Sunday Morning Tuneage & Weekly TV (6/16/13)

Happy Father's Day to the dads out there that find time to read this.  I'll be leaving for Waco just after lunch to go have dinner with my Dad and the family.  Caleb gets to go back home with Grandma and Grandpa for a week of "camp" and hanging out.  It's my last week as a Follett employee at the UNT Bookstore and it will be slightly bittersweet.  That means, lots of goodbye parties and getting out to watch the NBA Finals and some Stanley Cup games.  Christian has been hitting a few football camps and he has a couple more coming up this week.  Still need to get in my workout and get some laundry folded.  Until then, I'm making my schedule for the rest of the week and listening to some tuneage . . .

SUNDAY MORNING TUNEAGE

PAUL SIMON - A MOST PECULIAR MAN.  This is from the 1966 album "Sounds Of Silence".  It's part of a duo of underplayed and awesome songs by Simon & Garfunkel - "Richard Cory" and this song.  This version comes off "The Paul Simon Songbook" - technically his first solo album released the year before.  But I didn't know this version apart from the "Sounds Of Silence" version before getting his box set a decade or so ago.  It's not the happiest of songs - this one, like a couple others, about suicide.  A very interesting song that fits the day.

PRINCE - RAINBOW CHILDREN.  Clocking in at over 10 minutes - this title track off the 2001 album of the same name wasn't one that caught me at the time of release.  But after 10 years or so, I finally got back into the album and it's brilliant.  It's typical later Prince concept album with a heavy jazz influence.  But it's more than that - this song has an early Funkadelic feel mixed with early 70s Miles Davis.  I'm sticking through the whole song and may have to go back through the whole album later today.

HUMAN LEAGUE - MIRROR MAN.  This is a fun 1983 song.  It's always been an interesting addition to Human League's song list.  It's quite different than the other synthpop they were releasing in this period.  It's very vocal heavy - the harmonies are Motown like at least in influence.  The confusing video has mainly Phillip Oakey staring into a mirror - I think he's dead but the band can see him??  Silly stuff.  And I don't really get the later rumors that this is about Adam Ant - I think that's wishful thinking.

SOMETHING RANDOM . . . Like I'm not going to read when I see that Loch Ness Monster is trending this week . . . and I'm a little weirded out by "eyeball licking trend" in Japan.

DEADLIGHTS OF 2013. . . unless I missed something in my news headline reading, there wasn't any death of note this week.  Could that be right?

QUICK LIST (a random, uninformed list off the top of Shawn's head)

BEST EGGS OF ALL-TIME

10.  EGG SALAD.  A very underrated sandwich item.  Great on two thick slices of bread.

9.  QUICHE.  It either reminds me of "Bone" or the B-52s song but it's actually quite tasty from time to time.

8.  SUNNY SIDE UP.  I think that only my Nana made these and they are great with just a piece of toast or with a side of fried potatoes.

7.  HARD BOILED EGGS.  Not really a big fan of them by themselves.  But make a salad and I'm going to start looking for some hard boiled eggs.  My other obsession with them?  Watching the way some people meticulously prepare them before eating.

6.  DEVILED EGGS.  Is this the only egg that uses curry powder?  It reminds me of the best parts of holidays.

5.  EGG DROP SOUP.  I didn't discover this egg soup until college.  Wonderful way to make an egg tasty.

4.  POACHED EGGS.  A great way to fix an egg but rarely done to perfection.  When done correctly on an English Muffin or with veggies or Hollandaise sauce, it can be a beautiful thing.

3.  SCRAMBLED EGGS.  The easiest way is usually the best.  But I need some bacon with them - preferably - or at least some bacon bits.  And pepper.  Always with the pepper, please.  Best use - the breakfast burrito.

2.  FRIED EGGS.  The most unhealthy of the eggs taste better the more fat you fry them in.  And throw in some bacon or sausage and it's almost perfect.  I don't make them very well and don't trust many others to make them like I like them so I rarely seem to have any.

1.  OMELET.  Fold up some eggs with some mushrooms and some salty meat.  Perfect.  With cheese or without.  It's perfect for a nice breakfast and it's perfect for a Sunday morning hangover.  

