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"Droughtlander is the (overly long) period of time between airings of seasons of the wonderful show Outlander." (Source Unknown)
Jennifer Bollnow -
In case you have been living under a rock, Outlander, on Starz has become an international phenomenon. The TV series is based on the book series by Diana Gabaldon which follows Claire Randall, who, while on her second honeymoon, accidentally travels 200 years back in time. She meets her soulmate, Jamie Fraser and they fight for each other, their family and friends, against superstitions and even for Scotland’s freedom itself. The show is currently filming Season Six and although the setting is currently in the US in early 1770’s, it is filmed in Scotland.
Each season is full of extravagant sets, amazing, detailed costumes, props and even theme song changes that reflect the setting, time period and mood of the season. All this takes a lot of time to put together. In past years, fans in the Scotland area were even responsible for delays in filming by having tours near the set. All in the hopes of getting a peek at the stars, Catriona Balfe and Sam Heughan or even getting a scoop on the upcoming season. All this makes for a long wait between seasons. Fans have termed this time between new seasons as Droughtlander.
Season 5 aired on May 10th 2020. Covid shutdowns delayed filming for season six. Now safety protocols have changed how they work together, film (especially the many intimate scenes the series is known for) and how they keep cast and crew safe.
Droughtlander will be longer than usual this time, so fans are looking for something else to watch to tide them over other than rewatching each previous season. (Because most fans have all watched it more than once.)
Here are some recommendations (some are a little out of the box):
If you like the Time Travel or Fantasy aspect of Outlander.
Doctor Who (2005) -TheDoctor (in all of their regenerations) travels through all space and time, in their T.A.R.D.I.S., helping those in need. (Melanie - ALWAYS A fan of this suggestion - If you haven't watched before try BLINK - (Season 3 - Ep 10))
Quantum Leap (1989)-Dr. Sam Beckett travels within his own lifetime, leaping into the body of strangers. He helps to right wrongs and help the underdogs with the assistance of the hologram of his pal, Al. Always hoping his next leap will be the leap home. True Blood (2008)-In a world where Vampires have made themselves known to humans, telepath, Sookie Stackhouse encounters her first “live” vampire in her hometown in Louisiana. The series follows her relationships with vampires and more. (Melanie - Not sure I would have thought of this for Outlander Fans - but Hey the first few seasons ARE outstanding!) Melanie - I would add in here:- Salem - Magic and Witch Hunts - An interesting take on things. 3 complete seasons!
If you like the romance of a good period piece.
The Tudors (2007)-The reign and relationships of King Henry VIII (Melanie - I rewatch this ALL the time! LOVE it!)
Poldark (2015)-Ross Poldark returns to his home after the American Revolutionary War to find life had moved on without him. He proceeds to start over with many obstacles stacked against him. (Melanie - Another great one!) North and the South: Book 1(1985), Book 2 (1986) and Book 3(1994)-Two West Point Classmates (from very different backgrounds) end up lifelong friends. This friendship is put to the test as they end up on two different sides of the American Civil War. **Patrick Swayze stars in Book 1 and 2** Melanie - I would add in here:- Versaille (Like the Tudors but at French Court - 3 Fabulous seasons) The Borgias (But there is an AWFUL cliffhanger - I still rewatch though - It's worth it just to see Jeremy Irons as the Pope)
If you like the action and fight scenes of Outlander.
Rome (2005)-The end of the Roman Republic from the viewpoint of nobility to ordinary Romans. **Tobias Menzies as Brutus**
Black Sails (2014)-set as a prequel to Treasure Island. **Bear McCreery does the soundtrack for this as well as Outlander. (Melanie - This series was outstanding from beginning to end) Vikings (2013)-Follows the life of Ragnar Lothbrook, his family and the Vikings of Kattegat. (Melanie - We all know Greg LOVES this show - but not so much the final seasons. Earlier ones are awesome!) Melanie - I would add in here:- The Last Kingdom - Like the Vikings but from the BBC / Netflix. I LOVE it! The Muskateers - BBC Adaptation - 3 Fabulous seasons!
Jennifer Bollnow is a TVaholic with no possibility or desire to rehab. She met Melanie when they worked together on the former Voice of TV website. She especially loves sci-fi, fantasy, Christmas movies and anything with Patrick Swayze. She loves helping people find their new favorite series. Her current obsession is Outlander. This is her third guest article for Melanie's Muses!
