U2:):):)...
I've trying posting this piece on U2 FIVE times -- at least -- now, on my tripod blog for TWO days, and NO LUCK:(...
So:):):):)...even though my blogspot blog doesn't post things until a day after, at this point, it seems the better option if a bit anti-climactic given the "in the moment" nature of the blog...oh well...
I listened all morning, yesterday morning, to U2's Rattle and Hum album:):):)...The Greatest Album on the Face of the Planet:):):)...I love these bastards:):):)...
When you get to the bottom, you go back to the top...of the slide, and you stop and turn and you go for a ride, then you get to the bottom, then you see me again!!!:):):):):):)...
I would give both fucking testacles and my left ass cheek to see these fuckers in Kansas City when they come here this summer!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:):):):):):):):):):)...
I FUCKING LOVE U2...I'm not gay, but if I was...nah...I couldn't do anything gay with Bono:):):):):):)...he's just too much heterosexual man for me:):):):):):):):):):)...and, as I always say, if I ever fucked a man, I'd have to be the top:):):)...and I'd never think of Bono the same again head down in a pillow:):):):):):) (I think I just made my friends Dolly and Jay just hurl their fucking oatmeal with that line:):):):):):)...
OK:):):)...I just spent all of Helter Skelter (and two playbacks to get lyrics right:):):), writing about U2:):):)...that's how much I love U2...that I will put off writing about terrorism or poverty or violence or chits or sex or drugs or rock-and-roll or what the fuck ever to write about my favorite fucking band on the entire fucking planet:):):):):):)...
I am now listening to Van Diemen's Land, which, if you haven't heard it, is this really fucking beautiful song that the Edge, U2's lead guitarist (I love that U2 is so big that most people who might read this don't need me to spell out information like that:):):):):):), wrote and SINGS (which is an Edge rarity:):):):):):)...
And now I'm listening to this useless fucking interview that U2 does with this pretensious little young music critic/journalist:):):):):)...and now Desire:):):)...
See...as I complain with ALL my friends:):):):):):)...THESE were the fucking days:):):):):):)...when U2 sang this SOULFUL fucking MEANINGFUL music full of anger and sadness and purpose:):):):):):):):):):):):)...THESE were the fucking days:):):):):):)...I love the new single that Bono sings and dedicates to his father, who just passed away:):):):):):):):)...
But something about the sound of U2 -- not just the lyrics or the absence of enough politics in their music (though they do have a new single about the AIDS crisis in Africa that I haven't heard yet and am eager to hear:):):), is just not as soulful as when they were these young kids out of Ireland just making it big:):):):):):)...
This movie, by the way, if you haven't seen it is THE SINGLE BEST ROCK MUSIC MOVIE/DOCUMENTARY that I've ever seen, and was my first real introduction to U2...it is the documentary/concert movie of their Joshua Tree tour, which was, of course, one of the most popular and beloved albums and tours in America, and likely the world:):):)...
...surprisingly...my early encounters with U2 were not really so positive:):):)...I was not familiar with U2 much outside of early radio play, which I was, frankly, more spooked by than inspired by:):):):):):)...I love With or Without You, now:):):):):):)...but when I was in 8th grade and heard it while at a party with my first real girlfriend (and my first real kiss:):):):):):)...yeah...you know what kind of kiss I'm talking about:):):):):):):):):)...tongue and everything:):):):):):):):):), Nannette McNeil:):):):):):), I don't know...maybe it was because it was my first real party and I was nervous...or maybe it was because I was in 8th grade and just too young to understand a song like With or Without You...or maybe because With or Without You has that really creepy/seductive feeling of the Police's I'll Be Watching You:):):):):):)...I don't know what the fuck it was...but for some wierd fucking crazy reason, when I first remember hearing U2, I didn't like 'em:):):):):):)...but then I saw that early fucking Bono haircut:):):)...you know the one I'm talking about:):):)...the wild spike on top with the long, untamed tresses behind:):):):):):)...the one that made him look like the little artsy fuck he was back in those days:):):):):):) (and where I'd like his little Irish, AIDS lobbying, 60-year-old-rich-and-famous-aging-rock-and-roll ass to go back to:):):):):):):):):)...and I was sold:):):):):):)...
OK:):):):):):)...we've now made it through Hawkmoon 269, which is an AWESOME song, by the way:):):):):):)...and we are now on their cover of All Along the Watchtower:):):) (which I think is my favorite cover/version of that song...sorry Jimmy...sorry Bob...but Bono is the just the fuckin' man:):):):):):)...
My favorite song on this album, probably my favorite U2 song, and quite possibly my favorite song of all time is the next song coming out (which I'm skipping to now just because I love it so much:):):)...it's the Rattle and Hum version of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For":):):):):):)...
If you have not heard this version, you must immediately slash your left wrist, donate blood, and use the proceeds to buy this fucking album:):):)...
...or you could just use Bearshare:):):):):):)...
The Rattle and Hum version has this INCREDIBLE gospel choir in the background that is giving me chills right now this very second:):):):):):)...it is AWESOME:):):):):):)...THIS is what I mean by SOULFUL:):):):):):)...
I would DIE A SLOW AND TORTUROUS DEATH OF ANYONE'S CHOOSING to see/hear this song (gospel style...or any style, really:):):) in concert:):):):):):)...
I have been to many concerts...but I have never seen Bono, the Edge, Larry Mullins, and Adam Clayton live on stage:):):):):):)...and I would definitely give anything to see/meet them:):):):):):):)...
God, this song fucks with my heart in ALL THE RIGHT WAYS:):):):):):):):):):)...and a song I only understand fully much older in life:):):):):):):):):)...
Coming next:):):)...Freedom for My People:):):):):):)...
And, then:):):)...we'll go back to All Along the Watchtower:):):):):):)...and maybe listen to I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For again:):):):):):)...
There must be some way out of here:):):)...said the joker to the thief:):):):)...
If you cannot tell:):):):)...I am TOTALLY JAMMING to U2, right now:):):):):):)...I love U2:):):)...
They remind me of this really AWESOME time in my life when I was just beginning to really come into my own:):):)...I really got into U2 during my junior year of high school:):):)...I was just beginning to get much more substantially independent of my father and my family:):):) (and I didn't regularly say words like "substantially":):):):):):)...I was going away a lot during the summers to camps at places like Baltimore, for the International Hugh O'Brien Youth Organization conference...or Indianapolis, for the National Future Teacher's Academy at Indiana University:):):):):):)...or Emporia State University for the Kansas Future Teacher's camp:):):)...or Wichita, for the local HOBY conference:):):)...or the University of Kansas for Boy's State:):):)...when I think about it:):):)...I spent much more time on university campuses at that time then I really realized:):):)...
Which was exactly what was going on during my life at that time:):):):):):)...
I was preparing to go away to college...to a world that I had always dreamed of:):):)...where intelligence and imagination and creativity is nurtured and supported:):):):):):)...a place (even if, in some ways it was still, partly, only fantasy:):):), of freedom of thought and expression and a place where I could much more substantially just be myself:):):):):):)...
I left home the year after my senior year, moved into the house of a fraternity that heavily recruited me:):):) (and where I could move to for cheap and where the guys seemed to like me a lot:):):)...even if it was only, partly, because I would bring great grades to the house:):):):):):)...and I got a life of my own:):):):):):):):):)...
...all of which was some of the best years of my life:):):):):):)...because I was finally becoming my own man:):):):):):)...
...and doing so in a place that, as much substantially as symbolically, was a place where I could develop my own mind:):):):):):)...
A great time in my life:):):):):):)...Jennifer Lipka:):):):):):) (not a girlfriend:):):)...but one of my best friends, at the time:):):)...from a the town that has produced many, many outstanding people in the world and in my life including Jason Abramowitz, Dolly Johnson, David Blick, David Gilham, Skinny Jay Adams, The Duke, their coaches Gill Cooper and Jerry Miller, Holly of Holly and Nigel, Kelsey Johnson?:):):), Tyler?:):):)...and everyone else from the great land of Pittsburg, Kansas:):):):):):)...
