We’ve finally reached the finish line. It’s now Halloween. Enjoy the sun while it out and about because when it goes down and the sky darken and turns to black, the ghouls and monsters come out to play.
Those inclined towards enjoying the darker aspects of life will dance and play throughout the night as they continue their way down the highway to hell.
“Highway to Hell”
Living easy, livin’ free Season ticket, on a one – way ride Asking nothing, leave me be Taking everything in my stride Don’t need reason, don’t need rhyme Ain’t nothing I would rather do Going down, party time My friends are gonna be there too
I’m on the highway to hell On the Highway to hell Highway to hell I’m on the highway to hell
No stop signs, speedin’ limit Nobody’s gonna slow me down Like a wheel, gonna spin it Nobody’s gonna mess me ’round Hey Satan! Paid my dues Playin’ in a rockin’ band Hey Mama! Look at me I’m on my way to the promise land
I’m on the highway to hell Highway to hell I’m on the highway to hell Highway to hell
Dont stop me!
I’m on the highway to hell! I’m on the highway to hell! I’m on the highway to hell! I’m on the highway to hell!
And I’m goin down..all the way! I’m on the highway to hell..
Today we see the wide release of David Gordon-Green’s sequel to John Carpenter’s Halloween. A film that’s a direct sequel to the horror classic, David Gordon-Green was able to bring in John Carpenter himself to compose the film’s score just as he did for the original film.
This time around, Carpenter is accompanied this time around by his son, Cody Carpenter, and godson, Daniel Davies. So, we have three generations with the original Halloween in their DNA attempting to improve or, at the very least, not make the score to this official sequel sound like just a copy and paste of the original score.
I would say, after listening to the full score a couple times, that these trio have succeeded where others have failed in scoring the other films in the franchise. My favorite track from this new score has to be the one titled, “The Shape Returns.”
With more modern electronic and synthesizer equipment available for use, Carpenter and his helpers were able to take the main Halloween theme and give it a more modern, angrier and menacing (if that’s even possible) sound for “The Shape Returns.”
John Carpenter, as most long-time readers and visitors to the site will know, is one of my favorite filmmakers. While he has been in a self-imposed retirement these last 15 or so years from directing, his works for two decades prior have to be considered some of the best genre films.
While some of his films have been critically-acclaimed from the start, others weren’t treated as well when they first released. It would only be years later when genre fans would finally come to appreciate some of his lesser works.
One such film is Prince of Darkness. The second film in his unofficial “Apocalypse Trilogy”, this one would be lambasted by most film critics upon it’s release. Even fans of his films would mostly avoid this entry.
Yet, years later it has turned out to be one of his most underappreciated films. It’s soundtrack, one Carpenter did himself with assistance from long-time collaborator Alan Howarth, would become a favorite.
The expanded “Opening Credits” section of the Prince of Darkness soundtrack is a great example of the sort of mood Carpenter can create with his preferred usage of synthesizer and electronic keyboards when it came to composing his film’s soundtracks.
I sure do miss sharing some of my favorite songs and music with y’all.
As part of my return to the site I’d like to share one of my current favorite songs (well, it’s an all-time favorite but have been listening to it a lot of late). It’s a song I first heard as a wee lad of no more than probably 7 or 8. Time becomes quite hazy in my advancing years.
My dad was a huge Creedence Clearwater Revival fan and he would constantly play their albums, especially his favorite tracks, during road trips and just driving around the area. One day it would be CCR the next another band he liked.
“Penthouse Pauper” came back to my radar after it was featured prominently in last year’s Marvels Netflix series The Punisher. The moment the song began to play in the background it brought back good memories and it has since returned to my constant playing and listening of this classic blues-rock song.
Penthouse Pauper
“Now, if I was a bricklayer, I wouldn’t build just anything; And if I was a ball player, I wouldn’t play no second string. And if I were some jew’lry, baby; Lord, I’d have to be a diamond ring.
If I were a secret, Lord, I never would be told. If I were a jug of wine, Lord, my flavor would be old. I could be most anything, But it got to be twenty-four karat solid gold, oh.
