Saturday 9: Beautiful

Saturday 9: Beautiful (2005)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

1) In this song, Moby sings about a self-involved couple who believes others are fascinated by their glamorous lives. Tell us about the most interesting couple you know.

A. Brenda and Willie were very interesting. They traveled to all 50 states, and they went to craft shows all the time because Willie is a woodturner. They were always doing something. Brenda died in 2021, though.

 

2) This song was inspired by the proliferation of reality shows, where celebrities share their lives on camera. Does the idea of becoming rich and famous in exchange for letting a film crew into your home appeal to you?

A. It does not. For one thing, everyone would be asleep from boredom. They would better off following my husband around, filming him with cows and installing septic tanks.

3) "Beautiful" appears in the soundtrack of the movie The Devil Wears Prada, starring Meryl Streep. She was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance, which is no surprise because she has more Oscar nominations than any other actor or actress. Do you have a favorite Meryl Streep movie?

A. Mamma Mia! I know it was not the greatest movie, but I enjoyed Streep's performance in it. It's also the only movie of hers that I think I've seen. I have a movie deficit in my knowledge base.

4) Moby has openly discussed how Christ has influenced his life and art. Do you consider yourself religious or spiritual? If yes, how do your beliefs impact your daily life?

A. I don't consider myself to be either religious or spiritual, really. More spiritual than religious, if anything. My beliefs impact my daily life because I believe in being a good person, and that doesn't have anything to do with religion. That's just my morality.

5) His real name is Richard Melville Hall. His parents began calling him "Moby" almost immediately because they felt "Richard Melville Hall" sounded too big for a baby. When did you most recently hold a baby?

A. About three years ago, now. Pre-Covid.

6) He began shaving his head when he was in his 30s. It was at the request of a girlfriend, who said she liked bald men. Would you change your appearance to please your lover?

A. I have let my hair grow longer because my husband likes it long. But then I cut it again when it becomes burdensome.

7) Moby's house was once owned by Marlon Brando and was later rented to The Beatles. What do you know about the previous residents of your home?

A. We built our house, so there were no previous residents. However, the farm is part of my husband's legacy, dating back to 1859 in his family. At one point, the house closest to where we live was owned by a tanner.

 

8) In 2005, when "Beautiful" was released, actress Ruth Warrick died. She began her career in radio, made her film debut in Citizen Kane, and she was best known as matriarch Phoebe Tyler on All My Children, a role she played for 35 years. What's the longest you stayed at the same job?

A. I have been a freelance writer since 1985 and started doing it full time in 1994. So that one would be the longest.

9) Random question: Without looking, do you know how much money is in your checking account right now?

A. Not to the exact penny, but yes, I know how much is in there.

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I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.