...visit here to see the home of my friends and now family:):):):):):)...
www.pittstate.edu/
...right now I'm listening to one of my favorite songs on this album:):):)...Silver and Gold:):):)...
...which has this really FUCKING AWESOME speech by Bono in the middle of it:):):)...which is really fucking appropriate for this time in my life:):):)...where Bono takes some time to talk about the writing of this song...in a hotel room...at a concert put together by a friend of their's, Little Stephen of Artists Against Apartheid...Bono spends about 30 seconds describing the conditions of apartheid and their inspiration for the writing of the song:):):)...
...and at the end of his little speech he asks, "Am I bugging you?":):):):):):)...
...and he VERY SARCASTICALLY answers, "Don't mean to bug ya...OK, Edge...play the blues!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"........
...and play the blues the Edge does:):):)...along with this really awesome percussion jam from Larry Mullins:):):):):):):):):)...the visual I get from listening to that little instrumental riff is AWESOME:):):):):)...
And now...probably my other favorite U2 song of all time and favorite song of all time...
Pride...In the Name of Love:):):):):)....An angry, defiant, beautiful song about the assassination of my hero, Dr. Martin Luther King...
In the name of love...one fall in the name of love...
In the name of love...one fall in the name of love...
Early morning...April 4...shot rings out in a Memphis...
Free at last...they took your life...they could not take your PRIDE:):):):):):):):):):)...
In the name of love...one fall in the name of love....
Oh-oh-oh-oh:):):):):):)...Bono sings:):):)...
Oh-oh-oh-oh:):):):):):)...the crowd sings back:):):)...
For the Reverend Martin Luther King, Bono speaks back:):):)...SING...
I fuckin' love that song:):):):):):):):):):):):)...
OK:):):)...this has been almost an exclusive U2 dedication:):):)...and I haven't even gotten to my big news yet:):):)...
Angel of Harlem is playing right now, by the way:):):):):):)...
This morning:):):)...I learned two things:):):)...
1) COPD may be, at least, something that can be slowed:):):)...and we will hope that it can be reversed:):):)...that one's for my grandma:):):)...who I still have important things to share about the life of this really very beautiful, amazing woman:):):):):):)...
...and...
2) My section of Amarr, EPS...initials for the commerical garage doors produced by Amarr, the exact words which they stand for I have no fucking clue:):):)...
EPS...my crew:):):):)...in addition to being the crew that set 5 of the 6 production records that teams I was a part of at Amarr set during my time there:):):)...
...in addition to all of that:):):)...our big boss just reported this morning that EPS improved productivity in the last 6 months more than he had seen in 11 years at Amarr:):):):):):)...
...which means two things to me that are really important:):):):):):)...
1) That the ideas that I've been working with have application in business and for-profit settings as much as in education and non-profit settings:):):):):):)...which expands, significantly, I'd say, their potential application and profitability, I'd say:):):) (and while I do not live my life for profit:):):)...I have no reservations about ACCEPTING profit as a part of my efforts:):):):):):)...wouldn't that just be the irony of all ironies is I turn out to make more money than all of my friends who have been so scared about money that they were sure that the risks that I've taken are exactly what they want to avoid:):):):):):)...
...and:):):):):):)...
2):):):):):):)...
I now have easy bragging rights to LAY HEAVY LOADS OF STINKING SHIT ON EVERY MOTHERFUCKER WHO EVER CALLED ME LAZY when I was down and out and not knowing which way to piss:):):):):):)...
And there is a certain female mechanic friend in particular who will be getting MAJOR FUCKING SHIT FROM ME ON THIS ONE:):):):):):):):):):):):)...
You know who you are, biatch:):):):):):):):):):):):)...
And your's is coming, my friend:):):):):):):):):)...
MUH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH:):):):):):):):):):):):)...
Ahhhhhhhhhhhh...the advantages of being brilliant ahead of your time and wise beyond your years:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):)...
