Would love to talk a lot about this lady, but truth be told I never got into Heart's music as a kid. Also, after reading her story, there's NOTHING I want to talk about her.
But in listening to Heart's music -- which really spanned from 1976-1993, this lady: Anne Wilson, really proved she was talented vocally. So much so that after consideration I've tabbed Anne Wilson as the best female voice in the history of rock.
(slightly >) Christie McVie of Fleetwood Mac, I really did love her voice
>Anne Lennox of Eurthmics
>Belinda Carslile, who had the best happy music of any performer, just didn't have the vocal raw goods
>Tina Turner, who definitely deserves an honorable mention!
>Adele, who was more opraetic than a rocker.
>>Chrissy Hydnie of The Pretenders fame
>>Madona the material girl who actually did show signs of having a good voice in the 90s
>>Cheryl Crow, who was probably a better overall performer: singer/lyrics/music videos; but never blew me away with her vocals
>>Pat Benetar of early 1980s fame
>>Shena Easton who was fairly popular in the 1980s
>Deborah Harry of Blondie fame
>Gwen Steffani, who may have rank higher if she didn't do such shitty music with No Doubt
>>>Joan Jett, who really had a lousy voice
>>>Stevie Nicks who always sounds slurred when she sang. Most overrated performer of all-time, imo. Totally outshined vocally by Chritine McVie -- who was also in Fleetwood Mac
>>Alanis Morrisette of mid-1990s fame
And lastly...
>>>Taylor Swift who can't hold a candle to Anne Wilson from Heart
When talking about the music group Heart, a lot of people like to play up that it's headlined by two sister Anne and Nancy Wilson. I could care less. True Heart was definitely a rock back with headlined by two women, but I never got into Nancy's act.
Maybe it's best to just enjoy the performer's art and delve too deeply into who they are personally. I had read that Anne struggled with her weight for years and was abusing cocaine and alcohol until recent and the woman's in her 70s now! #yikes !
Probably best to just sing along and enjoy the artistic talent she was blessed with. Anne Wilson of Heart, best female rock vocalist of all time -- but not best overall female vocalist. For when you consider Christian contemporary that opens up a slew of other female acts, one of which I featured on this blogsite a while back, and I'm talking Christine Dente from the Christian contemporary band, Out of the Grey; which had its run in the early to mid 1990s. Since I could only find two music videos from Out of the Grey, and both of them were to lesser songs of theirs that I wasn't to high on. Here's a reminder of what they were capable of and one my favorite Out of the Grey songs:
Compare that to one of Anne Wilson better efforts here --
In the side-by-side comparison I'd go with the HEAVENLY voice of Christine Dente over the power rocker that Anne Wilson clearly was. There is something about Christine's voice that is transcending. I think she has the best voice of any woman EVER! That's right even out of the limelight for sometime, Christine Dente put enough out there for all to consider, and during her reign she honored Jesus Christ . Something I don't think Anne Wilson, Taylor Swift, or even Adele can say they did So in the end...
Heaven wins!
Did do a Google search to see what Christine's up to these days. Turns out she's got a blog of her own: Christine Dente's blog. I was reading a little bit about her and found out one of her kids is now 25 years old! Wow, I remember at the end of one her concert sets where she said she and her husband Scott had to end their act so they could put their kids to bed. That was back in the 1990s. Foggy memory to recall, as I can only remember her saying that, then walking off stage. But oh that voice! Wish Christine Dente have recorded more music. I find peace when she sings.
Ahhh, Motley Crue, the heavy-metal band that rose to prominence in the 1980s. There was time when they were a role model of sorts for me, never had the same hook as Def Leppard had; but there was a time when I admired them. Admired them so much that I was swayed by buddy I had from the fishing boat to travel down to L.A. to see all the strip clubs they referred to in one of their most famous songs: Girls, Girls, Girls. Perhaps its only fitting that a band like this would have a song like that, as with their long hair, and spandex, they kinda look a bunch of guys in the midst of a conversion to be girl! Jokes on them, I guess. A lot of old Motley Crue group pictures from the 1989s goes look like a Satanized version of Road Warrior extras.
Truth be told it was Def Leppard who had the biggest influence on me as young, impressionable mind. I think a lot of that came from the fact I was 13/14 when Def Leppard really took off during the MTV era of the 1980s with their Pyromania release. Of course it was with that release that came the God mocking song of Rock of Ages:
Didn't see how bad this song was until I got saved. Then once I did, threw all my heavy-metal music in the garbage. If memory serve me right I think I had enough secular music to fill two garbage bags... Hmmm. Still, during some of my fleshly runs in the mid-1990s, I went back to my old idols. But the Lord had made and impression on me by this point, and now I knew that a lot of heavy metal music was filled with music and lyric more attuned to the demonic. Slang by Def Leppard came out and I bought it, only to later punch the album when I came to my senses.
