💫🤼‍♀️Let it Glow, Let it Glow: Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling Rev Up For Round Two 💫🤼‍♀️

 Puberty initiated one of the most macabre horror flicks of all time.  Yes, as unsettling as it sounds, Carrie's entrance into womanhood kickstarted the chilling Stephen King tale of unbridled female rage and bloody revenge.  However unpleasant to consider, this curious piece of trivia begs the question:  Is there a mocking negativity associated with the coupling of femininity and the release of power?   Princess Elsa unleashed the "Frozen" powers she had been forced to harness with terrifying results - and we have the song running through our heads to prove it.  Hmmm....Carrie, Elsa....probable arch enemies in wrestling, the one sports spectacle where stereotypes are not only permitted, but fuel the game?  "GLOW," the summer's deliciously entertaining new Netflix watch, not only proudly rides this wave, but also laughingly takes these stereotypes in a playful headlock before promptly flipping them over on their backs, all before they know what hits them.  With the official announcement of a Season Two, fans can bask in the "glow" of anticipation for the riotous fun yet to come.
  GLOW.  A word that brings to mind a plethora of generally unintentional yet somewhat archaically sexist connotations..... a new bride....an expectant mother....a brand of dish soap.  The most prophetic "GLOW" for the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling is the blissfully eighties neon fest that's the opening sequence to the series pilot.  A fluorescent comic strip for children of the decade of excess, this animated intro rather foreshadows the pageantry which "GLOW" simultaneously lampoons and celebrates.  Electric cartoon figures applying lipstick and hairspray in the anticipation of an acrobatic body slam....trash-talk banter between opponents acted out with broad gesture.....caricatures of characters playing out the showdown the panting audience demands.  Wouldn't this be enough voyeuristic fodder to cause a die-hard feminist to gag on her granola, you ask?  Well, before Gloria Steinham has a chance to get her sports bra in a twist, consider what may be an unspoken preconception about wrestling: Expect the unexpected.
   Let's be candid. If Trevor from Homeroom revs up "GLOW" on his Netflix queue, there's a healthy chance it's not for the dramatic denouement - at least not initially.  "GLOW" serves up a generous helping of eye candy.  With enough spandex to wardrobe a Jane Fonda Workout video and enough Aqua-Net to sponsor the 1962 Miss America Pageant, glitz and gloss are abundant, while clothing can be sparse. What sets apart this window dressing, however, is the heartfelt substance behind the glitter.  Each Gorgeous Lady of Wrestling struggles with a hindrance, keeping them pinned down, out of control.  The very crux of the pilot storyline revolves around an industry which renders the artist completely powerless, at the mercy of casting directors and agents.  Throw into the mix being a woman, its accompanying double standards, and enough pent up resentment to rival the Tasmanian Devil.  Wrestling brings a sense of power, control, catharsis, and camaraderie for each of the GLOW ladies respectively.  One unlikely character confides that wrestling is the first activity that makes her feel comfortable in her body, a sentiment that manifests itself in some way or another through each gal.  
  While all audiences may not feel as warm and fuzzy to tune in and celebrate "I am woman, watch me wrestle," a genius aspect of "GLOW" shines through.   Like the predator draws in its prey before she pounces, viewers of all types are lured in to watch the glossy extravaganza before finding themselves sucked into the social aspects addressed.   Don't tell Trevor, but compare the technique to putting some sugar on the spoon with the medicine.  He may not be aware of it, but he's supporting a celebration of the power of femininity, and probably having a grand old time doing it.  Yes, the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, adorned in spangles and sequins for the spectacle in the ring, may be the fantasy of every 7th grade boy, but also the secret wish of every 30-something woman.
  Jesse Ventura has said that "wrestling is ballet with violence."  A representation of the sport as an art form is indeed apt and relevant.  After all, as Chris Jericho articulates reflectively, "if Shakespeare was alive today he would be writing wrestling shows."  The struggling actress protagonist of "GLOW" rigorously explores this notion with relish and pride, joyously embracing control, as the scene becomes set for the series to take off flying.  Now this "glowing" review could spill all those juicy secrets of Season One, but shall stop here as not to spoil all the fun and twisty turns, which are plenty.  In the meantime, enjoy watching the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling give the proverbial middle finger to all who have wronged the underdog.  No need to feel guilty about it.  Just be thankful that the Incredible Hulk never gets PMS.

⛵🍎When You Get Caught Between a Lagoon and New York City: Yacht Rock in the Big Apple ⛵🍎

1980....the year that seamlessly transitioned Americans from the Disco Era to the Decade of Decadence, and what some perhaps pinpoint as Yacht Rock's prime.  In 1980, Vinnie Barbarino morphed into an Urban Cowboy, but one might ponder....what of the Urban Sailor?  Does the soft amber glow of a SoCal sunset necessarily have to be the hallmark of what Generation Y has coined to be "Yacht Rock"?  Must the nirvana of an ultimate mellow vibe only be achieved on the deck of a luxury liner docked at the marina?  Apparently not, as some of Yacht Rock's most beloved anthems sprang from the chaotic cacophony of the concrete jungle.  Blame it on an East Coast breeze of the late 70's/early 80's, if you will, but there was a definite urge to set some New York stories to the music of the mellow waters.  What better way to kick off regatta season than to steal away with a few of the most popular ones.  Let's sail the streets of the concrete jungle.....If you'll be the Captain, I'll be Tennille......

