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love-takes-work · 2 years

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Rebecca Sugar for the Trevor Project - Fundraiser concert

This is a writeup detailing the Trevor Project charity concert on June 12, put on by Rebecca Sugar, Jeff Liu, and Ben Levin. I'm posting this to share the songs performed, anecdotes, a few images, and anything of interest! This concert, in honor of Pride month, is to raise money for the LGBTQ+ suicide prevention organization the Trevor Project, the largest suicide prevention organization which supports the lives of queer youth--an issue super important to the hearts of these creators and their fans. They posted a promise that they would play a new original song never before heard in public if the fundraising goal of $20K is met!

Rebecca opens by introducing the group (Jeff Liu, Ben Levin, and Ian Jones-Quartey working as "the man in the chair" monitoring the donations and chat). The three of them were "the band" doing the demos throughout Steven Universe and they're really enjoying being together doing this again. Rebecca notes that they became a board member of the Trevor Project last year and they feel super honored to do this fundraiser for them. Throughout the concert, they mention the following resources that the Trevor Project makes available:

A 24/7 crisis line is available: 866 488 7386 to call and speak with a volunteer

The Trevor Text program can allow you to text with a counselor: text the word START to 678 678

The Trevor Chat is available for online chat with a counselor at trevorchat.org

The Trevor Space site is available for LGBTQ+ networking for people ages 13 to 24 at trevorspace.org

Donations are always accepted at thetrevorproject.org

You can train to become a volunteer at thetrevorproject.org/volunteer

You can learn about initiatives in all 50 states where you can get involved to take action against oppressive laws at trvr.org/advocacy

And there are tons of LGBTQ+ resources at trevorproject.org/resources

Rebecca personally referenced the Trevor Project's resources when trying to argue for the need for LGBTQ+ elements in cartoons. These links, numbers, and informative bits are shared throughout the concert periodically along with the opportunities to donate and support this wonderful organization.

After this, they get started with the first song--an abbreviated version of "Happily Ever After" from the Steven Universe movie. (They note that it's usually referred to as "Here We Are in the Future" internally because they were torn on the song name until the last minute.)

"On the Run" is next--written by Jeff Liu (who boarded on that episode as well). Jeff sings Steven's part in the song and Rebecca provides Amethyst's lyrics and the whistling!

Rebecca then introduces a song that was personally relevant when they were first getting started trying to put personal thoughts referencing their bisexual experience into cartoon music: "I'm Just Your Problem," in the Adventure Time episode "What Was Missing." Rebecca tells a cute anecdote about writing the song, making Ian leave the apartment they were living in so they could knock the song out, but then right after they figured the song out, they thought they forgot it and had to record it as soon as possible.

Rebecca then discusses their VERY FIRST song written for TV on their VERY FIRST boarded episode of Adventure Time--"It Came From the Nightosphere"--which is of course the "Fry Song," which they wrote with some help from Pendleton Ward. They told the anecdote about Ian trying to encourage them to sing it louder while playing ukulele on the roof. They sing a version of it that's longer than the version that got into the TV show!

Rebecca then says Jeff Liu was super into ska and so they were really excited to start including some ska tunes in Steven Universe--which they finally got to do with Sadie's band. The next song is "The Working Dead."

After some discussion of the donation status and the set list, they introduce a "Mr. Greg" suite, beginning with "Don't Cost Nothin'," and then Rebecca switches from guitar to ukulele to play a solo early arrangement of "It's Over (Isn't It)."

The next song is a slightly expanded version of "Peace and Love (On Planet Earth)," which Rebecca describes as "kind of a duet" but they do all the lyrics alone. There are some fun extra instrumentals in the middle and a more robust intro!

Rebecca says they're getting nervous about playing the new original song because at this point the stream isn't half over but they're halfway through their goal. They really want to share the song but they haven't practiced it much. Ian assures everyone it's good but Rebecca says he's biased. :)

They continue to discuss everything Trevor Project is doing to fight awful laws and help LGBTQ+ individuals. Rebecca reminds everyone that Ben is now a co-creator of Craig of the Creek and they want to do a Craig song. They do an expanded version of "Fireworks," which is the end theme written by Jeff Rosenstock.

