The Vampire Diaries, episode 2-3, "Bad Moon Rising" - Theme Song!

Theme Song!

For posterity: "Brick House" by The Commodores

The Vampire Diaries, episode 2-2, "Brave New World" - Theme Song!

Theme Song!

For posterity: "Transylvanian Concubine" by Rasputina

The Vampire Diaries, episode 2-1, "The Return" - Theme Song!

Theme Song!

For posterity: John Sebastian's "Welcome Back" (Welcome Back Kotter theme)

Lost: Tubey & The Glow Hole

So, when Desmond uncorked the island's glowhole, it looked like this:

Is it just me, or did it look like a depressed Tubey...




...in Darth Vader drag:



M'kay. Just me, then.

How I Met Your Mother, episode 5-24, "Doppelgangers" - Theme Song!

Theme Song!

For posterity: Knowing Me, Knowing You, by Abba

So little to do with the show, yet so very much how I feel about it.

Lost, episode 6-17, "The End": Finale Theme Song!

Theme song!

For posterity: Semisonic's "Closing Time"

Closing time, every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end.

(Oh man, I still want to cry.)

Lost, episode 6-16, "What They Died For" - Theme Song!

Theme Song!

For posterity: "Vaya Con Dios" performed by Les Paul and Mary Ford

The Vampire Diaries, episode 1-22, "Founder's Day" - Theme Song!

Theme Song!

For posterity: The Cars, "Just What I Needed."

Lost, episode 6-15, "Across the Sea" - Theme Song!

Theme Song!

Oh, Show.



For posterity: The Tubes perform "Don't Touch Me There," live.

Lost Notes: Message in a Bottle; Verses in a Bible

I know this is Blogspot and all, but I never intended to use this blog for writing. First, it was a place to stick up my dumb, finger-on-touchpad drawn pictures. Then I thought: "Hey, why not stick the theme song videos in here, too? While they're not my creations, they are pictures, right, and they're often dumb." And so I did.

But then I was writing the recap for Lost, episode 6-14, "The Candidate" and found myself going off on a huge tangent about how, even if you hate the Bible, or don't know anything about the Bible, or don't care about the Bible, or think the Bible is the only book in the world -- that doesn't mean Lost shouldn't draw on Bible stories, or that fans shouldn't use the Bible (a frame of common reference) when analyzing Lost. What follows isn't polished. Heck, it isn't even proofed. It's a raw dump. I'll probably link to it in the recap, but maybe not. I didn't want to toss it, but as it developed, I felt that including it in the recap would make the recap less relevant to the episode, not more. And yet, I feel like it's a thing people might want to read. I feel like it's a thing that might help some people enjoy Lost even more. I feel like it's a thing that might help other people hate religious analysis of Lost a little less. Or maybe not. Maybe it'll just piss people off. That's fine too. I have no more time to spend on it, so...

Here's the thing:

About all that Bible Stuff: I’m noticing more and more people at wit’s end over Bible references in the show and biblical analysis of the show. I can’t count the number of times I’ve seen people worrying that Lost is going to turn out to be a story of the type fandom often labels Goddidit. (You geddit?) And yeah, maybe this is the blind leading the blind, but I’m inviting you to stand over here next to me (don’t knock over the wine) and look at all the Bible-in-Lost stuff from a certain vantage point -- regardless of (but not despite) your real-world worldview. I’m trying to point out that all the Bible-in-Lost stuff is no fly in the ointment, but rather a common literary technique reaching back to the genesis of our culture.

The Bible (Eastern in origin) is arguably the foundation of the Western Literary Canon, and part and parcel of Western Society and Thought, and it’s not just the old dudes like Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton (although they too are foundational, and their work is chock full of Bible-y stuff).

Regardless of individual religious beliefs and experiences, Western Culture (literature, music, art, thought) is suffused with things biblical. Sometimes we get The Chronicles of Narnia; a fantasy retelling by a believer. Sometimes we get His Dark Materials; fantasy from a skeptic. Sometimes we get adaptations (think of all the epic bible-based films). Sometimes we just get allusions (think the film Jezebel, or Leonard Cohen’s song “Hallelujah”). Sometimes we get entire U2 albums, or a random Bruce Springsteen song. It’s in our politics (often, in my opinion to the detriment of both), and even in our advertisements.

My favorite biblically infused pop culture production, one that broadened my own understanding of my lifelong faith, comes from an atheist with a well-documented addiction to redemption. Yeah, if you’ve read any 3 of my Lost recaps, you know where I’m going, but follow me anyhow.