The thing is to a teenage boy growing and forming his opinions, you don't have the discernment to know how bad the stuff is. I just thought Joe with this heavy-metal hero, ignoring the Satanic robed people on one side, people in the hell in between, and the band playing on the other side. Rock of Ages is a mockery of God. The lady bound to the cross is meant to distract you, from later burning the cross as seen in the video. The whole song as an angry filled tyraid meant to work you in a frenzy, and drive you lighting things on fire. Anyway, everything works together for an evil purpose. YET this one of the earliest rock-n-roll song that I gravitated toward, liked, and let shape my life for many years.
It's easy to find heros who were really villains in heavy metal music. Look at David Lee Roth. Most of Van Hallen's stuff is fun and light. But one of their earlier song was Running with the Devil. And then there is the fact that David Lee Roth had a cocaine problem. And later I read that Eddie did cocaine with son, Wolfgang.
The funny thing about heavy metal is that is starts out looking so promising. But then as these groups go on tragedy and recompense catches up with them. The drummer for Deff Leopard looses his arm. One of their key guitar players: Steve Clark; dies of alcohol poisoning. Heroine use plagues Motley Crue. Eddie and Valerie divorce. All members age. Some not so well --
Hi, I'm Joe Elliot in 2024. What do you think of me now, E.C.?
Yikes! I've seen other pictures of Joe Elliot doing podcasts recently, and in them he looks like of the founding fathers of the U.S. George Washington look-out!
Oh how times changes. Speaking of change. Lets see how the front man of Motley Crue turned out --
Looks like the fat toad, and grossly aged version of the former heavy-metal hearthrob who had sex with a lot of women, as highlighted in the Netflix movie, The Dirt; which depicted Motley Crue's rise in the 1980s.
Now in defense of these two men, we all age. It's just a part of life. But one of the classic mis-directions of heavy-metal music is the con that the fast lifestyle of sex, drugs and rock-n-roll is the religion their followers should strive for. Dependence on Jesus is never emphasized. Why? Because these men are all living for the flesh, and the all the here-and-now that a contract with the devil affords. And when you're young you're more apt to get roped into this and let this become your substitute for a having a relationship with God. Listen to Poison's song Give Me Something To Believe In. That a heavy-metal lament intended to justify no going to God. A song with on the same album they back with the outright Satanic song of Flesh and Blood (Sacrifice). There was a time when I was on the fishing boat where I would play that song over and over again, never considering how dark it is.
Okay, so things didn't turn out well for Vince Neil and Joe Elliot, what about Diamond Dave?
Wow, gone is long hair, wild jumps and antics. In is the age spots and short-hair. But hey, he's on a point and he's pointing and laughing at you like you're the schmuck and he's the one in the catbird's seat who all the right decision in life.
Now that I am born again I view Def Leppard, Motley Crue, and Van Hallen with a RADICALLY DIFFERENT perspective than I did when I was 13 years old. In retrospect I feel that all three of these influences lead me and other to life a reckless life. I believe all three have performed gateway to the demonic music, and NONE have sought to honor the Lord in their art.
I don't think any of these three are "idols" to me. Two of three were at one time. Def Leppard DEFINITELY. Motley Crue sorta. Van Hallen never.
The funny thing is you see proofs in these bands lives over the years that proves their not even the best of friends to their own! After Steve Clark died Def Leppard included the song White Lightening on their Adrenalize release. That song is so gross, it has the band singing about their diseased friend saying that White Lightening is coming to claim him, or in other words Steve Clark's departed soul belongs to the devil because he died due to alcoholism. Van Halen had their outs with David Lee Roth and for a while Sammy Hagar was their front man. Vince Neil lost a child and blamed God for that. You talk about rich. Here the guys is for years strutting around stage playing up the devil, living like a delinquent in orgies and booze, then the guy points his finger at God! Yikes! Hopefully Vince matures and turns back to the Lord in a state of humility.
I guess knowing this now I have some ammo to pray for Vincent Neil Wharton: married four times, father of three children -- though one died at a young age. As for David Lee Roth, he never left much of an impression with me. He always came across as a brash, boisterous guy. I guess that's the coked-out Diamond Dave just before his solo career ended in the late 1980s. As for Joe Elliot, I'm over him being my heavy metal hero. And I know I need to be careful with Def Leppard's music as that was a former idol of mine.
Band pictures like this will ALWAYS bring back strong memories for me. I still remember playing the Hysteria tape over and over in my player before Pour Some Sugar on me took off. Still remember Animal playing in the lounge at Green River Community College back in 1987, when I was wearing my turtleshell after I had back surgery. There is no way of escaping one's past. At one point I was a heavy-metal fan so immersed in the stuff I dressed like these guys and try to emulated them in my own way. Thankfully, Jesus got me before I nearly made the biggest mistake of my life; suicide.
Jesus Christ >>> Joe Elliot
I can say that now.
Tap me on the shoulder 1983-1991, and I'm not sure I would say the same.
But the Lord is good! I had a praying mom, and she literally called Lazarus forth -- when I was at my worst. So many don't make it out of their teenage years to see the other side of the equation. Heavy-metal music is anti-god, pro devil. Still, the trick with it is to love God more than loving them. Let no idol take root in root in your heart. Even if it's some raspy, heavy-metal headliner who is older than you and poised to be a good enough mentor -- to take you to hell!
