Bette Davis (All About Eve, Now Voyager, Jezebel)—She is a bitch and I like her so much. Also: unf. She does it all: rage, vulnerability, romantic passion, hauteur that invites beholders to say "step on me" under their breath. Her work in the 1930s, from melodramas to romantic comedies, is excellent, but I've mentioned 1940s films above because I feel that she really was at her best once the studio allowed her star image to get edgier. Also her decades-long platonic friendships with male co-stars (e.g. Paul Henreid, Claude Rains) are very important to me. Anyway: bow down before Bette Davis, HBIC.
Vanessa Brown (Tarzan and the Slave Girl)—Was fluent in several languages, wrote and directed school plays in high school, was a movie critic and feature writer for the campus newsletter while she was majoring in English; had a career in film, television, radio, stage and was also talented in painting
This is round 1 of the tournament. All other polls in this bracket can be found here. Please reblog with further support of your beloved hot sexy vintage woman.
[additional propaganda submitted under the cut.]
Bette Davis propaganda:
youtube
"The absolute GOAT of vintage cinema. An icon. Her EYES. Any time you see Bette on screen you know she's about to steal the spotlight. Her range is incredible, she can play coy, shy, mischevious, innocent, evil, hideous, beautiful, cunning, and wise all with the same self assurance and talent. I live in awe of her ability. And, of course, she's gorgeous. I think she peaked in 1950 with "All About Eve", at the age of 42- she was in full control of her craft, she's a milf, and her scratchy voice makes me nervous in a good way."
"She’s Bette fuckin’ Davis! She had a great sense of humor and a lovely pair of eyes! She was a camp icon and fuckin’ knew it. And she wasn’t afraid to make fun of herself!"
"shes got a whole song of saying how hot someone is bc they look like her"
"She's got Bette Davis eyes! Incredible character actress, charming, witty as all hell. Her favourite accessory was a lit cigarette."
Gives Ten an equally important role to Eleven in his anniversary special, Makes RTD's Time War central to the episode's storyline, and resolves it in a way that doesn't undermine Nine and Ten's character arcs, gives Billie Piper a major role without infringing on Rose's storyline, gives Paul McGann the regeneration story he deserves, gets Tom Baker back on the show one last time, and gives us one very brief, tantalising tease of the next Doctor. And all this was while having no actors under contract, and BBC executives constantly interfering.
Chris Chibnall
Used his final story to bring back two beloved companions from the classic era, and gives them closure with their respective Doctors. Brings back several Classic Doctors and the Fugitive Doctor to aid Thirteen in her final battle, and revealed that companions from throughout the Doctor's life have been getting together and supporting each other, as they will now do for Yaz. And this was in the aftermath of the pandemic, and at a point when a new showrunner couldn't be found, with no idea what future the show had.
Russell T Davies
After getting near complete creative control of the show in time for the 60th anniversary, burns the Thirteenth Doctor's outfit away, immediately pivots back to his Doctor and his companion, with just some old villains to represent the other 55 years of the show. Doesn't bring back any other elements from the show's history until the third episode, and even then, has Mel and Kate play second fiddle to his characters. Doubles down on the self-indulgence of The End of Time by refusing to have Tennant regenerate at all, uses the Fifteenth Doctor's introduction to give Ten a happy ending rather than letting Ncuti Gatwa define his character on his own terms as every one of his predecessors has done. And writes the Nobles (his characters once again) as the one true found family the Doctor needs, as though the Ponds and River and Clara and the Fam were just passing acquaintances.
Two of these are constantly accused of trying to undermine the show and making it all about themselves. I'll let you decide which one it isn't.
rather than who you would like to see on the next taskmaster series, who do you think will be on it? like just your predictions or any inklings you may have!
anon if you're still around then you'll know i really took my time with this hahaha so sorry! i hope anyone reading this takes it as just a bit of fun and nbd, who knows who we'll get or who alex & the network have in mind! i'm answering thoughtfully (bc i always feel guilty not to 😩 so sorry this is long lol) but it's really just fun!!
i will say, of the more recent-ish series, i did get a few right!!! krishnan guru-murthy, nicola coughlan, alan davies, judi love, sue perkins, john robins, and joanne mcnally were people i just knew would eventually be on if the show could get their schedules right, and i was also certain sarah millican and dara ó briain would be asked — though not necessarily that they'd actually agree. when you have a level of seniority and esteem, the "it's such a great opportunity" aspect of the show isn't such a draw 😅 for some reason i feel SO PROUD about guessing nicola! i was just WAITING and wish sooooo much she had done a full series 😭😭😭 (how fun would saoirse-monica jackson be too!)
anyways, as for people who haven't been on yet — and this isn't to say i want them all to be, just that i think it's likeliest they have been asked or will be asked; i talked about who i want to see a little while ago here — it's important to consider the casting 'roles' the network has in mind when working with the producers to form a series, so i will keep that in mind too!
established comedian, typically a straight white man over 40: bill bailey, vic reeves, harry hill, geoff norcott, kevin bridges, adam buxton, ade edmondson, paul whitehouse (tommy tiernan? god i feel bad for not saying ed byrne but why do i feel like he's not gonna make it in the next few series? i'm on the fence with nick helm — unless he's friends with alex, then his chances go up significantly imo — and tom allen for some reason, and i feel like john bishop is almost too much of an ask?)
