Just Sayin' ...

Top 10 Favorite Christmas Songs

Some like it naughty and some like it nice. Whatever your taste, you are bound to find something that will jingle your bells.

I posted the question “What is your favorite Xmas song?” on Twitter and Facebook earlier this week and received an avalanche (trying to stay with the winter theme) of nominations. Here is the list of your favorites:

1.    Santa Baby (1953) This naughty favorite was originally recorded by Eartha Kitt and has been covered by a slew of recording artists including Madonna and Kylie Minogue. Put a little “Ho” in your Christmas and give this a listen.

2.    O Holy Night (1847) Chances are if you’ve recorded a Christmas album this song is probably one of the tracks. Favorite versions are from Celine Dion and Josh Groban.

3.    White Christmas (1940) Written by Irving Berlin, it is the most recorded Christmas song with more than 500 versions in multiple languages. Bing Crosby’s version is the best selling single of all time.

4.    The Christmas Song (1944) I’ve always wondered if chestnuts roasting on an open fire were a popular holiday treat before this song was written. Nat “King” Cole’s version is most popular with my social media peeps but I’ve always been partial to the Johnny Mathis cut myself.

5.    Carol of the Bells (1916) Possibly the most parodied of all the Christmas songs, the original is based on a traditional Ukrainian folk chant.

6.    All I Want for Christmas is You (1994) Mariah Carey will have you dancing around the tree with the song that the New Yorker calls “one of the few worthy modern additions to the holiday canon.”

7.    Last Christmas (1984) The biggest selling single in the UK to not hit #1, Wham originally released it on the “B” side of “Everything She Wants”. Jimmy Eats World has a pretty awesome version of this one.

8.    Baby, It’s Cold Outside (1944) Popular duet that really has nothing to do with Christmas at all but gets a lot of airtime in December due to the flirty “cold” theme. Check out Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme’s recording.

9.    Winter Wonderland (1934) This Christmas standard has been recorded numerous times yet never mentions the holiday itself. Popular versions frequently played on the radio are by The Eurythmics, Jewel and Air Supply.

10.  Little Drummer Boy (1941) The song inspired a popular stop action animated Christmas special by the same name in 1968. Originally known as “Carol of the Drum” it was first made famous by the Harry Simeone Chorale. I personally love the Vanessa Williams version myself.

This list could go on and on but really who has time for that. “It’s Christmas Time” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”. There is “Christmas Wrapping” to be done, “Christmas Shoes” to shine, “Silver Bells” to polish and “Mistletoe and Holly” to hang. “It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” after all.

To you and yours, “Happy Holidays”, “Feliz Navidad” and “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas”.

Top 10 Favorite Movie Musicals of All Time

I love a musical. There is nothing like a big, splashy over-the-top production number or a quiet moment of reflection and realization through song. I too would give up everything that was important to me if I knew it was all going to get wrapped up in a heartfelt duet or a high-stepping kick line at the end. Really, what could be better?

Whether on stage or in the movies, musicals have carved out a significant place in our cultural arts experience and continually evolve to reflect changing patterns in our society. The other day I ran across an article titled “Best Movie Musicals of All Time”. It was a solid list of 25. I agreed with many of the choices but was unclear as to how they came to these particular 25. “Best” is a subjective term when it comes to any art form.

I put the call out to my friends on Facebook and Twitter asking the question “What is you FAVORITE movie musical of all time?” “Favorite” just made more sense to me where this was concerned. With almost 40 different musicals nominated, here is the “Top 10” that make my social media peeps kick up their heels:

1.    Singin’ in the Rain (1952) This classic stars Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O’Connor who won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Actor – Musical/Comedy. I for one have done that rain dance (or at least my interpretation of it) on several occasions when the weather’s just right.

2.    The Sound of Music (1965) The Academy Award winner for Best Picture is definitely one of my favorite things. The Golden Globes recognized it as well for Best Motion Picture – Musical/Comedy and star Julie Andrews earned her second career Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Actress – Musical/Comedy. The hills are alive.

3.    West Side Story (1961) Based on William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, “West Side Story” danced away with 10 Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role, George Chakiris, and Best Actress in a Supporting Role, Rita Moreno.  The Golden Globes applauded this film as well giving it awards for Best Motion Picture – Musical/Comedy, Best Supporting Actor, George Chakiris and Best Supporting Actress, Rita Moreno. They all liked to be in America that night.

4.    Grease (1978) Grease is the word. John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John shot to superstardom when this film hit theaters and even though it did not win any Oscars or Golden Globes, it was a favorite with the public receiving the People’s Choice Awards for Favorite Musical Motion Picture and Favorite Overall Motion Picture. I guess there are worse things you could do.

5.    All that Jazz (1979) Bob Fosse tells his own life story through the brilliant performance of Roy Scheider bringing home 4 Academy Awards. They say the neon lights are bright on Broadway.

6.    Moulin Rouge! (2001) This Golden Globe winner for Best Motion Picture – Musical/Comedy also earned star Nicole Kidman her second career Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actress – Musical/Comedy. The Academy gave two Oscars to this film for Art Direction – Set Decoration and Costume Design. The hills are alive in this one too.

