Rantical- the blog

Ted Nuggent on President Barack Obama, December 2009

“I think that Barack Hussein Obama should be put in jail. It is clear that Barack Hussein Obama is a communist. Mao Tse Tung lives and his name is Barack Hussein Obama. This country should be ashamed. I wanna throw up.”

Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks on President George W. Bush, March 10, 2003

“Just so you know, we’re on the good side with y’all. We do not want this war, this violence, and we’re ashamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.”

As the story goes, there was a major backlash against the Dixie Chicks for their supposedly “anti-American” comments.

To date, those that criticized the Dixie Chicks have been quite silent about the comments of Ted Nuggent.

Spencer Elden, the baby from the cover of Nirvana’s “Nevermind,” recently became an intern for Obey Giant, the company created by Shepard Faiery, the artist responsible for those cool Obama graphics.

http://obeygiant.com/headlines/welcome-spencer-elden

MTV News had a write-up about Mr. Elden:

Now, 17-year-old Elden is a high school student, who told MTV News last year that “it’s kind of creepy [to think] that that many people have seen me naked - I feel like I’m the world’s biggest porn star.”

http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1598985/20081110/nirvana.jhtml

Speaking of Shepard Faiery & Obey Giant, there’s an art exhibit of his work in Washington D.C. that’s ending soon.

You can also get a free Shepard Faiery sticker from MoveOn.

UPDATE: Nerve.com recently posted an article entitled “The 40 Greatest Lost Icons in Pop Culture History,” featuring Spencer Elden, and various other individuals that might have otherwise gone unnoticed.

Here’s an odd one…. Imagine Paul McCartney as the reincarnation of Buffalo Bill Cody. How about George Harrison as Jesse James? John Lennon would be Frank James.

It’s an unusual theory, and that’s just of the iceberg. Brian Stalin lays out the case for this theory, drawing a lot of odd parallels, including the tragic deaths of Lennon and James. It’s a fascinating idea, and you’ve got to see it to believe it…..

http://brianstalin-thebeatles.blogspot.com/

As this little blog takes a well-deserved vacation from the subject of politics with the arrival of a new candidate I actually supported, it’s time to get back to the subject of cool music that isn’t LOUIE.

One of the greatest jazz tracks in the world is “Sing Sing Sing” performed by the Benny Goodman Band, held together by the amazing drumming of Gene Krupa.  Here’s a little YouTube clip of that track…

WHOOPS! I’ve been found out this one wasn’t true! It may be funny, but it’s not really written by Ann & Nancy… Oh well….

Details at:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/mccain/barracuda.asp

The Stranger, a Seattle-based alternative newspaper, imagines what it would be like if Ann & Nancy Wilson of Heart wrote a “less-than diplomatic” letter to John McCain regarding the unauthorized use of their song to promote Sarah Palin!

Goodbye Shea Stadium.  I never went to Shea, but I’ve certainly heard of it

Last night, Billy Joel, the last scheduled performer at Shea Stadium before it would be torn down, was joined by none other than Paul McCartney.

The Beatles, were the ones that gave Shea Stadium it’s most memorable moment in history.  On August 15, 1965, the Beatles played there, marking the first time a sports stadium was used for a rock concert. 55,600 fans showed up at this event,  and it set a new world record for a pop concert in terms of attendance and gross revenue. The Beatles’ share of the $304,000 box-office takings was also a record - $160,000.

As I watched excerpts of the concert on YouTube, I noted something that seemed kind of funny in retrospect.  All the still photographers were crammed into a small box-like enclosure.   One would barely have any room to move.  Hopefully, nobody in the box had any bean burritos or broccoli salads before the event, else that little enclosure would be rather fragrant…

Folks that feel like sharing memories of Shea can join others at Loge13.com.

If you want to see the entire Beatles concert, someone broke it up into small chapters for YouTube, staring off with Part 1.

To celebrate this nation’s birthday, why not honor Woody Guthrie, who wrote one of America’s finest anthems?

I found this photo at the website known as If Charlie Parker Was a Gunslinger,There’d Be a Whole Lot of Dead Copycats. I have no idea who took this photo, but I love the fact that Woody is playing a guitar with a sticker on it that states “This Guitar Kills Fascists.” Old Woody was certainly ahead of his time, embracing the punk movement before it even existed.

Ten days from now, there’ll be a celebration for what would have been Woody’s 96th birthday. WMNF.org will be broadcasting a 3 hour radio special featuring excerpts of Woody’s recently uncovered, Grammy Award-winning Live Wire recordings, as well as Woody songs performed Billy Bragg, Wilco, The Klezmatics, Jimmy Lafave, Son Volt, Pete Seeger, Dan Bern, and Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings.

You can read more about Woody’s legacy by going to the official WoodyGuthrie.org webpage.

In the meantime, I want to leave with the original lyrics to “This Land Is Your Land.” While this is a very popular song taught to school children, not everyone is familiar with the full lyrics as written by Woody. ENJOY!

This Land Is Your Land

This land is your land This land is my land
From California to the New York island;
From the red wood forest to the Gulf Stream waters
This land was made for you and Me.

