Wikipedia:Reference desk/Entertainment

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Latest comment: 12 years ago by WikiMasterChef in topic What is the name of this old cartoon?
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August 1

What is the name of this old cartoon?

A kid gets kidnapped froma rich family as a baby and then persues his life trying to find them again. He spends some time with a "circus" man who has a monkey and two (?) dogs. The cartoon may or may not have been originally in english. Thanks!!

WikiMasterChef (talk) 22:13, 15 February 2012 (UTC) 03:33, 1 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Come Together

Who sung a version of "Come Together" in this commercial? It is something like African-American style though. JSH-alive talkcontmail 08:39, 1 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

I don't recognize the singer. It may be a band/singer hired specifically for the commercial, and not anyone overly "famous". --Jayron32 13:57, 1 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Could it be Joe Cocker? --NorwegianBlue talk 16:13, 3 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
To me, it sounds like the main part of the commercial is John Lennon's solo version of Come Together slowed down a bit, giving it a bluesy feel. The very end is clearly the Beatles version. Because slowing a song down can change how it sounds a lot, it is possible that it is all the Beatles version until the very end when they play it at normal speed. -- kainaw 17:53, 3 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
That is definitely not the original version, slowed down or otherwise. Slowing a song down does not change the singer's accent or intonation; that is clearly not John Lennon singing. The end segment is not the Beatles' version, either. Listen: [1] Malcolm XIV (talk) 19:02, 3 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Definitely not Lennon. As the wikipedia article indicates, there are countless covers of this song. Joe Cocker is a good guess. But there's always the chance it was recorded specifically for these ads, by some unknown studio group. I'm not finding anything useful in Google so far. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots 09:19, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
If it's slowed down, why does the voice sound (to me) higher than Lennon's? —Tamfang (talk) 06:40, 8 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Discussion will continue on Talk:Come Together#Nortel. Do not add any thing here. -- JSH-alive talkcontmail 12:48, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Help finding the name of a song about roadies

Hello once again wikipedia, I need help finding the name of a song... I dont have much about it (no artist..song name..or lyrics..) except that its about the roadies of a band and how they pack up and how the crowd wants them to play on.. Any help would be appreciated Cheers 124.180.244.92 (talk) 09:09, 1 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Jackson Browne's The Load-Out/Stay perhaps? Mitch Ames (talk) 13:35, 1 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
I would second that. The OP's description matches exactly. The Load Out/Stay is a medley which appears as the last two tracks on Jackson Browne's landmark live-concept album Running on Empty (album). Its a cool album because every song is about life on the road as a touring band, and every track was recorded on the road. Most tracks were recorded on stage live, but some were recorded in hotel rooms, and one was even recorded on a bus traveling between gigs. Definately one of my top-ten all-time albums. --Jayron32 13:55, 1 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Motorhead we are the road crew —Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.172.58.82 (talk) 09:17, 3 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Galaxia The Stories Of Illusion

can anybody take the time and tell me what you think about it ? http://sites.google.com/site/megacivilisation/Home and here's my Knol http://knol.google.com/k/stanisaw-giers/galaxia-the-stories-of-illusion/eh4i89ehy5v5/1#

just what you think of it —Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.205.25.63 (talk) 21:19, 1 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

I think something's wrong with the formatting on the knol site - it indents, then outdents - is it supposed to do this?83.100.250.79 (talk) 21:35, 1 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Im a newbiee at this ill need to work on it later thnx —Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.205.25.63 (talk) 19:53, 3 August 2009 (UTC)Reply


August 2

Gita Ghatak

I want to know details about Gita Ghatak. If there is any relation between Gita Ghatak and the famous Director Ritwik Ghatak —Preceding unsigned comment added by Prasun261182 (talkcontribs) 12:21, 2 August 2009 (UTC)Reply


August 3

Tallest Batman actor

Of all the actors that have played Batman in the Batman film series, which one is the tallest of all the Batman actors? David Pro (talk) 18:01, 3 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

This borders on "Are you too lazy to Google?". In a few seconds of typing the four actors name into google, I got:
  • Michael Keaton: 5' 10"
  • Val Kilmer: 6' 1/2"
  • George Clooney: 5' 11"
  • Christian Bale: 6' 1/2"
So, it appears that we have a tie. -- kainaw 18:11, 3 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
By the way, actors always lie about their heights, so subtract 3" from each of the above and you will probably get the real heights. Tempshill (talk) 22:50, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
I know the OP asked about the film series, but I feel compelled to point out that according to IMDb, Adam West is 6' 2". — Michael J 00:22, 8 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Question About Roger Waters

