music was deafening but the feeling was so intimate and erotic. I love that about Prince. He's one of, if not THE sexiest performers...and those lyrics...yikes!
Posted by: Melissa at May 25, 2006 11:13 AMmitchell - I LOVE YOU. More!!!
Oh and yeah - that poor Clay fan ... I mean, I felt so protective of him, in the way you feel protective of overly vulnerable people ... Poor guy. I mean, yay, his dream come true, but he was just so ... You feel his grasp of reality is way too slim to ever recover from that.
Did you see Kathy Griffin's bit about seeing Clay in Vegas?? HILARIOUS!! She said it's an incredible show but also "the gayest thing I have ever seen in my life."
I thought Al and Paris did a great duet - a much better match than Kat and Meatloaf. Paris did wonderfully, I thought.
Yeah, and I wondered about Kelly, too! I know she has kind of a contentious relationship with American Idol now - or maybe that's just a rumor. Don't know.
Yes - I love Elliot, too. His duet with Mary was AWESOME!! I loved how she was supporting him ...even as she was singing the SHIT out of that song.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 11:17 AMMelissa - hahaha I think that was at Diane Craddock's - we had two amazing "Prince parties' there, as I recall. We danced for ... 5 hours straight????
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 11:18 AMMitchell - oops, I mean Kelly Clarkson in my comment about "Kelly" - not Pickler!!
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 11:19 AMMelissa..was that the party when Joel jumped off the balcony??? soo fun.
Sheil...yeah..maybe Clarkson is deliberately seperating ehrself..samrt move..she really is the most promising of them all. Carrie Underwood is vacuous..pretty voice..but dullz-ville.
I think Toni Braxton is crazy..there ive said it.
Miss Mary J. is the real deal!! if u dont have My Life ..get it..soo good.
Yeah - Toni's got great gams, but ... I dont' think she even sang one note ... it was truly bizarre.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 11:27 AMI just have to say again - that watching how Mary J. Blige put herself out there - just reiterated to me how bad McPhee is. She stands like a stick, she plays it safe ... like: huh? In WHAT WORLD is she a good performer? Not in my world, baby.
i. love. elliott. love how his mom is always with him, too!
Posted by: siobhan at May 25, 2006 11:30 AMElliot's mom kills me. Her little striped blouse, her glasses ... kills me!!!!
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 11:31 AMMitchell-YES that's the one, I thought he was going to plummet to his death. And I agree with you about Carrie. She has just that "a pretty voice", but like Katherine, there isn't much of a performance going on.
I will go on record as saying I really love American Idol in all of it's shmarminess (real word...I don't think so)
Posted by: Melissa at May 25, 2006 11:31 AMJoel ... hahahahahahahahaha
At least he wasn't carving up road kill on the table and putting it in the freezer to be eaten later!!
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 11:32 AMremember Ste and Antonio used to do imitations of Joel's hands...his "acting" hands??? Hilarious!!! Siobhan...i think Ellio's mom is part of his appeal..she is so fragile and sweet and he obviously loves her very much..i get weepy every time...plus he can really sing. McPhee is a cardboard cutout of a performer..especially when Miss Mary is in the house...when she hooks into a song..wowee...speaking of singing..did anyone see Oprah's backyard gospel brunch??? Gladys, Dionne,Chaka, Shirley Ceasar and the Patti LaBelle all took turns improvising in Oprah's backyard...goose bumps!! Even the legends were all screaming Patti! Patti!...at one point Tina Turner just raised her hands to Jesus and hung her head in reaponse to Patti..it was awesome!
Posted by: mitchell at May 25, 2006 11:40 AMJoel subscribed to the "finger work" school of acting.
I believe Joel ended up living on a tugboat, and randomly doing Renaissance Fairs in Hopkinton.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 11:42 AMI did not see the gospel brunch ... will there be a recording?
Every Sunday, here in New York, BB King's club (called, appropriately: "BB Kings") has a gospel brunch. With lines down the block to get in. I've never gone to check it out before ... next time you come to town, we should go!!
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 11:43 AMPrince IS amazing.
He's insane, of course - in the way most truly prodigiously amazingly creative, self-directed, goal-obsessed people are.
I think there was a stretch - from about 1992 until the last few years here - where he had nothing left to prove to anyone, and spent a long time casting about for who Prince really was. His marriage and the death of his son, I think, pushed that process even farther out into left field - as it would for any *sane* insane person.
