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A Tribute to Luca Brasi

There are men in this world who go about demanding to be killed. They argue in gambling games; they jump out of their cars in a rage if someone so much as scratches their fender. These people wander through the streets calling out “Kill me, kill me.” Luca Brasi was such a man. And since he wasn’t scared of death, and in fact, looked for it… I made him my weapon. Because I was the only person in the world that he truly hoped would not kill him.”―Vito Corleone

Luca Brasi is one of Don Vito Corleone’s personal enforcers in Mario Puzo’s The Godfather, and played by 6-foot-6, 320-pound Lenny Montana in Francis Ford Coppola’s 1972 Oscar-winning film. Montana was a professional wrestler, was also an associate of the Colombo Family in the 1960’s, and had served prison time. He died of a heart attack in 1992.

Brasi is portrayed as slow-witted in the film. This is mainly due to the casting of Montana, because he was so nervous that he kept practicing his lines over and over again. Francis Ford Coppola wrote this into the script. Montana was also nervous during the scene where his character thanked the Don; Coppola also wrote this into the script. That’s how movie magic is made.

[speaking to himself, practicing his speech, while Michael and Kay walk by]
Luca Brasi: Don Corleone, I am honored and grateful that you have invited me to your home on the wedding day of your daughter. And may their first child be a masculine child. [then, starting over][delivering his speech to Vito Corleone]
Luca Brasi: Don Corleone, I am honored and grateful that you have invited me to your daughter… ‘s wedding… on the day of your daughter’s wedding. And I hope their first child be a masculine child. I pledge my ever-ending loyalty… [Playing kids run into the room and then are escorted out by Tom]
Luca Brasi: For your daughter’s bridal purse.
Vito Corleone: Thank you, Luca, my most valued friend.
Luca Brasi: Don Corleone, I’m gonna leave you now, because I know you are busy.

There is a bit more Luca dialogue in the film, but just small talk in Italian.

More on Brasi From the Book

  • Brasi is the only man Vito Corleone fears and vice versa.
  • Brasi could commit a murder all by himself, which made conviction almost impossible. He is also known for killing six men who attempted to kill Don Corleone.
  • Years earlier, Brasi had impregnated an Irish prostitute and later murdered her. On the day of his daughter’s birth, he forced the midwife to put the child into a furnace.
  • Brasi killed two of Al Capone’s henchmen who were hired to kill Don Corleone. Brasi tied and gagged them with towels stuffed in their mouths. He then hacked one of them to pieces with an axe. When he went to finish off the other one, he found that the man had choked to death on the towel. In the movie, Michael was originally supposed to tell this to Kay at the wedding, but the dialogue was changed to tell her instead about Brasi helping Don Corleone force Les Halley to release Johnny Fontaine from his contract.
  • Brasi tried to commit suicide while in prison.
  • In The Godfather Returns, it’s said that Brasi himself killed Jack Woltz’s prized racehorse Khartoum and delivered its head into his bedroom. In the video game, however, the killers were actually Rocco Lampone and Aldo Trapani.

The Death of Brasi

Brasi is the first to die in the film, and it is quite a memorable scene. Vito Corleone instructs Brasi to ‘feel out’ rival mobster Virgil Sollozzo. But Sollozzo and his henchmen aren’t fooled. He jabs a knife in Brasi’s hand, and does this:

We’ve already seen the film, so let’s watch the animated version from the game:

That’s not the last we hear of Luca Brasi, however. More classic dialogue is to come.

[Tessio brings in Luca Brasi’s bulletproof vest, delivered with a fish inside]
Sonny: What the hell is this?
Clemenza: It’s a Sicilian message. It means Luca Brasi sleeps with the fishes.

There are two songs I found on Amazon about Luca Brasi, one called “Luca Brasi” by Urban Verbs, and the other called Like Luca Brasi by Tea Cozies.

A Luca Brasi shirt is available at SlingShotShirts.com. I can’t imagine anyone who wants this shirt will buy anything other than double extra large, which costs an extra dollar.

