Netflix’s science fiction drama Dark is known for its twisting time travel plot, but it’s the other parts of the shows production that add extra layers of depth to its story. From the distinct color pallet carried by its set design, props, and costume departments to the music used, you can see the thought that is put into every aspect of the show.
Growing up my sisters and I would spend a lot of time in the summer visiting our grandparents in Rhode Island. When it was really hot, we watched movies in their basement. They had a ton of bootleg Disney and Peanuts movies, but I remember watching Betty Boop shorts as well. The one I remember the most involved sick cars (which I found for this post!) When I rewatched it this week, I realized I had forgotten how strange and surreal the shorts actually were. I guess I just never noticed when I was younger how weird each scenario Betty is placed in, the strangeness amplified by the jaunty music each short is set to.
The moment I heard K Flay’s Bad Vibes on the radio I new it was going to be my new summer anthem. I’ve been feeling a little worn out from all the negativity I’ve been hearing and reading lately. Whether it’s the over-critical reactions to movies and TV shows to incessant harping and petty fighting about politics and the news. I’ve had enough. I’m determined to find as many places and events to enjoy and take inspiration from as possible.
If the Kitt sisters could answer that question, they would tell you yes. Known for their covers of rock songs like Sound of Silence, Fear in the Dark, and One, twins Camille and Kennerly both have degrees in Harp Performance, and arrange their own covers and original songs. They’ve released six albums, and traveled the world performing and as culture ambassadors for the United States.
Even though my site is on hiatus for another week, and I’ve already sang the praises of Game of Thrones’ musical score last week, I couldn’t resist posting a few musical tributes. The first is 2Cellos performance of a melody of Game of Thrones music, the second a live performance of Light of the Seven, and third is the Bellagio’s Game of Thrones Fountain show in Las Vegas.
The atmosphere Ramin Djawadi creates with the music he writes for Game of Thrones is one of the many elements that elevates it head and shoulders above most TV shows. In particular, his arraignment of the Rains of Castamere creates a menacing them for the Lannister family almost equal to the Imperial March in Star Wars. Originally referenced in the books by George R. R. Martin as a way for Tywin Lannister to recreate his destruction of House Reyne for anyone who chose to defy him, the song pops up frequently through the show as a way to remind characters (and the audience) of House Lannister’s brutality. I could write a whole post on the backstory of the lyrics, but its a much better story if you let Jamie Lannister tell you in the first video. As the end of the series draws close, I have to wonder, will tonight’s episode be the last time we hear The Rains of Castamere on Game of Thrones? And if it is, will is be an anthem of …
I was intrigued by Billy Eillish the first time I heard her song Bury a Friend on the radio. It was eerie and surreal, but I had to wonder, could Eillish pull off performing the song live? A quick search of her live performances proves that yes, she can. Her live sets look like they are straight out of a horror movie, whether Eillish is performing on a bed suspended 30 feet in the air bathed in red light at Coachella or in a cloud of fog on Jimmy Kimmel. Which isn’t surprising, since her album is inspired partly by her own experiences with night terrors and sleep paralysis. No matter how elaborate each performance is, Eillish’s sultry voice still shines.
If you’re recovering from the intensity of Marvel’s Endgame, and steeling yourself for Game of Thrones tonight, take a quick breather with Post Malone’s head bopping offering for the Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse Soundtrack. Sunflower has the distinction of being one of the few songs of a movie soundtrack that became a wildly successful radio hit attached to an equally successful movie.
Sometimes YouTube takes me to unexpected places. One minute, I’m re-watching every Avengers: Endgame trailer, and the next I find myself immersed in the world of competitive pole dancing. The connection in this case is Deadpool, the irreverent, fourth wall breaking Marvel anti-hero, who I found pole dancing among clips of movie scenes and film trailers. It turns out, the video is from a competition held by Pole Sport Organisation, which holds competitions regularly in different countries throughout the year. Their goal is to give dancers a way to compete at different levels, test new routines, and introduce family and friends to the pole community. They take pride in providing a neutral, welcoming performance space for dancers of all backgrounds, skill levels, and identities. Dancers compete in five different categories, Floor work and low flow, entertainment, dramatic, doubles/groups, and championship. Deadpool’s routine is a fantastic homage to the second movie. Set to Celine Dion’s Ashes, it features some of his favorite things from the movie: crocs, a Hello Kitty back pack, and a scowling Teenage …
To say that this clip is a dramatic reading of Shakespeare’s Sonnet 66, in German, set to music, would not do it justice. It’s part of a wonderfully over the top production of Robert Wilson’s Shakespeare’s Sonnets. Set to a score composed by Rufus Wainwright and performed by the Berliner Ensemble, the show is a contemporary take on 25 of Shakespeare’s sonnets.
