Showing posts with label Song Saturday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Song Saturday. Show all posts

Saturday, September 23, 2017

It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns Q&A 2017 {Part 1}

 
How's it going my gumdrops? Today is the 4th anniversary of me building as well as launching It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns. Throughout these last 4 years, It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns has been through numerous changes.

Last week, I had my friend, DJ Scott from Horror-Punks.net make some alterations to the home page design. There is now a bat laying dead next to the dead unicorn, while a crow is flying in the company of those hailing gumdrops.

Once again like last year, there have been lesser questions for me to answer. As I went through your questions, I noticed this year is also more like a so-called "Sausage Party." This really should not be a surprise to me.

Since the time of being a Radio DJ at WIPZ in 2002, my audience was ALWAYS male-dominated. 

It always felt as if my hobbies, interests, and views hardly ever resonated with most women. It has been this way for YEARS. 

Typically, I have more in common with men than with women. Most men were usually more loyal to me than women were, in the platonic sense. 

They still are today. If this does NOT say something, it really should.

Regarding the amount I questions I have answered from subscribers these last 2 years, just because I have less to answer now, doesn't necessarily mean other people don't have any questions. Quantity is not always quality.

Anyway, to celebrate the 4th anniversary of It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns, here are the questions I answered:

It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns 2017 Q&A [Part 1:]

Jesse: I have received new e-mail notifications about the new Song Saturday and Cartoon Sunday blogs, but they're invisible on this website. I can't find them and don't know why. Am I the only one with this problem?

Answer: No, Jesse you were NOT  the only person having these problems. As of 2 days ago, you should be able to see the newest blogs on the main page.

Whenever I send new e-mail notifications, I send shortened weblinks for you to copy and paste. Those same links send you directly to those blogs. Here are the latest blogs:

Cartoon Sunday: Edgar Allan Poe's The Cask Of Amontillado [OMG! HE TALKS!] (2015)

Song Saturday: Tristania's My Lost Lenore (2017)

Donald's Questions:

1) In what way do you think you have grown as a content creator?

2) What would you do differently, if you were given the chance to go back and alter your course?

3) With the knowledge you have accumulated over the years, what would be your words of advice for other aspiring content creators?

My Answers:

1) During the '90s, only the "computer geeks" had their own websites. Now, it is important for us entrepreneurs and entertainers to have our own sites for gaining exposure.

Technology has advanced immensely, over the last 3 decades. It continues to do so. Today anyone can build his/her own site whether having a degree in Graphic Design, Computers, or not.

Over these last 4 years, I've learned so much as a content creator. Before ever building a site, I was not the most tech savvy. Had someone told me 20 years ago, that I would build my own website to blog on it in the future, I would've scoffed, rolled my eyes, and dismissed it.

I learned how to build It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns by watching Webs.com's YouTube tutorials. I continue to learn something new everyday.

2) Since the time The Xanga Team dumped their own money problems on us and caused division within the community in 2013, I have REALLY struggled to generate national and international traffic to my blogs these last 4 years.

After learning what I know now, I should've joined Xanga 10 YEARS or so before the original website shut down and relaunched on WordPress, years ago. Like most Xangans, I miss Xanga 1.0 as well.

I really should've learned how to build my own website MUCH sooner in 2013, while gaining more subscribers for an e-mail list, after the original announcement about Xanga shutting down. It would've been so much better than joining a highly divisive, flaky, and temperamental blogging community like Blogster.

Song Saturday was the best quality about Blogster. Otherwise, that community is a standoffish, Baby Boomer dominated community with a high turnover of bloggers.

3) Like I have said countless times in the past, you have to really love what you do. This is similar to being that so-called "starving artist." If you are PASSIONATE about building your own website and publishing your content, it takes a LOT  of time, energy, patience, and usually money.

If you are only building your own website for the sake of status and vanity, DON'T waste yours and OTHER people's time social climbing, copycatting, and acting like a pretentious, attention whore because you saw someone like yours truly with a site.

Yes, somebody else can always build your website or whatever it is, that you want for you. 

However, once I learned how to build It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns by watching tutorials on YouTube, I have a much greater pride, appreciation, and respect for the professionals, that get paid to build websites. Also, I find it fun learning as I go with managing this website because I discover something new everyday.

DJ Scott's Questions:

1) What is your favorite Beavis and Butt-Head episode and why

2) What is your favorite new animation and why?

My Answers:

1) You asked 2 hard questions. Even as a woman in my mid-30's, I still laugh my ass off watching Beavis and Butt-Head.

There was 1 particular episode of Beavis and Butt-Head, which showed Butt-Head throwing the trash can at Beavis and knocking him unconscious. My other favorite episode is "Take A Number."

"Take A Number" featured Beavis and Butt-Head at a Rock concert. It had 2 female characters with the same traits as them. Although, this is my favorite scene:

{My Favorite Scene}: Beavis and Butt-Head "Take A Number" (1995)

That scene NEVER gets old!

2) Honestly, I don't have any right now, UNLESS American Dad counts on TBS. Most of my time is spent hunting for animation to share for Cartoon Sunday blogs, that I find on YouTube, if not something from Japan like an Anime. Adult Swim does not air too many cartoons I want to watch, unless they are cartoons on the weekends.

Marquis DeBlood: What started your obsession with Anime?

Answer: I am not nearly as obsessed with Japanese animation as I used to be. When I did marathon Anime years ago, I still watched a wide variety of animation and I love sharing some of that variety in Cartoon Sunday blogs.

