Mama Lisa Facebook Badge
Mama Lisa MySpace Badge
Mama Lisa Twitter Badge
  • My Tweets

  • Blog: Cool Cuban Kids Song – Tiene Pinochito – Little Pinocchio - http://tinyurl.com/yzwv46o Visit
  • Blog: Pig Latin Musical Video - http://tinyurl.com/ylhbjtz Visit
  • Blog: Jeringonza – A Spanish Word Game Like Pig Latin - http://tinyurl.com/ye59sde Visit
  • 50 Great Voices to Hear Clips of on NPR + Poll = Cool! http://bit.ly/3mXFjN Visit
  • Blog: “You’re Not Supposed to Say That!” – Mama Lisa’s Thanksgiving Silliness - http://tinyurl.com/yflcanz Visit
  • Archive for the 'Movies & TV' Category

    Contents

    Old Mother Goose Cartoon

    Quick Reviews of Some Summer Movies – Some in The Theater and Some on DVD

    Salvador Dali and Disney’s Animation called Destino

    Animatronic Obama Now at Disney!

    “Where the Wild Things Are” Trailer

    Beaker’s Ninth Symphony

    Coraline… A Film Worth Seeing in the Theater

    Starbucks’ Lingo

    RIP Jorge Guerra (1942 – 2009) – Chilean Actor Beloved by Children

    Movie Recommendation – Kung Fu Panda

    A Five Year Old with a Cooking Show!

    RIP Eartha Kitt (1927 – 2008)

    Animated Commercials from the ’50’s about Tolerance and Diversity

    The Simpsons Movie and Inuit Throat Singing

    More on the connection between Star Wars and Tunisia…

    For All of You Star Wars Fans: Tataouine is a Real Place in Tunisia

    The French Song “Ivan, Boris et moi” is in a Ukrainian Commercial

    Question about a Recording of “A La Claire Fontaine”

    The Electric Company and Tom Lehrer

    The Winnie the Pooh Movies

    Posts

    Old Mother Goose Cartoon

    Saturday, August 22nd, 2009

    Here’s a cartoon from 1950 called Little Audry: Goofy Goofy Gander. It’s a strange mixture of Mother Goose, comic books, jazz and Hollywood, with the goose that lays the golden eggs thrown in…

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    Quick Reviews of Some Summer Movies – Some in The Theater and Some on DVD

    Tuesday, August 11th, 2009

     

    Rainy days and hot humid days in the summer are a good time to see some of those movies you’ve been wanting to see… and that your kids have been wanting to see.  Here are some we’ve watched…

    Night at the Museum – we watched the 1st one on DVD – my 8 year old daughter liked this movie and she even wants to visit the Museum of Natural History as a result.  I chuckled a few times and didn’t mind watching it.  I’d say it’s perfect for tweens.  Unfortunately, we missed the 2nd one in the movies, so we’ll have to wait to see it when it comes out on DVD.

    Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince – my 14 year old son and I saw this in the movies last month.  This is the darkest Harry Potter Movie yet. I give this movie the same review as all the Harry Potter movies… it’s good as a companion to the books.  I’d recommend reading the books first. (Don’t worry, kids can tell the difference between reality and fantasy and won’t think that magic is real!)  The books are a lot of fun… look at how many people they’ve gotten into reading. According to Wikipedia, "As of June 2008, the book series has sold more than 400 million copies and has been translated into 67 languages…"  You can’t beat a record like that!

    Ice Age (The 1st Movie on DVD) – Mediocre – my daughter and I are planning on watching the 2nd one on DVD soon, so we can go see the 3rd one, Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, in the theater (it’s out now).

    The Secret Life of Bees – We watched this on DVD with my 8 year old daughter. I know a lot of people love this movie.  I liked the book much more.  While the movie was okay, it didn’t capture some of the essence of the book.  It was one of the first serious movies my daughter has watched.  I think it was a good first introduction to some of the day to day struggles of ordinary people during the civil rights era.

    Watchmen – We watched this one on DVD – not appropriate for young kids.  We watched it with my son who’s almost 15.  I wouldn’t recommended it for children much younger than that.  Watchmen is based on the graphic novel of the same name.  I’d recommend reading it first.  It’s better as a companion to the graphic novel (which is better than the movie).  Though I would say this is worth viewing if you’re a fan of the genre.

    Persepolis -  Animation based on a graphic novel.  The story is about a young girl growing up in Iran during and after the Iranian Revolution.  I loved the animation and I found the story to be illuminating about life in Iran.