Don't think we've ever mocked angels and the the supernatural? Check this out:
Okay, it's been nearly a MONTH since I last posted. But a month ago I was just wrapping up work on my spec. script entitled The Beautiful Kingdom. Then Carson Reeves over at Scriptshadow made a post to write fast on a new script and I bit on it! The problem was I wasn't really ready to start a new script yet.
Why?
Because when I write I put all I have into it, and when I'm done with that I need time (2 weeks to a month) to decompress, re-center myself, and gear up to climb the mountain again. I didn't do that this time. Instead I plowed ahead and actually TRIED to write a script in record time. Why not? The flow was THE BEST it's ever been for me when I wrote So Go Back & Get Her under Carson Reeves prompts, what's not to believe that lightening can't strike twice when writing its sequel which would make the 2nd FRANCHISE I've penned: The Commune being the first. Give It Up For Chimpy COULD end up being my third, as I've always wanted to pen a third one in that series, I just never thought up a good enough plot.
I'm FINALLY working again. YAY! Was looking for work basically from the beginning of October through the beginning of February after my mom recovered from Covid-19, and it was agreed by all of us in Tennessee that it was time to get on with our lives. After the new year I thought more jobs would open up, they didn't. So finally I caved and took a job. It's from a company, just not a very good one. I knew that going in. Eventually I'm going to have to get a better job than what I have now, but for now at least I'm working and can contribute so my mom isn't bearing our financial burdens alone. I actually can't wait for this Friday/Saturday when I show her my check and we divide up how much I can give her. I love my mom. I wish I could do more for her. There is no one I love on this planet more than her. Yeah, my brother is working too, but he's got two kids and wife to provide for. I just learned today that his wife got an "on-line" job and is poised to contribute in the near future as well.
For today's post I was thinking about getting into MUSIC some more, because as a spec. script writer I have a totally different opinion on music than most everybody else. I look at music with the eyes of how they COULD fit into whatever spec. script I'm writing now. Right now I have 35 songs on the spec. script soundtrack for the romantic comedy I'm working on right now entitled So Go Back & Get Him. This --
is the song I'm auditioning to see if it fits. I've LOVED this song for about 5 years now. And think I've FINALLY found a place where it fits in the mix of what I've already got. Going in with the angle that this is the stress that my female main protagonist feels at time: she feels the world moves to fast and feels the need to keep up with it, yet is in desperate need of her own sanctuary.
Music is a wonderful thing! If done right it captures feelings.
One song was the genesis for a complete script I wrote. This --
was the genesis for a script I wrote entitled, A Heart Built on the Sand. Now I grew up in the 80s, but this song never registered with me, until my cousin Jeff mentioned something I believe. Then YEARS later I fused that with thoughts that grew within me about a female manager who was playing the corporate game at a warehouse I was working, but I saw her DOOMED in that pursuit.
You see: a dedicated, loyal woman. I see: someone who's prone to snap when she finds out the corporate world doesn't value her the way she thinks. E.C. Henry works... E.C. Henry works... Then a half year later I make sense of the world through through my dark urban drama spec. script entitled A Heart Built on the Sand. Now that spec script has 18 songs on its soundtrack, and contrary to what you would think since this story is essentially a woman's decent into being a serial killer it actually does have a couple "happy songs" in its soundtrack such as ABBA's "Take a Chance on me", "Keywest Intermesso (I Say You First)" by John Cougar Mellancamp, and "If I Could Turn Back Time" by Cher. Why is that? Because there are ebbs and flows in the story. Times it appears things are going to get better for Laura Dennison... until they don't!
I roll differently than anyone else you're ever going to met. I've heard that Quentin Tarantino is a MASTER with fusing music to the movies. I'm like that--only in an 80s kid product kind of way.
I'll pick music from ANYWHERE if I think it's any good. When I think of Give It Up for Chimpy. THIS --
is where my mind goes: Brandon Little's unspoken desire for Stacy Dutchmen.
Now to most people the song Brass in Pocket by the Pretenders is forgettable; it has no real meaning. But not for me.
You see, I see
I have an abstract way of thinking. Give It Up for Chimpy is a screwball comedy, YET at points I hope the audience sees an outsider who wants a shot with a hottie. That's NOT portrayed in this video, but it's how I interpret this song for use in my spec. script.
You see, I see.
I could go on and an on, I've used music in horror --
Which IS the song that plays as two drunk teens race through the woods before hitting and fatally killing a special case bum who was living in the woods.
But I don't see myself as "dark" man as the use of Dragula by Rob Zombie insinuates. I'm more more of a Taylor Swift guy. In fact I'm probably going to use --
Why use that song? A) Because it's one of my favorite songs of all-time. B) Because it mirrors the main character's feelings when she sees a guy she's instantly smitten with in So Go Back & Get Him. Of course for the past 7 months now I've been distancing myself from Taylor Swift, but that doesn't mean I can't use her exceptional art to highlight my own artistic works. (Now if T.S. ever came down on me, I would relent to her and let her have her way, as her songs are her songs) She's a proven pro, I'm an unknown. BUT even if I were a known you still hafta secure permissions IF you profit off her copyrighted material, which is what would happen should one of my scripts go into production.
