Anna Kendricks, Movie Star, Celebrity, Musician? Who knew?
All I can say that this is one of the coolest little tunes I heard this year. Video definitely worth checking out.
S.F. Guru
Showing posts with label Video. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Video. Show all posts
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Things that make me happy... Cups by Anna Kendricks
Things that make me happy... Cups by Anna Kendricks
Anna Kendricks, Movie Star, Celebrity, Musician? Who knew?
All I can say that this is one of the coolest little tunes I heard this year. Video definitely worth checking out.
S.F. Guru
Anna Kendricks, Movie Star, Celebrity, Musician? Who knew?
All I can say that this is one of the coolest little tunes I heard this year. Video definitely worth checking out.
S.F. Guru
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Things that make me happy... Whitney Houston - The Voice
Things that make me happy... Whitney Houston - The Voice
My personal favorite with a sweet remix... Its not all right, but its okay
I wanna dance with somebody... Her big hair days...
My love is your love...
How will I know... A classic from 1985.
The Greatest Love of All
.... One of my favorites. Whitney and Stevie Wonder Interview on Arsenio Hall Show
The greatest singing of the National Athem ever...
Another early Interview. "I know God has blessed me with voice... I know he has blessed me with talent" -Whitney
Some funny Whitney Moments
Count on me (w. CeCe Winans)
SF. Guru
What was your favorite Whitney Houston song?
Saturday Feb 11 2012, 48 years old Whitney Houston, passed away after making her mark as one of the greatest singers of any generation. Words cannot begin to describe the mark she made on music. The number one hits. The mega concerts. The acting, singing, and now producing career. She has influenced many of the top artist alive today and will continue to influence many more through her music for years to come.
The best way to remember Whitney is through her music. Here are a few of top videos and some classic interviews.
The mega hit I will always love you.
My personal favorite with a sweet remix... Its not all right, but its okay
I wanna dance with somebody... Her big hair days...
My love is your love...
How will I know... A classic from 1985.
The Greatest Love of All
.... One of my favorites. Whitney and Stevie Wonder Interview on Arsenio Hall Show
The greatest singing of the National Athem ever...
Another early Interview. "I know God has blessed me with voice... I know he has blessed me with talent" -Whitney
Some funny Whitney Moments
Count on me (w. CeCe Winans)
SF. Guru
What was your favorite Whitney Houston song?
Friday, December 23, 2011
Things that make me happy - A Midnight in Paris
Things that make me happy - A Midnight in Paris, a movie out on video this month.
Earlier this year A Midnight in Paris was in theaters and was one of the best independent films of the year. Directed by Woody Allen and starring Owen Wilson and host of celebrities in guest roles, this movies highlights Paris in its hey day in a artistically beautiful and fantastical way.
The premise is a modern day writer played cleverly by Wilson, finds a way to go back to Paris in the early twenty century and meets many of this century most famous and noted artists, writers, and creative talents. Each of these historical figures are played by a different celebrity actor and they give Wilson advice on life and his writing. Back in the present, Wilson tries to patch together his life with his girlfriend Inez (played by Rachel McAdams) while vacationing in Paris with her family.
I would have to say the star of this movie really is Paris. Or at least what it represents in the mind of many people -- A place for creative inspiration and romance. Woody Allen has a gift for featuring cities in his movies. In the early days it was mostly New York, but more recently his focus is spanning an array of global cities. Most notably, Barcelona in Vicky Christina Barcelona or London in Match Point, and now A Midnight in Paris. The movie is witty, a bit pretentious, and some may call it intellectually snobbish. But it also just might spark an intellectual curiosity about some of the great artist and thinkers of this past decade (Josephine Baker, Cole Porter, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein to name a few.) I know I picked up a few more books and took a few more trips to museums after seeing this movie (Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Edgar Degas). But for Woody Allen fans, you will love this movie.... great dialogue, witty humor, and great performances from the actors. For all others. Depends on your taste, but I think those with and open mind and don't mind a little fantasy mixed with your history lesson, give it a shot. This movie will probably get some Oscar buzz.