That favorite is Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Ostensibly, BtVS had a mission: let’s watch as the pretty little blonde thing -- who is always monster chow -- takes back the night. And in its heyday, it had one overriding theme: high school is Hell.

But as the opening sequence reminded us every week, it was about "one girl in all the world -- a chosen one." Literally, messiah means chosen one (or “anointed one” which should get a chuckle from my fellow Buffy fans). In Buffy, my favorite atheist, Joss Whedon, gives us a messiah (mashiach) who manages to conform to one aspect of modern Jewish thought: messiah as mighty military leader; and one who conforms to modern Christian thought: her blood as substitutionary atonement; she died to save the world (a lot); and she rose again.

My point, and I do have one, is that if it's out here (in our shared consciousness), it's in there (the Bible). Lost is full of ideas from many religions and ideologies (although I see less objection to those ideas): dharma, Cerberus, Tawaret, astrology, psychics, walk-abouts, sweat-lodges, etc. As someone who holds to none of those beliefs, their incorporation hasn't watered down the show (for me). It's enriched it. It has enriched me. It has enriched my understanding of this show and my world.

Lost fandom, you are the apple of my eye. Like Sawyer in Faucke's cave, you can see the writing on the wall. It's time to rise and shine. There's no rest for the wicked. Our last handful of Losties have temporarily escaped Faucke's clutches by the skin of their teeth for while many are called, few are chosen. I'm watching Sawyer and Kate and wondering can a leopard change its spots. Maybe so. I no longer want to grab Jack and yell, "Physician, heal thyself," so anything is possible. All I know is that the end is near. Woe is me.

Namaste.

Lost, episode 6-14, "The Candidate" - Theme Song(s)!

Theme Song(s)!

Okay, here's the thing. This week, I had a song for the episode and a separate song for Jin and Sun (sob) right off the bat. But after writing the recap, I felt like I needed...something more, so I searched for songs about mirrors and reflections and the like. (If you haven't read the full recap yet, trust me, you'll understand once you do.) And I came across this song: "Backwards" by Apartment 26. I found the lyrics first, and my word, it's my whole recap, just several thousand words shorter. I didn't recognize the song or band, so I searched for it on YouTube and it's just -- it's too loud for me. It actually makes my heart pound. The only heavy metal I like these days is heavy metal I liked a decade or two ago. But these lyrics -- they're perfect. So I'm posting them first. Here we go:

"Backwards" by Apartment 26

Finished looking for the answers Now I’m looking for the questions I can look into you mirror and see inside your head See my reflections and this is what I’ve bled I look right into your mirror but I can’t see me Chorus: Everything’s gone backwards Nothing’s what it seems I awake from my nightmares Smash the mirror, smash the dreams Backwards into future Now you’re making up for lost time I hide under the shadow and try to hide my name Eyes that will question and this is what I mean I look back into your mirror But still don’t see me Chorus (2x) Smash the mirror, smash the dreams (3x) Chorus (2x) Smash the mirror, smash the dreams (3x)

I know, right?! So, here's theme song #1:



For posterity: This is a beautiful Matrix fan vid, set to Apartment 26's "Backwards." And don't get me wrong, Apartment 26. It's not you. It's me. "Backwards" is a cool song. I'm just not the cool recapper. I'm the cozy recapper. My hook: I've got wine, goodies and tissues. Now lets kick off our shoes, curl up on the couch and watch Lost. Why did we leave the wine bottle all the way out in the kitchen? Oh right, so we don't accidentally knock out the cork and get evil all over the carpet..



So, onto songs that are less representative of my thoughts, but way more my speed...

(Okay, this one is a great theme song for the series, writ large)



For posterity: "Reflections of My Life" by The Marmalade (I'm ashamed I didn't think of this song on my own. I found it when I was searching Youtube for the next song).



This next song popped into my head as soon as I started writing the full recap, but it seemed so...accessible. I'm not dissing The Supremes. Heaven knows they're on every short lost of music I love. It's just -- I was making a big deal about reflections in the recap, so of course I thought of this song. But you know what -- listening to it now, it really is appropriate for this episode.



For posterity: "Reflections" by Diana Ross & the Supremes (note, they then go on to sing "That's Why the Lady Is a Tramp" which is appropriate here, given how many songs I'm running through for this episode).



