You've come a long way, baby...
and these jarring juxtapositions
offer indisputable proof!
Welcome to Vol. 9 of my series
Jarring Juxtapositions:
That Was Then - This Is Now!
It is not my intention to pass judgement. (That's your job. :) This series
merely invites you to compare apples and oranges. Hard as it might
be for you to believe, I enjoy all of the female recording artists
you are about to see and hear. Join me on this jarring journey
back and forth through time as we compare the look,
the sound and the attitude of female singers
Jarring Juxtapositions:
That Was Then - This Is Now!
It is not my intention to pass judgement. (That's your job. :) This series
merely invites you to compare apples and oranges. Hard as it might
be for you to believe, I enjoy all of the female recording artists
you are about to see and hear. Join me on this jarring journey
back and forth through time as we compare the look,
the sound and the attitude of female singers
then... and now!
THAT WAS THEN
CONNIE FRANCIS
It's a different world, my friend. When I was a boy, girls looked, sounded
and acted like Connie Francis and the other coeds in the coming-of-age
romantic comedy film Where the Boys Are (Spring Breakers 2012 was
light years away!). Return with me now to the age of innocence as
Connie sings a song from the Brill Building songwriting team of
Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, the theme from the movie
that hit theaters at the end of 1960 and marked her acting
debut-- "Where The Boys Are.""
light years away!). Return with me now to the age of innocence as
Connie sings a song from the Brill Building songwriting team of
Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, the theme from the movie
that hit theaters at the end of 1960 and marked her acting
debut-- "Where The Boys Are.""
"Where the Boys Are" - Connie Francis
(Feb./Mar. 1961, highest chart pos. #4 Hot 100 & Cash Box)
THIS IS NOW
NICKI MINAJ
IMAGE COURTESY OF CDCOVERS @ deviantart.com
Like Connie Francis and her girlfriends, Trinidad-born rap star Nicki Minaj
loves to go where the boys are- the beach. And, wouldn't you know it,
Nicki's wearing an itsy bitsy teenie weenie bikini. Nicki believes in
partying hard, and she does just that on two Hawaiian islands,
the filming locations for the 2012 music video "Starships,"
an international hit single from her second studio
album Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded.
"Starships" - Nicki Minaj
(May,June, July 2012, highest chart pos.
#2 Dance Club/#5 Hot 100/#2 UK/#1 UK R&B)
THAT WAS THEN
THE CHORDETTES
Nearly identical to Nicki Minaj in every single way 😋 are the singing sweethearts
of Sheboygan - The Chordettes. The traditional pop quartet made the hit parade
in the 1950s and early 60s with "Lollipop," "Zorro," "Never On Sunday" and the
song you are about to hear, a #1 charting best seller from Christmas time 1954
through the early weeks of 1955. Here are The Chordettes performing their
first single, the biggest hit of their career-- "Mr. Sandman."
"Mr. Sandman" - The Chordettes
(Dec. 1954, Jan. 1955, highest chart pos. #1 Hot 100 & Cash Box)
THIS IS NOW
ADDIE NICOLE AMICK
& HALOCENE feat.
LAUREN BABIC &
ALANNA STERLING
Lead zinger Addie Nicole's hair ranges from fire engine red to carrot orange,
and the exciting frontwoman is back at Shady's Place along with her fierce
Phoenix-based rock band Halocene. They're here to perform a metal/rock
cover of "Bang Bang," the chart-topping 2014 hit by English singer
Jessie J in collaboration with American singer Ariana Grande and
the spark-plug who just sang "Starships," Trinidadian-American
rapper Nicki Minaj. Joining Addie Nicole on lead vocals is
Alanna Sterling aka "Mermaid Unicorn." YouTube star
Lauren Babic will blow you away when she jumps in
on the rap part. Yessum, it's three rockin' ladies for
the price of one - Addie, Alanna and Lauren -
comin' atcha with guns blazing, doing their
electrifying version of-- "Bang Bang!"
