Personal blog of a Columbus writer, Web head, husband, gamer, Boston Terrier dad, Dubliner, rock star, archiver, Buckeye, Pike, Conchord.
Oh sweet, we have a bathroom TV.
The Star Wars Holiday Special
Andy B. told me about this last night and I was surprised to find it online. I thought George Lucas would have a super ban on its online existence for copyright infringement.
From Wikipedia:
Generally, The Star Wars Holiday Special has received a large amount of criticism, both from Star Wars fans and the general public. David Hofstede, author of What Were They Thinking?: The 100 Dumbest Events in Television History, ranked the holiday special at number one, calling it “the worst two hours of television ever.”…
George Lucas himself has rarely commented on or even acknowledged its existence. He is thought to hold a low opinion of it. For instance, Tom Burman, one of the costume designers for the holiday special, has said that Lucas once told him that he was very disappointed with the final product.
At one Australian fan convention he reportedly said “If I had the time and a sledgehammer, I would track down every copy of that show and smash it.” In an online chat with fans, he reportedly said: “The holiday special does not represent my vision for Star Wars.” In an interview with Maxim magazine in May 2002, Maxim asked the question, “Any plans for a Special Edition of the Holiday Special?” Lucas responded with “Right. That’s one of those things that happened, and I just have to live with it.”
It’s two hours long. The beginning scrolling text was added later, but the rest appears to be the original broadcast.
OK, so I’m NOT just getting old
I thought it was me.
After thinking the Drive-By Truckers sounded like shit when I saw them in Nashville some weeks back and then similarly thinking The Hold Steady sounded like shit last night, I started to think, maybe it’s just me.
Maybe I’m getting old enough that it’s just too loud now. My ears just can’t process the inflated audio like they used to.
It both instances, I thought it was likely just a mixing problem … the sound board guy not knowing what the hell he was doing. But maybe, just maybe I’m now officially an old bastard.
Turns out it was the sound board. Concert reviewer Curtis Schieber of The Columbus Dispatch agrees:
The evening, which also featured the Whigs of Athens, Ga., and Two Cow Garage of Columbus, reaffirmed these qualities despite the muddied and indistinct sound mix that seriously marred the headliner.…
But Finn’s singing was so muffled for much of the set that only the faithful could have deciphered the lyrics. The group’s colorful stories, couched in artfully described memories, events and emotions, relied largely on the music to communicate them. It was a shame, especially with tunes such as Rock Problems, which rocked hard but whose humor and insider charm was completely lost to anyone not knowing the lyrics.
Full article here.
Maybe it’s me
Apparently, I’m going to have to start begging. C’mon guys, a free ticket to see The Hold Steady. You’re gonna have to go with me and everything but…
Copyright Sprkus 2010
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