Song of the Day: Live and Let Die (by Paul McCartney and Wings)

Posted on October 25, 2011 by Arleigh

Lisa Marie recently wrote up her very unique review of the James Bond film Live and Let Die and I’ve decided to use that review as the springboard for the latest “Song of the Day” entry. It’s easy enough to figure out that the latest choice is the similarly titled song from the film by Paul McCartney: “Live and Let Die”.

This song remains one of the most recognizable songs made specifically for a film. Most songs that become part of a film’s appeal tend to be pre-existing licensed songs and music. Live and Let Die would be the first James Bond film that would introduce Roger Moore as the British superspy and 007 agent. The song itself, written by Paul McCartney and his wife Linda, would become even more popular than the film through the years.

While the song has been covered by many bands and groups through the years it would be the cover by Guns N’ Roses in 1991 as part of their Use Your Illusion I album that many consider the best cover. I consider both favorite songs of mine, but I must pick McCartney’s original over the GnR cover by the smallest of margins.

Live and Let Die

When you were young
and your heart was an open book
You used to say live and let live
you know you did
you know you did
you know you did
But if this ever changin’ world
in which we live in
Makes you give in and cry
Say live and let die
Live and let die

What does it matter to ya
When ya got a job to do
Ya got to do it well
You got to give the other fella hell

You used to say live and let live
you know you did
you know you did
you know you did
But if this ever changin’ world
in which we live in
Makes you give in and cry
Say live and let die
Live and let die

AMV of the Day: Who’s That Chick?

Posted on October 20, 2011 by Arleigh

Before I returned to posting something about horror I needed to post another “AMV of the Day” entry after discovering and watching this happy little AMV earlier today. This latest anime music video is the aptly named “Who’s That Chick?” by amv creator gloobe90.

The video’s title comes from the Rihanna song which when listened to perfectly encapsulates the Teppen Toppa Gurren Lagann character of Yoko Littner. This anime is part of the shonen mecha genre. It pretty much means it’s an anime series aimed at boys and young men using action and mecha (giant robots) with some comedy and fanservice thrown in just cover all bases. The character of Yoko Littner pretty much has all four of those traits. She’s quite able in the action and fighting department and while she doesn’t pilot one of the many mechas in the series she does take down more than her share of them. Yoko also happens to be a sort of comedy relief in the series both in her actions and attitude but also in the fanservice way she’s drawn and how others react to her due to her appearance.

It’s really not a surprise that Yoko Littner ended up being one of the more popular anime characters ladies end up cosplaying at conventions and anime events. The trick though is whether they can pull of not just Yoko’s look, but her infectious cheerful attitude. This video certainly captures all of that and more.

Anime: Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann

Song: “Who’s That Chick?” by Rihanna feat. David Guetta

Creator: gloobe90

AMV of the Day: Just the Way You Are

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Arleigh

A brief break from the day-to-day posts of horror reviews and such brings us the latest “AMV of the Day”. This particular AMV is unique in that it’s the type people in the hobby call an MEP as in Multi-Editor Project. This video uses one song but has several different editors taking section and editing in their chosen anime scenes. All these different editors must bring in their section in as smooth as transition as possible.

This first MEP is “Just the Way You Are” and uses the Bruno Mars of the same title. The video has ten different anime from which the 11 editors ended up using to fill up the length of the Mars track. The editing tricks weren’t too complex in this video and that’s probably due to having so many people involved in creating it, but the quick editing and some of the scene transitions were done well enough that the scenes chosen worked well hand-in-hand with Bruno Mar’s cheerfully romantic lyrics.

For an MEP this particular AMV is actually quite short. Most AMVs of this kind tend to run 10 to 20 minutes long as the different editors don’t just edit in their chosen anime scenes, but also must edit in their chosen song as well. These type of AMVs usually will have 3-5 songs mixed in together. For now, I think I’ll start with this short and simple kind.