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Stuck in the Snow

I’ve lived through several huge snowstorms in this area. I recall one in the late 70s. I remember 1996, and 2003. I’m sure there were a few more, but here is why this is the worst I can remember. My power has been out at my condo for three days. That makes the difference. I don’t even remember the power being out that long after Hurricane Isabel in 2003.
On top of that, it’s been three days and the side roads to many neighborhoods have yet to be paved. Which means we need to walk through 30 inches of snow just to get to the main road, where I’m parking.
I really don’t mind this much snow. But the power… the POWER! Gotta have that. Above is a photo of my car. It was completely clear at 11 p.m. the previous night.

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Ten Reasons Why “Lost Boys” Is Cool

Of all the vampire shows and movies out now, it’s easy to forget where it all began: 1987’s The Lost Boys.

Sleep all day. Party all night. Never grow old. Never die. It’s fun to be a vampire.

Don’t feed me that Nosferatu or Bella Lugosi crap, no one wanted to be like those freaks. And Interview With the Vampire, published in 1976, wasn’t a movie until 1994.

Sure, most of The Lost Boys actors in this bloody rock ‘n’ roll beach opera are punchlines now (Corey Feldman, Corey Haim, Jason Patric, etc.) but back in the day, when we were kids, we looked up to these teenaged slackers who infested Santa Carla.

Though there are far more than ten reasons, let’s count down some of our favorite things about this film.

 

1 Cry Little Sister by Gerard McMann

This is one of the coolest songs ever sung by anyone ever. It has that dark-side-of-the 80’s feel, and even sounds like a song that the Vampire Lestat would’ve sang in his band had the Anne Rice novels been made into films sooner.

 

2 Kiefer Sutherland as David

This villain is so cool that we all wanted to be just like him. I don’t care what anyone calls me, but I’ll repeat: Kiefer Sutherland back in the day was super friggin cool.

3 The Frog Brothers

This is back when Corey Feldman was still tha man, and playing a vampire killer certainly paved the road for Buffy.

 

4 The Party Scene

Jammin’ to Aerosmith and Run-DMC’s Walk This Way and having a bloody good time.

5 Racing on the Beach

Who doesn’t want to have a late-night motorcycle race on the beach? Here is the right video to the wrong song, because everyone wants to make mashups now:

6 David vs. Michael

The most intense scene in any movie ever.

7 Killing Marko

So long to Bill from Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.

 

8 The Rest of the Soundtrack

Cry Little Sister isn’t the only must-have song on The Lost Boys: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack, the rest are great, too, even the covers.

  • Good Times – INXS/Jimmy Barnes
  • Lost in the Shadows (The Lost Boys) – Lou Gramm (Video below)
  • Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me – Roger Daltrey
  • Laying Down the Law – INXS/Jimmy Barnes
  • People Are Strange – Echo & the Bunnymen
  • Cry Little Sister (Theme from the Lost Boys) – Gerard McMann (See above)
  • Power Play – Eddie and the Tide
  • I Still Believe – Tim Capello
  • Beauty Has Her Way – Mummy Calls
  • To the Shock of Miss Louise – Thomas Newman
9 Dropping into the Foggy Gorge

While hanging under the railroad tracks, they wait for a train to come and then plunge into the mist.

10 The Final Scene

Grandpa is the hero. “One thing about living in Santa Carla I never could stomach. All the damn vampires.”

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Screaming Squirrels Website (Re) Launches!

I’m happy to announce that nearly two years after it went down, we’ve re-launched a website for my ice and roller team, the Screaming Squirrels. This time the website is http://www.screamingsquirrelshockey.com as opposed to the same url without the word ‘hockey’ in it. When that domain expired, some idiot bought it and put it up for bid. It expires in April and we’re hoping to get it back because screamingsquirrelshockey is way too long to type.

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The 25 Best Korn Songs

In anticipation of Korn’s 9th studio album, which we’re holding our breath for until it’s released in June, 2010, let’s take a look back at some of the best songs by this band as they continue to add to their catalog of hits.

25 When Will This End?

Take a Look in the Mirror

This is at the end of the album and followed by a cover of Metallica’s One on the same track. That’s the only annoying part about listening to this song off the album… there’s a delay in between the songs.

