My New Favorite Group…
By admin | August 21, 2008
Sometime back in the 80’s I quit keeping up with the “top 40”. I really don’t care who sold a million records, or who won Grammys. When I’m driving, my radio is usually tuned to some oldies station, and my CD player will usually have a Leon Russell, Neil Young, Bob Dylan or Beatles CD playing. Even modern country music is starting to sound like really bad rock and roll.
Oh well, enough ranting. What I really wanted to talk about is how there is still a lot of talent out there, and how if you search around on some of the Indie labels, you can be very pleasantly surprised. Some of the best talent does not use advertising and eye candy designed to implant a hook in your brain. There are actually some groups that still make very, very good music. Artist who choose create something unique, who do not follow the leaders, who express themselves and make you feel something you have never felt before.
Johnson Family is one of those groups. I have two of their CD’s. “The Ride of your Life” and “Walk On”. And they are my new favorite group for lots of reasons.
It’s hard to put them in a category. I think some of their influences are probably from bluegrass groups like the Issacs. Their image is quite traditional, but they evoke an energy that goes way, way beyond any bluegrass-traditional music you have ever heard. There are four female vocalist who have some of the tightest harmony this side if heaven. They are sisters, and as you would expect, their voices are all similar. Sometimes when they sing together it has a “stacked” sound, like when a vocalist records his/her own voice over and over again in the studio. But I do not think they are using stacks…I think they are actually producing this sound with four (sometimes 5 when dad sings) distinct voices.
The result is an angelic sound, but with a hint of blues. Perfection, but with just enough note bending, chordal movement, and vocal acrobatics to give them a wonderful organic, sometimes worldly rawness.
One of the other interesting things about this group is the accompaniment. No tracks, no orchestrations, nothing to distract from the vocals. What we do have is a very well played acoustic guitar. Most times a nice finger picking style, sometimes a hint of jazz, but always extremely tasteful and intertwined perfectly with the lovely ladies’ voices. Richard Johnson plays the guitar, and also sings, too. His low rich baritone voice is a nice contrast to the ladies voices.
The amazing thing is with just this one instrument, each song manages to take on a separate life. The CDs never bog down, each song stands on its own. The style changes from one song to the next leaving you in anticipation for what they will come up with next. It takes a lot of talent and musical background to keep this level of quality up on song after song. It’s easy for artist to fall into the repetition trap (listen to 90% of pop music for examples), but each song is nurtured here, and given a lot of love and attention so you get taken on a musical journey that just keeps getting better.
Did I mention they write their own songs? Looking at the liner notes, it appears that everyone in the group is a writer. The words are often very poetic, and there are quite a few personal testimonies. Their relationship with Christ described with real life metaphors. And ideas that make you smile and think. Hopeful tunes, encouraging and very smart lyrics. One of Richard’s lines from “The Gospel According to You” says:
“You’re writing a gospel chapter a day by the deeds that you do and the words that you say”.
Good stuff!
Their website is: The Johnson Family Music
And you can hear some of their music on Myspace at: The Johnson Family on Myspace
There’s a tremendous amount of talent in this little group. Be sure and check them out…
Topics: Music, Uncategorized | No Comments »
Obama…”the one”
By admin | August 3, 2008
McCain recently did an ad comparing Obama to Britnet Spears and Paris Hilton. This latest ad referred is to as ”The One” has got to be one of the funniest ads I have ever seen.
The Republicans have started a sarcasm type angle which I have to say I enjoy. The press loves Obama, and this effectively pokes fun at Obama using hyperbole. It holds up well against John Stewart’s and Stephen Colbert’s segments.
But wouldn’t it be better if McCain told us why he would be a better candidate. Are humerous ads making fun of your opponent really what people want in this election? Remember the “contract with America?” It was proactive, and it effectively laid out a plan which people could understand. The Republicans won big that election, and the Democrats who complained were dubbed “whiners.” I heard Rush Limbaugh mention in a television interview that the Democrats, if they were to be a viable party, should work on coming up with their own ideas and presenting them to the American people instead of just criticizing the Republicans. Good avice, really…but what we are seeing now are Republicans whining that Obama gets too much attention…that the press loves him.
What I would suggest is that Republicans come up with some reasons why they are better than the Dems. Otherwise their use of the term “the Messiah” in reference to Obama just might end up with less sarcasm than they intended.