I'd want to know: but Roger Waters is married?--79.52.109.105 (talk) 20:35, 3 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

This biography says he's been married four times and has two daughtersedit:children (one of whom is model India Waters. I'm surprised this isn't in the Roger Waters article. -- Finlay McWalterTalk 20:41, 3 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
nndb -- Finlay McWalterTalk 20:57, 3 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

House

In medical programs like House, some seemingly-highly-unlikely medical problem is generally the focus of an episode. How accurate are the problems they come up with? And if they're accurate, where do they get it all from? Do they employ real doctors, or something? Vimescarrot (talk) 21:48, 3 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

This site, which is run by an MD, reviews House articles; it seems he's moderately happy with the medicine as presented. Yes, they use doctors as consultants; but that doesn't stop them tarting up the medicine for dramatic effect. In case you've not noticed the pattern, it seems every week the patient has an impossible to diagnose overlay of one incredibly obscure metabolic disorder that was only ever reported once, in the Eastern Ukranian Journal of Pediatric Phlebotomy (e.g House: "a classic case of Urgachev's karyocytic anaemia if ever I saw it"; girl eyecandy doctor "But that only occurs in springer spaniels"; boy eyecandy doctor: "if we don't fix this, he'll be a dead dog") overlaid with a dramatic but unlikely disease or disorder (e.g. anthrax, radiation poisoning, brain fluke). -- Finlay McWalterTalk 22:56, 3 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
There is at least the justification that House only chooses the bizarre, interesting cases. His clinic cases are much more mundane. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 08:40, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
It also reminds me of Perry Mason, in that everything preceding the last 5 minutes or so is totally red herring. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots 09:12, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Also the doctors always almost kill the patient, of course. Tempshill (talk) 22:49, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
In the bonus materials of one of the seasons of Grey's Anatomy, they mention that they hire a medical consultant. If I remember correctly, they throw scenarios at the consultant and they say whether something like that has happened or if it's possible and so on. Dismas|(talk) 08:32, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Uwe Boll - if he is known for making bad films, how does he keep getting them distributed?

I understand about the German film tax shelter system meaning that he can keep getting money to make films - at least up to 2007 when the rules were tightened up. But, my question is, if he keeps making notoriously bad films, why do film distribution companies accept them for distribution? Even if its just straight to DVD? There are so many films competing for distribution, why do the distributors choose to accept his in place of some better movie? 78.146.237.28 (talk) 21:50, 3 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Because, evidently, they're making money for the distributor and the cinema. The Uwe Boll article says House of the dead took $5.73 million on its opening weekend, and imdb says it took $10 million in the US overall. Much of that will have gone to the distributor, who takes the lions share of the first week or two's box office. But the cinema made money too, off its share and off the refreshment stand. And cinemas book movies that have had bad reviews or are likely to be stinkers because they know if you and your friends show up at the multiplex to see Really Good Movie but it's sold out, you're more likely than not to go see something else instead, rather than go home. And the cinema doesn't have enough Harry Potters to fill all its theatres all the time; a cinema is all about fixed costs, so if even a couple of people are in a theatre watching a movie it's making more money for them than that cinema sitting idle. I've never seen an Uwe Boll movie, and I don't look forward to the prospect, but you can't fault the man for his business acumen. Maybe he could make more money making good films, but I'll bet he's much better off than you or I. -- Finlay McWalterTalk 22:46, 3 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
This has been the philosophy of moviemakers for a long time. It's not necessarily about inherent quality, it's about making money. Burt Reynolds was known for making popular movies that the critics panned. Robert Wuhl once commented, "Burt Reynolds makes so many bad movies, that when someone else makes a bad movie, Burt gets a royalty!" I've been reading a book about the Hollywood of the late 1940s. If you think movies are bad now, you should have been around then. They weren't called "B" movies for nothing. But they brought people in, before TV took over. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots 09:10, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

So in short, the critics dislike his films, but the public (judging from the box office revenues) like them and they are profitable? 78.146.66.31 (talk) 12:28, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

What the critics like and what the public likes often do not mesh. Consider the success of the Police Academy series, for example. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots 15:41, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
I would dispute that "the public like them". His movies have below average revenues, if memory serves. Some people like them, sure, but it's a gross overgeneralization to say "the public" likes them. Tempshill (talk) 22:48, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

If the public do not like them, then how do you explain why they go and see them? 84.13.195.145 (talk) 10:17, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Kristanna Loken in tight clothing? Dismas|(talk) 00:53, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
And it depends on what "below average" revenue means. If they're cheaply made, they might bring in less gross receipts but still be more profitable than some other movies. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots 00:59, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Because the films are based on existing franchises that have an existing "built-in" audience that will go see them no matter what their quality level is. APL (talk) 05:16, 8 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

There was a commercial showing a boyfriend having a scoreboard on his date. I think it came from Circuit City?

