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markwatkinsconsumerguide · 4 years ago

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Consumer Guide / No.98 / American television, film and stage actress, Bernadette Quigley with Mark Watkins.

MW : What’s new?

BQ : Currently, work is sparse as most of my businesses have been shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic. No films or television shows are being shot in NYC at this moment in time and most of my side businesses are on pause as well. This season’s gardening work didn’t happen at all (because NYC had not yet deemed gardening an essential service).

Thankfully, I have a few coaching (acting) clients I work with often and I had one job before this pandemic hit that I’m still working on - a press and radio campaign for Irish singer-songwriter Ultan Conlon’s beautiful new record, ‘There’s a Waltz’. It’s been gratifying to see reviewers agreeing with me that it’s Ultan’s finest record thus far!

MW : Tell me about your role in Law & Order...

BQ : Well, I had four Law & Order roles, actually. Two are on Law & Order: SVU and two are on the mothership Law & Order.

My first big role on SVU was of a victim, Jean Weston, on the season finale of their 2nd season, many moons ago. This character was a mother and wife from Oregon whose husband and son got stabbed to death by a serial killer – played by Richard Thompson.

I’ll never forget this role for many reasons but primarily it was a job where I discovered I could cry on cue. The director and producers decided they wanted to end the episode with a huge close up of my character, breaking down in the gallery in the courtroom. One of the producers shouted out, “Bernadette…can you cry on cue!?” I meekly replied, “Sure.” Next thing I hear was…”rolling….” and “ACTION”… I looked up, terrified I wouldn’t be able to summon up tears but imagined the hell my character went through and looked deeply into Chris Meloni’s eyes and …phew!...started to cry!

The Law & Order franchise has been a godsend for many actors. Not just financially, which it has and still is but for me, the experience I gained working on those shows led to a lot more television and film work over the years, so I’m forever grateful to creator/producer, Dick Wolf.

MW : What are your own views on law & order? Anything you’d like to see relaxed or tightened up on?

BQ : Feels very naïve and idealistic to say this, but I’d love to see major, police reform. Police brutality is despicable and out of control, especially in Black communities.

I believe we’re beginning to see the power of the Black Lives Matter movement resulting in some of these police officers losing their jobs and sometimes being arrested themselves for their unspeakable acts of violence, but I imagine we, as a nation, need to keep the pressure on. The police brutality simply has to stop. There has to be more consequences for those senseless deaths. There has to be better training, etc...

I’d also love to see major gun control in this country. I would love to see guns banned. Period. But that’s highly unrealistic as this country tragically has a major addiction to their gun culture. Perhaps someday we’ll have some common-sense gun control again such as background checks, and high-capacity magazine and semi-automatic assault weapon bans.

MW : What was it like working with Kenneth Branagh?

BQ : I suggested Kenneth’s play “Public Enemy” to the Irish Arts Center’s Artistic Director at the time, Nye Heron, and was emailing and talking with Kenneth’s assistant quite a lot before setting up a meeting with Kenneth and Nye.

I was flying high that I helped to secure the rights to his play. Kenneth then came to our first read-through, and he came back to see a preview or two. He was an absolute prince, kind, intelligent, caring, witty.

However, this success was so bittersweet because my dad died right before we opened the play, a performance I had dedicated to him before he died (because my dad loved Jimmy Cagney, and the main character of the play was obsessed with Cagney). The play got great reviews and we ran for five months. It was so difficult for me to fully appreciate the success of this show as I was mourning the most devastating loss of my life.

MW : Which "shelved" film appearance of yours should have seen the light of day?

BQ : There’s a provocative film I am in about a racial experiment that is under the radar called, “The Suspect” (2014), which stars Mekhi Phifer, Sterling K. Brown and William Sadler.

By the way, I am currently in three indie films that I’m psyched for the world to see: I play a lead role in “Darcy” which is available (worldwide) to stream on Herflix.com; “The Garden Left Behind” has just landed international distribution, so stay tuned for the release date! And finally, I have an interesting supporting role in a film called “Tahara” which had its world premiere at Slamdance in January and is slated for more film festivals.

MW : What makes a good film/TV critic? Can you name any?

BQ : One that doesn’t give the plot, or too much dialogue away. I often don’t read reviews of films, or television shows, I want to watch because I love going in – not being influenced by another’s opinion. But sometimes, I’ll read reviews afterwards to learn more about the evolution of a film or TV show. I often find myself agreeing with A.O.Scott’s (NY Times) film reviews.

MW : How do you usually prepare for an acting role, and has a character ever taken you over?

BQ : The first thing I do is read the script several times and see what the words are telling me about the character, and how other characters view that person. If it’s a period piece, I research the era or history surrounding the event in the play, or screenplay. Eventually, I forget my research, learn my words and hopefully let the character inhabit me emotionally, physically and psychologically, spiritually etc…and try my best to be fully present with the other actors I’m working with moment-to-moment. Every project is different.

