I love The Office.
What a way to open the season. "Nobody But Me" was originally written and recorded by The Isley Brothers.
The Human Beinz simplified the song down and changed it from a soul classic to a 1960s garage band anthem. The actually name of the band was suppose to be The Human Beingz, but Capitol Records left the "g" out when they released "Nobody But Me" and they didn't want to correct it.
Here they are The Human Beinz performing their 1967 hit, a couple months ago!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Romeo and Juliet (The Chicago Shakespeare Theater)
Through Nov. 21 at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Navy Pier; Running time: 2 hours, 45 minutes; Tickets: $44-$75 at 312-595-5600 or www.chicagoshakes.com
“If you can’t believe in Romeo and Juliet, what’s left of love?”
This is Chris Jones’s conclusion of his Chicago Tribune review of the production of Romeo & Juliet playing at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. He criticizes the production for being “the most cynical ‘Romeo and Juliet’ you’re ever likely to see. Love conquers nothing here. Love is nowhere near the theater.”
Mr. Jones, I believe you’re missing the point of the play. William Shakespeare classifies this play as a “tragedy” with other great works like Hamlet and King Lear. Yes, you are right there no love anywhere near this production, but there isn’t any love in the play itself. This powerful production that the Chicago Shakespeare Theater drives home the most interesting and powerful parts of the Shakespeare’s’ most famous work which have less to do with love but the tragedy of letting passion reign over reason.
Romeo falls for Juliet less than a day after Rosaline dumps him. If that’s not a rebound girl, I don’t know what is. Juliet responds to Romeo instantly falling in "love." I don’t know if love at first sight exists but what I do know is that Juliet at the tender age of 14, Juliet has had little to no interaction with guys outside her family as her father describes. So it’s no big surprise that the first guy she meets she falls for projecting her love fantasies on Romeo. They follow their passion even though they know this isn’t a good idea and plan to marry,
Friar Lawrence isn’t much better. First he tells the two not to marry, gets the idea that maybe it would make peace between the two families. He foreshadows his mistakes commenting that people “stumble who run too fast” and man does he stumble. Instead of helping the Capulets by consoling them with the truth he comes up with a convoluted plan involving a suspended animation and deceit
The director makes the insightful argument that if there is any one person to blame for the tragedy it's Capulet, Juliet’s father. He is violent, impulsive, brash and irrational. When he tells Tybalt not to fight Romeo at his party it’s more than words. He slaps him, chokes him and shoves him the ground, threatening him as he stabs a sword through his hand. Even more scary is when he tells Juliet that she will marry Paris. This results in one of the most intense portrayals of domestic violence I’ve ever seen against Lady Capulet, The Nurse and Juliet. With a patriarch like that is it no wonder other characters are so impulsive.
The production isn’t perfect. The costumes where inconsistent and the recorded incidental music was for the most part mediocre and unnecessary. Like a great old movie there are some things about Romeo And Juliet that don’t work with our modern sensibility. I mean was the death of Lady Montague in the end really necessary?
Those things were inconsequential. The director pulled all of the different characters to a central theme treating it more like an ensemble cast. The complexities of the tragedy shine right through the Shakespearean dialog reminding me that these plays are truly at their most powerful live on stage.
If you want to a see a love story go watch “Noting Hill.” If you want to experience a true tragedy filled with pain, passion and violence go check out the Chicago Shakespeare’s production of Romeo And Juliet.
“If you can’t believe in Romeo and Juliet, what’s left of love?” There is nothing left of love because believing in Romeo And Juliet is heading Shakespeare's warning of the darkness of our passions deep within out hearts.
“If you can’t believe in Romeo and Juliet, what’s left of love?”
This is Chris Jones’s conclusion of his Chicago Tribune review of the production of Romeo & Juliet playing at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. He criticizes the production for being “the most cynical ‘Romeo and Juliet’ you’re ever likely to see. Love conquers nothing here. Love is nowhere near the theater.”
