Reconfronting the Psychic Wall of Energy: A Comparison of the Sound of SpongeBob

I'm different. Crazy even. But even if you're the slightest bit like me, you automatically know one of the best cartoons ever made, without a doubt, is SpongeBob SquarePants. It's a cartoon that takes everything that makes both animation and comedy amazing, mixed with original concepts and characters, to make something undeniably unique.

Despite a gradual decline in quality over the years, nearly fifteen years SpongeBob has been entertaining television audiences worldwide. However, its best work can be summarized in 87 minutes with a little film called The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.


Now, don't think The SpongeBob Movie is just any other cash-grab TV-based film. No, this film is everything SpongeBob represents in one amazing film. Though, such representatives of SpongeBob are not only its fantastic comedy and beautiful animation, but the style in which they present it. In that sense, the core principle that makes The SpongeBob Movie work is its soundtrack.

The soundtrack truly makes the movie what it is, due to its unwavering originality. The album does feature classic SpongeBob originals (tracks like "Now That We're Men" sung by the actual characters), but, otherwise, it takes the giant risk for a kids movie: to feature indie artists on the soundtrack.

While they're not Justin Timberlake, they capture the essence of the film in a way I've seldom seen done for a soundtrack. It's intended single track "SpongeBob and Patrick Confront the Psychic Wall of Energy" even weaves the entire story of the movie in a way that fluidly fits into the nautical tone of the movie.

Having said all this, my fear expands tenfold upon the news of Pharrell, the noted composer of Despicable Me 2's "Happy" (also known as that song from 2013 we still can't get out of our heads), will be writing and performing, with his newly-reunited band N.E.R.D., the song for the new SpongeBob movie, Sponge Out of Water. "Happy" was great and all. It's a perfect anthem for something like the Despicable Me franchise. But for SpongeBob?

The song he penned for the new movie is called "Squeeze Me". Prior to its release, the band had described the song as psychedelic, other-worldly and paralleled to "what the Beatles did with 'Yellow Submarine,'" or so said N.E.R.D. band member Hugo to Variety. The track itself however was officially released January 5th to mixed reviews. I was mixed.


(source: Rolling Stone)

I'll be frank, it is a good song. It's got funky beat (nowhere near "Uptown Funk," though) and has a generally fun feel. While that sounds good and all, it still is not necessarily meant for SpongeBob.

The original soundtrack worked because of what it was -- original. While it really can't be matched, the Sponge Out of Water should be a companion album to its predecessor and, from what we've heard, the successor sounds atypical of every other kid's movie soundtrack.

At it's core, "Squeeze Me" is a carbon-copy pop song with a SpongeBob theme. Nothing more, nothing less. But, SpongeBob deserves better than just standards.

With the original soundtrack, songs like “SpongeBob and Patrick Confront the Psychic Wall of Energy” and “Just a Kid” had depth and spoke to the message, rather than the bright colors. Not just as something to play during TV spots.

I understand things have changed since 2004, but, on the whole, soundtracks have become a more important, crucial part of the film. Films like Guardians of the Galaxy have turned even compilation albums into an art form unto its own. Thus, I don’t see why the successor to such an amazing soundtrack has to digress to Smurf-level territory.

Still, can anyone really match “Ocean Man?”

Ween’s “Ocean Man” was the track that made the album feel like an organic juxtaposition to the kid’s comedy that filled the brunt of the movie. It perfectly counteracted the funny with serious in a film titled SpongeBob SquarePants, for crying out loud. And the track itself was not even created for the film like the others; instead, it was taken from the Ween album The Mollusk. Regardless, the song fit and provided the solemnity to bring a zany, all-over-the-place film back to earth.

I can’t say I hate this new song, nor do I think I will rule out the entire soundtrack when I end up purchasing it, but I feel like they can certainly do better. And likely they could do so by looking to “Ocean Man” for musical inspiration.

For the time being, I will withhold more judgment upon Pharrell’s curating until I hear his two other songs, “Patrick Star” and “Sandy Squirrel,” and whatever music materializes from the film as it reaches theaters this February. 

Can’t guarantee I’ll post further thoughts on the soundtrack or the movie itself, but I hope to continue posting here in the future.

Blue's Clues Christmas Episodes Review, Part 2

Now for the thrilling conclusion to my two-part review of the Blue's Clues holiday episodes. These are really memorable episodes for me, this one especially. It's one of the few Joe episodes to do so (that is, except for "The Snack Chart"). Hope you enjoy this one, thanks for reading!

