rose_griffes

Music! ( the best singer in the world )

So had you heard (of) him before? If you've posted about him in the past, let me know! I'll go back and read it.

(Also, I'm pretty sure this counts as a fandom--of sorts. I'll admit to watching FAR TOO MANY of the "vocal coach reacts to" videos for his songs.)

I didn't actually watch the movies back-to-back. In fact, it took two sittings per movie for me to finish them. Anyway, here are a few thoughts on two Netflix original films, both adapted from books:

To All the Boys I've Loved Before - I tried the book and couldn't finish it. A movie is much better for this story, which is a straightforward rom-com with misunderstandings, pretending to be dating, a mean ex-girlfriend... I enjoyed it, but this was in large part thanks to the lovely chemistry between the leading woman and her soon-to-be-actual boyfriend. Also, the family life moments were very endearing.

This movie's biggest plus: definitely the two leads. Strong actors, very charming together.

Dumplin', like TAtBILB, has a contemporary setting, but the feel of it is older. Teenagers who actually call each other on their cell phones instead of texting? A small town beauty pageant? Dolly Parton as inspiration for the leading woman? This isn't necessarily a flaw, just an observation. Dumplin' doesn't really go for the drama of how the girl will win over the boy. Instead, the boy is super interested in the girl, but the girl has to go on her own journey before she's willing to consider taking that leap of faith into a relationship.

That's probably why I'd rewatch Dumplin' over the other film, by the way: a satisfying emotional journey for a fat teenage girl, who fights with and makes up with her best friend, and who acquires two more friends, and who learns to appreciate her hard-working mother even if she doesn't end up wanting the same kind of things? Yeah, nice. The boy was secondary to the rest, which was refreshing.

(The 'boy' in Dumplin' does NOT pass for a high school student, even though that's what he's supposed to be. Not a fatal flaw, just an annoyance. In the HUGE PLUS column: Dolly Parton actually wrote new songs for this movie, and reworked some older ones! I love her.)

So there ya go. Have fun watching some rom-coms!

Why are these reasonably well known singers taking breaths in the middle of phrases? In the WRONG places? I don't claim to know a ton about music, but even I know something about this. Even without much training, it's just common sense to keep an idea whole, without pauses, especially when it's not a long phrase and there's a logical 'break' coming up. WHYYYYYYY?

Pandora.com has an interesting selection of music, and I've purchased songs by artists I've found there, but these country/Christian singers on my Christmas station should know better, right?

*back to work stuff*

Post-season one fic is currently a go (in spite of my abject terror at the idea of SO MUCH PLOT); I'm now collecting music for a writing soundtrack.

So far I have several songs the show has used (by Unkle, Massive Attack and others), but it turns out that there are a few bits of Person of Interest's soundtrack that I do like. Undecided about The Machine's theme but I quite like Root's theme. (The finale version of Root's theme has some interesting changes in it.)

Moving on to the final episode of season one! ( Person of Interest 1X23 )

Happy Easter to all who celebrate it. We're singing arrangements of God So Loved the World and Consider the Lilies of the Field. Our choir director has a tendency to choose slightly challenging versions, which is both fun and nerve-wracking at times. (I was never so adventurous when I was in charge of music selection.)

Poking about on youtube led to this orchestra and choir from Spain doing a lovely job with excerpts from Handel's Messiah. 24, 25 and 26: Surely, And with His Stripes, All We Like Sheep. The pianissimo singing at the end of 26 is particularly effective.

Hi new people! *waves* I hate to break it to you, but sometimes I talk about things other than Person of Interest. I KNOW, hard to believe if you've only looked at recent-ish entries. New fandom obsession will eventually fade. At that point I'll probably go back to posting two or three times a week, with my usual topics of books, time travelers, and attractive humanoid robots that have feeeeeeelings. The emotional robots bit is probably why I like John Reese so much, to be honest.

(Any day is LJ defriending amnesty day; I don't have it set up to receive notification if someone takes me off their reading list. I also don't have the 'my guests' feature activated, so if you've been lurking without commenting, you can continue to be anonymous.)

Today in church we sang "All Creatures of Our God and King" and I was v. pleased because the arrangement has an awesome alto part. Actually, it's quite a nice arrangement for all the voices. And that reminded me that I've been meaning to do a piano update. *sigh*

( a bit of whining about how learning an instrument takes ACTUAL WORK )

It feels like suddenly everybody on my reading list has posted wish lists.

Baaa-baaaaa-baah. ( my hastily created wish list )

I am sitting here feeling generally pleased with life. I think it's a temporary high induced by "Yay, tomorrow is Friday" plus knowing that I get to go fabric-shopping this weekend! Wooohoooo!

Yes, this has to be rationed out. Much like the urge to buy all the clothing ever (especially at the thrift store). But I'm allowed to shop when I have a plan and there are sales.

What plan, I hear you ask? (Okay, not really. But I'm going to tell you anyway.) Look at this blouse. I have been admiring brocade and sari fabrics for years, but I've never had a feasible plan for a garment that I would actually wear. I'd wear a version of this blouse, and I already have that pattern.

Also, I want to make a black skirt, and I need some lace tape to finish the red skirt that's almost done. (Again.)

As for non-sewing stuff:

1) what would happen if Three (D'Anna Biers) met Ten (the Tenth Doctor)? I am wildly curious about your opinion.

2) I love love love "Bright Morning Stars," the new album by the Wailin' Jennys. Three-part harmony by amazingly capable female vocalists!

3) Time to rewatch episode 1.04 of The Sarah Connor Chronicles. My turn to (co-)write a recap this weekend.

And so it begins... I made a post to start the rewatch plans. We'll talk about the pilot episode next week, probably Friday! If you have an episode you would love to recap for us, use the link to make your claim in the comments there.

In completely unrelated news, via friendsfriends list I've learned that The Wailin' Jennys have a new album coming out next week and you can listen here! Yay, so exciting! (I think just the first three tracks are from the new album. But while you're there you should listen to "Arlington" and then make me a fanvid about Caprica, Gina, and Natalie to that song.)

It is all lls_mutant's fault that the very little computer time I had yesterday was spent reading a Battlestar Galactica/Dollhouse crossover. I didn't even watch Dollhouse (other than one episode) when it was on air, but that story forced me to sit down and read it from beginning to end. You really don't need to know much beyond the basic premise for the story to make sense.

Anyway. Change of topic now. Tonight is my church's annual Christmas Devotional--a broadcast at which the leaders speak about, well, Christmas obviously. And the Mormon Tabernacle Choir sings. So it's awesome. You can watch online or on BYU TV (which is carried by Dish Network, by the way). 8 p.m. Eastern time in the US. It'll probably be available anytime online after the live broadcast is done.

I'll be back later with another post about favorite female characters. In the meantime, have some pictures of my current cat. I don't believe I've introduced her to you. So: her name is Spice. It's the name she came with, and since she was seven when I adopted her, I figured she got to keep it. (Oh my goodness, I've had her for over eighteen months? Wow.)

( chubby spotted cat back here )