Wednesday, July 12, 2006

James Marsters: The Vampire

Music: James Marsters - Just what I needed

Quick info:
Name: James Wesley Marsters
D.O.B: August 20th, 1962
Height: 5'11''
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Dark brown (often bleached)
Nickname: N/A
Marital status: Divorced (one son with ex-wife)

James Wesley Marsters was born in Greenville, California, but most people believe that he is British. Why? Watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer and you'll find out.

James got his big acting break-through when he took on the role of Spike the vampire in the hit TV-show 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer'. His first appearance was in season 2, when he played a vampire that tried to kill Buffy (don't they all). His character's girlfriend, the crazy vampire Drusilla (Juliet Landau), was also a new character that came on the show together with Spike. The two of them even dated a little in real life, just to see if their human-chemistry was as good as their vampirical one.

Buffy fans immediately fell in love with the sassy and cocky Brit, who pranced around trying to kill the slayer in just about every episode, but never succeeded. He even ended up falling in love, and eventually dying for the slayer.

James portrays Spike in such a good way that people think that that's how he actually talks and walks in real life. When you sit down and talk to James, you expect to hear that Cockney-accent, but what you get is a thick Californian one. Also, fans believed that James was a lot younger than what he really is, because he seems to have stayed in remarkable shape all his life. Most fans believed him to be in his late thirties, as he did not reveal his age or date of birth in the beginning of his career.

James is not just a talented actor, he has also been a member of the recently broken-up band Ghost of the Robot. The band played all around the US, at Buffy conventions, and the Knitting Factory, and other famous locations. They were very successful, but for unknown reasons they decided to break up. James was the lead singer of the band, and together they have given out one CD. James also has a solo-CD.
The band played songs they'd written themselves, and did covers too (mostly Nirvana and Bruce Springsteen).

Listen to Ghost of the Robot:

Monday, July 10, 2006

Bruce Springsteen: The Legend

Music: Bruce Springsteen - Badlands


Quick info:
Name: Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen
D.O.B: September 23rd, 1949
Height: 5'10''
Eyes: Brown
Hair: Dark brown
Nickname: The Boss
Marital status: Married to Patti Scialfa, three kids (Evan James, Jessica Rae and Sam Ryan)

Why is Bruce so great? What has been the Boss of rock and roll for over three decades? What is it about him that makes him such a great performer, and such a success? And how does he keep up the success for so long?

I don't know the answer to any of these questions, but I have my speculations, and I intend to share them with whomever's interested.

First of all, Bruce Springsteen is a chameleon. He adapts to time, and the changes in our society in an amazing way. Everyone keeps talking about how good Madonna is at adapting, and creating new trends, and staying strong. Well, Bruce is just like that, but in a more subtle way, without showing as much skin and without ruining the music. He still makes the kind of songs that he made 20 years ago, and people still love them. He's also tried out different things (The Ghost of Tom Joad, Devils & Dust, The Seeger Sessions), and people still love it, because he brings that thing to the music he does, the thing that no one can explain, but that everyone falls in love with.

As far as I've experienced, everyone's heard the Boss' music at one time or another. They might not know it, but all I have to say is "he's the one who sings Born in the USA", and they'll know instantly. It also seems like everyone likes his music. The only person I've ever met who's said differently, is my assistant band director. He said that he thought Bruce talked instead of sing, and therefore he didn't consider his songs real songs. Well, that's his opinion, but if he had ever heard The River or I'm on fire, I think he might've changed his mind.

The other thing that I find amazing about Bruce is the fact that everyone likes him. You don't have to be born in the 70's, because his music is timeless. I know people my age, and even younger, that love Bruce's music. It's like I tell everyone; it runs in the family. My grandfather, my dad, my uncles, my mom and even my younger sisters all love Bruce, Clarence, Stevie, and the whole gang. They bring people toghether by singing about everyday things, and not just doing the same thing all the time.

When I watch his concerts on DVD or TV, I am always amazed by how he captures the audience by talking to them, telling them stories. It doesn't matter if the stories are real or not, they still fascinate the audience, and they are never bored during the 4-5 hours Bruce and the band keep the music going. Have you ever heard of anyone who have shows that long, everywhere they go? I sure haven't!

Bruce have written beautiful and emotional songs, songs about hardship, about his divorce, about joy and happiness, about growin up, getting old, dying, being born, getting married, high school, working life, and just about anything that a person goes through during a lifetime. The thing that makes it all so great is that he writes in a way that convinces the listener that it's all going to be good in the end, no matter what happens. He writes it as if he knows this, and he is telling you. I believe him, and I know that billions of others do to.

Bruce has been a politician, and high-school girl's crush, a husband, a father, an author, a savior, and most of all, a hero and a legend. His music has been played on 8-tracks, computers, record players, mp3 players, mini-discs, casette players, CD players, DVD-players, radios, and TVs. His music has been played at college parties, on grandma's old record player, on road trips, at prom, on dates, in weddings, and at funerals.

Bruce Springsteen is, and will always be a legend. In music, and in history. He has been rocking for over three decades and he is still going strong. I believe in Bruce.

Listen to Bruce: