SOME OF MY FAVORITE SINGER/SONGWRITERS

NOTE: This list will not necessarily contain BANDS, but focuses on Individuals whose songs and styles I have enjoyed most all of my life. Hope some of them are YOUR favorites as well! Here we go! And remember, this is a list, so no wagering. Mileage may vary.

Also, this is in NO PARTICULAR ORDER.

Here we go:

• Peter Gabriel
• Nick Lowe
• Jim Steinman
• Lou Reed
• David Bowie
• Eric Clapton
• Phil Collins
• Elvis Costello
• Pete Townsend
• John Lennon
• Paul McCartney
• George Harrison
• and yes, even Ringo Starr
• Tom Petty
• Alice Cooper
• Jeff Lynne
• Brian Wilson
• John Fogerty
• Bruce Springsteen
• David Byrne
•  Don Henley
• Glenn Frey
• Henley/Frey
• Bob Marley
• Difford/Tilbrook
• FRANK ZAPPA
• Lindsey Buckingham
• Jimmy Page/Robert Plant
• Steven Tyler/Joe Perry
• Mick Jagger/Keith Richards
• Neil Diamond
• Sting
• Mark Motherbaugh
• Smokey Robinson
• Michael W. Smith

Well, as I said, that’s but a FEW of the Artists whose songs just “get me” or “Get to me”.

Check them out. You’ll be glad you did.

Stay tuned for more FAVORITES. Soon to come: Composers

And, to help keep things going as I have been, here’s another picture for you. Please Enjoy:

The Dichotomy of Quality Crapola

The Dichotomy of Quality Crapola.

The Dichotomy of Quality Crapola

Ah, the strange place that is my mind.

I sometimes do actually wonder if there isn’t something wrong with me. Maybe it’s because I was a Preemie (2 months early. Had I known what was waiting for me, I’d have stayed the full 9), maybe a few too many blows to the head, my midichlorian count is off, I don’t know.

I’m talking mostly (mostly) about my tastes in films this time. My tastes (such as they are) in music has been documented, and in all probability still require Government funding for further research. No, this time I’m gonna just touch a bit on the films that I like. My tastes are fairly varied, and I do try to maintain a balance. But sometimes I just gotta have me some cheese. To elaborate, let me give you a small sampling of the films that I hold dear. The movies that I, your humble Stevezilla (1961), love and never ever tire of.

Citizen Kane

So I Married An Axe Murderer

The Godfather

Apollo 13

Caveman

Invasion Of Astro-Monster

The Blob (original)

Killer Klowns From Outer Space

Gojira

Enter The Dragon

Them!

Well, I could go on and on and on and on, ad nauseum, but suffice it to say there are very well-known pieces of freaking ART with a capital A in that list. And some well-known pieces of freaking CRAP with a capital C, as well.

I can’t explain it. Heck I have been known to like a “Chick Flick” or two (usually the ones with Tom Hanks or Billy Crystal).

I mean, does this make a well-rounded person? Or does it make me kinda like Charlie Brown, a bit wishy-washy? Shouldn’t I plant my freak flag in a genre and STAY THERE?

I don’t know the answer. Maybe I’m not meant to know. Perhaps I’m just to like what I like, and not look too much into it.

Here’s an example: Tonight I watched a Korean CrapFest called A*P*E, from 1976 starring JoAnna Kerns. It is SO BAD, yet I couldn’t NOT finish it. Would I recommend it to anyone?

(A certain Few, heck YEAH!) 🙂

It’s like a badly made Student Film wanting to be King Kong. I’ll save the review for my other Page, but let’s just say this film can hurt you if you let it.

Come on Baby, make it hurt so good. Sometimes Love don’t feel like it should, you make it, hurt so good.

And with that, a picture:

Good Night Gentle Friends. I’m afraid I have, as they say on my favorite TV show,…..

MOVIE SIGN!!!!

Smells Like Old Spice, I Feel Stupid And Contagious

(With all apologies to Nirvana)

Ah, backache, how I’ve missed you, said Nobody Ever.

I’ve been experiencing severe back spasm now for several days. To say it sucks demeans the definition of the word “suck”. I’ve been doing the heat & cold treatments, Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, Magnesium (Isn’t that a Nirvana song, too? Oh. That would be “Lithium”. Sorry. Carry on) and now after having seen the Nurse Practitioner, am on a muscle relaxant called Cyclobenzaprine. (Flexeril).

So please forgive me if I appear a bit more incoherent than usual..

As you can tell, I’m listening to some Nirvana. Great stuff. Tragic. Powerful.

I have had various back pains most of my life. Even had surgery waaay back in 91. But my back tends to spasm from time to time for no good damn reason that I can think of.

Silly rabbit. Trix are for kids.

But I am enduring. Not calling in to work. Gotta make a de money honey.

Dang this stuff makes me sleepy. Oh cool! Unplugged Nirvana!!

(see what I mean. Rambling guy)

I wouldn’t wish this pain on anyone. Well, there ARE a few…..

But I’m gonna count my blessings. Because I know how blessed I am.

Oh. I’m planning on starting a separate Blog for Reviews. Whatcha think about that?

And to end this one for the night, here’s a random pic:

 

Gigantor, The Space Age Babysitter

That’s right. The 1960’s Japanese Giant Robot cartoon series. I went there. Hell, I was there!

(Not in Japan. Just glued to the TV set when I was a kid)

Gigantor was (is) one of my favorite cartoon series. I loved it. Still do. As a matter of fact, I’m writing this now while taking a break from ‘bingeing’ on the series on Hulu-Plus. This, along with Speed Racer, Ultraman, Johnny Sokko & His Amazing Robot, Godzilla, Gamera, heck, a plethora of various and sundry Japanese television and movies have shaped and molded me into the Geek I am.

“Bigger than big! Taller than tall! Quicker than quick! Stronger than strong! Ready to fight for Right! Against Wrong!”

(And the rumors are true. I have a Godzilla tattoo. I’ll post a pic sometime)

Tonight I’m just kinda wading in the pool of Nostalgia, re-living happier, simpler times. But not to worry, gentle Reader, I will not stay there. Too much going on to do that.

I feel better tonight. Virus bugaboo is leaving the building.

So why the ‘Babysitter’ in the title? I’ll admit my titles are sometimes kind of odd, to say the least. But this time, I’ll explain. TV was kind of my babysitter when I was growing up. A lot of people my age are in this same boat.

(Just hope the boat ain’t named Titanic)

ANYway…..

Here’s another pic while I sort out my thoughts:

Yes, that’s an actual Gigantor statue. Awesome, innit?

Okay, I guess I have meandered enough in the so-called ‘Blogosphere’ for the time being. Just know I am getting a bit healthier everyday, and I still try to be a kid at heart (despite the 2 stents in it)

In all things,

Love and Chocolate

Stevezilla1961

 

Coming through the Foghat

My heart is troubled tonight.

I’m not going to go into graphic detail, but my 14 year old son is causing me some heartache that I’m not entirely sure how to deal with. I wanna emulate my Lord, Jesus. He has been oh so very very VERY patient with me, so I want to be patient with my son. But I want to make sure that he somehow ‘gets’ what I want to tell him, and that it sticks.

I’m sure my own father felt this way about me. Especially at around this age. He and I fought a lot, and he hurt me in many ways that I still feel the sting from. I don’t wanna be ‘that’ guy.

I’ve been going through a lot of emotions lately, not many of them ‘good’. (as most people define Good.) I’m coming through it all, and I want to be there for him, for my wife, for my family, for my friends, all personal and Internet.

I wanna be “THAT” Guy. One that people can kinda count on.

With God’s help and your patience, I can do it.

I so very much want to. I truly despise the self-centered asshole I feel like I have become.

Now, to lighten things up, here’s another picture:

 

A Learning Curve can still be dangerous if you drive too fast

Still trying to get the hang of this job. There are aspects to it I guess I don’t fully ‘get’ yet. Being the Late Night Shift, I don’t deal with a lot (at least until around 5 or 6 in the morning.) Some of it because I don’t fool with it much still eludes me somewhat. I’m just hoping they don’t feel like they’ve made a mistake in hiring me, and let me go. I do like it here. It’s kinda peaceful in a way, and not too taxing physically.

