The ten worst states to live in? SOLIDLY RED

 Republicans = Nazis

Peace,

emaycee

What the fuck is the matter with these people?

Sarah Sanders asks state board applicants to name what they admire about her most while applying for job https://t.co/IES7Khmpnx

— #TuckFrump (@realTuckFrumper) April 11, 2023

Republicans = Nazis

Peace,

emaycee

 

Fucking moocher

Sarah Huckabee Sanders Faces Harsh Backlash for Railing Against ‘Socialism’, Then Begging for it Once a Tornado Hits https://t.co/SDj69FE1ix

— #TuckFrump (@realTuckFrumper) April 2, 2023

Republicans = Nazis

Peace,

emaycee

 

Good vs. evil

A tale of two bill signings.

🥹 MN Governor @Tim_Walz makes breakfast and lunch free for ALL school children.

🙁 AR Governor @SarahHuckabee rolls back child labor laws.

Look at the kids’ faces.

Vote blue. pic.twitter.com/b7u4cGeJwe

— Nick Knudsen 🇺🇸 (@NickKnudsenUS) March 18, 2023

Republicans = Nazis 

Peace,

emaycee

Teach your children (not so) well

Good morning and Happy Sunday to everyone who agrees Republicans have lost their damn minds passing laws allowing child marriages in West Virginia and child labor in Arkansas.

Protect your kids. Keep them as far away as possible from Republicans.

— BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) March 12, 2023

Republicans = Nazis

Peace,

emaycee

 

Republicans literally wallow in their own shit

Republicans are not hiding their transphobia.

TODAY in the Judiciary Committee, one Senator asked a doctor if she "has a penis" and another claimed that gender affirming care was a TikTok plot from China.

Then, they passed #SB199 to create malpractice law for life saving care. pic.twitter.com/kvllGCcwnX

— Democratic Party of Arkansas (@ArkDems) February 13, 2023

Republicans = Nazis

Peace,

emaycee

 

The moron platform

This is a really solid midterm strategy for the GOP. They should definitely keep this up. https://t.co/2xwSTLkYqk

— Angry Staffer 🌻 (@Angry_Staffer) September 29, 2022

Republican = Traitor

Peace,

emaycee

 

Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. CD--Joe Purdy: Why Do I?

 Special shout out to my son-in-law this week, as a couple of years back at a family gathering, he suggested I give this week's featured tune a listen.  He nailed it--much like last week's music post (though the two songs couldn't be more dissimilar), one listen was all it took to fall in love with it.  Couldn't help but notice that as I was playing it this week in preparation for writing this week's music post that my wife asked what the song was...which usually means she's taken a hankering to it, too.

This week's bio paragraph is going to be mercifully short, as neither Wikipedia nor Joe Purdy's website had much of a history.  Purdy is from northern Arkansas and began releasing albums in 2001.  He's had several songs featured in movies and television shows, and in 2017 made his acting debut in a movie called American Folk.  For his career, Purdy has released 16 studio albums (which is quite the output for 21 years), which have had over 800,000 single downloads.  His latest album was released in March of this year, and he is currently on tour in support of it.

Fun Fact:  After Purdy played at the Wireless Festival in Leeds, England, Pete Townshend of The Who (like there's another Pete Townshend of some other band I'd be mentioning....) enjoyed Purdy's tunes so much he asked him to join him and his girlfriend Rachel Fuller at a series of their acoustic shows known as "In the Attic."

"Why Do I?" was released on Purdy's fifth album, Only Four Seasons, in 2006.  Unfortunately, neither song nor album came anywhere near the Billboard charts.  In fact, the only link I could provide for either was from AllMusic, which merely denotes that both were officially released.  

The more I listen to it, the more "Why Do I?" reminds me of the best of alt-country.  Purdy's lyrics are a subtle foray into the sorrows of an ordinary man (not sure if the protagonist a) has a problem with alcohol, b) a problem with happiness, c) a problem with being lonely on the road, or d) some combination of the three, though it really doesn't matter), and show a quiet introspection that is the hallmark of a songwriter coming into his own.  Purdy's vocals gently render the sadness that is part and parcel of loneliness and never once does he let them take a maudlin turn.  The music compliments it all with a slow drawl, and I have to admit that I was particularly enamored of the instrumental breaks which well captured the protagonist's inherent uncertainty.  A smart song for people who appreciate smart songs...just like my son-in-law.