I don't eat them as much as I'd like.  I'm still stuck back in the days when they were terrible for your diet.  We ignored the protein and amino acid benefits.  But when I do - I love to see them prepared in interesting ways.  The worst preparations?  Boiled has never been a great method for me.  I know it's not much different than poaching or even in a soup, but there's something about boiled that leaves me cold.  Pickled eggs never seems safe or tasty.  I'm sure I'm leaving off something awesome but it's morning and I can smell the bacon just even talking about eggs.

NETFLIX PLAY NOW OF THE WEEK . . . TONIGHT YOU'RE MINE is a cleverly filmed and written film about a couple that are handcuffed together over five days at a music festival . . . HITLER'S CHILDREN is an interesting doc about the descendants of the most evil of the Nazis as they deal with their family history . . . THE GLADES is one of those shows that always tempted me and is available now.  It seemed like it's based on characters by Hiassen or Elmore Leonard.  Reminds me to keep begging Netflix to put JUSTIFIED up here to watch.

Shawn's fave movies according to FLICKCHART

#549 - Payback

#857 - Gattaca

#1389 - Pink Floyd The Wall

RANDOM PROJECT UPDATE -  The BATMAN project.  It seems like we abandoned this project for a long time.  But when most of our shows are over - it's been a good time to get back into the 1966 series.  We finished off a couple more Season One stories including the oft forgotten role by the beautiful Anne Baxter as Zelda the Great.  Then it was another solid Frank Gorshin run as the Riddler.  The 2nd episode includes the hilarious appearance of a fat, fake Batman in costume meeting up with Bruce Wayne.  And I heard the phrase "Holy atomic piles."   We're just starting up a rare Mad Hatter appearance next.

SHAWN'S TOP ALBUMS OF ALL-TIME (a tribute to the art of the album)

#32   Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973)

This double album is in the sweet spot of 1972-1974 for most of my favorite artists.  The double album has song after song that belongs on his greatest hits even if they never got the airplay.  In total over the two albums, there are 17 tracks that all shine in their own way.  It's like hanging with a friend who's playing just for you - showing off their talents on different styles.  There are ballads and straight up rock songs.  The lyrics are about love and death and just plain silly at times.  The album was written in record time over a few weeks and I wonder if that fun doesn't just shine through.  It starts with the touching "Funeral For A Friend / Love Lies Bleeding" and continues through to the heartfelt "Harmony" that ends it.  Most overlooked songs - "Sweet Painted Lady", "This Song Has No Title" and "Your Sister Can't Twist".

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Sweet Painted Lady

I've Seen That Movie Too

Previous Rankings

#33 - Parliament - Mothership Connection (1975)

#34 - Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique (1989

#35 - U2 - The Joshua Tree (1987)

#36 - Elton John - Captain Fantastic and Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975)

#37 - Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)

THIS WEEK IN TELEVISION

MONDAY

LOVE, MARILYN (HBO)  Summer means more documentaries on TV.  I have had an extra crush on her lately.  Famous current actors read from her diaries.

PUSH GIRLS (SUNDANCE)  This reality series about four women in wheelchairs seemed like a good idea last Summer.  It took off way more than I thought it would.  And now I'm even almost curious about it at the start of Season Two.  

TUESDAY

SEX: HOW IT WORKS (NAT GEO)  Seriously.  How.  More science and computer graphics than probably most people are looking for on the subject.  But curiosity knows no bounds.

BLOOD AND OIL (DISC)  Will there be milkshake drinking?   Also there's something very BREAKING AWAY about the family being named Cutters.

NBA FINALS: GAME SIX (ABC)  If there is any justice, this will be the crowning of the Spurs as champions.  I hope to be on whiskey number four by the time this game winds down.

WEDNESDAY
GHOST HUNTERS (SYFY)  A family in LIttle Rock thinks their bungalow might be haunted.  There are so many things wrong with that statement.  But generally, yes, your bungalow is haunted.

FUTURAMA (COMEDY)  The final season starts and even if last season was a little off - I'm onboard for one last ride.

