One TV episode I can't stop watching...
A little background first. I love, no..., LOVE science fiction. I've been a huge Star Trek fan since the original series that I first saw in syndication when I was just a young man. I also have a theatrical background so have a huge appreciation for stage musicals. Star Trek has continued to evolve over the decades branching out into many different series. This particular series Strange New Worlds is probably one of the most light-hearted (with the exception of the animated series - which I just can't watch).
Now, the present: On August 2023. Paramount+ aired episode 9 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 2. The episode titled SUBSPACE RHAPSODY known widely as the musical episode. Not something someone might typically think of when they hear the words Star Trek.
This has been one of the most rewarding episodes and really highlights how truly GREAT television can be. And consider the music was written and recorded in only 5 weeks during the production season. All the characters hold their own vocally. Really quite amazing.
Premise: The starship ENTERPRISE is trapped in a subspace anomaly that has multiple realities and they are trapped in a reality that is dominated by music and people break out in song (and dance) when strong emotions are felt. To follow the rule in musicals that says; when characters experience such strong emotions they can't express in mere words they will break out in song. What an amazing reality to be trapped in. And the only way they can escape is to get everyone to sing at the same time to shatter the anomaly and break free.
There is a lot of humor in the episode including in the final ensemble number (3rd video on this post) where the arch enemy, the Klingons come onscreen with a hiphop interlude. Truly hilarious.
Fortunately Paramount+ has posted the songs on YouTube and the soundtrack for the episode is available for streaming. I'm only going to post 3 of the songs here. But please if you are pleasantly surprised and want more go to YouTube and search for the episode title SUBSPACE RHAPSODY.
I would really like to see this show win a few awards as we get into award season in the coming months. Fingers crossed. This episode deserves awards for the music, writing, direction and design (in my opinion).
Enjoy...
science fiction
fun new(er) music
Church of the Cosmic Skull.
The cosmic recipe:
one part glam
2 parts psychedelia
a dose of progressive
frosted with boogie and harmony
from their second album SCIENCE FICTION (2018)
The Church of the Cosmic Skull believers creed:
THE 7 OBJECTS
Recognize the hallucinatory nature of reality
Investigate all aspects of the reality-hallucination
Receive all phenomena with equanimity
Celebrate and uphold the freedom of art, science and thought
Meet mistakes with forgiveness and determination
Do what you want, with love in your heart
Maintain focus on the unity of all living things
…on sci-fi…
Lunar Lift:
An astro-phenomenological event that occurs once every 4 years in the Circinus System. The placement of the moon in conjunction with the sun and planet so that the gravity of the moon will “lift” the sun pulling it to an earlier sunrise.
In fact, a conjunction where the combined gravitational forces of moon and sun cause the sun to rise (up to 1 hr) earlier than normal. Usually during the month of January during the “new moon” phase of the lunar cycle. Often a faint impression of the moon will be seen simultaneously in the sky as the sun breaks over the horizon. This year it will occur on 1/10/16 (5:58am earth time).
Because of this disruption in the normal cycle it can lead to more solar activity like solar flares and eruptions. Can also lead to more environmental activity on the planet as the combined increase of gravitational pull can cause Tsunami’s & Tornado’s creating wind damage and flooding on the planet.
***** Okay, so that was a little fiction that came from a dream I had last night. Boy my dreams can be dangerous. LOL. Maybe it’s just some deep subconscious desire to see that which is deemed “lesser” to be more highly valued.
…..and now – what I’ve been listening to lately…..
... on being and becoming ... 