Stripped, Scared, and Sacred: Episode 3

The third instalment of the podcast is now up!

Part One
Part Two

This episode we catch up with one another and spend a lot of time rhapsodizing about the Paranormal Research Society.

Good news for next time - we've decided to upgrade our account, so that means future episodes will no longer be split into separate parts. I'm also going to work on getting us on iTunes. This whole 'podblogging' thing is a learning experience, that's for sure.

Mwah!

My Cold Black Heart

Today's post is a very special one, because to some today is a very special day, full of hearts and flowers and looooooove.

While I'm not a huge fan of Valentines Day, I much prefer the day after which I call 'Discount Chocolate Day', I'm no longer one of those people who sneer or try and bring it down (I used to threaten to pass out chicken hearts in high-school). But in my old age I've softened, so if you want to buy someone you love a little something be my guest, I just hope you're smart enough to realize that you don't HAVE to just because Hallmark and Tiffany say so.

Anyways, besides all the gifts and romantic sentiment Valentines Day is also a day where people sit at home watching movies, be it sappy love stories or romantic comedies. Now, clearly I am not a fan of either so I thought I would give you all a list of alternative movies to watch on this love fest day.

#1 - Love Object

A while back I made my friend Monika watch this movie, thinking that she would find it as funny as I did.
............
Needless to say she didn't and she still holds it against me. However, should you be as demented as I am you will get a kick out of this tale about a man and his real doll. It features some great moments (the bondage scene cracks me up) and not only touches on the idea of making yourself happy, so to speak, but also the dangers of getting obsessed with people and wrapping the survival of your happiness in them.

#2 - May

I love May, it's a great little independent film that hits close to home in the way that at one point we've all been that shy, weird girl whom people ignore.
Or maybe that's just me.
Either way, a great little story about a girl who is just looking for the perfect friend and the lengths that she'll go to find, or make one.Added bonus, lots of songs from The Breeders.

#3 - Cherry Falls

Okay, this movie isn't actually that good but the idea is a hilarious one. A killer is going around the town of Cherry Falls killing all the virgins, so all the teens decide to have a massive sex party to not get killed. Kind of cute little idea that pokes fun at the whole 'if you have sex in a horror movie you will die' idea.
Also? Four magic words to get you to watch it: Jay Mohr in drag

#4 - Hannibal

People always look at me weird when I say that this is a romantic movie but if you think about it it's true. The relationship between Lecter and Clarice is an interesting one, based on mind games and the whole cat and mouse thing, and yet it's also very sweet in a way. I mean come on people, he cuts off his hand for her! How many of you can say that your boyfriend would be willing to do that?

#5 - Graveyard Alive: A Zombie Nurse in Love

Another good little indie film that takes the traditional zombie story and adds a little twist to it. After being bitten by a zombie on the hospital ward, shy little Nurse Patsy begins to change. But instead of becoming a shambling member of the undead she casts off her shy personality and becomes a flesh eating sex kitten. Another good example of female empowerment through horror, and also some good moments of male vs female power control within the work force.

#6 - Teeth

I saw this movie at the Dublin Horror Film Festival a few years back and fell in love with it, a clever little film that touches on abstinence, rape, body changes, masturbation and female empowerment in a upbeat and funny sort of way. You also get the added bonus of watching Hale Appleman make puppy dog eyes every time he's on screen.

#7 - Rosemary's Baby

I will admit that I can put this movie on any list, it's my absolute favorite. I love everything about it; the fashion, the sets, listening to Mia Farrow's voice.....total love.
But I'm mainly putting it on the list because no matter how much you might be in pain on Valentines Day, after having your heart broken, or feeling totally alone, well at least you're not having the Devil's baby. And at LEAST you're not dating/married to Guy, who is the slimiest coward ever to exist. I mean, he sells his wife out for an acting gig, is a total dick to her when he KNOWS she's having Satan's baby, plus he makes fun of her hair cut.
GO DIE GUY.

#8 - Candyman

Not necessarily a strong choice but it have some relation to candy (sweets to the sweet anyone?) but I think it still works. Or that might be because of my love for urban legends which this movie is full of, or it could be my love of Tony Todd and his incredible voice.
Either way it's a great movie, plus you get to listen to Phillip Glass' spooky soundtrack and see Ted Raimi try and be a biker bad-ass.

#9 - Bride of Chucky

He may not be the most realistic or scariest killer in the horror genre but I will always have a soft spot for Chucky. He's a sarcastic asshole who laughs maniacally when killing people, what's not to like? And in this film you not only get him but you also get Jennifer Tilly who is fucking adorable.

#10 - Dagon

I put this one on the list because nothing says Valentines Day like tentacle lovin!

-Voodoo Pixie

Oooh!

Congratulations to the always amazing Blue Morris, who was featured in 21st Century Burlesque!


January's Taboo Revue has come and gone, and it was a show to be proud of. On to February!

Stripped, Scared, and Sacred: Episode 2

Me and Mama finally sat down and did another podcast where we review 'The Secret Circle', Penis Boy. and other random witchy topics. Also known as the episode where you can hear us putting down our wine glasses every five seconds...