"Bang Bang" - Jessie J/Ariana Grande/Nicki Minaj
metal/rock cover by Halocene ft. Lauren Babic
and Alanna Sterling (Feb. 2022)
THAT WAS THEN
MARIANNE FAITHFULL
Marianne Faithfull turns age 76 this year.
I repeat. Marianne Faithfull turns 76 this year.
The English singer, songwriter and actress was
discovered by Rolling Stones manager and
producer Andrew Loog Oldham. Marianne
I repeat. Marianne Faithfull turns 76 this year.
The English singer, songwriter and actress was
discovered by Rolling Stones manager and
producer Andrew Loog Oldham. Marianne
had a long and turbulent relationship with
Mick Jagger and the two were part of the
hip Swinging London scene of the mid
to late 60s. Here is Marianne singing
her best known hit, a song penned by
Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and
Andrew Loog Oldham entitled--
"As Tears Go By."
Mick Jagger and the two were part of the
hip Swinging London scene of the mid
to late 60s. Here is Marianne singing
her best known hit, a song penned by
Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and
Andrew Loog Oldham entitled--
"As Tears Go By."
"As Tears Go By" - Marianne Faithfull
(Jan. 1965, highest chart pos.
#22 Hot 100/#30 Cash Box)
THIS IS NOW
ANNALISE MAHANES
and imy2
Lastly but not leastly, here's eye and ear candy for your feastly. Her name is
Annalise Mahanes and she fronts the Nashville-based pop trio imy2 which
stands for "I miss you, too." The band writes and records original music
with, in their own words, "a dose of confidence, individuality and self-
love... powerful, nostalgic female vocals supported by the band's
undeniable chemistry." Here's Annalise supporting a woman's
right to chews... performing a song you can really
sink your teeth into-- "Bubblegum!"
"Bubblegum" - imy2 (June 2020)
'Til he holds me
I wait impatiently
Where the boys are,
where the boys are
Where the boys are,
someone waits for me
Good-morning, Tom!
ReplyDeleteThe soft, innocent sounds from yesterday definitely is my cup of tea as you already know but I was nearly jarred too badly with your line up in this edition. I haven't listened to much of Nicki Minaj's music so I was happy to sample the song you shared. The "Bang Bang" metal/rock cover I enjoyed mostly. I didn't care for the raspy rap portion of the track. Your last song pick is perhaps my least favorite of the vocal contrasting artists. Vocally she might be okay. I'd have to hear more to make a better assessment. I think I'll hop over to YT to see what else she's done. It's been great fun at SPMM as usual, my friend. Have a boogietastic week!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteThanks for being the Early Bird this week, dear friend! I'm happy to welcome you to the 9th edition of my series That Was Then - This Is Now!
Yessum, Nicki Minaj has a long string of international hit singles, and two of them are represented in this post - "Starships" and "Bang Bang." The mewsic video for "Starships," shot on a Hawaiian island, won the Best Female Video award at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards. I was thrilled when Halocene uploaded their cover of "Bang Bang" a few days ago, just in time for me to grab it and insert it in this volume of Jarring Juxtapositions. Lead zinger Addie Nicole calls it her favorite cover video to date, and I tend to agree with her. It's an amazing performance by all. I hope you will give blue-haired beauty Annalise Mahanes a chance, because she has a lovely voice and has uploaded many fine performance videos on her imy2 YouTube channel - originals and covers. I plan to post more of her best as time goes by.
Thanks again for coming early, dear friend Cathy, and have a wonderful week!
Tom,
DeleteThanks for dropping by this morning to see how last week's BOTB took shape in the end. Before I forget, I will let you know this because I didn't mention in my post that I did pull together a Thursday Art Date post followed up with 4M on Sunday. I only mentioned these to you because of the uncertainty I left my readers of what to expect next.
I did hop over to YT yesterday listened to a few songs by Halocene. I began dabbling a little with Annalise's tunes but need to get back over there to sample a few more which I'm fixing to do right now. I have too much on my plate but I'll get everything taken care of eventually.
From sunny blue skies over my East Tennessee home, I hope you have a terrific Tuesday, my friend!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteThank you for returning to follow-up with me, dear friend!