Next, Rebecca says Jeff Liu's band, The Birds I Heard, has a great song called "Kindest Sound" off the album Finally (available on Bandcamp). Jeff sings and Rebecca does harmony with him.

Going back to cartoon songs, "Giant Woman" is next on the agenda. They note it's one of Jeff's earliest boarded episodes and have a good old time jamming on it before intermission.

After the intermission, Rebecca says they are now going to share a song that they wrote when they felt trapped and needed something therapeutic. Up comes an acoustic guitar and electric guitar duet version of "Escapism."

Next, an Adventure Time song is up--dedicated to Adam Muto, it's Rebecca's song that they wrote for the finale of the show, long after they'd left the show to work on Steven. They play a lovely ukulele solo version "Time Adventure." They said they almost called that song "See You in Reruns."

In discussing what helps and harms LGBTQ youth, the Trevor Project applies this research to help explain what laws and unsupportive environments have a negative effect on young people. But they also focus on what really helps us, and self-expression is really high on the list of what helps. Rebecca talks about the mental health resources they ended up accessing when they were facing huge amounts of pushback and censorship on Steven Universe, and they share a ukulele version of "Here Comes a Thought," a song they wrote during the thick of all of that.

Next comes a short lullaby from Adventure Time: "Sleepy Puppies." Jeff Liu is back joining Rebecca, both on guitar. Next up is another Adventure Time song, "On a Tropical Island/As a Tropical Island," which Rebecca mentions was so fun to write for Jake the Dog. Following is another Adventure Time song: of course they had to bring us "Everything Stays."

And finally, one more Adventure Time song: "Bacon Pancakes," described as the shortest song they wrote for the show and how they suspected it wouldn't be accepted because it's short. Rebecca says that song was dedicated to their dad because he would make gourmet breakfasts, and they gave a shoutout to their parents who might be on the chat.

Ben Levin comes back at this point and Rebecca tells a story about how Ben left Steven Universe before the movie but still "moonlighted" to help with the writing despite being on Craig of the Creek by that point. (New episodes of Craig in July, they say! Get excited.) From here they slide into songs from the Steven Universe Movie, and we get a cool guitar version of "Other Friends" with all three of them.

Next, with a shoutout to aivi and surasshu (aivi's got a new record label for gentle digital fusion, called Infloresce Records, album Floral Folklore is out; and surasshu's got a new EP called 24, digital ringtones for every hour of the day, on bandcamp), they go into playing "Drift Away," which was co-written with Aimee Mann, one of Rebecca's heroes.

Continuing with "the Spinel portion of the concert, dedicated to Spinel," Rebecca and Jeff begin to play "Found," with Rebecca sharing the anecdote about needing to write this song but not having it yet, then hearing the song in a dream and waking up to write it down. Ian pipes up that it's true, he was there.

And the final song in the "Spinel Suite" is a version of "Change" with Rebecca singing and playing acoustic guitar, and Jeff Liu on electric guitar. Rebecca describes this as very challenging. They really rock out.

Rebecca takes a moment to thank Ian for being "the man in the chair," for running the light show behind them, for being OK KO's creator, and for being their husband. :) From here, the concert goes into a solo with Rebecca and the guitar to play "Change Your Mind," which is a personal song that got worked into the show. Rebecca plays the full version.

The next song is "Love Like You," which aivi and surasshu wrote and Rebecca provided the lyrics. According to Rebecca, the duo insisted that they do the singing even though they're very shy. It is, of course, the end credits song for Steven Universe.

At this point, Rebecca was told that the $20K goal was just reached.

With the promise of a new personal song to be played dangling over the chat for most of the concert, it was exciting to finally get here. So "Good Morning Afternoon" is the title of the promised original song. Lyrics (transcribed, not necessarily official):

Good morning afternoon Good morning afternoon I didn't think that I would be seeing you so soon Wasn't it just eleven half a minute ago? I thought the day was moving slow, I thought the day was moving, Wasn't it it just eleven half a minute ago? I thought the day was moving slow.

Because they're so excited about meeting the goal, they decide to give us a SECOND original song. They don't state the title. Lyrics (transcribed, not necessarily official):

Something, something's up ahead Just around the bend I remember when I felt just a little bit younger than our friends But they've gone on ahead And I've been left behind It's fine, I'll just find my own way to the end

To take us out of the concert, Rebecca closes with the song they got to write for OK KO: "It's Only Magic."

