So much magic in my life. As much as I wanted to shout out to Mick Smiley’s “I believe it’s magic” song/remix from the Ghostbusters movie (the one where Sigourney Weaver is flashing her pecs at the camera, and growls out a yell that shatters her building’s facade). His incomprehensible lyrics and lethargic melody only added power to his jam.
But for power, how can I not shout out to Nina Simone? Although she’s only covering Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, she makes this song hers by giving herself to it completely. It’s not a happy song–it’s full of desperation, pain, confusion, and ought to scare the shit out of whomever it’s directed to. I can’t stand versions of this song sung as a happy, romantic theme. She’s belting out her pain; lady’s in trouble, and it shows.
But then that’s when Nina Simone is best: when she’s singing from desperation, pain, and confusion (for example, on Four Women: “My name is PEEEEEAAAAAACHEEEESS!”). Just like in real life, if you believe in magic and you want to be taken seriously, you have a difficult line to walk and must avoid falling into the ridiculous–and I think Nina Simone walks that line, partly by sounding so vulnerable and earnest. As a contrast, listen to Marilyn Manson’s version: he comes awfully close to succeeding, but at the end you can’t take him seriously because he’s all sound and fury, but no power–just one more angry white man shrieking out how depraved he is. Yawn.
But just to keep everything ridiculous, I’m submitting a video of Nina Simone put to Alan Rickman as Severus Snape, with what appear to be Portuguese translations of the lyrics. How magical!
Megan Costello
America – You Can Do Magic
America proves the existence of magic for me. Although it is black magic that brought Sarah Palin to the presidential campaign, I am not talking about the United States of America. No, I’m talking about the soft-rockers who hypnotize me with their jams.
Affectionately known to me as the Shoop-Ding Song, the 1982 hit You Can Do Magic is not only about magic, it IS magical- first at 40 seconds into the song, and then again at 50. Shoop-ding! After the first two shoop-dings have got me hooked in the chorus, I just let the magic rush all over me in the warm cocoon of easy listening.
Shoop-ding is the sound of magic happening. God bless America and their soft rock tribute to the best sound effect ever.
Himanshu Mhatre
FAIL
Had Himanshu managed to submit an entry, it might have gone a little something like this:
