pages I book feature. PITCH PERFECT. The A Cappella Subculture. "A
CAPPELLA HAS BECOME A go-to pop culture joke." Mickey Rapkin, the author
of Pitch.
pages I book
feature
PITCH PERFECT The A Cappella Subculture
'lOVE, JANIS' May 29-June 1 @ Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills Inspired by an emotional memorial celebration held for Janis Joplin 18 years after she died from a heroin overdose in 1970 at a Hollywood hotel, Janis' younger sister, Laura Joplin, wrote a book about Janis because she wanted to understand more about her sister's legacy, what she meant to people and "what she went through in her life to get there." Published in 1992, Love, Janis features intimate letters Janis wrote to her family while becoming a rock 'n' roll legend and has been transformed into a musical debuting in Los Angeles this week. What's most unique about this musical is that every word you hear on stage is from one of Janis' letters or interviews. It's her story told with her own words. Laura Joplin was recently kind enough to answer a few questions about "Love, Janis" and the sister she lost.
"A CAPPELLA HAS BECOME A go-to pop culture joke." Mickey Rapkin, the author of Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory, analyzes in the intra how a cappella has fallen, in society's eyes, from a revered Ivy League institution to ajoke. He cites examples from the shows "The Office" and "30 Rock" as proof of this degeneration, which has led to many stars denying their a cappella roots. But, beyond the cheap-shot jokes that pop culture throws out at its expense. a cappella has a long history, making it more of a tradition and a brotherhood/sisterhood than an afterschool club. "I always felt there was a funny, heartwarming story within a cappella," states Rapkin. The GQ editor should know - he used to sing with Cayuga's Waiters, an a cappella group at Cornell. After interviewing many of the groups for the book, he realizes that his time with Cayuga'sWaitersmore or less matches up with the experiences of any a
pages I book
Your sister has been called a social icon. What would you say she represents? Janis was someone who took off and pursued her dream. We all have dreams, but we don't always take off and pursue them. In "Love, Jani, she allows people to go on that journey of dreams. I'm reminded of a quote of hers where she says, "Be true to yourself because your self is all you got." That's who she was. iOJ Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills is located at 8440 Wilshire Blvd. For more information. visit www.lovlljanisthemusical.com.
Filmmaker 5 Apocalypse, a documentary following her husband's production, Apocalypse Now, Coppola still finds herself at loose ends as she looks back on the first half of her life.Having raised three children and as the rock of the family, Coppola struggles with her identity as an artist. wondering if she has pushed herself enough or created enough of a coherent body of work to be proud of. Filled with chatty anecdotes about Hollywood and sadness over the death of her son Gio, Coppola provides a clear portrait of a marriage and family. Grade: B -Angela Malano Notes on a Life is currendy available.
reviews
Is the tone of "Love, Janis" joyous or tragic? Well, there's no doubt that Janis died; she dies every performance. But at the same time it's a celebration. You get to go through the ups and downs with her and spend time laughing one moment and crying the next. By the end you feel good because you've enjoyed a genuine connection to this incredible, interesting person. What do you think people will like most about the musical? It's a really good time. When I see people walk out of the musical, they're happy, animated ... talking about it. If you ever wanted to know why the '60s were so important to us, this show is a great way to understand that because it takes you through the experiences of a young girl as she becomes a rockstar in that time period.
cappella member today. "A cappella groups have largely the same experience," Rapkin concludes. "They live and die in the same way." Rapkin follows several of these simultaneously unique and similar groups throughout the 2006-2007 season leading up to the annual International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella. The book plimarily focuses on three groups: the Tufts Beelzebubs, the University of Oregon Divisi and the University of Virginia Hullabahoos. Rapkin plays the role of an observer, making sure that he's just relaying the events and dialogue without adding his own opinion. "I wanted to keep myself out of the story," he explains. Even though Rapkin is simply giving us a glance into these singers' lives without adding his own commentary, the groups go through enough elation, heartbreak and drama for a show on the CWOContrary to the public's perception of a cappella groups, they are very much like a fraternity: they party, they get rowdy, they're well-known on campus and they get laid. But, they also rise above it.
"The girls [in Divisi] were really inspirational," gushes Rapkin. "For them, the story was really about the unity - they were kind of a band of girls who supported each other." While some celebrities may want to remain mum about their involvement in a cappella (and others even go so far as to deny it), a cappella ultimately transcends reputation, "It's just about having fun and enjoying every moment of it," asserts Rapkin. "Unless you're a big musician, you'll never be able to sell out a concert for 2,000 people or record in a studio [outside of a cappella]." It's one of those things that only a handful of college students on each campus can experience, and Rapkin offers us a view into this fascinating subculture of college life. iOJ Pitch Perfect: The Quest for Collegiate A Cappella Glory wiJi be available May 29.
Shirley Halperin and Steve Bloom, which takes an in-depth look into the subculture of marijuana smokers. No swishers?No pipe? No wanies. This book also gives instructions on how to make a smoking device out of an apple or a soda can. The life and language of a pothead is explained in detail. Pro-legalization celebrities like "America's Next Top Model" winner Adrianne Curry, Singer-songwriter Melissa Etheridge and Maroon 5's Adam Levine are also featured, giving their thoughts on the substance. Also, Tommy Chong from
Pot Culture: The A-Z Guide to Stoner Language & Life Notes on a Life (Nan A. Talese) Most famous for being the wife of Francis Ford Coppola (The Godfather) and the mother of Sofia Coppola (lmt in Translation), Eleanor Coppola struggles to find her own place among the successful and creative family she inhabits (Others in the clan are Nic Cage, Talia Shire and Jason Schwartzman.) . Having produced some of her own work to great acclaim, most notably, Hearts of Darkness: A
(Abrams Image) Pot, marijuana, cheeba, skunk call it what you want, but the smell forever lingers, and the sky's the limit depending on its potency. Potheads will forever connect on a level that others will not understand. For example, what's so great about the number 4207 If you're a true smoker of the "cheeba cheeba." then you should already know, but if you're not, then I suggest picking up Pot Culture: The A-Z Guide to Stoner Language and Life, by stoner authors
the Cheech & Chong franchise provides the forward. For anyone who ever wanted to cop a feel of the stoner's life, this book is the answer. Grade: A -Kantreal Daniels Pot Culture: The A-Z Guide to Stoner Language & Life is currendyavailable.
