Today's MWM has to do with two things: Halloween, and Milo Murphy's Law. The second one is a cartoon show rather in the vein (and universe) of Phineas and Ferb, and made by the same people. The show is about a boy named Milo Murphy, who has some of the strangest luck I've ever heard tell of. Basically, it's the idea of "Whatever can go wrong will go wrong" come to life: bad and absurdly weird things happen to him and his friends every day, and a cyclone of calamity follows him wherever he goes. However, his constant optimism and crazy preparedness somehow always manage to bring him good luck and allow him to escape serious harm. So he either has the worst luck in history or the best luck in history. It's honestly almost a superpower.
I must admit, this show has grown to be a bit of a favorite in our household, especially of mine. Part of the reason for this is the time-travelling twosome, Cavendish and Dakota. They're from the future, you see, and they're in the 21st century because... well, the reason changes over the course of the show, but it always has to do with pistachios. They're very funny, and an important part of the show, as well as two of my favorite characters overall. This week's MWM has to do with them in particular.
The song is from the Halloween special, Milo Murphy's Halloween Scream-a-Torium. Yeah, odd name, I know, but it's an odd show in general. And the song itself is... well, pretty much absolutely ridiculous. Very Phineas-and-Ferb-ish. But what can I say? After a few times, it's grown on me. That's probably why it's the first song on my Halloween Playlist. Besides, it's Cavendish and Dakota, whaddya gonna do?
Anyway, in the episode, it turns out that there is no Halloween in Cavendish and Dakota's time. And they're in the 21st century on the last Halloween in history. (What comes of that plot point is both hilarious and awesome). They do some sort of research to figure out how the thing works. And... how shall I put this?... they get it wrong. Well, they got the costumes part right--Dakota's costume is pretty clever!--but they get everything else completely mixed up. The following scene occurs...
Welcome, my friends, to The Last Halloween!
*** I think I understand, I think I get the knack It's just a way to get free candy--what a racket! We are gonna score tonight, it's gonna be a phenomenon! Halloween is just the best! Too bad it's the last one We need to stop at every house--oh wait, we just passed one We got to make the most of this while it's still going on We're going door to door, just asking for candy On any other night, it would be panhandling I think you know what I mean It's the last Halloween Look at this candy--look at this loot! We should avoid that house, I hear they're giving fresh fruit But right next door, they've got full-sized candy bars Oh, hey, I got an idea--it's a little bit shady But if we change costumes, that same old lady's Gonna give us more candy, cause she won't know who we are Wear a costume that's simple, or really elaborate Using papier-mache, or just cheap fabric You can be a ghost, and I can be a Fronk-en-shteen We're going door to door, just asking for candy On any other night, this would be panhandling But live it up folks, cause tonight's the last Halloween Yeah, live it up, folks Cause tonight's the last Halloween!
Well, by now, you've probably figured out that this is the special post that I told you about earlier in the week. And in that special post, I said that it was an anniversary. Well, today is the second anniversary of the future. By which, I mean...
BACK TO THE FUTURE!
That's right: today is the second anniversary of the day Marty McFly and Doc Brown travelled to the future. In fact, I scheduled this post to come out at the exact time--4:29 PM--that they arrived. Put quite briefly, I am a very big fan of this trilogy. They're some of the few movies that make me get all excited every time I watch them, and probably the only series that makes me get that way over every single movie in it. That is what this post is going to be about.
Now, I've got to tell you: before I watched Back to the Future, I liked time travel. I really did. But after I watched it... I loved time travel. The first time I watched it was the night before we went to a certain Renaissance Faire somewhere in our state. The Renaissance Faire had a theme: it was Time Traveller's Weekend. And at that Renaissance Faire, they had the DeLorean. It played music from the movies and everything. I was very, very excited!
Well, enough background: now on to the movies themselves. Now, I won't go into every little detail that make those movies great in this post. I do need something for later Back to the Future posts, and I'll go into the specifics in those. But for now, I'm going to tell you, in general terms, a few things I like about the Back to the Future trilogy.