I met Prince once. Amazingly small guy - I'm 6'5, and could probably have fit him in my back pocket. Were I so inclined.
As to surrounding himself with great people - very true. He has little tolerance for BSers and worthless hangers-on - the sort of "entourage" types that suck up so many stars' money and time. The people who work at Paisley Park (his huge studio southwest of the Twin Cities, which looks like a huge White Castle) are pretty sharp, and worth the investment.
I used to know Mike Bland, the drummer for Prince's "New Power Generation" (and now Soul Asylum) when we were both gigging around the Cities in the mid-eighties. Nicest guy in the music biz; lent my drummer a hi-hat when his broke at a gig where my fairly awful band was opening for Mike's really awful band.
Wish I'da seen it. Might have to scour YouTube tonight!
Posted by: Mitch at May 25, 2006 11:50 AMHopkinton!!! thats the bitchiest thing u've ever said!!!...oh by the way..what about The Hasselhoff weeping during AI..is he hanging on the edge of sanity or what????
Posted by: mitchell at May 25, 2006 11:50 AMMitch - if you go to the person who trackbacked me (obnoxiously - borderline plagiarism, if you ask me) ... there's the video on YouTube.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 11:52 AMMitchell -hahahahahaha
Nothing more bleak than a renaissance fair in Hopkinton.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 11:52 AMhey Mitch...Prince and I are the same size and shape..u and I could have a funny act...Big Mitch and Little Mitch..the mathematical possibilities are endless!!!!
Posted by: mitchell at May 25, 2006 11:52 AMOh and Mitch - thanks for the insider's look at Prince. I really appreciate it!
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 11:53 AMMitchell - and you just know that Joel had a soft spot for restoration comedy.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 11:54 AM(I'm trying to differentiate here between "Mitch" and "Mitchell"!! hahaha)
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 11:55 AMOh and Mitchell - bwahahahahahahahahahaha on your Hasselhoff comment!!!!
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 11:55 AMstop torturing me O'Malley!!! isnt the ren-faire reference enuf???? Now restoration comedy..what next??? political puppet theater????
Posted by: mitchell at May 25, 2006 11:56 AMHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I bet Joel is working for Bread and Puppet AS WE SPEAK.
I am dying with laughter ovah heah ...
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 11:57 AMI'm trying to differentiate here between "Mitch" and "Mitchell"!!
I'm sure we'd be hard to tell apart!
Posted by: Mitch at May 25, 2006 11:57 AMJoel also ADORES commedia dell arte, mitchell.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 11:57 AMhonestly ..Sheila stop it!!! even the kids at Smirksu know that they have to say B&P...not Br$%& and P*&$##...what if i said S.....?????see..i have to much respect for u!!! hahaha..and Mitch...i may be 5'3"..on the outside..but i often forget and act like like im really 6'5"..can get me in trouble!!! Thank goodness for my bigger pals!
Posted by: mitchell at May 25, 2006 12:04 PMOmigod, B&P - hahahahahahahaha ... so sanctimonious!
"Yeah, you know, B&P ..."
SHADDUP!!
You mark my words: Joel is eating roadkill right now, wearing a papier mache commedia dell arte mask.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 12:07 PM..while his fingers are arched in a perfect position for a pare or thrust of an epee blade! Hazzow, my Lord!
Posted by: mitchell at May 25, 2006 12:08 PMhahahahahahahahaha
He's hangin' out with Sally "and she was laaaaughin' ..."
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 12:09 PMSheila, you should start with Prince's new album - which includes the songs he sang last night. It's not "Purple Rain," but it's definitely damn good. What he did last night was awe-inspiring - just radiating charsima from every pore. He did something similar at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame show a couple of years back, during the George Harrison tribute - literally blowing everyone off the stage with one of the best guitar solos I've ever heard.
The Toni Braxton thing was truly strange - it was like she was in physical distress, and couldn't quite tell the doctor what the problem was.
Posted by: Jeff at May 25, 2006 12:15 PMdamnit! u beat me to that one!
Posted by: mitchell at May 25, 2006 12:15 PMJeff - hahahahahahahahahahaha to the Toni Braxton comment - totally!!!
I'm gonna go out and buy some Prince today!!
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 12:16 PMI am so glad we are in sync, Mitchell, in our contempt for people who think it's fun to wear cone-like hats and joust with each other on the weekends, and use words like "m'lady". It would be really tough for me if you were really into that. And I imagine the same would be true for you as well. Like - could you come and support me on the weekends if I did that?