Best lyrics:
I can’t seem to get away
I feel I’m here so you can play
With my head
There’s nothing I can say
I keep feeling like I’m to blame
When will this end?

24 Play Me

Take a Look in the Mirror

To me, this is Korn’s best collaboration with a rapper, and the reason I am now a Nas fan.

Best lyrics:
Everybody’s an Enemy
telling me lies and it’s killing me
why they all they want to get rid of me
Everybody’s my enemy
Several try to disguise the devil in them
Wanting to get into my cerebellum but I’m
Ready and willing to tell them that I can’t f with them
Exhale so hard it got my chest swelling
like my dick does watching naked women
do sick stuff on my porn collection on television

23 Evolution

Untitled

The Untitled album didn’t sell well but overall it’s not bad music, and this is one of the few tracks that stands out on its own.

Best lyrics:
And I
I do not dare deny
the basic beast inside
It’s right here, it’s controlling my mind
And why
do I deserve to die?
I’m dominated by, this animal that’s locked up inside

iTunes sales rank: #4

22 Reclaim My Place

Follow the Leader

There’s something similar about the beginning of this song and the beginning of Justin.

Best lyrics:
In the past I was known as a freak.
Had no friends, picked on ’cause I was weak.
Save my ass, I got into this band.
Never thought the band would pick on the man.

21 Justin

Follow the Leader

See above.

Best lyrics:
Fuck all that bullshit!

20 Good God

Life is Peachy

Best lyrics:
You came into my life without a single thing.
I gave in to your ways, which left me with nothing.
I’ve given in to smiles, I fell for all your games.
I wish so bad right now, I hadn’t let you win.

19 Alone I Break

Untouchables

This is also on the list of Gunaxin’s Best Songs About Suicide

Best lyrics:
Now I see the times they change
Leaving doesn’t seem so strange
I am hoping I can find
Where to leave my hurt behind
All the shit I seem to take
All alone I seem to break
I have lived the best I can
Does this make me not a man?

iTunes sales rank: #18

18 Twisted Transistor

See You on the Other Side

Like other Korn songs, this took some getting used to. First I heard it was on Saturday Night Live but didn’t warm up to it until listening to the album several times.

Best lyrics:
Hey you, hey you, Devil’s little sister
Listening to your Twisted Transistor
Hold it between your legs
Turn it up, turn it up
The wind is coming through
Can’t get enough

iTunes sales rank: #3

17 Somebody Someone

Issues

Best lyrics:
I need somebody, someone
Can’t somebody help me?
All I need is to be
Loved just for me

16 Open Up

See You on the Other Side

Best lyrics:
Open up now
Head in the sky
Here’s the tongue that
Keeps telling lies
Feelings in my mouth
You breathe in but can’t breathe out

15 Hollow Life

Untouchables

Korn’s look up to the stars and ponder about life song.

Best lyrics:
Is there ever any wonder why we look to the sky?
Search in vain, asking “why?”
All alone, where is God?
Looking down, we don’t know

14 Did My Time

Take a Look in the Mirror

The best part about this song was Angelina Jolie.

Best lyrics:
I am the one who chose my path
I am the one who couldn’t last
I feel the life pulled from me
I feel the anger changing me

iTunes sales rank: #21

Also good on this album: Right Now, When Will This End and Play Me with Nas

13 Throw Me Away

See You on the Other Side

This song sounds much better on the MTV Unplugged album.

Best lyrics:
Don’t let them throw me away
Keep me and I’ll be okay
Skipping a beat but it plays
Don’t let them throw me away
Don’t let them throw me away

iTunes sales rank: #36

 

12 Last Legal Drug

See You on the Other Side

Best lyrics:
So please, when you die, could you scream
Mercy, mercy for you and me
It’s true what they say, fuckin’ for love
might be the last legal drug
So please, when you cry, let it flow
I might make you stay, let you go
It’s true what they say, fuckin’ for love
might be the last legal drug

11 No One’s There

Untouchables

This is my personal favorite Korn song ever. Watching them play it in concert in 2002 took my breath away.

