Strange sensations came over me and I felt disoriented; I was sweating but I had chills, my vision was blurry, my tongue seemed huge in my mouth …. about three times its normal size …. my head felt like it was under water and my equilibrium was off, making me stumble and lose my balance, walking into the furniture and reeling yet even though I desperately wanted this goddess standing before me, I was unable to reach her.
For no apparent reason, I suddenly remembered when I got home from work earlier that day, I found a new drink in the refrigerator …. 24 mini-cans of some beverage with exotic-sounding names such as Peach Bellini, Pineapple Mule, Mango Meringue, Grapefruit Paloma, Maui Sunset …. and it was totally bewildering to me that I could remember those names but not where I was, who I was, who this woman was and yet I knew for a fact that I drank a couple of those cans of delightful nectar; could be that’s what was messing with my head …. making me be so unsure about some things but entirely certain about others …. not unlike taking quaaludes (the authentic Rorer 714s, not some cheap bootleg shit), dropping acid and then popping amyl nitrate all at the same time like some who-do voodoo cocktail.
I could hear this luscious woman talking but I was unable to reach her, to press her mind-bendingly magnificent body next to mine; her words were garbled and all I could make out was the name “Alex” which was very strange because my name wasn’t Alex .… or maybe it was .… I wasn’t sure of anything except that I definitely downed several cans of exquisite ambrosia with exciting names.
Holding on to the back of the sofa to keep myself from falling, I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the mirror and I gasped; I did a doubletake because even though my vision was definitely wonky, it wasn’t so bad that I couldn’t see that I had suddenly transformed into a very attractive black man much like Michael B. Jordan when just half an hour ago I was my usual George Costanza look-alike!
Then without warning the woman’s voice started morphing and began to sound familiar, kind of like my wife Alexis and when I looked up into the mirror I was no longer Michael B. Jordan …. I was back to my old self, plain old Fred Johnson …. and when I looked over at the woman, that voluptuous blonde with the perfect 44 double Ds had been replaced with my short, squatty wife of 37 years; well, that sucked and I quickly determined the only thing I could do was to drink more of those tasty beverages in mini-cans and pray my gorgeous fantasy girl would return but when I yanked open the door of the fridge, I was alarmed to see there was no more voodoo juice left and my heart sank because, as always, I couldn’t control my damn self, I had downed all the mini-cans of ecstasy and now it was just me and short, squatty Alexis.
Today’s theme at Song Lyric Sunday is about songs by performers on American Idol.
In case you’re wondering about the title of today’s post, The Original Amateur Hour began on radio in 1934 as “Major Bowes’ Amateur Hour” and ran until the 1946 death of its creator, Major Bowes. Ted Mack, a talent scout who had directed the show under Bowes, revived it in 1948 for ABC Radio and the DuMont Television Network. The show lasted on radio until 1952 and until 1970 on television, where it ran on all four major networks, ending as a Sunday afternoon CBS staple. A success in the early days of television, the program set the stage for numerous programs seeking talented stars, from The Gong Show to Star Search to American Idol to America’s Got Talent.
On June 11, 2002 a new type of TV show aired. Some called it reality TV while others dubbed it a talent show; critics and TV executives alike said it was “unparalleled in broadcasting history …. the most impactful show in the history of television”. As a lover of music and talent and competition, which is what this show was all about, I called it fabulous! For 15 years my husband and I watched together each week as contestants auditioned, performed and were either sent on to the next round or sent packing.
The show, of course is American Idol and the only reason we stopped watching regularly after 15 years was our overall dislike of the new panel of judges. After 22 years, the show is still alive and well and making Simon Cowell and Ryan Seacrest a ton of money! Here’s something you may not know!
Idol has spawned 345 Billboard chart-toppers and a platoon of pop idols while remaining a TV ratings institution. For an unprecedented eight consecutive years, from the 2003-04 television season through the 2010-11 season, either its performance show or results show was ranked #1 in US television ratings – not bad at all for a little talent show.
While there are many American Idol winners who have gone on to become major music stars, I have often felt not winning (while spirit-crushing at the time) was just the impetus a young singer needed to become a household name; Adam Lambert, Jennifer Hudson, Katharine McPhee, Chris Daughtry, Clay Aiken and Kelly Pickler are perfect examples of artists whose loss on Idol was exactly what they needed to jumpstart their careers. Such is the case for my featured performer today, one of my personal favorite also-rans from American Idol.
Haley Reinhart first rose to prominence after placing third in the 10th season of American Idol. In July 2011, Reinhart signed a recording deal with Interscope Records. Her debut album, Listen Up!, was released on May 22, 2012, to critical acclaim and she subsequently became the first AI alumna to perform at Lollapalooza. She is the only Season 10 contestant who has over one million views on six of her YouTube performance videos: her renditions of Adele’s “Rolling In the Deep”, Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets”, Ben E. King’s “I (Who Have Nothing)” and her version of “House of the Rising Sun”. In addition, her performance of Billie Holiday’s “God Bless The Child” hit one million views in March 2014 and the video of her American Idol audition performance of the Beatles’ “Oh! Darling” also reached one million views in March 2016. Reinhart was the only contestant in Season 10 who received three standing ovations from the judges in consecutive weeks for “House of the Rising Sun”,“I (Who Have Nothing)” and Led Zeppelin’s “What Is and What Should Never Be”.
Haley Reinhart garnered widespread recognition in 2015 for performing and touring with Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox, my favorite part of her career so far. Her most notable collaboration with the band on a jazz cover of Radiohead’s “Creep” spent 58 consecutive weeks on Billboard’s Jazz Digital Songs chart and received high praise from critics. In the same year, she gained additional notice when her cover of Elvis Presley’s “Can’t Help Falling In Love” which was used in a television commercial, became a viral sensation, peaked at #16 on the US Adult Contemporary chart and was later certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America on July 31, 2023. Reinhart won a Cannes Lion for Entertainment and a Clio Award for the song in 2016. Additionally, she made her voice acting debut as Bill Murphy in the Netflix animated comedy, “F Is For Family” on December 18, 2015. She reprised the role as a main cast member in the series’ second, third, fourth, and fifth seasons.