fresh talent comedian, typically a man under 40: rhys james, huge davies, ahir shah, darren harriott would be my top guesses but tbh any of the semi-recent edinburgh comedy award finalists are good bets as a majority of the winners from the last ~10 years have been on the series + throwing out tom rosenthal (i know he's not fresh fresh and also mostly an actor)...and, like, jazz emu?...just because if taskmaster know how much its audience adores weird little white twinks then they'll cast them
female or non-binary comedian: 100% sarah keyworth + harriet kemsley, maisie adam, jess fostekew, suzi ruffell. i've shifted away from betting on cariad lloyd and catherine bohart for some reason... (joanne was my no.1 lady bet for the last like 4 series hahaha)
non-comedian: this is very, very hard to predict because between comedy actors, non-comedy actors, tv presenters, news people, reality & social media stars... the potential predictions are just so endless! logically, the most likely is an established actor with a lot of comedy connections (think sally phillips, lolly adefope, liza tarbuck, sian gibson, daisy may cooper, susan wokoma; this category is where tm gets quite a few of its female contestants): matt holness, kevin eldon, amanda abbington, tom davis, sharon horgan, kathy burke, georgia tennant (also friends w alex?), su pollard, tom basden, apparently anyone from the cast of ghosts, and so on and so on and so on... + i'll also throw out maggie aderin-pocock as a serious contender + i really feel like one of the spice girls will be on new years treat
friend of alex: john robins was the prediction for the past few series, so just worth keeping in mind other people in this circle include elis james, matthew crosby, tom neenan, and so on
freebie answers because alex/greg have mentioned them before: jack dee, lorraine kelly, joanna lumley (i want jennifer saunders SO BAD give us an epic series w both ade and jen pleaseeee tm gods!!!!)
complete wild card bets that are either my instincts kicking in or my bias taking over: limmy, adam buxton, paddy mcguinness, diane morgan, daniel sloss, joel dommett, jess hynes, spencer jones??, alasdair beckett-king or josh pugh + if suzy izzard wasn't doing a big nyc show i'd say that's a good guess if only bc you know greg & alex grew up big fans
did i mention too many people?? if i had to put my money behind a single person it would be either ahir shah or sarah keyworth
these are almost all of my fr big heavy hitters when it comes to placing bets! but there are of course so many people i didn't name who i could totally see on either a main series or the ny treat — so many people just make sense and that's the beauty of taskmaster!!
B.T. Express (originally named Brooklyn Transit Express) was an American funk/disco group, that had a number of successful songs during the 1970s.
The group was part of the "Brooklyn sound" of the early 1970s, formed from three players of the group King Davis House Rockers. The House Rockers were a local dance band who had released a couple of obscure singles (1967's "We All Make Mistakes Sometimes" on Verve Records, 1972's "Rum Punch") The three players (guitarist Richard Thompson, tenor sax player Bill Risbrook, and alto sax player Carlos Ward) formed Madison Street Express along with bassist Louis Risbrook (later Muslim-monickered Jamal Rasool), percussionist Dennis Rowe, drummer Terrell Wood, and vocalist Barbara Wood. They along with producer Jeff Lane signed with production company Roadshow Records to record writer Billy Nichols "Do It ('Til You're Satisfied)." The record was shopped around to major labels until it was accepted at Scepter Records. Scepter suggested the group change its name from Madison Street Express, hence the Brooklyn Transit Express. The single was released in August 1974, and reached the top 10. Lane took the group back into the studios at that point to record a second single and pitch a full album to the label. Scepter agreed to the LP and to Roadshow Records having its own label within Scepter Records.
The first two singles were hits, both number 1 R&B releases and both Top 5 pop singles in the US. The album hit number 1 on the R&B album chart and number 5 on the Pop album chart of the US. These recordings were also hits in the spreading disco culture, "Do It" peaking on club playlists before Billboard started a separate disco chart, but the follow-up single sat for five weeks at number 1. They were certified gold releases.
BT Express released an album per year through 1978. With the third album, Leslie Ming was brought in as drummer and keyboardist Michael Jones was added as keyboardist. Jamal, who had converted to the Muslim faith, gave Jones the name Kashif Saleem, which he used after departing the group, in 1979, to pursue producing ("Mighty M Productions" with Morrie Brown and Paul Laurence Jones) and solo recording ventures. That year songwriter Billy Nichols and drummer Leslie Ming also departed the group. In 1976 Scepter records was experiencing business difficulties that soon ended the company, and BT Express was given a distribution deal with Columbia Records, which, though it gave them greater exposure, resulted in less attention being paid to their production, since they had so many acts to concentrate on. The group did not achieve the level of radio or sales success on Columbia that they had on the more nurturing but by-then defunct Scepter. They stayed with Columbia for five years, with Lane producing through 1978, then Nichols producing their fifth album before he departed for solo work, and Morrie Brown producing the sixth LP and several follow-up tracks. The group switched labels to Coast To Coast Records for the 1982 LP, to Earthtone Records for a later 1982 single, and to manager King Davis' own label in 1985.