    Star Trek – The new movie we saw in the theaters back in May – if you’re a fan, I’d recommend seeing this.  It’s the basis of a whole new future series of Star Trek movies starring a different cast playing the old roles of Spock, McCoy, Kirk, etc.

    Slum Dog Millionaire – More for adults than kids, I’d recommend this movie.  It shows a part of life in India… wrapped around a story that’s not too likely perhaps.  It’s very colorful.  Loved the musical video at the ending!

    The Darjeeling Limited – Shows another part of India… beautiful film, story okay, different.  Again for more for adults.

    The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – More for adults, than kids also, though teenagers might like this flick… my husband and I really enjoyed this one.  It’s based on an F. Scott Fitzgerald short story.  Fitzgerald based the story on a comment Mark Twain once made that it’s a pity that the best part of life comes at the beginning and the worst at the end. This was my favorite movie of the year so far.

    Feel free to let us know about any movies you’ve seen lately, and whether or not you liked, them in the comments below!

    Meanwhile, enjoy the show!

    Mama Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    Salvador Dali and Disney’s Animation called Destino

    Wednesday, July 8th, 2009

    Imagine eccentric Dali, in his black cape, working with Walt Disney! The two did come together briefly on a short film project in 1946, called Destino. For unknown reasons, it wasn’t completed at the time. The artwork Dali originally composed for the movie was purchased by Disney a few years ago. In 2001, work began on the making of an animation based on Dali’s original artwork. It was completed in 2003.

    There were photocopies of the storyboards of the beginning and end of the animation that Dali had worked on. But the middle of the story wasn’t totally worked out on paper. To make the completed animation, in addition to using Dali’s artwork for the project, Disney relied on a journal Dali’s wife had been keeping that detailed Dali’s plans for the piece. They also used a 3D model of Dali’s painting The Tower of Babel to give the animation more depth.

    Dali's Tower of Babel

    Originally, the film was going to include live people interposed with animations. According to an article on the Disney site (that has since been taken down), Dali was going to be in the film. He would have been working at an easel at one point, and an actor was going to ask him the meaning of the imagery in his works… such as the “melting” clocks. I found what Dali was going to respond to be very interesting:

    “What you see here are just symbols. Surrealism is like a new language. Every object means something other than what it naturally appears to be. This watch, for instance — it symbolizes the relativity of time. Depending on the circumstances, in love for instance, one minute of waiting may seem like a thousand years…or an hour may pass as quickly as if it were a few seconds. The time of human being is different than mechanical time. It’s flexible and viscous, like the time in dreams.”

    I thought that bit of dialog nicely elucidates Dali’s work and certainly the meaning of the clocks in his paintings.

    Dali's The Persistence of Memory

    The music in the animation is an adaptation of a ballad by Mexican songwriter Armando Dominguez. It was sung by Dora Luz.

    Here’s a trailer from the animation…

    Here’s a trailer of the strangest part of the animation…

    You can see other clips of Destino and the whole animation by typing in “Dali and Disney” into YouTube. A higher quality version is coming out soon on DVD.

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    Animatronic Obama Now at Disney!

    Sunday, July 5th, 2009

    Walt Disney World has added a robotic Barack Obama to its Hall of Presidents. Here you can hear CNN’s Rob Marciano report about it…

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    “Where the Wild Things Are” Trailer

    Monday, March 30th, 2009

    Check out the trailer for the upcoming movie adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are. (Coming out on October 16, 2009.) It looks awesome!

    Thanks to Troy McDonald at PeekaBookaZoo for pointing this out!

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    Beaker’s Ninth Symphony

    Tuesday, March 17th, 2009

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    Coraline… A Film Worth Seeing in the Theater

    Saturday, February 21st, 2009

    I read Neil Gaiman’s book Coraline when it came out in 2002 and enjoyed it – so I figured the film was a good bet.

    I was worried by the clips of this film, that it might be a little scary for my 7 year old daughter. But it looked wonderful and I knew it was a good story. So, I let her know it had a happy ending and said let’s try it out.

    My husband, daughter and I all enjoyed it.

    It was a 3D film – so it was fun to wear the glasses – but I don’t think that was even necessary. It was really beautifully made even without that. The colors in parts remind you of how you see colors in your childhood – everything it brighter and more vivid.

    Afterward, I asked my daughter if she thought it was scary and she said, “Not really”. I checked with her 6 year old friend who had seen it a day or two ago. She said it was scary, but worth seeing. Though her 3 year old brother was really frightened by it.

