I was just finishing preparing dinner the other night when I heard a very familiar guitar riff. I left what I was doing to run to the living room, which sounds dramatic, but it’s literally five steps away.
Rewinding twenty-seven years or so, I was modestly famous among my friends in grad school for my uncanny ability to identify a song – title and artist – by hearing only the first half-second of the opening chord. We Are Family! Sister Sledge! I would yell at Name That Tune Night in the grad lounge. I Am Woman! Helen Reddy! My abilities meant our team consistently came in first, although I don’t think I would be able to do that now, with any kind of modern music. And by “modern,” I mean music that came out this millennium. Maybe I’d be able to identify some Pitbull or Eminem, but even so, I would have to hear at least thirty seconds of a song before accurately naming it.
But essentially any song from the last century I’m good at both identifying and also singing all the lyrics to, and when I heard that familiar guitar whine I was excited because I knew Jesus Christ Superstar was on TV. Why now? I have no idea. I always think of it as an Easter show, but here we are, in September, learning about the Crucifixion.
The very best part of Jesus Christ Superstar is the beginning, when all those hippies are getting ready for the play. I could watch the overture over and over. I love seeing them create – and strike – the set, and getting into their characters. I also love Herod’s Song – who doesn’t? prove to me that you’re divine, change my water into wine – but honestly, the whole musical is kind of bland to me. Don’t you get me wrong but other than three or four songs, I think the music is boring and the whole thing is kind of a downer. You might be saying to yourself well, consider the subject matter, but the American war of independence, political corruption in Argentina, and a creepy disfigured man living underneath an opera house who is obsessed with a young ingenue singing his arias are not exactly uplifting either, and yet I love every moment of Hamilton, Evita, and The Phantom of the Opera.
I love musicals generally so I was very excited to be invited to watch Mamma Mia! with the girls at my friend Carolyn’s home theatre (HI CAROLYN). When I say “home theatre” I mean she actually has a literal theatre in her home. It’s one of the most incredible things I have ever seen inside someone’s house. Anyway, given my deep love for disco generally and ABBA specifically, it was surprising that I hadn’t ever seen this before, but I hadn’t, and I found it absolutely delightful. PIERCE BROSNAN AND COLIN FIRTH. Rawr. That girl seems too young to get married, I thought, like the aged woman that I am, but what a fun movie. Plus, did I mention Pierce Brosnan and Colin Firth.
It occurs to me that there are many, many pop culture mainstays that I have never observed myself, although I am well aware of their contribution to our society. For example, I have never seen a single episode of Cheers, the movie Groundhog Day, or Star Trek in any iteration. I have never watched Gilmore Girls, Dawson’s Creek, or The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, although I can to this day rap every single word to Parents Just Don’t Understand. Okay, here’s the situation, my parents went away on a week’s vacation…
Everyone could save time by just assuming that the answer is “no” when wondering if I have seen any film or television adaptation of any book, ever, other than Little Women or a Jane Austen. I reread Bridget Jones’ Diary so many times that I have parts memorized, although now it seems very dated and quite toxic. I have never seen the movie, though, because I loved the book so much at the time that I couldn’t bear to see anything changed, even if Colin Firth WAS in it. That’s right, Mr Darcy himself couldn’t change my mind.
Weekly Reading
I have SO much to talk about this week, in terms of reading. Here we go!
The Burnout. This is a very cute, light read about a woman named Sasha who is suffering burnout at work; after a small breakdown she heads for the beach that she frequented as a child to stay at the once-fancy hotel. The hotel has gone through some rough times, and honestly the hotel staff and description of the issues are hilarious. She meets up with a man who is similarly burned out AND also frequented this same beach as a child. You can probably guess what happens! Let’s not overthink this. It’s just fun.
Every Last One. This is the type of book I like thinking about more than I liked reading, if that makes sense. It follows a family in a small town in which there are many interconnected characters – kids’ friends’ parents are the parents’ friends – and a massive tragedy strikes. I thought I knew how things were going to go in this book and so I was very surprised when, after kind of a sleepy first half, there was a massively dramatic event halfway through. I think if you’ve ever parented teens you will recognize the particular challenges involved here, even without the tragedy. But the book begs the question: if you build your entire life around your kids, what happens when they aren’t around? I found myself thinking about this book a lot, but as I said, I didn’t love it. The writing style hops back and forth in time, which is interesting but can be a bit confusing. It’s a little slow and sleepy, even with the Big Dramatic Event.
