Mr. Misunderstood Live: All Hail Chief Church

The "Chief" backed by a choir. (c) PipPepPop

     Most artists do not play a double set on their tour. Eric Church is not like most artists and Holdin' My Own is not like most tours. Church is a tough guy and a gracious performer. He invites the audience in for a party, even taking a camera under the stage to pour shots of Jack Daniels for the crew when singing an ode to the famous whiskey. My only complaint about the show up front is that time is "just a suggestion" as my mom once remarked about a late-starting event. Church was once thrown off the Rascal Flatts tour for playing a too-long opening set. They gave the spot to Taylor Swift and the rest is history. The show was scheduled to start at 8 P.M. at The Barclays Center in Brooklyn, the world's most inconvenient arena.  At about 8:30 P.M., Church came to the stage. He still beat some of my friends to the show. (They appeared a few songs in, apparently held up on a long beer line.) The show ended after 11:30 P.M., and for those who know the NYC subway late night schedule, it took me a long time to get to the train station and catch the last train home of the night.

(c) PipPepPop

As a performer, Eric Church is not much of a talker. He hides behind a pair of defining aviator sunglasses,his expression always looking tough. When he does talk, he makes it count. He spoke of travelling and life on the road like he was talking to a friend. I felt like we were in an intimate venue a she casually walked the stage, singing into a microphone with a guitar dangling down his back. He played hits from his 2015 album Mr. Misunderstood with it's blusey radio hits Kill a Word and Record Year, and the title track, a rocking  tune about making dreams and finding his place in the world.

 When you think about me, do you think about seventeen?

Do you think about my old jeep, and about the stars in the sky?

It's funny how a memory sounds like a melody;

Like a soundtrack to a July Saturday night... 

Springsteen. 

     My favorite part of the concert was when Church began his 2012 stadium anthem, Springsteen.  This song is a tribute to the great king of Jersey rock and songs about dreamers. Church goes into the traditional Bruce Springsteen-like "Oh" chanting during the song. In this live version, he also went into a verse of Born to Run, forever enmeshing the two songs in my brain. It's a nostalgia tune for an old flame, and it has the heart of the Boss. As the stadium swelled, I cheered, I sang, and near-wept at the perfection of the performance. 

Former Mouseketeers Turn Up at Golden Globes

Image of Timberlake and Gosling from Giphy

    A little show titled The New Mickey Mouse Club was a serious deal on the Disney Channel in the early 1990's. I'll admit, I was a bit more invested in Nickelodeon's edgier Canadian show Round House, but that show produced no stars. I would have to go into another entirely separate post to discuss Nick's comedy show All That, and I will do that very soon.  The MMC launched the careers of some of the most well known pop stars in the last 20 years: 2/5 of N*Sync, Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears. Does anyone talk about the rich acting history that began on this musical sketch show? Not often.  I'm here to remind you that these kids are award nomination-worthy. This year the golden globes honored several former mouseketeers for their projects.

     In a post-MMC bubble world, we had no idea if these kids would have the chops to be adult performers. One woman constantly defying those odds is Keri Russell. After winning a Golden Globe in 1999 for her portrayal of  "fickle pickle" college student Felicity, Russell came back to television (with her hotly contested straight hair) as a sleeper spy mom in FX's The Americans. Russell was nominated for Best Actress in a TV Drama this year. The show picks up on March 5th for its 5th season. We last left  Elizabeth and her husband Phillip (Matthew Rhys- also nominated for a Golden Globe) delicately dealing with their teenage daughter discovering they are Russian spies in 1980's Washington, D.C. This show is phenomenal and I can't believe it's only getting award buzz for its fourth season. Russell was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy in 2016 for the same role and won a Teen Choice Award in 1999.

My Gosling Meme - With Timberlake lyrics

     Ryan Gosling walked out of the 2017 Golden Globes with the Best Actor in a Movie trophy. This was his 4th nomination in recent years. Gosling came on the scene as an adult in 2004 in the movie that makes me bawl and turn the TV channel, The Notebook.  This movie earned Gosling the "Best Kiss"  trophy with Rachel McAdams at the 2005 MTV movie awards, as well as several Teen Choice Awards that same year. His critical acclaim has come more in recent years, where he is referred to colloquially as one of "the Ryans." To my knowledge, there are only two, Gosling and Ryan Reynolds. Gosling shas just been nominated for an Oscar for this year's sweeping movie musical LaLaLand, which had cleaned up at the globes. This is Gosling's 2nd Oscar nomination. That begin said, not all of movies are winners. I thought Drive was one of the worst movies in recent years. In my old teen magazines, Gosling was always mentioned with Tony Lucca. I'm pretty sure Tony Lucca doesn't have any awards aside from the MMC cast's  Young Artists Award nomination. Tony Lucca is also not the star of multiple "Hey Girl..." Internet memes (mic drop).