If I understand you correctly, your next post will be Thursday's Art Date with Rain. I'll be on the lookout for it, because you know how much I appreciate your artwork. (I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a colorized Looney Tunes character. :)
If you have time to check out the channels of Halocene and imy2, that's great, dear friend, but if you are in a punch for time you can simply sit back and allow me to share the best of both channels with you here at Shady's Place. I monitor them closely. I have both artists coming up in future posts, so stay tuned.
I'm happy to know your skies have turned blue up there. Its a gray and gloomy day here and still very chilly. Thanks again for dropping in and have a wonderful day, dear friend Cathy!
Tom,
DeleteYes, I have a TAD post up today. You're welcome to swing by for a glimpse at your leisure anytime, my friend. I did in fact get a chance to listen to imy2 extensively over the last couple of days and thoroughly enjoyed Annalisa especially on the bands' song covers. I was quite impressed with how well Annalisa vocally adapted to various genres. I plan to turn my attentions now to Halocene. I really appreciated the introduction of these young artists and others like them. You're an excellent source of new music discovery! Have doodletastic day, my friend!
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteYessum, I wouldn't have wanted to miss your Thursday post, dear friend, because it came as a marvelous surprise that you mentioned friend Shady and devoted so much time delving into the songs uploaded on YouTube by Annalise and her Nashville band imy2. Like you, I like their covers, but recently Annalise declared that the band wants to focus more on new material than covers from now on. I suppose that makes sense. Songwriting ability is an important component for a band if they are determined to break from the pack, establish credibility in the crowded marketplace and sell their songs and albums. The video you embedded today is one of my favorites by the group, very slick and professional. Annalise does a great job of acting in it. She is a well rounded entertainer, versatile and charismatic. I love her work.
Halocene might be more of an acquired taste for someone like you. They tend to rock hard and fierce with vocals that are often nasty and wild. I love that stuff, but you might not. Even so, they have turned in some excellent cover performances in various genres including some great collaborations with other rising stars of YouTube. The Phoenix based band is one to watch, and I am keeping track of all their new uploads, determined to post their best.
Thanks again for coming by, dear friend Cathy. Have a happy TT and a great Friday and weekend!
Those ladies would certainly shock the women of the past.
ReplyDeleteEverybody is getting older. How is this happening?
Hi, Alex!
DeleteYou're the co-Early Bird this week, good buddy, and I thank you for dropping by!
Yessir, these singing sirens of the 21st century are a far cry from the demure damsels of the mid 20th century. I'm sure the Church Lady from SNL is reaching for her hanky and grabbing her heart as she witnesses the incendiary performances of Nicki, Addie, Alanna, Lauren and Annalise.
I intend to launch an investigation into this "getting older" phenomenon.
Thanks again, Alex, and have a great week!
Nice looking Bugeye Sprite in the Where the Boys are clip. I wish I had back the candle apple red Bugeye I drove back in the day. I still own a 79 Fiat Spyder as a toy, but it isn't as much fun as the Healy. I could have used a few more clips with Yivett!!! Jerre
ReplyDeleteHi, Jerre!
DeleteI'm very happy to know you're still out there and tuning in, good buddy! Thanks for joining the fun as we bounce back and forth through time to observe the changes in styles and attitudes of female vocalists past and present. Frankly, I don't notice any difference whatsoever. :)
Yes, good buddy, we see an array of vintage vehicles in those film sequences from Where The Boys Are. I remember a couple of guys at D-town driving Bugeye Sprites, and my best friend in school and at the Dell drove an Austin-Healey Sprite. Those guys had prestige because they got to haul the homecoming queens around the football field in their cool convertibles on homecoming night.
Wow, it's great that you still own your 1979 Fiat Spider. In 1972, Mrs. Shady #1 and I bought (as a gift for her) a bright yellow Fiat 850 Sport Spider that looked exactly like this one:
https://shiftgate.com/auction/1972-fiat-850/
Yes, Jerre, most of those scenes from the movie show lovely "it girl" of the 60s Yvette Mimieux who died three weeks ago at the age of 80.