THURSDAY
NBA FINALS: GAME SEVEN (ABC)  If things didn't work out on Tuesday, then I'll be somewhere for this tonight.  Maybe to the scene of the last victory.

UNTAMED YOUTH and THE BEAT GENERATION (TCM)  They aren't the best movies you've ever seen but these two starring Mamie Van Doren are as kitschy as come for 1957 and 1959.

FRIDAY
DINERS, DRIVE-INSAND DIVES (FOOD)  I love the Friday night marathons.  Tonight includes Duck pastrami and fresh Dungeness crab.

NETWORK (SUNDANCE)  Not enough people know about this film anymore.  Faye Dunaway is a revelation.  And of course, Peter Finch.  You owe it to yourself to watch it someday.

SATURDAY
STANLEY CUP FINALS: GAME FOUR (NBC)  Generally I think I'm for the Bruins.  But I don't have a dog in this fight.  After that 1st game - I'm hoping for seven overtime games.  

THE SEARCHERS (TCM)  John Ford was pretty prolific.  But you forget how beautiful his pictures are until you see this one after a few years away from it.  Awesome story.  One of Wayne's best performances.  But I like to just look at it now.

SUNDAY
COPPER (BBC)  So excited to see the return of this show.  It was pretty terrific last season.  But less interested in Donal Logue joining the cast.  Not that he's bad but this show was awesome with unknown actors.

TRUE BLOOD (HBO)  The new season starts and I have to confess that I'm still a few episodes behind of last season.  Oops.

MAD MEN (AMC)  The season comes to an end - rumors of a death abound.  This show just didn't seem to have the Sunday night juice of "Game Of Thrones" or "Walking Dead" and it doesn't seem to get the Twitter love afterwards as "Breaking Bad".  Anyone care still?

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR . . .  Burger King word association.  I have this type of relationship with a few people myself . . .

I kept waiting for the fake logos to pop up on this Hands Free Whopper commercial.  But is it really produced by Burger King?  Do they actually have a sense of humor about themselves?

I know they are taking hell for it.  But I wouldn't mind eating some Carls Jr. with Kate's Uptons.

"You're a bluebird on the telegraph line

I hope you're happy now

Well if the wind of change comes down your way, girl

You'll make it back somehow."  - Elton John

Love lies bleeding.  Stay hard.

sb

Sunday Morning Tuneage & Weekly TV (6/9/13)

A couple weeks of work left and so we're really busy cleaning things up.  This will be the last really busy week of working and then lots of cleaning after that.  I'll work a bit today while Christian is at a football camp at UNT.  He's got a few camps over the next few days.  That means I have to get out of here soon to get in my workout.  The last week of school for the boys went smoothly and there just aren't many sports and activities yet.  Dee's dance camps start for the Summer on Monday - so it's back to driving to Dallas in the mornings.  Reading up on yesterday's Belmont Stakes and listening to some tuneage . . .

SUNDAY MORNING TUNEAGE

ROXY MUSIC - LOVE IS THE DRUG.  I know that this song is from 1975, and yet I always question myself.  I keep thinking this is an early 80s song.  It's got a sound that just was years ahead of its time for 1975.  Roxy Music has so many good songs - I'm fearful of calling it my favorite.  But it's the most influential of their works.  That bass line alone would launch a slew of Brit Pop groups in the next decade.  Leaves me with a buzz like a musical shot.

KLIQUE - STOP DOGGIN' ME AROUND.  This cover of the Jackie Wilson song came out in 1983.  It's a weird tune that has a nice soul beat that resembles other songs of the day but then the lead voice of this trio is so deep it almost doesn't make sense.  I'm only familiar with this song - can't tell you much else about the group - and I can't even recall how it ended up on my iTunes.  Odd song for an odd morning.

SOMETHING RANDOM . . .  I knew that Red Wedding would be popular but it's the most sociable episode ever on HBO . . . and this fight between news anchor and weather lady could happen in any office but they do it on TV.

DEADLIGHTS OF 2013. . . Deacon Jones had the awesome nickname of "Secretary of Defense" and he coined the name "sack".  I knew him as a LA Ram mainly when he played himself on shows like "The Brady Bunch" and "Wonder Woman" . . . Esther Williams was a Gold Medal swimmer in the 1940 Olympics but I remember her beauty from highlights of the aqua musicals of the 40s and 50s.  I believe MILLION DOLLAR MERMAID might be the only one I've seen from beginning to end but she's quite the looker . . . 

QUICK LIST (a random, uninformed list off the top of Shawn's head)

BEST MUSICALS OF 1950s and 1960s 

10.  A STAR IS BORN (1954)  George Cukor directs the Judy Garland version.  Cukor was a perfect person to do this film because of his attention to sets and directing technique.

9.  COURT JESTER (1956)  If this was just for comedy - it would be ranked higher.  The musical portion is okay.  The comedic part is brilliant.  There are a couple routines here that are as funny as any in film - "the pellet with the poison . . ."

8.  CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG (1968)  Based on an Ian Fleming story, produced by Bond man - Albert R. Broccoli and written by Roald Dahl.  It's one of the best kids movies of all-time.  Just entertainment - pure and simple.  More musicals need to get that it's about fun.

7.  WEST SIDE STORY (1961)  Romeo and Juliet as a musical - great idea.  Make them street gangs in New York - brilliant idea.  It's one of my go-to musicals and I never get enough time to share it with people who haven't seen it.

6.  MUSIC MAN (1962)  Robert Preston is good and Shirley Jones is amazing.  Amazing.  Of all the movies on here - it's got one of the best routines in "Ya Got Trouble".

5.  MY FAIR LADY (1964)  Once again, George Cukor helms a beautiful musical.  At different times, I might rank this as the #1 on this list.  It's hard because I have to separate my utter crush on Audrey Hepburn from the quality of the music and movie.  I think the only detracting item for me is Rex Harrison that just doesn't get me excited as Henry Higgins.

4.  SINGIN' IN THE RAIN (1952)  Sometimes you watch a musical because of the dancing more than the singing.  Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds are amazing.  I love the dancing in the film.  But don't discount an excellent plot too.

3.  FUNNY GIRL (1968)    When I started this list - I thought this had the potential to be my #1.  It's easily my favorite Barbara Streisand film.  She's so lovable here.  Her voice is the strongest here and it includes such wonderful tunes as "People" and "Don't Rain On My Parade".

2.  AN AMERICAN IN PARIS (1951)  Fun songs.  But you watch this film because Gene Kelly raises the bar for musicals and dance numbers.  I love "I Got Rhythm".  It's a film I recommend to lots of people and few have ever come back and told me they were disappointed.

1.  MARY POPPINS (1964)  Julie Andrews and Dick VanDyke make moviegoing fun for all ages.  As I talked about before - the reason to love musicals are because they are a great time.  It's a combination of great production numbers, super songs and and an entertaining story.  This movie is as good as it gets for me.  My favorite songs?  "A Spoonful of Sugar" and the best by far "Stay Awake".

This list covers the strength of my musical knowledge.  I'm rarely disappointed when I watch a musical from this era.  But I had to narrow it down just a little, so the first thing I left off was the Disney animated films that would have taken up spots like CINDERELLA, LADY & THE TRAMP and ALICE IN WONDERLAND.  I've also left off films that served as merely music videos for a musical act like the wonderful films HELP! and A HARD DAY'S NIGHT.  The worst?  I feel like I'm better equipped to talk about the most disappointing  film adaptations - SOUTH PACIFIC (1958), LIL ABNER (1959) and BRIGADOON (1953) were all lacking what they could have been on the big screen.  The most obvious omissions (and I'm fine with not putting them on the list) - SOUND OF MUSIC (1965), HELLO, DOLLY! (1969) and GUYS AND DOLLS (1955).

NETFLIX PLAY NOW OF THE WEEK . . . a few more gems with the start of a new month including the underrated MYSTERY MEN . . . there are some classic Disney animations - multiple versions of THE THREE LITTLE PIGS and the awesome MICKEY & THE BEANSTALK . . . and for something a bit more serious there's the documentary HOW TO DIE IN OREGON that follows the story of two people trying to figure out if they want to die legally in Oregon. . .

