Captain Sunshine

There are times when I am down, when I feel that nothing will take me out of the deep blue funk that I am in.

Lately, most of those times have been while I am at work (Seriously. My boss is a giant cow. I actually call her something else that begins with a c usually, but i don't want to offend virgin eyes). My office atmosphere is quite relaxed, so I play a lot of music while I work. NOTHING, but NOTHING brings me out of my funk better than...
NEIL DIAMOND!!!!!

I love Neil Diamond. I really do.

He is a crazy, glitter encrusted performing dynamo. I would LOVE to see him in concert. Sadly Nearly Neil is the best I have been able to get-and he's pretty darn good-but hell...he's no Neil...he's NEARLY Neil.

I just pop on a bit of "Hot August Night" or The Jazz Singer or even the good old Greatest Hits, and I am GOLDEN!

Neils newish album 12 Songs is a bit of a departure from good old "Song Song Blue" and "Forever in Blue Jeans", but I have really been enjoying it lately. It doesn't drive me out of my funk like his some of other albums as it is much more intimate and pared down, although the song Delirious Love is one of my favourite songs in YEARS. Basically just him and his guitar. Fantastic!

As a shout out to Hot Lunch and High Fidelity (one of my favourite books and movies) I am going to do a Neil Diamond list. Its my "top five get sasskitty out of her crappy mood using the magic of Neil's songs" list.

5. Delirious Love


4. Brother Love's Travelling Salvation Show


3. Sweet Caroline (seriously...who doesn't love this song? BAH BAH BAH)


2. Forever in Blue Jeans


1. Holly Holy


Rock on Neil! Keep them sparkly shirts coming!!!

Cheering for the underdog...

For the last 2 weeks, our TV has been inundated by Bad Reality TV that makes me yell...American Inventor, America's Got Talent, Canada's Next Top Model (okay, we TOTALLY watch that one. YAY MISS J!).

America's Got Talent is one of the worst. FIRST OFF, Jerry Springer is the host. shudder. The judges are putzes (seriously...SHARON OSBOURNE? And I love the Hoff, but who the heck is he to judge talent). And you can tell the producers just LOVE to put the worst on TV. And you gotta know a little kid is going to win singing "God Bless America" or whatever the heck that song is from Dream Girls that Jennifer Hudson sings. gag.

Of course, we get all of our "original" reality TV shows from the UK first. And usually, the shows get watered down before they hit North America, so you gotta know the UK version is even MORE mind rotting!

Britain's Got Talent is presently running. My expectation of Britain's Got Talent is a bunch of people singing pub songs and telling off colour jokes.

Apparently, I was wrong.

I give you Paul Potts. Mobile phone salesman and amateur opera singer. He even makes Simon Cowell keep his mouth shut. Who knew that was possible.

His story just made my heart melt. I hope he wins. At least, I hope he beats the guy with the monkey.

yes...i am a giant suck...

Back for good....

I have an embarrassing admission.

I am rather fond of Take That.

Yup...thats right...the 1990's boy band from the UK.

I am a dork.

Now, I am also a Take That purist...none of this NEW Take That sans Robbie Williams (Robbie Williams...yum). Only the golden oldie era of Take That.

In honour of Take That and their clean cut yet trying to be coolishness I give you...

Back for good...

awesome....

I am filled with joy

Any moment now, you will all hear a squeal of delight.

That will be Hot Lunch realizing that Olivia Newton John's masterpiece Xanadu has been made into a musical on Broadway.

XANADU ON BROADWAY!

I also note that Ms Newton John has a new CD out! Well golly gee thats just SUPER!

I am filled with warm fuzzy joy.

I give you...

Xanadu...

I am getting old...

Yesterday I was driving and channel surfing on the radio and I came upon a new artist I had never encountered. The Fox was playing Cancer Bats, a hardcore/metal band out of Toronto.

In my younger years, I was a bit of a headbanger. Metallica, Nine Inch Nails, Nitzer Ebb and their ilk all were part of a regular rotation on my tape deck (yes, that long ago). I had the hair, I grew up near Drunken Duncan on Vancouver Island.
I haven't really gotten rid of my love of metal. My hair may not be as large, and I no longer live near Drunken Duncan, but I have been known to listen to it blasting out of the stereo of our wee Mazda Protege 5. And I bang my head proudly.