Mr. Jones, I believe you’re missing the point of the play. William Shakespeare classifies this play as a “tragedy” with other great works like Hamlet and King Lear. Yes, you are right there no love anywhere near this production, but there isn’t any love in the play itself. This powerful production that the Chicago Shakespeare Theater drives home the most interesting and powerful parts of the Shakespeare’s’ most famous work which have less to do with love but the tragedy of letting passion reign over reason.
Romeo falls for Juliet less than a day after Rosaline dumps him. If that’s not a rebound girl, I don’t know what is. Juliet responds to Romeo instantly falling in "love." I don’t know if love at first sight exists but what I do know is that Juliet at the tender age of 14, Juliet has had little to no interaction with guys outside her family as her father describes. So it’s no big surprise that the first guy she meets she falls for projecting her love fantasies on Romeo. They follow their passion even though they know this isn’t a good idea and plan to marry,
Friar Lawrence isn’t much better. First he tells the two not to marry, gets the idea that maybe it would make peace between the two families. He foreshadows his mistakes commenting that people “stumble who run too fast” and man does he stumble. Instead of helping the Capulets by consoling them with the truth he comes up with a convoluted plan involving a suspended animation and deceit
The director makes the insightful argument that if there is any one person to blame for the tragedy it's Capulet, Juliet’s father. He is violent, impulsive, brash and irrational. When he tells Tybalt not to fight Romeo at his party it’s more than words. He slaps him, chokes him and shoves him the ground, threatening him as he stabs a sword through his hand. Even more scary is when he tells Juliet that she will marry Paris. This results in one of the most intense portrayals of domestic violence I’ve ever seen against Lady Capulet, The Nurse and Juliet. With a patriarch like that is it no wonder other characters are so impulsive.
The production isn’t perfect. The costumes where inconsistent and the recorded incidental music was for the most part mediocre and unnecessary. Like a great old movie there are some things about Romeo And Juliet that don’t work with our modern sensibility. I mean was the death of Lady Montague in the end really necessary?
Those things were inconsequential. The director pulled all of the different characters to a central theme treating it more like an ensemble cast. The complexities of the tragedy shine right through the Shakespearean dialog reminding me that these plays are truly at their most powerful live on stage.
If you want to a see a love story go watch “Noting Hill.” If you want to experience a true tragedy filled with pain, passion and violence go check out the Chicago Shakespeare’s production of Romeo And Juliet.
“If you can’t believe in Romeo and Juliet, what’s left of love?” There is nothing left of love because believing in Romeo And Juliet is heading Shakespeare's warning of the darkness of our passions deep within out hearts.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Week 2: A School Worth Saving?
Halfway through the week my first week of teaching, I got an answer to a question I forget to ask.
During a meeting in the middle of the week, one of the veteran teachers who was actually an alumni from the school came to give a history lesson on the school. He talked about how the school not only reflected a progressive educational philosophy but also the historical events of the past hundred years.
He mentioned that the school in some ways was always going through a crisis. Not a crisis in the sense that the building was literally falling apart but rather the idea of crises as transitions. He explained that, "It's the job of the board to save the school in times of crisis. It's our [teacher's] job to make sure that there's a school worth saving."
I couldn't help but wonder, is this school really worth saving?
After one week of teaching I would say yes. There’s a couple reasons but there was one that really got to me this week: students in this school are everybody's students.
From day 1, I've been not only encouraged but expected to discuss any issues, problems and triumphs with the classroom teachers. As a music teacher I see them twice a week as opposed to every day, so I don't have as good perspective on the students as their classroom teachers. As I went around to talk to teachers about their students what I was surprised to find is that they were as interested in my observations about their students as I was about theirs. This was a conversation between equal partners.
I wasn't a babysitter who takes students from their teachers so they can have prep time. I was an integral to their education. These students really are not any one teachers sole responsibility but all of ours.
That is something special.
I can’t help but wonder was I doing anything in the flurry of my first week to make this a school worth saving?
I would say yes. Am I going to say that things went perfect? No, of course not and I doubt any of my students had any life-altering education moments that will lead them to discovering the cure for cancer, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t successful.
