Would it be heartless of me to say, "please no more telethons?"

Speaking of heartless, I'd like to "Imagine" there's no John Lennon. Oh that's right, there isn't!

And finally, ain't no way you're going to eradicate malaria with mosquito nets. Sorry.

Posted by: annika at 07:34 AM | Comments (8) | Add Comment
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The greatest singer ever.

Critics of American Idol would do well to remember that Ella got her start in an amateur singing contest. From Ella's bio:

In 1934 Ella's name was pulled in a weekly drawing at the Apollo and she won the opportunity to compete in Amateur Night. Ella went to the theater that night planning to dance, but when the frenzied Edwards Sisters closed the main show, Ella changed her mind. "They were the dancingest sisters around," Ella said, and she felt her act would not compare.

Once on stage, faced with boos and murmurs of "What's she going to do?" from the rowdy crowd, a scared and disheveled Ella made the last minute decision to sing. She asked the band to play Hoagy Carmichael's "Judy," a song she knew well because Connee Boswell's rendition of it was among [her mother's] favorites. Ella quickly quieted the audience, and by the song's end they were demanding an encore. She obliged and sang the flip side of the Boswell Sister's record, "The Object of My Affections."

Off stage, and away from people she knew well, Ella was shy and reserved. She was self-conscious about her appearance, and for a while even doubted the extent of her abilities. On stage, however, Ella was surprised to find she had no fear. She felt at home in the spotlight.

'Once up there, I felt the acceptance and love from my audience,' Ella said. 'I knew I wanted to sing before people the rest of my life.'

In the band that night was saxophonist and arranger Benny Carter. Impressed with her natural talent, he began introducing Ella to people who could help launch her career. In the process he and Ella became lifelong friends, often working together.

Fueled by enthusiastic supporters, Ella began entering - and winning - every talent show she could find. In January 1935 she won the chance to perform for a week with the Tiny Bradshaw band at the Harlem Opera House. It was there that Ella first met drummer and bandleader Chick Webb. Although her voice impressed him, Chick had already hired male singer Charlie Linton for the band. He offered Ella the opportunity to test with his band when they played a dance at Yale University.

'If the kids like her,' Chick said, 'she stays.'

Despite the tough crowd, Ella was a major success, and Chick hired her to travel with the band for $12.50 a week.

Happy Birthday Ella. I miss you.

Posted by: annika at 09:23 AM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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Remember this kick-ass Eighties song, by John Waite?

Enjoy.

Posted by: annika at 05:21 PM | Comments (12) | Add Comment
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1 The camera guy reminds me of Sgt. Slaughter. Does anyone remember Buckaroo Banzai? Am I the only one that noticed Dennis Kucinich in that scene? It's almost as F'd up as ZARDOZ. That was a movie I saw dozens of times back when I was 4 or 5 years old. Like a "clockwork orange", perhaps those continuous viewings warped my cognitive development. That could explain why I feel compelled to suggest that Annika analyze the ending credits for an upcoming Fash-ism post. Or, maybe not.

Posted by: reagan80 at April 20, 2007 07:30 PM (fO04l)

2 peter weller was so young!

Posted by: annika at April 20, 2007 09:35 PM (WfR6S)

3 Man, gawd I miss the 80s... Great video. Greetings from Hong Kong!

Posted by: soulparking at April 21, 2007 02:31 AM (dUeUP)

4 "Kick-ass" "John Waite" Annika, you may be one of the most gifted wordsmiths in bloggdom, but these phrases cannot exist in the same sentence. And I liked John Waite/The Babys

Posted by: Gordon at April 21, 2007 06:33 AM (8zF9q)

5 If you want "kick-ass", then I shall present one of the best fight scenes of the 80's: Keith David refuses to wear sunglasses. Only John Carpenter could come up with something that senseless.

Posted by: reagan80 at April 21, 2007 06:55 AM (fO04l)

6 HMMMMMMMMMM, foreshadowing perhaps?? A blonde with a song to her about change below a post on how you killed a blog? Interesting! That video had it all: big hair blonde babe, lines of coke, bad guy with cheesy mustache, chest hair and gold around his neck, "back to the future" vest, and if i don't miss my guess, that hallway they are running around has been in hundreds of TV and movie scenes? Great post Annie

Posted by: Otto at April 21, 2007 08:25 AM (czVLs)

7 A visit from the dude who got me started! Hong Kong? What happened to South Africa?

Posted by: annika at April 21, 2007 09:41 AM (WfR6S)

8 I remember the first time i saw They Live. I was channel surfing and came upon the beginning of that fight scene. I thought, hey, isn't that Rowdy Roddie? cool! I had no idea what the plot was, so it was doubly absurd that they seemed to be fighting over a pair of sunglasses. Great movie!