So why even bother using other people's music in my spec. scripts? Because music captures moments. I just think differently on the subject than most folks.
At the time of the writing of this post I am 35 pages into the writing of the 1st draft of Kathy Smith Conquers Duboose High School. This will be my 25th spec. script--when I write FADE OUT: THE END.
O-kay, so what does this have to do with Taylor Swift?
Well, she is BACK to be my mews again...
I mean, you can't tell me there isn't a MOVIE with this picture.
I mean is there ANYONE better to be a MALE WRITER'S MUSE when that aforementioned writer is writing a teen comedy centered around the story of a 14-year-old, feisty freshman. So far 35 pages in I'm not in automatic mode writing like I got after about page 68 of SO GO BACK & GET HER, but there is still hope for its prequel: KATHY SMITH CONQUERS DUBOOSE HIGH SCHOOL, because I've got some solid set pieces for this story. A couple that I've written in the first 35, hopefully for many more in the remaining pages.
Okay, so the writing life is going well now. 35, 1st draft pages in less than 3 days IS a good start. And don't worry: Kaya Jones (muse for the past year); I still LOVE you, and hope to connect with you some day on other scripts... But Taylor Swift is special. Very special. And it's not that I'm that enamored with what music she's been cranking out lately, but her work taken collectively as a whole, is PHENOMENAL. Won't lie I'm a MUCH BIGGER fan of T.S. when she's displaying her lighter side, as evident by --
E.C. Henry's favorite songs by music superstar Taylor Swift:
[Last Update April 22, 2024 after listening to Taylor's new album on i-Tunes]
State of Grace (Taylor's Version)
Love Story (Taylor's Version) [Elvira Remix]
The Other Side of the Door (Taylor's Version)
How You Get the Girl
Untouchable (Taylor's Version)
Fearless (Taylor's Version)
22
Getaway Car
Style
Shake It Off
You Belong with Me
Jump then Fall (Taylor's Version)
I Can Do It With a Broken Heart
Cruel Summer
Mr. Perfectly Fine (Taylor's Version)
... Question?
Red (Taylor's Version)
... Ready For It
Delicate
We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
The Tortured Artists Department
That's When (Taylor's Version)
New Romantics
Look What You Made Me Do
Anti-Hero
Mastermind
Karma (featuring Ice Spice)
So High School
Message in a Bottle (Taylor's Version)
Me!
Bigger than the Whole Sky
Wildest Dreams
Notice any trends in E.C.'s top 13? It's domiated by Taylor's more happier songs, not her darker or newest stuff. I remember watching Taylor Swift on a Late Show with Jimmy Fallon interview years ago, where Jimmy Fallon was lightly poking fun a Taylor Swift for her song: We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together; and based on her reaction, Taylor looked a bothered by it all--so Jimmy didn't persist. That got me to wonder, was that song really that bad? Heard it for the first time about a week ago and was pleasantly surprised by how good it was:
I had to search i-tunes for that song. Even when I saw T.S. in concert in 2018? Well, it was the concert where she had pillars with scary snakes on them, which I thought was in very bad taste given the fact that her target audience is girls aged 9-20.
Can't really say Taylor Swift doesn't get the credit she deserves because EVERY YEAR she's a favorite with Grammy people, but what I can say is that her earlier stuff was MUCH BETTER that I thought it would be. I'm not a country music listener. Some country songs are o-kay, but as a whole the genre isn't for me. Taylor Swift started off in country music. So IF you like her today, go back and check-out these two of her earlier albums before she broke into superstardom with 1989: Fearless and Red; have some hits on them too! Don't miss this gem:
My spec. script soundtrack for Kathy Smith Conquers Duboose High School currently has 17 songs in it--and 4 of them are by Taylor Swift!
Muse indeed. Rock on, T.S.--and PLEASE go back to your fun-loving days, because that's when you are your best; and that's when your true fans are most pleased with you.
Okay, enough of the Taylor Swift lovefest time to eat a little late dinner, then go back for another round of writing on Kathy Smith Conquers Duboose High School. Next post coming at ya AFTER I finish the 1st draft of my latest spec. which I hope to have done BEFORE the end of the month. See ya then!
Going to ad lib a little here. Why not? It's my 49th birthday after all. Your's truly was born on June 10, 1969. So in today's post I'm going to toast the "bad girls" of pop music.
Truth be told I love it when girls let it rip and show some spunk. Over the years I've come across a bunch of gems by women in rock and pop music that really make me feel something--their angst! Isn't it nice when you get to experience someone else's pain. Helps lessen the blow of your own shortcomings. And hey, when you're 49 years old, still toiling in obscurity let's face it, you have a lot of pain and disappointment in your heart.