Success in education is about the little moments: It’s helping a students realize that a beat is speeding up. It’s watching a student make their first sound on a trombone and watching them giggle in delight. It’s sitting with a student at the end of class helping them understand that it’s ok to confused. Those are moments I had this week and are definitely “worth saving.”
The question I forgot to ask was, "what is my job as a teacher?" And no, it's not simply to create a school worth saving, but that's a good place to start.
During a meeting in the middle of the week, one of the veteran teachers who was actually an alumni from the school came to give a history lesson on the school. He talked about how the school not only reflected a progressive educational philosophy but also the historical events of the past hundred years.
He mentioned that the school in some ways was always going through a crisis. Not a crisis in the sense that the building was literally falling apart but rather the idea of crises as transitions. He explained that, "It's the job of the board to save the school in times of crisis. It's our [teacher's] job to make sure that there's a school worth saving."
I couldn't help but wonder, is this school really worth saving?
After one week of teaching I would say yes. There’s a couple reasons but there was one that really got to me this week: students in this school are everybody's students.
From day 1, I've been not only encouraged but expected to discuss any issues, problems and triumphs with the classroom teachers. As a music teacher I see them twice a week as opposed to every day, so I don't have as good perspective on the students as their classroom teachers. As I went around to talk to teachers about their students what I was surprised to find is that they were as interested in my observations about their students as I was about theirs. This was a conversation between equal partners.
I wasn't a babysitter who takes students from their teachers so they can have prep time. I was an integral to their education. These students really are not any one teachers sole responsibility but all of ours.
That is something special.
I can’t help but wonder was I doing anything in the flurry of my first week to make this a school worth saving?
I would say yes. Am I going to say that things went perfect? No, of course not and I doubt any of my students had any life-altering education moments that will lead them to discovering the cure for cancer, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t successful.
Success in education is about the little moments: It’s helping a students realize that a beat is speeding up. It’s watching a student make their first sound on a trombone and watching them giggle in delight. It’s sitting with a student at the end of class helping them understand that it’s ok to confused. Those are moments I had this week and are definitely “worth saving.”
The question I forgot to ask was, "what is my job as a teacher?" And no, it's not simply to create a school worth saving, but that's a good place to start.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Post #300!!!!! Thunder Road by Bruce Springsteen
From the first post I did on this blog I've kept a running list of songs to post about. "Thunder Road" has been on that list since the very beginning. I've had many false starts trying to put into words how much this songs means to me, how it changed my life and why every time I hear this song it becomes more powerful and meaningful to who I am.
So I'll just let the song speak for itself.
I could not think a better song to represent what this blog has been about, what I believe and what my life is all about:
Magic,
Faith,
Love,
Hope.
So I'll just let the song speak for itself.
I could not think a better song to represent what this blog has been about, what I believe and what my life is all about:
Magic,
Faith,
Love,
Hope.
Monday, September 20, 2010
Hey, Soul Sister by Train
This song doesn’t make any sense.
Don’t get me wrong, a lot of pop songs don’t make sense on a literal of figurative level. It’s like the way you suspend your belief in an action blockbuster to believe that someone can survive multiple gunshot wounds. You can put aside all logic and realism but there’s a point when they go too far and you are yanked out of the film thinking “really, the guy jumped off a motorcycle into a HELICOPTER?!?”
Train crosses that point with “Hey, Soul Sister.”
Now I’m not trying to hate here. That’s not my shtick but I have to point out a couple things about this song that just don’t work. The title of this song is “Hey Soul Sister,” which is an allusion to the song “Lady Maramlade,” originally recorded by Labelle, but more recently covered as part of the Moulin Rouge soundtrack featuring Christina Aguilera, Mya, Pink, Lil’ Kim.
Cool, a tribute to great soul divas like Patti Labelle and Aretha Franklin and the first musical sound we hear is a . . . ukulele?!? Now I love the ukulele and when it’s used well. It’s a really soulful instrument like in Iz’s version of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World,” but it’s not an instruments that reflects Soul music.
