Tele-VISION OF LOVE (DVD edition)

It's been a little while since my last post.  Life has been a bit crazy busy... and I'm going on vacation for a few days!  So... I wanted to write a quick post.  

There have been some AMAZING new releases of TV on DVD in the past couple of weeks including three of my favorite new shows of last year.  This week PUSHING DAISIES and CHUCK came out.  Last week ELI STONE was released.  All three were debuted last year and all three start up soon.  If you missed them now is the perfect time to catch up so you can watch season 2.  You can check out my previous post on PUSHING DAISIES and ELI STONE... and here's a little taste of CHUCK season 1.

Also, one of my favorite movies this past year was the documentary YOUNG@HEART.  This also came out on dvd this past week.  Check out my review of it here.  There are a few flaws in this movie (they try to create cute music videos which don't quite match the tone of the film.)  However, the subject matter is wonderful and extremely moving.  Funny, heartbreaking, and inspiring... I highly recommend this film.

Much more to talk about...  I'll be back in a few days.

Happy Emmy week! 

Just what the DOC ordered!

As a society we have an obsession with wanting to know what goes on in other people's lives. It can be trash.... (practically any Celebrity Show...  "Living Lohan" or "Denise Richards - It's Complicated")  or it can be treasure (the wonderful movies "Mad Hot Ballroom," and "Spellbound," and the fascinating yet tragic "Grey Gardens")  *side note- I am also in LOVE with the recent musical based on "Grey Gardens."

Anywhoo...  As I wrote in last weeks entry, I went to see a new documentary  "Young@Heart" this past week.

I was absolutely blown away.  

The movie follows a chorus of senior citizens who make up the "Young@Heart" chorus.  What makes them unique is that they don't perform old standards or showtunes.  They perform hits of The Clash, Radiohead, Coldplay, and other rock and roll giants.  The songs they sing are songs we all know. However, performed by a group whose average age is 80, the songs take on a whole new meaning.

 Here's the preview.

I don't want to give too much away because I feel it's best to go into this (and many films) with a clean slate.

I will say I found this film profoundly touching.  There were many times where I was moved to tears.  I got the same feeling as when I saw the amazing film "Once" last year.   Both of these movies show the power of music and how it is good for the soul.  Some of the members of the chorus are struggling to hang on to life... and the one thing that gets them through is their love of singing.    

I do a lot of vocal directing and coaching so I really identified with the choir's director Bob Cillman.  I appreciated that he never looked down on the performers or felt they were doing rock and roll strictly as a gimmick.  He chose songs that maybe they didn't like right away, but were ones that they would eventually connect to.  The whole chorus and director truly became a family bonded by making music.

If you get a chance, please see this film.  I would definitely say it is one of my favorites so far this year (along with "The Visitor.")  Even if you have nothing in common with the subject,  I feel a really good documentary will have at least one element that you can relate to your own life. 

I REALLY could relate to their love of music, and this movie made me think a lot about my grandparents who have been through a lot this year.  No matter what they've been through, they are fighters and are a wonderful inspiration on the power of faith.  I gave them a call on my way home from the theater.  My grandpa had surgery on his knee a few weeks ago and has been doing therapy at home.  Never wanting to burden his family with what he or my grandma are really going through, they are always tell us they're doing great.  Just last week he was walking around with a cane, but when I called them he was just getting inside from mowing the grass!    He said "It may take us twice as long to do things, but that just means the job is twice as good."

Here's to grandparents who are truly young at heart.

Bee Gee or Not Bee Gee? That is the question.

HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE of Bee Gees' covers?  Here are some lovely musical homages to the Brothers Gibb.  

The first is by Feist.  She made a splash last year with "1234" (as featured on the i-pod commercial.)  "1234" is from her second album "The Reminder."  I really love her first album "Let it Die" as well.   It contains a cover of "Inside and Out" which is pretty fabulous....

Indie LA pop duo "The Bird and The Bee"  covered "How Deep is Your Love" on their EP "Please Clap Your Hands" last year.  It is also on the "Sex and the City" soundtrack which comes out today.  They do a pretty cool re-working of it.

Here is a very interesting cover of "Stayin Alive" by Italian Rockabilly band "The Hormonauts."

Finally here's another cover of  "Stayin' Alive" (along with "I Will Survive") performed by "Young@Heart."   They are a senior citizen band in New England who specialize in reinterpreting rock and pop classics.  They bring whole new meaning to the tunes.  The group is featured in the current documentary hit "Young @ Heart."   The film follows the group as they prepare for a one night only appearance in their home town.  Along the way they offer their perspectives on life, love, old age, and death.  I've been really excited to see this movie and I'm finally going this afternoon.  It looks really cute and very touching at the same time.

Since I posted the Sesame Street Fever pic... I thought I should include these...

Have a wonderful day.  

This post has been brought to you by the letters "B" and "G!"