But why wallow in pain? Why not see someone else's pain, then you don't feel so bad, right? I've learned that lesson a long time ago, and it's served me well. So without further ado let's delve "inside the brain of E.C. Henry" and see what women have "moved" him over the years:
Alanis Morissette's "You Aught to Know". Justification: This song is actually on one of my spec. script soundtracks for "Cupid Got Stupid". Captures the moment of anger a female love interest feels when she learns that her husband is cheating on her with teenie popper:
"Since U Been Gone" by Kelly Clarkson. Justification:This is a break-up song. Easy to tap into the energy of a heartbroken, young woman:
"I Love It" by Icona Pop (featuring Charlie XCX) Justification: A recent guilty pleasure that I fell in love with after hearing Charlie XCX sing it as the opening act for Taylor Swift on her Reputation tour when it came to Seattle, Washington in May 2018
"Girlfriend" by Avril Lavigne. Justification: Was looking for a song to accent the main love interest in "Bubblehead Saves the Day". This girl in question is a high school senior, who has been loved by a boy for YEARS, yet he fears he will never be able to connect with her. She toys with him from time to time...
"Blank Space" by Taylor Swift. Justification: You KNOW I couldn't do this post without at least ONE song from my favorite pop princess. No, this isn't my favorite song by Taylor Swift. The fact of the matter is I like her better when she's playing the role of the princess, BUT the diamond of this pop princess has many sides. And nasty is definitely one of them as evident by:
"Nasty Girl" by Inaya Day" Justification:The bar scene from "Dan in Real Life" (2007: Steve Carell, Emily Blunt, Dane Cook, Juliette Binoche) where Ruthie Drapper lets lose in effort to win Dan's affections--only to have Marie get "nasty" herself on the dance floor. Good stuff! This was a CLOSE relative of the HOT song in that movie.
"Straight Up" by Paula Abdul. Justification: WOW did this vixen ever start out strong! I remember when she was at her best in the early 90s:
"Who Will You Run To" by Heart. Justification: this song is featured on "Love, Music, and Monkeys: Give It Up for Chimpy II" when Stacy Dutchmen lets her rival "have it" and she displays her love and devotion to the guy who has been pursuing her for the two movies in this series:
"The One that I Want" as sung by Olivia Newton John in "Grease". Justification: I love a girl who embraces her dark side, then turns romantic. A classic. Gotta have it:
"Vogue"by Madonna. Justification: This a fun song to dance and get into. One of Madonna's best of all-time. Time to "strike a pose":
"A Change Would Do You Good" by Sheryl Crow. Justification: A song featured on the soundtrack for "A Heart Built on the Sand", where the protagonist: Laura Dennison; unravels.
"Miss You Much"by Janet Jackson. Justification: Best album by a female, music act in the history of ever: Rhythm Nation. Back in her heyday NOBODY did it better. I'm a huge Janet Jackson fan. And THIS was her biggest hit of all-time. The gold standard for dancing in music videos:
So there you have it, SOME of the music that E.C. Henry unwinds with when he wants to "tap" into the feminine persuasion and feel their hopes and dreams, energy--and angst!
P.S. Getting back "in the flow" of editing the 2nd novel in the Legend of Thars series. Want to have it ALL done by the time I'm 52. All the books in the series, AND all the corresponding screenplays.
In all honesty THIS is my favorite season of them all. The season when God cause that which was dead to come back to life.
"O boy, a post where E.C,.Henry goes the time when grass starts to grow. Sounds decidedly boring."
Far from it. Springtime, atheists! Suck it!! A time when the a-mazing happens; that which was dead in the winter comes back to life. The one true season where EVERYONE should believe in God, because He's just done the amazing: brought life from death
Don't believe in God? I feel so sorry for you. But this time of season look to the trees.
For that which was dead is coming back to life! And it comes back TOTALLY glorious!
That's God. And that one of the BIGGEST reason why I praise him.
It's one thing to go from a place here there was no life, and add a life. And it's quite another to go from a time of life, then go to death. Then come back to life again! The resurrection of the dead. The most amazing of all feat that God does. And someday he's going to do that to me. Someday he's going to do that for you. So don't fear death. Jesus has conquered the grave. And if you claim Him as your Lord you will pass over from death into life.
Did I mention that Spring is my favorite season of all?
The funny thing is this spring I'm eyeing a resurrection of a different kind; my writing career. Not that it's been dead by any stretch of the imagination. But let's face it: who knows the name of E.C. Henry? Nobody. I STILL haven't broken through. Now, in my defense a lot of that is 100% justifiable. This is a REALLY bad time to be a writer. NOBODY is buying ANYTHING from undiscovered writers who aren't already famous NOBODY!! So in a way, I don't feel real bad. It's not like I feel like I missed some opportunities, because there weren't any to miss.
