loraleeslooneytunes.com » lists http://loraleeslooneytunes.com A little crazy. A lot of fun. Sat, 04 Feb 2012 22:34:14 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 A flash from the past and discussion of soundtracks http://loraleeslooneytunes.com/2008/04/03/a-flash-from-the-past-and-discussion-of-soundtracks/ http://loraleeslooneytunes.com/2008/04/03/a-flash-from-the-past-and-discussion-of-soundtracks/#comments Thu, 03 Apr 2008 06:00:10 +0000 loralee http://loraleeslooneytunes.com/?p=2021 Hello, all! It’s April 3, 2007 and I am writing you from the past to celebrate the fact that since I moved to WordPress this month I can now set the publish date for my posts whenever I want! Oh, WordPress! How I love thee!

So, I am setting my post today to re-publish this post a year from now.

(As a side note, I totally wonder where I will be in my life a year from now? On April 3, 2008 I hope I am softer in stress, firmer of ass, heavier in pocket and lighter in soul and spirit. In other words? I hope I’m happy and that you all are, too. Most importantly, I hope I am still hot. Priorities are important, you know. )

I just hope that I remember that I set this up so I don’t double post. On the other hand, if I’ve forgotten about it it will be like a groovy little surprise in the morning. Kind of like my birthday only in April! (Ok, this would make for a pretty lame birthday, huh?)

So, what are we waiting for? My post today is about one of my passions other than Diet Coke and blogging.

I’m referring to SOUNDTRACKS. My favorite music EVER. Period. The END. I would make out with them, marry them and have little orchestral score soundtrack babies with them if I could get away with it and not be carted away to the crazy house.

It is a huge list but if you knew how many I LEFT OFF! Soundtracks are the new “Classical Music”.  The brilliant film composers of today would have been the Chopin’s and Handel’s back in the day. You may disagree, but that is how I feel.

So? Let’s discuss.

Here you go:

On Soundtracks

April 3, 2007
I thought that I would weigh in on my favorites as far as sound tracks are concerned and compile a list for you all.I know I am going to leave some off, but here it goes:
My favorite soundtrack: Robin Hood Prince of Thieve.It was not easy to pick a favorite soundtrack. It is sort of like asking me to pick out my favorite leaf on a tree, but I had to go with the one I listen to the most.
The summer of 1991 was life changing. At all of 15 years of age, my adoration of the orchestral film score was secured. I saw this movie about a dozen times in the theater because the first time I heard the opening to this movie I almost started shaking. Intense love at first listen.
It did help that Christian Slater was a hottie and Alan Rickman was a genius as the Sheriff of Nottingham, which helped diffuse how much Kevin Costner sucked in this film. The music was GLORIOUS. I love most of the tracks on this one.

I had loved the music of other movies (Namely, “The Man from Snowy River” and “Chariots of Fire” *Hey, synthesisers were new, OK?*) but since I was so young, I didn’t really understand how much of my enjoyment of a movie was based on the film score. They move me like no other music can.

