Showing posts with label holiday music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday music. Show all posts
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| Monty Wooley as Sheridan Whiteside in the amazing Christmas movie "The Man Who Came to Dinner" |
- X-Mas (Let's Do It Again) - Alphabeat
- Tracks in the Snow - The Civil Wars
- Winter Song - Sara Barelles and Ingrid Michaelson
- Home for the Holidays - Emmy the Great and Tim Wheeler
- Believe in Me - Fun.
- All the Right Reasons - Dressy Bessy
- Melekalikimaka - Shannon and the Clams
- Hang Your Stocking by the Fire - Soda Fountain Rag
- Wonderful Christmas Time - The Bandana Splits
- Santa's on His Way - The Pipettes
- Carol of the Bells - The Bird and the Bee
- All I Want for Christmas is You - The Puppini Sisters
- The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't be Late) - Tegan and Sara
- Fairytale of New York - Stars
- River (Joni Mitchell Cover) - Lex Land
- Carry Me Home - Hey Rosetta!
- Blue Christmas - First Aid Kit
- Christmas Time is Here (Live) - Dark Dark Dark
- Baby, It's Cold Outside - Rufus Wainwright and Sharon van Etten
- Zombie Christmas - Emmy the Great and Tim Wheeler
- The Christmas Song (Alternative Version) - The Raveonettes
The countdown continues until Les Miserables (29 days) and the Hobbit (18 Days)!
How can anything possibly top that?
Well, really nothing but I think the following *should* suffice.
Somehow...
How can anything possibly top that?
Well, really nothing but I think the following *should* suffice.
Somehow...
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| This picture has made my world Saturday night. |
BOMB...shell SMASH! Eeek!
Magical Broadway deception, lies, manipulation, gay men, adultery and everything your mother hates is coming back. But your mother doesn't hate the stick bobble-head previously known as Jennifer Hudson (hate to sound so harsh, but she did look good with some hips on her) which will be the one thing she'll watch Smash for. In Season 2, now the question is no longer Team Megan Hilty or Team Katharine McPhee, it's who is the next Joan Collins in this new game of Primetime Soap Opera. Sounds a little cringe-worthy, but the Bombshell show and the Marilyn factor will hopefully make a few appearances and anything to see the undeniable pairing of Tony-Winning Christian Borle and Debra Mesing together! And speaking of undeniable pairings, Messing's Will and Grace's co-costar Sean Hayes will have a stint on the show as essentially himself, a song and dance comedian making his Broadway debut. Outside of Hayes, Hilty, Davenport, Borle and Messing I will attempt to not cringe completely at the sudsy soap this show has suddenly become.
"I feel like I wanna murder someone and also I want soft
pretzels." - New Girl
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| It's amazing what a late-night spree of weheartit does for a girl. Thank you, Rose Water Witch for making me happy. So hard. |
Mr. Eddie Monroe from Grimm
Speaking of Sean Hayes, here is one of his production company's best and it's main saving grace. Sorry Sasha Roiz, as creepy-sexual as you seem in a Nazi soldier kind of way, but my man (in a heterosexual world) is Silas Weir Mitchell, Eddie Monroe, blutblad, Mr. Christmas-and-I-Love-Trains.
You.
Make.
My.
World.
(and oh my the amount of Monroe/Nick slash, this pleases me deeply)
This show is perfect, outside of my extreme lady boner for Roiz and Mitchell, the joking cop back-and-forths don't get extremely cheesy, fairy tales abound (at least at first), Play on German words (Brilliant! I have two German-geeks for friends so I heavily appreciate this!) and David Giultoni reminding me every minute that he could totally pull of playing Clark Kent/Superman.
How Do Swedish Popstars Do Christmas? Like This!
*Le Droolage* *Thud*
For some reason Spotify's "copy embed code" is not working this time around so here is this month's spookish playlist. Enjoy!
It almost seems sacrilege to think about Christmas -- but after Halloween decorations are decking the aisles of our favorite stores, one can't help but think "Oh geez, Christmas decorations are next.." -- and given my crap Christmas last year I almost want to forget the Christian holiday altogether and hope for a Solstice fiesta this year like in 2011.
You never realize how amazing your alternative holiday is until you spend it with other people when you always celebrate it alone.
But fortunately (or unfortunately), Emmy the Great and Tim Wheeler's "Home for the Holidays" managed to squirm its way into my brain on Sunday and it has stuck since.
Spreading the plague to my readers.
I do not apologize.
Dear Glamour, if you're so concerned with weight stereotype (The Secret Way People Judge You) then why don't you help out the cause a little by covering larger women's lifestyles? And you do realize some people really don't care about being judged -- some can laugh it off it's not all out discrimination.
