“Joy to the World” is a song written by Hoyt Axton, and made famous by the band Three Dog Night. The song is also popularly known by its opening words, “Jeremiah was a bullfrog“. Three Dog Night originally released the song on their fourth studio album, Naturally in November 1970 and subsequently released an edited version of the song as a single in February 1971.
The song, which has been described by members of Three Dog Night as a “kid’s song” and a “silly song”, topped the main singles charts in North America, was certified gold by the RIAA, and has since been covered by multiple artists.
Some of the words are nonsensical. Axton wanted to persuade his record producers to record a new melody he had written and the producers asked him to sing any words to the tune. A member of Three Dog Night said that the original lyrics to the song were “Jeremiah was a prophet” but “no one liked that”.
When Hoyt Axton performed the song to the group, two of the three main vocalists – Danny Hutton and Cory Wells – rejected the song, but Chuck Negron felt that the band needed a “silly song” to help bring the band back together as a working unit. Negron also felt that the song “wasn’t even close to our best record, but it might have been one of our most honest.”
Christmas is fast approaching. There are four days left before the holiday is upon us. This has been quite the year. As it comes to an end, we hope that this new coming year be better in many aspects.
“It Is What It Is” will feature a special song every night as the countdown approaches.
“Believe” is a 2004 song from the Christmas-themed performance capture film The Polar Express. The words and music were written by Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri, and the song was performed by Josh Groban.
~~Believe~~
Children, sleeping, snow is softly falling Dreams are calling Like bells in the distance
We were dreamers, not so long ago but one by one we all had to grow up
When it seems the magic slipped away We find it all again on Christmas Day
Chorus: Believe in what your heart is saying Hear the melody that’s playing there’s no time to waste there’s so much to celebrate
Believe in what you feel inside and give your dreams the wings to fly You have everything you need If you just believe
Trains move, quickly to their journeys end Destinations are where we begin again
Ships go, sailing far across the sea trusting starlight to get where they need to be
When it seems that we have lost our way We find ourselves again on Christmas Day
Chorus: Believe in what in your heart is saying hear the melody that’s playing There’s no time to waste There’s so much to celebrate
Believe in what you feel inside and give your dreams the wings to fly You have everything you need If you just believe If you just believe If you just believe If you just believe Just Believe Just Believe
~~GALLERY~~
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The Polar Express is a 2004 American motion capture computer-animated musical Christmas fantasy film based on the children’s book of the same title by Chris Van Allsburg. Written, produced, and directed by Robert Zemeckis, the film featured human characters animated using the live action performance capture technique, with the exception of the dancing waiters who dispense hot chocolate on the train, because their feats were impossible for live actors to achieve. The Polar Express is listed in the Guinness World Book of Records in 2006 as the first all-digital capture film. This is Castle Rock Entertainment’s first animated film.
This was Michael Jeter’s last acting role, and the film was dedicated to his memory.
“Believe”
The Polar Express
~~Uploaded on Nov 15, 2009~~
I do not own anything, movie and music belong to respectful owners!
I’m very much aware that much has been written, reported, discussed, argued about Robin Williams’ recent death. The airwaves, the blogosphere and the news have taken to reporting the death of this great talent.
Many are already tired of this topic, others have spoken in ways that show callousness and insensitivity about his passing. I must say I am a fan, I grew up with this man’s creative genius and his work played a part in my life.
Knowing that he’s not here anymore and knowing about his daily battle with depression makes me sad.
“Some people are being judgmental and rude in the unfortunate passing of the great Robin Williams and it’s really upsetting how people can try to make themselves seem superior even in his and his family’s pain.
Sometimes we take take and take and forget to refill, replace and/or replenish. If there was a well full of water, and you were thirsty, you would most likely drink from this well everyday until the well ran dry. I mean what’s the point in having access to all this water if we can’t enjoy it right? No harm no foul. Or so we think. People do this with people too. I understand that sensation of being drained and pulled in every direction and left dry. I know many people who deal with that daily and I know of people who take selfishly daily too.
To feel more lonely in a room full of people than when you’re by yourself, no one understands this?
Robin Williams gave and gave and gave and when you’re the life of the party, the one with that great warm and inviting smile and everyone expects for you to be the entertainment, who entertains him? Who replenishes his spirit and energy? Although many of us feel a certain way in regards to suicide and feel it’s a very selfish act, whether it is or not, many people who do commit suicide are plagued with a very sad and hard mental illness they can’t control.