Best comedy soundtracks: The Princess Bride and Emma by Rachel Portman. Portman is amazing and one of the most talented composers of this generation. I love all of her work and she is a heavy part of my library. I got married to this music, I love it so much. She does some very fun things with her arrangements. This music is both quirky and makes you feel so melancholy and at home at the same time.
Also on the list? 50 First Dates. Loved the Hawaiianesque covers of these tunes. AND? South Park: The Movie along with Team America, World Police. Say what you will about them, but they are absolute composition comedy GENIUSES. GENIUSES, I tell you. Though, I admit that they can be rather…EHEM…
Best action soundtrack: Star Wars (Or any John Williams soundtrack) There are no words for John Williams’ genius. I loved Star Wars. My very favorite scene of his is the last one at the awards ceremony. SO cool when they all turn at the same time. I think I ran unrestrained around the theater at three years old it hyped me up so much.
Best dramatic soundtrack: Forrest Gump. OK, I know that technically this is a comedy as well, but ‘Jenny’s Theme’ and ‘Run Forrest’ are both heartbreaking and inspiring. LOVE IT. Also? “City of Angels”. “I’d
give up forever to touch you…” Could you just die? I about did.
(Breaking in to say that I am not going to bother using italics for movie titles and use quotations. I know it is incorrect, but it’s taking me forever and there are eleventyhundred titles, ok?)
Best historical soundtrack: TIE. “Last of the Mohican’s” This was another MUST have. That fiddle they play on the main theme? TO DIE FOR. “Glory” by James Horner. Amazing. Kicked his score for Titanic by leaps and bounds. This is the sound track that heavily features the Harlem Boy’s Choir and where they got a good deal of their fame from. Gorgeous. “The Patriot” I love this soundtrack. Since it covers the southern part of the revolution, the music shows it in rich, homey, themes, heavy on the fiddle. I am also really fond of the the music in the Keira Knightly “Pride and Prejudice”. Very nice piano themes.
Best animal theme: “Fawkes the Phoenix” from Harry Potter. I’m sorry, but it is just so inspiring and reassuring, like the bird itself.
Sweetest theme: “A Simple Twist of Fate”. It is a very quiet little film by Steve Martin. The theme used here is so sweet and simple that it almost feels like taking a warm bath. Steve Martin is also an accomplished banjo player and he plays a lot in this soundtrack, which just adds to the coolness of it.
Also? The duet from “The Corpse Bride”. I love Danny Elfman and have wanted to have his babies since adoring him in his Oingo Boingo days. DAMN talented musician is he.
Most “Themed theme”: “Rudy”. I love the heavy “Fighting Irish” thread he has going on here. I dare you to not stand up and cheer when you hear it.
Most powerful theme: “Glory” by James Horner. Specifically, “Charging Ft. Wagner”. It is akin to Orff’s “Carmina Burana“. Loud, confusing, clashing and also building with subtle intensity in segments.
Most majestic soundtrack: “Lord of the Rings” Damn. That’s all I have to say about that.
Best use of political satire in a soundtrack: “Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy” The “Zephed Beezlebrock” (OR WHATEVER, BRIAN AND KAREN. I never get the name right. Sigh) is HILARIOUS! “He’s not stupid! (OH, NO!) He’s much smarter than you, and he’s better looking too!” Take a listen. The “Achoo” hymn done in traditional Anglican hymnal structure KILLS ME.
Soundtrack I used to love but can no longer admit to liking because even I can only take so much mocking: “Titanic”. Sigh.
Best scary soundtrack: “The Sixth Sense” OMG. I freaked out in the first two measures and asked my friend Brian to “Hold me”. “The Changeling” was also fairly freaky.
Best military influenced soundtrack: You know how much I love music with a military influence. I don’t really know why. Maybe it is the precision, maybe it is the heavy use of brass or the fact that I think the piccolo just isn’t used enough, I dunno. I just like it a lot. I have a tie. I cannot pick between “Glory” and “The Patriot” they both kick ass. “Gladiator” and “Pearl Harbor” also kicked a fair amount of ass.
If we are going with one specific theme, though, the winner is the main theme to the HBO series by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks “Band of Brothers”. Gorgeous.
