Musical gags abound in the 1972 screwball comedy What’s Up, Doc? directed by Peter Bogdanovich and written by Buck Henry, David Newman, and Robert Benton. The American Film Institute lists the movie in the top 100 greatest American comedies. In classic farce fashion, the story involves mistaken identities, mix-ups, and fast-paced action. Over opening credits, Barbra Streisand sings Cole Porter’s “You’re the Top.” The song’s clever turns of phrase and double entendre (“If, baby, I’m the bottom, you’re the top”) perfectly set up the film’s theme. Continue reading →
Musical gags in “What’s Up, Doc?”
Musical gags abound in the 1972 screwball comedy What’s Up, Doc? directed by Peter Bogdanovich and written by Buck Henry, David Newman, and Robert Benton. The American Film Institute lists the movie in the top 100 greatest American comedies. In classic farce fashion, the story involves mistaken identities, mix-ups, and fast-paced action. Over opening credits, Barbra Streisand sings Cole Porter’s “You’re the Top.” The song’s clever turns of phrase and double entendre (“If, baby, I’m the bottom, you’re the top”) perfectly set up the film’s theme. Continue reading →
In recent years, authors have unleashed a flood of fiction that blends music and horror. I’ve been unable to find a reason to explain it, but given my interests, I’m grateful for it. There have always been such stories, of course–just not quite so many. I’ve written about this intersection in several guest posts for horror review sites. Each article attempts to explore the topic from a different angle. Below you’ll find info about each of these posts. 
I love the idea of a cocktail inspired by a Prince song. Lovesexy CockTail Guide contains 138 recipes celebrating the songs of Prince. Not only does the guide feature luscious drinks, but each beverage is paired with gorgeous digital art representing Prince, along with brief commentary on the corresponding song. You’ll find obvious faves (Purple Rain, Raspberry Beret) but also lesser known gems (Beautiful Strange, White Mansion). The guide’s convenient alphabetical arrangement makes it easy to locate a song. 
It’s easy to write a strange song. Much harder to craft a song that musically captures the idea while still being beautiful. Here are the top 10 songs with “strange” in the title. In each case, the music has unusual elements that highlight the feeling of strangeness. They span the decades and represent different genres. I’ve listed additional songs after the top 10. Because the word “stranger” denotes something quite different from “strange,” I’ve omitted those songs from the list.