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By CJ Tiernan Flying. There are few super powers quite as fantastic as flying. Humans have yet to achieve this power outside of a flying machine. When will The Jetsons become a reality? I want my future with a side of being able to fold up my space ship and carry it as a briefcase. Or, you know, just magic. Can we invent magic and fly that way? That'd be sick. Anyway, I compiled a list of my favorite characters that take flight in movies and these are my Top 11 Flying movie characters. 1. Falkor - The Neverending Story (1984) This '80s fantasy movie is epic. It has a story within a story, a kid as the only hero that can save the world, and a giant creature made of rocks that eats rocks (and laments the absence of gourmet rocks). I watched this movie as a child. The stakes felt so big and The Nothing was terrifying. You know what wasn't terrifying? Falkor. Falkor is a flying luckdragon who likes to be scratched behind the ears. He's over 40 feet long and can fly. That's pretty awesome. I'm only 6 feet long (when measured vertically) and I can't even make it to my dentist appointments on time. Falkor can fly and assists the protagonist with his quest. In addition to luck, he can also dole out sage wisdom. 2. Iron Man - Iron Man (2008) Alyssa Patton, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Robert Downey Jr. getting cast as Tony Stark is one of the greatest casting decisions in film history. He is so perfect in the role I can hardly stand it. Stark is brilliant enough to build his first suit "in a cave, with a box of scraps." His subsequent suits really give him a slew of superpowers, but the coolest one is flight. To be able to fly in a suit of metal is really an accomplishment. I've heard it said that Batman's superpower is being rich. I believe the same applies here except that he is also a brilliant engineer. Downey Jr.'s improv at the end of the first movie was the catalyst for the MCU: "The truth is... I am Iron Man." Love it! 3. Neo - The Matrix (1999) Spoiler Alert! If you haven't seen The Matrix then the whole thing is blown. He only gains the ability at the very end of the first movie. However, it's pretty sick. Neo, a mere mortal jacked into The Matrix, is able to see the world as code, and thus manipulate it to meet his every need (or whatever). You throw a 1000 Elrond's at him and he still doesn't falter. He can stop bullets. He deftly returns from dying, a feat that few among us have ever managed. And he can fly. He is The One. 4. Russell - Up (2009) The little kid from the movie "Up" is hilarious. His presence on this list is not a perfect match for the category, as he is not flying of his own free will. Instead, he is attempting to graduate to Senior Wilderness Explorer by assisting the elderly, a role he has targeted Mr. Fredri ckson for. However, said Mr. Fredrickson, in true wild-west fashion, engages in the "you'll never take me alive" activity of flying his house to South America via balloons. Russell, in his quest to help the old dude out, becomes an unwitting passenger aboard the house whilst engaged in a Snipe hunt. All and all, a great family flick and Russell is hilarious and one of my youngest favorite fliers (while Mr. Fredrickson might be one of the oldest). 5. Thor - Thor Ragnarok (2017) Everything about this movie is awesome. Thor is a god (the god of thunder). At various points in this movie, his dad dies and he is in a quest for justice against both his sister and his brother. He is also against an avenger at one point. It is a complicated operation of good vs. evil. He handles it with much aplomb and operates with a noble sense of right and wrong. Chris Hemsworth is fantastic in this role and Taika Waititi unlocks something special here in his role as director. A funny superhero is absolutely a character that belongs on Top 11 Flying Movie Characters. 6. Caractacus Potts and Family - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) The inventor, Caractacus Potts (played by Dick Van Dyke), scrounges together enough money to purchase an old race car that has wrecked. He rebuilds it (and adds some mad-scientist modifications) and rebrands it as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (named for totally normal sounds the engine is making). He takes his two children and the heiress to a candy fortune to the beach to break it in. There he regales them all with a story that includes all of them and the car, with an ability to transform into a boat or a flying car. While the obvious answer to greatest flying car in a movie is the DeLorean at the end of Back to the Future (and subsequent sequels), this car has character and I dig its vibe. 7. Peter Pan - Hook (1991) Whether you go with the one that never grows up in the animated Disney movie from the '50s, or the Robin Williams version that has grown up and forgotten his pals in Neverland in the '90s, you gotta love Peter Pan. He and his sidekick Tinkerbell fly around and thwart pirate activities and hang out with mermaids and while away their time not growing up. As someone for whom death is the biggest fear, I am drawn in by a character that doesn't age. Instead he just aims for the 3rd star on the right and flies straight on 'til morning. I'm jealous. 8. Harry Potter - Harry Potter Films (2001-2011) Harry Potter was the title star of 7 books, 8 movies, and a forthcoming TV show. He's kind of a big deal. And, as luck would have it, kind of a natural at flying on a broomstick. While he does encounter some bone-crushing setbacks, dude plays a mean seeker on the Quidditch pitch. There are countless characters in this story, and thus tons of wizards who can fly, but few are as thoroughly discussed as Harry (in our world or his), so I'll take Potter as my flying wizard. 9. Mary Poppins - Mary Poppins (1964) She comes flying in on an umbrella to care for a couple of spoiled rich kids (their surname is literally Banks), taking them on an adventure to an animated land with a one man band named Bert (Dick Van Dyke makes another appearance on the list). Julie Andrews stars as the "practically perfect in every way" nanny. She doesn't stand for their nonsense and sings about doing chores and taking medicine and stuff. While she may have used her magical powers to literally blow away the competition, she can also use her magical wind powers to fly (or fall with style) whilst using an umbrella. 10. The Ghosts - Casper (1995) Casper is the friendly ghost. However, he is also flanked by his uncles with the names Fatso, Stretch, and Stinkie (probably not birth names) and so, you know, they're not all friendly. They are a lot of fun though. When I was a kid, I got a glow-in-the-dark Casper hand puppet from Pizza Hut (hooray! brand tie-ins!). We used to go there a lot because of Book-It! You remember Book-It? They just gave you pizza for reading. How great was that? Aw man, I read so many books. I wonder if they still do that. Anyway, this movie was lot of fun to watch as a kid and ghosts cannot only fly but they can go through walls and choose when people get to see them. Creepy! 11. The Witches - Hocus Pocus (1993) Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy star as the three Sanderson Sisters, a group of witches that are brought back from the late 1600s by a teenager who lights the black candle (whoops!). They are out of their element 300 years later and they fly on a broom and the much less expected mop and vacuum cleaner. They are the perfect combination of funny and scary. Great for a Halloween movie for the whole family. Final Thoughts There are all sorts of characters throughout cinema that fly. Superman didn't make my list. Hiccup and Toothless from "How to Train Your Dragon" and Aladdin's Magic Carpet also just missed my list. Plus, don't forget about Buzz Lightyear (of Star Command). I'm sure that you have your own favorite flying characters. Please let me know in the comments below who I missed. Thanks!