Season 5, Episode 29 - Blue's First Holiday

A show can change depending on its lifespan. Star Trek changed its entire roster between the Original Series and the Next Generation. SpongeBob supposedly has decreased in quality since the created Stephen Hillenburg left the show. Blue's Clues is no different.

For Blue's Clues, the big transition was Steve to Joe, which caused a rumble amongst nostalgic fans of the former. I, for one, always preferred Steve, however, Joe was never unappealing to me. But I did notice a difference.

Back in the day, Blue's Clues was the pioneer for interactive kids television. Sesame Street and the like were forerunners of that sort-of kids genre, interacting with kids at home, but never in the way Blue's Clues spurred. Intimately talking to the camera and whatnot, having the audience act as a third protagonist. It was revolutionary and, along with Dora, provided a template for future kids programs.

The second iteration with Joe changed a lot of things. While Steve's years inspired the future and still kept that little inch of realism in the interaction, Joe somewhat watered down the show in places. No lie, Joe was a great choice to succeed Steve, yet his takeover led to changing the show to become more like the shows of the time that ironically were inspired by the show itself.

That's not to say these episodes did not leave behind its past. This episode here, "Blue's First Holiday", brings two and two together, providing a interesting backstory for Blue and bridges the gap between first and second generations of Blue's Clues.

The episode begins with the arrival of Mr. Salt and Mrs. Pepper's holiday present. The gift is none other than two movies (VHS home videos, actually... it was 2003...). Taking cues from the previous holiday show, the episode te

lls the story outside the normal status quo. Instead of (directly) playing Blue's Clues on screen, we see them watching their old home movies. (Side note: Didn't know they had a TV until now. It's weird, 'cause we see them circle the house like every episode.)

Now, these home movies tell the origins of Blue. They even come with titles the first being, not surprisingly, "The Day We Met Blue". In the video, all the Blue's Clues gang as babies, except an older, yet still young Steve, celebrate a previous holiday. Noticeably absent to the group is Blue. Explained by Mr. Salt, however, we discover he was in fact not there at the time of the filming.

We see the entire gang getting their holiday gifts, except young Steve. Steve knew exactly what he wanted and that was a dog. In the end, he gets his present. Though, instead of a puppy, he receives a book about a puppy (literally called About a Puppy). The book tells the story of a puppy called Blue (yes, that one), who wants a friend because all the other dogs are too different than him. The book ends by asking the reader if you'll be her friend. Steve reads the book repeatedly and eventually answers 'yes'. And, through the power of skidooing or love or something, Blue pops out of the book and into real life.

See, this is the kind of stuff I love. Never in a million years would I think to see Blue's origin story. It's weird, yet only natural, that she comes from a book. They completely explain skidooing and her anthropomorphic qualities because of this, though indirectly. And, through this story, the bond between Blue and Steve is much more grounded and furthers the love we already knew from his seasons. Also, gotta hand it to the actor who played young Steve (William Ulrich) on playing this iconic part, he is exactly how I imagine a young Steve being.

After playing with her for a long time, young Steve eventually asks if she will stay. She says yes and the book has since resided on the bookshelf. The little vignette is probably one of the most compelling things the show has done.

That superlative, however, easily goes to the exchange that happens right after the video. We actually get a call on the phone from Steve. This moment of contained nostalgia acts like the "Steve Goes to College" arc, but moreso like a final acceptance of the change. A real acknowledgement things are in capable hands. There's this part where Steve talks to us and says he misses us, but his enthusiasm shines through in a way that confirms his faith in Joe. The Mail Time alarm interrupts part of the call, but before they hang up Joe says "It was great to hear from you." A heartfelt recognition and salutation to the past, showing within one line that even while growing and changing, they won't forget their roots and won't completely abolish them.

Following this, we lightheartedly receive a holiday card (not a letter) from our friends explaining the four holidays of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and Ramadan. Just like the last special, it's great they acknowledge the actual holidays too. Because it's odd how Steve and them celebrate... holiday... In this holiday card, they go over the fun things about the holidays for the kids representing them.

The next movie, titled "Blue's First Clue", is shown and goes over the first game of Blue's Clues. This was not as required as was the sentimental Blue origin, but paints the perfect picture of the beginnings of the game.