And finally, this song is not a theme song, but a dedication, to Jin and Sun Kwon. Sob



For posterity: "I'll Be Seeing You" by Bing Crosby. Note: This is someone's video dedicated to their grandparents (Mima and Pop Pop Joe). It was my grandparents' song too (Nana and Grampy Red), so I couldn't resist. Here's to grandparents and great love stories. I'll be seeing you.

Why I'm Not Getting More Upset About Elena's Friendship With Damon

Long ago and far away, kerfucalypse broke out in the Veronica Mars fandom.

My Buffy friends and I pointed and laughed. Then we committed intentionally bad fan art. My most favorite piece is this icon from my friend Denise:

Denise's birthday is coming up this week. Happy Birthday, Denise!

The Vampire Diaries, episode 1-21, "Isobel" - Theme Song(s)!

Theme Song(s)!





For Posterity: Opening theme from How I Met Your Mother; "Hey Beautiful" (excerpt) by The Solids


(For this next one, the pun is just a bonus)

For posterity: "Mamma Mia" by Abba

How I Met Your Mother, episode 5-21, "Twin Beds" - Theme Song!

Theme Song!




For posterity: "Sleeping Single In A Double Bed" by Barbara Mandrell

Here's a link to a non-embeddable live-action video by Ms. Mandrell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QGN2Z4_mKA

"Pick Pick Pick It Apart" - finally a Theme Song! for my blog --by Joss Whedon

Oh Joss, you shouldn't have, but I'm so glad you did, because now I have my own personal Theme Song!

For posterity: Joss sings a thing.

Poor J Weewee, hates what I do -- what we all do -- and does it in the most delightful way. Thanks to Nikki Stafford for the link.

The Vampire Diaries, episode 1-20, "Blood Brothers" - Theme Song(s)!

Theme Song(s)!

For Damon & Katherine; Elena & Stefan; Stefan & his favorite crittertarian meal; and (yes, I'm hiding my head as I type this) Anna and Jeremy:



For posterity: "Puppy Love" by The Osmond Brothers



And 'cause Youtube sent me on a sentimental Osmond tear, here's one from Stefan to Elena, when she visits him in detox dungeon:



For posterity: "Go Away Little Girl" by The Osmonds this song used to make me cry when I was a tiny little girl



This one goes out as a big "thank you" from Stefan to Dean Winchester, for the single, perfect manly tear:



For posterity: "Tracks of My Tears" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles



And, finally, in continuation of our Johnny Cash mini-theme, I give you the man in black:



For posterity: "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash

(Stef licked his daddy's gut blood, just to watch him die...)

Wordle for My Review of The Vampire Diaries, episode 1-20, "Blood Brothers"

Based on my review at TelevisionWithoutPity.com.

Now make your own Wordle at Wordle.net.

Lost, episode 6-13, "The Last Recruit" - Theme Song(s)!

A dedication, from Sawyer to Jack:

For posterity: Ray Charles sings "Hit the Road, Jack."

Jack wants to send a song back to Sawyer, 'cause he's a giver like that.

For posterity: "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by The Rolling Stones

Bonus!

For posterity: "Jackie Blue" by the Ozark Mountain Daredevils

The Vampire Diaries, episode 1-19, "Miss Mystic Falls" - Theme Song!

Theme Song!

A double-header for Stefan, for obvious reasons.

For posterity: "Paxilback" by Gray Kid (parody of Justin Timberlake's Sexyback)

And...

For posterity: "God's Gonna Cut You Down" by Johnny Cash



BONUS CLIP:

Here's Elena and Damon, dancing to Within Temptation's "All I Need." Was the music wrong for a waltz? Too loud for this scene? Let me know in the comments, that is if you can type at all, after watching the hotness that is their dance.



Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to take a cold shower.

Eyjafjallajökull: Say What?

Eyjafjallajökull:

Island = Eyja = Aya (rhymes with "heya")

Cover/dwell on = fjalla = fyatla (like "fiat" + "la", but you really smoosh the f+y together and nearly swallow the "t")

Glacier = jökull = yo + kutl (like if English had a portmanteau for...um..."coddled yogurt", but changed the short O into a short U, and ran the "t" and "l" sounds together, such that it became yokutl).

I couldn't get the video to embed in this post, and it was too wide for the righthand sidebar so I've added the widget to the bottom of this page. To learn how to pronounce Eyjafjallajökull from someone who actually speaks Icelandic, instead of a TV recapper, scroll down to the bottom of the blog .