Kenny Drew—Jazz Piano

I was in the mood for some jazz, I hope you are too. 

A Few Words in Defense of Our Country

As you can tell from last Thursday’s post, a Randy Newman song called Political Science, I am on a Randy Newman kick. This song, A Few Words in Defense of our Country, has many uncomfortable truths in it. 

It is always dicey to live in a period when an empire ends. That is the period we are living in. I may not see its end as I am 58, but I can see the cracks in the dam that are pouring out water. Soon, the dam will fail and the water will wash us away. 

Jesus said this in reference to the fall of Jerusalem, which happened about 40 years after his death. (Interesting how certain numbers repeat in the Bible, 40 is one of those interesting numbers.) Luke 19:

^41-44 When the city came into view, he wept over it. “If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you! But now it’s too late. In the days ahead your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side. They’ll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact. All this because you didn’t recognize and welcome God’s personal visit.”

Yes, we in America should expect God’s personal visit, but, like first century Judea, we are blind to the coming visit of God. 

The irony is that we have to rely on contemporary musical composers to have any sort of warning at all. 

Let's Drop the Big One Now

Randy Newman has had an interesting career. He even had one hit, so he is a "one hit wonder." That song was Short People. 

The song I am sharing today is another song that deserved to be as big a hit as Short People—Political Science. 

What is disturbing about this song is that, based on the various posters I see in my facebook feed, many will not understand that this is a parody until I tell them. So no, Newman is not advocating nuclear war. 

Hotel Babylon

Did you ever wonder what the song Hotel California by the Eagles meant? They have been notoriously closed-mouth on the meaning. But they did say that the song is an “interpretation of the high life in Los Angeles.”

Our modern consumer society is certainly typified by Los Angeles.

You can leave Hotel Babylon if you wish, but it is difficult. As the song says, if you are a prisoner there, it is by your own device.

BTW, according to the Wiki article on the song, “the term “colitas” in the first stanza of the song is a Spanish term for “little tails” and in Mexican slang it is a reference to the buds of the Cannabis [marijuana] plant.” This is another part of the modern Los Angeles culture you can leave if you wish.

Thunder and Lightning

I remember the first time I ever saw this song performed. I had insomnia and got up to watch television. Back then when I lived on my ranch, I had only 4 choices—in the middle of the night even less. So I was watching the Jerry Lewis telethon. Chi Coltrane came on. I became an instant fan.