old movies

I really love movies (and musicals) pre-1970.

I was just adding movies to my netflix queue when I noticed a crazy pattern.  After Role Models (I can’t help it – I love Jane Lynch), I have:

• The Tender Trap (1955) – with Frank Sinatra and Debbie Reynolds
• Young at Heart (1954) – with Doris Day and Frank Sinatra

There’s already a pattern…

• That Touch of Mink (1962) – with Cary Grant and Doris Day
• Easter Parade (1948) – with Judy Garland and Fred Astaire
• A Star is Born (1954) – with Judy Garland and James Mason
• Bringing Up Baby (1938) – with Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn
• Roman Holiday (1953) – with Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck

And oh man… if you could see a list of movies I’ve already seen – you’d find a lot more of Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Judy Garland, Audrey Hepburn, and Cary Grant PLUS Gene Kelly.

I’m not gonna lie, though – the actresses are super awesome, but I really love Sinatra, Grant and Kelly.  I fall for their charm every time in every movie.

I put trailers for some of my favorites below…

Take Me Out To The Ball Game,1949

North by Northwest, 1959 (Thanks, Mr. Hitchcock)

letting go…

I’ve always enjoyed dancing.  Not just the act of dancing (I dance like a crazy person, FYI) – I also love watching people dance.  From the Flamenco to ballet to swing to hip-hop… and so on.  I love watching it all.

But my favorite of all time is tap.

I’ve loved tap dancing since forever ago and I still can’t get enough of it.  There’s something about the rhythms made that blows my mind.

Check this out:

Lesson 1: Never challenge a tap dancer over the age of 70.  They will win.

Lesson 2: Sammy Davis Jr. and Gregory Hines were AMAZING dancers.

If you’re still not convinced tap dance is the greatest thing ever, check this out:

Lesson 1: Tap is awesome. The end.

Anyway, I should get to the point of this entry – which more than just confessing my undying obsession with tap dance.

I’ve always wanted to be a tap dancer.  Throughout college and grad school, I was always looking for inexpensive classes (I was/am a poor college/post-grad student/person).  Finally, 10 months ago, I hit the jackpot – the 92nd Street Y.  From February through June, I tapped my heart out once a week – and it was fantastic.  I couldn’t wait to start again in the Fall.

That brings us to now.  The Fall.

Unfortunately, I’m in a completely different situation than 10 months ago.  I’m even more broke (I’m saving up for a macbook) and I’m learning how to run/training for a half-marathon.  And work is a zillion times more mentally draining – which means, I’m exhausted after work everyday.

I had to re-evaluate my priorities.

Right now running trumps tap (the exercise is really, really important to me)… so I had to let tap go.  I really hate to do it, but there are at least 5 other things I need to focus on right now.  Also, I could put the $200 towards the new computer that I badly need.

On the bright side, I will continue to love tap dancing and admire the mad skill of every dancer.  That will never go away.

And one more (from my favorite movie):

bailamos

We’re going salsa dancing tonight, so the chances of me getting back by midnight to write a blog post are slim.

But the chance of me seeing my colleagues completely trashed is high. Good times.

Oh – and by the way, I’ve once again given up on the Virginia football team. 13-3? F that, UVA. At least two of their three wins were against schools I despise. That in itself kinda makes me happy.

watch and smile.

Rarely do I smile for 10 minutes straight.

These videos are amazing.

Thank you to the New York Times for telling me about this Matt guy and his videos on youtube.

and the outtakes

You’d best believe I downloaded that song from the first video. If you’re curious about what the song is in English, I did some searching:

“Praan”
Bhulbona ar shohojete
Shei praan e mon uthbe mete
Mrittu majhe dhaka ache
je ontohin praan

Bojre tomar baje bashi
She ki shohoj gaan
Shei shurete jagbo ami
(Repeat 3X)

Shei jhor jeno shoi anonde
Chittobinar taare
Shotto-shundu dosh digonto
Nachao je jhonkare!

Bojre tomar baje bashi
She ki shohoj gaan
Shei shurete jagbo ami
(Repeat 3X)

“Stream of Life”

The same stream of life that runs through my veins night and day
runs through the world and dances in rhythmic measures.

It is the same life that shoots in joy through the dust of the earth
in numberless blades of grass
and breaks into tumultuous waves of leaves and flowers.

It is the same life that is rocked in the ocean-cradle of birth
and of death, in ebb and in flow.

I feel my limbs are made glorious by the touch of this world of life.
And my pride is from the life-throb of ages dancing in my blood this moment.

- translated by jobaga on youtube

I love it.

Oh – and totally check out Where The Hell Is Matt? The “About Matt” section is hilarious.