DAILY MUSE | One of my favorite radio programs broadcast locally here in Connecticut is fortunately available over the internet and through podcasts– it’s ‘The Faith Middleton Show’, a constant breathe of fresh air in my day. Whether it be her ‘Food Schmooze’ show, made famous by it’s Saturday Night Live parody, or her Book Show, or her general shows on the richness of life, I always look forward to listening in– it helps me make it though my 3 o’clock slump in the afternoons. She has a special knack for interviews as well. Check her show out.
DAILY MUSE | Yesterday was the 40th anniversary of the release of The Beatles “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” in Britian. Today is the 40th of its release in the US. In honor of it, and the immense creativity offered by The Beatles over the years they were together, I offer links to various Sgt. Pepper homages.
Documentary called “The Making of Sgt. Pepper”
A mini documentary done on the 20 year anniversary
The portion of the ABC’s ‘Revolutions’ documentary regarding the album
Paul discussing the album
More dicussion about the creative backgound of the album
Paul and Bono’s version at Live 8
Kelly Clarkson’s version on Americn Idol. I have to say, she does have a killer voice
Animated version of the Sgt. Pepper song from the movie ‘Yellow Submarine’
Cover Art outakes
ABC News report yesterday
Another News Report
Here’s a real trip… a Japanese Beatles tribute band
I’m spending the night in tribute listening to my brother Jay’s band “The British Beat” playing at the Central Cafe in Palinville, CT. He’s ‘Ringo’. My brother Terry just got asked to join the band as ‘George’, although he is not playing tonight. If anyone is in the area, come on out an join us. It’s a fun evening of sing-along.
DAILY MUSE | Today I just came across this very interesting website that provides links to nearly 2500 TV stations from around the world. I have already saved links to several BBC stations and programs and have browsed stations quite literally from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe. Found several classic movie channels and unique lifestyle channels. The enormous number of news channels should serve to broaden horizons and viewpoints beyond those available from our narrow minded corporate owned news media outlets. Check it out and broaden your world view.
UPDATE | Here is another link that shows free streaming movie channels along with lists of what is currently playing. Right now I am watching Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn in “Charade”.
DAILY MUSE | If you don’t already, start keeping a sketchbook.
I’m a firm believer that creativity is a gift from God/ the creator/ the universe (whichever way one looks at it) and that ideas are gifted spontaneously. They come in spurts and streams. One has to be ready at anytime to receive them (capture them) when they come. And it’s the responible and courteous thing to do when bestowed with such wonderful gifts. Consider your sketchbook entries as thank you notes to the universe acknowledging the creative source for the generous gifts.
I have kept sketchbooks all my adult life. I think the count is up to thirty. I fill them with whatever comes my way in inspiration: words, drawings, concepts, diagrams, poems, lyrics, inventions, to do lists, solutions to probelms, etc. It’s quite interesting going through my collection of acquired ideas ever know and then. There are some real gems in there.
If you are and active person a good one is made by Moleskine– and they come in all sizes from small pocketsized ones on up.
DAILY MUSE | Today, look up your local artist’s guild and visit it, or make a plan to visit it this weekend. Consider joining it as an artist member or supporting member. Here’s mine of which I am a member.
DAILY MUSE | I’m still here. I just haven’t had any posts the last few days because of the flooding up here in the Northeast. (That and I’m also dealing with an impending deadline here at work.) I literally couldn’t get to my house the other day because of flood blocked roads– had to sleep at my brother’s house. I’ll get back to my routine later this week after my deadline passes.
DAILY MUSE | Neko Case’s “Hold On, Hold On” is one of my favorite songs from last year. The studio recording and something about her voice give it the feel of 1960’s pop classic– one of those songs that sound inevitable. Here it is sung live.
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DAILY MUSE | As I listen to music like Madeleine Peyroux and Norah Jones, who have garnered popularity nowadays, I recall one of my favorite groups from the late 80s– Fairground Attraction. They had one phenomenal album called “The First of A Millions Kisses”, which did well in alternative programming radio stations at the time, but did not fair that well in general POPularity. I listen to them now ( in relation to Peyroux and Jones) and think how much they were ahead of their time. How their music is still fresh and new. How every song on that album had a great hit-like hook… kinda like how the Cranberry’s first album was as well. FAs sound and sensibility seems to be a strong precursory influence of the current popularity of Peyroux and Jones and the like– which is a very good thing. Check out a few links below and listen to the sounds of Fairground Attraction.
Find My Love
Clare
Not sure what this video has to do with their music, but here’s another one of their tracks– Perfect
Live TV footage- Smile And A Whisper
More live TV footage- The Wind Knows My Name
The Moon is Mine- Live (not great sound)
More live concert footage (not great sound)- Allelujah
Find My Love (Live)
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DAILY MUSE | Today I offer an inspiring and powerful quote from dancer/choreographer Martha Graham. Use it today– and everyday– to champion your creativity.