By CJ Tiernan Celebrating a Holiday with family and friends is one of the best things you get to do all year. We all bring our own traditions and practices to a Holiday celebration. It can be fun to watch someone else celebrate a holiday, especially when they bring something different to the table. We've all seen the Christmas episode with someone who is a little too into their traditions or the Halloween episode where a character has a singular focus on scaring someone else who is super not into that. What I love even more is watching characters celebrate a Holiday we have no context for here in the real world. Below is a list of my Top 11 favorite Fictional Holidays I've ever encountered in a TV Show. 1. Festivus - Seinfeld S9E10 "The Strike" festivusweb, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons "A Festivus for the rest of us!" George Costanza's father, Frank, brings us the greatest of gifts under the tree: a new holiday. Celebrated 2 days before Christmas, Festivus includes activities such as feats of strength, airing of grievances, and an aluminum pole (stored in the crawl space). It is "all too real." In an episode that featured Kramer on strike at H&H Bagels and George attempting fraud by creating "The Human Fund" ("Money for People"), Festivus stands as the most enduring portion of the episode. It's a Festivus miracle! 2. Treat Yo' Self Day - Parks and Recreation S4E4 "Pawnee Rangers" Treat. Yo. Self. That is the sentiment from Tom Haverford and Donna Meagle in "Parks and Rec." They are not exactly known as the most selfless characters in the show, but they nonetheless decide to declare October 13th to be Treat Yo' Self Day. Designed as a day for self-indulgence, it is simply a day where they treat themselves to anything they want and become enablers for each other (and for Ben when he buys that Batman costume). 3. Slapsgiving - How I Met Your Mother S3E9 "Slapsgiving" This holiday is the gift that keeps on giving. Unlike most of the other holidays on this list, this is largely an actual holiday. As you may have deciphered from the portmanteau in the title, this day is also Thanksgiving. Earlier in the show (season 2), Marshall has won a bet over Barney allowing him to attain five slaps of Barney's face. Marshall opts to dole them out of time for maximum psychological torture. Barney is warned ahead of time that he will be slapped on Thanksgiving, coining the term "Slapsgiving." He manages to alter a holiday designed to give thanks and spend time with the ones you love into "The Stanford Prison Experiment." Spoiler Alert: there are also a Slapsgiving 2 and Slapsgiving 3. What a major delight! (Salutes while saying "Major delight!") 4. National TE Day - NFL 2019 Season Celebrated on the 4th Sunday of every October, National Tight End Day celebrates the unsung hero of the NFL offense. The Tight End has a wide range of tasks throughout the game including both blocking defenders on the line of scrimmage and running routes to catch passes. The godfather of this holiday is George Kittle (University of Iowa Grad, a.k.a Tight End U). He and his then QB, Jimmy G, came up with it in 2018, with the NFL going all in the following year. 5. Katie Holmes Day - AP Bio S3E8 "Katie Holmes Day" This show was criminally under seen during its run and takes place in the city of Toledo, OH. According to the show, Katie Holmes is from Toledo (I didn't look it up to confirm) and she is celebrated by the town to such a degree she has gotten her own day. Townsfolk put on a play showcasing her casting on the TV Show "Dawson's Creek," as well as a citywide auction fundraiser. The best part is kids leave their shoes out on the porch overnight for Katie Holmes to place blueberry muffins in them. This is a weird and wholesome holiday. Seriously, though, you should watch this show. It stars Glenn Howerton and Patton Oswalt in a beautiful power dynamic imbalance plus Paula Pell and Allisyn Snyder are absolute scene-stealers. 6. Galentine's Day - Parks and Recreation S2E16 "Galentine's Day" Taking place the day before Valentine's Day, this is a day that features Leslie gathering her female friends together to celebrate each other. While several holidays on this list are celebrated these days in the real world, this one is probably the one that is celebrated most earnestly. Leslie Knope: not only a great gift-giver on the show, she has given the real world the gift of friendship. 7. Feynman Day - Eureka S5E8 "In Too Deep" Named for physicist Richard Feynman, and celebrated on his birthday, May 11th, this holiday is treated like April Fools' Day in the show Eureka. Feynman was known for his humor and odd personality, so this an homage payment of the highest order. The thing is, the show follows a group of insanely brilliant scientists in a secret lab in Eureka, Oregon, so the pranks get pretty elaborate, sophisticated, and dangerous. Pranks include a person whose outfit is being altered remotely, a helicopter is flipped upside down (not while in flight), a person's voice is replaced with dolphin noises (like that Key & Peele sketch), and an office is turned into an aquarium. I'm sure the fictional company Global Dynamics loves seeing money and payroll spent on these types of things. Seriously, though, I love this show. 8. Refrigerator Day - Dinosaurs S2E12 "Happy Refrigerator Day" Dinosaurs was an awesome '90s show. It featured dinosaurs living like people, played by a combo of puppets and people in costumes and makeup. Again, fantastic! During this episode, the dinosaurs celebrate the invention of the thing that allowed them to stop roaming the earth and settle down to have families: the refrigerator. It is a very funny, tongue-in-cheek holiday that I love for its simple innocence. The patriarch, Earl, is so genuinely into the holiday, praising the advent of food storage. I'm trying to think of a day where we celebrate an inanimate object. Arbor Day, maybe? Certainly nothing like this, the so called "Happiest Holiday in Pangaea." 9. Leap Day - 30 Rock S6E9 "Leap Day" Technically, this holiday exists. In fact, I'd probably have it higher if that wasn't the case. However, Tina Fey and brilliant minds behind 30 Rock altered this holiday to add some fun mythos behind it. Leap Day is the 29th of February, which is a date that occurs once every 4 years (with additional rules applying on certain round numbers to make the math more accurate). 30 Rock added fun features like a mythical character (Leap Day William, played gamely by Jim Carrey in a Rom Com within the show opposite Andie MacDowell) who exchanges candy for children's tears when he emerges from the Mariana Trench once every 4 years. It also features Alec Baldwin in a Christmas Carol-esque existential crisis. 'Twas one of the best holiday episodes ever. 10. Whacking Day - The Simpsons S4E20 "Whacking Day" Celebrated annually on May 10th (aw man, you could go back-to-back on holidays if you celebrate this one right before Feynman Day), the denizens of Springfield drive snakes into the town square, only to beat them with sticks and clubs. Now, if you do wish to celebrate this holiday, you may not want to dig as deeply into its history as Bart does in the episode (he reads a book by Bob Woodward on the history of Whacking Day), as it takes a turn that offends my Irish roots. On the surface, though: violence against animals sounds intriguing as part of a town-wide tradition. 11. Weasel Stomping Day - Robot Chicken S2E12 "The Munnery" Robot Chicken is a stop-motion animation comedy show on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. It doesn't offer a linear story, instead operating as an anthology or a sketch show. In this episode, it features a "Weird Al" song, extolling the glory of Weasel Stomping Day. Technically, the appearance of the song on the show is not the genesis of the idea. Mr. Yankovic wrote the song and released it on his album "Straight Outta Lynwood," and Seth Green and the other brilliant minds behind Robot Chicken created a music video for the song which was latter added to an episode of the show. However, I'm sure there are plenty of people who hadn't heard it before this show. Plus, I don't have a Top 11 Fictional Holidays from Songs. Anyway, during the song, written in the style of Christmas Carols of the '60s, people are adorned in Viking hats and boots. Kids and parents alike are encouraged to stomp on any and all weasels. To draw them in, one might spread mayo on the lawn. "It's tradition, that makes it okay." Final Thoughts There are all sorts of different holidays that have been manufactured for TV shows at all times of year. Sometimes a holiday episode is wholesome and sometimes it is played for laughs. Who doesn't love a holiday episode? I left several great fictional holidays of my list so I'm sure you have one that you wish I'd included on the list. Please let me know in the comments below. Thanks!

By CJ Tiernan I haven't seen a lot of movies from this range of time. I was born in 1988, so movies from 1969 on back weren't regularly ones I would stumble upon. In fact, a majority of the movies on this list were ones I did see as a kid as five of them are animated. I'd say they're all rated G or PG but some of them came out so long ago they predate the MPAA. That may not be true, but the rating system back in the day was crazy. Have you seen "Splash"? That movie is rated PG, came out in 1984, and Daryl Hannah is naked for like half the movie (It was great!). Anyways, this is a list of my Top 11 movies that were released during or before the '60s. 1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) This movie is only 26 minutes long, and yet it is not the shortest movie on my list (stay tuned for #8). It is based upon the same Dr. Seuss story as the Ron Howard/Jim Carrey movie from 2000. It is fantastic and one of the best Christmas movies of all time. It features Boris Karloff as the sinister Grinch (and the woman that played Cindy Lou Who, June Foray, is the same woman that played Rocky from Rocky and Bullwinkle). He didn't do the singing, though. That was done by a man named Thurl Ravenscroft (which is perhaps the only name that is even more ominous than Boris Karloff). Remember that moment where the heart grows three sizes that day and breaks the frame of the x-ray machine? I love cartoon math like that. 2. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) John, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Part musical, part horror story, "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" is a classic. I loved this movie as a kid. I've said this before, but I'm a huge fan of inventors in movies. The movie starts with a robust Rube Goldberg machine designed for breakfast use. If you haven't seen the movie, do yourself a favor. It has a flying car, a beach scene where they all wear old timey bathing suits, and the main character of the bulk of my nightmares as a kid. If you are a young, do not watch this movie: the Child Snatcher is what comes for you when you don't eat your vegetables. 3. 12 Angry Men (1957) This is a fantastic law/courtroom movie. It is in black and white, which is a down vote for me because, you know, they'd invented color already. Nevertheless, the story is great. It features the titular human beings deliberating on a hot summer afternoon in the jury room about the guilt or innocence of a teenager. Stakes are high, as a guilty verdict = the electric chair. We learn about biases and the backstories of the men as we swelter in the heat alongside them. It starts as a seemingly cut-and-dry case and devolves into anything but. You simply must see this one at least once. The first time I watched it was in Careers class in 8th grade. It was our last class before winter break. I love when they show movies instead of teaching you stuff (or maybe, we learned more than we ever could have imagined...). 4. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) Stop-Motion Animation alert! This movie checks so many boxes. Christmas movie. Check. Musical. Check. Underdog reindeer marooned on an island of misfit toys. Check. Plus, if I ever create a Top 11 best character names list, Yukon Cornelius will have a seat at the table. Is an elf that pines to be a dentist not the most delightfully unexpected back story in a Christmas movie? When every Christmas movie is based on Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," it can be difficult to find new ground but here you go. Pure gold! Or, as sung by Burl Ives: "Silver and Gold." 5. Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) Wikipedia refers to this movie as a "screwball black comedy crime film." I thought about it for a second and couldn't come up with a better classification. Cary Grant's brother is under the impression that he is Teddy Roosevelt while his aunts are big time serial killers in their old age, dishing out a dose of the titular element on the periodic table (with a dash of strychnine and cyanide sprinkled in) . The aunts are soon joined in the residence by another serial killer and you simply must watch to find out what happens next. 6. 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954) Kirk Douglas (who has the most magical of butt chins) stars in this movie based on the book by Jules Verne. He is party to a quest to find a mythical sea monster, which results in an alternate discovery. Disney actually made this movie and it has a dark and brooding vibe that doesn't mesh with the bright and shiny vibe you associate with them today. Captain Nemo is especially haunted. Worth a peek if you've got Disney+. (Seriously, that butt chin is almost more of a bullet hole chin). 7. Alice in Wonderland (1951) There have been a lot of adaptations of Alice in Wonderland. This is the best one. It is crazy trippy in a delightful way. A lot of references hail from this source material, including "down the rabbit hole," "I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date," "off with their heads," and the unsettling smile of the Cheshire Cat (to which I frequently liken the moon whilst it waxes and wanes). Some people may not know this, but the Lewis Caroll book upon which this movie is based is called "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland." I don't fault you if you didn't know, because the book was written in 1865, which is even longer ago than the 1950s. 8. Frosty the Snowman (1969) Here it is. The shortest movie on my list. In fact, it was probably referred to in its day as a "TV Special." Nope, not for me, dawg. I'm going with movie. A measly 25 minute movie. It is the tale of a snowman that comes to life courtesy of the hat of a magician on a blustery day. Who hasn't been there? This snowman has more sense than the one in Frozen, as he is well aware that a lack of winter will inherently bring a lack of snowmen. The cookie duster on that magician is dwarfed only by his 10-gallon chin. 9. Singin' in the Rain (1952) Oh, yeah, I know this one. This is the original source of the song from which this movie is named (FALSE: it was a 1929 movie called "The Hollywood Revue of 1929"). Do you know anything else about this one? The title song is aptly sung in the rain, but to allow the rain to appear on film, they used milk instead (FALSE: They actually used water. That myth, however skin curdling, is untrue). It IS a musical that follows three actors during Hollywood's transition from silent films to "talkies." It features delightful song and dance numbers. As we all know, no one has ever felt threatened when their industry went in an entirely different direction (FALSE: Black Bears). 10. The Wizard of Oz (1939) You've seen this one. We've all seen this one. It's impossible to not have seen this one. This is one of the most magical films of all time. In a year that featured such films as "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" and the Academy Award winner for Best Picture (called Outstanding Production back then) "Gone with the Wind," "The Wizard of Oz" has proven to be the most enduring. With themes of going home, Heart, Courage, and Brains, this movie has universal appeal. Plus, (Spoiler Alert) I bet in the 30's that transition from black and white to color really slapped. 11. The Jungle Book (1967) This animated Disney movie musical is based on the book by Rudyard Kipling. It is in place to answer the question, what happens when a person is raised by wolves? The answer, as it turns out, is they become a sensitive man-cub that likes to sing along with musically talented animals. My favorite song from this one is "I Wan'na Be Like You," sung to righteous perfection by Louis Prima, but this movie is full of bops like "The Bare Necessities" and "Trust in Me." Final Thoughts You know, we harp on movies these days as nothing being original. People will rail on all the prequels, sequels, reboots and remakes and wonder where the original ideas lie. However, in pouring through my Top 11 movies from pre-1970, we have a slew of movies based on books and stage productions. Me thinks, perhaps, originality died with Billy Shakespeare. Alas, whatcha gonna do. I haven't seen many movies that came out this long ago, so it is very possible I have some holes in my game. Please let me know in the comments if I missed any of your favorites. Thanks!