(Conti'd) It's a fixed study when you're giving black and white terms to show how shallow the human race really is.
Not everyone fits into your three standards of body size -- no matter how progressive you are with a pro-plus agenda
Convincing me to DOWNLOAD Regina Spektor's new album (obsessed!/it's on) Bitch please I'm buying the CD.
Making Katharine McPhee's face look lie a Barbie! Retouch much?
What They Did Right
- Making Me Mist Over (My Father Really Was Superman)
- Asking adult film stars on sex, they would know from trial and error versus the scientific stuff (...that's what sex is all about, right?)
Happy Merry, Merry Christmas, Gary Crimble (as Lennon says), Happy Yule, Y Nadolig (as I say), and other assorted winter holiday wishes inserted here.
Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Fashion
Despite being under fire recently for being pro-rape through fashion by way of edgy punk style (which found its way into my heart via E! News... surprise surprise), H & M has officially put out a 30 piece collection inspired by Larsson's heroine Lisbeth Salander. Which is exactly why why all feminists would be up in arms, like blogger Natalie Karneef in her Open Letter to H&M from Rape Survivor which she makes good points.
"And now, H&M, you have created a line of clothing based on her character: a woman who has suffered a lifetime of abuse, who is violently raped, and who is hunting down a man who violently rapes and kills other women. Lisbeth has been through hell, and her clothing is her armor. That's her choice, and it's an understandable choice. But you glamorize it, putting a glossy, trendy finish on the face of sexual violence and the rage and fear it leaves behind."
To which H&M says to the Wall Street Journal.
“The collection is based on and inspired by the film and character Lisbeth Salander and though we think Lisbeth is a strong woman who stands up for her ideal, we are not trying to represent her specifically. Our goal is to rather offer a collection that we see in today’s trend picture that will appeal to many customers.”
What piece am I most in love with? It was love at first sight when I saw the collage American and Swedish flag shirt (also available in black and gray) representing some Scandinavian love. For a closer look of the individual pieces, Fabsugar has you covered there.
Mission Creek 2012 Lineup
March 27th to April 1st is a magical time in Iowa City, spring is at large (at the risk of snow at any given second, cue eyeroll), the students more annoying than ever on a Friday night, and Mission Creek is underway. What is Mission Creek Festival? It is a magical time of the year where all Indie acts the festival can get their hands on performs once or maybe twice (via Little Village or Java Blend) during the week depending on their schedules. It's not just one venue either, the whole town is on it and that is the beauty of this music festival.
The Lineup this year had the ability to make me cry like a little girl. The Magnetic Fields, William Fitzsimmons, The War on Drugs, David Cross of Arrested Development fame, Rhys Chatham, Dirty Beaches, Bowerbirds and wait for it... SHARON VAN FUCKIN' ETTEN! Yes, folks, the woman that turns my ears into butter will be ten feet from me from either Gabes or The Mill (I have a gut feeling it's one of the two) as I tremble like a total girl and attempting to come up with something witty and unsexual to say to her that doesn't sound creepy when she signs her new CD for me at the end of the concert. Oh be still my beating heart, even typing this caused tears. *flutter*
Dressy Bessy does Christmas Again
Tammy Ealom and crew must really love Christmas from their first original carol, All the Right Reasons, back in 1999 for the record label Kindercore's Christmas album. Twee perfection. Then last year it was the witty electro Hopped Up (on Xmas) [Which I commented on the first link on December 3rd "Oh my God, this is the best birthday present to me, which is tomorrow" and Tammy, on her personal account graciously wished me a happy birthday and called me by my nickname which only meant she remembered me when we met about 2 or 3 years prior. What a moment and seriously, it made my entire year.] What more can the DB gang do to completely rock Christmas this year? How about slowing it down a little Zooey Deschanel style and being totally adorable in Mister Kringle? Yes, Dressy Bessy continues to inch towards making a Christmas album in which Tammy is signing when they come back to town.They are also giving away Mister Kringle for free on their facebook.
Sleigh Bells New Single
HFPA's Golden Picks for the Golden Globes
Always saving the awards for last, for I get long winded -- The Hollywood Foreign Press Association finally picked the nominations for the Golden Globes last Thursday and apparently it's the most snubbery season, according to closed-minded critics who wished Melissa McCarthy got it for "Mike and Molly" or at least "Bridesmaids" or Kirsten Dunst for "Melancholia". But one snub I have to agree with is why the hell Elizabeth Olsen didn't get nominated for "Martha Marcy May Marlene" but she'll get hers in time. So for now, here's a watered down score card with my predictions.