Anime: Toradora!, Fullmetal Alchemist, Angelic Layer, Kobato, Skip Beat, Ef, Card Captors Sakura, Tsubasa Chronicles, Vampire Knight, Naruto

Music: “Just the Way You Are” – Bruno Mars

Creators: MikuruNyuAMV, xChibiUchiha, xsakuralimited, KobatoCLAMP, ChroniclesLuz, OoxAmandy15xoO, Xiizhel, ApologeticWinterMoon, SAKIPUNKI, PotterGirl1995 & lokapormusik

AMV of the Day: My First Kiss

Posted on October 9, 2011 by Arleigh

The latest “AMV of the Day” is quite appropriate for this month of October. I will say that this particular AMV is more on the comedic side despite using an anime which has horror themes to it.

“My First Kiss” is an anime music video combining the fantasy horror anime series Dance of the Vampire Bund with the cheerful and double entendre-laden song “My First Kiss” by the group 3OH!3. CodeHeaven, the video’s creator, does a great job of picking the right scenes from the series to fit particular lyrics in the song. The series is fantasy horror, but it is also one of the more risque ones to make it’s jump from Japan to the US with most of it’s scenes intact. The video just hints at some of this and the song just adds to it to great effect.

Dance of the Vampire Bund is definitely not hentai, but it does have heavy ecchi moments which when paired with a song like “My First Kiss” makes for one fun anime music video.

Anime: Dance in the Vampire Bund

Song: “My First Kiss” (feat. Ke$ha) – 3OH!3

Creator: CodeHeaven

Song of the Day: Angel of Mine (by Monica)

Posted on September 25, 2011 by Arleigh

The latest “Song of the Day” is old-school for many. Seems anything that was released and played after the year 2000 people consider old-school now. For me this song is a more recent old-school. It’s only 13 years since it first played the radio waves. My choice is the ballad “Angel of Mine” by R&B singer Monica.

While this song was released in 1998 as one of the singles for Monica’s This Boy Is Mine album it definitely sounds like a much older R&B ballad from the late 80’s and early 90’s which I consider the true old-school. While it does have some of the more technical gloss which R&B albums began to show in the late 90’s and onward (which in my opinion hasn’t been to its benefit) the singing by Monica and the sweet-natured romantic lyrics brings to mind R&B acts like En Vogue from my high school days.

This song also happens to be the bridge for me and probably many others of my generation when young romance began to give way to mature romance as we all entered out late 20’s and with the big 3-0 just around the corner. The lyrics speaks of finding true love but it also didn’t have that juvenile, puppy love feel to it.

“Angel of Mine” marked one of the last few true R&B ballads which focused on love and romance instead of physical love (looking at you Chris Brown and Ne-Yo). They sure don’t make them like this anymore.

Angel of Mine

When I first saw you I already knew
There was something inside of you
Something I thought that I would never find
Angel of mine

I looked at you, lookin’ at me
Now I know why they say the best things are free
I’m gonna love you boy you are so fine
Angel of mine

How you changed my world, you’ll never know
I’m different now, you helped me grow
You came into my life sent from above
When I lost all hope you showed me love
I’m checkin’ for you boy you’re right on time
Angel of mine

Nothing means more to me than what we share
No one in this whole world can ever compare
Last night the way you moved is still on my mind
Angel of mine

What you mean to me, you’ll never know
Deep inside I need to show
You came into my life sent from above
(Sent from above)

When I lost all hope, you showed me love
(Boy you showered me love)
I’m checkin’ for you, boy you’re right on time
[ From : http://www.elyrics.net/read/m/monica-lyrics/angel-of-mine-lyrics.html ]
(Right on time)
Angel of mine
(Angel of mine)

I’ll never knew I could feel each moment
As if it were new
Every breath that I take, the love that we make
I only share it with you
(You, you, you, you)

When I first saw you I already knew
There was something inside of you
Something I thought that I would never find
Angel of mine

You came into my life sent from above
(Came into my life)
When I lost all hope you showed me love
(Boy you showed me love)
I’m shakin’ for you, boy you’re right on time
(But boy your right on time)
Angel of mine
(Angel of mine, oh mine)

How you changed my world, you’ll never know
I’m different now, you helped me grow

I look at you, lookin’ at me
Now I know why they say the best things are free
I’m checkin’ for you, boy you’re right on time
Angel of mine

AMV of the Day: Death Romance

Posted on September 23, 2011 by Arleigh

Time for a new “AMV of the Day” and this time it was the AMV that was the consensus hit of this past summer’s Anime Expo 2011.