Everyone thanks the audience for watching THIS show as well and after one more glowing review of the Trevor Project's incredible resources and support for LGBTQ youth, the concert closes with about $21,000 raised.

#rebecca sugar #the trevor project #lgbtq+#steven universe #adventure time #craig of the creek #ben levin #jeff liu #ian jones-quartey #fundraiser #myblog

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ponderingrandomthings · 21 days

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A great song (and album) by Yes.

Again, not the usual famous/hits you may know the band for.

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Full Album Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7zOxY5lBkwY&list=OLAK5uy_lHGzphVQHF2zNTRGdMVtA8pYT_yuzWoW4&index=9

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The lyrics do seem to have a Zen/Buddhist feel to it (Jon Anderson influence, I think).

Examples: The more we live > the more we learn > the more we know The more we give > the more we love > the more we grow The more we see > the more we try > the more we show The more we fear > the more we lie > the more we hide

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"The More We Live - Let Go" Lyrics

You and I can change the world The more we live, the more we learn, the more we know

From this moment on we share the world The more we give, the more we love, the more we grow

The spirit of imagination can lead us through the dark The more we see, the more we try, the more we show

The evidence of our confusion, life has left its mark The more we fear, the more we lie, the more we hide

As we walk into tomorrow (Turning away from the path we know) Holding the future with our hands (We carry the weight of the world we go) It's up to you and I (We hold the key; we hold the answer)

All our thoughts of doubt and fear (We leave it all by one) The more we live, the more we learn, the more we know

For each of us the road is clear and life has just begun; The more we give, the more we love, the more we grow

It's time to ease the thoughts we set for ourselves The more we fear, the more we lie, the more we hide

All we need is just to believe in ourselves We face the truth, we see it clear, with no disguise

Cast away our doubt and sorrow (Turning away from the past we know) The Universe and all can be (Showing the fate of the world we know) Together you and I, we hold the key to all the answers (Let go)

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More reading: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_(Yes_album)

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Trivia:

Some songs were originally written by the band ABWH (Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe) and some by Yes.

Initially recorded by both groups separately as their own compositions. Then, the producer and the label decide (along with Jon) to redo the bits originally recorded by Rick Wakeman and Steve Howe.

The song Masquerade (ABWH) received a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Instrumental Performance.

Cover art was (again) by Roger Dean.

From Wikipedia: "The number of people who worked on the album is highly unusual. There are seven different producers, roughly 17 recording engineers and mixers, six backing singers, nine synthesizer player/programmers and no less than four additional musicians who added parts as well. ... four pages of the album's CD booklet are dedicated to the song credits."

From Wikipedia: "Producer Jonathan Elias's decision, with Anderson, to have session musicians overdub Wakeman and Howe's parts proved to be controversial with fans and critics."

Song List, Original Writers, and (My) Recommendation Notation:

I Would Have Waited Forever (ABWH) - Recommended

Shock to the System (ABWH) - Recommended

Masquerade (ABWH) - Recommended

Lift Me Up (Yes) - Recommended

Without Hope You Cannot Start the Day (ABWH) - Recommended

Saving My Heart (Yes) - Recommended

Miracle of Life (Yes) - Recommended (nice keyboard tone and drumming)

Silent Talking (ABWH) - Recommended (crunchy bass tone)

The More We Live – Let Go (Yes) - Recommended

Angkor Wat (ABWH)

Dangerous (Look in the Light of What You're Searching For) (ABWH) - Recommended (great keyboard sounds in some parts)

Holding On (ABWH) - Recommended

Evensong (ABWH)

Take the Water to the Mountain (ABWH)

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badmovieihave · 2 years

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Bad movie I have Pulse 2006

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bluebottleflowerx · 11 months

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#king crimson #robert fripp #tony levin #bill bruford #greg lake ian mcdonald mike giles peter sinfield prog rock art rock #larks' tongues in aspic #design

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krispyweiss · 1 year

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Movie Review: “In the Court of the Crimson King: King Crimson at 50”

Without explicitly saying so, “In the Court of the Crimson King: King Crimson at 50” paints the band as the Chinese Communist Party Congress and founder and leader Robert Fripp as a kind of Xi Jinping.

Like Xi, Fripp rules this band with a geopolitical iron fret hand and recruits and dismisses musicians - more than 20 in 50-plus years - to suit his current whims.

Some - like guitarist Adrian Belew, who believed he had a partnership with Fripp and blames his hair loss on the band - feel spurned.

Others - like bassist Trey Gunn - left of their own accord, saying membership in Crimson is like having “a low-grade infection.”

“I would be very unhappy in that new band.”

Fripp is happy with what he calls “the final incarnation of King Crimson,” but says the others between 1969 and 2013 were “wretched.”

The whole, sordid tale is there in Toby Amies’ film which distills a half-century of the band down to 85 minutes and follows it to its final 2021 concert in Japan.

The movie recently streamed and will be available on home video - along with a soundtrack album - Nov. 11. The LP will come in handy, for while “Court” features plenty of archival and contemporary footage, there are no complete songs.

Keeping with the unfree-society theme of the band, current members speak warily on camera - sometimes under Fripp’s watchful ears and eyes - and only Jakko Jakszyk (a super-fan who once had a dog called “Fripp”) and Bill Rieflin, who was ravaged with stage-4 colon cancer during the filming while on tour, seem to have attained most-favored-player status.

“I’m so tired,” are Rieflin’s poignant, final words in the film.

“Bill is an ongoing member of King Crimson from a way away,” Fripp says as the band carries on after Rieflin’s death as a seven-piece.

The film is not particularly entertaining, though it is entirely engaging, with the taciturn Fripp, who frequently disparages Amies’ questions and declares the whole endeavor a waste, at the dictatorial helm; and deep thinking, philosophically speaking musicians such as Mel Collins, Bill Bruford and Ian McDonald waxing philosophical in dignified English accents making for something that rolls more like a history film than a rock-umentary.

And because of that, Krim-fanatic nun in ankle socks and sandals seems perfectly normal. But of course, none of this is normal.

Grade card: “In the Court of the Crimson King: King Crimson at 50” - A-

10/26/22

#king crimson #in the court of the crimson king: king crimson at 50 #toby amies #robert fripp #tony levin #trey gunn #jakko jakszyk #adrian belew #mel collins #greg lake #emerson lake and palmer #boz burell #bad company #ian mcdonald #foreigner #bill rieflin #bill bruford #yes

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ultrahpfan5blog · 2 years

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Retrospective Review - Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018)

After having really liked Jurassic World, I was very excited for Fallen Kingdom. I was a little apprehensive after having seen the reviews of the film. However, I ended up enjoying the film a fair bit, even though it was not on the same level as JW, TLW, or JP. Upon rewatching it, my opinion hasn't changed much. This is an enjoyable movie with some major narrative flaws that prevent it from being as good as it could have been.

The first hour of the film is honestly fantastic. The opening sequence is probably the best opening sequence of the franchise. Bayona clearly seemed to be using his horror movie roots to good effect. Its a very effective sequence which gets you into the movie. The next 40-50 minutes of the film also quickly get us into the story. The idea of rescuing the Dinosaurs from Isla Nublar's exploding volcano is a fun concept and they do a good job executing it. There is definitely a different visual flair to this movie than JW. While JW was quite bright and sunny, FK uses shadows and darkness to good effect. There is an urgency and constant sense of danger to the proceedings for the first hour. The pacing of this half is also quick and pacy. The action sequences of Dinosaurs amidst an exploding Volcano are a lot of fun. There is also a heartbreaking ending with the death of the original Brachiosaurus. That scene hurt.

Bayona's horror movie roots become even more pronounced in the 2nd half of the movie. The second half, particularly the last 30-40 mins or so, is essentially a contained monster movie with the entire last hour taking place inside the Lockwood mansion, with the new genetic spliced monster, the Indoraptor, chasing the main characters through the house. You can tell that Bayona is very comfortable handling these sequences and he knows how to build tension and suspense. The film expands on the history of JP by adding Benjamin Lockwood as a co-founder of Jurassic Park along with John Hammond. One other aspect of the film that I admired is that it takes a bit more effort to have animatronic Dinosaurs. There are some sequences, like the scenes with Blue and a few scenes with the T-Rex, like the blood collection scene, which gain a little extra because they feel pretty real. The design of the Indoraptor is also pretty cool and it makes for a good villain. The film expands on Owen's bond with Blue significantly and that is a lot of the heart of the film. The film's ending ups the ante as it truly changes the status quo of the world, with Dinosaurs out and about.

