Which Writers Made Writer's Relief's Top 10 Horror Writers Countdown

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)

Cartoon Sunday: The Real Ghostbusters

How's it going lurkers? Last week, I forgot to mention that Blue Exorcist is actually getting another season! This is fantastic news for us fans! 

Hopefully with a 2nd season, there will be more exploration about the character, Renzo Shima.

The finale for this Supernatural Shonen Jump Action Anime felt incomplete much like a cliffhanger. Even though Rin Okumura is the protagonist, I still am quite fond of Renzo Shima. 

He and Rin Okumura are my favorite characters from Blue Exorcist. Shima wants to act like he is a Don Juan YET  he's a cowardly character, who's always scared of everything. That is always hilarious to watch.

Nearly 2 years ago, I remember reading a summary about the Blue Exorcist Manga and its characters. 

If memory serves me right, Renzo Shima becomes a double agent and is very skilled with his weapons. 

If this is true in the Blue Exorcist Manga, maybe Shima hides the fact that he's a lethal agent from everyone. Hopefully the Blue Exorcist Anime shows that Renzo Shima is a double agent for Season 2.

Meanwhile, are you feeling nostalgic for the 1984 Ghostbusters movie franchise? If so, there's more '80s nostalgia for you today.

Last night, I was able to locate the Ghostbusters cartoon I grew up watching during the 1980's. If you are at least in your mid-30's like myself, you should remember The Real Ghostbusters. 

The Real Ghostbusters debuted in 1986, which was 2 years after the original Ghostbusters movie. I CANNOT  believe that it has been nearly 30 years, since I last watched this '80s classic!

Being able to understand a childhood cartoon as an adult is the best part about re-watching it!

Whenever I re-watch a movie or  TV show from my youth, it is more like viewing something without blinders over my eyes; It's like being a virgin to that show or movie all over again.

There are more times, when I re-watch a show or movie and think to myself, "I don't remember this happening. When did this happen?" or "Hmm, I never thought of it that way."

While re-watching The Real Ghostbusters' pilot "Ghosts R Us," I started realizing how much the animated illustration for Dr. Egon Spengler resembles some of the characters we always see in today's Japanese animation (Anime).

This made me question if those, who did the illustrations were Japanese and/or possibly Korean.

After watching the ending credits scroll during the end of "Ghosts R Us," I saw a lot of Japanese names listed for the animation. This explained a lot to me. 

Even though The Real Ghostbusters was an American cartoon, some of the characters resembled Japanese illustrations. The illustration for Dr. Egon Spengler was an automatic dead giveaway for yours truly.

It's amazing how much you can learn by watching Japanese animation! Things that make you go hmm...

Okay, now I am REALLY showing my age here. Anyway, if you have NEVER had the chance to watch The Real Ghostbusters circa 1986, you now have the chance for today's Cartoon Sunday.

The Real Ghostbusters Pilot "Ghosts R Us" (1986)

Cartoon Sunday: Masam Hashimoto's Fireworks Beads

 

How's it going lurkers? I am sharing something a little different for today's Cartoon Sunday.

Since Independence Day is tomorrow here in the gold ol' U.S. of A, I have chosen to be a little more "festive" by sharing this phenomenal piece created by Masam Hashimoto. Masam Hashimoto is a Japanese Stop-Motion Animator.

He created this amazing piece with fireworks beads. I never knew that such a thing existed, UNTIL 2 days ago. Well, ya learn something new everyday. When I stumbled upon Hashimoto's animation of fireworks, I could NOT  resist sharing it with everybody.

Normally, I'm more indifferent to fireworks, but this is an exception. When it comes to yesterday's Song Saturday blog and today's Cartoon Sunday blog, I have been making quite a few exceptions lately.

With that being said, I will leave you with this Stop-Motion Animated Video of fireworks created by Masam Hashimoto for today's Cartoon Sunday.

Masam Hashimoto Fireworks Beads Animated Video (2013)

Song Saturday: Ikimono-gakari's Hanabi

How's it going lurkers? Yes, I am back with Song Saturday this weekend. I already know that many of you have been waiting for over 1 1/2 month.

Can you believe that Independence Day is in ONLY 2 more days?

For this weekend, the theme is fireworks. While working on this blog last night, our neighborhood could not help hearing fireworks from the outside. 

I actually live not too far away from another park besides Hart Park. There are also firework shows at Summerfest, which is in Downtown Milwaukee.

As I was saying, the theme for this weekend is fireworks. 

Those, who are fans of the Shonen Jump Action Anime and Manga, Bleach may be familiar with today's song. It comes from the J-Pop Rock band, Ikimono-gakari.

Their song "Hanabi," meaning fireworks in Japanese was featured as an ending theme song for Bleach. To be more specific, "Hanabi" was the 7th ending theme song to the series. 

The song is also 1 of my favorite Bleach ending theme songs. Considering my favorite genres of music, "Hanabi" is a bit unusual for me to like as a song.

As most of you already know, Metal is my favorite genre. However, you may also recall that I do enjoy other music genres, including some J-Pop. 

