Songs in the News
Posted at 5:25 AM on August 19, 2009
by Dale Connelly
(19 Comments)
Congratulations to Patrice of Stewarville and Teresa of Minneapolis who both won tickets to the Americana Songwriter's Showcase at the Rochester Civic Theater tonight! The evening features Chris Knight of Nashville, Brandon Sampson and Dezi Wallace of the band Six Mile Grove, and The Porchlights (Martin Devaney and Jake Hyer), now re-named The Flatwheelers.
Mid-to-late August is slow for news, which is why we're so grateful to Brett Favre and Hurricane Bill. Bill is shaping up to be the perfect hurricane - big and nasty and horrifying and on a track to miss making a direct hit on almost everybody. But a hurricane is a brainless, random thing that makes no sense. Just like the song "A Horse Named Bill".
Let's hope Hurricane Bill doesn't get a chance to do any stomping. Alas, we are bound to be hit square on by Hurricane Brett. Favre is our poster boy for mid-life indecision. Anyone who has been 39 knows how difficult it is to face the likelihood that you will soon have to leave some things behind. But not quite yet. I'm still good! Really! If anything, this melancholy Favre dance might make Vikings football interesting for people who really don't care otherwise. It has all the elements of a cheap, tragic romance. The neediness of one. The desperation of the other. The long held expectation by most observers that the two would eventually get together. The remote chance that it could possibly work. The near certainty that it will end badly.
Sigh. I hear Frank Sinatra singing Kurt Weill's "September Song".
Ah yes, we will wind up with more than we want of Bill and Brett.
Any other songs come to mind?
Comments (19)
thanks for that, Dale - an insightful summary of the events. i just wonder what it is in us - some so able to see and move on. my sister-in-law and i were talking about this yesterday (in relation to aging). she says "reality is your friend - accept it" i feel sorry for Brett's inability to accept reality but then one has to consider what this deal says about the group that is willing to pay him millions and millions..........
how about "Yesterday" or "Memories" for Brett?
Good Morning!
Not being a football, or any Major League sports fan, I don't expect the Brett to have much impact on my life. Brings to mind the song about if a tree falls in the forest does anyone really care? I know I don't. When it comes to sports or even life in general, I'm less of a watcher and more of a participant but I don't do much stomping.
Have a wonderful Wednesday!
Good morning, all! I have been super busy at work, to the degree that I rarely get to stream the show lately. Hopefully, things will settle down soon. Have a happy Wednesday!
Dance This Mess Around, please! I've been hoping for a reason to request this song. I don't know exactly how it fits, but there's gotta be some reason!
Kate from Eden Prairie - thanks for saying I was funny yesterday. It's nice to hear someone else besides me thinks so.
Barbara in Robbinsdale - we were back to work last week. Our official return day was Aug.11.
Woo-hoo! Thanks Dale. Those A.S.S's crack me up!
Irv Williams is amazing, still playing at 90 years of age. I think Brett will be lucky if he lasts to the end of season.
Pinetop Perkins recently played in the Twin Cities. I think he even has a few years on Irv. I think he is 95. You could play him as part of of the old person theme.
Donna - if i don't say it enough i'm thinking it - you make me chuckle every day. in fact, this community of bloggers is always energizing. (Dale and Mike included, of course)
back from milking, off to the day
Ha det!
Hurricanes make me think of the Bobs song about the guy mopping (can't remember the title) - it has one of my all time favorite lyrics in a song, "She puts the mascara on the eye of the storm."
As for Mr. Favre, well, what comes to mind is "Money" (pick your version), since this seems to be about greed to me. Sure he's gona be 40, but he already has a boatload of money, this seems like hes' just looking to get more. Fah. As they phrase goes in the song, "Money....it's a sin."
dale, i think brett would appreciate eric burton singing "don't let me be misunderstood"
Good Morning Dale. "Eye of the Hurricane" by David Wilcox is a good one.
I'm glad other people get so busy that they must go without RH, Elinor. It seems like my life of late too, sadly lacking both a smashing musical score and lovely chit chat!
I don't think Brett's about the money, I hear "Helpless" in spades here.
Once again, a quick perusal of 'mid-life crisis' and 'over the hill' songs. As always, not a complete list but only a head start. (And some of these are not RH style songs but I'm listing them anyway...)
Faith No More – Midlife Crisis
U2 – New York (“...In New York I lost it all to you and your vices, Still I'm staying on to figure out my mid life crisis...”)
Australian Crawl – Mid-Life Crisis
Alanis Morissette – You Owe Me Nothing In Return (“...you can even hit rock bottom have a midlife crisis and i'll hold it...”)
Soft Cell – Whatever It Takes (“I'm having a mid-life crisis, Behaving in strange ways...”)
David Bowie – Ramona A. Stone (“...But I've been having a mid-life crisis, And I've been dreaming of sleep, And ape men with metal parts...”)
Mary Chapin Carpenter – Pete (“...Too young for your mid-life crisis, Mirror says you're over the hill...”)
Nickelback – Mistake (“...I'm over the wall, Over the hill, Over at your place,...”)
Gerry Rafferty – Look Over the Hill and Far Away
Barry Manilow – Halfway Over the Hill
Karine Polwart – The Sun’s Comin’ Over the Hill
Neil Young – Act of Love (“...Around the corner and over the hill...”)
Nick Mason – Can’t Get My Motor to Start (“...Let’s push it over the hill, We wanna go for a ride...”)
10cc – Old Wild Men
Vera Lynn – Over the Hill
Neil Young – Big Green Country (“Over the hill in the big green country...”)
Take 6 – Over the Hill is Home
Fleet Foxes – She Got Dressed (“Out of the garden and over the hill...”)
Cat Power – Ramblin’ Woman (“...There’s something over the hill...”)
Eddy Arnold – Wagon Wheels (“...Roll along, sing your song. Carry me over the hill...”)
Peter, Paul, & Mary – Go Tell It On the Mountain (“...Over the hill and everywhere...”)
Eartha Kitt – Lazy Afternoon (“A far pink cloud hangs over the hill...”)
This morning USAToday had a bit on other athelets we'd like to see come out of retirement. I'd like to see Jim Ed step back into the arena. His extensive sports coverage is dearly missed.
You and me both, Dan of Woodbury.
Thanks for making the suggestion.
My compliments, as always, to THITH for a good list. A couple of late additions:
The Lovin' Spoonful - "Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?"
Mary Black - "Columbus" (Great song about midlife crisis-just substitute "playbook" for "maps and beautiful charts" and it's about Brett)
There's a song in Bernstein's "Wonderful Town" that prominently features the words "But I could pass that football"
And if Brett's not careful, "Old Blevins" might become all too appropriate.
Am I the only one with a vision of Farve taking one snap in a preseason game and falling to the ground with a torn ACL?
Bsrb - will you be one of my numerous bff's?
I third the Jim Ed out of retirement proposal!
Don, your comment about Old Blevins cracked me up!
Finally listening to the archive of the 8-9 am hour of today's show. You're right Dale, the Bobs Mopping song is weird. Crazy weird. If it weren't for that mascara line I just wouldn't know what to think...thanks for playing it, though, weirdness and all.
ANNA - that song by THE BOBS is called MOPPING, MOPPING, MOPPING! It's on MY, I'M LARGE, The CD was out of print but is now available via download on cdbaby.
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