You got confusion all over the land
Co-written by Howard University roommates Donny Hathaway and Leroy
Hutson, this one’s 50 years old but still packs a punch today.
Friday, April 24, 2020
Thursday, April 23, 2020
Lyric Of The Day #8 (April 23, 2020)
I don't wanna live like this, but I don't wanna die
This wound up being one of my favorite songs from last year. It came
out early in 2019; I’d love to borrow the crystal ball from whoever came up
with the last line of the chorus.
Sunday, April 19, 2020
Lyric Of The Day #7 (April 18, 2020)
You can't always get what you want
But if you try sometimes you just might find
You get what you need
Mick and crew provided one of the highlights of Saturday’s “One World:
Together At Home” show, with a song that’s perfect for supermarket shoppers in
the Coronavirus Era.
Some other show highlights:
Stevie Wonder starting with “Lean On Me” and then segueing into “Love’s
In Need Of Love Today”
The Roots leading a clever remake of “Safety Dance”
Kacey Musgraves performing “Rainbow” (another great song for the times)
Jennifer Lopez channeling her inner Streisand on “People”
Shawn Mendes and Camila Cabello doing “What A Wonderful World” (also winning
the unofficial award for cutest couple)
Lizzo’s heartfelt take on “A Change Is Gonna Come”
Billie Joe Armstrong’s understated version of “Wake Me Up When
September Ends”
The program featured appearances by the Secretary-General of the UN,
the head of the WHO, Laura Bush, and Michelle Obama. It also included thanks to
health care workers and many others, including Michael Bloomberg. But there was
no sign of Our Greatest President Of All Time, or even a word of thanks for his
heroic efforts. Sad!
Saturday, April 18, 2020
LP #31 Dar Williams – The Beauty Of The Rain (2003)
The first time I saw Dar Williams live was at Wolf Trap on June 12,
1998, a triple-header with David Wilcox and Richard Thompson. Most recently, I
caught her in July of 2011, on the Marina Stage at XPNFest. However, the show that made the biggest impression on me was October 26, 2003, at the Lincoln
Theatre in Washington, where she appeared as part of a singer-songwriter tour
with Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin, and Patty Griffin. The four of them
were side by side, each with a guitar, taking turns on their songs, with the
others adding harmonies, and plenty of chatting in between.
Her performance of “Mercy Of The Fallen” really pulled me in, and I
purchased this album shortly thereafter. There’s not really a weak song in the
bunch, with a great mix of ballads and more uptempo tunes. I didn’t enjoy the
material in her next two studio albums nearly as much, but can highly recommend
both 2001’s Out There Live and the
the 2010 two-disk compilation Many Great
Companions.
Favorite tracks:
Your Fire Your Soul
The One Who Knows
Closer To Me
Whispering Pines
The Beauty Of The Rain
Friday, April 17, 2020
A few songs that don’t work so well right now
Monday, April 13, 2020
Wall Street’s next big ask: A bailout for ‘junk’ credit
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/04/10/wall-streets-next-big-ask-bailout-junk-credit/
Another perceptive column by Steven Pearlstein
Plans to contain virus emerge in bottom-up effort
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2020/04/10/contact-tracing-coronavirus-strategy/
Test (extensively) + trace + quarantine = eventual success
Wednesday, April 8, 2020
John Prine
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/john-prine-obit-253684/
One of the greatest debut albums of all time – and quite a few
noteworthy songs after that, as well. I saw him perform at Wolf Trap on August
27, 2004, with Kris Kristofferson opening.
Favorite songs:
Your Flag Decal Won’t Get You Into Heaven Anymore
Angel From Montgomery
Sam Stone
Please Don’t Bury Me
Dear Abby
Illegal Smile
Jesus The Missing Years
Hello In There
It’s A Big Old Goofy World
Friday, April 3, 2020
Bill Withers
https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bill-withers-obituary-977929/
I love Questlove’s comment that “Bill Withers is the closest thing
black people have to a Bruce Springsteen.”
Favorite songs:
Ain’t No Sunshine
Lovely Day
Who Is He (And What Is He To You)?
Use Me
Kissing My Love
Lean On Me
Harlem
Grandma’s Hands
I Can't Write Left Handed
Wednesday, April 1, 2020
A short playlist for April 1
Fools Fall In Love – The Drifters
Why Do Fools Fall In Love – Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers
Love (Makes Me Do Foolish Things) – Martha & The Vandellas
I Fooled You This Time – Gene Chandler
Only A Fool Would Say That – Steely Dan
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