If I were a gambler, you know I’d never lose, And if I were a guitar player, Lord, I’d have to play the blues.
If I was a hacksaw, my blade would be razor sharp. If I were a politician, I could prove that monkeys talk. You can find the tallest building, Lord, I’d have me the house on top.
Oh, let’s go! All right, keep goin’!
I’m the penthouse pauper; I got nothin’ to my name. I’m the penthouse pauper; baby, I got nothing to my name. I can be most anything, ‘Cause when you got nothin’ it’s all the same.
Oh, let’s move to this song! Lord, look at my penthouse.”
Chris Cornell passed away on May 17, 2017 and the world is that much more empty with his passing.
He was 52 and joins the others Gods of Rock in the afterlife.
R.I.P. Chris Cornell.
I Am the Highway
Pearls and swine bereft of me Long and weary my road has been I was lost in the cities Alone in the hills No sorrow or pity for leaving I feel
I am not your rolling wheels I am the highway I am not your carpet ride I am the sky
Friends and liars don’t wait for me ‘Cause I’ll get on all by myself I put millions of miles Under my heels And still too close to you I feel
I am not your rolling wheels I am the highway I am not your carpet ride I am the sky I am not your blowing wind I am the lightning I am not your autumn moon I am the night, night
I am not your rolling wheels I am the highway I am not your carpet ride I am the sky I am not your blowing wind I am the lightning I am not your autumn moon I am the night, night Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
So, the latest “Song of the Day” comes courtesy of Led Zeppelin and also in no small part from the release of the first trailer for the third Thor in the MCU (that’s Marvel Cinematic Universe for those who have been living in a cave the last 10 years).
“Immigrant Song” has been used in past trailers though not as often as people think. Led Zeppelin has been very selective of who uses (and pays) for the license to use their songs.
Whether the song makes it into Thor: Ragnarok still to be determined, but it definitely fits the trailer as it sings of Vikings and their call to ship off to find new lands, adventure and battle.
So, yes, Lisa Marie, that song in the Thor: Ragnarok teaser trailer was definitely Led Zeppelin.
Immigrant Song
We come from the land of the ice and snow
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow
Hammer of the gods will drive our ships to new lands
To fight the horde and sing and cry
Valhalla, I am coming
On we sweep with the threshing oar
Our only goal will be the western shore
We come from the land of the ice and snow
From the midnight sun where the hot springs blow
How soft your fields so green can whisper tales of gore
Of how we calmed the tides of war
We are your overlords
On we sweep with the threshing oar
Our only goal will be the western shore
So now you’d better stop and rebuild all your ruins
For peace and trust can win the day despite of all your losing
The year of 2016 has taken many of the music scene’s greatest. Prince, David Bowie and Glenn Frey just to name a few taken too soon. Now, George Michael joins his musical brethren as news of his passing on Christmas Day was announced and confirmed.
There’s not much to say other than any kid growing up during the late 80’s knew and listened to George Michael in some capacity or another. While he became famous as part of the British boy band WHAM! it was when he branched out on his own as a solo act that he hit megastar status. His solo debut album, Faith, would reach multi-platinum levels and each single released from the album and each video that ran in circulation on MTV would become instant hits.
My favorite song of his and this goes to his many excellent post-modern videos, would be the third single released from his debut album, “Father Figure.”.
Father Figure
That’s all I wanted
Something special, something sacred
In your eyes
For just one moment
To be bold and naked
At your side
Sometimes I think that you’ll never
Understand me (understand me)
Maybe this time is forever
Say it can be, woah
That’s all you wanted
Something special, someone sacred
In your life
Just for one moment
To be warm and naked
At my side
Sometimes I think that you’ll never
Understand me (understand me)
But something tells me together
We’d be happy, woah baby
I will be your father figure (oh baby)
Put your tiny hand in mine (I’d love to)
I will be your preacher teacher (be your daddy)
Anything you have in mind (it would make me)
I will be your father figure (very happy)
I have had enough of crime (please let me)
I will be the one who loves you
Till the end of time
That’s all I wanted
But sometimes love can be mistaken
For a crime
That’s all I wanted
Just to see my baby’s
Blue-eyed shine
This time I think that my lover
Understands me (understands me)
If we have faith in each other
Then we can be strong, baby
I will be your father figure
Put your tiny hand in mine (my baby)
I will be your preacher teacher
Anything you have in mind
I will be your father figure
I have had enough of crime
I will be the one who loves you
Till the end of time
If you are the desert, I’ll be the sea
If you ever hunger, hunger for me
Whatever you ask for, that’s what I’ll be
So when you remember the ones who have lied
Who said that they cared
But then laughed as you cried
Beautiful darling
Don’t think of me
Because all I ever wanted
It’s in your eyes
Baby, baby
And love can’t lie, no
(Greet me with the eyes of a child)
My love is always telling me so (Heaven is a kiss and a smile)
Just hold on, hold on
And won’t let you go, my baby
I will be your father figure
Put your tiny hand in mine
I will be your preacher teacher
Anything you have in mind
I will be your father figure
And I have had enough of crime
So I am gonna love you
Till the end of time
(I will be your father) I will be your (I will be your preacher) Father (I will be your father) I’ll be your daddy, whoa
I will be the one who loves you
Till the end of time
There’s been many a voice out in the virtual world that has been disappointed with the first half of The Walking Dead in it’s seventh season. It had a season premiere that was nihilistic and emotionally-draining. The follow-up episodes have been a mixed bag with some calling the 4th episode one of the worst of the season.
Tonight saw the mid-season finale as the chess pieces that had been moving since that season premiere starts to take form. Yet, for all the doom and gloom of lower ratings and subpar episodes the show continues to be the most-watched show on cable. Part of that could be due to many viewers so fully invested in the show that they have hope the series will right itself and have a better second-half. The other part seems to come from the very people who have been proclaiming that the show has worn out it’s welcome yet continue to watch as a sort of schadenfreude. They want to see the show crash and burn and wait for the moment when it loses everyone.
Well, tonight probably won’t be it since it finally tied together the first-half of the season and got Rick to stop moping around and get thangs done. It also saw the reuniting of the show’s bromance as Daryl and Rick finally reunited in the end.
Which brings us to the latest “Song of the Day” courtesy of R&B stalwarts Peaches & Herb and their biggest hit, “Reunited.”
Reunited
I was a fool to ever leave your side Me minus you is such a lonely ride The breakup we had Has made me lonesome and sad I realize I love you ’cause I want you bad, hey, hey
I spent the evening with the radio Regret the moment that I let you go Our quarrel was such A way of learning so much I know now that I love you ’cause I need your touch, hey, hey
Reunited and it feels so good Reunited ’cause we understood There’s one perfect fit And, sugar, this one is it We both are so excited ‘Cause we’re reunited, hey, hey
I sat here staring at the same old wall Came back to life just when I got your call I wished I could climb Right through the telephone line And give you what you want so you will still be mine, hey, hey
I can’t go cheating, honey, I can’t play I found it very hard to stay away As we reminisce On precious moments like this I’m glad we’re back together, ’cause I missed your kiss, hey, hey
Reunited and it feels so good Reunited ’cause we understood There’s one perfect fit And, sugar, this one is it We both are so excited ‘Cause we’re reunited, hey, hey
Yeah, yeah, yeah Baby
Oh, lover, lover, this is solid love And you’re exactly what I’m dreaming of All through the day And all through the night I’ll give you all the love I have with all my might, hey, hey
Reunited and it feels so good Reunited ’cause we understood There’s one perfect fit And, sugar, this one is it We both are so excited ‘Cause we’re reunited, hey, hey
Ooh, listen baby I won’t ever make you cry I won’t let one day go by Without holding you Without kissing you Without loving you Reunited
You’re my everything Only you know how to free All the love there is in me I wanna let you know I won’t let you go I wanna let you know I won’t let you go Reunited
Ooh, feels so good
Reunited and it feels so good Reunited ’cause we understood There’s one perfect fit And, sugar, this one is it We both are so excited ‘Cause we’re reunited, hey, hey
Through the Shattered Lens 