Normally, I would NOT  be a fan of listening to the harmonicas. Therefore, Ikimono-gakari's "Hanabi" is an exception for me.

You can find "Hanabi" on Ikimono-gakari's debut album, Sakura Saku Machi Monogatari. I'm sure that all you Bleach, J-Pop, and Anime Otaku fans were just dying to know, which album you could find the song. Now, you know. You're welcome. Anyway, here is Ikimono-gakari's song, "Hanabi" for today's Song Saturday.

Ikimono-gakari "Hanabi" Sakura Saku Machi Monogatari [The Story Of The Town Where Cherry Blossoms Bloom] (2006)

She's Not Your Average Bass Player: My Interview With White Zombie's Sean Yseult

How's it going lurkers? These days, weeks, and months just keep getting more hectic for me in 2016.

As you already know, I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to interview the Horror Groove Metal bassist, Sean Yseult from the band, White Zombie. 

There were some complications before, during, and after our interview. I explained 2 weeks ago.

Today's blog is more like a Q&A blog. Those of you, who have been subscribed to yours truly these last 2-3 years, already know how I publish Q&A blogs. 

If there is enough time during this summer, I may do another personal Q&A blog. 

Since our interview was NOT  recorded like I expected (Then again, it was better to have not been recorded; The sound quality was garbage.), I have summarized Sean's answers.  

The following are questions I asked Sean Yseult, during our interview on Tuesday, May 24th:

Question #1: You are immensely talented and juggle many different careers. Do you ever have to struggle with your increasing success in general? If so, what challenges and/or struggles are you facing?

Answer: According to bassist Sean Yseult, there are no struggles that she is facing. Right now, everything is going swimmingly well with music and her artwork.

Question #2: Have you ever considered doing your own animation?

Answer: Sean is uninterested in creating her own animation. She is only interested in single image artwork, which consists of photography, designs, and designing her own scarves.

Question #3: Since you design your own scarves, is there any chance that you will design your own Horror or Goth clothing line?

Answer: This answer is similar to the 2nd question. Sean Yseult is NOT  interested in releasing her own Horror or Goth clothing line.

Question #4: With the passing of another legendary music icon (that being Prince), almost everyone knew that purple was his signature color. Do you have your own signature color(s)?

Answer: Sean does NOT  have her own signature color. However, what she and I BOTH have in common is that we LOVE blue and turquoise. Shauna laughed when I told her about how much turquoise dominates my wardrobe. 

I am BOMBARDED with TURQUOISE clothing by the women in my immediate family for birthday AND Christmas presents. Emerald Green, pink, and red are my other favorite colors.

Anyway, Sean Yseult's answer is blue and turquoise.

Question #5: Out of curiosity, have you ever sat down and watched the Adult Swim animated series, Metalocalypse? If so, what are your thoughts about the show?

With the inclusion of Dark Humor, Macabre Horror, inside jokes, and music references to other Metal bands that ONLY Metal fans and bands will understand, do you feel Brendan Small and Tommy Blacha (the creators) do a fantastic job of depicting what it is like to be in the Metal Industry?

Answer: Sean Yseult also LOVES Metalocalypse (something else we have in common) and feels that the creators depict the Metal Industry very well.

Question #6: What are your general thoughts about today's Metal bands getting the most radio airplay on traditional Rock stations? Feel free to also mention your thoughts about Rob Zombie's direction, as a soloist if you would like.

Answer: Sean is NOT  following what is being aired on today's stations right now, much like yours truly. I spent time explaining to her about how politically TOXIC entertainment has been over these last 10-12 years, which was partly why I quit hosting my own radio show.

Sean Yseult mentioned, that White Zombie's songs were not played on Rock stations until their Geffen releases. This is something I can confirm.

When I was a teenager during the 1990's, my local Rock stations normally played White Zombie at midnight, when most people were asleep. I let Sean know that every time I saw White Zombie being advertised for a movie soundtrack, I bought those soundtracks as well as White Zombie's albums.

Sean currently enjoys frequenting live concert performances, in order to get a better idea of what the bands sound like musically.

Question #7: I have always seen Spider One from the band, Powerman 5000 with spiky, dyed, yellow hair, wearing eye goggles, and space suits. Otherwise, I've seen him wearing Punk Rock garb, while somewhat resembling Billy Idol.

As a White Zombie fan, I was unaware of Rob's younger brother, Spider One being in the music video for "I'm Your Boogie Man." The song was featured on The Crow: City Of Angels Soundtrack, 20 years ago. Spider playing the role of "Dr. Spooky" REALLY surprised me. 

Out of curiosity, what is Spider One really like as a person?

Answer: When asking Sean Yseult this question, she seemed really surprised that Spider One had any involvement in the music video for the cover of KC's "I'm Your Boogie Man."

White Zombie's 1996 cover of KC and The Sunshine Band's, "I'm Your Boogieman" was released JUST  before White Zombie disbanded that same year.

Considering that Rob Zombie directed every White Zombie music video, I get the impression that the rest of the band was edited to be in it. Anyway, Sean hasn't seen Spider One from Powerman 5000 in years. Although, she does remember Spider as being someone, who did his own thing.

