Tag Archives: music

Most Remarkable

Posted in Uncategorized by

In the annals of maritime history, the SS Edmund Fitzgerald remains a poignant reminder of nature’s unforgiving power. Fifty years have passed since the legendary freighter succumbed to Lake Superior’s treacherous waters, a tragedy immortalized by Gordon Lightfoot’s haunting ballad. Though time may have dimmed memories, the ship’s dramatic sinking continues to captivate those who learn of its final, fateful voyage.

Stumbling upon an unexpected article during an unrelated research session, memories of a distant event and its accompanying melody flooded back. The passage of time became strikingly apparent, and the details within the piece struck me as both remarkable and astonishing, casting the past in a new, remarkable light.

In the century preceding this account, six thousand documented incidents were recorded, a statistic that initially seemed implausible. Despite initial skepticism about potential numerical errors, the reported figure remained consistent. Notably, since the referenced event, no further occurrences have been observed. This is is reported on YouTube, PBS News Room by Anna Nawaz.

Gordon Lightfoot, the renowned Canadian folk singer-songwriter, potentially transcended the realm of musical artistry through his legendary ballad “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.” Beyond his celebrated musical contributions, his haunting narrative about the tragic shipwreck might have raised maritime safety awareness and commemorated the lives lost in one of the Great Lakes’ most infamous maritime disasters. His song not only preserved historical memory but potentially influenced maritime safety protocols and public consciousness about the dangers of nautical travel. The profound impact of his musical storytelling extends far beyond mere entertainment, potentially serving as a memorial, a cautionary tale, and a tribute to the brave sailors who faced nature’s unforgiving power. Lightfoot’s artistic narrative transformed a tragic maritime incident into a lasting cultural touchstone that continues to resonate with generations, highlighting the potential of music to document, remember, and potentially prevent future tragedies.

And, at the time, I just liked the song.

Musicals

Posted in Uncategorized by

Musicals have long been a polarizing art form, with countless individuals dismissing them outright. The most common critique I encounter is the perceived lack of realism—a sentiment that seemingly undermines the genre’s unique storytelling potential. Yet, beneath this surface-level objection lies a misunderstood world of emotional expression and artistic innovation.

While musicals may not appeal to everyone, dismissing the entire genre means missing out on numerous exceptional films and theatrical performances that offer rich storytelling, compelling characters, and innovative artistic expression.

If not for “The Sound of Music,” most of us would not have experienced the takeover of Austria by the Germans, other than in a clinical sense. If not for “Fiddler on the Roof,” most of us would not be aware of what the Jews went through during the final years of Czarist Russia, which is a very important part of human history. Some might argue against me, but “South Pacific” and “The King and I” brought up racial subjects that were right on the edge in their day.

The timeless melodies of classic musicals transcend generations, breathing life into narratives that might otherwise fade. “Sound of Music” exemplifies this phenomenon, captivating audiences decades after its initial release. Its enduring appeal suggests a universal resonance that speaks to contemporary viewers as powerfully as it did to its original audience, proving that great storytelling, enhanced by memorable music, can create an emotional connection that defies time.

Fiddler on the Roof stands out as a timeless masterpiece that transcends musical entertainment. Its profound narrative explores cultural traditions and social change with remarkable depth. The musical’s songs, particularly poignant pieces like “Sunrise, Sunset,” beautifully capture the emotional landscape of Jewish life in early 20th century Russia. Beyond its melodic brilliance, the story offers rich historical insights that could profoundly educate students about cultural identity, family dynamics, and societal transformation. The work’s thematic richness makes it an invaluable educational resource, deserving of broader recognition in academic settings.

Humor often serves as a crucial element in storytelling, providing levity and emotional relief that can make narratives more engaging and memorable. The inclusion of lighthearted moments not only breaks tension but also creates a more relatable and enjoyable experience for the audience.

While musicals often showcase exceptional musical compositions, not all achieve a perfect balance between narrative and score. Some productions primarily serve as platforms for memorable melodies, which can still be thoroughly enjoyable. However, certain musicals, like Desert Song, possess narratives so minimal that the music becomes the primary driving force. In such cases, removing the musical elements would leave behind a skeletal storyline.

Memories of Music

Posted in Uncategorized by

One thing you young people will find is that the music you listen to today will help form your memories of tomorrow. I can remember listening to music when I was four. Oddly, they are some of my strongest memories, perhaps because they were reinforced so often. I am sure I listened to “Whispering Hope” sung by Gordon MacRae and Jo Stafford close to a thousand times within a few years. It is still my favorite song, and when I am going through trying times, I will listen to it 5 to 10 times.