For many years, having forgotten this episode with time, I've thought Blue's Clues was always a pretentious game. Blue always seemed to just use it as an excuse to have Steve or Joe go on a wild goose chase for her attention's sake. However, the video reveals the game is actually a result of her unintelligibility (How've I already used this word twice?). She can't exactly talk like the rest the gang, so she uses the game as a way of communicating her thoughts. This is really good stuff and it actually gives rhyme and reason to the entire show itself.

Now, the first game of Blue's Clues was the search for Joe's duck blanket. No one knew where it was except for Blue, who used her clues to lead the way. It ended up, of all places, outside near the snowman. Upon finding it, Steve washed it (didn't know they had a washing machine either) and returned it to his baby brother.

While I've got it on the brain, I wanna mention the really great sequence at the beginning of the home video with them in the snow. It's really nice seeing everyone together in this flashback, but, most of all, Blue and Steve. It's just this image of them sledding together is firmly implanted in my brain and it sealed that dynamic of "Steve and Blue" in my head for all time.

Thus, the ending of them outside in the snow together like in the home video was a fitting one. Most fitting is the ride of Joe and Blue on the sled, that officially has me accept the Steve to Joe transition.

I think this episode to me, more or less, focuses less on the holiday and more on the togetherness. The last one did combine the two, but this sealed the gap and showed us first generation and second generation Blue's Clues aren't so different after all. Even so, the difference is not different enough to justify the complaints. The transition is something that had to happen and the way it did happen felt natural enough to be accepted. Thus, this episode is probably my favorite Joe episode and one of my favorite Blue episodes altogether. I give it a 4/5.

I hope you enjoyed this review. This will not guarantee my return to the blog, nor does it mean if I do that I'll be reviewing Blue's Clues episodes all the time. But, this is just something fun I wanted to do and I hope you liked it. Thanks for reading and don't forget to be awesome (DFTBA).

Opposite Day

I'm back! Hey, I didn't go to school today. Yeah, right. I'm telling you wrong because it happens to be Opposite Day. And if you don't know what that is, I'll tell you about it.

Opposite Day is the one holiday I made up, (not counting Grilled Cheese Friday). Opposite Day is the day where everythings all... well... opposite. That's a no-brainer. As I was saying, Oppposite Day is based on the Season 1 episode of SpongeBob SquarePants. Oh, I forgot to tell you SpongeBob SquarePants got cancelled. Yeah, you think I mean that too. Tom Kenny would never allow it.

I've got other news, too. Today at ballet it was our last day of the ballet semester. It was Parent Observation Day. My mom came, I liked that. And no I am not kidding. It was so fun. Especially the part where the assistant teacher, Kelsi and I did a dance that had to follow a story. Mine was a story of a squirrel, played by me, is trying to get away from a girl driving a car, Kelsi, that tries running over the squirrel. It was very funny.

So today's been a great day. And so will to the rest of this year. I don't want to wish you a great Opposite Day. Kidding. See ya' later, on my journey to Tennessee.

They call me, Xam Possej (Upper right).

Guy's Night Out

It is finally Friday. Mom is gone to the Orpheum, she offered to take tickets for a Ballet Memphis so that means it's a guy's night out. Me and my Dad hanging out till 10:00 or even maybe 12:00. Well, Mom did say 10:00. That may just be the time of her job, more time would mean she's talking forever.

As I was saying, Friday is here. TCAP is over, yes, it's over. Social Studies was the hardest. I'd have to say it's easium*. It was alright. Science was easy, so was Math.

Now, it's not just Grilled Cheese Friday it's a Guy's Day. We're havin' so much fun. I've already played the Monopoly Card Game with him. I won. I knew I would. The last times I've played it with him. I won twice, he won three times. Dad on the other hand is glued to the TV. "Prison Break" is his main thing. I watch it with him because it seems to be my only thing to watch on TV.

Now, I only have like about 30 min. till 10:00. I'm not worried about when Mom will come home. I'm just hoping "Prison Break will end soon. Then, I could play Monopoly the Card Game again with him. And break my record of 3. At least I get to watch the funny commecials in between too. Like, that Kia Soul 2010 Hamster Commecial or the Burger King commercial for the SpongeBob toys that featured a parody "I Like Big Butts (And I Cannot Lie)". You know, "I like Square Butts and I Cannot Lie"

Funny commercial. Anyway, "Prison Break" is over and I get to watch "America's Funniest Home Videos" (AFV). This will be a great day. AFV is for commercials so I have time to say goodbye.

*Easium- the middle of easy and medium

I'm relaxing on the couch ( Upper left)