     The third MMC member at the Golden Globes was jack of all trades, Justin Timberlake. He was in MMC, he was in N*Sync, and he bounced back into America's heart after the Janet Jackson 2004 "Big Game" incident. Timberlake was at the show as a nominee for the Best Original Song in a Movie category, with the Summer 2016 anthem Can't Stop the Feeling. This may seem like a technicality to qualify for this piece, but Timberlake voiced a character in the Trolls movie that launched this song. Timberlake has won multiple awards for his music and this song is an Oscar contender in a few weeks.

A Cinematic First Lady

     We're on the even of one of  America's most contested inaugurations and I can't help but think of the Kennedys. I went to see the film Jackie when it was in limited release last month, and truly got a feel for what it must be like to plan these events. In the movie, Oscar Winner Natalie Portman plays the beloved first lady interviewed for TIME magazine, struggling in the days, weeks and months after her husband's assassination.  She plans a funeral and procession through the Capitol district while comforting her young children in the public eye. Jackie picked out a grave site in  Arlington National Cemetery, battling her in-laws that insisted the president needed to be laid to rest in the family plot in Massachusetts. She seemed strong toward the outside world, meanwhile she crumbled in private, reliving her best outfits and listening to the soundtrack for the musical Camelot (a favorite of the late president).

     Portman's performance got inside the fragile first lady's suits. When she is asked to change into a fresh outfit in Dallas directly after John  is assassinated, she refuses. She insists she will keep her iconic bloodstained pink suit to show people what has been done to her husband. TIME interviewer Theodore H.White (Billy Crudup) gets guarded answers out of Mrs. Kennedy throughout their December 1963 interview, which can be found here. While Jackie relives the day of her husband's death, she herself becomes icon, one of America's most photographed first ladies, before and after her time in office. As White finished the interview, Jackie reminded him that Jack  was America's father. As a sobbed into the credits, White reminded Jackie that she was America's mother. Oscar Gold!

Golden Globes 2017- Fashion or Foe

     I have reviewed countless photos of outfits from last Sunday's Golden Globe Awards. I'm ready to review my picks for my favorite and least favorite outfits. We'll also review some trends for the 2017 season. To make our lives easier, please refer to the Refinery29 Golden Globes Photo Galley.

The Best:

Image from Giphy

5. Brie Larson in Rodarte
Last year's gold-carpet queen (and Golden Globe winner) shined in a fitted chiffony strapless gown. Even better, it was a sweetheart neckline, which I adore. It was a deep crimson, reminding me of last year's raved-about color of red. The most amazing part is the crisscross panels of sequins in the front of the dress. If this was a bridesmaid dress, or even remotely affordable, I would wear it in a heartbeat.

Image from Giphy

4. Millie Bobby Brown in Jenny Packham
I wish I had dressed like this for my junior prom! This 123-year-old star of Stranger Things was all-class in a Silver A-line cocktail dress. It had attachments that were very sparkly and she had a clean bob. Did you see her shoes? I love those silver Sophia Webster sandals and would wear them to a wedding. In fact, I own wedding sandals that look just like that...

Image from Giphy

3. Kristen Bell, also in Jenny Packham
Wow, Ms. Bell brings it in this tuxedo-like black dress. It is all sequins from the long sleeves to the hems with that gorgeous silky collar. She brought the girls out in this deep "U" dress. She balances the open top with a simple hairstyle and beautiful earrings. This look is a far cry from her ordinary look on The Good Place.

Image from Giphy

2. Emma Stone in Valentino
This tan dress with silver embellished stars remind me of my high school senior prom dress. I loved that dress and I love Valentino so I am all in. Sometimes, I'm afraid to wear something too close to my fair skin tone, but Ms. Stone pulls off the looks flawlessly. She also compliments with a beautiful teardrop choker. It's the very essence of LalaLand.

Image from Giphy

1. Felicity Huffman in Georges Chakra
The legendary actress wowed in American Crime Story this season as a tough school headmistress. I was shocked when I saw Ms. Huffman looking beyond glamorous in a jumpsuit that looked like a dress. The dress could have fit in at any disco or fancy party with the Gold/Silver V-necked top and flowy, white bottom. With a chic blowout, I'm granting Huffman the fashion award of the night.

Honorable Mentions go out to:

• Viola Davis in Michael Kohrs
• Drew Barrymore in Monique Lhullier
• Amy Adams in Tom Ford (designer and director)

The Worst:

Image from Giphy

Tracee Ellis Ross in Zuhair Murad
     Ms. Ross left the show with a deserved best actress in a TV comedy trophy for Black-ish, but I kept thinking her dress looked like a birdcage. I love the top of the dress with the strapless neckline intricate beading. Also I'll give props, the dress was in this year's it color of White/Silver. But it's drawbacks included too sheer of a netting on the bottom of the dress. It was distracting. If the bottom flared out more, I could be on board.

Image from ReBloggy

Michelle Williams in Louis Vuitton
     I like lace just as the next gal, but not when it's done like this. The top of the dress had a lace corset AND off-the-shoulder pieces to give a "cold shoulder" look. The simple piece of ribbon tied around Williams' neck seems like it's missing a pendant. The lace has a black under layer that makes it look more like a coat than a dress. If it flared out and ended at a tea-length to cocktail-length, I might like it better, but I'm calling a miss.