After a bit of delay, here are the songs titles from the LCAPT Clegan playlist
1. Learn to Fly by Foo Fighters
2. Clearest Blue by CHVRCHES
3. I'm Not In Love by 10cc
4. Death and All His Friends by Coldplay
5. Til Kingdom Come by Coldplay
6. The Queen Of All Everything by Ott
7. Love song from a dog by Shovels & Rope ft. gregory alan isakov
8. If we were vampires by Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit
9. Passenger seat by Death Cab for Cutie
10. In our bedroom after the war by Stars
11. Early mornin’ rain by Peter, Paul and Mary
12. I was made for loving you by Yungblud cover
13. Visions of Gideon by Sufjan Stevens
14. Fourth of July by Sufjan Stevens
15. Lover, You Should've Come Over by Jeff Buckley
16. The Roads by Jonah Kagen
17. Next to You by John Vincent III
18. Seen My Man (Wisconsin Demo) by Trixie Mattel
19. Beneath Oak Trees by Dylan Gossett
20. Heaven is a Bedroom by TV Girl
21. Wicked Games by The Weeknd
22. Itchy Teeth by Marika Hackman
23. Breakup by Ashton Irwin
24. Work Song by Hozier
25. I’m Low on Gas and you Need a Jacket by Pierce The Veil
26. Betting On Us by Myles Smith
27. I'm the Sinner by Jared Benjamin
28. Running to You by Jamie Drake & Jamie Jackson
29. Look After You by Aron Wright
30. Smokestacks by Layla
31. Run To You by CJ Starnes
32. Gale song by The Lumineers
33. White Ferrari by Frank Ocean
34. Can You Hear the Rain Love by Richard Hawley
35. Say Yes To Heaven by Lana Del Rey
36. Talk Show Host by Radiohead
37. Untold by RY X
38. Lovers Rock by TV Girl
39. Waiting Room by Phoebe Bridgers
40. I Will by The Beatles
41. Glimpse of Us by Joji
42. Somethin' Stupid by Frank Sinatra & Nancy Sinatra
43. When the party is over by Billie Eilish
44. I love you by Billie Eilish
45. Blue jeans by Lana Del Rey
46. The secret marriage by Sting
47. Wicked game by Ursine Vulpine
48. Love Me Like You Used To by Lord Huron
49. Need you Now by Lady A
50. Strange Birds by Birdy
51. Old Money by Lana Del Rey
52. The Night We Met by Lord Huron
53. Piano Man by Billy Joel
54. Alley Rose by Conan Fray
55. Good Luck, babe by Chappel Roan
56. Be Nice To Me by The Front Bottoms
57. Saturn by Sleeping At Last
58. So Long, London by Taylor Swift
59. From Eden by Hozier
60. I Should Live in Salt by The National
61. Demons by The National
62. Graceless by The National
63. Your Mind Is Not Your Friend by The National, Phoebe Bridgers
64. Don’t Swallow the Cap by The National
65. Dreaming by The National
66. This Isn’t Helping by The National, Phoebe Bridgers
67. Issues by Julia Michaels
68. Gorecki by Lamb
69. Ends Of The Earth by Lord Huron
70. Dark Red by Steve Lacy
71. Fireproof by Coleman Hell
72. Heavydirtysoul by Twenty One Pilots
73. All I Want Is You by Barry Louis Polisar
74. I Found by Amber Run
75. Beautiful by Josh Zandman
76. Budapest by George Ezra
77. Be Together by Major Lazer
78. On The Nature Of Daylight by Max Richter
79. Guiding Light by Mumford & Sons
80. My Blood by Twenty One Pilots
81. My Madonna by Dexter Freebish
82. Chemicals Between Us by Bush
83. Protect Me From What I Want by Placebo
84. I Feel Loved by Depeche Mode
85. Gimme Some Lovin’ by The Spencer Davis Group
86. Little Light Of Love by Eric Serra
87. Fire and Flood by Vance Joy
88. Pride (In The Name Of Love) by Clivillés & Cole
89. Holdin’ Out by The Lumineers
90. If I Go, I’m Goin by Gregory Alan Isakov
91. Letting The Cables Sleep by Bush
92. This Feeling by Chainsmokers
93. Me And You by Barry Louis Polisar
94. Silver sable by Cigarettes after sex
95. How I Learned to Love the Bomb by Glass Animals
96. Hellofazoo by Until the Ribbon Breaks
97. Mr. Forgettable by David Kushner
98. John My Beloved by Sufjan Stevens
99. Alan by Perfume genius
100. One line by PJ harvey
101. Putting The Dog To Sleep by the antlers
102. In My Arms by Alex g
103. Certainty by Big thief
104. Angel In The Snow by Elliott smith
105. Nothing Matters by The Last Dinner Party
106. The Loneliest by Måneskin
107. Till forever falls apart by Ashe, Finneas
108. Whish that you were here by Florence + The Machine
109. I Forget Where We Were by Ben Howard
110. Bite by Troye Sivan
111. Lowlife by Poppy
112. Real Love Song by Nothing But Thieves
113. Like You Do by Joji
114. Be My baby by The Ronettes
115. Burn by Tom Walker
116. Lucky by Bif Naked
117. Fair by The Amazing Devil
118. Bitch by Meredith Brooks
119. I wish you were a girl by 12 RODS
120. All i think about now by Pixies
121. I know by Fiona Apple
122. Sweet tooth by Cavetown
123. Flawless by The Neighborhood
124. Can’t Help Falling In Love by Elvis Presley
125. Simply the best by Billianne
126. I remember everything by Zach Bryan, Kacey Musgraves
127. Coal by Dylan Gossett
128. i am not who i was by Chance Peña
129. I Bet On Losing Dogs by Mitski
130. Two slow dancers by Mitski
131. Lucky to get him by Aly and AJ
132. Crack baby by Mitski
133. I don't smoke by Mitski
134. Smoke gets in your eyes by Helen Forest
135. Love by Daughter
136. Can’t Help Falling in Love - DARK by Tommee Profitt, brooke
137. Chills - Dark Version by Mickey Valen, Joey Myron
137,5. Skyline by Sibewest
138. Beautiful Crime by Tamer
139. Act natural by Margaret Glaspy
140. Betray my heart by D'Angelo