During the mid-80's as a toddler, I was already exposed to Japanese animation. It started with the Mecha Anime, Robotech. This was YEARS before Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, the Toonami block, Chiller TV, Syfy, and other cable/satellite networks were launched.

It was not until the early 21st Century, that Anime (also known as "Japanimation" during the '90s), reached its pinnacle.

Originally, Anime was scarce on TV, at video stores, and the Internet. That was until more cable networks took an interest in them. It wasn't until 11-12 years ago, that I discovered other types of Anime genres and sub-genres existed for different sexual orientations, age, and gender demographics.

Shonen Jump Action Anime have been the most popular for the last 20-30 + years in The West. That's what is normally shown on Cartoon Network and Adult Swim. They ignore other genres, sub-genres, female, and age demographics.

At Carthage College, I wrote my Junior Symposium on Shojo Anime and Manga. 

Creative Writing, Sociology, Japanese Culture, Language, History, and Religion were all covered in my symposium.

Most of my favorite primetime shows were canceled and had series finales, 10-11 years ago. This was especially when shows I really invested in were constantly being canceled. After graduating in 2006, I discovered there was a plethora of Anime online for fans to watch.

Between 2006 to 2010, I took a so-called "pause" from most primetime shows and marathoned online streams of Anime. In addition, I started watching more of it on Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, Fuse TV, Colours TV, IFC, SciFi, Starz, and wait for it... Chiller TV. 

After those networks stopped airing Anime except for Adult Swim, I continued to stream it online. 

Over these last 5 years, I am far behind on the latest Anime titles which released in Japan. 

Because you are a Horror fan like yours truly, I believe you would really enjoy the Horror Anime genre.

This concludes Part 1 of this Q&A blog. I am really surprised to see there were no Horror or music questions asked. Tomorrow, I will continue with Victor's question.

Thursday, July 27, 2017

What Are My Thoughts About Chester Bennington And Linkin Park?

How's it going my gumdrops? Above is a gif of Soundgarden's Chris Cornell with Linkin Park/Stone Temple Pilots' Chester Bennington.

Before dying, both had performed Temple Of The Dog's "Hunger Strike." "Hunger Strike" was originally sung by Chris Cornell and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder. 

After publishing last Thursday's blog, Jesse asked in the comments section:

"The lead singer of Linkin Park has been found dead. What are your thoughts of him and his band?"

I was going to publish my answer in the latest Song Saturday blog, but changed my mind. 

Even though Jesse's question is music related, I will answer it in today's Q&A blog. 

Personally speaking, I did enjoy listening to some of Linkin Park's songs, when the band debuted with their album Hybrid Theory. 

At the time, Linkin Park debuted, when I was on my way out of high school; I became of age in 2000.

If you were someone, who grew up and enjoyed listening to both Rock and Rap Music, you had a chance to enjoy "the best of both worlds" so to speak. Because I listen to more than 1 music genre and sub-genre, I was open-minded to Rap-Rock.

Most older Gen Xers (currently in their late 40's to mid 50's), Baby Boomers, and some Millennials despised "Nu Metal" because they were not fans of Rap, Hip-Hop, Alternative Rock, or Grunge Music.

Rock Music containing elements of Rap, Hip-Hop, Funk, Alternative Rock, and Grunge was like the late 1990's equivalent of Glam Rock. Glam Rock became labeled '80s Hair Metal.

The "Hair Metal" branding was a label used to mock Glam Rock much like "Nu Metal" is a label used to mock Alternative Metal bands such as KoRn, Limp Bizkit, Staind, Slipknot, Papa Roach, Linkin Park, etc. 

Both Glam Rock and Alternative Metal attracted fans from more than 1 music genre, sub-genre, and sub-culture.

They also attracted more female listeners, which led to some of us soon becoming their fans. In addition, Alternative Metal attracted some from the Goth Rock genre and sub-culture.

Alternative Metal is more aggressive and angsty much like Grunge Music. Alternative Metal is also considered to be "Aggro Metal." Most "Nu Metal" bands were condemned, demonized, and ostracized by narrow-minded critics, who really cannot accept change.

Looking back, KoRn, Limp Bizkit, and Linkin Park received the most vilification. Those that were Rap-Rock bands, during the late 1990's and early 21st Century began changing their music to sound more like Rock, later in the early 2000's and 2010's, including Linkin Park.

The "Nu Metal" sub-genre reached its pinnacle, when The Deftones, Coal Chamber, Slipknot, KoRn, Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock, and many others became more popular among younger Gen Xers, Millennials, and Xennials (those born on the cusp of Gen X and Y) in 1998.

Meanwhile, over the last 3 years or so, I have noticed the amount of hatred directed at Chester Bennington after The DeLeo Brothers from Stone Temple Pilots chose him as Scott Weiland's replacement. 

Nearly 3 years ago, I published a Song Saturday blog about Chester replacing Scott.

Song Saturday: Scott Weiland VS. Chester Bennington? You Decide! (2014)

Allow me to reiterate, I NEVER hated Linkin Park's Chester Bennington. As much as I liked listening to Linkin Park as a young adult in my late teens and early 20's nearly 2 decades ago, I was and still am a much bigger fan of the original Stone Temple Pilots. Chester had some HUGE shoes to fill, when it came to replacing Scott Weiland. The late Scott Weiland is irreplaceable as STP's former lead singer. 

Now, the same can be said about the late Chester Bennington from Linkin Park. It is so tragic that BOTH frontmen became friends with each other before dying.

After it was announced that Scott Weiland died from a drug overdose in December 2015, I remember reading how upset Chester was as a friend and fan of his.

Because Scott was an idol of Chester Bennington's and was even Scott's replacement for Stone Temple Pilots, Chester took his death really hard; Chester was really grief stricken over Scott Weiland's death. His grief echoed over social media.

