Guilty pleasures- music edition

[bigrun]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Oh my God. Richard Pryor. So freaking funny. I was a little too young for his stand up when he was big, but now I really love him. What a brilliant, brilliant comic.

My brother's and my first cassette tape was a copy of Kenny Rogers' Greatest Hits. In retrospect, we probably shouldn't have been listening to it. Between "Coward of the County" and "Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town" those are some mighty adult topics for elementary grade kids to be singing along to.

Of course, we also knew every word to "Centerfold" so, you know, what're you going to do.

Okay, I just thought of another guilty pleasure- (deep breath)- Juice Newton. I admit it.

My fav comedians back then hard to seperate..
Pryor
Carlin
Richard Lewis

Still have vcr tapes of HBO shows on all three...I liked Dennis Miller's stand-up back then but dropped him when he showed up on Fox politics.

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by bigrun

My fav comedians back then hard to seperate..
Pryor
Carlin
Richard Lewis

Still have vcr tapes of HBO shows on all three...I liked Dennis Miller's stand-up back then but dropped him when he showed up on Fox politics.

Carlin's work is also some I've grown to love more and more the older I get.

I think the problem with Dennis Miller is so much of his schtick became about using totally obscure references as punchlines. Which I found funny for awhile, but it gets old. And then to make the hard tack to the right when the GOP was very much in control of gov't- where's the funny? You're the guy cheering on the guys in power and putting down the guys not in power. Which is anathema to what good comedy is, which is poking fun at the status quo. It was a really weird career choice, and I don't think he'll ever fully come back from it.

Not a comic, but someone whose appeal, for me, anyway, depended on his personal life was Howard Stern. I really liked him in the 1990's- I listened to his show every time my bosses were out of the office and really thought he was hilarious. But a lot of it was because I knew he was married. The humor came from this guy fantasizing about these things he couldn't actually do anything about in real life- it made, I think, for a connection with his audience, who also went home to their spouses, who might frequently bore and annoy them, but who they loved enough not to want to screw up their relationship with.

Once he split up with his wife and was basically free to do all the things he talked about, then he just sounded like another overprivileged rich guy who could get whatever he wanted because he had a lot of money.

Comics need to be able to connect to their audience on a personal level. I think Louis CK's stuff is hilarious, but what's especially funny is his stuff on how boring parenting is. In some ways, for all the cussing, though, he's less edgy than Bill Cosby's parenting routines in the 1980s which, now that I hear them today, are still hilarious, but REALLY edgy in that some times I wasn't sure he liked his kids. Cosby gets kind of written off as a cuddly comic, thanks to his sitcom, but his best stuff came from a really dark place, I think.

[bigrun]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Carlin's work is also some I've grown to love more and more the older I get.

I think the problem with Dennis Miller is so much of his schtick became about using totally obscure references as punchlines. Which I found funny for awhile, but it gets old. And then to make the hard tack to the right when the GOP was very much in control of gov't- where's the funny? You're the guy cheering on the guys in power and putting down the guys not in power. Which is anathema to what good comedy is, which is poking fun at the status quo. It was a really weird career choice, and I don't think he'll ever fully come back from it.

Not a comic, but someone whose appeal, for me, anyway, depended on his personal life was Howard Stern. I really liked him in the 1990's- I listened to his show every time my bosses were out of the office and really thought he was hilarious. But a lot of it was because I knew he was married. The humor came from this guy fantasizing about these things he couldn't actually do anything about in real life- it made, I think, for a connection with his audience, who also went home to their spouses, who might frequently bore and annoy them, but who they loved enough not to want to screw up their relationship with.

Once he split up with his wife and was basically free to do all the things he talked about, then he just sounded like another overprivileged rich guy who could get whatever he wanted because he had a lot of money.

Comics need to be able to connect to their audience on a personal level. I think Louis CK's stuff is hilarious, but what's especially funny is his stuff on how boring parenting is. In some ways, for all the cussing, though, he's less edgy than Bill Cosby's parenting routines in the 1980s which, now that I hear them today, are still hilarious, but REALLY edgy in that some times I wasn't sure he liked his kids. Cosby gets kind of written off as a cuddly comic, thanks to his sitcom, but his best stuff came from a really dark place, I think.

