Author: News on Shuffle

Disneyfied

Today we look at the recently announced Disney/Marvel merger and what it really means. The title link helped to formulate some of the thoughts shared here. When I first heard about it my only thought was uncertainty. I wasn’t sure what to think about a seemingly odd merger. What would it mean for the Marvel characters we have grown to love? Will Disney take over and turn our heroes into a watered-down version of their former selves? After reading more about the possibilities here I realized that this doesn’t have to be the nightmare scenario some may be conjuring in their heads right now. It could be that Daddy Disney lets Marvel do its own thing while offering support where needed. This would mean the characters would be unchanged and possibly find a new playground to conquer. Plus Disney gets exposure of its own to the faithful followers of the Marvel brigade. Everybody wins; everybody is happy.

And they all lived happily ever after.

Just Do It

We all do it: over-analyze that tough decision to the point of madness. It’s easy to say “stop thinking too much and just do it” but not necessarily as easy to do. Studies suggest that our instincts actually are likely to be right and that thinking things through too much will only lead to fear and stop you from acting. It is always better to do something rather than nothing though. Whether it is going after the promotion you want or asking the person you are interested in out, inaction will only lead to regrets. The results may not be what you hoped for, but at least you can say that you tried.

Musical vs Movie

Many musicals live to become popular movies. Examples include Chicago, Cabaret, Les Miserables, and Phantom of the Opera (to name a few). Some would argue that these shows were meant for the stage while others like the movie giving more affordable access to a good story. I would argue that there are good things about both forms of presentation. There is nothing like watching a Broadway show unfold on stage. That being said, there are some things that are simply too hard to bring to life without the technical advancements of film. Sometimes the idea the people behind the show are trying to get across to it’s audience is easier to convey on film. The best would be to see the play in both forms. Go have the Broadway experience the cast and crew want to give you and keep that with you every time you watch the movie at home. That is the best way to get the full experience the show in question has to offer.

Spotlight: TM Promotions

“TM Promotions is a NY/NJ based booking and promotions firm.” This is how they describe themselves through their MySpace page. There is more to it than that, however. TM Promotions is music brought to you by people who really love their music. They are not just a “firm” — that sounds too technical and emotionless — they are people. Officially they are actually one person, TJ Olsen, but there are plenty of others who work closely to help out whenever possible. For instance if you check out the photography on the MySpace, that is brought to you by your humble blogger and a friend of ours. I will periodically be posting upcoming events and such in a segment that will be called: Brought to You by TM Promotions. Hope you will come check us out if you are in the area.

PNC on Notice

I recently attended a concert at PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ and have a few complaints I would like to share with the management.

1) If you are going to post a list of prohibited items on your website, please make sure it is COMPLETE. Having a basic item like a purse be restricted due to its size will cause many problems unless advance notice is given.

2) Prices: Charging twice the amount that items normally cost is criminal. I get that things are going to cost more at a venue like this but if it would have been cheaper to eat in New York then that is just ridiculous.

3) Organization: You’re parking lot is a maze. Please make signs clearer and make it easier for people who were dropped off to be picked up. My ride paid several more tolls than was necessary because he had to keep getting on and off the parkway.

The only thing I didn’t really have much complaint about was the actually staging. Sound quality was decent (although I have heard better) and even lawn seats have a decent view of the stage. Just need to work on the above mentioned issues and you could really have something here. I will say that those who drive as a group and get the full experience probably enjoy themselves more. My problem is for those who have transportation issues. Yes there is a train and shuttle you can take, but it is a long ride for most who would take it and costs money. The parking and driving issues that you could possibly encounter almost make it worth it to take the train, however. I guess it is all a matter of perspective.

Change Your Tune

There are certain bands that always seem to have good singles come out that are only memorable for a short period of time or the single will be exceptional but the rest of the album won’t be worth the plastic it was wrapped in. Two such bands for me have been Pearl Jam and Dave Matthews Band. Coincidentally these two bands have recently come out with new songs that I have found to be more enjoyable than any of their earlier material. In fact, Funny the Way It Is may be one of my favorite songs this summer. It is catchier than their usual style, thus making it more memorable for the listener. Pearl Jam has also pumped up their sound with The Fixer by a considerable margin. This surge in more upbeat music gives me hope that these bands will be able to continue their lengthy stay on the top charts. These are two bands that have a considerably large following while still never quite breaking certain barriers. The final level for me is having that one song (or more) that will live in your internal playlist forever. This is comprised of all the songs that made such an impression on you that you still randomly sing them years later. Pearl Jam may have had one or two like this but could only fill a whole album after compiling a “greatest hits” over the years. Hopefully these two bands have filled their new albums with this more exciting sound. If so, we should see an increased interest in these two groups from the music consumer.

Helpful DIY Hints

Even though summer is almost over that doesn’t mean that basement and loft shows have to go along with it. Here are some helpful hints to get the most out of your show:

1) DIY may have a great feel, but only if you plan ahead. Make sure you keep in mind how well air circulates in your loft or basement and factor in how crowded you expect it to be. Too many people + not enough air could = a ride in the ambulance for the fainting king or queen. Also make sure you have plenty of water or remind people to bring their own.

