How's it going lurkers? Remember when I said, that I wouldn't be
gothing it up hardcore as much this week? Well, I couldn't help it,
especially not today.
The last 2 days, I have been
updating more previously published blogs that I published, throughout the years.
In fact, I
JUST updated a blog that I published about Bauhaus' Peter Murphy.
Then, I linked that exact same blog with my most recent Cartoon Sunday blog.
Suddenly,
I remembered that today is the day Brandon Lee would've turned 52 years
old.
I believe Brandon would've been a sexy, 52-year-old man had he
STILL been alive today. He probably would've also been getting more
acting gigs.
Yes, I know. It sounds like I'm
fangirling over a dead sexy (pun intended) actor more than 2 decades
later.
Honestly, I can't help it. Men with long, dark hair, especially
if they happen to be musicians and/or Goth have always been hard to get out
my system.
Even though I retired from dating 10 years ago, dark hair, musicians, and Goths will ALWAYS be my types.
As usual, I digress. Because it is the late Brandon Lee's 52nd
birthday and since there are so many other readers, who have never read
my previous blogs about him, I thought I would share and re-share them
with everyone for today.
Simply click on this LINK and you will be directed to several links about the late Brandon Lee.
How's it going lurkers? Because I normally blog at least 2-3 days a week on here, blogging appears to overshadow the fact, that I
am also a Horror Writer.
I have been creating MY OWN stories with MY
OWN characters, since I was a 3rd grader. This cannot necessarily be said about those, who write Fan Fiction.
I'm
actually amazed by some people I meet in public, who have NEVER heard of Fan
Fiction or know what it is. Even though I am not yet published, I have
never liked or respected Fan Fiction. Neither do more established and
published authors such as Stephen King, for example.
Fan
Fiction is more like a disguised form of plagiarism by nerds online,
who want to pretend they are so-called screenwriters. I have said this
countless times, if you are able to write your own stories, you can
create YOUR OWN CHARACTERS, as well.
Why re-write
another author or screenwriter's story to best suit YOUR OWN LIKING,
when you can create your own characters and write your own stories?
I
can understand basing your story on a historical figure/event or paying
homage to an author.
In fact, 11 years ago, I was assigned to pay homage
to an author for a Creative Writing class during my college junior
year.
My short story, "Dolls", which I eventually renamed "Across The
Street," is mostly an homage to Octavio Paz's Flash Fiction piece, "The Blue
Bouquet."
In addition to paying homage to Paz, I incorporated an homage to the inside album cover of KoRn's Follow The Leader album and James O'Barr's The Crow.
This will surely offend quite a few by me
saying this, but it seems like it is mostly Millennials, who are so
quick to write Fan Fiction rather than creating their OWN stories to write and
creating their OWN characters.
It's as if Fan
Fiction writers are striving to be wannabe "screenwriters" and expect
for everyone to pat them on their backs for UNoriginality and copycatting.
Writers of that ilk don't try to be innovative in the slightest because they deluded themselves
into believing, that they can write a famous author or screenwriter's
story BETTER than he/she did. This automatically makes me roll my eyes
and laugh.
If Fan Fiction writers can create such
dynamic stories, they can surely create their own characters. I don't
care HOW they try justifying to me or anyone else. You
will be a lot more respectable, WHEN you create your OWN characters with the stories you independently created. It would NOT surprise me if most publishers consider Fan Fiction writers to
be laughingstocks.
Speaking of writers in today's
blog, Writer's Relief shared a YouTube video sharing their countdown of
Top 10 Horror Writers. Since I am a Horror writer and a FAN, I thought I
would share their video.
When I was
growing up, I was NOT a bookworm. Reading books typically bored me to
sleep. Watching TV, movies, and music videos were entertaining. However, I will say that whenever I DID enjoy reading books, they were
usually published books by R.L. Stine or another Horror author.
Whether
I was reading or watching it, Horror always kept my interest. Then
again, it's like I already said, I was born and raised during the 1980's and '90s. During the 1980's, TV
shows such as Freddy's Nightmares, for example, used to air on local TV
stations.
