Straight Up Reviews: Bill and Ted Face The Music

It took me a while and I finally got to see this movie. A movie that was nearly 30 years in the making and at this time of crisis, one we didn't know we needed. Yet we were glad to have it. Since my main focus has been making and selling music, I figured it'd be most appropriate to do a review based off one of my many influences.  But before we get into it, a little history.

 

In 1989, the world was introduced to two dimwitted yet kindhearted individuals. Bill S. Preston Esquire (Alex Winter) and Ted Theodore Logan (Keanu Reeves).  What started out as a cheesy cash in for duo comedies like Cheech and Chong as well as the sci-fi craze brought on by Doctor Who and Back to the future, grew into a cult phenom that transcends the farthest reaches of space and time.  History teacher and Rock and Roll Enthusiast, Rufus played by the late great comedy legend George Carlin, hails from San Dimas California in the year 2688. At that point, Bill and Ted's band The Wyld Stallyns has become not just a great rock band, but also a way of life for people to live by.  World Peace was achieved, contact with other life forms was established and the universe couldn't be happier. There was just one problem. That legacy was on the verge of failure. While they are in high spirits, Bill and Ted cannot play and are faced with the threat of separation. Why? Because they are failing history. And should they fail for the final time, Ted will be sent to Military School, separating them and the band for good.  In an attempt to steer the future in the right course, Rufus assigned by the most important people, went back to San Dimas in 1988 to help them pass. Their assignment? What would historical figures think of San Dimas of today.  Inspired by Rufus and their future selves, Bill and Ted travel through time using a machine disguised as an ordinary phone booth. Where they collect as many figures they could fit and have them tour San Dimas before presenting them to their high school through their history report.  Along the way they meet the loves of their lives, Princess Elizabeth and Joanna of Medieval England. As well as the likes of Napoleon Bonaparte, William "Billy The Kid" Bonney, Socrates, Sigmund Freud, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Joan of Arc, Genghis Khan and Abraham Lincoln.  Although they can travel anywhere at any time, their version of time travel runs on real running time. Meaning they have hours to complete their mission. After many close calls, the duo succeeds and even reunite with the princesses and get to work on kick starting the Wyld Stallyns. The movie itself on top of being a creative comedy, has themes of music, love, peace and friendship. As well as the rarely used ability known as the Time Game. In which they vow to go back in time and help their past selves out of a few jams. The movie itself has also helped kickstart both Reeves and Winter into stardom before they branched out on their own. With Reeves being a powerhouse of an A-List actor, while Winter makes a killing as a director. 

3 years later, a sequel was released. Reuniting the duo whilst Reeves was fresh off Point Break. Most sequels at the time would often retread on the original and while there have been call backs, this one is among the great sequels to have a unique premise.  Bill and Ted are still down on their luck and unable to play, however they managed to land a gig in the battle of the bands. Which if successful would put their foot in the door as the future rock stars they are destined to be. Despite that they live a somewhat happy life and have even proposed to Joanna and Elizabeth. However it takes a dark turn when Da Nomolos, Rufus' former Gym Teacher and head of a terrorist group against the way of life Bill and Ted inspired; decides to change history. By sending two evil robotic duplicates of Bill and Ted back in time and killing them before they could play.  As a result, Bill and Ted end up ghosts and try everything in their spiritual power to warn their friends and loved ones. Unfortunately as a result of said warning, they are both banished to Hell in which they confront their personal fears and sins.  To get out, they challenge the Grim Reaper (William Sadler) to a series of board games in an effort to regain their mortal lives. They win and even recruit Death for help in defeating their robot counterparts before they ruin their lives and the world. They go to Heaven where they meet Station, a duo of Martian Scientists who help them construct good robot versions of them.  Upon defeating their evil counterparts and besting De Nomolos in the Time Game, they use the booth to finally learn how to play before establishing themselves in the world of Rock and Roll. 

While this movie was not as well received as the first, it did get loved enough that the fans demanded more.  While Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter were all for it, they couldn't make the movie due to an entanglement of rights issues. One that took 29 years to correct. Needless to say it was well worth the wait and we were lucky to even get it whether it was good or sucked. 

Filming was already finished in 2019 and they meant to release the movie was meant to be released in theatres August 21 2020. However due to the Covid-19 Pandemic said release was moved to August 28 and limted to select theatres and digital download.  

