Who’s Adele?

Or, why do I feel like the music and tv shows that I like turn me into a hipster?

Guys, I do know who Adele is. But it got me thinking when I first heard Chasing Pavements. I was like I need to listen to more. Then, when Adele was up for her first Grammy I was watching a talk show where the host was out in the streets asking if people were up to speed on the artist nominated that year. During the segment this guy asked “who’s Adele?” All I could do is sigh as my husband gave me the there, there pat on the shoulder.

Speaking of Adele, have you seen the Carpool Karaoke The Late Late Show with James Corden … with Adele? It is funny! Well, I think it is funny. I can’t lie to you I’ve seen about six times.

I am not sure why when I like a song or something I see (YouTube, tv shows, movies) I have to see it multiple times. What? I know when I have reached my limit. It’s when I can just about quote it word for word. No, that’s not weird! You’re weird! “I like being weird. Weird’s all I got. That and my sweet style.” #Moss #TheITCrowd #EmbraceYourWeird #FeliciaDay

Side notes: Seriously though being weird is not a bad thing, it’s different. Being different is a good thing.

So … yeah sorry about the rant…what was I saying? Oh yes, Adele is one of my favorites Carpool Karaokes. Is karaokes a word? Meh, oh well. My other favorite is the one with Rod Stewart. That guy “God Bless you Rod Stewart” always makes me smile.

And I know actors are not the characters they play, but I can’t help but think its Smithy! When I see James Corden singing. Perhaps it is because I love Gavin & Stacey. Who’s Gavin & Stacey? You might be able to find it on the YouTube. If not I would recommend buying it. If you like British comedies/drama/awesomeness you should check it out.

Don’t worry I am getting to the hipster part. I was thinking about how it seems like now everyone knows who Adele is. Okay, perhaps not everyone. That’s unfair I have not met everyone.

Anyway, so ever since I keep hearing people say how much they like Adele. I say to myself, I liked Adele before you. I feel in love with her music before you knew she was. Then I think, whoa Melissa, quit messing around … do you have to say that like a hipster when you say that?

But what is a hipster exactly? I know what social media’s definition of hipster is. Is it really fair for me to use the word hipster? Maybe I should say I sound like a Sheldon Cooper when I talk about stuff like that. Eek that sounds worse. Anywho you know what I mean.

It’s like The Walking Dead. My husband and I have been watching since day one. Then after a couple of years as it is gaining more and more popularity, all of a sudden everyone is talking about The Walking Dead. Then there’s that voice. I feel in love with The Walking Dead before you knew who Rick Grimes is.

Then, I am like you know what Melissa? It’s a good thing other people like the same music and shows you like because they can go on making music/shows.

And to answer your question, yes I talk to myself. The point is, that means more people to talk to about said music and shows. Perhaps even one day I can say The Guild and someone will say, I like that show to.

Maybe this should have been called Who’s Adele?

Or, why do I feel like the music and tv shows make me keep talking to myself. And I was talking to you guys when I said that … yes, I was.

Just because everyone else is doing it, you should too

Let me explain the title of this blog. I am not talking about the old saying, just because everyone else is doing doesn’t mean you should too. What I am referring to (who talks like that in a blog, referring to …sorry) is television shows.

When my husband and I first went to SDCC, we were baffled (wait does anyone use that word anymore, baffled…sorry about that again) at how many people slept overnight to see the Doctor Who panel.  At that point we were not Whovians yet. When we got home after SDCC, we decided to start watching Doctor Who. And it was like Battlestar Galactica re-imagined all over again. We said to ourselves, dang it this is good!   

I think it is good to be open minded because even if someone says you need to watch this show and it turns out you don’t like it, the people who direct or act in the show may lead you to another show.

It’s like BBC America when I first started watching Doctor Who eventually I discovered In the Flesh. BTW if you are not watching this show you need to. While some may argue, it reminds me of Walking Dead because it is about the people. BDFF!

Besides leading you to another show it can also lead you to a webisode like The Guild. If you have not watched these webisodes yet. You need to! And if you are looking to save on your data plan, you can watch – nay own The Guild on DVD.

One of the things that I love about The Guild is you don’t have to be a gamer to appreciate the charming sense of humor. I always like watching a show in season one, and then seeing how the story line and production changes. Most importantly the best lines ever, which I have fallen in love with again in rewatching The Guild.

My interest in what you are saying is low to moderate. –Vork

Did you borrow my crayon set? And my mind. –Clara

This is a nightmare level. Just control, alt, delete me. –Zaboo

One recent show that I’ve come across because of Felicia Day and thousands of people lined up at SDCC is Supernatural. While I may feel like I am always late to the party, I am glad to be open minded.

There are times when I get kind of sad because the shows that are the best don’t get a fair shot. Almost Human, I am holding my hat off to you. But I think as sad as it is to lose our favorite shows, it gives us that open mind to seek and search for the next favorite show. For example Firefly has led to watching Castle. Nebula 9 lives!  So next time someone says you should watch this, give it a chance. You just might like it.  

Give Me Back My Story

Disclaimer: I am not a prude.

I wanted to write about something that is not necessarily a pet peeve. Perhaps it might be, I am not sure but I will say it is something that I talk about from time to time. (I want to apologize to my husband in advanced for talking about it again.)

