Tuesday, August 11, 2009

"You wanna tell me what this is all about?"


Everyone together now...
As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life
And realize there's nothing left.
'Cause I've been blasting and laughing so long
That even my momma thinks that my mind has gone.
Why aren't you singing along?

I guess you can't,
I guess you won't,
I guess you front,
That's why I know this post is out of luck, foo!



"Gangsta's Paradise" the song (Total Classic)
"Gangsta's Paradise" the video (Pfeiffer Porn)


Dangerous Minds opened 14 years ago, today. Throw candy bars to your best students and try to look 'whitebread' cool in a leather jacket in its honor.
*

19 comments:

Andrew K. said...

Oh God. Has it been that long. I was addicted to this film back in 1997-1999. This was actually my first Michelle Pfeiffer experience. She's even pretty when she looks run down.

Fernando Moss said...

I absolutely agree... I don't even like this kind of music (except by some very rare exceptions, like this) and everytime I hear this song I star singing it out loud like a possessed guy haha... And I just saw the video yesterdy on VH1 (how crazy is that) in a Top 20 All Time Best Hip-Hop/Rap Videos (it was #5)... I bet that high ranking is all about Michelle.

Wayne B said...

"They say I gotta learn, but nobody's here to teach me/If they can't understand it, how can they reach me/I guess they can't, I guess they won't/I guess they front, that's why I know my life is out of luck, fool"

My favourite part of the song and it still has resonance today.

Jim T said...

I like the film and I really love the song. Michelle is at her best in the video.

adelutza said...

Too hot for a leather jacket but I'm eating candy bars a s I write this.

Derek said...

It's funny that it's the anniversary of that, and The Class was released on DVD today.

Andrew said...

Is it bad that whenever I hear this song, I immediately sing the lyrics to Weird Al's parody?

Both great tracks.

Kamila said...

I LOVE this song! "Gangsta's Paradise" RULES! :-)

M said...

I loved this movie, and the song was great also.

Can't believe it was so long ago.

Clement said...

I was way too young when I watched this movie. I need to take another peak.

I love the "whitebread" comment.

I teach 8th grade social studies in Richmond (Virginia).

Nothing in this movie - or really any movie of the sort - works today in the classroom. Even an inspirational movie like Lean on Me...that type of attitude who have you fired in moments.

Maybe Stand and Deliver.
Maybe Stand and Deliver.

Walter L. Hollmann said...

I never saw it, but my elementary school did a version of Gangsta's Paradise for Earth Day (which became Earth Month). It started out "As I walk through the valley in the shadow of trash..." and something about recycling. Also, a puppet cat and her puppet friends sang it. Elementary school was bizarre.

Glenn said...

Oh man. This some is so flat out brilliant, isn't it? It's songs like this that I go back to when people ask what's so bad about hip-hop these days.

The entire soundtrack to Dangerous Minds, however, is very good too. Such a time capsule.

kel said...

Wow, 14 years. This film was my first Michelle experience. I was 11and I vividly remember seeing the commercial for it and asking my mom 'Who's Michelle Pfeiffer?". I think by then many kids my age knew her as catwoman already but my parents never took me to Batman Returns:(

Anyway, I didn't see the film until a year later on cable. And I freaking loved it. It was my favourite movie until Titanic came out. (Yes, I had horrible taste in movies as a tween).

I probably watched this film 50 times between '96 and '98 on VHS. Michelle became my favourite actress (she's still my all-time fave to this day). I recorded the Coolio video and re-watched it many times too. I was obsessed, ya know?

I imagine watching the film now will be more about nostalgia than a great cinematic experience. Nevertheless, I will always have a special place in my heart for Dangerous Minds because it introduced to me to my lifelong cinematic obsession. ;)

Anonymous said...

Makes You miss widely released movies with strong female leads not named meryl streep

Anonymous said...

I meant makes you miss the tiime when there were widely released movies with strong female leads not named meryl streep or sex and the city

amir_uk said...

Was this song eligible for the Oscars? Whenever I hear it/see the video I always think, how the f**k did this not win an Oscar!

P.S. Michelle Pfeiffer is so beautiful. That is all.

Glenn Dunks said...

Amir, I know the song uses a sample and there may have been some debate as to whether the song was originally for the film or written for Coolio's album.

kel said...

Yeah, I'm not sure Gangsta's Paradise was written specifically for the film. Probably not?

But it's a cover of Stevie Wonder's "Pastime Paradise"; also a fantastic song ;)

I love Weird Al's cover of the song. I used to sing it all the time. '...churn butter once or twice living in an Amish Paradise..." The Brady lady plays Michelle's role in the music video. love it.

steve said...

life beyond Meryl Streep! :D