 There Will Be Spoilers

The movie takes place nearly 30 years after the events of Bogus Journey. The Wyld Stallyns achieved fame and fortune, but in the recent years there have been two problems. The first, like many Rock Stars before and after, they were well past their glory days and were not as popular as they were after the Battle of The Bands.  The second, they haven't written the song that was meant to unite the world into the Utopia they were destined to create.  As if things couldn't get any worse, reality was about to collapse in 78 minutes, putting tremendous pressure on them.  So they plan on using the Time Booth, to go further into the future and get the song from their future selves.  Reflecting on their lives on the way.  As all that is going on, their daughters Thea "Little Ted" Preston and Billie "Little Bill" Logan decide to go on their own time travelling adventure to gather history's greatest musicians to help their dads with the song. Just as it seems like they succeed a robot sent by the new future leaders to kill them out of disappointment of their failure.  However instead he accidentally kills their kid's, Rufus' daughter Kelly, Ted's father and the historical figures: Louise Armstrong, Jimi Hendrix, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ling Lun, Kid Cudi and a cavewoman drummer.  This forces Bill and Ted to sacrifice their song and their lives to go get them out of Hell. As a result they reunite with Death after a bitter falling out and with minutes to spare find out two important details. The first is that in order for their song to work, they need to have everyone throughout time and space playing with them. The second, their daughters were the ones who created the song and recorded it on the day of unification.  The movie ends with the Wyld Stallyns fulfilling their destiny and uniting the world through their music.  

While this movie is a critical success I have discovered a lot of people found some faults in it. So before I give my final conclusion I shall address and debunk them.

Fault #1: Daughters?

I can see why many got upset with this, but it must be pointed out. Many assumed that Little Bill and Little Ted were to be sons due to the masculine names. However with the exception of non-canon expanded material, the gender of their children was never addressed until the third movie.  Not to mention the original babies that portrayed them were girls in real life.  That being said there are a few things you should know. First off they aren't the first daughters to have masculine names. If the name Kelly can be a man and a woman's name cis and/or trans, then it's not unreasonable to name their kids Bill and Ted as well. Second off, unlike most examples of female counterparts of male characters, these ones were never considered forced or phoned in. They never went Captain Marvel or Ghostbusters Answer the call. Nor was their credit to the song some vain attempt to promote third wave characters. They were simply just the next generation going by the philosophies of what came before them. 

Fault #2: They already united the world in Bogus Journey. 

That's a common misconception.  Although they toured the world and people loved their music and the movie did make mention of that. The battle of the bands was never meant to be their world union moment. Part of which I'll explain in the next fault, but essentially as said before, that was meant to put their foot in the door and establish themselves as a band. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither would something as big as a universe uniting wouldn't be that easy. 

Fault #3: The Song Itself. 

Now this one I can understand. Many people have considered God Gave Rock and Roll To You and In Time to be their Universe Union song. And to be fair, it's easy to see why. They're very epic songs.  However there is one small problem.  The prophecy stated that it was one of "Their" songs that unite the universe. Whereas those songs, while they were known to play them, they didn't create them.  God Gave Rock and Roll To You was the brain child of KISS and Steve Vai, while In Time was created by Robbie Robb. As for why their songs were part of the band in the first place, they wouldn't be the first or last musicians to do cover songs. Comparing the song they used in the movie to two songs created by legendary rockers is grossly unfair.  As for the song itself, Face The Music. As a standalone song it is epic in it's own right. It was that song that inspired me to give this movie a chance to begin with.  But don't take my word for it. Listen for yourself.

And if you like the song, grab your phone and the loudest Bluetooth Speaker you can carry. Walk to a spot in your neighbourhood where everyone can hear it and blast it to your heart's content.  Make the fictional idea that one song can unite the world a reality. 

When I decided to watch Bill and Ted Face The Music, I expected a goofy comedy with some heart in it.  When I watched it, I got exactly what I expected and one unexpected thing. Not only was this movie the most Excellent conclusion to a Bodacious trilogy. The heart part has swollen so grand, that it made me cry with joy.  But don't take my word for it. See it for yourself.

Due to the limited release, this movie is available not just on digital download, but for rent on Youtube. When it will be available for purchase I don't know. I do know this though, it is worth the watch.

In closing, I say onto you readers the only words you need to know.

Be excellent with each other and party on dudes!!

Catch ya later.

Straight Up Reviews: Pink Floyd The Wall

It's been a while since I did a review on this site, I thought I'd do it the old fashioned way because I am so mad that I may break every microphone I use.  As you no doubt of guessed, Nostalgia Critic has done a "Review" of The Movie Adaptation of The Wall. Years ago my counterpart S.T. did a written CIEIR on it back when he thought he was a real person. (Long Story.). But since CIEIR was more or less dedicated to finding out if concepts of fiction could exist for real and NC pissed me off that much, I thought it'd be the proper time to give a proper review of this movie. 