By CJ Tiernan Every now and again you hear a song in a movie and it sticks with you. It becomes an ear worm you want to hear again, well after the movie is over. While a lot of the most memorable music in a film is either a pre-existing song or it is part of a musical, sometimes there is a song that is written for a movie that stands all on its own. Below is a list of my Top 11 songs that were written for a movie that wasn't a musical. 1. Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr. - Ghostbusters (1984) I mean, c'mon. Who ya gonna call? How can this be anywhere other than number one? I might choose this song as my walk-up song at a baseball game or to listen to as I charge into battle. It gets me so amped! Yeah, there was a slight case of plagiarism there, but, I mean, who hasn't been there. Besides, the directive to Ray Parker Jr. was to make a song that sounded like the Huey Lewis and the News' song "I Want a New Drug." If you want it to sound that like, you might need to borrow a note here and there. Plus now, Huey Lewis has a writing credit, so every time I listen to the song he gets a shekel. Everybody wins. 2a. Everything is Awesome by Tegan and Sara feat. The Lonely Island - The Lego Movie (2014) The positivity and energy this song generates is like few others in the history of music. It is the perfect tone-setting sequence for the comedy and energy of the movie. "Stepped in mud, got new brown shoes" is my favorite line, but it is toxic positivity turned up to 11 and I absolutely dig it. Plus, who doesn't love them some Lonely Island? 2b. Cat People (Putting Out Fires) by David Bowie - Cat People (1982) Truth be told, I've never seen the movie "Cat People." It is one of three movies on this list that I haven't actually seen. The song was used in one of my favorite movies of all time, however, in "Inglourious Basterds." It is used in the scene toward the very end where they burn down the theater. There is a lot of tension in the song and the scene and they work so well together. It would be neither the first nor the last time that Bowie wrote a song for a film, but in my opinion stands as his best. I like to believe that David Bowie wrote this song method (which is to say he dressed as a cat). It wouldn't be the oddest thing into which that spaceman dipped his toes. 2c. Mad World by Michael Andrews feat. Gary Jules - Donnie Darko (2001) Alright, I've sandbagged you again. This is a song originally written by the band "Tears for Fears" in the '80s. It was written as a bit of a pop song (as much of the '80s were a brightly colored wonderland, I feel like most music in the '80s was pop, but I don't know. I was barely there). The version crafted for "Donnie Darko" is much darker and more brooding, matching the tone of the film. Because I attached a bit of an asterisk to the last 2, I decided to make them 2b and 2c and give you a couple bonus songs. 3 . The Power of Love by Huey Lewis and the News - Back to the Future (1985) Huey Lewis again! Man, these guys were kind of a big deal in the '80s, huh? As the story goes, he was approached to do a song for the movie by the creators of the film (Robert Zemekis and Bob Gale, plus producer Steven Spielberg ) and Mr. Lewis denied them because he was uninterested in writing a song called "Back to the Future." They didn't want to put him in a box, so they said there were no requirements or stipulations on his choices for the song. He decided they could simply use whichever song he wrote next which happened to be "The Power of Love." It has no real connections to the plot of the film but, fun fact: it's dope! It is also a commonly used song title. I checked and it seems that title has been used quite a few times, most notably by Jennifer Rush (with covers by Air Supply and Céline Dion ) and Frankie Goes to Hollywood. The Céline Dion version is equally exceptional. 4. Little Wonders by Rob Thomas - Meet the Robinsons (2007) Rob Thomas was the lead singer for Matchbox Twenty. They only had like 20 amazing songs there in the back half of the '90s and into the early aughts (are we still trying to make "aughts" happen?). And yet, this stands as one of his very best. It has a soft but magical quality to it, perfectly befitting of the film. "Meet the Robinsons" would definitely make the list if I created a Top 11 most underrated Disney movies. It is so dang funny. My siblings and I still quote it to this day ("They all hated me.") Plus, I'm always a sucker for a story that follows an inventor. I love inventors in movies. 5.  I'm Just Ken by Ryan Gosling - Barbie (2023) This movie is SO pink and this song is SO perfect. I could not stop listening to this song when the movie came out. It is outstanding. Yes, I know, the Academy Award for best original song went to a song from this movie and it wasn't this song. Eh, what are you gonna do. Just because a bunch of people whose job it is to know good songs failed, it will not stop me from making my list in my image. "I'm just Ken" is a song that is over-the-top dramatic and hilarious. Now please, permit me to brood in my Mojo Dojo Casa House over the fact that Billie Eilish and her brother won over this song. 6. Lose Yourself by Eminem - 8 Mile (2002) I never saw this movie. That doesn't mean that I haven't sung along to this song a thousand times (plus the delicious "Weird Al" version: Couch Potato ). I absolutely love it. It came out around the height of my Eminem fandom. Even though I never watched it, I feel like I have a good sense of the movie because the song does such a great job of painting a picture of Eminem's character's backstory. Good ol' Marshall Mathers has really come a long way, as the line "Mom's Spaghetti" from the song became a restaurant in Detroit. They even sell pasta sauce for $13/jar . That's a good way to lose yourself a pretty penny. 7. Don't You (Forget About Me) by Simple Minds - The Breakfast Club (1985) This song was written for the movie but not by the band that performed it. It was written by a producer and a guitarist ( Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff, respectively) who then proceeded to seek a band to play the song. They got some no's, including from Simple Minds, before finally locking them down. The rest, as they say, is history. It is one of the most iconic tracks in all of '80s filmdom (I know, I have several on the list already). I use the phrase "end it like an '80s movie" far too often this far into the new millennium but when I utter that phrase, I picture the end of this movie. You've got this song blasting while they freeze-frame a fist in the air. Pure greatness. 8. Danger Zone by Kenny Loggins - Top Gun (1986) Oh ho ho! This song oozes coolness like The Fonz or an endothermic reaction. Because of "Danger Zone," the Top Gun Soundtrack was the top selling soundtrack of '86 and one of the best selling soundtracks of all time (to be fair, it isn't the only track on the album. Miami Sound Machine, Berlin, Loverboy, and Cheap Trick also have songs on there). I liked "Top Gun: Maverick" more, but this song (and the theme song to the movie) is a banger! 9. Holiday Road by Lindsey Buckingham - Vacation (1983) National Lampoon was a magazine that ran from 1970-1998. Its hey day was the '70s, and it operated as a national spin-off of a humor periodical started at Harvard (aptly named The Harvard Lampoon ). They lent their name (and two of their writers) to the 1978 release of Animal House. They would proceed to launch movies in the intervening years, including the Vacation films. "National Lampoon's Vacation" was written by John Hughes, based on a short story he'd written for The National Lampoon years earlier (called Vacation '58). There is a fantastic documentary that details the rise (and fall) of The National Lampoon called "Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead." Oh yeah, and the song. It's delightful! Lindsey Buckingham was a member of Fleetwood Mac so, you know, some musical chops there. It is a great Holiday song and a great road-trip song. 10. Always Look on the Bright Side of Life by Eric Idle - Life of Brian (1979) Eduardo Unda-Sanzana from Antofagasta, Chile, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Of all the songs one could sing whilst being crucified, this one may be the most chipper. Sung by Eric Idle (who also wrote the music and lyrics) in a cockney accent, "Bright Side" has become the most popular song that is performed at British funerals. That is a level of comedy that not even Monty Python could have hoped for. It is, as the name would imply, a song imploring a positive spin on things, complete with a whistled section of the song. Idle also used the title for his memoir, a so-called "sortabiography." 11. Eye of the Tiger by Survivor - Rocky III (1982) Yeah, I never saw Rocky III. I haven't seen most of the Rocky movies. I saw "Rocky Balboa" and the first "Creed" in theaters and that was about it. Thing is, you don't need to have seen any of the Rocky movies to rock out to this song. That guitar comes in nice and spicy right off the bat and you are off the races. My assumption is that the song is used for some sort of amped-up training montage, but again, I haven't seen it. The real question is, have you heard "Weird Al" cover the song? His rendition, Rye or the Kaiser , will get the juices pumping too. Final Thoughts Obviously, some of these songs transcend the movie to such a degree that you don't have to have seen the movie to listen to (and love) the song. I have listened to every song on this list loads of times outside of watching the movies they're in (including the "Weird Al" songs). There are a slew of songs written for movies every single year (you knew that, you've seen The Oscars) so there are plenty to choose from. I'm sure your list differs from my own. That's fantastic! Let me know what you've got in the comments below. Thanks!

