Farewell, dear Tenor

Sad news from Italy. The beloved tenor Luciano Pavarotti has passed away. The world of music will never be the same. But thank the gods we had him here in our lifetime.

Just look at the picture to the left. I think those lovely laugh lines say it all. He always seemed a warm and generous soul. And oh that voice!

Thank you Luciano

Rest well...

More...

Pay 50 bucks and pick up the garbage

So I dragged Jeanette out with me to see the show. We arrived at just the right amount of time. We got our tickets at the door, found our seats and about 5 minutes later the show started.

Arlo came out, along with his 2 kids, Saralee (guitar) and Abe (Keyboards), and his son in law Johnny (Also on guitar) and another dude on mando and steel guitar. They opened with an instrumental jig just to get the juices flowing, and then Arlo began to tell stories and back up with tunes. He was in perfect Arlo form.

They performed quite a few of Woody's songs, some originals by the kids, and of course a few of Arlo's classics and some new stuff. The highlight of the evening? After a brief intermission, Arlo came out and sat center stage to perform "Alice's Restaurant Masacree" in its glorious entirety. He has added and amended the story in a few key places to make it more understandable for a new generation, but it was still the same old Masacree that Arlo fans have known and loved for 40 years. I was just f&*#ing ecstatic. I was grinning from ear to ear and laughing and feeling so good!!

They ended with "This land is your land", a familiar Woody classic, and encored with a song that Woody had written on his death bed. Arlo had taken the lyrics and set his own tune to it. It was a sweet piece, about peace. Really lovely and moving.

After the show J and I went across the street to a little tavern called "Stonewall Jackson's" (we just call it The Wall), where we met up with Steph and Joel. We drank and laughed, bitched and moaned, waxed philosophic, laughed some more, drank some more and generally had a great time until we closed the place down.

I have not had so much pure unadulterated fun in such a long time. I felt free and easy and younger than I have in years. As Arlo put it, I felt "...that kind of peace that you have on the inside, that make dogs lick you and babies like you."

Thanks Arlo for a great show, and thanks to my friends for all the fun after.

I don't want a pickle....

"... I jus' wanna ride on my motorcycle..."

I'm going to see Arlo tonight!!!! Whoo hoo. I just happened to run across an article in the local paper. He and his family are performing tonight at the Seretean Theatre here in Stillwater.

This is going to be great. I had the good fortune to see him once before, years ago in Denver. He is one of my favorite talents of all time. I will undoubtedly have something more to post later.

On what could have been

A short while ago some friends and I were discussing the untimely deaths of some of our great musicians. Imagining what they would be doing now. What wonderful musical gifts we would have now, if only they hadn't died so young.

Think about it. What would John Lennon be composing now? What musical direction would Freddie Mercury have gone? Croce, Marley, Stevie Ray...

I finally broke down today and bought myself Queen's Greatest hits CD (I have it on vinyl and am still holding out hope that one day I will again have a turntable). Anyway, as I was listening, my mind once again wondered about Freddie and his incredible talent and diversity. There have been so many lost to us, taking with them talents that could never be reproduced. Who would you like to see come back for one last set?

A musical meme

Answer the following questions using only the song titles from a chosen musician or band.

1. Musician I chose:
   Queen
   
   
2. Are you male or female?
   Foxy Lady (I know it was a Hendrix tune, but they did a remake and I am counting it)
   
   
3. Describe yourself:
   Fat Bottom Girls
   
   
4. How do some people feel about you?
   Friends Will be Friends
   
   
5. How do you feel about yourself?
   I'm Going Slightly Mad
   
   
6. Describe your ex:
   See What a Fool I've Been
   
   
7. Describe your current significant other:
   You're My Best Friend
   
   
8. Describe a best friend:
   Bohemian Rhapsody
   
   
9. Describe some one who is no longer your friend:
   Where Are You Now
   
   
10. Describe where you want to be:
    Freedom Train
    
    
11. Describe how you live:
    Lazing On a Sunday Afternoon
    
    
12. Describe how you love:
    Love Me Like There's No Tomorrow
    
    
13. What would you ask for if you had just one wish?
    The Millionaire Waltz
    
    
14. Share a few words of wisdom:
    Stop All the Fighting
    
    
15. Now say goodbye:
    Don't Look Back

Imagine

It is hard to believe it has been 25 years today that John Lennon was assassinated. I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when the tragic news hit the airwaves. I was watching "The Ghost and Mrs. Muir" with my mother. The local news broke in with one of those "Special Bulletins" and I remember turning to my mom and saying "Someone just killed John Lennon." She looked at me funny and seconds later the anchor man announced that John Lennon had just been shot outside the Dakota. My mother and I have always had a bit of 'The Shining' as it were, so it wasn't a BIG shock to my mother that my vision was accurate. I was so devastated that my mother allowed me to stay home from school the next day. I still cry every time I hear "Imagine". Imagine indeed. Imagine how different the world would have been for the last 25 years if we hadn't lost such a loving soul so suddenly and violently.

