Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2007 September 21

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September 21

Miami area hiphop scene..

I'm far from an expert on hiphop, much less the Miami scene. A new editor has created LFMG (Left Field Muzik Group) about a local hiphop band. I've done some cleanup for the article, but I'm not sure it satisfies WP:MUSIC. Was hoping putting a note here might find someone local who's aware of some sources. Thanks. Into The Fray ^T/C 00:02, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

Name of Educational Film (German)

Odd question, but my mother has described this film series to me and I absolutely must see it for myself. Around 1976, my mother studied the German language at Reading High School in Pennsylvania, USA. She describes a black and white filmstrip designed to help students learn conversational German through the use of common speech paired with illogical or unexpected situations and activities. A notable example of the illogical nature of these films is a scene in which several old men in long, black capes are seen on a beach, engaging in a game of human chess. At this time, they are discussing a reasonable activity, such as planning for a dinner party. While these films sound ridiculous, the concept is quite interesting, as it is impossible for the student to guess the speech from contextual clues. If possible, I would like to determine the name of the film (series?) so that I may attempt to find and watch this hilarious educational aid. Freedomlinux 00:13, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

• Based purely on my recollection of high school German, I think the film series that you're looking for is called "Guten Tag." --M@rēino 19:53, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

Based on Mareino's comment, I went looking for information on the Guten Tag series of educational films. The staid official history of the Oregon university experiment with the series sounds little like the description I found on another page where it describes one of the films:

"All sense or order is foiled by the continued re-appearance of a crazed trombone player, who invades practically every scene, attempting to foil any sense of order. This zaniness is in keeping with much of this, the earlier ‘Guten Tag’ series, many episodes of which featured introductory sequences taking place in unlikely-sized constructivist sets of everyday objects (oversized alarm clocks, etc.)." From what I gathered in my search, it seems the original set of twenty six films were in black and white, but a second set of twenty six films were in color and tended to have more structure to the plot. 152.16.16.75 01:33, 22 September 2007 (UTC)

Thank you for your informative responses! Based on the references provided, this is likely the film series to which I am referring. Now, I shall start my search for these films, but it may be difficult to locate German films with the name "Guten Tag". Freedomlinux 02:31, 22 September 2007 (UTC)

Since your userpage indicates that you are in the U.S., I'll mention that several pages I found indicated that "the sole United States distributor is: International Film Bureau, Inc." Here is the catch: I can't find a website for IFB; there is no recent information about it and it doesn't have a Wikipedia article. It may be out of business or it may have merged with another company. Depending on the source, the company's address was listed as:

6 North Michigan Ave., Chicago, Illinois

332 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60604

332 Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60604-4382

If you're unable to track down International Film Bureau, Inc., you may want to write to the University of Calgary, as they currently list the series of films in their catalog of available educational films (warning - slow website). They may be able to direct you to a source. Alternatively, you may want to try searching the web for references to the creators of the series. The Oregon experiment has a footnote that says the first twenty six films were "written by Rudolf Schneider and produced by the Studienprogramm des Bayerischen Rundfunk in collaboration with the Goethe Institute (Munich)..." 152.16.59.190 06:44, 23 September 2007 (UTC)

Dramatic scenes with classical music

I'm trying to think of various instances where a classical soundtrack plays during a dramatic or action-packed scene in a film (or TV show, etc.) where the rest of the soundtrack is modern. I'm especially interested in instances where everything else is muted except the soundtrack. Examples:

• "Bach Concerto in E Major" in The Boondock Saints ("There was a firefight!")
• StarCraft: Brood War intro song (technically opera)
• Song used in "Both of You, Dance Like You Want to Win!" episode of Neon Genesis Evangelion.

I know that this effect has been used a good number of times (not quite enough times to be a cliche, but close) but I can't think of any other instances atm. Help?--SeizureDog 04:13, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

The one that immediately comes to mind is Wagner's The Ride of the Valkyries, played during a scene in Apocalypse Now. I don't remember whether everything else was muted, but the music would have just about drowned out the choppers anyway. Also, Maria Callas was singing opera during Philadelphia. -- JackofOz 09:37, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

No, I recently saw Apocalypse Now, and the battle sounds are mixed-in with the music. Someoneinmyheadbutit'snotme 11:07, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

Platoon (movie) has such a use, of Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings, where everything bar the music drops out. There is a parody of it which might fit your criteria even better, in a brilliant episode of the brilliant Spaced, a very funny comedy with all-modern music apart from that one scene. The episode's called "Gone". It also uses Barber's Adagio for Strings. Neil ム 14:44, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

How about anything by John Woo? Doesn't he have a gunfight scene in every one of his movies without only classical music playing? -- kainaw™ 14:48, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

