Mar
11
Each year students roll out to audition for the Union Programming Board’s annual Sooner Idol competition. Ten of those students are chosen to compete. One wins. Last year, that winner was Vocal Performance major Keegan Josephson, a freshman at the time. Channeling the one and only Adam Levine for his first round song, Keegan worked the mic stand, danced, and sang his way to the top 4. His second round song took everyone back to his or her childhood. Choosing “Go the Distance” from the popular Disney movie Hercules, Keegan showcased his range and tackled notes that would make any vocal instructor proud. And he may have earned himself an admirer or twenty in the process.
Keegan has since been seen singing around campus in several different venues. From Sooner Scandals to the BYX A Capella group to performing his own song at the Mr. OU pageant last year, he has become a familiar face and friend to many of us. However, there’s one genre of music that Keegan excels at that we don’t get to hear year round. This weekend, just short of a year after winning Sooner Idol 2012, Keegan made his OU Theatre debut as Bardolfo in the comedic opera Falstaff.
I will be honest. The opera was long. Like, a solid two and a half hours long, but I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed it and found myself laughing the whole way through. The plot revolves around Sir. John Falstaff, an old, overweight knight who has eaten himself into poverty (with the help of his two followers/thieves Pistola and Bardolfo). In an effort to alleviate his monetary burdens, Falstaff writes two identical letters to two wealthy married women. Of course, the women discover his treachery and the rest of the play concerns their plans to take the overweight knight down a few notches (In measures of pride that is. Falstaff’s belt notches stay exactly where they are).
Bardolfo, played by Keegan, serves as a source of comic relief throughout the show, and the part wonderfully showcased his strong tenor voice and great acting ability. How he managed to keep singing after falling off a bed, getting thrown across a floor, being smacked with brooms, and jumping/climbing onto most of the props, I might never know. All I know is that I was rolling with laughter any time Keegan was onstage, especially during the last scene when he is disguised as the maiden Nannetta and appeared to feel a little too comfortable wearing a replica of her dress. I can’t put my finger on why I thought that, but it might have been the twirling. That’s right. He twirled. And his hair for the performance looked scarily like that of Edward Cullen in the first twilight movie, which he actually pointed out himself after the show. Fortunately for him, I let it slide and not taint my opinion of his overall performance, which was truly fantastic. The kid’s what we call a triple threat- a master of singing, dancing, and acting.
And it all started with him winning UPB’s Sooner Idol a year ago.
At least, that’s what we’re telling people.
Auditions for Sooner Idol 2013 are March 27th and 28th. We’ll have more info on our website, facebook page, and twitter soon!
-Dehra McGuire
UPB Secretary and Sooner Idol Chair
Feb
22
Top 5 James Bond Themes Songs. The theme song of each film is comparable to the film itself as far as hype goes. It sets the tone for each film and let’s us, as the audience, know what we are in for. Not to mention, with a couple of exceptions, each song fits the title of the film in the lyrics. Overall, there are 22 “title” tracks from each film. I chose 5 of my favorites
1. A View to a Kill performed by Duran Duran (1985)
Listen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp4CR2HcHLQ
The only James Bond song to reach #1 on the U.S. Billboard charts, “A View to a Kill” is one of Duran Duran’s finest. The other Bond songs of this time were riddled with bad melodies and lyrics, yet this song soared to become one of the series’ best. “Dance into the fire, that fatal kiss is all we need!” It doesn’t get much more Bond than that.
2. Nobody Does It Better by Carly Simon (1977)
Listen Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy-c8aAntWA
It is definitely likely that Adele was influenced by this song when she wrote “Skyfall”. The title track to the Spy Who Loved Me reflects the internal dialogue of a Bond girl and honestly professes “baby you’re the best”.
3. Live and Let Die by Paul McCartney & Wings (1973)
Listen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK2hKzZss5Y
You’ve probably heard this song if you listen to any “Classic Rock” radio station and may have not even realized that it was a Bond song. Let’s just forget the Guns N’ Roses cover..
4. Thunderball by Tom Jones (1965)
Listen Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLYW2UgSJq8
This song is a more traditional Bond song, whereas the others on my list evoke a more “pop” feeling, this song has the sweeping orchestration, horns, and Tom Jones’ rich voice.
