We all lie at least once in a while. It’s part of being human. However, there is a difference between a little white lie and consciously lying all of the time.
The new Randy Rainbow video is out today. Entitled Life’s a F***ing Fantasy for Santos – A Randy Rainbow Parody, it combines “Jolly Holiday” from Mary Poppins and The Seekers 1966 hit, “Georgy Girl“.
This is the roasting that George Santos deserves. His growing list of fibs and falsehoods has long since become a problem. The fact that he disturbingly refuses to admit the truth makes his exit from Congress all the more necessary.
Music, like all art, has the power to bring people together. But ego and personal issues have the same power to pull us apart.
Taylor Jenkins Reid‘s 2019 novel, Daisy Jones & The Six is the story of a fictional band from the 1970s that hit it big before mysteriously breaking up. Daisy Jones came up of age in Los Angeles in the late 1960s during the heyday of sex, drugs, and rock and roll. Blessed with a beautiful face and a singing voice that is unparalleled, her path to a successful music career is not too far out of reach.
Also gaining notice is the band The Six. Led by Billy Dunne, their path the fame and fortune are equally assured. As their first tour is getting off the ground, Billy’s girlfriend, Camila announces that she is pregnant. With the pressure of his personal and professional life compounding, Billy starts to lose himself to the temptations of the road.
When Daisy and Billy meet, the music they make is electric. What happens behind the scenes becomes a narrative that lives on long after they have gone their separate ways.
I loved the Behind the Music narrative structure. Though I’m sure that it was daunting to write, the author has created a story that is alluring, powerful, and truly one of the best books I have read in a long time. I never thought that Jenkins Reid could top herself, but somehow, she has.
I love how flawed and human her characters are. Daisy for one is hard to like. But we do so anyway because she is magnetic and we understand her, even if we don’t agree with her. I also appreciated Camila. Though she could have been created as the standard musician’s spouse who stays in the background, she is not that. She has a voice, and a backbone and is not afraid to use either.
Do I recommend it? Absolutely.
Daisy Jones & The Six is available wherever books are sold.
The Holocaust ended 78 years ago. Though it may seem like ancient history, the truth is that it happened in the lifetimes of our parents and grandparents.
When I think of what has been happening in the past few years, I see scary signs of what could happen again. I think it goes without saying that we don’t want to make the alarm bells ring all of the time. But, given recent events (Kanye, for one), I can’t help but make connections to the recent past.
One of the things that I wish was more well-known was the persecution of the LGBTQ community. Before the war, Berlin was known for its openness to those who were not heteronormative. The ended in 1933. Thousands were murdered and many more were persecuted.
The problem is that many continue to turn a blind eye to this hatred, even those of my faith. Ben Shapiro (whom I dislike with every bone in my body), has been open about his association with the right and their hatred of everyone who is not them. What he conveniently forgets is that at the day, he is still Jewish. The antisemites would still slap a yellow star on his chest and send him to his death.
It has been said that we die twice. The first time is when shuffle off this mortal coil. The second is when we are forgotten. Many of those who were killed have died twice.
May the memories of the millions who were murdered always be a blessing. Z”l.
“Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely”
Made famous by Lord Acton in the 19th century, this quote can be attributed to many who figuratively gave up their souls for the sake of power. The newest name on the list is Kevin McCarthy. It only took fifteen rounds of voting for him to become Speaker of the House.
It’s been a while since Rainbow released a new video. It was the cathartic laugh I needed after the ridiculous hoops McCarthy had to jump through. I would call them pathetic, but who knows what dark hole the country will be dragged through for the next two years?
Every generation has its own musical artists that define the era. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, boy bands were everywhere. Many young girls (myself included) screamed our lungs out for our favorite performers.
Frosted Tips with Lance Bass is the newest podcast on the nostalgia block. Hosted by former NSYNC member Lance Bass and his husband, Michael Turchin, the guest in each episode is a member of one of the boy bands that specifies that time period.
