Words With Wong: Oldies but Goodies
November 5, 2014
I have always considered myself an old soul. And in a world where people focus on the new, it is sometimes refreshing to go back and rediscover the gems of the past. Here are a few of my old favorites, ranging from music to films.
The epitome of swing music, Frank Sinatra is my favorite singer of all time. I enjoy swing and jazz music in general but there is something about his seductive voice that makes me swoon. His ability to pull off powerful songs with such finesse in a seemingly effortless manner makes him one of the greats. Whenever I have a bad day, I just curl up on the couch with my iPod and blast some of his masterpieces and suddenly, I am relaxed letting Sinatra’s beautiful voice drown out everything else. A few of my favorites include “I’ve Got a Crush on You,” “My Way,” and “Fly Me to the Moon.”
I discovered Nat King Cole while watching “The Parent Trap” in elementary school. He sings one of the opening songs “L-O-V-E,” which got me hooked onto his music ever since. His velvety voice melts away all your sorrows and sweeps you off your feet. Other songs of his I enjoy are “Unforgettable” and of course, “The Christmas Song,” which I blast anytime of the year.
After realizing many of my peers have yet to listen to any songs by “The Beatles”, (it’s sad, really), I feel compelled to persuade those of you who have yet to listen to the legendary band to give their songs a try and experience Beatlemania. Their timeless and unique songs are ridiculously catchy and make you either happily dance in your room or profoundly contemplate life. My personal favorites are “Yesterday,” “Here Comes the Sun,” and “Across the Universe.”
Though there are always new and exciting films that gain popularity, sometimes it is nice to re-watch classic old movies. One in particular is “His Girl Friday” (1940), which stars Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell as newspaper editors Walter Burns and Hildy Johnson. In the screwball comedy film, the two are divorced colleagues until Hildy tells Walter she is leaving the business to marry her fiancé. Walter’s jealousy gets the better of him as he attempts to distract Hildy by having her write one last article. A hilarious slew of antics ensue as Hildy attempts to get information for the story and Walter attempts to rid of Hildy’s fiancé, Bruce. “His Girl Friday” is an endearing love story masked by the excitement that comes with being a cutting edge journalist.
Another more recent film I absolutely adore is “Pretty Woman” (1990). The film is a romantic comedy classic that focuses on corporate raider Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) and prostitute Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts). The two meet and soften each other’s vices. “Pretty Woman” shows the disparity of social classes while recounting a charming love story, making it a must-see for any rom-com fanatics.