Let’s get back to “Bennie and Jets”. E! Online ranked Reinhart’s cover of as the series’ 14th best performance. TVLine ranked the performance as the 6th best in Idol history and BuzzFeed ranked it 1st on their list of the “17 Most IconicAmerican IdolPerformances of All Time.”
I’ve never really cared for “Bennie and the Jets” but what do I know?! Since Haley Reinhart’s performance garnered so much praise and coverage, I’m featuring it today. You’ll see the judges thought it was ”A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!”
Live from American Idol’s results night, this is Haley Reinhart with “Bennie and the Jets”.
LYRICS
Hey kids, shake it loose together The spotlight’s hitting something That’s been known to change the weather We’ll kill the fatted calf tonight So stick around You’re gonna hear electric music Solid walls of sound
Say, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet Ohh, but they’re so spaced out, B-b-b-b Bennie and the Jets Oh but they’re weird and they’re wonderful Oh Bennie she’s really keen She’s got electric boots a mohair suit You know I read it in a magazine Oh oh, B-b-b-b Bennie and the Jets Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Hey kids, plug into the faithless Maybe they’re blinded But Bennie makes them ageless We shall survive, let us take ourselves along Where we fight our parents out in the streets To find who’s right and who’s wrong
Say, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet Ohh, but they’re so spaced out, B-b-b-b Bennie and the Jets Oh but they’re weird and they’re wonderful Oh Bennie she’s really keen She’s got electric boots a mohair suit You know I read it in a magazine Oh oh, B-b-b-b Bennie and the Jets Bennie, Bennie and the Jets
Hey kids, plug into the faithless Maybe they’re blinded But Bennie makes them ageless We shall survive, let us take ourselves along Where we fight our parents out in the streets To find who’s right and who’s wrong
Say, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet Ohh, but they’re so spaced out, B-b-b-b Bennie and the Jets Oh but they’re weird and they’re wonderful Oh Bennie she’s really keen She’s got electric boots a mohair suit You know I read it in a magazine Oh oh, B-b-b-b Bennie and the Jets Bennie, Bennie, Bennie, Bennie and the Jets Bennie and the Jets
Big thanks to Jim for hosting another great Song Lyric Sunday and for allowing be to take up residence here for the last 10 weeks. I had a great time coming up with the themes but even I got tired of seeing my name week after week on Jim’s SLS posts, I can just imagine how you feel!
Thanks for stopping by. See you on the flip side. 😎
In the fall of 2017, Kevin Spacey’s life and his astronomical career in acting, writing, directing and production (and more) came crashing down with devastating swiftness and near Shakespearean consequences. The reason: sexual assault allegations from 30 years ago.
On October 29, 2017, actor Anthony Rapp alleged that Spacey, while appearing intoxicated, made a sexual advance toward him at a party in 1986, when Rapp was 14 and Spacey was 26. Spacey stated on Twitter that he did not remember the encounter, but that he owed Rapp “the sincerest apology for what would have been deeply inappropriate drunken behavior” if he had behaved as asserted.
Almost three years later, on September 9, 2020, Rapp sued Spacey for sexual assault, sexual battery and intentional infliction of emotional distress under the Child Victims Act. In the subsequent federal civil court proceeding, a jury found that Spacey did not molest Rapp and was found not liable on all counts, with Rapp subsequently ordered by the court to pay Spacey $39,089 in damages.
Fifteen other accusers emerged from the woodwork and jumped on the bandwagon alleging similar abuse. The Guardian was contacted by “a number of people” who alleged that Spacey “groped and behaved in an inappropriate way with young men” while he was artistic director of The Old Vic theatre.
On the same day as Rapp’s allegations against him, Kevin Spacey came out as gay when apologizing to Rapp. His decision to come out via his statement was criticized by gay celebrities as an attempt to change the subject and shift focus from Rapp’s accusation, for using his own drunkenness as an excuse for making a sexual advance on a minor and for implying a connection between homosexuality and child sexual abuse. Spacey expressed regret over the way he came out and said that it was “never his intention” to deflect from the allegations against him or conflate them with his sexual orientation.
Amid the allegations, filming was suspended on the sixth and final season of House of Cards starring Kevin Spacey. His livelihood, public acceptance, reputation, peace of mind and very existence was hanging by an excruciatingly slender thread.
As Rapp’s trial lawsuit against Spacey commenced in October 2022, it was revealed Rapp had given an inaccurate description of the apartment where he alleged the abuse took place. The judge dismissed the emotional-distress charges as a “duplicate” of the battery charges and a jury found Spacey not liable of all charges.
On May 26, 2022, Spacey was charged by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) in the UK with four counts of sexual assault against three complainants which were said to have taken place between 2005 and 2013 in Gloucestershire and London. According to the CPS, it would be possible to formally charge Spacey only if he entered England or Wales either voluntarily or through an extradition request. In a statement to Good Morning America on May 31, 2022, Spacey said he would “voluntarily appear in the UK”.
In his first British court appearance, on June 16, Spacey denied the allegations against him. On July 14, he pleaded not guilty to the charges in London. During the hearings, the complainant gave conflicting reports, false information regarding deleted text messages on his phone and eventually refused to answer any other questions, invoking the Fifth Amendment. On November 16, the CPS authorized an additional seven charges against Spacey, all related to a single complainant arising from incidents alleged to have occurred between 2001 and 2004. Three charges were dismissed before or during the trial, which began on June 28, 2023, and, on July 26, 2023, a jury found Kevin Spacey not guilty of the remaining nine charges.
Kevin Spacey has received countless accolades, including two Academy Awards, a BAFTA Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Tony Award and two Laurence Olivier Awards. He was named an honorary Commander and Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2010 and 2015, respectively.
Kevin Spacey’s brother, Randy Fowler, has stated that their father was sexually, physically and emotionally abusive and that young Kevin shut down emotionally and became “very sly and smart” to avoid beatings. Spacey addressed the matter in October 2022, saying that his father was a white supremacist and a neo-Nazi who beat him regularly and called him derogatory names, including ‘faggot‘. Spacey stated that the abuse at the hands of his father caused him to become extremely private about his personal life which, in turn, resulted in him choosing not to come out as gay earlier in his life.
