Adrastos, Diary, Film, Fog Of History, Music, Odds & Sods, Political Crack

Saturday Odds & Sods: Blue

Lovers Over Paris by Marc Chagall.

My attempt to dispel my post-election agita by venting worked. I’m not feeling particularly irked. In fact, like James Brown, I feel good. Yesterday was Dr. A’s birthday so we went to Biloxi for an overnight stay. The highlight was seeing the Stray Cats. I wrote this post before seeing Brian and the boys but I’m sure it rocked.

We’re having rare postcard weather in New Orleans. It’s cool with low humidity and dew points. I like it, I dew.

The New Orleans Saints have played poorly but find themselves tied for first place in the NFC South at 3-5. The division sucks that hard. The Carolina Panthers will be playing Tyler Shough and company at the Dome tomorrow. I dropped the QB’s name because he and WR Chris Olave are the best things about the team this year. It pays to be in a shitty division.

We have a theme song doubleheader featuring two of my favorite artists. It continues the blue tsunami theme that’s dominated First Draft this week. I can’t imagine why, he said coyly.

Joni Mitchell wrote her song Blue in 1971. It’s blue but not the blues. Nobody should have the blue blues right now. Enjoy the MAGA rebuke, y’all.

Mark Olson and Gary Louis wrote their song Blue for The Jayhawks’ 1995 album, Tomorrow The Green Grass.

Here’s another blue song from a band featured in a Sunday Dozen, The Smithereens:

We begin our second act with a piece about the dubious political utterances of some major rock stars.

The Curious Case Of The Fascist Curious Rockers: Sixties and Seventies rockers lived to outrage the squares. One way they did it was to stupidly and insensitively display and don Nazi regalia. British rockers were particularly egregious in that regard; fetishizing a regime that rained down death on their parents.

Eric Clapton has been dogged by statements implicitly supporting the Nigel Farage of his day, Enoch Powell. David Bowie has somehow emerged scot-free from comments he made to Cameron Crowe in a 1976 Playboy interview:

PLAYBOY: You’ve often said that you believe very strongly in fascism. Yet you also claim you’ll one day run for Prime Minister of England. More media manipulation?

BOWIE: Christ, everything is a media manipulation. I’d love to enter politics. I will one day. I’d adore to be Prime Minister. And, yes, I believe very strongly in fascism. The only way we can speed up the sort of liberalism that’s hanging foul in the air at the moment is to speed up the progress of a right-wing, totally dictatorial tyranny and get it over as fast as possible. People have always responded with greater efficiency under a regimental leadership. A liberal wastes time saying, “Well, now, what ideas have you got?” Show them what to do, for God’s sake. If you don’t, nothing will get done. I can’t stand people just hanging about. Television is the most successful fascist, needless to say. Rock stars are fascists, too. Adolf Hitler was one of the first rock stars.”

Oy, just oy. I remember that interview well. It made me forever queasy about Bowie. I like his music but his persona from that era, The Thin White Duke, can fuck off.

The Bowie quote comes from a New Yorker book review by Alex Ross. He’s reviewing a book by Daniel Rachel, This Ain’t Rock ‘n’ Roll: Pop Music, The Swastika and the Third Reich. Why are non-fiction book titles so long now? I prefer short and snappy titles.

My Bowie queasiness was revived upon his death when members of Arcade Fire organized a second line for him in the French Quarter. I skipped it. I guess I’m less forgiving than others about the rock star’s flirtation with fascism.

The title of Rachel’s book is taken from a line in Diamond Dogs. The last word of our second act goes to David Bowie, warts and all:

We begin our third act with our favorite stolen feature.

Separated At Birth Casting Edition: I did a brief review of the new Vincent Price documentary at the end of my post about The Bat. One of the best talking heads in the film was Bill Hader of SNL fame. Here he is as my main man Vinnie:

The Best Of SNL: You’re not seeing double. It’s Bill Hader as Vincent Price.

Your Basic Basie: Here’s a blue track from my favorite Basie album. KABOOM.

Have I told you lately how much I love Count Basie?

Classic Movie Trailer: I mentioned Cameron Crowe earlier. Here’s the trailer for his masterpiece, Almost Famous:

Grading Time: I give Almost Famous 4 stars and an Adrastos grade of A. It’s a stone cold classic. What’s not to love about a movie in which Billy Crudup proclaims, I am a golden god?

Pete Townshend on the perils of rock stardom:

Saturday GIF Horse: I’ve been enjoying longtime Adrastos crush Nigella Lawson on The Great British Baking Show:


You say baking show; I say bakeoff. Let’s call the whole thing off. Is that chocolate cake Nigella and Paul Hollywood are sampling? Let’s confer with the Crowdies:

Toon Time: Wiles is out, Miller is in. Same as it ever was.

Let’s close down this virtual honky tonk with some more music.

Saturday Closer: Presumably, I saw Brian and the boys play this last night.

That’s all for this week. The last word goes to Vincent Price as Egghead in Batman:

 

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