Madonna's True Blue - 25 Years Later

On June 30th 1986, Madonna released her 3rd album, True Blue.

The album includes 5 Top Ten hits: Live To Tell, Papa Don't Preach, Open Your Heart, True Blue and La Isla Bonita. Madonna performed the song Love Makes the World Go Round at her Live Aid appearance, before the album was released. Another song from the album, Where's The Party, has been performed in concert and is featured on Madonna's 1987 remix album, You Can Dance.

This is the album that made Madonna an 'artist'. This album shows Madonna's song writing and production skills. This album marked Madonna's transition from 'Pop Tart' to 'Music Icon'. More than Prince and Michael Jackson, Madonna was evolving with her music. She was making statements with her music. She just didn't gives dance music.

I'm remember buying my 1st CD. It was True Blue. I bought it even thou I did not have a CD player yet. Open Your Heart is one of my all time favorite Madonna songs. The song, the lyrics, Madonna's voice are amazing on this song. My favorite version of this song is the Shep Pettibone dance remix. At over 10 minutes long, its a great dance song.

Its great that 25 years later, this album doesn't sound 'dated' like most 80's records do. I can listen to this album over and over. Every true music fan should have this album in their music collection. So if you don't have this album yet, get it NOW!!!

John

Madonna Music Monday - 06/27/2011

Well another Gay Pride Weekend has come and gone. Last Friday, New York City passed legislation legalizing same-sex marriages. This is another huge step for Equal Rights for EVERY PERSON. New York now becomes the largest state where gay and lesbian couples will be able to wed. This gives the national gay-rights movement new momentum from the state where it was born in 1969.

As a sign of support for this legislation, Madonna released a new video for the song I LOVE NEW YORK. The new video includes never-before released concert footage of the song, as it was performed during Madonna's Confession Tour in 2006. I think it's amazing that an artist like Madonna is so public and open about world issues. Madonna has always been a supporter of Gay rights. And for her to release a new video in support of her fans, gay or straight, when this law was passed and on Gay Pride weekend is fitting. So here is Madonna performing I Love New York from her Confessions on a Dance Floor album. Enjoy!



John

Happy 50th Anniversary...!!!

Well its been a busy day so far. Early family breakfast. Picking up visiting relatives. Getting all dressed up. Now we just need a party to go to! LOL!!! Details to follow...

22 Days and Counting...

Don't you hate those weeks when it seems like EVERYTHING is happening? Well this has been one of those weeks. First, work has been crazy as I prep for month-end reporting. I'm trying to get a leg up on my work schedule before my up-coming trips. Yesterday I worked half a day and after work I took the van in for a transmission tune-up and an oil change. I'm getting the van ready for next week's drive to Wisconsin Dells. Last night I attended a Gay Pride festival. The main reason I was there was because this was the only free time I will have this Pride Weekend. So I meet up with friends and we saw Deborah Cox perform a small concert. It was actually a nice night to be out and about with friends, enjoying the evening air. Deborah Cox was very good. Here is a video clip of Cox singing her big hit:



Today I got up early, had some breakfast at a cool diner I go to often. I got a quick hair cut. More like a trim. Then I had to get some greeting cards at the Hallmark at the nearby mall. Then I rushed home to get ready to attend a family BBQ. My cousin's son graduated grade school, so of course a party is in order. I ate too many tacos!! LOL!!!

Tomorrow I have a family breakfast to attend.  Later on in the afternoon there's a family 50th anniversary luncheon. This of course will be followed by coffee and cake at the home of the Golden Anniversary couple. And because there is visiting relatives, on Monday I will take the day off from work and I will assume the role of Tour Guide to show people around the great city of Chicago. Whew!!! So I am barely typing all this up, in the midst of all this activity. So this is the only time I have had to think anything about my Disney trip. I just keep saying to myself, "Its getting closer, Its getting closer!"

Next week will be the same. Four days of work, followed by a three day weekend trip to Wisconsin Dells for the July 4th holiday. My Mom will go gambling at the casino, I will go outlet mall shopping, my Sister and her kids will go swimming. A win-win for all.

That will be followed by an intense work schedule before the Disney trip. Everything has to be DONE by July 15th. Oh yea, a friend is havin a cocktail party for his birthday on the 15th!!! REALLY?!?

Somehow, sometime, somewhere I gotta do all my final packing and planning for Disney. Actually I ran into Costco today and I saw an awesome duffel-bag on wheels. For $40 in various colors. I almost got it, but I have plenty of luggage. In all sizes and colors!!!

So for right now, I'm just resting and taking it easy before tomorrow's madness takes place. Because you know at EVERY family gathering some madness ALWAYS happens. So we'll see what happens tomorrow.

Ok, time for sleep and Zzzzz's. Maybe I'll dream of electric sheep. Maybe I'll dream of sugar plums and lolli-pops. Maybe I'll dream of a place where Dreams Do Come True. Oh Wait. That place DOES EXIST!!!

