Doriano Carta

The song “You Get What You Give” by the New Radicals is a fantastic song that was used at the very end of the movie “CLICK” that’s one of my favorites. It’s not only an infectious song but the message is so inspirational and motivational, perfect for the start of a new year. It’s a new variation on the old concept of what goes around comes around. If we focus on helping others then guess what? Yup, others will help us. If we send out negative vibes then guess what comes back? Such is the circle of life.

By the way, the lead singer/songwriter has penned several hits for other artists such as Santana and his “Game of Love” song that he did with Michelle Branch. I actually wrote about that song already so obviously I love this writer’s work.

Here’s the music video followed by the lyrics.

Here’s the mp3 you can play

	New Radicals – You Get What You Give (Radio Edit)
	Found at skreemr.com

You Get What You Give Lyrics

Wake up kids
We’ve got the dreamers disease
Age 14 we got you down on your knees
So polite, you’re busy still saying please
Fri – enemies, who when you’re down ain’t your friend
Every night we smash their Mercedes – Benz
First we run and then we laugh till we cry
But when the night is falling
And you cannot find the light
If you feel your dream is dying
Hold tight
You’ve got the music in you
Don’t let go
You’ve got the music in you
One dance left
This world is gonna pull through
Don’t give up
You’ve got a reason to live
Can’t forget you only get what you give
Four a. m. we ran a miracle mile
Were flat broke but hey we do it in style
The bad rich
God’s flying in for your trial
This whole damn world can fall apart
You’ll be ok follow your heart
You’re in harms way
I’m right behind
Now say youre mine
Fly high
What’s real can’t die
You only get what you give
Just dont be afraid to leave
Health insurance rip off lying FDA big bankers buying
Fake computer crashes dining
Cloning while they’re multiplying
Fashion mag shoots
With the aid of 8 dust brothers Beck, Hanson
Courtney Love and Marilyn Manson
You’re all fakes
Run to your mansions
Come around
We’ll kick your ass in!
Don’t let go
One dance left
{unsaid lyrics from liner}
Championed by a soulless media misleading
People unaware they’re bleeding
No one with a brain is believing
It’s so sad you lost the meaning
Never knew it anyway
Human natures so predictable
I’m a fool to do your dirty work whoa, whoa

This might offend fans of Andrew Loyd Webber and his brilliant “Phantom of the Opera” but I actually prefer the 2004 movie version of the classic tale over the world renown Broadway version starring the great Sarah Brightman and Michael Crawford. Insert gasp here if you must.

Listen, no one loves Sarah Brightman more than I do and I am NOT saying that Emmy Rossum did a better job in the film version, all I’m saying is that overall I enjoy the movie and the music from this adaptation more than the famed stage productions. The same applies to Michael Crawford versus his film counterpart, Gerard Butler, who did a spectacular job as the tormented Phantom. While Butler admittedly did not have the singing chops that Crawford possessed, he more than made up for it with his immense passion and powerful performance. As for Emmy Rossum, my goodness is she beautiful. To top it all off, she actually does a phenomenal job singing which was amazing. I was convinced they had dubbed her voice and only gave her the role because of her acting and visual appeal. She shines throughout.

Most of all, I love the work Joel Shumacher does with this story. It was a tall order but he more than rose to the occasion! Right from the opening sequence you just know that you’re in for a spectacular experience as the movie starts in black and white and the old abandoned theater explodes into life with brilliant lights and color as you’re transported back in time to Paris when the story took place. The whole sequence was reminiscent of the wonderful job that James Cameron did with Titanic as he brought the old ship back to life. The other memorable part for me was showing the old man who remembers the utter joy of being young and in love.

Here are some of my favorite scenes from the much underrated movie version of “Phantom”.

The trailer shows the breathtaking opening sequence which starts in black and white and transitions into color and comes to life.

Here’s the chilling “All I Ask of You” which is replete with anguish as the Phantom bares witness to the love that the woman he adores possesses for another man. Such torment.

