It’s wild to think we’re about to enter the United States’ first anniversary of the ongoing panini. I say panini because that’s seemingly how serious elected officials and other nonsensical “experts” are still taking it.
Remember back in the mandated lock-down days of season one, where we were oddly excited to try to work from home and enjoy some downtime while being safe and disinfecting our groceries and mail? What a time.
Now I’m just trying to stay afloat, mentally, while barely leaving my house. I rarely leave my cozy bubble of a home, and when I do, it’s for essential shopping. The only time I leave willingly is to shop for vintage, and even then, I go when no one else is around because I carry such guilt for doing so.
These little moments of blissful solitude of thrifting adventures and treasure hunting will dwindle because the colossally foolish and ineffectual elected officials in Texas are violently neglecting to do their jobs; this is why the TGIF vibe for today is vital. So I’m spending my Friday evening doing some self-care because that’s self-love. Something more comfortably said than done when looking after ourselves.
My plans for TGIF self-care:
Much needed, no phone time.
Take out courtesy of Postmates x Apple Tv+ during a Ted Lasso Zoom Discussion. If you haven’t watched Ted Lasso, please watch. The show is a treasure, and I mention it a lot on my Twitter.
Time to dust off the facial sauna for some at-home spa skincare.
Stream some new movies and series that are in my inbox; stay tuned. 👀
Still, since I’ve been busy breaking free from my former simulative existence, I could use some much-needed binge-watching for my current recovery process.
Television, film, books, and music have always been my escape choices when I’m not physically able to go anywhere. So I’m going to dive into some mindless nostalgia thanks to Paramount+’s recent launch. I wasn’t sure what to expect with yet another subscription service, but luckily, I’ll try it out, so you don’t have to, but nostalgia indeed won. The vault is open, and the sections are stacked.
MTV standouts aka my past favorites: Diary, Cribs, Daria, True Life (not every season is available 🙃), Celebrity Death Match, The Real World, Laguna Beach, The Hills, Jersey Shore, Snooki & JWoww, Jersey Shore Family Vacation, Unplugged, MADE, NEXT, Parental Control, Run’s House, Silent Library, and more.
VH1 standouts, aka my past favorites: Behind the Music, Basketball Wives/Basketball Wives L.A., Storytellers, Love & Hip Hop, RuPaul’s Drag Race (including All-Stars), Jersey Shore, The Real World.
Nickelodeon standouts, aka my past favorites: Are You Afraid of the Dark, Clarissa Explains It All, Doug, Invader Zim, All That, AAAhh! Real Monsters, Rugrats, As Told by Ginger, Kenan & Kel, Rocket Power, Hey Arnold, The Angry Beavers, Rocko’s Modern Life, The Wild Thornberry’s, Maurice Sendak’s Little Bear, The Amanda Show, Gullah Gullah Island, Double Dare, SpongeBob Squarepants, The Fairly Odd Parents, The Adventures of Paddington Bear, Heathcliff, Allegra’s Window, Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego, Sonic the Hedgehog, Madeline, The Adventures of Madeline, and more.
Straight outta my Letterboxd, which is currently in need of some backlogging.
🎥 Minari
It’s difficult not to hype up this breathtaking film in such a way since films are subjective. However, Minari is a film that deserves all its shine.
The film is heart-wrenching, funny, and yet beautifully touching about making sacrifices to achieve the mythic American dream. Lee Isaac Chung poignantly humanizes the immigrant story when seeking refuge or asylum is entangled with politicians’ agendas and racist vitriol because their status quo feels threatened. Lee Isaac Chung captures the complexity of how it can feel to be caught up in two worlds. You never feel American enough, no matter how much you try to assimilate. . Conversely, you perceive cultural guilt because you’re trying to settle in and find a place at the table.
This film hit so close to home; it was like watching a piece of my Mexican abuelos’ diaspora story immigrating to Texas not just to flourish but to survive.
The cast is incredible and magnetic, you’ll laugh, and you’ll cry. Most importantly, Minari will move you and make you feel lighter, thanks to the exquisite score composed by Emile Mosseri. You can read my full review via Play Into It.