Shawn's fave movies according to FLICKCHART

#249  - Battle Royale

#1251 - Ghost

#1324 - Into the Wild

RANDOM PROJECT UPDATE -  The ELMORE LEONARD project.  After finishing one of the Westerns and starting a couple more, I realized that I had a book of his sitting on my shelf that I had never read.  Just started "The Big Bounce" this week - never having seen any of the film versions.  A few chapters in and I'm not sure that it's my favorite of his.  It seems more dated than even the early Westerns.  Maybe I'm distracted by the character of Mr Majestyk because of the Charles Bronson movie from a later Leonard book.  I do enjoy the Michigan set books and I'll follow through with this one this Summer.

SHAWN'S TOP ALBUMS OF ALL-TIME (a tribute to the art of the album)

#33  Parliament - Mothership Connection (1975)

It's 1975 and Funk is in the middle of a huge four year run and there's a slight shift.  Maceo Parker and Fred Wesley left James Brown and The JB's to join up with George Clinton and P-Funk.  This is Parliament's 4th album but it might be their best.  There are seven funky tracks and not one of them is a stinker.  This album takes the horn based funk and breakdowns of James Brown and infuses the drug induced fun of previous Clinton fixtures.  This album is known to people who have never heard it because of the huge amounts of sampling from these tunes in early Hip Hop tunes including about all of the Dr Dre hits.  Hitting up a jukebox?  Play "P-Funk", "Mothership Connection" and "Give Up The Funk" and you just turned the bar into a party.  It's the Parliament album I keep handy for any situation.  You have my word - this is about as good as it gets.

P-Funk (Wants to get Funked Up)

Mothership Connection

Give Up The Funk

Previous Rankings

#34 - Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique (1989

#35 - U2 - The Joshua Tree (1987)

#36 - Elton John - Captain Fantastic and Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975)

#37 - Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)

#38 - Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On (1973)

THIS WEEK IN TELEVISION

MONDAY

THE DOCTOR (NBA)  Ninety minutes on the great Dr. J - including lots of unknown stories from his days in the ABA.

THE DAILY SHOW w/JOHN STEWART (COMEDY)  The show's name will be incorrect for the Summer while John directs a film.  But I feel like turning it over to John Oliver will give the show a kick in the pants that it needs.  During this week we get guests such as Mavis Staples and Seth Rogen.

TUESDAY

PRETTY LITTLE LIARS (ABC FAM)  My little DeeDee caught up on the first two seasons of this show in the Spring.  She's waiting to catch the 3rd season while the start of this 4th season will fill up my Tivo.  I should probably be checking to see if this is appropriate for 15 year olds.

SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (FOX)  Excited for this season more than many previous ones. We're on to Vegas and now I can start sorting out my favorites for the rest of the Summer.

BABY FACE (TCM)  This 1933 film stars the outrageously beautiful Barbara Stanwyck.

WEDNESDAY

MYTHBUSTERS (DISC)  Can you survive getting T-boned by a truck if you're in between two big fat dudes?  It almost sounds like they are getting show ideas from those kids on the ATT commercials.

BEVERLY HILLS PAWN (REELZ)  Not in the habit of watching this channel.  And I don't watch many of the pawn shows.  But this might be worth a quick pass through to see the type of stuff that ends up in an LA pawn shop.

CASTLE (TNT)  This channel runs a marathon of the show every Wednesday night and I will sometimes stop down to remember some of my favorites - just for old times sake.  But tonight has a few of the better ones including the callback to a 1947 homicide.

THURSDAY
72 HOURS (TNT)  A curious show - I think I understand that teams get 72 hours to use a GPS device to get through terrible wilderness to find $100,000 in cash.  Probably not the best show of the Summer but I'm interested to see how it works.

PAWN STARS (HIST)  Like I said, I don't watch these much but tonight there is a pair of punching bags owned by Rocky Marciano.

BREWSTER'S MILLIONS (TCM)  This is the rarely seen 1945 original that is very close to the Richard Pryor remake.  Spending a million in 1945 was much harder.

FRIDAY
TREEHOUSE MASTERS (ANIMAL)  They are in Austin to build a treehouse with a spa!!!

