Tuesday, February 6

Let's Dance through our Scribble Picnics!

You're the one that I want, Snort-snort-snort...!

Can you tell which movie this is inspired by? Yup, "Grease" and that final scene where Sandy came out dressed to impress Danny. I thought it would be funny to do a similar tongue-in-cheek take off as this remarkably awful, English comedic version that actually worked it's way up the charts, no less! All joking aside, back then, I developed quite a crush on Olivia Newton John, let alone wishing I could also slick my hair back like Travolta's. 

In fact, years later, I actually waited outside BBC studios with my best friend, hoping to catch a glimpse of Olivia coming out of her Noel Edmonds interview. We laughed at how silly those teeny-bopper girls were who gathered outside the gates alongside waiting for Paul McCartney, also on the same show. There they stood like Beatlemania had never ended, waving their "I Love Paul" signs and singing various Beatles and Wings songs! Well, never mind, we were mid-teens and more mature... That is, until the gates opened and I actually saw Olivia through the limousine window bundled up in her black coat, a mere 5 feet away or so, looking out and seemingly right at me! She was far more beautiful and feminine in real life than ever on any record album, her smile beaming so gloriously. She was the most beautiful, perfect human being I had ever laid eyes on! I was in love...and she was in her mid 30's. Ha! Something happened right then—I totally snapped and just knew it was now or never or I'd never see her again. As she was whisked away, I dashed off down the road chasing the limousine, shouting her out her name, shrieking and declaring mad love! Oh my gosh, as soon as that limo sped around the corner and out of view, I suddenly realised (in horror) my own lapse of judgment into... fan euphoria! Having to turn to face the crowds, I acted like nothing happened while trying to casually walk back through the throng of schoolgirls all gobsmacked, signs hanging down, as they looked at me so incredulously. "Right, let's go...NOW!' I insisted to Laljie and off we took into the cover of night with me hoping never to be seen again or worse yet, caught on TV cameras and broadcast later on the LWT (London Weekend Television) evening news!

A few years later still, in summer camp, funnily enough, I actually was given the honourary nick name, "John Travolta," due to my spastic dancing whilst impressing an American girl who loved to dance to the Go-Go's (again, totally out of character)! Well, as you can see, dancing and all that entails doesn't exactly jive with my normal relaxed manner, but let's see how it goes for each of you... :)
 
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26 comments

  1. Ahaha what a fun take on the theme. Loved your 'smitten' story too.

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    1. Heh, I still picture Olivia perfectly there. Lol. Not my type now, if I even thought to have one, but there you go. :)

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  2. I love that you can own up to some of those embarrassing teenage moments ... and your anatomically perfect piggies are a hoot. Teenage years were the greatest and sometimes the worst, but we were more free at that age to do funny stuff and survive the embarrassment. I can picture you as a dancer ... music moves us all in many ways and has since prehistoric days. It must be in the genes. So I would love to be able to creat a piggy or rabbit or any kind of clever creature. I just can't seem to pull such a thing out of my imagination. I can see it but can't draw it. I still need a model of sorts ... I hope I can grow into it and develop a style of my own. Well you have set the bar high this week, Micheal (as always) so I can't wait to see what others have done. And "Grease", yes! Only my favorite part of "Grease" was Trivolta strutting his stuff down the street and the music was delicious. So, have to run ... have a great week. See you when things get mushy:)


    Andrea @ From the Sol

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    1. The best thing about drawing piggies of such, especially humanized creatures, is it’s very forgiving. No one has ever seen one so if it’s not perfect, who cares—it really is the idea that counts. In fact, as I often say, simply depicting something, even technically perfect, leaves many of us dry and uninspired. I’d far rather see something that captures a mood or feeling or such. And you know, practice makes perfect. Just keep at it. Ants are good ones to begin with, actually. Speaking of which, since I almost always go from imagination, I probably need to practice drawing from life again and have been trying that with the daily sketches, but again, left uninspired so it’s hard to keep that going there.
      Thank you so much, Andrea.

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    2. Maybe it’s a British thing— self deprecating humour— but it really is the safest one and keeps us from taking ourselves too seriously. Life needs more I think for all of us. :) As it is, I’d rather have a few people chuckle than safeguard my pride. LOL. Just as well I have a fair amount of confidence within to make up for all my definicits, as it s. :D

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  3. They are amazing pigs, really making me have a snorty giggle! YOU with John Travolta 'Grease' hair -never going to happen thankfully - your curls are the envy of all Michael!
    So another secret out - you chasing after Olivia N-J, what a hoot! The crazy things we do when young. I went to Exeter by train with a bunch of girlfriends to see (Sir) Cliff Richard on stage - we made fools of ourselves I'm sure, screaming and jumping up and down. Another time I had to take a bus to a tiny Devon rural town where they were showing Elvis in "Jailhouse Rock" at the cinema because it was actually banned in 'big' Torquay, can you believe that? The dancing was great in that film and of course by then all we teen girls (and my mum!) were swooning over Elvis and played his records continuously!

    Great theme this week - taking me back to my ballet days which, with a little tap dancing thrown in, were part of a lovely childhood.

    Happy week Michael.