This unexpected melodrama is one of my favorite hidden gems. Sylvie’s Love is a beautiful film about love but, most importantly, Black joy.
This sweet tale centers around two ambitious love-struck souls that are trying to work against time. Set in the early ‘50s/‘60s with gorgeous jazz music, Sylvie (Tessa Thompson) dreams of working in television while Robert (Nnamdi Asomugha) yearns to be a jazz musician.
Aesthetically the film is reminiscent of one of my favorites, Wong Kar-wai’s In the Mood for Love (currently streaming on HBO Max 👀). The film was an uplifting treat with solid cast performances, Aja Naomi King as Mona Lisa was adorable. Mona Lisa and Sylvie’s music and film discussions are comfort food.
🎥 The Bee Gees: How Can You Mend a Broken Heart
The Bee Gees have always been a big part of my life. It was because of the Bee Gees that my parents learned English. My mom recently shared a memory with me; around 1977ish, my mother (at twelve years old) went to a dance club called Andromeda with two of my tía’s, and she heard the Bee Gees’ music. It’s been love ever since.
My mom didn’t speak English very well at the time, but she knew the Bee Gees songs. Perhaps it’s because their melodies and harmonies transcend past language barriers. It’s also why their music, especially songwriting, is still so good.
Seeing the behind-the-scenes process of their biggest hits that render me to emotional puddles is fascinating to watch, including the moment of Barry’s falsetto discovery and the undeniably racist homophobic overtones of Chicago’s disco demolition night.
Disco is universally loved yet, at the time, became the new trend to hate all because some low-budget Lester Bangs thought “disco sucks.” While the commercialization of disco was ridiculous, American greed strikes again, the record burning and backlash nearly ended the Bee Gees careers.
However, it’s because of the power in their storytelling of songs like Emotion, Words, Run to Me, I’ve Got to Get a Message to You, I Started a Joke, How Deep Is Your Love, and How Can You Mend a Broken Heart that the Bee Gees transcend. The latter gets me every single time, partly because it’s ingrained in my childhood and reminds me of my consciously uncoupled yet still legally married parents.
Noel Gallagher, Nick Jonas, Chris Martin, and others make appearances while showing their admiration. The inclusion of famous singers adds more insight to the dynamics of creating music in a band of brothers.
Where would we even be without Missy Elliot? In all honestly, I don’t even want to think about it. Growing up in the late ‘90s/’00s wouldn’t be the same without listening to her hits like The Rain (Supa Dupa Fly), Hot Boyz, Sock It 2 Me, Get Ur Freak On, Gossip Folks, Bomb Intro/Pass the Dutch, Lose Control, and so many others. For this week’s Audio Files, rhetorically, how could I not pick the one and only Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott.
Taking it The Style Files back to 2015 by way of Rihanna’s ’90s inspired look. This pop culture inception look is currently right up my alley since I, too, dipped my toe back in trying the trends of my past. So, if you see me in a bucket hat and faux fur bag, well, that’s because it’s my business— thank you, goddess, Tabitha Brown, for this mantra.
Time Warp is where I’ll feature moments in pop culture for the day. Here’s what happened on this day, March 5th.
HBD Andy Gibb, you and the BeeGees are MY everything.
1963 – American country music legend Patsy Cline and Hawkshaw Hawkins, Cowboy Copas, and their pilot Randy Hughes were killed in a plane crash in Camden, Tennessee.
The # 1 Hit in 1977: Barbra Streisand Evergreen from A Star Is Born (I recently discovered that my dad loves along with A Love Story).
The # 1 Hit in 1983: Michael Jackson: Billie Jean
Cruel Intentions debuted in theaters in 1999.
The Osbournes debuted on MTV in 2002.
The # 1 Hit in 2005: 50 Cent with Olivia Candy Shop.
Alice in Wonderland debuted in theaters in 2010.
The # 1 Hit in 2016: Rihanna with Drake Work.
Do ya thing! Show your love or sound off and comment below, don’t be shy.
I love that Hey Arnold and As Told By Ginger..made your list:))))