I often ask, why does a good movie or television show have to be interrupted with sexual content? Again, I am not a prude. But can I please have my story back? I’ll give an example. A little while ago my husband and I decided to begin watching Game of Thrones, so we placed the series on hold through our local library. (I highly recommend public libraries folks. They have books, magazines, DVDs, Blu-ray, music galore. And they are free!) 

So we begin watching the show, and we are both like hey this story line is pretty good. Then all of a sudden... private regions. I think we spent seasons 1 and 2 fast forwarding through most of the DVDs. I was, I have to admit pleasantly surprised with how we did not fast forward as much through season 3.

My main point of asking for my story back, is I get the idea. I do not need to see two people being fully intimate to understand what is going on. If I were watching a movie and two people are kissing and then fade to black. It does not take a lot of imagination to figure out what happens behind closed doors, or wherever said place is.

Dude seriously, can you imagine how much of the story you can fit into a television show, or how many more action scenes you could have in a movie if you took out sexual content? In my opinion, it would be pretty sweet. I just like it when a movie focusing on the story and character building verses trying to shock people, or gain viewership. 

Bonus, some story lines would not feel as rushed either. Plus there are plenty of shows where there story line can be super awesome without the story having 98% sexual content in each episode. The Walking Dead, BSG, Star Trek, The Guild, Firefly, Doctor Who, just to name a few.

 

Not to mention how it depicts women. I am not trying to get all soap box here. But why does a strong female lead character have to display that strength through sex. (Side note… Yes, I know, Starbuck in Battlestar (side note to side note. Reimagined BSG, not original.) had… What do the kids call it? Oh yeah sex.) But that was a flaw in her character and we didn’t see skin for minutes on end.) Back to my point. Why can’t smart and funny be displayed as strengths? While we are on the subject, when did society be the ones to determine what beautiful is. Whoever is in said “society.” Societal based beauty is the reason why some little girls think they have to dress a certain way, and sadly pretend they are not smart in school by not raising their hand in class.

To say that I just don’t understand it would be an understatement, but it’s all I can ask because sadly it won’t change. All we can do is hit fast forward, or simply turn off the power button.

How to tell if you are drift compatible.

After my husband and I first saw Guillermo del Torro’s Pacific Rim, we have found ourselves saying “drift compatible!” whenever we say or think the same things. For example, whenever my husband and I say the words “do you” we say it a la Anthony Michael Hall in The Breakfast Club. 

I thought it might be fun to list items, in my humble opinion, that make two people drift compatible. Some are from my personal life, others are things I have thought about recently. So here they are in no particular order.

• When you say, “check you later” they automatically think “alright, alright, alright.”
• Whenever you discuss or mention Doug Jones, the other person knows exactly who you are talking about. You even share the same favorite funny seen in Hellboy when, Abe and Hellboy are sharing a beer and discussing their women troubles. “You’re in love. Have a beer.”
• While watching the premier of J.J. Abrams, Star Trek, both of you geeked out when you saw Noel Clarke. And at the same time said Mickey! While looking around to see if anyone was excited as you were to see a companion.
• When you hear that someone has not seen Doctor Who, you or your significant other say “you’ve never seen Doctor Who?” in your best British accent. Saying it in that accent is a result of seeing Revision 3’s “Welcome Back, Doctor Who” one too many times on YouTube.
• Speaking of YouTube, one of the other videos you’ve both seen together a billion times is Portlandia’s Battlestar Galactica - One More Episode. Edward James Olmos and James Callis make a guest appearance. Ron Moore also makes a cameo, however not in the way you would think.
• You both said Whaaat! When you realized it would be the last time you would see Scott Wilson play Hershel in Too Far Gone. Yes admittedly one of you did have to comfort the other because while Beth and Maggie began crying that started the water works.
• You both feel like Rob Gordon in High Fidelity when everyone starts talking about The Walking Dead, Sherlock, and Doctor Who because you liked these shows first. Which makes you feel like a hipster for saying don’t infect my beautiful shows with your main stream. However, secretly you both need others to watch so the TV networks can keep the show going for as long as it can. The only reason you know the term “infect it with your main stream” because you’ve both seen Soundly Awake’s Hipsters On Valentine’s  Day a bunch of times. Okay let’s face it you both go on YouTube one day binges, but there is no judgment.
• Your significant other can recognize a Bear McCreary musical compositions before knowing it is him. Like when you watched season 1, episode 1 of Defiance, and heard the theme music the other person says that sounds like Bear.
• While watching the entire Star Trek series (yes all of them) you both say at the same time hey it’s Kate Vernon (aka Ellen Tigh)! Or, hey it’s Rick Worthy (aka Number Four)! But when watching Battlestar Galactica, you both say hey it’s Sam Witwer! Or, when Roslin was getting chemo you both say, isn’t that Kira (Deep Space Nine)?
• Whenever the computer messes up, acts strange, or you see a news article about another advancement in robotics or technology - your significant nods in agreement when you say “Skynet.”

I smile when I hear the word Toronto because I know my husband will say “in Toronto” a la Brandon Routh in Scott Pilgrim vs the World. Because its moments like these when we make a reference the other one gets, we simply look at each other and know we are thinking the same thing … drift compatible.