hello...

I’m ready to alter my dreamscape of one
Into a wonderland that we together have spun

It won’t always be light, some darkness will come through
But we’ll have each other, and this magnificent view

Hello…

trouble in the fields...

"Trouble In The Fields"

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This song popped into my head a couple of weeks ago and I was struck once again by the brilliant and timeless lyrics. The song follows a couple who live on a farm and are going through difficult financial times - but have the hope to get them through.

All this trouble in our fields
If this rain can fall, these wounds can heal
They'll never take our native soil.
And if we sell that new John Deere
And we'll work these crops with sweat and tears.
You'll be the mule, I'll be the plow
Come harvest time, we'll work it out.
There's still a lot of love
Right here in these troubled fields.

It's a beautiful sentiment that could certainly still apply today in our difficult economic times. It's wonderful to have Nanci remind that there is still a lot of love, right here in these troubled times and we really need to focus on that and it will get us through. Certainly easier said than done, but it's the way to do it.
This is a great live version - I love when it's just Nanci, her words and her guitar - not much beats that.

footsteps...

Nobody here
Never anybody here
I thought this was how I wanted it
Never minded it before, never one bit
Just lately this feeling is beginning to nag

I’d like somebody here
Someone to turn out the light
Someone to whisper goodnight
I’d like somebody here

I don’t think I’m asking much
Not for the stars and not for the moon
Not even for a whistle, not even for a swoon.
Just to have someone by my side
Who’s eyes I catch and whose eyes catch mine

I’d like somebody here
Someone to turn out the light
Someone to whisper goodnight
I’d like somebody here

So bring that somebody round
Oh how great will be the sound
Of the somebody’s key in the door
And the footsteps on the floor
Getting louder and louder as they approach…

I’d like somebody here
Someone to turn out the light
Someone to whisper, beautiful, goodnight
I’d like somebody here

So, when those footsteps, will I hear?

silent pictures...

My dreams are my compass
They tell me no lies
They speak to me in pictures
A feast for the eyes

There’s a man painting on the side of the road
Fields of grain surround him and the wind touches all
I wonder where he came from, among these vast fields
For I see no signs of human life, in this place untouched by sprawl

Then I blink and am suddenly in London
Where people are bustling about
Across the street I see hints of the sea
I hurry through a park, determinedly
To get to that vision of blue and sand.
And when I reach the shore and stand
And let the waves wash over me
I look from right to left and left to right
And see no one, no one in sight.

I dream of beautiful places
Of sunsets and oceans and vast fields of grain
Of old buildings and churches that are showing their strain
The visions are lovely and stay in my mind
And so does the one thing that I always find
I’m alone in my dreams, not willing to share
These marvels of landscape and sea and air

I’m the one creating these fairylands
They exist to comfort and scare me
So why cry a river when I look around
and see
No other soul
but me?

scene project take 18...

Repo: The Genetic Opera (2008) - Sarah Brightman







Repo: The Genetic Opera is a goth/rock/musical - kind of a cross between Rocky Horror Picture Show and Sweeney Todd. It is a unique film in that it's almost entirely sung (hence Opera in the title) and the cast is a very eclectic mix of people - Paul Sorvino, Anthony Head (the Buffy guy), Alexa Vega (the Spy Kids girl), Paris Hilton, Joan Jett in a very small cameo and the subject of this post, Sarah Brightman. This movie marks Ms. Brightman's film debut and one must admire her for her offbeat selection. Though I was not overly impressed with the film (but it is entertaining) Ms. Brightman, as the opera singer Blind Mag was the clear standout in the cast. First of all, she's the most accomplished singer in the bunch and is given the opportunity to go beyond her more classical image. Also, her costume and make-up are to die for and she seems right at home in the role. Blind Mag is a tragic figure who has basically sold her soul in order to see again - and she has been trapped in a dystopian world with no freedom. Her final contribution is to Shiloh (Vega), the daughter of her late best friend. She begs Shiloh to free herself from her own imprisonment and have the life that Blind Mag was unable to have. I was very impressed with Brightman's ability to convey the sadness and resignation that Blind Mag was feeling in her few scenes.

Above are captures of various scenes in the movie. The first is a great shot of Sarah in full-on goth mermaid mode; the second and third are from her scene with Shiloh; and the final 2 shots are of her final opera performance before her self-liberation that unfortunately does not end in her favor.

I recommend seeing the movie - the production design and costumes are very impressive and I will admit that Paris Hilton does a pretty good job and participates in one of the best musical numbers of the movie. Not my favorite film ever, but it's something different which I'm always up for.