1. We ate some bad fish.
2. They apparently don't write themselves
3. Why do today what can be done never
4. Nasty cheese grater accident
5. We ate the dog's homework
6. Too busy counting the days till 12-21-2012
7. Making tinfoil hats for number 6
8. You don't know us...you don't know nothing bout us!
9. We were running from the pimps
10.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
The Third Ten. Top Ten Insane Characters from Books
HAL from 2001 by Arthur C Clarke
While it is debatable if an artificial intelligence can truly go insane, the actions of HAL, if performed by a human, would certainly qualify. Also, the reasoning behind these murderous actions, conflicting objectives, would be very much a source of insanity in a human. There is something haunting about the cold calculating computer murdering but then a feeling of sorrow when he asks, "Will I Dream?"
Jack Merridew from Lord of the Flies by William Golding
It has been a very long time since I last read Lord of the Flies but I will always remember the premise. The insanity that can come when people are put into dire situations and the humanity that can be lost when you hide behind a mask. And Jack being the primary antagonist and the one who separates the group into two tribes due to his obsession with continuing the hunt puts him at the top of the list from this particular story.
Jack Torrance from The Shining by Stephen King
While both Jack's (the novel version and the film version) are driven to insanity, the novel version is far more tragic. His relatively quick descent into insanity at the hotel lead him to nearly murder his family. However; in the end he is given the chance to redeem himself by saving them before they are killed in a boiler explosion.
Alex from A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Dexter Morgan from Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
Felix from Armor by John Steakley
I think it is easy to argue the fact of Felix's insanity in Armor. The "Engine" could simply be a coping device, however; the desire to die being overridden by the "Engine" leads me to believe that it is almost a second personality inside of Felix's mind. This ambiguity and the duality of Felix's mind is what makes the story of Armor more interesting to me than most space war novels.
Shaun Mason from Deadline by Mira Grant
In this sequel to Feed by Mira Grant, Shaun has a bit of insanity creep into his mind. It gives a great deal of humor that is often seen in more slapstick ways in other zombie novels and movies. His insanity also, oddly enough, serves as a moral compass and voice of reason which can be fascinating at times.
Richard Talbott (a.k.a. Chef Assassin) from Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk
It would have been easy to select the narrator from Fight Club for this list, however; I've always found the Chef even more fascinating. His murderous nature driven by a lack of belief in his abilities and his blackmailing of a knife company make him not only crazy but rather well set with forethought.
Patrick Bateman from American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
The Narrator from The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe
The Tell-Tale Heart may not be a book on it's own but as a story it is one of my favorites by Edgar Allen Poe. The lack of clarity in many aspects of the story (such as the gender of the narrator) and the fact that the details of the narrator's story are unreliable make the story fascinating. Also it hints at the various insanities that the narrator may be suffering from.
While it is debatable if an artificial intelligence can truly go insane, the actions of HAL, if performed by a human, would certainly qualify. Also, the reasoning behind these murderous actions, conflicting objectives, would be very much a source of insanity in a human. There is something haunting about the cold calculating computer murdering but then a feeling of sorrow when he asks, "Will I Dream?"
Jack Merridew from Lord of the Flies by William Golding
It has been a very long time since I last read Lord of the Flies but I will always remember the premise. The insanity that can come when people are put into dire situations and the humanity that can be lost when you hide behind a mask. And Jack being the primary antagonist and the one who separates the group into two tribes due to his obsession with continuing the hunt puts him at the top of the list from this particular story.
Jack Torrance from The Shining by Stephen King
While both Jack's (the novel version and the film version) are driven to insanity, the novel version is far more tragic. His relatively quick descent into insanity at the hotel lead him to nearly murder his family. However; in the end he is given the chance to redeem himself by saving them before they are killed in a boiler explosion.
Alex from A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
Dexter Morgan from Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay
Felix from Armor by John Steakley
I think it is easy to argue the fact of Felix's insanity in Armor. The "Engine" could simply be a coping device, however; the desire to die being overridden by the "Engine" leads me to believe that it is almost a second personality inside of Felix's mind. This ambiguity and the duality of Felix's mind is what makes the story of Armor more interesting to me than most space war novels.
Shaun Mason from Deadline by Mira Grant
In this sequel to Feed by Mira Grant, Shaun has a bit of insanity creep into his mind. It gives a great deal of humor that is often seen in more slapstick ways in other zombie novels and movies. His insanity also, oddly enough, serves as a moral compass and voice of reason which can be fascinating at times.
Richard Talbott (a.k.a. Chef Assassin) from Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk
It would have been easy to select the narrator from Fight Club for this list, however; I've always found the Chef even more fascinating. His murderous nature driven by a lack of belief in his abilities and his blackmailing of a knife company make him not only crazy but rather well set with forethought.
Patrick Bateman from American Psycho by Bret Easton Ellis
The Narrator from The Tell-Tale Heart by Edgar Allen Poe
The Tell-Tale Heart may not be a book on it's own but as a story it is one of my favorites by Edgar Allen Poe. The lack of clarity in many aspects of the story (such as the gender of the narrator) and the fact that the details of the narrator's story are unreliable make the story fascinating. Also it hints at the various insanities that the narrator may be suffering from.
