Song of the Summer

One of the best things I did for myself during the 2016 election, other than work for a candidate who didn't sell us out to Russia, was to start following a bot account on Twitter called "africa by toto bot." It's exactly what it sounds like: the bot tweets one lyric at a time from the 1982 song "Africa" by the band Toto. I don't know if it's the context of seeing a tweet from this account come up in between tweets from the many politicians, journalists, and activists I follow, or if it's the fact that I love this song, but every tweet makes my day a little brighter and funnier. Sometimes, bot accounts are pure and lovely and not responsible for subverting democracy.

"Africa" was the first and only number one hit for the band Toto. It's a fairly straightforward pop love song, with lots of 80s-tastic synthesizers and a drum beat that I'm sure the band or some producer thought was very "African" sounding, but isn't really. The original video, which you can watch here, includes a very thin plot, which I believe takes place in a library in an unnamed African country (probably Tanzania, given the two geographical references in the song), also includes a lot of closed eye singing, some masks, one of the drummers wearing a blouse, and a search for a book. It ends with a fire and the lead singer sitting on top of a stack of books in a very Jeff Goldblum in Jurassic Park (the first one) pose, but in a completely unappealing way.

From what I've read about the song, which is a surprising amount, David Paich wrote the song about the continent of Africa. He watched a lot of documentaries about Africa in the period leading up to writing the song, but had never visited and had gone to Catholic school as a child, remembering missionaries going to Africa. So the song is about love of a place and of memory. I can totally get behind this idea. The song was on the album Toto IV. That album and the song "Rosanna" from the album both won Grammys in 1983.

I have loved this song since I first heard it when I was a child. It falls into that category of songs that were on the radio a lot that I will never stop loving. Other songs included in this category are "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)", "More Than a Feeling", and "Low Rider." It's poppy and peppy. There's a marimba! One of my absolute favorite things about this song is the use of "Kilimanjaro" and "Serengeti" in the lyrics. Both words have a lot of syllables and limited rhyming words. I've always been impressed by the band's ability to make the words work in the song. The inclusion of both is the only geographic clue we get in the song; Mt. Kilimanjaro is in Tanzania and the Serengeti National Park is primarily in Tanzania (some of it is in Kenya). As a kid, it was a fun fact to look up. As an adult, it's a funny thing in a random pop song from 1982.

What's fascinating to me is that a little cover of this song by a 90s alt band has become a song of the summer. Not an official song of the summer, but one in my mind. If you haven't listened to Weezer's cover of "Africa," take a few minutes and watch their performance on Jimmy Kimmel's summer concert series. One of the members of Toto even makes an appearance.

The whole thing started with a 14 year old girl named Mary. She started a Twitter account directed at the band and used it to try to convince them to do a cover of the song. Weezer does a far amount of covers, so it's not unusual for them to add a new song or two into the mix. They teased fans with a cover of "Rosanna" first, eventually releasing "Africa" in May. Of course, the Internet was designed for this event. The song is playing in heavy rotation on the radio. NPR wrote a story about the song and people's uncomfortable relationship with Weezer and with the song. My favorite line in this story, "Weezer, the Los Angeles-based quartet that emerged in the 1990s with bemusingly catchy hits like "Buddy Holly," is one of a handful of pop-punk bands that, like Wooderson in the movie Dazed and Confused, keep getting older while a good chunk of their fan base stays the same age — 14."

I was 13 or 14 when I heard my firs Weezer song. It was "Buddy Holly" and I remember the seeing the video for the first time on MTV. I was obsessed with the chorus:

Woo-ee-ooh, I look just like Buddy Holly
Oh-oh, and you're Mary Tyler Moore
I don't care what they say about us anyway
I don't care 'bout that 

Yes, I am so very Mary Tyler Moore. Thank you, Rivers Cuomo for getting it. The Blue Album, which included "Buddy Holly," will always be my favorite Weezer album. "In the garage" and "Say it ain't so," also on that album, are two of my favorite Weezer songs. I lived in Hawaii when "Island in the Sun" was released and loved driving around Oahu with my windows down, blasting the song. I like to listen to "Everybody Get Dangerous" in the middle of a workout. I'm not a huge fan of their newest album, but that's okay. Rivers Cuomo isn't always my favorite person, but again, that's okay. 

 I've never seen Weezer live, but that has now been remedied. Weezer is on tour this summer and I went to the show last night. They happen to be touring with the Pixies, one of my favorite bands of all time. It's been almost ten years since I last saw the Pixies, so I was excited about this concert. Unlike my experience at the Indigo Girls concert, I entered this concert experience with expectations:

• Enjoy Paz Lenchantin as the bassist for the Pixies. Yes, I grew up on the band with Kim Deal, but Paz is an amazing bassist.
• Songs I need the Pixies to play: "Gigantic", "Hey", "Wave of Mutilation" (hopefully the slower version), "Indy Cindy", "Here Comes Your Man", "Planet of Sound", "Letter to Memphis", and "Velouria." 
• Songs I need Weezer to play: "Buddy Holly", "In the garage", "Island in the Sun", "Say it ain't so", "Hash Pipe", "Everybody Get Dangerous," and "Holiday." (I'm a Blue Album fan if that wasn't obvious.)
• "Africa" must be played. 