Long Island. This is the sequel to Brooklyn, which I recently read, and despite the title, it mainly takes place in Ireland in 1976. After our protagonist Eilis discovers that not only has her husband slept with another woman, that woman is pregnant. The pregnant woman’s husband is going to just…deliver the baby to Eilis and her husband to raise, as he will not raise a child who is not his. What? Well, Eilis does not want anything to do with this baby, but her in-laws – who live next door, I feel seen – do. This strange storyline is the reason Eilis decides to go visit her mother in Ireland, who is turning 80, where she reconnects with an old flame. My friend Hailey (HI HAILEY) described this as a book where the characters have big emotions and face big issues, but the author only skims the surface, and I think that’s a perfect description. But, as with Brooklyn, I was left wanting more, wanting to know what happens next. And I didn’t get that. Maybe it’s the setup for another sequel.
We are now officially in fall! Happy first week of fall, friends! xo
Testing
I don’t know what you’re testing, but you get an A!
I don’t really watch television much, but even I have seen Gilmore Girls and Dawson’s Creek. Pacey was sooooo dreamy. Ahem.
Every since I read the foreword that Quindlen wrote for ATGIB, I keep thinking I should read one of her books. And then I don’t. And reviews like this don’t encourage me to, if you know what I mean.
Ahhhh thank goodness your comment worked! I’m testing this exactly, having trouble with my comment box. Thanks Engie!
I remember Jesus Christ Superstar being a revelation to Catholic School me–like mind-blowing! Mamma Mia is so, so much fun! I remember going to the Broadway show with my sister and I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve watched the movie with my kids. Yes, I too think she is too young to get married, but I think they acknowledge that, no? I could NOT get into Gilmore Girls, but I rewatch eps of Dawson’s Creek because its familiarity is comforting and can put me to sleep… I wouldn’t *actively* recommend either show or the Bridget Jones movie adaptation either though.
What an odd premise for that Colm Toibin book… I’d happily take the baby, but I wouldn’t give up the baby (If that makes sense). I remember Sophie Kinsella books being given away with women’s magazines in the U.K. (the whole thing would come in a sealed plastic bag!). Do you read Sally Rooney? She’s Irish like Toibin… Her work seems fairly bland, but her Gaeilge and politics are fire and I love her for that so much!
This is what I mean, Maya, there are so many layers there that get barely touched on. So the premise is that the husband of the pregnant woman WILL NOT have a baby that’s not his in the house, so he’s going to just…drop the baby off with the bio dad and Eilis, his wife. Take a minute to unpack that. But Eilis WILL NOT have a baby who is not hers in the house because she is betrayed by her husband, she has grown children already and WILL NOT raise another woman’s baby. So they are at this impasse. And then we kind of find out what happens, but not really. There’s just so much more to it but that’s all we get as readers.
I did read Normal People and didn’t like it for some reason (it was a while back) so I’ve never really revisited Rooney.
Re: Mamma Mia – they do say that she’s really young to get married but I feel like she looks even younger than that! But, maybe that’s a sign of age.
My 6th grade music class did a unit on JCS. We listened to it all the way through over the course of a couple classes, discussed it, and learned to sing a couple of the songs, including “I Don’t Know How to Love Him.” And this was a different school than the 3rd grade chorus performance of “Light My Fire.” The 70s were a wild time, what can I say? I still listen to it every year around Easter. When the director of North’s musical theater camp was considering it as a show one summer I was thinking North would be a fabulous Herod, but the director ended up going with another show.
You might like Gilmore Girls, but it’s a big commitment, seven season of 20+ hour-long episodes. We started it when North was 14 and we still have almost 2 seasons left, despite my saying over and over I wanted to finish it before they left for college so we didn’t end up with a Buffy situation. We were less than halfway through that when Noah left for college but thanks to covid and his prolonged period of unemployment we did end up finishing it, not that I’m wishing for another global pandemic or a long job search for North post-college.