Slasher Horror was highly
condemned and demonized yet it was a favorite among Horror fans. The Horror fandom was
not like it is today. Horror was nicher for a niche audience.
Almost everyone today is a Horror fan because Horror is now widely acceptable, more contrived, LAMEstream, and "trendy" for the HIPSTER demographic.
You
will have to forgive me, if I sound more like an elitist for saying
this, but a lot of today's so-called Horror fans are hipsters. Those
supposed Horror fans did NOT earn their proverbial stars and stripes of
being labeled as a sociopath, psychopath, FREAK, weirdo, serial killer, or any other
type of negative label, which most of us REAL Horror fans were
demonized and branded as, during our youth.
Anyway,
here is Writer's Relief's video countdown for their Top 10 Horror
Writers.
Writer's Relief's Top 10 Horror Writers Countdown (2015)
How's it going lurkers? Before I forget, you may recall that last weekend for today's Song Saturday, I mentioned sharing more Krampus songs. Unfortunately, that will not be the case for today.
In case case you missed the previous Krampus Day themed Song Saturday blogs, here they are once again at the following:
Earlier this week, I was just thinking about
Scott Weiland. Now, I learn that he's dead.
Even though it really
should not be a surprise to much of anyone, especially to us veteran fans (He's been in and out of drug rehab, since the
mid-90's), I was shocked, disappointed, and sad.
Yesterday I learned that the former lead singer of Stone Temple Pilots/Velvet Revolver died at 48 years old.
This
is mostly devastating news for veteran Stone Temple Pilots fans.
These last 3 months, I have not been keeping up with the latest news in
Rock Music. So much has been happening both on and offline that I have
been spreading myself too thin.
Nearly 2 years ago,
I published a Song Saturday blog about Linkin Park's Chester Bennington
being Scott Weiland's replacement for Stone Temple Pilots.
Because
Scott Weiland of both Stone Temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver died 2 days ago and
since STP was a major part of my youth, it is only fair to share at
least 2 songs from them for Song Saturday.
Most people don't know that Stone Temple Pilots was originally called, "Mighty Joe Young." Not
only were they Mighty Joe Young, but they were also featured on The Crow
Soundtrack in '94. Originally, the band meant to release their song, "Only
Dying" for the soundtrack.
Mighty Joe Young a.k.a. Stone Temple Pilots "Only Dying" [DEMO] (1990)
"Only Dying" was created 3
years before The Crow movie and soundtrack (both based on James
O'Barr's comic book, The Crow) were released.
At the
last minute, Mighty Joe Young now turned Stone Temple Pilots refrained
from releasing the song. The band felt it would've been disrespectful
considering that Brandon Lee was suddenly killed, DURING the making of The
Crow in 1993.
STP replaced "Only Dying" with "Big
Empty" for The Crow Soundtrack. "Big Empty" can also be found on the
band's 2nd album, Purple from 1994.
Out of all the Stone Temple Pilots songs, "Atlanta" is 1 of my dozens of favorites by them. This song can be found on their 4th album, No. 4.
How's it going lurkers? Today would've been Brandon Lee's 50th
birthday. Had the creators of Robot Chicken not mocked The Crow in such a
distasteful manner, I would've shared their short for today's Cartoon
Sunday.
Over the last 2 decades, I have noticed
The Crow fans being taunted much like Anime fans and other fandoms. I'm
a fan of Robot Chicken, The Crow, and Anime. However, I only turn into a
fangirl, when it comes to The Crow and Brandon Lee in general.
Otherwise, I couldn't care less.
Rather than sharing
a cartoon, I'm sharing another blog from Blogster. It was originally an Art
Sunday blog on Blogster.
When I published it 2 Julys ago, a certain nitpicky, Baby Boomer/drag queen used "her" so-called "short
attention span" as a scapegoat for her personal disinterest.
Since I no longer participate in
her Song Saturday and Art Sunday Tours, I'm re-sharing this blog I
published about James O'Barr's The Crow on here.
