Are you nursing such a serious hangover that death or at the very least, coma is preferable to your current pounding headache? Never fear–your easy listening sunday is here. Today, it’s Lionel Richie.
I don’t like to editorialize too much on the “Easy Listening Sunday” entries (it should be about the music…), but I think this video tops what I thought couldn’t be topped–and that was Elton John’s music video from last sunday (”Nikita”). Consequently, I’m compelled to jot a few words.
There’s so much to be said about Lionel Richie’s “Hello” music video–or should I say short movie? Is it a music video? Is it a short movie? I don’t know!
Thesis: “Hello” is actually seminal because it created its own genre: the music video-short film-musical. Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” gets a lot of the credit for reinventing the music video format (and Jay Z’s “Big Pimpin” gets a nod in music video history primarily for the most gratuitous spillage of Cristal on curvy sun-bathing women), but I think “Hello” is a sleeper gem that music historians and Vh1 “I love the…” and “Top 101…” shows have unfairly overlooked.
In addition to its technical merits, Hello is also pioneering for the positive social message it broadcasts. The video and Lionel Richie sends (sings?) a powerful voice that addresses the public’s misconceptions and prejudices about the blind: Blindness is not a disability nor a hinderance. It may prevent being able to tell the difference between a single and a hundred dollar bill (as Chris Rock said), but in matters of significance, consequence, and weight blindness is as much an obstacle as cake is to a fat, hungry kid. This is not to suggest that blindness is delicious.
This video humanizes the blind. It shows that a blind person can be a captivating actress, graceful ballerina, AND a master sculptor. A blind person can be beautiful, popular, intellectual, and posess a warm personality. A blind person can also make their acting teacher fall in love with them. The message is that a beautiful actress/dancer/sculptor who also happens to be blind can find love! Blind people love, too. What a powerful film. It’s too bad the blind can’t see it.
Lionel Richie, on the other hand, demonstrates how easy it is to stalk a blind person. Because they CAN’T SEE YOU–or so he thought! The ending is the coup that elevates this video from “good” into the pantheon of greats. I hope someone from VH1 sees this penetrating analysis and argument and devotes an entire marathon to Hello, like they do with Thriller…which doesn’t have one iota of social redemption and if anything only generates and fosters fear mongering among the general dominant populace towards the much maligned zombie community.
I’m very hesitant to discuss work here for obvious reasons, but I wanted to share this harmless anecdote which struck me as being quite funny.
On friday, the sales director walked over to us with a quick question. “You guys are hipsters” she stated, ignoring my bemused puzzlement at her declaration.
“So what are some cool and nifty websites out there?” she asked.
What I love about fridays after work (other than the occasional post-work drinking session) is unwinding at home from a hectic week in the office and then remembering to turn off my alarm for the weekend.
I admit the headline makes no sense; I just wanted to channel Coolio for a moment. This past weekend the Red Sox hosted the Wankees, and I’m sure most of you have all heard or seen it by now, but during the Sunday game, the Sox slammed four home runs off one Yankee pitcher. Correction: Four consecutive home runs off one pitcher.
What a thing to see and experience for those people at the game who’d never been to a baseball game before. Now they’re going to expect that at every game henceforth.
Oh yea, and here’s some Coolio. You know you want it. 1,2,3,4 get yo woman on the floor ya’ll:
Friday night was uneventful. Post work drink (Yup! Just one, seriously) followed by dinner/strategizing session with Cy at the diner. Ran into one of Chris’s friends. She said she remembered me as the guy with a hispanic last name and it scared her. I wasn’t quite sure how to interpret that one. And I was in bed and out by 10 pm.
If my life was a serious of websites, then Saturday would definitely be one to bookmark. Woke up, and got our usual at Bergen Bagel with Chris. The leisurely 10 minute walk there in the perfectly warm Brooklyn morning was fantastic. It’s been awhile since I’ve been able to walk around in just my t-shirt. Afterwards, I went to Central Park to meet up with Viviana for some QT. Chris, Mike and Jeff showed up later. People watching; throwing a frisbee (and looking away innocently when it hit someone); drinking a beer.
Chris looking pensively sober outside of Moe’s to celebrate a very belated birthday for Annie.
Two thumbs up and “ARRRGGHHHHHH”
Haha. The “insert hot chick using Photoshop here” pose.
Matching shirts and cigs?
A plate of leftovers left behind by a couple girls we kicked out so we could sit there.
Jeff is mesmerized by the incredibly graphic violent film that is playing inside the bar.
Reena trying to avoid a wayyyyy too friendly drunk stranger. Personal space, buddy, personal space.
Later, we went to a diner (Cy was STARVINGGGG). Look at Cy’s head!
Haha.
Mmmm, coffee at 4 am. Or was it 3 am? This is a guy who knows how to rally. Damn.
Sunday, I met up with Cy at Tompkins Square Park. Flipped the ol’ disc around. Cy almost got run over by a skateboarder.
I took photos. Weekends are never long enough, especially when they are as bookmark’able as this one.
