My Top 25 GLEE Performances...

Well the time has come. The great musical series GLEE has come to an end. And to celebrate all the great music featured on the series, I am putting together MY top 25 favorite performances. These songs were not just great new versions, but in most cases they helped carry the plot of the story line within the episode it was featured. A good song needs an emotional connection in order for it to be a GREAT song. So here are my fave performances, in no particular order. Enjoy!




















































John

Walt Disney World, Here I Come...2015 Edition....62 Days and Counting...

So here we are. Less than 62 days until I'm at The Happiest Place on Earth, Walt Disney World. In a few a days, I will be able to book my Fast Passes. Once that is done, my trip plans should be pretty much in place. One of the most important parts of any Disney trip planning is deciding where to eat. With literally hundreds of eating options at Walt Disney World, deciding where to eat can be a fun or difficult part of the planning. Since I'm only going for 5 days, and I'm on the Basic Dining Plan for this trip, I only have to plan for four sit-down meals. But you try picking four places to eat out of hundreds of options!!! LOL. Lucky for me, my co-traveler is letting me pick what places to eat at. So here are the four meals I have booked for this trip.

On Wednesday, May 20th we have a booking for dinner at Tony's Town Square Restaurant located inside the Magic Kingdom. Themed after the classic Disney film Lady & The Tramp, this eatery serves classic Italian fare at moderate prices. I've only eaten here a few times and it has been awhile since I have, so I think its time to re-visit this place. I'm looking forward to having the seafood pasta, it looks very tasty. Mmmmmmm.

On Thursday, May 21st, we are booked at 50's Prime Time Cafe located at Disney's Hollywood Studios (well at least that's what the park is called....for now!!!). A tribute to household kitchens of the 50's, 50's Prime Time Cafe offers classic American comfort foods like meatloaf, fried chicken and pot roast. Every dish brings to mind those meals that your Mom used to make. The waiters at this Cafe also like playing tricks on its customers. DON'T put your elbows on the table or else you will hear about if from the wait staff. I think I'll have the meatloaf. I LOVE meatloaf. LOL.

Friday, May 22nd will be the day that the Magic Kingdom will be open for 24 HOURS!!! On that day we plan to visit all four theme parks in one day. Since we'll be park-hopping all day long, we will skip a sit-down meal and just either snack or grab quick service meals all day long. This is gonna be a fun day of park-hopping, we'll just grab something to eat and GO! 

Saturday, May 23rd will be our Epcot day. I LOVE Epcot. It's the most ADULT of all the theme parks. So much to eat, drink and see. So planning a meal at Epcot can be a challenge. Since my friend Albert has some food allergies, I think we should play it safe. So I have booked La Hacienda de San Angel, one of two Mexican restaurants located in the World Showcase portion of Epcot. I have only eaten at this restaurant once, shortly after it open in 2010. I had a GREAT dinner meal here. So good that I did not realized I had spent two hours on my meal! I also had a great server, Sergio. Really pleasant and very attentive thru-out my meal. The fact that he was from Mexico and we were able to converse in Spanish made the dining experience special. I have yet to have any bad service at any of the meals I've had at Walt Disney World. I'm really looking forward to eating, and DRINKING, at La Hacienda de San Angel. Can someone get me a Margarita!!!

For our last day at Walt Disney World, I thought we should have a character based meal. So for breakfast, we will be dining at The Crystal Palace at the Magic Kingdom. This buffet-style restaurant features characters from Disney's beloved Winnie the Pooh films. This buffet has plenty to offer for every family member. The whimsical greenhouse themed restaurant is beautiful and very relaxing to eat at. You easily forget that your inside a theme park. This will be a great way to end our short but fun-filled Disney trip.

So we'll see how our food choices actually pan out once we're at Disney World. You know how things just happen and plans get changed at the last minute. But for now I feel comfortable that these dining choices will stay in place.

Hopefully in 67 days I'll be back to normal life and remembering the good meals I had at Walt Disney World. I'm sure I will post meal reviews once I'm back. Until then, Have A Magical Day!!!

John

Madonna Musica Martes - 03/10/2015

Today is THE DAY! Madonna's 13th studio album REBEL HEART was released. I've already been listening to 9 songs that were previously released. Today the remaining 10 songs were released. So after listening to the entire album all day, I have decided to do a review of REBEL HEART based on my first impressions. The songs are graded using a report-card rating system. The ratings are in order of the album track listing.