However, the film has some major narrative flaws. This film's issues boil down to the script. Bayona does an excellent job directing the film, but the film can't help but feel like a transitional film. Its purpose seems to be to take the world of this franchise from where it was at the end of JW to where it will be at the beginning of Dominion. It doesn't exactly tell a substantial, independent story of its own. The human villains in this movie are cartoony. There is a sense of satisfaction in watching them getting eaten but it does feel like better human motivations for evil other than just money, would have made the plot more interesting. And unfortunately, the film doubles down on the idea of the weaponized Dinosaurs, which was inherently goofy in the previous film. Also, the whole idea of the mansion having an underground bunker capable of handling all those massive Dinosaurs is pretty ridiculous. There is also the plot of human cloning, with Maisie Lockwood that comes up, which itself also kind of makes it seem very silly. The 2nd half of the movie also feels a little suffocating since its all inside closed environment. The film can't help but feel small scale during that time. The climactic take down of the Indoraptor is underwhelming compared to the epic Dino battle in the previous film.

In terms of performances, Pratt and Howard are very assured in their roles as Owen and Claire. They have decent chemistry to sell their relationship. Daniella Pineda as Zia is spunky. Justice Smith as Franklin alternated between being funny and being annoying. Rafe Spall, Tony Jones, and Ted Levine are all a little hammy as the villains. BD Wong effectively reprises his role as Henry Wu. James Cromwell has a decent supporting role as Benjamin Lockwood. Isabella Sermon as Maisie is good in her role. Its always nice to see Jeff Goldblum, even though its just a couple of scenes.

All in all, the film still has good amount of fun. The music by Giacchino is strong as before. JA Bayona does an excellent job directing the film. The film is never boring and although the story of the film itself is pretty weak, it delivers on giving the world an exciting new status quo that I'm intrigued to see in Dominion. Overall, its a 6.5/10 for me.

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gabelish · 5 months

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Do you think they ever explored each other’s bodies

#richard levine #ian malcolm #jurassic park #jurassic park book #jurassic park the lost world #michael crichton #jurassic series

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itaviv · 1 year

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Jurassic Park Novels Birdification

Do you recognize characters and scenes? 🤭

#ian malcolm #myart #Birdification #isha draws #alan grant #ellie sattler #sarah harding #richard levine #donald gennaro #jurassic park novels #john hammond #robert muldoon #henry wu #diego in the bushes #jurassic park 1990 #jurassic park the lost world #jurassic park #jp

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starzknight · 17 hours

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Why is Jurassic park trending??? Anyways here are some character design ideas (my favourite hobbie) for the lost world plus some skeches i did with them...

Ok so, explaning these... in an ideal universe i would really like to see a lost world miniseries that's a mix of both movie and book... because the movie makes some really cool stuff but the book has some parts that feel more cohesive and vice versa...

Rambles about how plot and stuff would work below

So, depending if you go with book or movie 1 ending the begining would change because of hammond, but it would be basically the same anyways. I mixed sarah and levine because she's basically levine in the movie and while book sarah is a badass i think it would be fun to se her journey to becomenong that, like she goes from this self centered research focused kinda loser to this badass girl. Thorne and eddie should be merged too but i don't know why i separated them.

I like kelly being ian's daughter but i would change her motive to go on the mission, instead of her wanting to be with her dad she wants to help her idol sarah and prove she's useful so she stays the same as in the movies, but i think she should be more math and computer focused instead of gymnastics just because i think it's useful in these movies and it would make a little more sense.

Ian stays the same as the movies because he's perfect like that. Plotwise i would stick to the book but with the movie's team, like hammonds nephew is replaced with dogson but the rest stay the same, i would really like to see more scenes of the book like with the carnotauros, or the velociraptor chase, or sarah getting the car scene and stuff like that but also scenes from the movie like the animals scaping or the two groups meeting and having to kinda work togheter.

I would just cut Nick from the narrative because he's kinda useless, and the san Diego ending because it's kinda idk just there?

But yah that's it kinda

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