By CJ Tiernan Although called names like geeks, dweebs, dorks, or bookworms, the studious character of the movie is often a fan-favorite. Whether they are helping the main character save the day, or accomplishing something great themselves, we love the movie nerd. This is my love letter to the nerds of the world. Below is a list of my 11 favorite characters in movies that exhibit the nerd qualities we've all come to know and love. 1. Doc Brown - Christopher Lloyd Back to the Future (1985) He built a time machine out of a DeLorean. He took a car with gull-wing doors and added a flux capacitor. It may just be the coolest thing in the history of film. Step aside, James Dean, because here comes the DeLorean. He sports a Hawaiian shirt under a white lab coat (which is adorned with a pocket protector) and is rocking multiple watches. Dr. Emmett Brown is the quintessential mad scientist, only he uses his powers for good. Well, he did steal Plutonium from the Libyans so we'll call it moral grey area. 2. Hermione Granger - Emma Watson Harry Potter (2001-2011) She's a wizard. An extremely talented wizard. If I was a wizard, I don't think I would read as much as she does. She does so much reading. Hermione is the quintessential bookwork. Early on, her extensive knowledge casts her as a social pariah (plus her status as a Muggle-born didn't help). Harry and Ron quickly learn to use her knowledge to their benefit, courtesy of the whole "Troll Bogeys" situation. She is a walking encyclopedia of knowledge while also in possession of quick wit and a logical demeanor. She is one of the braver nerds you will ever see. 3. Wayne Szalinski - Rick Moranis Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) Here we have a master inventor. This is a man that has accidentally shrunk his own kids, his baby, and himself. He needs to invest in a safety button or some sort of two-factor authentication process to prevent these mishaps. Apart from the mistakes that launch the plot of every film, he seems to be a pretty sound inventor. He created a shrinking machine and a growing machine. Wayne Szalinski was also big on inventions that you can strap to a helmet. In fact, he was ahead of his time in making a camera and a phone hands-free. The grooming helmet still hasn't taken off yet, though. 4. Peter Parker - Tom Holland Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) He may be a superhero with super powers, but he is still in High School. Peter Parker has to protect his superhero alter ego so his peers don't get to know the coolest part about him. However, he is kinda brilliant. While in the MCU, his tech comes mostly from Tony Stark, in most iterations of the character, he creates it himself. He is a genius in several fields of science and engineering. He also expertly exhibits the socially awkward characteristics we've come to associate with a nerd. For this reason, we can be thankful that the term "nerd" has largely shifted from purely a pejorative to a characteristic to be praised. 5. Evie - Rachel Weiz The Mummy (1999) "I... am a Librarian" is her proud proclamation early in the film. While true, Evelyn is underselling it here. She has a rich, studied knowledge of ancient Egypt and is sought time and again for helpful information during the exploration of the ancient City of the Dead: Hamunaptra. While reading hieroglyphs in the famed Book of the Dead (which she kinda sorta stole), she might have kinda sorta accidentally awoke an ancient mummy. Evie geeks out over all things ancient Egypt and is a bookworm. She also brings a real "adorkable" energy to the movie. 6. Rich Purnell - Donald Glover The Martian (2015) "Houston, be advised: Rich Purnell is a steely-eyed missile man." The "Rich Purnell Maneuver" is a last-ditch Hail Mary attempt to save the stranded Mark Watney from the surface of Mars. Rich himself is an astrodynamicist who discovers this maneuver whilst he is supposed to be working on something else. This is the rare onscreen nerd portrayed as on the autism spectrum. He has a brilliant mind and still has to "borrow" super-computer time to confirm his calculations on his strategy. He harbors a small but important role in "The Martian," which is one of my favorite movies ever... and one of my favoirte books ever. 7. Homer Hickam - Jake Gyllenhaal October Sky (1999) Homer Hickam is the first movie nerd to appear on my list that is also a real person. Based on the book Rocket Boys , "October Sky" told the story a young man who wants to become a rocket scientist against the wishes of his coal miner father. Fun fact: "October Sky" is an anagram of "Rocket Boys." Spoiler Alert: the young man did indeed eventually work for NASA in real life. It is a beautiful story of making dreams a reality and the power of persistence. Forced to overcome his father's resentment for what he does, he and his friends get crafty and rely on a great number of the members of their small town to make their work possible. 8. Lyle - Seth Green The Italian Job (2003) Seth Green's character in this movie (sorry, I never saw the original) is your prototypical "guy in the chair." This is a long-lasting trope in movies and television that feature a remote individual assisting the mission. Ned calls himself this in the Spider-Man movies. Felicity Smoak in "Arrow" is a great example. Luther in the "Mission: Impossible" movies is another great example of the "man in the van" trope. I'm a sucker for Lyle. Everything is so high-tech and effortless. The movie revolves around revenge for a double-cross and trying to get back at their saboteur. The big heist at the end is a gold heist involving Mini Coopers. It's sick. Lyle's role involves being on the cameras and relaying info to the crew. He is able to deduce which car to follow based on ride height and can manipulate traffic by controlling the stop lights. He is the tech wizard. Also, he is nicknamed "Napster" because he claims to have invented Napster. 9. Fogell a.k.a. McLovin - Christopher Mintz Plasse Superbad (2007) The 25-year-old organ donor from Hawaii, McLovin, is epic. Fogell is a classic High School nerd as he is too socially awkward to successfully fit in, despite his attempts. Seth and Evan repeatedly mock him, making him one of the most persecuted nerds on the list. Nevertheless, he maintains a positive and upbeat attitude. He is also capable of cutting loose and getting wild at a party. Behind Spider-Man, Fogell has the second greatest alter ego on my list. 10. Indiana Jones - Harrison Ford Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) John Griffiths, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons As a professor of archeology, Indiana Jones is absolutely a nerd. The costume department does their damnedest to make him look nerdy at the start of the film. Inevitably, the coolness of Harrison Ford seeps out. Much like in "The Mummy," it is knowledge of history and ancient artifacts that trigger the whole adventure. He is the rare nerd that is seemingly equally adept at both operating in the field and performing in the classroom. Has anyone ever made the bullwhip look cooler than Indy? 11. Tina Belcher - Dan Mintz The Bob's Burgers Movie (2022) Tina's two biggest passions are horses and butts (and Jimmy Jr.). She has written fan fiction stories on both (and probably mashed them together). She is incredibly socially awkward. Her noise (the anxiety-induced "uhhhhhh") might be the second most iconic nonsense word in cartoons behind Homer Simpsons' "D'oh!" While she is predominantly a TV character, there was a movie, so I can count her as a movie character. She is a unique nerd in that her skillset doesn't really include academic success. It is more her fixation on certain topics (again, a lot of erotic fan fic.) and social awkwardness that drive her into that particular bucket. Final Thoughts The movie nerd is a cinema staple. I don't think I know a lot about any one subject, so I'm always enamored with those who are brilliant and savvy in one particular area. As you can see, they don't need to originate there to become iconic. I had characters on my list that started in TV shows, comic books, and novels. I'm sure you have a favorite nerd that didn't make the list. Please let me know in the comments below. Thanks!

