Titanic, Songe d'Automne

This weekend was a Titanic vintage dance week of epic proportions. Unfortunately, it has left me playing catch-up on schoolwork, so I haven't written you any great posts with pictures yet. Instead, I will leave you with the haunting song "Songe d'Automne," one song reported to be the final played by the band as the ship sank. Last night at the ball, our band played this as a final waltz. Although many people did not stay though the end of the evening, it was really quite something for those of us who stayed.

Walking on Broken Glass

First of all, HUGH LAURIE.

Second of all, why is she so upset? She has Hugh Laurie. Third of all, her feet probably just hurt from running down all those stairs... the guy knows how to teleport or use the elevator, which is faster anyway. WAIT A SECOND, is that Prince George?Oh, wait... it's Hugh Laurie!

Dick Turpin on Horrible History

When I was young, I went to England for a week with my family. While there, I discovered the coolest book series for 12 year olds EVER. It was called "Horrible Histories," and it was these really funny illustrated books fully of silly or absurd facts about different historical time periods. They all had great alliterative titles (like the Ruthless Romans or the Terrible Tudors). They were really charming and silly books.If you pay any attention to this blog, you may have noticed that I also adore Adam Ant, a fabulous 1980s British pop star. Of particular note is his song "Stand and Deliver," a great song with an amazing music video starring Adam And as a fashion-conscious romantic highwayman. Fantastic!

Just recently, I've discovered that the Horrible Histories have become a television show! Which features skits ranging from gross (clearly aimed at the 12 year old audience) to absolutely brilliant. Among the very best? Check out this music video about Dick Turpin, a totally unromanticized look at the life of a highwayman.
For comparison, here is Stand and Deliver. Oh, this is no accident.

Cake Concert

I've been slow at posting, mostly because I've been doing the boring college student thing. With the semester coming to a close, I have all sorts of projects, papers, and loose ends to tie up. But on Friday I did do one very cool thing. I went to a Cake concert with my very cool mother.

Their lead singer said something interesting about how he thought what was wrong with society was the disappearance of the three-four time signature. In fact, my own theory was that the disappearance of hats was going to lead to the downfall of society, but in fact the majority of the band members wore hats, so perhaps I have been worrying for nothing. Fascinating. So, in an effort to jump-start society, listen to a lovely waltz by Cake.

White Uniforms and Tchaikovsky

I love these uniforms, and I love this music. I wish I knew more about men's military uniforms - if anyone knows more than I do, please please tell me! I absolutely love the red-lined tails on Prince Andrei's smashing uniform in War and Peace (the 2007 miniseries). I adore the shape of the jacket and the trousers with a red stripe on Count Vronsky's uniform in Anna Karenina (the 1997 movie). I also love the Tchaikovsky Swan Lake music. It is so sweeping and romantic (and in a movie, nobody gives you dirty looks for throwing in irritating retards that trip up ballroom dancers). By the way, I am putting these up because they are pretty, not because I condone the dancing. Don't even think about that. Just admire the pretty music and the gorgeous uniforms (although who knows if I would still like them if I knew more about men's uniforms - but if they are wrong, ignorance is bliss, because they look so pretty! Epaulettes!).

CAKE!

I think it is time for a break from regency, and all the fascinating historical things I have in mind. When I take a break, I like to listen to Cake. This is because Cake is a fantastically cool band. Have some Cake. Short Skirt Long Jacket is one of the more brilliantly constructed songs ever, and the music video for The Distance is very clever. Enjoy.

Thomas Dolby Blinded Me with Science

I recently posted about Rockula, a fantastically silly movie from the 80s about a vampire who becomes a rock star. But did you figure out the really cool thing I didn't point out? Stanley, the ex-boyfriend of the most recently incarnated Mona, the owner of a discount coffin shop (Come to Stanley's, Stan's the man! Come to Stanley's Death Park!), and the "egotistical, psuedo-intellectual, money grubbing slut"... yes, that Stanley. That Stanley was played by none other than Thomas Dolby. Do you recognize him?
Isn't that fantastic? What's that you say? Who's Thomas Dolby? You don't know him? Of course you do know him! Or are you truly unfamiliar with "She Blinded Me with Science!" Anyway, run over to youtube and watch the lovely remasterd music video for it, because embedding has been disabled for that video. Boo. But enjoy some pictures!

Are You Ready to Rockula?

I love ridiculous things. I love vampires. I have a particular soft spot for ridiculous things involving vampires. Brace yourself for this one... I am about to summarize the plot of Rockula.

About 200 years ago, Ralph (the vampire) was in love with a girl named Mona. Then her jealous rhinestone-peg-legged pirate ex-boyfriend beat her to death with a ham-bone. Since then, she has been reincarnated every 22 years. Every 22 years, Ralph meets her just in time to fall in love and see her killed by a pirate wielding a ham-bone.