Just what the doctor ordered.

I’ve never added a picture before, so here is my attempt: This is our Guinea Pig, named Lassiter.

Oh, What Is It NOW?

Really feeding my “Inner Geek” tonight.

(Or is it “this morning”? When you work Night Shift, labelling can sometimes be a mental pain)

After watching a CMT documentary of Southern Rock, (which mostly focused on The Allman Brothers, a bit on Lynyrd Skynyrd, and not enough on Charlie Daniels Band or The Marshall Tucker Band), I did some busy work here at the Hotel, then was surfing through Netflix to see what I may wanna watch. Strangely enough, I kinda wanna watch some Power Rangers. I know, right? Fifty-something years old, and I wanna watch people in costumes fight monsters, giant monsters,…..oh. Wait a minute. There’s nothing wrong with me. I’ve always liked this sort of thing.

I am a big ‘ol Godzilla fan, after all. And I do also like Ultraman.

So, it’s all good.

Crisis averted.

You may now go back to your non-kaiju and mecha  lives now.

I got me some shows to watch.

Not Sure Where I’m Going

*Note: This was written while listening to a mix of various Genesis songs. Your mileage may vary*

Well, I’m adapting to being a Night Auditor, and not a Nurse anymore. Do I miss it? Being a Nurse, I mean?

Yeah, maybe a little. I was pretty good at it. Really! Minus the character flaws, I did a good job. (Or so I was told by several people throughout the years.) I most certainly do not miss the sometimes over-whelming responsibility that came with the crisp white uniform.

And The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway.

I do kinda miss helping people like I did. But that’s all past now. Now I work in a Hotel Motel Holiday Inn, if yer girl starts acting up, then you take her friend.

(Not a Genesis song, I know. Still, it fit, didn’t it?)

And it really is a pretty cool job. Not too physically demanding (other than working the Night Shift), and while it doesn’t pay as well as being an LPN did, still, it has it’s advantages. No one’s life or health is in my sweaty meaty hands. I work by myself, so no attitudinal Aides to deal with.

*Abacab*

So all in all, I gotta say I’m pretty content right now. And that in and of itself is a bit of a minor miracle. For me, anyway.

God has directed me to this place in my life right now. And I am one thankful geeky child!

 

 

Referring to Genesis…the band, not the book

Thought I’d wax on (wax off) or maybe even wax eloquent (HA!) about the band known as GENESIS.

Yeah, I’m talking about Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins, Mike Rutherford, Tony Banks, and Steve Hackett. Well, it eventually became a 4 piece, then down to 3, then became a memory.

(I’m not including the Congo album. Just better for everyone if’n I don’t)

I first heard Genesis from some records that one of my cousins got in a box at a yard sale. Several of their albums: From Genesis to Revelation, Trespass, Nursery Cryme, Live, and Foxtrot. I picked the Live one to start with, as I figured it was a collection of their best. So, the very first song of theirs I heard was Watcher Of The Skies.

I was hooked. Immediately.

Now, I had no idea at the time that Peter Gabriel had by this time left the group, they functioned as a four piece for a few albums, When I got around to actually buying my first Genesis album, the newest one at that time was And Then There Were Three…

(I had also bought a live album Seconds Out which was on sale.)

I know the Genesis fandom is divided between the Gabriel years and the Collins years. But not me. I appreciate them as a whole for the entire body of work they have created. From Prog to Pop and weaving around the genres, I like it all.

I had a friend named Brent who loved The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway album. He had good taste. It is a great album.

So, during the years of Duke, Abacab, Genesis, and Invisible Touch, some of my fellow Rock fans dismissed the band as having gone “Pop” or “Soft” or “abandoned their Prog roots”. I didn’t see it that way. For them to have continued on in that vein after Gabriel and Hackett left would have been a parody, a joke of what they once were. Heck, The Beatles didn’t stay The FAB FOUR wanting to hold your hand towards their latter years. Instead, Genesis evolved into something that will stand the test of time. And with the solo work of Phil Collins and Mike + The Mechanics, it has endured and will continue to do so.

Yeah, I like Genesis.