141. I will be your friend by Sade
142. Can’t Take My Eyes Off You by Frankie Valli
143. I Didn’t Know by Sofia Carson
144. You by A Great Big World
145. This Woman’s Work by Kate Bush
146. Can't you see - acoustic by Matthew and the Atlas
147. Cowboy by Jack Van Cleaf
148. Feels like Home by Caamp
149. Carry You Home by Alex Warren
150. Belong Together by Mark Ambor
151. The First Day of My Life by Bright Eyes
152. Kaleidoscope by A Great Big World
153. Monsters of the North by The National Parks
154. The great war by Taylor Swift
155. Free by Florence + The Machine
156. I know the end by Phoebe Bridgers
157. Another Man’s Jeans by Ashe
158. I’ve Told You Now by Sam Smith
159. Love Me by Elvis Presley
160. Moment’s Silence (Common Tongue) by Hozier
161. Ocean Eyes by Billie Eilish
162. Take me home, country roads by John Denver
163. Army Dreamers by Kate Bush
164. I'm No Angel by Dido
165. We’ll Meet Again by Johnny Cash
166. Cowboys are frequently secretly fond of each other by Orville Peck
167. If We Were Vampires by Noah Kahan, Wesley Schultz
168. You Belong To Me by Jo Stafford
169. Goodnight Irene by Frank Sinatra
170. All I Want by Kodaline
171. Me and my Husband by Mitski
172. The Predatory Wasp of the Palisades is out to get us by Sufjan Stevens
173. As the World cave in by Sarah Cothran
174. Dead of Night by Orville Peck
175. invisible string by Taylor Swift
176. The Ghost of You by My chemical Romance
177. We'll Meet Again by Vera Lynn
178. Love in the Time Of Socialism by Yellow house
179. Northern Downpour by Panic! At The Disco
180. Better in the Morning by Birdtalker
181. doomsday by Lizzy McAlpine
182. Guilty by Al Bowlly
183. Heat Lightning by Mitski
184. everything i wanted by Billie Eilish
185. Blood Moon by Josiah and the Bonnevilles
186. Night Terror by Laura Marling
187. Vengeance Is Sleeping by Neko Case
188. Finally Stop Dreaming by Dylan Gossett
189. The Yawning Grave by Lord Huron
190. Learning To Fly by Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
191. Hounds of Love by The Futureheads
192. Now I'm in it by HAIM
193. Stand Back by Stevie Nicks
194. Moonlight of Your Room by Joe Pug
195. Blue by Mai Yamane
196. Call Your Girlfriend by Robyn
197. Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers
198. Summer Of '69 by Bryan Adams
199. Fix you by Coldplay
200. Sun Bleached Flies by Ethel Cain
201. I walk the Line by Halsey
202. The Greatest by Billie Eilish
203. I'll be seeing you by Billie Holiday
204. We will not be Lovers by The Waterboys
205. Triptych by Samia
206. In a Jar by Dinosaur Jr.
207. Dionne by The Japanese House, Justin Vernon
208. Nothing Like by Mannequin pussy
209. True Love Waits by Radiohead
210. Weird Fish/Arpeggi by Radiohead
211. I’m a Fool to Want You by Billie Holiday
212. A Life of Arctic Sounds by Modest Mouse
213. Soldier Boy by The Shirelles
214. Casual by Chappel Roan
215. Ruined by Adrianne Lenker
216. Without You by Tobias Jesso Jr.
217. That's Where I Am by Maggie Rogers
218. Die Young by Sylvab Esso
219. Violet hill by Coldplay
220. You made me love you by Patsy Cline
221. Smoke gets in your eyes by Eartha Kitt
222. Piece of my heart by Erma Franklin
223. Love and anger by Kate Bush
224. Guilty by Johnny Desmond
225. I Can’t Begin to Tell You by Bing Crosby
226. People Will Say We’re in Love by Frank Sinatra
227. You’ll Never Know by Dick Haymes
228. You’d Be So Nice To Come Home To by Dinah Shore
229. Speeding Cars by Walking On Cars
230. Girl Crush by Harry Style
231. Fine Line by Harry Style
232. Bittersuite by Billie Eilish
233. Et même après je t'aimerai by Hoshi
234. Tourner dans le vide by Indila
235. What was I made For? by Billie Eilish
236. Maybe by James Arthur
237. Happy Together by Gerard Way, Ray Toro
238. Dandelions by Ruth B.
239. When the Darkness Comes by Shelby Merry
240. Silver tongues by Louis Tomlinson
241. Telepathic by Starset
242. Always by Isak Danielson
243. Like real people Do by Hozier
244. Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls
245. Can you hold me by NF, Britt Nicole
246. Moondust by Jaymes Young
247. Maps - triple j Like A version by Camp Cope
248. We made it by Louis Tomlinson
249. Adore you by Harry Style
250. Love song by Lana Del Rey
251. Satellite by Harry Style
252. Late night Talking by Harry Style
253. Home by Edith Whiskers
254. Guilty as Sin? by Taylor Swift
255. The Light by CHPTRS
256. Started With You by CHPTRS
257. City Lights (Symphonic Version) by HAEVN
258. This Is Why I Need You by Jesse Ruben
259. Never Stop (Wedding Version) by Safetysuit
260. Sacrifice by Elton John
261. Who we are by Hozier
262. Politik by Coldplay
263. All I need by Radiohead
264. Can't pretend by Tom Odell
265. Would Anyone Care by Citizen Soldier
266. Hold My Hand by Lady Gaga
267. Warriors by Willyecho
268. Brother by Kodaline
269. Protector by City wolf
270. Texas reznikoff by Mitski
271. Pin by Grimes
272. I'm your man by Mitski
273. Haunting by Halsey
274. Twin flame by Weyes blood
275. Why Can’t The Dark Leave Me Alone? by Toni Fisher
276. No Other Love by Jo Stafford
277. Your Best American Girl by Mitski
278. Careless Whispers by George Michael
279. Sailor Song by Gigi Perez