The following video aired prior to Kevin Spacey’s hearings in the UK where he was found not guilty of all charges. There are other videos available for viewing on YouTube if you so desire. I went with this one, choosing to avoid the sleazy and salacious nature of “entertainment news”.
This next video is a clip from the movie “Beyond The Sea” with Kevin Spacey portraying Bobby Darin. Spacey did all his own singing which is rather impressive. I could have gone with songs like “Mack The Knife” or “Beyond The Sea” but the name of this video tickled my funny bone.
Here is Kevin Spacey as Bobby Darin singing “Dream Lover”.
Writing about the death of my husband’s twin brother has been a huge outlet for me. It has helped me and Bill to grieve in a way I never experienced before. I am forever grateful to you …. my dear friends, my readers…. for your patient understanding and acceptance. I am humbled by the outpouring of love, sympathy and comfort. Now it’s time to move forward. With all my heart, thank you. ~ Nancy♡
Bill & Jim at their childhood home, City Island, The Bronx, NY circa 1950
My husband encouraged me to write today; I didn’t want to …. I felt like I should sit by his side, hold his hand, cry with him but his tears and his grief have not hit home yet.
One minute he’s walking around the house in a daze, the next he’s playing LEGOs with our 4 year old granddaughter. It’s good for her to be here; she’s keeping him distracted.
You see, my darling husband Bill’s twin brother Jim died today around 12:30pm. His wife Lynne went upstairs to their bedroom and found him on the floor. She tried desperately to breathe life into him but he was gone. Just like that, alive one minute and dead the next.
Losing a sibling is so hard; losing an identical twin is unfathomable. I am Bill’s wife but his twin brother was his other half and I say that with nothing but love in my heart. They shared their mother’s womb, their crib, their playpen, their bedroom, their car. They went to school together, worked in the same marina together for many summers. Bill graduated Iona College first in his class; Jim was second. They even failed the army physical together!
They were on polar opposites of the political page and their taste in women couldn’t have been more different but in every other way, they were as one. Of course they looked the same and talked the same, they had the same laugh, the same sense of humor. They loved watching hockey and going fishing together. Now that will never happen again.
If you look at the last photo on the bottom of the page you’ll see them, two little suntanned towheads sitting side by side fishing with their older brother, dad and grandfather. Now everyone in that boat is gone except for my husband, Bill.
All I’m thinking about right now is what a great time Jim and Lynne had last week. They spent the whole week in North Carolina with their son, his wife and two teenage grandchildren. They texted photos of everyone on the boardwalk, arms around each other, looking incredibly happy.
Bill and Jim. The Twins. The Richy Twins. When people saw one, they saw the other. Now there’s only one and nothing from this moment on will ever be the same.
The topic today at Song Lyric Sunday is to write about songs written for movies. According to estimates by industry analysts, people from 95 different countries and 82% of all Americans will be celebrating Easter this year. Armed with that information, reading the name of my post and looking at the image below, my selection for today should be an obvious one. Roll away the stone; it’s time for Jesus Christ Superstar!
The classic rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar has had many different reincarnations since it premiered on Broadway in 1971 and has been made into four movies. Last year marked the 50th anniversary of the 1973 film adaptation of the original Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice live musical of the same name.
*Point of interest which I will get into later. Ian Gillan from the rock group Deep Purple was slated to play Jesus in both the 1971 Broadway show and the movie in 1973; however due to his heavy recording and concert obligations with Deep Purple, he was unavailable.
The film Jesus Christ Superstar starred Ted Neely, Carl Anderson and Yvonne Elliman and, just like the Broadway musical, depicted the conflict between Judas and Jesus during the week leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion. The movie was released to theaters in the US on August 15, 1973. Neeley, Anderson, and Elliman were nominated for Golden Globe Awards in 1974 for their portrayals of Jesus, Judas, and Mary Magdalene, respectively. None of them won; out of 16 various nominations, including the Academy Awards, Jesus Christ Superstar won only 3 …. “Best Soundtrack” for the British Academy Film Award; “Best Foreign Film” for the David di Donatello Award; “Best Cinematography in a Theatrical Feature Film” for the British Society of Cinematographers Award.
The movie received very mixed reviews from critics but movie-goers loved it; it was the highest-grossing musical in the US and Canada for 1973.
In the 1980 book “The Golden Turkey Awards” by Michael and Harry Medved, Ted Neeley was given “an award” for “The Worst Performance by an Actor as Jesus Christ“. Neeley went on to recreate the role of Jesus in numerous national stage tours of the rock musical. I watched the move again last night and I didn’t think he was that bad.
The obvious saving grace for the movie was the music …. the same phenomenal Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice songs used in the live musical. I bought the album soundtrack of the Broadway show after seeing the performance and played the hell out of it …. not just during Easter but all the time and not Mary Magdalene’s famous “I Don’t Know How To Love Him”, even though that is a fabulous song. My favorite song was the soliloquy “Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)”.
If you ever attended church services or Sunday School, went to a parochial school, read the Bible, saw the famous painting by Heinrich Hofmann or watched almost any epic Bible movie on TV, you’ll remember that just before Jesus was betrayed by Judas, He and his disciples went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray. The disciples all fell asleep, leaving Jesus to pray alone. He knew what was about to happen and He was frightened, as any man in that unspeakable situation would be.
In “Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)”, Jesus asks why he has to die and even prays for a way out (“Take this cup away from me for I don’t want to taste its poison”). This “Superstar” turning point finds Jesus questioning his fate for the first and only time. At no point in this beautifully subtle song is God’s existence assessed. Jesus appears in all his human frailty …. doubtful, frightened and impressively lonely. I remember hearing over and over again in Mass how Jesus died willingly for our sins; I never believed that could possibly be true and this number from “Superstar” clearly brings that message home. Think for a moment what is being asked of him.
From the 1973 movie Jesus Christ Superstar, this is Ted Neeley with “Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say).
