A Little Film Gris

If you get the opportunity, I'd definitely recommend you rent Le Deuxième Souffle. Translated as "second wind," it's really a study of someone on his last leg. This film is filled with atmosphere, great French scenery, and very cool 60s clothing and cars. Even though it clocks in at 2 hours, 24 minutes, I was hooked from the minimalistic, opening sequence. It's billed as a gangster film, but the violence is (a) not so much, and (b) not the real focus. Director Jean-Pierre Melville (one of the most well-known of French film directors) explores the process leading up to and immediately following the actions of Gu, the protagonist. In the end, a game of petanque leads to Gu's undoing.

Watch this example of film gris and decide for yourself.

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It's appropriate on this British Jubilee weekend that American audiences got to watch royalty of a different sort last evening - portions of Adele's concert taped at the Royal Albert Hall. Visit NBC's web page to read its blurb - but grab a video of it. Simply fantastic.

May the Mirror Ball Twirl at Half Mast

We've lost two voices very recently in the music world - Robin Gibb and Donna Summer.

For all of you who danced your way through the 70s, you couldn't have done it without these two voices; Donna Summer in particular. Beep beep, indeed.

We dim all the lights, sweet darlings, one last time.

A Wiggly-Perfect Match Made in Gotham City Heaven

Bruce Springsteen and Jimmy Fallon: two entertainers at the height of their on-stage powers got together on Friday for one amazing show. This is the second time that Fallon-as-Neil-Young and Springsteen appear together and absolutely steal the show.

Springsteen, out to promote his latest album Wrecking Ball, has hit solidly with fans and critics, at least in terms of lyrical sentiment. The Star-Ledger, however, had this to say about Springsteen:

         "Springsteen, who has often written eloquently about the distance between the
         American dream and American reality, is no doubt sympathetic [to the Occupy
         Wall Street movement]. Yet his prescription on "Wrecking Ball" — community,
         perseverance through hard times and a surrender to spiritual guidance — is not
         necessarily one that will resonate with protesters who are hoping to find success
         on their own terms."

I might humbly suggest that recipe - community, perserverance through hard times and a surrender to spiritual guidance - have (to a greater or lesser extent) led both Springsteen and Fallon to their current success. On their own terms.

Watch and come to your own conclusion.

And While We Deal With The Snow "Event" ...

... may Etta James rest in peace. The genuine article indeed - it was a soulful, voicey ride.

Fidelity and Passion

In case you missed it, Bruce Springsteen spent an hour with Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday’s Late Night With Jimmy Fallon. It was the only late night outing for Springsteen as he promotes the The Promise: Darkness on the Edge of Town (the re-issue of the 1978 album, with all kinds of musical and personal extras).

I still have goosebumps remembering the musical highlight of the evening, when Springsteen, Roy Bittan and Steven Van Zant, along with The Legendary Roots Crew (hands down the band of late night television) did a version of Because The Night. Watching it was part out-of-body experience, part spiritual revival. It was, quite simply, fidelity and passion personified. Fallon reported Wednesday night that there is a permanent dent in the floor of the set.

I am, admittedly, a late convert to the church of Springsteen. While I am certainly familiar (!) with the Born in the USA album, it was actually Tunnel of Love that truly started the conversion, which was completed with The Rising. While timing may have played some part (released in 2002 after 9/11), its spare, plaintive appeal struck a deep internal chord.

Here’s the link to the YouTube clip of the performance that absolutely brought all who witnessed it to their knees. It is one thing for a young Springsteen to write "... they can't hurt you now." It's quite another to see him perform it with such authenticity three decades later.

Oh. My.