Yeah, had the same problem with Miller after awhile..He was called a cerebral comic..thought i wasn't smart enough to get his punch lines.
I watched Stern's tv show some back when he was on cable...thought he was far out and pushy...lot's of sexy guests..
I catch Lewis Black's bit on the Daily Show when he guests, hilarious..

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by bigrun

Yeah, had the same problem with Miller after awhile..He was called a cerebral comic..thought i wasn't smart enough to get his punch lines.
I watched Stern's tv show some back when he was on cable...thought he was far out and pushy...lot's of sexy guests..
I catch Lewis Black's bit on the Daily Show when he guests, hilarious..

I like Lewis Black, too. We still laugh about his quip after the 2003 blackout in NYC when they sold Tshirts ("I survived the blackout")- "Congratulations! You're made of stronger stuff than ice cream!"

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

Tom Jones

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Hickory Hill Hoff

Tom Jones

Oh my God, I LOVE his cover of "Kiss." So much so that I need to go listen to it RIGHT NOW.

[Rudeboyelvis]

Paul Anka covered a bunch of topical artists in big band / swing style fashion a few years ago and I've almost worn out the CD listening to it.

Here's Wonderwall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCA0E5ly9dc

Smells like Teen Spirit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsS811o21-k

Jump

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_cmmCRVs38

You get the idea.... I love it

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

Paul Anka covered a bunch of topical artists in big band / swing style fashion a few years ago and I've almost worn out the CD listening to it.

Here's Wonderwall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCA0E5ly9dc

Smells like Teen Spirit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsS811o21-k

Jump

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_cmmCRVs38

You get the idea.... I love it

Those were GREAT. Thanks for the links; I hadn't heard any of them.

No guilt about this- I love the Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain. Here's them doing the Theme From Shaft.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfK-UzQ48JE

[herkhorse]

Originally Posted by hoovesupsideyourhead

yes classics..

saw them twice before I graduated high school



http://youtu.be/kcvByrgofjc

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

Those were GREAT. Thanks for the links; I hadn't heard any of them.

No guilt about this- I love the Ukelele Orchestra of Great Britain. Here's them doing the Theme From Shaft.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PfK-UzQ48JE

that was killer!

Here's my last one:

Tarja Turunen, an Finnish opera singer who, for a time, fronted the band Nightwish, with their rendition of Phantom of the Opera:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VgLKXD-BoY

For Sommerfrost - Where u been, dude?

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by herkhorse

saw them twice before I graduated high school



http://youtu.be/kcvByrgofjc

Steve Howe might well have been the most underrated guitar player of all time

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

Steve Howe might well have been the most underrated guitar player of all time

I remember when John Wetton left Asia it was depicted in the music magazines as some epic creative battle between him and Steve Howe. Reading about it years later, it sounds like, in actuality, it was about John Wetton being a drunk.

[herkhorse]

Some classic Carlin, in memory of the political forum:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways ,but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

If you don't share this with anyone....Who cares?

George Carlin

[GenuineRisk]

Originally Posted by Rudeboyelvis

that was killer!

Here's my last one:

Tarja Turunen, an Finnish opera singer who, for a time, fronted the band Nightwish, with their rendition of Phantom of the Opera:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VgLKXD-BoY

For Sommerfrost - Where u been, dude?

That was really cool. I had the original B'way soundtrack on LP when I was in high school.

I'm not as big a fan of big Cameron Macintosh musicals now as I was then, but I am ridiculously excited for the movie of Les Misérables.

[Rudeboyelvis]

Originally Posted by GenuineRisk

That was really cool. I had the original B'way soundtrack on LP when I was in high school.

I'm not as big a fan of big Cameron Macintosh musicals now as I was then, but I am ridiculously excited for the movie of Les Misérables.

Going Christmas Day and can't wait

[bigrun]

Originally Posted by herkhorse

Some classic Carlin, in memory of the political forum:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways ,but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

If you don't share this with anyone....Who cares?

George Carlin

Aint that the truth, my man George...