I LOVE Taylor Swift. I think I've loved her since the moment I saw her. And it's NOT because I wanna be her next guy, though if she chose me, as a 100% heterosexual man I'd have a hard time saying, no; despite that the FACT that I'm old enough to be her dad. Do the math, I was born in 196,9, she was born in 1989. I LOVE Taylor Swift because I think she is a great hope for the entertainment industry today. I STILL think she is the best shot for the rom-com genre to make a comeback. She is very pretty. And And guess what, with EVERY video she does her acting chops improve. Case. And. Point:
I'm gunna go see her in a couple months in concert where I'll be front row--and in full affect MINUS the magic wand:
I'm going into the May 22nd concert with a mindset. I want expanded persona to work for ONCE! I've tried expanded persona in public a few times, and in all honesty it has yet to work. BUT with each time I do it, rejection to it becomes easier to stomach. Less deliberating. But donning in front of ten of thousands in an arena that has come to celebrate a pop queen... Hmm. Different dynamic.
Though I'm 48 years old now--and will be 49 on June 10th, I can't let that sway me. This generation needs something. But not only do they need a valid form of entertainment, they need the Lord.
Taylor Swift comes from country music. THAT has always reassured me that at least some capacity she was exposed to true godliness and that which is right. If I ever connect with her, I am going to appeal to that and the greater influence in society as whole that she COULD have. And there is hope, because I have not forgotten the FACT that in her popularity she took time to visit people in need and give to some of her fans.
And it's not that I would EVER twist her arm to endorse a political leaning, rather I want to appeal to her greater sense of humanity and sowing in today's youth good things that fill them up.
Calvin Harris. Joe Alwyn. Or other guys from her past. That's HER choice. And personally I think she's got GREAT taste in guys. ALL great guys, I would NEVER fault Taylor Swift for any decision she's ever made in her love life. The truth is: we're all learning to love. And love is oftentimes clumsy. Me, E.C. Henry is focusing on loving his cat, Sophie. My biggest gripe right now is that she exposes her privates to the cross, which I feel is disrespectful, and I shut her down each time I see it. (I have a cross in my bed room that is about 4 1/2 feet tall that USED to be used at a street ministry in Tacoma). But Sophie is a cat, not a person. True, I love Sophie dearly, but she isn't a person and can't be treated as such.
So what's next? Well-p, it's springtime. Time to dust off my dancing shoes.
I will be the first to admit, I'm not as "hip" and into the music scene as I used to be when I was a teenager and in my early 20s. BUTTTT I still do listen to music. Maybe not with the same fervor that I did when I was younger, but I'm still hip, I'm still groovin'. (At least I like to TRY to comfort myself with that.
These days I find myself listening to my iPod quite a bit. Sometimes to keep my movie scripts alive in my heart I'll listen to the movie soundtrack arrangement I made for them.
The radio goes on from time to time as well and I TRY to listen to the new stuff coming out. The thing with that is, I like most of the new music coming out these days is AWEFUL. Shawn Mendez SUCKS! And there's a lot of other very forgettable groups out there. The only relatively new artist that I LOVE is Bruno Mars. I really like his Michael Jackson-esque, easy going style. It just works.
Okay but it keeping with the crux of this post here's a couple song that play over-and-over again, because I love these songs::
I Gotta Feeling by the Black Eyed Peas:
Justification: O-kay, so the VIDEO for this is kinda slutty especially at the beginning with Fergie's antics... First time I saw this video was JUST before I put in this post. BUT I LOVE the song. Especially the last chorus. I remember back a few years ago CBS was using the tag of this song to promote their shows in 2011/2012? Something like that. It wasn't until about a year ago that I listened to this song and fell in love with it. It's just a pent-up emotional release song. The song is WAYYY better than this POOR music video. This is E.C. Henry's cut loose song of choice.
Love Runs Out by OneRepublic:
Justification: I really like this song, not the video so much. If I ever write "The Commune III" this song will probably be the capstone, signature song near the end when things come to a head for "The Commune's" lead protagonist and his deeply troubled love interest.
Nothin' At Allby Heart:
Justification: This is the song at the end of my soundtrack for the rom/com with a sport's bend, "Hometown Professional Football" that I wrote several years ago. Whenever I listen to this song it brings me to a place of my lead heroine in the story reaching the end of her character arc, and being happy with where she's at now with respect to where she was at the beginning of the story. Heart's video does NOT capture the essence of this song very well at all. This like the video for "I Gotta Feeling" is pretty bad, BUT the song is GREAT! Interestingly enough, when Heart was in their heyday in the mid 1980s I wasn't a fan of theirs. I like harder rock back then. But LATER when I started writing movie scripts I took a second listen to them, and now find that I like MOST of Heart's music. Moral of the story: you tastes change over time, some music is more palatable, retroactively with the passage of time.
Alrighty then, so there they are: three songs that get you INSIDE THE BRAIN OF E.C. HENRY!
Not a big fan of the music montage, but lately there in ONE that's really been standing out in my mind. It's the useage of Keith Urban's song, "Someone Like You" in the GREAT romanic comedy, "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" (2003, staring Matthew McConaughey and Kate Hudson). What I'm talking about is the part in the movie where Benjamin Barry (Mattew McConaughey) is teaching Andie Anderson (Kate Hudson) how to ride his motorcyle when the two of them take off after spending some time with Ben's family on Statin Island.
