Top Fifteen Movie Songs 7/15

Top Fifteen Movie Songs 7/15 (in no particular order that I will admit to): 

07) "Shine"
Written and Performed by Martin Ansell
Courtesy of Island Records
Film: Better off Dead

First off, this is a very, very funny film.  It has a cool car, cute guys, cute girls and that uniquely '80 teen film lack of sensible film making.  Now, there are some really good songs in here that are hilarious because of their part of the movie.  "Everybody Wants Some" for example, with the clay-mation burgers dancing, Elizabeth Daily singing "A Little Luck", that whole break-up montage on the radio.  And there are other songs in here (original and not) that I really like at well, like "Arrested By You" and "Like To Get To Know You Well."

This one won out because it is happy and sunny and the scene is where the _foreign_ girl shown the local boy all the things he has been missing around him and taking for granted.  And '80 ski film.

I guess this is kind of a short one.  Not a lot to say about it, but it is one of my favourite films, and it is a great part of the film and it would not be the same without this song.

Take Care-
LQ

This morning's dream.

Dream:
This was, so, like... well... unhappy-making.
I am reading Pirate Latitude.  That is not part of the dream, I really am.
So, as some know, I already have this thing about water - a phobia, if you will.

Well, so, I dreamed I was aboard the Cassandra (If you have not read the book, sorry.  This will not spoil anything about the book.) but not like part of the crew or anything.  I was just there, but no one could see/hear me.  It got worse.  The dream was not really like the book, except for the setting (pirates, Caribbean) and some names. Thanks to a storm, we were damaged and just floating,  lost all the sails.  The rations were tight and no one seemed to know I was there and I could not get any food or water.  This went on and I found that I could not open any doors or anything - like I was a ghost and my hands passed through - but I could not just _walk_ through.  I was trapped on deck, in the sun and heat with no food or water.  I could not stand any more and way laying on the deck and the ship (it had been taking on water since the storm) started to go down.  The crew abandoned and I was impotently calling for help.  I could not move any more and it was like I was stuck to the deck. they were all gone and I was completely alone as the water started to come over the sides.  I was laying there for hours with the water slowly creeping up my sides and occasional waves washing over my sunburned face, salt stinging my cracked skin.  Then I was choking for breath and the waves were too frequently washing over my nose and mouth.  That seemed to go on for hours before I woke up.

I do not know if I will be able to finish the book now.  :(

Ugh.  Oh, well.  But I will try again later.

Take Care-
LQ

Top Fifteen Movie Songs 6/15

Top Fifteen Movie Songs 6/15 (in no particular order that I will admit to): 

06) "AS THE WORLD FALLS DOWN"
Written by David Bowie
Produced by David Bowie and Arif Mardin
Performed by David Bowie
Film: Labyrinth (1986)

There were a few from this great movie; Underground, Magic Dance, Thirteen O'clock; but this one talks to me on a different level.  Again, the scene and the song together create that powerful image.  For me, this is where she realises she is insane, so I can relate.  No, I'm kidding there.  It is like she realises that everything before then has been like a dream - a non-reality and she has to break through the illusion within and fight her back to reality... when she accepts the realisation that she is in control of her reality - that her fears, fantasies, delusions and perceptions cannot control her unless she lets them - sort of thing.

It is a good David Bowie song. It is a good song in the film and in the story.  It is just plain a good song.

It's not that I relate to "Sarah": No step mum, no baby "half" brother (no brother of any kind), and I think (unfortunately) I *do* feel like I am the centre of my daddy's world.
:However:
There is that whole thirteenth hour - things not as they are - can't take anything for granted sort of vibe.

It is just way cool!

Take Care-
LQ

Top Fifteen Movie Songs 5/15

Top Fifteen Movie Songs 5/15 (in no particular order that I will admit to): 

05) "Dare To Be Stupid"
Performed by 'Weird Al' Yankovic
Film: Transformers: The Movie - the first one.

If you've seen the movie, you know this is on the junk world.  I can't imagine a better song for the scene... but I am not sure that part wasn't spawned from listening to the song.  I mean, I like Weird Al.  I was already familiar with several of his songs.  I am "too young" for the original Transformers series, so my introduction to the Transformer's universe was with this film.  I wanted to see it before I saw the new movie (the first new movie) so Dad put it on.  He had it on VHS from, like, back when.  Goodness only knows.

I always liked bumblebee and I was kinda torn on the not-being-a-vdub-in-the-new-release, but I digress.

So, "Dare to be Stupid" is not an actual song parody, but this is one of Weird Al's early attempts at writing a parody of a band's distinctive style.  It really worked well.  Mark Mothersbaugh said when asked about it, "This is the kind of song I would like to write.  It sounds more Devo than Devo."  Or something like that.  I forget.  But still, the gist of it being that he captured the Devo sound, people were convinced it was a Devo song parody, but they could not figure out which.  He has since written original songs in the styles of NIN, Dead Milkmen, that band with those guys in it, and more.