280. Sidelines by Phoebe Bridges
281. not a lot, just forever by Adrianne Lenker
282. forwards beckon rebound by Adrianne Lenker
283. Norman fucking Rockwell by Lana Del Rey
284. Long Long Time by Linda Ronstadt
285. Break by alex_g_offline
286. Some Velvet morning by Nancy Sinatra, Lee Hazlewood
287. Overtime by Rainbow Kitten Surprise, Kacey Musgraves
288. The John Wayne by Little Green Cars
289. Pale blue Eyes by The Velvet Underground
290. You'll Never Know (78rpm version) by Frank Sinatra, Bobby Tucker Singers
291. Come on Mess me up by Cub sport
292. While I can by Keaton henson
293. Flying :)) by Tom Odell
294. Cornflower blue by Flower Face
295. Remember by Seinabo Sey, Jacob Banks
296. Once more to see you by Mitski
297. Back to the old house by The Smiths
298. Symphonia IX by Current Joys
299. So real by Jeff Buckley
300. Half return by Adrianne Lenker
301. Fade into you by Mazzy Star
302. All We Ever Do is Talk by Del Water Gap
303. Dirty Little Secret by Artemas
304. Too Sweet by Hozier
305. Anyways I Love You by Wild Rivers
306. like you’re god by Mehro
307. Size too small by Sufjan Stevens
308. Cheers Darlin' by Damien Rice
309. Lotus Flower by Radiohead
310. Twilight Time by The Platters
311. Because of You by Tony Bennett
312. if i needed someone by The Beatles
313. Standing next to You by Jungkook
314. Falling away with You by Muse
315. Exist for Love by AURORA
316. Sata vuotto by BEHM
317. Blood Sport by Sleep Token
318. Oblivion by SYML
319. Timezone by Måneskin
320. Own my mind by Måneskin
321. Pushing Up Daisies (Love Alive) by Brothers Osborne
322. Unbroken by Tim McGraw
323. I Was Born To Love You by Queen
324. You’re My Best Friend by Queen
325. Think I’m In Love With You by Chris Stapleton, Dua Lipa
326. Something To Talk About by Bonnie Raitt
327. Parachute by Chris Stapleton
328. Love The Lonely Out Of You by Brothers Osborne
329. Here Tonight (The Acoustic Sessions) by Brett Young, Charles Kelley
330. Stay A Little Longer by Brothers Osborne
331. The End by Halsey
332. Birds of a feather by Billie Eilish
333. Found Heaven by Conan Gray
334. Down bad by Taylor Swift
335. I do by Renee Rapp
336. The good I'll do by Zach Bryan
337. Half Light by BANNERS
338. Resistance by Muse
339. Far from home (the raven) by Sam Tinnesz
340. Francis forever by Mitski
341. I love you by RIOPY
342. This must be the place (naive melody) 2005 by Talking Heads
343. Maps by Yeah yeah yeahs
344. Cinnamon Girl by Lana del rey
345. I'm on Fire by Bruce Springsteen
346. Fire on Fire by Sam Smith
347. I'm Making Believe by The Inkspots and Ella Fitzgerald
348. Watch Over You by Alter Bridge
349. Summer song by Remy bond
350. Off to the races by Lana Del Rey
351. Almost (sweet music) by Hozier
352. giveuwhatuwant by The Driver Era
352,5. Birds of a feather by Billie Eilish
353. Big Mike’s by Dijon
354. Simulation Swarm by Big Thief
355. I Wanna Be Yours by Arctic Monkeys
356. Little Bit More by Mk.gee
357. Be Well by Ama Lou
What texts would you recommend to develop the sort of general knowledge needed to write something like your economic development plans? I am currently trying to write a setting which has a few major reformist leaders with big plans, and it would really help to know a bit more about how to come up with a workable economic development plan for a fantasy region - I really admired your work on the subject, and thought you were the person to ask.
This is a great question!
Something I've discussed before wrt economic development, is the need to avoid presentism as much as possible. So I've always taken as a central limiter of my economic development proposals that they have to fit within the boundaries of what was known/technologically feasible during the Late Middle Ages through to the Early Modern period.
In this fashion, I try to avoid the Connecticut Yankeee in King Arthur's Court scenario where all of the sudden steam engines appear hundreds of years early out of nowhere - because we shouldn't be assuming that economic development is some teleological process that has to go through the same stages as Western European economic development did in our timeline. The result is that I got really into reading about the Commercial Revolution and the technologies that drove economic development during that period - hence why I became obsessed about canal-building, because canals were a key technology that the Early Modern nation-state used to create and reshape markets.
So here is a meta-list of books I'd recommend on economic development in the Middle Ages through the Early Modern period:
books about medieval and Renaissance governments.
William Cronon’s Nature’s Metropolis, Lawrence Goodwyn's The Populist Moment, and Will and Wong's Nourish the People on the making and remaking and regulating of agricultural markets.
books about Medieval and Renaissance urban development.
books about medieval guilds.
Robert S. Lopez' Commercial Revolution of the Middle Ages.
Joseph Gies' Merchants and Moneymen: the Commercial Revolution.
Pamela Smith, Paul Findlen ed. Commerce, Science, and Art in Early Modern Europe.
Ralph Davis' A Commercial Revolution.
Anthony Burton's The Canal Pioneers and The Canal Builders.
