Becky's Greatest Hits Vol. II

 Oh, Adam.....you majestic whiny delicate artist of a man.  If I had known you, I know I would have dated you and then hated you. I did and still do love Counting Crows and Adam.  I love how this documentary really takes you back to the 90's......the time of sensitive, intelligent bands and singer-songwriters.  I like how Adam is willing to make fun of himself and the time we all lived in because it did generate it's share of jokes.  I love that he talks about his dreadlocks and his old romances and how different celebrity culture is now.  It makes me glad that the culture, by and large, has stopped punching down, takes mental health more seriously and looks back with nostalgia at what was truly a very, real and sincere time of creativity in America.   My favorite part of this doc on former First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson, is that it is told in her own voice from her recorded audio diaries.  What a gift her lovely Texas voice is!  I love h...

 I liked Hole well enough back in the day, but never knew much about their personnel.  So I didn't really understand the mighty might of Patty Schemel. Again, you can't beat listening to this as an audiobook.  Patty's voice, her deadpan delivery and somewhat deadpan view of this time in her life sets a real mood that will take you straight back to the cold blue greys of 90's rock.   And just like Kathleen Hanna's book , this memoir offers up opinions on Courtney Love and Kurt Cobain, which will make you feel some kind of way toward both of them.  The thing I most hated was realizing that Kurt taught Patty how to fix.  It's not shocking....but it is still sad.  It's amazing that Patty lived through all this.  And anyone who studies rock stars will often say that, but that realization is VERY true with Patty.  She brushed up against death and tragedy way too many times.   I finished this memoir and went back and watched video of ...

 

 Today is the birthday of one of my oldest friends.  We met in line getting our I.D. badges made in college.  I guess we had been at school a day or two at that point.  That was over 30 years ago and here we are.  Both hitting 50.  Life has moved, changed, continued and gone on. When I think about my old friends, ones I've known since young adulthood and even childhood, I often think about how we're the same but different.  Our spirits and general nature stays the same, but often our behaviors and dispositions get a little more fluid.   I know women who were feisty spitfires as girls who are now fierce Mama Bears and conscientious movers and shakers in their careers.  I know gentle-spirited women who have raised very sweet, empathic children. I've seen friendly spirited, charismatic dudes become very good at selling the world and selling themselves.  I've seen shy guys come into their own in middle age and quiet women become ferocio...

 Another audiobook in which the sound of the author's voice is everything.   Ione Skye is a semi-interesting women who can definitely speak to a very memorable time of Hollywood and music in the late 80's to late 90's.   However, I unfortunately didn't love this book.  The more I read, she seemed less like a survivor and more like a woman hanging on to every sad soggy crust thrown out by a man.  And I just can't help but feel that it's sad when a woman is most known by the men in her life: her worthless hippie dad, Donovan; let's call a spade a pedophile, Anthony Kiedis, probably the best man she ever met, Adam Horovitz; let me have a baby with a rich guy I barely know, David Netto; and then yeah this guy will do, Ben Lee. I know, I know.  I shouldn't be so mean.  But listening to her story truly made me feel that there are about 867,000 other women out there with more interesting stories.  And luckily, I've read a ton of them. As a big ...

  "Why do people always think women that are hurt were messed with as kids?  No. They were messed with as women."  (Frankie & Johnny, 1991) 

 Let's start with confessions...... Confession #1: I was never a Riot Grrrl.  Even though I was the perfect age and demographic, it just wasn't my thing.  I didn't have that kind of anger.  Confession #2: I never really dug Kathleen Hanna.  And I'm actually still on the bubble with her. Confession #3: As a writer myself, I understand how a memoir will always be your way of telling  YOUR side of the story. Confession #4: As wacky as she is, I'm Team Courtney for life. All this being said, this is a great memoir.  I recommend listening to the audiobook instead of reading to hear Kathleen's voice and raw emotion in some parts.   Her difficult 70's childhood, late 80's college education and 90's punk rock Pacific Northwest lifestyle are either relatable, memorable or terrifying. I had a different kind of life myself.  I grew up and went to college as more of Lilith Fair feminist.....let's all hold hands and sing "Closer to Fine" with the I...