Now time for a little odd connection:

[quote=wikipedia] 

[Neuromancer] Video game

In 1988, a video game adaptation [of the novel], designed by Bruce J. Balfour, Brian Fargo, Troy A. Miles, and Michael A. Stackpole, was published by Interplay. The game, also titled Neuromancer, had many of the same locations and themes as the novel, but a different protagonist and plot. It also featured, as a soundtrack, a computer adaptation of the Devo song "Some Things Never Change." It was available for a variety of platforms, including the Amiga, the Apple II, the Commodore 64, and for DOS-based computers.

[/quote]

For those of you who have been following along, Neuromancer was written by William Gibson. (see song number 2/15 on this "list")

I think that is it for this one.
So, Put all your eggs in one basket and squeeze all the Charmin you can.
Take Care-
LQ

Top Fifteen Movie Songs 4/15

Top Fifteen Movie Songs 4/15 (in no particular order that I will admit to): 

04) "Camelot Song (Knights of the Round Table)"
Words by Graham Chapman and John Cleese
Music by Neil Innes
Film: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

Liked so much, it was done in Lego(tm).  It just gets into your head and stays there.  What else can I really say about it? 
I had seen some Monty Python before seeing Holy Grail (Penguin on the telly, Spanish inquisition, confuse-a-cat, funniest joke) (and many more since then) but was not really prepared for the hilarity.  And the little guy in the dungeon... he was so funny... I picture myself there so often.

Brave Sir Robin bit is good and funny, and the guy who wants to sing, but all these other songs and stuff are like, part of the story.  This one is ... "On second thought, let's not go there.  It's a silly place."  It just makes me laugh.  I am almost laughing now.

Oh, I guess this is turning out to be kinda short.

I am not quite sure about some of the songs in "The Meaning of Life" - if they will make the list.  I am kink of making this up as I go.  Of course, it is my list, so I suppose I am entitled.

Anywho,
Take Care-
LQ

Top Fifteen Movie Songs 3/15

Top Fifteen Movie Songs 3/15 (in no particular order that I will admit to): 
03) -Dual of the Fatesby John Williams and the London Symphony Orchestra
Film: Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
This... this alone right here, that make the film watchable.  I mean, I like SW EP1. 
There are a number of "okay" things about it, but This song, in This scene - were they not what they are, the film would... not be good - would instead be a gratuitous collection of fan candy.  (Ooh... I like that.  I need to remember it.)

The piece has a contemporary, modern relevance, and a classic, timeless structure that makes it one of the most powerful pieces in modern theatre.  The scene, while seemingly meaningless to the one film's primary plot thread (it does not help win the Battle of Naboo), it is the groundwork for the ultimate struggle that is unresolved until Vader kills the emperor in episode six - the first of many Jedi to be killed by the Sith and the good within triumphing over evil. 
Now, I'm not saying that Vader off-ing the emperor makes up for all the stuff he did bad - just that, well, I think he finally saw the weakness in the dark side.  Now, if only Tom Riddle could have learned the same lesson, his cool snake would not have had to loose it's head.

The song does not hold anything really personal or anything like that, I just really, really like it and it belongs on this list.
Take Care-
LQ

Top Fifteen Movie Songs 2/15

Top Fifteen Movie Songs 2/15 (in no particular order that I will admit to):
02) "I SEE THROUGH"
Performed by Rollins Band
Written by Henry Rollins, Melvin Gibbs, Sim Cain, Chris Haskett
Published by Sony Songs, Inc. / Men-O-Rok / Archetext Music / Imago Music, Inc. (BMI)
Produced by Theo Van Rock
Engineered by Peter Rave
Recorded at Echo Creek Ranch; Myers, CA
Rollins Band appears courtesy of The Imago Recording Company
Film: Johnny Mnemonic

Yeah, I go on a lot about this film, but with very good reason:
Based on the short story of the same name by my favourite author, William Gibson
William Gibson also wrote the screenplay.
Henry Rollins is in it.  (Hot body - just wish there was more in the film.)
It has a great soundtrack.

Okay, Raise you hand if you actually say thin one.
Now, Raise you hand if you actually read the short story... before seeing the film.

There is an interesting story here...
Gibson, in the late 80's, sold the movie rights to Neuromancer.  It got as far as getting Devo to do some soundtrack work for it, but alas, the project was never finished. 
Johnny Mnemonic was the precursor to the Sprawl trilogy - Neuromancer, Count Zero and Monalisa Overdrive - and the first time we see Molly Millions  (also known as Sally Shears in Monalisa Overdrive, and "the Steppin' Razor" to the residents of Zion.)
Molly is in the Sprawl tril, so, not having the rights to the character, could not be included in Johnny Mnemonic.  In comes Jane.  Jane is not just a re-naming of Molly, but more on that in a minute.
Gibson was working on the Bridge trilogy - Virtual Light (1993), Iduro (1996) and All Tomorrow's Parties (1999) - when working on the screenplay of JM (released 1995).
Gibson went on tour with the band U2 (the Zeuropa tour) while working on Iduro (for inspiration).
On the soundtrack, we have:
"ALEX DESCENDS INTO HE[ck] FOR A BOTTLE OF MILK/KOROVA 1"
Performed by Bono and The Edge
Written by Bono and The Edge
(There is some mutual fandom between Gibson and members of the band.)