I was not disappointed. Although the Pixies didn't play all the songs I wanted to hear, most surprisingly no "Here Comes Your Man," they played a great set that included a good mix of newer songs and classics. Paz is a great addition to the band; I'll always be a Kim Deal fan, but she made her choice and the band continues on. 

Weezer puts on a great show. Yes, their fans stay the same age, on many different levels, but who cares? It's a great rock show. They didn't play all the songs I wanted to hear, but they played songs I didn't know I needed, like an acoustic version of a-ha's "Take on Me" and a mash-up of the Turtles' "Happy Together" and Green Day's "Longview". Who knew that would work? The best moment of the night was Rivers Cuomo in a boat in the middle of the audience doing a great acoustic version of "Island in the Sun" and looking super ridiculous in a captain's hat. This the kind of show that reminds me that rock and roll doesn't always have to be so serious or take itself so seriously. Sometimes, it's a dude in a hat in a boat singing an a-ha song and sometimes it's a band singing an almost note for note version of a classic 80s pop song because a fan asked them to do so.

And yes, they played "Africa." It was as glorious live as I thought it would be. I'm trying not to take photos of concerts anymore and my video didn't come out great so enjoy this guy's video from last night. The sing-a-long moment is on my list of favorite concert moments. Tell me Brian Bell doesn't look like one of the members of Toto during this song. It's the tucked in shirt.

Just in case Weezer's cover isn't your thing, enjoy this version of "Africa" created in Mario Paint (apparently Mario Paint videos were a thing in 2010.).

Stuff I Love: Using Your Power for Good

It's February! Before the world completely explodes, it's time to focus up and talk about stuff I love. This year, rather than focusing mostly on pop culture, I'm going to mix it up a bit. A little politics, a lazy movie weekend, a little fun. All stuff I love.

We've become a nation of people who genuinely believe only some people are allowed to have opinions. This isn't a recent thing; it's been a part of the fabric of our collective lives a very long time. What's also constant is resistance to this idea; civil rights, women's rights, gay rights - any modern social movement is built on the idea that opinions and beliefs need to be heard even if they are unpopular or challenging to the status quo. This is one of the things I love about being an American.

One group who always seem to be on the wrong side of this debate are celebrities and famous people. No matter what the political climate is here in the US, there's always one thing all Americans are able to agree on: celebrities and famous people should keep their opinions to themselves. We non-famous people seem to believe that because they're famous they can't be educated or have opinions or, I don't know, exercise their right to free speech just like we can. Famous people aren't real people; they are here simply for our entertainment and in many cases, derision.

Personally, I think this is bullshit. I don't always agree with the things that come out of celebrities' mouths and sometimes the stuff they say is bananas or downright hateful but I'm not going to stop them from saying it. What I do instead is stop paying attention to them or giving them my money. When Tom Cruise made all those comments about mental health a few years back, I stopped watching his movies. I haven't seen one since and don't plan to watch one in the near future. I boycott Tom Cruise. A more recent example is my feelings about Madonna at the Women's March. I've loved Madonna ever since I learned all the choreography to "Lucky Star" and I was super glad she was there just as I was glad to see many of the famous people who spoke or performed. She was being the feminist icon we all know and love BUT, I was disappointed in her comments about blowing up the White House. It was inappropriate and completely against the spirit of the event. I'm not boycotting Madonna but she gave people something completely ridiculous to point to as a "problem" with the Women's March.

That's where I believe celebrities and famous people (I'm using these phrases interchangeably although they're not the same thing) could improve. It's not that they're not allowed to have opinions, it's that they need to think about the way in which they share those opinions. We advise young people to think carefully about the way they portray themselves on social media and in public. Famous people need to remember this applies to them too. They have an audience regardless of what they're doing and whether they like it or not, everyone is listening all the time. That's what so many celebrities get wrong; it's not just about what they're saying, it's the power behind it. Beyonce announced she's pregnant with twins this week and 8 million people liked her photo. That's power. It's like Uncle Ben tells Peter Parker, "with great power comes great responsibility." Use your power for good, celebrities. Many celebrities do, getting behind great causes and things they believe in. From Audrey Hepburn to Bono to Emma Waston, there's great work being done out there by the famous people among us.

One of the reasons I enjoy Twitter despite it frequently devolving into a festering dumpster fire of human awfulness, is celebrities on Twitter. I'm picky about the celebrities I follow; they tend to all be artists I admire and enjoy not people I'm hoping will do or say something stupid. I can still remember the day Molly Ringwald and Andrew McCarthy had a tweet exchange that made me long for the days of watching Pretty in Pink on repeat. This is why Twitter exists! I think George Takei may be one of my favorites; he's funny, political, smart, and stinging all at the same time. So good. Comedians on Twitter are also a delight; most of them have been training for the 140 character limit their whole professional lives. Patton Oswalt is among my favorites. He's a national treasure and I will fight anyone who wants to fight about this. Twitter also gives us all access to small nuggets of content in quick fashion. It's almost like it was designed to be a meaner, slightly more cat video filled version of the highlights reel style shows on ESPN; we get the things we need without having to watch an entire broadcast of anything.

Which brings me to the main point of today's post (I know, I've been rambling). But first a quick reminder:

It's no secret that I love Chief Jim Hopper from the Netflix series Stranger Things. He is the true hero of Hawkins. I am patiently waiting for season two. Where did he go in that car at the end? Why was he taking Eggos into the woods? Is he going to hook up with Joyce (please say no)? Does he ever go anywhere without his hat? Are mornings truly for coffee and contemplation? I need answers.

David Harbour, who portrays Hopper, is a phenomenal actor and another wonderful addition to the Twitterverse. He, like so many of the celebrities I follow, has a good handle on how to mix politics, commentary, and humor into his social media presence. I enjoy his exchanges with Patton Oswalt and his updates from the world of Stranger Things. He admits his privilege and appreciates when his fans call him out on this, something we can all appreciate. I don't watch award shows all that often anymore so I missed the Screen Actors Guild Awards broadcast last week. However, Twitter let me know that not only did Stranger Things win the award for outstanding ensemble drama series (an upset apparently), but that Mr. Harbour delivered an impassioned speech about the responsibility of actors to use their craft to change the world. If you haven't seen the speech, watch it now (try to ignore Winona Ryder's weird facial expressions):

This is my favorite part:

“We will shelter freaks and outcasts, those who have no home. We will get past the lies. We will hunt monsters! And when we are at a loss amidst the hypocrisy and the casual violence of certain individuals and institutions, we will, as per Chief Hopper, punch some people in the face when they seek to destroy the weak and the disenfranchised and the marginalized! And we will do it all with soul, with heart, and with joy. We thank you for this responsibility.”

How awesome is that? There's nothing overtly political, no selfish motivations, no crazy philosophy. It's a person, albeit a famous one, speaking eloquently about his work and the power that art has to change the world. This is the perfect example of a celebrity using his power for good. He could have gotten up there and said ridiculous things or hateful things but he didn't. He used the platform he has to make a powerful statement of inclusion and the power of art. Since the speech, Harbour has been lauded for his comments from the famous and not famous. Since I follow him on Twitter, I see some of this in my Twitter feed and it was remarkably pleasant. I'm sure there were critics but I haven't seen many. Harbour was able to use a very public platform in a very political way without being overtly political or divisive. This gives me hope.

If David Harbour isn't your style (and I'm questioning your life choices for that one), check out another very responsible celebrity, Sam Waterston, writing a piece for The Washington Post. I had no idea my second favorite person on the original Law & Order series was this involved in working with refugees. He comes very close to calling the President "a lying liar who lies" (one of my favorite phrases) but that would seem childish and we wouldn't want that.

Thank you David Harbour for using your power for good. Keep at it and please get season two here as quickly as possible (I realize this is not really within your control).

Next week: Stuff I Love continues with a look at fashion and how to dress like a woman, Lazy Movie Weekend style.

My Dream Man image

Aren't there enough things to feel guilty about in the world?

I love The Real Housewives of New Jersey.

I bet you just judged me a little. Or a lot depending on your personal opinions on RHONJ or any of the Housewives shows. It's also possible that you let me off the hook for liking the show because you also know that Anna Karenina is my favorite novel. They cancel each other out in some form of socially acceptable judgmental math. 

It's possible that you too love the ladies of New Jersey especially since Dina Manzo is back this season which means more Grandma Wrinkles and great combinations of Zen-like phrases and shade. You're probably excited that someone else publicly admitted liking the show before you did. I'm going to hazard a guess that you're probably a firm believer in the concept of guilty pleasures and you only admit to liking a show like The Real Housewives of New Jersey if someone else does it first. Or maybe you're in the trust tree of happy hour and have had one more glass of whatever than you would normally have and you decide to bust out your best Melissa Gorga impression. There's absolutely no judgment here. I'm also going to take this opportunity to encourage the producers of RHONJ to institute the "trust tree of happy hour" on every episode.