VICE (HBO)  The documentary series ends and I feel like I need to go to HBO GO and watch them all now.  This episode is dedicated to Dennis Rodman's trip to North Korea.

SATURDAY
ZERO HOUR (ABC)  Not the DC Comics story.  But did you realize that there was a series on ABC with Anthony Edwards?  Well, it is cancelled but here are the remaining episodes.

AFI LIFE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD (TNT)  It's Mel Brooks - I should have to tell you anything more.

NHL STANLEY CUP (NBC)  Game One starts tonight.  No Red Wings.  So, I'm probably going Bruins (original Six, y'all).

SUNDAY
VEEP (HBO)  I love the rivalry between Governor Chung and VP Selina.  It heats up tonight.

FAMILY TREE (HBO)  Not many people will appreciate the wry humor of this show.  But I love it.  Now that Tom has arrived in America, it's getting better.

SMOKEY & THE BANDIT / TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD (TCM)  Is this not the best double feature of all-time airing on this channel in prime time tonight?

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR . . .  Another week I didn't get around to this.

"Stupidly I forced a smile
My composure was secure
I wore a silly grin from ear to ear
A smile they saw right through."  - Parliament

You could feel so much better.  Stay hard.

sb

Sunday Morning Tuneage & Weekly TV (6/2/13)

Good morning.  Missed you all last week but I had a great time in Michigan seeing friends and family.  Back again to work - trying to close up the store and figure out what my next moves are going to be - what is possible for me in my current situation.  Today is going to be some work on resume and some online applications.  Also trying to find time to get in my workout, go see some IRON MAN 3 and maybe even a dinner with Christian bringing his girlfriend to meet the family.  Busy week ahead, hopefully some news of some kind by this time next week.  Dee is done with school already and the boys finish up this week too.  Taking a few minutes to pay some bills, talking to the pets and listening to some tuneage . . .

SUNDAY MORNING TUNEAGE

THE WHO - WHO ARE YOU?  From the 1978 by the same name.  Today I can recognize a Pete Townshend song from a Roger Daltrey tune.  This is all Pete - lyrics and music.  The album is remarkable for being released right around Keith Moon's death.  I loved this song lots more before it became associated with "CSI".  This was my first The Who album and this song still brings back great 11 year old Shawn memories.  Great to hear the unedited swear version this morning.

LOVERBOY - QUEEN OF THE BROKEN HEARTS.  This 1983 release is one of the better releases off the famous "Keep It Up" album.  But I remember it mainly as one of the cooler MTV contests of the day where you could win a chance to be in their next video.  It was a pretty big deal at the time and I can still recall the face of the woman who got to appear for like two seconds in this video.  She was part of the women that looked like extras from MAD MAX.

BOB MARLEY - COULD YOU BE LOVED.  I know this song dates from 1980 or 1981 but I didn't discover it until 1985 in college.  It's one of the Marley tunes that seems to appeal across many genres.  Listening again today - it probably wouldn't even fall under the reggae genre today.  It's got much of that end of disco influence.  I love the way he works the organ into that disco beat.  And the lyrics are right on point - "The road of life is rocky / And you may stumble too."  Perfect for this year.

SOMETHING RANDOM . . .  Yep.  Didn't get around to getting those links up here.

DEADLIGHTS OF 2013. . . a couple weeks to catch up on  . . . Mulgrew Miller was a very influential jazz pianist in the 80s - I remember particularly with Art Blakey. . . Eddie Romero was a Filipino director I discovered in Gen X days with THE TWILIGHT PEOPLE, BLACK MAMA WHITE MAMA and SAVAGE SISTERS . . .  Bill Pertwee played Warden Hodges in the Brit comedy "Dad's Army" (I need to get back into watching this show) . . . Clarence Burke, Jr. was the guitarist for the Five Stairsteps and the lead singer on "O-o-h Child" (one of my favorite songs of all-time) . . . Trevor Bolder was the bassist for Uriah Heep and later a key member of Bowie's The Spiders From Mars . . . Leonard Marsh was a co-founder of the always tasty Snapple beverages (need some Peach tea now) . . . the loss of Ray Manzarek is huge - the man was the real musical driving force behind The Doors and I loved some of his experimental keyboard performances well into the 90s . . . I know Alan O'Day for his one-hit wonder "Undercover Angel" but most of you reading probably would recognize one of hundreds of songs he wrote for "Muppet Babies" . . . we lost the great Jean Stapleton aka Edith Bunker this past week.  If there was ever a character that resembled my Grandma Miller, it was Edith Bunker.  Sad to hear of her passing. . . 