Susan -Architects are a British metalcore band from Brighton, East Sussex, formed in 2004 by twin brothers Dan and Tom Searle. The band now consists of Dan Searle on drums, Sam Carter on vocals, Alex Dean on bass, and Adam Christianson and Josh Middleton on guitars. They have been signed to Epitaph Records since 2013. I can't believe its taken me nine studio albums before I found Architects, but their song Animals which was released in October 2020 snagged my attention. It's an emotional charged song that to me, seems like it has political undertones, referring to the sometimes painful society that can leave you feeling stifled and perhaps the lyrics below refer to the person we are when online, where sometimes, fiction blurs with reality,
What I love about this album is that its raw lyrics and heavy riffs are exhilarating outlook on an apocalyptic world we find ourselves living in. I think because I have never listen to early albums from Architects, I could have an open mind about the album and I find myself comparing it to Sempiternal by Bring me The Horizon which is one of my all time fave albums. With the release of For Those Who Wish to Exist, gods, even that album title, speaks volumes of the tone of the album, an epic, foot stomping, head moshing set of songs that start you off on a slow melodic path with Do You Dream of Armageddon? and then hits you square in the jaw with Black Lungs An complex, emotionally charged album that tells a story with each song, each lyric that resonates with those of us who find solace in music during the crazy times we live in.
Standout tracks for me: Do You Dream of Armageddon?, Black Lungs, Dead Butterflies, An Ordinary Extinction, Animals, Goliath and Dying is Absolutely Safe. From the cradle to the grave, destined to break like the waves Existence is so threatening It takes a fierce grace to crack us open A moment sat with our sentencing And the light comes flooding in, oh, the light comes flooding in When the leaves fall in the spring Dying is Absolutely Safe Susan Harris is a writer from Cork, Ireland and when she’s not torturing her readers with heart-wrenching plot twists or killer cliffhangers, she’s probably getting some new book related ink, binging her latest TV or music obsession, or with her nose in a book. She is a proud founding Member of the Muser VIPers and is responsible for Melanie not breaking the Website on an almost daily basis!
You can check out all her books on Amazon HERE All Links To Buy / Subscribe to Amazon Programs On Amazon in this article areAmazon Affiliate Links (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which in turns helps support all the Muser giveaways we do!) Jenn says
What to say about this movie, well except it’s amazing and it does what not many movies do and that’s break the fourth wall. Yes, I’m talking about "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". He starts by doing what we’ve all done before, and that’s fake sick to his parents so he doesn’t have to go to school.......though I don’t think we ever took it to the level that Ferris did.
Along with his friend Cameron and his girlfriend Sloan, Ferris ends up having the best sick day ever, by enjoying everything the city has to offer - the food, sights, a baseball game, art gallery, and even singing in a parade. And it wouldn't be an 80's movie without a villain to outwit and in this case it's the school principal who does everything he can to catch Ferris in the act. Which he both does but doesn’t, and if you don't know what that means you’ll just have to watch "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" ....... but I am betting most of you probably have already.
Jennifer Rhodes Cleere met Melanie back when True Blood was popular and they have been friends ever since. She loves TV (especially things that make you smile), Doctor Who, Finding new shows, and regularly provides awesome fandom items for Muser Giveaways. Jennifer is now a proud member of the VIPers - the Melanie's Muses Spotlight Feature Team!
Dave says
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
The immortal words from one Ferris Bueller. Definitely words to live by for every child of the 80's.
Continuing the theme of classic 80's movies that you should have already watched 1000 times by now, today we bring you "Ferris Bueller's Day Off". Everyone dreams they could play hooky on the level that Ferris does. Maybe not the best role model for teens to be watching and idolizing but it’s a great, fun movie. It’s another instant classic brought to us by John Hughes. I have a feeling we will probably be delving into more of his movies in the future. There are so many great, entertaining films in his catalogue.
This is one of the greats that whoever is writing the TV Guide descriptions makes it sound like the most boring movie ever. I'm sure the write up was something like "A teen takes the day off from school". Wow, sounds very exciting! OK, so that may actually be the basic premise but there is so much more to it than just that. The adventures of seeing the landmarks around town, the people they encounter, and the extent that Ferris goes to just to give his friends a fun day. All this builds an instant classic that will live in your heart forever.