7.    White Christmas (1954) Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye could not be more charming as they woo the “Sisters” Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen in this holiday classic that reminds us that “The Best Things Happen When You’re Dancing.”

8.    My Fair Lady (1964) Audrey Hepburn has never been more “Loverly” as she transforms from a poor flower girl to an elegant lady. Co-star Rex Harrison won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Actor – Musical/Comedy and the Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role. The film followed suit winning the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Musical/Comedy and the Academy Award for Best Picture. It will make you want to dance, dance, dance all night.

9.    Gypsy (1962) Sit back, relax and let them entertain you. Rosalind Russell brought home the Best Motion Picture Actress – Musical/Comedy Golden Globe for her rousing performance as Mama Rose. I had a dream about you, baby.

10.  The Wizard of Oz (1939) Arguably the most beloved movie musical of all time, “The Wizard of Oz” earned Academy Awards for Best Music, Original Score and Best Music, Original Song, “Somewhere Over the Rainbow”. I guess those dreams that you dare to dream really do come true.

Honorable mentions need to go out to Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Mary Poppins and Funny Girl (my personal favorite) which received multiple nominations but just not enough to make it into this “Top 10”.

If you don’t see your favorite in the list above, leave a comment below and let me know what you love. I’m always looking for some new dance moves.

Embed with the Mob

SillyWalks for Hunger

SillyWalks for Hunger is a charity event produced by Jon Lovitz Comedy Club, Mashcast and Rich & Tone Productions to help raise awareness, food and money for the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank, Feeding America and the Global FoodBanking Network. Through traditional and social media, the goal is to provide 1,000,000 meals to those in need this holiday season. To help, you can text FEED to 90999. A $5.00 charge will appear on your phone bill. The good feeling you receive by doing something to help others is yours to keep.

The Assignment

The initial contact came to me in a tweet, “How would you like to be part of a flash mob choreographed and everything? It’s for a charity event called SillyWalks for Hunger”. Stop. Say no more. You had me at flash mob. Absolutely, I am there.

For some people it’s jumping out of an airplane. Others it might be climbing Mt. Everest. For me “dancing in a flash mob” is at the top of my bucket list. I couldn’t have been anymore excited and then I got the rehearsal schedule:

Saturday, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm – Powerhouse Gym, Burbank

Sunday, 11:00 am – 5:00 pm – Powerhouse Gym, Burbank

Monday 5:00 pm – 7:30 pm – Powerhouse Gym, Burbank

Wednesday 11:00 pm – 2:00 am – Universal CityWalk

Thursday 5:00 pm -? – Universal CityWalk

Wow. Really? How much time does step/touch/repeat take to learn? My excitement was waning even before I learned the first count of eight. Then I found out that in addition to the dance I had to write about the experience. I was now embedded in the flash mob. Here is my story.

The Rehearsals

I walked into rehearsal Saturday morning and any apprehension I was feeling about the time commitment left when I saw what was happening. A hundred plus dancers were jamming to “Walk This Way” and the energy was infectious. This was definitely not a step/touch/repeat number.

I jumped in and started learning the choreography and even though my body wasn’t moving the way it did when I was in my twenties, I gave myself over to it. I was now a slave to the dance.

I met choreographers Rich and Tone right away and they were cool, funky and generous. Their passion for this project energized the room and helped me to get over myself and see the bigger picture. If they could find the time between video and commercial shoots and choreographing for the AMA’s then I could certainly put in a few hours every day for the next week to be a part of something really special.

The choreography was challenging for me. I hadn’t been in class for about twenty years. Being surrounded by dancers who do this for a living made it frustrating at times but pushed me to work even harder. I was going to own this dance no matter what.

Sunday rolled around and Rich and Tone were ready to start staging. They called me up and placed me dead center. The horror on my face could not be disguised. They built the lines of the other dancers around me and I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. I was starting this dance off. No hiding in the back. I liked these guys too much to let them down. They had confidence that I could do this. Now I had to find that confidence in myself.

Once everyone had the staging we started running the number over and over and over again. The second part felt really good but I was still in my head with the first part. I had to let it go. The performer part of me kicked in and I just started doing it full out, missed steps and all. Rich was watching and smiling. It felt good but I wanted it to be great.

Dancers Get Hurt So I Guess I’m a Dancer

I woke up Monday morning with an orange-sized lump on the back of my right knee (why lump sizes are always compared to fruits and nuts I don’t know). I could walk on it but the whole knee joint was a little tight. Apparently my inner performer did not consult with my inner doctor before allowing me to fully shake my groove thing the night before.

Monday’s rehearsal was to clean up the steps. I knew I needed this so ice and ibuprofen became my new best friends. After two and a half hours of working the choreography I finally felt like I had this dance in my body. Not even my jacked up knee was going to keep me from performing on Thursday.