Pros
1. Woody Allen movie. There is a reason people keeps giving him money to make more. They are usually pretty good.
2. He is not in this movie. For those that are not fan of his neurotic acting.
3. Owen Wilson. Perfect casting. So innocently funny.
4. The guest actors. So many and they certainly seem to be trying to out do each other... in a good way.
5. The city. Paris. Makes me want to take a trip back there... in time.
Cons
1. Woody Allen movies have its own pace. Dialogue is king in his movies and this one is no different.
2. He is not in this movie. For those that ARE fans of his neurotic acting.
So what's your favorite Woody Allen movie?
S.F. Guru
Earlier this year A Midnight in Paris was in theaters and was one of the best independent films of the year. Directed by Woody Allen and starring Owen Wilson and host of celebrities in guest roles, this movies highlights Paris in its hey day in a artistically beautiful and fantastical way.
The premise is a modern day writer played cleverly by Wilson, finds a way to go back to Paris in the early twenty century and meets many of this century most famous and noted artists, writers, and creative talents. Each of these historical figures are played by a different celebrity actor and they give Wilson advice on life and his writing. Back in the present, Wilson tries to patch together his life with his girlfriend Inez (played by Rachel McAdams) while vacationing in Paris with her family.
I would have to say the star of this movie really is Paris. Or at least what it represents in the mind of many people -- A place for creative inspiration and romance. Woody Allen has a gift for featuring cities in his movies. In the early days it was mostly New York, but more recently his focus is spanning an array of global cities. Most notably, Barcelona in Vicky Christina Barcelona or London in Match Point, and now A Midnight in Paris. The movie is witty, a bit pretentious, and some may call it intellectually snobbish. But it also just might spark an intellectual curiosity about some of the great artist and thinkers of this past decade (Josephine Baker, Cole Porter, Ernest Hemingway, Gertrude Stein to name a few.) I know I picked up a few more books and took a few more trips to museums after seeing this movie (Salvador Dali, Pablo Picasso, Edgar Degas). But for Woody Allen fans, you will love this movie.... great dialogue, witty humor, and great performances from the actors. For all others. Depends on your taste, but I think those with and open mind and don't mind a little fantasy mixed with your history lesson, give it a shot. This movie will probably get some Oscar buzz.
Pros
1. Woody Allen movie. There is a reason people keeps giving him money to make more. They are usually pretty good.
2. He is not in this movie. For those that are not fan of his neurotic acting.
3. Owen Wilson. Perfect casting. So innocently funny.
4. The guest actors. So many and they certainly seem to be trying to out do each other... in a good way.
5. The city. Paris. Makes me want to take a trip back there... in time.
Cons
1. Woody Allen movies have its own pace. Dialogue is king in his movies and this one is no different.
2. He is not in this movie. For those that ARE fans of his neurotic acting.
So what's your favorite Woody Allen movie?
S.F. Guru
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
Things that make me happy... Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest
Things that make me happy... The documentary called Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest
It was 1985. Four young men (QTip, Phife, Ali Shaheed, and Jarobi) helped to create a pivot point in the history of hip hop. Hip hop music morphed into a sound that move past the "battle" or "intellectually immature" rap of that time into music that extended a long history of story telling by incorporating truly improvisational artistry. The documentary, Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe called Quest, produced by filmmaker Michael Rapaport, is now available on video. It chronicles the the history of one of the best rap groups of all time and takes you behind the scenes of the members of the group as they discuss their music, relationships, and the influences that help them create their unique and original sound copied by many of the best producers and beat makers today.
I look at any documentary film in three ways, quality, subject, and impact. The first is the quality of the work. As a person who watches many documentaries, I think this one is one of the best of the year. In a previous blog, I mentioned several others that came out in 2011 both in theaters and on cable. This one tops them all. The interviews are not "soft" where people appear to have an agenda and are telling you what they think you want to hear. The discussion are honest, real, and sometime a bit awkward as they talk about the good and bad times over their 25+ year relationship. You almost get the feeling that they need to tell this story just to get it off of their chest. Post production there are stories on the internet and twitter about conflicts Q-tip and others have about the portrayal in the film. This is kinda a good sign that they really got to some real truths in the documentary.