Dave Christy loves horror, music, documentaries and more. He is also the co-runner of several fan based groups including Morningstars (THE Lucifer fan group also run by Melanie), and now is a member of the VIPers Spotlight Lounge team for Melanie's Muses. Other than "In The Spotlight" Features -check out his "31 Days O
And Now For The Giveaway .....
GIVEAWAY DETAILS & HOW TO ENTER!
Melanie's Muses will be giving away a "Ferris Bueller Prize Pack" featuring a Ferris Bueller's Day Off DVD from Dennifer Rhodes Christy, and random stickers and things from the Melanie's Muses Swag Hoard! For your chance to win- leave a comment ON THIS POST ON THE WEBSITE (comments left on shares around other social media WILL NOT COUNT) - Did You Ever Skip School / Classes? The winner will be picked randomly from qualifying comments. Other comments about the article are very welcome but only entrants with the qulifying comments will go in the hat! What your answer is will not influence whether you go into the hat - Only that you answer the question! Winner will be announced during the Live show on March 14th (and then posted here on the blog as well on March 15th Full Rules Below! Good luck everyone! Rules
Dave says:
For a long time (way too long if you ask me), the hard rock and heavy metal genre has been considered a boy’s club. Not that many female artists popping up, especially not many making noise and getting recognition for their talent. In my high school years, it was mostly just Lita Ford leading the pack by a mile, with very few others trailing far behind. Of course, you will still hear the occasional "she's hot" or whatever rude comment that has nothing to do with the music they are making. And of course, you hear people complain that with the female singers its more about how hot the girl is. I can counter that with the comments I hear from girls about guy singers too. How many times have you heard the same kinds of comments about Axl Rose, Joe Elliot, Vince Neil, Bret Michaels, etc? It goes both ways.
Before we get into my list, as always this is more about turning you onto new music. So you won't see Joan Jett or Fleetwood Mac/Stevie Nicks. Everyone knows who they are. So, open up the oncoming playlist or open another tab in your web browser for YouTube and get ready for a deep dive. Side note: these are not in a real particular order. I just ramble them off.
Dave Christy loves horror, music, documentaries and more. He is also the co-runner of several fan based groups including Morningstars (THE Lucifer fan group also run by Melanie), and now is a member of the VIPers Spotlight Lounge team for Melanie's Muses. Other than "In The Spotlight" Features -check out his "31 Days Of Halloween Movies"
Susan says:
I was thrilled when Dave came up with the idea to do a piece on female fronted bands and jumped at the chance to have my say! Anyone who knows me or has listened to any of my playlists knows I fall in love with a singers voice first. Dave has included some of my top picks, like Lizzy Halestorm, Taylor Momsen or Shirley Manson, which are awesome picks, and here are some of the fierce female front ladies you should be listening to!
You have to realize that back in the day, here in Ireland, we were limited to what rock music we were exposed to. We didn't get MTV until the late 90's and it wasn't until we got channels like Kerrang and Scuzz that I found music like Joan Jett... well, in a legal capacity....( Thanks Napster lol)
Stand out Tracks: I Love Rock'N Roll, Bad Reputation, I hate Myself for loving you, Fake Friends, and Cherry Bomb.
Have Dave and myself left any one off the list that you would have add? Let us know in the comments!
Susan Harris is a writer from Cork, Ireland and when she’s not torturing her readers with heart-wrenching plot twists or killer cliffhangers, she’s probably getting some new book related ink, binging her latest TV or music obsession, or with her nose in a book. She is a proud founding Member of the Muser VIPers and is responsible for Melanie not breaking the Website on an almost daily basis!
You can check out all her books on Amazon HERE All Links To Buy / Subscribe to Amazon Programs On Amazon in this article areAmazon Affiliate Links (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which in turns helps support all the Muser giveaways we do!)
Welcome to our Thursday Music Feature! Rogue PR recently reached out to offer the opportunity to feature some new music on Melanie's Muses. We know Musers love to discover new things and so Susan will be bring us some new music AND interviews with new to us artists! She will also be creating an EXCLUSIVE - Muser Playlist featuring ALL the new music she discovers! Be sure to let us know what you think in the comments! The band began with Forsell and Salling creating Swedish metal covers of popular songs like “Chandelier” by Sia andDaft Punk’s “Get Lucky”. When Jönsson joined the band in 2018, new songs were adjusted for his voice and gave way to the unique Skanian dialect you hear in the original tunes you hear today. In 2020 the band release their first Swedish singles and are translating each song to English, ready for world domination How it all started....It all started years ago when Simon became Emil’s guitar teacher. They pretty fast found each other and started playing in a cover band together with different constellations and a lot of different gigs. After a few years they got tired of playing covers and started rearranging and rewrite and translate the lyrics of a lot of known and popular rock/pop songs to spice things up.