On April 1, 2018, Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert starring John Legend in the role of Jesus premiered on American television, broadcast live on NBC on Easter Sunday evening. As a staged concert performance, it was more of an opera with minimal dialogue. Like the movie 45 years earlier, the concert was based on the Broadway musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, using the same music. I didn’t hold out much hope for this production and was prepared to hate it; it was too modern and edgy-looking, like a Dino De Laurentiis production of Pagliacci set in Las Vegas. And to top it all off, the highly unlikely Alice Cooper was cast as King Herod! Much to my complete delight, it was amazing and I was blown away by the production, the cast and John Legend in particular. It is well worth watching and you can find it streaming anywhere right now. This excellent concert is on my TV viewing line-up for tonight. BTW, Alice Cooper was perfect in the role.
From 2018’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert, here is John Legend with “Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)”.
So far we’ve listened to Ted Neeley’s version from the 1973 movie and John Legend’s rendition from the 2018 concert …. two vastly different performances. But there’s still one more. *This one is and always will be my favorite …. the original soundtrack recording of this all-time Broadway musical classic. Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan sang the role of Jesus and his interpretation set the bar for all upcoming performers. When “Superstar” was on Broadway in 1971, Deep Purple was on the top of the music world; because of Deep Purple’s commitments and schedule, Ian Gillan was not able to join the cast of the play nor appear in the 1973 film. The late Jeff Fenholt replaced Ian Gillan in the role of Jesus on Broadway and Ted Neeley replaced him in the movie and became known as the face of Jesus. (There’s some weird backstory about Fenholt being a member of Black Sabbath at one time; I say it’s bogus. He claimed he was, Sabbath said he only tried out. Google if you care to). As I told my friend Clive yesterday, “Ian Gillan will always be Jesus to me”.
From the original Broadway soundtrack, this is the unmistakable and incredible voice of rock icon Ian Gillan singing the role of Jesus. Here is “Gethsemane (I Only Want To Say)”.
Lyrics
I only want to say if there is a way Take this cup away from me For I don’t want to taste it’s poison Feel it burn me, I have changed I’m not as sure as when we started
Then I was inspired now I’m sad and tired Listen, surely I’ve exceeded expectations Tried for three years, seems like thirty Could you ask as much from any other man?
But if I die see the saga through and do the Things you ask of me Let them hate me, hit me, hurt me Nail me to their tree I’d wanna know, I’d wanna know, my God I’d wanna know, I’d wanna know, my God I’d wanna see, I’d wanna see, my God I’d wanna see, I’d wanna see, my God
Why I should die Would I be more noticed than I ever was before? Would the things I’ve said And done matter anymore? I’d have to know, I’d have to know, my Lord I’d have to know, I’d have to know, my Lord I’d have to see, I’d have to see, my Lord I’d have to see, I’d have to see, my Lord If I die, what would be my reward? If I die, what would be my reward? I’d have to know, I’d have to know, my Lord I’d have to know, I’d have to know, my Lord
Why should I die? Oh, why should I die? Can you show me now that I Would not be killed in vain? Show me just a little Of your omnipresent brain Show me there’s a reason for You wanting me to die You’re far too keen on “where” and “how” But not so hot on “why”
Alright, I’ll die Just watch me die see how I die See how I die oh, watch me die Oh, watch me die
Then I was inspired now I’m sad and tired After all I tried for three years Seems like ninety why then am I scared to Finish what I started? What you started I didn’t start it
God, thy will be done destroy your only son I will drink your cup of poison Nail me to your cross and break me Bleed me, beat me, kill me, take me Now, before I change my mind Now, before I change my mind
Thank you for joining me today. I hope all of you who are celebrating Easter today realize the fulfillment of hope, peace, joy and love from your faith.
Big thanks to Jim for hosting another week of Song Lyric Sunday.
This is a reblog of John’s post from The Sound of One Hand Typing. I enjoyed it so much, I wanted to share it with you. Now I have to talk to John again to find out how he does all those “inserty” types of things. So envious of people with mad techie skills!!
I came up with this prompt based on something Maggie (who I haven’t seen in some time) did one Valentine’s Day: write a love story with song titles interspersed as some of the story. I think Cathy said use songs from a Valentine’s Day, but really any survey would do. I used the WLS Silver…
Denise at GirlieOnTheEdge has once again challenged us to write a Six Sentence Story using the prompt word “nail”. This is my story.
When I first saw him I thought I was hallucinating (was this a real person or a fear-induced illusion?) and I knew I had to remain perfectly still and quiet – my very life depended on it.
I had no idea how long I’d been there – certainly long enough for my skin to have turned red, my mouth parched, my lips cracked and I remember being stung and bitten by insects and digging my nailsinto the palms of my hands to keep from crying out, but I recall now … we were picking flowers and berries in a sun-filled field … we had been following a stream and unknowingly wandered far from home when I caught sight of a bush hidden deep in a shady area; the plant was heavy with ripe blackberries and I couldn’t resist running to the bush, happily filling my bucket with the deep purple fruit.
I was busy plucking berries when I heard screams – not the usual giddy, playful squeals of young girls but awful shrieks of terror and I started to run back only to see my three sisters encircled by a group of Indians, hulking and menacing men, blocking the girl’s attempts to flee; they wore breechcloths across their midsection, moccasins and no shirts, their faces painted and their heads shaved except for a center strip of upright long hair and I knew immediately they were the dreaded Mohawk.
They tugged the girl’s long blonde hair, poked them with sticks and tore at their starched white dresses.
I wanted to shout out but was too afraid and I hid while my sweet little sisters were raped and raped and raped.
At 15, I was the eldest and I was supposed to protect them; how could I be such a coward?
It’s one of those rare delights – an unusually quiet morning with no appointments, no grandchildren to watch and nothing to do except roll over and glance out the bedroom window.
It’s that time just after dawn but before the sky has fully lightened and I think if there’s no name for this time of day, there should be.
I yawn and stretch, feeling no tension in my body, and when my eyes open, I audibly gasp as everything around me has frozen in time. Suspended in the sky is a pregnant pearlescent circle, full and perfect, a translucent milky orb.