QUICK LIST (a random, uninformed list off the top of Shawn's head)

FUNNIEST RAP SONGS OF ALL-TIME 

10.  RUN DMC - YOU BE ILLIN' (1986).  In 1986, I knew lots of people who were illin'.  I mean - who's going to KFC and ordering a Big Mac?  People who are illin', that's who.

9.  PUBLIC ENEMY - CAN'T DO NUTTIN' FOR YA MAN (1990).    Every time that Chuck D seems to get on a roll - Flavor undercuts him with songs where laughing is acceptable in place of lyrics.

8. AFROMAN - BECAUSE I GOT HIGH (2000).  I loved that this song sounded 15 years old when it first came out.  
7.  THE PHARCYDE - YA MAMA (1991).  The song version of an Arsenio Hall routine.
6.  DOUG E. FRESH & SLICK RICK - LA DI DA DI (1985)  Two of the great voices of rap and a funny story between the two.

5.  EMINEM - MY NAME IS (1999).  So many of his songs have funny moments - clever fun lyrical twists.  But this song bothers to tell a story that is like Marshall sitting around telling stories over a beer.
4.  DIGITAL UNDERGROUND - HUMPTY DANCE (1990)  Another group that had a musical and lyrical sense of humor.  This song is super funky and light hearted. "I like my oatmeal lumpy."
3.  THE SUGARHILL GANG - RAPPER'S DELIGHT (1979)  Rap got started and right away it knew how to be funny.  What other songs were talking about how bad their friend's mom's cooking was.?
2.  BEASTIE BOYS - PAUL REVERE (1986).  They had to make this list with all their clever unique lyrics.  This was the first one that came to mind.
1. BIZ MARKIE - JUST A FRIEND (1989)  There are a few Biz songs that qualify as funniest rap songs.  But his attempt to get with his girl "blah blah blah" has the best sample and singing / rapping.  This song set a new standard in the genre and still rocks a crowd today.

The genre essentially started out of making fun of other people.  Boasting about yourself and putting down others.  It's a genre that lends itself to stories.  It's hard to list the least funny songs.  But what didn't make the list?  I've become annoyed over the years with the DJ JAZZY JEFF & THE FRESH PRINCE - PARENTS JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND.  And while it seemed that I could find a NOTORIOUS B.I.G. or ICE CUBE song but none came to mind to make the list.  And I'm not sure that either YOUNG MC or TONE LOC are ironic enough to be funny.

NETFLIX PLAY NOW OF THE WEEK . . . it's always good to see what gets added at the first of a month.  June looks promising.  DEAD MEN DON'T WEAR PLAID pays off for people who have seen lots of film noir.  But it's still a funny Steve Martin film if you haven't. . . SAME TIME, NEXT YEAR is funny Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn film about a couple that meet one weekend a year for 25 years for a romantic encounter . . . and on a late night, you'll want to tune into THE SERPENT AND THE RAINBOW, one of Wes Craven's weirdest films with a good show from Bill Pullman.

Shawn's fave movies according to FLICKCHART

#394 - Chasing Amy
#432 - Zoolander
#849 - Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

RANDOM PROJECT UPDATE -  The YA GRAPHIC NOVEL project.  I'm trying to read up on some graphic novels that my kids might like and to keep up with some of the more acclaimed and award winning graphic novels of the year.  I finished the wonderful and informative MY FRIEND DAHMER.  It was as engrossing a story as I've read in awhile and would make a wonderful miniseries or film.  I'm on to ANNIE SULLIVAN AND THE TRIALS OF HELEN KELLER.  So far, it's a little too close to the MIRACLE WORKER film.  A wonderful film that I have great memories of watching but I was hoping for a little more insight here.  Still, both are good Summer reading potential for the kids.