As I was walking that ribbon of highway,
I saw above me that endless skyway:
I saw below me that golden valley:
This land was made for you and me.

I’ve roamed and rambled and I followed my footsteps
To the sparkling sands of her diamond deserts;
And all around me a voice was sounding:
This land was made for you and me.

When the sun came shining, and I was strolling,
And the wheat fields waving and the dust clouds rolling,
As the fog was lifting a voice was chanting:
This land was made for you and me.

As I went walking I saw a sign there
And on the sign it said “No Trespassing.”
But on the other side it didn’t say nothing,
That side was made for you and me.

In the shadow of the steeple I saw my people,
By the relief office I seen my people;
As they stood there hungry, I stood there asking
Is this land made for you and me?

Nobody living can ever stop me,
As I go walking that freedom highway;
Nobody living can ever make me turn back
This land was made for you and me.

I saw a great movie today about a working class hero. it’s the story of a musician that made it very big playing pop music, standing up for his beliefs in face of enormous challenges.

Even though it was a lifestory I knew very well, I couldn’t help but sob big tears when it all came to the end.   Some things still hurt like hell- over twenty five years later.

Some things in life are timeless. As new assholes emerge from the depths of hell to sell the business of war, using phony claims, deceit and fear to divide our communities, the real heroes in life fight for peace, love and understanding.

God bless John Lennon, and his beautiful vision.

Who needs the Drudge Report when you’ve got THE GRUDGE REPORT?

When you go to this website, you can also sign up for a FREE vacation to Nutopia!

I do approve this message…

Bruce Springsteen performs a new version of Pete Seeger’s “Bring ‘Em Home”

video at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4m4uSLE9K0

audio at:
http://brucespringsteen.net/

I absolutely approve this message.

Bring ‘em Home!

Bring ‘em home now (if you love your uncle sam)
Written by Peter Seeger as performed and re-written by Bruce Springsteen

If you love this land of the free
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home
Bring them back from overseas
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home

It will make the politicians sad, I know
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home
They wanna tangle with their foe
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home

They wanna test their grand theories
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home
With the blood of you and me
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home

We’ll give no more brave young lives
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home
For the gleam in some fool’s eyes
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home

The men will cheer and the boys will shout
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home
And we will all turn out
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home

The church bells will ring with joy
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home
To welcome out garland girls and boys
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home

We’ll lift their voice and sound
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home
Yeah, when Johnny comes marching home
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home

Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home

Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home

If you love this land of the free
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home
Bring them back from overseas
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home

If you love this land of the free
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home
Bring them back from overseas
Bring ‘em home, bring ‘em home

© 1966 Storm King Music, Inc. (original copyright)

Imagine being able to hire these guys for some event in 1959…..

With a little practice, they might even not suck….

If you’d like to see some photos what these guys turned into, and some interresting MP3 of their recordings, click HERE.
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1) In support of his upcoming album entitled LIVING WITH WAR, Neil Young now has his own blog.

2) With a tip of the hat to Howie Klein’s DownWithTyranny blog, I’ve discovered a brilliant mashup of George W. Bush performing John Lennon’s IMAGINE. It’s a full-fledged video that uses Beatle tracks, war footage, and the news. Check it out!

3) The latest Rolling Stone magazine has an article entitled “The Worst President in History?” by noted historian Sean Wilentz.

I approve this message.

Here’s some great news for Beatles fans, courtesy of BBC news

Unreleased Beatles tracks are to be reworked for a Las Vegas circus show soundtrack, with an accompanying album reported to be lined up for release. Producer Sir George Martin is making background music for the forthcoming Cirque du Soleil show by remastering unheard recordings by the band.

Variety says the band’s label Apple Corps plans to release an album of “completely new music” from the show.

Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are said to be overseeing the project. The families of George Harrison and John Lennon have also been involved.

Announced in 2004, the Cirque du Soleil show is expected to open at the Mirage resort in Las Vegas this summer.

Here’s some excellent news from Howie Klein’s DownWithTyranny blog:

Just after debuting his new film at SxSW Neil shocked the music world by announcing, kind of off-the-cuff, that he had recorded a brand new album and that it’s all ready to go. (The guy introducing him, SxSW director Roland Swenson, had referred to how important Neil’s song “Ohio,” about the National Guard shooting down college students at Kent State, was to another generation then gearing up to end an earlier unpopular war, and how we needed something like that now. Neil took it seriously.) The new album is called LIFE IN WAR.

One of Neil’s collaborators, filmmaker, Jonathan Demme, describes it as “a brilliant electric assault on Bush and the war in Iraq.” The linchpin track, “Impeach the President,” features an edited-together Bush rap set to a 100-voice chorus chanting “flip/flop.” The album, with Young on Old Black, Rick Rosas on bass and Chad Cromwell on drums, took three days to finish. Yep; that’s Neil. No release date is set yet but… hopefully it’ll be before November.

Damn, this sounds good. I approve this message!

Velvet Underground and Lawrence Welk? Why not…

To see a brilliant example of creative video editing, click here.