Topics: Politics, Ramblings, Uncategorized | 1 Comment »
Conservatives for Obama
By admin | July 8, 2008
The 2008 presidential campaign is turning out to be quite interesting. Personally, I think the underlying meanings for labels “Conservative” and “liberal” are become more and more obscure. Having said that, it’s always interesting to hear what non-partisan but strong ideologues are saying about the candidates…
Andrew Sullivan, conservative blogger for the Atlantic Monthly: “Obama’s story confirms what conservatives have always believed about America. He is the black son of an immigrant, raised by a modest single mother and yet despite the obstacles inherent in his background he is approaching the pinnacle of American success. Isn’t he the poster boy for what conservatives have always assured us is possible in America?”
Armstrong Williams, an African American conservative and talk radio host who is not an Obamacon but said he might become one: “I’m not going to just blindly go to the polls and vote for someone because they’re a Republican anymore. I wouldn’t have given two cents of thought to this in the past, but fortunately I’m maturing and fortunately for the first time in my life I could vote for a Democrat for president.” Williams refuses to base his vote on race, “however the stain of America is race, human slavery and de jure segregation and no one can ignore the fact that since the founding of this country, only white men have occupied the White House.”
Larry Hunter, supply-side economist who helped write Republicans’ 1994 Contract With America: “How can I possibly support a candidate who proposes domestic policies (especially tax and economic policies) that are completely antithetical to everything I believe? … It is indicative of how much I value individual freedom and how profoundly important I believe foreign policy to be at this juncture of American history that I am enthusiastically supporting Barack Obama for president. It doesn’t hurt that McCain himself is only slightly less wrong on economic and tax policy. … My sentiments on Obama are best captured in the note a conservative friend of mine, Wendell Gunn, wrote Obama when he sent him a campaign contribution: ‘My contribution to your campaign is based on hope and change: My hope that you will change your mind on the tax and economic policies you are proposing.’ ”
Andrew J. Bacevich, professor of history and international relations at Boston University, writing in the American Conservative: “We should take (McCain) at his word: his commitment to continuing the most disastrous of President Bush’s misadventures is irrevocable. … He is the candidate of the War Party. The election of John McCain would provide a new lease on life to American militarism, while perpetuating the U.S. penchant for global interventionism marketed under the guise of liberation.”
Douglas Kmiec, former head of the Office of Legal Counsel in the Reagan and first Bush administrations: “I’m disappointed that a legacy of great achievement that I think Ronald Reagan and the first President Bush brought to the Republican Party (has ended): in terms of fiscal responsibility and conveying as Reagan did that a free market and personal responsibility and defense of home and local community often redounds to the happiness of the human person. Somehow we’ve managed in the last eight years to forget all the basics, to violate all of the first principles. We’ve lost sight of the things that really mattered to us. If I had to give us a report card, I’d have to say, in the way the nuns used to express it, ‘not promoted to the following grade.’ ”
Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of Republican President Dwight Eisenhower: “Deep in America’s heart, I believe, is the nagging fear that our best years as a nation are over. We are disliked overseas and feel insecure at home. We watch as our federal budget hemorrhages red ink and our civil liberties are eroded. Crises in energy, health care and education threaten our way of life and our ability to compete internationally. … My grandfather was pursued by both political parties … (and) went on to win the presidency with the indispensable help of a ‘Democrats for Eisenhower’ movement. These crossover voters were attracted by his pledge to bring change to Washington and by the prospect that he would unify the nation. It is in this great tradition that I support Barack Obama’s candidacy for president.”
David Friedman, economist at Santa Clara University and son of Nobel-winning economist Milton Friedman: “Bush was elected on a pro-market, small government platform and proceeded to greatly expand the size of government - and not only in the form of military spending. His view of the legitimate power of the executive branch, including the authority to deliberately violate federal law, I find frightening. Perhaps, if we are lucky, Obama will turn out to be the anti-Bush.”
Topics: Politics | 1 Comment »
You say you want a revolution?
By admin | June 29, 2008
“well you know, we all want to change the world..”
John Lennon seemed almost nonchalant in his song “Revolution.” The title hinted at radical thinking, but the lyrics were pretty benign. And even though John Lennon had the reputation as a radical at the time, I’m not so sure he really advocated revolution.
