Eating Muffins in an Agitated Manner

Covers

Posted by Sari

Aha, a cover song meme! As I have previously stated I love covers and for many reasons. One is that, as my understanding of musical theory is nonexistent, cover versions help me to parse music. What can you put in and take out and still have the same song. The Footloose version from Whatever is a great example, under all that EMO whispering it is still recognisably the same song. (This is also one reason I love Rob Paravonian's Pachelbel skit so much. How cool is it to see the same chord progression in so many different songs.) So anyway, covers I like part two:

1. William Shatner (with Ben Folds and Joe Jackson): Common People (original Pulp)
Shatners recitation of the britpop anthem is expertly arranged by Folds and sung by Joe Jackson. It is just hilarious, the bombastic rage Shatner’s recitation just makes it.

2. Nouvelle Vague: Dance with Me (original Lords of the new Church)
Nouvelle Vague (a great name for the band on so many levels) does bossa nova versions of the new wave music. The video is sort of hypnotic.

3. Balanescu Quartet: Model (original Kraftwerk)
You would think Kraftwerk and string quartet were not a good match but Alexander Balanescu proves you wrong.

4. Laibach: Life is Life (original Opus)
This, in my opinion, makes the existence of the original bearable.

5. Bear McCreary: All along the Watchtower (original Bob Dylan) Yes, yes. Hendrix version is maybe the greatest cover ever, they say. But as I am firmly of the opinion that the guitar is not a solo instrument, I much prefer this slightly oriental and edgy version.

What next?

Posted by Sari

Again I am in the middle of many books and don't quite know what to finish next. Any ideas? Myy obviously could care less.

Night of the Kapoors

Posted by Sari

It is no accident that Om in Om Shanti Om is reborn as Om Kapoor. Not only are the Kapoors royalty of Indian cinema, there are a number of actors and actresses with the same name not related to The Clan. This was brought home to us on Sunday when we were watching two movies with rising stars starring Ranbir, Sonam, Shahid and Kareena Kapoor.  Now, Ranbir is son of Rishi Kapoor, 1970s hearthrob, Kareena is Ranbir's first cousin, daughter of Rishi’s big brother Randhir. Sonam Kapoor on the other hand is not related to Ranbir or Kareena, but is the daughter of another famous actor, Anil Kapoor. And Shahid (whose name is sometimes translitterated as Kapur) is again wholly unrelated to all the other Kapoors. It is almost as bad as all the Khans!

First film we watched was Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s latest which lost the Diwali box office battle to Farah Khan’s Om Shanti Om. Bhansali’s movies are always sumptious affairs, but Saawariya really goes above and beyond his previous films in its color-coded, artificialness. Its like moghuls meet Disney’s idea of Venice in Switzerland. Everything happens at night so the palette is blues and greens with some dark red. The story seems somehow like an afterthought. Ranbir is a poor musician playing in a night-club. Sonam is a girl waiting on a bridge for his lover. They meet, Ranbir falls in love but will Sonam love him back? It is awful pretty but that is about it. Neither of the Kapoors can really carry the movie,  and though there was a general feeling of a fairy tale about the movie, the relentless visual artificiality does make one yearn for a glimpse of bright natural colours. So despite the equal opportunity objecifying and Rani’s excellent performance as the hooker with the heart of gold, I still have to say it was not a keeper.

The Second movie of the evening Jab We Met starred Shahid and Kareena Kapoor which, again had not that much plot. Shahid’s dad died and his ex married someone else, so just walks out of his life and on to a train where he meets a madcap Sikh girl Kareena who is on her way home to Punjab and is plannig to elope with his boyfriend. It is basically a modern indian take on1930s screwball comedies. And I think it works beautifully despite the mountain of cliches. I have always liked Kareena and Shahid was truly excellent in his Gary Grantish role. The music has been a hit for a good reason, and I just have a soft spot for filmi punjabis always having a party. 

Confused? You will be, in Sweden!

Posted by jukkahoo

To Swecon! To Linköping! Ah!

I've been ridiculously busy these past few weeks. I'd be almost ready to admit that I'm stressed, if I wouldn't know that I do not recognise such a word. Never-the-less, busy. Work. Overtime. Especially the overtime. I've missed most of the Euro 2008! Even VanderMeer is watching! In Florida! Deadlines, swooshing by me at the speed of light and faster! Death and despair! Birthday celebrations in Tammere this weekend!

However, today I'm leaving all that and work (and no play) behind and head toward Linköping and fandom fun! Whole of Swendom and seven-strong contingent of Finndom! Should be fun! See you there!

Oh, in time honored tradition, I guess I should mention that I'm participating the program:

Saturday 21.00 - Reviewing. I believe moderated by Hans Persson, with usual suspects from Swendom.

Sunday 13.00 - Evil In Fantasy. And this one is moderated by Tommy "The Man" Persson, funniest member of Swendom! Define EVIL!

Then a quick dash to the Railway station and to Stockholm, in order to catch the ferry in time. No Dead Dog then, I'm afraid. Last time Linköpinf DD was a lot of fun. Cold köping and expensive beer, followed by relaxed evening (and Malt, musn't forget the Malt!) at Tommy's place.

As said, hope to see you there! Otherwise, keep up the good work. I'll be back for breakfast, so smoke me a kipper.

palvelu tarvitsee ehkä vielä tuunausta

Posted by Sari

Jos Jukan puhelimen äänitunnistimeen sanoo "jumalauta", se vastaa "Tietäväinen, Taimi". Jos siihen sanoo "Myy", se vastaa "Ben Työ". Et silleen.