Michael Jackson - Thriller

Music Appreciation (A Retrospect)

Before I began my Music Appreciation (A Retrospect) Sunday Series, I knew I would discuss how this music video played a role in my young life. 

Everyone in the Rio Grande Valley wanted to be Michael Jackson.  Kids would compete against each other in the school yard on who could do the best moonwalk.  I think I only succeeded once until the cool kid in school out-performed me.

I was either nine or ten years old when I first listened to Michael Jackson's Thriller.  I recall my dad buying the Thriller album, and listening to it from his stereo. I loved The Girl is Mine, Beat It, and Billie Jean, but I avoided Thriller because it sounded scary.  In my defense, I was raised in a fairly Christian home.  Music videos that showed demons and zombies were frowned upon. 

When we finally got MTV, I remember changing the channel when Thriller would show.  I think the first time I watched the 14-minute long Thriller was in my late teens, and after watching the music video, I remember enjoying it and wanting to see it again. 




What is amazing is how this music video continues in popularity becoming somewhat a Halloween tradition--much like It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown-- and other non-traditional settings, such as:




In a Prison


At a University



Performed By Tech Geeks


And Even in Austin.


HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Sources: Wikipedia

Making Jack Skellington Costume

My son's YMCA held a Costume Contest on Friday.  The rules were basic--no store bought costumes.  Therefore, I decided I would use my "talent" and make something on my own.



When my son informed me of the Costume Contest, the idea flew out of my mouth, "How about Jack from the Nightmare Before Christmas." My son loved the idea.
I started to think of all the things I would need to make his costume. When I got a list of stuff I needed, I visited Hobby Lobby and Wal-Mart and bought all the material I needed.

On Monday, I found myself on the floor of our galley kitchen with glue-paste, a balloon, and strips of newspaper.  I began to work.



I started layering newspaper around the balloon.  The next morning, I started the second coat.  By the following day, I had three coats around the balloon. 

While I waited for the head to dry, I worked on the bat-bowtie.  The bat-bow tie, which can be seen on the left-hand side of the photo above, was the first to complete. 



I thought about how I would make his eyes to give it a three-dimensional appearance rather than a round face.  I scrunched up newspaper, taped it to the head where I wanted the eyes, and began covering the area with paper mache.  I did the same for his mouth.



While I waited for the head to dry, I worked on Jack Skellington's suit.  I bought a long-sleeved t-shirt from Wal-Mart, turned it inside-out and drew what I wanted the suit to look like with chalk. 



I then traced the chalked-markings with a white-paint marker and acrylic paint. 



After Jack's head dried, I cut out his eyes. 



I then paper mached around the cut out areas and painted it with acrylic white paint.



After the second coat of white paint, I painted in his mouth black.



I found black handkerchief at Hobby Lobby and decided to use that for its eyes.  The work was done by early Friday morning. 

My son was excited when he tried on his costume.  He said he felt his costume would definitely win a prize a the Costume Contest.



Sure enough.  When I picked him up from YMCA, he enthusiastically waved his "MOST CREATIVE PRIZE" envelope. 

He said that when he walked into the cafeteria, his friends were yelling his name.  He felt proud. 

Dia de los Muertos

The weekend before, I took my son to Oktoberfest.  This weekend, we went to Dia de los Muertos.  Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a traditional Mexican holiday that celebrates and remembers the dead.  Parades, processions, and festivals celebrating Dia de los Muertos are held on the first two days of November.   

The tradition originates from Latin American indigenous cultures; although, the holiday has evolved to include other cultures as well.  A large component of the festivals include folk and modern art.  It is common to see decorated skulls and skeletons in processions along with music and fireworks in processions during the festival.
Below are some photo images taken at the Austin's Mexic-arte Museum's Dia de los Muertos event.





El Calavera



El Musico



Mural Painting



La Muerte


Sources: MEXIC-ARTE Museum; Wikipedia

Visit my blog to view photos: http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/2010/10/dia-de-los-muertos.html

GQ's choice of 25 Sexiest Women in Rock

Music Appreciation (A Retrospect)

In the October issue of GQ, the magazine lists The 25 Sexiest Women in Rock.  In no particular order, below is the list and their known contribution to music.  You can read more of GQ's pick and vote on their poll here. 