    Here you can see a trailer. If it seems like your type of film, I’d recommend trying to see this one in the theater.

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    Starbucks’ Lingo

    Monday, February 16th, 2009

    This is very funny – Jake Johannsen is a great comedian. His commentary on Starbucks’ lingo for coffee sizes makes me finally understand why I’m so perplexed each time I try to order a coffee there… -Mama Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    RIP Jorge Guerra (1942 – 2009) – Chilean Actor Beloved by Children

    Saturday, February 7th, 2009

    Gerardo wrote to me sharing the sad news about Jorge Guerra…

    Dear Lisa,

    The Pin Pon song was created in 1965 by Jorge Guerra a Chilean actor that also created the character of a boy doll.

    Jorge Guerra died yesterday February 6 at the age of 66 years.

    He was recognized for his contribution to the childrens culture, and Pin Pon is part of the history of the Chilean TV.

    Regards

    Gerardo

    Pin Pon is sung by children throughout the Spanish speaking world.

    Guerra worked in children’s programs on Chilean TV in the 1960’s and 70’s. He went into exile after the military coup in Chile in 1973. He returned to Chile after democracy was restored in 1990.

    Here you can see Jorge Guerra performing in one of his old shows…

    RIP Jorgue Guerra.

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    Movie Recommendation – Kung Fu Panda

    Sunday, January 25th, 2009

    Kung Fu Panda Image

    Kung Fu Panda is a really great movie. I’d highly recommend watching it with your kids. It looks pretty. It exposes your children to another culture (it takes place in China). It’s funny and has a nice moral to the story (one being, be true to yourself).

    You can get an idea of what Kung Fu Panda’s like in the trailer below…

    Beware, at the end of the film you’ll find yourself singing the Kung Fu Fighting disco song from the 70’s… Everybody was Kung fu fighting, those kids were fast as lightening, in fact in was a little bit frightening, but they fought with expert timing…

    Enjoy the Show!

    Mama Lisa

    PS This movie is available on DVD now so you can take it out at your local library or rent it.

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    A Five Year Old with a Cooking Show!

    Wednesday, January 7th, 2009

    This is so cute! A 5 year old kid with a cooking show in Portland called “The Big Kitchen With Food”. It may give you ideas about how to cook with kids. Though it shows one kid, Julian Kreusser, cooking a recipe by himself.

    Check it out and share it with kids you know….

    Enjoy and bon appétit!

    Mama Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    RIP Eartha Kitt (1927 – 2008)

    Sunday, December 28th, 2008

    Last week the singer and actress Eartha Kitt passed away. She was well-known for her song Santa Baby, and for her rendition of C’est Si Bon. She played Catwoman in the last season of the Batman TV series. She was in many Broadway plays and was a cabaret singer.

    Below you can see and hear Eartha Kitt in a couple of YouTube Videos.

    C’est Si Bon…

    Batman…

    Santa Baby…

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    Animated Commercials from the ’50’s about Tolerance and Diversity

    Thursday, November 15th, 2007

    The things we watch on TV when we’re kids can stay with us for our whole lives. I grew up in the 70’s and I’ll never forget the Saturday morning Schoolhouse Rock cartoons that taught about history, grammar and math. I recently learned that there’s a whole generation of kids who grew up in the 50’s who remember a series of cartoons, put out by the US government, promoting racial harmony and tolerance.

    These cartoons were first brought to my attention when I was asked about a song called, “The Big Bow-wow and the Little Meow”. It turns out that this song came from one of these commercials. Here’s what Barry Leibowitz wrote to me about it:

    “In the early 50’s, there were these animated TV commercials that must have been government sponsored, meant to promote “brotherhood” and tolerance in our changing post-WWII society. The song I’m thinking of sounded like a sea chantey and involved an old salt and his cat and dog and how they got along so well on the boat.”

    Steve Welch sent the lyrics to the song in this commercial. It went like this:

    Oh commodore Bob had a dog and a cat
    With a big bow-wow and a little meow.
    They both got along without ever a spat!
    How in the world did they ever do that,
    With a big bow-wow, and a little meow…
    Meow…Bow-wow…meow…Bow-wow, Meow.

    He also said, “Another cartoon promoting racial harmony went like this:”

    You can get good milk from a brown-skin cow,
    The color of its skin doesn’t matter no-how.
    Ho ho hee, can’t you see:
    The color of your skin doesn’t matter to me.
    Ooh-ooh, wee awee wee.

