Top Ten Movie Songs

Not sure about all of these. I would put In Your Eyes higher; maybe number 1, but that may belie my age and love of John Cusack. Bohemian Rhapsody in Wayne's World is indeed a classic of American cinema, but higher than The Time of My Life? As Time Goes By isn't even on the list?



10.Chad Kroeger (of Nickelback), 'Hero' ('Spider-Man' 2002)
The Nickelback frontman teamed with the lead singer of Saliva for this two-fisted salute to, like, fire-fighters, eagles, spiders and stuff. HUGE song. HUGE movie. HUGE moolah. -- JP Listen to 'Hero'

9.Jennifer Warnes & Bill Medley, 'The Time of My Life' ('Dirty Dancing' 1987)
Nobody puts Baby in the corner! This mom-rock classic provided the beat for Jennifer Gray and Patrick Swayze's climactic dirty dance, which proved that sometimes it is okay to hook up with the help. -- JP Watch '(I Had) The Time of My Life'

8.Celine Dion, 'My Heart Will Go On' ('Titanic' 1997)
... And on, and on. After a billion plays in 1990 alone, Celine's inescapable, Oscar-winning theme to the highest-grossing film in history is still getting airplay at weddings across the land. As "king of the world," Leo DiCaprio should issue a royal decree that this song never be heard again. -- JP

7.Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band, 'Old Time Rock and Roll' ('Risky Business' 1991)
Bob Seger never imagined that his all-American salute to the days of old would forever conjure images of Tom Cruise's tighty whities. Good thing they didn't use 'Like a Rock' instead. -- JP Listen to 'Old Time Rock and Roll'

6.Peter Gabriel, 'In Your Eyes' ('Say Anything' 1989)
You have to respect a man who's willing to suffer for love -- and given how long he held that boombox over his head, John Cusack's arms must have been killing him. He might have gotten the girl quicker if he'd played 'Sledgehammer,' though. -- JP Listen to 'In Your Eyes'

5.The Righteous Brothers, 'Unchained Melody' ('Ghost' 1990)
Who knew pottery could be so hot? Demi and the Swayze got down and dirty to this 1965 Phil Spector-produced hit and cleaned up with a $214 million paycheck. We still blush a little when dad gives mom a clay vase for Christmas. -- JP Listen to 'Unchained Melody'

4.The Bee Gees, 'You Should Be Dancin'' ('Saturday Night Fever' 1977)
Only the kings of disco could have scored the moment when the original JT catches a fever on the dance floor. And you thought Justin got the inspiration for his 'Rock Your Body' video all by himself? Think again. -- MTC Listen to 'You Should Be Dancin''

3.Elton John, 'Tiny Dancer' ('Almost Famous' 2000)
Give it up to Cameron Crow for making 'Tiny Dancer' the new '100 Bottles of Beer on the Wall.' 'Almost Famous' was an open love letter to rock 'n' roll, and this scene was the little heart over the "i." -- MTC Listen to 'Tiny Dancer'

2.Eminem, 'Lose Yourself' ('8 Mile' 2002)
If '8 Mile' is the hip-hop 'Rocky,' then 'Lose Yourself' is rap's answer to 'Eye of the Tiger.' Not only did Em's acting skills earn $300 million at the box office, he scored the biggest hit of his career and got to shout out co-star Mekhi Phifer as he spoils the film's entire plot in the song. -- JP Watch 'Lose Yourself'

1.Queen, 'Bohemian Rhapsody' ('Wayne's World' 1992)
By itself, this operatic rocker has nothing to do with "party time," but when the tape is popped into the deck of Garth's "Mirth Mobile," 'Bohemian Rhapsody' gives rise to music's most excellent cinematic moment. Let the triumphant head-banging begin! -- JP Listen to 'Bohemian Rhapsody'

Bumper Sticker of the Day

Seen on a truck on Route 15 near Sunbury, PA:

I don't see wrecking a $28,000 car for a $.28 cat.

Does anyone else get it??