Part 1

Part 2

Little Bitty Pissant Country Place

A while back I had the idea to do frequent posts about people I admire and/or inspire me, of course it slipped onto the back burner like so many of my ideas do due to work, performing and the podcast. However, Mama is horribly sick right now and can't really record anything so this is the perfect time for me to break it out and do a post.

Take THAT laziness!

Now there are a lot of people who inspire me and I'm sure I'll get around to all of them eventually but today I want to talk about someone who I don't normally mention because part of me is embarrassed by it. Not because of who the person is really, but because of what it implies. So I'm just going to come right out and admit it......

I like country music.

Yup.

Now keep in mind I don't like a lot of new country music but I do like a lot of older stuff, stuff that I guess you could classify as country/blues or country/folk, either way though I do like the twang. I guess part of my hidden fondness for country is because of my mother. You see I grew up with two very different musical influences, on one hand I had my mother, who listened to country, David Bowie, George Michael and ABBA. On the other hand I had my father who listened to The Beatles, tons of jazz, blues, and classical. So I wound up with rather odd tastes in music as you can imagine.

I can remember many times being in the car with my mother and listening to Bonnie Raitt, Merle Haggard (old HAG as we called him) and of course, the woman I want to focus on today, Dolly Parton.

I love Dolly for a couple of reasons, for one she can really sing. Not in a sultry sexy way or in a hardcore kind of rock-chick way but her voice is very strong and clear, which isn't always what you want to hear but I like it.

Another reason I like her is because she is tiny, barely 5”1 without her heels on, and yet she has such a big personality about her. I find that inspiring because I'm 5 foot and when you're tiny like I am you have to find ways of getting people's attention and keeping it, this applies to both performing and at work. You see I work in a predominantly male based industry and it is a little strange to be someones boss and have to look up at them. Heels help a lot in this regard, because even if it doesn't make me as tall as my co-workers it still gives me a sense of authority. Although I will mention that I sometimes feel like Dolly in that scene in 'Straight Talk' where she has to walk through the library in stilettos, her heels clacking in the total silence....

Attitude is another thing that gets people's attention and Dolly seems to have a very genuine and sincere quality about her that comes through in her music, movies, and interviews. Not to mention anyone who has ever met her in person has said that she is a lovely person and really does seem to care. I like that, because despite my ability to be a total cut-throat bitch, I also like being kind to people and when I perform I'd like to give people the impression that I'm having a good time so they should too.

The last two reasons I like Dolly are for personal reasons, the first being that she grew up dirt poor. And while we didn't exactly grow up in a broken down shack we certainly didn't live in luxury. At one point me, my mother and sister all shared a giant bed because we lived in a one bedroom apartment and I can remember a few Christmases and birthdays where instead of getting a store bought toy we went down to Value Village and picked them out ourselves. Looking back at it now I'm glad we were raised that way, I'm sure a hell of a lot more humble about having money now and like to spread it around by buying people things or being able to help them out should they need it. After all, to quote Dolly, 'Money is made to be spent. What goods it doin' in the bottom of my panty drawer?'

The last reason is kind of silly but I love her giggle/laugh. Again it has that sincere and honest quality to it that is just too adorable, not to mention it's kind of higher pitched and loud. Something I can relate to....

I will leave you now with a few of my favourite Dolly clips:

The first is from "The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas", the intro to the Whorehouse and I enjoy this clip mainly for skirt drop right at the beginning because I always have to do that with long dresses.

The second is also from "The Best Little Whorehouse In Texas" and I've mainly included it because of her giggle right at the beginning.

The last is clip from what I think was the short lived 'Dolly Parton Show' which my mother informs I would insist on watching every night before bed, in this clip she does a fashion show. Check out the crazy hair!

Ya'll come back now y'hear?

-Voodoo

Links.

A Man in Burlesque - this is a very thoughtful blog entry by a true gentleman in the scene... and I'm not just saying that because he mentions me. :P Feminism in burlesque is a huge, messy topic (probably since feminism in general is still very much a huge, messy topic) and Blue manages to discuss his perspective as a man without coming off like a huge douche. That's shockingly hard to do, people.

Customer Service in Tattooing -  a brief entry on how to basically make sure people don't pay for you to sear ink into their flesh. Mostly I'm posting it because I agree 100% and have personally been appalled at some of the customer service displayed in tattoo parlours. Come on, desk people - just say hi to me. Chances are I'll give you money if you do.

Stripped, Scared, and Sacred

Once again there has been a lack of updates, and I'm sorry about that but after Abra-Cadaver was over there was Halloween to deal with and then I got sick for a month. Plus work, plus stress, plus a dozen other things.
SO BLAH.

But to make up for it my little ghoulies, I have a very special treat for you. It's loud, it's shrill, it has foul language and a lot of babbling, and you stick it in your ear-hole.
That's right, me and Mama have made a podcast.

So may I present to you, 'Stripped, Scared, and Sacred.' A podcast that is about Burlesque, Horror and Magic. And probably a few other random things that fall out of our brains.
Episode 1:
Part 1
Part 2

(It's in two parts because we couldn't upload the whole thing as one chunk, in the future we are either going to trim down the length or get a paid account so it can be one.)

Opening and closing music done by: Uncle Sigmund