    Steve continued, “They are probably not politically correct these days, but they were cute and must have made an impression on me.”

    Barry told about another of these commercials:

    “I remember another animated spot from that time that was about ethnic diversity. Maybe you remember it, too:”

    I have a little friend,
    His name ends with a “ski”
    And this is what my father said
    As I sat on his knee:

    A ski, a witz, an off or cu
    When added to a name,
    Just teaches us the family
    Or town from which it came.

    A name like Thomas Jefferson
    In some lands o’er the sea
    Would not be Thomas Jefferson,
    But Thomas Jefferski.

    Or Jefferwitz, or Jefferoff or maybe Jeffercu,
    So do not let a ski, a witz or off seem strange to you.

    I feel the same towards every name
    No matter how it ends,
    ‘Cause people with the strangest names
    Can be the best of friends!

    Barry said, “The animation was fairly primitive but it was a little boy and a little girl with their lunch boxes and hers said Mary Jones on it, while his said Tommy Popski. In the end, I remember them walking away together holding hands (innocently, of course). Jog any memories? I’d LOVE to know if anyone but me remembers these Public Service Announcements and if copies of them exist in some government vault somewhere!”

    If anyone knows if we can view these videos on the web, please let us know. You’re also welcome to share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

    -Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    The Simpsons Movie and Inuit Throat Singing

    Wednesday, August 1st, 2007

    We brought our kids to see The Simpsons Movie this past weekend. It was like watching a decent, extra long episode, that looked wonderful (much better than on a TV screen). I wouldn’t say it’s a movie you have to go out and see. But if you’re a Simpsons fan, you’ll probably enjoy seeing it on the big screen.

    There was one scene (and I’ll try not to say too much about the movie in case you want to see it yourself) in which Homer has reached an all-time low. He happens upon a Medicine Woman who engages him in Inuit Throat Singing. Through the singing, Homer is supposed to have an epiphany (definition: “an illuminating discovery, realization, or disclosure”*) about his life.

    It was fun to watch, but actually, Inuit Throat Singing wasn’t normally used to help people find themselves. Rather, it was used primarily by Inuit woman as a game to amuse children and to help pass the time in the winter while the men were away for long periods of time hunting.

    The most common way it is done is that two women face each other. They put their arms on each other’s arms. They take turns “singing”. The singing is really a throaty sound – which involves the breath, sounds that come out of the throat and the regular voice. Some of the sounds that are made are meaningless and some are actual words.

    Below you can hear an example of Inuit Throat Singing.

    The video of the Inuit Throat Singing is mesmerizing. I don’t know if the process leads to having an epiphany, but it seems to have a meditative quality to it.

    Many thanks to Clint Cora Leung at Free Spirit Gallery for allowing me to post his video. Clint sells contemporary Canadian aboriginal art on his site.

    *Source: Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

    -Mama Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    More on the connection between Star Wars and Tunisia…

    Sunday, April 22nd, 2007

    Andy Carvin, the man who took the great photo of Hotel Sidi Driss (Luke Skywalker’s Home) in my previous blog post, wrote me pointing out that he’s written a whole article on Star Wars locations in Tunisia.

    Also, check out his movies at the same link.

    Thanks Andy!

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    For All of You Star Wars Fans: Tataouine is a Real Place in Tunisia

    Thursday, April 19th, 2007

    If you’re a Star Wars fan you know that Luke Skywalker grows up on the planet Tatooine. But what you may not know is that Tatooine is a real town in Tunisia! (Spelled “Tataouine”.)

    The connection between Tatooine and Tunisia goes deeper than the just the name. Many of the scenes in Star Wars Episode IV (the first movie) that took place on Tatooine were filmed in the North Aftrican nation – though not in the town of Tataouine.

    Map of Tunisia where Star Wars was filmed

    In the movie, the farm where Luke grew up looks like it’s a single area. But it was actually filmed in more than one place. The scenes with the sunken home, pictured below, were filmed in the town of Matmata. There, homes really were built underground ages ago. This view of Luke’s house is actually a hotel, called Hotel Sidi Driss.

    Photo of Hotel Sidi Driss

    Other views of the outside of Luke’s home were filmed in the town of Nefta. (Pictured below).

    Photo Outside of Lukes Home on Tatooine

    Still other scenes of Tatooine were filmed in Tozeur.

    The way people in Tunisia dress also influenced Lucas in his designs for Jedi costumes.