NOT your clasic, textbook, music montage. I say this because of all the dialog being spoken in three scene. A more, classic montage would hold back the character voices and focus on the acion and then let the song re-inforce the centeral theme of the sequence, which is Andie and Ben have a good and memoroable time when Andie tries to ride Ben's motorcycle. In the arc of their romance this a time when Ben is trying to teach Andie something, and Andie has fun with Ben in being taught under him. It's a cute, charcter bonding scene.
I like the way Christopher Riley describes a montage in his book, "The Hollywood Standard: The Complete and Definative Guide to Scipt Format and Sytle". From page 34:
A montage is a series of brief images, often under music, used to show the passage of time, the unfolding of chacter's plan, or the evolution of charcter or relationship over time
Then I like to fuse the example that "The Hollywood Standard" and "The Screenwriter's Bible" to come up with the way to format this sequence. MINUS the dialog. Here is how I would revese engineer that musical montage from "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days":
The GUITAR PICKUP of Keith Urban's song, "SOMEONE LIKE YOU" BEGINS to play and carries us into...
MOTORCYCLE RIDING LESSON - MONTAGE
On a seaside pier. Ben sits in back on Andie on his motorcyle and whispers some instructions in her ear. Andie then nods okay, Ben jumps off the bike. And Andie drives ahead recklessly on her own--untill Ben saves her by jumping back aboard and pulling in clutch and hitting the brakes.
On the side of the road. Ben brings Andie a cup of shaved ice. The couple just starts to eat into this treat when a a passing truck hits pothole and SPLASHES both Ben and Andie with a lot of puddle water. Ben then gets his revenge on this passing jerk by beaing the truck with his cup of shaved ice.
At Ben's parents driveway. Andie makes the turn off the road and onto the driveway. She is happy with he accomplishment, and in stopping gets a sexy bump in rump by Ben's pelvis, which she laughs off like a floosie. Happy and with smiles on their faces both Ben and Andie head towards the door which mark a FADING OUT of the KEITH URBAN SONG and the END OF THE MONTAGE.
INT. BEN'S PARENTS GUEST BATHROOM - MOMENT'S LATER
Andie laughs at the puddle blotching on both her's and Ben's shirt.
Okay, so how'd I do? Never thought I'd reverse engineer a music montage, but there you have it. Started out each indivual sequence in the monatage with a simple sentence that served as the slug line for that sequence. THEN in the lines which followed in that paragraph described the action that the actors were to do in the sequence. Later I cued a dampeing of the music with makes the audience ready for a new scene to start, which it does this time in a guest bathroom.
Personally, I love music montages. Music is a great way to convey a prevailing feeling. And I don't think pre-pros should be told not to use them in their scripts. Everyone who's ever me not to call out specific music I looked down on and thought they were a dipshit. Why be vague when you can be specifc? In production alternate music can always be replaced. Calling out music is like calling for a certain feeling. Like the frantic beat in, "Head Over Heels" as played by the Go-Gos in the movie "13 Going on 30" that fuses the fast-pace of life in New York with a young girl's pop perspective of it. Also loved Hall Oates song, "You Make My Dreams Come True" in "(500) Days of Summer", though is techincally a fantasy dance routine, how cool was it to get to experience the joy that a girl can make you feel. Ever had a girl make you want to spontaneoulsy break out into dance in the middle of the park? That's what a good movie can do. It can help you get a taste for the higher things in life. That's a reason right there, folks, why you should love this genre. It has the ability to do some things that no other genre can do.
Couldn't we all use a little more of this in our lives?
Well-p, I think I've written enough for now. Sorry, I didn't have this post ready to go on Sunday. Drank too much beer... but that's going to start changing. You ALMOAST got a post on goals of mine instead of this. That post is forthcoming. But for now, just let the power of the rom-com take you away. Take you away to a place where your with that romantic someone that you love and things between you are going well. For me, that's the heart of the genre and the biggest attracting factor that it has going for it: showing in brief flashes that romance can work and bring great joy into a person's life.
Keith Urban and his wife in real life, Niccole Kidman
Okay, so I did something a little wacky before I went on my most recent writer's I made a new rom-com oriented playlist to get my psched and in the mood. In doing so, I remeber getting an e-mail from the Taylor Swift fansite, which was promoting a new music video release for the song, "The New Romantics". So there I go on iTune, listen to its preview, then buy it for $1.29. Totally worth it. I really enjoyed listening to that song on my trek down to, while in, and then traveling back from Long Beach, Washington. Would have included a link to the video for the song, but it pretty much sucks, it's one of the "concert" videos which are almoast always underwhelming.
Taylor Swift is such a diva--but a likeable diva. Didn't mean diva in a derogatory fashion. HUGE fan of Taylor and at age 46 going to be 47 on June 10, not even close to being the range of her target demographic: hipsters in their 20s and the teen market that doesn't know any better.
Now in the song, Tayor Swift, claims she's part of a group called "the new romantics" and even invites people to join her. In this song I thinks she explains her clique quite well, and with fun pzazz. But I did have a few problems with the lyrics. NEVER like people saying, "We're on the road to ruin." That's not cool. You can be a romantic and NOT be on the road to ruin. Makes me wonder too if that has a spiritual connetation. Don't know if Taylor Swilft believes in Jesus or not, given her country music start I gotta belive she knows something about Jesus... My point is, I don't like that lyric and everytime I heard it in the song I kinda cringe.
