16 All Over Again

Last night, I attended a screening of "Purple Rain" at the Arclight Sherman Oaks. It was a part of the AFI Music Documentary series, and was pretty well attended.

The print that was screened was an original - no pristine digital remasters here. But that was OK.

It's amazing how I reverted to my 16-year-old self while sitting in that theater.

Funny how I realized that I knew the movie WORD FOR WORD, and had to fight the urge to recite it at times (during Morris Day's lines, natch). As I was enjoying the show, I remembered how I would go home from school and, for a time, watch the movie on VHS EVERY SINGLE DAY. Carazy!

Twenty-four years later, it was cool to finally see the movie on the big screen. (I first saw the film at a friend's sleepover party, and that was a big scandale in my house -- my dad was against me seeing the rated R movie, even though he was the one to first bring home the album, and to pretty much cure me of my Michael Jackson fever.)

The music is still thrilling and amazing (I've gotta load all the PR tracks on my iPod; now I regret selling so many of my Prince CDs while I was "downsizing"), and Prince is still fab looking and proving that, all these years later, he is still very much relevant and kicks ass. I just might have to get back into the NPG/3121 fan scene and finagle my way to his next live show.

My Senior Crush

My admiration for and appreciation of the documentary "Young@Heart" and its subject, the Young@Heart Chorus, continues.

Last night, I saw their fantastic sold-out show at the Wilshire Theatre. What a treat! The chorus was great, and the audience showed them a lotta love -- a whooole lotta love.

I was waiting around after the show, and by chance wandered back into the theatre to see members of the chorus milling around and greeting fans. I took the opportunity to shake hands and get a little kiss from my new senior crush, Lenny. If you've seen the movie, Lenny is an 88-year-old Renaissance man; he sings in the chorus, performs with his church choir, plays the harmonica, hikes, rides with a cycling club and drives! Lenny definitely has growing fan club, and he seems to be enjoying the ride.

(That Stan, who spent part of the show performing from a wheelchair, seems pretty cool, too.)

Um, did I mention that you should go see the film?

Young@Heart -- Support this Film!

Earlier this week, I attended a special screening of the documentary "Young@Heart" at the Arclight Sherman Oaks, which was followed by a Q&A with the director, Stephen Walker. The film follows a singing group composed of senior citizens (average age: 80) as they prepare for their latest show, singing popular/contemporary/rock/punk songs. This film is so profoundly moving, all I can say is, please go see it, and take friends.This clip captures a particularly moving performance of Coldplay's "Fix You."

If, by some chance, you have a direct line to Bono, please convince him to allow Stephen Walker to license U2's "One" for use in a future edit of the film. The director tried and tried to make contact, but only got as far as the person responsible for mailing out form rejection letters. The inclusion of the song, sung by one of the chorus members, will make one particularly dramatic segment all the more resonant.

The Young@Heart chorus is actually performing at the Wilshire Theater in Beverly Hills on April 17th. I'm getting my tix today!

More movie info at: http://www.foxsearchlight.com/youngatheart/

Young@Heart website: http://www.youngatheartchorus.com

Giggle Me This

He Had a Dream

OMG, this is hilarious. Reminds me of that episode of "The Simpsons" when the jazzman performed a 20-minute version of "The Star Spangled Banner" at a Springfield Isotopes baseball game...especially when El Jefe glances at his watch, oh so discreetly.