Basically, Spider One is very individualistic; Sean Yseult referred to him as being a "smart and witty kid," when they all were younger, years ago.

Question #8: Over the last 20 years or so, I have noticed that Rob Zombie tends to have women gyrating in his music videos, including his wife Sheri Moon. When you were in White Zombie, did you EVER feel that Rob wanted you to have a much "sexier" image or to give up your self-respect by acting like a stereotypical bimbo to appease he and your fanbase?

Answer: According to Sean Yseult, this was NEVER a problem for her. Sean was always "one of the guys" and treated with the utmost respect; Sean was allowed to be herself and never had to worry about changing her image for the music industry or Rob Zombie.

Question #9: Throughout your years of being White Zombie's bassist, did you EVER have any male and/or possibly female groupies, who already knew that you were a woman, while trying to meet you backstage?

Answer: Sean explained a funny story about having a gay groupie for a White Zombie fan. The fan assumed she was a man in the band. Then, he discovered that she was a woman after meeting her backstage in New Orleans.

When you really think about it, it makes sense that her groupie assumed that she was a man. Most women don't have the name, "Sean."

Question #10: Did you change your name from Shauna Reynolds to "Sean Yseult" to be taken more seriously and to gain more respect by a male-dominated Rock Industry?

Answer: Since the time of growing up, Sean was always called "Sean Yseult" (her first and last name) by her parents. 

Sometimes people called her "Shauna" but anyone, who knew her or has been close to her, has always called her "Sean."

Sean Yseult's parents added an "a" on the end of her name, when she was born; They were expecting to have a son and changed the spelling from traditional Irish because the name was unusual in the The South, 50 years ago. 

In addition, Sean's parents thought it would be difficult for people to pronounce her name. When she was in high school, Sean changed her name back. Personally, I like calling her "Shauna."

Question #11: Do you still keep in contact with your surviving bandmates from White Zombie or did you all part on really volatile terms?

Answer: When we were talking, Sean Yseult said that she, Jay, and Johnny Tempesta still keep in contact with each other whereas Rob Zombie does NOT  try to initiate any contact with them. 

I let Sean know I think it sucks that most of White Zombie's bandmates STILL keep in contact with each other except for ROB ZOMBIE. It really would NOT surprise me, if she felt the most hurt out of the group.

Question #12: So, I keep hearing and reading about an actual White Zombie Reunion. Will there be a reunion or is the media spreading rumors and lying to us White Zombie fans for publicity?

Answer: As of right now, the media is ONLY spreading rumors about an actual White Zombie Reunion. However, there is NOT  that possibility, according to Rob Zombie.

There is a White Zombie box set, which JUST  released on June 4th.

Those with very little knowledge about White Zombie have no idea, that Rob Zombie and Sean Yseult have a long time history with each other, which dates all the way back to their Art School days at Parsons School of Design.

Not only was Sean Yseult the co-founder of the band White Zombie, but she and Rob Zombie were also a COUPLE for 7 YEARS. If memory serves me right, Rob made his roommate act as his wing man to ask out Sean, when they were attending Parsons.

Out of respect for Rob Zombie, Sean Yseult, and their spouses, I did not want to pry too much into Rob and Sean's romantic history. I felt that it would've triggered some painful memories, which was something I really did NOT  want to do to Sean Yseult.

It was such an honor having the opportunity to speak to a musician, who was a major part of my adolescence during the '90s. 

Sean told me she appreciates the fact, that I spent the time and money buying White Zombie's albums and the movie soundtracks their band was featured on. 

Rob Zombie wrote the lyrics, while Sean and Jay wrote the riffs.

Most people don't know, that Beavis and Butt-Head was 1 reason White Zombie became famous.

Maybe someday Rob Zombie will stop alienating his former Horror Groove Metal band, that made him rich and famous more than 20 years ago. This was YEARS before he became a solo act and a supposed Horror "filmmaker."

Anyway, thank you so much for reading! Don't forget to like, subscribe, share, +1 on Google Plus, and leave your feedback in the comments section below!

Follow Up To My Previous Blogs About Sean Yseult

How's it going lurkers? On Tuesday, May 24th, 2016, I DID actually manage to interview the former bassist of White Zombie, Sean Yseult. The interview was somewhat rocky. When I say "rocky," I mean there were some SKETCHY approaches taken, that some of us like moi were unaware of this week. There were also a few technical difficulties we faced live.

To clarify, Sean Yseult, her publicist, and I are NOT at fault for what happened. Some people aren't the best communicators. Sean and I were expecting for our interview to be recorded. There ended up being someone flaking out on the original arrangement, at the last minute. Luckily, there was a backup plan; I wrote down some brief notes, during our interview.

Before sharing the interview with everyone, I will allow Sean and her publicist to read a draft of it. This is in order to make sure there is nothing misprinted by yours truly. I've considered publishing my interview with Sean Yseult in a Q&A format. 

All 12 questions that I asked her will be published and I will share her answers. The goal is to have my interview with her published sometime within the next few days.