Yes, there were times, I found it difficult to shut off the pain of a character after some performances. Two that come to mind are two intensely emotional theatre roles I performed at the Repertory of St. Louis, Elizabeth Proctor in “The Crucible”, and Agnes in “Bug”.

MW : Is performing on film different to TV as an acting discipline?

BQ : I think it all depends on the style of the film, or television show. With a TV show like Law & Order, it’s formulaic and heightened realism (acting style) and so one makes sure one knows every single word, and hits one’s marks, and if it calls for emoting then one must emote! Some films I’ve done are grittier-kitchen-sink realism. A very minimalistic style of acting.

MW : Has your song-writer husband ever penned a song for you?

BQ : Yes, many….Don (Rosler) primarily writes for and with other artists – on the John Margolis: Christine’s Refrigerator CD, there’s many tunes that speak to many moments within the course of our lives: the title track (altho’ the name was changed), “Scrap of Hope” (a pep talk to me when I was stuck at a temp job I hated), “Here’s Something You Don’t See Every Day” (a wedding reverie that literally started in Don’s mind when I fell asleep on his shoulder), and he wrote an exquisite lyric for Bobby McFerrin’s Grammy-nominated record VOCAbuLarieS, a song called “Brief Eternity”… where his words infuse my love for gardening: “Working in the garden has you... ...Breathing in the bloom and then you View the sunset view to move you Close to truly understanding Life and death but nothing ending Voices living on”…..

MW : Tell me about some of your favourite music...

BQ : My music tastes are pretty eclectic – besides all the indie artists I’ve done publicity for, I love so many styles of music from classical to folk to country but here’s some of my fave artists: Tom Waits, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Stevie Wonder, Pink, Beyonce, Billie Holiday, Ani DiFranco, Ibeyi, Sinead O’Connor, Prince, Bjork, Leonard Cohen, Kacey Musgraves, K.D. Lang, Laura Mvula, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Billy Bragg, and Randy Newman, among many others.

MW : ...and your favourite films....

BQ : Ohhhhh-so-many faves but a few, in no particular order :

Portrait Of A Lady On Fire (2019)

Parasite (2019)

Secrets & Lies (1996)

Vera Drake (2004)

Pain And Glory (2019)

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind (2004)

BlacKkKlansman (2018)

A Fantastic Woman (2017)

Babette’s Feast (1987)

Coco (2017)

To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)

Nights of Cabiria (1957)

The 400 Blows (1959)

12 Years A Slave (2013)

Jean de Florette (1986)

Trees Lounge (1996)

My Left Foot (1989)

In America (2002) (I know I’m biased but still…such a beautiful film)!

Annie Hall (1977)

My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)

My Brilliant Career (1979)

And I also love documentaries and a ton of old movies from the 1930’s and 1940’s, such as The Lady Eve (1941).

MW : ...plus your favourite books....

BQ : I’m currently reading this years New York Times Bestseller American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins (it’s excellent!).

Some of my all-time faves are :

Of Human Bondage ~ W. Somerset Maugham (1915)

A Confederacy Of Dunces ~ John Kennedy Toole (1980)

Angela’s Ashes ~ Frank McCourt (1996)

The Grapes Of Wrath ~ John Steinbeck (1939)

Lady Chatterley's Lover ~ D.H Lawrence (1960)

Olive Kitteridge ~ Elizabeth Strout (2008)

Americanah ~ Chimanda Ngozi Adichie (2013)

The Feast of Love ~ Charles Baxter (2000)

Everything Here Is Beautiful ~ Mira T. Lee (2008)

An American Tragedy ~ Theodore Dreiser (1925)

Sister Carrie ~ Theodore Dreiser (1900)

Act One ~ Moss Hart (1959)

Born A Crime ~ Trevor Noah (2016)

Wild : From Lost To Found On The Pacific Crest Trail ~ Cheryl Strayed (2012)

MW : You enjoy gardening. How is yours designed and tended to?

BQ : I don’t have my very own garden. I live in NYC and dream of having a country house with a garden of my own one day!

This is the reason I started a side business of urban gardening. My dad was an extraordinary gardener and after he died, I started tending to my mother’s flower gardens. Then I found myself volunteering at a neighborhood garden and that led to me working in other people’s gardens. Primarily small back gardens and some rooftop or balcony gardens.

I specialize in flowers, shrubs and trees and love planting lots of perennials (flowers and plants) with annuals so there’s lots of varying blossoms of different heights and textures, throughout spring, summer and fall.

When possible, if space allows, I also love incorporating foot paths, rock walls, or other elements in gardens – art/birdbaths/benches/statues that might be a sweet focal point but primarily I love the combinations of plants, trees, shrubs and flowers to be the focal points.

MW : Recommend five flowers...that every good garden should have!

BQ : Daffodils - one of the first signs of spring! Muscari (aka grape hyacinths) – the color (blue) is gorgeous, as is the scent. Climbing roses – the beauty and romantic history of roses. Anemone Robustissima (late blooming perennial flower). Lady Ferns (okay not a flower, but I’m a fern freak and I love ferns of all kinds!, but Lady ferns in particular are stunning when they sit beside most flowers or surround trees).

