Category Archives: Popular music & culture

10 Movies: a quiz

Posted on May 23, 2020 by barczablog

Social media can be a lot like real life. There we are, all alone, when someone tries to get our attention demanding some sort of response. It may involve some work, or some fun: or both. I’m recapping the way … Continue reading →

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Wordless chorus

Posted on May 21, 2020 by barczablog

This subject seems apt right now. The voices in this music have no words, which is a perfect expression for a time when we don’t know what’s to come. Of course we never do, but it’s especially noticeable when we’re … Continue reading →

Posted in Cinema, video & DVDs, Essays, Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, Popular music & culture | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

In the mail

Posted on April 28, 2020 by barczablog

I just received a mail package containing a recording from an artist. It was mailed April 7th, with a covering letter inside dated April 6th. It was coming from a city that is about an hour away on the QEW, … Continue reading →

Posted in Popular music & culture, Press Releases and Announcements | Tagged | 2 Comments

Saturday not quite Live

Posted on April 26, 2020 by barczablog

SNL in the era of quarantine? It’s impossible in the usual way: The eager audience in Studio 8H of the Comcast Building (the one many of us know as the “RCA Building”) The cold opening The monologue The musical guests … Continue reading →

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Gone With The Pandemic

Posted on April 10, 2020 by barczablog

Last night we watched the first half of Gone With the Wind. The film began at 10:00 pm taking us up to the intermission around 11:30 pm.   Whatever misgivings I have about the story it remains an amazing achievement. What … Continue reading →

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Beautiful day in the neighborhood and goodness

Posted on March 11, 2020 by barczablog

There are at least a couple of Mr Rogers films out there. There’s Won’t You Be My Neighbor, a 2018 documentary. And there’s A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, the 2019 film based on an Esquire magazine interview by Tom … Continue reading →

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James Rhodes & the Beethoven Revolution

Posted on March 6, 2020 by barczablog

Koerner Hall was jammed full tonight. Apparently everyone wants to hear James Rhodes play Beethoven. I’m late to the party, having no idea who this guy is, just intrigued by the interest I sense all around me, an electricity.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, Popular music & culture, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Moonrise Kingdom on Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 15, 2020 by barczablog

I saw the trailer for Wes Anderson’s next film. Google says it opens in the summer. Argh, I wish I could see it now, but, hmm, …a seed was planted. And there we were, staying in on a chilly Friday … Continue reading →

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Joker reminds me of….

Posted on February 4, 2020 by barczablog

Resonance is a function of history, right? You’ll pick up allusions and associations depending on what you usually see. So of course it’s no wonder Todd Phillips’ 2019 film Joker reminds me of Wozzeck as someone who’s more likely to … Continue reading →

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The Lost Karaoke Tapes

Posted on January 31, 2020 by barczablog

I’m impressed. Nicole Lizée has more reason to be pompous & full of herself than any composer or performer I know. But she seems to be totally unpretentious. Exhibit “A”: the piece we saw & heard tonight is called “Karappo … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Architecture & Design, Music and musicology, Personal ruminations & essays, Popular music & culture, Psychology and perception, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments