"Sunday" Screening

Ok, so, I realize that, technically speaking, it is currently Tuesday. Whatever. I'm pulling an Eva here. It's exam period! Time is flexible! The days just sort of bleed together into an amorphous morass of eating, sleeping, and "studying" (or in my case, passive-aggressively ridiculing people who study). Besides, this time of year is hard on people, and would I desert you in your time of need? OF COURSE NOT:

You know, if this cartoon had been made in the 60s, everyone would have assumed it was by and for acid freaks. (Especially the part where the trolley changes shape at random. Or where the rabbit detaches his own foot, kisses it, and reattaches it.)

But no, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit was a creation of none other than Walt "I Believe They Are Communists" Disney, and these "Trolley Troubles" date from 1927. This is the pre-Mickey Mouse era; Oswald was Disney's first major success. (Fun fact: rights to Oswald the Lucky Rabbit were actually owned by Universal Studios until 2006, when they were sold to Disney Inc. in exchange for -- this is true -- a release in sportcaster Al Michaels' contract from ESPN, so he could join John Madden on NBC's Monday Night Football.)

What else was happening in 1927, other than rabbit-induced train calamities? Well, several counties in the Fresno, CA area were introducting the dial telephone (note the wonderful use of onomatopoeia in this silent reel):

Buster Keaton starred in "The General", widely considered one of the great films of all time (watch it all in public domain):

and "Good News" premiered on Broadway. "Good News" was a mediocre musical about college life, notable mainly for producing the smash-hit dance craze "Varsity Drag." Basically, the Varsity Drag was the Charleston taken to the next power; it's an absurd, leaping, knee-slapping affair that can only be performed properly by stage dancers and professional gymnasts. Everyone loved it.

The best version of the Varsity Drag you'll ever see is from the 1930 film of "Good News," performed by Penny Singleton and a completely bananas chorus line. (Plus a baby in a trash can. Yes.) I can't embed this clip, so you'll have to go and watch it yourself -- and I insist that you do, if only because it is completely fucking insane. Meanwhile here's a more comprehensible, if still faintly batty, version from the 1947 film with June Allyson and a tone-deaf Peter Lawford:

...If that isn't good therapy for exam period, I don't know what is. Good luck with everything you've got remaining, congratulations to the seniors who are finished or finishing, and I'll see you down the line. (It's off to Canada with me this weekend, so I'm not likely to be around for a while. Don't trash the place.)

Sunday Screening / Sonntag Siebung

You know what this blog needs? Some retarded German electropop from the 80s! (This video takes about a minute to get going):

Sie wissen, was dieses blog benötigt? Etwas verzögertes deutsches electropop vom 80s! (dieser Bildschirm dauert eine ungefähr Minute, um gehend zu erhalten):

That is Joachim Witt, who apparently was a big star back in the day. And I can see why -- he has moves.

Das ist Joachim Witt, das anscheinend eine grosse Sternrückseite am Tag war. Und ich kann sehen warum -- er hat Bewegungen.

Witt was among the prominent names of "Neue Deutsche Welle," the German component of New Wave -- not to be confused with Deutsche Welle, the bilingual Berlin cable-news channel seen in Britain and North America as DW-TV. Known as NDW, you're likely to remember it for crossover success stories Nena (of "99 Luftballons") or Falco (of "Rock Me Amadeus"). But there was more to German new wave than synthpop novelties. Here's a fun medley of three hits by the distinctly retro Spider Murphy Gang of Munich:

Witt gehörte zu den vorstehenden Namen von "Neue Deutsche Welle," der deutsche Bestandteil der neuen Welle -- nicht mit Deutsche Welle, die zweisprachige Berlin Kabel-Nachrichten Führung verwirrt zu werden, die in Großbritannien und in Nordamerika als DW-TV gesehen wurde. Bekannt als NDW, sind Sie wahrscheinlich, sich an es für Überkreuzungserfolggeschichten Nena (von "99 Luftballons") oder Falco (von "Rock Me Amadeus"). Aber es gab mehr zur deutschen neuen Welle als synthpop Neuheiten. Ist hier ein SpaßGemisch von drei Erfolgen durch die deutlich retro Spider Murphy Group von München:

That last one, "Skandal im Sperrbezirk", is irresistible and was a smash hit. (For a less inspiring example, check out this montage from 1983, when NDW was already beginning to cannibalize itself. Except for the proto-ska at the beginning, it's pretty bad stuff.)

Daß letztes, "Skandal im Sperrbezirk", unwiderstehlich ist und ein Smasherfolg war. (auf einem weniger anspornenden Beispiel, überprüfen Sie aus diesem montage von 1983, als NDW bereits anfing, sich auszuschlachten. Außer dem proto-ska am Anfang, ist es recht schlechtes Material.)

Of course you will notice the Spider Murphy Gang's notable absence of dance moves. (At least Joachim Witt tried.) Now, I hate to be someone who stereotypes cultures, but I think is this a good choice; the Teutonic peoples just don't seem suited to choreography. German ballet, while technically superb, is often weird and uncomfortable -- here is a good example -- and their folk dances, I think I can say this, are rather silly:

Ich liebe, das schönen und den ausgezeichneten deutschen Tanz aufzupassen. Ihr Ballett ist vollkommen und ihr Volkstanz ist ausgezeichnet. Deutscher Tanz gibt mir Thrills in den privaten Plätzen. Bitte verletzen Sie mich nicht:

But I have to give the Germans credit -- when they make an effort, they go ALL-OUT. I'll leave you with a YouTube classic, Dschingis Khan's legendary performance of "Moskau". This video gives me hope for the world. Enjoy the night, everyone...

Aber ich muß den Deutschen Gutschrift geben -- wenn sie eine Bemühung bilden, gehen sie ALL-OUT. Ich lasse Sie mit einem YouTube Klassiker, Dschingis Khans legendäre Leistung von "Moskau". Dieser Bildschirm gibt mir Hoffnung für die Welt. Genießen Sie die Nacht, jeder...