The Cancer Bats however did NOT do it for me. My first reaction was one of horror that any band would name themselves the Cancer Bats. Yes, it made me laugh (go on, try saying Cancer Bats...you'll giggle), then I was horrified at the name-like they were mocking the disease. It's like calling a band the AIDS Badgers or the Diabetes Elves. Its just wrong.

But once I got over the name, and my dislike of it, I listened to them.

Oh the noise.

The loud, screaming, Cancer Batish noise.

It made me upset.

Because it made me feel old...

"This isn't music" I said to myself "Its yelling to loud guitar riffs! My cat could play this!"

sigh...next step...Englebert Humperdinck (can you believe he changed his name to BECOME Englebert Humperdinck?).

I give you the Cancer Bats with their single French Immersion. They are SO a Canadian Band with a single called French Immersion...i do appreciate that...

Barenaked Ladies are Men who care about our planet!

On Saturday night, the affianced, one of the bridesmaids (who may be the world's biggest BNL fan) and I went to the Barenaked Ladies concert promoting their new albums "Barenaked Ladies are Me" and "Barenaked Ladies are Men" at GM place.

As expected, a FANTASTIC show

In my humble opinion, the BNL put on one of the best shows out there. I realize that at this present time, Hot Lunch is hyperventilating and screaming... WHAT ABOUT MADONNA??? Fine...I know Madonna puts on a mean show, but for me, the Ladies rock the house.

What's not to love? Humour, FAB Canadian band, good music, and a rap about bald roadies. How fun is that???

One of the best things about this fab show was learning about Barenaked Planet, which is not a place to hang out with naked rock stars as I first suspected (which would TOTALLY rock, especially if Jon Bon Jovi was there. Go on...deny that he's sexy. I dare you.)
ANYHOW...Barenaked Planet is the Barenaked Ladies' way of communicating to the general public about environmental and social issues that have become increasingly important to them.

On this tour, the BNL were committed to several different "greening the tour" mechanisms including:

• Tour buses are fueled with biodiesel
• Offsetting the energy used at each show with wind power
• Recycling and using compostable materials backstage
• Inviting local and national groups to be a part of Barenaked Planet so that fans at each venue can learn about issues in their area and get engaged

At work the other day, I was discussing with a few coworkers about how people can lessen their environmental impact. The recent report from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has gotten people talking about what they can do to help prevent climate change, which is great! Their argument was that it costs money to be more responsible (ie recycled paper is more, hybrid vehicles are more etc etc). I'm not so sure about that argument-there are ways to adapt if you are truly serious about making a positive impact that can SAVE you money (ie. Public Transit if accessible)-but to each their own.

In honour of that, I am going post the David Suzuki Foundation's 10 most effective ways to help conserve nature and improve our quality of life. Some of these are SUPER easy and hey...we only have one planet!!!

1. Reduce home energy by 10%
2. Eat meat-free meals once a week
3. Buy a fuel efficient, low-polluting car
4. Choose an energy efficient home and appliances
5. Stop using pesticides
6. Walk, bike or take transit to regular destinations
7. Prepare your meals with locally produced food
8. Choose a home close to regular destinations
9. Support alternatives to the car
10. Get involved, stay informed

So get out there and GO GREEN! Make the Barenaked Ladies proud!!!!

Musical Musings-Scissor Sisters

At this moment, I am happily listening to Ta Dah, the new (ish) album from one of my favourite acts, The Scissor Sisters.

From Amazon.com

"Since not liking the Scissor Sisters is tantamount to not liking fun, let's just assume that everyone already adores this band and go on from there, OK? The Sisters' hotly anticipated second full-length feel like a streamlined continuation of their debut. It's hard to imagine no one had ever called an album Ta Dah! before, but then these sexy troubadours have no trouble subtly reworking the past to make it almost-new and always joyous."

I love these guys...I bop, I groove, and I dream of the day when my friend Billy and I finally start our death metal Scissor Sisters tribute band (nope, not making that up either). I aspire to Ana Matronic's coolness, and FANTASTIC wardrobe...

My favourite track on this album is "I Can't Decide". The perfect mix of camp and death. Loves it!

I am saddened that the band's two Canadian dates are Montreal and Toronto. Hot Lunch and I had a blast when they were last here, it SUCKS that they won't be coming on this tour so far...maybe they'll change their minds, because Vancouver so loves the Scissor Sisters!

Dance my babies...dance...