Lenten Blogging 2022: Day 26

Have been thinking of this song a lot lately.  Maybe because my birthday is coming this week, and everything that comes with being older.  I'm reminded of all that has come before, and all of the people who have gone on.  The lyrics are so filled with meaning.  I don't know the religious beliefs of DeVotchKa but the words really resonate with me:

Hold your grandmother's Bible to your breast

Gonna put it to the test

You wanted to be blessed...

 Maybe it also has something to do with how the song was used in the commercial for Gears of War 2.  And that game came out in a really trying period for me.  I thought the song was beautiful.  It has become an anthem in my mind, when I think back to certain things that have happened in my life.

So here it is, one of my most favorite songs: "How It Ends" by DeVotchKa...

 

 

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"Unborn Grace" music video brought Chris to tears!

Got word tonight that the new music video for Faye Smith's song "Unborn Grace" stars a friend from my college days, the incredibly talented and exceedingly beautiful Candice Irion!

So I hit the link and watched it.

And this is only the second music video to ever make me cry. I'll let it be an exercise for the reader about what the first one was.

From the album Deeper Still and gorgeously directed by Mark Blitch, here is "Unborn Grace"...

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"Popcorn Sutton the Moonshine Man"

The past several weeks have seen an exploding amount of interest in the life and art of Marvin "Popcorn" Sutton: the legendary brewer of moonshine. It will be three years next month that he left us... but Popcorn Sutton has gotta be smiling and laughing his butt off in Heaven at how his myth has grown down here on Earth! Ever since his family began legally selling Popcorn Sutton's Tennessee White Whiskey I've seen it going for $150 a jar on eBay. And then a few days ago Kellie Pickler introduced it to Ellen DeGeneres on national television, in a clip that simply must be seen.

Meanwhile, there are things going on behind the scenes that I've been sworn to secrecy on that... well, y'all will just have to wait and see how uberawesome this is all gonna be! I can tell you that the third annual Popcorn Sutton Tribute is set for Maggie Valley, North Carolina this coming summer and when I know more details I'll be sure to post 'em!

In the meantime, singer/songwriter Alonzo Pennington has written and recorded an awesome ballad about our favorite Appalachian moonshiner. So without further ado, here is... "Popcorn Sutton the Moonshine Man"!

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"Every one I know goes away in the end..."

Maybe the greatest music video ever made. Filmed shortly before June's passing and Johnny's a few months later. Trent Reznor wrote the song, but Cash made it all his own.

And also the song most on my mind this night.

Here is Johnny Cash's cover of "Hurt"...

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Some classic listening for a Saturday night

From a time of much better music. Here is "November Rain" by Guns N' Roses...

Yes, I have posted this before. Since it's November again and we're looking at a lot more rain in the next few days, it seemed appropriate.

And also because this is one of the greatest songs in the history of anything, to say nothing about the masterpiece of its accompanying video.

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William Shatner sings "Bohemian Rhapsody"

Been quite busy behind the scenes here the past week or so folks, hence the sparsity of posts. Lots more coming soon, and that's a promise!

In the meantime, this oughtta tide y'all over for the weekend. It's Queen's classic song "Bohemian Rhapsody"... covered by William Shatner!

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Ukrainian folk version of AC/DC's "Highway to Hell"

Just for the heck of it...

"Highway to Hell" performed with tambourine and accordion. Again I declare: truly we are living in the age of wonders!

Seriously though: what a fun cover! And these guys are obviously enjoying their work. Gotta smile about the whole thing :-)

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"It's May, it's May..."

"...the Lusty Month of May!"

I couldn't resist posting a lil' vintage Vanessa Redgrave (one of the most talented actresses in the history of anything) from the film version of Camelot to celebrate the occasion!

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"Telephone" by Lady Gaga... performed by U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan

A group of United States soldiers from the 82nd Airborne based in Fort Bragg, currently stationed in Afghanistan, have produced a music video of themselves dancing to Lady Gaga's hit song "Telephone". Y'all have to check this out!

Well done guys! All the more praiseworthy given your present location. I just hope that this won't become an issue when it gets to be time for your next evaluation :-P

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"You Picked a Fine Time to Lead Us, Barack"

Here is Jonathan McWhite (accompanied by David McWhite on guitar) perfectly aping a classic Kenny Rogers tune with this hilarious song parody about Barack Obama...

Very great thanks to good friend Bethany Myers for finding this! :-)

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Keynes and Hayek rap "Fear the Boom and Bust"

If all lessons about economics were this entertaining, I might not have slept through most of those classes years ago...

From creative director John Papola and creative economist Russ Roberts comes "Fear the Boom and Bust", a rap song in which legendary economists John Maynard Keynes and F. A. Hayek come back to life and attend a modern-day conference on the economic crisis, but first have a night of wild party.

Here 'tis! And I was laughing pretty hard at this...

Incidentally, that video was passed along this way by good friend and fellow blogger Danny de Garcia II from the Big Island of Hawaii. And he asked me to reprint an e-mail that he sent to all of his state's legislators...

Greetings Hawaii State Legislators,

As one of the major issues facing the Legislature this session is the question of economic recovery and how to connect the dots on falling revenues, I would like to submit for your review a video which explains in a rather simple to understand and humorous fashion two different schools of economic theory, Keynes; which supports big government and big spending to "stimulate" the economy and F.A. Hayek who won the 1974 Nobel Prize for his discussion on how government manipulation/intervention affects the economy. Please take a look at this 7-minute video, I think it will be very educational as well as self explanatory ......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0nERTFo-Sk

Very Respectfully,

Danny de Gracia

Okay Danny, done! And as you noted: "Now they have absolutely NO EXCUSE to say 'I didn't know that we impact the market' :D"

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Beaker's Ballad: Another new video from the Muppets!