Ooooh they WOULD have been a great Herod! Herod steals the show IMO, even in the beginning when he’s fluffing up his hair and preparing for the stage.
I am DYING about the songs. Thanks for the Light My Fire reminder. Try to set the night on fiirrrrreee. Ah, the 70s.
p.s. We watched Mama Mia recently. It was fun.
I love musicals! I watched Mama Mia2 first in the theater and then watched Mama Mia at home a few days later. The music makes you wanna get up and dance! LOL
I’m the opposite of you — I could never identify songs! LOL I recognize many but I guess I never paid attention to titles.
I did not watch a lot of TV shows/series, either. I was never a TV-watcher so I guess that’s my excuse. I usually have my head buried in a book instead. But a few years ago, when my brain couldn’t concentrate on books, I binged on TV shows: Seinfeld, Schitt’s Creek, Grace and Frankie. And also Monk and Ugly Betty. And enjoyed them all!
Oh, I also just finished Every Last One! It is slow and sleepy but once I got used the rhythm, it was fine. It certainly had parts I never expected, including one political jab. That tragedy…the idea just killed me!
~M~
I love love LOVE all ABBA music so you can bet I was doing some seat dancing.
Seinfeld and Schitt’s Creek are two of my very favourite shows ever! Some of Seinfeld doesn’t age well but mostly it’s really great.
The tragedy of that story! I just…I did NOT expect it at all.
I meant to say this to you last week, so I am saying it now: I cannot wait to hear your take on Long Island Compromise. I read it last week and I think some of our blog friends have vastly different takes on it, and there are some Very Appalling Parts, but I also found it hilarious and ultimately quite moving. So. I hope you are reading it SOON.
Like you, I have some major gaps in my television/movie viewing history. This is partly because we lived in the country and had five television channels for most of my childhood, and one of them was PBS. It is partly because my parents, who never ever censored any book from me, which is how I came to read Scruples by Judith Krantz in middle school, were much stricter when it came to movies. It’s hard to think of things you HAVEN’T seen, so I am impressed by your list. All I can think of is Speed; I never saw that. There were a lot of other ones, you’ll just have to trust me.
I CANNOT WAIT TO READ IT!!!
Oh I actually HAVE seen Speed! I think I saw it in the theatre. And weirdly I saw Terminator 2 but not the original Terminator. I have also never seen an entire Indiana Jones movie from start to finish.
Wait, did we talk about this? Did you read VC Andrews?
Hi
Friends of ours mentioned a week ago that they remember how good I was with naming songs by just one sentence of lyrics. This was pre-internet, back in the mid-90’s and there was this 100 song lyric paper going around the office and people were amazed that I was naming the songs left and right. Think ‘Animals strike curious poses’ I think most people just don’t know the actual lyrics to songs. You and I would make a great musical trivia team.
I know nothing about movies in the 21st century. Nothing, because I’ve seen about five, and they were all child-related. And I don’t know many modern musicals and their songs. Just the old ones. But I’ve never seen Jesus Christ Superstar or know any of its songs, so maybe not that many old ones! 🙂
“They feel the heat! The heat between me and you!” We would make a great team, Bijoux!
I’ve seen more than five movies from this century but literally nothing is coming to mind right now.
I didn’t see Ground Hog Day until a few years ago, and honestly it didn’t add anything to my life so I’d say this is a good one to not have watched – I’m happy that other people like it and happy that I never have to see it again. My Star Trek journey was watching a few episodes with the fam, and I remember Bridget Jones being a pretty good adaptation though of course it could never have been as good as the book. Otherwise I match your “I’ve never seen that list”.
The Burnout sounds very fun! It also sounds like it would be a good transition book once I finish the Amish murder mystery series (2.5 books to go!). Every Last One really hit with me, and I still think about it a lot.
I didn’t realize that suicide featured so highly in Groundhog Day – I heard a podcast discuss it and I was surprised. I just knew the “same day over and over” thing.