There is a video-game-like scoreboard on the top right or left of the TV screen. The man picks up his date. What he does determines how many points he earns or gets taken away. He tells her "Your eyes are so blue," and earns 100 points. She replies with, "Dude, they're brown!" and gets 200 points subtracted.

Then they're at a dinner in a restaurant. He listens to her, and keeps getting 50 points every few seconds for listening. He looks at another pretty girl walking by, and 1500 points get deducted. He tells his date, "Why can't other girls dress more like you?" Then he adds 2,000 points back to his score.

When he drops her off, he asks, "So, how about a kiss?" She looks scared, and 3,000 points get taken off. Then he says, "But we'll wait, 'til we really get to know each other!" Then he earns 10,000 points.

The scene cuts to the guy and the gal playing video games on a store video game display. I'm not quite sure whether this was a Circuit City commercial.

But will anyone here please help me find the commercial matching this description? I've been meaning to watch it again for years. --Let Us Update Special:Ancientpages. 23:40, 3 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Have you tried Google? Youtube? That ad definitely sounds familiar, but I don't know what it was advertising. If it was Circuit City, and that fact didn't stick with the viewer, it could certainly explain a lot. Meanwhile, I'm reminded of this old one, where a guy is on a blind date with a woman who's plain and overweight. The guy struggles to come up with a compliment, and finally says, "You know, for a fat girl, you don't sweat much!" I'm assuming he spent the night in the ICU. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots 09:07, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
I already tried GooTube. I've not found it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by LUUSAP (talkcontribs) 05:10, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

August 4

Why are roman numerals used?

Why is it, that the year a movie or TV-show is made, is often written with roman numerals? -Ulla 10:19, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