 With a great new record, Happiness Bastards, and all the old hits we wanted, The Black Crowes did not disappoint in Charlotte last night. (Photo by Shutter 16 Magazine) The energy was awesome, the old school carnival stage set-up was cool and Chris Robinson's voice was still strong and wild.   (Photo by Shutter 16 Magazine) I also dug seeing my man, Chris, after all these years.  His dancing, swagger, vocals and Mick Jagger impersonation were on point. There's plenty of other items to report on: the middle-aged pre-gaming at local watering holes, the high jinx of the very high balcony seats and the overall bro fest that the show seemed to be.   But believe me y'all......that is a WHOLE other post.......

  You dudes can do whatever you want, as long as you play "Jealous Again" and "Twice as Hard".  

 The death of Toby Keith leaves me, like so many events at my age, with mixed emotions.   At only 62, he feels like an older contemporary now.  But back in college when I came to adore Toby, he was a sexy, older singer that made me feel woo'd and charmed when he sang about wishing he was a cowboy.  He was a country boy that seemed both innocent and world-weary with dreamy eyes and a deep vibrato.  I just knew that his hands were rough from work but his heart was warm.  It had to be.  On "He Ain't Worth Missing" he gave us girls hope for the next terrible boy that would only break our hearts again.  And boy, were we ready for it!  He made us want to give that good friend a try.....the boy we kept pushing to the waiting line.  Maybe he could be the one! Later as an adult and a divorcee, his lament of a lost marriage in "Who's That Man" cut me right to the quick.  Even though Toby was married to his wife, Tricia, since the 80's he...

 Have you ever heard of the idea that if you don't know who the crazy person is in your family that it's probably you?  Or who the loud nut of your crowd is?  Or maybe the drama queen/king?  The fact is that if you're not sure who the stereotype or trope belongs to, chances are it's probably you.  I know mine.  Although it may have taken me years to figure it out.   I'm the female version of Jerry Maguire. I'm a little bit cute and charming.  Pretty good at my job.  Pretty good at my friends.  In some ways successful and in some ways a mess, but overall, have a pretty good outward appearance. The people in my pool of heterosexuality like me.  I have no trouble getting dates.  One might even call me a bit of a serial monogamist.  But do I have trouble making it last?  Do I have trouble falling in and out of love?  Well, that might be another story. Do I sing in my car and dance to my victories?  Do I wri...

 I will readily admit that I have really gone back and forth on my feelings about the S&TC reboot, "And Just Like That".  I absolutely HATED the first season.  I was so shocked when Big died, that I honestly cried out "goddamm!" And at first, I was really mad about this unexpected plot twist.  Until I remembered what Carrie is all about.  Carrie is about chasing love and finding herself.  Carrie is about self-reflection.  Carrie, like the infamous Don Draper, is about ennui.   (Quick aside, do you think Don Draper is a little bit like Mr. Big?  Discuss.  Then imagine Carrie with Don.  It's not a tough leap if you think about it.) But on with our story here.  Carrie is a thinker.  She's always up in her head.  If she's happily married, that's hard to do.  What kind of content do you have to play with?  Carrie chasing after something she can't have is all we know.  Even in the S&TC movies....

Yes yes, ya'll.  This still exists: Eff the 90's I recently found this after trying to prove to a coworker that I USED TO BE a snarky music writer.  Finding this was like a hidden stinky prize inside an old gym bag.  It may also be the only "child" my ex and I can claim together.   Grab a Zima and come snark it up.  You know you want to.....

 I thought Bama Rush was going to be an insipid, brain-dead watch for me to wind down my week with.  It may even give me a laugh as I recalled my own short-lived sorority days. I was so wrong.  This documentary is quite insightful and lovely.   And scary.  And sad.  And painful. First off, some background of many things I had no idea about: *Rushing today is nothing like it was in the 90's when I was in school.  Young ladies sometimes actually choose their colleges based on sorority options. *University of Alabama's rushing activities have become very popular on TikTok in the last few years with the hashtag #bamarush.  Apparently all kinds of people (except me) have been following this with devotion. *There are consultants available to help young PNM's (Potential New Members) achieve a bid from their preferred house. *The use of iPhones has dramatically changed everything we once knew about college life, Greek life....and well.....life in gen...