Good morning, Snow Moon; this is serendipity at its finest.
Snow Moon, oh so shy You fly away at my glance Where are you hiding?
Presidents’ Day is a federal holiday in the U.S., celebrated on the third Monday in February; Presidents’ Day 2024 will occur on February 19 …. hey, that’s today!
Originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, the holiday became popularly known as Presidents’ Day after it was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers.
While several states still have individual holidays honoring the birthdays of Washington, Abraham Lincoln and other figures, Presidents’ Day is now popularly viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents, past and present. Very few people do that and the holiday is a day off for federal employees, kids have winter break this week and Presidents’ Day sales are going strong in stores around the country.
Hey, if you can’t laugh at the leader of the free world, who can you laugh at? Enjoy the holiday!
Presidential Bloopers
Here’s One Weird Fact About 45 Presidents (sorry Joe!)
They lived in lush green perfection of ripe fruit and pristine water. When their misadventures and disobedience angered the Maker, they and their sons were cast out.
One son, a farmer, made an offering of paltry wheat; the Maker was displeased.
The other, a shepherd, offered his firstborn lamb, which pleased the Maker.
In a panic, the jealous farmer killed his brother.
Enraged and saddened, the Maker banished the murderer, condemning him to a life of endless wandering.
Anfractuous paths covered the land. The farmer roamed for years, until blindly falling from a cliff to his death.
After receiving the diagnosis “ULCER”, Brian’s wife Ali had been lovingly, carefully packing his lunches. He checked the contents of his bento box: plain broiled cod, boiled cauliflower and coconut milk. “This must be her White Period”, he thought, wistfully.
Sensitiveand embarrassed coworkers averted their eyes as they passed Brian’s cubicle on their way to lunch. Gone were the cheerful calls “C’mon, Brian! We’re going to Smokin’ Joe’s Hot Wings for lunch!” or “Salsa and nachos in the hospitality room, guys!” Oh, the humanity!
Brian’s computer pinged. It was an email from Ali: “Hi, hon. Hope you’re having a great day. Did you find the Maalox I put in your backpack? We’re having something special for dinner tonight …. poached chicken, brown rice and garbanzo beans …. hope you’re hungry! Love ya, babe! xo”
“Ah, Ali’s Beige Period.” Brian stared blankly at the computer screen. “I wonder how many beige foods there are …. oatmeal, boiled potatoes, matzoh….”
Depressed, fatigued and hungry, Brian put his head in his hands; a solitary tear fell through his fingers onto his khakis. Slowly the wet spot morphed into the shape of a slice of pizza. “What the …. ?!” Incredulous, Brian blinked and wiped his eyes. “What’s happening to me?!” Images of devilish, cramp-inducing, bowel-seizing delicacies danced ‘round his head …. jalapeño poppers, tacos, barbecued ribs.
The dreaded hunger hallucinations!Sweating, Brian texted Ali. “Babe. Last minute meeting with the deputy mayor. Sorry, I’m gonna miss dinner. Love ya!”
Brian lied.
Grabbing the bottle of Maalox and a Smokin‘ Joe’s menu from his desk drawer, Brian bolted from his cubicle, giddy as a school girl at her first dance.
“Outta my way, boys, outta my way!!”
Brian knew he was taking a big chance but he just didn’t care. He was starving, dammit! And out he ran, laughing and joyfully shouting, “Jalapeño-effing-poppers, baby!!”
Welcome to Birthday Thursdays! Each week I will feature someone from the world of music whose birthday falls on this day. There won’t be any chit chat from me, no facts and figures – just some great tunes (and an occasional surprise). Check it out right here every Thursday and enjoy the music.
Happy Birthday to Etta James Born January 25, 1938 in Los Angeles, California
From the album “Etta James”, this is “A Sunday Kind Of Love”
This is “I’d Rather Go Blind” from the album “Tell Mama”
From the album “Etta James – At Last”, this is “At Last”
Denise at GirlieOnTheEdge is challenging us once again to create an amazing Six Sentence Story, this time using the word “access”; this is my response.
Due, no doubt, to the cold weather, I have been doing a lot more cooking indoors, eschewing the barbecue grill for simmering pots of tomato sauce, bubbling trays of lasagna and stews roiling in slow cookers – a skill which comes naturally to me since, as I have mentioned many times recently, I hail from a long line of talented cooks, with my mother topping the list; she instilled in me at an early age a love of hearty and delicious home-cooked meals and the know-how to prepare them.
Mom was a Sicilian immigrant who attended school only until the age of 9; with her own ailing mother unable to maintain their home, my mother assumed the role of nurse, cook and maid …. devastatingly unfair, but that’s the way it was in 1925 – kids forced to abandon their childhood, growing up in a hurry.
My mother and her cousins did not have access to YouTube or TikTok or cooking channels on TV; there were no cookbooks in her small apartment …. just recipes galvanized in her brain from watching her grandmother and her aunts holding court in the kitchen.
Many of the ingredients my mother used were home grown, such as vegetables, herbs and fruit, and the items that didn’t come from the ground were all bought from the local grocer and butcher, the price haggled and haggled once again until my mother was satisfied; her purchases were of the finest quality and she always returned home with change in her purse.
When I, as a kid, would come home from school or a day outside with my friends, I would always be greeted with the sublime aromas of something magical cooking; I would float into the kitchen as though carried by angels, my nose twitching, and I would dreamily ask “What’s for dinner?”
So many mornings I was awakened by the steady thump thump thump of the base of my mother’s palm kneading and pounding the dough for her exquisite double crust pizza filled with nothing but sweet, caramelized onions sautéed to golden-brown perfection; to this day after too many years and countless attempts, I still have not figured out her secret to that culinary slice of heaven.
Rochelle from Friday Fictioneers gave us the photo below while Denise from Six Sentence Stories provided the prompt word “jingle”. This is my response, a union of two prompts, in a 100-word, six-sentence story.*
When she became pregnant the following year, they were ecstatic; their son was born in 1941, the most beautiful baby anyone ever saw – golden curls, plump cheeks as rosy as apple blossoms.
He was a delightful child who brought incredible joy into their lives.