Movies
Best Motion Picture - Hugo (obvious win, The Help)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Tie between Meryl Streep for "Iron Lady" and Tilda Swinton for "We Need to Talk About Kevin" (obvious win, Viola Davis for "The Help")
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Tie between Leonardo DiCaprio for "J. Edgar" and Michael Fassbender for "Shame" (although I lean more heavily on Leo) (obvious win, George Clooney for "The Descendants")
Best Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical - No competition, The Artist, The Artist, the Artist. Suck on that Bridesmaids.
Best Performance by an Actress in a Comedy or Musical - Maybe I'm biased but Charlize Theron for "Young Adult" (obvious win, Kristen Wiig for "Bridesmaids")
Best Performance by an Actor in a Comedy or Musical - Tie between Jean Dujardin for "The Artist" and Ryan Gosling (you may die of shock) for "Crazy Stupid Love" (obvious win, Ryan Gosling
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture - Berenice Bejo for "The Arist" (obvious win, Jessica Chastain or Octavia Spencer for "The Help")
Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture - Tie between Christopher Plummer for "Beginners" and Kenneth Branagh for "My Week with Marilyn" (but my money is more on Plummer) (obvious win, Christopher Plummer)
Best Director - Tie between Marty Scorsese for "Hugo" or Michel Hazanavicius for "The Artist" (but a little more for Hazanavicius)
Best Screen Play - Motion Picture - Michel Hazanavicius for "The Artist (obvious win, George Clooney, Grant Heslov, Beau Willimon for "The Ides of March")
Television
Best Television Series - Drama - American Horror Story (obvious win, Boardwalk Empire or Game of Thrones)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama - Julianna Marguiles for "The Good Wife" (obvious win, Julianna Marguiles)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama - Steve Buscemi for "Boardwalk Empire" (obvious win, Buscemi)
Best Television Series - Comedy or Musical - NEW GIRL NEW GIRL NEW GIRL! (obvious wins, Glee or Modern Family)
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical - Tie between Zooey Deschanel for "New Girl" or Amy Poehler for "Parks and Recreation") (obvious win, Tina Fey for "30 Rock" or Amy Poehler)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical - Johnny Galecki for "The Big Bang Theory" (obvious win, Alec Baldwin for "30 Rock")
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television -
Tie between Jessica Lange for "American Horror Story" and Sofia Vegara for "Modern Family" (obvious wins, Vergara and Maggie Smith for "Downton Abbey")
Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television -
Eric Stonestreet for "Modern Family" (obvious win, Stonestreet and Peter Dinklage for "Game of Thrones"
Courtesy of indierockcafe, probably the kickass thing a musicphile... and Christmas nerd... could ever love.
Twas the night before Christmas
"Christmas Eve" - The Sugarcubes
And all through the house
"Our House" - Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Not a creature was stirring
"Creature of the Night" - Arthur Dodge & The Horsefeathers
Not even a Mouse
"Quiet as a Mouse" - Margot & The Nuclear So Sos
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
"Hanging Up My Stockings" - Squirrel Nut Zippers
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
"Little Saint Nick" - The Beach Boys
The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
"Children" - The Delta Spirit
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
"Put Some Sugar On It" - Half Japanese
And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap,
"Feather in Your Cap" - Beck
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
"I Go To Sleep" - The Kinks
When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
"Come On Let's Boogie to the Elf Dance" - Sufjan Stevens
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
"We Awoke" - Between The Pine
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
"At My Window" - Lessons in Time
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
"Shutter" - City & The Horse
The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
"Fallen Snow" - Au Revoir Simone
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
"Shine A Light" - Wolf Parade
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
"Eyes" - Rouge Wave
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
"Reindeer Ride" - Roger Lavern & The Microns
With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
"Drive On, Driver" - The Magnetic Fields
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
"Donde Esta Santa Claus" - Guster
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
"The Reindeer" - The Headcoats
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name;
"Look at the Reindeer Rock" - Jimmy Boyd
"Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
"The Happy Reindeer" - Dancer, Prancer and Nervous
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
"Donna and Blitzen" - Badly Drawn Boy
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
"Wonderwall" - Oasis
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
"Dash After Dash" - Matt and Kim
As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
"Maple Leaves" - Jens Lekman
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky,
"Fly" - Nick Drake
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
"The Roof" - New Bomb Turks
With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.
"Santa Claus is Coming To Town" - Bruce Springsteen
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof,
"On The Roof" - The Feelies
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
"The Hoofs" - Why?