Despite the technical difficulties we faced, I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to interview Sean Yseult from White Zombie. She is an immensely talented artist in MANY different ways. Most people have no idea who Sean Yseult is unless they're White Zombie fans like myself.

During our interview, I told Sean that I still have White Zombie in my album collection more than 20 years later, and that I favor White Zombie over Rob's solo albums. 

When you listen to White Zombie and compare them to Rob Zombie's solo direction, you CANNOT  help noticing the differences in their sound. White Zombie was more of a Horror Groove Metal band, whereas Rob Zombie as a soloist evolved into MAINSTREAM Hard Rock. Rob Zombie's newer fans like his more recent works, whereas some of us veteran White Zombie fans from 20 + years ago DON'T.

I am not saying, that I hate Rob Zombie. However, some of us veteran White Zombie fans feel that Rob purposely "sold out." 

Over this last decade or so, Rob Zombie wasted time focusing on being a Horror "filmmaker" rather than being a Horror Groove Metal vocalist. Rob remade Classic Horror Movies for the sole purpose of patting himself on the back and getting praise from Horror film hipsters.

Whenever I read or listen to sycophants, critics, and reviewers praising Rob Zombie about his remake of John Carpenter's Halloween, I instantly shake my head. As much of a Rob Zombie fangirl I was as a teenager, he RUINED Horror films, that did NOT need remakes.

More than anything, I would really love to see a White Zombie Reunion. Knowing that Rob completely discarded Jay Yuenger, Johnny Tempesta, and Sean Yseult, (who was the co-founder of White Zombie) is upsetting for some of us veteran White Zombie fans.

It honestly would NOT surprise me, if Sean was really hurt about being discarded. She had the most history with Rob Zombie out of all their past and present bandmates.

Even though, I did NOT physically meet her for our interview, Sean Yseult seems like she would be someone I could do lunch and/or dinner with. I can imagine us sitting at a table somewhere and discussing various topics. After all, we have a few things in common.

This is all I have to say for now. I must spend time working on my interview with Sean Yseult. Then, she and her publicist have to read and verify her answers, in order to make sure I don't misprint anything. In the meantime, stay tuned!

Cartoon Sunday: David Firth's Crooked (Orcus) Rot Vs. Adam Rosenberg's Manny

How's it going lurkers? As you already know, I love animation. Something has been really "grinding my gears," as Peter Griffin says.

Lately, I have noticed how indifferent many adults are, when it comes to watching most animation. All the while, some of those SAME adults will buy tickets to see the latest Disney film at their local theaters.

Those adults don't necessarily have any children yet they will act self-righteous to those of us, who watch more mature cartoons, Japanese animation, and/or simply animation in general. Most adults don't realize that the snobbery is real, in regards to animation.

In Sociology, we are considered to be "social deviants" because adults watching cartoons is "abnormal."

Being an adult, who loves to watch any type of animation, is normally viewed as being "childish," "immature," "nerdy," "weird," or just plain taboo.

I have been watching animation, since the time I was in diapers. In fact, my mother taught me how to record my favorite cartoons on her Beta VCR, when I was only 2 years old.

Throughout these last 3 decades, I watched regular shows and continue to watch them much like whenever I am watching animation in general. 

If you have been paying very close attention to my blogs over these last 2-3 years, you know that Cartoon Sunday is a regularly featured topic on here.

I love watching various types of animation, including animated shorts. Whenever there is an animation that I enjoy watching, I try sharing it with you all.

Last week, I managed to find at least 2 creepy and disturbing Stop-Motion Animated Shorts by David Firth and Adam Rosenberg on YouTube. 

David Firth's "Crooked (Orcus) Rot" and Adam Rosenberg's "Manny" are very similar to each other.

Even though I've never done my own animation, I can surely tell you that these 2 Stop-Motion Animated Shorts required more time to create. 

I commend David Firth and Adam Rosenberg for their hard work. At the moment, I am favoring "Crooked (Orcus) Rot." 

The animation for this short is so dark, disturbing, bizarre, and abstract that it creeps me out the way Horror movies really SHOULD. 

Like I already said, "Manny" is quite similar Firth's short. However, Rosenberg's short left me with a more intense vibe as opposed to feeling creeped out.

Regardless, both David Firth and Adam Rosenberg did phenomenal jobs creating these Stop-Motion Animated Shorts. 

I highly suggest that everyone, who reads the blogs on here, should watch and give the both of these shorts fair chances for today's Cartoon Sunday.

David Firth "Crooked (Orcus) Rot" (2008)

Adam Rosenberg "Manny" (2010)

So, do you still believe that animation is childish, immature, and meant for children? What are your thoughts about "Crooked (Orcus) Rot" and "Manny"?

Song Saturday: Prince Tribute Block

 

How's it going lukers? Are you Princed out yet? It's amazing. "The Purple One" died 2-3 weeks ago and was cremated YET  the media is still talking about him. Without a doubt, we know there are at least some people already suffering from Prince fatigue.

Honestly, I would much rather hear and read more about Prince than this election any day of the week. If anything, everyone should be politically fatigued.

