New Guys: WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I want to hear from the new people.

Freshmen and upperclassmen who've not been in a J.L. Mann drama or film class before. What are your first impressions? Are you hopeful? Frightened? Confused?

Let's hear it. And maybe you veterans can respond to them in kind: put their minds at ease or make them feel very, very uncomfortable.

Spirit Week: RETRO DAY! The Stream o' Keen

First of all, thanks to The White Guy for giving me the chance to blog, as I have never done this before. He asked me to come up with a must-have list of punk/post-punk/ new wave songs from the early 80’s. Since the 70’s would have to be represented some, too (no sappy AM radio stuff), the list will also include them. The ones that came to my mind first are as follows, with my thoughts on them (title, artist, album). Thanks for reading!

“God Save the Queen”
The Sex Pistols
Never Mind the Bollocks
This is the first song from the album that started the UK’s version of the punk movement. This is definitely not sung to the tune of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee.”

“London Calling” and “Train in Vain”
The Clash
London Calling
The title track and first released single from the album that is usually ranked #4 on Rolling Stone’s top all time albums list, only bested by 2 albums by the Beatles and Bob Dylan. Train in Vain was on the top 40, and wasn’t even listed on the album originally.

“Invisible Sun” and “One World (Not Three)
The Police
Ghost in the Machine
The best song ever about a man who went on a hunger strike (Bobby Sands- ask your history teacher about him), and a song of hope as well. One World (not Three) is a song that reminds us that, despite economics, we’re all in this together

“Driven To Tears”
The Police
Zenyatta Mondatta“Too many cameras and not enough food- this is what we’ve seen.” No one alive hits a snare drum like Stewart Copeland can. Even though this isn’t a released track, it is a major concert staple on their highly successful and satisfying reunion tour.

“Regatta de Blanc”
The Police
Regatta de Blanc
Even though it is an instrumental, “White Reggae” won a Grammy in 1981.

“Radio Radio”
Elvis Costello
This Year’s Model
Playing this song on Saturday Night Live got Elvis banned from performing on the show for years. Ironically, it contains the line “I wanna bite the hand that feeds me.”

“Cars”
Gary Numan
The Pleasure Principle
First of all, let’s put the urban legend to rest: The Cars didn’t record, or help him record, this song. The song has held up well over the years, as Fear Factor covered it in the 90’s.

“Rio"
Duran Duran
Rio
The fab 5 makes my list because their videos and songs both enhanced each other so well. I am using this song because it’s edgier than “Hungry Like the Wolf.” Unfortunately, I have never met a girl named “Rio.”

“Message of Love”
The Pretenders
Extended Play
Heavy on the kick pedal, this song is a nice compromise between “Brass in Pocket” and “Precious.”

“Whip It”
Devo
Freedom of Choice
No list of early 80’s songs would be complete without the Spud Boys’ highest charting single. There are better songs (Girl U Want, Speed Racer, et al), but this is the easiest identified. Check out the video to their cover of ‘Satisfaction’.

“Rock Lobster”
B-52’s
Wild Planet
The birth of the Athens scene starts here! Nothing spells success like a combination of opera falsetto, semicampy 60’s keyboards, beehive hairdos, and the unmistakable voice of Fred Schneider.

“Radio Free Europe”
REM
Murmur
Although they hardly play this one anymore, this first song sets the tone of their career off on a good note. If you want a faster version, their Eponymous cd has the Hib Tone mix.

“We Got the Beat”
The Go Go’s
Beauty and the Beat
This song from these California girls opened the epic movie “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” This song could be an inside joke to the girls themselves- they couldn’t play their (or any) instruments when they met.

“I Will Follow”
U2
Boy
The Irish lads’ first single from their first album. As much as they sing about global problems, this song is about a simple parent-child bond. The Edge’s trademark guitar sound rings loud and clear and has you hooked.

“Since You’re Gone”
The Cars
Shake it Up
The Cars were an excellent band during that time period, as they produced a lot of hits. Any male my age can’t walk past a Casio keyboard without hitting the snare key 5 times, trying to imitate its infectious sound throughout the song.

“Blitzkrieg Bop”
The Ramones
The Ramones
Hey! Ho! Let’s Go!! Although now played at all stadium events, the ‘brothers’ from New York showed off their buzzsaw sound and started the punk movement on this song from their first album.

“I Apologize”
Husker Du
New Day Rising (1985)
This Bob Mould-led band from Minneapolis was influential as they helped bridge punk and grunge. This is one of their best guttural songs. Husker Du means “Do you Remember?” in Danish/Norweigan.

“Unsatisfied”
The Replacements
Let it Be
The Replacements were called by many the best band to never make it big. The Minneapolis quartet heavily influenced the grunge movement (The Nirvana album Nevermind was taken from one of their song titles). Paul Westerberg was great at writing songs that unconfident, lonely, or unsure people could identify with. This song is considered their most touching

"Video Killed the Radio Star"
The Buggles
The Age of Plastic
The first song ever played on MTV, which some scholars believe is the reason for the dumbing down of society.

“Safety Dance”
Men Without Hats
Men Without Hats
This band from Canada gave us permission: We can dance if we want to!!

“Once In a Lifetime”
Talking Heads
Remain in Light
This song is a Zen like experience, very calming. Now I find myself with a beautiful house…and a beautiful wife.

