A sign unto you

But for D, that music idea I had would have fallen completely flat. The best laid schemes of mice and men...

Fortunately, this came to my attention thanks to the Ironic Catholic. What a great community project!

Tinsillica

Here's a little reprise of some some Christmas fun from 2009.

Random act of Christmas

I'm going to try to post Christmas music again this year just so my blogging doesn't go completely fallow. Lately, I've come across a few "Random Acts of Culture" videos in which incognito choirs burst into the Hallelujah Chorus in public places. I believe they've been very widely viewed, so for today I'm posting this less ambitious but no less enjoyable random act:



The improv group's site, linked at the video on YouTube, tells the story of how they pulled it off.

(Note: This performance also makes a good antidote to the Wonderful Christmastime video D posted below!)

The Evolution of an Irish Ballad

Being the surmises of a musical amateur who has lately spent entirely too much time online trying to track down folk music lyrics.

Gen. 1. The Irish take on the British in a battle somewhere on Irish soil. Being seriously outnumbered, they are defeated utterly with great loss of life. Anonymous Irish balladeers compose lyrics honoring the courage of the dead, with individual verses devoted to units from each county involved and to fallen leaders. The result is about 40 verses long, though only six or seven are actually remembered by anyone after the debut.
[Alt. Gen. 1. A minor Irish nobleman takes to the hills after a dustup with British occupiers. Anonymous balladeers compose a mercifully brief ditty depicting the outlaw as a romantic hero and emphasizing his revolutionary cred and sheer heartthrobbiness.]

Gen. 2. The simplified lyric becomes a popular drinking song.

Gen. 3. Early Irish immigrants carry the ballad to the New World, where an English version of the lyrics that may or may not have anything to do with the original is composed. This translation is unequivocally a drinking song and includes wordplays that are hilarious after a quart or so of beer and a rollicking chorus that encourages audience participation.

Gen. 4. Sometime during the nineteenth century, a political campaign borrows the tune and composes a new set of lyrics praising their candidate.

Gen. 5. Frontier musicians develop yet another set of lyrics to the tune. The result is a song about clams.

Gen. 6. Pete Seeger borrows the tune and composes lyrics (a.) in praise of labor unions, (b.) opposing war, or (c.) warning of the dangers of atomic energy. He performs it at a rally devoted to the issue.

Gen. 7. The Irish Rovers record a wacky rendition of the drinking song.

Gen. 8. Rory Cooney borrows the tune and rewrites the lyrics as a hymn of which the liberation theology undertone is hard to ignore.

Gen. 9. Garrison Kiellor rewrites the lyrics as a tongue-in-cheek look at ordinary, modern-day life and performs the result on Prairie Home Companion.

Gen. 10. The Dropkick Murphys yell the whole thing to pipes and shred guitar.

Floored Drawers

An great Neil Young impression by Jimmy Fallon. American Idol viewers and pop-culture watchers will recognize the lyrics written by "General" Larry Pratt, of Atlanta.



Here's wishing Mr. Pratt well. Somewhere Andy Warhol is looking on . . . .

Many Happy Returns

So often the "race to return" dominates commercialist after-Christmas activities. While I don't care for that scene at all, I do like this send-up of the old "Twelve Days of Christmas" carol, which chronicles the returning and otherwise disposing of the well-known "twelve days" gifts. I sang this piece with my college-community choir way back when and still enjoy the humor.

News from Mt. Crumpet

No survey of Christmas music would be complete without the Dr. Seuss song, "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch." And no survey of Internet music would be complete without Tay Zonday. Hat tip to No. 1 son!



The minor premise feels it necessary to state that, while professing admiration for Mr. Zonday's performance, it does not agree with his soapbox at the end. Everybody knows the Grinch's problem was a two-size cardiac insufficiency, not the economy.

Jingle Bell Rocky and Christmas Balls

Happy Boxing Day everyone! As a departure from C's more serious offerings, I give you Rocky and Balls' Song about Christmas songs, The Christmas Song Song. This song provides way in which you can get all of your caroling done in one sitting, which is convenient if you have other things to do.



Thanks to No. 1 son for pointing this one out.

How many hats (and moustaches) do they go through during this song, anyway?

Christmas

The Mandragora children's Choir performs Robert Southwell's "This Little Babe" from Benjamin Britten's Ceremony of Carols. Beautiful!

From North of the Border

Today's offering is the Huron Carol, sung in Wendat (Huron), French and English. This song was written by Jesuit martyr Jean de Brebeuf (and set to a French folk tune) to explain the Nativity to the Huron (now Wendat or Wyandot) Indians to whom he ministered.



By the way, we did this piece in our church handbell choir back when that was still extant and it is a fun ring!

[Strangely, I seem to have started with Siouxie and wound up, if not at the Sioux, then close enough. I also managed to venture north of the Great Lakes without bringing up the McKenzie brothers' version of the Twelve Days of Christmas, of which I am duly proud.]

That Mountain Music

Today, a mountain dulcimer interlude. First is the lovely "Coventry Carol." In about 20 years maybe I'll be able to play this well. I'll need a long calico dress and sunbonnet, work boots, and a corncob pipe to complete the look then.


