Author Archives: Arleigh

Song of the Day: While My Guitar Gently Weeps (by The Beatles)

Posted on by Arleigh

Continuing our series of greatest guitar solo series, I present “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by The Beatles.

The song was written by George Harrison and was composed at a time after the band had just returned from a trip and stay in India to study Transcendental Meditation. Harrison, inspired by his stay in India, re-discovered his passion for the guitar and began to write songs with it as his main instrument. Thus begins an era of The Beatles and George Harrison as a maturing songwriter than made a huge contribution to the band becoming more than just the global rock phenomena pre-1968 and one where the group began to release songs and albums that reflected their new world views.

Yet, as great as the song has become since its release on November 22, 1968, it’s also well-remembered as the song that began a series of collaborations between George Harrison and Eric Clapton (a close friend) who plays lead guitar on the song. It is Clapton’s lead guitar work on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” that has mesmerized listeners throughout the decades.

Clapton plays two guitar solos, the first occurring during first bridge section of the song, and the second the song’s outro. Both solos accentuates and focuses on the song’s lyrical tradition styling where the musical instrument provides the emotions that propel the song.

The outro guitar solo has also reached a new level of immortality in 2004 when Harrison was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The collaboration of artists that included Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood, Marc Mann, Dhani Harrison, Prince, Steve Ferrone, Scott Thurston, Jeff Young, and Jim Capaldi. It was Prince’s extended performance of the outro solo that’s become legendary.

While My Guitar Gently Weeps

I look at you all, see the love there that’s sleeping

While my guitar gently weeps
I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping
Still my guitar gently weeps

I don’t know why nobody told you how to unfold your love
I don’t know how someone controlled you
They bought and sold you

I look at the world and I notice it’s turning
While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake we must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps

[guitar solo]

I don’t know how you were diverted
You were perverted too
I don’t know how you were inverted
No-one alerted you

I look at you all, see the love there that’s sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
Look at you all……
Still my guitar gently weeps

I look at you all, see the love there that’s sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
I look at the floor and I see it needs sweeping
Still my guitar gently weeps

I don’t know why nobody told you how to unfold your love
I don’t know how someone controlled you
They bought and sold you

I look at the world and I notice it’s turning
While my guitar gently weeps
With every mistake we must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps

I don’t know how you were diverted
You were perverted too
I don’t know how you were inverted
No-one alerted you

I look at you all, see the love there that’s sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps
Look at you all……
Still my guitar gently weeps

[guitar solo]

Great Guitar Solos Series

AMV of the Day: Whatever It Takes (Spy x Family)

Posted on by Arleigh

It is hard to say that when the anime series Spy x Family premiered in 2022 that it was a surprise hit. The manga it was adapted from (still ongoing) was and is still one of the popular manga currently in publication. It was a series that was going to be a hit even if it had been half-assed.

The latest AMV of the Day comes courtesy of azure ryn and combines Imagine Dragons’ “Whatever It Takes” with scenes from Spy x Family that highlights the balance of Loid Forger trying to balance his super-spy agent work with the fake family he has created as cover for his current assignment. The song really emphasizes the serious side of the series (the series itself is mostly the hijinks of the three characters that forms the Forger Family).

Song: Whatever It Takes by Imagine Dragons

Anime: Spy x Family

Creator: azure ryn

Past AMVs of the Day

Trailer: The Accountant 2

Posted on by Arleigh

The Accountant, released in 2016, was an action-thriller that came out of nowhere and surprised a lot of people. The film had come out a two years since the release of John Wick and it would help usher in what I consider a new age of Western action films.

There was instant talk of a sequel after the success of the first film, but with Ben Affleck busy doing his Batman and Justice League bit over at DC Films the sequel had been put on the back-burner. Well, with the crash and burn of the DCEU it looked like Affleck had some time on his hands now and this meant the sequel to The Accountant was back to cooking.

On April 25, 2025, we will see just what Gavin O’Connor, Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal have cooked up as a follow-up to the first film with The Accountant 2.

Song of the Day: Little Wing (by Jimi Hendix)

Posted on by Arleigh

Jimi Hendrix was arguably one of the greatest musicians of the 20th Century. Some may dispute that label and maybe pigeonhole him as one of the greatest rock musician, but his impact on the musical landscape goes beyond just rock music, but all of music no matter the genre or style.