“Death Romance” is the creation of youtube user KaitoKid99 and from the reaction I’ve read about his entry at the AMV contest at Anime Expo 2011 this anime music video was something to have seen with a huge crowd reacting to it. The video took two so very different things and actually ended up quite funny and well-done: Death Note anime and Lady Gaga’s song “Bad Romance”.

Just watching the video I could very well imagine how well this video would’ve gone over. The fact that it won not just Best In Show at Anime Expo 2011, but also Best Comedy should put this video as one of the top one’s for 2011. KaitoKid99 didn’t use too much effects trickery and gimmicks. This video just was edited and synched quite well with a minimum of fuss and in the end those tend to be the best ones since there’s not too much to distract from the video.

I really regret not being able attend Anime Expo 2011 now if just to have seen this AMV on the theater screen at the Nokia Theater with a crowd of a couple thousand otaku.

Anime: Death Note

Song: “Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga

Creator: KaitoKid99

Song of the Day: Nightcall (by Kavinsky & Lovefoxxx)

Posted on September 20, 2011 by Arleigh

The latest “Song of the Day” choice is the other song used in the film Drive which made quite an impression on while I watched the film. It’s the 2010 electro house track “Nightcall” from a similarly titled EP from electro house artist Kavinsky.

“Nightcall” was the song chosen by Drive filmmaker Nicolas Winding Refn and it’s film composer Cliff Martinez to begin the film. The choice of this song was pretty much a perfect one as it made for a great intro to the film. The song plays as the film introduces us to the lead character (played by Ryan Gosling) as he drives down the late-night streets and alleys of Los Angeles. The song’s 80’s sound gives the film an almost old-school drama feel to it. For anyone who grew up in the 1980’s this song definitely would sound familiar as it style was used many times over to score many action-dramas.

With “A Real Hero” this song helps bookend song-wise one of the more interesting and, in my opinion, one of the best films of 2011.

Nightcall

I’m giving you a night call to tell you how I feel
I want to drive you through the night, down the hills
I’m gonna tell you something you don’t want to hear
I’m gonna show you where it’s dark, but have no fear

There something inside you
It’s hard to explain
They’re talking about you boy
But you’re still the same

There something inside you
Its hard to explain
They’re talking about you boy
But you’re still the same

There something inside you
It’s hard to explain
They’re talking about you boy
But you’re still the same

There something inside you (there something inside you)
It’s hard to explain (it’s hard to explain )
They’re talking about you boy (they’re talking about you boy)
But you’re still the same

Song of the Day: A Real Hero (by College feat. Electric Youth)

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Arleigh

For the latest “Song of the Day” I only had one choice in mind. No other song has wormed it’s way into my waking consciousness than the song I chose. It’s the 80’s-like synth-pop song “A Real Hero” by the band College feat. Electric Youth.

To say that Nicolas Winding Refn’s first Hollywood film (though still quite modestly budgeted) was something that stuck to me would be an understatement. One of the factors which just made the film one of the best films of 2011 has to be the 80’s retro synthpop soundtrack by Cliff Martinez and some perfectly chosen licensed songs. The one song which definitely has become a favorite and also one which has stuck itself in my mind since I saw the film is “A Real Hero” which we fully hear in the end of the film and into the end credits (the song get a brief appearance in the middle of the film).

This song perfectly encapsulates the restrained love story between the characters played by Ryan Gosling and Carey Mulligan. It explores the dynamic between The Kid (Gosling’s role) and Irene the young mother (Mulligan’s role) as heard through the song’s sparse lyrics which intersperse itself between the electronic synth keyboard play. It’s inclusion in two spots in the film adds different meanings to the song. The first time we hear it the song adds a soft layer of old-school romanticism to Gosling and Mulligan’s characters, but when we finally hear it in full in the end that romanticism takes on an ambiguous tone with just a tinge of bittersweet to the romance.