John Blair ed. Waterways and Canal-Building in Medieval England.
A.E.J Morris, History of Urban Form Before the Industrial Revolution.
Gerianne Pérez (Catherine of Aragon), Zan Berube (Anne Boleyn), Amina Faye (Jane Seymour), Terica Marie (Anna of Cleves), Aline Mayagoitia (Katherine Howard), Sydney Parra (Catherine Parr)
Notes:
Includes BCEFA speech. Recorded from front row. Dropped my phone right after Heart of Stone, but I picked it up before anything major happened. Never to be posted on any social media including, but not limited to, YouTube, Instagram and TikTok.
Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of the Temptations
US National Tour
January 17, 2024 mat
Madeapactwithsatan's master
Cast:
**Jeremy Kelsey (u/s Otis Williams)**, E. Clayton Cornelious (Paul Williams), Harrell Holmes Jr. (Melvin Franklin), Jalen Harris (Eddie Kendricks), Elijah Ahmad Lewis (David Ruffin), **Treston J. Henderson (u/s Dennis Edwards)**, Felander (Lamont), **Brian C. Binion (u/s Berry Gordy)**, Ryan M. Hunt (Shelly Berger), Tiffany Francès (Josephine), Devin Holloway (Smokey Robinson/Slick Talk Fella/Damon Harris), Devin Price (Al Bryant/Norman Whitfield), **Nazarria Workman (u/s Diana Ross)**, Shayla Brielle G. (Mama Rose/Florence Ballard/Tammi Terrell), Brittny Smith (Johnnie Mae/Mary Wilson), Devin Holloway ("Gloria" Soloist/Interviewer/Delivery Man/Richard Street)
Notes: Amazing cast for this show. However it is a jukebox musical and thus has the normal issue of singing along, talking, phones ringing (and maybe even me sighing and saying to shut up). Gift upon request, but do not post any form of social media.
Sara Bareilles (Jenna), Charity Angel Dawson (Becky), Caitlin Houlahan (Dawn), Drew Gehling (Dr. Pomatter), Joe Tippett (Earl), Dakin Matthews (Joe), Eric Anderson (Cal), Christopher Fitzgerald (Ogie), Nora Lincoln Weiner (Lulu), Tyrone Davis Jr., Matt DeAngelis, Henry Gottfried, Molly Jobe, Max Kumangai, Anastacia McCleskey, Stephanie Torns, Nyla Watson
Jisel Soleil Ayon (Jenna), Dominique Kent (Becky), Gabriella Marzetta (Dawn), David Socolar (Dr. Pomatter), Brian Lundy (Ogie), Andrew Burton Kelley (u/s Cal), Shawn W. Smith (Earl), Michael R. Douglass (Joe), Dayna Marie Quincy (Nurse Norma), Stephanie Feeback (Francine Pomatter), Olivia London (Mother), Woody White (Father), Elvie Ellis (Ensemble), Jake McCready (Ensemble), Zoë Brooke Reed (Ensemble)
Caroline Bowman (Elsa), Lauren Nicole Chapman (Anna), Jeremy Davis (Olaf), Dominic Dorset (Kristoff), Preston Perez (Hans), Dan Plehal (Sven), Evan Duff (Weselton), Savannah Lumar (Young Elsa), Emma Origenes (Young Anna), Katie Mariko Murray (Queen Iduna), Kyle Lamar Mitchell (King Agnarr), Tyler Jimenez (Pabbie), Renée Reid (Bulda), Jack Brewer (Oaken)
Notes: It’s frozen so obviously there are a couple of kids talking, but otherwise not too much disruption. Includes BC/EFA speech. Gift upon request, but do not put on any form of social media.
In August, a swarm of hopeless and horny romantics on Reddit disputed the pros and cons of Bumble, the dating app that requires women to make the first move.
“Besides barren wastelands like [Plenty of Fish] crawling with bots, scammers, hookers, and psychos, this app has to be the worst,” one user posted.
Said another, “Lots of fun conversations but ghost city when trying to get a number or plan a date.”
Other Redditors openly shared how they met their partners on the app, but the consensus was unequivocally clear: Bumble, like the majority of dating apps currently on the market, is bad. “If Bumble is the worst dating app, then what’s the best alternative—Tinder, Hinge?” asked one user. “They all suck so which one sucks the least?”
After a decade of swiping left and sliding into DMs, many people are now longing for a simplification of the dating pool. As with so much about the internet, online dating made everything accessible all at once and turned socializing into something of a competitive sport. Waves, swipes, likes, and roses embodied the desires of a generation of users ravenous to find connection however they could.
But the glow has worn off, and there is growing sentiment among young people that dating apps, once considered the future of romantic connection, are broken.
Facebook Dating is all old people. Raya is full of posturing. Hinge, which bills itself as the “dating app designed to be deleted,” conceals its most attractive daters behind a $50 monthly subscription (or, at least, that’s the theory according to a handful of TikTok users). As for Tinder, the app that revolutionized online dating when it launched in 2012, it “has become the dating air, or maybe the pollution, we all breathe,” writer Allison P. Davis observed last year, reflecting on the Olympian level of difficulty modern dating presents for many people thirsty for connection.
Dating app disillusionment is felt most strongly among college students, according to a new study from Axios and research firm Generation Lab. Most are forgoing regular app usage (79 percent) in favor of in-person connection, a fact that seems at odds with Gen Z’s innate gift for virtual expression on platforms like Snapchat and Twitch.