First off a little history.  Pink Floyd started out as a Psychedelic/Space Rock band in 1963, it's members at the time Syd Barret, Roger Waters, Nick Mason and Bob Klose.  Over time the band changed it's course in both member and music, with the most prominent leaving being Syd Barrett. Rumors of drugs and a lingering insanity on his part.  However none was so infamous than the 1977 Spitting Incident in Montreal. It was during a concert where the Band was promoting Animals and two things among most happened. The first sparked by a fan, who let off a firework, while the Band was performing "Pigs on the Wing." prompting Waters to rant on stage to the fan and the screaming fans that follwed. The second the aforementioned incident. Most concerts often have a fence or a barrier that allows the fans to see the musicians, but can't get near them. More or less out of fear of being swarmed or worse, some angry Misery style fan wanting to harm them one way or another. This concert was no exception. However one "Brave" individual decided to take it upon themselves to climb said barrier and meet the band face to face.  They got their wish, but on top of that, in the heat of his anger, Roger Waters spat directly in the fan's face.  However as justified in his anger he has been in this instance, Waters felt disgusted with himself afterwards. And while history shows the band didn't last long after, The Wall was meant to be his first stepping stone in redeeming himself. 

Now it's not uncommon for music to tell a story, that's part of the medium. Whether it's a personal story or a fictional story. It makes no difference so long as it's entertaining. And this Album was no exception.  The Wall was made in 1979 and after it's astounding success it spawned many concerts, a feature film and is considered won of Pink Floyd's most well known, well liked albums along side Dark Side of The Moon.  And this story is just as important as the music used to entertain us. Which is why I was immediately shocked and disgusted the way Nostalgia Critic handled the "review", but I'll get to that later.

The Wall itself revolves around a protagonist by the name of Pink.  Pink serves as an amalgamation of life stories based around key members of the band. The most prominent being Syd Barret, who long since left before the conception of the album. Roger Waters, who insists that at least %75 of it is based around him and some shades of David Gilmour. 

Ever since the day of his birth, Pink always felt like he got the shit end of the stick.  His father dying in World War II, before he had a chance to meet him.  His teachers constantly abusing him, while they themselves have to go home and deal with similar abuse from their fat and psychopathic wives.  Then we have his mother, a woman with a severe case of abandonment issues, who smothers and shelters Pink in fear he may leave or die like his father.  All these moments, inspire him to build the titular wall. A barrier between his own mind and all of reality, with realities woes serving as the bricks used to build the wall.

The Album time skips to Pink's adult life, where he is now a successful Rock Musician.  However his past insecurities along with the empty spaces of his wall, being filled with Drugs, Sex and Fame cause him to neglect his wife.  In an attempt to make up for his behavior he tries to call his wife during a post-concert party in Los Angeles.  Only to find out through the operator, that his wife cheated on him with another man. He brings one of his groupies home, in an attempt to revenge lay. However his repressed rage at his wife, not only halts said attempt, but causes him to go violent and trash the hotel room he was staying at.  All the while, imagining his wife as no longer a human being, but a monster out to hurt him.  He finishes his wall and cuts himself completely out of the real world.  Only to realize his mistake not too long after. While trapped, he reminisces about his past, specifically a moment where he among many families in Post-WWII England are waiting for word of their loved ones returning.  Eventually his manager comes in with a doctor in tow.  He gives Pink a drug in hopes to bring him out of his catatonia.  Only for Pink to transform into a Neo-Nazi persona with a surrogate band.  In essence he's become everything he's hated about the world and the very bricks in his wall. As his persona he rallies his concert goers to weed out anything he deems undesirable and gets them to take to the streets. Whether or not this actually happened or is a hallucination is uncertain, but the movie implies it was a hallucination.  At the height of his Reich he orders everything to stop and realizes that he is mostly to blame for the problems in his life. Specifically how he chose to deal with them.  He puts himself on trial where he puts caricatures of his Teacher, Wife and Mother on the stand who lay out their version of why he's the problem.  The teacher thinks he's undisciplined. The mother simply wants him home. His wife, the only one who actually has a right to be pissed, tells it flat out. ("You should have talked to me more often than you did. BUT NOOO!!!") The Judge, Worm Your Honour, who started out as a worm, but then morphed into a literal giant ass on two Legs, only takes the Wife and Mother's testimony into account and sentences Pink to be exposed before his peers. Pink tears down the wall, but it's left ambiguous to whether or not he lived through it and if he did, whether he learned his lesson or is doomed to repeat the cycle. ("Isn't this where we came in?")