MW : How opinionated are you on current events? Would you like to be more, or less opinionated?

BQ : I’m extremely opinionated on current events but find it difficult to find ways to communicate my thoughts without screaming angrily from the rooftops and then of course not being heard. There are those that say we have an obligation to try to talk sense into people whose viewpoints are much more extreme than one’s own (either extreme conservative or extreme liberal).

I’m very liberal but am more pragmatic when it comes to progress, not perfection, so I’m very happy to enthusiastically vote for someone like Joe Biden or in 2016, Hillary Clinton, but I honestly don’t know how to reach people whose minds are already made up – people who either continue to justify their support for the current racist/narcissist/sexist/pathological liar-in-chief, or that justify their “protest” vote by falsely equivocating both candidates as “the same” or “the lesser of two evils”.

So yeah, I offend people at times because yes, I’m judgmental when it comes to politics and I most definitely believe in the power of protests, but believe just as strongly in the collective power of one’s vote and it drives me insane when others don’t show up and vote for local elections, and national ones.

I find I do hold back on Facebook, not because I’m afraid to voice my opinions but because it becomes too much of a time suck for me.

MW : What character traits frustrate you?

BQ : Impatience (in myself). Aggression (in myself and others).

MW : What’s the kindest thing another person has done for you?

BQ : I find this question so complex to answer. There are so many inexplicable moments in my life, where I’ve been blown away by many seemingly small gestures or kind words from strangers. And professionally, I’ve been truly blessed to work with some top-notch directors that gave me the gift of encouraging me to fully trust my artistic instincts.

When I was a child, my parents were not the type of people who conveyed their love in typically demonstrative ways, in ways that I honestly craved, so on the rare occasions when either one of them did utter something like “We’re proud of you”, or “I love you”, I was very moved by them going past their own comfort zones to express that kind of sentiment!

I’ve had many personal and professional challenges in my life and many of my siblings have been there for me over the years in ways I can’t really articulate without choking up. I also think having the courage to face one’s disagreements and past hurt, which comes with the territory of most friendships and relationships, is an act of kindness that I most value. Those I feel closest to have stuck it through with me by navigating through some painful, complex and messy misunderstandings. I’ll never forget those acts of kindness and generosity.

MW : What have you lost, growing older... and gained?

BQ : My mom died in January, and as I mentioned, my dad died many years ago. Sometimes I feel the depths of that loss – the fact that I don’t have my parents to share the ups and downs of the events of the rest of my life. Of course, I do have them close to my heart and their spirits live on….but damn I miss them! I’ve definitely gained a profound appreciation for them and their influence on me in countless ways.

On a professional level, as an older actress, unfortunately it’s easy to become invisible but I’m not ready to disappear and am joining the fight against ageism! I’m drawn to stories and filmmakers that include women and men of all ages, genders and ethnicities.

Perhaps if enough roles are not forthcoming in the next number of years, I’ll venture into writing and directing at some point.

MW : Where can we find out more / keep in touch?

BQ : Thanks so much, here’s a few links…!

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0703489/

https://twitter.com/quigdette

https://www.instagram.com/quigdette/

https://www.facebook.com/bernadette.quigley.3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernadette_Quigley

https://bernadettequigleymedia.wordpress.com/

https://bernadettetheconstantgardener.wordpress.com/bio/

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joncrawford · 5 years ago

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Best of COVID-2019: (Late) 2019 End of Year Wrap-up

Even though we’re well into 2020, most of us would probably swallow a pill that makes us forget the year so far. With a new job, I got too busy to do an end-of-year wrap-up of my picks for the best albums, movies and shows of 2019, so assuming you’ve swallowed your Hindsight Pill™ (get it?, cause hindsight is 20..ok, fair if you stop reading now) here’s my take on the best music, movies and shows of 2019. Maybe you’ll find something to make the rest of quarantine a little better.

ALBUMS

Remind Me Tomorrow by Sharon Van Etten on Spotify

It’s hard to find a better album this year. It’s heartfelt, gentle in places / wild in others, it pushes her sound forward from her more folky records of the past and gives us the opportunity to gaze into this sensitive she-hulk of an artist’s soul.

Favorite Track: Jupiter 4 - Jupiter 4, a song by Sharon Van Etten on Spotify

Lux Prima by Karen O on Spotify

This concept album by Karen O (“Yeah Yeah Yeahs”) and Danger Mouse (“Broken Bells”, “Gnarls Barkley”) can best be described as a record composed by badass feminine superhero from the future who has a nostalgic fascination with soundtracks from 70s European love story films. It’s phenomenal. The chord progressions are unusual and interesting. The vibe is consistent throughout. It’s a great record to listen to intentionally or a perfect soundtrack to a day outside with friends.