The second way a film stands out is the subject matter. Look. If you are a true fan of hip hop and more specifically a dedicated fan of the "Native Tongues" then the music alone will please you (if you don't know about Native Tongues... treat yourself to a great Christmas gift and check out the artists). But if you take into account the all the artist featured in this film and the history lesson, then this film will definitely surpass your expectations.
The last way I judge a film is the feelings that it invokes. For documentaries sometimes they just help increase a person knowledge on a subject. Maybe a few Aha!! moments about a subject that you are not familiar with or perhaps some deeply hidden insights from expert in a field. But best triggers an emotion. And this one... for me... brings out nostalgia. I remember putting on my dashiki even when I didn't quite know what the hell it was just because I saw artist like Tribe and Dela Soul wearing one. It also fused my love for jazz (yes even at a early age I knew I loved me some Jazz music) with the music of my generation, hip hop. A Tribe Called Quest produced music that was fun yet insightful, discussing afro-centric topics that until that time was not covered in most type of popular music. And more importantly Tribe is part of the soundtrack of my and many of my generation lives. For this truly makes me happy.
Pros:
1. Well done documentary... not a propaganda vehicle and they certainly were pitching anything in this video. Real Talk... the way it should be.
2. The music. The soundtrack speaks for its self.
3. Features lots of artist talking about the impact of the music.
Cons:
1. Not enough performance footage although filmed during a tour. Lots of musical documentaries, like Madonna's truth or dare manages to feature lots of performance videos.
2. The group still has lots of tension. Not much of the group chatting together... Its a little sad that you can see the Beastie Boys still doing interviews together and Tribe struggling to work through their issues. At time is painful to watch. Can't we all just get along?
3. Jealousy, hurt, miscommunication and health issues. Lots of love between the group and they just can't figure out how manage the relationship over the years.
What's your favorite A Tribe Called Quest song?
S.F. Guru
It was 1985. Four young men (QTip, Phife, Ali Shaheed, and Jarobi) helped to create a pivot point in the history of hip hop. Hip hop music morphed into a sound that move past the "battle" or "intellectually immature" rap of that time into music that extended a long history of story telling by incorporating truly improvisational artistry. The documentary, Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe called Quest, produced by filmmaker Michael Rapaport, is now available on video. It chronicles the the history of one of the best rap groups of all time and takes you behind the scenes of the members of the group as they discuss their music, relationships, and the influences that help them create their unique and original sound copied by many of the best producers and beat makers today.
The second way a film stands out is the subject matter. Look. If you are a true fan of hip hop and more specifically a dedicated fan of the "Native Tongues" then the music alone will please you (if you don't know about Native Tongues... treat yourself to a great Christmas gift and check out the artists). But if you take into account the all the artist featured in this film and the history lesson, then this film will definitely surpass your expectations.
The last way I judge a film is the feelings that it invokes. For documentaries sometimes they just help increase a person knowledge on a subject. Maybe a few Aha!! moments about a subject that you are not familiar with or perhaps some deeply hidden insights from expert in a field. But best triggers an emotion. And this one... for me... brings out nostalgia. I remember putting on my dashiki even when I didn't quite know what the hell it was just because I saw artist like Tribe and Dela Soul wearing one. It also fused my love for jazz (yes even at a early age I knew I loved me some Jazz music) with the music of my generation, hip hop. A Tribe Called Quest produced music that was fun yet insightful, discussing afro-centric topics that until that time was not covered in most type of popular music. And more importantly Tribe is part of the soundtrack of my and many of my generation lives. For this truly makes me happy.
Pros:
1. Well done documentary... not a propaganda vehicle and they certainly were pitching anything in this video. Real Talk... the way it should be.
2. The music. The soundtrack speaks for its self.
3. Features lots of artist talking about the impact of the music.
Cons:
1. Not enough performance footage although filmed during a tour. Lots of musical documentaries, like Madonna's truth or dare manages to feature lots of performance videos.