The Wall, in all it's forms, the Rock Opera, The Concert, The Movie, has the themes of: Loss, Paranoia, Insecurity, Sex, Drugs, Rock and Roll, Alienation and most of all, the endless cycle of conformity and anarchy. Pink shrived to be an anarchist, because he was angry at the conformity on both sides of the war which he believed resulted in his father's death. Only for him to become a conformist just as bad if not worse than the Nazis and teachers he hated as a child. He was afraid of getting smothered by his wife, which as a result alienated him from her and vice versa. He saw every perceived negative influence as monsters out to get and change him and thought trying to wall up his true feelings would make him feel better as he tried to fill the void with Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll. Only to realize that had he opened up more to the people that loved him he would have been able to let go of his past and become a better person. Which was ultimately what the monsters within his wall also wanted him to do. And whether or not he succeeded, died or was doomed to repeat the cycle, is up to us.

Now this is where I never got why Nostalgia Critic did what he did here.   All of this could have been easily addressed even with his clip-less review of the matter.  But instead he opted in a shallow, hollow parody that misses the mark on what the original work was meant to convey. And to top it off, you stole music from them. You changed the lyrics, but the instrumentals were the same and sold it as though it's your own.  Walker Brothers, I hope Waters sues you back to the stone age for this. Fair use does not apply to what you did here.

My Official Music Site

I decided to do all my music stuff on a separate blog site. One that isn't as much of a mess as this one.  So without further adieu I present to you.

Click on the Image to Enter.

The Final Confrontation Music Video

Well this is it the final chapter of my series of music Videos. The heroes finally confront the villain.

To purchase the song, click here:
 https://shanethemusician.bandcamp.com/album/synthorcchip-v-which-sounds-better

The Origin of Good and Evil Music Video

The semi-final Chapter of my series of Hero music videos.  We finally get to see the origins of The Hero Harry, The Heroine Lisa and The Villain Virgil Virgil Vincent and how one man's dream of improving the human condition set the trio on a path against each other.

To Purchase the Album click here:
https://shanethemusician.bandcamp.com/album/synthorcchip-v-which-sounds-better

A Heroine's Triumph Music Video

The next chapter of my little hero music video series. After dropping Lisa off the roof, she reemerges as The Heroine. When they find out who the Thugs are working for, they split up as we follow her on damage control. Unlike the Hero who uses killing when pushed too far, The Heroine is more brutal in her sense of justice.  So expect a blood bath.

To purchase the album for this song click here:

Heroes In Trouble Music Video

I admit shamelessly that I published my next album as an excuse to make more songs for these videos. I loved the story so much that I wanted it to continue.  So here's part three of my story. Takes place on the Darkest Hour. After watching the death of their co-worker, Harry and Lisa are ushered onto the roof in a desperate attempt to out Harry as the Superhero.

To purchase the Album click here: https://shanethemusician.bandcamp.com/album/synthorcchip-iv-which-sounds-better

A Villain's Determination Music Video

The following video while cartoonish may contain scenes that are very disturbing:
The Sequel video to my previous video "A Hero's Struggle." This video introduces the villain, Virgil Vincent. Who decides to declare war on our hero after a previous hit attempt has gone wrong.  Whilst our hero figures out the identity of the Heroine who saved him in the last video.

To purchase the song and the album it's on click here:
https://shanethemusician.bandcamp.com/album/synthorcchip-iii-which-sounds-better

A Hero's Struggle Music Video

I worked like hell on this animation. But it's here. The music video based off my new Album, SynthOrcChip III: Which Sounds Better.  In this case I used the Synth Version of my song A Hero's struggle.

Now the story itself is cliche by my own admission, but I believe that you can make anything seem awesome with the right music. In this case, two mobsters bomb a bar in a suicidal attempt to draw our hero out and kill.  Needless to say they fail to do the latter. When one of the mob guys tries to sneak attack him a heroine shows up to save the day. The hero then flies home to contemplate the identity of the mysterious heroine.

To Purchase the song and the album click here:
https://shanethemusician.bandcamp.com/album/synthorcchip-iii-which-sounds-better

March of Hate and Anger Music Video

WARNING IF YOU SUFFER FROM EPILEPSY OR ANY SEIZURE INDUCING MEDICAL DISORDER DO NOT WATCH!!
The Sorta Sequel to my most depressing Single.