The point of my post is that tonight I was listening to a show where many songs were being sung that brought back many wonderful memories. Almost every song they sang was old, and they brought back really good memories.

Then they sang “Cotton Fields (Back Home).” I remembered it immediately, but I was having trouble with the lyrics. Worse, I couldn’t remember the name of the song.

Naturally, I went running for my computer pad and started looking into it. I’m glad I did. The one place I listened to it the most was by Danny Davis and the Nashville Brass. I guess we bought the album around 1974 or 1975.

It was an instrumental, which explains why I had trouble with the words. However, there was an oddity noticed, which I am sure you can verify. This song must be close to holding the record for being the most recorded song ever. I think I came across close to a dozen without trying. I was trying to find a copy of the album we bought back in 1975. I gave up looking. I am sure someone would like to sell me a CD or MP3 copies of the album, but all I could find were cassettes.

Nonetheless, my wife told me of an error in the lyrics. There is no place in Louisiana a mile from Texarkana. I guess we can still pretend. It’s a nice song, anyway.

Let the Punishment Fit the Crime

Posted in Uncategorized by

The above is from an old song, about 1900 plus or minus. I don’t know. It might be a quote from an earlier saying. The words have been set to a catchy tune. You might want to look it up. It is by Gilbert and Sullivan and the tune is from an operetta, “The Mikado.”

Gilbert and Sullivan premiered the show in Japan, English actors with makeup to make them look Japanese, which showed some courage as it was about a Mikado, or a, so to speak, king in Japan. It is very funny and the Japanese thought so, as they loved the operetta. Surprisingly, not one person found it objective. You should have no difficulty finding both the song and show on the internet. It took me 2 minutes. The song lasted about 4 minutes. Certainly you have that much time to listen to it.

The point of the song is that the actor is saying that his object is subline, to make the punishment fit the crime.

I know… Here I go again talking about operettas and Gilbert Sullivan again. Well, I can’t help it if someone ignored your proper music education. We were listening to Gilbert and Sullivan in the 5th and 6th grade and all the kids thought it was great.

At any rate, I keep hearing these people going around saying the Trump is going to go after the dems that were going after him. It’s the wrong attitude. Perhaps if the dems had listened to this song they would realize it.

The question should be, is the Justice Department going to prosecute the guilty. Are they going to let the punishment fit the crime or are they going to just let them go as the dems hope they will.

The point is this, don’t you think anyone that has committed a serious crime should be prosecuted, no matter what letters are after their name. Or do you think that, no matter how serious the crime, all people with Ds after their name should go free regardless of the crimes they committed.

If they prosecute only those guilty of crimes, why should any of the dems have anything to fear? On the other hand, if their hands are full of guilt, why should they not fear the law, as any criminal.

To be sure, in a properly running justice system, the punishment should fit the crime, no matter who is guilty. Isn’t that the way it is supposed to work?

High Quality AM Reception

Posted in Uncategorized by

Now that I hardly watch TV, I listen to news on the radio much more. It does have a downside. The station I listen to is weak. Any kind of a storm, and I get very bad reception. As a last resort, I have taken to listening to the station on the internet. It is far better. The voices are far clearer and crisper. As a small side benefit, it’s stereo. It is a small point, given as it is news, it’s still a little nicer. I am sure there are some stations where that would make much more beneficial.

There is another advantage. Sometimes, for hours, the station is off the air but continues to transmit on the internet. It does make me wonder. Is the conventional radio station, AM & FM, going the way of the horse whip. It seems that I get more reliable internet than radio, an important factor in emergencies.

I don’t know. At one time, I was amazed at 3 minutes for a dollar over the AT&T long distance phones. Now, as long as I pay my cell phone bill, There is no extra charge at all if I should talk all day. We might be looking at a day when the TV stations disappear too. I really don’t think ABC, NBC, or CBS will much care for that. For decades, they have ruled what we watch on TV. Shortly, anyone who has the know-how and a little content will be competing with what little is left of the big networks. You notice that I left FOX out. They apparently saw it coming and are well on the way to the conversion. They already have 2 internet news channels that are doing very well. (Then that might have something to do with the content too.)

One more little thing. If I don’t like what is on the radio stations here around Memphis, I can just as easily listen to Milwaukee or Atlanta just as easily. It does broaden the competition, doesn’t it.

The Great Pretender

Posted in Abuse of Power, Biden, Kamala, Mistakes, Politcal Opinion, Social Media by

Somewhat staying with the music idea, let’s say a word about the 1955 Platters song “The Great Pretender.” Though it is an old song, it has a staying power. Just a wild guess, but I would guess that at least 60% of the the current US population have at least heard the song once. Quite frankly, I can see why. The tune is nice, but the words really hit home with just about all of us. Well, maybe, all of us. Certainly most of us have felt like singing the words right out loud, and mean them.