Fame, money and fans doesn’t equal complete bliss, peace and happiness. Don’t be so quick to say he had it all.
Robin Williams made several statements and was quoted for years and if you read or listened to what he was consistent with, this poor man was sick for a long time and was honest about his depression and loneliness. Maybe his cries for help? We don’t really know. Maybe he was as funny and genius in his talent and gave his all to his craft and us because that was when he felt loved and appreciated the most or not alone.
I don’t condone suicide or any life being taken in any form, but I think we all can understand in some capacity, whether small or big, the feeling of being alone or feeling like no one understands. Instead of condemning this man, let’s remember his legacy, his legend, his genius, his talent, his contribution to making you laugh and smile when you were down and out and allow his family to grieve without your harsh comments and judgements.
You never know what people are going through and people don’t always know what you’re going through. Be there for your loved ones and let them be there for you.
Reciprocate and have gratitude for great people in your life.”
In the words of #SmokeyRobinson
♪♫ People say I’m the life of the party
‘Cause I tell a joke or two
Although I might be laughing loud and hearty
Deep inside I’m blue
So take a good look at my face
You’ll see my smile looks out of place
If you look closer, it’s easy to trace
The tracks of my tears …. ♪♫
Link to “In Memoriam” Robin Williams video … clips from favorite movies
With the recent death of the great actor Robin Williams, we wanted to take a look back at some of his funnier movie moments. From a wacky scientist in “Flubber” to a cross-dressing man in “Mrs. Doubtfire,” Williams’ roles are always diverse and inspiring.
Much has been said these days about the current state of affairs in our world. Many events continue to develop which confirm that we, as a race, are not headed in the right direction. This speech was first given in 1940.
The events of Nazi Germany were in full effect. This was the first major feature film to bitterly satirize Nazism and Adolf Hitler.
I have seen several video versions of this speech. The power of the words remain the same: strong, on point and real. I never tire because it always applies to our current reality. The video montage is awesome and different to the ones I’d seen before.
The Great Dictator is a 1940 American satiricalpoliticalcomedy-drama film starring, written, produced, scored, and directed by Charlie Chaplin, following the tradition of many of his other films. Having been the only Hollywood filmmaker to continue to make silent films well into the period of sound films, this was Chaplin’s first true talking picture as well as his most commercially successful film.
Chaplin’s film followed only nine months after Hollywood’s first parody of Hitler, the short subject You Nazty Spy! by the Three Stooges which itself premiered in January 1940,although Chaplin had been planning it for years before. Hitler had been previously allegorically pilloried in the German film by Fritz Lang, The Testament of Dr. Mabuse.
In his 1964 autobiography, Chaplin stated that he would not have made the film had he known about the actual horrors of the Nazi concentration camps at the time.
~~The Great Dictator’s Speech~~
“I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be an emperor. That’s not my business. I don’t want to rule or conquer anyone. I should like to help everyone – if possible – Jew, Gentile – black man – white. We all want to help one another. Human beings are like that. We want to live by each other’s happiness – not by each other’s misery. We don’t want to hate and despise one another. In this world there is room for everyone. And the good earth is rich and can provide for everyone. The way of life can be free and beautiful, but we have lost the way.
Greed has poisoned men’s souls, has barricaded the world with hate, has goose-stepped us into misery and bloodshed. We have developed speed, but we have shut ourselves in. Machinery that gives abundance has left us in want. Our knowledge has made us cynical. Our cleverness, hard and unkind. We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery we need humanity. More than cleverness we need kindness and gentleness. Without these qualities, life will be violent and all will be lost….
The aeroplane and the radio have brought us closer together. The very nature of these inventions cries out for the goodness in men – cries out for universal brotherhood – for the unity of us all. Even now my voice is reaching millions throughout the world – millions of despairing men, women, and little children – victims of a system that makes men torture and imprison innocent people.
To those who can hear me, I say – do not despair. The misery that is now upon us is but the passing of greed – the bitterness of men who fear the way of human progress. The hate of men will pass, and dictators die, and the power they took from the people will return to the people. And so long as men die, liberty will never perish. …..