So, I meant to publish this Prince tribute blog ~3 weeks ago, but trying to schedule an interview with a famous Metal bassist, shopping for Mother's Day and birthday presents, celebrating birthdays, and handling cyberbullying on Adult Swim kept me completely swamped both on and offline. 

Meanwhile, more news also continues to surface by the hours about Prince. 

Since we are on the topic of Prince, we have learned that he did NOT die from the "flu." The Purple One died from a drug overdose. 

Considering that he had to take Percocet for his hip injuries and underwent surgery, chances are great that the prescription caused the overdose.

Whenever I hear Percocet being mentioned on the news, I automatically think about Nirvana's Kurt Cobain. Eventually, I will update that 2-year-old Song Saturday blog, which I published about Nirvana. Cobain took Percocet for his stomach ailments.

When Kurt no longer had access to the prescription, he turned to heroin, which is much stronger than the prescription, Percocet.

Judging from what I continue to learn about the highly addictive prescription, Percocet, could possibly be the so-called "gateway drug" to heroin. 

Here in WI ~2 months ago, I heard on our local news, that hospitals are trying to allow EMT's to give heroin addicts Narcan to counteract heroin overdoses.

Shortly before Kurt Cobain's supposed suicide, the doctors gave him Narcan in March 1994 because he overdosed on heroin. Weeks later, he was found dead.

Speaking of the Grunge band, Nirvana, Krist Novoselic and David Grohl considered Prince to be 1 of their musical influences. By my OWN observations about these 2 surviving members of Nirvana, I believe Dave Grohl enjoyed listening to Prince MORE than Krist and Kurt.

In fact, the Nirvana drummer now turned frontman for The Foo Fighters covered Prince's song, "Darling Nikki." The cover is featured on a B-Side album from 2003.

As I have mentioned at least several times in previously published blogs, "Darling Nikki" from Prince's Purple Rain album led to Tipper Gore launching the Parental Advisory (nicknamed "Tipper Stickers") labels on explicit albums in 1984.

Prince was actually the main contributor to censorship in entertainment, during 1984. Tipper Gore got "triggered" because she caught HER DAUGHTER, Karenna listening to Prince's "Darling Nikki." Don't you just LOVE masturbation?

BTW: May is Masturbation Month. HAPPY MASTURBATION MONTH!!!

Well, getting back on the topic of Prince, he made his mark in entertainment, throughout these last 3-4 decades in various music genres. 

He released 30 studio albums, wrote songs for OTHER singers in Pop, Country, Rock, R&B, etc. under numerous pseudonyms, and wrote THOUSANDS of unreleased songs, which are said to possibly last an entire century.

There are many reasons why people hail The Purple One. Prince managed to surpass not only Elvis and Jimi Hendrix, but also Michael Jackson as a music icon. This speaks volumes.

Since the time of Prince's demise, I have read news articles, watched news programs, and famous musicians on social media performing tributes. I was very surprised to see Metal and Rock bands covering his most popular songs in tributes to him, when they were not posting their condolences.

Growing up, I wasn't a huge Prince fan, but like I creepily mentioned in my Vanity blog, I knew my uncle would be devastated if Prince were to die SOON. Oh yes, he idolized The Purple One and his androgynous ways. 

My uncle may love Jimi Hendrix, but he ALWAYS worshiped Prince. In a way, Prince can be somewhat considered THE Jimi Hendrix for older Gen Xers. 

As I watched ABC's 20/20 News special about Prince 3 weeks ago, my mother walked into my bedroom imitating me, when I was a little girl. 

Watching her imitate me listening to "When Doves Cry" with my headphones on as a toddler was hilarious.

The more I think about it, it makes me realize that I haven't changed all that much as I became an adult. I still listen to music wearing my headphones. If only friends could see me, now.

Even though I am NOT  a Prince zealot like my uncle, I still enjoy listening to some of his songs. It would take me forever to mention facts about The Purple One but I will mention a few. 

Here's some interesting trivia for you!

* Prince did the entire soundtrack for Tim Burton's Batman movie in 1989. 

* If you WERE a fan of Buffy: The Vampire Slayer during the 1990's, you MAY remember the character, Jenny Calendar. The actress, Robia LaMorte was 1 of Prince's dancers in his music videos for "Get Off," "Cream," and "Strollin'."

This is the part where I let you watch some of my favorite Prince music videos from the 1980's and '90s for today's Song Saturday.

1) Prince And The Revolution "When Doves Cry" Purple Rain (1984)

2) Prince And The Revolution "Raspberry Beret" Around The World In A Day (1985)

3) Prince And The Revolution "Kiss" Parade (1986)

4) Prince [Featuring Sheila E. & Sheena Easton] "U Got The Look" Sign “☮” the Times (1987)

5) Prince "Batdance" Batman Soundtrack (1989)

6) Prince And The New Power Generation [Featuring Rosie Gaines, Eric Leeds, & Tony M.] "Get Off" Diamonds and Pearls (1991)

7) Prince And The New Power Generation [Featuring Rosie Gaines] "Cream" Diamonds and Pearls (1991)

REST IN PURPLE, PRINCE!!!