Best soundtrack to inspire you to pretty much be willing to commit mass suicide in a muddy field in Agincourt, France: “Henry V” by Patrick Doyle. I love this Soundtrack. There are two moments that are pure genius-the track for the “St. Crispian’s Day Speech” and “Non Nobis Domine” kick some serious, serious composition TAIL. ( I HAD to find a way to put this in here)
Best romantic theme: “Kiss you” from Romeo & Juliet. OMG. It makes you want to grab the nearest object and start sucking face with it. I WILL sing this one day.
Best soundtrack from a children’s film: “Mary Poppins” What’s all this, step in time? It seriously makes you want to go be a chimney sweep and dance on the roof tops of London. And WHO doesn’t get misty eyed on “Feed the Birds”. It’s one of my favorite songs to sing.
Best vocals on a soundtrack: It has to go to the queen “Enya“. Between ‘Now you are free’ from “Gladiator” and “May it be ” from Lord of the Rings, and her work on Steve Maritn’s “LA Story”, she has it nailed. Second favorite is “Weep you no more sad fountains” from “Sense and Sensibility” by Patrick Doyle. THAT girl can sing classical. I actually convinced my vocal teacher to let me do his version of “Weep you no more” AND Quilter’s more classical version of it for vocal juries one year. I can’t believe she let me do it. It was awesome.
Best soundtrack from the 30’s: “Gone With the Wind”
Best soundtrack from the 40’s: “White Christmas” Hello, could you get more amazing than Bing Crosby on “I’ll be home for Christmas”? Need I say more?
Best soundtrack from the 50’s: “The King and I”
Best soundtrack from the 60’s: “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. ‘Moon River’ is enough to make you lay down and weep.
Best soundtrack from the 70’s: “Jaws”. Who knew a minor 2nd could be so damn scary? John freaking Williams, that’s who!
Best soundtrack from the 80’s: “The Man From Snowy River” and “Say Anything”
Best Soundtrack from the 90’s: “City of Angels” (So, so, so awesome)and “Forrest Gump” the song compilation.
Best song remakes: Tie between the covers on “50 First Dates” and “Moulin Rouge” both are brilliant in different ways.
Best soundtrack for a completely stupid movie: “Cold Mountain”. There are no words for how much I did not really care for this film. What I LOVE is the music. You cannot get better than Allison Krauss singing “The Scarlett Tide”. Also, they recorded this amazing church choir located deep in the smokey mountains. “The Sacred Harp Singers” I have never heard anything like it: There is no attention to blend, no accompaniment, no strict time keeping, and the end result is loud, ruckus, and gloriously bizarre. I was very tempted to put the winner here as “The Legend of Bagger Vance” by Rachel Portman, but I think “Cold Mountain” takes it.
Best cry your eyes out moment:“Little Women” the simple piano theme when Beth dies. I love this soundtrack so freaking much I can forget the Winona Ryder stars in it.
Best quirky movie Soundtrack: “Harold & Maude” by Cat Stevens.
Best individual instrument performance: “Uncorked” by Jeff Dana. Specifically, “Ross’s Concert”. This is a little movie that stars Minnie Driver. I like the film well enough, but the music is the real star. The first time I heard this I literally had a tear run down my cheek and my jaw was on the floor. I think I repeated it 15 times in a row that night. It was this AMAZING musical moment that was so unexpected and lovely. This guy can play one hell of an acoustic guitar. I went through hell to get the soundtrack but it was worth it.
Soundtrack I never want to hear again: “The Omen”. I would say that THREE HOURS of being “Caroled” in a haunted corn maze by Brian Joy singing “Ave Satani” would be quite enough for anyone, thank you.
To wrap up, here are some other soundtracks that I WUV as well.
Honorable mentions:
“Jurassic Park”
“Waking Ned Divine”
“Moulin Rouge”
“Pearl Harbor”
“Gettysburg”
“Anne of Green Gables”
“Practical Magic”
“Raiders of the Lost Ark”
“Black Beauty”
“Oh, Brother! Where Art Thou?”
“Amadeus” and “My Immortal Beloved”
“Cider House Rules”
“Braveheart”
“Far and Away”
“Rent”
“Say Anything”
“All John Hughs Films”
“Rob Roy”
“Garden State”
“Last Kiss”
“The Goonies“
“Meet Joe Black”
“Pirates of the Caribbean“
“Amalie”
“Highlander” (I swear when I go to Scotland with Michelle this fall I am going to sing “Who wants to live forever” at some castle ruin somewhere!)