    Many thanks to Monique Palomares of Mama Lisa’s World en français for the photo outside Luke’s home, and to Andy Carvin for the photo of Hotel Sidi Driss. The initial map is courtesy of the CIA World Factbook. I altered it to show the Star Wars locations mentioned.

    Here’s a link for more Star Wars locations and photos in Tunisia

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    The French Song “Ivan, Boris et moi” is in a Ukrainian Commercial

    Monday, March 12th, 2007

    Stanislav wrote to me looking for a French song that’s in a Ukrainian commercial:

    Hello,

    I stumbled upon your website while looking for one song. Although my request might sound a little strange, I thought I’d write you and ask anyway. I live in Ukraine and there is a TV commercial here with a French song in it which I really like. I don’t speak French, but I managed to hear some words in it. It sounds like a young girl is singing it, and I could definitely hear her sing different French names, something like Andre, Francois, Rebecca Et Moi. The song is pretty fast and by the end she names more and more names. I don’t know if you know it, but it sounds pretty popular, very 60’s-ish.

    Sincerely,
    Stas

    The French Song is from the 60’s and it’s called Ivan, Boris et moi. It was sung by Marie Laforêt. She does indeed sing a lot of names…

    Anton, Ivan, Boris et moi
    Rebecca, Paula, Johanna et moi
    Sacha, Sonia, David et moi
    Dimitri, Iona, Natacha et moi

    Here are some links for this song:

    The full lyrics in French to Ivan, Boris et moi
    The lyrics to Ivan, Boris et moi with a Russian translation
    YouTube Video of Marie Laforêt Singing Ivan, Boris et moi

    Many thanks to Monique Palomares at Mama Lisa’s World en français for helping to find the lyrics to this song!

    -Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    Question about a Recording of “A La Claire Fontaine”

    Wednesday, January 24th, 2007

    M. Katul wrote:

    At the end of the film “The Painted Veil” currently playing in theaters, a group of children, off camera, sang the French children’s song “A La Claire Fontaine”.

    How can I find out who made that recording and whether or not it is available for purchase?

    Thank you.

    M. Katul

    The Choir of the Beijing Takah sang “A La Claire Fontaine” in the movie “The Painted Veil”. Unfortunately, the song does not seem to be on the soundtrack CD of the movie. When I checked on Amazon, it’s not listed on the CD and someone specifically said in a review that this song is not on the CD. I also checked iTunes and they are not currently selling the song.

    All I can suggest is to either check back at iTunes from time to time in the hope that they will eventually sell this song, or buy the movie on DVD when it comes out, and get the song from the DVD (if that’s possible).

    You can find the lyrics and sheet music to “À la claire fontaine” and a clip of what it sounds like, on my Mama Lisa’s World page. It’s not the recording you’re looking for, but it’s something!

    If anyone has any other suggestions, please comment below.

    I hope this helps!

    Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    The Electric Company and Tom Lehrer

    Friday, November 10th, 2006

    My husband, Jason Pomerantz, has asked if he could write about an interesting experience he recently had….

    When I was very young I was a big fan of The Electric Company. This was a wonderful show that ran on public television in the United States from 1971 to 1977. It was produced by Children’s Television Workshop and was aimed at kids slightly older than those who watched Sesame Street. It tried to be hipper than Big Bird’s show since the six and seven year olds it was intended for were much cooler than their four and five year old younger siblings. The songs were faster, the humor was more pointed. And, it had Spiderman! I loved it.

    One thing I particularly enjoyed was a series of cartoons The Electric Company often ran that featured catchy songs about letter combinations. There was “LY”, “The Hound Song”, “Silent E” and “Snore, Sniff and Sneeze”. My favorite was “N’T”. Even though my birthdays were measured in the single digits, I think I appreciated the barely suppressed satire just perceptible beneath the animation and lyrics like:

    Grouches all agree,
    we get a glow saying ‘No’,
    ‘n’, apostrophe ‘t’ .

    Flash forward eight or nine years. I’m a young teenager, thirteen or fourteen years old, and I’ve become of fan of song parodies. People like Alan Sherman, famous in the sixties for “Hello Mudda, Hello Fadda, Here I am at Camp Granada”. Or Weird Al Yankovic, best know for his satires of the first generation of MTV videos, like Michael Jackson’s “Beat It”, which became “Eat It”.