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 12:21 PMummm.......let me thi.... NOOOO!!! I would RESCUE u faster than u could say Xenu!!!!
to all: fave Prince song????
-Ballad of Dorothy Parker(its the reason why i became obsessed with Joni Mitchell..if u know the song..u know why)
-Raspberry Beret
Raspberry Beret will always remind me of the summer we became friends, Mitchell. I love that song.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 12:28 PMi know..warm and fuzzy...Raspberry Beret and Ferris Bueller!!
Posted by: mitchell at May 25, 2006 12:30 PMI gotta say I love "Cream". That's on my perpetual running-mix compilation. Yum.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 12:31 PMIt's like the ballad of Miles and Sheila. Ahem. Love that song! Love the beat, the tune, the yadda yadda, but love the lyrics too!
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 12:32 PMgood one!...Louise and I have been known to dance with wild abandon to Starfish and Coffee. ...where's Brendan??? im curious as to his choice? Siobhan?
Posted by: mitchell at May 25, 2006 12:33 PMThis is cheating a bit, but for me it would have to be the way that "I Would Die 4 U" segues into "Baby I'm A Star." Or "Housequake"...or "U Got the Look"..."Dirty Mind"...too many to pick just one.
Posted by: Jeff at May 25, 2006 12:33 PMStarfish and Coffee is great!
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 12:36 PMJeff...that segue is awesome!not cheating..its CLASSIC... and Housequake..yes!!..."the kickdrum is the fault"..."shut up, already, damn"
Posted by: mitchell at May 25, 2006 12:39 PMI love all of them, but "Kiss" is my favorite, followed by "Sign O'The Times."
Well, right now. I may change my mind in about five minutes.
Posted by: Lisa at May 25, 2006 12:39 PMIf u put a bunch of Prince on random...that is all the party u need...funk,slow-jams,lovey-dovey,dirty-sexy...then there is Sometimes it Snows in April...i cry every time!
Posted by: mitchell at May 25, 2006 12:42 PMI particularly loved how when Prince finished his song, he turned around with a flourish all but ignorning Seacrest. Prince don't do stage patter. Brilliant. And those back-up singers were HOT.
Posted by: curly mcdimple at May 25, 2006 12:43 PMI loved those girls - totally - and how they all strolled off, as a threesome. He just knows how to put on a show.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 12:44 PMsooo hot..i cant belive they've been dissed on the blogs..they are classic Prince gals..singing and looking hot!!!
Posted by: mitchell at May 25, 2006 12:45 PM//..i cant belive they've been dissed on the blogs//
Those people probably love commedia dell arte too so we don't have to worry about them.
I am thinking i need to do a whole post about commedia dell arte. Just get it out of my system. It might be the angriest thing I will ever write.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 12:48 PMAnd then of course some wuss with dirty toenails will whine: "Commedia dell arte is the cornerstone of western theatre, the birth of interplay and mask-work ... you obviously just don't appreciate the nuances of the renaissance and the intricacy of the commedia characters ..." etc.
Uhm. Yes. I have studied commedia. I get it. Okay? I GET IT. Doesn't mean I have to freakin' LIKE it.
hahahaha I'm so mad!!!
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 12:50 PMI've been laughing so hard I haven't been able to write. I don't know if I'm sorry or happy to have brought up that party. You and Mitchell are so funny.
An Angry Sheila Post...I can't wait
Posted by: Melissa at May 25, 2006 12:56 PMoh my god..ur ranting at an IMAGINED repsonse!!!
and u are completely justified!!! genius!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Exactly!!! There's some bitchy little Ren Fair geek in Hopkinton just waiting to jump all over me!!
hahahahahahahahahahaha
I'm insane!
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 12:58 PMim so glad u brought it up...i was so drunk at most of those parties..i need someone to remind me about them!!!
Posted by: mitchell at May 25, 2006 12:58 PMYou know how defensive and sanctimonious those commedia assholes get, Mitchell!
I am howling ....
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 12:58 PMholy shit...shut up!!!!!! waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!
Posted by: mitchell at May 25, 2006 12:59 PMNo, I mean - I IMAGINE that there is some geek out there ready to jump all over me!