Living For Love - What more can I say about this song? An instant Madonna classic. A great production that supports some of Madonna's best lyrics. This is the Madonna we all love and worship. A+++

Devil Pray - This is a good mid-tempo song. One of the many religious songs featured on REBEL HEART. This song should get plenty of air play. B++

Ghosttown - Without question, one of Madonna's best ballads in YEARS!!! This lush, powerful and amazing song is the perfect fit for Madonna. Everyone loves a great Madonna dance song, but for me Madonna is at her best singing ballads. This is proof positive of that. This is my favorite song from the album. A+++

Unapologetic Bitch - Is there something better than a Madonna dance track? Maybe a song where she trash-talks about her personal life. This song about her recent failed relationship hits it right on the head. I like the reggae flavor of this song. B

Illuminati - A different sound and vibe for Madonna. With classic Madonna rap lyrics, this song really sticks out from the album. B+

Bitch I'm Madonna - Ok, I get what's going on with this song but I just don't like it. Its just too hyper of a pace for me, I like the Nicki Minaj rap, but maybe I've just had enough of the Madonna/Minaj duets. My least favorite song of the album. D

Hold Tight - Another great production and Madonna sounding beautifully. This better become a radio hit. Madonna really is sounding great on this album. A

Joan of Arc - From the solo acoustic guitar intro and Madonna's bare voice, this song is just GORGEOUS!!! Again, Madonna + Ballad = BRILLIANT SONG. A+++

ICONIC - Featuring an intro by none other than fighter Mike Tyson, this is a great anthem song. No one but Madonna can sing these lyrics and have weight with them. The rap assist from Chance The Rapper is nice. A+

HeartBreakCity - Another ballad featuring a piano intro, beautiful lyrics and Madonna's wonderful voice. This is the music that I love to hear from Madonna. The angry lyrics are just perfect. If you ever decided to date Madonna and the relationship turns bad, beware that she might write a song like this about your relationship for the whole world to hear. A+

Body Shop - I get what this innuendo-filled song is about. Its a nice mid-tempo song, but the lyrics, for now, are just not doing it for me. Maybe this song will grow on me over time. We'll see. C+

Holy Water - Another faith-based song. But at least this song has a mean groove to it. The appearance of VOGUE lyrics is cute and does not distract from the song. Oh Yeah, this song is gonna send the Vatican & the Pope into a TIZZY! LOL!!! B

Inside Out - Another mid-tempo song. Nothing too crazy, not too simple. It's an easy-paced song for Madonna. B

Wash All Over Me - Another piano laden song. This is what I have been waiting for. Madonna needed to put out more great ballads. I'm so happy she did. A

Best Night - Another slow jam. Another straight-forward song. The various sound elements bring Art of Noise into mind. I will be listening to this song over and over. A

Veni Vidi Vici - This is the one song I was really looking forward to and it doesn't disappoint. This song features references to various classic Madonna songs. This also doesn't distract from the power of the song. It only provides further proof what an AMAZING musical legacy Madonna has created over the years. RESPECT!!! A+

S.E.X. - What would a Madonna album be without one song song about sex??? I like this laid back track. Its not an instant 'win' for me. Yet. Maybe after more listens I will find a connection to this song. We'll see. B

Messiah - Yes, another faith-based song. Yes, another song with a piano intro and Madonna's bare vocals. BUT I LOVE IT!!! This is Madonna's most romantic album. This album was originally meant to be a double-album. One side was gonna feature the REBEL songs and the other side would feature the HEART songs. This is one of those HEART songs. Thank You Madonna! A+

Rebel Heart - The final and title track of the album. With a sound the calls to mind her cover classic American Pie, this song fully sums up all the parts of this album. The Good, The Bad, The Saint, The Sinner. The Public, The Private. The Rebel, The Heart. A perfect end to what will be considered one of Madonna's best albums. A+++

John

Madonna Musica Miercoles - 03/04/2015

Well it looks like the promotion machine for Madonna's upcoming album release, REBEL HEART, is in full swing. Madonna has been making various TV appearances overseas this week. In addition, its been announced that Madonna will be the sole musical guest for a full week on The Ellen Show. This will be AMAZING!!! In the meantime, here is video from her recent visit on France's Le Grand Journal TV show.

The 1st video is what I consider to be one of Madonna's best ballad in YEARS. GHOSTTOWN is a gorgeous song, beautifully song with deep lyrics. I can't stop listening to this song. It's been on a continuous loop on my MP3 player.

The 2nd video is the latest performance of LIVING FOR LOVE, a great song that is a classic in the making. The lyrics are very personal to me, as I feel they represent how I feel at this stage in my life. Hand it to Madonna, she knows how to provide a PERFECT soundtrack to my life. This live version is a new remix of the song.

From these songs, it looks as thou REBEL HEART is shaping up to be one of Madonna's best albums!!!

Enjoy!!! #RebelHeart #Living ForLove #QueenOfPop


 



John