As I drew in my hand, and was turning around,
"Cold Hands" - The Sun
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
"Father Christmas" - The Kinks
He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
"Fur Soft As Fur" - The Boy Least Likely To
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
"Ashes to Ashes" - David Bowie
A bundle of toys he had flung on his back,
"All The Best Wooden Toys Come From Germany" - BSS
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
"Jump Into This Sack" - Daniel Paquette
His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
"In the Twinkle of an Eye" - Eerie
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
"Rosy Cheeks" - Her Majesty's Orchestra
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
"Close Your Mouth It's Christmas" - The Free Design
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
"Santa Claus" - Belle and Sebastian
The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
"The Pipe" - Vulture Whale
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
"Cinder and Smoke" - Iron and Wine
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
"Belly" - Swanton Bombs
That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly.
"Jelly Belly" - The Smashing Pumpkins
He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
"Jolly Jolly Ego" - Dirty Projectors
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
"If I Laugh" - Cat Stevens
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
"One Wink at a Time" - The Replacements
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
"Darlin Do Not Fear" - Brett Dennen
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
"Did You See The Words" - Animal Collective
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
"Santa Left a Booger in My Stocking" - Aqua Teen Hunger Force (w/Neko Case)
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
"Nose" - Mailbox
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
"Jingle Hell (Stuck in the Chimney" - Soundtrack of Our Lives
He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
"Sleigh Ride" - Reliant K
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
"Milk Thistle" - Conor Oberst
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
Look at the Sky" - Ulrich Schnauss
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
"Happy Christmas (War is Over)" - John Lennon
"Good Night" - The Beatles
(Still waiting for Peace on Earth)
The Happy Reindeer - Dancer, Prancer and Nervous the Singing Reindeer
Mrs. Claus Ain't Got Nothing On Me - Little Jackie
Snoopy's Christmas - Royal Guardsmen
The Christmas festivities just keep on coming.... and I keep finding more things to get geeked out on (Michael Buble duet with the Puppini Sisters anyone?)
Thank you BUST Magazine, for tweeting this interview between movies.com and Diablo Cody, for every so often I forget about her awesomeness. "I've learned that you absolutely cannot create anything without offending somebody." is apart of my quote canon, as Mrs. Maurio discusses new movie "Young Adult," what it means to just write about horrible horrible person yet manage to be funny about it at the same time, and her place in Hollywood. Have I mentioned I effing love her?
Uggie the Dog from The Artist
French director and writer Michel Hazanavicius probably did not envision where his small little film (and silent of all things shocking and postmodern!) to be taken as far as being in talks for Oscar nominations for Leading Actor (Jean Dujardin) and even the off-chance of a petition to give Uggie the Jack Russell terrier a special nomination, much to the annoyance to Susan Orlean that in the case of Rin Tin Tin being the legendary almost-Oscar winner back in the first year of the now established Award show, "...members of the Academy, anxious to establish the awards were serious and important, decided that giving an Oscar to a dog did not serve that end.'" It's a dog! I think we are much smarter nowadays to believe anyone can act... if that monkey can speak, animals more than enough have a capability to be just as prominent as George Clooney or Ryan Gosling in a movie -- either way, women want to take Uggie home or at least Consider_Uggie on twitter and facebook for a nomination! This is a dumb piece of news anyway but I'm all for rallying to get The Artist nominated somehow; sound production would probably be the effective win because apparently a French actor of Dujardin's stature could never have a chance against Leo DiCaprio this year. Just saying.
They're Baaaack! Sound the Sleigh Bells!
Allison Krauss, Goddess of my heart and the Destructor to my eardrums, is back collaborating with Derek Miller for sophomore LP Reign of Terror, but they are coming back in style and down the rabbit hole a little bit in this 2 1/2 minute teaser.
Open Letter to Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman
Dear Mr. Gleiberman,
I more than respect your opinion in your column in last month's Entertainment Weekly "6 Fabulous Silent Film Classics," but I was saddened as an extreme historical cinephile that I have not even heard of all of them except for Pandora's box, which is rightfully there. What I also have a problem is the common theme. Your first statement is "Want more like 'The Artist?'" Well, silent film is not one huge encompassing genre, and you as a movie columnist should know that!
If you want to get more readers, you have to include some more historic pieces that precurse our more favorited genres, such as "M" featuring the marvelous Peter Lorre pre-Casablanca love (although you did pen Conrad Veidt's 'The Man Who Laughs' and he is a very honorable mention) and especially Metropolis, and I'm not just saying that because it's my favorite, but because science fictions and thrillers are what today's movie-goers are the most attracted to. The more films you include that have made cultural impacts will make the readers more interested. I have no hate against Sunrise and the others, but you should have made a conscious effort to include movies that don't push all the stereotypes we so easily watched during Singing in the Rain.
