Dick Van Dyke Still Spreading Joy

Its wonderful to see that Dick Van Dyke is still out there spreading wonder and joy. Here he is regaling breakfast customers at a Santa Monica Denny's with a rendition of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang," from his 1968 movie of the same name. He posted on facebook that "Breakfast at Denny's with a side of grits makes me want to sing!!"

Van Dyke has become well known for the '60s era Dick Van Dyke Show, for his performances in such family fantasy fare as Mary Poppins (1964) and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), and is more recently known for his '90s stint on Diagnosis Murder and in Night at the Museum (2006).  Now he's in an a cappella singing group called Dick Van Dyke and the Vantastics, who join him in the impromptu surprise performance shown above.  Its great to see him going strong and having fun at 90. 

Here they are on Conan's show.

Heres their site: www.vantastix.com

'80s Summer Song: "Walking on Sunshine"

Here's a summery type of song, although the video doesnt look very summery.  I guess the video shows that the sun can be shining in your own world, even if the world around you looks cold and dreary.   Katrina and the Waves' "Walking on Sunshine" always sounded to me like a wonderful song to play poolside during the summer heat, with the smell of chlorine and the sound of pool water splashing in the air, and people slathered in sun lotion lounging around catching some rays or drinking a cool tropical drink.

Eighties Reloaded

An artist nmed Tom Ward has an art project called Eighties Reloaded which updated classic '80s characters in an illustrated form, and shares them through Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. The resulting artwork can be quite witty.

We love how illustrator @TomWardStudio reimagines classic 80s films in modern day settings: https://t.co/dEUeqRaiCn pic.twitter.com/S8z86HkkJq

— Adobe UK (@AdobeUK) August 4, 2016

In their updated version, for example, Eliot and E.T. ride a segway, and He-Man pumps iron at the gym. Check out the A.V. Club article on this artist and his project.

80s Reloaded...#80sReloaded #TheKarateKid #ShortCircuit #BackToTheFuture #TheATeam pic.twitter.com/BNAdYICBve

— Tom Ward Studio (@TomWardStudio) August 2, 2016

Characters from Back to the Future, The A-Team, The Karate Kid, and Short Circuit get a makeover.

An Alternative "Average Joe" for President

In this political season, maybe you've gotten tired of the mainstream candidates and are looking for some alternative.  How about just an average Joe. Not Joe the Plumber, but "Joe the Painter."  Meet Joe Schriner.

Joe Schriner describes himself as "an average guy from Ohio" and he has been running for President of the United States on a shoestring campaign.  He's run before in 2000, 2004, 2008, and 2012, and now he's on the campaign trail again for 2016.  His wife and kids are along with him on the campaign, traveling accross America in their '70s era family van, getting attention wherever they can.  Above is a video clip from the Columbus Ledger Enquirer.

And here's a short documentary about Joe and his campaign.

I don't usually post about politics on this blog, and intend to go right back to staying away from that topic. But I figure Joe represents a unique figure in American politics. An "every person" running as an independent (you'd have to write him in). Maybe an alternative if youre looking for one, and tired of "politics as usual." 

AC/DC "Who Made Who"

Check out this video: a little mix of sci-fi and heavy metal. I remember seeing this on our local music video station back when I was in High School during the '80s.  AC-DC's "Who Made Who," a 1986 metal rocker that was on the soundtrack to the Stephen King movie, "Maximum Overdrive."

   

The Alarm: "68 Guns"

Lately, I've found the world around me to be a bit of a bummer. Theres a tense mood out in society today of anger and division, and of negativity. Maybe there are good reasons for tenseness, anger and negativity.  But it still can't help but make me sad about where we are, and wonder if things couldn't be better. I've been trying to include this mindset in some recent posts, such as that regarding Hands Across America, and the one about Restoring Lady Liberty. 

There has been a feeling in me of wanting to reach deep inside of myself for the ideals and dreams I hold dear, and to focus on them moreso than the outside world. Of course, my ideals may differ from others, and listening to each others' words are as important as hearing their voices. 

I am reminded of this song by the Alarm, an '80s Welsh group with a strong sense of protest. Here is a song that is very appropriate to the moment, "68 Guns" from 1983.  Its a song about holding on to your beliefs and being willing to stand for them.  

RePost: '80s Summer Songs: Beach Boys Redux

This is a repost of a post originally appearing in 2012.

In 1985, David Lee Roth did a classic '80s remake of a classic '60s original from the Beach Boys. Roth's "California Girls" featured Beach Boy Carl Wilson and '80s singer Christopher Cross as background vocalists, and appeared in Roth's 1985 EP Crazy From the Heat.

What could be more summery than the sun, the beach, and the classic summer soundtrack of Beach Boys music?

Speaking of the Beach Boys, they has an enormous hit in 1988 with "Kokomo," a song which appeared on the soundtrack of the Tom Cruise movie Cocktail.