For an encore, what could be better than kids with dulcimers? They sound great, and li'l bro's windmill strum at about 1:o8 is amusing!

Moving in a More Traditional Direction

From Sting's new album of Christmas and winter songs, If On A Winter's Night, here is the beautiful 15th Century German carol, Lo, How a Rose (please excuse the ad--this was the only recording I could find.) I'm quite excited with the way Sting has done this album, with traditional instruments and arrangements. Yet it still sounds very Sting, and you wouldn't mistake the original songs for anyone else's.

Collins Carols

Still in a musical mode, but a bit more Adventy: here is Judy Collins performing The Cherry Tree Carol.



Two candles are lit, and two more to go. . . .

Out of the Blue and Into the Black, part 2

The Parody department presents he audio version of "Enter Santaman:"

Dynamic Duo or Others Doing Smothers

The talent scouts at the minor premise have been at it, finding "undiscovered" musical talent so you don't have to. Today we present a music-comedy duo from the UK: Rocky and Balls. They have it all -- funny lyrics, harmonies, innuendo, hand clapping, ukelele and kazoos. They remind me a little of the Flight of the Conchords (although they're from a different set of islands), and a little of an SNL skit (folk group with hand clapping).



I'm not really fond of the video ending, but you can't have everything. The two women have solo projects (Sophie Madeline and Hannah Rockcliff aka Hannah Rei, but here the sum is better than the parts.
So, what do you think? The next Spice Girls?

Thanks to Hon Daughter #1

Left Side Story

"Might she persuade Kennedy to come out differently than what Souter could persuade him to do?" Erwin Chemerinsky, dean of the new law school at the University of California at Irvine, said before the hearings. "Can Sotomayor by virtue of her life experiences move Kennedy to join the more liberal bloc more often?"
AP wire, July 18, 2009, on Fox News

A good question to be sure, though I was kind of hoping the more Constitutionally-inclined heads on the court might be good influences on (presumed) Justice Sotomayor. Not that I would want the job of oddsmaker for either possibility.

Anyway, the suggestion moved D to song, and I figured the first Monday in October of '09 might be a good time for a musical interlude. Thus the following. Justice Kennedy doesn't ordinarily seem a flashy type, so if he's going to be whisked off leftwards, he might as well make a good show of it.

Imagine a ballet of law clerks fading to black in the background as Tony, I mean Justice Kennedy, in a pensive mood, steps out into sunset on the Supreme Court portico.

Sonia
By CMinor with just a leetle inspiration from DMinor.

Sung to the tune of Maria from West Side Story.
Apologies to Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Robbins and Robert Wise, Richard Beymer (even though he didn't really sing it,) and Jimmy Bryant (who actually did.) Heck, throw in the original Broadway cast and the movie cast (right down to key grip and best boy) as well. I know when I've crossed the Musical Blasphemy line.


At decision time I've been known to swing
(Chorus: O Sonia! O Sonia! O Sonia! O Sonia!)
Between activist left and strict constructionist right wing.
(Chor: O Sonia, etc.)

O Sonia!
I just met the justice named Sonia--
And serving the blind dame
Will never be the same
For me.

O Sonia!
I spoke but a moment with Sonia;
She's so jurisprudent
Her devoted student
I'll be.

Ah, Sonia!
Your rich diverse wisdom amazes:
Of your CV I can but sing praises!

O Sonia!
I'll never stop drifting
O Sonia! So-ni-a,
O Sonia! So-ni-a,
O Sonia!
So-ni-a (be sure to drag this one out good), O Sonia!

For judgement such as hers I'm yearning,
So leftwards I'll be evermore turning.
O Sonia!
I'll never stop learning
From Sonia!
Her judicial temperament makes me sing--
So-ni-a!

Low-Fidelity Recordings

I'm seriously considering launching a "Cast-Iron Skillet Award" (preferably between the eyes) for politicos who get busted cheatin' on their spouses and act like it's business as usual. My own model (photo included) will have to do for this though it has taken a bit of rust (especially after I cooked tomatoes in it). It is, however, in fine fighting fettle (and doesn't need to be pretty) should any aggrieved spouses wish to borrow it for the purpose of driving a point home for the cads who done them wrong. Mrs. Mark Sanford appears to be handling her wandering husband's recent divulgences with class and spine not often seen in wronged political wives; I'm not too far a drive and can drop it off on the way to the zoo sometime if she'd like. In any case, I hope she maintains the firm spine. Somebody's got to, and based on the events of the last two weeks I'm not holding out much hope for him.

In the meantime, I'll just submit the following playlists (thanks to DMinor for his assistance remembering some of the songs) for edification and/or inspiration of the two parties most intimately concerned in the Sanford Infidelity Sideshow. A couple of the songs will also do for the third most intimately concerned party (as noted.) I won't attempt a separate playlist for the femme fatale of the piece. All I can think of off the top of my head is Teardrops on My Guitar (Swift) and that doesn't seem to fit anyway.