Then there’s the chorus, “Hey soul sister, ain’t that 'Mr. Mister' on the radio, the stereo? the way you move aint’ far you know.” Do y’all know who Mr. Mister is? They are an American 1980s rock band most notable for their song “Kyrie” which misuses a text from the Latin translation of the Catholic Mass for a hook.
There is nothing soulful about Mr. Mister. Let’s say for a second he’s not talking about that mediocre band, then what is he talking about the chorus? Don’t get me started on the verse.
Here’s the thing, ever though this song doesn’t make sense (“like a virgin your Madonna”), the spirit of losing yourself in music comes across as clear as day. I watched a class of about sixty 6th graders last week at the end of a choir rehearsal rehearsal sing this entire song through not missing a beat or a word and not one of them was not engaged in this song. After witnessing that you can't deny that there's something that really works about this song.
When I hear “Hey, Soul Sister” my brain can’t help but get frustrated but my heart and soul tells my brain to simply shut up and enjoy it. When my brain finally does quiet down I gotta admit, this song feel pretty damn good.
Don’t get me wrong, a lot of pop songs don’t make sense on a literal of figurative level. It’s like the way you suspend your belief in an action blockbuster to believe that someone can survive multiple gunshot wounds. You can put aside all logic and realism but there’s a point when they go too far and you are yanked out of the film thinking “really, the guy jumped off a motorcycle into a HELICOPTER?!?”
Train crosses that point with “Hey, Soul Sister.”
Now I’m not trying to hate here. That’s not my shtick but I have to point out a couple things about this song that just don’t work. The title of this song is “Hey Soul Sister,” which is an allusion to the song “Lady Maramlade,” originally recorded by Labelle, but more recently covered as part of the Moulin Rouge soundtrack featuring Christina Aguilera, Mya, Pink, Lil’ Kim.
Cool, a tribute to great soul divas like Patti Labelle and Aretha Franklin and the first musical sound we hear is a . . . ukulele?!? Now I love the ukulele and when it’s used well. It’s a really soulful instrument like in Iz’s version of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World,” but it’s not an instruments that reflects Soul music.
Then there’s the chorus, “Hey soul sister, ain’t that 'Mr. Mister' on the radio, the stereo? the way you move aint’ far you know.” Do y’all know who Mr. Mister is? They are an American 1980s rock band most notable for their song “Kyrie” which misuses a text from the Latin translation of the Catholic Mass for a hook.
There is nothing soulful about Mr. Mister. Let’s say for a second he’s not talking about that mediocre band, then what is he talking about the chorus? Don’t get me started on the verse.
Here’s the thing, ever though this song doesn’t make sense (“like a virgin your Madonna”), the spirit of losing yourself in music comes across as clear as day. I watched a class of about sixty 6th graders last week at the end of a choir rehearsal rehearsal sing this entire song through not missing a beat or a word and not one of them was not engaged in this song. After witnessing that you can't deny that there's something that really works about this song.
When I hear “Hey, Soul Sister” my brain can’t help but get frustrated but my heart and soul tells my brain to simply shut up and enjoy it. When my brain finally does quiet down I gotta admit, this song feel pretty damn good.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Week 1: The Biggest Geek In The School
I am proud to be a geek.
I define a geek as someone who loves something beyond a common level of passion. This is a person who finds the minutia related to the subject fascinating beyond other people's comprehension and allows interest to become part of what defines them. Often we have negative thoughts about "geeks" because these are people who love something so much that they have no regard about whether or not their passion is "cool" or "in."
For example, I’m a music geek. I love breaking apart a song and reading about stories behind the music which even though I find fascinating, most people do not. My brother-in-law is a Northwestern football geek. He who knows the names the players on the Northwestern University football team as well as the complex rules to this game. My wife is kind of a Harry Potter geek and revels in the weaving plot lines and foreshadowing throughout the series.
My new principal is a geek about our school.
Addressing the entire staff at the end of a day of meetings I was eager to hear what our fearless leader had to say. I wondered why there was a desk with file folder holder with about eight folders filled with papers set up next to the podium. I thought maybe he’s going to hand out some awards or something but that thought quickly left my mind as he began to speak.