Honor the Dead, Heal the Wounded, End the War

Happy Memorial Day.

Great Name for a Band

Not Penney's Boat

(Another soon to be regular feature, with apologies to Robert and Dave Barry, from whom Robert stole the gag, whom I stole it, um, from.)

More New Orleans Photos

The Lower Ninth, 20 months after the storm.

The levee, rebuilt. Experts say it's still not deep enough to withstand another storm like Katrina.

Ole'

I'll be there soon. Can't wait.

Bumper Sticker of the Day

A new feature here at OA: Bumper Sticker of the Day. Thanks to ROC for the idea. And the bumper stickers.

To start out:

Cheney-He Who Must Not Be Named '08
(I can't say his name.)

Please feel free to send your own. They should be actual bumper stickers you've seen. How will I know the dif?

Down the River

I went back to New Orleans in April, this time with a group of fellow UU's. Funny, we had not met on 16th Street but many of us became fast friends while working and playing together for a week.

Many of the neighborhoods are in the same bad shape they were in September 06 when I was there last. The tourists are back and the Qua'ta and the Marigny are back, full of brass bands, cool jazz, Abita and rum punch. The Lower Ninth has been left to rot in the sun and the mold, in the shadow of the levees that are still too shallow to withstand another storm. Before and After the storm are still how they count time. Many people are more than willing to let their anger out recounting stories of those days high with water and death and anger.

I don't believe that I have ever felt more ashamed than I did listening to an African American women telling us the story of her journey in those days after the storm withdrew, hearing about the cops with a gun to her uncle's head, the same one who told her "We don't want n@##$%s in this part of town", her search for a place to sleep. Ashamed for the actions of other whites toward blacks, those in power worrying more about property than people and about white, wealthy folks' property above all others, the shame of knowing that even one more week does not do justice to the vast work there is to do to make that city whole again.

Go visit. Hammer a nail, drink a Fee Na Nay, eat some red beans and rice, listen to someone bitch about the Road Home program, bitch about what we've done wrong, be the change, witness.

Photo: Front steps where a house used to be, across the street from the levee that collapsed in the Lower Ninth Ward.

Goin' Crazy Out There At The Lake....

In my blog silence, I've spent some time traveling. Minneapolis is a fun city. Who knew? To visit:

Brit's. Fun, if overly English for this Irish girl. They make up for it with Harp on draught.

Nye's. Voted by Esquire as one of the best bars in America. They fudge a little by claiming to be THE best bar in America. Don't hold it against them. A cross between the Sons of Italy bar before the renovation and the Valley House. Good Polish beer with unpronouceable name. Zywiec. Helps to have a half-Polish friend order it. Or just point.

The Local. Outdoor seating even in 50 degrees. In Minnesota, after all. Never made it inside, come to think of it. Made a dash for #1. It's 50 degrees in May in Minnesota.

The bar in the Millenium Hotel. Preferably with drunk co-workers.

Bryant-Lake Bowl. This very fun bowling alley where I left my credit card. Went after #'s 1 and 3. You still owe my 35 bucks. You know who you are. Maybe they're all just really good friends. (If you owe me 35 bucks, you get that. If not, be grateful you're not drunk coworkers who owe me money.)

You know I love you, baby. I wouldn't leave you.

I ran out of gas. I, I had a flat tire. I didn't have enough money for cab fare. My tux didn't come back from the cleaners. An old friend came in from out of town. Someone stole my car. There was an earthquake. A terrible flood. Locusts. IT WASN'T MY FAULT, I SWEAR TO GOD.

I'm still here. What excuse do I have for my absence? TiVo; that ill conceived break in the Lost season; working for a living; traveling to far and away locales -- Minneapolis, New Orleans, the Big A, Chemung -- hockey season, allergy season, seasons in the sun, hunting season. Life in general. I don't know how Andrew Sullivan keeps up. Of course, he gets paid for it. So I'm back. Stay tuned, faithful reader, for some random, overdue posts.