So, having the film of Neuromancer fall short of ever getting finished, Gibson figured on this being his one big chance.  He incorporated elements of the Sprawl and Bridge trilogies into the screenplay.  Among the most prevalent are:
"Heaven" - the bridge is largely right out of the trillogy.
Jayne (the Molly replacement) is strongly influenced by the character Chevette Washinton.
Ratz from Neuromancer becomes Hookie.

So... well, that was a lot on the film, but what about the song!?

I am a major fan of Henry Rollins.  There are a lot of really good songs on the soundtrack (by Stabbing Westward, KMFDM, Orbital, the afore mentioned Bono and The Edge...) but "I See Through" ... the sound of the music, the sound of his voice... Ah... what a song.  It is (basically) (to me) about facing your fear and staring it down until you "see through" - the fear, the darkness, etc.

Anywho, there you have it.
Take Care-
LQ

Top Fifteen Movie Songs 1/15

Top Fifteen Movie Songs 1/15 (in no particular order that I will admit to):
01) "Gimme the Prize (Kurgan's Theme)"
Performed by Queen
Written by Brian May
Film: Highlander

Okay, we all know the film.  "There can be only one."
There, officially, is not a soundtrack for the film, but the Queen CD "A Kind of Magic" has the songs, plus "One Vision" from the film Iron Eagle.
UNFORTUNATELY - "Hammer to Fall" is not on the CD because it was a previously released Queen track.
ALSO - "New York, NY" is not on the CD because that itsy-bitsy little clip is all there was.
BUT - "Gimme the Prize (Kurgan's Theme)" is (barely/currently/mostly) my favourite track from the film.  Sure, I'm a chick, and I like "A Dozen Red Roses for my Darling" and "Who Wants To Live Forever", but the former - not THAT much, and the latter - it got a little depressing.

I was about 10 when I saw the movie, and it was a little weird trying to follow the timeline because the only thing I knew about it at the time was: Christopher Lambert (whom I knew from Knight Moves, which I watched with Dad who had to cover my eyes during a couple of scenes.  It was his first time to see it too.) gets to kick butt with a sword.  After the first couple of time-shifts, I was like - "this film is bril!"  I thought the Kurgan was really cool, but I always wondered, did he call Candy, or did she just come by?  I knew he was the bad guy and had to get his head chopped off, but he's a cool bad guy.  (Not like the weenie in Knight Moves.)

Has this song had a major impact on my life?  Well, no.  It hasn't.  I'm not that big a Queen fan, really.  And Highlander was a great film and all, but it is not like I run around quoting it or anything.  But together... that is the point where it feels like the fruition of The Gathering, you know?  Everyone left is now in the same place.

So... the goal here is that I am going to take my fifteen "top" songs from films, one at a time, and talk about them a little.  I reckon this will keep me busy for about 2 to 3 weeks, depending on what else my interrupt the regularity of the updates.

You know, normally, I am like "Here's a list," while sometimes I give a little background.  Well, here is background, eh?
Take Care-
LQ

Helena KDE CE released

Another visit to the OS Saga.  Sat, Helena KDE Community Edition was released. Sunday I downloaded it (via torrent and left it up the whole day to help with the initial download hit.) And yesterday, I installed it.  I did not have as much time to spend exploring it as I wanted, but it gave me no grief.
Today I am cleaning out some of the unwanted packages.  I think then I am going to install the Xfce WM so I can flip flop depending on my mood.  (Sometimes I want to dedicate my resources to what I am doing rather than where I am doing it.)  But don't get me wrong.  KDE is still my favourite place to work/play/goof off.

=^_^=
LQ

Back to KDE

And the story continues...

I bought some more RAM and re-installed Helena KDE RC1.  It made a world of difference.

1) Why did I buy RAM:
"Well, other than listening to music and checking my e-mail, you okay I do my school work on it.  Not just research and reading, but I have some like, "practice test" and worksheets and stuff.

I usually have lots of windows open so I can try out some of the stuff I find online.  Mostly php and database stuff.  It is fun to work with data.  That was how I got started pulling track lists out of the Amarok database.

So, I do not need anything really powerful.  I only needed the RAM to run the KDE desktop manager.  It is "pretty" and has lots of "toys".  FluxBox is more... down to business and gives me what I need, but not so much what I _want_.  I cannot really justify wanting more than what FluxBox provides; it runs all my apps nicely.  And it is easier to configure your desktop with KDE, but once I get things set like I like them, I do not really change them, so that is not a big deal." - an e-mail I sent to someone about it.
In other words, I did it all for the pretty.


2) It has been a long time since I made any upgrades like that.


I feel a bit self indulgent buying RAM for no real practical purpose.  It was not a decision of practicality.  I normally am a fairly practical person (I think.)


But, I did it, and now I can run KDE and it is *so pretty*!!


I am working up a short review, but my head is not in it at the moment.  I followed a tweeted link from William Gibson and it unknowingly took me to Youtube.  For those that don't know, I have some sort of weird phobia of that site.  So, later this morning... etc.


Take Care
LQ