Favorite Track: Nox Lumina - Nox Lumina, a song by Karen O, Danger Mouse on Spotify

Lana Del Rey - “Norman F*ing Rockwell“ (censored for my mom)

I get it. You stopped following Lana after “Summertime Sadness”. She’s not your jam. She’s vapid. There’s something about her appearance that you don’t like (Didn’t she get her lips done?). She doesn’t make serious music. Here’s the thing though: You’re f*cking wrong (censored for mom). LDR is one of the most prolific songwriters and performers we’ve got. This artist has evolved with each album and the songwriting keeps improving. This is her best album to date. The lyrics take on deeper themes than her prior records and any ego on previous submissions seems to have been replaced by a general comfort in herself and the discomfort of her experiences and relationships (fictional or not). This is also her release with the lightest touch. She’s not pushing the LDR persona anymore, she’s being herself — take it or leave it. It’s her, your little Venice B!tch (censored for mom). Hi, mom!

Favorite song: Venice Bitch, a song by Lana Del Rey on Spotify

Phoenix by Pedro The Lion on Spotify

This is my favorite artist’s first studio album in 15 years. (!!!) It’s not technically fair to say that because he released several color records in the interim. As a largely one-man show, the DNA was very much the same. But this is a true return to form for the the man known as David Bazan that I’ve been following carefully for 20 years and have seen live too many times to count.

This is a concept album (most of them are) about his experience growing up in Phoenix, AZ. But it’s more about growing up than about Arizona. I got goosebumps and watery eyes the first time I listened carefully to the lyrics of “Yellow Bike” which tells about the experience of getting your first bicycle as a little boy around 1990. For me, this was the apex of my childhood. Absolute freedom and the ability to easily join any pack of desperado bike kids.

The album hits hard with the catchy hooks, introspective lyrics, challenging topics and excellent production & instrumental performances only using standard rock staples like guitar, bass and drums (with a couple quick appearances of an organy synth).

Lyrics, melody & a great beat. This is a fantastic rock album.

Favorite song: Yellow Bike, a song by Pedro The Lion on Spotify

WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO? by Billie Eilish on Spotify

Much has been written about this wunderkind. You know her. It’s a great album. She has a promising career ahead of her.

Favorite song: when the party’s over, a song by Billie Eilish on Spotify

SOUND & FURY by Sturgill Simpson on Spotify

This album slays. It’s a badass rock album. If you don’t know Sturgill Simpson, he’s technically a country act… BUT! He’s entirely rejected the conventions of modern country with its shallow lyrical content, right-wing dog whistling and computer-assisted faux harmonies. He sings about psychedelics, his problems with religion and also covers 80s synth-pop in country ballad fashion. Well, forget all that for this record. It’s a banger. This record sounds like Waylon Jennings was cloned 100 years in the future and brought back just to record a ZZ Top album. Major leap for this artist. One of the best of the year.

Favorite song: Make Art Not Friends, a song by Sturgill Simpson on Spotify

ANIMA by Thom Yorke on Spotify

We’ve had a complicated relationship with Thom Yorke’s solo work. As the lead singer of Radiohead, we’ve had to give deference to literally anything with his name on it. But his prior solo works have waded into the avant-garde and we’re entirely listenable in a casual way throughout. This has changed. This record is a masterwork. In fact, it demanded a beautiful short film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson (“The Master”, “There Will Be Blood”) released on Netflix earlier in the year featuring no dialogue and Thom and his wife is choreographed love affair starting during a mundane commute. My favorite track is the most peaceful and introspective on the album.

Favorite song: Dawn Chorus, a song by Thom Yorke on Spotify

Fear Inoculum by TOOL on Spotify

It’s TOOL’s first album in 13 years. WHAT. It’s fantastic. Worth the wait? Hell no because that’s too long to wait for almost anything. There are people with Snapchat accounts that weren’t alive when “10,000 Days” came out (2006). 728,000,000 people (presumably, all TOOL fans) died since their last album. I can’t, in good conscience, condone the deprivation of 3/4 of a billion people like that. But it’s SO good. This is metal for people that don’t like metal (I don’t really like metal).

Favorite song: Pneuma, a song by TOOL on Spotify

Screamer by Third Eye Blind on Spotify

I may be literally this bands only fan still paying attention, but I don’t care. They’re still writing fantastic tracks. This was one of my heavy-hitter bands in high school. I learned every song from their first two albums on the guitar. Then I stopped paying attention for like 13 years. In 2016, I ran across a new single by the band and went in with a lot of trepidation. Most bands from your high school years should probably leave it there. There's nothing worse than a band desperately trying to stay relevant with weak ass releases well beyond their shelf life (cough Goo Goo Dolls –– They've put out 4 albums in the last 10 years. 🤦‍♂️) But then I heard Third Eye Blind's pro-Black Lives Matter track “Cop vs. Phone Girl, a song by Third Eye Blind on Spotify” released in 2016. Go back and listen to that one. It's not only catchy as hell, but it's got a gut punch of a message about how shitty is it to be a well-meaning black student in a white-dominated power structure that's supposed to be a safe place like school.

Well 2019’s “Screamer” doesn’t disappoint either. It’s all the same energy and hooks of the band’s early sound with an updated feel and sensibility that still feels like a relevant rock album. All the same things you came to Third Eye for in the past is right here waiting for you on “Screamer”. I know I’m gonna get some flack for this one, but…shut up.

Favorite song: Ways, a song by Third Eye Blind on Spotify Bonus points if you catch the “Outside Lands” ref.

i,i by Bon Iver on Spotify

Short review for people who know how to pronounce the name correctly: It’s a Bon Iver record. Listen to it.

Longer review: It’s pronounced “Bone ee-VAIR” based on the French bon hiver, meaning “good winter”. If this is news to you, here’s a nugget from an interview where the main figure in the band explains it:

When I was living up north I wrote a letter. I’d come across a story about this Alaskan town that the people, the first snow of every year, they come out of their houses and gather in town square. They hug and kiss each other and they say “Bon Iver.” I was like, “whatever that is, that’s cool!” … Then I found out how it’s spelled and it was sort of disappointing. I didn’t like how it looked. It didn’t have any emotion. Looking at it didn’t make any sense. I wanted to look at it and feel something. It was sort of a compromise. I sorta wanted it to be like “Bon Iverre,” sort of like how I saw it, but that didn’t look good either, so I just decided to chop off the “h.” Bon Iver | Pitchfork

OK, now that you’re caught up. I guess you haven’t been paying attention, but Justin Vernon or Bon Iver (DBA) is one of the luminaries of the music industry. This grammy-winning dude-band has collaborated with Kanye, Jay-Z, James Blake, Travis $cott, Poliça, Ani DiFranco, Vince Staples, Eminem, Bruce Hornsby and more. But if you need me to explain any of this to you, do yourself a favor and go back and listen to his other 3 studio albums. Every one of them is treasure.

Favorite Song: Hey, Ma, a song by Bon Iver on Spotify This song makes the top 5 of all the tracks he’s released.

MUSIC - Honorable Mentions

Amyl and The Sniffers by Amyl and The Sniffers on Spotify

Two Hands by Big Thief on Spotify

I vs I by Alex Ebert on Spotify

Face Stabber by Thee Oh Sees on Spotify

Infest The Rats’ Nest by King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard on Spotify

MOVIES

Hail Satan? (Hulu)

JustWatch

Hilarious look at a group trying to make Free Speech really free.

youtube

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

Duh. Also I got low-key obsessed with cults after I watched this.

MONOS

Incredible Spanish language drama about child soldiers in South America. Great acting by unknowns.

youtube

Green Book -Duh

Duh. Won an Best Picture.

Parasite

Duh. Won Best Picture.

Joker

Duh. Won life.

Greener Grass

JustWatch

The weirdest movie I saw all year. Bizarre and hilarious. Written by the two actresses who star.

Apollo 11

INCREDIBLE documentary about the first moon landing mission featuring a ton of footage I’d never seen and assembled into such a magnificent narrative. You feel like it’s happening in real-time today. The last time mankind was united around one hope.

youtube

SHOWS

The OA - Season 2 (Netflix)

This was one of the most beautiful creations I’ve seen. Epic followup to the first season which seemed like an impossible act to follow. Netflix canned the show, but there’s still hope it will get a resurrection through another venue.

Watchmen (HBO)

This is a sequel to the critically acclaimed graphic novel from the late 80s. You should read the novel first. As stated two sentences ago, this is a sequel set 34 years after the events of the novel.

The Boys (Amazon)

This is the first realistic superhero story. Why have we always assumed that those with superior or supernatural powers would be intrinsically good and seek to served mankind? Regular humans don’t even act like that toward each other. In this world the soops are like paid athletes and are secretly total pricks. Well made and begging for a second season.

Chernobyl (HBO)

Haven’t seen this? What is wrong with you? It’s in the top 5 highest rated shows of all time on IMDB. One thing I’ll note is that it did a good job separating the characterization of the soviet people from the soviet government. The everyday soviet people in the story came out looking like heroes while the government lived up to its reputation. It made me a lot more curious about soviet history which has led me to other movies, books and Wikipedia rabbit holes. Watch this for the historical value, at a minimum. It’s not as gory as you might be afraid it is.

Love Death + Robots (Netflix)

I love sci-fi and I love weird animation so this just brought it home for me. The episodes are often short and sort of feel like Twilight Zone episodes, each with their own mini narrative or moral lesson. Each episode is made by a different creator or team, so the variety is part of the curb appeal. Great binge material.

#lateMusicReviews musicReviews

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followyourtruthandlove · 7 years ago

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Saturday, January 20th: Steve Tannen

(The Weepies)

What compelled him to begin in the first place:

1. Love of music

2. Wanting to write the music, or needing to write

Leonard Cohen lyric “You don’t really care for music do you?”

Not everyone Loves music

(*** Right, wow. So true. And also…Hallelujah)

Ecstatic moments

Memories connected to music

From those moments came what he was trying to connect with this whole time

Memories- related to music. With music. (**Yes. Yes. **)

Didn’t know option be singer songqriter musician

Bc not seen or given as option growing up

No one tells a kid they can be that

But everything was pointing to it always

(**again yes yes**)

Brothers old 5 string guitar out of tune was how his style came to be

Changing melody bc different voice

Poems to music

Trying to do what other people did that made me feel good, badly (music) that who he was emulating badly (((Yes. Yes.)))