Song Saturday: White Zombie Block

How's it going lurkers? On Thursday night, someone on Adult Swim posted a thread about liking 1 of Rob Zombie's newest songs. It's called, "In the Age of the Consecrated Vampire We All Get High." 

I told the poster, that I still enjoy White Zombie much better than Rob Zombie's more recent work as a soloist. Over the last decade or so, I really haven't cared for Rob Zombie as much as I used to, since the 1990's. When Rob formed White Zombie years ago, he seemed more focused on writing music, which did NOT sound like cliche Hard Rock Music like his latest songs. Also, he directed every White Zombie music video.

After Rob Zombie launched his solo career, his music became more trite and he started spending more time as a Horror "filmmaker." I always knew that Rob was a Horror fan. It was the MAIN reason why I was attracted to White Zombie's music.

Now that the Horror genre has become more acceptable, glamorized, and "trendy" compared to it always being demonized and condemned, throughout the last few decades, I feel more apathetic. 

Today almost everyone is suddenly a Horror fan, writes Horror books, films, music, etc. It's mostly to turn a profit. Don't get me wrong. I am by no means at all saying, that we should boycott Horror. If anything, it feels like suddenly everyone wants to bandwagon liking the Horror genre.

You're probably saying to yourselves, "Well, you already knew Rob Zombie was a Horror fan and you liked him years ago. What has changed?"

In general, I believe that Rob Zombie is spreading himself too thin with his need to always create Horror films whether they are his own or REMAKING old films, which did NOT need to be remade from decades ago. I especially feel that Rob has somewhat "sold out."

During 1999-2000, Rob Zombie and his younger brother, Spider One from Powerman 5000 hosted an MTV special together. Both Powerman 5000 and Rob Zombie's music were really popular. I remember Spider being a fan of Rap Music, whereas Rob was NEVER a fan of the genre.

A little over a decade ago, I regularly exchanged albums with someone, who was interested in dating me; When we were college students, we burned CD's into our laptops.

While listening to Rob Zombie's album Past, Present & Future, I discovered that he collaborated with not only Lionel Richie from The Commodores, but also with the raunch feminist rapper, TRINA. They covered The Commodores' "Brick House." That REALLY threw me off. 

As you already know, I always listened to Rap, Rock, Metal, and other music genres and sub-genres. However, Rob was NEVER a fan of Rap Music. 

Considering Trina's raunchy persona and sexually explicit songs (much like Lil' Kim's and Rob Zombie's), I suppose he made exceptions for Trina.

Then again, he always loved having bimbos at his side. That's something else, that really began to annoy me as I became older.

When Rob Zombie's band, White Zombie existed years ago, he dated his, bassist Sean Yseult. Sean or Shauna did NOT act like a bimbo. 

Meanwhile, Rob's wife Sheri Moon Zombie acts like a total bimbo every time I see her in his music videos and movies. He needs her in every music video and Horror movie he makes for fap material.

Sheri Moon might be a nice woman outside of entertainment, but her behavior reminds me of when the late Vanity used to act like a bimbo before she got "saved."

In Rob Zombie's latest music video, "Well, Everybody's Fucking In A U.F.O." Sheri Moon Zombie is in it as fap material. I have always known that Rob was perverted and created pornographic content. 

All the while, I fail to understand how he can stand having his wife act like an airheaded slut in EVERY music video and film he creates. Rob Zombie must have The Brian Griffin Syndrome.

The more I really think about it, the more I realize and understand why that guy, who pursued me, always called Sheri Moon a "stupid whore." 

I don't necessarily believe that Sheri is a stupid whore. Although, she acts like a stupid whore every time I see her on the screen and her own husband thinks it's acceptable to objectify her.

BTW: I am NOT some hardcore feminazi. 

If anything, I am beyond tired of constantly staring at certain women depicting every woman like we are all dumb sluts with no self-respect and continuously having to deal with entitled sleazebags, that expect to get laid 24/7.

Those are my thoughts, for now. Anyway, here are some more obscure songs and music videos from Rob Zombie's old band, White Zombie for today's Song Saturday.

1) White Zombie "Welcome To Planet Motherfucker" La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol. 1 (1992)

2) White Zombie "Feed The Gods" Airheads Soundtrack (1994)

3) White Zombie "The One" Escape From L.A. Soundtrack (1996)

4) White Zombie "I'm Your Boogieman" [KC And The Sunshine Band Cover] The Crow: City Of Angels Soundtrack (1996)

 

[BONUS MUSIC VIDEO:]

Rob Zombie "Well, Everybody's Fucking In A U.F.O." The Electric Warlock Acid Witch Satanic Orgy Celebration Dispenser (2016)

Were Sleepy Hollow Fans Screwed Over? Anna H's Thoughts

How's it going lurkers? Originally, today's blog was going to be about Sleepy Hollow and Grimm, but I changed my mind at the last minute. Last Friday, I had watched the season finale of Sleepy Hollow. What a waste this Supernatural Drama turned out to be!