Rufus Wainwright: Good News, He's Back in the Land of the Living!
"Whatever happened to that guy who sang Cohen's Hallelujah in the movie Shrek and Across the Universe for I Am Sam?" you might ask, knowing those are the only huge claims to fame Rufus's, the brilliant bastard hybrid of the MacGarrigles and the Wainwrights, pop culture repertoire. Idiots... or maybe I'm just a hipster like that. But our favorite dramatic and theatrical man sits down with Stereogum for a Progress Report on Prima Donna, his opera which is premiering in February (WAAAAANNT!!) his daughter and boyfriend but most importantly his latest album "Out of the Game" but will it be as majestic as his last one where he put music to Shakespeare's Sonnets? Time will tell.
David Burtka does E! News
While the Mayor of Munchkin-Land otherwise known as Ryan Seacrest is in talks for taking Matt Lauer's place on "The Today Show," what about his E! gig on the channel's news program, aka. my horrible horrible addiction I cannot get rid of, the same program recruits Neil Patrick's husband and co-father to their twins David Burtka and last night was his first night.
Yes, he was a little shaky and slow in the voice as he announced Kris Humphries coming out of the divorce shadow to discuss his plans for the future, but there's always room for improvement, although his voice will be something to get used to as it is a closed off almost guttural sound. Until then, looks like this is going to be one busy family and it's always a perk to get another gay man on the staff next to "fashion insulter" Robby Lachlan.
Will try to hunt for a video clip of his work -- as well as Rainn Wilson's air-guitaring Christmas Eve by Trans-Siberian Orchestra last night on the Office.
Dani Stahl Keeps Getting Epic on my Face
Stahl is popping up everywhere, on E! on both Scouted AND another guilty pleasure Fashion Police last Friday, but now she's popping into the offices of my Zen: Essie Nail Polish where she mixes a color and even gets Essie to mix a special color that matches the Nylon's logo. WAAAAAANT!!!
Sophia Rossi gets FOAMy
As we all know, I get bored easily and need to change up my fixes -- as with magazines, my new found addictions to i-D Magazine and a growing fondness for West Coast's "Fashion, Ocean, Art and Music" FOAM magazine. FOAM seems to be like that girl in high school who managed to be a total jock-ette but still managed to have her hair look perfect and still manage to be incredibly girly in fashion and a total boy on a boogie board in the ocean. This, I like... this I heavily approve of.
So what could have really sparked my interest? Well, remember a little name of Sophia Rossi, hellogiggles co-owner and L.A. socialite in the least Paris Hilton sense of the word? Featured in their "The Gift Girls" segment she shows her enduring love for friend Charlotte Ronson's (which always gets a message on hellogiggles) lip gloss and other accessories. And I will answer Rossi's million dollar question: it used to be Mary Anne, now it's Stacey.
Raveonettes Get Freaky with Jack Skeleton Pillow
After ten years and enough in their catalog to make a B-sides and rarities album, well aptly named "B-Sides/Rarities," Sharin and Sune finally put out a video to their "The Christmas Song" ten years after its conception and it does not disappoint, in fact, I would love to have a Christmas party with them!
...And my Undying Love for Diablo Cody Continues...
- Christmas Ghosts - The Raveonettes
- Christmas Wish - ALL CAPS
- Santa's on His Way - The Pipettes
- Winter Wonderland - Kate Havnevik
- 12 Days of Christmas - The Bird and the Bee
- Deck the Halls - Pomplamoose
- All I Want for Christmas is You - The Puppini Sisters
- Christmas Baby (Please Come Home) - The Raveonettes
- Maybe Next Year - Meiko
- Hopped Up (on Xmas) - Dressy Bessy
- Christmas Jam - Bathing Beauty
- It Snowed - Meaghan Smith
- The Tip of the Iceberg - Owl City
- Sleigh Ride - KT Tunstall
- Wishlist - The Ready Set
- Friends (Forever) - The Parenthetical Girls
- O Come O Come Emmanuel - The Civil Wars
- Carol of the Bells - The Bird and the Bee
- Hang Your Stocking by the Fire - Soda Fountain Rag **
- Christmas in Prison - Emmy the Great and Lightspeed Champion
- Merry Christmas I Don't Want to Fight - Helen Love
- Getting Coal - The Pipettes
- Christmas in Cleveland - The Raveonettes
- All My Bells are Ringing - Lenka
- Silent Night - Priscilla Ahn
- All the Right Reasons - Dressy Bessy
- Peppermint Winter - Owl City
- Last Christmas - The Parenthetical Girls
- Believe in Me - Fun
- The Heartache Can Wait - Brandi Carlile
- Happy Christmas Baby - The Boy Least Likely To
- Christmas With You - Artist vs. Poet
- Winter Song - Sara Barelles and Ingrid Michaelson
- The Christmas Song - The Raveonettes
- Come On! Let's Boogey to the Elf Dance! - Sufjan Stevens
- Mistletoe - Colbie Caillat
- I'll be Groped for Christmas (TSA Edition) - Roxi Copland
- Candy Cane Children - The White Stripes
- Are You Coming Over for Christmas - Belle and Sebastian
- Come On Santa - The Raveonettes
- Santa Needs a Holiday - Strawberry Whiplash **
- Merry Christmas Baby Please Don't Die - Crocodiles and the Dum Dum Girls
When life is shit, revert to music. (Copyrighted by me.) Or at least that's what I'm doing for the moment, holding a "party in my head" with sex boots crying over the majesty of Florence and the Machine's latest video. <3 <3
Can we also have a moment of silence because today my beloved soap opera of ten years, One Life to Live, has taken its final bow in daytime TV and will stop airing in January, a true trail-blazing daytime show for all civil rights before prime time ever touched these issues of GLBT issues, race, sexism, gang-violence, bullying, prostitution, AIDS among other hard-hitting topics. If it wasn't for OLTL, prime time would have never followed suit.