(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentameter)

(((GOOGLE: “Deb Talan & Steve Tannen began writing together the night they met in 2001 at Club Passim in Cambridge. Their band's name, The Weepies, is inspired by the term used for old movies that are guaranteed to deliver a good cry, an effect that's certainly true of their subtly intoxicating folk-pop (though they're often tears of joy.) “... WOWWOW)))

4 chords from musician living in mom’s basement teaches him and then he realizes he can do in any way he wants

Revelatory (***oh this word right here***)

Collaborating together is trusting someone

Enough to bounce your ideas off of

Self-critical/ together

Good to have someone you trust

Collaborative process

(AH) Bravery it takes to put yourself out there like that

(((Googling Downtime: https://www.417mag.com/calendar/?search=&category=Music#event-listing ))) ((No other “luck”))

((Wait wait maybe American Beauty?))

(((AH had to get through the fear and moment of terror to get to the next step, had to go through that)))

Challenge he and his wife have for each other

Ex. Open thesaurus point to a word choose a near rhyme, that’s your chorus

Ex. Sit at piano while watching Ghandi opening scene with sound off and write

Edie Carey

(Love that she is doing hers outside)

(Group with AH “Live from New York” ended up being for singer-songwriters)

“Isn’t it funny how that can happen…there’s so many Blanks that have yet to be filled in”

Ani Difranco- That moment – in tears

Realizing she wanted to do this

Gateway artist was Shawn Colvin (saw at 15)

Then always listened to famous people, creating dance routines etc.

Seemed so far away, couldn’t see how to get to where they were

Then when seeing Ani, she was close-up and attainable

Amazing- far from her in terms of skill

But close in proximity- 3 feet a way

Alewaysd loved writing words

If able to work at it, figure out how to play instrument

Can marry singing (always had been a singer) with playing and writing

Was able to see self performing from there

(AH relating – saw WHITNEY HOUSTON ?!?!?! o.m.g. to the unth. Wow. Sync

Thought about how she could never do that)

Felt far like some other creature

(AH saw Indigo Girls liked what they wrote about, liked thinking about what they wrote about in own inner life can help others with their inner life)

Humanness to singer-songwriters

You hear them play this transcendent music

Blows your mind

Followed by humor and/or personal stories (ex. What they had for lunch that day)

Being up close and personal

Close to other human being

Sing magical

Duality

All at the same time

Allows to connect

Care about what those are writing about

( I ) can write about things that are meaningful to me

Singer songwriter music lets you in in an intimate way

Sees fearlessness in self as coming from lack of a filter

Cries when hits on Truth even in happy songs

At least at some point

If she doesn’t cry feels like job isn’t done

Cries= knowing that it’s true

(Emo pain can show up in body ex. Sinus infection-psych related)

( AH: Feeling in people are buried songs bring up and out

Can be scary- do I really want to feel this on the way out

Vs. just thinking picking old scab

Tool for healing)

Writing for selves (Freudian slip?) all of my selves

Has to be feeling it truly- whether reliving past or present

Always helpful

Often tend to be pressioned- (sp.)

Songs telling about things that are going to happen that she is not ready to deal with yet

Some direction or decision, the songs know before she does sometimes

(AH- Learns about self and own interiority through writing in a way that can’t be accessed elsewhere. Engaging in music draws it out of you)

Magic component

Music component can be unconscious in so many ways allows for it to be birthed out of you

In ways that can’t be done in convo with friend

“Mary Gauthier says cocktail conversation”

(“Songwriting: proceed with caution “- AH, “may accelerate person growth”)

Get out of the way bc things are happening before we even realize it

If a song is asking to be written you have to write it

Don’t have to play it

Even if for simply for exercise of writing it

Or experience of healing or revelation or whatever is going to come from it

Gets up really early to start day by writing

Quiet with clear mind to write, an accomplishment for the day

Did “Artist’s Way”- manifesting creativity in your life

Morning pages- before you even put your feet on the floor

Like Draino-ing all the stuff in your head

Loss being freeing

Painful but liberating

Ability to move on, move forward.

Advice: Write lots and lots and lots of songs

Even if meh

Keep digging

Just worry about writing great songs

The kind that make you fall apart in the most beautiful day

Work your butt off

Write true songs

Be true and real, can’t go wrong

People will be drawn bc people will see themselves in them

Has a cheese bar. As in puns etc. Vs. a sad bar (limit)

But write it anyway and then edit

Don’t be editor all the time, wants to open the door

Won’t edit words into metaphor

Lets go bc hasn’t tapped into Spiritual, Universal River that all artists swim in

Need to get there, can’t technical his way into it

So goes back to the river

Getting to the river…Writing, doing.