“Dating apps promised a quick fix to the messiness of love,” says Carolina Bandinelli, a professor at the University of Warwick whose research focuses on the digital culture of love. “Their promotional narratives spoke about reducing love to a simple procedure. Dating apps promised a love that ‘works.’ But they do not ‘work’ as they are supposed to, yet they create the expectation of love as an efficient business. Users get frustrated with this.”
That young people in college are choosing to forgo digital connection is not as shocking as the study suggests, says Paul Eastwick, a psychologist at UC Davis who specializes in the nature of attraction. “College students are in the fortunate position of being surrounded by many similarly aged peers, and their social networks are in a constant state of flux. Online dating sites and apps are typically going to be especially useful for folks whose networks feel frozen and who don’t have as many opportunities to meet new people through friends of friends,” he tells me. “So it makes sense.”
The culture of online dating will continue to evolve, as it has over the past decade. Although many young people are taking a more traditional alternative to apps—while also relying on options like Date Me docs—that has not stopped Gen Z from being vocal about the culture that surrounds modern relationships.
Since the publication of her 2008 book, Hooking Up: Sex, Dating, and Relationships on Campus, Kathleen Bogle, a sociologist at LaSalle University in Philadelphia, says the biggest evolution in dating culture was prompted by women, who have brought more transparency to the dating process. “Platforms like TikTok have created space for women to upload videos talking about their issues with the hookup culture, such as not getting what they want relationally, feeling used, the double standard, and, in some cases, the lack of sexual pleasure for women,” Bogle says. “In previous decades, women may have felt this way but only talked about it with their own friendship circle, not online to thousands of followers.”
Online dating is now a multibillion-dollar industry. From 2016 to 2021, global subscription rates for apps increased by 81 percent. Analysts predict that despite market saturation and a current decline in user growth, companies will pivot to monetization by any means, a move that could further spoil what people believe is an already poor user experience.
The current techlash is a byproduct of the environment dating apps have contributed to over the past decade. We are inching toward what Bandinelli refers to as a period of post-romantic love in our digital society, where conveniences such as dating apps play a hand in rewriting “the ethical codes of love with the objective of building a notion of love deprived of pain, loss, and negative emotions.” In this new notion of love, if it should even be called that, the human experience that characterizes dating, its highs and lows, is flattened through machined exchanges.
In a quest to streamline romantic connection, it seems we are losing all that makes it worthy of pursuit. “With new technologies, there is always a period in which they seem to take over what was in place before,” Bandinelli says of then and now. “Then there is a counterforce, and people want to retrieve what seems to have been lost.”
WEMU: Author Veronica Johnson is capturing the stories of jazz women from Detroit
John Bommarito spoke to author Veronica Johnson about her oral history project about women in Detroit jazz on his program The Song Break.
TRANSCRIPTION:
John Bommarito: My guest on the Song Break today is a Detroit-based journalist and oral historian who is, in addition to her regular writing duties, working on something WEMU listeners will certainly be interested in knowing more about a project documenting woman in jazz music--Detroit Women in jazz music specifically. Welcome, Veronica Johnson, to the WEMU airwaves. How are you today?
Veronica Johnson: I'm good. Thanks for having me, John.
John Bommarito: It is my pleasure. Tell me a little bit about yourself. Where did you grow up?
Veronica Johnson So, I'm born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. Currently, I live in Redford, Michigan, which is just outside of Detroit. But, yeah, born and raised, west side of Detroit. So, I'm Detroit through and through.
John Bommarito: Very good. And what was on the radio when your parents were in charge of the dial versus when you took control?
Veronica Johnson: Well, I mean, my mom, she really loved my old school music. So, you know, I grew up being in a car listening to, like, the Isley Brothers or Earth, Wind and Fire, all of that. So, I'm definitely I think there are was also old soul. So, I've been listening to, like, that older R&B type of music all my life.
John Bommarito: Sure.
Veronica Johnson: And that's why I think I have definitely a great appreciation for it now, but I didn't really get into jazz until I got to college. I'm a minor with the music, and I took a music history course. It was on jazz, so it was just so much about the music that I didn't know. I was just like, "Wow!" you know, I heard of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, but just kind of really digging deep into their music and how much of an impact they had on the genre, as well as other genres as well. So, yeah, I just kind of got hooked on jazz music after that. And my major was actually in journalism, so I kind of fused my two passions together. So, that's kind of how I ended up writing about jazz music.
John Bommarito: Who got you interested in writing? Was there a particular author that inspired you?
Veronica Johnson: Well, actually, when I was younger, I started I kind of writing poetry. So, like, my grandmother, she was like a big inspiration on me. She wasn't a writer, but she kind of always championed my work. And, you know, I always would write different poems like that. And she always used to like to brag to her friends and have me read it aloud. So, I kind of started out writing poetry. But when I got in high school, I took a journalism class, and I realized I really kind of liked that art form and platform being able to kind of let people know what's going on. So, I definitely kind of started down the path of going into journalism after taking some courses in high school, and then I majored in it in college.
John Bommarito: My guest today on the Song Break is author Veronica Johnson, working on a project documenting Detroit women in jazz music. When did you start this project, and what was really your inspiration for starting? You just felt like Detroit needed a highlight?
