Kid In The Front Row Radio: SEPTEMBER 2012

FLANAGAN & ALLEN - UNDER THE ARCHES

There are about twenty 'Flanagan & Allen' songs I'd rather share with you than this one, but I can't find them on YouTube.

Most of their recordings were from during the war, back in the 1940's, and you can hear it in the music. Some of the tracks are directly about the war -- others are about regular things, like love, but you feel the weight of the times in the recordings. Every song feels like it's being sung without knowing if the woman it's about will ever hear it, or if the character in the song will ever make it home to share his feelings.

Modern music can't compete, the stakes are too low. What's interesting about privileged people who's biggest dilemma is whether some girl will text back or not? 'Call Me Maybe'? Don't be ridiculous. We don't care.

Most music these days is a flash in the pan, but Flanagan & Allen's recordings carry history in them. Listen to a few of their tracks and I guarantee you'll be deeply moved, emotionally and physically-- you'll literally feel yourself being transported back to wartime Britain. Magical.

JOANNA WANG - NEW YORK STATE OF MIND

It's a cover of Billy Joel's 'New York State of Mind', which is risky, I know. Some songs should be left alone. But her voice resonates. And just wait until the harmonica comes in. It feels obtrusive and over the top; yet, it totally works! It gets inside of you. Adds a new dimension to the song.

THE WHO - YOU STAND BY ME

We all know how great 'The Who' are. But like all great bands, it's the lesser known tracks that are gold. 'You Stand By Me' was an album track on 2006's 'Endless Wire'. And much like 'Something Good Coming' from Tom Petty's recent 'MOJO' album; this track resonates because it has WISDOM! It's written and sung by someone who's been in and out of the ring his whole life. You feel it in the song.

The relationship he's singing about, you know it's earned it. You know it means something. The lyrics are so simple, and the performance deceptively so. But then all the best things are. A newer band would turn this track into a ballad, but with Pete Townshend it's practically an afterthought, a throwaway. I guess that's what makes it feel so real.

DAVID RUFFIN - WALK AWAY FROM LOVE

How did Motown nail it so consistently? Nobody knows. There must have been something in the water. They'd just get in the studio and start playing. So much magic. Of course, we remember the Marvin Gaye hits and the Stevie Wonder classics; but it's gems like 'Walk Away From Love' by David Ruffin which must never be forgotten!

The great thing about Motown music is how open and honest it was. It was soul music of the highest order; because it actually reached us on a gut level. It sinks into you when you listen in a way that modern music rarely does. The modern acts are too busy being cool, trying to be marketable. Motown will always have a place in my heart, there's nothing like it.

SARA BAREILLES - BASKET CASE

Sara Bareilles is awesome. 'Love Song' was the hit, but that hardly sees important now. She's an artist who quietly records and tours and just gets on with it. I first became a fan by connecting to her amazing cover versions of tracks like 'Sitting on the Dock of the Bay' (Otis Redding) and 'Sullivan Street' (Counting Crows). Now I'm getting round to her original stuff. And wow! Give it a chance. Take the time to stop what you're doing, close your eyes, and listen. Fantastic.

TYLER LYLE - ANYHOW

In a different era, maybe Tyler Lyle would be a huge star, but now he's practically unknown. But don't let that stop you: his music is something special.

Albums don't matter anymore. The only people who think they do are the oldies who still wish the world was Vinyl, and 15 year old hipsters who are bitter they missed out on the days when music mattered.

Yet... Tyler Lyle's album is magical! 'The Golden Age & The Silver Girl' is an album all about ONE GIRL! All the feelings he felt; all the stages he went through. Every track is beautiful.

'Anyhow' is a song about loving someone who doesn't love you back; but you're going to stay the course and love them anyhow until they do. "And you don't see me like I see you, but I'm gonna be here till you do".

TEA LEAF GREEN - I'VE BEEN SEEKING

Only just discovered this band: Tea Leaf Green. Loving what I'm hearing. I dig this song, 'I've Been Seeking'. I love it today and I'll love it when I wake up tomorrow, but will it last the course? That's the beautiful thing about music, you never know which tracks will stick. I hope I love this song as much in the future as much as I do right now, but there's no way of knowing for sure.

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The Bridge Scene & The Ending at Tracy's Door

This might just be the greatest scene from any movie, ever. It's two people sitting on a bench, with their backs to us, in a long shot, talking. And that's all! But it captures the moment perfectly.