There’s a sense of connection sort of with have a Home life and kids that fills up some of the insane need for connection that fueled his early writing binges

Some of the fire has changed over time into a slower burning flame

(AH Hammering away…economy of language,

When collaborating and giving feedback-

More often they come from subconscious place

But some are conscious

Regrets more conscious choices

Don’t worry about what the world has to say about where you are or how you are doing it

Just do it, you know you have to do it anyway so just do it.

(“Horrible Failure- living on brothers couch, deb at starbucks)

William Carlos Williams greatest poet American ever produced- and it’s bc he wrote everyday

Being with a writer/ partner can’t imagine one who doesn’t do it- write all the time and see things in that way and in their head by being in the world that way- bc they get it they get eachother and eachother’s “zoning out” bc rhyming/writing in their head and/or finding scraps of paper everywhere.

(AH: Hotel New Hampshire get obsessed and stay obsessed. Great place to put obsessive qualities)

Persist in failure, persist in obscurity, persist in success, persist in failure, persist in obsurcity- Robert Fripp

Arc/art of the artist

Different advice depending on where you are:

If in the

Beginning- don’t be afraid to copy and find out exactly what they did

In singing along you will find your own voice- (who he is sneaks in…sometimes (((yes. Yes.))) )

Had quit writing, someone he dearly loved came over and told him why a failure because not like Cole porter or Robert Johnson writer…

Told he was too complicated, too wordy, too in love with himself, you think your experience is everybody else’s.

A lot of people who become actors or artists have someone in them says “oh yeh” where someone told them no …

(((Gosh I want to be like them. Like that, Love. How wonderful.)))

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hashtagyourshirt · 7 years ago