Lyric Sheet:  "So why do I get so lonely/When there really ain't nothing wrong/'Cause I can sleep just fine when you hold me/Can't sleep at all when you're gone..."

Enjoy:

Republican = Traitor

Peace,

emaycee

Another day, another instance of police brutality

Reportedly, a shoeless man who was dealing with some mental distress.

I can’t think of a single scenario in which an unarmed man needs his head bashed into the cement by three bigger men.

Put them all in jail for attempted murder. https://t.co/CugEj2Ic2C

— Angry Staffer 🌻 (@Angry_Staffer) August 21, 2022

Republican = Traitor

Peace,

emaycee

 

A racist says what?

The type of country that prevented a talented player from playing strictly because of his race is precisely the history you don’t want children learning. https://t.co/fhEPq226VQ

— Ida Bae Wells (@nhannahjones) April 16, 2022

Republican = Traitor

Peace,

emaycee

 

Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. CCCXLVII--Glen Campbell: By the Time I Get to Phoenix

 My introduction to this week's tune was my father, though I have to admit he was far ahead of me in his appreciation as I did not enjoy the song much when he played it when I was a teenager, and did not fully appreciate it until I'd gotten into my forties.  And the artist as well--Glen Campbell may be one of the most underrated musical performers ever.  Not only does he have three songs in the Grammy Hall of Fame (no easy feat), he's also one of the best guitarists that no one ever noticed was a great guitarist (if that makes any sense...).

Glen Campbell was born in Arkansas in 1936 where his family farmed and Campbell and his siblings picked cotton from a young age to help their family financially.  Campbell hit the road at age 14 and after a few years of working odd jobs, joined his uncle's band before forming a bar band of his own.  In the early sixties, Campbell joined The Champs (of "Tequila" fame) for a spell, before joining the Beach Boys (of "Too Many Songs to List" fame) as a touring member for a little more than a year (he played guitar on their classic album Pet Sounds as well).  Shortly thereafter he began his career as a solo artist, and through the mid-seventies was one of the most popular music entertainers in America.  He would go on to win four Grammy Awards, be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame, sang the theme from True Grit (as well as co-starring in the movie) which was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song, and had his own television show from 1969-1972.  For his career, Campbell released 60 studio albums (nine #1's on the country album chart and one #1 on the Billboard 200), and 82 singles (with five #1's on the country singles chart and two #1's on the Billboard Hot 100).  Campbell was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2010, toured through 2012, and recorded his last album in 2014 before the disease took his life in 2017.

"By the Time I Get to Phoenix" was released as a single in 1967 and was on his album entitled, surprisingly enough, By the Time I Get to Phoenix.  The single hit #2 on the Hot Country Singles Chart, and #26 on the Hot 100, while the album was #1 on the country album chart and #15 on the pop albums chart.  It is one of Campbell's three songs which have been entered into the Grammy Hall of Fame.

Fun Fact:  From the Some People Have Too Much Time on Their Hands Files:  A fan approached songwriter Jimmy Webb and told him that the driving timeline for Webb's "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" was physically impossible.  Webb later told an interviewer he did not intend for the song to be taken quite so literally.

Every now and again while doing my half-assed weekly research I learn something new, and this week I did once again.  Frank Sinatra called "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" one of the all-time great torch songs, and me, thinking a torch song was more along the lines of Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On," wondered what the hell Sinatra was talking about.  Turns out a torch song is a sad song, often about unrequited love, which in that case describes this week's tune quite well.  Campbell deftly weaves with a wrenching vocal the tale of a man who has left his lover, and as he drives across the country he imagines what she's doing as he motors into each different place.  There are two things for me which really stand out about this one.  First, the protagonist is actually leaving his woman--there's no happy ending here.  And second, he's actually sorrowful for the pain he is causing her.  "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" isn't for everyone--it's a very slow and very sad song.  But if you're looking to find an out of the ordinary gem, this is one for you.

Lyric Sheet:  "Though time and time I've tried to tell her so/She just didn't know/I would really go..."

Enjoy:

People Who Refuse to Get the COVID-19 Vaccine Are Why Our Lives Can't Return to Normal

Peace,

emaycee

Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. CCCXLV--Charlie Rich: Rollin' with the Flow

 My list of the songs I'm going to feature each week is filled out a couple years in advance, and for some odd-ass reason I must have been in a Country Music state of mind when I filled it out a few years back because this is the fifth straight song that has a Country flavor to it.  For my loyal readers (both of you) who are ready to leave Shitkickersville behind, next week will leave that fine city in the rearview...for at least a week.