Thanks again for coming by today, Jerre. Please mark your calendar for "March Gladness," a special Dell-related post coming up on March 21. But you don't need to wait until then to drop back in. I always appreciate hearing from you. Take care, have a great year, and I hope to see you again soon, good buddy Jerre!
Hi Shady! This is a very cool video with Connie Francis' "Where The Boys Are". I don't remember seeing the movie, but I may have. I always enjoyed Connie's music. "Lipstick on Your Collar" and "Who's Sorry Now" were good hits and made a lot of fans of us girls! The video shows what I remember seeing of California pictures, and it is similar to the time I went in 1966 after my graduation. We didn't drive up and down the strips since my friend didn't have her own car. I went for her graduation of over 600 students from Santa Ana which was held at a large stadium somewhere near Los Angeles I suppose! It was an exciting time.
ReplyDeleteEarly in her career I was not fond of Nicki Minaj, but it seems that over the years she has become a bit milder mannered or is just growing on me. I am not a diehard fan, but I have enjoyed some of her performances of late. "Starships" is a pretty good song, and the video was colorful!
What a fast song "Bang Bang". It is a fun song, and the video was cool. I don't know Annalise, but "Bubblegum" is also a fun song with a clever and cute video. The cake scene was a bit gross, haha!
Marianne Faithful has always been a favorite of mine. I didn't know in the earlier years that she and Mick Jagger were a couple. But, sometimes in those days there was not a lot of publicity about artists' personal lives. I do remember that the Rolling Stones had such a bad rep, and I was leary of admitting how much I favored them over some other artists. Marianne was so pretty; I liked her hair and wardrobe choices. She has a unique voice, but you know, Shady, I don't remember any other songs of hers other than "As Tears Go By". I enjoyed watching her performance on this video.
This has been a treat, Shady. All of these ladies are good, and I am glad they got to show their talents.
The streets have dried up around here, and I think we are expecting temps in the upper 50's today and rising in the next few days. We've always got to keep two different wardrobes on hand in Texas.
Have a great week Shady. Stay warm, or cool, whichever comes along, haha, and take care dear friend!
Hi, Suzanne!
DeleteI'm thrilled to see that you were able to leave a comment directly on the blog this time, dear friend! Thanks for coming over to experience my latest set of Jarring Juxtapositions!
Thanks for sharing memories of your youth as they relate to the hit movie Where The Boys Are and the time you visited Southern California in 1966. I wish I could have seen the area as it looked back then, with the surf rock era ending and the psychedelic flower power counterculture movement flourishing. 1960 Fort Lauderdale was light years away from that West Coast hippie scene as Connie Francis and her college girl pals headed there for spring break in the movie.
Like many artists, Miley Cyrus would be another, Nicki Minaj estblished her career doing shocking, sexy songs and videos. Edgy artists like those two do tend to mellow and go more mainstream over time. If you ever saw English pop star Jessie J's original song and video of "Bang Bang" (I posted it circa 2016 on my old blog), then you will appreciate what Addie Nicole and friends did with it in this brand new video released by Halocene this week. I was blown away by it and so glad the timing was right for me to insert it into this volume of my series. Annalise and her Nashville-based band imy2 are among my most exciting musical discoveries of the 2020s. I am completely sold on them. I think Annalise is extremely talented and versatile.
After "As Tears Go By," Marianne Faithfull had three other relatively high charting hits in the states, including "Come And Stay With Me," a song written by Jackie DeShannon, "This Little Bird" and "Summer Nights." I honestly don't remember those other songs either. I was always struck by Marianne's "wooden" performing style. She acts like a lifeless mannequin. As such, she was not a favorite artist of mine, but I couldn't resist using this nicely restored clip of her performing her signature song.
Yessum, we've been switching back and forth between A/C and heating, with today being another colder day, but temps are expected to moderate in the days ahead.
Thank you again for making time for a visit and for your splendid comments. I'm glad you got some enjoyment out of these ladies of the past and present. I hope you and Scootie remain in good health and in good spirits and that you won't have to put up with many more snow and ice storms in your area.