Best lyrics:
You and me we have no faces
Soon our lives will be erased
Do you think they will remember?
Or will we just be replaced
Oh I wish that I could see
How I wish that I could fly
Far from things that hang above me
To a place where I can cry

10 Coming Undone

See You on the Other Side

Best lyrics:
Keep holding on
When my brain’s tickin’ like a bomb
Guess the black bots have come Again to get me
Sweet bitter words
Unlike nothing I have heard
Sing along mocking bird
You don’t affect me

iTunes sales rank (#1)

9 Trash

Issues

Best lyrics:
Your feelings
I can’t help but rape them
I’m sorry, I don’t feel the same
My heart inside is constantly hating
I’m sorry, I just throw you away

iTunes sales rank: #27

8 Blind

Korn

Korn’s first big hit. I’ll admit when I heard it, I thought, not bad but didn’t think the band would become as big as it did.

Best lyrics:
This place inside my mind, a place I like to hide
You don’t know the chances. What if I should die?!
A place inside my brain, another kind of pain
You don’t know the chances. I’m so blind!

iTunes sales rank: #7

7 A.D.I.D.A.S.

Life is Peachy

One of the most creative titles I’ve seen.

Best lyrics:
I don’t know your fucking name
So what? Lets fuck!

iTunes sales rank: #9

6 Make Me Bad

Issues

This song sounds great on the MTV Unplugged album as Jonathan Davis sings this mixed with the Cure’s In Between Days with Robert Smith.

Best lyrics:
I feel the reason as it’s leaving me, no not again
It’s quite deceiving as I’m feeling, the flesh made me bad

iTunes sales rank: #19

5 Freak on a Leash

Follow the Leader

Amy Lee sings this song beautifully with Davis on the MTV Unplugged album, and the Dante Ross remix also sounds great.

Best lyrics:
Something takes a part of me
You and I were meant to be
A cheap f*** for me to lay
Something takes a part of me
Part of me, part of me
Part of me

iTunes sales rank #2

4 Falling Away From Me

Issues

Best lyrics:
Hey, I’m feeling tired
My time is gone today
You flirt with suicide
Sometimes that’s OK
Do what others say
I’m here standing hollow
Falling away from me, falling away from me

iTunes sales rank: #5

3 Here to Stay

Untouchables

Best lyrics:
The hurt inside is fading
This shit gone way too far.
All this time I’ve been waiting
No I can not grieve anymore.
For what’s inside awaking.
*I’m done*, I’m not a whore
You’ve taken everything and oh I can not give anymore.

iTunes sales rank: #15

2 Thoughtless

Untouchables

This song blew me away the first time I heard it and it never ceases to do so. The fade-in at 3:34 of the track followed by the chorus is like an explosive discharge of raw musical power that few bands are capable of doing.

Best lyrics:
Thumbing through the pages of my fantasies,
Pushing all the mercy down, down, down.
I wanna see you try to take a swing at me.
Come on, gonna put you on the ground, ground, ground.

Best lyrics #2:
Oh, all my hate cannot be found.
I will not be drowned by your thoughtless scheming.
So, you can try to tear me down,
Beat me to the ground,
I will see you screaming.

1  Got the Life

Follow the Leader

Korn’s most in-your-face song that got popular on MTV. Like other Korn songs, this also sounds great with the Josh Abraham remix. I could’ve done without it on the MTV Unplugged disk as just can’t sound good acoustically.

Jonathan Davis says…

“That’s a song baggin’ on myself. How everything’s always handed to me. How I look up to God and don’t want this anymore. Like I want something more out of life than all this. And I’ve got everything I really need but I sometimes don’t like. I don’t know how to explain it. I have to let it sit through the songs more to actually get into what I write. I truly know, really, the meanings of the songs almost. That’s what I’m getting out of it right now.”

Best lyrics:
Hate, something, sometime, someway, something kick off the floor for…
Mine? Something, inside.
I’ll never ever follow.
So give.. me.. some.. thing.. that.. is.. for.. real.
I’ll never ever follow.

iTunes sales rank: #11