5. Diamonds Are Forever by Shirley Bassey (1971)
Listen Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80A6MtPwj-Q
Shirley Bassey has three Bond songs to her name, so I really felt obligated to put her on the list. Also, Kanye sampled this track in his 2005 song “Diamonds from Sierra Leone”, so that’s something. But really, the end of this song when the beat comes in is great.
Bonus. Skyfall by Adele (2012)
Listen Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-gLRp5bSpw
I have to include this song. Adele killed it. I’m not a presentist, but this song is just way too good and I have to recognize it.
-P. Vaughn
Feb
22
The Bond movies have been around for a while. Here is our Film Series Chair, Seth Hafer’s list of the top five Bond movies of all time. Don’t forget to see the newest installment, Skyfall for free at Meacham tonight or tomorrow.
1. Goldfinger – This is undeniably the best Bond. Critics and Bond fans everywhere agree that Goldfinger is what really got the ball rolling for the beloved series by establishing a successful formula – gadgets (like a scuba suit with a seagull on it), gorgeous girls, a diabolical villain, and impeccable style.
2. From Russia With Love – From Russia With Love is the second Bond film ever made. After the success of Dr. No, Bond’s budget doubled. He went from using a strand of hair as a burglary identifier to using a functional jetpack. From Russia With Love earns its place on this list through the sheer awesomeness of its toys.
3. Casino Royale – Daniel Craig as James Bond really turned the series around. It was a new, dark, and gritty James Bond in a time when everything had to be new, dark, and gritty. It worked, though! …which is why you should totally come see the latest installment in the series, Skyfall, tonight at 8 or 11!
4. Goldeneye – I don’t mean much offense to Pierce Brosnan for mostly excluding his Bond outings from this list. His first turn as Bond gave us Goldeneye, and while the film was pretty good, its N64 video game reincarnation catapulted it into cult status. What I’m saying is this spot actually belongs to my nostalgia for the game, and has almost absolutely nothing to do with the movie.
5. Skyfall – Remember when Daniel Craig’s James Bond really turned the series around in Casino Royale? He (and, you know, everyone that worked on the movie) did it again with Skyfall! This installment fully realizes the return to the beginning of the Bond series that Casino Royale tried to be. Then it was a fresh Bond in a plot loosely based on the first book of Ian Fleming’s series. Skyfall, on the other hand, takes us back to the Bond days we all love and remember, mostly by trying to recapture the spirit of Goldfinger through using the props of Goldfinger. Come check it out for free either tonight or tomorrow in Meacham!
Feb
14
5 Reasons to (*Not) Watch Twilight this Friday
Even if you aren’t a Twi-hard, here are 5 reasons to laugh at and watch Twilight this weekend:
1. CGI Baby
That’s right; nobody’s mother wanted their innocent child subjected to the travesty that is Twilight, so they had to make one with special effects. And even though 2001: A Space Odyssey managed to convince people that they shot a movie in space in 1968, the special effects people decided to construct a monstrous, half-blooded, bobble-headed freak that one must truly see to believe.
2. Everyone Dies
Guess how it ends guys? Everyone bites it. Not in the hilariously relevant vampire sense either. In the try-hard-to-be-epic final battle sense. I already saw Braveheart, thanks.
3. Indie Soundtrack
Remember when you liked bands like Passion Pit and Ellie Goulding? Well, prepare to have them ruined in what would seem to be the saddest attempt at a mash-up YouTube video of all time. Hearing legitimately good bands play over the abysmal screen content is like listening to the Space Jam theme song as the Godfather opens.
4. Kristen Stewart
The ubiquitous Internet picture of Kristen displaying her range of emotions notwithstanding, the main actress has cheated on her co-star, curled her lip like an 8th grade punk girl, and stared blankly into the camera enough that she could only go up from here. And maybe that’s the point. Lindsey Lohan, take note.
5. The End
It’s the last one. If you have dignity (which I’m assuming is iffy at this point because you have to be convinced NOT to see Twilight), you haven’t seen the first ones. Why start now? Do you want to be the person who starts to eat the ice cream cone from the bottom? Because that’s stupid. But if you want to be a trendsetter – like the guy who first came up with breakfast for dinner – I’d bet that the Twilight series makes a whole lot more or as much sense when watched backwards.
-Jacob Oller, UPB Comedy Series
Always Something
Completely spam free, opt out any time.
This form is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