Then, Soundgarden, Temple Of The Dog, and Audioslave's Chris Cornell died from a supposed suicide, 2 months ago. In case you missed last Song Saturday, I encourage you to read it.

Everything about Chris Cornell's "suicide" feels odd. The same can also be said about Chester Bennington's suicide. After reading Neon Nettle's article about Chris Cornell learning about an "elite" pedophile ring, that he was about to expose, it adds to my suspicions. I believe he and Chester Bennington were murdered.

Neon Nettle: Chester Bennington Was About To Expose The Truth Behind Chris Cornell's Death

The fact that both Chris and Chester were in the middle of trying to save abused children and had evidence, that reveals the truth about an "elite" pedophile ring, makes me believe that they were both murdered.

I believe someone was sent to permanently shut them up by killing them and setting their deaths up to look like suicides. 

A few skeptics are laughing, while rolling their eyes at yours truly about such claims, but anything is possible.

Why is everyone so quick to believe, that Chris and Chester's deaths were suicide? Ever have that needling feeling, that something doesn't feel right?

This is how I feel about Chris Cornell's death. His "suicide" has been needling me, since May.

What lead singer happens to be in the middle of working on and releasing a new album, going on tours, and SUDDENLY chooses to commit suicide?

These are questions more people should be asking themselves. 

Like I said last Song Saturday, this exact same incident happened with Michael Hutchence from INXS 20 years ago.

It has been claimed, that Chester's depression echoed through his songwriting, along with being grief stricken by Chris Cornell's death, since May. However, people cannot be "happy" and book tours, then suddenly hang themselves the next second.

Call me Nancy Drew, a crazy "conspiracy theorist," or delusional, but my intuition tells me that foul play is being hushed.

Whether or not you were a fan of Linkin Park or Chester Bennington, more people should show not only sympathy, but also empathy.

Family, friends, fans, and band members now must cope with a huge loss of someone very close to them. 

1 Godson, 6 children, and 2 widows are also in mourning over the loss of their father, Godfather, husband, and ex-husband.

Hopefully, this answers your question Jesse!

Saturday, January 21, 2017

Song Saturday: The Cure Block

How's it going my gumdrops? Sorry for my lack of presence. These last 3 weeks have been brutal. As you already know, I have been recovering from a minor head injury. In addition to my head injury, my right hand is swollen.

Let's all hope and pray that I don't spend this entire year enduring injuries. I'm already hating this new year. Hopefully, 2017 will be better than 2016.

Aside from my injuries, I joined another forum earlier this month. Tomorrow I will explain more about this forum for Cartoon Sunday. However, I will say that this particular forum has sub-forums for general topics outside of Anime.

Someone posted a thread on that exact message board about being Goth. Apparently, some of the posters have very little knowledge about what it is like being a Goth. For people, who knew and still know very little about me, I have always been Goth.

There is more to being Goth than wearing all black clothes and liking certain bands. If you are somebody with a dark, morbid, and creepy personality and interests, you may be Goth. Although, you're NOT  required to only like something with the "Goth" label attached to it.

Something everyone should understand is that being Goth is NOT easy. Since the time of the Columbine High School Massacre on April 20, 1999, the mainstream media has been demonizing and condemning Goths and the Goth Sub-culture.

Everyone should take most the negative stereotypes and depictions of being Goth in the media worth a grain of salt. Not all Goths are depressed, suicidal, and homicidal maniacs worshiping Satan, sacrificing anything and everyone, while ONLY dressed in black attire.

Yes, even though some Goths are Satanists, they do NOT  purposely go out their way to hurt innocent humans and animals like sociopaths. The same most definitely applies for Wiccans, who are Goths.

Yes, there are some of us Goths who generally have serious baggage. We are not any different from the average person with baggage. Also, Goths are NOT  required to be Pagans. 

We can be Atheist, Agnostic, Christian, Muslim, Pagan (Wiccan or Satanist), etc.

Because we may look and act differently and don't always share the same interests and views as most "normal people" do, we're automatically ostracized and condemned for not conforming to everything in society.

As I was saying earlier, we can like whatever we like whenever we like without having the "Goth" label. Goths are normally the most well-rounded, open-minded, accepting, and nicest people you will ever encounter in public. This cannot always be said about "normal" people.

If you would like to learn more about the Goth Sub-culture and its community, you may want to visit the website, What Is Goth?  This will give you a better explanation about what it's like to be Goth.

Last year, I published a blog about me being morbid, since childhood. If you would like to learn more about my "dark and morbid history," you can read it right HERE.

Speaking of being Goth on the latest forum I joined, I introduced that same group of posters to the pioneers of Goth Rock. 

It's amazing. Over the last 3 years, I already published Song Saturday blogs about bands such as Bauhaus, Siouxsie And The Banshees, and other Goth Rock bands.

All the while, I have never published a Song Saturday blog about The Cure. All this time and not a single Song Saturday blog about this Classic Goth Rock band!

For The Cure fans, today is your lucky day. This band has been around for nearly 4 decades and their sound has changed a lot over the years. Between 1980-82, they were more of a Goth Rock band in the sense that their music sounded darker and more ominous.

The Cure's albums, Seventeen Seconds and Pornography sounded much better than Faith, in regards to the the band's darker sound. Faith wasn't that enjoyable. I feel the best song on that album is "Carnage Visors."

To warn you in advance, "Carnage Visors" is literally close to a 30-minute song. It sounds like a really long Horror film score. If you'd like to listen to "Carnage Visors," go for it!