The Burnout was just a fun light book – a good palate cleanser after the intense Bee Sting that I just read prior to that.
I so felt what you were saying about Jesus Christ Superstar; there are a couple of moments that just grab me, but the rest is just so heavy and sad. PS: The Mamma Mia! movie is one of my comfort watches – Pierce Bronsan AND Colin Firth!?!? Here we go again, indeed!
And the music in JCS is just not that great. Except maybe What’s the Buzz – I like that one.
OMG on your view! I am just stunned by the beauty that is your living/dining/windows.
Likely you will never bother to watch Gilmore Girls, so I will just tell you that the best reason to watch it is Emily. I will watch it just for her, she’s hilarious. And mean. I would not want her as a mother, for sure.
I read Every Last One years ago (2011 maybe?) and I still remember the event that happens 1/2 way through. That book was a page turner for me.
Thanks J, I am also stunned by the view on the daily! It never gets old.
I find myself thinking about Every Last One a lot. There are so many layers in there.
Coach is possibly your equal in naming tunes after only a few notes of music. He knows the names of obscure artists, which blows the mind – because I think we are lucky that he remembers the names of our offspring. He’s funny that way. I’m the polar opposite – no idea who sings what, what year they sang it. or what group they were with when the song was released. And, I’ve never seen Jesus Christ Superstar. But I saw an ad for Les Mis today and wondered if we could get away with buying tix for the family for Christmas and not buying other gifts (that no one needs). I do appreciate a good musical.
I read Brooklyn, and I thought it was fine but I didn’t get the hype. I wanted to crazy about it, but it didn’t happen. Not sure I’ll bother with this one. Dig in, author, is what I want to say – tell us the deets.
Hahahaha Coach and the names of his offspring. I mean, I can understand.
Les Mis is SO good, that’s a great idea for a Christmas gift.
I wondered what you would think about Brooklyn, being it’s about Ireland and an Irish girl – and I think we agree, there was a lot there but it wasn’t really delved into.
Okay just checking back. Seems like everyone but me was able to leave a comment so let’s try this again! Let’s see… I love the music for Jesus Christ Superstar! Maybe the show itself isn’t quite as gripping as the others you mentioned. And, I LOVED Every Last One. It’s fun that you described it as “slow and sleepy” though, because that’s how I felt about all the other Anna Quindlen books I’ve read. The Gigantic Tragedy really pepped this one up for me. And, the plot of Long Island sounds really interesting, but I’m annoyed on your behalf that you were left wanting more.
You should see Groundhog Day! It’s good!
No no, Jenny, there was a problem on my end that got gradually fixed, so it’s not you, it’s me.
YES the plot of Long Island is interesting but…it didn’t really get into it. I will say the big event in Every Last One did pep it up for me, but I still didn’t love it.
I’ve never seen Jesus Christ Superstar, Gilmore Girls, Dawson’s Creek, or Groundhog Day. A person can only watch so much stuff! Ha! Ha! But I did see Mama Mia and LOVED it so much! Now that we have streaming TV, I’m getting quite the watch list of shows I missed back in the day!
I agree, a person CAN only watch so much stuff, and right now I’m in the midst of NYPD Blue Season 2 so I probably won’t see anything else this year!
I did see some of Gilmore Girls and some of Dawson’s Creek but not all of either series. I feel like they’re both forgettable but at the time were cultural touch points.
I HAVE seen Groundhog Day – it was one of the first movies I saw with my husband before we were officially dating so I spent the whole movie hoping we would casually brush hands (aka: not really paying attention). It’s funny and I have fond memories of it because of the association with young love, but yes – suicide is definitely trivialized (he gets tired of living the same day over and over so for a while starts killing himself first thing in the day, but slowly decides to use each day to make it better for others around him).
My husband can quote just about every famous movie line in the world and I am lucky if I can remember the plot to a movie I watched an hour ago. I’m not much better with song lyrics. Again, he’s amazing at it. Must be something to do with how our brain processes and stores these sorts of things? I’ve always been jealous of his skill in this area! All that to say: I’M IMPRESSED, NICOLE!
