My Top 5 Music+Film Moments

Inspired by a recent post by a good friend +Aaron Rosell, I decided to write up a quick blog about what I believe are the best 5 song placements in film (I've also linked at least the song, but in most cases the complete scene is there).  Here we go - I'll start with number 5:

5.  John Powell - Test Drive - How to Train Your Dragon

Let's be honest, who doesn't wish they could fly?  This track plays as Hiccup and Toothless fly together for the first time.  I remember watching this scene for the first time and feeling about 10 years old again.  I instantly became Hiccup flying on the back of the Night Fury.  I felt the freedom of the ride, smiling about as big as anyone in their 20s has while watching an animated movie.  If you haven't listened to the soundtrack of this whole movie, do yourself a favor and check it out.

4.  Fix You performed by the Young@Heart Chorus in the documentary Young@Heart

Young@Heart is a documentary about a chorus of elderly men and women (No one is under the age of 70) who sing contemporary songs under the direction of Bob Cilman and accompanied by the Young@Heart band.  I ended up watching this documentary on TV with my mom.  She thought it was completely cute and thought I should watch it because I love music.  Without giving too much away, the group of senior citizens go through some great times and some hard times and it all leads up to the concert where this song is performed.  To this day, this music and film moment is one of the three times I have wept durring a movie.  It was a perfect place for this beautiful Coldplay cover.

3. The Beatles - Twist and Shout - Ferris Bueller's Day Off

I am a big fan of blockbuster dance breaks, and this one takes the cake in my book.  I almost included You Make My Dreams from 500 Days of Summer on the list too - but back to the song at hand.  First of all, Ferris Bueller's Day Off is, was, and will always be one of my top 3 favorite movies and The Beatles are in my top 5 of all time.  How could this not be on the list?  I think the dance break completely captures the spirit of the entire movie.  So fun - so free!  Definitely one of the bests.

2. Nina Simone - Feeling Good - Chuck S3 E14  - Link contains a spoiler (so will the description)

Seriously, is there a sexier song than Nina Simone's Feeling Good?  I got into Chuck my junior year of college.  If you haven't watched the show, it's about a regular guy who gets spy abilities through some work of technology and has to work on how to use and control his artificial powers along with two companions.  Feeling Good plays as Chuck and his attractive partner, Sara, finally (after almost 3 seasons) get together.  If you don't plan on watching the show, feel free to watch the clip.  It's awesome - borderline James Bond smooth, and the scene would be nothing without Nina Simone's Feeling Good.

1. Clint Mansell - Together We Will Live Forever - The Fountain 

I'm not certain how to even begin writing about this song.  I saw The Fountain opening day and after 7 years it is still my favorite movie.  I won't explain the story because it wouldn't do it justice.  What you need to know is it is a visually stunning and incredible philosophical and complex movie centered around the relationship between a doctor and his dying wife.  This song plays as the credits are rolling and it blows you away.  The song is played on the piano, and it's simplicity contrasts the complexity of the story dramatically.  You don't hear the song in the credits, you arrive to this song in the credits.  It will break your heart, make you smile, and frees your mind all at the same time.  Listen to the song, but be sure to check out the movie if you haven't already done so.

So, there they were - my top 5.  What are your top 5 music in film moments?

Vikings' New Stadium

To the lawmakers of Minnesota,

I agree - it would be bad news to lose the Minnesota Vikings.  Not because they may one day be a championship bound team or because every Minnesotan loves football, but because it shows Minnesotans that their elected officials cannot actually do the job they were hired to do.  It would be a poor showing if within the same twelve months the state government was brought to a near halt and because a major sports team was lost.  I would guess that if you asked, most Minnesotans would love to keep the Vikings in the state - so representatives, make it happen.

And when I say make it happen, I mean think about your proposals.  This bill would have been funded by pull-tabs.  Really?!  No offence, but in my mind, the only thing less certain than gambling is gambling on gambling.  Yes, you will probably make it painfully obvious that in gambling the gamblers are actually supporting a new stadium for the Minnesota Vikings.  I am sure there would be some people who would be inclined to do this just because they love the Vikings, but is that an honest attempt at finding a solution or an idea someone came up with in a hurry in order to make it feel like a bipartisan solution?

We're not talking about a minuscule amount of money here either.  The projected price is very close to one billion dollars, as you probably know.  At this price, even if the Vikings pick up around half of the cost, we're still talking about half of a billion dollars that has to come from somewhere.  We can't cut school or infrastructure - that is bad for everyone.  We can't tax more - that is bad for reelection.  So what do we do (if you say pull-tabs one more time...)?

I have a couple of ideas.  They don't involve raising taxes and they make a more fair playing field for companies in the state.  They are also sustaining sources so once the Vikings' stadium is built, Minnesota will have more income than it did before.  That being said, they aren't going to win you any popularity contests.  I think we are mature enough to admit that the right decision often isn't the most popular.

My first idea - and I know it's been suggested to the state before and defeated, is to open liquor stores on Sundays.  Perhaps I feel this will make a bigger impact because I live close to the Minnesota/Wisconsin border where if I need liquor on Sunday, I just have to drive an extra 10 or 15 minutes to get it.  Forcing liquor stores to be closed on Sunday takes away from their sales.  Note - I am not saying that we mandate a seven day doors open policy, rather, just give the stores the option to be open on Sundays.  And instead of one of our bordering states getting the tax revenue, we can have that and put it towards a new Vikings' stadium.

Another idea I would like explored is the taxing of all new online purchases.  We have great companies here in Minnesota.  Target and Best Buy come to mind when I think of large retailers born within our state.  It's not easy being competitive as a physical retailer in a world that is going digital.  Best Buy had to close many stores and had a significant number of layoffs already this year.  The problem is that when I go into a Best Buy and see a great digital camera or TV - I want it and I don't want to have to pay a whole ton for it.  One way to do this is go and buy the product online.  Even if Best Buy can price match Amazon.com, it's products are still going to cost between 6 and 7 percent more because of taxes.  By adding sales tax to online purchases, you are supporting domestic companies while also increasing tax revenue to an estimated four hundred million dollars (estimated by your own Myron Frans according to MPR).

Two ideas - neither universally popular, but both nearly guaranteed to increase state revenue enough to support a new Vikings stadium and balance our budget.

Thank you for considering one Minnesotan's ideas on how we can help keep the Vikings the Minnesota Vikings.

Sincerely,
A Fellow Minnesotan