After 1982, The Cure evolved and crossed over as being Alternative and Pop-Rock. Most people don't hear the band's older and more obscure songs from the late '70s and early '80s. 

Therefore, I am sharing some of The Cure's older and more obscure songs with you for today's Song Saturday, including their song, which was originally featured on The Crow Soundtrack in 1994.

1) The Cure "The Final Sound" Seventeen Seconds (1980)

2) The Cure "A Forest" Seventeen Seconds (1980)

3) The Cure "Carnage Visors" Faith (1981)

 
4) The Cure "One Hundred Years" Pornography (1982)

5) The Cure "The Figurehead" Pornography (1982)

6) The Cure "A Strange Day" Pornography (1982)


[BONUS SONG:]

The Cure "Burn" The Crow Soundtrack (1994)

Saturday, September 17, 2016

Song Saturday: Siouxsie And The Banshees [REVISITED]

How's it going my gumdrops? Sorry about not publishing any blogs last weekend or earlier this week. These last 2 weeks have been rough with sudden changes both on and offline.

In case you did NOT get the last e-mail notification, Horror-Punks.com has now been changed to Horror-Punks.net. Even though I mostly publish blogs here on It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns, there were several blogs I published on Horror-Punks as well. Therefore, I will be transferring my better blogs from Horror-Punks.com to Blogger.

Meanwhile, I was forced to postpone Song Saturday, Cartoon Sunday, and 1 of my Q&A blogs on It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns. 

Last Friday, I was in the middle of going to 1 of my 2 doctor's appointments and my mother had to be rushed to the ER. She is feeling better, now. 

However, my mother has been to the hospital at least several times, since September 9th. 

Over these last 2 weeks, I almost had to cancel 2  of my appointments because there is ALWAYS something wrong. Hopefully, today and the rest of this next week will be much better.

Aside from those issues, today is not only Song Saturday, but also Batman Day. 

Batman Day is this Saturday, September 17

I won't sit here and act like I am a HUGE Batman fan, but I did enjoy watching the original TV series based on the comic book superhero. 

This makes me wonder how many people know, that the original actor, who plays Mayor West on Family Guy is voiced by Batman's Adam West. If you did not already know this, you know now.

While growing up during the late 1980's and 1990's, it seemed like Batman became more popular than it was during the 1960's and earlier. Tim Burton directed the first 2 Batman films.

After Tim Burton directed Batman in 1989, there was a ton of Batman merchandise. The Batman bank and earrings, that I got as a little girl are somewhere. That same year was the year when Prince did the entire soundtrack for the movie. 

You may recall, that I mentioned this in my Prince Tribute blog this past spring.

Growing up, I was entertained watching Tim Burton's Batman and Batman Returns. Joel Schumacher's Batman Forever was the LAST Batman film I had watched.

In fact, I went to see Batman Forever at the theater with a middle school friend for my 13th birthday and it was the last Batman film I liked watching. George Clooney replacing his predecessors (Michael Keaton and Val Kilmer) was reason enough to make me NOT want to go see Batman & Robin.

I REFUSED to watch the other movies because I despise George Clooney with the passion and the reboots seemed too serious. I had no problem watching Michael Keaton and Val Kilmer as Bruce Wayne/Batman because I like both actors. 

Both Michael Keaton and Val Kilmer played quirky and eccentric roles in other films outside of the Batman franchise.

Batman, Batman Returns, and Batman Forever had campy yet brooding tones. The first 2 Burton movies were campy much like the original TV series from the mid-60's. That was what Michael Keaton appreciated about Batman and Batman Returns.

After Warner Bros forced Tim Burton as the film director to step down for Batman Forever, Michael Keaton chose to leave the franchise.  

Then, Burton chose Joel Schumacher as his replacement for directing it.

I remember the original being an R-rated film. Batman Returns was rated PG-13 yet parents complained about it not being "family friendly."

Michael Keaton declined and left the Batman franchise because he felt that the script for Batman Forever was too lighthearted in tone. When you watch the first 3 movies, you can tell the differences in tone. Batman Forever was not a terrible movie. I have yet to see the Batman reboots, which are dramatized origin stories about Bruce Wayne/Batman.

The thought of Christian Bale playing Bruce Wayne/Batman frightens me. Watching Bale play Patrick Bateman in American Psycho made me shudder. 

I still say the man played the role of a misogynistic psychopath/serial killer a LITTLE too well.

Yes, I know Patrick Bateman was only a character in a novel and movie. The fact that there are actually men like Patrick Bateman existing in the real world makes it more terrifying.

Since this is mostly about the Batman franchise and today is Song Saturday, it would be fitting to revisit Siouxsie And The Banshees. A little over 2 years ago, I published a Song Saturday blog featuring this kooky Goth Rock band.

Song Saturday: Siouxsie And The Banshees

Rereading that blog, reminds me of how much I have gone through over these last 3 years with toxic and indifferent people. Don't forget that September 23rd is the 3rd anniversary of It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns. I will be publishing my Q&A blog.

As I was saying, I published a Song Saturday blog featuring Siouxsie And The Banshees over 2 years ago. 

I also forgot to mention that they were featured on the Batman Returns Soundtrack in 1992. Siouxsie And The Banshees' "Face To Face" was featured in the film as well.

Their song played while Bruce Wayne (Batman) and Selina Kyle (Catwoman) danced, during the masquerade ball scene.

Batman Returns "Batman & Catwoman Come Face To Face" Scene (1992)

 
Anyway, here is Siouxsie And The Banshees' "Face To Face" for today's mostly Batman themed Song Saturday.