By CJ Tiernan On the heels of my list of best names in the NFL for current players, I decided to create a list of players that are no longer in the league. Though these players have retired, their names live on. In fact, some of these players were fantastic and their legacy lives on as well. But for a handful, they live on purely because their names were poetry in motion and/or barely fit on the back of a jersey. I present to you, my Top 11 favorite names in the history of the NFL for players that have since retired. 1. Koa Misi - LB 2. D'Brickashaw Ferguson - OT 3. Nnamdi Asomugha - CB 4. T. J. Houshmandzadeh - WR 5. Prince Amukamara - CB 6. Barkevious Mingo  - LB 7. BenJarvus Green-Ellis - RB 8. Osi Umenyiora - DE 9. Frostee Rucker - DE 10. Pierre Garçon - WR 11. Ndamukong Suh - DT Final Thoughts While they may no longer be a part of the game, these players left a legacy that few can soon forget. They honored their family name and carried on or established a legacy with the name on the jersey. I know that for me, there are several players on this list that I only remember because I remember the name. I don't mean that as a slight, I simply intend to point out how unique and fantastic their names are. Please let me know if I left any all-time great names off the list. I will include a few that just missed my list down below. Thanks! Nickell Robey-Coleman - CB Lawyer Milloy - S Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila - DE Ziggy Hood - DT Quentin Jammer - CB Takeo Spikes - LB Frank Zombo - LB Bacarri Rambo - S Tiki Barber - RB

By CJ Tiernan When you're watching the broadcast of a football game you hear a few different things. The roar of the crowd, the crashing of the pads, and the announcers. The announcers will break down the previous play and project possibilities for the next play. When they shoutout a great play, they will say (or shout) the player's name. Below is a list of current players in the NFL whose names are my absolute favorite ones to hear. They are so fun and unique and just roll off the tongue with such rhythm. 1. Deommodore Lenoir - 49ers - CB 2. Olamide Zaccheaus - Bears - WR 3. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah - Browns - LB 4. Divine Deablo - Falcons - LB 5. Stone Forsythe - Raiders - OL 6. Ka'imi Fairbairn - Texans - K 7. Akeem Davis-Gaither - Cardinals - LB 8. Stetson Bennett IV - Rams - QB 9. Elic Ayomanor - Titans - WR 10. Gardner Minshew - Chiefs - QB 11. Miles Killebrew - Steelers - S Jjanhone, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons Final Thoughts I have a ton of names that just missed my list so I will give you a few of those below. Repeatedly hearing the top 2 names on my list is what spurred on the decision to make this list. I'm sure you have your own favorites, so please include those in the comments below. Thanks! And don't worry, I will do a future list of all-time players names that are no longer active in the NFL. Paulson Adebo - Giants - CB Azeez Al-Shaair - Texans - LB Noah Igbinoghene - Commanders - CB Jaxson Dart - Giants - QB Charvarius Ward - Colts - CB Darnay Holmes - Raiders - CB Calijah Kancey - Buccaneers - DL Alohi Gilman - Ravens - S Ahkello Witherspoon - Rams - CB Jadeveon Clowney - Cowboys - DE Talanoa Hufanga - Broncos - S Olu Fashanu - Jets - OL Mo Alie-Cox - Colts - TE

By CJ Tiernan The music in a movie often lurks in the shadows, providing an imperceptible emotional backbone to a scene. Other times, however, the character or characters are just straight-up singing or dancing to a song that is part of the world of the film. When the song is part of the world, it creates an opportunity to get a sense of the character(s) thoughts, feelings, or behavior. Then again, sometimes it's just cool. The following is a list of my 11 favorite moments I've ever seen in a movie where music plays a big part of the scene. 1. Whiplash (2018) - Ending "Whiplash" is one of the best movies I've ever seen. Miles Teller plays Andrew Neiman , a college student in relentless pursuit of jazz-drumming greatness. With the help of one of the best teachers/worst people, Terrence Fletcher (JK Simmons, in an Oscar-winning performance) helps push him to his limits. By the end of the film (this goes without saying, but, Spoiler Alert!), Fletcher has lost his job at the school and is aware that Neiman was, in part, responsible for his dismissal. In a new role, he leads Neiman in to a sabotage-esque event where Neiman is left on stage not knowing the song they are playing. Neiman leaves the stage, only to come back on and play a song ("Caravan" by Juan Tizol and Duke Ellington) to impress Fletcher and showcase his skills. During the scene, Fletcher goes from gloating over the sabotage, to angry that Neiman is taking over the performance, to impressed by his skills and rooting him on and supporting it (all while saying barely a word). It is one of the most impressive performances I've ever seen and also one of the greatest finishes to a movie. It was written and directed by Damien Chazelle, who would go to do "La La Land" and "First Man." 2. Back to the Future (1985) - Enchantment Under the Sea Dance Selfie of me next to a DeLorean at Universal Studios Florida in 2017 This scene has everything. The Chuck Berry song "Johnny B Goode," the disappearing photo of Marty McFly and his siblings, Marty trying to get his parents to kiss to restore his very existence, and the song "Earth Angel." There is tension and drama, but also sci-fi and comedy. It is a perfect blend of so many different elements and a culmination of the movie. It is the perfect climax. Also, the cost of admission to the dance was $1. When's the last time a dollar got you anything? The only thing I've ever gotten for a dollar is 4 quarters. 3. It's Kind of a Funny Story (2010) - Under Pressure This movie is kind of a depressing story. It follows a teenager who admits himself into the psych ward because the stress he feels at school nearly drove him to suicide. He feels a great deal of pressure from his family and friends to be great and do great things. It weighs on him. In this scene, he is pressured to sing the song crafted by the great David Bowie and Queen. While the song title may feel a little on the nose, the scene is perfect. It gets very surreal and quickly shifts from the meeting room on the psych ward to a stage with everyone dressed in rock-star gear. When the song ends, it fades back in and the teenager has won over the room with his performance. He gains both a sense of belonging and the adoration of his peers (who are basically all adults because the adolescent portion of the psych department is temporarily closed). It is a beautiful scene and a bit of a turning point in the middle of the film. The film features great performances all around but this scene is my favorite. Viola Davis, Zach Galifianakis , Emma Roberts, and Zoë Kravitz are in this thing so check it out. 4. The Lego Movie (2014) - Everything is Awesome The song "Everything is Awesome" more or less starts the movie (it is the second scene behind putting in place the villain and the lore). It is a fantastic way of setting up the tone of the movie and its main character (and Taco Tuesday). The world in which the film takes place is established to delicious effect, incorporating both the Lego elements and the comedy of the film. The song itself is an unforgettable ear worm, but the scene as whole sets the whole thing into motion. 5. Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) - Twist and Shout "Twist and Shout" is a banger. It is sung (or lip-synched to a rendition by The Beatles) by the title character during a parade through Chicago (the name of the parade is the Von Steuben Day parade, which is apparently a real thing). While the carefree energy (that runs counter to Cameron's energy) of Ferris has been well established at this point in the film, I still love this scene. It is classic John Hughes (a pillar of the millennial childhoods everywhere). While the vest may have aged poorly, the movie and the scene haven't. I love the people dancing on the steps. This scene just makes you feel so alive! Save Ferris! 6. Step Brothers (2008) - Por Ti Volare (Catalina Wine Mixer) This is the makeup scene at the very end of the movie. People have drifted apart and this one, tear-jerking song seemingly reunites the world. I don't believe I've ever heard this song outside of this movie. It is, after all, written in Spanish (as Baxter knows, I don't speak Spanish). Will Ferrell actually sang his part (and John C. Reilly actually played the drums) and the earnestness with which he sings it make the comedy. It creates a comically magical ending to a very funny movie. Say it with me now: "the f***ing Catalina Wine Mixer!" 7. Tangled (2010) - I See the Light The second animated movie on my list, "Tangled" is a retelling of the classic Brothers' Grimm fairy tale "Rapunzel." In a nearly infinite list of fantastic Disney songs, this one is one of my all-time favorites. It features the main character (played to perfection by Mandy Moore) experiencing freedom for the first time and watching her favorite thing in the whole world: an epic release of paper lanterns that occurs annually on her birthday (unaware that it is happening because of her). Zachary Levi (of "Chuck" fame) is also great in this. It is a beautiful moment in a great movie. 8. Pitch Perfect (2012) - Barden Bellas Finals "Pitch Perfect" is a really fun movie. It's a musical and a rom com. With great energy and great music, it is a great way to spend two hours. The part at the end where the Barden Bellas perform their new routine in the finals is my favorite part. As a way of an apology, Anna Kendrick's character incorporates an inside joke into their routine by including the Simple Minds song "Don't You (Forget About Me)" from the movie "The Breakfast Club." As the camera cuts between the performance and Skylar Astin's character, we feel the connection between the characters and the metaphorical bridge being repaired. It makes my heart sing! 9. Thor: Ragnarok (2017) - Bifrost Bridge Speaking of singing: that Led Zeppelin band was pretty good, eh? That Robert Plant fella had some wicked good pipes, eh? Speaking of metaphorical bridges: I give yo a literal bridge. The climactic final battle sequence that takes place on the Bifrost is so epic. Thor, returning with a sick new weapon, down an eye, and seeming brand spanking new skillset, gets played in with "The Immigrant Song." It is a superhero entrance for all time. The entrance, splayed out initially from the side, looks like some sort of epic painting the way the tableau is set up. It is deliciously perfect. 