2) If you share your building with others or live in a populated area you may want to test sound levels to make sure volume isn’t so obnoxiously loud that you get noise violations. Remember, if the super doesn’t like you then no more cool shows happen at your space.

3) Don’t overcrowd the elevator. There may be other parties going on, but that doesn’t mean the blame couldn’t fall on you if the elevator breaks down. Make sure people go in small groups or suggest taking the stairs (especially if you only live on the second or third floor). This is obviously more for lofts than basements.

Most important of all is to remember that you are there to have fun. This isn’t meant to be a list of rules to follow. This is more a suggestion of things to consider so that you can enjoy your time without having to worry about the authorities coming and ruining your evening.

Dance Dance Revolution

The evolution of dance has taken many turns in its lifetime, as documented by one enthusiastic performer to comical results. Even with as many different styles that are documented in this video, there are still many more that have been missed. From as far back as the 1920s there has been a dance craze that swept the nation. (This is not to say that dance originated in the 20s; only that this blog chooses to start it’s focus at that point in time.) Dances in the roaring 20s were much different than dances today. The Charleston is a classic example from this era. Notice how this dance has a complex yet simplistic style to it. This is just as much evidence of a difference in musical styles as it is a difference in the dancing of the time. Fast forward to the 1970s and songs like YMCA by the Village People or the Time Warp, which was introduced to us by Rocky Horror Picture Show, and you see what I mean. These dances were probably easier to do but did not have the classic feel of dances such as the Charleston. The 80s simplified things even more with the Electric Slide. It wasn’t until the 90s that we saw a complexity start to reemerge in the world of dance. This was more evident with the Cha Cha Slide than in other dances such as the Macarena. The Macarena become repetitive after awhile, but the Cha Cha Slide made an attempt to mix things up a bit more. Finally we come to the present. For those who have been scared of the Disney generation ever since N’Sync broke up I caution you to look away from the complex dance craze that is brought to you by Miley Cyrus. It is called the Hoedown Throwdown, and it is shamefully catchy to those older than say 15. I was introduced to this by a friend and found myself embarrassed to admit I enjoyed watching her do her thing. While I am skeptic this will be as big a staple as dances like the Electric Slide have become, it is still interesting to compare it to early dances and get a feel of how things have changed over the years.

There is one dance I have failed to mention due to uncertainty as to where to place it in my timeline. Cotton-Eyed Joe has had an evolution of its own over the years. The song can date back as early as the 1800s, however the dance found a surge of popularity during the western craze that followed the release of Urban Cowboy in 1980. There was another such lift when the song was recorded by Rednex, a Swedish band. This is the most common version heard today at dances and parties. There are many different dances to go with the song. The Evolution of Dance video presents one version while I have linked to another as well. There are several other versions that seem to vary depending on what part of the country you are from. I knew someone from Texas who did it differently than another from PA and yet another from New Jersey. It’s all a matter of preference I suppose.

There are too many dances (and variations thereof) to name them all here. This has been but a small introduction to the wide world of dance. If I missed any of your favorites, feel free to comment and tell me so. Maybe I’ll do a second post if enough people show interest. Until next time, happy dancing.

Moonlighting with Alex

Moonlight passed over television viewers for only a brief moment, but those who watched the show fell in love with it immediately. The question I have for everyone is this — Did viewers fall in love with the show and its intriguing characters or were they just following one shining star: Alex O’loughlin? The show only lasted one season, but there was a small uproar over its cancellation which indicates that at least some really did love the show for what it was and not simply for who was in it. CBS seems to have other thoughts, however, as it has cast Alex in a new show called “Three Rivers“. Many people claimed they would boycott CBS after the cancellation of their beloved show. It will be interesting to see how many people follow up on this and how many just want to see the actors perform in some capacity.

Technology’s Double-Edged Sword

It is hard to deny that we are living in the technology age. The main form of communication now is either email or cellphone. We use social networking sites like Facebook to keep in touch with friends rather than pick up the phone and call them. And then there is Twitter, which this blog did a small feature on just yesterday. But with all the good technology can do for us it is just as dangerous, for every computer owner knows that it is only a matter of time before the wonderful little machine crashes on us. After the initial anger at the inconvenience of the thing there is the inevitable panic of “Oh God, what if I just lost everything.” Then there is the scramble to find the problem and, hopefully, a solution. Some get lucky and resolve the issue right away, but others are not so fortunate. Those are the ones who tuck the lifeless entity under their arms and march over to the nearest computer store begging for a new fix. The sad thing is there isn’t much we can do about this. The computer is in our system now, for better or worse. We gave ourselves to it and will have to suffer the consequences. It’s not all bad though. Just think about the endless amounts of information we receive in return for the occasional tiff with the infernal machine. And as long as our famous last words don’t become, “Computers will never completely take over,” we should all be fine.