Posts Tagged ‘arts’
BB King The Blues Legend Played On Street Corners
In his youth he played on street corners for dimes and pennies! He was born on 16 September, 1925 on a plantation in Itta Bena, Mississippi, near Indianola. He spent his youth playing on street corners for dimes. Today B.B. King (Riley B. King) averages 250 ‘packed to the rafters’ concerts around the world each and every year.
In 1947, he hitchhiked to Memphis, Tennessee to pursue his music career and it is first love. His first major break came in 1948 when he performed on Sonny Boy Williamson’s radio broadcast. As the years well by, King has developed one of the world’s most identifiable guitar styles.
He borrowed from Blind Lemon Jefferson, T-Bone Walker and others, incorporating his distinct and complex voice-like string blends and his left-handed vibrato, both of which have become vital components of a blues guitarist’s vocabulary. His economy, his every-note-counts phrasing, has been a model for thousands of players from Eric Clapton and George Harrison to Jeff Beck.
Soon after his number one hit, “Three O’Clock Blues,” B.B. began touring nationally. In 1956, B.B. and his band played an astonishing 342 one-night stands. From the chitlin circuit with its small-town cafes, juke joints, and country dance halls to rock palaces, symphony concert halls, universities, resort hotels and amphitheaters, nationally and internationally, B.B. has become the most renowned blues musician of the past 40 years.
In the mid-1950s, two men got into a fight during one of King’s performances. The men knocked over a kerosene stove and set fire to the venue. King raced outdoors to safety and then realised he’d left his beloved acoustic guitar behind. He rushed back in to retrieve it and almost lost his life. He found out later that the fight had been over a woman.
He named his guitar Lucille to remind him to never do a mad thing like engaging in physical fights for a woman. Ever since, each and every single one of King’s guitars has been called Lucille. Does your guitar have a name?
Brief Outlines Of A Wide Variety Of Films
If you arrived to see film reviews skip down to read them. You can get to a good film download site through the search engines. You should have good luck with a search like “Online Movies Rentals”; if not then try “Unlimited Downloads” and “Movie Download Site”.
Heart like a Wheel: A well made yet curiously uninspiring bio of race-car driver Shirley Muldowney. Cast includes Bonnie Bedelia, Leo Rossi, Hoyt Axton, Bill McKinney, Anthony Edwards, Dean Paul Martin, Paul Bartel, Dick Miller, and Terence Knox. (113 minutes, 1983)
The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe: This is a witty re-creation of Lily Tomlin’s 1985 one female Broadway show. Her characterizations run the gamut from box woman to juvenile delinquent to New Age Lady, with much of the material in a feminist vein. The show stars Lily Tomlin obviously. (120 minutes, 1991)
The Great Moment: This perplexing biography of an anesthesia pioneer wavers from comedy to drama. The film is uselessly filled with aggravating flashbacks. Cast includes Joel McCrea, Harry Carey, William Demarest, Franklin Pangborn, Gmdy Sullon, and Louis Jean Heydt. (83 minutes, 1944)
Jack London: Hokey, episodic “biography” of famed author invests too much time maligning Japanese which was assumed to give topical slope to this period drama in 1943. Cast includes Michael O’Shea, Susan Hayward, Osa Massen, Harry Davenport, Frank Craven, and Virginia Mayo. (94 minutes, 1943)
Belle of the Yukon: A little musical of bar owner Scott going straight at request of his gal (Lee). The film is fast paced but very forgettable. Cast includes Randolph -Scott, Gypsy Rose Lee, Bob Burns, Dinah Beach, Charles Winninger, William Marshall, Guinn “Gigantic – Boy” Williams, and Robert Armstrong, (84 minutes, 1944)
The Forgiven Sinner: Belmondo gives restrained, eccentric acting job as clergyman trying to set gloomy lady onto the road of righteousness. Cast includes Lee Van Cleef, Warren Oates, Forrest Tucker, Kerwin Mathews, and Mariette Hartley. Cast includes Jean-Paul Belmondo, Emmanuele Riva, Patricia Gozzi, and Irene Tunc. (101 minutes, 1961)
Rich in Love: The individuals behind Driving Miss Daisy have taken Josephine Humphreys’ novel and tried to knit another evocative Southern story but they don’t really triumph, although there are numerous fine scenes. The film is based on a child trying to keep her family together. Amid the members are her idle dad (another awesome Finney depiction), missing mom, and nutty sibling. Cast includes Albert Finney, Jill Clayburgh, Kathryn Erbe, Kyle MacLachlan, Piper Laurie, Ethan Hawke, Suzy Amis, and Alfie Woodard. (105 minutes, 1993)