What happens when Beaker attempts a cover of "Dust in the Wind" by Kansas? In a word: "BURNINATION!"

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"Too Late to Apologize: A Declaration"

An outfit called Soomo Publishing out of Asheville, North Carolina has cooked up this astounding music video that should be used in high school and college history classes across America.

Here is "Too Late to Apologize: A Declaration"...

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"Weird Al" Yankovic releases "CNR"... a song about Charles Nelson Reilly?!

If you're one of "Weird Al" Yankovic's many fans you're no doubt enjoying this summer and Al's "Internet Leaks" collection (one new song and video a month through September). So far we've had "Craigslist" aping Jim Morrison's style and then a number of weeks ago "Skipper Dan".

And a short while ago Al released his latest "Internet Leaks" single: "CNR", spoofing the signature sound of the White Stripes. And it's a song about Charles Nelson Reilly, of all people!

Mash here for the "CNR" video (created by JibJab) on YouTube. And on the video's page you can find links to purchase the song and video via iTunes and other online outlets.

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"Weird Al" Yankovic does Disneyland in "Skipper Dan"!

There is simply no stopping "Weird Al" Yankovic! Last month he released his new single "Craigslist" done in the style of Jim Morrison and The Doors. And now Al's "Internet Leaks" collection has grown even more with "Skipper Dan"! It's about the never-ending lament of a poor guy who could have been a great actor... but instead wound up a guide on the Jungle Cruise ride at Disneyland. Not so much a parody as it is just Al waxing philosophic in his own signature style. All in all, a pretty good song!

Hit here for the "Skipper Dan" music video (directed by Divya Srinivasan) on YouTube, where you can also find links to purchase the song via iTunes and other online outlets.

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"Doctorin' the Tardis": More insane music from The KLF

It might be a few days before I can watch "Turn Left", tonight's new episode of Doctor Who which the BBC just transmitted across the pond to our Brittish brethren (and after two years nobody has still gotten that little joke!). "Turn Left" marks the return of Billie Piper as Rose Tyler: the Doctor's first companion after the series was revived after a fifteen-year hiatus. Rose, her family and boyfriend Mickey became trapped in the alternate universe at the end of Season 2 (or 28 if we're counting the original series) and the Doctor said that there was no way to escape. If you've been watching this season's Doctor Who you know already that she wound up back somehow, beginning with her jaw-dropping silent cameo in the season premiere "Partners in Crime".

So to celebrate the imminent reunion of the Doctor and one of the most beloved of his companions, as well as the return of arch-villain Davros next week, here's something that I've wanted to post for awhile now. This blog has already seen the video for "Justified and Ancient" by The KLF. Here now is the group's #1 hit single from a few years earlier when they called themselves The Timelords. Putting a techno-spin on the classic Doctor Who theme by Ron Grainer, starring "Ford Timelord" and the crudest-built Daleks ever, enjoy the video for "Doctorin' the Tardis"!

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"Ewoks" Star Wars gospel song

Ewoks, a United Methodist choir and Billy Dee Williams himself. Could this possibly be the greatest Star Wars-themed video ever hosted on YouTube?!

Thanks to Geoff Gentry for passing this along! :-)

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Tay Zonday's "Chocolate Rain"

When good stuff like this has been out for a few months, and I'm only now finding out about it... that's when I know that I've been too absorbed in the serious and need to slow down and enjoy things more.

I love this song! It's catchy and fun and it's quite obvious that Tay is really enjoying his work. Dude's got talent.

This blog is used to post stuff that I think is cool and this is definitely up there. So here he is: Tay Zonday singing "Chocolate Rain"!

(BTW, if you like "Chocolate Rain" then right-click here and save it in MP3!)

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More classic SESAME STREET: "The Dirtiest Town in the West"

Another great clip from the early days of Sesame Street. From 1979, said to have been inspired by Johnny Cash's appearance on The Muppet Show during which he sang "Ghost Riders in the Sky", here is the clever parody "The Dirtiest Town in the West" ...

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Song parody: "MacArthur Park 2007" (illegal aliens rioting)

With apologies to Jimmy Webb and the late Richard Harris, but I just couldn't resist writing this one. Inspired by events of the past few days...

"MacArthur Park 2007"

Originally written by Jimmy Webb and performed by Richard Harris

New words by Christopher Knight

Border is wide open for them girl
They're starting to get bold
As they scream their Spanish chants
Now they incite a riot as they press
The government to bow down
To La Raza's mad demands

MacArthur Park is burning in the dark
All those rubber bullets flying 'round
Gonzo's hot to find someone to blame
This country just can't take it
Illegals are going to break it
And we'll never have America again
Oh noooooooo!

I can see unlawful immigrants
Fighting with the cops
Of Los Angeles P-D
Better put a stop to this right now or
They'll be spreading from sea to shining sea

MacArthur Park is burning in the dark
While the country goes on crumbling down
Lawless immigration is insane
Taxpayers can't afford it
But elitists just adore it
'Cuz they'll never pay high salary again
Oh noooooooo!

There will be no other job for me
For I have lost it
American dream is dead to me
Illegal took it
And still they come like an angry swarm
While they threaten us with drunk driving and their guns
And of all the bad things in my life
And the things causing so much strife
This is the worst one

MacArthur Park is burning in the dark
All those aliens are running 'round
What the hell is wrong with Bush's brain?
No other way to say it
Real Americans will hate it
If politicians give amnesty again
Oh noooooooo!
Oh noooooo-oooooooooooo!

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