He was that one singular musician, just like any prodigy, who came along and burned bright for a short period of time before being snuffed out by the very gift and genius for creativity he became known for. There has been other musicians who have attained legend status since Jimi Hendrix’s untimely death on September 18, 1970, but even they would say that they still couldn’t comprehend what Hendrix was able to do with an electric guitar and in the short time he had in the limelight.

Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” is a microcosm of why musicians and rock historians almost look at Hendrix’s work with nigh-mythical status. The song, released on December 1, 1967, begins with Hendrix’s much slower chord progression accompanied by the haunting use of the glockenspiel that then leads to Hendrix’s vocals and drums. It is around the 1:45 minute mark when the song follows through on its vocals with one of the most precise and a nominee for greatest guitar solo of all-time.

The song itself is not very long, but even in the its two-and-a-half minute running time “Little Wing” achieves what most musicians could only dream of and that is a song that continues to inspire and bewilder (the song has been covered and studied countless times, but no could ever agree how Hendrix did his magic on the song).

Little Wing

Well, she’s walking through the clouds
With a circus mind that’s running wild
Butterflies and zebras and moonbeams
And her fairy tales
That’s all she ever thinks about
Riding with the wind
When I’m sad, she comes to me
With a thousand smiles, she gives to me free
“It’s alright” she says, “It’s alright”
Take anything you want from me, take anything
Anything
Fly on, little wing

[guitar solo]

Great Guitar Solos Series

Trailer: Final Destination Bloodlines Teaser

Posted on by Arleigh

Looks like Death is up to its shenanigans once again with Final Destination Bloodlines. Just when we thought it was safe to go about our lives without having to worry about Death’s penchant for complex Rube Goldbergesque plans to kill some people it looks like we spoke too soon.

On May 16, 2025, Death runs in the family and wearing a nose ring may not be the best thing when Death’s around. Here we have the first teaser trailer for Final Destination Bloodlines.

Song of the Day: Sympathy for the Devil (The Rolling Stones)

Posted on by Arleigh

The latest “Song of the Day” is very near and dear to my blues-covered metal heart. I consider it one of the best rock ‘n’ roll songs ever created. It’s been covered by numerous bands in the decades since it’s initial release but I will always consider the original as the best. The latest song of the day is The Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy for the Devil”.

This song was released in the early days of December 1968. It was the opening track for The Rolling Stones’ latest album (Beggars Banquet) at that date. What makes this song so great is how simple the song really comes across. It doesn’t have the typical blues rock tone of previous Stones’ songs until Keith Richard’s guitar solo around the 2:55 mark. The song definitely sounds more like a combination of folk rock (by way of it’s spoken word-like lyrics) and a samba (due to the incorporation of additional percussions like the congas).

“Sympathy for the Devil” has been called a confession song while others see it as the narcissistic bragging of the narrator. Both viewpoints are quite valid and there are more as every listener of this song hears and imagines different themes. I always saw it as a combination of the two. It’s Lucifer’s confession and bragging about his role in the tumultuous and evil events in man’s history. It’s a song that its narrator wants to understand and admit that while he has been there through all those dark moments in history, he wouldn’t have been able to do what he’s done if not for people allowing him in and becoming complicit.

Sympathy for the Devil

Please allow me to introduce myself
I’m a man of wealth and taste
I’ve been around for a long, long years
Stole many a man’s soul and faith

And I was ’round when Jesus Christ
Had his moment of doubt and pain
Made damn sure that Pilate
Washed his hands and sealed his fate

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name
But what’s puzzling you
Is the nature of my game

I stuck around St. Petersburg
When I saw it was a time for a change
Killed the czar and his ministers
Anastasia screamed in vain

I rode a tank
Held a general’s rank
When the blitzkrieg raged
And the bodies stank

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guess my name, oh yeah
Ah, what’s puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah
(woo woo, woo woo)

I watched with glee
While your kings and queens
Fought for ten decades
For the gods they made
(woo woo, woo woo)

I shouted out,
“Who killed the Kennedys?”
When after all
It was you and me
(who who, who who)

Let me please introduce myself
I’m a man of wealth and taste
And I laid traps for troubadours
Who get killed before they reached Bombay
(woo woo, who who)

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
(who who)
But what’s puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, oh yeah, get down, baby
(who who, who who)

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah
But what’s confusing you
Is just the nature of my game
(woo woo, who who)