In 1942 the baby was diagnosed with nephritis; incurable, the doctor said and they were left heartbroken.
In the blink of an eye between Jingle Bells and Auld Lang Syne, their baby silently passed away.
The young couple was devastated; they never celebrated new year’s eve again.
*This story is true; the young mother and father were my parents, their baby boy was the brother I never knew. Six weeks after their baby died, my father was drafted and spent his entire tour of duty fighting in Europe during WWII while my mother was left alone without a husband, without a baby. It wasmany years before I understood the ineffable emotional toll this had on their lives and why we never celebrated New Year’s Eve.
My friend Clive at Take It Easy …. https://cliveblogs.wordpress.com …. posted these two videos on his site last week; to me they represent what Christmas is all about. I wanted to share them and their distinctive messages with you.
The first one is a delightful advert by the people at Hafod Hardware, a shop in the Welsh town of Rhayader. Everything about it is perfection – the story that revolves around 2-year-old Arthur starting his day, helping his grandparents in their shop and the clever and imaginative ending, including the ubiquitous and endearing 👍🏼 greeting,
The second video was made for the song “Merry Christmas, Happy New Year” by Ingrid Michaelson and Zooey Deschanel. The animation is truly unique …. totally charming and endearing. I’ve never seen anything like it! I hope you enjoy these videos as much as I did.
My warmest wishes to you all, dear friends, for a very Merry Christmas!
“Merry Christmas, Happy New Year” by Ingrid Michaelson & Zooey Deschanel featuring some of the most charming, adorable and lovely animation I have ever seen! This is a real delight! ❤️
After a couple of discreet contributions to “Help!”, George really started taking his revenge with “Rubber Soul” and began to show his enormous capacity as a songwriter. With this new-found theme, George was on his way to surpassing himself on each upcoming album.
I thought I couldn’t dig George any more than I already did, but when this song came out in 1965, I realized I was wrong. I was under his spell!
In his 1980 autobiography, “I, Me, Mine”, George recalls a little about the inspiration behind “Think for Yourself”. He said that his intention was to target narrow-minded thinking and identified the British government as a possible source. Partly as a result of the vagueness of his comments, the song has been interpreted as both a political commentary and a statement on a failing personal relationship.
The song reflects the influence of Bob Dylan; just as their songs had encouraged Dylan to embrace rock music, Dylan’s work inspired the Beatles (and particularly George, as a budding songwriter), to address more sophisticated concepts than the standard love song. Some critics likened “Think For Yourself” to Dylan’s “Positively 4th Street” …. not too shabby a comparison!
From 1965’s fantastic “Rubber Soul”, this is the impressive, heavy-hitting “Think For Yourself”.
Lyrics
I’ve got a word or two To say about the things that you do You’re telling all those lies About the good things that we can have If we close our eyes
Do what you want to do And go where you’re going to Think for yourself ‘Cause I won’t be there with you
I left you far behind The ruins of the life that you had in mind And though you still can’t see I know your mind’s made up You’re gonna cause more misery
Do what you want to do And go where you’re going to Think for yourself ‘Cause I won’t be there with you
Although your mind’s opaque Try thinking more if just for your own sake The future still looks good And you’ve got time to rectify All the things that you should
Do what you want to do And go where you’re going to Think for yourself ‘Cause I won’t be there with you
Do what you want to do And go where you’re going to Think for yourself ‘Cause I won’t be there with you Think for yourself ‘Cause I won’t be there with you
You may have picked up on a theme here in my ‘all things George’ week. I started with the first song by George to appear on a Beatles album and am working my way up chronologically …. managing somehow to have overlooked two! 🤦🏼♀️ One of those songs appears today; the other will appear tomorrow. By Saturday I’ll be back on track with the correct chronology. True Giorgiophiles didn’t call me out on that booboo but those two songs are very good ones and deserve airtime here. Mea culpa!
Let’s backtrack a bit to the third George song included on a Beatles album. It was his second composition for the “Help!” album, recorded in 1965 for the film of the same name but it never made it to the soundtrack.
George double-tracked his vocals, with Paul joining in at certain times. Double-tracking vocals is the act of recording a vocal part two or more times, attempting to match each performance as closely as possible to the original, both in phrasing and in pitch, to add depth, dimension, character and harmony. (If you’re familiar with the songs of Connie Francis, you’ll know that she is famous for double-tracking and she certainly did it well.)
Presumably written about his relationship with Pattie Boyd (another ode to the divine Ms. B!) this is “You Like Me Too Much” from “Help!” or “Beatles IV”, depending on which side of the pond you’re located.
Lyrics
Though you’ve gone away this morning You’ll be back again tonight Telling me there’ll be no next time If I just don’t treat you right You’ll never leave me and you know it’s true ‘Cause you like me too much and I like you
You’ve tried before to leave me But you haven’t got the nerve To walk out and make me lonely Which is all that I deserve You’ll never leave me and you know it’s true ‘Cause you like me too much and I like you I really do
And it’s nice when you believe me If you leave me I will follow you and bring You back where you belong ‘Cause I couldn’t really stand it I’d admit that I was wrong I wouldn’t let you leave me ’cause it’s true ‘Cause you like me too much and I like you
‘Cause you like me too much and I like you I really do
And it’s nice when you believe me If you leave me I will follow you and bring You back where you belong ‘Cause I couldn’t really stand it I’d admit that I was wrong I wouldn’t let you leave me ’cause it’s true ‘Cause you like me too much and I like you ‘Cause you like me too much and I like you
Today we mark the 22nd anniversary of George Harrison’s death; as I said the other day in my post on Song Lyric Sunday, the passing of George broke my heart. The youngest of the Beatles, he was only eight years my senior, almost to the day, but when I was 13 or 14 years old, that eight years seemed like a huge age gap.
I was in my car driving up to Rhinebeck NY to see my mother and sister when the news came on the car radio. I cried for the rest of the trip and, upon my arrival, shared the sad news with them. The irony was not lost on me how 36 years earlier the three of us bonded at a happier occasion …. the Beatles concert at Shea Stadium. The Lads always had a way of bringing people together.