Charlie Rich was born in Colt, Arkansas in 1932, and began his career in earnest while he was in the Air Force.  After his discharge in 1956 Rich began playing gigs around Memphis and not too long after had a recording contract.  He had his first hit in 1960, and struggled thereafter to produce more until he hit a strong patch in the 1970's.  It was also at this time that his graying hair earned him the nickname "The Silver Fox."  Rich--who was also quite a jazz and blues singer--would go on to have eight #1 singles on the Hot Country Singles Chart, and one on the Billboard Hot 100.  For his career, Rich released twelve studio albums (with five #1's on the Country album chart and two top 30 albums on the Billboard 200) and 41 singles.  He also won two Grammy Awards, and was the Country Music Association Entertainer of the year in 1974.  Sadly, Rich passed away in 1995 at the all too young age of 62 from a pulmonary embolism.

(Not So) Fun Fact:  While doing my half-assed research, I wondered why a performer with a career as illustrious as Rich's had not been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.  Turns out that Rich was the presenter of the Entertainer of the Year Award at the 1975 CMA Awards, and during the presentation he stumbled drunkenly over the nominees, then proceeded to set the envelope with the winner's name on fire before announcing John Denver as the winner.  The industry was not amused, and Rich's career promptly took a nosedive.  In fact, from 1982-1992 he didn't release any albums and performed sparingly.  

"Rollin' with the Flow" was released in 1977 on Rich's album entitled, surprisingly enough, Rollin' with the Flow.  It would be the last #1 Country hit of his career, and hit #101 (with a bullet!) on the Billboard  pop chart; the album peaked at #19 on the Country album chart.

Every now and again a song comes along that bears very little relation to you or your life (the Velvet Underground's "Heroin" comes to mind, though I am in no way comparing it to this week's tune), but nonetheless it strikes a chord (so to speak) and becomes a loved favorite.  "Rollin' with the Flow" is that kind of song for me, as it tells the story of a man who's still raising hell and refusing to grow old...and that was never my life (nor Rich's--he was married to the same woman for forty-three years and had four kids).  Still, every time I hear it, it brings me great joy.  Rich's vocals capture perfectly the self-satisfied son of a bitch at the heart of the song, and the strings and steel guitar...uh, roll with the flow of the song.  It's a hell of a number celebrating the acceptance of the hand we're dealt in life, and that there can still be a lot of joy even if it isn't a straight flush.

Lyric Sheet:  "Some might be callin' me a bum/But I'm still out there havin' fun/And Jesus loves me, yes, I know/So I keep on rollin' with the flow..."

Enjoy:

People Who Refuse the COVID-19 Vaccine Are Why Our Lives Can't Return to Normal

Peace,

emaycee

Another republican traitor

Give 'em some milk and cookies, too, Tom

 Arkansas republican Senator Tom Cotton this week went on Fox News (surprise!) and said he had "real doubts" about the U.S. Navy's ability to defeat the Chinese navy in battle.

Now imagine that a Democrat had gone on any network anywhere and doubted the U.S. Navy's abilities to fight a war.  Republicans would have crucified any such Democratic politician and the mainstream media would have gobbled it up.  But a republican...to date, I could find nothing that had called Cotton to the carpet (nice job, Democrats) for an egregious statement.

I'm not a statesman, and while I might admit the reports Cotton has seen suggest it (though I have my doubts as the republican party playbook is to turn any boogeyman into the spawn of Satan), but even I know that it's a slap in the face to our servicemen and and a veritable morale killer when our politicians suggest that we can't win any military confrontation.  Instead of grandstanding, perhaps saying "I fear China is making huge gains in their ability to battle our naval forces" would be a massive improvement over saying our troops are going to lose.

In the end, it's another shitty job by our national media in failing to point out how disrespectful of our military republicans have become, even if it is for a whiner trying to burnish his Presidential bona fides for an eventual campaign for an office that a man with all of the charisma of skunk spray will never hold.

You Have a Choice:  Pass a Voting Rights Bill, or Welcome Fascism to America

Peace,

emaycee

Heroin addict or U. S. Senator? You decide....

Peace,
emaycee