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200: My crush’s name is: Liz. 199: I was born in: Camden. 198: I am really: aggressive. 197: My cellphone company is: Verizon. 196: My eye color is: blue/grey. 195: My shoe size is: 7/9. 194: My ring size is: 7. 193: My height is: 5′5″ 192: I am allergic to: trees. 191: My 1st car was: Ford Explorer ‘97. 190: My 1st job was: Royal Bargains, Dollar Store. 189: Last book you read: Love is Love. 188: My bed is: too small. 187: My pet: Willers, eventual cause of my death. 186: My best friend: works with me. 185: My favorite shampoo is: Whole Foods. 184: Xbox or ps3: N64. 183: Piggy banks are: stressful. 182: In my pockets: great Alanis Mourisette song. 181: On my calendar: new job tomorrow. 180: Marriage is: a commitment. 179: Spongebob can: be ready. 178: My mom: wants to get matching tattoos. 177: The last three songs I bought were? Sleater-Kinney 176: Last YouTube video watched: Carmilla. 175: How many cousins do you have? 56 first cousins. 174: Do you have any siblings? 1. 173: Are your parents divorced? no. 172: Are you taller than your mom? yes. 171: Do you play an instrument? guitar. 170: What did you do yesterday? went to the zoo with the school. [ I Believe In ] 169: Love at first sight: yep. 168: Luck: yep. 167: Fate: yep. 166: Yourself: eh. 165: Aliens: I hope. 164: Heaven: eh. 163: Hell: eh. 162: God: eh. 161: Horoscopes: yep. 160: Soul mates: yep. 159: Ghosts: eh. 158: Gay Marriage: yep! 157: War: no. 156: Orbs: huh? 155: Magic: in a young girl’s heart. [ This or That ] 154: Hugs or Kisses: hugs. 153: Drunk or High: drunk. 152: Phone or Online: online. 151: Red heads or Black haired: black. 150: Blondes or Brunettes: brunettes. 149: Hot or cold: cold. 148: Summer or winter: summer. 147: Autumn or Spring: autumn. 146: Chocolate or vanilla: chocolate. 145: Night or Day: day. 144: Oranges or Apples: oranges. 143: Curly or Straight hair: curly. 142: McDonalds or Burger King: ew. 141: White Chocolate or Milk Chocolate: milk. 140: Mac or PC: Mac. 139: Flip flops or high heals: flops. 138: Ugly and rich OR sweet and poor: sweet and poor 137: Coke or Pepsi: pepsi. 136: Hillary or Obama: gimme both. 135: Burried or cremated: cremated. 134: Singing or Dancing: singing. 133: Coach or Chanel: Chanel. 132: Kat McPhee or Taylor Hicks: who? 131: Small town or Big city: big city. 130: Wal-Mart or Target: target. 129: Ben Stiller or Adam Sandler: ew. 128: Manicure or Pedicure: EW. 127: East Coast or West Coast: EAST COAST. 126: Your Birthday or Christmas: my birthday. 125: Chocolate or Flowers: flowers. tattooed on me. 124: Disney or Six Flags: disney. 123: Yankees or Red Sox: PHILLIES. [ Here’s What I Think About ] 122: War: Boo. 121: George Bush: BOO. (also how the fuck old is this?) 120: Gay Marriage: YES. 119: The presidential election: BOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! 118: Abortion: should be safe and legal 117: MySpace: high school 116: Reality TV: terrifying 115: Parents: boo. 114: Back stabbers: why did they stab backs? 113: Ebay: supes old 112: Facebook: listens to me 111: Work: exciting now! 110: My Neighbors: new 109: Gas Prices: moderate 108: Designer Clothes: expensive 107: College: long time ago 106: Sports: fun to play, and gay 105: My family: far away (blood) 104: The future: amazing [ Last time I ] 103: Hugged someone: yesterday 102: Last time you ate: yesterday 101: Saw someone I haven’t seen in awhile: yurp (Tuesday) 100: Cried in front of someone: yeah, bit ago. 99: Went to a movie theater: uhhhhhhhh, for Wonder Woman 98: Took a vacation: ONE MONTH UNTIL PARIS 97: Swam in a pool: does a hot tub count? 96: Changed a diaper: this past weekend 95: Got my nails done: ten years ago 94: Went to a wedding: may 2017 93: Broke a bone: never 92: Got a piercing: seven years ago 91: Broke the law: NEVER 90: Texted: like five seconds ago [ MISC ] 89: Who makes you laugh the most: Lizard! 88: Something I will really miss when I leave home is: being at home 87: The last movie I saw: I don’t remember 86: The thing that I’m looking forward to the most: Paris 85: The thing im not looking forward to: getting up 84: People call me: kevy, pronounced KEV - EEEEEEE!!!! 83: The most difficult thing to do is: not bite my fingers 82: I have gotten a speeding ticket: nine years ago 81: My zodiac sign is: taurus 80: The first person i talked to today was: my wife 79: First time you had a crush: like over twenty years ago.... 78: The one person who i can’t hide things from: everyone, but specifically my wife 77: Last time someone said something you were thinking: my bff 76: Right now I am talking to: some friends, wife, some mutuals, tweeting 75: What are you going to do when you grow up: queer counselor (I’m grown!) 74: I have/will get a job: I’m a Special Education Classroom Assistant and a Queer student counselor at a gifted elementary school 73: Tomorrow: bacon, egg, and cheese breakfast 72: Today: book club 71: Next Summer: camp again? 70: Next Weekend: podcast taping (San Junipero) 69: I have these pets: Willers, he’s fucking annoying 68: The worst sound in the world: his fucking meow at 6 am 67: The person that makes me cry the most is: Lena Luthor #pathetic 66: People that make you happy: my friends, my wife 65: Last time I cried: discussing queer politics 64: My friends are: great 63: My computer is: shiny 62: My School: new 61: My Car: piece of shit 60: I lose all respect for people who: have no backbone 59: The movie I cried at was: first girl I loved 58: Your hair color is: dark brown undercut, honey brown/blond on top 57: TV shows you watch: that gay shit. 56: Favorite web site: ao3 55: Your dream vacation: world tour over six months 54: The worst pain I was ever in was: my period pain was horrid about fifteen to thirteen years ago. It’s manageable now, but still the worst. 53: How do you like your steak cooked: bloody 52: My room is: messy 51: My favorite celebrity is: Katie McGrath, Elise Bauman, and Eliza Dushku 50: Where would you like to be: right where I am, but bigger apartment, in better shape, and with more money 49: Do you want children: nope 48: Ever been in love: yup 47: Who’s your best friend: Anne 46: More guy friends or girl friends: all gals 45: One thing that makes you feel great is: finishing something 44: One person that you wish you could see right now: my sis 43: Do you have a 5 year plan: nope 42: Have you made a list of things to do before you die: nope 41: Have you pre-named your children: nope 40: Last person I got mad at: fuckhead in chief 39: I would like to move to: Canada 38: I wish I was a professional: writer [ My Favorites ] 37: Candy: sour s’getti 36: Vehicle: my bike 35: President: Obama 34: State visited: California 33: Cellphone provider: idc 32: Athlete: I was obsessed with roy halladay as a youth 31: Actor: Katie McGrath 30: Actress: Elise Bauman 29: Singer: Ani DiFranco 28: Band: Against Me! 27: Clothing store: thrift store 26: Grocery store: don’t care 25: TV show: all time: Buffy, current: Wynonna Earp 24: Movie: Fried Green Tomatoes 23: Website: ao3 22: Animal: pitbull 21: Theme park: Harry Potter world 20: Holiday: purim, my anniversary 19: Sport to watch: softball 18: Sport to play: softball 17: Magazine: teen vogue 16: Book: dc bombshells 15: Day of the week: Friday (shabbat shalom!) 14: Beach: ocean city, nj 13: Concert attended: tied between Tegan & Sara (2016) and Blink 182, Weezer, and Taking Back Sunday (2009) 12: Thing to cook: steak 11: Food: sandwich 10: Restaurant: Jerry’s 9: Radio station: I do not know her 8: Yankee candle scent: midsummer night 7: Perfume: none 6: Flower: star gazer lily 5: Color: green 4: Talk show host: Ellen 3: Comedian: currently, Rhea Butcher 2: Dog breed: pit/aussie 1: Did you answer all these truthfully? yuh

Repost and do it yourself.

#bored #old type of post #asks

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