1. Linda Ronstadt

2. Stevie Nicks

3. Kim Gordon

4. Tina Turner

5. M.I.A.





6. Carly Simon





7. Grace Jones





8. Neko Case

9. Alexis Krauss





10. Liz Phair

11. Françoise Hardy





12. Marianne Faithfull

13. Nico

14. Fiona Apple





15. Joan Jett





16. Lauryn Hill

17. Alison Mosshart





18. Cher

19. Susanna Hoffs





20. Michelle Phillips

21. Debbie Harry

22. Chrissie Hynde

23. Chan Marshall





24. Katy Perry

25. Jenny Lewis



Source: GQ, The 25 Sexiest Women in Rock, October 2010

Can't see the videos, visit my blog: http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/

Men Without Hats - Safety Dance

Music Appreciation (A Retrospect)

This is another music video I remember watching on TBS Night Tracks.  I was about seven years old.  While my parents would host parties at the house, I would stay up late watching music videos.

Safety Dance quickly became a favorite of mine.  Perhaps it was the repetitive melody and groovy electronic sound.

I do have to admit, however,  that I was a bit creeped out with the medieval little person.  At the same time, at an early age, I had this strange attraction for the dancing blonde. Was this the seed that led me to my wife?  Dress my wife bohemian and you get the Safety Dance girl.  Gez, I've got to watch it again.

The question I have after watching this music video is who's idea was it to make an "S" shape.  Perhaps it was cool to make letters using your body, but today I think it's cheesy.

 

Speaking of cheesy, the song has recently been peformed on Fox's hit TV series, GLEE, where the high school geek who is wheelchair-bound, Artie Abrams, starts a dance mob at a shopping mall.  Okay, I admit, I like it.

Live Austin Music

Music Appreciation (A Retrospect)

After a school trip to Dallas, three of us guys decided to stay in Austin for a couple of nights.  What I recall from that experience was hanging out with my good old friend, driving around town, listening to Stevie Ray Vaughan--God bless his soul--and visiting the numerous strip joints nightclubs.

I was in my early twenties and months from graduating from college.  I had visited many places that I fell in love with such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and D.C.  I was searching for a place I could find a future and develop as a person while enjoying the surrounding.  Austin became that place for me.

I can't say I came to Austin solely for the music.  The music came to me a few years later.  Actually, it came a bit too late, I think. 

Although, I did know who Stevie Ray Vaughan was before I got to Austin.  As many others, he became my favorite.  While driving around town with my maltese dog, we would listen to Pride and Joy and Crossfire.  Soon enough, we found a local alternative rock station, 101X, who introduced us to local bands such as Fastball, Vallejo, and David Garza.

A few years later, my wife (then girlfriend) introduced me to her favorite, Bob Schneider's Lonelyland album.  Bob Schneider which was synonymous to Austin Live Music, soon became my favorite.  Yes, I said it, I enjoy Bob Schneider.

But what I was missing was the roots of Austin music.  Bob Willis?  Okay, that's a bit too far down the root.  I was thinking more like Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel and Lyle Lovett. 

Within the following years living in Ausitn, I began listening to the Austin greats.  But besides these fantastic music artists, there is another genre that I have since witnessed over the past few years.  They are those music artists who play a major role in defining Austin Live Music and making it the Live Music Capital of the World. 

I met a guy at work who introduced me to his music selection--Tejano with a blend of Texas Country, instrumental rock, bluegrass, and true-Austin music.  Soon we became friends and I was fortunate to be invited to a reunion party he hosted at his backyard where bands that were once under his record label performed... free.

Below are some photos I took of the bands that performed at what I have called "BruceFest 2010." 



The Highwaymen (Loose Diamonds)



Ivan Brown and the Low Brow



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Michael Jackson - Billie Jean - Music Appreciation (A Retrospect)

Perhaps one of the most memorable music video I watched when I was young was Michael Jackson's Billie Jean. 

I recall staying up on Friday nights and watching Night Tracks on TBS with my parents.  Sometimes I would watch the music videos while my parents hosted parties.

It was the early 1980s and I remember my excitement watching rock stars perform their songs on Night Tracks.  From then on, as others did, I associated songs I heard on the radio with the music video I watched either on TBS or MTV. 

So what caught my attention about Billie Jean?  I think it was the sidewalk tiles that would light up as Michael Jackson walked over them.  For years I thought sidewalks would light up only for MJ, and that he could magically make himself disappear.  When I was young, almost every boy wanted to be like MJ. 

Do expect more commentary on MJ music videos on future blogs.




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