Hey wassup. I'm
Malcolm Winters,
Neil's brother and
Genoa City's top
fashion photographer
on the award winning
TV daytime drama
The Young and
The Restless.
Today I invited a
few friends over
to Shady's Place
for a celebration
of diversity.
Let's all find out how good it feels to come together
as a party of one. Enjoy the show and I'll get
with you at the end.
as a party of one. Enjoy the show and I'll get
with you at the end.
I'm Iris West, Central City newspaper reporter, wife of Barry Allen
and co-leader of Team Flash on the television series The Flash.
The Fabsisters, the vocal duo of sisters Lola and Folake from the UK, went from
singing gospel in church and competing in talent shows to performing together at
charity events, open mics and gigs. Their YouTube channel has tens of thousands
of subscribers and their videos have attracted millions of views. To kick-off our
salute to diversity, The Fabsisters will cover a Sam Cooke song that is widely
considered his best composition, an anthem of the Civil Rights Movement
selected for preservation in the Library of Congress and classified by the
National Recording Registry as "culturally, historically, or aesthetically
important." Here now are The Fabsisters singing-- "It's been a long
time coming... but I know A Change Is Gonna Come."
"A Change Is Gonna Come" -
Sam Cooke cover by The Fabsisters
My name is Kala Dandekar. I am a university
educated pharmacist and devout Hindu in
Mumbai, India, on the TV series Sense8.
More than ten years ago family and friends,
some young, some old, came together in
Smyrna, Georgia, to form a band called
Foxes and Fossils. Recently the gifted
group covered "Love Is The Answer,"
a Todd Rundgren song released by his
rock band Utopia in 1977, and a chart-
topping hit single for England Dan &
John Ford Coley in 1979. Tears may
come to your eyes as you experience
this wonderful 2020 performance
by Foxes And Fossils!
come to your eyes as you experience
this wonderful 2020 performance
by Foxes And Fossils!
"Love Is The Answer" - Todd Rundgren/Utopia
cover by Foxes and Fossils
My name is Lito Rodriguez. On Sense8 I am
a closeted Spanish actor living in Mexico City
with my boyfriend. Independence Day is upon
us, and here to sing the patriotic song every
American knows is singer and bandleader
Mike Geier, famous on YouTube in recent
years as Puddles the sad singing clown, an
act he calls Puddles Pity Party. Here now
is Puddles and "America The Beautiful."
"Here's to empathy, progress
and hanging in there. We're
in this together." - Puddles
"America The Beautiful" - Puddles Pity Party
I am Sun Bak on Sense8, daughter of a
powerful Korean businessman and a
rising star of underground kickboxing.
We are traveling around the world in
today's salute to diversity. Here now
is Hindley Street Country Club aka
HSCC - a band based in Adelaide,
South Australia. They will cover
the chart-topping 1979 hit by the
R&B duo McFadden and Whitehead.
The song, interpreted to be about the
experience of the African American
community, soon became known as
"the new black national anthem."
Here now is HSCC performing
"Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now."
"Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" - McFadden And Whitehead
cover by The Hindley Street Country Club
"Just because
you look scary
...doesn't mean
you are scary."
—Mona Wu
—Mona Wu
Hi, I'm Mona Wu, the Chinese delivery girl
and the Time Bureau's expert on magical
creatures on DC's Legends of Tomorrow.
Up next, a special moment that was recently
captured by the camera in Washington, D.C.
Nine year old figure skater Kaitlyn Saunders
improvised a roller skating performance on
the Black Lives Matter Plaza. Skating to the
Andra Day song “Rise Up,” Kaitlyn expressed
her hope for the future amidst social unrest.
Kaitlyn explains she wants all people to feel
“free” - the feeling she gets while skating.
"Rise Up" - Andra Day
June 17, 2020, skating perf. by Kaitlyn Saunders
I'm Nomi Marks from Sense8. Don't
call me Michael. I am a trans woman
hacktivist and blogger living in San
Francisco with my girlfriend. "Nomi"
stands for "Know Me." I am proud to
introduce a talented young woman
named Anne Reburn. Born in Okla-
homa, Anne moved to Los Angeles
and in recent years became a star
on YouTube doing covers as well as
original songs. Anne sings multiple
vocal parts in synced harmony and
plays a variety of instruments.
