Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2009 March 26

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March 26

Can anyone offer suggestions as to what song this describes:

What song is it, from a long time ago, like 20 years ago, that has one of the best saxophone accompaniments to vocals that I have ever heard? The saxophone is absolutely ecstatic. The song is very upbeat and positive. The words convey a positive, hopeful message, but I can't remember what it is. A logical assumption is that it is one guy giving advice on love to another guy, but that may just be in my imagination. It is also a very exotic song. It is riotously loud and cacophonous. I don't think it was a super big hit. I mean, I've heard it played a lot, but not at all in recent years, and I don't think it was like a mega blockbuster. I just remember that the vocals were great, and the saxophone was out of this world. The vocalist is male. It is a super happy song. It is the saxophone that I really want to hear again. It screeches at places in high pitch reaching for the heights of emotion. Bus stop (talk) 01:30, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

I'm very uncertain, but the first one I thought of was the 1980 Blues Brothers recording of "Think" with Blue Lou Marini screeching away on the alto saxophone. ---Sluzzelin talk 02:16, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

Unless you mean Lee Thompson with Madness on "One Step Beyond". Quite upbeat! ---Sluzzelin talk 02:22, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

I don't find anything like it by following those leads, on YouTube. It is not a nutty tune. It holds together quite well. It has the kind of "launch" that a song such as Hey Jude, by the Beatles has, by which I mean that it gets more ecstatic as the song goes on, becoming really wild towards the middle and end. But not nutty. Just exuberant. Thanks for those suggestions. I guess I can only describe it in highly subjective terms, because I don't know much about music. There is another song that reminds me of it, but a pale comparison of it, in my opinion. I don't know what that song is, either. When I occasionally hear that song I think momentarily that it is the one I am trying to think of now. Thanks for your help. This may be hopeless, with the sketchy details I am able to supply. Bus stop (talk) 02:46, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

Well I was rather hoping it wasn't "Baker Street", but it might well be, I guess :-) ... ---Sluzzelin talk 02:56, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

Please don't ge me wrong, in case it is "Baker Street": that's a fine enough solo (compare it to the one on "True" for a very misplaced solo), and it's not the soloist's fault that it overpopulated the ether and popularized the pop sax solo. ---Sluzzelin talk 03:09, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

(Edit conflict) No it is definitely not "Think," the Aretha Franklin song. I know that song very well, and it is not that. And also no, it is definitely not Baker Street, by Gerry Rafferty. I know that song very well too. It is a much better song, of course in my opinion, than Baker Street, by Gerry Rafferty. It makes far less sense, as far as I can remember it, narrationally, than a song like Baker Street. Baker Street is wordy, by comparison. But yes, the music is great in Baker Street. Bus stop (talk) 03:13, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

Okee, maybe Exploration of the Best Rock Saxophone Solos can help you. ---Sluzzelin talk 03:19, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

Thanks for that. That is great. It's going to take me awhile to listen to all of that, but this is great. I'm listening to Junior Walker's Shotgun right now. Definitely not it, but great song. Bus stop (talk) 03:36, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

You're more than welcome, for what it will be worth. Please let us know what it was if and once you find it! ---Sluzzelin talk 03:44, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

Yes, I can't seem to find it. None of those are it. The title of the Inxs' "Never Tear Us Apart" rang a bell. I was sure it was going to be it. I think there is a theme of something like that in the song: of friends forever, and, nothing will ever tear us apart -- that sort of thing. But the song that I found was definitely not it. I was using Beemp3.com. I'm going to go to sleep now. I'll be sure to post back if I have a lucid dream in which the title and artist is displayed, along with the year and the additional personnel. I think there's a line in it that says something like "you are a friend of mine." Seriously. That is what the theme of the song seems to be about. As a matter of fact I never understood what the song was about, even when I used to listen to it and enjoy it. I think it may be a fairly obscure song. I don't think it got an enormous amount of air play, and only during a few years. But there is something about confirming friendship in it. Some line shouts that again and again. Thanks for your help. Bus stop (talk) 04:19, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