What does revolution mean to you? I saw a toothpaste commercial a while back that claimed the product had revolutionary whitening power. And there have been various revolutions in music. PBS had a mini-series a while back called “Musical Revolutions” devoted to Beethoven, Stravinsky, and Copland, highlighting what made their music so “revolutionary”…their work changed the way we appreciate and perceive music, and even refined, in some ways, what we consider music. Revolution implies an abrupt change. Jesus said the meek shall inherit the earth, and the Romans were not too thrilled at words like that. They feared a peasant uprising of sorts which would have threatened the Roman government, and certainly would have been quite revolutionary. I think Jesus was referring to a spiritual revolution of sorts, but many His accusers took his words quite literally.
But I’ve always been intrigued by the “revolving” part of revolution…Most people remain in the same social status for life. If they are born a peasant, they tend to remain that way, and those in power tend to pass that power down to their heirs…nothing really changes from generation to generation. But when a revolution happens, the order changes.
The line it is drawn The curse it is cast
The slow one now Will later be fast
As the present now Will later be past
The order is Rapidly fadin’.
And the first one now will later be last
In other words, those in authority will no longer be, and those who have no authority will be in charge. That is political revolution, and it can take place with or without violence and bloodshed. Also, I’ve seen rapid social change in my lifetime…certainly the civil rights movement was revolutionary. The leaders of many social type revolutions often advocate non-violent change.
There was a violent, bloody revolution that everyone who is a citizen of the US can relate to: The American Revolution, a radical political and social revolution where the old regime was overthrown and replaced with a new one.
John Killian writes in his blog: Between the dates of July 4, 1776 and September 3, 1783 a great hostility took place between the Colonies and Crown– a hostility called the American Revolution. During those years, 22,500 American soldiers were killed in action, 63,000 American soldiers died of disease, and 6,000 civilians were killed. Families turned against family, many lost their property and wealth due to support for the American Revolution as those who declared independence pledged lives, fortunes and sacred honor. Yet, against all odds, the rag-tag band of Americans won their independence against the greatest empire in the world, Great Britain.
And from that bloody revolution a new nation was forged: The United States of America. We did not inherit this land, we did not follow any rules laid out for us…we demanded to be free, and we forcibly took our freedom.
For he that gets hurt Will be he who has stalled
There’s a battle outside And it is ragin’.
It’ll soon shake your windows And rattle your walls “We The People”…the US government was now in authority, not Great Britain. I love the 4th of July. I sometimes wonder if the same revolutionary spirit that birthed this nation is still alive somewhere in the collective psyche of modern US society…or has longing for freedom something we read about in history books and no longer relate to. I’m always struck at young we are as a nation…will we continue to be a beacon of freedom, or will we eventually allow a powerful centralized government take us back to where we came from?
I pray that we do not forget, and we never lose that spirit that forged a new nation that stands for concepts foreign at the time: liberty, equality, justice. And as you celebrate the 4th of July this year and hear politicians talk of change, don’t forget those early radical revolutionaries that stood for something, and forced change.
Topics: Forrth of July, Politics, Ramblings | No Comments »
Robots and a new economy
By admin | June 9, 2008
Adam Smith, back in 1776 wrote “The Wealth of Nations” which earned him the title of “father of modern economics.” It was an eye opener at the time, and laid the ground work for an era of economic expansion on a global scale like never before seen.
I actually read this book years ago for an economics class. Boring at the time, but a treasure of ideas. One thing that Smith seems to spend a lot of time with is labor. Divisions of labor, increased productivities, and ultimately a bigger economic pie which benefits everyone. The idea of wealth creation through productivity and interaction was a departure from zero based economies where you grab and protect your wealth.
But one of the things that makes his work show signs of obsolescence is the modern trend, starting in the early 1900’s and really taking off with the use of micro chips and computers, of increased use of technology to save labor.
Smith went as far as calling labor the real currency which measures the value of all goods. He wrote, “The value of any commodity, therefore, to the person who possesses it, and who means not to use or consume it himself, but to exchange it for other commodities, is equal to the quantity of labour which it enables him to purchase or command. Labour, therefore, is the real measure of the exchangeable value of all commodities.”
But what supercedes Smith’s economic model i a post modern economic system where labor is of no real value? I have worked in manufacturing most of my career, and the degree by which computers operate machines is staggering compared to what it was 20-30 years ago. Back in the 60’s, the value of a manufactured product was often 70% labor. These days it’s pretty common to see 10%.
Machines are doing the work. And with robotics on the horizon, I see a society where machines do most everything. Driving trucks, performing surgery, fighting wars..a robot that can react to its environment in the way the human nervous system does will create an endless list of things humans can hand over to robots.