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    1. Love your recollections there, Mary. You know, until a few years ago I had never been to a concert and the closest I got to was a charity event at the Royal Albert Hall where Cliff Richard was the star performer, doing a few of his numbers. He was great! It’s funny how well known he is in UK but few here have ever heard of him.

      Oh yes, my mother and older sis both loved Elvis and I certainly enjoyed Jailhouse Rock too. :)

      Thank you.

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  4. Oh Michael, what a wonderful slice into your life. I truly can see you in that throng..I was laughing and crying as the same time as you brought memories of my own high school days.

    An you made the news.....yeah..I'm just so taken with the story and your dancing pigs...Oh the best ever...they really are rocking and rolling...and those belly buttons...haha...and her hair...haha'''Why do I say this is the best ever every week...cause it is. Hugs and love to the best illustrator ever!!!

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    1. Ha, I was thinking, “Hmmm...do pigs have belly buttons? Probably not but fun to add nonetheless. It’s those unexpected elements that can really add that little extra something to an illustration. :) Thank you so much, Wanda.

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  5. LOL LOL LOL...Michael that video was a hoot! Ha ha ha...It reminds me very much of the tongue in cheek style of "More Bad News". Don't know if you know that one. "Mockumentary" of a washed up Brit rock band...very funny. :)

    I love your piggies, but John Travolta will still be sexy no matter how he's depicted hee hee! :) The drawing is just fantastic!! As kids we danced to these songs. And I always wanted to be the "cool" ONJ. :)

    Your fan euphoria was like the time I saw Tom Jones coming out of a theater after his show, I was so star struck! I love your post, very cute and funny!

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    1. It’s so funny how many like Tom Jones, my fam included. That’s a great memory for you and I think anyone in the right age sang and danced to the Grease songs. It amazes me it’s still playing on the stage etc.
      Thank you.

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    2. Oh, and yes, I have heard of More Bad News. Quite funny really.

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  6. Your pigs are great - such a fun take on the theme! (And, the video was... err... umm... an interesting interpretation. Lol!)
    I absolutely loved your story... oh, the things we did for teenage "love"! Hahaha!!!

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    1. Haha, it’s about as close as i got to teenage love, even if she was 20 years older! :)

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  7. I've never obsessed over anyone famous, well, no one I dare to shout out on my blog. but I totally get it.

    so 'grease' make you think of pigs? I don't see the association between the movie and pigs but these are totally adorable. I've seen the movie and all I remember is olivia newton john in her leather outfit.

    sorry, nothing from me. I've been lacking in the motivation department and I'll probably continue that way. I'm thinking I'll just wait it out.

    have a lovely day.

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    1. Grease doesn’t really make me think of pigs per se, as much as I thought it would be funny to see fat lil pigs do that carnival dance scene I depict here where they are side by side. It’s funny because of the opposites—skinny clothes but chubby animals. Hah. And, of course, the nod to the phrase “Grease is the word” from the movie which works in a different way with the idea of greasy bacon.
      Yes, I’m not too obsessed with stars but ONJ was the closest, must say.
      Thank you, Lissa. Maybe we will see you for Mushy!

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  8. I recogised the piggy version of Sandy and Danny the instant I saw your illustration...even before reading your post...fantastic job, Michael! Olivia looked amazing in her black outfit and red shoes in Grease!

    Too funny about your outburst of love for her after laughing at the young teeny-boppers. I can identify though as I was head over heels for Donny Osmond back in the day. haha I even got to meet him and his family, AND shook their hands, yet I was perfectly behaved because it happened to be at a Mormon Chursh where they had just given testimonies. The father of my sister's friend was the Priest at the church so we got to see the Osmond family in the back room that they left through. All very exciting just the same.

    I'm off to see what everyone else has rendered for this week. Fun prompt!

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    1. Oh wow, what a story! My cousin was crazy for Donny too and then moved onto Kodak for some weird reason. Well, you did way better keeping your composure than I would have if it had been ONJ, Mormon church or what have you!

      Yes, crazy that ONJ was in her 30s playing a teen. As I see it now, it’s obvious she was older but back then it seemed believable. I always felt ONJ sort of sold out for the money in some of the horrid decisions she made because of her agent. Her strength was her sweetness.

      Thank you!

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  9. Haha..I love it. Great spin on one of my fav shows! Course I saw it at the theater when it first came out....haha. Great drawing! I love it.

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  10. I've got chills........This is absolutely the coolest. I love it and I loved reading about your impetuous youthful shenanigans.

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    1. Very few shanagnigans and I wouldn’t have gone but for Richard figuring out where to go as he liked her too. Hahha, what a memory. Thank you.

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  11. I loved your Olivia story, thank you for sharing that. I am still smiling!

    Your dancing pigs are wonderful. So very creative of you. I wish I had joined in.

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    1. Ah, well, maybe you can join in the next time? Thx!

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  12. Look at the mud fly as those two dance away! We just never know what you're going to come up with!

    Thanks for sharing your story about seeing Olivia N-J. I can just picture it all!

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    1. You know what’s funny, is that I didn’t;t add the flying mud until the very end and so glad I did! Helps add movement. Thank you so much.

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