10. Bohemian Rhapsody (2018) - Live Aid Ending I am not someone who gets mad at a biopic for leaving out relevant details of a persons life. Ultimately, the goal of a movie is to entertain, not to educate. For that reason, I have no objection to way they chose to portray Freddie Mercury and Queen in "Bohemian Rhapsody" (that being said, I wish I lived in the alternate universe where Sasha Baron Cohen was permitted to portray Mercury in a warts and all flick). Indisputably, the best scene in the movie is the final one. It is a largely shot-for-shot recreation of Queen's performance at Live Aid in 1985 (shout out to the performance of Rami Malek). While the film ratchets up the tension by fudging with the timeline and cutting to Freddie's family, this scene is so powerful and so epic. It is an unbelievable sendoff to both the movie and a rock legend. Damn you, AIDS! 11. Baby Driver (2017) - Opening Car Chase Aw man, this car chase. I love me some Edgar Wright and his ability to craft unique shots and powerful music moments. He set out to just create something that looks really cool. Spencer Blues Explosion's “Bellbottoms” blasts through the main characters ear buds while he waits to be the getaway driver of a heist and subsequently executes the getting away. Everything during the pursuit is so fun and cool and the action is perfectly synched up to the music, including perfectly timed door slams. There is tension, action, and misdirection right out the gates. Love it! Final Thoughts Music can add to a scene in so many ways. It can bring characters together in meaningful and impactful ways. It can also just be totally dope. I'll leave a list of a few of the music moments that just missed my list down below. As always, please let me know in the comments if I left one of your favorites off the list. Thanks! Dark Knight (2008) - Opening Beetlejuice (1988) - Day-O Recess: School's Out (2001) - Green Tambourine Free Willy (1993) - Wall Jump The Suicide Squad (2021) - Harley Quinn Escape/Rampage Wayne's World (1992) - Bohemian Rhapsody

By CJ Tiernan When creating a sequel to a movie, often the deciding factor is whether or not the first one was successful. For that reason, a sequel (or prequel or remake) has a lot to live up to. So when a sequel is able to surpass the greatness of the original, it is worthy of standing up and taking notice. Below is a list of my 11 favorite sequels to movies I've ever seen that I felt were even better than the original. 1. Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) Rundvald, CC BY-SA 4.0 , via Wikimedia Commons This movie is a unique example on the list. It is a new movie following these same two characters, Wallace & Gromit, but is the first one in the series that isn't a short film. The main reason that it is both so high on my list and exceeds the greatness of the original is the comedy. I have spent the past 20 years of my life endlessly quoting this film and all its great lines. It is one of the funniest movie of all time and highly under-appreciated (as animation often is). If you haven't seen this movie before, get your act together, find a friend, and throw this one on. I refuse to believe you will be disappointed. Plus, it's stop-motion animation. I love that style! Funniest line: "Because of these?" 2. The Dark Knight (2008) "The Dark Knight" came out when I was in College. My roommates and I watched this thing over and over and over again. We basically had it running on a 24-hour loop in the living room like the TV section of an electronics store, showcasing the greatness of the technology. I don't know if you've heard of this Christopher Nolan guy, but he's pretty good. Batman is a story that has made its way to theaters many times before, but no one ever made the story this cool. Heath Ledger gives one of the greatest performances of all time and is just about the coolest villain ever. Lasting question: "Why so serious?" 3. Top Gun: Maverick (2022) Speaking of cool movies, I give you Top Gun: Maverick. This one of the greatest movies I've ever seen. The action and tension are relentless. It has a lot of nostalgia and nods to the previous iteration, but is unquestionably capable of completely standing on its own. It also features Glen Powell and Monica Barbaro before their careers completely blew up. Words to live by: "Don't think, just do." 4. Thor: Ragnarok (2017) This is the 3rd movie featuring Chris Hemsworth as Thor (5th if you count the first 2 "Avengers" movies). The first one had the funny moment in the cafe where he spikes a coffee cup on the ground and shouts "another," but we didn't know he was this funny. "Thor: Ragnarok" is non-stop funny. Taika Waititi created a superhero movie that was hilarious without being a spoof. In conjunction with James Gunn on "Guardians of the Galaxy," he helped change the MCU and spun it to a less self-serious direction. Also, the music in this movie is sick. The battle at the beginning and again at the end on the Bifrost Bridge are fantastic. Greatest Improv: "He's a friend from work." 5. The Suicide Squad (2021) "Guardians of the Galaxy" may stand as my favorite trilogy of all time. All 3 movies are fantastic. Usually, there is a miss or two in the midst of trilogy. Even with that high praise, "The Suicide Squad" is my favorite superhero movie James Gunn has done (He also did Superman in 2025 and Super way back in 2010). From the hilarious misdirect at the start, to the comedy throughout, this movie rocks. And they make some of the violence very funny. Who doesn't love funny violence? Most ubiquitous credo: "I cherish peace with all my heart. I don't care how many men, women, and children I need to kill to get it." 6. The Muppets (2011) Jason Segel co-wrote and starred in this movie that felt like a little bit sequel and a little bit reboot. It was a lot of bit awesome. The first movie from way back in the '70s is incredible. The song Kermit sings at the beginning from a bog, "The Rainbow Connection," is one of the most lasting songs ever written for a movie. And yet, I thought this movie was better. Barely, but better. It utilizes a lot of the same tricks as previous Muppet movies, like meta humor and celebrity cameos. It is a sweet tale and musical delight. Existential query for our time: Are you a man, or a muppet? 7. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) Of all the movies on this list, I have seen "Christmas Vacation" the most (maybe second behind "The Dark Knight"). It is a seasonal staple. It perfectly highlights the highs and lows of the holiday season and then turns it up to 11 with a splash of kidnapping at the end. There are so many little visual gags that you can spot after having missed it the previous 20 years you watched it. I love the extravagant effort by Chevy Chase's Clark constantly going unrewarded only to have him turn around and believe that everything will work the next time. It's fun to watch him slowly go mad. Sincerest apology: "I'm sorry, this is our family's first kidnapping." 8. Spider-Man: Far From Home (2019) Ah, the Tom Holland Spider-Man. He seems like such a kid that he is so perfect for the role. Tobey Maguire never struck me as a kid, so his story was harder to buy. The first iteration, "Homecoming," is a great movie with a fun villain. I like "Far From Home" more because the stakes get ratcheted up. It pulls Spider-Man out of his element, as he is playing a road game in Europe. The Jake Gyllenhaal villain is also a lot of fun and there is an element of "I don't know what to believe" that keeps you off balance as you watch. Best comeback: "Bitch, please! You've been to space." 9. Mission: Impossible - Fallout (2018) 8 movies. The Mission: Impossible saga made it up to 8 movies! That was very impressive 3-decade run showcasing Tom Cruise's relentless pursuit to make fun and entertaining movies. This one is the best of the bunch. From the world's greatest fight scene in a bathroom, to the helicopter chase scene/battle, this movie has such great set pieces. While the missions rarely feel impossible, I do love the high stakes. Plus, who doesn't love it when they pull off the face to reveal they're one of the good guys instead of whoever's face they were wearing. Classic! Helpful advice: "Open your chute when the system says. Not before, and definitely not after, or the last thing that goes through your mind will be your kneecaps." 10. Fast Five (2011) I stopped watching the "Fast & Furious" after they dropped cars from the sky but before they went to space. Other than the 3rd one, I quite enjoyed them. "Fast Five" is my favorite. It introduces The Rock and turns into a heist film. Now, I'll agree they really drifted from the street-racing roots of the original but it's not my place to judge. I'm just here to plop down in the cinema for an entertaining flick. If it departs from what I was expecting, as long as it's a good one, it's fine with me. The safe scene at the end is so epic. Spin for the win: "I ain't negative. I'm just positive you're going to screw it up." 11. Twisters (2024) I loved the first "Twister" movie. It was a great story and had a wonderful balance of comedy, drama, and romance. The thing is, the new one blew all of those elements out of the water. Now, it is fair to question whether or not we should believe the quantity of tornados they're exposed to throughout the film is realistic. Brother, realistic is for the birds. Give me the action! This movie is non-stop white-knuckler with also some sweet relationships and fun characters. If you haven't seen this movie, do yourself a favor and check it out. Tips and tricks: "You can always trust a guy who puts his face on a t-shirt." Final Thoughts Sequels always have an uphill climb to live up to the original. They also have the benefit of not having to reintroduce you to all the characters. Sometimes that allows the filmmakers to be able to just throw you straight into the world to perfect effect. I am sure that I left some of your favorite sequels off the list or perhaps you just preferred the original to the new movie in some of these instances. Whatever the case, please let me know in the comments below. Thanks! I've also left a small list down below of movies that just missed my list. Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) Kong: Skull Island (2017) Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011) The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (1999) Final quote: "I do wish we could chat longer, but I'm having an old friend for dinner. Bye."