First, it's time travel. I've said already that I liked time travel anyway, and, having watched these movies, I now love it. You could see some of your favorite times in the past, or discover how things will look after your time, far in the future. There are so many possibilities, but I think my favorite parts would be when I could meet people--from heroes in days past to distant grandchildren, and yes, even my parents and grandparents when they were my age.
Back to the Future is a wonderful example. Not only is it a Time Travel Story, but it's also a Time Paradox Story as well. Those are always fun, if sometimes a bit brain-breaking. The logic of the thing generally holds up well enough (except for one slight discrepancy in the third one, but it really isn't that big a deal), and it also doesn't break my brain when I think about it. Usually. But I haven't thought about it hard in a while, so I may have to get back to you on that.
Second, the characters are so memorable. Marty is almost a master of ceremonies, taking us--the -audience--through these many adventures, characters, and good times (and even some bad ones). Doc Brown is very funny, Great-Scotting every-which-way, and being hilariously expressive about everything. Biff, the constant villain, is a wonderful source of comedy as well. He always messes up his puns, and he too is incredibly expressive. And there are multiple versions of him too, all played by the same man, so for every version to be funny is pretty good on the film-makers. The rest of the characters are interesting too: a few of my favorites are Clara Clayton and George McFly. They all just sort of... click, I suppose. They work well together.
And this is an important part of the story to me. The story partly hinges on this point, on whether or not you have great characters. That's why I try to bring to life great characters in my writing, characters who are real but can take people by the hand and lead them into any fancied world I invent. And I don't mean realistic, which has now come to mean dark and depressing, humourless and perpetually hopeless. No, characters must be real to the readers. Or watchers, or listeners. And the characters in Back to the Future do that, for me anyway. I don't think about the acting: I think about the characters themselves. They're real to me.
This is one reason why I hope that they never remake or reboot Back to the Future, because at the current rate of reboots, they will screw up colossally, especially with the characters. But I get the feeling that it will not happen anytime soon, so that's a relief.
Along with those two reasons, the whole thing's just so well done. It's well-written, and the funny lines just keep coming, one after another after another. It's well-acted, on all counts, and well-directed, and well-cast. The special effects look particularly great for that day and age, and the music--well, let's just say it's been played a lot through the past few days, and is also going to be played a lot in the very near future. You may have actually heard one of the songs recently on this blog.
Not only that, but the action in this thing has me practically hopping up and down on the edge of my seat, despite knowing what's going to happen. It's exciting, and there are so many moments worthy of a fist pump and a yelled-out "Yes!!" My family actually says every time we watch it "No, we can't watch it anymore, it makes Grace too happy." But we always watch them again anyway. Whatever else they may be, the Back to the Future movies are some of the most fun movies of all time.
I think there's a term some people use, where people just love some movie or TV show to death, and never get tired of it. What is it... fangirl? Yeah, that's the word for it. I'm a fangirl of Back to the Future. If I'm a fangirl of anything, it'd probably be Back to the Future. I know there are flaws and shortcomings, as there are in every movie. And I'll willingly acknowledge those, and point them out. But because I can pick them out and say they're wrong without messing up the movie, I'd say it's absolutely worth it.
In short, fast-paced action and quick-witted characters are revved all the way up to 88 in this epic classic. Little wonder that this movie is one for the ages.
This clip is about how I feel every time I watch a Back to the Future movie.
In an earlier post, I mentioned that watching this movie had partially inspired a certain script I've been working on. It isn't really the main project I'm working on (or the main one I should be working on), but, you know, I've been working on it. It's currently called There and Back in Time. Funny, considering the picture that was included in that earlier post. But no, it's not a time-travel story having to do with Middle Earth. That one will come even later on.
You see, this one has a main character named Ben. He accidentally time-travels from his time (early 18th century/1700s) to this one (early 21st century, for those who don't know to which time they have jumped). He makes friends with a few different people, not least among them a girl called Glory. He furthermore makes enemies with a familiar-looking fellow named Jack Tanyer. So he has to figure out not only how to navigate this odd new world, but also how to get back home.
Now, the script's not done, and it may be some time before it's recorded and ready for listening. I'm pretty busy with other things, and those keep getting interrupted anyway. So don't be surprised if it's more than months before I say I have made an end. However, I have been working on it, and several of the details are influenced by the Back to the Future trilogy. A character here, a scene there, a few odd references dotted around, and probably more, too. What did you expect?