But how will goods and services produced by machines get distributed to people? There will still be a demand jobs for people that program robots, and maintain them, still even that will eventually be done by other robots.
Will this lead to the ultimate utopia where people pursue what interest them instead of money to feed and clothe themselves and buy stuff? Will this be heaven? Or will capitalist just buy up all the robots and use them to redistribute wealth from society to themselves?
Old “isms” tend to fall apart in a robot based society. We need a new economic model that can accomodate the radical changes brought about by machines displacing human labor.
Topics: Ramblings | No Comments »
A sharecropper and the Nazis
By admin | May 16, 2008
“I always loved running - it was something you could do by yourself and under your own power. You could go in any direction, fast or slow as you wanted, fighting the wind if you felt like it, seeking out new sights just on the strength of your feet and the courage of your lungs.” Jesse Owens
Back in the early 1900’s in rural Alabama, a black person was most likely a sharecropper. Although slavery had been abolished, the life of a black sharecropper was not that much different than that of his parents and grandparents who lived prior to the Emancipation Proclamation. Long days with hard work in the blistering sun…sun up till sundown was the way of life, and although they were technically free, the civil rights movement and the chance of equal opportunity was something that would not be a reality until another 50 or 60 years has passed.
It was in this environment that James “JC”( who later became to known as “Jesse”) Owens was born on September 12, 1913. What follows is the story of a true American hero. America has lots of heroes. Many of the more well known heroes are soldiers to whom we all owe our freedom, but sometimes heroes are not associated with the military. Sometimes heroes are musicians, doctors, nurses….and in the case of JC Owens, sportsmen.
When James was a young man, he loved to run. He said “it was something you could do by yourself, under your own power…you could go any direction, fast or slow as you wanted…seeking new sights.” Considering his grandfather was a slave, it is likely running became a metaphor for freedom, something the he and other young black people would fight for in the coming generations.
Jesse’s sister moved to Ohio, and found there was lots more opportunity there, so it wasn’t long after that that the whole family moved there. In was on his first day of school that he got the nickname “Jesse.”. The teacher asked him his name, and he replied “JC”. With his thick rural southern accent, the teacher thought he said “Jesse”, and the name stuck.
Jesse caught the attention of his gym teacher, coach Riley. Riley was amazed at Jesse’s speed, and invited him to join the gym team. He was quite a sensation at high school, and began to excel in hurdles, high jump, and long jump. East Technical School in Cleveland Ohio had an amazing athlete, and it became clear that Jesse was not an ordinary athlete, but one that could compete in a world class setting. He went to Ohio State where sadly he had to live off campus with other African American Athletes. Segregation and downright discrimination was common back then, even in northern states that had fought to free black people from slavery. Despite his amazing athletic abilities, he did not receive a scholarship. He worked while attending college to pay his tuition.
As Jesse was adjusting to college life and continuing to be a local star in athletics, a sinister political force was in motion across the ocean in Europe. At the time Jesse probably gave it little thought, but he would soon come face to face with a new form of hatred and bigotry, something that even he as a young black boy in Alabama had not seen: The rise of the Nazis under Adolph Hitler.
Most Americans think of Hitler and the Nazi party in relation to WWII. The USA entered the war in 1941 and provided a key force to help European countries defeat Hitler’s army. But the Nazi party was actually elected in Germany in 1932. The Party’s roots went back to 1918, and was born from the Thule Party, who had as its goal to eliminate “contamination” from the human race, and the Jewish people were prime targets. In the early 1930’s, Germany was in a period of severe economic depression, and the Nazi Party promised radical changes to bring relief to working people. Adolph Hitler was chosen to lead this party, and he used racism and bigotry to unite the German people. He began a systematic extermination of Jewish people starting with a denial of rights, citizenship, captivity and enslavement, torture and execution. It became know as the holocaust, one of the darkest periods in 20th century Europe.
