'Leader of the Band' Dan Fogelberg Died Dec 16

It isn't the new year without hearing "Same Old Lang Syne" by Dan Fogelberg, but I hadn't heard it recently, so I was surfing the net looking for the song & lyrics when I ran across the sad news that he had died Dec 16 after battling prostate cancer for the last couple of years.

His "Leader of the Band," "Same Old Lang Syne," "Hard to Say," "The Language of Love," and "Rhythm of the Rain", just to mention a few, have always been some of my very favorite easy listening tunes. His wonderful way with a guitar and melody and lyrics were amazing as well as having a great voice - he was one of the few singers where I actually paid as much attention to the words as the music when he was on. (Don McLean and Jim Croce are two more I love for the same reasons.)

One song of Fogelberg's that I listen to all the time and that's got a tune and lyrics that are mesmerizing, depressing and fascinating all at once is "Tucson, Arizona (Gazette)" -- it's like watching a car wreck, impossible to turn away, only with your ears... (Check out the lyrics to it at Dan Fogelberg's Official Website.)

Dan Fogelberg, another favorite, gone way too soon. He will be missed! (1951-2007)

Make a Donation in Dan's name to The Prostate Cancer Foundation

KIA Maniac

If you had told me my mother would go ga-ga over a commercial, especially one with references to a dance movie from the 80's, I would have taken your temperature or referred you to the local mental ward, but she has: the KIA "Maniac" car commercial...!

My mother NEVER has seen FLASHDANCE, and whenever I tended to play music from the movie, she either left the room or asked me to turn it down. Now, however, KIA has managed to make it, and Michael Sembello's Maniac (albeit adjusted for selling cars rather than dancing), irresistible to her somehow. (Subliminal advertising? Or just the cute teddy-bear of a guy, Mark Kelly, playing the Jennifer Beals part, got her hooked? Hmmmm...)

Mom even made me DVR the commercial so she could watch it over and over again. The excuse was that she wanted to see if that's him really doing all those moves. (Sure, sure, and can she sell me swamp land in Arizona while she's at it?) Given the editing of the piece, I had to burst her bubble and insist the jumper probably had assistance making the leap over the car, i.e. a mini-tramp or springboard, but it still makes for a great shot. And she now finds the music bouncy and fun and keeps mentioning how it would be nice if I didn't park my car so close as she doesn't think she could clear 2! - now I really AM worried!! LOL

(Guess this means I can trot out my FLASHDANCE tapes once more and actually listen at normal volumes finally! Better hide the cars in the meantime, though.)

Check out Mark Kelly's MySpace page for more info on the actor in the Kia "Maniac" Commercial...

Corbin Bleu - Run It Back Again

While watching PRINCESS DIARIES 2 for the umpteenth time (this time on the Disney Channel), a very catchy, fun music video I hadn't seen before popped up starring Corbin Blue called "Run It Back Again" from the upcoming sci-fi adventure movie MINUTEMEN. Normally, I manage to ignore most 'commercials', but this was just such a great song, I had to stop, watch, and listen. Given how good he is in just a short music video, I guess I'll have to watch HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 1 & 2 now since he's in them. (Didn't realize he was until I checked on Wikipedia - also hadn't realized he played Young Tommy in GALAXY QUEST - another of my favorite movies to watch... and that his dad, David Reivers, played Paige's boss in CHARMED, one of the few shows I watched every episode of. Talented family!)

In the meantime, back to PD2 - while not a musical, it has its musical moments and I always enjoy Anne Hathaway, even in 'regular', non-singing roles...

Check Out the Corbin Bleu Video(s) on YouTube, including "Run It Back Again":

ABBA museum to open in Stockholm in June 2009

Check it out - ABBA is finally getting their own museum for their music along with high tech displays and interactive stuff for fans to enjoy

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SWEENEY TODD: Musical Horror Movie

Check out this video: Sweeney Todd - Clip 3



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Years ago, I saw SWEENEY TODD THE DEMON BARBER OF FLEET STREET starring George Hearn and Angela Lansbury and was swept away by the sheer originality and perverseness of the play and music. The fact anyone could make such a character both so sympathetic and horrible at the same time was amazing and memorable.

Now, Tim Burton and Johnny Depp have taken SWEENEY TODD and given it a NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS/SLEEPY HOLLOW feel it seems, all blacks and greys and stylistic, and made it their own from what I can tell from previews and the behind-the-scenes videos.

I'm fascinated to see what they've done with the whole thing as I've enjoyed their previous 'horror' movies together. They're one of the few filmmaking teams to make gory gruesome and a gag at the same time and have it work. I also am a BIG fan of Alan Rickman which makes this all the more a must see. If his singing is half as good as his speaking voice, wooohooo. Rounding out the cast is Helena Bonham Carter, stepping into Angela Lansbury's quite-hard-to-fill-shoes. However, she sounds like she's had some musical training so should be enjoyable...

The songs are the Stephen Sondheim soundtrack, with Johnny Depp doing his own vocals. Should be pretty good from the snippets shown so far, although since he's never had to carry a complete musical before so we'll see. (I don't expect the quality of George Hearn, who really had Sweeney down to a science and who had tons of performances in the role to perfect his part...!) Considering what a surprise actress Renee Zellweger was in CHICAGO, though, I have high hopes for Johnny as Sweeney.
Check out this video: Sweeney Todd - Clip 1



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