The Flash Mob

After a three-hour rehearsal from 11:00 pm – 2:00 am on Wednesday night, we were ready to do this thing. All the dancers (I love including myself in this category) had a 5:30 pm call on Thursday. We were separated into our groups and staged behind the walls of Universal CityWalk until just before we were ready to go on. I waited for a visual cue of the SillyWalks logo to flash on the big screen and they sauntered out to my place center stage on the plaza. The music changed and I froze with a few other dancers. The crowd milled about confused as to what was going on. Another change in the music and more dancers froze. Then it was time. The choreography was about to start. I only had one shot at this and if I messed up I couldn’t go back and do it again.

With the spotlight in my eyes and dancers all around me, my body took over. The pain in my knee was gone and the adrenaline was rushing through my body. The crowd was cheering. The music was blasting. I was dancing.

Take a Bow

The dance ended and two more songs came on. The crowd joined us on the plaza and we danced and laughed and danced some more. Afterwards I saw Rich and Tone and the joy on their faces was pure. We did it. All of us together did it.

My week with the mob was spectacular. I was challenged personally and artistically and I got to work with some of the most talented, caring and giving people in entertainment. The dancers were amazing and Rich and Tone have the rare quality of being able to lift you up to meet their vision. They are very special men.

It was an honor to be a part of such an extraordinary event. My hope is that the goal of 1,000,000 meals is not only met but also surpassed. No one should ever go hungry. What a huge difference we could make if we all just gave a little.

Three-Ways to Love on “Gossip Girl”

Once upon a time when you heard the word “beaver” on television it was preceded by “Wally and the”. Now television has become a veritable Sodom and Gomorrah of illicit sex, foul language and unscrupulous morals. At least that is what the Parents Television Council (PTC) wants you to think.

Last week the PTC sent out a press release urging CW affiliates to preempt tonight’s episode of Gossip Girl due to a sexual threesome the show has been teasing since last Monday. PTC considers this storyline “reckless and irresponsible” as the program is targeted to “impressionable teens”.

PTC – I am flattered that you think of me as an impressionable teen (my beauty secret is moisturizer) but between us I remember when MTV actually played music videos. Gossip Girl’s demographic skews a little bit older.

I don’t remember being asked if you could have your children so why does their moral development dictate the television that I can watch? What is reckless and irresponsible is the fact that instead of putting boundaries on your own children, you decide to put the restrictions on everyone else. I know it takes a village but this is more like a dictatorship.

The family you create is yours to raise any way you see fit. Turn off the television in your own house if you are worried about the content. Pull the curtains. Lock the doors. I am all for keeping innocence in tact for as long as possible. We only have one chance to be a kid.

You can only block out the noise for so long though. At some point you need to prepare your kids for all the beauty and all the ugly that our world has to offer. If you do have teens why not think about watching tonight’s episode of Gossip Girl with them. Talk about how you feel. Let them talk about how they fell. Have a conversation based on love and respect. Make it safe for them. It is much more powerful than living in a house of fear.

Real Love, NOH8

Thirteen years ago my brother called to tell me that he was in love. Now at the time we were not as close as we are today so I just took it as yet another passing infatuation. I had recently gotten involved in a relationship myself so I thought it was the old childhood stuff where my younger brother was trying to be just like me. Leave it to me to make it all about me.

Cut to a year ago yesterday when my brother got married after twelve years of surviving the ups and downs that all committed relationships go through. My relationship had come and gone but they were still going strong. I have never met any two people more right for each other. They are soul mates.

The day after their wedding was bittersweet. It was November 4, 2008. Election day. Obama was elected President and people were dancing in the streets. In California Proposition 8 was on the ballot and it was touch and go all night to see if it was going to pass.  This was the ban on same-sex marriage and it had been a heated topic locally and even nationally for quite some time. When the final vote was counted, Proposition 8 ended up passing with 52.2% of the votes. I felt like someone put a knife in my stomach.

You see, my brother Doug married his husband Stephen and now it was unclear whether that marriage was even valid. One night we were celebrating a milestone in their lives, the next protests were being organized. As of today their marriage has been grandfathered in and is still recognized in the State of California. Stephen is still my brother-in-law but he is also my brother in heart.

Whether you are for or against same-sex marriage is not the issue. It is much greater than that. We are fighting for basic human rights. The fact that anyone has to fight for this at all still baffles me.

Both sides of this argument are very passionate about their beliefs and because of that passion there have been many missteps in getting the truth of the issue out there. Lies and misinformation have been running rampant fueled by religious organizations creating an atmosphere of fear. LGBT organizations have been put on the defensive trying to justify the mere humanity of gay people.

As you can see from the picture above, I am opposed to Proposition 8. The NOH8 Campaign is the brainchild of Adam Bouska and Jeff Parshley and is a powerful way to put a face with a cause. I invite you to go to the website and look at the thousands of faces with silver tape over their mouths. Some are men and some are women. Some are straight and some are gay. All of them are human.

Chances are that someone in your life is homosexual. Maybe it’s a friend. Maybe it’s a relative. Maybe it’s a coworker. Maybe it’s you. Put a face to this issue before you make any decisions. Ask yourself if that face is worthy of love. Is that face worthy of the same protections under the law as every other U.S. citizen? Is that face just plain worthy? If you honestly do not know any gay people then look at my face…am I worthy?