Saw the Hitchhiker's GTTG. Feared the worst when it started with a "Life of Brian" - inspired musical number, but as LoB's creators might say, it got better. Still, not as funny as the book. But Ok, really. I thought the casting was above average. Trillian really should be English, but whatshername, the Debra Winger lookalike, was actually pretty convincing in the role. Oh, but Alan Rickman is one of those looks-good-on-paper choices for the robot role. Just not hilariously glum enough. It's a shame, because that was really one of the funniest things in the book... which may explain, partly, why this movie, though enjoyable, just never made me laugh that much.
And now I've got that danged theme song stuck in my head...
Monday, May 09, 2005
Current Notes, #1
This is the first of what may become an ongoing series of observations on The Current, 89.1 FM. This public radio station has been reminding us of what radio could be, if the industry wasn’t so mucked up.
Anyhow, one thing I’ve been noticing on The Current is a fair number of WannaBeens. A Wannabeen is something like a Wannabe, something like a Hasbeen. It’s the best name I’ve been able to come up with for artists that really sound like they are channeling other, usually dead or nearly-forgotten, artists. You know, soundalikes. And I don’t mean "Bob Dylan singing like Woody Guthrie" soundalikes. I mean Joe Cocker as Ray Charles/Steve Perry as Sam Cooke/Ann Wilson as Robert Plant soundalikes.
For example, Madeleine Peyroux. Hey, she’s a good singer. And I suppose if you’re going to sound EXACTLY like someone else, Billie Holliday is not a bad pick. But it’s annoying. And yet enjoyable at the same time. You see the dilemma; I’m enjoying it a little, I’m hating it a little. I don’t know how to feel.
The other person that reminded me of this was Ben Harper with the Blind Boys of Alabama, and the song "Well, Well, Well." Now, again with the disclaimers: it all sounds great. BBoA, they’re the best. But the song is also wearing its "this is a record that coulda been made 50 years ago" heart on its sleeve. And the lyrical base of the song is taking a throwaway phrase and elevating it to a rather forced significance. I mean, they’re literally singing about a well! I keep expecting them to tell us it’s a deep subject. (Oh, and the co-writer of the song? Bob Dylan. Whatta hack.)
My only fear is that the Current, with its sometimes overeager attempts to feature great old acts as well as cutting-edge new ones will end up just splitting the difference and playing new artists that sound just like the old ones. Is it the best of both worlds? Or the attack of the Wannabeens?
Anyhow, one thing I’ve been noticing on The Current is a fair number of WannaBeens. A Wannabeen is something like a Wannabe, something like a Hasbeen. It’s the best name I’ve been able to come up with for artists that really sound like they are channeling other, usually dead or nearly-forgotten, artists. You know, soundalikes. And I don’t mean "Bob Dylan singing like Woody Guthrie" soundalikes. I mean Joe Cocker as Ray Charles/Steve Perry as Sam Cooke/Ann Wilson as Robert Plant soundalikes.
For example, Madeleine Peyroux. Hey, she’s a good singer. And I suppose if you’re going to sound EXACTLY like someone else, Billie Holliday is not a bad pick. But it’s annoying. And yet enjoyable at the same time. You see the dilemma; I’m enjoying it a little, I’m hating it a little. I don’t know how to feel.
The other person that reminded me of this was Ben Harper with the Blind Boys of Alabama, and the song "Well, Well, Well." Now, again with the disclaimers: it all sounds great. BBoA, they’re the best. But the song is also wearing its "this is a record that coulda been made 50 years ago" heart on its sleeve. And the lyrical base of the song is taking a throwaway phrase and elevating it to a rather forced significance. I mean, they’re literally singing about a well! I keep expecting them to tell us it’s a deep subject. (Oh, and the co-writer of the song? Bob Dylan. Whatta hack.)
My only fear is that the Current, with its sometimes overeager attempts to feature great old acts as well as cutting-edge new ones will end up just splitting the difference and playing new artists that sound just like the old ones. Is it the best of both worlds? Or the attack of the Wannabeens?
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