SHAWN'S TOP ALBUMS OF ALL-TIME (a tribute to the art of the album)

#34  Beastie Boys - Paul's Boutique (1989)


The Beasties' second album was released in 1989 but for me it marked a huge change in Hip Hop that would influence a whole arm of the genre through the 1990s.  I can see where people who expected a direct sequel to "Licensed To Ill" would be disappointed.  But fans of hip hop and funk found something to be cherished.  This is an album that I have never grown tired to hearing.  The addition of the Dust Brothers was a brilliant move - it brought a depth to the samples and production that was missing before.  Some of the songs like "Shadrach", "Hey Ladies" and "Shake Your Rump" are among the best work the group ever did.  Need to know how good this album is?  Miles Davis said he couldn't get enough of it.  Nuff said.

Hey Ladies

Shadrach

The Sounds of Science

Previous Rankings

#35 - U2 - The Joshua Tree (1987)

#36 - Elton John - Captain Fantastic and Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975)

#37 - Nirvana - Nevermind (1991)

#38 - Marvin Gaye - Let's Get It On (1973)
#39 - Michael Jackson - Thriller (1982)

THIS WEEK IN TELEVISION

MONDAY

TEEN WOLF (MTV)  Watched 2nd season - didn't watch Season 1 - kinda need to start over before watching the 3rd season.  Not sure if I even like it or not.

MAN FIRE FOOD (COOKING)  Roger Mooking likes eating food cooked on fire!!!  Saw part of it last season - this is the start of the 2nd season.  Tonight it's a hog barbecue in South Carolina.

TUESDAY
SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE (FOX)  This season is off to a hot start.  It's amazing to see how hard it's going to be to just make the live shows.  It's been a great start to the season - even more promising that last season.  Tonight finishes the auditions and on to Vegas next week.

BANG GOES THE THEORY (BBC)  The season starts with three episodes of this cool UK science show.  They seem to make some really slick and cool shows about science and facts.

WEDNESDAY
THROUGH THE WORMHOLE w/MORGAN FREEMAN (SCI)  Speaking of cool science shows . . .  can't believe it's already Season 4.  There's so much to talk about with the subject of space and physics but I'm surprised it lasted so far into a TV show.

MYTHBUSTERS (DISC)  Always wondered about this one . . . how to survive a jump from the window of a high rise hotel by making a parachute out of items in the room.  I'm always in fear of the hotel fire.  Just in time before Comic Con.

THURSDAY
IN THE FLESH (BBC)  This zombie show from the UK looks more in the style of two of my favorite recent shows like "Rectify" and "Top of the Lake".  Only three episodes over the next couple weeks for you to invest in.  What could go wrong?

THE GREATEST EVENT IN TELEVISION HISTORY 2 (TOON)  The first one was awesome, so why not do it again?  That's the Toon theory right?  If you haven't seen the Adam Scott take on "Simon & Simon" credits with Jon Hamm is worth a visit.

FRIDAY
MARON (IFC)  I've been catching up with this show on their website.  Hilarious show that is a lighter version of "Louis".  Tonight, the very coolest, Danny Trejo guest stars.

THE MALTESE FALCON (TCM)  This is the decent but rarely seen  1931 version with Ricardo Cortez.

SATURDAY
SAM & CAT (NICK)  Sam from "iCarly" and Cat from "Victorious" start a babysitting business together.  If you are a tween or teen I really don't need to say anything more.

BREATHLESS (TCM)  This French New Wave film by Jean-Luc Godard is the definition of a must see if you love movies.

SUNDAY
GAME OF THRONES (HBO)  Jaime Lannister is back in King's Landing.  And the season sadly comes to an end.  I hope that Forcey voters have taken note this season.

VEEP (HBO)  The awesome show still has a little bit left in the tank this season.  Guest star this week is the great Allison Janney.  Selina is one of my favorite characters on TV right now.

AND NOW A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR . . .  I bricked.  Get you again next week.

"Educated no, stupid yep
And when I say stupid I mean stupid fresh
I'm not James at 15 or Chachi in charge
I'm Adam and I'm adamant about livin' large."  - Beastie Boys

Get funky.  Stay hard.

sb