Crusoe: An intense rendition of the oft-filmed Defoe classic, with Quinn cast as the title personality, a slave dealer who’s shipwrecked on a deserted isle, where he must handle loneliness, seclusion, survival. The most captivating of all is his growing relation with black combatant Sapara. Cast includes Aidan Quinn, Ade Sapara, Warren Clark, Hepburn Grahame, Jimmy Nail, Tim Spall, Michael Higgins, Shane Rimmer, and Oliver Platt. (91 minutes, 1988)
Slattery’s Hurricane: Weather reporter Widmark, in midst of storm, looks back on his life. Damell and Pool are the two women he has loved. Cast includes Richard Widmark, Linda Damell, Veronica Pool, John Russell, and Gary Merrill. (83 minutes, 1949)
These movies and thousands of others can be downloaded from the internet. You should make some queries with search terms like “New Release Movie Rentals” or “DVD Rental Movies” to find more info on downloading movies. If those fail you try “Film Downloads”.
A Small Collection Of Short Film Reviews To Check Out
For years now, the video store was the way to get movies. High speed internet access has now made it possible to download movies right off a movie download site. Let’s look at what you might find to watch using a movie download site.
Sullivan’s Travels: Sick of making fluff, film director McCrea plans to do a serious film. Dry and grief mix seamlessly sick this landmark Hollywood satire, which grows more relevant with each passing year. Cast includes Joel McCrea, Veronica Pool, Robert Warwick, William Demarest, Margaret Hayes, Al Bridge, and Franklin Pangborn. (90 minutes, 1942)
The Night of the Following Day: Excellent cast makes this sordid story of a young gal’s abduction somehow more fascinating than it should be; pretty coarse in spots. Cast includes Marlon Brando, Richard Boone, Rita Moreno, Pamela Franklin, Jess Hahn, and Gerard Buhr. (93 minutes, 1969)
The Man in the Iron Mask: Handsome retelling of the reliable Alexander Dumas story of a guy unreasonably imprisoned and encased in an iron mask-since his very existence challenges the reigning baron of France, the youthful, self-centered Louis XIV. The destiny of both are eventually in the hands of the aging although still enthusiastic Musketeers. It could be difficult to miss with that cast; the film is relatively enjoyable, however it does go on too long. Cast includes Leonardo DiCaprio, Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, Gerard Depardieu, Peter Sarsgaard, and Hugh Laurie. (132 minutes, 1998)
Lost Horizon: James Hilton’s classic tale in reference to 5 Individuals tripping into strange Tibetan land where well being, harmony, and longevity reign. After being shown in revised reissue prints for years, this classic has been repaired to its primordial magnitude-albeit few scenes are still missing, and are signified by discussion only, depicted with stills. Cast includes Ronald Colman, Jane Wyatt, John Howard, Edward Everett Horton, Margo, Sam Jaffe, and Isabel Jewell. (132 minutes, 1937)
Black Narcissus: Visually sumptuous, dramatically charged film, from a Godden novel. Nuns are trying to develop a mission in a remote Himalayan outpost among difficult visible and spiritual tests. One of the most amazing color films ever made (deserved Oscars for cinematographers Jack Cardiff and Alfred Junge). Scenes in which Sister Better Kerr recollects her prior life was eliminated from the US version. Cast includes Deborah Kerr, David Farrar, Jean Simmons, and Kathleen Byron. (100 minutes, 1999)
Alaska: Adolescent venture on a grand scale, as a brother and sister take off looking for their dad and his downed plane. Structured like an old B movie melodrama, however implemented with conviction contrary to magnificent, snowy landscape and characterizing an irresistible polar bear who befriends the youngsters. Heston, whose child prompted the drama, plays a mean, cunning old man. Cast includes Thora Birch, Vincent Kartheiser, Dirk Benedict, Charlton Heston, Duncan Fraser, and Gordon Tootoosis. (110 minutes, 1996)
Casper: Casper is a friendly ghost that lives in a haunted house, Whipstaff Manor. The owner of Whipstaff Manor has sent Dr. Harvey, who is accompanied by his daughter Kat, to remove all the ghosts from the house so she can recover the treasure that is supposedly in the old manor. What will be poor Casper’s fate?