Just as every cop is a criminal
And all the sinners saints
As heads is tails
Just call me Lucifer
‘Cause I’m in need of some restraint
(who who, who who)

So if you meet me
Have some courtesy
Have some sympathy, and some taste
(woo woo)
Use all your well-learned politesse
Or I’ll lay your soul to waste, um yeah
(woo woo, woo woo)

Pleased to meet you
Hope you guessed my name, um yeah
(who who)
But what’s puzzling you
Is the nature of my game, um mean it, get down
(woo woo, woo woo)

Woo, who
Oh yeah, get on down
Oh yeah
Oh yeah!
(woo woo)

Tell me baby, what’s my name
Tell me honey, can ya guess my name
Tell me baby, what’s my name
I tell you one time, you’re to blame

Oh, who
woo, woo
Woo, who
Woo, woo
Woo, who, who
Woo, who, who
Oh, yeah

What’s my name
Tell me, baby, what’s my name
Tell me, sweetie, what’s my name

Woo, who, who
Woo, who, who
Woo, who, who
Woo, who, who
Woo, who, who
Woo, who, who
Oh, yeah
Woo woo
Woo woo

Great Guitar Solos Series

4 Shots from 4 Anime: Isekai Edition

Posted on by Arleigh

Continuing my current focus on the isekai corner of the anime fandom I present four shots from four isekai anime series that is currently still airing with new seasons. All started out strong and gaining new fans.

Some have pointed out that the quality in later seasons have dipped for some, but those who invested their time to watch these series have stuck with the four series. With the dearth of mid to bad isekai series coming out year after year it’s just due time for the genre to go out with a whimper, but until that happens…“Isekai is dead! Long live the isekai!”

Overlord (Ōbārōdo) by Kugane Maruyama
The Rising of the Shield Hero (Tate no Yūsha no Nariagari) by Aneko Yusagi
That Time I Got Reincarnated as a Slime (Tensei Shitara Suraimu Datta Ken) by Fuse
The Eminence in Shadow (Kage no Jitsuryokusha ni Naritakute!) by Daisuke Aizawa

AMV of the Day: Eye of the Storm (Gate: Thus the Japanese Self-Defense Force Fought…)

Posted on by Arleigh

My latest pick for AMV of the Day comes courtesy of creator WarLuxAMVs with his editing work using scenes from the isekai series Gate: Thus the Japanese Self-Defense Force Fought… (a series that was profiled years ago as an anime recommendation).

It focuses heavily on the character Rory Mercury who, despite her appearance, turns out to be the most powerful character in the whole series and is also the source of much hijinks involving the main protagonist, Yoji Itami. As the videos shows, she’s quite bloodthirsty in equal amounts to being the gothic lolita type. She’s also quite adept at wielding her massive halberd with ease.

WarLuxAMVs does a very good job in syncing up the action scenes with the WattWhite song “Eye of the Storm” and if there’s one description that fits Rory Mercury when she’s going about her apostle duties then being the “eye of the storm” fits her like a black satin and lace glove.

Song: Eye of the Storm by WattWhite

Anime: Gate: Thus the Japanese Self-Defense Force Fought…

Creator: WarLuxAMVs

Past AMVs of the Day

Trailer: Sinners (2nd Official)

Posted on by Arleigh

Ryan Coogler and Michael B. Jordan have become their generations director-actor duo. Films like Fruitvale Station, Creed, Creed 2, Black Panther and Black Panther: Wakanda Forever has the two working together for over a decade and they continue with a new film that brings the two into a new genre with the period action horror Sinners.

We haven’t had a good horror film set in the Deep South and this one takes it a layer deeper by setting it during Jim Crow era. Knowing Coogler there’s bound to be more than just visceral action and horror for audiences to sink their teeth on.

Michael B. Jordan will be joined by other MCU alumni Hailee Steinfeld and Wunmi Mosaku and his frequent collaborators Ludwig Göransson, Autumn Durald Arkapaw and Michael Shawver.

Sinners is set for release on April 18, 2025.

Anime You Should Be Watching: Farming Life In Another World (Isekai Nonbiri Nouka)

Posted on by Arleigh

The last anime I recommended was the mature and very dark MONSTER. It’s time to lighten and chill things down a bit with my next recommendation. This series is one of my recent favorites that I’ve re-watched several times since the 12-episode season came out January 2024. The series I am talking about is Farming Life In Another World (Isekai Nonbiri Nouka).