The second I come out with an "I hate Ren Fairs" post ... just you wait. Joel will emerge from the woodwork, commedia mask in place, fingers crooked up just so, roadkill bubbling in the pot ... to tell me why I am wrong.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 1:01 PMI seriously have problems. Joel never did anything to me. I just despise him because of his lifelong commitment to Renaissance Fairs.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 1:01 PM"bubbling"??????..sheila..im gonna poop my pants if u dont shut up!!!!!!!! hhahahahahahahahha..im ans eriously dying here!
Posted by: mitchell at May 25, 2006 1:04 PM//I just despise him because of his lifelong commitment to Renaissance Fairs.//
That is an insane statement, I realize. I just can't help it. I have very few dealbreakers, but a deep and abiding love of Ren Fairs is one of them.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 1:04 PMhahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
What an insane image. Roadkill "bubbling" on the stove ... while Joel practices his sword play in front of the mirror.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 1:06 PMI seriously need to stop now. This is out of control. I could go on with this lazzi (OH NO!! A WORD FROM COMMEDIA!!) forever.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 1:09 PMhahaha...lazzi...that is either a comedia word or my second grade teacher in Cranston..."thank you Miss Lazzi!"
Posted by: mitchell at May 25, 2006 1:17 PMYou guys are absolutely killing me. I'm gonna get fired here. Eighty-plus comments and they're all gems. "It will be the angriest thing I ever write." HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Anyone else flash back to the Chappelle Show sketch where Charlie Murphy and his posse challenge Prince (all of 5' 3") and his band to a pickup basketball game, and get crushed? "He came onto the court and he hadn't even changed - he was wearin' that frilly s*** and the jacket, it was like 'Shirts v. Blouses!'" And then Prince starts dunking on everyone! "Game - BLOUSES."
Lisa - from way back - I'm with you on those VH1 specials. Whenever they hit the harder rockers from the 80s I watch like it's a horror movie, through my fingers. Geez. I mean, it looks like Eddie Van Halen bought Keith Richards' heroin habit on eBay. They should just skip all the crappy films in health class and show those specials - the teacher wouldn't even have to say "Don't do drugs, kids." Yikes.
Posted by: Nightfly at May 25, 2006 1:28 PMCommedia dell arte is the cornerstone of western theatre, the birth of interplay and mask-work ... you obviously just don't appreciate the nuances of the renaissance and the intricacy of the commedia characters
Oh, the nerve of them! ;-)
I have to do a Prince mix now. "Housequake" beatmixes nicely into "DMSR", for starters...
Posted by: mitch at May 25, 2006 1:34 PMDMSR!!!! yes..Lets Pretend We're Married too...jams!
Posted by: mitchell at May 25, 2006 1:35 PMOh my God!! I DID manage to catch Prince last night!! AMAZING. ASTOUNDING.
Oh, and Sheila, please, PLEASE do a post on commedia. I had a drama prof. who would not stop shoving it down students' throats. He directed a whole commedia dell arte show one quarter and was like, "Tracey, TRACEY, why aren't you auditioning?"
"Um, dude, because I don't want to look like a total ass. Have FUN now!"
Stupidest show we ever did. Everybody hated it. With a white hot hate. Even the poor saps who got cast. And I just got to sit in the audience and howl with inappropriate laughter. One of the best decisions I've ever made.
Posted by: tracey at May 25, 2006 1:37 PMtracey..fecking brilliant!!!..."um,dude..." hahaha...so inappropriate to talk to a prof like that! ask Sheila (nicely) to tell about being rude to "Gordon"..when she had nooo leg to stand on??!!!
Posted by: mitchell at May 25, 2006 1:39 PMI'm sorry, but I am quite intolerant: Anyone who has less than a "white hot hate" response to commedia is just an ass.
I can look at commedia and appreciate its place in theatre history - but I DON'T WANT TO DO IT AND I HAVE TO SAY THAT THEATRE HAS PROGRESSED SINCE THEN. THEATRE IS BETTER NOW.
ALSO: CLIP YOUR TOENAILS YOU DIRTY COMMEDIA FANS.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 1:41 PMUhm. Obviously I need to write the post. I am shouting at NOBODY.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 1:43 PMhaha...i love that a geeky theatre historian now has bad hygiene!!! its very funny..besides being absolutely true!!
Posted by: mitchell at May 25, 2006 1:47 PMCommedia del what now? Is this what Bad News Hughes posted about a couple of months ago?
"See the Peasants."
"No."
