Don't Stop Believing

 "Just a small town girl

living in a lonely world.

She took the midnight train to Freebird."

A return to social criticism.

I've concluded, I missed my calling. 

I should be reviewing coffee and deconstructing classic rock songs.

"If there's a bustle in your hedgerow

don't be alarmed son,

your stairway lies in another brick in the wall."

Coffee reviews to follow.

I love you, I love you America.

 Well, well, well children, I'm poking around the ol' Blogger account and this occurred to me. 

This coming Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, all this nonsense should be over. I have a good, positive attitude about the presidential election. It has all just been so tiring and divisive. And honestly, it has really broken my faith in American culture. 

But, hopefully, this coming Wednesday morning it will all be over. At least the mathematical determination of the of the outcome of the election should be over.

I do have some personal philosophical investment in the outcome of the election, as  we all should. I'm afraid that the word philosophical is never considered by many folks participating in this election. But, regardless of how you cast your vote, regardless of where you are in America, regardless of where you are in the world, I love you and wish the best for you and yours. 

Benjamin Franklin "Hawkeye" Pierce; no relation.

I thought I  would  like  to  read the  book  that Hawkeye  Pierce  is named after. I  thought  this  book  was about Native Americans, Anglo-American  Colonists  and French  Canadian  Colonists. However, this is a Romance about two young women, who  never belonged in the wilds of colonial  America and their retirement age, military  commander  father. "Give me my children ," said Munro, hoarsely ; "trifle no longer with a father's agony, but restore me my babes." Is Fenimore  Cooper a pen name for Jane Austen?

Despite the fruity nature of a novel which I believed would be filled with adventure, I am thankful for the influence of Last of the Mohicans on writers whose work I do enjoy. It is likely that Last of the Mohicans was an influence on the writing of Edgar Rice Burrows, Robert Howard and Lin Carter. I'm almost certain that George R. R. Martin was influenced by Cooper by following the pattern of killing their main characters at the end of the book.

D. J. Danger Donkey's Bizarro Covers: REM plays Roger Miller (King of the Road)

Despite all rumors too the contrary, I have not been living under a rock. I have, however, been living on the side of a large piece of rock in North Carolina. I'm sure I mentioned this.

We're gonna tie up this Bizarro Cover countdown with, perhaps, the greatest southern rock band of my generation. As well as,one of the most unsung rock bands of all time. Here they are covering a tune about the struggles of American blue collar working men, or maybe it's about a hobo?

You'll have to suffer through a few original REM tunes during the video which is all good stuff in my book.

Here's the final roundup of Bizarro Cover tunes.

1. Richard Thompson covers Britney Spears
2. B-Hole Surfers cover Donovan
3. Camper Van Beethoven cover Black Flag
4. David Bowie covers The Velvet Underground
5. The Clash covers Roots Reggae
6. Sister Double Happiness covers 13th Floor Elevator
7.  Plain Wrap covers Buffalo Springfield
8. Seven Seconds covers Nancy Sinatra
9. The Meat Puppets cover the Grateful Dead 
10. REM covers Roger Miller

We now take a break from our regularly scheduled program.

I really wish there were more information attached to this video, like a date, such is youtube. However, I present to you the original Wailers preforming Duppy Conqueror. I noticed that Bob pronounces "duppy" much like "dopey." Catchy tune, I should stop analyzing Rock n Roll lyrics.

D. J. Danger Donkey's Bizarro Covers: The Meat Puppets cover the Grateful Dead

The first time I heard this recording I was a bit ambivalent. Really, the Meat Puppets play the Grateful Dead? It kind of fits when you think about it, the Meat Puppets are from Az., the Dead is from Cali and they are both Stoner Rock. They are just different ends of the Stoner Rock spectrum.

I like how this version of Franklin's Tower is stripped down, has no effects on the guitar. This sounds like a garage band playing the Dead and the Puppets, and SST, where not afraid to release this recording for public consumption. So, there's the Punk Rock sensibility of the Meat Puppets, "Here it is. If ya don't like it, sorry about that . . ." I believe that there was a good bit of the same sensibility in the Dead too.

There's also a Neil Young cover on this Meat Puppets recording which makes more sense too me.

 

 So, that's nine bizarro cover tunes. I'll post one more and call this project done, then I can play whatever I want!

1. Richard Thompson covers Britney Spears
2. B-Hole Surfers cover Donovan
3. Camper Van Beethoven cover Black Flag
4. David Bowie covers The Velvet Underground
5. The Clash covers Roots Reggae
6. Sister Double Happiness covers 13th Floor Elevator
7.  Plain Wrap covers Buffalo Springfield
8. Seven Seconds covers Nancy Sinatra
9. The Meat Puppets cover the Grateful Dead 

 Also, it's only fair that I inform you all that I'm a Duppy Conquer. (Whatever that is?)