It’s Not Over until the Portrait of the Fat Lady Sings

One phrase resounded from the lips of the biggest Harry Potter fans on the opening night of Deathly Hallows part II: “I can’t believe it’s over.” Call me in denial, call me crazy; if you’re Aunt Petunia, call me unusual, but I beg to differ with all the mourning fans. That sentiment implies that the love for Harry Potter was contingent upon the anticipation people felt for the movie releases. While the movies were eagerly awaited, and were met by a love/disappointment relationship by fans, they did not sustain the interest in Harry Potter any more than the TV series Trueblood sustains interest in the Sookie Stackhouse novels.

Naysayer fans could be heard spouting the same emotional “I can’t believe it’s over” during the book 7 midnight release parties as well. Since that time, most have continued to read the books, or at least return to them between reading other books (because let’s face it – the Harry Potter fans have become one of the most well-read groups in society since learning that books can take you on amazing journeys). The Harry Potter series is complex enough to inspire analysis, familiar enough to provide a welcome escape, and filled with enough moral and social issues to provoke a multitude of meditations and discussions.

It is true (as far as we know), that J.K. Rowling will not write any more books featuring Harry Potter, and Warner Bros. has no more films to make – for now. However, does Gene Roddenberry’s passing stop Star Trek enthusiasts from trekking to conventions, or stop fans from writing fiction based on his concept? Does J.R.R. Tolkien’s death stop Lord of the Rings fans from continuing to buy, read, and respect his books? The answer these questions is the same as the answer to whether or not Harry Potter is “over.” As long as the books can be bought, traded, or borrowed, new and old readers alike will continue to be inspired by and entertained with Harry, his friends, and their adventures. Like a branch of Gubraithian fire, Harry Potter will burn on in the hearts of fans forever.

How fresh is How Soon is Now?

Ok, so I've mentioned how I feel about song remakes before. I just heard one again that I had forgotten about - Love Spit Love's cover of The Smiths' "How Soon is Now?" from The Craft Soundtrack in the mid-90's. Maybe I blocked it out due to my love and devotion for the original, I don't know. I would love to love this version, since members of The Psychadelic Furs were involved, but alas...all I hear are the ways in which this singer is NOT Morrissey. Not that he should be, but this song needs Morrissey.

Anyway, the point is this: when a song is remade, it has the potential of reminding everyone of the original and paying it respect. Furthermore, to be a good cover, it should be updated in some way or have a little something special added. Otherwise, what's the point? Therein lies the problem though. For fans of the original, it can be tricky to accept and respect a new version.

This problem is not limited to bands doing covers of others' songs. Sometimes, a band can ruin their own previous work. Someone please tell Stevie Nicks to quit messing with "Landslide," for instance. Or how about when Alanis Morissette came back from India all chill and did slow acoustic versions of the previously angsty "You Oughtta Know" and others...? I appreciated the idea of taking a new approach to the songs, singing them with more maturity and insight, but wasn't the point of the songs made moot by that approach? Why not simply write new songs that show how mature and beyond angst you've become, and see how well those sell?

There are some good covers out there, and a few even surpass the originals, but they are few and far between. For the most part, artists should strive to create their own work that exemplifies their messages to the world, lest we end up with Justin Beiber covering Nirvana, or other such nonsense. Actually, that might be worth hearing - at least once.

...lest history repeat itself...

On this day in 1942 a little girl named Anne Frank was given a diary. It's too bad the U.S. wouldn't let her immigrate when her family tried desperately to get her to safety.