By CJ Tiernan Disney World has four distinct theme parks in Orlando, Florida: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and one that keeps getting renamed but I think is currently called Hollywood Studios. EPCOT was the second of these four parks to open and stands as my favorite one. EPCOT is an acronym for E xperimental P rototype C ommunity o f T omorrow and was a land of the future in Walt Disney's eyes. It came to fruition well after his death, but was designed to honor the spirit of his vision of the world to come. Divided into two sections, World Showcase and Future World, EPCOT was built to celebrate world cultures and paint an idyllic future, highlighting where our technological advancements can take us. Below is a list of my Top 11 favorite rides I ever got a chance to ride at EPCOT. It's worth noting that the last time I was there was 2021 and the new Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind ride didn't fully exist yet, so it will not make my list. 1. Spaceship Earth My Siblings and I at EPCOT - July 2017 While the many iterations of Disneyland and Disney World across the globe love their castles, to me the most iconic Disney theme park landmark is the EPCOT ball. It stands as an architectural marvel not only for its unique shape but also for the fact they crammed an entire ride inside. Spaceship Earth is the pinnacle of what a ride should be. It is fun, it is accessible to the whole family, and in keeping with the strategy of the theme park as a whole, it is educational. At the moment, it is a story of human communication throughout the history of humanity. It goes from cavemen, to the advent of papyrus , all the way to the invention and subsequent ubiquity of computers, and then tries to push that vision past the now and into the future. When I was kid, I remember seeing video conferencing on this ride for the first time, and now with Zoom and FaceTime, it's the norm. Such a fun and unique ride and unquestionably the greatest one at EPCOT. 2. Maelstrom This one no longer exists at the park. After the success of the animated film "Frozen," Disney transformed this attraction into a ride called "Frozen Ever After." While I much preferred the original version, don't worry, "Frozen Ever After" will also make my list. The first time I ever rode this ride, it felt as though we had stumbled on to something that no one else knew about. It was tucked in like a weird back corner of the Norwegian Pavilion and seemed off the beaten path. Once inside, you would kind of just weave back and forth inside of a single room where you could see the ride vehicle and you could just take in this enormous mural painted on the wall featuring vikings and trolls and tipping its hand at the ride ahead. The ride itself was a gondola-style water ride. I vividly remember the line "you are not the first to pass this way" with a mesmerizing one-eyed Odin serving as a narrator and a warning. If you're in possession of a time machine, I highly recommend dipping your toes into these waters (1988-2014 is going to need to be your target). 3. Soarin' This is a really cool ride. You sit down and then get lofted into the air in like a 3-story hang-glider in front of a giant screen. Various versions of this ride have left you hang-gliding around the world or over California. Starting in 2026, you will be "Soarin' Across America." It is a really unique experience, because not only are you in the air, they create effects to make the experience immersive like blowing wind in your hair and manufacturing aromas you would have access to in the various areas you go. You can smell oranges and the open seas. It is a very cool and unique experience that Meta has not yet been able to replicate with their glasses. 4. Universe of Energy Adventure with Ellen I like dinosaurs. As a kid, I loved dinosaurs. This was another ride that allowed for education and fun. It started with a video of Ellen DeGeneres, Jamie Lee Curtis, and the incomparable Bill Nye playing some Jeopardy (with the late Alex Trebek). The ride talks about energy and renewable and non-renewable resources. I'd argue that Bill Nye is our most important non-renewable resource. Anyway, back to the dinosaurs. You get on these comically large vehicles that feel like auditorium sections on wheels, and roll through the late Jurassic Period (actually, I think it was kind of a mishmash of all sorts of different eras to maximize the presence of dope dinosaurs). There were a whole bunch of different tableaus with animatronic dinosaurs. I wanted to be there forever. Now, it's the new Guardians of the Galaxy ride, so it better be really good. 5. Mission: Space I am someone who is highly susceptible to motion sickness. I have heard that this ride will really knock a lot of people down with its ability to inflict nausea. I am fortunate that this ride doesn't do that to me. Instead, I walk in, Gary Sinese says "we need you to save the world" or whatever, and then I get launched into outer space. It is absolutely insane! To create the G-Force necessary to simulate a launch into space without first requiring a physical, the Disney Imagineers made each ship a pod that could spin to create up to 2 and a half Gs of force. Getting launched into space is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend it. 6. Test Track This is another ride that has had multiple iterations. Disney, man, always tinkering. My favorite version of this ride was the first one. You are essentially placed in a car and are operating as a crash-test dummy. They test anti-lock brakes, they send you through hot and cold temperatures, and they even did a head-on barrier test (Spoiler Alert: they didn't actually drive you into a wall, at the last second, the doors open and you instead do a speed test outside before reentering the building. The later iteration of the ride was more of a "design a car and see how well it fairs" type of a thing that didn't have the same charm and simplicity as "you're a test dummy: deal with it." There is a new theme that started in 2025 and I believe they incorporate AI or something, but again, I have not yet had the honor of partaking. 7. Journey Into Imagination with Figment Figment is my guy! I love that little purple dragon. Dreamfinder and Figment are such a fun and unique combo. Unlike much of the Disney World attractions, they were characters created specifically for the ride, not pre-existing IP. The original version of the ride that I remember from my childhood featured Dreamfinder on an odd bike in the sky and a wonderful tune called "One Little Spark." The song, and the attraction as a whole, extolls the virtues of one's imagination. Figment is the anthropomorphic embodiment of imagination (again, love that little dude). The later iteration of the ride changed some elements but also incorporated Eric Idle, my favorite of the Monty Python clan, so it wasn't all bad. They have a room where everything is upside down which is always nice, but I miss the original. Plus, the new one, at least last time I was on it, felt really worn out, which is a sensation I don't like feeling at Disney World. It chips away at the magic. 8. El Rio Del Tiempo This is another ride that feels hidden in the World Showcase. You have to navigate through like a Mexican restaurant and inside of an Incan or Mayan pyramid to get to the queue. For nearly twenty years now, it has been called the "Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros." It follows the titular "Three Caballeros" as Donald Duck gets lost and the other two birds (a parrot and a rooster) attempt to find him. Disney essentially just ret-conned these characters into the existing ride. It feels like they aren't necessary, which is why I prefer the original, because the ride itself seems to otherwise be the same. It toured through Mexican culture, had an ominous volcano eruption, and even featured some animatronics that are remarkably similar to the ones used in "It's a Small World." Plus, it's a water ride. Water Ride = Dope. That's just math. 9. Living with the Land Speaking of water rides, "Living with the Land" might be the longest water ride in history. You get a chance to sail through various pieces of agricultural history and even an active garden. You get to see some jackfruit, some hydroponics, you know, really make it day of it. You get to coast through greenhouses and different biomes. It is a very relaxing experience. The ride lasts for like 15 minutes. At a theme park in Florida, 15 minutes of sitting down indoors is wonderful. At the very end of the ride, they tag you with the signature line, "only then, will we truly be living with the land." Ah, it hits every time. 10. Remy's Ratatouille Adventure This is the newest ride at EPCOT that I have ridden. You get to feel like you've been shrunk down (shrank down? shrinked?) to the size of a rat and you get to hang with your boy Remy. The ride vehicles were unique and the heat you could feel from the ovens was fun. I believe they recently opted to eliminate the 3-D element and the need for said glasses. It's just too screen-heavy for me. I prefer my rides drenched in animatronics. This one was a little lacking. Very cool, otherwise though. And it's tucked in the French Pavilion, which I don't think got enough shine before they added this ride. C'est magnifique! 11. Frozen Ever After I love the movie "Frozen." At the time of this writing, I have it at #250 on my all-time list of favorite movies. It's a great flick with fantastic music. But I'm always gonna resent this ride a little for replacing one of my all-time faves. It is inevitable to compare this ride to that one, and it just doesn't hold up. That ride was dark and ominous and this one is just so bright. I'm also a little bummed that the animatronics (yes! animatronics!) have weird, projected faces instead of just your standard animatronics. Innovation is great and I love that Disney likes to try new things, but I wish the price wasn't childhood nostalgia. But, yeah, obviously I WANT to build a snowman. Final Thoughts EPCOT is sensational and I really hope that Disney continues to cling to the ideals of the genesis of the park and continue to have it serve as a hub for innovation and looking to the future. It seems more and more it is leaning toward pre-existing IP by adding in aquatic characters like Nemo and Moana and shedding originals like Maelstrom and El Rio del Tiempo. The rides that just missed my list were "Horizons" ( I think I only rode it once and I was like 6 at the time so I don't remember it that well but I think it had some of the "looking to the future" elements as the EPCOT ball ride) and "Honey I Shrunk the Audience" (which is really more of an attraction than a ride but was a fun 4-D experience). If I missed any of your favorite parts of EPCOT, or my order was a swing and miss, please let me know in the comments below. Thanks! I will always love this park, I just hope Disney continues to seek "one little spark, of inspiration..."