I used to hear that the reason was to make it difficult to instantly tell how old the film was. For example, you'd have to quickly recognize that "MCMLVIII" means "1958". It's a little easier once we reached year 2000 (or MM). Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots 10:45, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
That makes sense; I'd wondered about that myself. Another thought is, if it was done from the very early days, they wanted to demonstrate they were not just for the uneducated masses. As if to say, "Hey, movies can be classy and sophisticated, why we even use *Roman*numberals* to signal the years.!" Of course, Latin was still taught in high school in some areas then (My grandmother took it), but not everyone even went that far in school in the early 1900s. (Hmmm, the oldest movie I have is a laurel and Hardy or Three Stooges from the early 1940s, I'll have to see if they used them then.)Somebody or his brother (talk) 11:20, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
This seems like a great question for Cecil Adams but I can't find anything like it at his site... Dismas|(talk) 14:17, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
The date is required by copyright law. Printing the year in Roman numerals just looks classy to some people - and film producers tend to be the kind of people who are impressed by Roman numerals. The theory that they are trying to hide the year of production has no basis in fact. It is an assumption made by people who never learned to read Roman numerals. -- kainaw 15:21, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
I'm not convinced. Typically on TV shows the date would flash by in a split-second, too little time for the average viewer to take it in. The trick, of course, is to look at just the right hand portion of the number - and then try to remember it. But if it says "1958", it will register instantly. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots 15:40, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
You appear to be under the assumption that the copyright date is there for the average television/movie viewer. It is not. It is for copyright infringement cases. As such, it only needs to appear on a single frame of the movie - just a fraction of a second. Often, it is added to the end of the closing credits and lasts longer than a single frame. There is no need (or intention) for the average viewer to see the date, comprehend the date, or discuss the date with friends and family after the show is over. -- kainaw 15:43, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
It is rather condescending to tell the average viewer what there is "no need" for them to do. It's also worth pointing out that some films and TV shows have used standard numerals. Superman used both. It varied depending on the year. You might be right about your facts. If you can find a citation for it, that would be very useful. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots 15:57, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
It is usually impossible to find a citation that something does not exist. I stated that the need for the average viewer to know the copyright date of a film does not exist. I have no intention of wasting my life trying to find a citation that it does not exist. It would be easier if you were to find a citation that there is a need for the average viewer to know the copyright date of a film. As for using regular numbers, it does happen. I stated earlier that some people think Roman numerals are classy. They are not required. The people that put them on the film simply prefer them. It is a matter of opinion. -- kainaw 16:28, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
I agree with Kainaw: the date is there mainly for copyright reasons, so no one's sitting around thinking "lets make this really hard/easy for Joe Bloggs to figure out". Roman numerals are merely conventional. They are not required, this is not a conspiracy, or because people want to look flash and clever, just a few people following tradition. It used to be common/normal for books to display copyright dates in such a manner, also, just as people would talk about the XVI Olympiad. Roman numerals are perhaps less commonly used nowadays, but are not archaic. Rugby union teams use them (eg. "First XV"; "Pesident's XV"), and we still talk about Henry VIII and Pope John Paul II. See also Roman_numerals#Modern_usage Gwinva (talk) 22:35, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Obviously the roman numerals have become a tradition, but the more interesting question is why they were used originally. I would love Baseball Bugs's rationale, because who wants to watch a movie that is not brand new? Except that in the early days I suspect people wouldn't have cared like they do today. (I have assumed comic books don't print the date on the cover for the same reason.) I also dispute kainaw's assertion that the copyright date only had to be on the film for technical reasons and for 1 frame, and must also challenge him to cite a source that this ever worked. In front of any judge, a violator back in the day (when copyright notices were required) could construct a great argument that since there was no visible copyright mark, there was hence no copyright mark in the legal sense. Tempshill (talk) 22:46, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Whether I'm right or Kainaw is right or we're both partly right or both fully wrong, I would just like to see a citation somewhere. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots 23:22, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Isn't that the whole point of this page? I though it was a reference desk, rather than an opinion desk, but it seems I'm in the minority these days. Malcolm XIV (talk) 23:29, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Baseball Bugs, if you're so keen on a citation to prove your opinion, perhaps you could look for one? A scholarly one, not an "it's believed that" or "I've heard", which do abound on the internet. You might, however, enjoy Marjorie Garber's analysis of Roman numerals in her book Symptoms of Culture, which roots the tradition of displaying publication dates in Roman numerals back to 18th century volumes of Shakespeare (along with chapter, act scene numbering) a practice which continued until driven out by computers. (Tempshill: this ties in with what I said earlier: the practice began with books (became a tradition) then was translated into film.) Of course, buildings, architecture and monuments had displayed dates this way earlier. Garber also notes that Hollywood likes the monumental nature: the "architectural cornerstone, another sign of grandeur...Roman numeral means greatness, historicity, cultural endurance, authority...] See google books. The idea that Roman numerals "hid" the true date is silly: when the practice started, it would have expected/assumed that anyone literate could read Roman numerals. They still should be able to. Gwinva (talk) 23:47, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
You're claiming it has something to do with copyright protection. You might be right. But you haven't proven it yet. Baseball Bugs What's up, Doc? carrots 05:25, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Proof? Have you actually looked at the year at the end of shows and movies? It isn't just a string of Roman numerals. It is a copyright statement. It says something like "Copyright XXVI Warner Brothers Television. All Rights Reserved." How can you claim it has nothing to do with copyright when the year is always preceded with either the word "copyright" or the © symbol? -- kainaw 13:37, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
ok kings that's enough. Yes copyright requires a date, and the date and circle c are usually next to each other. But it's not a necessity, and I think I've seen title end frames where the copyright message and date are on the same screen but not the place. The date happily serves two purposes.83.100.250.79 (talk) 16:25, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
The date used to be required in the US, or the matter was not copyrighted under the law. It's not a necessity anymore. Tempshill (talk) 04:16, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
The ABC traditionally tagged their programs with Roman numerals, for no better reason than that's what the BBC always did. But why the BBC did it to begin with, is anyone's guess. In 1983, the Minister for Communications, Michael Duffy, advised parliament that the ABC would join the 20th century and start using Arabic numerals from then on. They did so for a while, then I noticed they started to slip back. I haven't been closely monitoring programs in recent years to say what they usually do these days. -- JackofOz (talk) 21:50, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

what does it mean?

i want to know what the term "A new beat needs a new rest" mean!! it's a profession term in music so see if anyone can help me!! thax —Preceding unsigned comment added by Vincecarter159753 (talkcontribs) 16:42, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

It means you shouldn't notate rests as tied or continued over beats. So, for example, in 4/4, if your bar starts with a dotted quarter note, then a full beat of rest, then another dotted quarter note, you're expected to notate the rest as two eighth rests, rather than a single quarter rest. --jpgordon::==( o ) 20:54, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Music Samples

I am sure that this has been asked millions of times and it is staring me straight in the face but:

I wish to add short samples to the Mozart Piano Concerto pages - 1, 2, 3 and 4 especially. Could someone please tell me the longest sample leght that can be added without infringing copyright and where I might upload it? A simple link answering the quastion - I am sure there is something in wiki somewhere - would be great please :) Lotus Blossom (ak the 7th) (talk) 18:51, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