I wanted to do a somewhat aggressive Guitar themed song and I figure what better way than to introduce an embodiment like the last song. Meet Hate-Face. A being who walks around endlessly on fire. Said fire is fueled by his hate and anger. What does he hate? What makes him angry? His answer much like Shame-Face is the same. "Everything." Only while Shame-Face chooses to sulk and tries to be stoic, Hate-Face wants to burn everything he can touch.

If you wish to purchase this song. Click the link.
https://shanethemusician.bandcamp.com/track/march-of-hate-and-anger

Broken Rhythm Single

My new single. Much like before click on the image to buy.

Bruce Lee once said "it is difficult to have a rehearsed routine to fit in with broken rhythm." While he mostly applied that saying to his Martial Arts concept of Jeet Kune Do, which like many martial arts, often apply to life as well; I often wondered if this philosophy could be put into practiced with a different sort of Art. Music. So what I did was make a simple tune and then put it a note or so ahead, using different instruments, to break my own Rhythm and see if it will either be a thing of beauty, or painful to the ears. I'm proud of the result either way.

March of Hate and Anger Single

This I made as sort of the Antithesis of my Walk of Shame and Sadness Single.  Here we have Hate-Face, the embodiment of Hate and Anger.  Much like Shame-Face he has only one answer to what makes him so angry and hateful. His answer? "Everything." As usual to purchase the song. Click on the cover image.

Walk of Sadness and Shame Music Video

This is a music video of a song I recently released. I set out to make the most depressing song I could. It's also the first animation I have done in years.  Sort of a test to see if whether or not I could do the same with Glockenvaltz. It was worth the effort but if I'm gonna do it with my major albums I'd need more time and better resources.

Anywho. This song is called the Walk of Shame and Sadness.  Like Glockenvaltz it's a wordless story.  However this particular tail is a somber piano story of a being known as Shame Face.  He walks around on cheery days with a cloud hovering over his head.  While he tries to remain stoic, the only emotions he can feel are Sadness and Shame.  To the point where he starts crying.  What is he sad and ashamed of?  Well if you ever were to gather the courage to ask him, the only word he'd say was "Everything."

If you want to purchase the song it is available here.
https://shanethemusician.bandcamp.com/track/walk-of-shame-and-sadness

SynthOrcChip II Video Ad

My video ad for this album.

SynthOrcChip II: Which Sounds Better. The Album and the Single

Thought I'd do something different and advertise both at once with each instead of one at a time. As usual click on the picture to go to the site.  This here is my next Single. The Uneasy Feeling, Synth Version. Said Single is all about going through a day life with insecurities, but always coming out on top despite them.

And like the previous single. This one is the first song of my next Album:

Much like the first album of this series, the same rules apply.  2 songs, in three variations: Synthesizer, Orchestral or Chiptune. Which Sounds Better? You decide.

SynthOrcChip Video Ad

You'll find the Albums in the following Links:
https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/shanethemusician8
https://shanethemusician.bandcamp.com/album/synthorcchip

SynthOrcChip: Which Sounds Better

Well I just finished both another single and an album. Click on the image to find it.

This single is the first Synth Song I ever made. It goes the Glockenvaltz route telling a short wordless story. Four Instruments, walk down four separate paths. With one goal in mind: To Harmonize.

Whereas the whole album is here. Click on the Image to go to it.

This one's a little different from my previous albums. It's the first time I tried toing Synth songs. But I wanted to do something more or less for experimental and for kicks.  I wrote 2 songs, but I finished them in 3 different styles. Hence the name. The first style being Synthesizer music.  The second style being Orchestral Music. And the third being Chiptune Music.  It's up to you, to decide which style sounds better.






Of course if CD Baby is not your thing you can always check it on my Bandcamp site.

https://shanethemusician.bandcamp.com/album/synthorcchip

Glockenvaltz 2: Organ Hell Video Ad

My Third Advertisement.
Purchase Music here:
https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/shanethemusician6
https://shanethemusician.bandcamp.com/album/glockenvaltz-2-organ-hell

Glockenvaltz 2: Organ Hell

I finally got my sequel album published.  For those that don't know Organ Hell is a sequel Album to my first Album Glockenvatlz.  A wordless story about love and betrayal.  In this sequel, we delve into the world of Organ Hell. Where the Piano is the God of the world I created, The Organ is simply the Devil. Violin the antagonist of the first Album is lamenting his stay, but a Harp takes pity on him and offers him the way out. But as he accepts, he decides to visit a certain paradise for revenge.

Organ Hell Single

After doing Glockenvaltz I got to thinking, if the Piano is God to my little musical world. Then the Organ is most likely the Devil. I introduce to you a sample of what's coming soon. This is Organ Hell.