And that's what you want from a movie, that's why we crave them: the moments. Of course you need a story and a plot and characters that excite you. But the way they do that, the way they really capture you, is with the magical moments. The best ones feel like an accident, like the crew accidentally kept rolling and magic was somehow captured.

That's why I love this scene in 'Manhattan'. It's the most perfect minute of cinema you could ever hope for. I could talk in a technical way about the Gershwin music, and the dialogue, and the shot composition, but it's not exciting to talk about the nuts and bolts, it's too scientific. The fun is in the moment itself, not in how it was constructed.

The scene feels like every magical moment I've ever had in New York City. It feels like every woman I've ever loved. It feels like life at its absolute best.

And then there's the ending, when Ike gets to Tracy's door, just as she's about to leave for London.


What's great about Woody Allen is how his endings are so open, so realistic. They feel like your life. They're not always happy endings, yet they make you feel good, because they're meaningful. And here, Ike doesn't want her to go, Tracy is the love of his life -- but he has enough wisdom, deep down, to know that she's got to go; she's young and she has the chance to travel and study in London. The whole film; Ike acted as if he was above her; but at the end, it's her that has the wisdom.

"Why couldn't you have brought this up last week?

six months isn't so long. Everyone gets corrupted.

You have to have a little faith in people."

And then the look in Ike's eyes. You see it, RIGHT THERE, in the moment. He gets a little faith. Life has meaning.

What more could you want from a movie? 

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CEMETERY JUNCTION

Early in the morning factory whistle blows 

Man rises from bed and puts on his clothes 

Man takes his lunch

 Walks out in the morning light

 It's the working, the working, just the working life

-Bruce Springsteen  'FACTORY' 

This film really sparks something in me. People can tell you a million times that you only live once, but you never know when it's actually going to HIT you. Luckily, we have films. Hundreds of them can flash by our eyes and leave little impact, but eventually one will -- and it'll strike you to your core. 

I just watched 'Cemetery Junction' for the third time. I loved it more on this viewing then the previous times. When you watch a film the first time, you find out what it's about, you follow the story. The subsequent times, you only watch when you're in the right mood for it. And something, somewhere in me, told me to watch it again tonight. I guess I needed it. 

I watched 'Annie Hall' earlier today - and it was okay. Don't get me wrong, I think it's one of the greatest films ever, but on this particularly viewing, I didn't love it. Your favourite films are like the bands you love -- sometimes they just don't nail it, they have off nights. 

We live within the confines that society constructs for us. Somewhere it's drummed into us that our dreams aren't possible --- that somehow the only thing to do is stay in our comfort zones and gradually try and improve things. It's like when people ask what your plans are, or where you see yourself in five years; we end up confined to climbing ladders in jobs we loath, or we get to an age where we think we should find someone, settle down, and the biggest decisions we face should be when to change the wallpaper. These attitudes get drummed into you from everyone around you -- because so many people have dreams that fell apart, opportunities they never followed up. It's like everyone is sitting around scared, waiting for the day a golden opportunity will land on their laps. 

The country you live in is so small, and the world out there, so big and eventful! This is a film about having your eyes opened to the things and people around you that are limiting your worldview. The small minded friends, the oppressive bosses; 'Cemetery Junction' reminds you that it's all a bunch of bullshit. The world is a giant place, filled with possibilities. When you open yourself up to that, you never know where it might take you, and who you'll meet along the way. 

This film seemed to slip under the radar when it was released. I guess it's not the kind of movie people expect from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Anyway, I think it's a great film and it might just have changed my life a little. 

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Something Good Comin', I Know It Will

It was two years ago when I discovered and got obsessed with 'Something Good Coming' by Tom Petty. I could tell you I'm over it, but I'd be lying. I listen to this song every day. It's still fresh to me.

In some ways, I feel like I know even less about the song now. It's more mysterious to me than it was two years ago. How weird is that?

It's a song about hope, about holding on. Yet it's not like your average pop song; there's a lot of pain in 'Something Good Coming'. Pain and wisdom. It's a guy in his 60's who's been through it, he's seen what life does to you -- but he still believes, through gritted teeth; that something good is coming.