See Wikipedia:Music samples and the general page dealing with non-free content, Wikipedia:Non-free content. Deor (talk) 20:50, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Thank you. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Lotus Blossom (ak the 7th) (talkcontribs) 20:51, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Foreign Language Cover Versions

I love foreign language cover versions. That is, cover versions of a popular song originally in English, but translated and sung in a different language. However, I find them very hard to find. Can anyone recommend any foreign language cover versions, or direct me to some kind of foreign language cover version resource? Thank you very much Score Deal Gun (talk) 19:45, 4 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Abba released a whole album in Spanish! Its always fun to sing along to those songs. You should be able to get the album easily —Preceding unsigned comment added by Payneham (talkcontribs) 05:26, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Marie LaForet did a great French cover of 'Paint it Black' by The Rolling Stones.Popcorn II (talk) 08:12, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

This is likely pointless to point out as you're probably already aware of them but there is The Beatles German version of their own "I Want to Hold Your Hand" and Nena's "99 Luftballons". Dismas|(talk) 08:25, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

I've got a 7inch of a 1979 version of YMCA (by Village People )covered by a band from Hong Kong called Lam, which is all sung in Chinese(?).But I can't find anything about it online. Popcorn II (talk) 15:26, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Here are a few more examples, in French. Joe Dassin was well-known for making French versions of US hits, some of which translated the lyrics, and others used entirely different French lyrics (for example, "City of New Orleans" became the completely unrelated "Salut les amoureux!"). In the same vein, Johnny Halliday had a big hit turning "The House of the Rising Sun" into the equally-unrelated "Les portes du pénitencier". There was actually a whole industry of re-recording 1960s pop hits by local bands in French shortly after they came out, but the practice died down in the early 1970s. Among many such bands were "Les Sultans", "Les Classels" and "César et ses Romains" in Quebec, and "Les Chaussettes Noires" and "Les Chats sauvages" in France. A few English-speaking singers of the period re-recorded their hits in French, notably Petula Clark and Roger Whitaker. More recently, the Canadian band Big Sugar put out a French-language version of their 2001 cd "Brothers and Sisters, Are You Ready?", called (amusingly) "Brothers and Sisters, Êtes Vous Ready?" --Xuxl (talk) 18:33, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
For reasons obscure to me, Fairport Convention translated a Dylan song into French as Si tu dois partir. Algebraist 18:36, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
One of my favorite funny people is April Winchell who has this collection (scroll down a bit) of foreign-language covers on her site. Enjoy! ReverendWayne (talk) 19:39, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

August 5

Number one in UK most times by different artists

What song has been the number one single the most times in the UK by different artists (I know "Spirit in the Sky" has been number one three times by different artists)? I can't seem to find this on UK Singles Chart records. --AdamSommerton (talk) 11:57, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

I've just been traipsing through List of number one singles (UK) and, apart from Unchained Melody, I've come up with this list. Basically, it seems Unchained Melody is the song which has got to number one the most times by different artists. The list, in no particular order and by no means complete, is:

  • Seasons in the Sun - Terry Jacks (1974), Westlife (2000)
  • Uptown Girl - Billy Joel (1983), Westlife (2001)
  • Eternal Flame - The Bangles (1989), Atomic Kitten (2001)
  • Mambo No.5 - Lou Bega (1999), Bob the Builder (2001)
  • Something Stupid - Nancy and Frank Sinatra (1967), Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman (2001-2002)
  • The Tide Is High - Blondie (1980), Atomic Kitten (2002)
  • Spirit in the Sky - Greenbaum (1970), Doctor & the Medics (1986), Gareth Gates & The Kumars (2003)
  • Do They Know It's Christmas? - Band Aid (1984-1985), Band Aid II (1989-1990), Band Aid 20 (2004) <- same band but with different members each time
  • Against All Odds - Westlife & Mariah Carey (2000), Steve Brookstein (2004)
  • What a Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong (1968), Katie Melua & Eva Cassidy (2007)
  • Dizzy - Tommy Roe (1969), Vic Reeves & The Wonderstuff (1991)
  • Take A Chance On Me (ABBA (1977), Erasure (1992, as part of their Abba-esque EP)
  • Twist & Shout - The Beatles (1964), Chaka Demus 7& Pliers (1994)
  • Without You - Harry Neilson (1972), Mariah Carey (1994)
  • Baby Come Back - The Equals (1968), UB40 & Pato Banton (1994)
  • I Believe - Frankie Laine (1953), Robson & Jerome (1995)
  • You'll Never Walk Alone - Gerry & The Pacemakers (1963), The Crowd (1985), Robson & Jerome (1996)
  • Lady Marmalade - All Saints (1998), Christina Aguilera, Lil' Kim, Mýa, and Pink (2001)
  • Tragedy - Bee Gees (1979), Steps (1998)
  • When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Going - Billy Ocean (1985), Boyzone (1999)
  • I Got You Babe - Sonny & Cher (1965), UB40 & Chrissie Hynde (1985)
  • With A Little Help From My Friends - Joe Cocker (1968), Wet Wet Wet (1988), Sam & Mark (2004)