I challenge you to come up with a more fantastically ridiculous premise than that.
Other highlights include Ralph's scary vintage vampire mother, Ralph's semi-autonomous playboy reflection, and Stanley the sleazy wholesale coffin salesman and music producer. And did I mention that Ralph becomes a rock star in the process of wooing the most recent Mona incarnation? Yes, that is why the title is "Rockula." Better than the horrific example of comic rap called "Rapula." A small excerpt, for you:

"Gina, I mean Mina came too my crib."
"Gee, Mr. Rapula, you're awfully glib."
"She made me a dish called huevos dracula with garlic and eggs and a gold-plated spatula. You can read the commentary by William Saffire."
"Are you the DJ?"
"No, I am the vampire."
Of course, the dialogue is even more ridiculous than the lyrics. A couple of my favorite bits:

"Just forget you ever saw me, cause the next thing you know, we're gonna go out on a date, we're gonna fall in love, and then some crazy pirate's gonna peg you with a hambone!"

"You're such a dork, Stanley."
"Take that back."
"OK. You're an egotistical, psuedo-intellectual, money-grubbing slut."
"... I'll buy that."

So, I suggest you go watch it. Now.

Where did Robinson Crusoe Go - Ian Whitcomb

Ian Whitcomb is a very neat fellow. In the 1960s, he was a british rock star (check out his hit - "You turn me on"). At some point, he started playing ukulele and doing really adorable ragtime music. Too much fun. But for something incredibly neat, check out this video of him, in the 1960s, playing the adorable vintage song "Where did Robinson Crusoe Go with Friday on Saturday Night." Check out his entertaining outfit, and be certain to note the Shindig dancing girls, doing some variety of suspicious charleston in their faux-flapper fringe dresses.

Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britian - More Kate Bush Wuthering Heights

These guys are so cool. So if you liked Kate Bush, check out their version of her song. Or perhaps if you hated her, check it out for a less... something-or-other version of the song. Anyway, check them out because they are adorable.

Wuthering Heights - Kate Bush

This is one of the most ridiculous and frightening and wonderful things you may ever see. I have to learn the choreography for this. While the dancing (is it dancing? really?) may be fantastic, make sure you also listen to the words. You know, I really hated Wuthering Heights when I read it. But this song will haunt you. You will wake in the night hearing "Heathcliff, its me, Cathy, I've come home...." Don't watch this if you aren't prepared for that to happen.

Monsters in Love by Dionysos

A while ago I wrote about Dionysos, a french band with a couple of songs that embody exactly what I would look for in steampunk music. They also have a lot of songs that I would not characterize as steampunk. They also sometimes sing in English (with great accents, though). This is one such song... not steampunk, not in french, but particularly entertaining. Just read and enjoy the lyrics for "Monsters in Love":

We live like monsters
Like monsters in love
We live like monsters
Like monsters in love
I've stolen your perfume last night
On your bathroom floor
I've drunk all the bottle
And I feel like I was riding
My bike into the forest of your black hair
We live like monsters
Like monsters in love
Drunken trees got whisky in their veins
Lick them all
Drunken birds got whisky in their veins
Eat them all
The night is a friend of mine
I'm sure she'll hide us
Down by her arms
Nobody can see us
Nobody can tell us
Wake up my baby
Light up your body
Follow the dead trees
That make their shadow dancing like in musicals
Nobody can tell us that we live like monsters
'Cause love make monsters pretty
When they hug under a dead tree
Monsters in love, monsters in love

I love those last couple of lines. Isn't it darling? You should probably go hear the song for real, because the dramatic music and tempo changes (and the funny accent) all help make it even better. Cute song, very much stuck in my head...

Jenny Lind

We often hire a wonderful band called Spare Parts to do music for balls. They are a fantastic historical dance band. One song they play is called "The Jenny Lind Polka." It is a great song, but I had never given it more thought than that.

But apparently Jenny Lind was a famous singer, referred to as the Swedish Nightingale. Interesting. I stumbled across this picture of her in a pretty dress. I also found this very weird story about an antique "scarecrow" that ended up being a statue of Jenny Lind, apparently from the bow of a ship. If you're curious, it's here.

More Adam Ant

Because I am terribly ill right now, here are a couple lovely music videos by Adam Ant for you to watch. I will write more interesting things when I am less ill, probably.

From the rockabilly phase...

I bet it would have been really fun to go to an Adam Ant concert, once upon a time. Check out what they've done here... he is on a rope ladder, hanging from a screen on which appears a rope ladder. Subtle, but clever. I like it.

Also, some good ones with scantly-historically-clad women.

Adam Ant, Ultimate Role Model

Adam Ant is one of the coolest things to come out of the 80s. Not only did he have a wonderful sense of dramatic fashion (excessively trimmed military jackets, tall boots, ruffly poet's shirts, and more!), which is enough to make him a role model for me, he also had a number of songs with wonderful messages. From
"No method to our madness, just pride about our manner" to
"It's so sad, when you're young, to be told you're having fun" to
"Prince Charming, Prince Charming, Ridicule is nothing to be scared of. Don't you ever, don't you ever stop being dandy, showing me you're handsome." Now those are words to live by. Dramatic, romantic, completely over the top words to live by. My very favorite kind!

