Ping list for the discussion of the politics and social (and sometimes nostalgic) aspects that directly effects Generation Reagan / Generation-X (Those born from 1965-1981) including all the spending previous generations (i.e. The Baby Boomers) are doing that Gen-X and Y will end up paying for.
Freep mail me to be added or dropped. See my home page for details and previous articles.
Taking shots at The Man in Black? Blasphemy!
This guy seems to judge artists (at least in part) on whether they used drugs. Hey, I'm anti-drug, and I never defend or rationalize their use. But the quality of someone's art should judged on it's own merits or lack thereof.
Kind of a rambling, jumbled mess of a column, but not too bad.
That said, Springsteen isn't worthy to be mentioned in the same paragraph with Cash.
Both Springsteen and Young have succumbed to the mental disorder known as liberalism, one of whose chief current manifestations is is Deranged Bush Syndrome. This has forever contaminated my perception of their music, even their superior early stuff that made their reputations. So maybe it is better that the immortals like Hendrix and Morrison died young -- otherwise they would be spouting the same leftist anti-Western BS today, and sabotaging their own musical legacy.
Kurt Cobain was one of the greats. I hope when I get older I don't lose my ability to appreciate a legitimate musical genius. It's symptomatic of every generation, though. Boomers' parents probably would have thought it blasphemy to consider Lennon and Hendrix "geniuses" or "legends."
Why the dig on Johnny Cash? The man was talented, entertaining, had a great voice and a unique persona. SO what of he didn't write all of his own material or if he wasn't a hardened criminal (that's a bad thing??).
Rock and Roll Ping
bttt
L0L this guy is a music cricket?(critic)
I hope he knows that Manfred Mann wrote blinded by the light
Hell. I had a secretary in the '80s who came in fired up about this "new" song by Tom Petty and Stevie Nicks - "Needles and Pins". Most younger rock fans haven't a clue.
Young's song The Needle and the Damage Done is one of the best anti-drug anthems ever written and was inspired by the drug-induced deaths of a band member and a roadie.
I was visiting at a Cancer Research Center last week and heard a chilling comment from a nurse. She said "when drug addicts get cancer, there's nothing we can give them that will touch their pain." She looked down and spoke more - quietly. When she was through, I knew she seen the depths of hell...
-John Prine-
Hank Williams
He died at age 29, and was a true influence on American country music.
I don't know just where I'm going
But I'm gonna try for the kingdom, if I can
'Cause it makes me feel like I'm a man
When I put a spike into my vein
And I'll tell ya, things aren't quite the same
When I'm rushing on my run
And I feel just like Jesus' son
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
I have made the big decision
I'm gonna try to nullify my life
'Cause when the blood begins to flow
When it shoots up the dropper's neck
When I'm closing in on death
And you can't help me not, you guys
And all you sweet girls with all your sweet silly talk
You can all go take a walk
And I guess that I just don't know
And I guess that I just don't know
I wish that I was born a thousand years ago
I wish that I'd sail the darkened seas
On a great big clipper ship
Going from this land here to that
In a sailor's suit and cap
Away from the big city
Where a man can not be free
Of all of the evils of this town
And of himself, and those around
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know
Oh, and I guess that I just don't know
Heroin, be the death of me
Heroin, it's my wife and it's my life
Because a mainer to my vein
Leads to a center in my head
And then I'm better off and dead
Because when the smack begins to flow
I really don't care anymore
About all the Jim-Jim's in this town
And all the politicians makin' crazy sounds
And everybody puttin' everybody else down
And all the dead bodies piled up in mounds
'Cause when the smack begins to flow
Then I really don't care anymore
Ah, when the heroin is in my blood
And that blood is in my head
Then thank God that I'm as good as dead
Then thank your God that I'm not aware
And thank God that I just don't care
And I guess I just don't know
And I guess I just don't know
-Velvet Underground-
I'm not saying we should start a bonfire with works of art from those who compromised their abilities through fatal addictions. But understand that they broke a bond with society because they could have and should have given us more.
That many people idolize artist for other than the merits of their art is as bad as saying an artist has a responsibility or obligation to society to continue producing art. Granted, art consumers are left without new art from their artist(s) of choice but the artist creates art for himself or herself, not out of responsibility or obligation to society. The responsibility and obligation is to themselves. And they may change that at anytime. As it is, business, science and art continue to advance not out of responsibility or obligation to society, but rather, to each individual self. Individuals and society benefit from the freedom-of-association arrangement of each person acting in their self-interest.
I never really considered neil young to be anti-drug, since he's stoned all the time.
or RAP being humans merely acting like chimpanzees..