Lissy Trullie - Stop My Beating Heart - Is Back!
Prepare Ye the Way for... Godspell!!!!
It has been forty years since John-Michael Tebelak premiered his master's thesis as a Broadway show at Cafe la Mama, freshly polished by help of Stephen Schwartz with lyrics with a myriad of liberal arts students as their real names, acting out Jesus's parables. Who knew something so simple could even attract non-Christians? Forty years later, a movie, and a small handful of revivals, Godspell is back; headed by Hunter Parrish of Weeds fame playing the otherwise curly afroed Jesus. Other cast members include Wallace Smith and a well-grouped ensemble of devoted disciples. I am a little unsure about the director Daniel Goldstein's words about the accompaniment though. The show started November 7th at the Circle in the Square for an open run. Let's hope it's here to stay.
September in November
You know that point when you're sitting on the bus or walking around your downtown with your earphones on and thinking you're totally awesome and there's club dancing going on in your head. Yeah well that's my constant state in life. But that's beside the point, because the Swedish Songstress September feels our pain. Hailed as Sweden's best song of 2011, "Party in My Head" has been a fixture on the iTunes chart for about six months now! "Party in My Head" will may or may not be the first single off of September's album ("Me and My Microphone") coming out December 4th on UK iTunes. Sucks to be an American.
The Return of Reitman and Cody in "Young Adult"
Boooooooots
They don't have a brand or a name, but these thigh high boots have my everlasting adoration. Why? Because it's a shoe; with my genetic feet problem just finding something as simple as slippers deems difficult. And to find thigh highs that must only be worn with jeans (calf fat, let's not lie here) especially with my body type. This body type has to find boots with design on the sides that extend, like the zippers that are on these.
After careful deliberation with Molly, the lady at Ragstock where I bought these lovely sexy boots (FOUR DOLLARS BITCHES!) we agreed that these boots aren't meant for all outfits. Case in point worn with this super cute dress I bought at Ragstock two days ago, with jeans. And that outfit was just worn partying with a friend and her cat, aptly nicknamed Meeeeester Puuuuuuuss (I do not make these things up).
Madison: Singular Named Woman with a Singular Minded Vision
“I love something really raw and dirty, something that you can get after listening just once, and that doesn’t mean that it’s not intelligent…” DIY future pop-star Madison tells The Ground Mag late last month, in essence she was describing her own music. From "Hot Hot Love" being on both TV show bumpers (Rookie Blues, Ugly Betty) and commercials, Madison is showing the planet that pop is universal, you don't need a studio paying 20 dollars every hour to consider yourself a pop star. “That’s a model that’s shifting in the entire music industry…You’re not selling records, you don’t really want to give away your rights, the humungous record deals are few and far between, so you’ve got to do it yourself, you’ve got to be a business person and an artist.” Thus far, Madison has been rather successful, self-produced "The Remixes Some People Made" having been out for two months making head wave on music blogs everywhere. Woman is taking over the world -- now everyone just has to suffer along with me waiting for an album and a music video so we can get a face to the very vague name.
Florence Continues to Have my Adoration
Luckily no one saw me this morning watching the latest video from Florence + the Machine (which the couterpart band almost seems redundant at this point...) for in between tears of getting the symbolic video of the NYC chapel, the boy's choir and falling into grace... my face was sincerely blown. And now I pass the effect onto you.