Just taking a shot here...your initial description sounds to me a bit like "Young Americans" by David Bowie. The lyrics aren't actually all that positive, but the song itself has an exuberant feel and a very prominent sax accompaniment. However, the last post you made makes this guess a bit more doubtful... AlexiusHoratius 05:09, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

No, that's not it. I just listened to it. Found it online. I was familiar with that song, though not super familiar. The song I'm thinking of I think has a black guy singing. I don't know why I say that, because I have never seen anything about it. But the guy just sounds black to me. If he turns out to be white, then I'll say he's a white guy who sounds black. One of the "meanings" that I got out of the song was one of racial harmony. I found the message especially positive. It could be completely in my imagination, but I found it very easy to understand it as a black guy talking to a white guy, saying, we are solid; nothing can come between us. Thanks for that suggestion. My clues are the weakest part of this discussion. The trouble is they never play it on top hits radio anymore. I don't think I've heard it in years. Bus stop (talk) 12:12, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

"Never Tear Us Apart" sounding familiar and it possibly being a "white guy who sounds black" automatically makes me think Never Gonna Give You Up, but somehow I doubt that's the song you're looking for. --Onorem♠Dil 12:20, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

No, it's not "Never Gonna Give You Up," by Rick Astley. He definitely sounds black. That's another great song. Thanks for the suggestion. Bus stop (talk) 12:59, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

My first guess is James Brown's "Living in America". If not, maybe it's older. Wilson Pickett, maybe. "Midnight Hour" or such. Upbeat... Was (Not Was) - "Walk the Dinosaur". Kid Creole - Endicott. Clarence Clemons of the E Street Band had a solo song and now I can't remember what it was. But I will be thinking about this all day...so yay. --Moni3 (talk) 13:13, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

You may be thinking of You're a Friend Of Mine by Clarence Clemons and Jackson Browne. cheers! 10draftsdeep (talk) 13:14, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

That's it. Whoopie! "You're a Friend Of Mine," is the song! Oh yeah -- this is it: [1]. Thanks, everybody! I think this video at YouTube is too good too! Bus stop (talk) 13:51, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

Resolved

10draftsdeep (talk) 16:14, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

Film From The 80s or 90s.

Hi guys. I'm searching for what I believe to be a film from the 90s. Not exactly sure on many of the details. I just remember a game show for kids, where at the end this kid gets tarred and feathered in a little plastic bathing pool, and is utterly humiliated. May or not have been one of those situations where he did it to humiliate himself, to prove he was sorry for hurting someone. Sorry for being so vague. Is anybody able to steer me in the right direction? It's most likely a direct-to-video film from the 90s. Thanks! Caleb Osment (talk) 10:27, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

AFTER LIFE

This would be a really stupid question but, whatever there have been instances of people seeing the light when they die, is it actually true? some people say that, even after we die, there is a place where we go according to our deeds when we lived. is it true? would my actions that i do now affect my afterlife??? pretty deep huh! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 6zo6dy6 (talk • contribs)

I don't think there's anyone here that could really answer this definitively for you, and the reference desk isn't a place for opinions, predictions, or debates...which is probably all this topic would lead to. You might be interested in the Afterlife article to see what different religions/cultures believe. --Onorem♠Dil 12:37, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

For the first part, read the wiki article Near death experience. As for "there is a place where we go according to our deeds when we lived. is it true?", up to a point, yes there is. For instance, if you bought a burial plot while you were alive, then there's a good chance that's where you'll be buried. On the other hand, if while you're alive, you cause trouble for gangsters, then when you die, you might go to a place such as the foundations of a concrete overpass. Or you may end up sleeping with the fishes. --81.170.13.77 (talk) 12:44, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