In addition to this Art Sunday blog, I have 2 other blogs dedicated to Brandon Lee.
Anyway, here's my Brandon Lee (and I suppose you can still say James O'Barr's) tribute.
This blog was originally published on Blogster July 27, 2013.
How's
it going Xangans and Blogsterians? I hope you're all enjoying your hot
and sunny weather this weekend. Ours disappeared in WI. Yesterday and
today, we only reached 65 degrees. It feels like it is early spring
because it is cold for late July.
Aside
from that, I've been meaning to do an Art Sunday blog, but I usually
forget about it. I believe my last Art Sunday blog was my Short Horror
Story, Across The Street. Most people don't view writing as an art form because it is written rather than drawn. I have not done any physical
art work, since my high school senior year. Ceramics was the last physical
art class I took.
Now,
that I have come up with something for another Art Sunday, I decided to
share this James O'Barr interview. I YouTubed it last year. Apparently,
this video is on the re-release of The Crow.
I have The Crow on the
original VHS. I really should buy an updated version because James
O'Barr's documentary is NOT on the VHS for The Crow.
When
I originally watched this interview last year, I couldn't help
empathizing with O'Barr. He mentioned, that his work was a form of
catharsis for him.
Not only is James O'Barr's work cathartic for him, but also listening to the author explain in detail
about his previous fiancee being killed by a drunk driver made me
sympathize and empathize with him.
Luckily, none of
my immediate family, friends, or exes were killed by drunk drivers.
Although, some college peers of mine were killed by drunk drivers.
As
far as love goes, being unable to be with that 1 person, who I loved
the most really hit close to home for me, after watching and listening
to James O'Barr's documentary.
The man I really wanted to be with the most
is not dead. He became a drug addict, who refuses to acknowledge me
anymore. This is especially after he recently learned that his
so-called "friend" was behind my abuse, years ago.
Sometimes,
I emotionally torture myself and regret ever telling him about what
happened to me. He probably wouldn't have turned so cold and rebuked me
had I stayed quiet.
Anyway, here is James O'Barr's documented interview about his comic book, The Crow.
1) Comic Book Author James O'Barr Shares His Life & Inspiration For The Crow (1994)
2) James O'Barr Shares His Personal Catharsis (1994)
3) James O'Barr Explains His Art Techniques & Work History (1994)
4) James O'Barr Shares Alex Proyas & Brandon Lee's Admiration (1994)
How's it going lurkers? What a week it has been. Since it is Song Saturday, I have some Thrill Kill Kult for today.
The
band is actually called, My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult. They are an
Industrial Disco band that originated from Chicago, IL circa 1987.
Parents Music Resource Center (PMRC), which was co-founded by Tipper GORE, objected to Thrill Kill Kult's humorous and satirical references to Jesus, Satan, and sex in their lyrics.
By the early 1990's, the band changed their music to a more disco-oriented sound because of Tipper and the PMRC.
The
Crow fans like yours truly may remember that Thrill Kill Kult was featured,
during the shootout scene; They performed "After The Flesh" on stage, during Top Dollar's meeting/shootout with the late Eric Draven.
Today,
the band continues to make music. So far, my favorite albums by Thrill
Kill Kult are 13 Above The Night and A Crime For All Seasons.
Rather
than giving a long history lesson about the band, I'll let you listen to
some of my favorite songs by them.
1) Thrill Kill Kult "Delicate Terror" 13 Above The Night (1993)
2) Thrill Kill Kult "China De Sade" 13 Above The Night (1993)
3) Thrill Kill Kult "Dimentia 66" 13 Above The Night (1993)
4) Thrill Kill Kult "After The Flesh" (Sinister Mix) Sinister Whisperz II: The Interscope Years (1992-1996)
5) Thrill Kill Kult "Blondes With Lobotomy Eyes" A Crime For All Seasons (1997)
6) Thrill Kill Kult "The Twilight Web" A Crime For All Seasons (1997)
How's it going lurkers? This Song Saturday, I have decided to do something a little different.
