Blog Archives
Bringing “Boomshakalaka” Back…akalaka
Kids today really need to get outside more…
so they find an arcade to play NBA Jam.
As vintage arcades continue to pop-up around the country (at least 2 in Columbus, Ohio) with NBA Jam being one of the prized centerpieces along with Mortal Kombat and Asteroids, my dad introduced me to the greatest basketball video game ever made in the form of a compact disc for the PC. Burning the nets and climbing two stories for a monster dunk was a thrill-a-minute. Playing this video game with friends was (and is) always a blast.
For this Throwback Thursday, I present to you the fascinating backstory of the popular video game NBA Jam.
Going head-to-head with friends in NBA Jam makes for an awesome time, especially when rediscovering your youth at an arcade. And the games are also intensely competitive. But when I was younger and my dad took a break from his work to challenge me or vice versa, those days were fun curve balls (wrong sport, but you get the point). It was as if I had discovered this secret portal in the universe because I had a dad who liked to play (and was pretty good at) video games.
Boomshakalaka!
Coldplay’s Night-Light
Coldplay isn’t just good at warm tributes, they’re also pretty good at this whole “performing” thing.
Zero score and four years ago, I was in Los Angeles, California and saw Coldplay at the picturesque Hollywood Bowl. My dad and I were halfway up in the center, which made for an awesome view. Setting wise, few (if any) outdoor venues compare. The serene SoCal evening was electrified by the pulsating sound of the pop music quartet from across the pond, bringing a random collection of fans together in a way only a concert can do. A few songs in and strangers in the rows in front of and behind us transformed into fast friends.
The power of music strikes again.
To celebrate Throwback Thursday, here’s a unique look back at that night in the Hollywood Hills.
The visual artistry from that night was unforgettable. In nearly every concert, the highlight is the musical act. Except, as the 2012 show in the Hollywood Bowl revealed, there were clearly two headliners: Coldplay and the projection designers. The end result was a concert that hypnotized every person in attendance into singing and dancing.
Even Charlie Brown had a smile on his face.
P.S. Coldplay’s “Charlie Brown” circa 2012 Hollywood Bowl.
(FYI: It should be mentioned that there’s a solitary four-letter word dropped at the 2:46 mark)
P.P.S. The wristbands lit up during specific songs and moments, adding to the magical feel of the Coldplay experience.
Violins Have a Fuse?
What if movies existed in the late 1700s?
Beethoven’s Symphony No. 5 and Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 defined music in the late 18th century and early into the 19th century. John Williams and Hans Zimmer have arguably made the same contribution with definitive styles and sounds to musical compositions in the late 20th century and early into the 21st century.
Add composer Danny Elfman and artist Artie Kane to the honorable mention list.
And add violinist extraordinaire and movie super fan Taylor Davis as well…?
Inspired by her fandom of a B-movie classic from 1996, violinist Taylor Davis achieved a new, cool level of nostalgic vindication as the cinematic fuse dramatically burns. She beautifully bridged two moments in time separated by nearly four centuries (the creation of the violin and a movie soundtrack) for the original performance above that’s primed for social media sharing. Pop culture is often regarded as a lesser art form. That’s the truth, rightly and wrongly. And yet, absent a fondness for decade defined by brilliant major motion pictures, including Mission: Impossible, the creativity and skill shown by modern musician Taylor Davis wouldn’t exist.
The talent of Ms. Davis makes one wonder about the shelf-life of film scores. As a longtime fan of movie soundtracks, my vote is indisputably in the category that music written and performed for movies are tragically underrated. Why aren’t songs from popular film scores played on the radio?
Some movie soundtracks and its unforgettable instrumentals reveal musical genius.
At least I know Taylor Davis agrees with that sentiment.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 