Hope this helps. If anyone else knows of a song I missed, please feel free to add it! Bettia (bring on the trumpets!) 14:49, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

There is a cover of Mambo No. 5 by Bob the Builder, and it was number 1? Adam Bishop (talk) 16:02, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Notice how many times artists managed by Simon Cowell, Louis Walsh or Pete Waterman are listed above. It's almost as if they were cynically encouraging their charges to cover songs that had already been Number One as a surefire method of getting a hit... Malcolm XIV (talk) 18:28, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
OK, thanks a lot for going to all that trouble Bettia! --AdamSommerton (talk) 21:36, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Not Safe For Work

  Resolved
 – this question was asked/answered already

Is the left most model Mike Power?174.3.103.39 (talk) 13:05, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

The question is different. The post that was related to this one was removed.174.3.103.39 (talk) 06:47, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
  Unresolved
 – OP apparently not satisfied with completeness of answer and asked again. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 07:51, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
I don't think anyone has actually answered the question yet - ie Yes or No.83.100.250.79 (talk) 13:24, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Mike Power

Is the person in the left most picture Mike Power in the blog post at Thursday, August 06, 2009? The reason I had to post again is because I could not find wikiproject pornography. But also because I want audiences of opinion.174.3.103.39 (talk) 07:07, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

I've merged this repeat question. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 07:51, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
The OP is correct. This has been asked three times. It has not been answered with a "yes", "no", or "maybe". That does not mean that people are withholding an answer. It may simply mean that nobody here knows what Mike Power looks like. -- kainaw 14:33, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

I've compared the picture with a google image search for Mr. Power (I'm not easily shocked :-) ) and they do seem very similar. So while I can't be sure (the Banner ad is too small and appears to be more interested in genitalia than faces), it does seem likely. Fribbler (talk) 16:21, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

What is "wikiproject pornography"?Popcorn II (talk) 17:38, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Wikipedia:WikiProject Pornography 83.100.250.79 (talk) 17:54, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Another no doubt irritating music theory question

Sorry to keep asking these kinds of questions here, just really trying to get to grips with this sort of thing. I noticed the follow chords in the pre-chorus of a song, with the last chord being the first of the chorus:

A, D/G, D/F#, E7sus, E, Esus4, D7sus, Dm9, C5, D5, G5

Now, I know when you're in a key you can work out what chords work through intervals etc. but how do you know which types of chords fit into your key? For example if I was writing a song and I thought A, D/G, D/F# sounded good, I wouldn't immediately think that E7sus is a good choice of chord. Are there any formulas which state when suspended, augmented chords etc. fit in with the given key? Sorry if this doesn't make much sense, I'm just typing thoughts out. Regards, --—Cyclonenim | Chat  14:35, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

