Last year I had a small celebration.
I realized that my humble album had been out there for 25 years, wrote a short summary and said I deserved a beer. I had myself a couple of Guinness Extra Stout, and forgot about it all.
This year I had another beer, and started thinking. With mixed emotions, I realised that a massive part of my playlist for more than fifty years was of American origin; a paradox and contradiction to my social consciense and political platform, early evolved and continuously maintained as I grew up and got older. A sudden impulse was to dismiss the album, only leaving the illustration above to explain the reason and reaction. 25 years of misjudgment is enough I'd say, and it's almost 25% of my lifetime so far. A couple of cigarettes (American tobacco!) brought my thoughts down a rational alley.
There is no American Music. Everything written in notes and performed over there by human breath and fingers, is a composite of ideas and traditions from all corners of the world, brought in by immigrants over hundreds of years, melted and mixed in a pot controlled mainly by commercial interests. There are exceptions; many of them gone astray by diffusing into my song collection.
There is no United States of America. The states have never been united; even the states themselves are splitted. Ever since Mayflower, this "nation" has been a ridiculous stew of various human races, various religions and various obscure attitudes, featuring the term "freedom" as everyone's right to be wealthy at the sacrifice of others, cultivating selfishness and ignoring the fact that we have only one single, blue planet to share, and it's fragile.
It simply HAD to happen in such a "nation", logged on political Darwinism, that an orangutan with a seagull's brain «Geeeet it! Geeeet it!» should step forward and introduce a new world order with Himself in charge. Take a look at that creature. It loathes woman in general except for amusement. It hates everybody without a proper, white skin and can't see any use for people with knowledge of any kind. That leader loves the country and hates 90% of the population.
And the Yankees have elected Him. Twice.
So why not stay aboard that wooden space longboat, Shady and Khawaga? Enjoying that music until the harvester comes? Well, I think I've given you a clue. This disclaimer can make it. And at least, I've never played such crap as "Okie from Muskogee".
And despite my impious life attitude: shady & khw wish You All a peaceful holiday. Happy Easterin'!
Favorite Song of the Year