Have a wonderful week, dear friend Suzanne, and stay tuned for the annual V-Day dance hosted by Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery!
Hi again. I get what you mean by Marianne's "wooden" performing style. I never could figure out how she did that, because I really liked her singing style and voice. I will try to get by You tube and listen to her other songs to see how I like them.
DeleteI went to California twice, and I did get to ride up and down the strip a couple of times during the day with my friend's mother. There was so much to take in and I remember seeing posters of Jimmy Hendrix and Janis Joplin everywhere. How funny, I didn't even know who Hendrix was at the time (still in my soul days)! I bought a few outfits in a boutique of Cher fashions and was a hit when I got back to Kansas with them. We went to Laguna Beach a few times and it was amazing! It was my first time ever at the ocean and got pummeled with sand when I got into the water and dragged down by the waves!
You mention Miley Cyrus, and again I agree with you. She was so edgy; I couldn't stand to look at her. I have since changed because some of her work is so outstanding and I approve.
Well, I had better get going, as it's almost time to pick Scootie up from school. He's about an inch taller than I am now with a very deep voice! Have a great week, Shady. I will see you next time!
Hi again, Suzanne!
DeleteThanks for sharing more stories about your trip to SoCal in the mid 60s, dear friend! I'd love to see old pictures of you in the Cher-inspired outfits you bought in that boutique. I'll bet you were the envy of all the girls back home and the apple of all the boys' eyes. Yessum, Jimi and Janis had not yet become household names, but it wouldn't be long until the scene exploded out there and they vaulted to superstardom... albeit "shooting stardom" that didn't last very long before they both flamed out. You will never forget your first experience on a sandy beach and getting tossed around by the ocean tide. To this day I can close my eyes and feel the sensation of body surfing for hours on end at beaches up and down the East Coast. I never wanted to come out of the water.
As you can probably tell, I am not easily offended. I love edgy, raunchy performances that push the envelope. (I guess it's a guy thing.) But I can also appreciate the more refined, subdued, mature performances of a given artist.
Wow, little Scootie's shooting up like a weed, huh? That's to be expected. Our little grandson was so tiny that we predicted he'd be shorter than average all his life. Now he's in his late teens and a giant of a man, taller than me, around 6'-3". I don't think I ever heard Scootie's voice, but I remember those early pictures of him playing in your yard. It is surely a "Jarring Juxtaposition" for you to hear a very deep voice coming from the child you knew all these years.
Thanks again for returning to chat, dear friend Suzanne. Take care and I hope to see you at my V-Day dance!
My dear Shady - This is why I listen to Spotify and my own iTunes playlists. My ears hurt from the "Now" group of ?singers. I don't understand the fascination with coarse language and smutty lyrics/choreography. Sad story about Connie Francis, one of my faves. Have a marvelous rest of your week! I have a busy typing schedule ahead of me but wanted to pop in here first!
ReplyDeleteHi, Janet!
DeleteThanks for coming by on day one, dear friend!
I also thank you for expressing your honest opinion of the "now" artists. I hope Nicki Minaj didn't plant an unwanted earworm in your noggin with her explicit version of "Starships." :) For me, the standout performance in this whole batch is Lauren Babic's harsh, angry rap in "Bang Bang." That's just my style!
Yessum, I know what you are referring to in the sad saga of Connie Francis, a traumatic event in her life that left her permanently scarred. It's nice to be able to return to happier times via these vintage videos and film clips.
Thanks again for dropping in, dear friend Janet. I wish you a safe, healthy, happy and productive week ahead!
I think you know I almost always prefer the sounds of the past to these newer voices. (Almost, because not always) I definitely don't want to look at some of them while I listen. (haha)
ReplyDeleteI've always loved Marianne Faithfull's voice. Even in later years when it got more gravelly.
Hi, Kelly!
DeleteI'm so glad to see you, dear friend! Thanks for making it over for this edition of TWT -TIN.