The other problem I have with the song is that it's more geared for explaining Taylor Swift's diva crew then being more broad and ready to be excepted by a wider range of people. Romance is bigger that Taylor Swift. It's bigger than E.C. Henry too.
I believe EVERYONE wants to be love by a member of the opposite sex, it's the expression of that varries. What I LOVE about Taylor Swift is that she brings attention to romance, brings it to the forefront and gives us something to talk about. For that I am very greatful for Taylor Swift and her platform. She is an AWESOME celebrity. But, if I have one qualm with her it's that her view of romance is too narrow.
Being a "new romantic" doesn't require you to be a famous pop star in her prime. New romance can be found by people of all sizes, all ethnetisities, and ages. Case and point:
On of my aunt Denny's friends who flew all the way over from Baltimore to spend a week with us arround the time of Denny's memorial service. One night I sat down and chatted with my aunt's friend since grade school, and she told me she had a new romance brewing while she was now 67 years old. 67 years old and still gettin' after it with new guys--is that cool or what. My aunts friend had a couple kids with a husband that she is now divorsed from. Anyway, my aunts friend asked me what I thought and I told her to go for it! She was an inspirations to me. My point is:
You are never too old for romance.
It's a need we have as men and women. Romance isn't just for mega hotties like Taylor Swift, it's for all of us. That's one of the things I like about studying the rom-com genre, it re-inforces the hope that romance happens to a bevvy of different people at varried states in the life. Take Steve Carrell's Dan from "Dan in Real Life" (2007), where Dan is middle aged widdower with three young daughter and yet his interests in romance get kiddled by a new woman who joings his family over the course a weekend, fall gathering. Take Nia Vardalos' Toula from "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" (2002), where Toula is attempting self-transformation out of the drone drudgery of her family waitress job when she finnally starts to connect with a guy she likes. Of cource you can always go Golden Grey, where I site several examples of those of the older generation taking their own foray into romance.
Baby we're the new romantics / Come, come along with me
Well, where we going, Taylor? How open is your invitation? Is it totally faux? Is it just to expand your impressive cadre of frinends? Ah, even when I want to I can't rip on Talyor Swift. Not when CONSTANTLY puts herself out there opeing dialog on converstaion topics so fun and juicy.
Everyone is welcome to be a "new romantic" in my book. That's one of the cool things of life, is that in studying the life and stories of other people you see that most people have a romantic bend to them. Even my recently diseased who at one point actually applied to be nun in a cloister, at couple points in her life expressed interest in men. NEVER rule someone out romantically. Maybe they're not the one for you, but that doesn't mean that they're not out there looking too. They probably are.
Baby, we're the new romantics / The best people in life are free
Now THERE is a lyrical phrase I can wholeheartedly get behind and support. I love seeing people shed their shackles and move into a highter state of living. Dancing, taking a chance, and putting yourself out there is part of. Amy Blunt's "Ruthie Drapper" from "Dan in Real Life" is a shinning expample of being free and taking chances. For a minor character, with limited screen time Ruthie's story really shines. Her she is a sucessfull surgeon, and yet in past people who knew he joked that she was Ruthie "pig-face" Drapper. Extreamly cruel. And yet Emily Blunt's character wanted romance so took a chance and got sexy in chooiing Inya Day's "Nasty Girl" to dance to and try to get a phyiscal romance brewing with Steve Carrell's "Dan" character. Okay, forget the whole Marie (Julliette Binoche) chacter play here. Because what I want to you to focus on is Ruthie's story, because there's something there that I don't want you to miss.
Ruthie Draper took a chance. She put herself out there and TRIED to change a guy's perspespective of her. How cool is that? That the spirit of being a "new romantic" in my book. Love it. Absolutely love. It's stuff like that where you see women's need for love and their attempts at trying to get it that is one biggest sources of attraction that kept me interested in the romantic comedy genre for so long.
We show off our different scarlet letters / Trust me mine is better
You may or may not believe me, but I actually don't like talking about my romantic failures. I know I've done that here on my blog, from time to time. But I'm not proud of my mistakes. I just hope I het the chance to meet the "right girl" so I can have experience, than just being left with the hollow feeing of a guy who a shot with some pretty cool girls, but I blew it somethere along the way. Yes, almoast invarriably I blame myself for my romantic failure. And it hurts me that along the way I mistreated some real princesses that I should have treated as such.
So in closing, thank you Taylor Swift I really enjoyed your song, "The New Romantics". You never cease to amaze me, and I hope that wherever you are in life that your are happy. The new romantics can just be Taylor Swift and her clique of friends, OR as I hope it to be it all of out there whose beats red with romance and interest in the opposite sex.
P.S. The writing retreat to Long Beach went pretty well. Definatly better than past trips down there. Will probably post more about this later in the week. Till then, stay well and keep tuning and coming back here.