After Hitler came to power, but before WW2 broke out in full force, the Olympics were to be held in Germany in 1936. And here is where Jesse Owens enters center stage. He was part of USA’s Olympic team who came to Germany to compete in the 1936 German Olympics, dubbed “Hitler’s Olympics” by party loyalist. Jesse would compete against none other than Adolph Hitler’s chosen prize athletes
Needless to say, Nazi Germany did not roll out the welcome wagon for this black athlete. The Newspapers insulted him, and he was considered unfit to be in the same arena as those Hitler has chosen for his “master race” representatives. When Jesse ran his first race breaking the record, the Germans refused to give him the record stating “he was aided by the wind…”
But Jesse persevered, and he and other great black and Jewish athletes proved Hitler wrong. Jesse won four gold medals at that Olympics, in the 100-meters sprint, the 200-meter sprint, the long jump and the 400-meter relay, setting two Olympic records and one world record. He was the first American athlete to win 4 gold Olympic Medals in one day. His long jump record would last for 25 years. The son of a sharecropper and grandson of a slave had shown that hard work, talent and determination made champions.
The German spectators gave Owens a standing ovation. German boys and girls wanted his autograph.
And at the competition’s end, Hitler saluted Jesse.
So you see, long before the Allies defeated Hitler militarily, Jesse had already won a major battle in a war against Hitler and the dark forces of fascism, hatred, racism, and bigotry. With the eyes of the world watching, A young black runner from a small Alabama town discredited Hitler and all he represented.
Topics: Politics, Ramblings | No Comments »
The Cerces-Live in St Louis
By admin | April 28, 2008
After spending the better part of the weekend trying to get my home theater sound system to make a sound…I looked around for a CD to check things out. It just so happened I had an unopened copy of The Cerces “Live in St Louis” CD (and DVD) which I put in. The first tune came on “A Mighty Fortress” which totally blew me away. The excellent track, the vocal harmony, the song itself (a classic regardless of whether you’re modern, or not so modern like me) was downright inspiring and uplifting.
There’s a lot to like about the Cerces. One thing that I love is their ability to move from one style of music to the other seamlessly. Mixing and matching music is an art in and of itself, and making a program work with such a wide variety of musical influences can be tricky, but these folks seem to do it effortlessly.
Another thing I like is the close harmony the group has. It soundss a lot like “family” harmony to me, where the blend is very good and no one voice dominates. I know acheiving that sound takes a lot of woodshedding, although it looks easy when you see and hear them. There’s a lot of behind the scenes preparation that goes into making that kind of harmony.
And the songs….there’s some real gems on this CD. I don’t think there’s a bad one on the project. Each tune stands on it’s on. One of the more memorable ones to me is “Refiner of Gold.” One of those tunes that sounds hauntingly familiar, but I can’t say I’ve ever heard it before. Beautiful melody, and the lyrics are quire thought provoking.
Honestly, I often pass on live projects. I just like to hear polished studio projects in general. But the sound here is very, very good. AMF, it sounds as good as many studio projects I’ve heard lately. The tracks are crisp…orchestations sound big like real live orchestras, blending perfectly with the vocals. Excellent job on the production here.
I especially liked the section of the program where Cliff plays the piano and they group performs with just piano and vocals. There’s a lot of groups these days that just use tracks, and there’s a few groups that use nothing but piano. Nice to see a group that can do both. I play a little myself, and after listening to Cliff I tell ya, I’m going to swipe some those tasty gospel bluesy licks he uses…:)
I’m not a reviewer, but just wanted to give kudos to a job well done. Maybe I can get my DVD working next weekend and watch the video…:)
Check out this group at http://www.thecerces.com/
Topics: Gospel, Music | No Comments »
Thank you, Maytown Baptist
By admin | April 7, 2008
I was great to be a part of Maytown’s April’s Nights of Revival. Mark Dunn and I were honored to be the musical guest at the first night of this series of services. We enjoyed the warn hospitality, Joe Bob Mizzell’s sermon, and of course the cake and refreshments that were served in the new fellowship hall.
Mark Dunn did his usual outstanding job on the saxophone, and brother John named our little duet…”A Dunn Deal.” I like it…:).
Maytown Baptist is a great place to worship. The Sunday night crowd was very impressive…not too many empty seats, and the church is the home of Rev John H. Killian, one of the greatest preacher’s anywhere, and longtime buddy of mine. I’ve know John since I was in the 2nd grade at Wylam Elementary, and he is like a brother to me. Maytown is very blessed to have him as pastor. If you’re looking for a church home, give Maytown a visit, and by all means try to attend one of the April Nights of Revival. I certainly hope to be back there soon!
Topics: Latest, Ramblings | No Comments »
New Orleans almost 3 years later…
By admin | April 1, 2008
As I write this I am sitting in lobby of the Crowne Astor Hotel in New Orleans, LA. It’s an old building which has weathered quite a lot, and survived. Katrina tried awfully hard to bring her down, but her she stands, fresh paint in the lobby, lovely chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, and people of several different nationalities and cultures wandering about in the lobby.