This is my 9th edition of JJ and, invariably, most of the women who comment turn thumbs down on my batch of "NOW" artists. I think I have my female friends mentally primed and programmed to think they are going to hate what they see and hear, and that really doesn't give the artists involved an even chance. Given the fact that I have only one commenting male blogger on my followers roster, the chances are slim that I will get many favorable reviews on the "NOW" women. That's AOK, because I am here to learn. I am always curious to get the honest opinions of my female friends. So, I take it you didn't care to see Nicki prancing around on the beach busting out of her bikini, the red hair and tattoos on Addie Nicole or the blue hair worn by Annalise. Perhaps the last straw was seeing and hearing rapper Lauren Babic screaming into the camera like a banshee. :)
I didn't realize Marianne's voice turned gravelly in later years. As I told Suzanne (above), she was so wooden and expressionless as she performed her signature song that I wondered if she ever in her life cracked a smile.
Thank you again for being here and weighing in on my latest NOW vs Then battle of the bands. Please give my buddy Pat a good scratchin' and a treat and enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Kelly!
Dyed hair of any color (or no hair at all) is fine with me. Tattoos are fine, as well. Both of my daughters and my DIL all have them. For that matter, even I have one. But... I'm not a fan of Nicki busting out of her bikini, as you put it. There's something to be said for leaving some things to the imagination, as my mother always told me. There's sexy, then there's nasty.
DeleteCheck out this video of Marianne. It's a good example of what I was talking about.
https://youtu.be/gHrsv0NVa6k
Hi, Kelly!
DeleteThanks for coming back over and providing specifics that allow me to understand what you were referring to, dear friend! So, aha - my first thought was correct, that you didn't appreciate Nicki prancing around and strutting her stuff in a teenie weenie bikini. I think if the bashful beauty can simply overcome her shyness and come out of her shell someday, she'll be fine. :)
I really love that you shared that link to "Broken English," the 1979/1980 single released by Marianna Faithfull. I see that the record reached #8 on the French chart. I never heard it before, never heard any of her vocal performances from that period. I never would have guessed that it is Marianne singing. I read that the recording was inspired by the New Wave movement that was gaining widespread popularity at the time. Her style is noticeably bolder and sassier and her voice huskier. Wiki sez: << It shows Faithfull's vocals cracked and lower in pitch compared to her earlier work as a result of severe laryngitis coupled with heavy smoking and drug abuse during the 1970s. >>
Thank you again, very much, for providing additional info that helped me understand you better and learn something new about Marianne Faithfull.
Enjoy the rest of your week, dear friend Kelly!
Oh Annalise...you need some soap for dat mouth of yours. hahahaa. Ok she is my least favourite as she seems to know the world plus why destroy such a good looking cake? What did that poor cake ever do to you? Hee hee. Good ole Dolores Hart became a nun later on so I bet she had a few choice words about Nicki and her ..um...assets. How does Nicki actually sit? She must always feel she is in a bouncy castle. Of course I enjoy the oldies and was prepared to hate the newer ones but I don't. I actually like that Nicki song but had no idea it was her who sings it. I have heard it on TV and in movies just never knew. I also like Bang, Bang and it would be a lot of fun to dance to. I even liked the rap part before she went into devil tongue sound. I hate that sound. I love the jarring look of each..hey even Miss Mellow sitting as they all did back in the late 60s with that hair and make-up. I had no idea Mick etc wrote that song. have a beautiful day and eve and tomorrow:))
ReplyDeleteHi, Birgit!
DeleteThanks for being a first day Fatima again this time, dear friend!
WHAT??? You're hatin' on my home girl Annalise? :) In fairness to her, "Bubblegum" is one of her most deliberately (I think) poppish and immature songs and videos, almost like it is intended as a parody of the style used by other artists. When you take Annalise's entire body of work into account, I think you will agree that she is a very talented vocalist and performer. I will try to win you over with some of her other offerings in future posts.
Funny your should mention Dolores Hart becoming a nun. The first time I saw Nicki Minaj in that "Starships" vid, I mistook her for the famous Singing Nun. Try as I might, I can't tell the two apart! :) I'm sure you noticed those scenes with the lovely and recently departed actress Yvette Mimieux. For some reason, Yvette always reminded me of Inger Stevens, the blonde Swedish actress who was popular during the same time period. While Yvette lived to see 80, poor Inger died at the age of 35, a true Hollywood tragedy.