Well, that about wraps it up for this post. But I would also like to say that I am going to begin a tradition for this day. From now on, October 21 is Time Travel Day. The week preceding could also be considered Time Travel Week, but I won't make that official. The Mid-Week Music for that week will have something to do with either Back to the Future or time travel of another kind. And on every October 21, I will do a post having to do with the Back to the Future trilogy.
But as I said, that's about it for now. I have some things I need to do that are waiting impatiently. Great Scott, it's later than I thought. Perfect. Sorry, gotta go now. Don't want to be late again! *So take me away/I don't mi-i-i-ind/But you better promise me/I'll be back in time!*
Today, I had two prominent ideas for this week's MWM. But, since a recent MWM was Flying Colors, one of the ideas was not really a working option. I also thought about Kansas, but it's also prog-rock, so I guess that wasn't going to fly either. Then I had another idea.
Next weekend, my family is having their Halloween party at my grandparents' house. I could have used this song then, but I think I'm going to do a more spooky sort of thing then. Anyway, the party has a theme of the 1950s. So, what better song to do than one from the 1950s? And according to somebody or other, it was the very song that started the whole rock 'n' roll movement. But I got that from a movie, so who knows?
Anyway, a final note: I decided to put up two versions. I like the newer one better for some reasons, but I feel like I should put up the original version as well. So, without further ado, allow me to introduce you to Johnny B. Goode!
There's the original version. Now, here is the version heard by his cousin, Marvin Berry, at a high school dance in 1955. Let me know which version you like better in the comments below!
*** Way down in Lousiana, down in New Orleans Way back up in the woods among the evergreens There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood Where lived a country boy, name o' Johnny B. Goode Who never ever learned to read or write so well But he could play the guitar just like he's ringing a bell (chorus) Go, go Go, Johnny, go, go Go, Johnny, go, go, go Go, Johnny, go, go Go, Johnny, go, go, go Johnny B. Goode He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack Go sit beneath the tree beside the railroad track The engineer would see him sitting in the shade Strumming to the rhythm that the driver made The people passing by, they would stop and say "Oh my, that little country boy sure can play!" (chorus) ***
His mother told him "Someday you will be a man "And you will be the leader of a big ol' band "Many people comin' from miles around "To hear you play your music 'til the sun go down "And maybe someday your name'll be in lights "Saying 'Johnny B. Goode Tonight!'" (chorus) Go, go, go, Johnny, go Go, go, go, Johnny, go Oh, go, go, Johnny, go Oh, go, go, Johnny, go Go, Johnny B. Goode
(PS: my apologies for any differences in the lyrics written here and the videos. They are two different versions, after all, so I put in parts of each one. Again, sorry about that. I think my lyrics are closest to the original, though, if that helps at all.)
There is an anniversary coming up in four days. It's the second anniversary of a certain occurrence. And no, it's not a birthday. Not that I know of, anyway. But it's an exciting day for me, so I am going to be putting up a special post to commemorate it. This particular occurrence partly inspired a certain script that I've been working on recently. I won't say the title--yet--but I think I might on Saturday. Yes, it actually has a title. I should probably be working on Hanesion House (see WRITING PROJECTS), but I have gotten a lot done on this script in the time I've been working on it just recently. Now, I'm thinking that in all these little inbetween posts, I will post a fun picture. That is now a tradition. So, here is a picture that has (something) to do with last week's Mid-Week Music. And it is very funny.
See? Very funny. I can just imagine the possibilities. "This is heavy, Gandalf!" Anyway, I suppose that's about all for this post. Keep a weather-eye on this space, because I think there's a thunder-storm brewing. Or quite possibly lightning. Well, here's hoping I will see you back again in the very near future. Bye!
Tonight's MWM may, to some of you, be familiar. If you've read J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, that is. Just like I'm doing currently. And just as my younger brothers and sisters are about to do as well. Then again, it may be familiar to you if you've seen MWM #6. It's another (and, in my own opinion, somewhat better) version of the first part of this song. Not to say that this first part is bad: quite the opposite. It's a fun little piece.