I'm in for the long run

Wherever it goes

Riding the river

Wherever it goes

I blogged about this song on the day I discovered it. I wrote:

"In the hands of a lesser singer, or perhaps even Petty earlier in his career - the song would have been something different. It might have been more obvious; more anthemic, more ballad-like. But that's what gets me about this song; it has so much restraint. It has a voice of experience, a voice of maturity, a voice of pain and a voice of love. And it's all rolled into one."

Two years later, I totally stand by what I said. That's why I love Tom Petty --- this song isn't trying to be a hit, it isn't trying to recreate glory years --- it's an honest statement from where he is in life now. It's simple, quiet, haunting.

Yeah, haunting is the word. It really is.  

I know that look that's on your face

There's something lucky about this place

There's something good coming for you and me

There's something good coming

It has to be.

And the instrumental bit from 2.25-2.44 kills me, absolutely blows me away. Why? I can't explain! Don't you love it when you can't explain something? I'm so sick of everyone always having an explanation for everything. Everyone has an answer, everyone has a commentary. Even me, on this blog -- always turning junk into words (even this post, you could argue). But I love that so much of this song has me stumped.

I'm not pretending I really know what this song is about, and I can't explain what it means to me -- I can only state the facts, which are: this song means everything to me.

There’s somethin’ good comin’
For you and me
Somethin’ good comin’
There has to be

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REJECTION Is A Sign That You're AIMING HIGH

People don't become writers or directors or actors to get paid. Sure, most of us see the end result as being one where we're paid handsomely for our talents. But it's not the driving force behind our choices. If it was, we'd be bankers. We're here because we want to do something that satisfies our souls. And I don't even know what a soul is or whether it exists; but there is definitely this place inside of you, or just outside of you, that soars to the skies when things goes well and empties you out cold when things go bad. It's a place you can't tangibly touch or feel, and you only ever feel it when your dreams get closer to you or further away. 

And it's not just about rejection and being accepted. It's not as simple as that. There are a million different places in between, and you never quite know where you're going to land. 

The rejection story of, 'you were their second choice!" sounds like a great achievement when you hear it, but when you're actually in that second place, the unchosen one, it's so painful. Because you're so so close to your dream, the thing you've worked throughout your whole life to get to, and they snatch it right away from you. After that, you're no longer in second place, you're back with everyone else, sitting at home wondering what you have to do to get back in the game. 

It's hard. It's really hard. It's not just about employment. It's about more than that. You can be happily employed and earning money when another opportunity comes along -- maybe an audition for a Broadway play, or a chance to get your movie made in LA--- and you can get so close to it. Somebody is reading your script, somebody is watching your audition tape---- you get closer and closer. 

And then they don't want you. 

If you get cast in the big Hollywood movie, or you get hired to write the BBC drama; you're set. At least for a while, you've nailed it, you've landed. Sometimes it's a drawn out process--- you're under consideration. They want you, but the producers might go with a known name, or the production company are considering another project instead --- they just keep you hanging there and hanging there. 

And then they take it away. It's just like that. 

There are no prizes for not being selected. You were second choice to write that movie? You would've been cast in that flick if Jude Law wasn't available? This stuff means nothing when it comes down to it. 

Of course, it does mean something. Ten years ago you'd never have dreamed of getting this close. It's like that famous quote about people quitting right around the time they're about to succeed. 

It's just that most people don't understand how hard it is to work in this industry; because every time: it's a risk. It never gets easier for an actor to walk into that audition room to impress strangers. And it's always terrifying when you hand your script over. You are putting your dreams into the hands of other people. You're saying "I'm an artist!" and they have the power to say "ummm, maybe, but we're gonna go with the other guy."

Often the job is perfect for you. The job was made specifically for YOU. But you don't get it. 

That's life. That's the movies. 

This is a common thing in the life of the actor. And this year I've discovered that it's pretty common for writers as well. I'm writing this blog post today because I think many of you who work in the industry will relate to it. And it's good to not feel alone right? It's good to remember that these heartbreaking rejections are a result of AIMING HIGH. You are doing everything you can to follow your dreams, and that's amazing. That's living!

Today; I didn't get the writing gig I was, I thought, destined for. And one of my best friends fucked up an audition that he was really keen on. I sent him a text a bit earlier tonight, saying that we're lucky. Because some people never experience these excruciating lows, because they're not even trying! They're not risking it! 

So we're going to sit around and mope for the rest of today. Maybe we can drag it out over the weekend. 

But by the time Monday arrives, we'll be chasing the dream again. 

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