Siouxsie And The Banshees "Face To Face" Batman Returns Soundtrack (1992)

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Blogger Is My Alternate


How's it going my gumdrops? You may recall that I published 2 blogs last weekend, on Blogger. Song Saturday and Cartoon Sunday are blogs I normally publish on It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns. Webs.com experiences glitches every so often. 

Since I'm already on Blogger, it's only fitting to publish Song Saturday and Cartoon Sunday blogs on here, whenever It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns goes down. I will just transfer those same blogs over to my website, after the glitches are over. That's basically what I did both today and yesterday.

Normally, I will share Song Saturday and Cartoon Sunday blogs to Blogger from It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns. Whenever I share those blogs on here, the links will redirect you to my website and vice versa. Isn't that fantastic?!

What would be even more fantastic is if Gen Xers and Millennials both liked, subscribed, shared, +1'ed on Google+, and left your feedback in the comments sections. I am online, during the evenings.

There is NO fee to join It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns. The incentive to joining is that you have a chance to read my "Horror" page. That's something outsiders do NOT have access to. Just think about it. 

If you are having trouble with the navigation, here is a blog explaining how to navigate around It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns.

http://goo.gl/kmXmUY

Anyway, thank you my gumdrops! I look forward to seeing you all very soon!

~ Anna H. 

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Song Saturday: Vanity's Nature Boy [Cover]

            RIP VANITY!!!
 
How's it going my gumdrops? Wow! This is shocking and sad news. Literally 1 day after Valentine's Day, Denise Katrina Matthews, (a.k.a. Prince's former protege, "Vanity") just died from Renal Failure at age 57. 
 
This is not only surprising, but also tragic. It appears that more entertainers have been dying again, including this past week. Vanity recently celebrated her 57th birthday, last month on January 4th. It is 1 month later. NOW, she's dead.

I don't know about anyone else, but it seems like the year of 2016 will be worse than the last several years. I really dread what this year has in store for everyone. 
 
2016 already got off to a brutal start with famous people, most specifically musicians dropping like flies.

As I was saying, Prince's former protege, Vanity died from Renal Failure on February 15, 2016. It's a good thing Prince hasn't died yet. Chances are great that my uncle would go postal over him. Prince has always been more of an idol to him than Jimi Hendrix. The man loves them both, although he seems to favor Prince over Hendrix.
 
Growing up during the 1980's and '90s, I was never a Prince or Vanity zealot. However, my youngest aunt and I both had our own parakeets named Prince and Vanity. She had a blue parakeet, named Prince and mine was a purple parakeet named, Vanity.

More than 30 years later, I still feel that having a purple parakeet named Vanity is strange. I mean, c'mon! 
 
Everybody knows that Prince is about purple. He has an album called Purple Rain and purple is his signature color.

When my youngest aunt and I had our 2 parakeets, I was a preschooler. She claims that my parakeet, Vanity literally pecked hers (Prince) to death. Supposedly, Vanity pecked out all Prince's feathers and gave him a disease. Talk about a vicious bird.

Other than owning 2 parakeets named after Prince and Vanity, I was NOT  a zealot of theirs. Don't get me wrong by any means. I DID like some of Prince and Vanity's songs growing up, during the '80s, but I listened to more Pop Music and Glam Metal. 
 
Even though my mother FORBADE me to listen Rap, I still listened to it. Regardless, I always listened to whatever I wanted to growing up and still do today as an adult.

Earlier this week, I learned some interesting tidbits about Vanity. For example, I had NO idea that Vanity and Nikki Sixx from Motley Crue were engaged in 1986!
 
On YouTube, I stumbled upon an old interview with Arsenio Hall interviewing Vanity.
 
Arsenio Hall Interviews Vanity (1986)  
Watching the way that man salivated over Vanity repulsed me to no end. Growing up, my grandmother always ranted about how much she could NOT  stand Arsenio and normally referred to him as a "lowlife." 
 
After watching his interview with Vanity as a 33 going on 34-year-old woman, I have to agree with her. Arsenio Hall reminds me of the sleazy, lowlife creeps from the street.

Meanwhile, I was annoyed watching Vanity act like a bimbo on stage. Not to speak ill of the dead, but she was literally a bimbo on crack or a "crack whore." Vanity used so much crack throughout the 1980's, that she and Nikki Sixx broke off their engagement in 1987.  
 
The Howard Stern Show: "Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx Explains Why He & Vanity Broke Up" (2007)
By 1994, Vanity overdosed on crack and nearly died from Renal Failure. Because of the large amounts of cocaine she used throughout the decades, she started having kidney problems and had to go through a Peritoneal Dialysis 5 times a day.

After surviving her cocaine overdose in '94, she chose to become a "Born Again Christian" and went into Evangelism. 
 
In 1995, there was a 1980's special on MTV, which was reflecting on music videos and groups from the '80s. It also shared updates about musicians from that decade.

Vanity explained in an MTV interview about her drug addiction and how she became a "saved" evangelist. In addition, she began blaming Prince for her cocaine problems. 
 
As a 13-year-old girl at the time, I could not help rolling my eyes at Vanity's interview. 
 
Unless Prince physically FORCED  Vanity to the ground and made her use cocaine, or slipped it inside her food and beverages, he is not at fault. 
 
She chose to become a drug addict. I think it's wonderful that Vanity quit abusing drugs and changed her life for the better.

All the while, Vanity acting like a self-righteous victim and blaming Prince for being a crack whore was and continues to be bullshit. 
 
I completely empathize with Vanity wanting to change her life for the better and leaving her scandalous past behind. In spite of the past, she really needed to take ownership for her dumb choices. Hopefully, the woman did before dying.

