Hey, hey! It’s been a while since I’ve done of these, but I’m feeling up to a Five Things Friday as I dive deep into writing my next novel.

Without further preamble, let’s roll ’em!

One: A few takeaways following a digestion period after seeing the new Bob Marley film, One Love on opening night, February 14th. TJ and I deferred our Valentine’s Day to take the kiddo on opening night, who is so obsessed with Marley, he has self-taught his way through “Redemption Song” on the guitar. We brought the folks along and had a wonderful time at the movie. It could stand an extra half hour to fill in many gaps and it could’ve been more balls-out, but Kingsley Ben-Adir nails the subtleties and nuances to Bob Marley and sings like a champ.

I adored the flashback sequence to the early days of The Wailers and the joyous recreation of “Simmer Down,” my favorite early years Marley song. It paints the picture for the future Ska scene, as does a gnarly scene of Bob and the boys in England at an early Clash show. The Clash being The Beatles of punk rock and the first to blend reggae into punk. So many UK hardcore acts followed suit. Sidebar, I have been a longtime fan of Rastacore legends Bad Brains, the most passionate punk and reggae unit who ever walked the path of Jah. Bob Marley, I and I, opened the door for them all.

One Love is well acted, diligent in what it presents and at times is larger than life. I especially loved watching the studio recording session scenes here, having been in the music industry. Not perfect, but not the bane many critics have unjustly torched it for. Go see it, if anything, as a reminder Bob Marley’s exodus and returns to Jamaica were for Jah people as well as all of us.

Two: It’s been Revenge of the Nineties in our household lately. Kiddo may be Bob Marley and Michael Jackson-obsessed, but he’s also been submerged in modern rap and hip hop. I like about a handful of the newer offerings, since I followed the original scenes back in the 1980s and Nineties. The kid’s been diving into Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube (might as well call out the entire N.W.A. posse since Easy-E’s also in the mix) and, to a lesser extent, Tupac Shakur. He and I watched the bio film Straight Outta Compton together, though it’s taken a hand of guidance considering the tough, high class hood we moved from and the influences there which impacted him negatively. He still looks at me like I’m a weirdo for telling him he should dig deeper into the roots and explore A Tribe Called Quest, De La Soul, Fu Schnickens and one of the godfathers of it all, Afrikka Bambaataa.

Meanwhile, TJ and I are drowned at Hulu binging The X-Files and the Animaniacs reboot, two shows dear to our hearts back in the day. I tell her how amusing it is how people took X-Files so seriously in the 90s as avant garde sci-fi and paranormal drama. Does it hold up well today? Well, somewhat. It’s dated already and everyone knows how downright silly the show got in the mid-to-later seasons, but there’s a certain comfort we’re taking from it nonetheless. Ba ba ba bummmm ba bumm bumm bummm…doo doo doo doo dooooooo….

As for Hulu’s reincarnation of Wakko, Yakko and Dot’s shenanigans from a few years ago, we’re halfway through the first season and it’s either generated side-splitting laughter like the old days, or it’s been meh. Doing away with of a lot of the support cast like Mindy and Buttons and Slappy Squirrel, this reboot of Animaniacs goes right to its bread-and-butter with the Warners being transplanted 30 years later, to more of the dinky iconoclasm sided by loveable, doltish Narfdom. I’m talking Pinky and the Brain, of course. It’s likewise comforting to hear all the voices back in their places, and the show has gotten a little extra daring and risqué trying to compete against the likes of the downright crass Velma. As TJ likes to say, nobody is safe coming under satirical fire in 2020’s Animaniacs. Me, I’m just glad to hear Wakko still has his belching chops!

Three: I’ve cut back drastically on alcohol intake, prescribing myself a healthier overall diet to match my workout regimen and smarter choices food-wise. However, my cousin and best man at our wedding, Shawn, bestowed me this bourbon, Blackened as a wedding gift. Kentucky Straight endorsed by Metallica and barrel crafted by an absolute master, Wes Anderson. Could be like Godzilla: Minus One, the G.O.A.T. of its kind.

Four: My view in the can after my book signing at Protean Records in Baltimore, MD. Punk rock, Zappa and the Village People. Might be the coolest bathroom decor I’ve ever dawdled my business in.

Five: I am driving TJ batshit crazy with Godzilla ever since Minus One came out. Three viewings at the theater, rolling through many of the older films (I did catch her interest with the American Godzilla 2014, at least) playing the snot out of the film’s enthralling score by Naoki Satō (have a listen to the ascending glory that is “Resolution” below to send you on your way ready, like The Brain, to conquer the world), reading DC’s Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong, ordering two Minus One posters (one in Japanese) and digging into a couple of old Godzilla toys I managed to hold onto.

Funny is funny, though, and this Love Boat-Godzilla meme above had me roaring for minutes.

–Ray Van Horn, Jr.