Posted by: annika at April 21, 2007 09:49 AM (WfR6S)

9 Otto, some other things about the video: the chick looks like she could be Paris Hilton's sister doesnt she? And I love Waite doing that 80's whiteboy dance at the end. And the wind machine in the beginning where he has to hold his hat on his head, too funny. And the villain looks like he's straight out of Scarface.

Posted by: annika at April 21, 2007 10:00 AM (WfR6S)

10 "And the villain looks like he's straight out of Scarface." Actually, to me he sorta looks like a cross between Nacho Libre and Luis Guzmán, with a touch of John C. Reilly thrown in. Bleblublehblublha!!... Wow! Just realized what a mess that is to contemplate... Nacho Libre cum Luis Guzmán à la John C. Reilly... need a drink now... (*Gulp*) Anyway... what's with linking the video? Feeling like the blonde? Heavens, no, you didn't sign with that loanshark, did you? Just remember, suicide is unachieveable from so short a drop. And really, pills are faster, less dramatic. But I admit, you don't get as cool a scene as you would if you, say, decided to slit your wrists and stick 'em in the sink (cut across or lengthwise? Lengthwise will guarantee it, but man! The resistence!...), and it's pretty much as messy as jumping from a much better height (OD'ing? Yes! can we say "bowel relaxation"?). So if you're gonna do it, do it right. Anyway, why you identifying with the blonde? Loan shark gotchur address? Or, is that Nacho Guzmán C. Reilly fellow actually some videographer who blonde's paying off not to put that embarassing video on the net? So waitaminute... why you identifying with the blonde? A video? Noooooo! Anniiiiiii! You didn't! Well, if you did, don't tell Cas. He wouldn't rest 'till he got a copy, preferably in HD, 1280x1024... --- Bleh. Topic duly beaten to death. Anyhoo... They Live?? Good gawd... what a memory to resurrect! ""I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass ...and I'm all out of bubblegum." Immortal words... and spoke with so much enthusiasm too... I'm convinced Rowdy Rwooty Rhahhdney Rwwowoowdney Piper was just completely cheated of his Oscar for that performance... Dustin Hoffman's Rainman had nothing on him, I'm tellin' ya. And if I had a web cam, you'd luv the pics of myself pronouncing "Rowdy Rwooty Rhahhdney Rwwowoowdney Rooter Ruhwahwah" as I typed it... "...the chick looks like she could be Paris Hilton's sister doesnt she?" Nah... I disagree. To me she looks closer to a young Traci Lords. Or even closer yet, Nina Hartley. What brought those two to mind? Hey, watch your accusations! I'm not admitting I view porn. I just found their pics on the interne... whoops... (Note to self: Remember not to blog-comment after a night on the town; your stream of consciousness takes you places you normally don't go, and you just end up thinking "Whahdafuck?" when you realize where you're at.)

Posted by: ElMondoHummus at April 21, 2007 10:42 PM (J+r3D)

11 dont drink and drive, and don't drink and comment folks! just a bit of advice. in fact, just do like these folks do.

Posted by: annika at April 22, 2007 01:42 AM (WfR6S)

12 Take away their religion, and the Amish become the ideal role models for the environmental movement on how to live a "green" lifestyle. Though, I have my own reasons to admire them.... [...they draw no Social Security, nor do they accept any form of financial assistance from the government, and many avoid insurance.] The only thing memorable about the Amish in the 80's is that Harrison Ford flick.

Posted by: reagan80 at April 22, 2007 06:29 AM (fO04l)

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I know the reason why Grindhouse did so poorly at the box office this weekend. Its target audience was busy making YouTube videos, trying to be the next Quentin Tarantino.

Check it out. Here are some of the more interesting ones I found:
more...

Posted by: annika at 08:36 PM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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I never watch Live with Regis and Kelly, but caught a few minutes this morning because I wanted to see Gina Glocksen. Regis is out on the DL, and Martin Short is filling in. OMG, is there anyone funnier than Martin Short? He's off-the-hook! Regis better hurry back, or he may be out of a job.

Posted by: annika at 09:38 AM | Comments (6) | Add Comment
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