Saturday, May 12, 2012
The Second Ten. Top Ten Cover Songs
I will survive by Cake
Recorded 1996 on Fashion Nugget
Originally by Gloria Gaynor
Recorded 1978 as a B Side
While I really love this cover, the slight change to the lyrics does change the whole meaning of some parts of the song, and this is Gloria Gaynor’s least favorite cover of her song due to the added profanity.
You Do Something to Me by Sinead O'Connor
Recorded 1990 on Red Hot and Blue
Originally by Cole Porter
Recorded 1929 on 50 Million Frenchmen
Such a beautiful rendition of this song. You really get to hear her range and her haunting voice. It’s a shame she is batshit cukoo, lovely song none the less
Have a Ball by Me First and the Gimme Gimme's
Recorded 1997 on Have a Ball
Originally by Billy Joel
Recorded 1983 on An Innocent Man
It’s Me First, that is all.
Feeling Good by Muse
Recorded 2001 on Origin of Symmetry
Originally sung by Cy Grant
In 1965 for the musical The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd
I don’t believe I have ever heard the original of this song, just this cover, and Nina Simone’s. Both are fantastic. It’s a tossup.
Love Song by Jack off Jill
Recorded 2000 on Clear Hearts Grey Flowers
Originally by The Cure
Recorded 1989 on Disintegration
Same as above comment, The Cure really doesn’t need to be redone, but they do a great job of it.
Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley
Recorded 1994 on Grace
Originally by Leonard Cohen
Recorded 1984 on Various Positions
Jeff Buckley's version of this song is truly haunting. The amount of negative space left in the song fills in the story better than a dozen instruments could. This rendition shows how an artist can take a song and, with subtle changes, make it a unique version.
Easy by Faith No More
Recorded 1993 on Songs to Make Love To
Originally by The Commodores
Recorded 1977 on Commodores
I love this version of Easy simply because it allowed Mike Patton an opportunity to showcase the soulful side of his vocals. He has an amazing range of styles and tone that, prior to this, hadn't truly been heard. I'm not often a fan of songs being covered so closely to the original but in this case it makes for a remarkable track.
Everybody Knows by Concrete Blonde
Recorded 1990 on The Pump Up the Volume Soundtrack
Originally by Leonard Cohen
Recorded 1988 on I'm Your Man
For a long time, I thought this was a Concrete Blonde song. The lyrics and tone of the song are very reminiscent of their usual work. When I found out it was originally by Leonard Cohen, I shouldn't have been surprised since I like so many songs people have covered of his. In this case, the original and the cover are both amazingly equal in their execution.
I Am Stretched on Your Grave by Dead Can Dance
Recorded 1994 on Toward the Within
From an Anonymous 17th century Irish poem titled "Táim sínte ar do thuama"
Every time I hear this song, I get chills. It was covered previously by a few artists including Sinead O'Connor but I don't think anyone covered it as well as Dead Can Dance. Anyone who can listen to this song and not be moved must be dead inside.
All Along the Watchtower by The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Recorded 1968 on Electric Lady Land
Originally by Bob Dylan
Recorded 1964 on John Wesley Harding
Bob Dylan has often been called the most covered artist in modern music. I don't know if this is true but I do know that while All Along the Watchtower was written and originally performed by Dylan, this is the official version of the song in most people's books. Bob Dylan himself has said that this is his favorite version. I've heard some great versions since including the version by Michael Hedges that take a different route with the song but Jimi's version will always have a special place.
Friday, May 4, 2012
The First Ten. Top Ten Songs from Soundtracks.
Lost Boys 1987
Cry Little Sister
Gerard McMann and Michael Mainieri
Singles 1992
Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thorns
Mother Love Bone
PCU 1994
Stomp
George Clinton Parliament Funkadelic
Lost Highway 1997
Eye
The Smashing Pumpkins
Reality Bites 1994
Stay
Lisa Loeb
Cool World 1992
Play With Me
Play With Me
Thompson Twins
9 ½ Weeks 1988
Slave to Love
Bryan Ferry
Some Kind of Wonderful 1987
The Hardest Walk
The Hardest Walk
The Jesus and Mary Chain
Pretty In Pink 1986
Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
Please Please Please Let Me Get What I Want
The Smiths
The Breakfast Club 1985
Don't You Forget About Me
Don't You Forget About Me
Simple Minds
Valley Girl 1994
First of 2 soundtrack compilations released approximately 10 years after the movie.
A Million Miles Away
Valley Girl 1994
First of 2 soundtrack compilations released approximately 10 years after the movie.
A Million Miles Away
The Plimsouls
Add your favorite soundtrack songs in comments.
Add your favorite soundtrack songs in comments.
Introduction
Welcome to the FiveHundredTwenty blog. This is a collaborative effort by Nicole and Lance to entertain our many conversations regarding the best of the best. Each week we select a themed list and submit our own top 10 lists. From those lists we select our 5 must haves and combine them to form a single list. The lists are listed with no ordering.
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