Here’s the Phantom soon after watching his beloved Christine profess her love to another. Here’s an excellent example of what the director does so well throughout the film with the visuals; the purity of the white snow and the bright blood red of the rose contrasted against it and the stellar performance of Butler singing in extreme pain.

Here’s Emmy Singing “Think of Me”. Shumacher must have fallen in love with her for he does such a wonderful job of capturing her beauty. This scene sends a shiver down my spine.

“Music of the Night” showcases Gerard Butler as the Phantom and displays his intense passion.

“Angel of Music” is a delightful duet between

Masquerade is a fun party scene

Point of No Return is near the end

I’ve always loved The Cars, especially their first two albums: The Cars and Candy-O. The rest of their output were all good offerings with a special track here and there (such as Drive) but when I think of them it’s always the music from their first two albums that I think of first.

Note: The bassist and lead singer on most of their best songs, Benjamin Orr, passed away at the age of 53 in 2000 from pancreatic cancer. He performed right up till the end with his band called Big People. Ric Ocasek wrote and performed “Silver” in honor of his fallen bandmate and friend.

Here are some of my favorite car tunes.

My Best Friend’s Girl (1978)

Just What I Needed (1978)

Let’s Go (1979)

My favorite, Drive (1984), highest charted hit single at number 3 in USA.

While it’s important for men to get in touch with their sensitive side from time to time, we must always remain men. Just as it’s good for women to be strong and independent, it’s critical for them to remain women. I’m saying this because of a conversation I had with a friend recently.

Since the people we know online can only base their perceptions of you on what you share with them online that means it might be a little off when it comes to the real you. I admit that I share a great deal of sensitive and “soft” things online, especially with this “Seizing The Day” blog so the image of me as a man might appear a little softer than what I really am.

Don’t get me wrong, that’s fine by me. I am proud of my sensitive side, that’s part of who I am. However, I want to make it clear that at the center of it all is a strong, good-providing, all american man. I might be a peace loving soul but I will not hesitate to fight to protect those that I love and even those I don’t even know that need help.

I love this song my Michelle Wright called “Take it Like a Man” which sums it all up perfectly. I think women love the idea of the sensitive male but deep down every woman wants and needs a good old fashioned man.

Take it like a man

Boy meets girl it’s a delicate thing
So much time spent wondering if
What you see is what you get
I keep looking for a friend and a lover
When I find one he ain’t the other
Sometimes, I just want to quit
One wants a maid one needs his mother
They either want space or they want to smother me
And my poor heart needs somebody who
Can take it like a man, steady and strong
Not a lot of fuss and carrying on
True to a promise I can WRITE IN STONE
Take it like a man who knows about love
And every little things that a girl dreams of
Someone wise enough to understand
If you want this woman’s heart
Take it like a man
I met somebody the other night
Started thinking he was Mr. Right..wrong
I might have never known
If a friend hadn’t brought it to my attention
He’s got a wife he forgot to mention
Girl, leave that fool alone
I keep hoping and telling myself
Somewhere there’s one good one left
‘Cause my poor heart need somebody who
Can take it like a man, steady and strong
Not a lot of fuss and carrying on
True to a promise I can WRITE IN STONE
Take it like a man who knows about love
And every little things that a girl dreams of
Someone wise enough to understand
If you want this woman’s heart
Take it like a man
Take it like a man, steady and strong
Not a lot of fuss and carrying on
True to a promise I can WRITE IN STONE
Take it like a man who knows about love
And every little things that a girl dreams of
Someone wise enough to understand
If you want this woman’s heart
Take it like a man
Take it like a man
Well honey if you want my heart
You gotta take it like a man
Take it like a man

Here’s a live version of Michelle Wright… such a great performer

The story of how Charles Dickens came to write his Christmas classic, “A Christmas Carol” is just as interesting as the story he wrote. Here’s the trailer and a 5 minute excerpt from the full-length documentary called “The Ghosts of Dickens’ Past”

I always find it fascinating to learn what inspired a writer to create their story, especially something as magical and as timeless as “A Christmas Carol”. There’s no doubt that Dickens felt most of the emotions that his characters experienced in this tale, especially those of Scrooge. I wonder how much his life was changed after writing this incredibly important story for all seasons.