2. The group still has lots of tension. Not much of the group chatting together... Its a little sad that you can see the Beastie Boys still doing interviews together and Tribe struggling to work through their issues. At time is painful to watch. Can't we all just get along?
3. Jealousy, hurt, miscommunication and health issues. Lots of love between the group and they just can't figure out how manage the relationship over the years.
Beats, Rhymes & Life Trailer
The Scenario
Bonita Applebum
What's your favorite A Tribe Called Quest song?
S.F. Guru
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Things that make me happy... Aaliyah
Things that make me happy this week... Aaliyah
On August 25th ten years ago a plane crashed after taking of from an island in the Bahamas taking the life of a young R&B superstar named Aaliyah. But before she was taken from us she left her mark on the music world with three great albums showcasing artistic growth, soulful sounds, and true hip hop flavor.
BET had a series of tribute including, Aaliyah: One in a Million, last month highlighting her career and her top videos.
Aaliyah Dana Haughton was born in NY but raised in Detroit. She started her released her first album at the age of 15 under the tutelage of R. Kelly. She released three albums in seven years and starred in several movies before her tragic death in 2001 in airplane crash after finishing a video shoot.
Did you know that Aaliyah was on Star Search at 9 years? Possessing triple threat ability in dancing, singing, and acting, Aaliyah was defintely born to be a performer.
A few facts...
#10 most successfull femail RB artist in last 30 years
#27 most successful overall RB artist in last 30 years
#70 most successful overall artist in last 30 years
30 million albums sold world wide
Nominated multiple times for Grammy, AMA, Billboard, MTV Video, and Soul Train awards.
Won 3 AMA, 6 Billboard, 2 MTV Video, and 1 Soul Train awards
Albums
Age is Nothing but a Number
One in a Million
Aaliyah
So why Aaliyah? I don't have many albums that I can play the whole thing and not feel like skipping any songs. Aaliyah has two such albums (One in a Million, Aaliyah). And she was the princess of R&B. She brought a street swagger with a classic R&B singing voice. And her colloborations with Missy and Timberland set the foundations for Justin Timberlake, Ciara, and many other popular artist today with that hot double beat sound.
If you haven't seen an Aaliyah video in a while... Check one out. They still get nuff play on VH1 soul and other video channels.
A great talent taken away way too soon... RIP!!
S.F. Guru
On August 25th ten years ago a plane crashed after taking of from an island in the Bahamas taking the life of a young R&B superstar named Aaliyah. But before she was taken from us she left her mark on the music world with three great albums showcasing artistic growth, soulful sounds, and true hip hop flavor.
BET had a series of tribute including, Aaliyah: One in a Million, last month highlighting her career and her top videos.
Aaliyah Dana Haughton was born in NY but raised in Detroit. She started her released her first album at the age of 15 under the tutelage of R. Kelly. She released three albums in seven years and starred in several movies before her tragic death in 2001 in airplane crash after finishing a video shoot.
Did you know that Aaliyah was on Star Search at 9 years? Possessing triple threat ability in dancing, singing, and acting, Aaliyah was defintely born to be a performer.
A few facts...
#10 most successfull femail RB artist in last 30 years
#27 most successful overall RB artist in last 30 years
#70 most successful overall artist in last 30 years
30 million albums sold world wide
Nominated multiple times for Grammy, AMA, Billboard, MTV Video, and Soul Train awards.
Won 3 AMA, 6 Billboard, 2 MTV Video, and 1 Soul Train awards
Albums
Age is Nothing but a Number
One in a Million
Aaliyah
So why Aaliyah? I don't have many albums that I can play the whole thing and not feel like skipping any songs. Aaliyah has two such albums (One in a Million, Aaliyah). And she was the princess of R&B. She brought a street swagger with a classic R&B singing voice. And her colloborations with Missy and Timberland set the foundations for Justin Timberlake, Ciara, and many other popular artist today with that hot double beat sound.
A great talent taken away way too soon... RIP!!
S.F. Guru
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