I'm here to tell you that guilty pleasures are crap. It's a crap idea and we need to strike if from our vocabulary. If you're unfamiliar with the concept of a guilty pleasure, it's something that a person enjoys but feels guilty that they enjoy it because whatever it is (music, tv shows, movies, books, etc.) is somehow considered more lowbrow or are embarrassing. Guilty pleasures are often found in pop culture - the Housewives franchises, most reality tv shows, certain types of pop music, reading People magazine. Other people get their joy from making fun of you for your likes or maybe taking some form of joy in your embarrassment at liking whatever in the first place. The German term for this idea of joy at the expense of others is "schadenfreude" which sounds very unfun and serious.

This idea of implied guilt drives me absolutely crazy. I have never understood why I should feel guilty or embarrassed about liking certain tv shows, books, movies, or music. You don't have to like what I like and I don't have to like what you like but neither of us should feel guilty about liking what we like. I don't like Fifty Shades of Grey for a whole host of reasons but if you enjoyed reading it and plan to see the movie, just own that. Be okay with the fact that you like the book and enjoyed it. Owning what you enjoy is part of being the best you that you can be. Don't apologize for what makes you happy. There is enough unhappiness in the world why add more?

Which brings me to what I what I really want to talk about today - Sharknado 2. 

That's Pumpkin judging me. Because that's what cats do.

If you're a regular reader of the Island you may remember that I wrote two posts about the first Sharknado. You can read them here and here. No one was expecting the kind of reaction to Sharknado that actually occurred. The fact that a ridiculous movie like this took over Twitter when it originally aired was shocking. The SyFy channel appeals to a very specific fan and I have a feeling even the creators of the movie didn't anticipate it's popularity or the social media frenzy that occurred.


It is by no means a great or even particularly good movie but it's entertaining in its badness. So many improbable and bizarre things happen in this movie that you can't help but love it. I also happen to enjoy the unexpected use of a chainsaw towards the end - good stuff. The basic premise is that super tornadoes somehow suck up sharks into their funnel and then the sharks drop on the unsuspecting people below, killing them. Because science.

I missed out on the Twitter party during the first Sharknado. I was at a work event when it premiered and didn't get to watch the movie until a few days later. I was not disappointed in my experience. When I heard that SyFy was already planning a sequel, I was excited. Where would the sharknadoes hit next? And would America be prepared?

Sharknado 2: The Second One was pretty much everything I didn't know I wanted in a sequel to a ridiculous made for tv movie. I'm still astounded by the sheer number of celebrities that participated in this film. There are random musicians (Biz Markie is my favorite), original MTV VJs, Matt Lauer and Al Roker, an Osbourne, Pepa from Salt N Pepa, Robert Hayes, and two members of the cast of Independence Day. Judd Hirsch and Vivica A. Fox helped defeat aliens so I'm sure they're up to the task of taking care of some sharknadoes. Ian Ziering and Tara Reid are back, reprising their roles of Fin and April. Fin has become a national hero and April has written a book about how to survive a sharknado (I like what you did there movie makers). They're on their way to New York for a book tour and to visit Fin's sister and her incredibly awkward family (her husband is Mark McGrath from Sugar Ray - no joke). They don't even make it off the plane before the sharknadoes start again, April loses a hand, and Wil Wheaton (surprise!) dies. Also, Robert Hayes is the pilot. So many things happened in the first ten minutes of the movie it was almost hard to keep up.

Not only did I watch Sharknado 2 as it premiered but I also got to participate in the Twitter event which was so much fun that I want to do it all again. It just so happened that wonderful Neek Confessional, Jessica, joined Twitter just in time for us to watch it together (virtually). I really wanted to get #sharknadosurvivaltips going but that didn't happen (maybe with Sharknado 3 - yep, it's happening). My Twitter habits are typically limited to retweeting celebrities I follow and adorable cat videos. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed live tweeting the movie. I'm sure there are other more clever tweeters out there but I held my own. I'm particularly proud of my MC Hammer "Please Hammer Don't Hurt Em" reference in reply to a friend's query about the casting choice of Biz Markie. He suggested that MC Hammer would have been good too. People I don't know favorited and re-tweeted me. And we all need a little social media love every now and then.

My point with all of this is that millions of people participated in the viewing and tweeting of Sharknado 2. No one, at least to my knowledge, was mean to one another. People didn't act like jerkfaces just because they were behind their keyboards or tried to make people feel bad about enjoying Sharknado 2. The Internet love was strong; for two whole hours we all got along. This rarely happens in life. Let's relish in the harmony that SyFy brought to the world even if it was short-lived. Rarely does a day go by when I don't read about some horrible incident of online trolling so I like the fact that this event had none of that negativity.

I refuse to call this a "guilty pleasure" - I feel no guilt in genuinely having fun watching a ridiculous movie. I'm eagerly awaiting Sharknado 3. Please let it take place somewhere insane like Des Moines.