Last winter, when Xanga 1.0 still existed, I published a blog about
Brandon Lee's 48th birthday. This year, he would've turned 49 had he survived that gunshot wound, during the making of The Crow.
This
year, I am sharing some past Brandon Lee movie montages and scenes,
that he was in, before making The Crow.
Also, I'm sharing some music
from The Crow Soundtrack, along with Shannon Lee's vlog. In
Shannon's vlog, she explains her bond with her dead brother, Brandon.
This Song Saturday, be prepared to watch my Brandon Lee Birthday
Tribute.
I think the only time I ever go into fangirl mode is when it's
about him. I always hear people say they're these Brandon Lee "fans,"
when they only watched him in The Crow.
Within the
last 2 decades, I have watched him in 3 other movies besides The Crow. I have watched Brandon Lee in Legacy Of Rage, Showdown In Little Tokyo,
and Rapid Fire.
However, I never watched him in Laser Mission. One of
these days, I should try watching it.
I would've
watched Laser Mission years ago, but it was very hard renting Brandon
Lee's movies on VHS, when I was a teenager. Luckily, I had watched
Showdown In Little Tokyo and Rapid Fire. That's how scarce Brandon's
movies were in the '90s.
Last year, I YouTubed his Legacy Of Rage movie. I disliked the movie mostly because
Brandon played as a prisoner. In the film, his "friend" set him up. Watching
Legacy Of Rage infuriated me.
I was NOT used to seeing Brandon Lee
playing such naive and defenseless roles in his films. He may have been
beaten, tortured, and murdered in his other films, but his other
characters always swore vengeance and were better at self-defense than
in Legacy Of Rage. Showdown In Little Tokyo and
Rapid Fire were better.
Even though Showdown In Little Tokyo was a
really cheesy Action Flick, at least Brandon Lee and Dolph Lundgren provided
some great comic relief. Sometimes I still don't know, who had the most
hilarious 1-liners.
Behind The Scenes: Brandon Lee And Showdown In Little Tokyo (1991)
Brandon & Dolph's Witty Banter While Cary Hiroyuki Tagawa Tortures Them (1991)
Behind The Scenes: Brandon Lee And Rapid Fire (1992)
Shannon Lee Remembers Brandon And Discusses The Crow (2011)
Speaking
of The Crow, the comic book artist, James O'Barr, created it in black
and white. I never completely read The Crow comic book. Although, I have
read some pages.
In the comic book, James O'Barr
wrote song lyrics from the band formerly known as Joy Division, which
later became New Order. Those of us fans, who have The Crow Soundtrack
and watched the film, heard Nine Inch Nails' cover of Joy Division's
song, "Dead Souls."
I recently discovered there is
an actual music video by the band, For Love Not Lisa. Their song on The
Crow Soundtrack is called "Slip Slide Melting."
"Slip Slide Melting" was
featured in a bar scene with the villains shaking their guns in the
air, shouting, "FIRE IT UP! FIRE IT UP! FIRE IT UP!" Talk about a
legendary scene in The Crow.
As I watched For Love
Not Lisa's "Slip Slide Melting" music video, I noticed it was not only
shot in black and white, but the song was also shortened.
"Slip Slide
Melting" is almost 6 minutes long compared to the music video only being
4:09. I assume the band had to shorten the music video, in order to get
any airplay. That reminds me. I have NEVER seen For
Love Not Lisa's "Slip Slide Melting" on MTV or any other music channel.
During 1993-94, music channels still aired music videos. As
for "Slip Slide Melting" being shot in black and white, I think For
Love Not Lisa created their music video that way because The Crow comic
book is in black and white, and because Brandon Lee originally wanted to
shoot the film that way.
This Song Saturday, I have decided to share Joy Division's "Dead Souls" and For Love Not Lisa's "Slip Slide Melting."
1) Joy Division "Dead Souls" Unknown Pleasures (1979)
2) For Love Not Lisa's "Slip Slide Melting" The Crow Soundtrack (1994)
HAPPY 49TH BIRTHDAY AND REST IN PEACE, BRANDON LEE!!!
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