There’s another song from the Drive soundtrack which also made quite an impact not just in the film’s overall quality but in me as a listener and an audience. That would be explored in a day or so.

Scenes I Love: Jim James Sings Goin’ To Acapulco in I’m Not There

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Lisa Marie Bowman

When I’m Not There was first released in 2007, most critics gave most of their praise and attention to Cate Blanchett’s performance as one of the film’s six different representations of Bob Dylan. In fact, Blanchett was even nominated for Best Supporting Actress for grabbing her crotch and wearing a painfully fake mustache. When I first saw I’m Not There, I thought that Blanchett’s performance was overrated. Having recently rewatched it on DVD, I’ve changed my opinion slightly. I now think that her performance as “Jude Quinn” is probably the worst performance she’s ever given. Once you get over the fact that Cate Blanchett’s playing a man, the quicker it becomes obvious that she’s not a very convincing man.

In fact, on subsequent viewings, I’ve come to realize that the only part of the film that really works for me is the final section. This is the section where an aging Bob Dylan is played by (of all people) Richard Gere. This is the section where Gere is known as Billy the Kid and he ends up wandering through a surrealistic frontier town while searching for his dog. The town is full of people who look like they escape from an especially grim Fellini film and Bruce Greenwood pops up as Pat Garrett. When I first saw I’m Not There, this final sequence seemed drawn out and rather silly. However, on subsequent viewings, I’ve come to appreciate the fact that, with this end sequence, director Todd Haynes is at least finally being honest about being pretentious.

Another point in this sequence’s favor is that it features a haunting performance of Dylan’s Goin’ To Acapulco by Jim James and Calexico. The contrast between the heartfelt delivery of the song, the intellectual pretensions of the entire film, and the inherent Hollywood slickness of Richard Gere all add up to create a scene that I truly love.

Song of the Day: Ain’t No Grave (by Johnny Cash)

Posted on September 12, 2011 by Arleigh

The latest “Song of the Day” comes courtesy of the “Man in Black” himself. It’s the main track from his final posthumous-released album, American VI: Ain’t No Grave.

“Ain’t No Grave” gives us Cash in his final days as he continued to make music despite knowing that Death was coming for him and his time was almost up. We can hear the Cash’s voice gravelly as usual but also shows the failing health he was in. Yet, despite that he still gives the Old Testament-like lyrics of “Ain’t No Grave” the gravity and strength of someone who has seen all that life had to offer (both good and bad) and experienced them all.

The minimalist music backing up Cash’s voice as piano, organ and banjo played on the fly gives the song an almost doomsday tone as he sings about death, angels and the Second Coming. Yet, there’s a sense of hope to the lyrics themselves as Cash points out that not even the grave can keep him from reaching the promised land.

It’s final songs like “Ain’t No Grave” which continues to build the legend that is Johnny Cash. He’s gone beyond music superstar and icon to just legendary figure who seems to transcends art and life itself with every gravelly-voiced lyric sung. If there’s anyone who can look the Devil and God in their eye and tell them to stick it then it would be Johnny Cash.

Ain’t No Grave

There ain’t no grave
Can hold my body down
There ain’t no grave
Can hold my body down

When I hear that trumpet sound
I’m gonna rise right out of the ground
Ain’t no grave
Can hold my body down

Well, look way down the river
And what do you think I see
I see a band of angels
And they’re coming after me

Ain’t no grave
Can hold my body down
There ain’t no grave
Can hold my body down

Well, look down yonder, Gabriel
Put your feet on the land and sea
But Gabriel, don’t you blow your trumpet
Until you hear from me

There ain’t no grave
Can hold my body down
Ain’t no grave
Can hold my body down

Well meet me, Jesus, meet me
Meet me in the middle of the air
And if these wings don’t fail me,
I will meet you anywhere

Ain’t no grave
Can hold my body down
There ain’t no grave
Can hold my body down

Well meet me, Mother and Father,
Meet me down the river road
And Mama, you know that I’ll be there
When I check in my load

Ain’t no grave
Can hold my body down
There ain’t no grave
Can hold my body down
There ain’t no grave
Can hold my body down