I apologise for neglecting my blogging duties lately. It's not that I haven't had ideas, I just lack the energy to put it all down in some kind of logical manner. November's weather was very gloomy, and winter has set in for the season. I was considering whether I wanted to do a Remembrance Day post, but the Sunday before the date, we were invited out for dinner so that meant if I wanted to write something I would be up most of the night. Then that night we heard the news that there was a plane crash at our local airport. This was something that had never happened here before. Sure, there were sometimes accidents with float planes, but never a passenger plane. With sick hearts, we went to bed knowing that in our small area, it was a certainty that we would know at least one person who died in that crash. We learned the names of the victims the next day. There were three local people who were killed, as well as the pilot, and copilot. Miraculously there had been 2 survivors.
That was a dreadful time of mourning for our town.
The other thing that has been occupying my every waking moment was getting ready to transfer to another elementary school library in our area. It was very bittersweet to say good bye to such a wonderful group of students and teachers. It was hard work trying to tie up all the loose ends I had built up over the dozen or so years I had been at that school. But I received such a fabulous send-off in a school wide assembly - it was truly overwhelming. I am still going through all the lovely notes and drawings I received from the students.
The other preoccupation around here lately has been antics of Toronto's mayor. It is a Canadian truism that everybody hates Toronto (except Torontonians). While some might think that it is a western Canadian thing -- I can assure you that Northern Ontario has a much bigger grudge. So of course we can delight in the world wide mockery that Rob Ford has made of his city! Almost every day there he was on the news making an even bigger ass of himself than the day before! My favourite comedians didn't have any trouble coming up with something to say- they just basically needed to repeat his quotes. I love the look on Stephen Colbert's face after Ford's last infamous quote.
But as always, Rick Mercer manages to bring everything into perspective.
I was dying to write something about this ridiculous excuse for a public figure, but I have tried not to be too political on this blog, although it has been difficult at times. Why did I wish to reign in my very strong opinions? -- Just that I had no wish to offend anyone. So imagine how thrilled I was when I read Richard Armitage's statements in the New York Moves article! Nothing he said really surprised me, but I was glad that he had the courage to share his opinions. Since he is a British citizen, it isn't hard to believe that he would be pro gun control and pro National Health Care. Most Canadians would also agree. (Not too sure about Rob Ford, though!)
Well, with all this talk about guns and Rob Ford, I can't help thinking about one of my favourite songs from Elton John's fabulous "Rock of the Westies" album.
These lyrics in particular:
Like a child when his toys have been stepped on
That's how it all seemed to me
I burst the bubble that both of us lived in
And I'm damned if I'll ever get rid of this guilt that I feel
And if looks could kill then I'd be a dead man
Your friends and mine don't call no more
Hell, I thought it was best but now I feel branded
Breaking up's sometimes like breaking the law
Breaking up's sometimes like breaking the law
And I feel like a bullet in the gun of Robert Ford
I'm low as a paid assassin is
You know I'm cold as a hired sword
I'm so ashamed can't we patch it up
You know I can't think straight no more
You make me feel like a bullet honey in the gun of Robert Ford
I Feel Like a Bullet (in the gun of Robert Ford /Elton John
Elton John was my first real musical love. I still love his music just as much today. Since it was his birthday today yesterday, I have found a few songs made into fanvids starring various characters portrayed by my fave actor - Richard Armitage.
This first video was my favourite Elton John song for a very long time. Usually I don't like it when someone else covers a favourite song. I didn't like Ewan McGregor's version in the movie Moulin Rouge. In fact, it was the straw that broke the camel's back for me. I turned it off and refused to watch any more of that movie. But when I heard this singer's version of the song, I changed my mind. It is so different, it is almost like a new song. Of course it works much better with a female voice in this fanvid.
Your Song - Richard Armitage Multi-role video by angieklong
song performed by Ellie Goulding
This next fanvid is by a Spanish vidder and it looks like it was made as a birthday present for someone. What a sweet gift! The song has no words but its title is very fitting for Guy of Gisborne.
Do
you find scarecrows frightening? They are supposed to scare the crows
away from farmers' fields, but they manage to frighten more than just
the birds! At this time of year when darkness falls ever sooner, and
the air turns to chill, an encounter with a demonically smiling effigy
mounted on a stake and dancing in the wind is bound to send anyone
running for cover!
I love this song by Canadian singer/songwriter Brock Zeman. This vidder obvious agrees.
Scarecrow Blues / Brock Zeman
Occasionally in my research, I stumble upon little gems, but this one really amazed me!
I have always been a HUGE fan of Elton John, and especially of his songs with Bernie Taupin as the lyricist. Well, here is the first song that Elton John ever composed from Bernie Taupin's lyrics which is entitled... Scarecrow!
To learn more about this song, please click on the video which will open on the Youtube page and read the notes which accompany this video.
This scarecrow is definitely terrifying!
In the movie Batman Begins, Cillian Murphy played Batman's arch enemy The Scarecrow.
Path - Scarecrow Tribute / by Allure75
I almost forgot about this television show from the 1980s starring Kate Jackson and Bruce Boxleitner.
It wasn't really about a 'scarecrow' though. That was the code name for Bruce Boxleitner's character. He played secret agent Lee Stetson. Kate Jackson was a divorced mother with 2 sons who gets caught up in one of his adventures. She eventually becomes a spy herself!
Everyone's favourite scarecrow has got to be from The Wizard of Oz!
The famous movie version starring Judy Garland, had Ray Bolger in the character of the Scarecrow.
Do you think they would ever make an updated version of that movie?
Of course you can guess who I would suggest to play the part of the Scarecrow!
Levon Helm, drummer, lead singer and co-founder of the musical group simply known as The Band, died today of cancer at the age of 71. Among the countless fans of The Band were Elton John and his lyricist Bernie Taupin who named the song "Levon" for him.
Born May 26, 1940 into a musical family in the state of Arkansas, U.S.A., he was christened Mark Lavon Helm. By the age of 8 he played guitar, but later also played mandolin and most famously, the drums. By the late '50s he was recruited by performer Ronnie Hawkins to play drums in his back up band, called The Hawks.
Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks (with Levon Helm on drums)
This style of music, known as Rockabilly was very popular in Canada during this time which prompted Hawkins to move his band to Toronto in 1959. While there, he recruited Canadian musicians Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, and Robbie Robertson. For a brief period in 1965 they called themselves the Canadian Squires, but later changed to Levon and the Hawks. I found it interesting that Lavon became known as Levon in Canada because everyone kept mispronouncing his name! At some point they became just The Hawks and then came that historic moment when Bob Dylan wanted them for his back up band. After that, they were just - The Band! Well, I shouldn't say just... they were THE Band...'cause really, are there any others? ;)
By the time they released their solo album Music from Big Pink, in 1968 they were practically a legend! Their song, The Weight with vocals by Levon Helm was used in the movie Easy Rider in 1969.
This is one of my favourite songs of The Band with Helm's lead vocals.
After the break-up of The Band in 1976 Helm had a varied solo career which also included acting. He had a wonderful part as Loretta Lynn's father in Coal Miner's Daughter(1980).
He wrote his autobiography in 1993, This Wheel's On Fire. (I have just added it to my Must Read list!) Levon Helm continued performing his music even after his voice was damaged from throat cancer in the late 1990's. Unfortunately the cancer returned recently and finally claimed his life. Levon Helm died today and took a large part of American Rock history with him.
photo courtesy of Richard Armitage Central Gallery
Remembrance Day (Nov. 11) has always had a special significance for me. My father was a veteran of World War II in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF). It was something he never really talked about, as it is with most veterans. The only war stories I ever heard were the more pleasant memories and those were usually told by old comrades who came to visit.
Talking Old Soldiers / Elton John
WWII Recruiting poster by Ted Harris
My Dad was a bomb aimer or as the Americans called it - a bombardier. It was after a visit from Uncle Charlie (who wasn't really my uncle but my Dad's closest friend in the airforce), that I learned this piece of information. As a youngster I was very curious about what Daddy did during the war and as children have very little notion of subtlety, I believe I posed the question, "Did you kill anyone in the war, Daddy?" I remember he paused quite some time before he answered and when he did, he said words to the effect that he aimed the bombs at factories, because that was what he was supposed to do. I could tell that this was difficult for him to say, and seeing that he was so uncomfortable I never brought the subject up again. But many years later, when I saw the movie "The Memphis Belle" I wanted to watch it with him, as I thought it did an amazing job of showing what it must have been like on a bombing run. In particular it showed the crucial role of the bomb aimer in ensuring the target was hit successfully.
The movie is based on the true story of the crew of the B-17 Bomber named Memphis Belle which was profiled by Life Magazine for being the first crew to complete their tour of duty safely after enduring 25 bombing runs. The film tells the story of their last run, and in the following scene you will see Billy Zane as the bombardier who has just made the decision not to drop the bombs as the target is obscured by clouds. Although low on fuel, the pilot (Matthew Modine) decides to take another run over the target.
Memphis Belle (1990)
Although the Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force crews flew Lancaster bombers, everything else about this movie seemed to be exactly as I might have imagined it (from the little I had heard or read). I never did get to share that movie with my father, which is probably just as well, because even though there are lighter moments in the movie, the drama can get very intense. I thought it did a good job of showing some of the moral struggles in the split decisions that had to be made in the midst of battle. I had heard of crews that been returning from bombing runs with their bombs still intact. They had to drop their load over the Channel before returning to England or risk an explosive landing.
A wartime casualty resulting from this practice is rumoured to have been the famous American band leader Glen Miller, whose plane disappeared over the English Channel after leaving France on Dec. 15, 1944. Here is a tribute to him which includes the beautiful song Moonlight Serenade.
In a modern war story Strike Back episode 1, based on Chris Ryan's book of the same title, John Porter, played by Richard Armitage, makes a moral decision to save the life of a young, would-be suicide bomber by defusing the bomb. It is a heroic act that is later thought to have dire consequences for his future career in the British army. The story is artfully portrayed using the poet-turned songwriter Leonard Cohen's magnificent "Hallelujah", sung by Allison Crowe.
Still life with bottle, carafe, bread and wine by Claude Monet
I have to admit I am very fond of wine. I'm not picky either. I think I have a good nose and enjoy complex flavours, but there are very few wines that I would turn up my nose at.
My husband makes wine, from a kit and we have found some of his concoctions to be better than the bought variety. We only buy the best quality kits now and we have had quite a few guests who think they are connoisseurs but thought our wine was purchased from the liquor store.
I would dearly love to go on a wine tasting tour of Europe, or California -- or even British Columbia or the Niagara region of Ontario! But we are too far away and our holiday times do not coincide with the wine harvest.
So if you wish, come on a bit of a wine tour with me! Pour yourself a nice glass of your favourite vintage, sit back, and hopefully you will enjoy a taste of music and movies with a grapey theme --with of course, the help of Mr. Armitage. ;)
Wine is bottled poetry.
-- Robert Louis Stevenson
Ah yes! We know what you're thinking!
(As Paul in Between the Sheets)
W.B. Yeats A DRINKING SONG Wine comes in at the mouth And love comes in at the eye; That's all we shall know for truth Before we grow old and die. I lift the glass to my mouth, I look at you, and I sigh.
I am a huge fan of Elton John and I have always loved this song
I didn't actually know that John Denver performed this next song. It was written by Randy Sparks of the New Christy Minstrels in 1964 and was a huge hit. I remember it being sung quite often on many variety shows throughout my childhood. My favourite memory of it being performed was by a duet of teenagers for our local Festival of the Arts.
Today / John Denver
Phylly's Top 5 Reasons to drink wine (No pressure)
Because it tastes good.
Because it makes your food taste even better.
Because it is fun to make toasts! Cheers!
Because it might be good for you. (Red wine -- but not too much).