And now the interview with Olof Jönsson of PressureWhat first got you into music? My music journey started when I was about 9 years old and I wanted to learn how to play the trumpet. I did, and I played the trumpet until I was 15 years old but then I got tired of it because I didn’t like the music I was playing. Almost 10 years later I was talking to a working college of mine and we talked about it would be nice to be able to play the guitar. The same day I went out to buy a guitar and a book with cords (this was before you could find everything on internet. I realized pretty fast that I will not be an awesome guitar player, possibly mediocre. So I stared to sing, and that was when my real interest for music started, I was about 26 years old, so my interest came pretty late Who inspired you to make music? If you ask me Olof (lead singer) it was actually Simon. When I joined the band, I didn’t feel that I wanted to write my own music. I thought there are already a lot of very good songwriters out there and I didn’t think I had any important messages. It is still Simon that comes up with almost all the basic ideas (he is like a machine). Sometimes I come up with a topic, tell Simon and a few hours later I will get a message with draft for lyrics for a song… BUT when you start to write your/our own music, it’s hard to stop… How would you describe the music that you typically create? We play “Story Metal” we use Metal Rock to help us express the feelings in our lyrics. Our sound, it’s a mix, if you take the Vocals from Rammstein or Volbeat, and the backing vocals from Queen or Aerosmtih mix it with the guitars of Bon Jovi, Guns ´n Roses and Motley Crue and add the drums of DIO or Whitesnake and the lyrics of Skid Row or Bob Dylan and add the bass of Metallica or Korn, and finally add a little bit folk music into that mix What is your creative process like? Normally Simon has an idea, for lyrics riffs and melodies. He records and give his ideas to me (Olof) that take a critical look at it, I re-records it with my vocals, and pretty often changing the key, lyrics and parts of the melody. (Sometimes almost no changes at all) After that we all start recording together, setting harmonies, take it home and listen to it. Comes up with more ideas/changes, rerecord it. Take it home listen to it… And after a few rounds when we feel, we cant do it better than this, we record the “final version” and send it to our fantastic producers for mixing and mastering. Who would you most like to collaborate with? I don’t have anyone particular in mind. I would like to collaborate with people that does what they do because they love what they do. I like to have people aroud me that challenge me to push forward. Together we create massive energy and will probably create something great (at least we will think that and be proud of it no matter what every one else say or thinks). If you could go open a show for any artist who would it be? There is a lot of them but if I should name one probably Sabaton What is one message you would give to your fans? There is pressure all around us. Sometimes good sometimes bad. When its bad take the fight, belive in yourself, and rise again. When its good enjoy it, nothing lasts forever. What is the most useless talent you have? I can make the sound of a toad What song of yours would you recommend new fans listen to first to get a feel for your music? No One can Hear You
Where have you performed? What are your favourite and least favourite venues? Pressure formed as a band about 2 ½ years ago. The first 1 ½ years we built our sound and we got ready to do live shows, but then Covid hit us so we could go out there and play. We were only able to do 2 shows before the “lockdown”. We will be very happy to answer that question in a year or so;-) How do you feel the Internet has impacted the music business? Both good and bad, as “new” things normally do. There is always a good side and a bad side. The good thing is that almost anybody who wants to make music and get it out on the streaming services can do it. Another good thing now when Corona is all around, we are able to do live streams, and have contact with our fans through social media. (Even though you can really compare a live stream with a real live gig!!) The bad thing is, it’s really hard to break thorough the noise, there are thousands of songs released on Spotify every day. What make you unique? And is it enough to break though the noise? Another bad thing is, people don’t buy albums anymore. What is your favourite song to perform? For the moment “Komm Her” What is the most trouble you’ve ever gotten into? In my younger years I was really close to be thrown into a prison in Cyprus. I had rented mopeds for me and my friends. One of my friends got caught driving really drunk, told the police he was me (he got that “good” advice from the renter). The police had their share of fun with us and told us we would probably go to