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Copper kettles, woolen mittens, brown paper packages tied up with string...

• Recently Written

  • Vivi Davvero by Giorgia
  • Learn to Fly by the Foo Fighters
  • Fables: 1001 Nights of Snowfall
  • Robot Chicken: Star Wars
  • Totally ubiquitous, and totally ignored, movie sounds
  • Buffy cast reunion panel
  • Pop-up books: a superficial, 2D look
  • Buffy sings! Once more, with feeling…
  • The Tales of Beedle the Bard by J.K. Rowling
  • Pixar’s short films - what everyone really cares about

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  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008

Vivi Davvero by Giorgia

Pick-me-up song #2: It’s peppy, it’s cheery, and it’s in “exotic” Italian. And Vivi Davvero by Giorgia always makes me think of sweeping, gorgeous views of Venice from above… (Yes, yes, I’ve seen Chasing Liberty. More than once.)

But in all seriousness, it’s such an “energy” song, and, well, it makes me smile and want to dance along.

Any dancing?

Learn to Fly by the Foo Fighters

I know these types of sites generally tend to avoid “personal issues,” but isn’t this supposed to be the era of change in America? So what the hey, I’ll say it - I’ve had a long week. After a long year in 2008. And the prospect of an even longer week ahead and an interminable 2009. Have I depressed you yet?

Well, I figure we can all use a pick-me-up. And for some reason, I’ve turned to Learn To Fly by the Foo Fighters for years to make me feel better. Not sure why. The energetic music? Dave Grohl’s shiny hair? Who knows. So here it is, I hope it helps you too (and that’s all the product summary I’m giving, it’s been that kind of week). Plus, the music video itself is silly (in a Stewie Griffin voice).

There’ll be another “don’t worry, be happy” song up tomorrow. Because we must cling to the seemingly insignificant, comfortable, familiar things in these times of uncertainty, as necessary and healthy salves for our souls. (Yep, I’m totally faux-deep that way.)

Buffy sings! Once more, with feeling…

Any committed Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans on your holiday shopping list? Then this is what I would recommend, something they might not already have in their possession:

This album, with music from a “very special episode” of the show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is dramatic, often corny, and features lots of superhumanly good-looking people (double entendre intended) singing their under-coached lungs out. So perfect for the holidays. And certainly more reasonably priced than the Wii Fit. You can buy the MP3 download ($8.99) or the physical CD (remember those?) for $14.99 on Amazon. It doesn’t seem to be available on iTunes yet (for some reason…), but you can buy the MP3 download listed above on Amazon and directly import the songs to iTunes.

Okay, that’s all well and good, you might ask, but what exactly is this?

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Quelqu’un M’a Dit by Carla Bruni

A “charmed life” is a phrase used perhaps too liberally, but in Carla Bruni’s case… not so much. Born an heiress, she became a fashion model in her teens. And of course, not just any couture model, one of the highest paid in the 1990s.

If you’re not groaning yet, just wait. She dated music stars like Eric Clapton and Mick Jagger (but then again, who hasn’t Mick dated? no disrespect intended) during her fashion years. But why stop at rock icons and runway gold? She next left modeling to become a musician. Before you snicker (and who wouldn’t), her 2003 debut album, Quelqu’un M’a Dit, was a chart-topper in France and an international success.

Worse yet, it’s actually good. You heard me.

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Breathe (2 AM)

Ever been really, really into a song? So much so that you don’t tire of it long past when you should? I mean, loooong past when you should? Well, I’m in that phase right now with Breathe by Anna Nalick (click on the image to the left for more info on the song via Amazon.com).

Don’t ask me why… Well, to be honest, I know exactly why. A while back, when I was still in my Buffy the Vampire Slayer seasons 1-7 dedicated marathon phase, and was obsessively watching every YouTube video ever made on the show (love the imagined Season Eight opening credits - a season 8 on TV, no relation to the comics), I happened to catch a few minutes of a Buffy compilation set to this Anna Nalick song. I clicked away when I started seeing spoilers, but due to something - perhaps some sort of sneaky subliminal advertising? that would explain a lot - the song has just stuck with me since then.

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Aquarium by Camille Saint-Saëns

Click on the Play button below to hear the song noted above (if you want to actually buy the individual MP3, just click on the image to the left). You’ll hear a, well, “watery” piece of classic music. Okay, I joke, but I actually can see how this song is supposed to represent an aquarium. And don’t get turned off by the word “classical” - trust me, this is good, and even fun to listen to. To use that overused word, it’s accessible.

Does it sound familiar? You may have heard it in the trailer for the upcoming Brad Pitt movie The Curious Case for Benjamin Button. That’s where I recently heard it, but I just had this feeling that it wasn’t the first time. I was sure I’d heard it somewhere before… although I had no idea where.

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• string theories

  What line of work you in, Bob?
  
  - Ryan the Temp to "Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration" at The Office's Christmas party
  
  

• featured brown paper packaging

  What is it with accessories and DVD sets these days? Are knick knack companies going through some rough times? Or are studios just really desperate to sell DVDs? (Probably the latter.) First there was A Christmas Story (Ultimate Collector's Edition), with its cookie cutters, recipe book, apron, commemorative Christmas tin... (Whoa, I know.)
  
  And now there's The Notebook (Limited Edition Gift Set), which comes with a scrapbook album (with stickers!), notecards, envelopes, and "themed" bookmarks. But... wait for it... no new DVD extras or features! So totally worth it. Check out Entertainment Weekly for the lackluster DVD set review (a grade of D - harsh). Or, even better, Amazon's video montage of the contents, set to the soothing, Jane Austen movie-esque sounds of The Notebook's theme music. Hey, they know their audience.