As I'm sure you know, the D/G notation etc. tells you which note to play in the bass. Note that there's a bass line in the first three chords: A -> G -> F# which is heading for E. The oddest chord among the first four isn't the E7sus, but the D/G (which is almost the same as G maj 9 - i.e. a G maj 7 with a ninth, the third missing). An unexpected chord can make a chord progression more interesting, but there needs to be some logic in the choice of chord, it can't be totally erratic. D/F# and E7sus have two tones in common - D and A - this makes the transition feel natural. Augmented chords are often used when the melody (or one of the instruments) moves chromatically, such as
C C+ C6 C7
There's a voice in there going G -> G# -> A -> Bb. John Lennon used this chord progression in "Isolation". Also, the C5 etc. notation is slightly unusual, is it supposed to mean C without the third - a power chord? edit: I suppose it is - the notation is used in the article I linked to. --NorwegianBlue talk 19:30, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Thanks, that's pretty helpful :) However my main query comes with your comment that it can't be totally erratic. If that's the case, how do you know what is logical? Is it simply when they share the majority of their tones, such as the example of D/F# to E7sus, or is there another thing to keep in mind? Thanks again. Btw the C5 chord was definitely a power chord like this: x355xx Regards, --—Cyclonenim | Chat  22:00, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
There generally needs to be something to tie the chords together, or it sounds odd. As noted, the "Walking bassline" in your first few chords makes it work, even with the extra G note, which is not often played in D chords. Plus, the chords themselves are the I-IV-V progression (ADE) of a standard A major key, which is pretty friendly on the ears. Since you're first chord in the chorus is the G power chord, it looks like the C-D-G progression at the end of your prechorus is an attempt to modulate the song from the key of A to the key of G; if so why not do it D-C-G instead, since the D is a more natural "pivot" chord to perform the modulation around, being in both keys. IIRC, a similar A-G modulation was done in Metallica's One. I remember reading something about it in some guitar mag or something. --Jayron32 03:48, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
How do you know what is logical? Well, if you're writing a song, you're the one who decides. Trust your ear. If you like what you've created, that's because it somehow makes sense to you. If others like what you've created, then it's because it makes sense to them too. What will make sense to people is of course highly genre-dependent. With traditional western harmony, it is helpful to think of the tones that make up a chord as if they were voices. If all the voices have to do awkward intervals in order to move from one chord to the next, the chord progression is unlikely to make sense to people. If some voices stay put, and others move to tones nearby, yet create an unusual chord, it is more likely to work.
If you want to approach this from a theoretical point of view, here are some of the articles you might want to read: circle of fifths, cadence (music) (note especially the part about the deceptive cadence), modulation (music).
Some additional points, with examples from Beatles songs:
  • Unusual chords create tension, tension wants to be resolved.
Example: If you're in the key of F major, then going straight from F to e minor is rather unusual, and creates tension. But then if you follow the circle of fifths to A7, and then to d minor, the tension is released ("Yesterday").
  • Internal consistency is important, i.e. if you do something unusual, repeat it, perhaps slightly altered, to convince the listener that you really mean it.
Example - opening riff of "Something"
beat:          /    /     /   /     /
lead guitar:     A  c  A  Bb  B     c  
chords:        F          Eb  G7/D  C
In the repetion, before the bridge, it goes
beat:          /    /     /   /     /
lead guitar:     A  c  A  Bb  B     c#  
chords:        F          Eb  G7/D  A
Thereby modulating to A.
Thanks guys, that really clears things up :) I tend to write songs by ear anyway, but I was just curious to see how others come up with such random (or at least as it appears to me) combinations of chords. Thanks again. Regards, --—Cyclonenim | Chat  19:05, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Identifying a comic book from the 1970s

Hi, I'm trying to identify a children's comic book annual that I fondly remember from the 1970's. I live in the UK and do not know if it was published more widely. It contained mainly (if not entirely) stories and comic strips relating to magic and the mysterious. The cover was predominantly black and purple. The only character that I can remember was a magician/wizard who I believe was called "Sylvester". He had a pronounced widow's peak hairstyle or a black pointed skull-cap. The book was approximately A4 in size (12 inches by 8 inches approx). It may have been published by "Fleetway" or I could just be assuning this because so many annuals at that time were. Any help you can give would be appreciated. Thanks.194.176.201.29 (talk) 15:24, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

    • Bettia, you are a genius! That's the character I remember. It helped me find some more info at this website so it seems that the book in question was called "The Valiant Book of Mystery and Magic". Now I just need to find a copy! Thanks very much for your super-speedy help. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 194.176.201.27 (talk) 16:31, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

There's a couple on eBay.Popcorn II (talk) 21:18, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Thrash metal

Hi! I'm looking for the name of an old thrash band. English, I think, and one of their album covers featured a green goblin or orc. Difficult question, but thanks in advance. 80.203.69.221 (talk) 22:41, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Erasing the Goblin has a green goblin on the cover, though it's from Australia and is from 2006. Do you remember whether it's a full-body goblin, or more of a headshot? Tempshill (talk) 04:07, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply


Green Jelly maybe? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.172.58.82 (talk) 07:41, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Golden Globe Award for Best Director

