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Joseph E Bird

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being there

serpico

one of my favorite movies of all time.

al pacino, as good as he’s ever been, as the gritty honest cop, frank serpico. based on the true story of the real frank serpico.

forty years later, i watched it again. it wasn’t as good.

ever hear of chauncey gardner? peter sellers as the title character in Being There. another one of my all-time favorites. but upon further review…

not quite.

seems what i remember is not what i remember.

books are the same way. the fountainhead, ayn rand’s masterpiece, with the iconic howard roark. it’s a great book, but after a few years away, it’s no longer at the top of my list.

is it me? have my sensibilities changed?

of course. and then again, my good memories tend to dominate the bad.

but i’m thinking i’m going to keep the good memories warm. no more bursting the bubble of what i remember. same with people. i remember old friends fondly, forgetting their faults and the things that drove me crazy. then when i see them on the street, it’s a good moment.

i hope they do the same for me.

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Groovy, man.

Dig it.

There’s a club in London called the Troubadour.  It was founded in the 1950’s and has played host to legendary musicians through the years. It’s also famous as a hangout for writers and artists and coffee-house poetry.

Finger snap.

Groovy.

Picture this.  Stanley Kubrick had a favorite table at the Troubadour back in the early 60’s. He comes in, drinks espresso, takes in a poetry slam, and works on his screenplay for 2001: A Space Odyssey.

In 1968, his seminal film is released.

“Open the pod bay doors, HAL.”

“I’m sorry, Dave.  I’m afraid I can’t do that.”

Far out.

Featured in the film was the music of Richard Strauss, specifically, Also Sprach Zarathustra, which, interestingly, is a tone poem.  Look that up in your Funk and Wagnalls.

In 1972, the jazz musician Deodato put out his take on the classic, which was later featured in the Peter Sellers film, Being There.

“As long as the roots are not severed, all is well.  And all will be well in the garden.”

Heavy man.

So for all you poets out there, put on your black turtleneck and beret, go back in time, and tap your toes to the groovy, jazzy, coffee-house, hipster version of Also Sprach Zarathustra by Deodato.

Dig it.

 

 

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