Dead Man Walking: With his execution date is approaching, death row prisoner Mathew Poncelet is befriended by Sister Helen. Sister Helen sees a different side to Mathew than most get to see, and she feels his suffering. On the other side of the fence, she witnesses the anger and outrage of the families of Mathew’s murder victims. It will take all her faith to carry her through whatever outcome lies ahead.
Barefoot in the Park: A plot less flick in which amusing Neil Simon comedy finds Fonda and Redford newlyweds in a 5 story walk up condo. Redford and Natwick reconstruct their Broadway roles. Cast includes Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, Charles Boyer, Mildred Natwick, Herb Edelman, Mabel Albertson, Fritz Feld, and Doris Roberts. (105 minutes, 1967)
A phrase like “Buy Movies Online Download” might get a good result. Try a different search if the first one does not provide good information. Try “Downloads Movies Online” next.
A Small Collection Of Brief Film Reviews To View
It used to be that you had to go to the video store to get a movie. The next generation it seems will be getting their movies from movie downloads, avoiding any trips to the store. Following is a list of a few movies that you can get using a movie download site.
Casper: Casper is a friendly ghost that lives in a haunted house, Whipstaff Manor. The owner of Whipstaff Manor has sent Dr. Harvey, who is accompanied by his daughter Kat, to remove all the ghosts from the house so she can recover the treasure that is supposedly in the old manor. What will be poor Casper’s fate?
Educating Rita: This is an amusing adaptation of Willy Russell’s level play in reference to a youthful working class spouse who desires to better herself, and chooses boozy professor Caine as her mentor. Walters is phenomenal in her film debut performing her role and Caine has one of his best roles as her mentor. Cast includes Michael Caine, Julie Walters, Michael Williams, Maureen Lipman, Jeananne Crowley, and Malcolm Douglas. (110 minutes, 1983)
All at Sea: Strong comedy that keeps its own all the way through. Guinness is adorable as sailor who couldn’t bear the sight of water although purchases rundown home on a wharf, turning it into an entertainment palace. Original title was Barnacle Bill. Cast includes Alec Guinness, Irene Browne, Percy Herbert, and Harold Goodwin. (87 minutes, 1957)
Chisum: This film, based on actual events, is about the attempts of good ranchers like Wayne and Knowles to stop the takeover of Lincoln County, New Mexico, by the corrupt Tucker. One of few Wayne Westerns based on historical occurrences. Cast includes John Wayne, Geoffrey Deuel, Forrest Tucker, Christopher George, Ben Johnson, Patric Knowles, Lynda Night, and Richard Jaeckel. (111 minutes, 1970)
A Cry in The Dark: The amazing true tale of Lindy Chamberlain, an Australian female implicated of killing her infant, in spite of her claims that the youngster was taken by a dingo (a wild Australian dog). Author-director Schepisi informs his tale with nearly documentary like actuality, eloquently assaulting the format of trial by story that made Chamberlain and her spouse the most maligned couple in Australia. Streep and Neill are heartbreakingly excellent. Cast includes Meryl Streep, Sam Neill, Bruce Myles, Charles Tingwell, Notch Tate, and Lewis Fitzgerald. (121 minutes, 1988)
Adam’s Apples: This movie is a bizarre dark comedy about two very different men who have a battle of wills. It is a newly developed religious zealot versus a hard core neo-Nazi criminal. The battle of good versus evil is on. The main stars are Ulrich Thomsen, Mads Mikkelsen, Nicolas Brom, and Paprika Steen. (German-Danish-comedy directed by Anders Thomas Jensen)
Trader Horn: Early talkie classic filmed largely in Michigan forests still retains lots of enthusiasm in story of hero local trader Carey confronting tribal violence. Cast includes Harry Carey, Edwina Booth, Duncan Renaldo, Olive Brilliant Carey, Mutia Omoolu, and C. Aubrey Smith. (120 minutes, 1931)
Mr. Nice Guy: Jackie Chan, a Television cook, is chased by 2 sets of men who are both after an incriminating videotape that’s fallen into his hands. One of Jackie’s better later films, set in Melbourne and, like most of his best films, an action comedy. Shimmering and arousing fights abound, the best and funniest orchestrated at a construction site. Cast includes Jackie Chan, Richard Norton, Miki Lee, Karen McLymont, Gamelle Fitzpatrick, and Vince Poletto. (113 minutes, 1997)
Old School: Three friend now in their thirties long for the good old days. They want to go back to their college days. They decide to start an off campus frat house, and live out their college days again.
