1. Being John Malkovich
2. Say Anything
3. High Fidelity
4. Identity
5. Grosse Point Blank
6. Con Air
7. Serendipity
8. Must Love Dog
9. Pushing Tin
10. America’s Sweethearts.

John Paul Cusack was born on 28 June 1966 in Evanston, Illinois, USA . His mother is a former teacher. His father is a filmmaker and his 4 siblings are all actors. His sister Joan is a comedic film actress who has appeared in several of his movies. In 2000 The Cusack family won the CFCA (Chicago Film Critics Association Awards) “Commitment to Chicago Award”.

While he was still in primary school he joined Chicago’s Piven Theatre Workshop. At the age of 17, he made his film debut in Class (1983). He won the CFCA “Emerging Actor” Award for his performance as Lloyd in the coming-of- age romantic-comedy,  Say Anything (1990).  The image of Llyod serenading his love interst, holding a boom-box above his head became a pop-culture icon. This performance was the highlight of his early career.

He starred co-wrote in High Fidelity (2000)  for which he shared nominations for  the “best adapted screenplay” WGA  and BAFTA awards. His performance as Rob the list-making music-junky,  also earned him a nomination for the  ”best hissy fit”  Teen Choice Award.

He was also a writer on Grosse Point Blank (1997) and War, Inc (2008). Cusack has also been a blogger for the Huffington Post since 2005.

He usually plays complex characters in quirky movies.His performance as a obsessive puppeteer in Being John Malkovich also earned him several award nomination. This is my favourite John Cusack movie.

John Cusack is one of my favourite actors and his movies (on DVD- yay bonus features) are the kind I like to pop into the DVD player often.

Source: IMDB
Picture: Wikipedia Creative Commons

1. Eternity
2. No Regrets
3. Angel.
4. Strong.
5. Beautiful.
6. Sexed up.
7. Come Undone.
8. Let Me Entertain You.
9. She’s the One.
10. Kids (with Nicole Kidman)

Robbie Williams is a pop singer and on of the UK’s biggest celebrity. He’s a former member of British boy-band Take That (1989-1995). As a solo artist he did much better than any other his former band mates ever did. He has a reputation of being a bad boy and has battled with substance abuse. He is a big fan of Frank Sinatra and has also done a great swing album: Swing While You’re Winning. He remains is the best selling British solo artist and is a great live performer.

I might be teased for this, but Robbie Williams is my favourite male singer and I have several of his CDs. I will certainly get some more next time I buy CDs.

image: wikipedia

1. Earth Song.
2. Heal the World.
3. Black or White.
4. They don’t care about us.
5. You are not alone.
6. Thriller.
7. Billie Jean
8. Dangerous.
9. ABC (Jackson 5)
10. Ben

“Earth Song”
(Lyrics)

What about sunrise
What about rain
What about all the things
That you said we were to gain…
What about killing fields
Is there a time
What about all the things
That you said was yours and mine…
Did you ever stop to notice
All the blood we’ve shed before
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores?

Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah
Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah

What have we done to the world
Look what we’ve done
What about all the peace
That you pledge your only son…
What about flowering fields
Is there a time
What about all the dreams
That you said was yours and mine…
Did you ever stop to notice
All the children dead from war
Did you ever stop to notice
The crying Earth the weeping shores

Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah
Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah

I used to dream
I used to glance beyond the stars
Now I don’t know where we are
Although I know we’ve drifted far

Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah
Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah
Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah
Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah

Hey, what about yesterday
(What about us)
What about the seas
(What about us)
The heavens are falling down
(What about us)
I can’t even breathe
(What about us)
What about apathy
(What about us)
I need you
(What about us)
What about nature’s worth
(ooo, ooo)
It’s our planet’s womb
(What about us)
What about animals
(What about it)
We’ve turned kingdoms to dust
(What about us)
What about elephants
(What about us)
Have we lost their trust
(What about us)
What about crying whales
(What about us)
We’re ravaging the seas
(What about us)
What about forest trails
(ooo, ooo)
Burnt despite our pleas
(What about us)
What about the holy land
(What about it)
Torn apart by creed
(What about us)
What about the common man
(What about us)
Can’t we set him free
(What about us)
What about children dying
(What about us)
Can’t you hear them cry
(What about us)
Where did we go wrong
(ooo, ooo)
Someone tell me why
(What about us)
What about babies
(What about it)
What about the days
(What about us)
What about all their joy
(What about us)
What about the man
(What about us)
What about the crying man
(What about us)
What about Abraham
(What was us)
What about death again
(ooo, ooo)
Do we give a damn

Aaaaaaaaah Aaaaaaaaah

In memory of Michael Jackson who died 25 June 2009 at age 50.

Some of Michael Jackson’s career highlights:

Michael Jackson had a long record-breaking music career starting in 1960 at age 12, as part of The Jackson 5. He put out is first Solo album in 1972 “Got to be there” while still signing with the Jackson 5.

In 1979 Jackson put out his first solo album as an adult. “Off the Wall”. Jackson became the first solo artist to place four singles from the same album on the top 10 chart.

He was extremely popular in the 1980s and 1990s. He was famous for his dance moves the “moonwalk” and “the robot” which made his stage performances very popular,

In 1982 he won 8 Grammys for his Album “Thriller”. The music video for thriller had immensely popular dance move, which is forever associated with the 80s.

He was inducted into the Hollywood walk of Fame in 9184.

In 1985 he co-wrote a hit song, “We are the world” with Lionel Ritchie, to raise money for famine victims in Ethiopia.

His album “Bad”, released in 1987. “Bad” had five No. 1 singles and sold at least 22 million copies.

His 1991 Album Dangerous featured the song “In the Closet”, the music video of which was considered very sexually provocative and featured super model Naomi Campbell. The video was banned in South Africa.

His album “HIStory: Past, Present, and Future Book I.” Was released in 1995. The song “You Are Not Alone” became the first single in pop music history to enter the Billboard chart at No. 1.

“Blood on the Dance Floor: HIStory in the Mix,” sold in the hundreds of thousands worldwide, not as much as his previous albums. The album was released in 1997.

His final studio album “Invincible” was released in 2001. Invincible is dedicated to the 15-year-old Afro-Norwegian boy Benjamin Hermansen who was stabbed to death by a group of neo-Nazis in Oslo on January 26, 2001.

Due to his numerous hit songs and their royalties, Jackson was an extremely wealthy man. He broke several Guinness World Records. If I have left anything out it is because of the extent of this great artist’s massive career.

I’m sure that due to his death, Michael Jackson’s record, CD and DVD sales will increase even more, especially the older albums. Those albums not available in stores anymore will probably reach high collectors selling prices.

For a short Michael Jackson Bio refer to my other blog: lowercase v.