John

25 Days and Counting...

So I got my finalized reservation packet the other day. It has all my resort details. It has coupons and vouchers for various Disney activities while I'm on vacation. It came with two luggage name tags. They are actually really cute. They have a hologram look to them.

I also got my Magical Express packet. This is the shuttle service Disney uses to transfer people between Orlando International airport and the Disney resorts. This came with special luggage tags that have my name and the name of the resort I'm staying at on them.

This will inform the luggage handlers in Orlando that my luggage will go directly to my resort. I won't see my luggage until after I have checked into the POP Century resort, which is where I'll be staying.

Now what does this mean? This means I will pack an extra t-shirt and extra socks in my carry-on bag. Since I'm arriving in Orlando around 11:30am, and it will probably be 12:30pm by the time I get to the resort, I'm sure my resort room won't be ready by then. Which is fine with me. As soon as I check in and get my park tickets, we plan to grab some lunch at the Everything Pop food court before heading to the parks.

The 1st day we are at Walt Disney World, a Sunday, the Magic Kingdom is open until Midnight. But since we are staying on Disney property, the Magic Kingdom has Extra Magic Hours that night, which means we can stay in the park until 3am!!! Cool!

Normally, I would take full advantage of the late hours. But since this is a travel day for us, I don't think we will have the energy to stay up that late. So instead, we will use this day to see and ride some of the minor attractions that the Magic Kingdom has to offer. It will also serve as the perfect Walt Disney World introduction for my 8 year old nephew, who is making his 1st Disney trip. We'll just go to the park, take in the sights and sounds, have dinner at Tony's Town Square and just say 'HI' to the Magic Kingdom!

If we stay late and get a lot of the attractions done, that would be great. If not, no big deal. We are scheduled to visit the Magic Kingdom for a full day during the week and then again on our last day before our late evening flight back home. Plenty of time to visit and cover anything the Magic Kingdom has to offer!

So that should be the plans on our first day on vacation. The first and last days of any Disney trip can be hectic. But hopefully, everything will go according to plan. If not, then just go with the flow and make the most out of it. I'm mean, how bad can it get? You're at WALT DISNEY WORLD!!!

John

27 Days and Counting...

I'm getting that feeling. You know the feeling. That nervous feeling when you have a Disney trip coming up. This is when you start all the last minute planning and organizing.

Today I upgraded the dining plan for our July trip. I will get one table service meal, one counter service meal and one snack per night. So my trip reservations are now complete.

We'll be staying at the POP Century Resort for the 2nd time. We are staying Sunday thru Friday. We have non-hopping park tixs, which means we will visit one park per day. We'll go in the morning, take a mid-day break back at the resort and then head back to the parks in the afternoon/evening. I have all my dining reservations booked. I have also booked the Wishes Desert Party at the Magic Kingdom.

Air flights have been booked & paid. I don't think I'm renting a car for this trip, unless I get a great last minute deal.

I have all my park touring plans planned out courtesy of TouringPlans.com. Actually this will be the first Disney trip where I plan to use a phone app. I'll be using the WDW Lines phone app.

Now comes the crazy part: the packing. Or should I say the pre-packing. What tee shirts am I taking? What swim shorts am I taking? How many shorts will I pack? Should I start looking at weather updates now? Where are my water sandals? Where is my rain poncho? Where are my walking sandals? Where is my video camera? Where is my digital camera? Where are all my chargers? Where are all my extra batteries?

While the craziest time is before a Disney trip, its also fun and exciting. Planning a Disney trip is part of the experience. I can't wait to ride the updated Star Tours attraction. I hope to ride Toy Story Mania at least three times on this trip. This trip might not be as 'thrill-ride' heavy as my previous Disney trips because I'm taking my 8 year old nephew on his 1st Disney trip. He's about 42' tall. What attractions can't he ride? I'm sure we won't do Space Mountain, but I'm sure he can ride Big Thunder Mountain and Expedition Everest.

Another thing I'm looking forward to is eating at new restaurants at Disney World. I have reservations at Via Napoli and La Hacienda de San Angel, new eateries that have opened at Epcot. I also have reservations at Tony's Town Square and 50's Prime Time Cafe, places I have not eaten at in years. I also have reservations for Chef Mickey's. This will be my first time at Chef Mickey's.

So as you can see, things can get crazy if you are not organized. That to me is a very important factor. As long as you are organized and have some basic plans, then your Disney trip should be Magical regardless whatever happens. Get informed, get an idea of what you want to do on your trip and be prepared for any situation. The rest will result in an unforgettable vacation. Where Dreams Come True!

John

Madonna Music Monday - 06/20/2011

There are many reasons why I like certain artists. Sometimes its a song. Sometimes its a video. Sometimes its their persona. And sometimes its a live performance that just blows me away. That happened on the first MTV Music Video Awards in 1984. The world was not ready for what was about to happen on the Radio City Music Hall stage. A little known singer will soon become the biggest female artist in music history. In the span of 3 minutes and 44 seconds, Madonna the 'ICON' was born and nothing would ever be the same. So here is that classic performance of Madonna singing her big hit Like A Virgin. Enjoy!