Because I said so.*
The only reason to drink wine is the first reason, if you are drinking it only for the 4th reason you are a very silly person. :) Find something else to drink that's better for you -- like WATER!
* #5 doesn't apply in this case. (I reserve this reason for other instances -- like when I have grandchildren someday. I always thought it was a lame reason until I had children. Then suddenly one day it made perfect sense to me. It is a very useful tool in childrearing to be used wisely!) ;)
There's nothing quite like Dean Martin
singing a drinking song!
Little Ol' Wine Drinker Me / Dean Martin
I am extremely happy that I remembered this tune. It has stayed in my memory since I first heard it as a young girl. It made me a fan of Canadian singer /songwriter Gene MacLellan even more so than his more famous song Snowbird. If you'd like to hear his version (which is quite nice) click here. Otherwise here is the singer he wrote it for to perform it.
Biding my Time / Gene MacLellan (sung by Anne Murray)
Although I am very fond of UB40's upbeat reggae version of this song I feel the need to give the nod to the composer of this song and his properly heartbreaking performance.
Red Red Wine / Neil Diamond
Here's a more modern song with a wine theme.
This Swedish band has become a new fave for me. I can't believe I hadn't heard of them before!
I enjoyed the movie as much as she did! It's definitely worth a watch, especially for the beautiful scenery.
I only just heard about this movie while finding clips for this post. Then what do I find in a sale rack at a local variety store, but this DVD! What a find! This is a very enjoyable movie based on a true story about how the world discovered Californian wine. It is always fun to cheer for the underdog and this feel-good movie really evokes the look and spirit of the 1970s. Of course I remember back when North American wine was pretty sad stuff (particularly Canadian wines), but look how far we have come! Apparently all thanks to one special event back in 1976. Who knew?
Bottle Shock (2008)
He looks like he's enjoying this particular vintage. Could it be Merlot?
as Harry Kennedy in The Vicar of Dilbley's last Christmas special
Here is a very funny and as well as poignant movie about wine tasting, relationships and learning to believe in yourself. Paul Giamatti's character does a lot of raving about the Pinot Noir grape which apparently made this type of wine much more popular than it was before. He also rants against Merlot, but that won't stop me from enjoying a good Merlot now and then!
Sideways (2004)
Why not try some white wine for a change?
Lucas North in series 7.5 Spooks / MI-5
Now I'll admit I am cheating here, as I haven't actually seen this movie...yet! But from what I have seen of the reviews and the clips I am sure it will be one of my faves soon. I just couldn't resist showing you this clip.
French Kiss (2003)
Now here is a very enjoyable movie I haven't seen for many years! CBC used to play excellent latenight movies especially during the summer months, so that must be why I have seen this one more than once. It stars Anthony Quinn as Bombolini, the village drunkard in WWII Italy. Just before the Nazis are set to ransack the town's wine cellars, Bombolini becomes a hero for initiating a plan to hide their precious bottles from discovery. The following clip is a bit long but well worth a watch if you haven't seen this great movie which won 2 Oscars.
The Secret of Santa Vittoria (1969)
Thank goodness I was reminded of this great video by Avalon Medieval! It combines the narration from the Robin Hood audiobook The Seige with clips from series 3 Robin Hood. Here we have Robin and Gisborne having a conversation while imbibing quite a bit of vino!
Is your goblet more than half-empty yet? Maybe it's still half-full? Depends on how you look at it, eh?
And now I think of my life as vintage wine from fine old kegs,
From the brim to the dregs, it poured sweet and clear,
The other preoccupation around here lately has been antics of Toronto's mayor. It is a Canadian truism that everybody hates Toronto (except Torontonians). While some might think that it is a western Canadian thing -- I can assure you that Northern Ontario has a much bigger grudge. So of course we can delight in the world wide mockery that Rob Ford has made of his city! Almost every day there he was on the news making an even bigger ass of himself than the day before! My favourite comedians didn't have any trouble coming up with something to say- they just basically needed to repeat his quotes. I love the look on Stephen Colbert's face after Ford's last infamous quote. 