You may all call me Mr. Genius, now:):):):):):):):):):):):)...
And if I let a certain institution of higher education graduate me:):):):):):)...you may all call me "Dr. Genius":):):):):):), at some point:):):):):):)...
...an article about Amarr, by the way:):):)...with a big shout out to my friends in the Kaw Valley Living Wage Campaign:):):)...who's work had consequence on folks like Amarr, who got it's tax abatement with a guarantee of living wage jobs for those jobs that it expands:):):)...the folks at the Living Wage Campaign done good:):):)...
...though not nearly as good as the VOLUNTARY LIVING WAGE which has VIRTUALLY SWEPT LAWRENCE, thanks to those of us who worked on that effort:):):):):):)...
http://ljworld.com/section/progress2004a/story/167882
...and a really quirky little Amarr-related website I thought everyone (except, maybe, some really freaky, Amarr cult worshippers:):):):):):)...
http://www.eve-db.com/corporations/64.htm
When Love Comes to Town:):):):):):)...U2's BRILLIANT collaboration with the reigning GOD of the blues -- along with Eric Clapton:):):) -- B.B. King:):):):):):)...
Ask my heroes and yours, Dire Straight, once opined:):):):):):)...
The future's so bright:):):):):):)...
I gotta wear shades:):):):):):)...
Hope your future's looking as bright as mine:):):):):):)...
Have a great day, everyone:):):):):):)...
Love:):):)...
The Master:):):)...Dr. who?...no, I really it:):):)...Dr. who?...who the fuck is that numbnuts?:):):):):):)...
See y'all on the other side:):):):):):)...
Benji Warbucks:):):):):):)...
...I'll save Heartland, U2's homage to the American breadbasket:):):), God Pt. 2, Bono's dedication to John Lennon:):):), U2's inclusion of Jimi Hendrix's electric guitar homage to the Star Spangled Banner at the beginning of Bullet the Blue Sky at one of their concerts on their Joshua Tree tour:):):) (can you tell these guy's LOVE AMERICA:):):):):):)...for good goddamned reason, really:):):):):):)...for all it's faults:):):):):):)...GREATEST GODDAMN COUNTRY ON THE FUCKING FACE OF THE FUCKING EARTH:):):):):):)...Bullet the Blue Sky, by the way, is the namessake for the Rattle and Hum album:):):)..."in the locust wind...comes a rattle and hum":):):)...or something like that:):):)...and...finally:):):)...All I Want is You:):):):):):)...
...I'll save all those for myself:):):):):):)....
Oh...wait:):):):):):)...we've made it through the whole album:):):):):):)...
Now:):):)...in response to Jimi Hendrix's famous question, you can say, "I am indeed experienced:):):):):):)...I have experienced U2's Rattle and Hum album:):):):):):)...
No...you really can't say that until you've heard the album/concert:):):):):):)...it's really too awesome not to hear at least once in your life:):):):):):)...
I gotta see these guys in concert:):):):):):)...they are the rebirth of Greek and Roman gods of yore peeking down on mere mortals for the pleasure of teasing their power and testing their influence:):):)...they are more powerful than gods, really:):):)...
...they are rock stars:):):):):):):):):)...
..."I chill back in my hotel room with John Coltraine and a Love Supreme...in the next room, I hear some woman scream out...and her lover is turning off, turning on the television...and I can't tell the difference between ABC News, Hill Street Blues, and a preacher on the old time gospel hour...stealing money from the sick...and the old"
"...well the God I believe in isn't short of cash, mister:):):):):):)...
"I feel a long way from the hills of San Salvador...where the sky is ripped open...and the rain runs into a deepened wound..."
"...RUN...RUN...into the arms...of America":):):):):):):):):):):):)..
"You say you want diamonds on a ring of gold..."
"You say you want your story to remain untold..."
"Well, all the promises we made...from the cradle until the grave..."
"When all I want...is you"...
You say you'll give me a highway with noone on it
Treasure just to look upon it
All the riches in the night
You say you'll give me eyes on a moon of blindness
A river in a time of dryness
A harbour in the tempest
All the promises we made
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you...