More Impending Christmas Music Downloads
This *is* the season for alt-rock/pop Christmas music to start budding, considering these bands are too cool to put out their music directly two days before or after American Thanksgiving like Bing Crosby or Frank Sinatra or Nat King Cole. Besides, in the age where the classics are still wonderful classics but we are still yearning for some creativity, She and Him is still bringing the hipster Christmas fire with already released "A Very She and Him Christmas" which stereogum has already leaked downloadable "A Christmas Waltz" and just this past week "Christmas Day" in all its twee glory.
Now here's the real happy that caused me extreme happy dances around my living room - remember when Emmy the Great dueted with Lightspeed Champion for the Christmas song "Christmas in Prison?" Well... maybe not, but for me upon learning through Emma Moss's twitter that she is collaborating with ex-band member of the Irish group, Vietnam and Ash, Tim Wheeler all things Christmas (complete with an article from The Guardian), my brain was shot, blown off, then put back into my head to only explode in fireworks of joy. Wheeler and Moss's "This is Christmas" will be released November 21st. This is an album worth buying and not downloading! But here is a peep into how the album will sound with their original "Home for the Holidays" This is everlasting joy in excelsis deo, dammit!
Kinda cold, but not really today but it's enough for me to "look like I'm hiding push pins in my bra" (thank you, Will & Grace for that one.) Luckily there are better things to think about other than impending push pins...
More Fall Fashion < 3's (via hellogiggles)
Oh my, yes! Ever since summer reared its sweaty, cutoffs head at me this year, I have literally been counting down the days to when I could retire my light clothing pieces in favor of outerwear and scarves. My wardrobe is primarily black, ivory and gray with some jewel tones and red thrown in for good measure. But during the summertime, it kills me to wear without dripping from sweat. Autumn is cool enough to allow for all of my favorite pieces to make their comebacks – my heavy coats, pencil skirts, thick stockings and Oxford heels are all happy to be back out getting some sidewalk action with me again. Even if the day turns from chilly to warm in the afternoon (which it has been lately, you stop that right now LA), I still dress for the season. Think cool thoughts and it’ll get cool out, right?
This is also a good time of year for my skin, which is normally quite pale but during the summer gets a little bit, dare I say, infused with color. I don’t look too sun-kissed, but I don’t look like I just rolled out of a coffin either and I generally prefer the coffin look. Autumn temps bringing back sleeves and pants help me to get back to my vampy roots in no time.
Taylor has officially join the ranks of Kristina Uriegas-Reyes in my list of fall-geek-chic Fashion Spirit Guide. See next blog post for ultimate fallshion love. (Let's make a Fallshion club! Facebook page? No boys allowed?)
If You Can't Say Something Nice... Tweet It.
And I mean that headline sarcastically. Emilie Autumn is known to be the "rebellious Violinist anarchist" of a modern Victorian era but sometimes, people just don't have enough tact to admit they simply don't know something or are choosing to do certain things in the eyes of ignorance. And in response of to many many "Plague Rats" contacting her about her opinion on Sucker Punch because of the similar themes in "inmates taking over or running the asylum" that she includes both in her music and in 2001 book, "The Asylum of Wayward Girls" ...
Dearest Plague Rats, after receiving over 1000 letters (and counting) about the film SuckerPunch, I feel just a bit obligated to make some sort of a statement: The varied authors of these many letters are very kindly writing to inform me of their belief that SuckerPunch (great title, isn't it) is largely based on my book, The Asylum For Wayward Victorian Girls, that was written and publicized long before this film was written and made. I want to make clear that I do not know this to be true. I have never seen the film, nor do I plan to, primarily because I've been told by enough trusted sources that it is embarrassingly bad, and now because, after all I've heard about its possible plagiarism issues, I'm afraid it will make me upset, and I don't have time for that kind of negative energy right now. I can assure you however that my attorney takes all reports and claims of plagiarism, whether in a book, film, or performance extremely seriously, and will actively looks into this and any other such reports and do whatever it is that needs to be done. I also want to thank all of my Plague Rats very sincerely because you've proven to me time and again that you always have my tail, as I always have yours:). Now, let's go look at some stars!!eBeing an ex-psych patient herself who battles depression and Bipolar Disorder I can understand why she would not want to see the movie and relive things from her own past. But it's also the fact she is a very very accurate musician and singer in the way of Victoriana and the fantastical style. I think she would have wanted to see it as a comparison piece. But edging away from my understanding and into some pretty angry heavy stuff (I tweeted the woman herself with "Zack Snyder was writing sucker punch for about ten years, people escaping asylums is a common theme in media....") my jaw was on the floor when I first read that tweet. Is it just me or is her saying "plagiarism issues, I'm afraid it will make me upset" make sit sound like she takes singular credit for the plot theme? There is hardly anything specifically plagiarized between "Asylum..." and Sucker Punch other than the similar plot and that's hardly something to be called out on as copied.
