Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2008 September 8

Welcome to the Wikipedia Entertainment Reference Desk Archives
The page you are currently viewing is an archive page. While you can leave answers for any questions shown below, please ask new questions on one of the current reference desk pages.

September 8

Can somebody help me work out the chords to this song?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Sft7TsFOYY ^That right there.

I'm an actor and I would really like to use the above song to audition for urinetown, and chords would come in incredibly handy in helping me to learn it. As far as I know, there is no sheet music in existence for that film.

Also, just for fun, if you could help me out with this one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9czEZR5ysY I would also be eternally grateful. Thank you so much, and I apologize for being a bother. Kenjibeast (talk) 01:04, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

Wouldn't we be violating copyrights by giving you the chords? If buying the sheetmusic puts you out of your way too much then start by figuring out the bassline and get your key and probable chords from there. After that do a listen for things that are different between your version and the original and fix them. Since it's jazzy watch out for tritone substitution and expect main chords to be fleshed out by relative chords between them and look for classic jazz cadences like ii-V-I. - Lambajan 03:14, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

That's strange, I was always under the impression that chord progressions fell under fair use. The reason I don't purchase sheet music is because it literally doesn't exist, and moreover, I have an awful ear for jazz progressions. That being said, thank you for the advice, and I've tried to contact Mr. Randy Newman via email to see if he has anything to say regarding the matter. Kenjibeast (talk) 03:26, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

Hmmm... I'm no expert in copyright law, which is why I phrased that remark as a question. If someone who knows something about this says it's ok I'll help you with the first one but not both because the semester is starting to pick up steam. What's your deadline? - Lambajan 03:33, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

The melody is copyrighted, not the chord progression. Tons of songs share identical chord progressions but sound significantly different from one another. — Twas Now ( talk • contribs • e-mail ) 06:44, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

Thanks for that information Twas Now. Lamba, if you choose to work one out, there's no real set deadline in the least, I would just be overjoyed to have either either one of them. Kenjibeast (talk) 18:31, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

Ok, I'll get going on it on Wednesday and hopefully it won't take me too long. If it's after the week I'll get it to you on your talk page. - Lambajan 04:11, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

Thank you so much, I realize that you're taking time out of your own life to help someone you don't even know, and I just want to say that I'm really overwhelmed sometimes by the good-will and friendliness of people on Wikipedia. Thank you!! Kenjibeast (talk) 15:15, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

Rap song with Harry Truman

What is the title of this rap song? It includes the words "Harry Truman", then says either "bugs" or "buzz", then says "bitches coming with me" (or "bitch is coming with me"). A google search has been fruitless. It may be Snoop Doggy Dogg. Wiwaxia (talk) 02:09, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

DMCA Expires?

Will the Digital Millenium Copyright Act ever expire, or will it continue to irritate us until kingdom come? Several sites i've went to say that it will expire, while others say it is permanent. I need a straight answer. Thanks. 31306D696E6E69636B6D (talk) 16:46, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

Straight answer: It is impossible to say with 100% certainty. It is, however, likely that the law will be reviewed and amended in the future, or that it will be replaced by a future law. Copyright law might be a starting point to understand how the law on these issues is something that constantly changes and updates inline with society/business and technology. It is no doubt permanent in the 'not temporary' sense though 194.221.133.226 (talk) 10:43, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

Also look at Digital Millennium Copyright Act 194.221.133.226 (talk) 10:45, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

Criss Angel: Exposed!

Is there a website that exposes how Criss Angel (or David Blaine) do their tricks? --Endlessdan and his problem 17:08, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

Most of his tricks are easily figured out, his "flying" is the only one no one knows how he does it.It was exposed how he walks on water, he flies in a straight line over the water and touches his feet on the surface. ^^D —Preceding unsigned comment added by 204.210.104.79 (talk) 02:59, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

It is not possible to expose exactly how they do their tricks, but repeating them yourself is rather simple (if you have the crew and money). For example, I recently saw one where Angel "goes through" the side of an armored car. This is very easy. You get yourself a big truck. You put a pull-out wall on one side. You paint it to look like a real armored car. You hire a couple guys to look like real drivers for the car - complete with badges and guns. You get a few guys to be your "random guys from the crowd". Then, you do a lot of theatrical stuff that results in hiding yourself behind a large screen so the audience cannot see what is going on. A guy inside the truck pulls the hidden door open. You slip in. The door is closed. The curtain is pulled away and you come out the back of the truck. Basically, all of those tricks are based on the principle: "Anything they try to make you believe is a lie." If they say "I've never seen this guys before," it simply means that the guy is an employee. If they say, "This is an ordinary deck of cards," it simply means that it is a deck of cards specially made for the trick. If they say, "This is completely uncut and untreated film of an event," it simply means that they used plenty of CGI. -- kainaw™ 18:15, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

That's true to an extent, and I'd certainly believe it of Chris Angel given what I've seen of him, but it's not always the case. As often as not, when they say it's an ordinary deck of cards, it's because it really is an ordinary deck and the trick is somewhere else. I don't know about those guys specifically, but most magic tricks are based on the same principles and a lot of them are essentially identical. Read any good book on sleight of hand (or buy a DVD) and watch a David Blaine special, and you'll be able to see how he did at least a few of them. If you want to learn magic, there should be a circle of one of the big organizations, maybe IBM, near where you live. If you just want to spoil the magic, shame on you. Black Carrot (talk) 04:46, 10 September 2008 (UTC)

There was a series of specials on Fox ("Breaking the Magician's Code: Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed") which purported to show how various illusions were performed, including some of the ones which had recently (in 1997-2002) been performed by David Blaine in his television specials. Since the show, I'm sure that Blaine/Angel have come up with new tricks, though. Also, Penn & Teller routinely demonstrate how some of their tricks work in their shows, though they tend to be "classic"-type tricks, not the flashy "new" stuff that Blaine/Angel try.-- 128.104.112.147 (talk) 22:57, 13 September 2008 (UTC)

celebrity marriage

which celebrities hold the record for number of marriages?206.53.144.189 (talk) 18:57, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

Liz Taylor is notable for being married many times. I dunno if its the most though. --Endlessdan and his problem 19:16, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

Some people have become "celebrities" solely because they've been married many times. Tommy Manville became better known than he might otherwise have been, because of his propensity to marry and marry and marry, in total 13 times to 11 women. But if you're talking about present-day celebrities, I have no idea. -- JackofOz (talk) 20:11, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

One Mohammed Bello Abubakar was in the news lately for having 86 wives. Algebraist 23:13, 8 September 2008 (UTC)

It largely depends what you mean by celebrity. I mean, this guy was certainly famous, does he count? Grutness...wha? 04:37, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

Solomon's 700 wives make Sobhuza's 70 look like luzas by comparison. Clarityfiend (talk) 06:13, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

Celebrity (noun): someone famous for being famous. --- OtherDave (talk) 17:46, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

Artie Shaw beats Liz Taylor by one. --jpgordon^∇∆∇∆ 03:42, 12 September 2008 (UTC)