Out the front door is Canal Street. The usual hustle and bustle of a big city downtown main street, but with that special laid back New Orleans attitude that makes you realize why they call it the “Big Easy.” People take their time down here. It is frustrating I am sure for those who come from other big cities, but down here you might as well get used to slowing down and going with the flow.
The rear entrance to the hotel leads directly to Bourbon Street. It’s about 8:30 PM, and there’s a Dixieland band playing outside the door. I’m talking full brass section, drums, sax, and the mood is festive. Bourbon Street is closed off to vehicles, and people are walking through the middle of the street laughing and enjoying what you can only get one place in the world: a stroll down Bourbon Street after dark.
I remember not too long after Katrina reading an article about New Orleans being “gone forever.” A young attorney had moved his practice out of New Orleans and proclaimed it a “total loss, never to return.” The reasoning being that the people who could afford to leave would, and the city would lose its economic base leaving behind a bunch of poor folks. Dead city…
And then there were the politics. I don’t know if I have ever seen a natural disaster so politicized. I’m not a fan of Bush, and some of the things that happened seemed like a huge screw up, but I don’t know if things would have been any better with someone else in office. Katrina was not your ordinary disaster…
New Orleans is not going anywhere. No, New Orleans is more than that. Even Katrina could not kill the spirit of this city. The history of the city predates America as a nation, and the city has cultural influences that go back to the European Colonial period. It has also played a key role in American History as well. The famous Johnny Horton song “The Battle of New Orleans” muses about the decisive war of 1812 where the young American State defeated the British, and carved out it’s place as a new, powerful nation:
In 1814 we took a little trip
Along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Mississip.
We took a little bacon and we took a little beans
And we caught the bloody British in the town of New Orleans.
We looked down the river and we see’d the British come.
And there must have been a hundred of’em beatin’ on the drum.
They stepped so high and they made the bugles ring.
We stood by our cotton bales and didn’t say a thing.
Old Hickory said we could take ‘em by surprise
If we didn’t fire our muskets ’til we looked ‘em in the eye
We held our fire ’til we see’d their faces well.
Then we opened up with squirrel guns and really gave ‘em … well
We fired our guns and the British kept a’comin.
There wasn’t nigh as many as there was a while ago.
We fired once more and they began to runnin’ on
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.
Yeah, they ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles
And they ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn’t go.
They ran so fast that the hounds couldn’t catch ‘em
Down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.
–Battle of New Orleans, Johhny Horton
I love New Orleans for what it is culturally. It is Creole, it is multiculturalism. It is about different people from different places forming a distinct attitude. Jazz originated here, and New Orleans jazz is in a class by itself. New Orleans has always been progressive being one of the first cities to allow slaves to obtain freedom. Before America’s bloody civil war, there were a number of free people of color in New Orleans. Progressive, yet true to its historical culture. Many of the streets are named for the royal houses of France and Catholic saints. Contrary to popular belief, Bourbon Street is named not after the alcoholic beverage, but rather after the Royal House of Bourbon, the family then occupying the throne in France.
The city has also given us a lot from an economic standpoint, too. it has one of the world’s busiest ports, and has played an important role in the petroleum industry, and NASA’s space exploration.
Things are not completely back to normal. The electric busses that used to go up and down Canal Street were no where to be seen. I asked the young bell hop that helped me get parked what happened, and he said, in an almost embarrassed tone “they’re still being repaired…”But he also added,” when we finally get through building this place, it’s going to be the best New Orleans ever!”
Considering the rich history this city has had, that’s saying a lot…but something tells me it’s true!
Topics: Music, Ramblings | 2 Comments »
A word about American Idol
By admin | March 13, 2008
OK, so last year I got mad and said I would not watch it anymore. I mean how on earth could they vote off the talented singers and let the mediocre ones remain. Ugh!
So, here I am again this year glued in front of the TV with the likes of Simon, Paula, Randy, and that irritating host dude, Ryan Seacrest. I admit, I cannot give it up, I am addicted to Idol. On the plus side, there’s some real talent this year. I love the fact that some are playing instruments…and they’re doing some pretty good music.
Pretty good music indeed! Tuesday featured songs of Lennon and McCartney. As if anyone could do them as good as The Beatles, still I love those tunes. Some of the best music ever written, seriously.
So here’s my picks going from best to worst.