Soldiers! don’t give yourselves to brutes – men who despise you – enslave you – who regiment your lives – tell you what to do – what to think and what to feel! Who drill you – diet you – treat you like cattle, use you as cannon fodder. Don’t give yourselves to these unnatural men – machine men with machine minds and machine hearts! You are not machines! You are not cattle! You are men! You have the love of humanity in your hearts! You don’t hate! Only the unloved hate – the unloved and the unnatural! Soldiers! Don’t fight for slavery! Fight for liberty!
In the 17th Chapter of St Luke it is written: “the Kingdom of God is within man” – not one man nor a group of men, but in all men! In you! You, the people have the power – the power to create machines. The power to create happiness! You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure.
Then – in the name of democracy – let us use that power – let us all unite. Let us fight for a new world – a decent world that will give men a chance to work – that will give youth a future and old age a security. By the promise of these things, brutes have risen to power. But they lie! They do not fulfil that promise. They never will!
Dictators free themselves but they enslave the people! Now let us fight to fulfil that promise! Let us fight to free the world – to do away with national barriers – to do away with greed, with hate and intolerance. Let us fight for a world of reason, a world where science and progress will lead to all men’s happiness.
Soldiers! in the name of democracy, let us all unite!”
The Great Dictator is a comedy film by Charlie Chaplin released in October 1940. Like most Chaplin films, he wrote, produced, and directed, in addition to starring as the lead. Having been the only Hollywood film maker to continue to make silent films well into the period of sound films, this was Chaplin’s first true talking picture as well as his most commercially successful film.
More importantly, it was the first major feature film to bitterly satirize Nazism and Adolf Hitler.
“The video that went viral approximately a week ago (May 2014) that decries technology and social media for taking us away from our lives was admittedly poignant. We do need to be careful that we don’t miss out on the important things in life. We also need to be careful how easily we are swayed.
**Concede that you have several points. And understand that it’s a parody.
Still like the original version better.**
‘Look Up’ is a spoken word film for an online generation.
‘Look Up’ is a lesson taught to us through a love story, in a world where we continue to find ways to make it easier for us to connect with one another, but always results in us spending more time alone.
Social media is the social interaction among people in which they create, share or exchange information and ideas in virtual communities and networks. Andreas Kaplan and Michael Haenlein define social media as “a group of Internet-based applications that build on the ideological and technological foundations of Web 2.0, and that allow the creation and exchange of user-generated content.” Furthermore, social media depend on mobile and web-based technologies to create highly interactive platforms through which individuals and communities share, co-create, discuss, and modify user-generated content. They introduce substantial and pervasive changes to communication between organizations, communities, and individuals.
Social media differ from traditional or industrial media in many ways, including quality,reach, frequency, usability, immediacy, and permanence. There are many effects that stem from internet usage. According to Nielsen, internet users continue to spend more time with social media sites than any other type of site. At the same time, the total time spent on social media in the U.S. across PC and mobile devices increased by 37 percent to 121 billion minutes in July 2012 compared to 88 billion minutes in July 2011. For content contributors, the benefits of participating in social media have gone beyond simply social sharing to building reputation and bringing in career opportunities and monetary income, as discussed in Tang, Gu, and Whinston (2012).
~~POSSIBLE DELETERIOUS EFFECTS~~
False Sense of Connection
Cyber-bullying
Decreased Productivity
Loss of Privacy
~~Look Up~~
~~Published on Apr 25, 2014~~
‘Look Up’ – A spoken word film for an online generation.
‘Look Up’ is a lesson taught to us through a love story, in a world where we continue to find ways to make it easier for us to connect with one another, but always results in us spending more time alone.
“This media we call social is anything but, when we open our computers and it’s our doors we shut” … This is one of the most vital messages that everyone needs to hear.
Look Upis a spoken word for the “online” generation. Written, performed and directed by Gary Turk, it is an extremely important life lesson for our youth. Children are growing up in a world where they don’t play outside or communicate with their friends. It seems today everything is done via text message or over the internet. It’s heartbreaking … I feel guilty myself.
We need to spread this message before it’s too late.
Please do your part and SHARE it with everyone you know.
‘Look Up’ – A spoken word film for an online generation.
‘Look Up’ is a lesson taught to us through a love story, in a world where we continue to find ways to make it easier for us to connect with one another, but always results in us spending more time alone.
Written, Performed & Directed by Gary Turk.
Featuring Louise Ludlam & Stuart Darnley.
Original score by New Desert Blues.
Sound engineering by Daniel Cobb.
Filmed and edited by Gary Turk.
~~May 3, 2014~~
It Is What It Is 