Results tagged “Music” from Overlooked

The freeze frame movie ending does not seem to pop up as often as it used to, which we may openly blame on more modern films such as "Raise Your Voice." Still, fond memories have been built around freeze frame high fives, and creepy stills of possessed children, and they hold special places in our hearts. So special, in fact, that I am certain we have a habit of recreating these freeze frames in everyday life. For the past few days, I have made it my mission to find the mannerisms, facial expressions, and seemingly original pop culture references born of classic freeze frame film endings.

INFLUENTIAL FREEZE FRAMES (in no particular order)

THE FAMED FRAME	EVIDENCE OF INFLUENCE
The Breakfast Club (1985)	Whoomp There It Is (1993)
Uncle Buck (1989)	Charlie Cheese (2007)
Purple Rain (1984)	Stare Down Sally (1997)
Sleepaway Camp (1983)	Naruto (2002-2009)
Taking of Pelham 1,2,3 (1974)	Pissed Penguin (2007)

Now that I have finished my lesson on historical--and by historical I mean old, and by old I mean circa anytime before the last installation of Harry Potter--pop-culture similitude, let's go over a few movies that had much better success than "Raise Your Voice" with the simple (yet classic) zoom-in-on-the-face freeze frame.

Uncle Buck (though not great, better than "Raise your Voice")

The Taking of Pelham 1,2,3 (The Original...I <3 Walter Matthau)

Les Quatre Cents Coups (The 400 Blows)

Don't make him be without you tonight!

Back when I was growing up, even though the neighborhood kids and I possessed hefty imaginations and lilting singing voices, all we had to document our travails were tape recorders and cumbersome video recording equipment. Thus, the only people who ever bore witness to our masterpieces were our parents, and even they were often disinterested.

However, thanks to the current golden age of the internet, true talent no longer is no longer squandered, and certainly not so for Pensacola's epically bespectacled Mark Gormley. These days, all you need to become a bona fide rock legend is some home recording equipment, a green sheet, the movie making software that ships with your computer, and a dream: with these simple items, you're free to create beautiful and expressive videos that can convey your spirit to the world. In my humble opinion, the world is exponentially better for this, and in particular, Gormley's majestic video entitled "Without You".

Remarkable?

Truly.

Don't let him steal your heart away!

Against all odds, there is a new man in my life. I cannot believe it's true, but each moment spent with him is like another day in paradise!

I remember the day we first met. I was running late to court, ready to testify for a case involving a crime of passion (it's always important to hear both sides of the story, you know), when all of a sudden, two hearts collided.

Isn't it crazy how strangers like me and my love could just randomly cross paths one day? I was running one way and he was running another. Quick as I knew it, we ran into each other and I was knocked to the ground.

"Oh, I'm so sorry!" he spluttered, bewilderment sullying his handsome face and showing me his true colors.

"Is that the least you can do?" I asked with a wink and indicated for him to help me up. He happily obliged, and I could tell by his eyes that he would find a way to my heart no matter what. Even though I was somewhat scared--just who was this angelic creature to whom I was already pledged all of my life?--I remember thinking, "That's just the way it is," and surrendering utterly. Separate lives were thereby linked forever.

After that first encounter, as we said hello, goodbye, he called over his shoulder to me, "Don't lose my number." (Do you remember, darling?) Perish the thought!

Since then, it's been nothing but magic. I just can't stop loving you, Phil Collins. Just can't stop loving you.

Damn good I say, DAMN GOOD!

The latter in this case is Transmiticate, Donita Spark's first solo record with the Stellar Moments. I'm a sucker for crunchy guitar riffs and catchy lyrics so really, this album can do no wrong. Even NPR says it's good! Donita is the lead singer of the band L7 (my most favoritest band of ALL TIME) and is currently working with Kristin Hersh on CASH Music, a Coalition of Artists and Stake Holders. She also has a blog at Firedoglake titled "The Spin I'm In", and she recently hosted a podcasted listening party for Transmiticate that can be found at the previous link. Yes, Donita Sparks is a busy little beaver and I love her for it.

Record #2? The Juno soundtrack. I was mainly excited about the Kimya Dawson songs, being into the Moldy Peaches and all, but boy was I surprised when I found myself putting it on repeat. I even like the Belle and Sebastian tracks! It's very mellow and perfect for zoning out on the train. There's a great interview with Kimya at Music Snobbery on how her involvement with Juno came about. Good stuff! One more thing...Kimya will be playing at Maxwell's in Hoboken on April 4th and at Webster Hall in NYC on April 6th. Yay!

Album #3 is probably the most shocking of them all. I don't know how many of you actually saw Across the Universe because I don't know many people that did. You should probably check it out though - moreso if you're a Beatles fan and less so if you loathe musicals. I'm not big on musicals. Generally I get irritated when actors suddenly burst out into song. At first, this movie was no exception BUT by around song 3 I was totally into it. It started slow and progressively got more and more interesting. The versions of "Come Together" and "Happiness Is a Warm Gun" blew me away. That is why I cannot stop listening to this soundtrack. When I'm staring off into space I imagine scenes from the movie and I'm taken into my own self-induced acid trip. Fun fun.

Apologies to Tyondai Braxton

A lot of favorable stuff has been written about "Mirrored",the full length debut of Battles. But all I can think of when I hear "Atlas" is that this is the sound the Unstoppable Elf Army will make when they give humankind its well-deserved comeuppance.