Wednesday, 29 January 2014

Stevie Wonder


I'm having a Stevie Wonder moment. Here's the thing, it's impossible to sit still listening to Stevie. I am listening to him as I write this (Superstition) and am jigging about like a demented woman. Also, how completely brilliant is the above photograph?

I don't pretend to be a Stevie expert, I don't own all his albums and I don't know about rare B sides. I am pretty populist in my Stevie love but honestly, the man is a genius. One of my favourites is I Wish:



It's just funka-rama. It's impossible to be miserable listening to this.

Superstition. Perfection. One of the best introductions in popular music.



Everyone's favourite wedding song:



Another great wedding song. I hadn't properly appreciated what lovely songs Stevie writes. They are so uplifting. For Once In My Life. I love the backing singers on this.


Another great introduction here.


Putting I Just Called To Say I Love You to one side, Stevie also does a fine line in love songs.


Another classic here, this one just sounds like summer.


Unusually for Stevie, here is a more torturous love song. This was used in Scandal. I think Shonda Rhimes is a huge Stevie fan, he features a lot in Scandal.



Lately has always been one of my favourite love songs. I can listen to this over and over.


I could go on. Special mention to As, All I Do, Higher Ground and oh so many more. How can anyone not listen to Stevie? They must have no soul.

Friday, 24 January 2014

Grey's Anatomy


I present myself ready to eat humble pie. I have dissed this show for some time based on snippets I've seen where someone is always crying. Also, the music montage with a band like Snow Patrol playing over people crying. Also, the protagonist has a squeaky, irritating voice and she opens nearly every show with a voiceover saying stuff that means nothing: "in a world where all we have are dreams, it doesn't hurt to sleep a little." I made that one up but you get my drift. Anyway, I had decided Grey's was not for me.

I admit it. I was wrong. You can get your diaries out and make a note of the day. I have been watching Grey's on Hulu (fab online TV service for peanuts) and I am addicted. I started watching this about two weeks ago and I've just finished season three. I am not proud. In my defence it's brutally cold here in New York and it's January. I am trying to save money. Also, I've been sick. Nonetheless, like I say, I am not proud. But damn, if it isn't addictive. My initial impressions still stand. There is an inordinate amount of crying, there is generally too much emotion for my taste, the musical montages are overdone and Meredith is annoying. So why am I watching it? Let's look at the evidence.

Miranda Bailey. One of the finest characters I've seen on television. Miranda takes no prisoners. She's hilarious, the actress delivers her lines beautifully. She bosses around her interns and I love her. I want to be her.


Cristina Yang. I really like Sandra Oh and she plays the over-achieving, highly competitive Yang so well. Another one who has great lines.


Preston Burke. It's all a bit unfortunate what happened here with the actor because Preston is a fine character. I like his mother too.


Callie Torres. I want to have this woman's hair.


McDreamy. Patrick Demsey, who knew? This is a case of being all about the character. I don't fancy Patrick Demsey but man, I fancy McDreamy. He is definitely at his best in season one, he is getting a bit tired and emotive now but the scene in the lift when him and Meredith kiss is dreamy indeed. Plus he's a brain surgeon.


I have major issues with Meredith who is just wet. I don't have a huge amount of time for Izzy who makes bad decisions all the time and George is plain annoying. However, I admit it, I am loving this show. And it's still going at season 10! I have so much to watch. Excuse me...

Sunday, 5 January 2014

Chris Hemsworth

A new year and it's time for a new crush. This one has been brewing quietly for a while, it's not in the Ryan Gosling sphere yet but it's just been pushed up the ranks after a viewing of Rush.


This is a dream of a role as James Hunt was clearly a bit of alright.


Bad boy, smoking, driving fast cars and being funny all at the same time equals sexy and Chris impressed me in many ways. Firstly, he actually is a good actor and he gets the posh English accent perfectly. Being Australian, he has a bit of wit about him naturally. But who are we kidding, that's not what the crush is about.


It's no accident this guy played Thor. His body is well, it's rather nice isn't it? Let's not beat around the bush. He gets his kit off in Rush and I for one am not complaining.

As usual my sister was here first, she announced she had a crush on Chris ages ago but I couldn't see it. I think I was tainted by my Home & Away memories.


His acting chops have improved massively because I remember him being pretty awful in H&A. He does have slightly nitty eyes (trademark - my mother) but I am willing to overlook this flaw because he is maturing very pleasingly indeed. Like I say, this crush isn't raging yet but it's coming along nicely and it's a pleasant diversion to the January blues. Also, if you're not see the first Thor, it's worth a watch because Kenneth Branagh directed it and it's got Chris flexing his muscles and smashing things in a manly way.