And they still do for here we are once again brought together by their great music!
After “With The Beatles” and “Help!”, George was ready to take his long over-due revenge with “Rubber Soul”. “If I Needed Someone” marked the start of his (acknowledged) emergence as a songwriter beside the likes of Lennon and McCartney.
This is yet another song which George wrote for his future wife, Pattie Boyd. She must have been something else, that Pattie, to have two men (George and Eric Clapton) fall madly in love with her, marry her and have three songs (that I know of) written for her!
In “If I Needed Someone”, George invites is love interest to “Carve your number on my wall” yet offers only the possibility that he will call her back. I always loved the way he cleverly used the word “carve” when a songwriter of lesser chops would have gone with the word “write”.
From 1965’s “Rubber Soul” here is “If I Needed Someone”. There’s not a single thing wrong with a George Harrisong!
LYRICS
If I needed someone to love You’re the one that I’d be thinking of If I needed someone
If I had some more time to spend Then I guess I’d be with you, my friend If I needed someone
Had you come some other day Then it might not have been like this But you see now I’m too much in love
Carve your number on my wall And maybe you will get a call from me If I needed someone Ah, ah, ah, ah
If I had some more time to spend Then I guess I’d be with you, my friend If I needed someone
Had you come some other day Then it might not have been like this But you see now I’m too much in love
Carve your number on my wall And maybe you will get a call from me If I needed someone Ah, ah
Here’s a link to a story I first wrote in 2021 then reposted earlier this year. Most of you have read it but some have not. I’m rather proud of this piece; a ton of research went into it and it took me about 2 weeks to paraphrase everything George said because the last thing I wanted was a cut and paste type of job. It’s about as close to the truth as I could get without actually sitting down and talking with George himself. Thank you! 🩶
To all my WordPress friends ~ warmest wishes to you for a blessed and happy day of giving thanks.
Try not to be so harried and rushed that the day loses its significance and becomes a drudgery. Holidays can turn us into loose cannons ready to explode at the first sign of a glitch. Pour yourself another cup of coffee and watch the parade with the kids for half an hour, then go back and face that problem. You may be surprised how inconsequential it really is.
Take the pressure off yourself; we’re not superheroes so don’t feel like you have to juggle ten baking pans at once. Ask for a little help; you may discover cooking with someone can be more fun and relaxing than cooking for someone. And when I’m having fun and feeling relaxed, it’s contagious.
Hit the play button and get some cool tunes going. That old saying that music soothes the savage beast is true. Let the calm wash over you like a warm relaxing shower. You don’t even have to go hunting through your CDs or playlists; there’s a video at the end of this post that will take you all the way through appetizers, dinner and dessert (and maybe a little romantic dancing after all your guests have left)!
Remember the meaning of thanksgiving, the things and people in life that make you feel blessed. No matter how difficult times get, there’s always something to be thankful for.
Happy Thanksgiving, my friends. Whether you observe the holiday or not, may you enjoy a beautiful day of peaceful solitude or celebratory joy with those you hold near and dear.Be thankful, grateful and blessed,today and every day.
Jim Adams at ‘Thursday Inspiration‘ has asked us to respond to his challenge regarding songs dealing with the word “delight”. This is my response to that challenge.
“Dixieland Delight” is a 1983 song written by Ronnie Rogers and recorded by the American country music band Alabama. It was released in January 1983 as the lead-off single from their album, “The Closer I Get…”.
The song reached No. 1 on the BillboardHot Country Songs list. After its release, the song became a college football tradition within the Southeastern Conferrence, most notably within the Alabama Crimson Tide football and Tennessee Volunteer football fan bases.
The song’s title refers to the girlfriend of the singer. The bottom line is that during their weekend outing, he plans to get it on with his sweet little “Dixieland Delight” in his truck in a meadow (“Home-grown country girl, gonna give me a whirl“).
Lyrics Rollin’ down a Backwoods, Tennessee byway One arm on the wheel Holdin’ my lover with the other A sweet, soft, southern thrill Worked hard all week, got a little jingle On a Tennessee Saturday night Couldn’t feel better, I’m together With my Dixieland delight
Spend my dollar Parked in a holler ‘neath the mountain moonlight Hold her uptight, make a little lovin’ A little turtle dovin’ on a Mason-Dixon night Fits my life, oh, so right My Dixieland delight
White-tail buck deer munchin’ on clover Red-tail hawk sittin’ on a limb Chubby old groundhog, croakin’ bullfrog Free as the feelin’ in the wind Home-grown country girl gonna give me a whirl On a Tennessee Saturday night Lucky as a seven, livin’ in Heaven With my Dixieland delight
Spend my dollar Parked in a holler ‘neath the mountain moonlight Hold her uptight, make a little lovin’ A little turtle dovin’ on a Mason-Dixon night Fits my life, oh, so right My Dixieland delight
Spend my dollar Parked in a holler ‘neath the mountain moonlight Hold her uptight, make a little lovin’ A little turtle dovin’ on a Mason-Dixon night Fits my life, oh, so right My Dixieland delight
Rollin’ down a backwoods, Tennessee byway One arm on the wheel Holdin’ my lover with the other A sweet, soft, southern thrill Worked hard all week, got a little jingle On a Tennessee Saturday night Couldn’t feel better, I’m together With my Dixieland delight
Dear Diary: There’s a new boy in school named Carter. He’s so cool. He’s half black …. his skin is the color of milk chocolate and he’s got amazing green eyes. I dig him. If my parents find out, I’m dead! They’re so prejudiced!
Friday, 10/27/1961
Dear Diary: Great news! Carter is now my Biology partner! I know he’s into me. He winks whenever he sees me. My friends giggle; they’re so childish. Really! We’re 15. The black girls are giving me dirty looks. Beverly bumped me hard when she walked by. Carter likes me! He’s so hot!
Monday, 10/30/1961
Dear Diary: We were sitting real close in class, sharing the microscope. Carter’s arm brushed against my boob. I liked it. I leaned in closer and placed my hand on his leg. Then the bell rang! Carter whispered “Give me your phone number”. I scribbled it down and he winked at me.