After some warm opening remarks he began to describe one of his accomplishments over the summer: cleaning out the file cabinets administrative office. Twenty-four long filling cabinets filled one side of the wall of the office containing documents from throughout the school’s over one hundred year history and he went through it all.
Like a Star Wars fan watching the premiere of a new film or like me listening to a new Bruce Springsteen album for the first time, my principal dove through mountains of papers with excitement and shared many of these fascinating documents with the staff.
At first I was though “really . . . REALLY, you’re going to read through this stuff to all of us?” But then like listening to anyone who is passionate about a subject speak about it, I couldn’t help but get drawn in. He shared a variety of materials including documents about the school trying to integrate African-Americans in the school in the 1960s philosophy statements written in 1930s about the purpose of the school that still rang true today.
What I found most touching was when our principal shared with us a hand-written note his father had written to the school about involving more board members in educational meetings. It was a touching connection that our principal could feel with his late father that displayed a personal connection to this school that crossed generations.
I love how my principal is a geek about our school, our history and education as a whole. I love how he unapologetically “geeked-out” in front of the whole school sharing his passion and his love with all of us. And I love how his passion sets a tone as a school where where I can be open about my passion about music education with students, teachers and parents feeling free to pass on my geeky fascination with the world of music to them.
A school should be a place where passions should be embraced, people should study what they love and love what they study.
It's awesome to have a principal that shows us the way.
I define a geek as someone who loves something beyond a common level of passion. This is a person who finds the minutia related to the subject fascinating beyond other people's comprehension and allows interest to become part of what defines them. Often we have negative thoughts about "geeks" because these are people who love something so much that they have no regard about whether or not their passion is "cool" or "in."
For example, I’m a music geek. I love breaking apart a song and reading about stories behind the music which even though I find fascinating, most people do not. My brother-in-law is a Northwestern football geek. He who knows the names the players on the Northwestern University football team as well as the complex rules to this game. My wife is kind of a Harry Potter geek and revels in the weaving plot lines and foreshadowing throughout the series.
My new principal is a geek about our school.
Addressing the entire staff at the end of a day of meetings I was eager to hear what our fearless leader had to say. I wondered why there was a desk with file folder holder with about eight folders filled with papers set up next to the podium. I thought maybe he’s going to hand out some awards or something but that thought quickly left my mind as he began to speak.
After some warm opening remarks he began to describe one of his accomplishments over the summer: cleaning out the file cabinets administrative office. Twenty-four long filling cabinets filled one side of the wall of the office containing documents from throughout the school’s over one hundred year history and he went through it all.
Like a Star Wars fan watching the premiere of a new film or like me listening to a new Bruce Springsteen album for the first time, my principal dove through mountains of papers with excitement and shared many of these fascinating documents with the staff.
At first I was though “really . . . REALLY, you’re going to read through this stuff to all of us?” But then like listening to anyone who is passionate about a subject speak about it, I couldn’t help but get drawn in. He shared a variety of materials including documents about the school trying to integrate African-Americans in the school in the 1960s philosophy statements written in 1930s about the purpose of the school that still rang true today.
What I found most touching was when our principal shared with us a hand-written note his father had written to the school about involving more board members in educational meetings. It was a touching connection that our principal could feel with his late father that displayed a personal connection to this school that crossed generations.
I love how my principal is a geek about our school, our history and education as a whole. I love how he unapologetically “geeked-out” in front of the whole school sharing his passion and his love with all of us. And I love how his passion sets a tone as a school where where I can be open about my passion about music education with students, teachers and parents feeling free to pass on my geeky fascination with the world of music to them.
A school should be a place where passions should be embraced, people should study what they love and love what they study.
It's awesome to have a principal that shows us the way.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Reflections Of My Life by Marmalade
A great 1960s gem.
The dude is a little down a life. Either he was continuously dumped by girlfriend after girlfriend or he's reflecting back on a life wasted looking up esoteric songs on youtube.com and posting them on his blog.
The dude is a little down a life. Either he was continuously dumped by girlfriend after girlfriend or he's reflecting back on a life wasted looking up esoteric songs on youtube.com and posting them on his blog.
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