This film noir from JohnHuston features HumphreyBogart, in a truly iconic, star-making performance, and the great SydneyGreenstreet, in his debut on the big screen. PeterLorre, MaryAstor, and ElishaCook, Jr. are also all brilliant, with the latter portraying the “Gunsel” (a term author DashiellHammett snuck by the Powers That Be).
The truly great Canadian singer/songwriter, the “Godfather of Grunge”, and master of delicate, deeply personal folk, Mr. NeilYoung stands unquestionably as a titan of countless genres of music. Since his early days with BuffaloSpringfield, and throughout his later peregrinations both with and without CrazyHorse, Young has embodied the restless spirit of a true creator. The above represents but a smattering of indelible performances by this singular artist.
This chilling remake of the 1971 film features CrispinGlover at the very height of his mighty powers. R. LeeErmey also provides a top-notch performance as Willard’s less than sympathetic boss. Certain people get what’s coming to them. In the first vid, Willard (Glover), in total impotent outrage, shakes his metaphorical fist at the gods of futility and unfairness, with WilliamS. Taylor as the messenger of said dreadful gods. A meltdown of ΓΌber proportions. The subsequent clip involves Willard informing Mr. Martin, in no uncertain terms, who is now in charge.
One of the very greatest songwriters of our era, LeonardCohen is not only an exemplary denizen of Canada, but is clearly one of the toppest-notch humanoid bipeds of all time. And the man knew how to deliver the goods, when performing his brilliant, poetic, powerful compositions.
Lyric excerpt, from The Future:
Give me back my broken night My mirrored room, my secret life It’s lonely here There’s no one left to torture Give me absolute control Over every living soul And lie beside me, baby That’s an order! Give me crack and anal sex Take the only tree that’s left And stuff it up the hole In your culture Give me back the Berlin wall Give me Stalin and St Paul I’ve seen the future, brother: It is murder
YujaWang and JunAsai are two surreal talents. Already phenomenally accomplished at their youthful ages, these two have the world at their feet. We have much to marvel at now, and much more to look forward to.
MarcBolan was the founder, guitarist, songwriter, vocalist, and sole constant member of the English band T. Rex, a group renowned for sensuous grooves and cryptic lyrics chock-a-block with innuendo. When Bolan appeared on Top of the Pops with glitter makeup, the glam era was officially underway. The vocalist also had a memorable way with ballads, as the above performances demonstrate. Most of all, of course, he was The Groover.
Elvis ended up mastering a great many styles and genres, including Gospel, Country/Nashville, Ballads, and…Rock & Roll. An astonishingly dramatic, riveting performer, right up to the end.
A few notes from Wikipedia: Norman Greenbaum: If you ask me what I based “Spirit In The Sky” on … what did we grow up watching? Westerns! These mean and nasty varmints get shot and they wanted to die with their boots on. So to me that was spiritual, they wanted to die with their boots on.
“I had to use Christianity because I had to use something. But more important it wasn’t the Jesus part, it was the spirit in the sky. Funny enoughΒ … I wanted to die with my boots on.”
“According toΒ The New York TimesΒ article, Greenbaum used aΒ Fender TelecasterΒ guitar with aΒ fuzz boxΒ built into the body to generate the song’s characteristic guitar sound.”
Greenbaum daringly defies any and all Anti-Hand-Clapping ordinances in the above performance, and Ms. Hagen takes a commendable swing at the immortal song, as well.