Awwwww that is so CUTE Elisabeth!!! I love that. I mean the date, obviously, not the trivializing of suicide.
Well, I’m with you on the plot thing, I have a hard time remembering plots of movies. Or even of books if I haven’t read them recently!
That’s my husband Tony! He can name any tune, anywhere, any time. See, I have an excuse- I did not grow up in American culture so I am not that skilled lol There were some very rare occasions where I did name a tune/a movie line and he was very surprised! But it happened, like, twice for 13 years of marriage 😉
But yes, Colin Firth and Pierce Brosnan – YES.
Oh yes, Daria, I can imagine you wouldn’t have much frame of reference for American pop culture!
I can also identify a song just like that! I almost made it onto a game show years ago because of my talent—so close!
There are so many things I haven’t seen, like Dawson’s Creek, Star Trek, and Jesus Christ Superstar. However, I have seen Gilmore Girls, and I highly recommend it, especially this time of year. It’s such a cozy show!
Your home is so beautiful. That view. ❤️
OMG we could be a team! A Name That Tune team!
Maybe one day I will watch Gilmore Girls, right now I have seven seasons of NYPD Blue to get through!
Usually I enjoy Anna Quindlen’s books but I thought Every Last One was strange and painful. I loved her newest one, After Annie (though it is painful in its own way).
I had that one on hold and after I read Every Last One, I wasn’t sure if I should cancel the hold – but if you say so I’m going to read it! Whenever it gets in, that is.
Cheers, seen most of it. Groundhog Day, seen many times. Star Trek, pretty much a fan in any iteration. As for Gilmore Girls, seen a few episodes. Dawson’s Creek, never seen it. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, never seen it. Not sure what I’ve said here, but it seemed like I should say it.
We only overlap a little bit then, Ally!
Wow, um, I didn’t remember the suicide thing in Groundhog Day, so I guess it did not resonate with me that much. Actually I liked Bill Murray in SNL, but am not a huge fan of most of his movies. Kill me, but Caddyshack? Blech. I don’t even know if I watched the entire thing; all I remember is something about a gopher. However, I am like Suzanne in that I lived in the country, and had NO television channels, so I also did not watch the Fresh Prince or any of the normal shows that everyone talks about. Interestingly, due to this, I grew up reading a lot and have not really watched many movies or TV shows still. However, my brother, who grew up in the same house in the same era is a movie FIEND. Go figure.
I don’t think I saw Jesus Christ, but I think I did see Joseph and the Technicolored Dreamcoat on stage in San Francisco. I also saw both Mama Mia on stage, and went to a singalong Mama Mia, but never have seen the movie with…..drool…Colin and Pierce. I have seen Bridget and mostly liked it because of Colin.
Also, not to hop around, but, despite not having TV, my Mom would have people tape, or she would get VHS tapes for Star Trek, and she loved ALL of the iterations, so I have seen a lot of all of them, and know things about Klingons and Ferengi that you would be shocked and awed by.
I’ve never seen Caddyshack! It’s one of my dad’s favourites though, so I have a bit of an idea what it’s about.
I also have never seen the Technicolour Dreamcoat – I remember when it was so popular, but at the time I was obsessed with Phantom!
I’m pretty sure I was not allowed to see Jesus Christ Superstar because of sacrilege reasons. Oh, growing up evangelical Christian was a DELIGHT.
I am also the person who is always like “nope, did not see that movie” when people ask. I have seen Gilmore Girls and it’s one of my all-time favorites. It’s my comfort watch now. But there are so many other shows that were so BIG and I never saw them: Dawson’s Creek, Lost, The OC, Sex and the City, etc. No Star Wars OR Star Trek for me.
I liked Star Wars, originally, like the first three movies. Now though, it’s a big “wait who IS that” for me. One of my sons really liked it but even for him there are too many shows and he says they are pretty bad.
Wow, no Sex and the City! I guess you were young for it. It was SUCH a big deal to me, but then I was in my twenties.
I used to be into Musicals when I was younger, especially the Andrew Loyd Webber ones that were super-popular in Germany. Did you know they wrote German lyrics for all of them? Amazing! For some I probably never heard the originals.