(after ec) Well, the Christian faith tells us that if you were a good person on Earth, you might be eligible to pass the pearl gates of Heaven, and if you were bad, you might get the privilege to burn in hell until it freezes over. Most of the Middle Ages were shaped by the notion of memento mori, and that (to paraphrase and retranslate Terry Pratchett) the earthly life is somewhat of a tedious prelude to the main spectacle, through which one should get as quickly and elegantly as possible. Why not ask over at the humanities desk further? --Ouro (blah blah) 12:45, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

The Christian faith does not say anything of the kind. Please don't give fake summaries like that. DJ Clayworth (talk) 16:51, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

I apologise. I'll strike that. --Ouro (blah blah) 22:17, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

Some Christians believe exactly that. It's not giving a fake summary, it's just over-generalising. 79.66.127.79 (talk) 14:13, 27 March 2009 (UTC)

well im jewish. and according to us, anything that you do in this life, straight away makes your next life (not afterlife) worse. so i was just thinking, that if there is any afterlife or not. and if there is, how exactly do we reach it? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 6zo6dy6 (talk • contribs) 13:00, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

"anything that you do in this life, straight away makes your next life ... worse" ? Not just bad things you do, but anything you do ? That's a strong argument to not do anything in life, isn't it ? StuRat (talk) 15:55, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

There's only one way to reach the afterlife and that's to leave this one!--TammyMoet (talk) 13:10, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

Okay, if you are a Jew, you are at least spiritual cousin to Christians. The Christian faith is not about being good, it is about receiving forgiveness. because, we all do bad things.

I would suggest reading the Old Testament to get some idea of your spiritual roots, because that is where you will find out about your belief system. Basically, the difference between Jews and Christians is that Jews believe Messiah is yet to come, Christians believe Jesus Christ was and is the promised Messiah, and that His forgiveness can be received now.

So, I would suggest gaining an understanding of these things, and verses such as Isaiah 53, because they relate more specifically to how God handles things in the afterlife. Also, Job believed that, after he died, he would see God face to face, another good OT cite for you to consider.209.244.187.155 (talk) 16:05, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

Right. a) what the 'christian faith' is about varies between denominations, and what it says on the afterlife is one of the big things that varies. b) if 6zo6dy6 is religiously jewish, why would they read the Bible to get their spiritual guidance? Why wouldn't they read their own holy books rather than bits of them translated according to and fitted into a different religious tradition?

6zo6dy6, if you want a religiously jewish perspective I suggest you look at some jewish religious texts or what some common jewish beliefs are on the afterlife. If you want some other views and thoughts, perhaps read the article Afterlife which looks at various beliefs and philosophies. Ultimately, it is one of the great unknowns. 79.66.127.79 (talk) 21:31, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

Film question

Hello, Refdeskers. I seek to find the name of a movie my girlfriend had described to me. It is supposed to be a part-comedy about a manned mission to Mars and the preparations leading up to it. It starts with a boy sitting in a washing machine watching the earth spin around. Then the boy grows up to be a specialist electrician or somesuch, and is picked as an expert to assist on the mission. He undergoes training (like in the centrifuge, and in isolation (there's supposed to be another fun scene with sock puppets here)). He's supposed to be a bit wacky. We don't know when the film was made, but definitely before 2002. An English-language film. No idea about any names whatsoever. If anybody has any ideas, we'll be grateful. Thanks and cheers! --Ouro (blah blah) 12:50, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

RocketMan? --Onorem♠Dil 12:55, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

(ec)You're not thinking of RocketMan are you? A very silly, but thoroughly enjoyable, film. 79.66.127.79 (talk) 12:57, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

Possible... I'll check, might be it. --Ouro (blah blah) 13:11, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

That was it! Thanks, friends! --Ouro (blah blah) 21:08, 27 March 2009 (UTC)

1970's TV show

I remember a short-lived police show, I'm not sure if it was a drama or comedy. All I recall is that there was a police dog (maybe a German Shepherd) named Fuzz. What was the title? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 75.55.215.168 (talk) 16:52, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