Springtime for Hitler

Springtime for Hitler

by Ville

Last night Butterflydeb and I went to see the musical "The Producers" at the Kansas City Music Hall. She had won the tickets from her fave radio station. How cool that she picked me to go with her! Opening night no less!

Well, we went last night. What a blast! For those of you unfamiliar with the material, "The Producers" is a Mel Brooks movie made in 1968, starring Gene Wilder and Zero Mostel. They portray Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, 2 lonely desperate souls who meet by chance, then cook up a scheme to make millions by producing the WORST show ever to be done on Broadway. The script they find is offensive and ridiculous to say the least. They set off to hire the worst director and the most inexperienced actors. Whats the name of the musical?? "Springtime for Hitler" of course. A play written by a delusional ex-SS who insists that Hitler was a kind and misunderstood man, and that, of course, Germany WON!

This musical within the musical has to be the funniest 15 minute scene set to music that I have ever seen! Keeping in mind that this is Mel Brooks, the entire musical was predictable, offensive and irreverent. But his tongue and cheek method of writing always seems to bring it all into perspective. That is to say, in great Brooksian style, he has a way of shouting "Get over yourself, this is funny shit!"Of course he leaves no one out, he makes fun of Jews, Germans, Gays, Blacks, Irish and in this one even little old ladyies aren't spared. But done so well, and with such humor and satire, that I would find it hard to believe if anyone could be "truly" offended.

Of course, as predicted, their sure fire flop is an unmitigated success and they both end up in Sing Sing. I hope that if any of you get the chance to see this that they do so. Deb and I had such a great time, and I was amazed at how the 3 hour production flew by! That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Another one of those days...

I've had another Cteeve day today. Not an all day thing. Beau and I did yard work this morning. He mowed, then I decided to rake up the spent grass, then together we bagged it up. After this we had our Sunday Hot Dogs (our tradition), then we headed off to Blockbuster to find a Video game. (It's what we do). As many of you know, the Blockbuster stores have video monitors all over their stores. Usually, to play the latest video release. But, today our local Blockbuster was playing the movie "Labyrinth". One of my top 5 fave movies, and also the movie that spawned the "our song" between Cteev and I. Not really a romantic kind of thing, but a symbol of our friendship. The lyrics are... Please forgive the size of the font as I cut and pasted.

As the world falls down
There's such a sad love
Deep in your eyes, a kind of pale jewel
Open and close
Within the sky I'll place the sky within your eyes
There's such a fooled heart
Beating so fast in search of new dreams
A love that will last within your heart
I'll place the moon within your heart

CHORUS:
As the pain sweeps through
Makes no sense for you
Every thrill is gone
Wasn't too much fun at all
But I'll be there for you
As the world falls down
Falling
(As the world) Falling down
Falling in love

I'll paint you mornings of gold
I'll spin you Valentine evenings
Though we're strangers till now
We're choosing the path between the stars
I'll leave my love between the stars

CHORUS
Falling
(As the world) Falling down
Falling
As the world falls down
Falling
Falling
Falling
Falling in love
As the world falls down
Falling
Falling
Falling in love
As the world falls down
Falling
Falling
Falling

Makes no sense at all
Makes no sense to fall

For us, it truly did "make no sense to fall". I miss him, I miss him everyday of my life.

Anyway.

When I saw what was playing at Blockbuster I couldn't figure out why they were playing such an old movie. I even asked Beau "I wonder why they are playing this??" It was later , when the whole soundtrack was in my head (you know how it is) that it hit me. Cteev was talking to me. I had forgotten about "our song". He found a way to remind me and to talk to me. I have this feeling that he will not be around much longer. I mean this is the spiritual sense, although he will be present for a few more months. I was almost asleep, and he decided to get me out of bed. Typical.

More to come