    One of the most talented of the musical satirists I loved was Tom Lehrer. Lehrer grew to fame on the TV program”That Was The Week That Was”, a sketch show which ran in the mid 1960’s. His songs included “Who’s Next?”, “Wernher Von Braun”, and “Lobachevsky”. They featured bouncy, catchy piano melodies and they were all sung in Lehrer’s unmistakable voice: mischievous, cynical, and filled with an enthusiastic, devilish joy.

    We grow and change as we get older. But there’s something fundamental at our cores that stays consistent. I realized this several days ago when my twelve year old son emailed Lisa and me a link to a song he had found. I was reading on the couch at the time and Lisa was working at her laptop at the dining room table. She clicked the link my son had sent and her computer began to play music. I was absorbed in my book so, at first, I paid no attention. But something struck me and I walked over to listen. The song was “Elements“. It’s all about the elements of the periodic table, and it’s very funny. It sounded familiar to me, and after a while I realized it was by Tom Lehrer. Someone had taken it upon themselves to animate it and had posted it on YouTube.

    After it was over, I went to my own computer to see if I could find more Tom Lehrer videos. I was eager to hear music I hadn’t thought much about for twenty-five years. I typed his name into YouTube and… It was then I got a shock!

    Many of the songs I knew as a teenager were available, but there was more. There was “LY“, “The Hound Song“, “Silent E“, “Snore, Sniff and Sneeze” – even “N’T“! The songs from the Electric Company I barely remembered from, not twenty-five, but more than thirty years ago. I suddenly realized that those songs I had loved so much in my early childhood had been by Tom Lehrer! I watched several and they were as funny and wonderful as I remembered them.

    As teenagers we like to pride ourselves on our new maturity. We throw away our toys and turn our backs on childish concerns. But, I suddenly realized, we don’t change as much as we think. The music I loved when I was six was by the same artist I loved when I was fourteen. One I had never quite outgrown, even at forty.

    Had listening to Tom Lehrer on the Electric Company in my formative years melded my taste, carving patterns in my mind that continue to influence me? Or had the patterns already been there, present at birth, waiting to be filled by any Tom Lehrer style tunes? Nurture versus nature, environment versus genes, who knows? Most likely, genes and environment are in a perpetual dance, influencing each other in complex, subtle ways, making us who we are.

    I still don’t know why Spiderman never talked though…

    -Jason

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    The Winnie the Pooh Movies

    Sunday, March 26th, 2006

    I’ve been sick for the past few days. In order to help pass the time and also to keep my 4 year old daughter occupied, we’ve been watching Winnie the Pooh movies together. Why Winnie the Pooh you ask? The reason is that my daughter loves the Disney princesses… Well she actually loves all princesses. But the Disney princess movies scare her. She doesn’t like the evil witches and stepsisters. So we end up with Winnie the Pooh. It’s about as mild as you can get in a movie.

    We started out with the first and best movie: The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. It follows the stories in the first Winnie the Pooh book. It’s all about the wonderment of childhood. It’s sweet, in a nice way and leaves you feeling reacquainted with the newness of childhood! It’s inspired me to reread the book as soon as I have the time.

    The second movie we watched was Pooh’s Grand Adventure: The Search for Christopher Robin. This one was a typical quest type of film. It had some nice, funny moments. I’d say it stayed on the right side of sweet.

    The third movie we watched was The Tigger Movie. In this movie, Tigger goes off searching for his family. This was a little of a disappointment, because Tigger’s motto is always… the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is I’m the only one.” That always made him seem unique. He was proud of his individuality. Him wanting to find others who were just like him lessened his uniqueness in this movie. However, there were some nice scenes between Tigger and Roo. At the end of the story, Tigger realizes that he was with his family all along: his friends are his family.

    The last one we watched was Pooh’s Heffalump Movie. Despite it’s cool name, it’s the one I’d recommend the least. The story was okay. It was a little predictable at times. My biggest problem with it was the music. Even my daughter didn’t like it. At one point in the movie, a sappy song came on and she covered her ears and said, “Why do I have to listen to this?” I was proud of her to have picked out poor quality music. Even better, I was glad to mute that song!

    Out of all four movies, I’d highly recommend The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh. The other three are fine for children. My daughter liked them all. Just be ready to mute parts of The Heffalump Movie!

    Happy viewing!

    Lisa

    Share on Facebook and other services:
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • MySpace
    • Digg
    • del.icio.us
    • Print this article!
    • E-mail this story to a friend!

    ________

    Copyright ©2009 by Lisa Yannucci. All rights reserved.
    Advertisements