The series is quite light-hearted and almost a fantasy version of farming life sims like Stardew Valley. Like many isekai (trans. another world), Farming Life In Another World is about a random person (usually from Japan) who has been transported to another world either through the mistake of some multiversal god/goddess or through the machinations of a certain truck-kun.

What or who is a truck-kun? Well, I’m glad you asked. Truck-kun is literally a truck that has become the go-to implement in sending a poor person from our would and into another by running them over while they are not looking. If there was ever a perfect example of why we should always look both ways before crossing the street it is that truck-kun is always out there lurking, waiting for the right time to pounce and claim another victim. Except, truck-kun wasn’t the culprit this time around but health problems from literally being overworked to death that sends out protagonist reincarnating to another world.

So, back to Farming Life In Another World, our protagonist has been accidentally taken to another world by God and apologizes to our main character for the unfortunate turn his life had taken by sending him to this new world. God’s generosity he asks Hikaru for one wish to make his life easier on this new world and Hikaru, in his past-life as an overworked, middle-aged office worker from Japan, asks for long-life and a chance to live a quiet and arboreal life this second time around. With his new found abilities and the Omnipotent Farming Tool to help fulfill Hikaru’s wish, God sends him off to this new world, dropping him off in the Forest of Death where Farming Life In Another World begins in earnest.

This anime is definitely one of the lighthearted ones with a bit of the fan-service thrown in to add to the comedic aspect of the story being told. Farming Life In Another World was adapted from the light novel of the same name by author Kinosuke Naito. The source material made more use of Hiraku’s endless stamina courtesy of God by having him literally sleep with every female that joins the village he ends up building in the middle of the Forest of Death. The anime lightens up on this aspect of the light novel and turns it into a running joke in that he gets nervous and tries to forget the fact that every female (from vampires, killer angels to all types of elves) want to have sex with him. The anime adaptation is the PG-version of what was a very raunchy light novel.

Yet, despite the apparent change in tone with the anime adaptation compared to the light novel source material, Farming Life In Another World does actually work as a slice-of-life comedy isekai. Fans of the light novel may cry that the changes from the sex comedy that was the light novel was too much of a change for fans who have never read the light novel will not miss anything. What they will get instead is a lighthearted series that eases new fans to anime into a new genre of the medium that has dominated the industry for the past decade or so.

Just like any adaptation of a written source material there will always be those who complain that the adaptation should be slavishly faithful to the original material. Yet, I always say that even if the adaptation has made drastic changes to the source material it doesn’t change the fact that the original still exists to be enjoyed. Sure, the ecchi and heavy fanservice of the light novel has been changed to be more PG-rated but it doesn’t detract from the fun and chill vibes of the anime version.

Farming Life In Another World works, in my opinion, because it does minimize the more raunchier side of the story to concentrate on the day-to-day and slice-of-life tone of the source material. The anime focuses on the world building and comedy side of Hiraku’s journey with his companions as they build what amounts to as an advanced and powerful village in the middle of what his new world considers the most dangerous area in the world. He does this with the help from Rurushi Ru (vampire mage) and Tia (angel aka the Annihilation Angel) who start off as frenemies but turn into close friends and friendly rivals (the show hinted at Hiraku marrying both which is a compromise the show makes to the source material).

Isekai is a genre in anime that has been very prevalent each new season for the past decade or so. Some would say that this genre has been the bane of the anime industry since we see knock-offs after knock-offs every year with most being bad (though some I would consider bad but enjoyable enough to be guilty pleasures). Yet, the genre has produced some of the best series in that same time frame. They’re not the majority, but they’re there enough in number to wash the taste of the awful ones.

Does Farming Life In Another World count as one of the best in genre? I say no, but it doesn’t have to be one of the best. It just had to be the best in what it had to be and that’s a slice-of-life comedy with some clever world building that would make any one who is a fan of sims games giddy. While we don’t get the raunchy and fanservice heavy anime adaptation of the light novel (if one wanted to know what such a version would look like I suggest they watch 1980’s sex comedies like Porky’s or Revenge of the Nerds).

Plus, the anime has a banger of an opening song.

“Flower Ring” by Shino Shimoji and Aya Suzaki

Faming Life In Another World Series Trailer

Anime You Should Be Watching