Wait a minute - hold the phone and stop the presses! You are actually stating that you didn't hate all of the "now" gals? I'm pleasantly surprised, BB! Yessum, "Starships" was a big international hit, and if you just allow yourself to listen to it w/o judging, you may find that you appreciate it's festive, celebratory style and catchy melody. I can picture throngs of young people in clubs all over the world jumping around to that song. The same is true of "Bang Bang," and I'm glad you were the first to say it. These three young YouTube stars, Addie Nicole, Alanna and Lauren, recently collaborated on the song and produced a rockin' version that stands as a classic in its own right. Yessum, I was waiting for pea soup to fly out of Lauren's mouth and her head to do a 360 degree spin. :)
Man oh man, Birgit. It feels so good to get a witness now and then. Thanks for your kind visit and awesome comments. I'll be seeing you later in the week at BBC!
The only song on here that I knew was Jessie J/Ariana Grande song. The cover was good.
ReplyDeleteI've heard Nicki Minaj but I don't like her music. I like all kinds of music and can even listen to some rap but I'm not a fan of hers.
I hope you have a great week.
Hi, Mary!
DeleteThanks for coming over so quickly to catch my latest edition of That Was Then - This is Awful. :)
Right off the bat, I collected another up vote for the "Bang Bang" cover. I'm please that you enjoyed it. Yessum, I am aware of your eclectic taste in music. That said, I'm sorry to learn that you are not a fan of Nicki Minaj.
Thanks again for your visit and comment, dear friend Mary. Please give my buddy Falcor a pat and a biscuit and have a super week!
Hi Shady,
ReplyDeleteYou chose some of my favourite songs, both new and old! Jarring indeed! It's really interesting how the message and story telling has changed, but despite the age gap, the stories seem similar. Maybe that's how the generations should look at each other.
Have a great day, dear friend!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThanks for coming to my latest JJ party, dear friend! I like how your mind works, Jess. The style of story telling changes over the decades, but the stories remain much the same, a never-ending search for that special someone with whom to share love and romance.
Thanks again for visiting and have a safe and happy Tuesday, dear friend JM!
Hi Shady! I'm sure you know how I'll vote! I just saw "Where The Boys Are" a few weeks ago. I've seen it a lot and always enjoy it. It reminds me of a trip I took with my girlfriends down to Florida in the early 70's. We rented an apartment on the beach at Clearwater but we also traveled all over the state. We even went to Disney World that had just opened that year. I did meet a guy that happened to be from a town near me and guess what? He was a Chiropractic student...no not Jack. Some guy that I did go out with when I got home and decided I would never date a Chiro student again..they were weird! So instead I married one! Ha! Anyway, the newbies singing don't do a bad job, just a lot different than the squeaky clean looking girls from back in the day. All the hair colors that I know God did not invent. Anyway, it's always fun to look back and realize those were the good old days! Have a good week Shady!
ReplyDeleteHi, Yaya!
DeleteIt's great to see you, dear friend! Welcome to my series That Was Then - This is Just Sooo Wrong! :)
Well, I'm glad my timing is good, since you recently watched Where The Boys Are. I'm sure you heard about the death three weeks ago of one of the principal players in the movie, actress Yvette Mimieux. She was 80. Thanks for sharing the tale of your trip to Florida with your girlfriends in the early 70s. Mrs. Shady #1 and I were down here around that same time because I remember that Disney World had just opened. We went there and to other major theme parks and attractions across the middle of the state. Wouldn't it be amazing it you and I actually crossed paths somewhere in Florida 50 years ago? Maybe I was that goofy guy who spilled my lemonade on your shoes in the long line waiting to get into It's a Small World After All. :) It's funny that you met and went out with a Chiro student and it didn't go very well. It's a good thing you gave Jack the benefit of the doubt when you met him, because you found yourself a keeper, a mate for life. I am very happy for you.