I was listening to Adam Ant a few weeks ago, and I made a comment about what a good role model he would make. I mean, he is quite obviously a cool guy, and the messages in so many of his songs are about being your own person, not caring about what others think of you, etc etc etc... the sort of things teachers and parents are always trying to teach children. At least, I think that's why I brought up the role model thing... as a personal role model his impeccable use of poet's shirts might really be sufficient.

My little sister's reaction was that she had once seen a television special on him, and he had, "gotten arrested for throwing some kind of fit. He was dressed as a pirate."

My reaction was that getting arrested does not rule you out as a role model, as long as you do it dressed like a pirate!

Anyway, here is his very best video, for the song Stand and Deliver. I honestly could not tell you whether the lyrics or costumes make me happier, so take a little time to appreciate both. This is why Adam Ant is my hero. If you like this, consider also looking up the music videos for Puss in Boots (a fantastic specimen of the poet's shirt, with quite a lot of plot going for it) and Room at the Top (hilarious women from various historical time periods, in various levels of undress), or any others really. If Adam Ant did it, it is probably fantastic.

Can't Speak French - Girls Aloud

I love beautiful underwear. It is just too much fun. I recently made a black and white striped corset, and I have another several corset projects in various states waiting to be worked on. I also find the 18th century to be very inspiring. In honor of these things, I urge you to watch the music video for "Can't Speak French," by the British band Girls Aloud. Embedding has been disabled for it, but you can find it easily on youtube. Here are pictures, if you're too lazy to look up the song. The point is the hilarious modernized and impractical 18th century underwear. The music video also includes some men in relatively 18th century coats and wigs. I'm not sure if they count as props or fashion acccessories, but something like that.Isn't that entertaining? It makes me want to wear candy colored underwear all the time. Or something.

Clearly these are not good reproductions of 18th century corsets and underwear, but they are a lot of fun and draw inspiration from the very well-dressed Marie Antoinette. I think the weirdest thing is the cage hoop. I love it, but... why is it round? 18th century, and this is clearly meant to be, is all about the wide hips. I would understand some lovely cage panniers... some kind of oval shaped contraption... but round? I love it anyway, but it makes no sense to me.

Repo the Genetic Opera

A few nights ago I went over to visit some friends in their dorm. Which then developed into watching Bones. Which then dissolved into tears (perhaps not literal ones) as Megavideo failed us. Silly time limits. So instead we watched Repo the Genetic Opera.

I had actually completely forgotten how gruesome the movie gets. I was already familiar with the music long before seeing the movie, thanks to a different friend who is a particular fan (she made a Gentern outfit - what the sketchy nurses from the movie wear). So when I watch it, I hear all sorts of relatively clever lines and amusing phrases that I know are coming. But when my other friends watched it, they saw horrific scenes where dear sweet beloved Giles (that is, the same actor who plays Giles in Buffy) starts ripping people's organs out. Maybe I am not sufficiently bothered by this because it is so explicitly ridiculous, or maybe I was better prepared to like the movie. At least, I didn't have to look away each time a heart or spine was ripped out.

(No Giles! Don't do it!)

By the way, in case you don't know the set-up: Imainge a sort of post-apocalyptic world where organ failures become an epidemic. Up comes "GeneCo," a company offering easy and relatively inexpensive organ replacement surgeries. And cosmetic surgeries too. And surgery for the sake of surgery, for the many surgery addicts. But that is beside the point. Good so far - longer lives in surgically enhanced bodies. But surgery is still a pretty pricey undertaking, so there are payment plans. And if you are late making those payments, the Repo Man comes to get the organs back...

(Addicts, from the best musical number in the movie (Zydrate Anatomy))

Anyway, it is not a bad movie, but apparently it is much more potentially gruesome and disturbing than I had realized. Go figure.

Now, what I am really confused by is the new movie coming out called Repo Men. Here is the plot description stolen from IMDB:
"In the future humans have extended and improved our lives through highly sophisticated and expensive mechanical organs created by a company called "The Union". The dark side of these medical breakthroughs is that if you don't pay your bill, "The Union" sends its highly skilled repo men to take back its property... with no concern for your comfort or survival. Former soldier Remy is one of the best organ repo men in the business. But when he suffers a cardiac failure on the job, he awakens to find himself fitted with the company's top-of-the-line heart-replacement... as well as a hefty debt. But a side effect of the procedure is that his heart's no longer in the job. When he can't make the payments, The Union sends its toughest enforcer, Remy's former partner Jake, to track him down."

Sounds familiar, doesn't it? I will admit that the plot in terms of actual characters and events sounds significantly different. I wonder if it will be any good - it sounds a bit too serious once you take out the ridiculous plot, silly clothing, and amusing songs.
(Serious, Serious)