Category Archives: Ellen Anmuth Commentary

James Taylor and Carole King at the Troubadour: PBS Special

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Have you seen the current PBS special where James Taylor and Carole King play together live at the Troubadour?  They are joined by 3 band members from the 70’s: Russel Kunkel, Lee Sklar and Danny Korchmar.

Peter Asher introduced James Taylor to Paul McCartney and George Harrison. The song, “Something in the Way She Moves” was played to these Beatles, and James Taylor was immediately signed to Apple Records.  James spoke fondly about this as a breakthrough moment in his career.

This PBS program means to much to me…I grew up listening to the James Taylor albums, learning to play his songs on my guitar, trying to copy his  style of finger-picking.  Fire and Rain, Blossom, Country Road, and so many of the songs he played in this PBS special inspired me to grab my guitar again and play these songs.

What a treat to watch these music legends singing together, harmonizing, and enjoying playing music like it was 40 years ago.  Their voices still beautiful….their spirit of joy and pleasure still there.

You may want to also donate to PBS, to keep amazing shows like this still broadcasting. Can you imagine a world without James Taylor, Carole King, and PBS?  I certainly feel blessed that my life was enhanced by experiencing these gifts during my lifetime.

As a licensed psychotherapist, I have encouraged my patients  to listen to music as an adjunct to therapy.  When  you feel down, give your favorite tunes a chance to be heard, and see how it can lift your spirits!

 

Ellen Degeneres and Oscar: The New Casual Academy Awards

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I watched the 2014 Academy Awards recently with a bit of detached objectivity. There was a time when Jack Lemon, Judy Garland, Gregory Peck, Fred Astair, Ginger Rogers, Robert Mitchum, Steve McQueen (yes, there was a great actor with that name) and many more of that era would gracefully appear at the Academy Awards with an air of grandeur.

Last year, Jennifer Lawrence tripped on her way to accept her award. There were jokes about her chance to trip again. Ellen Degeneres, the host of the show, offered to bring the award to her if she wins to avert another tripping episode.

During the 2014  Academy Awards, the host brought in a pizza delivery guy, who had no idea he would be on camera,  to serve pizza to the stars.  It seems that Ellen Degeneres’ strategy for humor was to juxtapose the grandeur of the Oscar ceremony with the down to earth, casual moment of pizza delivery.

Yes, it did work to create a laugh, as we watched Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep grab for a slice of pizza while dressed in fancy gowns. Perhaps the moment of tension emerged around the thought, “will they drip tomato sauce on their fancy dresses?”

I do remember Grace Kelly at the Academy Awards. Never could I imagine her grabbing a slice of pizza  out of a square delivery box during such an elegant program. I watched Sidney Poitier at the show, and felt sad as he looked a bit frail with age.  However, he still had an aura of  grace and charm.  I imagine that he never would never grab for a slice of pizza during an Oscar broadcast.

What does this sociological change mean for our world?  I am not sure.  I listened to an interview where a man said that making movies is a very unglamorous job, with a dirty stage and long hours. One day a year, they get dressed up to enjoy the glamour of the profession. While I appreciate the joy and down to earth style of this years’ host, I wonder what this trend says about our world, and the loss of the  formal glamour of the night that was once  the Academy Awards evening.  I must admit, I miss the grandeur.