Indeed, most of us do some real pretending, pretending that everything is okay. We are doing just fine while we are breaking up inside. We don’t want the world to know just how much we are hurting.

Well, to me, the song, or at least the title has new meaning. You see, the dems are now the great pretenders. They have been pretending that everything is fine. Old Joe’s doing fine and his mental faculties are that of a forty-year-old. Now, things have changed. Their secret is out. I dare say close to 99% of the country now knows of his mental problems.

How-some-ever, the pretending has changed. You see, they all knew all the time, especially those that saw Old Joe on a regular basis. However, they pretend they didn’t know. They pretend that they are as surprised as the rest of us. No one wants to admit their part in the pretense.

The reality was… they knew alright and they knew all the time. It just is they they also knew they didn’t want us to know.

Now there is panic. Do they keep pretending Old Joe’s fine in spite of what the world has seen? Do they try to get him to step aside? Do they invoke amendment 25? All the choices have problems. All solutions have advantages.

For instant, if they invoke 25th, it is only a temporary solution. Old Joe is still on the ballot unless they can figure out some way to get him off of it. If he refuses to step aside, he will be selected on the first ballot at the Democrat convention as the nominee. I see no way around it. Even if he does step aside, the party really has a big black eye, trying to force a mentally disabled man on the country.

As I see it, maybe the best possibility is to allow Joe to run, and then immediately remove him with the 25th. As I say, It might be the best possibility, but it would appear, the best ain’t good. It would have to improve some to be poor. I’m really not looking forward to listening to Kamala’s voice for the next 4 years.

At any rate, we can now denote the Democrat Party as the party of the Great Pretenders.

Music, Music, Music

Posted in Uncategorized by

I can remember the old song by the above title as well as “Put Another Nickle In.” My guess is that few will remember listening to those songs by Teresa Brewer shortly after their release as I did. On the other hand, my wife and I were walking into a McDonald’s three or four years ago and kid in the back was singing Rocking Robin, and doing pretty good. (originally released 1958) I yelled back to him, “Hay! You’re not old enough to know that song!

He had a hard laugh and said his mother played it a lot.

In answer to the question asked, I enjoy a lot of music prior to 1970 and a little post 1970. As far as I’m concerned, if after 1980, it doesn’t exist. I like everything done in Gilbert and Sullivan operettas (around 1900) I have listened to the music over and over. The lyric are humorous and the tunes are catchy. There aren’t may who can keep up with “Modern Major General” from the Pirates of Penzance.

I have often said, my favorite song is Whispering Hope sung by Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae (1949). When I feel bad, I have been known to play it repeatedly for 19 or 20 times. I don’t know. Maybe more. It sort of took a personal turn as I walked guard duty in Vietnam in the morning as the rain beat down me in December of 1969. Then of course, as the song says, the sun came up. The world seemed so much better as I remembered the words.

Stafford and MacRae recorded I guess a dozen or so Christian songs about the same time and they are all really good. I remembered listening to them when I was 4 and 5. The rest, I don’t remember all that much, but I always keep Whispering Hope handy.

I am a big fan of the show tunes of the 40’s, 50’s and a few of the 60’s. I have copies of many of them. If I were to lose them, I would replace them. This is especially true of Fiddler on the Roof. I have no idea how many times I’ve watched it or listened to the songs. It’s just one of those things that touched my mind and also touched my heart. It is also one of the main reasons that I have become so pro-Israel. I do not understand how a person can see the show and pay close attention to it without also being in favor of the Israeli people.

It is something of a oddity, I guess, that I also like most the ABBA songs. I also enjoy listening to the instrumentals whenever I hear them. None the less, my favorite of these is Chiquitita. Strangely, I have not met many who don’t like the song. Or, maybe it’s not so strange.

When I was seven, I remember listening to a song, “Donkey Serenade,” in which the character in the movie is singing to mules drawing a stage. Okay. That one sounds strange I admit it. But it’s no less strange than the beautiful song from “Paint Your Wagons,) I Talk to the Trees. By the way, those are also the first words in the lyrics. However, to be truthful, I’d love to be able to sing well enough to do both songs justice.

Speaking of strange songs, consider the song, “Does Eat Oats (and little lambs eat ivy)

I guess the way to sum it up. I like what I like and I don’t like what I don’t like. If you disagree with it, it is entirely up to you. It is also a shame you will never get to listen to that man serenading the mules.

Speaking of mules, how many out there have heard “On the Trail,” by Ferde Grafe. It was so good it was used for advertising way back when.

Daily writing prompt
What is your favorite genre of music?
View all responses