One of the highlights of Season 9 of America’s Got Talent is the dance duo Blue Journey. The two dancers, Nick Mishoe and Rachel Kivlighan incorporate images into their dance that make the routine, choreographed by David Middendorp, tell a mesmerizing story.
Last week, Mishoe and Kivlighan advanced to the semi-finals on a night where the show had a lot of talent. In case you missed their routine, check it out (and you may want to watch it on full screen).
If you are wondering about the song that accompanies their dance, it is the song “Wonderful Life,” which was written by Britsh singer Black (aka Colin Vearncombe) and appeared on his 1987 album, Wonderful Life. The song was quite successful in many countries round the world, although U.S. listeners may not remember it.
The version that Blue Journey uses, though, is a cover by Smith & Burrows. Below, you may check out Smith & Burrows doing an acoustic version of “Wonderful Life.”
In the meantime, watch for Blue Journey to return to one of the semi-final episodes of America’s Got Talent.
September 2, 2014 Update: During the semi-final round, Blue Journey performed to a Radiohead song, “Exit Music (For a Film),” from the band’s 1997 album OK Computer. Check it out.
What is your favorite act on “America’s Got Talent” this season? Leave your two cents in the comments.
The great baseball player George Herman “Babe” Ruth, Jr. passed away on August 16, 1948 at the age of 53. Ruth, who was born in Baltimore on February 6, 1895, died from cancer, which had been diagnosed two years before his death.
Ruth’s Funeral
After Ruth’s death, his body lay in state at the entrance of Yankee Stadium (“The House That Ruth Built“) for two days. During that time, fans lined up to pay their last respects.
This video shows people lined up outside Yankee Stadium to Ruth one last time. It also includes scenes from Babe Ruth’s funeral, as well as some archival footage of the Sultan of Swat. Check it out.
Ruth Movies
In the month before Ruth’s death, Allied Artists released a bio-pic about the slugger, The Babe Ruth Story (1948), starring William Bendix as Ruth. Many critics have called the film, which includes scenes of Ruth healing sick children (a legend parodied by John Candy on SCTV), one of the worst movies of all time.
Regarding The Babe Ruth Story, people also note that the film could not even get little things right. For example, Bendix plays baseball as a right hander. Ruth was a lefty.
But if you watch The Babe Ruth Story with the right attitude and do not expect a realistic biography, you might have some fun. You can check out the trailer below.
Perhaps Ruth was so larger than life and so well known that it is difficult to make a good film about him. Like The Babe Ruth Story, 1992’s The Babe — with John Goodman in the title role — generally received poor reviews.
One of my favorite Babe Ruth movies was not really about Babe Ruth. Pride of the Yankees (1942) tells the story of Lou Gehrig’s career through the discovery that he had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), what became known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease.”
In Pride of the Yankees, Gary Cooper pays Gehrig and Ruth plays himself. What I always admired about Ruth’s self-portrayal is that he took part in a scene that makes Gehrig look much better than he does.
In the scene, Ruth visits a sick kid surrounded by reporters covering his visit. Then Gehrig visits the kid in private, showing his sincere concern and promising to hit two home runs for the child during the 1928 World Series. Reportedly, the Gehrig incident never took place and is loosely based on when Ruth promised a home run during the 1926 World Series to a hospitalized boy.
The movie’s version of the story makes Ruth look bad in comparison to Gehrig. But his generosity in playing the scene in tribute to his former teammate says a lot about the The Bambino as a person. Unfortunately, that scene is not available on Youtube (although another scene featuring Ruth is available on the Turner Classic Movies website).
Baseball would not be the same had Babe Ruth not come along, and there will never be another one like him. Thanks Babe.
What is your favorite Babe Ruth story? Leave your two cents in the comments.
CineFix has put together in one video what it calls the “10 Most Effective Editing Moments of All Time.” While one might argue whether the list includes the actual top ten, it is hard to argue that these clips — from movies like Godfather (1972), Battleship Potemkin (1925), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), and Psycho (1960) — are not at least among the best. I will not ruin which movie they chose as number one. Check it out.
What movie do you think has the most memorable editing moment? Leave your two cents in the comments.
The world is saddened today by the news that Robin Williams has passed away. He was such a part of our lives that everyone has their own favorite movie scenes or performances, and I cannot add much that you already do not know or that you cannot find elsewhere.
But Williams is one of the few performers where I remember the first moment I saw him. And I was blown away. As a kid turning on Happy Days, a show that was in its fifth season and showing signs of old age, I suddenly saw something completely new. This strange alien character called Mork and the actor playing him was one of the funniest things I had ever seen. The next day at school, everyone was talking about him and his appearance on the Happy Days episode called “My Favorite Orkan.” Here is a scene with Henry Winkler as Fonzie and Robin Williams as Mork.
Robin Williams and Mork, of course, got their own spinoff series which I followed until that one went into its own old age. In many ways, I feel Williams and I grew up together, as I enjoyed his juvenile antics but then got to appreciate his more serious adult work in movies I’ve written about in different contexts like Dead Poets Society (1989), Insomnia (2003), and the underrated World’s Greatest Dad (2009).
It is very sad to hear how he passed, but I am very thankful he lived and gave us so much. Rest in Peace. Na-nu Na-nu.
Robin Williams was like no other ..To watch him create on the spot was a privilege to behold..
Robin you are an angel now !!! REST IN PEACE
I have been enjoying Dan Blakeslee‘s 2011 album Tatnic Tales. Blakeslee has a folk sound rooted in his upbringing in Maine, and the album includes his band The Calabash Club, a group that started out in a Dover, New Hampshire basement in 2008. Below, you may listen to the album (and if you like it, you may buy it or check out his other music at Blakesee’s website).
The Calabash Club includes Mike Effenberger (piano), Nick Phaneuf (bass), and Jim Rudolf (drums). As for Blakeslee, he is not only an accomplished musician; he also is an artist who has created a large number of rock posters and designed the albums for artists such as Slaid Cleaves. For a review of Blakeslee’s new album Owed to the Tanglin’ Wind, head over to No Depression.
What is your favorite Dan Blakeslee song? Leave your two cents in the comments.
(1948), starring William Bendix as Ruth. Many critics have called the film, which includes scenes of Ruth healing sick children (a legend parodied by John Candy on 
