Weekly Song List: Wednesday, August 22nd

Since I'm clearly preoccupied with my childhood  experiences of the gothic and the romantic (see my posts for the past week or so), I thought I'd dedicate this week's song list to just that. Songs that are gothic and romantic, and filled with some sort of darkness or magic. Songs that would have fit perfectly with my somewhat macabre childhood sensibilities.

1. Glass. Bat For Lashes: My favorite favorite Bat For Lashes song. From her album Two Suns. This songs makes me think of The Neverending Story. Which reminds me, I should watch that too as part of my mini movie marathon. Totally exhilarating song. It has such momentum and atmosphere.

2. 1816, The Year Without a Summer. Rasputina: This song is about the "Little Ice Age" which is apparently when Mary Shelley wrote or started to write Frankenstein. This event is also documented in the movie Rowing With the Wind (which is part of my mini movie marathon). Great song. Rasputina are one of my all time favorites. Love them.

3. The Wolf. Fever Ray: From the soundtrack for the movie Red Riding Hood. Awesome song. There's something very tribal about it. In the movie, it plays during a sort of celebration that involves darkness, dancing, and lots of fire.

4. Heavy In Your Arms. Florence + The Machine: From the Twilight Saga: Eclipse movie soundtrack. When did these soundtracks get to be so awesome!?! This is actually my favorite Florence song. Gorgeous. Love the heavy sound, and the dramatic build.

5. Love Is Blindness. Jack White: Cover of the U2 song. Featured on the 20th anniversary full album cover of Achtung Baby. I've already written about song on this very blog. I love it in so many ways. I love the loudness of it at times and the space within it. I love Jack's voice. It's also one of my favorite U2 songs.

6. When Doves Cry. Prince & The Revolution: I thought I'd include a song that I was actually listening to in the 80s. I was really into Prince when I was 8 or 9. And this song held so much mystery for me. It seemed very intense and about things that I could not relate to, but were intrigued by. I remember being in my bedroom, dancing to this song in pink leather pumps that were two sizes too big for me.

7. Jackie. Sinéad O'Connor: From her album The Lion and The Cobra. Gorgeous song about a lady waiting (for eternity) for her Jackie to return from the sea. Haunting. Beautiful. Eerie. Perfectly ghostly. Perfectly romantic.

Photo: Rasputina

The Bride, Once Bitten, Labyrinth, And More!!!

My copy of The Bride arrived today. I'm so excited to watch it. I think I may have a sort of mini movie marathon this week and watch The Bride, Rowing With the Wind, Labyrinth, and Once Bitten.

These particular movies all came out between 1985 and 1988, and they all have a certain supernatural or fantasy element. All have a definite gothic atmosphere. And with the exception of Rowing With the Wind (which I don't believe I've seen all the way through), all of these movies had a huge impact on me as a kid. These stories seemed terribly romantic, very "grown-up", and very, very dark.

It seems crazy to me to think that I may have seen The Bride when I was only 7 years old. What!?! I remember my sister (as clear as day) talking about this movie, and how it was a big deal since Sting was in it. The poster totally intrigued me and I was completely fascinated by the story. It wasn't until years later, in high school, that I read Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. I think it may be time to read that one again. After I finish Rebecca, that is.

Photo: promotional still from The Bride

Dracula Just Needs Somebody To Love

A still from the 1931 movie Dracula starring Bela Lugosi. You can see Dracula's "brides" below on Jack White's bass drum.

I remember being so captivated by Dracula (the man/vampire) when I saw the movie for the first time. I couldn't have been more than 7 or 8 years old. I clearly recall telling my Mom that I really liked Dracula and felt sorry for him because he seemed so lonely. Like he just needed some good friends or something. I definitely didn't understand the drinking blood aspect to the story, or the immortality. I think it's time for me to rewatch this movie.

The Dead Weather + Brides of Dracula

I love this photo of The Dead Weather playing live at the Third Man Records pop-up store in LA in 2009. I especially love Jack White's "Brides of Dracula" bass drum. Excellent.

Happy Halloween From Fussy Gussy

And from Buffy and Spike...??? ;)

This photo is from the classic, totally awesome episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer called "Something Blue". In the episode, Willow is super sad and casts a spell to have her will be done, but it goes terribly awry and Buffy and Spike end up engaged! (This is long before Buffy and Spike were actually involved, back in the days when they were basically enemies who sometimes helped one another for the greater good.)

Happy Halloween everybody!!!

Thank Goodness For Sesame Street

As some of you may know, I am a huge fan of the Muppets. I loved them when I was a kid, and I love them now.

As some of you may also know, I love spoofs of vampire TV shows and/or movies, especially involving Muppets or puppets of any sort. In this case, the HBO series True Blood.

And so, when I came across this Sesame Street spoof called True Mud, I HAD to give it look. It's HILARIOUS. How could it not be!?! Check it out ♥Here♥ and enjoy!

♥Only Love Can Break Your Heart♥

L.O.V.E. this movie!!! Especially the Dracula/muppet/puppet plot points. Muppets (and puppets) and Dracula all hold very special places in my heart. Check out this scene, in which Jason Segel performs a song from the rock opera A Taste For Love. The song is titled "Dracula's Lament" and it's both charming and bittersweet (and very, very funny...)