SOUNDTRACK: KURSTIN x GROHL-“Connection” (The Hanukkah Sessions: Night Six” December 15, 2020).
Producer Greg Kurstin (who I have not heard of) and Dave Grohl (who I have) decided that, rather than releasing a Christmas song this year, they would record eight covers of songs by Jewish artists and release them one each night for Hanukkah.
“With all the mishegas of 2020, @GregKurstin and I were kibbitzing about how we could make Hannukah extra-special this year. Festival of Lights?! How about a festival of tasty LICKS! So hold on to your tuchuses… We’ve got something special coming for your shayna punims. L’chaim!!”
The sixth night is a 90s rocker: a short, fun, stomper from Elastica.
From Brit Milot to Britpop…here’s one of the coolest tracks from the 90’s….sung by the very cool…and Jewish…Justine Frischmann…ELASTICA!
“Connection” was a 90’s juggernaut (even if they did have to give money to Wire). Justine Frischmann was a perfect frontwoman–sexy and snarly at the same time.
Kurstin plays the keyboards and gets the sound pretty spot on, especially the higher notes.
Grohl plays drums and sings. After providing those opening low voiced “uhhs,” he sings in a slightly higher register, and his harmonies (in a video insert) are perfect.
Midway through the song they add in circles with handclaps. It amuses me that hey start with two circles and move up to sixteen or so. Once again, one of my favorite songs in the set is super short (not even three minutes).
[READ: December 16, 2020] “In the Mist of Everything”
This year, S. ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar. This is my fifth time reading the Calendar. I didn’t know about the first one until it was long out of print (sigh), but each year since has been very enjoyable. Here’s what they say this year
You know the drill by now. The 2020 Short Story Advent Calendar is a deluxe box set of individually bound short stories from some of the best writers in North America.
This year’s slipcase is a thing of beauty, too, with electric-yellow lining and spot-glossed lettering. It also comes wrapped in two rubber bands to keep those booklets snug in their beds.
As always, each story is a surprise, so you won’t know what you’re getting until you crack the seal every morning starting December 1. Once you’ve read that day’s story, check back here to read an exclusive interview with the author.
It’s December 16. Hilary Leichter, author of Temporary, is pretty sure she just felt a raindrop. [Click the link to the H&O extras for the story].
It strikes me that this story was created because the phrase “in the midst of everything” was misheard as “mist.”
At first I didn’t care for the way the story was structured, but it only took a couple of paragraphs before I rather appreciated it.
Each paragraph follows Shira, Kevin, Doreen, Gabriel, Cynthia & Steve, Toby, Marybeth, Adelaide, Polly and Boris. Each person (or pair) gets a sentence.
Shira bought furniture for her bedroom.
Kevin is trying to save his garden (with his dog).
Doreen is making bread.
Gabriel is doing yoga.
Cynthia & Steve are out for a drive.
Toby is talking about the weather.
Marybeth has worn the same dress two days in a row.
Adelaide is concerned about her hair.
Polly is out with no ride home.
Boris is interviewing for a job.
As the paragraphs march forward, these single-sentences stories proceed (sometimes growing longer than one sentence each). Connections between the characters start to form as well.
Cynthia & Steve offer Polly a ride. Marybeth and Adelaide are roommates. Shira knows that Boris is hoping to get the job. Shira is also Polly’s mother. Doreen brought her bread to Gabriel.
And then the mist/wave starts coming. And no one can escape it.
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