Hello. I have a question about the number of women who won or nominated for the award. It's not written in the article, and the same question about the BAFTA Award for Best Direction. thanks. Shirooosh (talk) 23:37, 5 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Have you considered reading that article, which is in list format, and adding up the names that sound female? Tempshill (talk) 04:08, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Yeah I tried, but I gave up cus of a few reasons. first of all, I think there are a few mistakes in the artical, for exampel: Barbra Streisand won the golden globe award in 1991, but in the artical it's written that, Oliver Stone did. Second of all I'm not an English speaker, and I'm afraid that, if I'll check the list, I may not notice if the name is belong to a woman. --Shirooosh (talk) 06:37, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association disagrees with you, and thinks it gave the 1991 Directing Golden Globe to Oliver Stone. [2]. DJ Clayworth (talk) 13:35, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Ok. that's weird. maybe I didn't read right. --Shirooosh (talk) 17:26, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
A quick look through the list finds only Barbra Streisand, Jane Campion, Sofia Coppola; none were winners Only Streisand won. But I may have missed some. DJ Clayworth (talk) 13:40, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Thanks for the check, but don't you think there is a place, maybe at the home site of the award? That's written there? you know, something like: no woman won the award, and only 3 were nominated. whould you mind to check for me? I would do it by myself, but I find it difficult, to search in English.. (I hope that you understood what I wrote) thanks a lot. --Shirooosh (talk) 17:26, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Google is your friend. Click on the first link. DJ Clayworth (talk) 17:46, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Interestingly there do turn out to be errors in our article. Streisand didn't win in 1991, but she did win for Yentl in 1983. We had Terms of Endearment. I've fixed it. DJ Clayworth (talk) 18:09, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
..and a glance at the BAFTAs reveals an even shorter list - Sofia Coppola. DJ Clayworth (talk) 18:13, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
WOW!!! thanks a lot. You really helped me. thanks again --Shirooosh (talk) 19:14, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
I think you should write about this in the artical. you know, as a superlativ. --Shirooosh (talk) 19:47, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

August 6

Ooi Teik Hock

Is Ooi Teik Hock, a Malayan badminton player, living or dead? I added a bio template to his article, but I have been unable to find information on his date of death, if any, but he would be quite elderly in 2009, having played in 1939. --DThomsen8 (talk) 00:59, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

This article (http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/11/8/sports/2493011&sec=sports) from Nov. 2008 mentions that he's passed away. No date though. Dalliance (talk) 12:52, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Mike Power

Merged into section above. AlmostReadytoFly (talk) 07:53, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

The most knighted film

A question out of sheer curiosity. What film has had the most knighted people involved in it? I don't think Ian Holm, Anthony Hopkins, Ian McKellen, Alec Guinness and Richard Attenborough ever collaborated, but it must be something like that. SGGH ping! 15:53, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

Do they have to have been knighted at the time, or is it OK if they were knighted later? DJ Clayworth (talk) 16:09, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Not promising it's the most, but I'm going to bet with A Bridge Too Far (film). Sir Richard Attenborough, Sir Michael Caine, Sir Laurence Olivier, Sir Sean Connery, Sir Anthony Hopkins for five. (Olivier was later made a Lord, but he was still a knight). DJ Clayworth (talk) 16:16, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
(And technically Sir Winston Churchill and various others in archive footage) DJ Clayworth (talk) 16:20, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Yes I forgot to mention, they do not have to be knights at the time, just at some point. SGGH ping! 16:40, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
Found another with the same count - Battle of Britain (film). Sir Laurence Olivier, Sir Michael Caine, Sir Ralph Richardson, Sir Michael Redgrave, Sir William Walton (composer). DJ Clayworth (talk) 18:21, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
...and a six! Richard III (1955 film). Sir Laurence Olivier, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, Sir Ralph Richardson, Sir John Geilgud, Sir William Walton (composer), Sir Alexander Korda (producer, uncredited - may have to confirm that). DJ Clayworth (talk) 18:26, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
...and another six. Gandhi (film) - Sir Richard Attenborough (director), Sir Ben Kingsley, Sir John Geilgud, Sir John Mills, Sir Nigel Hawthorne, Sir Michael Hordern. DJ Clayworth (talk) 21:21, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply
...and another six, if you allow Dames. Gosford Park. Sir Alan Bates, Sir Michael Gambon, Sir Derek Jacobi, Dame Helen Mirren, Dame Maggie Smith, Dame Eileen Atkins. DJ Clayworth (talk) 21:27, 6 August 2009 (UTC)Reply

August 7

The Wire

I have just finished watching season 4 and am about to start on season 5 however I have a few questions: Omar Liddle and Marlow Stansfield are enemies, but can some one please elaborate on what card game they had? And what happened during this. Ques 2. Marlow has some soldiers, the youngest one who is still in school, has a ring around his neck that he got from the dirty police patrol guy. The policeman stole this from some one, who? and why was Marlow interested in this? Any help on these two would be greatly appreciated. Thank you ~~Zionist —Preceding unsigned comment added by 62.172.58.82 (talk) 06:50, 7 August 2009 (UTC)Reply