“One Step Beyond”
Madness
One Step Beyond
Most people know the song “Our House.” This one is heavy on the ska beat and light on the lyrics, as its title is also the only lyrics.

“Left of the Dial” and “B@stards of Young”
The Replacements
Tim
The first song describes how hard it is for indie bands to make it big, as they get airplay on college radio stations (which are usually located on the left of the radio dial). The second song is on here for 2 reasons: 1) The video, shot in black and white, was only a stereo speaker playing the song; 2) The song gives an effective description of feelings of those born just after the baby boomers.

“Mirror in the Bathroom”
The English Beat
I Just Can’t Stop It
Great bass line. Great beat (pardon the pun). Great song. You can watch yourself while you are eating!

“Dreaming”
Blondie
Eat to the Beat
Although “Heart of Glass” was their huge hit and first release, and "Rapture" was the first top 10 pop song to feature rap, this is the song I prefer. This has more of the ‘performing at CBGB’s sound’ to it. Debbie Harry could be the only person I know who has aged worse than I have since the 1980’s.

“Saved by Zero”
The Fixx
Reach the Beach
Although “One Thing Leads to Another” was a bigger hit, the math person in me prefers this song.


PAUL KEEN
Math Teacher
J.L. Mann High School Academy

"I love it when a plan comes together."

RESPECT.

Keep it REAL, ENTHUSIASM, SELF-DISCIPLINE, be PREPARED, ENCOURAGE others, COURAGE, and finally, TEAMWORK.

These qualities make up what I believe to be the most important concept you can learn about the theatre: respect.

When I was a kid, my favorite show on television was THE A-TEAM. This show had it all: action, adventure, comedy, drama...Mr. T. I was especially drawn to the characters on the show. Hannibal was the leader. Smart, brave, cocky...always with an unlit cigar in his mouth. Face was the pretty boy. The best actor in the bunch. An even keel to balance Hannibal's temper. B.A. Mr. T. He was the bad ass. Tough, strong, mean when he had to be. B.A. hated to fly, but there's no one you'd rather have in a fight. Then there was "Howlin' Mad" Murdock. The wise fool. Comic relief. The guy on the team I most identified with. They always though he was crazy. We all knew better. He was a genius.

The A-Team was my dream team as a kid. And ever since then I've always wanted to be a part of team like that.

The theatre provides each of us the opportunity to be on a big-time "A" team. Respectful theatre people are team players. One of my main goals this year is that we form an incredible team for our spring production. We sure did it last year.

Casting for my "A-Team" starts on day one and continues every day.

Moving forward even when you're scared.

At Freshman Orientation last night, I couldn't help but think about how much courage it must take to be a 9th grader at J.L. Mann.

It really is so much bigger here...and the other students (especially the juniors and seniors), they look so old. And the teachers...we seem so confident in what we're doing, so mature and grown-up.

It's a major step forward in a person's life: entering high school. But...we all do it. And somehow, some way we make it through.

COURAGE is key in the drama program at Mann. The ability to press on even when things feel uncomfortable, awkward, difficult makes ALL the difference.

So...you upperclassmen. Share your stories. How did you get through the first few weeks of high school? What challenges do you face now that make you feel fearful? How are you handling them?

En-vesting Courage

My English teacher Dr. Fergusson sent a post card to my parents when I was a Junior at Irmo High School. In it, she said the last essay test I turned in contained some of the very best writing she'd ever read by a student--high school, college, or grad school.

Needless to say, that got my attention.

No one had ever told me I could write, let alone encouraged me in the pursuit. Dr. Fergusson did. And it changed my whole perspective...on the world and myself.

I still find it difficult to think of myself as a "teacher" or "Drama coach." I'm much more comfortable with the title, "writer." (Thanks, Dr. Fergusson.)

Respectful people are encouragers. They can't help it. They understand what it feels like to be encouraged and they want to see others feel the same. Respectful people don't let jealousy or pride get in the way of a compliment. Respectful people honestly encourage, and in return, receive respect back.

This year, I am going to push this value hard in all my classes, but especially in Drama IV Honors. We will not be able to accomplish what we need to accomplish this year, if we're not encouraging each other every day.

I was not prepared for Seattle.

This summer, I studied theatre at Central Washington University. I will be back in Ellensburg, WA the next two summers as I finish a graduate degree in theatre production.

The university is located in the desert that marks the central and eastern parts of Washington. Of course, the popular imagination (at least us folks down South) considers Seattle a cold, rainy place. The home of Starbucks, right?

I spent only a day in Seattle: July 18. Went with some friends to the pier, ate fish and chips, walked around...it was wintry cold and rainy. Like Greenville in December. Needless to say, I was not prepared. I zipped my jacket to my chin and braved the weather the best I could. But it was hard. Cold. Hovering near the heat indoors.

As we learn about respect this year, you will hear me talk about the fact that students, teachers, actors, designers must always come prepared; ready to work, ready to engage, good to go.

How do you prepare for a drama class? Prepare your body, first: don't show up hungry, be dressed for action, have a pencil in your hand and socks under your shoes (oh Drama IV Honors...you will be "dressing out" three days a week). You must also prepare your mind: be ready to think, ask questions, consider and debate. Students who prepare their bodies and mind for class will excel. They will be ready for anything.

Which is good...because in this drama class, you should expect anything.