There is a vitality, a life-force, an energy, a quickening
that is translated through you into action
and because there is only one of you in all of time,
this expression is unique.
And if you block it, it will never exist
through any other medium and be lost.
DAILY MUSE | Go see a play. Not a musical. A play. I went to see “Doubt” last night, playing in the Shubert Theater in New Haven. It starred Cherry Jones, who won the Tony Award for her role as Sister Aloysius on Broadway in 2005. It’s a rare treat for a play on tour to have the originator of a role in the touring company- let alone having the Tony Award winning originator of the role. Needless to say, both the performance and the evening were magnificent.
There really is no substitute for live theater. It offers unique creative opportunities, even as a mere member of the audience. On the one hand you have a singular opportunity to witness (both individually and in community) the stunning immediacy of well expressed emotions on a fabulously creative journey. On the other hand its an awesome opportunity for a helluva night on the town– we drifted through New Haven last night, letting one place lead us to the next, while we discussed the themes if the play… and life… and what have you. Either way you look at it you can’t miss.
Today, it seems that most people entertaining the possibility of seeing a live show are automatically drawn to see a musical. While musicals are a joy to see live and in person, there is a sacred intimacy to a play that I have yet to experience in a musical that deserves it’s own place of honor. Go pay homage. Go see a play!
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DAILY MUSE | Connect with your inner creative child today by connecting with your own actual childhood– savor some of your favorite childhood food and fare. Some of mine were Fluffernutter sandwiches, chocolate milk and Alpha-Bits cereal. What were your favorites? What do they taste like now? How do they make you feel?
DAILY MUSE | Go for a walk. I find that walking helps to quiet my mind, sort out and unwind from the stress or just the day. When I’m stuck in my life, I often take a walk to get unstuck- it opens up my creativity. Julia Cameron in The Artist’s Way suggests that going for a 20 minute walk everyday will “walk your creative child back to health”. Try it.
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DAILY MUSE | Here are a few scenes from one of my favorite films “The Third Man“, directed by Carol Reed and based on a Graham Greene novel. There is much to fascinate in this movie– the cinematography, the actors (among them Orson Welles), the setting (in Post War Vienna when it was occupied simultaneously by the US, Britain, France and the USSR), the well tailored suspense of the plot and that uniquely famous soundtrack featuring the zither.
Here are a few scenes available online.
The Trailer
The Apparition
The Ferris Wheel Ride
The Final Scene
TCM Trailer
The Zither player
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DAILY MUSE | Today’s Muse is “Fallingwater”, Frank Lloyd wright’s most famous house– and arguably one of the most famous houses in the world. Built in 1939, it marks Wright’s entry into the second act of his career. Since then, it has served as inspiration to countless architects and homeowners throughout the years. Can you imagine living in a home that is so rooted in and intertwined with the nature from where is springs? If I lived there, I’m sure I’d end up having tons of creative ideas hearing that waterfall running all the time.
DAILY MUSE | I had dinner with friends tonight and we got on the subject of alter egos. We noted that creating an alter ego can create new space in your life. Someone mentioned the following method of creating an alter ego name, although I’ve heard of it in a different context– as a way of creating your ‘porn star’ name. What you do is take the name of your first pet plus the name of the first street you lived on. Mine is ‘Cinders Sunnyfield’… which doesn’t make much sense for me… but is fun to say. Other friends at the table were, ‘Major George’ and ‘Pepper Roseland’ and the funniest one of all– ‘Turtle Two Hundred and Eighteen’.
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DAILY MUSE | Arrange the clothes in your closet rainbow-icaly. Arrange the soxs in your drawers rainbow-icaly. Arrange the color markers, pens or pencils in the jars on your desk rainbow-icaly. Connect in with the creative power of color and the color spectrum.
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DAILY MUSE | I tend to have great ideas when I’m in the shower. I don’t know what it is exactly. The massage effect of the jets of water? The effect of water ionization? But I would say that the percentage of good ideas I’ve had while taking a shower is higher than during other activities. Are you a shower genius too?
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DAILY MUSE | It’s easier to be creative in community– with creative allies who will give you the permission to show up as the creative genius that you are. As allies they’ll give you the space to reinvent yourself- or the space to just show up and be great. They’ll listen to and honor your ideas. They’ll mirror them back to you. Sometimes magnifying them and expanding them. The more you surround yourself with creative allies, the more permission you will have to show up as creatively.
List all the people you know. Who among them are your creative allies? Or have the potential to be one? Connect with one today. Now, in fact. Pick up the phone. Make a lunch appointment. Or a date to go to a museum. Or to a play. Honor your current creative allies. Reach out and cultivate new ones. And also look to see who you might be a creative ally for? Reach out to that person. Be generous with them. Create and give them the space to just be great in.
Learn about TODAY’S MUSEhere.
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