No, dear friend. It doesn't surprise me that you favored the female entertainers of the past over those of the present. At least you acknowledged that the newbies didn't do a bad job of singing. When it comes to the shocking red and blue colors of their hair, I need to ask, "Does she...or doesn't she? Only her hairdresser knows for sure." :)
Thanks again for stopping in, dear friend YaYa. I see that you posted a report on your winter wonderland in Ohio. I'll be right over. Enjoy the rest of your week and please give Annabelle a pat for me!
I'm curious about something, Shady. When you do these Jarring Juxtapositions posts, do you have any personal dividing line between when "That Was Then" ends and "This Is Now" begins? I'm asking because you compare Marianne Faithfull to Annalise Mahanes, and there's 55 years between the two songs you present. But suppose you had compared Marianne to Janis Joplin, who came along only two years later? I would argue the juxtaposition would be just as jarring.
ReplyDeleteOf course, this isn't just about music but imagery. To that end you compare the girls from the Where the Boys Are to Nicki Minaj. If I remember WTBA correctly, the four actresses (one of whom currently resides in a convent) all wear one-piece bathing suits, though I think some of the extras wear bikinis. But the camera doesn't linger on them, as it does on Nicki some 51 years later. Now, this doesn't involve music, but suppose you followed Where the Boys Are with a clip of Ursula Andress in Dr. No from just one year later? THAT juxtaposition might have been jarring. However, if you showed Ursula and Nicki one after another, it wouldn't be jarring at all, despite the 50-year difference. Nicki would have to have been stark naked for the difference to mean anything. A bikini is the one article of clothing that's impossible to top when it comes to flesh, no matter many years go by.
As for Marianne Faithful's age, well, I admit I too am shocked when I find out how old some celebrities from my youth are now, but I shouldn't be. Intellectually we all knew this was going to happen. But baby-boomers and, I predict, anyone who comes after the baby-boomers, seems to take that transition harder than those that came before. I mean, no one from my parents' generation seemed shocked that Bette Davis and Katherine Hepburn grew old. In fact, during my youth, they were kind of well-known, even celebrated (where we get the word "celebrity") for being old. Yet both Davis and Hepburn achieved their initial claims to fame before they were out of their 20s. So what changed? The answer is predictable. The emphasis on youth. Don't get me wrong. The average person in the 1930s or '40s would have preferred to be young than old. No one turns down the Fountain of Youth if offered the chance. But pre-boomers seemed to accept, or at least not be as surprised, by the inevitable then those in the boomer age and beyond (and there's quite a lot of beyond now, and it's growing.)
These are just random thoughts, Shady. Don't take any of it seriously.
Hi, Kirk!
DeleteThanks for joining the fun as female artists of old share a stage with hot newcomers in Jarring Juxtapositions!
I enjoyed your musings, Kirk. Mainly I am trying to illustrate in this series the contrasting styles and attitudes of artists then and now. Janis Joplin wouldn't be a good fit in the "then" category because most of her performances were gin-soaked, sweaty and fiery. However, I recently watched her sing the old Chantels' girl goup hit "Maybe" in a very subdued and reverent manner, and that performance might have qualified as a "then" entry. But overall, I am trying to show the vast range from the shy and conservative female performers of the past to the bold, aggressive, and overtly sexual performers of the present. Some "then" songs were released as recently as the 70s, and some "now" songs might be as old as the dawn of the millennium.
The skimpy bikini worn on the beach in that "Starships" video is actually one of Nicki Minaj's more conservative looks. She calls it her "granny costume." :) With Nicki, wardrobe malfunctions are only the starting point.
You make a good point in paragraph three, good buddy. I don't think pre-boomer generations made nearly as big a deal about people growing old. Given the Great Depression and two World Wars, they were more concerned with surviving to live that long. By and large, they did far less complaining than people do today. They were not a generation of whiners. Older people were respected more when I was a kid. Today they tend to be marginalized, best forgotten.
Thanks again for joining the discussion and offering food for thought, good buddy Kirk. Stand by for your favorite spy, Austin Powers - International Man of Mystery (and music history), who will be dropping by Shady's Place this weekend to host the annual V-Day dance. Until then, have a great week!