I'm pretty sure the ending of The Sum of All Fears (film), the car bomb scene, has no other sounds than opera-like music (though recently composed). It may not quite fit the original question, though, since the movie has some New World vs Old Europe themes, and the music style emphasises the victim's position in that confict (as presented in the film). /85.194.44.18 17:15, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

Based purely on the soundtrack (I don't have access to the film at the moment), I believe The Fast & the Furious and it's sequels have classical (orchestral) soundtracks at certain points. The scores were composed for the films, though, so I'm not sure that's what you're looking for. --Kateshortforbob 23:59, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

Another one I've just remembered is the part in The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) where Jesus is carrying his cross to Calvary, during which the only sound is the Introit from Verdi's Requiem. It's very moving, even now over 40 years on. And I think the Resurrection was accompanied by the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah-- JackofOz 00:54, 22 September 2007 (UTC)

I'm on a roll. The Australian movie Don's Party opens with an extract from Janacek's piano piece In the Mists, and The Unbearable Lightness of Being uses Janacek's music extensively (although I only saw it once and I don't remember whether the other sounds were muted). -- JackofOz 00:58, 22 September 2007 (UTC)

The tree shooting scene in Rollerball ?..hotclaws 07:23, 22 September 2007 (UTC)

Nice to see quite a number of instances being reminded here. Oddly enough, I'm not really seeing any that are making me think "oh yeah! I forgot that one" though. I'm still interested in any more you guys can think of, so keep them coming.--SeizureDog 08:28, 23 September 2007 (UTC)

How about the beginning of Casino (movie), with the St. Matthew Passion over the explosion? --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 00:00, 24 September 2007 (UTC)

• Woo hoo! In all my time here, that's my first 00:00 timestamp! Yay! (I am very easily entertained.) --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 00:01, 24 September 2007 (UTC)

There is the aria from Lucia de Lammermoor in The Fifth Element, which cuts back and forth between the gunfight and the singing (but I don't remember if it has other sound in it, and then it becomes a techno remix or something so maybe that doesn't count...) Adam Bishop 02:13, 24 September 2007 (UTC) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 205.210.170.48 (talk)

The Blues Brothers (film) has "The Ride of the Valkyries" with just "I've always loved you" as the only words at the same time. The rest of the film has more modern musicPolypipe Wrangler 02:17, 25 September 2007 (UTC)

What about 2001: A Space Odyssey - stacks of classical music, including contributions from two unrelated Strausses. Side note: Kubrick commissioned Alex North to write an original score, which he did, but Stanley didn't like what North came up with and chose existing classical pieces instead. But North's original concept has survived, been recorded and is apparently quite well known. I must listen to it some day. -- JackofOz 21:38, 25 September 2007 (UTC)

Jadrien Steele

What is Jadrien Steele doing nowadays? His last acting appearance was in the independent film Approaching Union Square. Before that, he was in the 1988 TV movie A Father's Homecoming, the PBS production of Strange Interlude, and the Hallmark Hall of Fame production of The Secret Garden. He also guest-starred on an episode of Valerie (TV series) and Crossbow (TV series). He played the younger son of Harrison Ford in The Mosquito Coast. From 1975 to 1985, Steele played John Reid "Little John" Ryan in Ryan's Hope. During that time, he was a member of the original cast of Nine (musical) on Broadway. He played Young Guido's schoolmate from 1982 to 1984. Who knows what Steele is doing nowadays?72.229.130.76 05:00, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

• According to [1], he's become something of a jack-of-all-trades. A novelist, screenwriter and stage director. And, considering his most recent screen credit was last year, after a long break, I wouldn't be surprised if he was getting back into acting.--Sethacus 13:50, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

Looking for a song "Just The Way You Are"?

I'm trying to find the title and artist of a song that I remember was popular in the early 2000s. It was kind of a dance song. Some of the lyrics I remember went something like this: "I like the way you talk, the way you used to kiss me, I like you just, just the way you are doodoo dooooo doodoodoodoo doooo doodoodoo doodoodoodoo doooo here it goes". Anyone know this song? If it helps I remember the singer may have had curly brown hair in the video clip... --Candy-Panda 08:41, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

"Just the Way You Are" (not the same song as the classic Billy Joel song) by Milky. --Richardrj ^{talk email} 09:15, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

That's it! Thank you very much. :) --Candy-Panda 09:28, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

You're welcome :) --Richardrj ^{talk email} 10:05, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

Rush hour 2

Is rush hour 2 a secret agent film? —Preceding unsigned comment added by Mjamer07 (talk • contribs) 18:23, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

No. One main character is a police man on duty. The other is a police man visiting from out of town. -- kainaw™ 18:33, 21 September 2007 (UTC)

90's UK book about how much money pop stars made

I recall hearing about a book published in the UK that gave details of how much money pop groups and performers had made. This was probably in the 90's or perhaps the late 80's. Anyone know the title of the book please? 62.253.52.156 19:12, 21 September 2007 (UTC)