However, it's the second part I really like. My dad always says it captures the mystery and eeriness and solemnity of the dwarves; that you could really see them singing there, wreathed in the smoke-rings from Gandalf's pipe. I definitely agree: it gives me chills every time. Such songs as this always capture the imagination, in humans as well as hobbits, and conjure up images in the mind better than any wizard. And that is important to me.
Still not convinced? Here's a third opinion, worded far better than mine.
"As they sang the hobbit felt the love of beautiful things made by hands and by cunning and by magic moving through him, a fierce and jealous love, the desire of the hearts of dwarves. Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick. He looked out of the window. The stars were out in a dark sky above the trees. He thought of the jewels of the dwarves shining in dark caverns. Suddenly in the wood beyond The Water a flame leapt up--probably somebody lighting a wood-fire--and he thought of plundering dragons settling on his quiet Hill and kindling it all to flames. He shuddered; and very quickly he was plain Mr. Baggins of Bag-End, Under-Hill, again."
~ J. R. R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, Chapter I, An Unexpected Party.
*** Dwarves (sung): Chip the glasses, crack the plates That's what Bilbo Baggins hates That's what Bilbo Baggins hates So carefully, carefully with the plates! Blunt the knives and bend the forks Smash the bottles, burn the corks That's what Bilbo Baggins hates So carefully, carefully with The Plates ** Far o'er the Misty Mountains cold To dungeons deep and caverns old We must away ere break of day To seek the pale enchanted gold
** Gandalf (spoken): The dwarves of yore made mighty spells While hammers fell like ringing bells In places deep, where dark things sleep In hollow halls beneath the fells Goblets they carved there for themselves And harps of gold where no man delves There lay they long, and many a song Was sung unheard by men or elves For ancient king and elvish lord There many a gleaming golden hoard They shaped and wrought, and light they caught To hide in gems on hilt of sword On silver necklaces they strung The flow'ring stars, on crowns they hung The dragon-fire, in twisted wire They meshed the light of moon and sun * The pines were roaring on the height The winds were moaning in the night The fire was red, it flaming spread The trees like torches blazed with light The bells were ringing in the dale The men looked up with faces pale The dragon's ire, more fierce than fire Laid low their towers and houses frail The mountain smoked beneath the moon The dwarves, they heard the tramp of doom They fled their hall to dying fall Beneath his feet, beneath the moon ** Dwarves (sung): We must away ere break of day To win our harps and gold from him
This song has been following me around a little. I listened to it on Sunday, then it popped up on Pandora (a music app or some such), and I read something in the Bible today that inspired a line in the song. I felt I had to use it for this week's MWM. (Be forewarned: it is very heavy. You might want to keep a hand near the volume control, especially when wearing headphones).
A lot of things have been happening recently. Some are good, some are bad. I don't know all of it, but I know some. It's beginning to feel like a movie--with real superheroes and supervillains. Even though the Right side has had some victories recently, the enemy is still trying to tear everything apart. In the media, in politics, in the streets of the cities: wherever they possibly can, they cause chaos.
And this is why we need to fight. We cannot allow ourselves to be enslaved to fools who would destroy us: therefore, we must fight back. Whether you enforce laws to protect liberty and abolish those that steal it. Whether you defend those threatened by the mobs, and rescue those abandoned by their cowards to die. Whether you create new worlds and people and stories that hold to truth, to goodness, to beauty. Whatever you do, we will fight against evil and we will win.
So fight on, and fight faithfully. For he who is faithful from ashes will rise, when it All Falls Down.
*** Red knights coming to Rome Blood in the streets Kingdoms die overthrown Lay down your lives or be slaves to a fool When it all falls down ** Freedom stolen in sight Do you love destruction or do you want life? He who is faithful from ashes will rise When it all falls down (chorus) Wake up, chosen ones Stand up, fight for love Where lies your treasure So shall you become When it all falls down *** (chorus) *** (chorus) Wake up, chosen ones Stand up, fight for love Where lies your treasure So shall you become When it all falls When it all falls When it all falls down! **