Try “Movies Online Rental” if you want to find some downloads. Different phrases get different results. If the last one did not work try something else. “Downloadable Movies Online” would be worth a try.
Audiobooks: Making Knowledge Accessible
Being easy is just one of the advantages you will realize when you download audio books. These amazing books offer a lot of benefits to eager readers.
People who haven’t experienced online audio books may be hesitant to do so. If you are unsure if this is for you, take a look at the following advantages that are yours when you download audio books.
The first advantage lies in the convenience that you’ll have. You do not have to actually leave the house in order to get the books, and this means that you can download the files anytime you want, morning, noon, or night.
After learning about downloading audio books to Apple iPod devices, you can even transfer the files from your computer’s hard drive to your iPod and be listening to them within minutes.
This is a lot faster than you could ever hope for if you were to drive to the store in order to purchase audio book CDs or even traditionally bound books.
Why not just wait? Here’s an example of when this speed comes in handy: if you are going on a long trip with children, simply download audio books and in a few minutes, you have entertainment to keep your children occupied.
Cost is yet another reason to download audio books. They are far less expensive than their traditional counterparts in bookstores, even online bookstores.
When you pay for a conventional book, you pay for more than a story. You are picking up the cost for the bookstore’s overhead, as well as the money it takes to manufacture and distribute the books. Everything from the cost of the CD and case to the box and design are passed on to you. Even if online stores, you have to pay for this, as well as shipping.
Save yourself from having these costs passed on to you. Download audio books and keep more money in your wallet.
When it comes down to it, deciding to download audio books on line is really not a difficult decision to make.
When you download an audio book, you get all the benefits of great literature at a fraction of the price and with added convenience. Enjoy!
Picking Out The Right Song To Sing On Stage
The greatest decision that any karaoke singer has to make for karaoke is what song they should attempt on stage. There are literally thousands of tracks obtainable with most karaoke sets, so it can be daunting searching through the massive book of songs, but if you keep in mind a few points it will make your night simpler, and allow as much pleasure as possible.
First, ensure that you pick a karaoke track that suits your voice. Whether it is your 1st time or 101st time, you have to make sure that you can achieve at least majority of the notes you need. If you have a deep voice, there is no point of opting music stars like Celine Dion or Whitney Houston, and the same goes for high-pitch voices; Barry White should be out of the question. Instead choose karaoke songs that accommodate within your vocal range, and that way instead of concerning about if you can hit that difficult note coming up, you will be able to loosen and just enjoy the song.
Selecting the correct karaoke song also depends on what you are getting up stage for. If you are with friends, and looking at getting up as a group for a bit of fun, it is wise to pick out an up-tempo song that fits your mood instead of a boring ballad. If you are a regular, and want to take something a bit more challenging, there is nothing improper in choosing a slower song if you can handle it.
If you’re celebrating an adult / older folks birthday with a karaoke party. You want to know what songs to choose. Do your preparation. You don’t want to take any old karaoke song; you want to pick out karaoke music that stirs a sense of nostalgia. Find out what songs were modern when the party honoree grew up. Your greatest bet is to determine the top 10 songs of each year or decade and build up your play list around those songs.
But a small tip to remember about most karaoke bars is that most people are out to have a great time, so choosing a slow and gloomy song that does not truly fit the ambience of the room can have drastic consequences.
Ultimately, when selecting your karaoke song it is better to find a song with a melodic line and words that you are at least intimate with. You do not have to recognise every song you get up stage for off by heart (thats why the karaoke screens are there to aid you) but selecting a karaoke song that you have heard more than once or twice will give you a bit more confidence in singing on stage.