My googling suggests Chase (1973 TV series). Apparently Wayne Maunder was it's handler. From [2] "During the 1973-1974 season, Wayne had a lead role in the twenty-two episodes of the series "Chase", created by Stephen J. Cannell. The show depicted the exploits of an undercover police unit. As Sgt. Sam MacCray, the handler for a police canine named "Fuzz", Maunder co-starred with Mitchell Ryan who played the title role, and a changing cast of fellow officers." Nanonic (talk) 17:34, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

(after e.c.) My googling concurs with Nanonic's, though I don't know the series. Fuzz is a funny enough name for a police dog, given that it was a derogatory slang term for the police back in the 1960s and early 70s, when the series was written. And, of course, Fuzz is also the name of Ziggy's dog, and what a police officer Ziggy would make! ---Sluzzelin talk 17:47, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

From Ziggy's shape, I bet he likes his donuts. :-) StuRat (talk) 16:19, 27 March 2009 (UTC)

Name that background music

What's the name of the background music for Part II, Ch 5 "Angel of Death" in Max Payne? Spade9 (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 18:40, 26 March 2009 (UTC).

...on another note....

What's the significance or meaning behind the Max Payne chapter title "Byzantine Power Game"? Spade9 (talk) —Preceding unsigned comment added by Spade9 (talk • contribs) 18:56, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

I don't know about Max Payne, but until anyone else answers you could look at Derogatory use of "Byzantine", and of course Byzantium. The phrase "Byzantine power game" may refer to excessively complex and convoluted power struggles (it may also allude to Istanbul or the East). --Maltelauridsbrigge (talk) 10:45, 30 March 2009 (UTC)

Are chips transferable?

(a) In gambling meccas such as Las Vegas, are gambling chips generally transferrable from casino to casino? (b) If so, would you say this is more to the benefit of the customer or the casinos? --Halcatalyst (talk) 19:46, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

• It's not the most reliable of sources, but this site says it's not common. - 87.211.75.45 (talk) 22:37, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

I can't imagine there would be much of an advantage to it to the casinos, unless they were operating under the same ownership. Chips are just pretend money issued by the casino for the purposes of betting. If I go to Casino A, buy $500 worth of chips, gamble for a couple of hours, lose half of them and cash out the rest, I walk out with no chips and $250 of my own money. The casino keeps $250.

But let's say my chips were transferable. After an hour of losing money at Casino A, I might walk out with $400 in chips remaining. Casino A now has all of my $500, so they are pretty happy about it. Then I walk into Casino B, get lucky, and run up my stack to $750. I cash that out and hit the buffet with $750 of Casino B's money in my pocket.

What is the net result? Casino A gets $500 from Casino B while I get $250. That's not so swell for Casino B - unless it is owned by the same people as Casino A.

Now, you could argue that with enough casinos in town, this would all average out - at the same time as I am cashing in Casino A's chips for Casino B's money, some other low roller is doing the opposite. And, by letting me carry chips around, the casinos as a whole are encouraging me to gamble more - letting me go from casino to casino in search of a hot blackjack table rather than just cashing out when I get skunked at the first casino I hit.

This is probably why there are some reports that this uncommon practice does happen sometimes in Vegas - it is probably the only place where there are enough casinos that this might work. But the fact that it isn't common even there suggests that most casinos look at this as a probably money-loser for them. - Eron^Talk 23:02, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

Why would it lose money? All they'd have to do is take the chips back to the original casino and cash them in. Of course, they would have to take an armored car and a few security guards, which is probably the reason they don't want to do it. Clarityfiend (talk) 04:56, 27 March 2009 (UTC)

I agree that casinos could avoid losing money by cashing in chips - or ideally, just exchanging chips one for one - in this situation. But the overhead would be costly, as you note. And I don't see a big advantage in a casino letting this happen - they want the people who buy chips from them to stay there and lose more money. - Eron^Talk 19:13, 27 March 2009 (UTC)

Also if you prevent people from taking chips off the premises you can maybe help reduce the amount of counterfeit chips being created (though to be fair this barrier is hardly the toughest to get over).