jail for the rest of our life, or maybe they should just take us outside and shoot us. (they had taken us to a very little police station in the middle of the “desert”) so it didn’t fell to great. It all sorted out after a while, but it was pretty scary for a 18 year old guy. We all got home ok. What is the best advice you’ve been given? The more you know, the more you understand you don’t know. If you could change anything about the industry, what would it be? Stop with the “wear and tear” business. Where you find young people who look good, make as much money you can on them as fast as possible for a short time. Especially if there is no real soul attachment to the music, they perform What’s next for you? Right now, we will release our new single “What You See” and “Vad Du Ser”. It will be released in both Swedish and English the 19th of February. It is a song about the pressures around you to be something that fits into society. In today’s world there is a lot of preconceptions and prejudices and if you are not as everyone else then people start to talk behind your back or try to put pressure on you to be more like a “normal” person. We, Pressure, believes that there is NO SUCH THING as a “normal” person, there is just suppressed people that want to be set free but cannot because the “normal” and “society” will not let them. Everyone has dreams – dare to live them. Everyone has inner strength – do not let anyone tell you otherwise. Be yourself, show us what and who you are. Stand up, stand tall. What You See Is What You Get! And we are working on the final steps for releasing our first album. It will be released sometimes in late April, beginning of May. After that we will release a German EP that is almost fully recorded. We only have to do the translation for the last two songs, and then we will record the vocals for them. As we work on the two last translations for the German EP, we have also started to record our first drafts for our second album. And between that we are rehearsing together. Why? because we love it, and when Covid starts getting under control we want to get out there and do great live performances from day one. We are so longing to get out there. Susan's Verdict: I love finding bands from different countries and cultures and was excited to listen to Pressure, as I have a fondness for anything from any of the Scandinavian countries. I would describe Pressure as a little mix of genre's, and really liked the singers voice and the blend of heavy riffs. Frustrating for me, like I feel when listening to Rammstein, where I have some German language knowledge, I wanted to hear the lyrics to go with the song to get a full feel for the music. I know from the interview, the band is working on translating their music to English, so I think I will reserve judgement until I understand what it is I'm listening to. Susan Harris is a writer from Cork, Ireland and when she’s not torturing her readers with heart-wrenching plot twists or killer cliffhangers, she’s probably getting some new book related ink, binging her latest TV or music obsession, or with her nose in a book. She is a proud founding Member of the Muser VIPers and is responsible for Melanie not breaking the Website on an almost daily basis!
You can check out all her books on Amazon HERE All Links To Buy / Subscribe to Amazon Programs On Amazon in this article areAmazon Affiliate Links (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which in turns helps support all the Muser giveaways we do!)
When you think of Kenan and Kel, you probably usually think of their Nickelodeon show right? Well not me! I think of this famous line "Welcome to good burger. Home of the good burger, may I take your order?" and the movie that goes along with it- "Good Burger".
Ed and Dexter are our two main characters. Now Ed, you could say he’s different, and a lot of the things he does causes catastrophic events for others. Those events are usually bad news for Dexter, who because of Ed, has to get a job to pay of a car that he ended up running into.
Dexter gets a job at Good Burger and realizes that Ed also works there, but he wants nothing to do with him. As any good story, Good Burger had competition across the street known as Mondo Burger, but newer and shinier aren’t always better than something that’s been there forever.
Our unusual heroes learn this lesson and so does the town. Now I’m sure you’ve seen this older classic of a movie, but if you haven’t I think you should check it out. I mean, have I steered you wrong yet?
Jennifer Rhodes Cleere met Melanie back when True Blood was popular and they have been friends ever since. She loves TV (especially things that make you smile), Doctor Who, Finding new shows, and regularly provides awesome fandom items for Muser Giveaways. Jennifer is now a proud member of the VIPers - the Melanie's Muses Spotlight Feature Team!
And Now For The Giveaway .....
GIVEAWAY DETAILS & HOW TO ENTER!
