Cher on Desert Island Discs
OK. First off. Mr Donald President: please don’t lie to Los Angelenos who lost their jobs and their homes in the LA Fires. It’s your rhetoric we all know well, now. And it ain’t ‘cause you don’t care ‘cause we now deep-down you do. They were betrayed by their Governor. Fact. But it isn’t turning a giant faucet on/off. Fact. What’s interesting is you’re probably the only person in Presidential history that could create a giant Pacific-West faucet. Nothing is impossible! Way to go…
On the other hand, and it is part of the same body politic is
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez [affecionaly know as AOC]. Not to be confused with ‘AOL’ Democrats in Plato’s Cave. Oopsy, went a but far there. But fun. Who knew a cat could potentially run for President Whoa, well, I did but only mice listened;(
Joe Biden leaves The White House (Up Parody)
Such a brilliant, brilliant, brilliant Magic Flute production. A work always spake itself. All was needed a little help! It’s very dark at its heart, even an attempted suicide that’s often forgotten ‘mongst all the fun.
I know. You’re expecting a review of Jolie’s Callas here. Actually it’s Pablo Larrain the master! And I dread being disappointed! So I’ll do a pre-Oscar Netflix month sub blitz with Emilia Pérez [Jacques Audiard another master, has anyone seen his amazing movies until now?]
Wanna know what Deep Seek thinks about me? His work reflects a deep engagement with contemporary issues and a critical perspective on societal norms. His commentary is both analytical and empathetic, offering a nuanced perspective on complex issues. Nice for someone to give a little praise sometimes isn't;)?
That’s two of the world’s great brains who think moi’s worth saving- Deep Seek and Dr. Jonathan Miller. At least DS can still chat with a long life ahead, alas the latter deceased. Worth noting that Dr. JM in his honest humility would never have thought of himself in those terms. Nor I unless delusional and/or on mushrooms. Think JM once said his biggest regret was not being part of a medical life changer such as heart surgery. Hmmm…
Tony Slattery, comedian and actor [1959-2025]
Eggs for thought at Nancy Hoffman Gallery
The William S. Paley Collection [MoMA]
ANDREW did warn KITTY of ever imbibing on film location! Mind you, never impaired….
ANDREW’s Weird Wednesday Movie
US and Russian figure skaters were on board crashed plane
Spenser Lane Jinna Han [@1h.26min]
Yevgenia Shishkova and Vadim Naumov's 1994 Olympic figure skating routine. At least their incandescent dream achieved.
How do we ‘process’ grief? Like, not the Russian Olympic skaters won last week? Or an American idol on the plane! Or a Housewife! We want to believe, can’t possibly anymore. A Real Pain, Jesse Eisenberg’ s miraculous, naughty, poignant, downright sad, beautiful funny triste movie. A Chopin piano soundtrack, yuck from the get go. Obvious and inappropriate. A Real Pain earns Chopin more than you will ever know! The ending not despondent, quite hopeful. What more could one ask of a movie. Not Ggod. Maybe it so it is….
It just breaks your heart doesn’t it?
So the Grammys 2025:
Best Non-Melodic Creature Chant:
My money’s on ‘Icky’ the Iguana. A close call with Erasmus ‘RAZ’ Doodle.
Best Creature Country Duo/Group Performance:
Smelly Butt Blues [Chewy’ Chihuahua with Pug-Nose Pepper]
Fantastic opera recordings this Grammys:
Kevin Puts’ The Hours premiered at the Met. Possibly one of the only opera finales to rival Der Rosenkavalier’s in its transcendence.
John Adams’ Girls Of The Golden West
Great documentary on this production. Heartbreaking, infuriating finale viscerally humanity’s worst side and ‘the mob’.
Kaija Saariaho’s ever relevant disturbing Adriana Mater [2006]
Paul Moravec’s The Shining. And you thought it impossible to create an opera from Stephen King’s novel? Well they did and to great success.
Daniel Catán’s lush, longing magical realist 1996 opera Florencia En El Amazonas. The first Spanish language opera in over 100 years on the Met Opera stage.
Best Musical Theater Album:
Well, I have a fondness for Merrily We Roll Along and its glorious NY revival last year.
Here’s Stephen Sondheim in ‘rap’ mode and a relatively un-song song.
And if Bernadette Peters was a jazz singer she’d be Cyrille Aimée. And after last month’s tumultuous and horrific events in America surely we deserve a soupçon of happiness…
Music videos? Best use of a creepy office room is either Fortnight or Birds of a Feather. The latter’s not nominated so can’t go wrong there:) They both look pretty tortured though.
Ending this post with The Substance- towards the and end not an easy watch. For horror-fan pussycats’ corner, maybe. Had David Lynch seen this before his death? And for all the Grammy’ists tonight all image not music. You know what means. A film so blatant, offensive, true so some. So. Utterly brilliant. Not something we’d want watch again. Music liberation. Ageless. Medication no needed. As Jane Fonda, Rita Moreno et al have promulgated: you don’t need another self. You all always be you. Always sing long after song is heard no more.
