Arts and Entertainment
Song of the Day 4/26: The Beatles, “I’m Only Sleeping”
He’s at it again. Trump reportedly took a “bonafide nap” during his lawyer’s cross-examination of National Enquirer honcho David Pecker this morning. Remember, with people like Trump, every accusation is a confession, which is why he calls Biden “Sleepy Joe.” John Lennon’s ode to the joys of staying horizontal presaged his later bed-ins for peace. […]
Song of the Day 4/25: Mary J. Blige and U2, “One”
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame long since stretched the definition of “rock and roll” to include other genres, especially hip-hop and R&B, which often draws scorn from rock purists, myself included (Janet Jackson? Really?) Mary J. Blige, though, is OK by me, because unlike last year’s honoree Dolly Parton, she has at least […]
Song of the Day 4/23: Foreigner, “Urgent”
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced its Class of 2024 the other day, and the list of inductees was greeted not with the usual griping but rather a giant, collective “meh.” I blame this on Foreigner. See what I mean? You probably went “meh” at the mention of their name, because that’s always […]
Song of the Day 4/22: Simon & Garfunkel, “April Come She Will”
Paul Simon learned a lot on his trips to England in 1965. He learned how to fingerpick, for one thing. He learned that British folk audiences, unlike those in Greenwich Village, appreciated his music. And he learned the nursery rhyme about the cuckoo that he turned into this song, which appeared on both Simon’s UK-only […]
Song of the Day 4/21: Richard Thompson, “I Can’t Wake Up to Save My Life”
Donald Trump is said to be furious that reporters are reporting on his napping in court. I wonder what he’s dreaming about when he nods off. I hope it’s nightmares about Stormy Daniels, maybe along the lines of what Richard Thompson describes in this tune from “Mirror Blue,” his 1994 follow-up to “Rumour and Sigh.” […]
Song of the Day 4/20: Fraternity of Man, “Don’t Bogart That Joint”
Another April 20 and Delaware continues to creep slowly towards making recreational marijuana not just legal but obtainable. Don’t bogart that process! The Fraternity of Man was a psychedelic blues band formed by members of Lowell George’s group The Factory after he left for the Mothers of Invention. This slow country number about dope-smoking etiquette, […]
Song of the Day 4/19: Allman Brothers Band, “Jessica”
Duane and Gregg got top billing, but the Allman Brothers wouldn’t have become a household name, or forged a sound that spawned an entire genre of rock, without the contributions of Dickey Betts, who died yesterday at age 80. He wrote many of their signature songs, including their only Top 10 hit, “Ramblin’ Man,” and […]
Song of the Day 4/17: Doris Troy, “Just One Look”
New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman made the news for claiming that Donald Trump, once he woke up, subjected her to his mighty stare as retribution for reporting that Don Snorleone had nodded off. lShe lived to tell the tale, but for how long? Doris Troy was a songwriter and backup singer for Atlantic Records […]
DL Open Thread Wednesday, April 17, 2024
Jury selection continues in Trump’s criminal trial in New York. It could take forever to find 12 sentient beings who live, breathe and haven’t concluded that Trump is a piece of shit. You think it’s been a wet spring in Delaware? Yesterday in Dubai 5 inches of rain – more than the desert city averages […]
Song of the Day 4/16: Daryl Hall & John Oates, “Las Vegas Turnaround (The Stewardess Song)”
John Oates, who’s headlining this year’s newly resumed Philadelphia Folk Festival, is widely perceived as the junior partner in Hall & Oates because Daryl Hall sang lead on most of their ’80s hits. But it wasn’t always that way. In the duo’s early years in the ’70s, they split vocals and songwriting pretty much equally. […]
Song of the Day 4/14: The Byrds, “Eight Miles High”
In popular consciousness, “Eight Miles High” is a drug song. Radio stations certainly thought so when it was released in 1966 – many refused to play it, so it only reached No. 14 on the Hot 100. But it’s considered by many critics and historians to be the first psychedelic rock song. The musical inspirations […]
Song of the Day 4/13: Paula Cole, “I Don’t Want to Wait”
Yet another Trump stunt to delay his hush-money trial got rejected yesterday, so it’s almost certain to start Monday. Almost certain. The title of this song sums up my feelings on the matter. Paula Cole burned briefly but brightly in 1997, when two singles from “This Fire,” her self-produced second album, scaled the Billboard charts. […]
Song of the Day 4/12: Dada, “Dizz Knee Land”
The worst thing about this timeline is that it makes me root for people and institutions I hate. The FBI and CIA, for instance. I hate them, but I hate Trump more, so I end up rooting for the FBI and CIA. I resent that, and it’s far from the only example – Liz Cheney, […]
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