Melanie's Muses will be giving away a "Good BurgerPrize Pack" featuring a Good Burger DVD from Dennifer Rhodes Christy, and random stickers and things from the Melanie's Muses Swag Hoard! For your chance to win- leave a comment ON THIS POST ON THE WEBSITE (comments left on shares around other social media WILL NOT COUNT) - What Is Your Favorite Fast Food Place? The winner will be picked randomly from qualifying comments. Other comments about the article are very welcome but only entrants with the qulifying comments will go in the hat! What your answer is will not influence whether you go into the hat - Only that you answer the question! Winner will be announced during the Live show on March 7th (and then posted here on the blog as well on March 8th Full Rules Below! Good luck everyone! Rules
Dave -
To properly enjoy "Repo! The Genetic Opera" you must go into it with an open mind & a taste for the odd, weird, strange & "uncommon" movies. I went in with the open mind but also expected to find "Repo" trying to be like a modern day "Rocky Horror Picture Show". It was doing that to a certain point but took things to the next level. Where I was expecting a musical like "Rocky Horror"-- dialogue, song, dialogue, song, etc, the dialogue never comes. It’s all singing, all the time. Being a low budget movie with no money for promotion, it only has a small cult following right now but could grow to be a cult classic with word of mouth.
The film is directed by Darren Lynn Bousman. He wrote "Saw 2" & directed "Saw 2, 3, & 4". One trivia fact I learned while watching the entertaining commentaries on this DVD, is to compensate for the lack of funds, Bousman was asking for set pieces during the production of "Saw 4" that he knew he could re-use for "Repo".
The story is about 20 years in the future where a lot of people need organ transplants (eyes, heart, liver, etc) & the GeneCo company steps in to help. But if you miss payments, the organ is repossessed and you get killed. The cast is very diverse & very talented with a few well-known actors among them. Versatile Paul Sorvino plays the head of GeneCo. You've seen him everything from "Law & Order" to "Romeo & Juliet". Anthony Head (who is probably best known for his role of Giles on "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") plays the hitman (or Repo man if you will). Probably the only other recognizable face is Paris Hilton, who plays one potential heir to the GeneCo throne Amber Sweet. Paris is almost unrecognizable in some scenes since her character gets plastic surgery constantly & changes her appearance. The Graverobber seems to have the most trained voice for the performance. His tone & demeaner echo with years of experience. It should, he's played the character on stage for 10 years.
If you enjoy watching something different every now & then, I suggest you check this out. You'll probably never see anything else quite like it.
Dave Christy loves horror, music, documentaries and more. He is also the co-runner of several fan based groups including Morningstars (THE Lucifer fan group also run by Melanie), and now is a member of the VIPers Spotlight Lounge team for Melanie's Muses. Other than "In The Spotlight" Features -check out his "31 Days Of Halloween Movies"
Dave -
Taylor Momsen boarded her rocketship to stardom at a young age as an actress. One of her early roles that had a key experience for her was playing Cindy Lou Who in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".
It would be the first time she was in a recording studio. It must have had a profound effect as she went on to form The Pretty Reckless, releasing their first CD "Light Me Up" in 2010. The EP "Hit Me Like a Man" showed a little more diversity before reverting back to form for the 2nd full length CD "Going to Hell" Their 3rd release "Who You Selling For?" would bring out a little more experimenting in the direction the band is taking. But that was then. This is now. Its 2021 and time for their 4th release, "Death By Rock and Roll".
The first single and lead off track to kick off the record and set the mood, igniting the flame inside your heart is the title track "Death by Rock and Roll". The thumping drums pounding in your head, echoing the by immortal line --
"But on my tombstone when I go, just put Death by Rock and Roll". It’s sure to be an instant classic anthem in the world that desperately needs something to get their hearts pumping again.
"And So it Went" is the 3rd single from the record and features Tom Morello. As much as I love the previous 2 songs, this one is my favorite so far. The guitar riff shreds, the drum beat pounding through, and Taylor's vocals showering over you:
The video features Taylor in a pink suit and a crown.
What more can you ask for?
Matt Cameron and Kim Thayil contribute to "Only Love Can Save Me Now". You can definitely hear the Soundgarden influence. Around Halloween, they released a short, 40 second tune "Broomsticks". I wasn't really where that was coming from but here we see it serves as a sort of intro to the song "Witches Burn". They strip things down a bit for a couple of simpler, acoustic songs- "Got So High" and "Standing at the Wall". That's one thing the band has always been able to pull off. They have several radio station appearances and have done acoustic versions of their songs. They don't just do the slower ones that are more accustomed to an acoustic performance, they do some heavier songs too. "Rock and Roll Heaven" is an absolute masterpiece. It hits on the chord of the rock and roll lifestyle, trying to make it to 27 years old, where some have died. I am absolutely loving this song!!!!