I am loving this podcast. I am laughing, I am smiling, and I am enjoying myself. It is the perfect time machine that for a brief time, takes me back to when life was not so complicated.
Do I recommend it? Absolutely.
New episodes of Frosted Tips with Lance Bass are released every Monday.
In every generation, there are a handful of people who can truly be referred to as a G.O.A.T. One of these is the late singer Whitney Houston.
The new biopic, Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody, was released on December 23rd. Naomi Ackie steps into Houston’s very large shoes. Playing her equally famous mother Cissy is Tamara Tunie. Supporting her career is legendary record producer/mentor Clive Davis (Stanley Tucci). The film (directed by Kasi Lemmons) follows her life and career from her late teens (when she signed her first contract) to her iconic songs to her tragic death in 2012.
There are good and bad aspects to the film. Ackie disappears into her character. Like Austin Butler in Elvis, she becomes Houston. There is little differentiation between the actor and the person they are playing. The music, as expected, is fantastic. I found myself singing along to the film.
One thing that surprised me was her long-time relationship with Robyn Crawford (Nafessa Williams). Though it started out as friendship/romance, it became a professional partnership when it became clear that it would impede Houston’s professional orbit.
The bad is that the narrative slows down considerably during the second half of the movie. While it hit all of the expected story points, it was just a little too cliche for me.
Do I recommend it? Maybe.
Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance with Somebody is available in theaters.
She Said: Based on the book of the same name, it tells the heart-pounding story to uncover the sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein. NY Times reporters Megan Twohey (Carey Mulligan) and Jodi Kantor (Zoe Kazan) take on Weinstein and the Hollywood machine in a way that is jaw-dropping.
Elvis: Austin Butler transforms himself into Elvis Presley, adding new layers to the music icon.
Call Jane: Elizabeth Banks plays a housewife whose pregnancy is not going well in the days before Roe v. Wade. Denied an abortion by the local hospital, she finds an underground group and soon joins them in their mission to help women.
Hocus Pocus 2: After 29 years, the Sanderson sisters are back. It has enough of its predecessor while holding its own in the best way possible.
Mr. Malcolm’s List: Based on the book of the same name by Suzanne Allain, Mr. Malcolm is the most coveted bachelor in this Jane Austen-inspired narrative. In order to fend off marriageable young ladies and their match-making mamas, he creates a list of qualities that his wife should have. Little does he know that it will soon be moot.
Downton Abbey: A New Era: This second film in the franchise opens the door to new stories while closing old ones in perfect fashion.
This year, the holiday feels different. With an extreme rise in antisemitism, it is a reminder of the message of Chanukah. Essentially, it is the fight against hate and assimilation. It is the perfect middle finger for those who deny our humanity and the right to be seen as more than our faith.
Wherever you are, and however you’re celebrating, Happy Chanukah!
Every once in a while, a year comes along that is so culturally important that it changes us in some way.
The new podcast, Where Were You in ’92? examines the most iconic songs from 1992 and the impact that music has had since its initial release. Host Jason Lamphier interviews artists, producers, music video directors, and others to examine why this specific year opened the door to the world that we live in today.
To provide some context, I was in junior high school in 1992. So obviously, there were certain things that were over my head at that point. That being said, I have enjoyed the two episodes that have aired so far. The insights provided have given me a rearview perspective that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. It is also a nice trip down memory lane for those of us who remember that time.
Do I recommend it? Yes.
New episodes of Where Were You in ’92? are released every Wednesday.
It seems that everyone and their mother has a podcast these days.
Back at the end of September, Randy Rainbow added another accomplishment to the list: podcaster. Each episode is broken up into two sections: responding to fan questions and an interview with a celebrity friend or admirer.
With his trademark wit, honesty, and musical styling, he is as entertaining as ever. I find myself laughing, and wishing I was in the room as he was recording it.
Do I recommend it? Absolutely.
New episodes of The Randy Rainbow Podcast are released every Thursday.
Writergurlny 
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