Monday, July 18, 2005

Weekend Update

Had a busy and fun weekend.



Saturday night we went and saw Red, White, and Tuna. It's not easy to explain, but it's a play (3rd part in the series) written and acted by a two middle aged guys, and it's really hilarious. They've made a living off Tuna Texas for 23 years now.

*ring*ring*
"Didi's Used weapons. If we can't kill it, it's immortal."




Sunday afternoon we saw Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. I'm really not sure what to make of it. Tim Burton does his usual fantastic visual imagery, but I'm not particularly fond of Johnny Depp channeling Michael Jackson in the roll of Willy Wonka. It's just a little too weird. I also didn't care for the single actor Oompa Loompas. No matter how good special effects are right now, there are flaws. It's just not as effective as having a bunch of real midgets. I also couldn't make out the lyrics to the Oompa Loompa songs very well, and modernizing the songs doesn't mean they're better songs. It's been 30 years since the original and I can still hear the original Oompa Loompa song in my head. I defy anyone to remember any of the new songs the next day.

I just can't decide if I liked it or not. I really wanted to..



Sunday night we saw Stevie Nicks. John got 5th row tickets, to the right of center. The seats were really good, the band was good, and Stevie sounded good.



Vanessa Carlton opened for Stevie and did a really terrific job. She's certainly a complete artist. I tend to dislike the types that only sing other people's songs, and have no musical ability, like a Britney Spears. Vanessa is terrific on the piano, sings wonderfully, and writes most all of her own music.

I refer to some people as "outliers". There are some 300 million Americans. Most of us would like to be distinguished in some way, but really there are thousands and thousands just like us.

Then there are a handful of people like Vanessa Carlton - who is not only a master pianist, but a world class vocalist, a sublime song writer, and looks like a model. Types like her are the outliers that the law of probability says must exist. It's just not us...

I also liked her dedication on the second song she played.

"This song is for all of you in a relationship your mother and government disapprove of."

1 comment:

John Ensminger said...

The highlight was when I jumped up right next to the stage when the intro for "Stand Back" started. This is the queue for us die hard fans to run forward to have a chance at a little "one on one" with the rock godess! When my turn came.....I told her that "I love your work", she said "thank you", and held my right hand in both of her hands and looked me straight in the eyes!

If you know me..........I was on CLOUD 9, SEVENTH HEAVEN, and as Tom said "I knew he would have one of of his huge, goofy grins on his face". All were true!!!