"In rock and roll heaven, the great gig in the sky
Gotta make it to twenty-seven before I die, I In rock and roll heaven, couldn't get more high Gotta take what you've been given and just fly"
The Pretty Reckless have given us 12 stellar tracks. They have grown and went through some musical changes and progressions but that’s what it’s all about. I don't want to hear the same record released every couple of years.
Dave Christy loves horror, music, documentaries and more. He is also the co-runner of several fan based groups including Morningstars (THE Lucifer fan group also run by Melanie), and now is a member of the VIPers Spotlight Lounge team for Melanie's Muses. Other than "In The Spotlight" Features -check out his "31 Days Of Halloween Movies"
Susan says -
25 from The Pretty Reckless was one of my top songs of 2020 and is defiantly my fave song on the album.
I can hear the influence of the late, great, Chris Cornell so much on this album. Taylor has one of the best voices in the business, that tone and range spine tingling. Stand out tracks for me: Only Love Can Save Me Now, 25, My Bones, Witches Burn, & Rock and Roll Heaven
My Fave Lyric on the Album comes from Rock and Roll Heaven
"Well I learned a long, long time ago That life is like a song And the music goes on playing Even after you are gone"
Susan Harris is a writer from Cork, Ireland and when she’s not torturing her readers with heart-wrenching plot twists or killer cliffhangers, she’s probably getting some new book related ink, binging her latest TV or music obsession, or with her nose in a book. She is a proud founding Member of the Muser VIPers and is responsible for Melanie not breaking the Website on an almost daily basis!
You can check out all her books on Amazon HERE All Links To Buy / Subscribe to Amazon Programs On Amazon in this article areAmazon Affiliate Links (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which in turns helps support all the Muser giveaways we do!)
The movie about five high school students, "a brain, an athlete, a basket case, a princess and a criminal", stuck together in the school library in detention on a Saturday is still my favorite John Hughes film. It was 1985 when I first saw The Breakfast Club, I was 17 and a junior in high school. In the 80s the cliques in school were very prominent. Living in the Silicon Valley we had them all. The jocks and cheerleaders, the nerds/band/drama geeks, the Cholos/Cholas, the Ags, punk rockers, preppy, the exchange students, the loners and the stoners. I was considered a stoner. I wore rock tee shirts and 501 jeans, hung out at "the stage" which was in the middle of our quad and our smoking section and had feathered hair Aqua Netted to perfection. Yes, believe it or not we were allowed to smoke on campus, and yes Ahab, I did indulge in the occasional doobage.
Even though I was labeled a stoner, when I watched The Breakfast Club I could relate to them all. Each and every one of those characters struck a chord with me on some level. John Hughes absolutely made the perfect storm of what cliques in high school were like and how each person, no matter what the outer shell labeled them, were sometimes very much like you on the inside or behind closed doors with many of the same fears and insecurities you were feeling, problems at home or school, struggling with acceptance. At the beginning of the film I'm sure you could relate to one of them and label yourself as such but by the end of the film the lines are a bit blurred. I'm sure there was a time in your school years that you looked at the popular kid and wished that your life was like theirs...what you didn't see was what went on when that kid went home. Their life may not have been as perfect as you think and they may have been looking at you and wishing they could have your life. The film made such an impact on how I viewed others that I taught my own four sons the same life lesson about their perception of others and of themselves.
I'm not sure if The Breakfast Club could be made today and have the same impact it did then. I think not and I certainly hope no one ever tries. First, with the advent of cell phones and headphones, most of them would have their faces in their screens (unless of course teacher would gather them before hand). Secondly there would also be a more diverse cast and there would be more cultural issues and political issues addressed. While 36 years have passed, the story about dismissing people as a particular stereotype, and then realizing you have more in common that you first thought, still seems to ring true.
I still wear rock tees, jeans, pink checkerboard high-top Van's, listen to 80s music, and use 80s slang from not only this movie but many others as well. I don't understand much of what my teen sons say, their teen vernacular is almost as alien to me as mine was to my grandmother back then. I will say that they love 80s music which makes this mom proud. I hope that they remember me with a smile as they sing along to Don't You Forget About Me.
This movie is on my favorites list and hopefully it might be on yours as well. When I first saw this movie I don’t think I really understood what it was about. So I watched it again and I’ve been hooked ever since.