Posted by: Lisa at May 25, 2006 2:35 PMLisa - hahahaha Yes - well, sort of. Patrick posted about Renaissance Fairs. Ew. But looped in with that - and often included in your general Ren Fair nonsense - is the theatrical genre known as "commedia dell arte".
I admit: It's very important, in the realm of things, and actors should know about it - it's part of the history of the craft - and yadda yadda - but it drives me up a wall.
Little traveling bands of players would travel through the freakin' medieval and renaissance world - and they had these masks - and they would act out plays. Very very racy plays.
But - people who are really into commedia now, in the modern day, tend to be big fat pretentious bores. I speak from VAST experience.
It's almost like a shorthand.
If someone says to me, enthusiastically, "Omigod, I took such a great commedia class on Saturday ..." I can pretty much guarantee that that person is a jagoff.
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 2:40 PM "I have very few dealbreakers, but a deep and abiding love of Ren Fairs is one of them."
"I can pretty much guarantee that that person is a jagoff." "some wuss with dirty toenails will whine" "Anyone who has less than a "white hot hate" response to commedia is just an ass." "I seriously have problems"--ya think?
This is just insanely funny.
Posted by: DBW at May 25, 2006 2:56 PMI got a voice message from a friend of mine about it when it was happening.
She was screaming into the phone most undecipherably.
"RuuubeennAAAAHHHPRINCEGAHHHBLABLAHLBVLAHMERICANIDOLBLAHBLAHGAAAWAAAYAAAAHHH!!!"
...is what it sounded like.
Five minutes later when I got there, Baseball Bat in hand, I realized she wasn't being attacked by hordes of the undead, but that she was gurgling to herself watching her tivo play over and over again the scene of him walking out and jumping into song.
...truly it's been some time since I've seen him perform as well. I've neglected my habit of collecting his music for too long, myself. I guess that's what having a regular job'll do to you.
Posted by: Wutzizname at May 25, 2006 3:14 PMruben - hahahahaha I love the ecstatic phone message!!
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 3:42 PMDBW - oh boy. I am percolating with an insanely angry post about commedia dell arte.
LOOK OUT!!!
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 3:43 PMGeez, spend a day traveling and miss the good comment sessions!...
I wanted McPhee to win!... She's pretty and, uh, um... she sings better than at least 2 of the other top 12 contestants... and, ummmm, did I say she's good looking?...
I think I read that McPhee's career will be in the traveling casts of Broadway shows...
Posted by: JFH at May 25, 2006 4:57 PMYou can like McPhee, JFH. I understand. But if you say you love commedia dell arte and go to Ren Fairs every weekend, I'm breaking up with you.
:)
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 5:01 PMJFH just proved my point. "Um, I really liked McPhee." "Why?" "Pretty. Boobies."
Posted by: Lisa at May 25, 2006 5:18 PMI haven't really been following AI closely this season, but flipped on the finale last night. Unfortunately, I turned it on right when they were doing a painful medley with all the male singers who were kicked off, and I couldn't flip back after that.
CANNOT BELIEVE I MISSED PRINCE!
Posted by: jenny at May 25, 2006 5:27 PMThe videos up on YouTube, Jen - so you can see it!
Posted by: red at May 25, 2006 5:32 PMALSO: CLIP YOUR TOENAILS YOU DIRTY COMMEDIA FANS.
Uhm. Obviously I need to write the post. I am shouting at NOBODY.
Holy CRAP you're too funny!!! TOO.FUNNY!
Posted by: Jon F. at May 26, 2006 1:44 AMI think it was that DAMN STUPID commedia show where that guy with the thunderous thighs who was obsessed with me ripped his crotch onstage and didn't know it. At one point he was supposed to sit down, all spread-eagled, and do -- I dunno, something stupid, I'm sure, and -- oh, HELLO, undies! So much for his very serious, fake British actor-iness. And those were some seriously thunderous thighs.
I remember I laughed my lily white ass off -- for SOOO many reasons AND for the entire rest of the show!!
He was utterly humiliated and pouted around the green room for DAYS. He was never the same after The Undie Incident.
SEE?? COMMEDIA DESTROYS LIVES!!!
Posted by: tracey at May 26, 2006 2:43 AMi can't believe i missed Prince.
Posted by: mere at May 26, 2006 6:14 AM//and do -- I dunno, something stupid, I'm sure//
hahahahahahahahahaha
Posted by: red at May 26, 2006 6:43 AM