Surprising Words from an Unlikely Source

While listening to the radio I heard a song that really touched my heart.  And what surprised me the most was that it came from artists that I have struggled with in the past. Before, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's songs usually left me feeling very confused. On the one hand, I love the sound of their music, like the melodies for their two songs "And We Danced" and "Thrift Shop." However, I'm definitely not a fan of their lyrics. I usually find their lyrics to be really offensive. However, their one song, "Same Love" was very insightful and truthful in my opinion. I feel that this song spotlights the hypocrisy that some religions show towards homosexuals. The song's lyrics "And god loves all his children, is somehow forgotten, but we paraphrase a book written thirty-five-hundred years ago" really does ring true to me. I can't understand how a religion can say that god loves all his creations, but yet seclude homosexuals as sinners. And yet that same religion claims that all humans are sinners as soon as they are born. The song's lyrics "If you preach hate at the service those words aren't anointed, that holy water that you soak in has been poisoned" really highlight some religions' hypocrisy. There are men and women that stand above everyone else saying that they are good people who only want to save the souls of others, and yet they turn around and commit cruel acts that only hurt other people, like the Westboro Baptist Church. The members of that church will disturb the funerals of those soldiers who have given their lives to provide basic rights, and yet Westboro's members use their rights to spew hateful messages about those same soldiers. All I can say is that after hearing Macklemore and Ryan Lewis's song "Same Love," I have a new level of respect for these artists.

 

Two Negatives Equal a Positive

After re-watching episodes of Once Upon a Time, I was thinking that  Regina and  Hook would make a good couple. They really have quite a bit in common. Both had to witness their loved ones’ hearts literally ripped from their chests. Cora, Regina's mother, ripped Daniel's heart after learning her daughter was going to run away with him. Rumplestiltskin ripped his wife's heart out after learning that she ran away with Hook. Also, both Hook and Regina have tried to start a family with a boy that was not related to them through blood. Regina, of course, adopted Henry after Emma gave him up for adoption. Throughout the two seasons of the show, Regina has fought to keep Henry. And Hook, even after discovering that Baelfire was the son of his enemy Rumplestiltskin, wanted to adopt Baelfire. Although both characters have done despicable acts, Hook and Regina have had moments where they have tried to do good things, even if their intentions were all but honorable. Plus, I think that Hook may have some infatuation with Regina. Even after she betrayed him and pushed him off a cliff to be killed by Maleficent, he still refused to participate in her torture by Greg and Tamara. Now the only question is could Regina put down her guard enough to find a little love for the captain.

 

Passing of the Sonic Screwdriver

Well it’s official. Matt Smith will no longer be playing the Doctor, come Christmas time. BBC confirmed that the Doctor Who actor will leave after four years of starring as the Time Lord. Smith will continue his role of the Doctor in the 50th Anniversary Special in November of 2013, but will regenerate in the Christmas special. My initial reaction, like many other fans, was mistrust of the new actor who first starred as the new Doctor in 2010. Although I was not a fan of David Tennant’s performance of the Time Lord, I still had my doubts that this young actor could pull off such a colossal part. Boy was I proved wrong. Although Christopher Eccleston will forever be my favorite Doctor, Smith, at least out of the three recent actors, was the perfect portrayal of the Doctor. He had the exact combination of madness, charm, eccentricity, and strength that made him such a good Doctor. And the sad part is I just got used to him playing the part and now he’s leaving. Although I am sad, I’m really excited and a little apprehensive about who will be cast as the new Doctor. Of course, like anything else, speculation and rumors are spreading like wildfire. It has been rumored that the next Doctor may be played by a woman. If this is to happen, I hope the next Doctor will give an excellent performance. I can bet that many fans will be resistant and even hostile against an actress that does not fit their exact expectations. Whoever it may be, I wish this performer luck, because they have a taunting task ahead. And as for Matt Smith, I hope he had good experiences performing as the Doctor and I wish him many prospects for the future.

 

 

Just to Have a Laugh

Whenever I’m feeling sad or just want a guaranteed laugh, there is one show that I turn to every time; The Carol Burnett Show. Found mainly on DVD, this variety show from the 60s and 70s is a sure way to put a smile on my face. The cast, Carol Burnett, Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence and Lyle Waggoner worked so well together that they seemed as close as a family. The variety show had clever writing that could take even the simplest moments and make them hilarious. The outstanding writers, one of whom was the show's comedian Tim Conway, did not need to have a joke be nasty in order for it to be funny. Those writers had true talent, reaching deep down in their minds to find clever ways of making the ordinary extraordinary. Even with the exceptional writing, the skits wouldn’t be as funny without the performances of the actors and actresses. The cast, especially Carol Burnett, were not afraid of physical comedy; in fact they were more than willing to take a fall for a laugh. The cast handled the pressure of performing in front of a live audience well, even though they were prone to fits of unscripted laughter, most commonly Harvey Korman. With an ornery little rascal like Tim Conway, I think it would be near impossible not to laugh at his ad-libbed lines and funny accents. I think reactions like this demonstrate that the cast were so passionate about their work that they could appreciate a funny situation even in a serious one. All in all, I think the show was just an all-around good show that touched many hearts. Whether you want to have a laugh or sing a song, as Burnett’s farewell song goes, this show will bring a smile to your face.