This movie shows the power of friendship and how it can go over those high school groups we’ve all been in or seen before. In a way it kind of reminds me of "Schitts Creek" and how that stuck up family became part of a town that was very different from them or what they thought. Back to "The Breakfast Club" . This movie starts out with a Saturday detention and the shenanigans that ensue from that. At first, you see how only two in the same friends group just get along, but as the day goes on that seems to change. They all talk and grow, seeming to get closer which is never a bad thing. This movie has a great message, and you know me and messages. Well, it seems that no matter how different you think you are from another person, doesn’t mean you can’t get along or become friends in the end. Just give someone a chance and that’s what exactly happens in this movie.
Opposites attract. Mismatched pairs. A neo-maxi zoomdweebie. What we have here is a classic brought to us by the master of the 80’s, John Hughes. So many wonderful films. Each of them is a classic in their own right and most likely hard to pick a favorite. Even if there is one you don’t like as much, chances are that the film is someone else’s favorite.
Today’s class lesson is on "The Breakfast Club". The movie defines a mixed genre. I’ve seen this listed in the comedy section and I’ve seen it listed in the drama section. Most of Hughes movies fit perfectly into comedies but this one I’ve always felt is more defined as a drama, although probably not your typical drama. Playing on the line from the movie, it does not fit into the most convenient definitions. Unless you’ve been living a rock for the last 35 years (damn, has it really been 35 years? When did I get this old?), you know the story. A jock, a brain, a princess, a criminal, and a basket case are all forced into a day of detention together. They go into the dreadul Saturday, thinking they have nothing in common. Starting out the day in combat and at odds, they start to realize they are more alike than either of them would like to admit. The Brat Pack definitely delivered an absolutely classic for all to enjoy. And Now For The Giveaway .....
GIVEAWAY DETAILS & HOW TO ENTER!
Melanie's Muses will be giving away a "Breakfast Club Prize Pack" featuring a Breakfast Club DVD from Dennifer Rhodes Christy, and a Mug, Sticker, And Bag from Diana Dalton. There is also a 2nd copy of the DVD that will be awarded to one of the commenters! For your chance to win- leave a comment ON THIS POST ON THE WEBSITE (comments left on shares around other social media WILL NOT COUNT) - Which High School Clique Would You Say You Belonged To And Would It Be Different Now? The winner will be picked randomly from qualifying comments. Other comments about the article are very welcome but only entrants with the qulifying comments will go in the hat! What your answer is will not influence whether you go into the hat - Only that you answer the question! Winner will be announced during the Live show on February 28th (and then posted here on the blog as well on March 1st. Full Rules Below! Good luck everyone! Rules
"Valentine". Kinda cheesy. Kinda fun. This 2001 horror film is celebrating its 20th Anniversary and Valentine's Day is coming up so what better time to talk about this film.
This movie had a pretty well-known cast-- David Boreanaz ("Buffy", "Angel"), Denise Richards ("Starship Troopers", "Wild Things"), Katherine Heigl ("Roswell", and later "Grey's Anatomy"), and a few other names you may recognize such as Marley Shelton ("Sugar & Spice", "Pleasantville") and Jessica Cauffiel ("Urban Legend 2", "Legally Blonde"). Maybe not the biggest of names but horror fans and some movie fans in general should recognize a few.
This is the story of a group of friends are being stalked by a killer. (Original concept, huh?) And its someone they played a prank on in high school 13 years ago. (Have these people never seen "Carrie"? You know it’s not wise to do this, right?)
There's a good chance you never heard of this movie. That's probably the case with 95% of the movies I discuss anyway. They aren't for everybody though. Where did this one go wrong? For all the stars in this movie, it just couldn't save the film from bad reviews. It definitely wasn't a blockbuster at the box office but did manage to triple its budget so it wasn't a complete bust.
It has some interesting twists and some nice kills in it. It won't win any Academy Awards but if you're in the mood for a quick slasher with some extra cheese, check it out. Plus if you like bonus features, Scream Factory released a special edition a couple years ago with new interviews and another commentary track on it! Check out the trailer here and let us know - Stream it or Skip it?
Dave Christy loves horror, music, documentaries and more. He is also the co-runner of several fan based groups including Morningstars (THE Lucifer fan group also run by Melanie), and now is a member of the VIPers Spotlight Lounge team for Melanie's Muses. Other than "In The Spotlight" Features -check out his "31 Days Of Halloween Movies"
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