Not hugely related but sort-of similar is here in the UK whenever a major Supermarket chain open a new store in the town it is very common for them to give you a book of £5/£10 off vouchers (when you spend over £X). These are valid in the new supermarket, but what quite often happens is that the rival supermarkets will advertise that they will accept the vouchers (even though they'll never get any money from them) to try to prevent people using the other supermarket. 194.221.133.226 (talk) 10:43, 27 March 2009 (UTC)

This is the kind of discussion I love: Nobody actually has any facts, but everybody reasons politely at a high intellectual level. --Halcatalyst (talk) 15:59, 28 March 2009 (UTC)

Question about the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers cast change

I know the reasons why the actors Austin St. John (Jason), Thuy Trang (Trini) and Walter Emmanuel Jones (Zack) left the show, but I would like to know how and why the characters left? David Pro (talk) 19:55, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

To go on a peace conference. I remember thinking at the time that it was weird and unlikely, and it only became funnier over time! The characters were invited on a peace conference, so they gave up being rangers and never came back. Rumour has it that 'getting sent on a peace conference' became a euphemism among the cast and crew. 79.66.127.79 (talk) 20:54, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

The beginning of this and

from 4:56 on this.

Oh yes, I pwn at searching! 79.66.127.79 (talk) 21:11, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

Children in dangerous acts

Following a previous question, I now know who the youngest stunt performer on film was. I also know of someone who was aged around 13-14 when he first swallowed a sword. But I'm still wondering what other dangerous stuff kids have done under (semi)professional conditions. I know there was a mother who did a knife throwing act with her two daughters as the targets in the 1950s, but does anyone know of a minor doing the throwing a knife throwing act in a sideshow or a circus? (If anyone can think of lion tamers other than Jorge Elich, tightrope walkers, firebreathers, and kids doing other dangerous acts, those are welcome too) - 87.211.75.45 (talk) 22:26, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

I don't know if you are interest only in child entertainers or not, but I think the sad case of Jessica Dubroff may qualify. - Eron^Talk 23:32, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

As a child, Buster Keaton was part of a vaudeville act in which his father would throw him (into the scenery, into the orchestra pit, into the audience, etc.) by a suitcase handle sewn into his clothing for that purpose. -- KathrynLybarger (talk) 23:54, 26 March 2009 (UTC)

In the Esther Williams' film, Skirts Ahoy (1952), the role of the Little Girl was portrayed by swimming star Kathy Tongay. The five-year-old Aquatot died May 5, 1953 in Miami after a faulty 33-foot practice dive. Her father had previously attempted to have her swim the English Channel, but neither British nor French authorities would allow it. After the child's death, her father was convicted on a manslaughter charge and sentenced to ten years in prison. Pepso2 (talk) 01:30, 27 March 2009 (UTC)

We have an article on the Aquatots. I had no idea about this one - how awful. Karenjc 12:09, 27 March 2009 (UTC)

• Yes, those qualify, but I wouldn't be opposed to cases in which the child actually survived. Wouldn't want it to turn into a depressing list of deaths. - 131.211.211.226 (talk) 13:38, 27 March 2009 (UTC)

Mario Wallenda began tightrope training as as toddler, joined the family act at age 14 and was paralyzed at 21. Pepso2 (talk) 14:23, 27 March 2009 (UTC)

Natalie Wood was in a stunt gone bad at age 11. She broke her wrist and nearly drowned, causing a lifelong fear of water. Since the bone was not properly reset, she always wore bracelets on her left arm to hide the protruding bone. Pepso2 (talk) 18:35, 28 March 2009 (UTC)

Mark Gebel was a circus animal trainer at a young age.[3]. Rmhermen (talk) 19:18, 28 March 2009 (UTC)