Autumn, although she would have no idea about the fact, should have at least spent a minute to google Snyder's creative process. "....was written and publicized long before this film was written and made" couldn't be more ignorant, but of course, how would she know? She spends much time twittering Repo! The Genetic Opera's creators Darren Lynn Bousman and Terrence Zdunich, a film also in the same realm as Sucker Punch, so she does not stay in complete ignorance. According to an interview with 8asian.com with co-writer Steve Shibuya, "It took 10 years because Zack’s film career began right when we started writing this. We started writing this thing and then he got Dawn of the Dead, and it was like, “Oh crap.” I said, “Okay, you go do that.” So he goes off [but] I was constantly pushing to keep this thing going."
Google before you tweet.
J.D. Samson = very broke
From one pity party to another, J.D. Samson brings up one good point in his article as this month's HuffPost celebrity on "I Love My Job But It Made Me Poorer" where Samson, queer activist and genderqueer singer/celebrity, continues to go on about how he is ill-equipped for the employed life, "I’m 33 years old and I can’t make coffee. I don’t know how to use Excel, or bartend, or wait tables, and I’m officially too old to join the police force. I’ve lost the confidence to go back to school and feel stressed out about impending debt when I think about further education for even one second."
Look, I understand your stress and all but why should we feel for you when Le Tigre is popular in the "gay mainstream" and your newest band MEN's "Talk About Body" album is a cult favorite; how can you say those things when you are also considered a "gay icon?" I understand that the economy is sucking and it's hard to find a job but you spent so much on a celebrity lifestyle, are we really supposed to feel sorry for you?
Despite the critique, Samson does bring up a very good point that has me worried to be a woman who prefers women in the bedroom, "I will always be a queer woman, a woman who makes 77 cents to the man’s dollar, and a queer who makes 23 percent less than the heterosexual. Does that mean that I make 54 cents to the straight male dollar? Wow." Damn.
Download She and Him's "The Christmas Waltz"
After the Jack O'Lanterns come turkey and screaming fests around the dining room table and after that, the real fun. (You can really tell I detest American Thanksgiving) Time to start building up the Christmas music quota, and the good stuff. Long gone is the overplayed radio favorites that you are so used to you can hear it in your sleep (I'm looking at you Bing Crosby) and now you can download the first single off of She and Him (Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward)'s new Christmas album, "A Very She and Him Christmas" coming out October 25th "The Christmas Waltz."
What in the hell are they staring at off camera exactly?
Now for some happier, shall we possibly say awesome, news. Johnny Depp is known to play cooky and off-color characters so it seems only natural he would do more than just developing and producing a live-action biopic on one of the greatest children's writers of all time, Theodor Geisel. CAST YOURSELF, JUST CAST! The writer for the untitlted project has already been cast as "In Treatment"'s Keith Bunin. I'm interested in what Depp would be bringing to the movie as a producer; let's just pray no more CGI. Johnny Depp, you are perfect au natural without animation or CGI.
Rachel Lloyd vs. Joan Rivers "Fashion Police"
I love Fashion Police, I really do. It's a perfect trashy show to watch before you launch into a movie marathon on a dusky Fall evening. But Rachel Lloyd, anti-human trafficking advocate and founder and Executive Director of the New York-based Girls Educational and Mentoring, does not have so much of a eye for fashion but for what she considers exploitation of sex workers' images placed on the show without consent during the segment Starlet or Street-Walker, where the three celebrities and Joan Rivers choose who is who by how they are dressed. Sounds like something that's more based off humor and fashion than any political misrepresentation, right?
According to Bitch Magazine blogger, Melissa Petro, "While it’s true that streetwalkers are oftentimes the poorest, most vulnerable, marginalized and victimized group of sex workers, Lloyd is no position to speak for the women in these pictures, and what she says reveals more about her bias than about the women she professes to want to protect. " Then a few paragraphs later I nod to the tune of, "Power, as I understand it, is not static or monolithic. It is contested and enacted, situational and relational." Emphasis on situational especially in the "Fashion Police" segment. Can we not help it that some sex workers, despite what they work as are horrible or questionable dressers? There's no humor directed exactly to these censored faces (when the picture does end up a streetwalker) but rather their outfits.