Veronica Johnson: I mean, I've been covering jazz artists for a while on different outlets, but I'd say getting more into jazz and particularly learning more about Detroit jazz. I actually want to give a shoutout to my mentors like Charles Latimer. And he's a Detroit writer, Metro time jazz writer, and also Jim Gallert and Lars Bjorn. They actually wrote a book about Detroit jazz called "Before Motown: A History of Jazz in Detroit." So, just learning more about Detroit jazz and, obviously, so many obviously great male musicians from Detroit, likeMarcus Belgrave, Ron Carter, Paul Chambers, people like that. But, obviously, I was like, "Where's the female musicians? I know they're here." And I just really wanted to dig more deep into that. And I did a lot of research. You know, there's musicians that had a great impact on Detroit, like Terry Pollard, the great piano player. Alice Coltrane, obviously, everybody knows her being there with John Coltrane. She's from Detroit. She was a great piano player and harpist. So, yeah, I just really started digging deep into more on Detroit jazz. And I was just like, "I want to give a platform to these woman musicians. They're making just as much of an impact as male musicians, but I don't see a whole lot of them." And if I do, I don't see a lot written about them. So, I kind of just started on path, actually. My first interview was in 2018. I interviewed a musician named Carol McKinney. She's actually part of the--everybody knows--the McKinney kind of family, you know? Dalen, who's a great drummer from here in Detroit. This is her aunt. She's actually a saxophone player. So, I started playing at Bert one time, and I was just like, "Who is that? I really want to know about you. I don't see a whole lot of female saxophone players either."
John Bommarito: No.
Veronica Johnson: So, I actually did my first interview back in 2018. So, from there, I just kind of started musicians who I was familiar with. I've interviewed a lot of vocalists, a lot of piano players. Obviously, this kind of almost doesn't really have an end to it because there's so many female musicians that are doing so much great work here in Detroit and metro Detroit. Yeah, I've got about 21 interviews under my belt so far.
John Bommarito: Who have been some of the favorites that you've done so far?
Veronica Johnson: Well, I mean, everybody I think is special about this. Everybody has just, like, their own unique story. So, my thing is I just love hearing how they got started and things like that. I have the same questions like, "How did you get started in music and all that?" I guess if I just had to pick, I mean, like I've interviewed just about everybody from straight ahead. So, like, Mary Hayden--she's awesome. I got to mention Gaelynn McKinney. Mickey Braden, Elena Moore. So, those, I guess are some of the ones that have been really memorable. But, again, just musicians that are doing really great work. But, again, you don't hear about a lot of. A musician named Taslim Abay--she's a really amazing stride piano player. She had a really amazing story. I've interviewed a lot of vocalists--Ursula Walker, she's amazing. I interviewed her back in 2019. Those are the few that come to mind, but everybody I've interviewed definitely has a unique story.
John Bommarito: Who is still on the wish list? And how are you tracking these people down?
Veronica Johnson: Yeah, a lot of it, I mean, thankfully, I've connected a lot with musicians. When I do an interview, I'll say, "Hey, who do you think I should interview next?" or X-Y-Z. I'm going to get tons of names of different musicians, but definitely actually is next on my list. I've been doing a lot of local musicians, but I've actually would like to interview some people, obviously, that are like super national, like Regina Carter. I had an opportunity to interview her last year about the Detroit Jazz Fest when she was given the NEA jazz Masters and all that. But, obviously, she's from Detroit. So, even though she's obviously had a larger platform, but I definitely want to add her to the list. She's on there. Sheila Jordan is another one. You know, obviously, she's, I think, in her 90s, but she's from Detroit. So, I definitely want to get her story as well. So, yeah, I got a lot more to go obviously. But those are just a couple that I definitely want to get to sooner than later.
John Bommarito: Looking forward to when we were going to be able to consume this. When is it going to be able to be seen by the public?
Veronica Johnson: So, I'm actually working with a grassroots organization here in Detroit called The Detroit Sound Conservancy. I used to be a board member. I've been a part of it for a long time. So, they're really passionate about making sure that Detroit music is preserved. And they actually doing a lot of work at their store in actually the Bluebird Inn, which was a famous club back in like the 40s and 50s. They actually own the building now. And they're restoring it and turning into an archival location for Detroit music and things like that, so, working with them, trying to get it out there. I've worked with a couple of organizations who really anchor now with the Detroit Sound Conservancy. So, I'm hoping toget everything digitized. Everything obviously has been recorded, but just working with them to get everything digitized. And then, hopefully, my goal is to have everything--at least the interviews I've done so far--out there by next year. And, my goal is to work with BFC to do an exhibit. I would love to work with these musicians to, again, just have a place where they can go with the platform they have or other people that aren't familiar or may not be familiar with their music can go and learn more about them. And, you can check out their oral histories and all that. So, that's just a couple of things I have to work on.
John Bommarito: On the Song Break today, we're chatting with Veronica Johnson. Veronica, thanks for taking the time to explain what you're working on. And where can people find out more about you in particular at this point--about your writing and the things you've done so far?
Veronica Johnson: So, I do freelancing for a couple of publications: Metro Times, some stuff with them, Moderately Media. Also, I write monthly jazz reviews, album reviews for Downbeat, doing some stuff with them, hopefully doing some features soon as well. So, yeah, obviously, people can get in touch with me on Facebook as well. If there's, again, any musicians out there--female musicians--that you think I should be getting their story, definitely feel free to reach out to me on social media.
John Bommarito: I also found Roots Rhythm and Rhyme.WordPress.com is a place to find out some of your previous work, so I don't know if you're embarrassed by that. You shouldn't be, but that's a good resource as well. Roots Rhythm and Rhyme.WordPress.com. Check that out. Thank you so much for your time, Veronica. Good luck with the project. We look forward to seeing it when it's all finished and ready to go.
Veronica Johnson: Thanks for having me, John.
John Bommarito: My pleasure. Music from one of the artists you've spoken to up next. Joan Belgrave was on that list of people you sent me, so we're going to get something from her album "Excitable" right now on the Song Break on 89 one WEMU.