When Sleepy Hollow's writers introduced we the viewers to Pandora, her supposed husband, The Hidden One, Betsy Ross (Ichabod Crane's "old flame"), turned Lieutenant Abigail Mills into an FBI Agent, THEN added the FBI as her new tag along crew, I was aggravated and bored to death.

Last fall, I published a blog about the primetime shows, that I was EXCITED to see returning. Out of all 6 shows, Sleepy Hollow was a complete disappointment.

The writers killed significant characters such as Abigail Mills AND Joe Corbin, when they wrote that RIDICULOUS Pandora arc. Sleepy Hollow already had its quirks with Ichabod Crane. At least he kept it interesting, during the first 2 seasons.

This 3rd season really insulted every viewer's intelligence like it was a piece of shitty Fan Fiction.

The Pandora arc as well as the characters, Pandora and her husband, The Hidden One made Sleepy Hollow look really contrived. I'm not someone who's OCD about show ratings, but I looked at Sleepy Hollow's ratings and they're very low compared to the first 2 seasons. Sleepy Hollow's 3rd season's ratings are in a pine box somewhere.

During the beginning of this Supernatural Drama's 1st season, it had 10.10 million viewers. At the end of its 3rd season, the series only held 2.96 million viewers. Consider Sleepy Hollow's current ratings to be a major nose dive and a disgrace.

Watching Shannyn Sossamon play the role of Pandora with that costume was especially pathetic.

Sleepy Hollow Season 3: Shannyn Sossamon As "Pandora" (2016) 

Watching the 3rd season of Sleepy Hollow was a CONTINUOUS "What the fuck?" moment. Throughout this entire season, it felt like I was watching a really low brow high school play combined with that STUPID soap opera, Passions and Buffy: The Vampire Slayer. 

Not that I hate Buffy: The Vampire Slayer, but watching Sleepy Hollow this season was a torturous joke.

Fox's Bones/Sleepy Hollow crossover was also ridiculous and highly unnecessary. The viewers could NOT  help seeing how CONTRIVED that crossover was on TV. It also doesn't help that Abigail is now dead.

Recently, I read that Sleepy Hollow has a 4th season in the works. However, it is undecided if Fox will air it. All over social media, Sleepy Hollow's 3rd season finale is now "trending." Many fans are disappointed and outraged about the death of Abbie Mills and don't want to watch Sleepy Hollow anymore.

Why Sleepy Hollow Just Lost Any Faith Fans Had Left in It

The screenwriters may think that killing 1 of their co-stars was a ballsy move, when it was actually a stupid move. With the direction this last season went by killing Abbie, Sleepy Hollow should be buried in the graveyard. 

The show's Pandora arc was the nail in the coffin. This entire 3rd season of Sleepy Hollow was completely unrecognizable compared to the first 2 seasons. 

I am mostly disappointed with the fact that, we NEVER had the chance to see Ichabod and Abbie become a couple.

In addition, the show's writers discarded the bounty hunter, Nick Hawley. What the hell was that all about? Nick Hawley had feelings for Abbie so much so, that he was jealous of Ichabod and annoyed with Ichabod's consistant cock blocking.

Sleepy Hollow's writers focused more on the SEXUAL tension among Abbie, Hawley, and Ichabod, during Season 2. I really wanted to see if Abigail would've chosen Hawley OR Ichabod. No thanks to Season 3's writers!  

Sleepy Hollow's new writers dismissed a good love triangle that was forming only to add some of the most irrelevant characters such as The Hidden One, Pandora, the FBI, etc.

Nice job, screenwriters! You have alienated your loyal viewers of 3 years and completely cheated us. 

If Sleepy Hollow's 4th season DOES premiere, I will have to remember not to watch it.

With that being said, I ask fellow Sleepy Hollow fans, what are your thoughts about Season 3? Were you as disappointed with this last season as yours truly?

Song Saturday: Filter Block

How's it going lurkers? Yes, Song Saturday is back this week. If you are at least 30 years old or close to it, you may remember the Industrial Rock band, Filter. 

For the last 2 decades, there have been constant gaps over the years, whenever Filter releases albums or releases songs for soundtracks.

The gaps among Filter's albums were partly because of vocalist, Richard Patrick's substance abuse. Over the years, he went to rehab at least once. 

Otherwise, it was because of Patrick forming a few side bands such as The Damning Well and Army Of Anyone.

Usually, Filter was featured on Horror, Thriller, and Supernatural movie soundtracks such as Tales From The Crypt: Demon Knight, The Crow: City Of Angels, The Crow: Salvation, Spawn, and The Stepfather remake. This is only naming a few examples.

When the Industrial Rock band debuted in late 1994, they were featured on the Tales From The Crypt: Demon Knight Soundtrack with the song, "Hey Man Nice Shot." 

During that time, I was almost 13 years old. It's amazing how time flies. Here I am going on 34. The times have really changed, as the years keep passing by.

While choosing which Filter songs I wanted to share on here yesterday, it really made reminisce about the old days of buying albums and soundtracks as a teenager, during the 1990's. 

By the mid to late '90s, Filter's songs and music videos were heavily played on Rock stations and MTV.