Trends for 2016:

• White/Silver colors : An Ode to Winter 
• Bringing "the girls" out
• "V" There:  Jennifer Lopez once wore a dress that had a V of cleavage down to her bellybutton. Nothing was quite as deep, but actresses such as Jessica Biel and Gina Rodriquez brought their A-game to a deep V top. 
• Visible Legs in a long dress:  I have often heard, a woman can show cleavage or a little leg, but not both. Many actresses such as Kristen Wiig had cutouts or sheer columns in their dresses that showed a bit of leg in a classy way. 

I'm Not Falling for that (Nashville) Trap Again

 Many months ago, I realized how badly I wanted Nashville to stick around. ABC cancelled the show and it was picked up by CMT, with episodes to air the following day on by beloved Hulu. We have really been through the wringer with this last season. I really questioned myself why did I want this show to come back? I had given up watching live, restricting it to the DVR. These are some of the highlights:

The Ryman, the "Mother Church" of country
(C) PipPepPop

• An out-of-control, depressed starlet (Hayden Panettiere) drives away her husband (Jonathan Jackson), fails to take care of her newborn and causes her manager to fall off a roof.
• A teen pop star (Lennon Stella) rebels against her famous parents that finally are getting married after 15+ years. They are also hemhoraging money from their record label. 
• An out country star (Chris Carmack) continues to struggle with acceptance
• Exes on tour that still have feelings for each other (Clare Bowen & Sam Palladio)
• The woe that is singing TV show winner Layla Grant (Aubrey Peeples). 
• We can't forget the singer who shot her ex-husband in cold blood 
• The blip of a story about a talented homeless singer who goes missing...

     It's January and Nashville is finally back. The first episode of the two hour premiere was available in December and premiered on CMT's sister station TV Land. Last season, there too much high-scale drama. I felt overwhelmed. To put it lightly, I had to remember why I had fallen in love with the soapy show in season 1. It began as a rivalry between two famous songstresses.  Juliet Barnes, a young entitled diva had to perform and share a record label with  her should-be mentor Rayna James, a Reba-esque "old guard" country darling. Rayna desperately wanted to prevent Juliet from making the same mistakes she had, but Juliet was often too proud to accept that advice. There were artists struggling to make it, and a helluva lot of  government corruption and family drama. At some point, we lost sight of the simple drama of the show and  it went off the rails. There were too many story lines, too many characters, and there was too much at stake. I was emotionally numb at some points.

     What was my first impression of season 5? I cried like a baby watching the episode (which is quite unusual for me). It was clean and beautiful. I had the feels from these characters in a way I haven't felt for them in a long time. Rayna got her happy ending last season, marrying her longtime love and collaborator Deacon. He's finally sober, and their girls are fighting about songwriting, somewhat like normal teens. But Rayna is a singer with nothing to sing about. Her record label is not making any money. She first created the Highway 65 label to be in charge of her career but she sacrificed singing. She's lost on many levels at this point. She needs to find her voice again and remember her passion before all the crazy drama and stepping into the role of businesswoman. She begins a drive across the USA to clear her head and do some thinking, even singing with a blind man at a gas station while her husband anxiously awaits her return. Deacon's niece Scarlett has reconciled with her band mate/ex Gunnar. They got thrown off their tour because Gunnar ended things with the headliner, but they're one big happy family for now.

     Juliet is also going on a journey. I think she's long-overdue for a priority re-adjustment. Juliet was the only person to survive the season-ending plane crash as she was rushing home to reconcile with her husband, Avery. She is confined to a wheelchair and her survivor's guilt is eating at her. She was such a terrible mother, wife, and friend before the accident, but by some miracle, she was spared. She is focusing on a woman that comforted her after the crash, singing to her until the ambulance arrived. Perhaps this mystery woman is the key to Juliet once and for all getting over herself.

     The first hour was beautiful. The second hour was downright boring. It was conflict for the sake of conflict. Rayna comes home from her cross country trip (scared to fly after Juliet's accident) and proposes she and her hubby record a "concept" album together. He picks a fight about always having to agree with Rayna, even if he is against the idea. He's had a lot of pain, and he doesn't want to sing about it. Juliet is even more committed to forcing her husband to track down the woman that saved her. She still doesn't seem to be interested in her child, giving up after the baby won't eat from the spoon she is holding. It was great to see Juliet's long-suffering assistant/babysitter/paid friend Emily again. I hope that character is paid well because Juliet is one of the worst humans to work for, and time and again, Emily sticks by her. Gunnar and Scarlett begin fighting after their headliner Autumn invites only Gunnar to rejoin the tour. She continues to come unhinged when their next single appears to be a song Gunnar wrote about another woman. Lastly, Will gets hit on by a fashion designer? who offers to "dress him", right in front of his boyfriend. Will recently got back together with Kevin after a lot of  "gays don't belong in county" hate. With this poor guy, it either rains hate and beatings or it's come-ons by famous men. There is no in-between. Better luck for tonight's episode 3 on Hulu.