I know there are so many more, but my brain is fried. Discuss and comment away. Or not. I didn’t want to hear from you all anyway, so THERE!

PPPFFTTH!!!!!

]]> http://loraleeslooneytunes.com/2008/04/03/a-flash-from-the-past-and-discussion-of-soundtracks/feed/ 32 I HATE THAT! http://loraleeslooneytunes.com/2008/04/02/i-hate-that/ http://loraleeslooneytunes.com/2008/04/02/i-hate-that/#comments Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:56:05 +0000 loralee http://loraleeslooneytunes.com/2008/04/02/i-hate-that/ I just lost a post full of eleventyhundred links and photos that I had worked on for over TWO FREAKING HOURS.

I HATE IT WHEN THAT HAPPENS!

Why stop there, right??

Let’s make a list!

Other things I hate/loathe/cannot stand:

  • Papaya
  • Black licorice (This includes all things related like Anise)
  • Long, dirty fingernails on little boys
  • Little kids with perpetual snotty noses and dirty faces
  • Gritty spinach/lettuce
  • My period
  • Overly sour flavors
  • People who leave the turn signal on
  • Granny panties
  • Warm, bendy pickles
  • Tepid beverages
  • Sandwiches that are too “Wet” with mayo or mustard
  • People who wear too much perfume/cologne. Especially if it sucks
  • People who constantly clear the phlegm out of their throats or sniff excessively
  • Mean people
  • People who act smug, superior, holier-than-thou
  • Fruit that looks ripe and sweet and isn’t
  • DOS
  • Yeast infections
  • Artificial cherry flavoring
  • Cough Syrup
  • Honeydew
  • The taste of alcohol
  • Camel toe
  • Spiders
  • The book, Little Children
  • The movie, Seven
  • Any design Hildy has ever done on Trading Spaces
  • South Pacific
  • Anime
  • Being too hot or too cold
  • Ingrown toenails

Oh, I could go on and on, but should probably stop and take a few deep, cleansing breaths.

Whew.

That helped to write.

Do you dislike anything on my list?  Do you have your own list?

]]> http://loraleeslooneytunes.com/2008/04/02/i-hate-that/feed/ 56 Cheap, Cheap! http://loraleeslooneytunes.com/2008/02/04/cheap-cheap/ http://loraleeslooneytunes.com/2008/02/04/cheap-cheap/#comments Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:56:21 +0000 loralee http://loraleeslooneytunes.com/2008/02/04/cheap-cheap/ I need to cut it out with the posts that sound like birds chirping, huh?

One of my newest blog crushes is Jennifer from “Playgroups are no place for children”. (She also gets to live by Casey which makes me green with envy as Casey is one awesome bloggity date.)

Jennifer’s post for today is about being a cheapskate and her love of purchasing generic items. It started my brain spiraling in a million different directions so I thought I might as well dump it here since I am now going through the aisles of my grocery store in my head and thinking about what I will and will not spend money on.

I am not a careless shop-a-holic. I think and think and think before actually plunking money down on something with two exceptions:

I will totally splurge on eating out.

I do it with ease.

I hem and haw about spending money on clothes but I can drop a wad on a great meal without batting an eye.

I have always thought that was sad, but if you only knew the memories and pure love of food that I have. (Well, I did weigh 280 at one point, so maybe it isn’t all that difficult to grasp after all.)

Splurge number two?

The grocery store.

There are still times that I am quite enchanted with being an adult. Sure, most of the “I am grown up and on my own!” rosiness has worn off but there are still times when I am in the grocery store that I think “I can buy whatever I want with the money that I have??!!!! SQUEE!!!!”

So, I am not often overly careful at the store. I don’t clip coupons, but I buy on sale if I can and I am always aware of good meat sales. If I can save I will, but not at the expense of getting what I want.

That said? I genuinely like a lot of generic products.

GENERICS I WUV:

Medication: I ALWAYS buy generic if I can. This is the area that I see the price difference the very most. The savings are huge and the product is great.

Maxi Pads: (Warning! Possible TMI ahead!) They work fine for me. I am not a Mount Vesuvius period girl, so it’s all good. I do buy name brand tampons, though.

Spray Bleach and cleaning products in general: Clorox charges twice as much for an identical product. I’ll stick with my $1 bottle, thanks. Same with glass cleaner and toilet bowl cleaner. (Exception: Dollar store cleaners are hideous. Just so you know. They do not count)

Hair care and styling products: I wouldn’t have put this on the list before, but since my awesome sister-in-law, Nooncy bought me the “Don’t go to the make up counter without me” and “Don’t buy hair products without me” books, I am just FINE buying drugstore shampoo, conditioner and products.