Before I forget, I learned something else about Vanity that I found to be interesting. Like a few other singers in the past including the late David Bowie, Vanity did a cover of the old Nat King Cole song, "Nature Boy."

In 1989, Vanity made a cameo appearance on Friday The 13th: The Series as a Pop singer named, Angelica. It was on Season 2: Episode 20 titled, "The Secret Agenda of Mesmer's Bauble." In that same episode, it featured Vanity's cover of Nat King Cole's "Nature Boy."

You may be assuming that I'm half-assing today's blog. I really hope this is NOT  the case. This has been quite a rough week and I almost didn't publish ANY  Song Saturday blog for today. 
 
Rather than doing an entire music block of Vanity songs, I thought I would share this extremely rare cover of Vanity singing "Nature Boy" for today's Song Saturday. 
 
Vanity "Nature Boy" [Cover] Friday The 13th: The Series (1989)

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Song Saturday: Rasputina Block

How's it going lurkers? As you already know, tomorrow is Valentine's Day. This is that time of winter, when most American men in today's society DREAD the holiday.

If you do NOT  have any Valentine's Day plans, treat yourself to something special and AVOID FACEBOOK like it's the Zika Virus tomorrow.

With tomorrow being Valentine's Day and if you happen to be in a Cello Rock mood today, you're in luck.

Rasputina is a Gothic American Cello Rock trio from New York and have existed, since 1989. Their debut album, Thanks For The Ether released in 1996. 

Over the last 3 decades, Rasputina released 2 compilations albums, 3 live albums, 7 studio albums, 13 EP's, and have been featured on soundtracks.

Even though the trio has an extensive history, which includes collaborating and touring with artists/bands such as Nirvana, Marilyn Manson, Twiggy Ramirez, Siouxsie Sioux from Siouxsie And The Banshees/The Creatures, etc, most are STILL unfamiliar with Rasputina.

In fact, the original version of Rasputina's "Transylvanian Concubine" was featured not only on the Buffy: The Vampire Slayer  TV series, but also the TV soundtrack. 

For the last several days, I hunted around YouTube for that scene of Drusilla dancing to "Transylvanian Concubine" and had no such luck.

Rasputina's song played, during a scene in Buffy: The Vampire Slayer's "Surprise" (Season 2: Episode 13). 

If you were a Buffy fan during the late 1990's, you may remember everyone celebrating Buffy's 17th birthday. Meanwhile, Drusilla danced to "Transylvanian Concubine."

Decades ago, I never heard of Rasputina. They weren't a group that was heavily played on MTV or radio stations. However, Rasputina was featured on Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Album.

I simply cannot help saying how much I enjoyed frequently buying soundtracks, during my adolescence. Even though I never bought that soundtrack (I had no idea it existed, until I became a DJ), soundtracks were and still ARE the best ways to learn about undiscovered musical talent, especially in today's music industry.

Most traditional radio stations and music television stopped exposing us to various music genres and sub-genres for contrived, low-brow, and highly overrated American Top 40 Pop Music HIts. 

Before the end of the 20th Century, we had MORE variety in music genres and sub-genres. This was especially during the '90s.

By the early 21st Century most specifically by 2004, most entertainers became sell outs by acting like militant, self-righteous, political activists with Bush Derangement Syndrome.  

Their antics caused them to LOSE more money and alienate fans. 

And they wonder WHY they can't generate the money and fans they used to have? Hmmm...

Because there is very little knowledge about Rasputina, their music is scarce around cyber space. Here's a triple dose of Rasputina to help you relax before Valentine's Day for today's Song Saturday.

1) Rasputina "Transylvanian Concubine" Thanks For The Ether (1996), Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Album (1999) 

2) Rasputina "Hunter's Kiss" Cabin Fever (2002), A Radical Recital (2005)

3) Rasputina "If Your Kisses Can't Hold The Man You Love" Frustration Plantation (2004)

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Song Saturday: Dethklok's Awaken (Mustakrakish)

How's it going my gumdrops? So far, I have made it to a total of 301 blogs on It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns!  This will be the 302nd blog. It's amazing how time flies I tell you.

Sometimes it seems like it was just yesterday that I created this website. I have been tempted to go back to revising and editing more blogs from the past 2 years.

Not only have I been meaning to revise and edit more previously published blogs, but I have also meant to share some Dethklok from Metalocalypse for a while. 

Lately, I have not checked my notifications on Facebook about the Metalocalypse NOW Campaign. I simply cannot help reiterating how much Adult Swim screwed over fellow Metalocalypse fans.

Creator Brendon Small approached Adult Swim with the idea to create the finale as a so-called "big mini-series" for Metalocalypse. The network turned down the idea. 

This Dark Humored/Macabre Horror-themed animated short about Death Metal bands is presumed to be canceled. Thanks a lot, Adult Swim.

So far, no one has made an official statement about Metalocalypse being canceled. The short appears to still be on hiatus. 

Brandon Small created his Metalocalypse NOW Campaign and has been updating us fans on social media about Metalocalypse quite frequently.

As a Metalocalypse fan, I really hope the show is NOT  moved to Hulu Plus. Some of us on social media and on Adult Swim's forum have said that we do NOT  want to pay to watch Metalocalypse online, especially when we're ALREADY paying to watch other cable/satellite channels.

If Adult Swim wants to make 1 of its long running cash cows expendable for shitty live action shows and extremely low IQ'ed cartoons, Metalocalypse fans will be pissed.  

Metalocalypse is mostly meant for us Metal fans, who understand the inside jokes and Metal references to other Metal bands in the music industry.

