I've just restarted watching "The Wire" picking it up at the start of series 3, and it is a stunning series. My friend Nick had to turn on subtitles to understand the streetspeak though I have managed the first two series without subtitles.
Along with "Breaking Bad" and "The Sopranos" this occupies the pinnacle of episodic TV, essential watching for anyone who likes entertainment that stimulates and stretches your mind.
All these programs also feature impeccable featured music and an unusual feature of "The Wire" is that each series features a different take on Tom Waits' "Way Down In The Hole" as the theme song. The list is below and they are all here.:
Season 1: The Blind Boys of Alabama
Season 2: Tom Waits
Season 3: The Neville Brothers
Season 4: DoMaJe
Season 5: Steve Earle
So we go with The Neville Brothers take as that's the series that I am watching now.
Most Monday mornings are a pain. Today's, for me , is different. First of all its sunny after a grey and drab weekend weather wise (although that was the only downer so to speak) , Then I should be on the radio this afternoon in about nine and a half hours on the Steve Lamacq Show ( BBC Radio 6 at 4 PM GMT) and because it's a Bank Holiday I have the day to myself, and at the end of the week I'm off on holiday to Ampleforth for a week.
So for a change it's not a Stormy Monday or Blue Monday , but for me it's a good Monday. I have sympathy for everyone who has had to work today and am thinking about some friends who are having to deal with not good situations which I know they will come through so really, I am feeling positive today and everything is pointing towards a good day and a good week.
Yesterday I got some albums including a Badfinger compilation that contains the final song from the Breaking Bad TV series. I'm not sure whether it can match up to Journey's "Don't Stop Believing" in the closing scene of the Sopranos but I shall see, the album is full of great song , and I shall be working through Breaking Bad when on holiday next week, I'm half way through series two at the moment , so a way to go before I get to hear "Baby Blue". I am tempted to put it on here as I know, for me it will be out of context to hardly a spoiler for me.
OK I just watched , and it is good and I will now purge it from mind...... Have a great Bank Holiday Monday Everyone
I always to try to write posts with a positive spin , because always try to look for positives however bad the situation. It's the easiest thing in the world to find fault with things. I've known people who when they couldn't find fault would criticize a person for being "too perfect" , or who's measures consist of "not enough" or "too much" ensuring things can never meet their expectations.
The thing is life is what it is and is complicated beyond belief , but is easy and rewarding beyond belief if you look for the good and positives in situations. Take the two statements "Remember" and "Don't Forget" , the first is a forceful positive one the second negative and implying that you may be at fault. They both mean the same thing but negative words can have negative effects.
If I just miss a bus I use the opportunity to walk to the next stop and in theory reduce my lardiness, I don't stress about it , and sometimes things like that open up new opportunities.
Sometimes in the world there are great tragedies, which the only positives I find that at such times people are willing to help those affected by the tragedies , restoring faith in humanity.
So today if something goes wrong in life learn from it , and take the opportunity to see if you can benefit from it. You may be surprised by the support and kindness of others and always take help if it's offered and it will benefit you , and if you can't take it then still engage with the offerer.
I don't know if this post has been positive , I didn't know what I was going to write about when I started it , but hope that someone enjoys it and finds some empathy.
And remember tomorrow is your change to improve on today. I chose the final scene in the Sopranos with Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'" soundtrack because I love that scene so much , it's just perfect . Have a totally brilliant day - I know I will.
I'm really tired , but have been posted songs relating to the day or what happened on that day . A friend of mine had lost her Alabama 3 CD which she wanted on her iPod , and I'm still in shock from the death of Jame's Gandolfini , so there can only be one song to day , and it is :
When you're watching a TV series on DVD you sometimes don't want to waste time with the titles. The sries in point is The Wire. Others with great titles are The Sopranos and True Blood.
What I've found is you cant skip the titkes because often they integrate it with an essential scene. It's a minor complaint though when the progams are so excellent.
I 'm quite amazed and the number of artists who have benefitted from the exposure of having their music featured in an episode of The Sopranos. Obviously you have the Alabama 3 theme tunes "Woke Up This Mornin'" from Exile on Coldharhour Lane , though apparently someone else absconded with the profits.
Then the final episode featured Journey's Karaoke favourite "Don't Stop Believin'" , though in a disturbing sign of the times I've seen this song credited to Glee!!
Then I was at an Al Stewart concert and he mentioned that his bank balance and benefited from the use of his song "Time Passages" in an episode.
The latest I've heard is John Cooper Clarke's "Evidently Chickentown" featuring . I's amazing tgat the series can be so influential , though it is totally brilliant!!
