Enough Nonsense -Let There Be Music
So it’s gone from bribery to abuse of power.
Sign of the times headline at foxnews.com: “Army says faith-based group can no longer put Bible verses on dog tags after complaint.” I’m not religious, but don’t object to other people being so. Why would the Army risk demoralizing many of its soldiers? Here’s an example of what offends busybodies:
So you wanna be a coach? The Carolina Panthers have fired Ron Rivera after eight-plus seasons, a 76–63 record, a Super Bowl appearance, and his having been named the AP’s Coach of the Year twice. He should have no trouble landing another job — if he still wants to coach. He might be a perfect fit for the Giants.
Forget the nonsense for a bit. Let Their Be Music. Each Christmas I make a CD for each of my nieces. Here’s 2019's:
1. I Wonder What She’s Doin’ Tonight — Boyce and Hart, who also wrote it. The catchy up tempo tune was released in late 1967 and reached #8 on the Billboard chart. The final verse is preceded by Tommy Boyce saying, according to Wiki: “All right, Bobby, let’s go.” To me, it’d always sounded like “… give it to ‘em.”
2. Crumblin’ Down — John Mellenkamp, 1983. Good rocker, despite its erroneous theme of President Reagan bringing the walls down on the poor. I’m disappointed the live performance of Pop Singer he did on a Letterman anniversary special isn’t available. A more recent one is, but his voice wasn’t up to par. The studio version lacks the magic of the aforementioned.
3. Feel It Still — Portugal the Man. Catchy pop from Alaskan band went to #4 on Billboard in 2017. At first I thought the singer was female.
4. Annie Get Your Gun — Squeeze. Last song ever recorded by the new wave icons, released as a single, and charted only in the UK, reaching only #43.
5. Shallow — Lady Gaga & Bradley Cooper’s platinum smash from the latest version of A Star Is Born (2018).
6. Can’t Find my Way Home — Blind Faith. I was disappointed the solo acoustic guitar version by Steve Winwood I saw on youtube wasn’t available, but the 1969 original is fine. Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Ric Grech were also in the “super” group, which recorded only one album.
7. Bad Guy — Billie Eilish. I’m not even sure I like the entire song, but I love the pause followed by “Duh” and then the quirky solo which I’d guess is keyboard. Tagged as “pop-trap” and “nu-goth pop,” it hit #1 in 2019. Her debut album, When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? has gone double platinum and has been nominated for a Grammy. She’s still a teenager.
8. Two Tickets to Paradise — Eddie Money. Album version. The single was released in 1978 and hit #22. The album of the same title hit #37 on the Billboard Top 200.
9. Rhyme and Reason — Dave Matthews. Powerful, rousing live performance. The band had an incredible seven #1 albums.
10. Get the Party Started — Pink. Great dance cut from 2007
11. Hit the Road, Jack — Ray Charles. “What you say?” #1 in ‘61.
12. Wichita Lineman — Glen Campbell. Hit #3 on Billboard Hot 100 in 1968.
13. This Is My Song — Petula Clark. One of the most underrated singers ever. The song was written by Charlie Chaplin for A Countess from Hong Kong (1967), but not used. It was Clark’s first #1 in six years — and she didn’t like it!
14. Bad Romance — Lady Gaga. Decadent dance track that must get clubs rockin’, tapping into those looking to hook up. It peaked at #2 in 2009. “Ra-ra-ah-ah-ah Roma-roma-ma Gaga, ooh la-la…” Here’s the official video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrO4YZeyl0I
The lack of parking at my usual book nook sent me to my alternate site, where the crew was still installing new windows in the Chase bank. I set up shop across the street and got very lucky. My thanks to the young mom who bought a bunch of kids’ books and a paperback that contained Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland and Through the Looking Glass; and to the woman who purchased the massive What to Cook & How to Cook It by Jane Hornby and two other cook books; and to the woman who called her husband on her cell phone and relayed the new additions to the Russian inventory, from which she selected two; and to the woman who chose The Cuban Affair by Nelson DeMille and The Gilded Hour by Sara Donati; and to the young man who parked his bike and found a Clive Cussler adventure to his liking.
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