Also, Brendon Small has collaborated and went on concert tours with actual Metal bands such as Machine Head, All That Remains, The Black Dahlia Murder, Chimaira, Soilent Green, etc.

All the while, The Adult Swim Team wants to make Metalocalypse expendable for shitty programming.

Because I have spent this Song Saturday blog discussing Metalocalypse, it's only fitting to share something from Dethklok. Nearly a decade later, the "Dethtroll" episode is STILL my favorite next to "Religionklok." Most Metalocalypse episodes are only 13 minutes long.

If you missed watching Metalocalypse's "Dethtroll" episode, when it premiered in 2006, it was hilarious watching the band awaken the lake troll (Mustakrakish) in Finland.

   
Then, they had to play acoustical instruments to put it back to sleep.

Dethklok "Awaken (Mustakrakish)" The Dethalbum (2007)

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Hey, Generation X! I'm Talking To You!



How's it going my POTENTIAL gumdrops? You may think that the name, "gumdrop" is insulting but as for someone like myself, who is between both Generations X and Y, I consider it to be cute. Most people would consider me to be a Millennial.

A little while ago, I learned that I am actually considered Generation Flux. I was born in 1982 and my mother was born in 1962. We have a 20-year age gap. Because my mother was born in between 1961-1981, she is considered a Gen Xer. Also, because my parents are Gen Xers and I was born in 1982, I am technically considered to be a "Fluxer." If my parents were Baby Boomers during the early '80s, I would be a Millennial.

With me being a Fluxer, I was both a child of the '80s and '90s and became an adult in 2000. It's amazing how time flies! Don't you miss the 1980s and '90s? You know, before entertainment turned into the Shit Sandwich it is today?

This is where YOUR generation comes in:

On September 23, 2013, I created my own website, It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns for free. Originally, it was only meant to be my personal author website. In a way, it still is. However, I spend more time posting entertaining and informative blogs than anything.

Song Saturday and Cartoon Sunday blogs are the main blogs I post, during the weekends. Sometimes, I will post an extra blog throughout the week. It really depends on how I am feeling and what else I'm doing at the time. I have posted nearly 300 blogs on It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns. Therefore, you're not extremely limited to content. Although, the only major restriction I have is my Horror page.

The Horror page on It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns has samples of some of the short stories I have posted. Only members can view this page and FOR FREE. Otherwise, everything else is fair game.

If you want to learn more about me, check out It's Not All Gumdrops & Unicorns. Last but not least, I would really LOVE to have your feedback. What do you want me to share, in order to keep you as a part of my target audience, that does NOT center around politics?

Thank you and I look forward to your replies!

http://itsnotallgumdropsandunicorns.webs.com/

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Song Saturday: Traci Lords {Double Dose}

How's it going my gumdrops? Out of curiosity, did anyone watch ABC's Celebrity Wife Swap this past week? 

I hadn't watched it, since the time Dee Snider's spouse and Flava Flav's girlfriend had to trade places. That was several years ago.

I just happened to be watching my local ABC news the other day and they announced that Jackee Harry and Traci Lords were featured on ABC's Celebrity Wife Swap. 

I could NOT  help laughing at my local news reporters referring to Traci Lords as being a "Pop Icon." I'm sorry, but they need to stop.

Most people know Traci Lords as being "The Porn Queen." I've never watched any of her pornos, but I did hear people talk about her being a porn star 2 decades ago. 

Even though she has evolved into becoming a legitimate actress, writer, director, AND singer over the last 25 years, Traci Lords still has the reputation of being a nude model at 15 years old, then becoming a porn star.

I immediately noticed that Traci and her 3rd husband wanted to hide her scandalous reputation on Celebrity Wife Swap. 

Both wanted to hide Traci Lords' past, especially since she was raped at 10 years old by her 16-year-old friend, then molested at 12 years old by her mother's cocaine-dealing boyfriend, shortly after.

By the time Lords was 14, she was pregnant by her high school boyfriend and began looking for a job to pay for her abortion. 

Roger Hayes, who was her molester (He molested Traci in her sleep) and mother's cocaine-dealing boyfriend, was responsible for Traci Lords becoming a nude model. 

That sexual predator pretended to be her "step-father" and drove her to Jim South's World Modeling Talent Agency. Talk about a lowlife! 

Traci Lords' mother had atrocious taste in men and was the root cause of her suffering. This explains why she's had so many dysfunctional relationships. 

Traci and her current husband keep their poor son living an OUTRAGEOUSLY sheltered life. They don't allow him to have a TV OR toys! What type of childhood is THAT? 

I cannot help reiterating, that Traci Lords and her 3rd husband tried their hardest to hide her past. 

I sympathize and empathize with Lords' shame, especially when she auditions for acting gigs. However, everyone does NOT  know about her as a talented entertainer in general.

Traci Lords' husband was highly defensive about her past, when Jackee Harry had to spend time with her own friends. You know, considering that he is Traci's current husband, he has EVERY right to be protective of her. 

Although, Lords' husband and his friends had no reason to be complete assholes to Jackee, throughout the entire 4th season premiere of Celebrity Wife Swap. Men of said ilk expect for women to be submissive to them. 

Throughout that entire experiment, I KNOW Jackee bit her tongue really hard because I wanted to teleport myself through the TV screen and kick their asses. 

Traci's husband's friends were rude about the way Jackee was trying to clean and cook their fish, after THEY caught it.

Jackee Harry is a diva. She not only played a diva 2-3 decades ago, when she played Sandra Clark on 227, but is also a real life diva. 

Chances are highly great, that she thought to herself, "Cook it your DAMN self! Do I look like a maid to you?" I know that's what she was thinking!