 I was listening to a podcast recently about the problems of the corporate world, and nearly every assertion was pitting millennials against boomers.  It kinda reminded me of this over-used meme: And just as Gen Z was being brought into the mix of work life and I was beginning to feel really sad and left out the moderators said something kinda like "we're not mentioning Gen X because their numbers are really so small and really don't factor into this dynamic".  Um, Jayden, whut? This was a discussion about work life.  About corporate culture.  And these turds, either young millennials or older zennials didn't think Gen X had a part in the discussion.  Who exactly do you think your bosses are, sweetie?  It ain't a boomer.  Not today.  He's a stock holder.  He's a CEO.  Your manager, your supervisor, your boss?  Is a Gen Xer. How did Gen X get left by the wayside?  I've read hundreds of articles about this.  Some say it...

  Sigh.  So much to unpack here.  First of all, I knew I wasn't going to like this book going in after I listened to a podcast review of it. The moderators said that Perry is selfish, rude and basically hates all women and treats them as the beautiful objects they are......even his own mother......with barely-veiled disdain. They were correct on all counts. Second of all, I have had my fair share of experience with addicts and I can say without hesitation that they are the most selfish people on earth. Artistic endeavors often paint them as sad, often misunderstood characters but with so much charm they are still somehow beloved. Not so in this case. I really dislike Matthew Perry after reading this book. Sure, we've all got personal pain. Divorced parents. Anxiety. Career uncertainty. Cold Canadian weather. But overall, this memoir was simply a "wah wah my life is so hard being a wealthy white kid traveling between California and Ottawa as a young tennis player and priva...

The Young Becky of the late 90's and early 00's never would have said this.  But the (much) older and (maybe) wiser Becky of today straight up loves Ms. Anderson. She's a woman, like most of us, that took some time coming into her power.  But now that she has it, you fools better step the hell aside! I guess it all started with the Hulu show.  I remember the Pam & Tommy stolen tape controversy.  The Hulu series does a good job of explaining how little we all understood of the internet at the time.  But they also did a good job of showing the humanity of Pam and Tommy, the personal humiliation it brought them to and how everyone regarded the two of them very differently in the matter.   I remember it well. Tommy was a dumbass with a big dick. Pam was a dumbass with big tits. The end.   But watching this limited series made us remember that it was so much more.  They really were a young crazy couple in love.  They really did just ...

"I think you like to be their simple toy, I think you love to play the clown. I think you are blind to the fact That the hand you hold Is the hand that holds you down...."

I just felt I had to answer the call back when this list was posted by my favorite local morning radio personalities: Bob & Sheri .  It was actually completed by Max & Todd who are loveable guys on the show with wonderful laughs and jokes and fairly good taste in music.  And for the most part, I agree with the list.....well up until the 90's maybe.  But I still had to make my own list.  Hello?  Have we met?  Do you read this blog?  Do you KNOW my feelings about music? Grant it, I'm not always much into what other people might call romantic songs, but isn't romance like beauty?  All in the eye (or ear) of the beholder?  Yeah, I thought so too.... 1960's 1. "Bring It On Home to Me" by Sam Cooke A man pleading for his lady to come back home.  Sexy, romantic and pleading.  Sam at his best before he died much too young. 2. "Lay, Lady, Lay" by Bob Dylan Probably the most well-known track of Dylan's "Nashville S...

If you can understand a really thick Irish accent and can appreciate a pretty good late 80's/early 90's soundtrack, this just might be the easy, fun international sitcom you're looking for.  On the surface, this series seems really cute, but underneath it is looking at some pretty serious issues facing Northern Ireland at the time.....mainly what is known as The Troubles .  Now don't get me wrong, the group has become quite world-weary of where the current bomb may have been placed.  But this overarching feeling that "life must go on" is something all of us can relate to in these Post 9/11 times.  And also, getting banned from "the chipper" is just funny and oh so Irish.  For fook's sake, Beckai, what are you on aboot?  Just watch it, okay?