Playlist for Gov. Mark Sanford:

Your Cheatin' Heart (Williams, Sr.)
Travelin' Man (Nelson)
The Thrill is Gone (King)
Torn Between Two Lovers (McGregor) [POV shift required]
I'm in Love With the Other Woman (Parker, Jr.)
Me and Mrs. Jones (Paul)
Savin' All My Love For You (Houston) [POV shift reqd, In original form, also useful for the mistress's playlist. Or he can assume it is.]
Take a Letter, Maria(Stone) [Actually about the situaton in reverse. But the name fits, and the sonofagun's demonstrated considerable skill at self-delusion.]
It Wasn't Me (Shaggy)
Breaking Up is Hard To Do (Sedaka)
Making Love (Out of Nothing at All)(Air Supply/Steinman--who else?) [Suitable for attempts to "fall back in love" with one's wife. Which inevitably brings us to...]
Two Out of Three Ain't Bad (Meat Loaf/Steinman)




Playlist for Jennifer Sanford:

Lyin' Eyes (Eagles) [Again, some POV shift required]
Take It on the Run (REO Speedwagon) [POV shift req.]
You Oughtta Know (Morissette)
I Will Survive (Gainor)
Before He Cheats (Underwood) [Strictly for the catharsis, of course]
Take a Bow (Rhianna) [Should Mrs. S conclude that she's really had enough.]
Irreplaceable (Beyonce) [Might also work for the mistress's playlist, should she decide Sanford's more trouble than he's worth.]

Miscellany

Following is a really, really bad segue that should be avoided by every responsible radio dj, but that I heard anyhow yesterday:

"Ohio" by Crosby, Stills and Nash
followed up by
"Another One Bites the Dust" by Queen.
Auugghh!!!

As last weekend was the Great Backyard Bird Count, I submit the stats from our backyard feeders:

Saturday, 2/14--1:45-2 pm

dark-eyed juncos-15+
goldfinches-2
northern cardinals-2 (a pair)
Carolina wren-1
chipping sparrow-1
tufted timouse-1
Carolina chickadee-1
white-throated sparrows-2
house finches-2, both males
mourning doves-3

Sunday, 2/15--around 9:30 am

goldfinches-6
chipping sparrows-3
dark-eyed junco-1
Carolina chickadee-1
Carolina wren-1
tufted titmouse-1
house finches-2 (the guys again)

To my chagrin, the great thundering herds of assorted finches and the yellow-rumped warbler didn't show themselves until Monday, after the official count ended.

A Travis-ty We Can Ill Af-Ford, part II

Back in September the parody department produced a ditty on the financial meltdown. The music department, being a little slow, has only now produced the video. Enjoy

Sixteen Funds
by DMinor
(Apologies to Merle Travis, or perhaps to George S. Davis)



Some people say a man must own his own house
With two-odd kids and a trophy wife spouse --
House and wife and cars and yard
A paycheck a-week and a credit card.

You buy sixteen funds, what do you get?
Another man's mortgage and second-hand debt.
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go;
My IRA plan's down a really big hole.

I awoke one mornin' and the radio said,
The darn banking system had a-ended up dead.
I watched my sixteen funds of financial gold
Turn to paper junk: "Well, a-bless my soul!"

You buy sixteen funds, what do you get?
Another man's mortgage and second-hand debt.
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go;
My IRA plan's down a really big hole.

I awoke one mornin', in a financial pain --
Fightin' and trouble without any gain.
Rhetoric in the campaign by an Obama hack
Cain't make-a flat-broke banker give my money back.

You buy sixteen funds, what do you get?
Another man's mortgage and second-hand debt.
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go;
My IRA plan's down a really big hole.

All you CEOs, better step aside:
No golden parachute, if you have some pride.
Your sub-prime loans have emptied the till--
If the right wing don't a-get you
Then the left sure will!

You buy sixteen funds, what do you get?
Another man's mortgage and derivative debt.
Saint Peter don't you call me 'cause I can't go;
My IRA plan's down a really big hole.

Advice for the Overtaxed

Poor Tom Daschle. He could have testified before the Senate and had no problem, if he had only consulted Steve Martin for advice:

You.. can be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes! You can be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes! You say.. "Steve.. how can I be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes?" First.. get a million dollars. Now.. you say, "Steve.. what do I say to the tax man when he comes to my door and says, 'You.. have never paid taxes'?" Two simple words. Two simple words in the English language: "I forgot!" How many times do we let ourselves get into terrible situations because we don't say "I forgot"? Let's say you're on trial for armed robbery. You say to the judge, "I forgot armed robbery was illegal." Let's suppose he says back to you, "You have committed a foul crime. you have stolen hundreds and thousands of dollars from people at random, and you say, 'I forgot'?" Two simple words: Excuuuuuse me!!"


Does anyone have a copy of Timothy Geithner's testimony? Is it at all similar?

I heard the the President's "Performance Czar" also had to bow out because of tax problems. I've never heard of a performance czar before, but I have heard of performance art. Perhaps the next nominee should be Laurie Anderson.



Laurie's Fiscal Message:


Steve Martin quote found on SNL Transcripts.