Seeing the way Traci Lords' current husband and his asshole friends treated Jackee, makes me feel GLAD to still be single. 

Enduring people's annoying ass friends, spouses, in-laws, etc. can be downright sickening, especially when they assume that everybody is going to be their personal doormat and impose on others.

Despite Traci Lords' scandalous reputation as an underage porn star from the 1980's, as I mentioned earlier, she began working on her music career by 1995. 

In fact, the instrumental version of her song, "Control" was featured on the soundtrack for the movie, Mortal Kombat. I have owned the Mortal Kombat Soundtrack, for the last 20 years

Wow, do I feel old. Where has the time gone?

Traci Lords' debut album, 1000 Fires did amazingly well with her first 2 singles, "Control" and "Fallen Angel." She was also the opening act for the Lollapalooza after party. 

Before I forget, I just want to say that we all have "skeletons" in our own closets, including ME. Therefore, I cannot be extremely judgmental of Traci Lords.

Even though today's blog heavily focuses on the talented Traci Lords' scandalous past as "The Porn Queen," I still enjoy watching her in movies, TV shows, and music videos.

Anyway, here's a double dose of her first 2 singles, "Control" and "Fallen Angel" for today's Song Saturday.

1) Traci Lords "Control" 1000 Fires (1995)

2) Traci Lords "Fallen Angel" 1000 Fires (1995)

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Song Saturday: Puddle Of Mudd Block

How's it going lurkers? You may recall that there wasn't a Song Saturday blog, last week. Last Saturday, I shared details about my mother's seizure on Wednesday, April 15th. This has been another chaotic week. Luckily, there hasn't been any life threatening issues. 

Compared to last week, my mother has been doing much better. Yesterday was my youngest aunt's birthday and we'll be celebrating my mom's birthday tomorrow.

Once April is over, I will be so glad. You seriously have no idea. 

Speaking of last Wednesday, it appears that Puddle Of Mudd's frontman Wes Scantlin is having a worse time than the rest of us. 

First and foremost, Puddle Of Mudd has been around, since The Grunge Era. They released a single last September titled, "Piece Of The Action."

On April 15, 2015, which was on the same day my mother had her seizure, our local NBC (Channel TMJ4) reported that Puddle Of Mudd's Wes Scantlin was arrested. 

He was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct after an incident at Milwaukee’s Mitchell International Airport, which happens to be in my county of WI.

[TMJ4:] "Puddle Of Mudd's Vocalist Wes Scatlin Arrested" (2015)

Wes Scantlin really needs to get his shit together. I always enjoyed listening to Puddle Of Mudd's music. My mother even bought their Come Clean album, when I was in my college freshman year. She loves their song, "Blurry." 

Because I normally do not watch TMJ4, I had no idea about Scantlin's arrest, until I read about it on HardDrive Radio's Dirt page.

According to HardDrive Radio's blogger, Roxy, Scantlin's booking agency told Blabbermouth that the vocalist was NOT  in jail at the moment and that the band “will be performing all shows, including last weekend and all upcoming shows.” 

Puddle Of Mudd was scheduled to perform on April 16th in Wilmington, NC. Supposedly, the sheriff’s office had NOT  released any further details regarding the incident and the nature of what happened has yet to be disclosed.

Wes Scantlin has been developing quite a rap sheet much like Scott Weiland from Stone Temple Pilots. 

BTW:  Those 2 have a connection to each other but I will explain more about Scantlin's connections later. Over these last 3 years, I have read news about him at least several times online. 

Between September 4, 2012 and April 15, 2015, Puddle Of Mudd's Wes Scantlin has:

* been arrested while traveling on a cross country flight from Boston to L.A. BECAUSE he was high on cocaine. The airplane made an emergency landing in Austin, TX where he was charged with public intoxication.

* domestic violence charges both in 2012 and 2013. In May 2013, Wes Scantlin pulled his ex-wife by her arm or shirt and began dragging her.

* Last April 16th, during a show at Trees Dallas, Wes lip synched and had a meltdown on stage. He threw a microphone and beer into the audience. This was along with threatening and attempting to PHYSICALLY ATTACK several audience members at a show in Scottsdale, AZ. Also, Wes Scantlin was criticized for his lip synching, during the same show.

* As mentioned in the preceding video, he was arrested at Denver International Airport for riding on the baggage carousel and ending up in the restricted area, on January 16, 2015.

* April 2, 2015, Scantlin had ANOTHER meltdown. Earlier this month, he smashed his guitar, headphones, and part of the drummer's kit.

I wonder if Wes Scantlin managed to pay Ryan Braun a visit, before he was arrested at Mitchell International Airport here in WI. 

Recently, I learned that Wes is the cousin of Miss Missouri Teen USA's Melana Scantlin and Ryan Braun. Here's where it gets more interesting:

Ryan Braun is the baseball right fielder for the Milwaukee Brewers. Braun has also been in the local news, during these last 2 years. 

Ryan Braun LIED to his fans and everyone in the media about using "performance-enhancing drugs."

Talk about family scandals! Since it's Song Saturday, I thought I would share 3 of Puddle Of Mudd's music videos. 

One of them is my mother's favorite ("Blurry"). Another is my favorite ("Heel Over Head") and it has been stuck in my head all week. 

Last but surely NOT  the least, Puddle Of Mudd's new single.

1) Puddle Of Mudd "Blurry" Come Clean (2001)

 
2) Puddle Of Mudd "Heel Over Head" Life On Display (2003)


3) Puddle Of Mudd "Piece Of The Action" [NEW SINGLE] (2014)