John

My Favorite Disney Music: 06/15/2011

I love Disney music, especially from the animated films. The one thing I love about Disney is how they use various styles of music in their films. Pop, Jazz, Country, World Beat, Broadway. One of my earlier favorite films is The Aristocats. One of the reasons I love this film is the use of Jazz music thru-out the film. Of course, the 'big song' from this film is the time-less classic, Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat. It's just a very cool, jazzy and fun song to hear. I love how it starts out slow and mellow, then it kicks into a Jazz Frenzy. TRIVIA: The soundtrack CD released in 1996 contains an edited version of the song. The lines sung by the "Chinese Cat", voiced by Paul Winchell and now seen as politically incorrect, are removed. Oh well. So without delay, here is the un-edited video of this great song. Enjoy!



John

Madonna Music Monday - 06/13/2011

Well the Tony Awards were on last night, and all in all it was a great show. I just love musicals. I especially love when musicals get made into films. What I don't like, for the most part, is when movie musicals ADD new songs for the film version or CHANGE songs from the stage version. In the film version of EVITA, both things happened. First, they added a new song called YOU MUST LOVE ME. While its a beautiful song, it doesn't really add anything to the musical. Then they re-assigned the song 'Another Suitcase In Another Hall' from a minor character to the lead character of Eva Peron. Now I LOVE this song. And I understand why they gave this song to Madonna to sing. It does 'flesh-out' Eva's journey in the film version. More than anything, I'm glad Madonna gets to sing this song. I love the sentiment of the song. We've all gone thru life changes. You open one door, step thru it and another door awaits. Some doors are hard to open. Some doors are hard to close behind us. But yet, we move forward because that is wait we must do, no matter how painful or difficult. So here is Madonna singing this beautiful song, Another Suitcase in Another Hall, from the film version of the Broadway musical EVITA. Enjoy!



John

Cinderella's Castle - Magic Kingdom

Cinderella's Castle - Magic Kingdom, a set on Flickr.

A collection of Magic Kingdom castle pics from 2004 to 2010...Enjoy!!!

My Disney Collection - 06/08/2011

Any Disney fan will have tons of Mickey, Goofy, Donald, Minnie and Pluto collectibles. A true Disney fan will have at least one Walt Disney collectible. I have a Walt Disney collectible. It's a framed Disney photograph. Actually, its a photograph of Disney and his wife Lillian. It's framed and has a Disney quote inscribed on the photo border. Here is a picture of my Disney photograph:

At the bottom of the photograph is this Disney quote:

If you can't read it, it says:

"All your dreams can come true,

if we have the courage to pursue them."

It's a great pic of a young Walt Disney. The photo was taken in 1933. You can tell that Disney really loved his wife by the way he is sitting behind Lillian. Here is a close-up of the pic:

This is one of my favorite items in my Disney collection. Thanks for letting me share.

John

My Favorite Disney Music - 06/07/2011

As a child, I was raised on Disney films. Every Sunday, on some local channel, a Disney film would air in the early afternoon. My Mom would sit my sister and I in front of the TV and watch all these Disney films. One film that aired often was Mary Poppins. This is how I feel in love with Julie Andres. And with-out question, my favorite song from this movie is Julie Andrews singing Feed The Birds. Its a beautiful song and one of Julie's best vocals. So here is a video clip of Julie Andrews singing Feed The Birds, from the Walt Disney film Mary Poppins. Enjoy!!!



John

Madonna Music Monday - 06/06/2011

With the Tony Awards just around the corner, I thought I would share an example of perfect film-musical casting. The film is EVITA, based on the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. For many years, this adaptation was in the works, but no one was cast in the most important role of the film. So finally, Madonna sent an open letter to director Alan Parker, who was hired to direct the film. I guess the letter worked. When you watch the film today, there is no doubt that Madonna was the PERFECT choice to play the role of the Argentine icon, Eva Peron. So here is the high-point of the film. Madonna singing the Broadway classic Don't Cry For Me Argentina, from the film version of EVITA. Enjoy!

The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure at Disneyland California Adventure

Well today was the day that The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure officially opened at Disney California Adventure at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Based on the popular Disney film, it tells the tale of how mermaid Ariel wants to be human and wants to find love. Our friends over at Dateline Disneyland have released a video of the complete ride-thru for this attraction. So if you can't make it to California or can't wait for the Magic Kingdom version to open in late 2012, watch this video and enjoy this amazing new attraction!



John

Expedition Everest - Walt Disney World - June 2006

I love the roller coasters at Walt Disney World. I love Space Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain and the Rock N' Roller Coaster. But the one that really provides big thrills is Animal Kingdom's Expedition Everest. The whole coaster is themed perfectly and beautifully. Plus its a safe thrilling ride. Here is video of my 1st ride on Expedition Everest from June 2006 shortly after it opened. Enjoy!



John