By CJ Tiernan Dire Straits was a British rock band formed in the late '70s and they performed on and off until the mid '90s. They featured Mark Knopfler on lead guitar and lead vocals, David "Pick" Withers on Drums and percussion, David Knopfler on rhythm guitar and backing vocals, and John Illsley on bass and backing vocals. I know you had the same thought I did: how in the world is it the only guy without a guitar in his hand is the guy nicknamed "Pick." It just feels like a miss, like how the only guy in ZZ Top without a hilariously long beard was named Frank Beard. Anyway, these guys were an awesome band with a slew of hits. They blended genres with their rock, as some songs hit hard and others had a dash of blues or jazz sprinkled in. Below is a list of my 11 favorite songs by Dire Straits I've ever heard. Heinroch Klaffs, CC BY-SA 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons 1. Sultans of Swing (1978) - Dire Straits Often times you hear of a band going through struggles and years of practice (read: failure) before finally making it big. And those are the bands that you've actually heard of. The Beatles, for example had a very intense origin story . For Dire Straits, the first single from their self-titled debut album (released one year after they formed) was "Sultans of Swing." They came out the gates...swinging. This song is my favorite. It is the perfect mix of rock: you can sing along to it and shred some mean air guitar. 2. Romeo and Juliet (1980) - Making Movies I bet you'll never guess where the title for this song came from. Why yes, it is about the star-crossed lovers of Shakespearian lore. It also mixes in some more contemporary references like "Hey, la, my boyfriend's back." (Is a reference to a song from the '60s a contemporary reference in 1980?) This song hits a sweet spot that many of the band's biggest hits managed to find between tender and rock and roll. 3. Money For Nothing (1985) - Brothers in Arms This was their biggest hit from their biggest album. It's another eternal banger. Fun fact: the "I want my MTV" line that gets sung over and over is actually performed by Sting (you know, of The Police) and he sings it to the beat of his own hit song "Don't Stand too Close to Me." Plus, Weird Al did his own version of the song for the movie "UHF" that lampooned the acclaimed music video and sung about the Beverly Hillbillies. The video intro was computer animated. In 1985, the graphics were... something to behold. The animated elements added to the live action shots, however: sick! 4. Heavy Fuel (1991) - On Every Street This song absolutely slaps. It might be the most robust bass in their catalog. It features the singer singing the praises of such vices as "nicotine for breakfast" and "scotch all night." It's the kind of song you throw on while cruising down the road with the wind in your hair and forget yourself for five minutes. It is based off a book titled Money that follows '80s consumer culture down the hedonistic rabbit hole with a main character so self-entitled his surname is literally "Self." Ha. Good one! 5. Brothers in Arms (1985) - Brothers in Arms The title track and closing track of their best selling album, "Brothers in Arms" is possibly Dire Straits' most powerful song. The phrase conjures up images of soldiers in war. The song express a yearning to "No longer burn to be brothers in arms," encouraging a call to arms to end a war. This song is apparently a frequent choice to be played at military funerals. It has haunting vocals and an incredible guitar solo and is unquestionably one of the bands most beautiful songs. 6. On Every Street (1991) - On Every Street Dire Straits does something unique in their music that you don't always see. My favorite part of multiple songs of theirs takes place not only at the end of the song but after the lyrics have subsided. This song has melancholy lyrics and a mellow melody until the final minute or so when it crescendos into sonic drama in a really fascinating way. The guitar solo outro (or occasionally sax solo outro) is like their signature move. Speaking of signature moves: dibs on "sax solo outro" as a new tongue-twister (Gotcha! You thought I was gonna say band name). 7. Calling Elvis (1991) - On Every Street This is a fun song to rock out to. The percussion really drives this song and makes it feel like there is a level of urgency at play. It is really just singing about a guy who believes that Elvis is still alive and is trying to reach out because he is a fan. The genesis of the song was as simple as Mark Knopfler once being told he was "harder to reach than Elvis." Funny where we get our ideas. (Funnier still that I said "we" like "The Knopf" and I are on the same level). 8. Lady Writer (1979) - Communiqué Given some of the language used in Dire Straits' songs, it would be reasonable to jump to the conclusion that this title feels a skosh misogynistic. I don't know one way or the other whether that's true, but I do know that this song sounds a lot like "Sultans of Swing." Like kinda a lot a lot. For that reason alone, it rocks! 9. So Far Away (1985) - Brothers in Arms The guitar in this song is so fun. It has such a unique sound. Classic Dire Straits. This is the opening track on "Brother in Arms." The first four tracks are this one, "Money for Nothing," "Walk of Life," and then "Your Latest Trick." That is a heck of a way to start an album. 10. Your Latest Trick (1985) - Brothers in Arms Ladies and gentleman: the brass section has entered the chat. This song starts with a trumpet (or bongos depending on the version you listen to) and then features a saucy saxophone throughout. (Wait: is the sax part of the brass section? Crap, I think it's a woodwind). Anyway, the vocals are tender and the guitar is great (as always) but this is a saxophone song. Dude, the sax! I might put it second behind only Gerry Rafferty's "Baker Street" for best sax of all time. Aw man, but then there's "Turn the Page" by Bob Seger. I might have to do a Top 11 list for best Sax parts. Stay tuned. 11. Skateaway (1980) - Making Movies This is a great song with highs and lows. It reminds me of something you might hear when Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf team up, but with less piano and more funky guitar. The percussion is a lot like "Calling Elvis," where it feels like the cymbals are driving the speed and energy of the song. It is wonderful. Final Thoughts I don't know if Dire Straits gets enough shine these days. I would imagine that most people know at least a few of their songs, but they really have quite the catalog. In fact, one of their biggest commercial hits, "Walk of Life," was left off my list. I didn't enjoy having to leave "Expresso Love," "Down to the Waterline," and "Tunnel of Love" off my list (although I hate to perpetuate a common mispronunciation of the word "espresso," the song "Expresso Love" is too great to leave unsaid). If I left any of your favorites off the list, please let me know in the comments below. Thanks and Rock on!

By CJ Tiernan Sometimes you hear a song and it just knocks your socks off. You attempt to consume the artist's entire oeuvre or just listen to the song over and over again. But then again, sometimes a song is a miss. It doesn't hit right. It doesn't stick in your mind. You absorb it and move on. That is, until another artist comes along, dusts off the old track, and finds something new in it. Whether it's a new spin or just done in the artist's typical style, a change of scenery can completely change everything. Below is a list of songs that blew me away only to find that it was a second (or third or fourth) crack at making it great. I give you my 11 favorite cover songs that were better than the original. 1. Hallelujah - Jeff Buckley Original Artist: Leonard Cohen In the show "How I Met Your Mother," Ted Mosby (architect) divulges the translation for the Japanese word "karaoke" is "empty orchestra." He follows this revelation up by asking, "isn't that hauntingly beautiful?" I believe "hauntingly beautiful" is the perfect phrase for describing Jeff Buckley's version of this song. It sounds distant and jarring while also tender and heartfelt. Malcolm Gladwell actually did an entire episode of his "Revisionist History" podcast about this song that is worthy of your time. 2. When the Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin Original Artist: Kansas Joe McCoy and Memphis Minnie I could listen to the beginning of this of song on a loop for the rest of time. It is so great. While the original version is too nothing-burger for me, the Zeppelin cover is epic. Obviously, most everything that Led Zeppelin touched turned to gold. "You Shook Me" and "Babe I'm Gonna Leave You" were also cover songs, but "When the Levee Breaks" stands alone in my book as their best cover (and possibly my favorite song of theirs period). 3. Twist and Shout - The Beatles Original Artist: The Top Notes The first time I heard this song was in the parade scene of the movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." Ferris hops up on a float and lip-syncs along to the song. It would be several years before I found out the version I heard was by The Beatles and longer still before I found out it was not originally performed by them. I remember seeing their name listed as the artist when trying to download it off of LimeWire (hopefully the statute of limitations is up on that crime) and I didn't believe it. I launched into research mode (a.k.a. Google) and it wasn't even for a class. The sound just feels so pure and raw, like The Kingsmen song "Louie Louie." 4. I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston Original Artist: Dolly Parton I have never seen the movie "The Bodyguard." I don't really believe in Kevin Costner. He just doesn't scratch that itch for me. My fear is that he could be replaced with a cardboard cutout of himself without any element of his performance being lost. However, this song (performed for the movie). Oh man, this song. "I Will Always Love You" is one of the most singular performances of a song in the history of songs. And, believe it or not, it's actually a pretty faithful cover of the original. Whitney Houston just un-country-ifies it and, you know, does her thing. 5. Mary, Did You Know? - Pentatonix Original Artist: Michael English Ralph Arversen, CC BY 2.0 , via Wikimedia Commons To be fair to the world at large, creating a 5-part harmony of a song is usually gonna bring out the best. These guys are the bee's knees, especially around the Holiday season. The intensity and energy these guys bring to their songs is borderline untouchable. "Mary, Did You Know?" tends to stand out as the best among them. They also have a great cover of Jeff Buckley's version of "Hallelujah." 6. Mad World - Michael Andrews feat. Gary Jules Original Artist: Tears for Fears I'd be curious to know if "Donnie Darko" is still a movie that everyone discovers in High School and has to talk about. That's certainly how I first found my way to it. It is a dark and melancholy movie and so they turned an '80s pop hit into a dark and melancholy song. They stripped this song down and played it with haunting piano and hushed vocals. It's tremendous. 7. Over the Rainbow - Israel Kamakawiwo'ole Original Artist: Judy Garland This is the only medley on my list. It is also the only song on the list that features the ukulele. It's tough to go up against the greatness of Judy Garland in "The Wizard of Oz." In Israel's defense, he waited like 60 or 70 years to try. This is another version of a song that is really stripped down from the original, replacing a full orchestra with a uke. Sick! 8. Higher Ground - Red Hot Chili Peppers Original Artist: Stevie Wonder Don't get me wrong, the Stevie Wonder version of this song is great. It is unquestionably my favorite original version of all the songs on this list. But that funky bass that Flea adds to the proceedings can't be dismissed. This song has an energy (as do most Red Hot Chili Peppers song) that you can't help but feed off, which feels fitting for a song off the album "Mother's Milk." 9. Because the Night - 10,000 Maniacs Original Artist: Patti Smith Group There are a ton of great choices for best songs from MTV Unplugged. That was a show (I don't know if they still do it) where artists would come on and do a concert of a lot of stripped down versions of their songs (a.k.a. acoustic a.k.a. unplugged from the amp). Most of the iconic performances on the show over the years were of the artist's own material. However, in addition to this song, one could choose from any of a half-dozen Nirvana cover songs. I love "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" but I know that a lot of people love the cover of David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold the World." "Because the Night" is my favorite. I love the roar of the crowd at the beginning. You can just feel the energy (am I using the word "energy" too much when talking about music? Should I start using something else? Vibes, maybe? How 'bout zeal?) 10. Torn - Natalie Imbruglia Original Artist: Anne Preven The original version of this song sounds even more '90s than this cover version. That feels crazy to me because this song has a real chance to make the list if I did a Top 11 List of the most '90s songs of the '90s (I can't explain it, you just had to be there). This is a version that is more poppy and peppy than the original. It's nice to not just have the only way to make a great cover song be to "strip it down." 11. Love is Blindness - Jack White Original Artist: U2 Have you heard this Jack White guy? He's pretty good. This cover version is so cool. He adds an effervescence to the original that Bono and the boys just couldn't seem to find. Add in his vocal work and the way he seems to have his voice break at the peak of the screams. It is awesome. There's also no shortage of guitar-flavored shreddage going on. [Insert "rock on" emoji here] Final Thoughts Cover songs are not just a way to add tracks to a song or setlist. They can be a fresh approach or different take to further showcase the range or musical ability of an artist. I'm sure that you have a favorite cover song. If it didn't make my list, please let me know in the comments. It's possible I just haven't heard it yet. Thanks!