MMM: Butterfly in the Sky!

Welcome stargazers. It's time for another installment of the Monday Mood Music. This week I decided to accomplish two tasks at once by also announcing the results of my LeVar Burton poll.

I asked everyone, Where does your LeVar Burton love originate? Luckily, no one admitted to not knowing who LeVar Burton was, but I was disappointed no readers selected the Cameo Word Up music video as the beginning of their infatuation with this man.

A single reader knew him all the way back to Roots and 2 readers chose Star Trek: The Next Generation as their LeVar Burton jumping on point.

The hands down winning selection, with a total of five votes, is the children's show Reading Rainbow. In honor of this show and the mass appeal it gave LeVar Burton, this week's selection is the undeniably infectious theme songs for Reading Rainbow.

The original theme song was used from 1983 through 1999 according to Wikipedia. It was written by Steve Horelick, Dennis Neil Kleinman and Janet Weir. The Broadway performer, Tina Fabrique sang the original theme. This is the version from my childhood memories.

Tina Fabrique - Reading Rainbow
(Original Theme Song)

In the later years of the show, the cartoon introduction was replaced with a computer animated introduction. The theme song was upgraded and sang by R&B singer Chaka Khan. Until today, I never knew this version existed. The video does have some promotional consideration prologue but the theme is on it, I promise.

Chaka Khan - Reading Rainbow
(Theme Song Redux)

No offense to Chaka Khan, but I prefer the Fabrique-Cartoon butterfly version. I'm thinking nostalgia does play a significant part in that. Which version, if any, do you prefer?

Huh, huh, You Said "Poll" (02.16.09)

The results are in! With seven out of eight votes, The Dark Knight has been crowned the best film of 2008.


The best, that is, from my #1 choice for each genre listed in My Secret Diary. Those films selected were:

Doomsday, Hamlet 2, Slumdog Millionaire, Quarantine, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Dark Knight and Burn After Reading

A special nod to my wife who no doubt cast the single vote for Hamlet 2, just to give it the love that is so deserves.

In other poll news, I have not forgotten about the January release review I promised. The winning selection, Lakeview Terrace, sits in my DVD player as I type. Expect the review sometime post-Oscar Sunday.

Now it's time for a new poll! I am sure all of you know that today LeVar Burton turns 52.


LeVar Burton has made quite the contribution to television over the years, from Roots to Reading Rainbow. Whether he is endeavoring to teach children the joy of reading or stabilize the Enterprise warp core the question remains; where does your LeVar Burton love originate? The poll will be up for the next two weeks. I can hardly wait to see the results. Don't forget to wish Mr. Burton a happy birthday if you get the chance!