This is the song that popped into my mad mind as I negotiated driving in the pouring sleet on my way home from work this morning, but as I thought the original's vocals were a bit caustic and abrasive for all of us Americans who are frazzled from dealing with the recent winter weather assault, here's the soothing Muzak version of a Dylan classic. For all of my fellow Texans dealing with the weather today, and all of you nationwide tired of snow and ice, this one's for you: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQhAE4NFTV8 As these things go, this actually isn't too bad. (Ever heard the Muzak version of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin''? Now that's atrocious.) I like the little brass accentuations at 1:55, and let's face it, Dylan's lyrical imagery is fine, but without it, this knocks a 6-minute+ song to a more manageable length.
I wanted to do some sort of riff on Dr. Seuss this morning as a tribute to the newly-discovered Seuss manuscript What Pet Should I Get? that's being published in July. I was thinking how his works could be modernized for today, along the lines of Megan Fox in Socks or Hop On My Two Pops for the gay marriage crowd, but while I was trying to find some pictures for it, I discovered this piece of fan art that I found so fantastic I'll run with it instead. This was from fanpop.com with no credit, or I would certainly give the artist their due, but since I can't, I'll just let you luxuriate in it.
Gary Owens died Thursday at 80 from diabetes complications. Not bad - Owens told the Los Angeles Times in 1980 that he remembered overhearing a doctor telling his parents as a child that due to his medical condition he probably wouldn't make it past his teen years. During that career he worked in radio in Los Angeles where, according to Wkipedia, he coined words such as "krenellemufiin" (as in "We'll be right back in a krenellemuffin.") and developed a joke promotion where he invited listeners to send in for "Yours," and anyone requesting received a postcard from the radio station with the word "Yours" printed on it. That led to his best-known gig, as the announcer on the groundbreaking TV show Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, shown above. He also did voice work on the educational childrens' TV shows Sesame Street and Square One TV in addition to making a cameo as himself on The Electric Company. Here's an example of his humorous radio announcements:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWHtTw86vk4 Here he is on Laugh-In: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENWdp2qrO54&index=32&list=PL2RzsTTHhhwWjnc-tpG5zivYXwCSTq9f3 And here he is as Dirk Niblick on Square One TV: ("Actually, there are 3 things I like better, but the animator can't draw 2 of them.") https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2phOwv_klM Here's a link to an old United Artists "Theatres" (note snooty British spelling used for an American theater chain) piece that used to precede movies in the 1970s imploring audiences to observe proper rules of conduct. I couldn't resist typing some running commentary as I watched, so follow along with my interjections below as you view here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NtIPgDG4IY 0:24 - Whatever happened to those old "Pitch In!" signs on trash receptacles?
0:36 - Back when newspapers were the primary source for checking movie schedules. Proving how retro this really is. 0:57 - Any violators caught with the wrong ticket will have their hand chopped off at the wrist. 1:02 - Watch for "big savings" at the snack bar during the 10 a.m. showing on February 29, unless that date falls on a weekend. 1:08 - "Observe silence" ...."Hey, anybody seen Silence? I've been lookin' for him everywhere!" "Crying babies should be taken to theatre lobby"....and shot. Why you takin' a baby to a movie anyway? 1:13 - "Courtesy is Contagious." So is measles. 1:22 - And if an extreme rise in temperature in the "theatre" is accompanied by flames shooting across the ceiling, feel free to run like hell. Kidding aside, I do like that catchy, majestic theme music playing on an endless loop throughout. |
Walburgh's BlogMostly retro, mainly music, but generally whatever's on my mind. Archives
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