I started thinking about all the music I’ve known and heard in my almost 50 years. So I thought I’d put together a sampling across time. No real effort to tie in but you may see something if you try. So here’s round 4. Enjoy!
1960′s – I Wanna Be Your Dog – The Stooges:
1970′s - Jet Boy – New York Dolls:
1980′s - Police On My Back – The Clash:
1990′s – Salvation – Rancid:
2000′s - The State of Massachusetts – Dropkick Murphys:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVvcslW21lQ
2010′s - American Slang – The Gaslight Anthem:
I started thinking about all the music I’ve known and heard in my almost 50 years. So I thought I’d put together a sampling across time. No real effort to tie in but you may see something if you try. So here’s round 3. Enjoy!
1960′s – Glass Onion – The Beatles:
1970′s - Captain Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboy – Elton John:
1980′s - William It Was Really Nothing – The Smiths:
1990′s – So Gently We Go – I Mother Earth:
2000′s - Wires – Athlete:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uriGngTXyrE
2010′s - Must Be The One – She Wants Revenge:
Walking on the barren beach
No waves to be seen
The sea all mirrored glass
To far beyond the horizon
No ships come past
No wind whipped crests
I stride in calm
And perfect quiet
Standing in an empty field
No waves of grain
The flattest prairie
As far as I can see
No animal nor barn
No tractor on the tract
I stand in breezeless calm
And perfect quiet
I jogged through the city centre
No building can be seen
A flat road map scape
To the edge of my vision
No people nor car
No bus, tram or train
I ran in breathless calm
And perfect quiet
I floated through darkened space
No planet nor sun
All blackness and empty
As far as I can’t see
No stars, no ship
Nor countenance
I fly in growing panic
And perfect quiet
I ascend to this God’s heaven
No pearly, standing gate
All glowing light and shine
Too far for me to see
No clouds nor angels greet me
No structure to be seen
I alight without understanding
And perfect quiet
I arrive back home and waken
No walls, no roof
An endless open concept
Beyond infinity to see
No wife nor kids to meet me
My loss is boundless pain
I arise in tear-soaked madness
And perfect quiet
I started thinking about all the music I’ve known and heard in my almost 50 years. So I thought I’d put together a sampling across time. No real effort to tie in but you may see something if you try. So here’s round 2. Enjoy!
1960′s – Boris The Spider – The Who:
1970′s - Picture My Face - Teenage Head:
1980′s - First We Take Manhattan – Leonard Cohen:
1990′s – Cubically Contained – Headstones:
2000′s - Cedars of Lebanon – U2:
2010′s - Bloodbuzz Ohio – The National:
Unfortunately I could not find a direct video to post so you could watch the interview on this page. I will provide a link below so you can watch and judge for yourself.
On the January 31, 2012 episode of The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, his guest was Jonathan Macey – Professor of Corporate Law, Corporate Finance, and Securities Law. As you will see, the discussion is quite interesting.
As I have said many times, Jon Stewart is a bit of a hero to me. Definitely one of the 10 ultimate dinner guests I would have. And you may notice as you watch this video that for all the jokes, the man is smart and does his homework. Pay particular attention to the Professor’s body language as this progresses.
Nothing more need be said. Judge for yourself.
For those outside the U.S., you should be able to see it here.
For those in the U.S., you should be able to see the extended interview:
Part 1 here
Part 2 here
Part 3 here
What If Bono Died?
I have asked myself this question before but I’ve never really written about it. I thought this deserved a look.
With the recent death of Whitney Houston I was struck by what amounts to a truly insane reaction. People who never met her or got to see her perform weeping like their own mother died. You can flame me for this but it annoys me. A lot.
Whitney Houston was a great talent. But I definitely don’t lump her in the same category as Elvis, John Lennon or Michael Jackson. She burned bright and burned out. She hasn’t done anything of note in years. Being dead doesn’t make you a legend. It isn’t even a requirement.
So I started asking myself, as a U2 fan, how would I react if Bono died?
Would I cry? Would I run out and find a vigil to attend? Would I start my own vigil? Would I have to travel to the funeral? Would I have to visit the grave? Would I start an online wailing wall?
No, no, no, NO, NO, NOOOOO.
I’m sorry to those of you who would. I just think it is the most ridiculous thing to weep for a celebrity who you don’t know. I am and would be thankful for the music and the outreach work he’s done.
The main problem with the fans I call the nutters is that they think they know the man. That the music, the interviews, even the brief conversation if they happen to meet makes them somehow ‘close’. It’s a fallacy. they have no idea how he is behind closed doors. They know nothing of his temper or temperament. And shit, yeah, maybe he is the super awesome dude you think he is. Or maybe he’s just a guy with a voice and knack for writing. Still doesn’t mean you really know him.
Be sad the voice is silenced. Be thankful for the words that may have touched you or helped you through a tough time. But don’t weep like he’s in your inner circle. Surprise! He isn’t.
But this all leads to another thought that often comes when considering the death of a celebrity. Does Bono fall into the same category as Elvis, John Lennon, Michael Jackson?
And that is what I call a tough question. The fan in me might automatically think ‘sure’!. But the objective observer in me questions that rationale.
Yes, he’s part of a band that sold way over 100 million records. They’ve recently had the biggest tour of all time. He’s penned some of the greatest songs of all time.
Unfortunately for me, that makes U2 one of the greatest bands ever. Bono has no solo work to speak of. Lennon may have been a Beatle but his arguably greatest work came after. Elvis and MJ did it on their own.
So my final answer is no, Bono does not rank with those legends. Close, but not quite. Frankly I don’t think Kurt Cobain does either. He left before we got the full picture.
All that said, I think Bono is a remarkable talent. I think U2 has always given a bit of an unfair shake among the music critics out there. I think that would prevent them from being considered as big as the Beatles but given their career, they do deserve the consideration. Even I have to pause when I think about whether they will be looked at that way. They may deserve it but I have a feeling they will be left at great but not amongst the greatest. I hope I’m wrong.
By the way, I almost titled this article ‘Bono Is Dead’. I thought the shock value would be worth it. But I really wanted to consider the question as it is and not do that to generate hots on my blog. I’m sure it would have done wonders! Please share your thoughts on all I’ve said here. Curious what everyone thinks.