Tuesday, 10/31/1961
Dear Diary: Teacher’s Conference Day. No school and my parents are at work. The ringing phone woke me. I was stunned to hear Carter’s voice: “Pretty Lily White. I’m bored. Come to my place. We’ll listen to music.” I said “Okay“, and got his address. I walked the three blocks to his house. The radio was playing Motown and we started dancing. He gave me a drink …. Scotch, I think …. and he laughed when I coughed. He took my glass and kissed me. I’d never been kissed like that before. We were drinking, smoking and dancing. I must have passed out. I only remember bits and pieces. I woke up in Carter’s bed. The Miracles singing “Ooh, Baby, Baby”. Carter’s friends Warren and Kevin appeared in a cloud over my head; I have no memory of them being there. What did I do? What did they do? Next thing I know I’m dressed and Carter’s helping me down the stairs, mumbling something about having to “clean up the mess”. He opened the front door and I staggered out, the cool air clearing my head a bit. I smelled like smoke, Scotch and sex. Somehow I made it home, showered and crawled into bed. It wasn’t supposed to happen like this.
Wednesday, 11/1 – Friday 11/3/1961
Dear Diary: Faked bad period cramps. Skipped school and missed the Halloween dance tonight. I just couldn’t face anyone..
Monday, 11/3/1961
Dear Diary: This morning at school I saw Carter walking with his arm around Beverly. He winked at me as we passed and Beverly bumped me hard. Carter’s friends laughed. I’m sure they all know what happened. I could just die.
It’s all new Birthday Thursdays at The Rhythm Section. No talk, no fuss, no muss. Just wall-to-wall music! Stop by and check it out! 🎂 https://rhythmsection.blog/
For this week’s Song Lyric Sunday, Jim Adams is asking us to think about songs dealing with “changes”. Well, how can I pass up an opportunity like that? Today I am going with a song from a group usually not associated with ballads. My featured artist is Black Sabbath and my song choice is an obvious one: “Changes”.
Sabbath was formed in Birmingham, England in 1968 by guitarist Toni Iommi, drummer Bill Ward, bassist Geezer Butler and vocalist Ozzy Osborne. Like so many young guys from that time period, they were looking to escape a life of factory work through music. They got their start in such bands as the psychedelic Rare Breed and Mythology. Influenced by the reigning British rock and blues bands of Led Zeppelin, Cream and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, our four enterprising guys formed Earth Blues Company (shortened to Earth) in 1968. Then, as Black Sabbath, the group helped define the heavy metal music genre early in its career with the release of albums such as the eponymous Black Sabbath (1970), Paranoid (1971) and Master of Reality (1971).
Black Sabbath has sold over 75 million records worldwide, making the group one of the most commercially successful metal bands. They were ranked by MTV as the “Greatest Metal Band of All Time” and placed 2nd on VH1’s list of “100 Greatest Artists of Hard Rock”. Black Sabbathwas inducted into the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005 and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2006. In 2019 the band was presented a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
As I mentioned earlier, these four guys suffered the same plight as many young men …. give up your youth and life to working day after day in the factories, the mines or on the docks doing back-breaking manual labor and earning barely enough to exist or find an escape through music. This is true for so many guys who formed bands back then. And success did not come overnight. They earned it all. This is just one of the many reasons I love heavy metal music and why I get annoyed at people who dismiss it out of hand as nothing but noise.
But I digress…..
“Changes” is a piano ballad mainly inspired by drummer Bill Ward’s ongoing breakup with his first wife. As explained in Ozzy Osbourne’s autobiography, while in the studio and experimenting with the piano, guitarist Tony Iommi composed the song’s sentimental melody. This was later accompanied by bassist Geezer Butler’s lyrics. The song was not recorded with a real string ensemble. Instead, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi used a Mellotron to create the sound of an orchestra. The ballad also does not feature guitar or drums. Quite different from Sabbath’s previous work, “Changes” has been described as ‘heartbreaking’ and ‘forlornly pretty’.
From Black Sabbath’s 1972 album, “Vol 4”, this is “Changes”:
Lyrics
I feel unhappy, I feel so sad I’ve lost the best friend that I ever had She was my woman, I loved her so But it’s too late now, I’ve let her go
I’m going through changes I’m going through changes
We shared the years, we shared each day In love together, we found the way But soon the world had its evil way My heart was blinded, love went astray
I’m going through changes I’m going through changes
It took so long to realise And I can still hear her last goodbyes Now all my days are filled with tears Wish I could go back and change these years
I’m going through changes I’m going through changes
Three decades later in 2003, Ozzy Osbourne re-recorded “Changes” as a duet with his daughter, Kelly. The lyrics for this version were revised to reflect their relationship and moments of their life together focusing on the changing relationship of a father and daughter drifting apart. This rendition reached No. 1 in the UK singles chart.
Here are Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne performing “Changes”:
Lyrics
[Verse 1: Kelly Osbourne & Ozzy Osbourne] I feel unhappy, I am so sad I’ve lost the best friend that I ever had She is my baby, I love her so But it’s too late, now, I’ve let her go
[Chorus: Ozzy Osbourne with Kelly Osbourne] We’re going through changes We’re going through changes
[Verse 2: Kelly Osbourne & Ozzy Osbourne] We shared the years, we shared each day I love you, daddy, but I’ve found my way You know, the world is an evil place My baby’s grown, now, she found her way
[Chorus: Ozzy Osbourne with Kelly Osbourne] We’re going through changes We’re going through changes
[Verse 3: Kelly Osbourne & Ozzy Osbourne] It took so long to realize And I can still hear his last goodbye Now, all my days are filled with fears Wish I could go back and change the years
“Changes”
Single by Ozzy and Kelly Osbourne
from the album Shut Up
Released
8 December 2003
Length
4:07
Label
Sanctuary
Songwriter(s)
Ozzy Osbourne Tony Iommi Geezer Butler Bill Ward
Producer(s)
Mark Hudson
Ozzy Osbourne singles chronology
“Stillborn” (2003) “Changes“ (2003) “In My Life” (2005)
The Elephant's Trunk 
.jpg){kind=link}