The Goodbye Girl (1977)
Neil Simon may not be the first name that comes to mind with the mention of smooth rock, but his award winning film "The Goodbye Girl" spawned a little gem of the genre - David Gates' sentimental love anthem of the same name.  The Manhattan rom-com about a Broadway dancer, a precocious daughter, and Richard Dreyfuss being well.....very......Richard Dreyfuss-like, reminds us in an achingly heartfelt way that "goodbye doesn't mean forever."  With almost as much quick repartee as a sweeps episode of "The Golden Girls," and enough 70's attire to help wardrobe a Richard Linklater film, this 1977 favorite is a real...... slice-of-life-of-an-actor/dancer-in-NYC-in-the-70's.....think "A Chorus Line," but replace Marvin Hamlisch with David Gates.  The vote is unanimous that the chemistry between Marsha Mason and Richard Dreyfuss is as charming as it is comical, culminating in the obligatory yet indispensable "scene in the rain," but this is not the key ingredient in the magical formula.  The sweet optimism of "The Goodbye Girl" - film and song respectively - somehow manages to dig up the warm and fuzzies amidst all of the polyester and bellbottoms, creating a genuine warmth of the sun on a blustery Manhattan day.  No, goodbye certainly doesn't mean forever.....😊🌻🌼

Arthur's Theme (1981)
The fact that a nighttime plane ride into JFK International inspired the idea behind "Arthur's Theme," is not simply a potential story from Yacht Rock: Behind the Music, but the truth about perhaps one of the most famous easy listening lyrics of the early 80's.  This explanation, while interesting fodder for a Jeopardy Daily Double, does not destroy the enigma of this smooth rock staple.  The amusingly ambiguous meaning of "Arthur's Theme" has been shrouded in mystery for an entire generation of 80's kids.  The song possesses the kind of reassuring familiarity of the soundtrack to a childhood dream: you may not be able to articulate the title or artist, but immediately recognize the melody and it's place on your memory hard drive....dentist's waiting room, hotel elevator, Aunt Linda's minivan radio?  Before the days of Shazam and Siri, inquiring minds would have to guess song titles based on chorus lyrics - a definite problem with "Arthur's Theme."  Still however, we all managed to figure out this one - most likely scrolling up and down the screen on a Time Life compilation commercial. Co-penned and performed by easy listening maven Christopher Cross specifically for the 1981 film, the hit song was apparently once actually performed by Cross and "Arthur" himself, Dudley Moore, at a London concert.  Even if we're still a little unsure about how one can get caught between a celestial satellite and Manhattan, what it has to do with a carefree billionaire, and how Liza Minnelli fits into all of this, "Arthur's Theme" certainly deserves its place in Yacht Rock history.  Just don't ask me if it's closer to the moon or New York City, because I'm still trying to figure that one out.

It Might Be You (1982)
This brings us to perhaps my personal favorite of the mix - the tune that makes us all a little verklempt while thinking of Dustin Hoffman in drag.  How could a film named after Hoffman's mother's doggie not be too cute for words?  The delightful cinematic namesake is certainly not the only endearing aspect of "Tootsie".......there is a special feel to the 1982 comedy that deserves a theme like tunesmith Stephen Bishop can provide.  While the song can definitely be classified as smooth, I'll be so bold as to say that it sails even beyond the parameters of Yacht Rock classification.  Call it the same bittersweet wave that Dan Fogelberg's "Same Old Lang Syne" rides, but "It Might Be You" instantly cradles our senses into a lull of warm nostalgia, whatever that may mean to the listener.  This is perfectly illustrated during a 2016 performance of the song on "The Tonight Show."   Singing in front of a moving puppet display of hearts and unicorns, Bishop takes what could be the ingredients of a Lisa Frank Pinterest board and creates a performance that is whimsical with an extra cushiony layer of tenderness and heart.  While I don't believe that the actual word "Tootsie" is uttered in the film's dialogue, I can't think of a more appropriate title for this cute mixture of sentiment and sass.  Just like the upstate New York cozy montage in which the song is featured, "It Might Be You" is a warm and comfortable musical companion to one of the most beloved and critically acclaimed films of the 80's.

One may ask, where does all of this discussion land a scholar of the easy-listening music genre?  The blustery winds and charcoal hues of a New York City street scene....the curious thrill of the New York theatre world......the exhilarating romance of everyday life in the Big Apple itself.  Is the charm found in any one ingredient or all of them mixed together?  We could ride on the sails of speculation until the castaways get rescued from Gilligan's Island, but ultimately the magic sprinkles that rained down from the gods of smooth rock to create these little ditties are - like music itself - intangible and difficult to describe with words.  Christopher Cross knew what he was talking about.  You know it's crazy, but it's true.