Brook White
I love this gal. She sang The Beatle’s “Let it Be” and played the piano a la McCartney, and she is the real deal. She’s in a different class from the rest. Beauty that comes from the inside out, and so very talented. She radiates both in the way she sings and her demeanor. A shy kind of charisma. Hers is the kind of voice that can reach inside your soul and rip your heart out, and make you enjoy it.
Let me go on record saying she is my pick for the winner. And if she does not win, you will hear lots from her in the future. She will be a superstar, mark my words.
David Archuleta
too bad he was a little weak on “We Can Work it Out”…he was shooting for the Stevie Wonder version I think, but didn’t quite work. But I’m still hooked on him from his other performances, particularly “Imagine”. If he can get his stride back, he’s one of the best.
Kristy Lee Cook
The judges, particularly Simon, are not kind to her. But I have to disagree. Listen to that voice, look at that face and tell me she’s not ready to be the next modern country heart-throb-babe. She stands out not only because she’s good, but because she’s the only country one in the bunch.
Ramiele Malubay
Again, I had to part with the judges here. Nice, peaceful voice and passive but effective delivery. Makes me want to visit Polyneisa, or Hawaii or some place like that. I like her a lot!
Amanda Overmyer
Female rockers are not my thing, but something about her I like. Under that weird hair is a really sweet face. Something about her reminds me of Sally Field, or Sally Field’s bad little sister. Pretty good at the rocker thing, but I don’t know if she can keep up the energy. Looks like she’s running out of steam to me, and it’s early in the season.
Carly Smithson
I loved her version of “Come Together”, but she’s not my idea of what an idol should be. I do like her style.
John Castro
Different and unique, but his voice is very soft. Would make a great back up singer.
David Cook
Quite simply, I do not like him. But my daugther loves him and I think he has an appeal to young ladies…and he would make a good front man for a band.
Chikezie
He seemed weak at first, but his “She’s a Woman” got my attention. I think he’s up against competition that will crush him, although if he can keep pulling it off like he did Tuesday, he’s got a shot at sticking around.
Syesha Mercado and Michael Jones
As Simon would say “forgettable” I will say the these two are quite talented, and the fact that they are at the bottom is a testament to the talent level this year.
Topics: Music | 1 Comment »
Where did my baby girl go?
By admin | March 6, 2008
Twelve years ago I sat in my living room and watched the most beautiful three week old baby girl fall asleep in her little swing. Meigan was quite a handful. Born Feb 25, 1996 she scared us to death in the hospital with a collapsed lung. She had to stay in the hospital 2 weeks, which seemed like an eternity, but when she came home it was apparent that her little lungs had healed, and were quite healthy!
The swing….you see, after a maddening night of screaming and crying like infants are prone to do, I figured out I could put her in the swing, wind it up, and her little eyelids would get very heavy and she would fall off to sleep as the swing went back and forth..back and forth. It was such a peaceful, quiet time which I tried to enjoy since I knew she would soon awaken and demand to be fed.
She was the prettiest infant ever. I know, all parents say that, but really, she had the most beautiful eyes, and the softest light reddish blonde hair you’ve ever seen. We named her Meigan…poor girl doomed to have her name misspelled all her life, but the spelling was different, as she was different, and nothing but “Meigan” would do.
I remember her first smile. Her whole face would light up, and a big huge toothless grin would come across her face. Everyone commented at how cute her smile was. She was very friendly long before she could say anything. As she grew she bonded with me, and I was so proud that she was a “daddy’s girl.”
When she began to walk, she was a VERY hard to keep up with. Her mom and I would take turns chasing her, one of us would wear out and would say “it’s your turn”. Meigan was nine months old when my mother passed away, and I remember being in the hospital with Meigan visiting my mother during her last days…Meigan would run up and down the halls and was quite rowdy.
Although Meigan was very young, I am glad she got to know my mother if only for a brief time. Meigan got my mom’s red hair, and some of her strong determined personality.
What happened to my baby? This morning she brought me some poetry she had written. It blew me away, my baby girl now a 12 year old young lady who writes poetry…and is a vegetarian…and has opinions on politics, religion, and most anything. Meigan likes oldies, just like her dad. She knows just about anything, plays clarinet, plays basketball, loves animals, has a My Space, loves her friends…
My little baby girl is gone…she’s now a young lady. Soon it will be going off with friends, cars, boyfriends….how I miss that little swing in the living room.
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