Then again, entertainers and the Entertainment Industry during the last 20 years of the 20th Century invested more time in promoting entertainment compared to the early 21st Century promoting political bias, division, hatred, and propaganda. 

Recently, Patrick chose to jump on the politically divisive and hateful bandwagon like almost every Hollywood entertainer. He lost my respect for him as a fan because he's just another sell out. 

I don't know how self-righteous and politically divisive Richard Patrick is on Crazy Eyes, but if it's a politically divisive clone album like Green Day's American Idiot, forget it.

About 2-3 weeks ago, I read Roxy's blog on HardDrive Radio's Dirt page about Filter's latest album, Crazy Eyes being a political album. So, I read the song titles earlier on their new album. 

Then, I listened to the band's new song, "Take Me To Heaven." Patrick wrote it about his dead father. We still have no idea yet how politically divisive and hateful Crazy Eyes is, but the frontman rants about "The Donald" on Filter's new album.

As devastated as Richard Patrick must be about his dead father, I will have to pass on the song. Filter making a politically biased and divisive album is unnecessary. 

Even though this album is supposedly going back to the band's earlier instrumental sound, I don't want to feel like I'm going to a political rally or a protest. With that being said, Richard Patrick is alienating some of Filter's original fans by feeling the need to act self-righteous about his political views.

As if this last decade of self-righteous, politically biased, divisive, and hateful wannabe "activists" wasn't enough. When will this ever end in entertainment?

I want to be entertained, NOT  patronized, berated, condemned, and demonized ad nauseam for my political views by self-righteous, uncultured, wannabe political activists from Hollywood with ZERO credit hours in Political Science, Culture, Religion, and Foreign Languages.

Entertainers really need to get back to writing music, books, movies, and shows, which do NOT  fixate on hating the latest smarmy politician, in order to sell their work. 

There are many other topics to fixate on and write about that do NOT  have to revolve around the most divisive, hateful, caustic, polarizing, and oppressive issues such as politics. I could rant forever about celebutards, but I won't.

I would much rather listen to Filter's classic songs than their latest album, Crazy Eyes. This time, I think I will pass. 

In case you never heard any of these classic Filter songs that were featured on Horror, Supernatural, and Thriller soundtracks, you can listen to them below for today's Song Saturday.

Just a quick reminder, the cover of  The Turtles' "Happy Together" was featured on The Stepfather Soundtrack, in 2009. 

It was later featured on The Great Gatsby Soundtrack, in 2013. Anyway, here's this week's Song Saturday.

1) Filter "Hey Man Nice Shot" Tales From The Crypt: Demon Knight Soundtrack (1994); Short Bus (1995)

2) Filter "Jurassitol" The Crow: City Of Angels Soundtrack (1996)

3) Filter [Featuring The Crystal Method] "Can't You Trip Like I Do" Spawn: The Album (1997)

4) Filter "The Best Things" Title Of Record (1999); The Crow: Salvation Soundtrack (2000)

 

5) Filter "Happy Together" [The Turtles Cover] The Stepfather Soundtrack (2009); The Great Gatsby Soundtrack (2013)

How Morbid Am I Really?

How's it going lurkers? Something you all must know about me is that I will ALWAYS be morbid. I was morbid growing up as a little girl and I still am morbid as a woman. There's a lot that friends from high school, college, and cyber space don't know about me. Here's the burning question:

How morbid am I really?

When I was a little girl growing up, during the 1980's and early '90s, I was always very morbid and had a Goth personality. I don't remember "Goth" even being a word back then.

At the time, I didn't need to wear anything morbid, scary, or "Goth" to constantly prove a point about my identity. This cannot be said about today's Hipster Goths, who shop at Abercrombie and listen to Skrillex.

Growing up decades ago, I was always a Horror fan and was born during the era, when the Slasher Horror sub-genre was notorious yet at its pinnacle. 

You may also recall, that I STILL have my talking Beetlejuice doll, dressed up as Lydia Deetz in 2nd grade for the Halloween Parade at my 2nd elementary school, and wore a grim reaper costume 20 years ago for Halloween.

However, I do not remember telling you all about, when I held funerals for my Barbie dolls. You know how dolls are. Their necks break and their heads pop off very easily. 

Growing up, I always used my imagination with dolls. They would go to school, home, parties, church, weddings, concerts, AND funerals.

Remember the days of having case holders for audio tapes? 

Yes, you read that right. I said "tape" and not "cassette." Yep, I'm totally dating myself here. Heaven forbid. As I was saying...

My youngest aunt had a pastel pink tape holder, which went to her radio. I took her holder and used it as a coffin, whenever I held funerals for my Barbies.

I never threw those broken dolls away. Usually, I glued and/or taped their heads and necks back together. It didn't matter if they were broken, I still played with them regardless.

The fact that, Mattel launched Monster High dolls, after I grew up and became an adult makes me feel somewhat cheated, in addition to envious as a woman.

There was no such thing as Monster High dolls growing up, during the '80s and '90s. Had they existed when I was a little girl, I would've made my mother buy them for every birthday and Christmas I had.

How's THAT for morbid?