You say you want your love to work out right
To last with me through the night
You say you want a diamond on a ring of gold
Your story to remain untold
Your love not to grow cold
All the promises we break
From the cradle to the grave
When all I want is you
All I want is you
(noone's ever really seen me jam all out with air drums, before, I don't think, other than Melissa, maybe:):):)...but imagine me doing just that, right now:):):):):):)...
All I want is you:):):):):):)...
Love,
Ben
P.S.:):):)...we ventured by Borders yesterday:):):)...and there are several new exciting albums that folks should check out:):):)...the most exciting new album I listened to was called Atom Bomb by the Blind Boys of Alabama:):):)...
http://www.blindboys.com/main.html
...it is a gospel/rap album that rocks the fuckin' house:):):)...I HIGHLY recommend:):):)...and even though U2 is my favorite overall band...I have to say that this Atom Bomb is a far superior album, I believe, than U2's newest, How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb:):):)...sounds very much like some of the gospel and blues of off's my boys' Rattle and Hum album which sounded so great then and would be nice to hear again, today:):):)...definitely check out the two lead songs, (Jesus Hits Like the) Atom Bomb, which even non-Christians, I think, can appreciate for some really rockin' and soulful gospel:):):)...these guys are about WAY MORE THAN JESUS:):):)...and their music reflects it:):):)...and if you're still not convinced, do not miss the second single, Demons, which features a rap/gospel mix that is OUT OF THIS WORLD:):):)...also check out their cover of Spirit in the Sky, which is much more soulful and churchy than the Norman Greenbaum original...and their tribute to the OG, himself...the Original man of God...Moses:):):)...very cool album:):):)...
A second exciting new album was the new They Might Be Giants release, Here Come the ABC's:):):)...
http://www.theymightbegiants.com/
...it is another kids' album, as was their last release, No!:):):)...but this is a FAR SUPERIOR album that kids and adults alike will LOVE:):):)...really great stuff and really great application of They Might Be Giants' affinity for both fun nonsense and silly musical styles and their love for learning:):):)...Great stuff on this album that I sat and listened to almost completely straight through, yesterday, in the middle of Borders, without a single person under the age of 18 anywhere in sight:):):)...I liked, No!, their last computer CD-interactive kids' release:):):)...but NOT NEARLY AS MUCH as Here Come the ABC's:):):)...which maintains TMBG's musical edge while still appealing and teaching and even featuring, on this album, the little kiddies:):):):):):)...definitely check out The Vowel Family, which features a ton of kids trying to identify a vowel shown to them in their own cute little fumbling ways:):):)..., Who Put the Alphabet in Alphabetical Order?:):):)...featuring a new female voice with TMBG that I don't recognize but really enjoyed:):):)...Alphabet of Nations, which is both an exciting alphabet and geography lesson that is challenging for both kids and adults, alike:):):)...so kids AND parents can listen and learn something new:):):)...and it also happens to be a really kickin' song:):):)...and E Eats Everything:):):):):):), a very fun little song about the most popular letter in the English language:):):)...the letter E:):):)...all around a great album:):):)...especially for families:):):)...a much improved effort over both No!, the Giants' first kids' album release (they've gone on to do quite a bit of kids' TV work, including winning a grammy for their efforts:):):), and the last album of their's I heard, The Spine, a pretty lackluster effort, I thought...like How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb, I thought TMBG kind of sold out on this album and tried, too hard, to make a pop album rather than just be the Giants:):):)...I've not heard their live album, Almanac:):):)...so I can't comment, really, on the Giant's most recent efforts:):):)...except to say that this one is outstanding:):):)...and a combination of everything that make one of my favorite bands so great:):):)...
Also might want to check out Beck's new album, which was superb as ever:):):)...and a new folk album whose artist's name I am TOTALLY FORGETTING, which is too bad because her album was REALLY GOOD:):):)...oh well:):):)...another time:):):)...
Have a great day, everyone:):):)...I've got to rest:):):)...