You wouldn’t believe how much easier it is to style my hair how I want because I have EVERYTHING. Waxes, sprays, gels, putty’s, leave in conditioners, creams, EVERYTHING. And it is all thanks to Garnier. Before I had these books I would plunk down 35.00 for one bottle of shine enhancer. Now I have one I LIKE BETTER and it cost me $3.00!

So? I can have tons of products now for the same price and I love it.

Cereal: This is a split category. There are some generic cereals that are acceptable like knock offs of Honey Nut Cheerios, Frosted Mini-Wheats, and Sugar Puffs.

Shoes: I LOVE good shoes. But I also find cute shoes at PayLess, too.

Bras: After finding the Hanes All Over comfort Bra, I don’t know if I’ll go back to VS except for special occasions. I heart them.

Salsa: I love WalMart’s Black Bean Salsa. I prefer it over all others, actually.

Milk: I prefer the cheaper store brand, actually.

Eggs: Same thing.

Pull ups: They worked totally fine for us and were much cheaper.

Dishwasher Soap: I have to buy the better stuff that contains jet dry now, because my dishwasher kinda sucks, but my parents have a rockin’ dishwasher and generic is fine.

Skin Care: I HEART WalMart’s Equate brand of skin care. They knock off some very good products by Olay, Nuetragena, ect. and they work as well has the original for SO much less. Next to medication, this is the biggest money saver in generics. According to Fussy, Equate also has a generic Eucerine version that is only $3 instead of $15 that I MUST check out.

Teeth Whitening Strips: By Eqaute. Yup. They work swell and it’s $15 vs $30.

Body Wash: They work just fine, although I do love the Olay uber moisturizing one and Bath and Body Works makes my heart sing.

Meat: This is a biggie for me. I have to buy chicken, beef, etc. from the butcher. I only buy Tyson as a last resort.

THINGS I WILL NOT SKIMP ON:

Ice cream: Since my gastric bypass, Ice Cream makes me feel sick, but I love it. SO, the rare times I indulge it had better be GOOD.

Soda: ONLY Diet Coke for me, thanks. Generic soda sucks.

Cereal: Lucky Charms, Rice Krispies and Golden Grahams all have to be name brand.

Laundry: I have to have Bounce fabric sheets. As for laundry detergent, Gain and Tide with Bleach, oh, how I Love Thee! Jonathan did pick up a box of Arm and Hammer when they were out of the size we like to buy and I have to say that I am actually liking it. It’s kind of strong, but hello? You are talking to someone who could snort the entire laundry aisle of the supermarket and die happy.

Peaches: I will never buy anything but Dole Plastic Bottled Peaches again. We are having a torrid affair, and I don’t see it dying down soon. Fruit in general, I have to buy name brand or it is icky.

Ketchup and Mustard: The generics usually suck.

Diapers: I have to have pampers for my babies. The others gave them rashes.

Spaghetti Sauce: UG. I can’t even think about it.

Bread: I have to have Grandma Sycamore’s. Dude, if Granny ever kicks the bucket I don’t know what I’ll do.

String Cheese: I cannot tolerate generic string cheese. It has to be the one with the illustration of the string cheese guy with wacky string cheese hair (I totally can’t remember the name and can’t find it online, so it is what it is.)

Lunch Meat: This.is.huge.for.me. Is there anything more disgusting than “Pressed Meat”? EWE.

I eat a turkey sandwich practically every day of my life for lunch and so I have to have good lunch meat. I would really prefer to get it at the deli counter, but for some reason my husband is on the opposite end of the scale in this argument. We have agreed to compromise on Oscar Meyer Roasted Turkey Breast and call it good.

I’m sure that there are many more things, but I’ll leave it at this for now.

SO? You? Do you have issues with generics? Do you love them with the power of a thousand burning suns?

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