Frank Capra’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946) is my favorite movie of all-time. I know it’s the favorite movie for countless millions of folks which is great in my book. I just know that I fell in love with it as a very young man the first time I saw it. I can’t recall exactly when but it was before my teens that’s for sure. I watch the movie every Christmas without fail. It happened during the years when the movie was played all the time during the holiday season because of a copyright mixup which allowed all stations to play if for free any time they wanted. That’s no longer the case which is why we only get to see it once a year now on commercial television. Thank goodness for DVD’s.

The story becomes even more special and meaningful to me as I get older. I understand it more as I go through the different stages that George Bailey did in the movie. I too had incredible hopes and dreams to build giant skyscapers, bridges a mile-long, travel and “SEE THE WORLD!” However, things happen and life throws us some curveballs that lead us in another direction. Ultimately, we must realize that the most important things in life aren’t those childhood dreams but our family and friends. As Clarence said after getting his wings, “Remember George, No man is a failure who has friends”. How true is that!

I love everything the movie stands for. Not just about family and friends but also about the bigger picture such as community, country and even mankind itself. It starts appropriately in space and slowly zooms in increasingly closer to examine all of those elements. I see a lot of parallels to what’s going on right now online as large groups of people are making friends and building communities. It’s like we’re got a Bailey Brothers Building and Loan and we’re building Bailey Parks in this virtual Bedford Falls community. It’ truly is a wonderful life online and offline.

Here are some great video clips from the movie as well as the entire movie. They include:

The theatrical trailer

A review of the movie that discusses the darker aspects of the wonderful film

The George Lasso’s moon scene where they make a wish

The most romantic love scenes ever was the phone scene where George relunctantly agrees to speak to Mary’s boyfriend Sam “Hee Haw” Wainright. Legend has it that they did the scene in ONE take! Pure cinematic magic!

Note: I couldn’t find a short clip of another one of my favorite scenes. I just love it when Donna Reed as a little girl leans over and whispers “George Bailey, I’ll love you till the day I die”. Always gets me every time.

I adore Kristin Chenoweth! She’s mostly known as an actress but she’s a wonderful singer too. I saw this performance recently and became captivated by this enchanting ethereal angel with such a celestrial Christmas spirit. She said she’s one of those goofballs that gets very sad when Christmas is over! So do I.

She’s been a lot of movies and even has done voice over work. Here’s her body of work on IMDB.

Here’s the video that mesmerized me.

Here’s another one

“My Favorite Year” (1982) is a wonderful movie. The legendary Peter O’Toole is at his best as the aging movie star that’s scared to death about appearing on live television in the golden era of the 1950s. He was nominated for an Oscar for his turn as Allan Swan the swashbuckler with a drinking problem in real life.

Part of the charm of this movie is the way it captures the nostalgic feelings people have for that period of time. Sure, things are never as pristine or as idyllic in reality as they tend to be in our minds, but that’s the beauty of motion pictures. This movie is an enjoyable trip.

In a touching subplot, Allan Swan can’t seem to find the courage to speak to his daughter whom he abandoned.

The other thing that’s wonderful about this movie is the behind the scenes look at the making of the 1950s live show which was based on Sid Cesar’s Show of Shows. That show was the breeding ground for many future comedic giants such as Carl Reiner, Woody Allen, Neil Simon and many more.

Mark Linn-Baker was also excellent as the young man responsible for babysitting the troublemaking matinee star who has a weakness for drinking and the ladies. Here’s a funny scene that shows what he has to deal with.

My favorite moment comes at the very end when Swann is acknowledging all the cheers from the audience. Here’s the ending including that touching scene.