Recently Anne breathed new life into "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing
(In Perfect Harmony)," the song that was originally the jingle of the 1971
Coca-Cola commercial "Buy the World a Coke." The soft drink reference
was dropped and the song re-recorded by two groups - The New Seekers
and The Hillside Singers and both acts scored major hits with it on both
sides of the pond. Here now is Anne Reburn singing "I'd Like To Teach
The World To Sing." Don't miss her spoken message at the 2:55 mark.
Coca-Cola commercial "Buy the World a Coke." The soft drink reference
was dropped and the song re-recorded by two groups - The New Seekers
and The Hillside Singers and both acts scored major hits with it on both
sides of the pond. Here now is Anne Reburn singing "I'd Like To Teach
The World To Sing." Don't miss her spoken message at the 2:55 mark.
START PLAYING VIDEO
AT 25 SEC. MARK!
"I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing" - Anne Reburn
Thank you, Anne Reburn, for using your
platform to take a stand against racism,
and thanks to all the guest artists who
appeared on today's special. Can I get
real with you for a minute, my friend?
Peace, love and understanding is what
it's all about. United we stand, divided
we fall. If we don't get it together soon,
we all lose, and there will be no future
for our children and grandchildren.
Please, brothers and sisters, let's all
remember what Dr. King taught us
many years ago: "Darkness cannot
drive out darkness; only light can
do that. Hate cannot drive out hate;
only love can do that." Now for
Nomi Marks, Mona Wu, Sun Bak,
Lito Rodriguez, Kala Dandekar &
Iris West, this is Malcolm Winters.
Thanks for watching and listening.
We conclude our salute to diversity with Broadway United, an all-star
roster of theater artists, singing a classic song and calling for healing
and unity. It's a cover of the famous song written by Michael Jackson
and Lionel Richie and recorded 35 years ago by the supergroup
U.S.A. For Africa, a video that inspired millions of people
in America and all around the globe. Here are today's
stars of Broadway and-- "We Are The World."
roster of theater artists, singing a classic song and calling for healing
and unity. It's a cover of the famous song written by Michael Jackson
and Lionel Richie and recorded 35 years ago by the supergroup
U.S.A. For Africa, a video that inspired millions of people
in America and all around the globe. Here are today's
stars of Broadway and-- "We Are The World."
"We Are the World" - U.S.A. For Africa
cover by Broadway United
I GREATLY enjoyed this post on Diversity, especially in view of the current national situation and the “Black Lives Matter” campaign which I completely support. I apologize for jumping from one topic to the next, but there is a lot on my mind and so much to say.
ReplyDeleteEach day I read in the news the horrific state of race relations in the country. You will note that I say “the” country and not “My” country. Like many other thinking people in America, I am ashamed to claim myself an American under the present leader—a bigot who goes out of his way each day to fuel the fires of hatred and bigotry throughout the land.
I read just in today’s news, how citizens are attacking black and brown people who are merely living their lives and going about their business—the Mexican man who was simply trying to enter his apartment after a hard day’s work, the young pre-teens who were merely riding their bikes along a public thoroughfare, a young woman on her way home from work who was pulled from her vehicle and set on fire. And from the news of the past week – a president who is applauding and congratulating one of his supporters— a white guy in a golf cart riding around the Villages screaming “White Power”. And this is only one day.
Really people? You call this America? You call this Christian? I THINK OTHERWISE.
I am not saying that most people are intolerant. I think many people would consider themselves tolerant of people who don’t look and think exactly like they look and think. But it needs to go further.
(CONTINUED BELOW)
There is Diversity— which refers to the traits that make people unique, and there is Inclusion-- mirroring behaviors and social norms that make people feel welcome in your environment. Both are well and good. I think the vast majority of people will say they are tolerant to that extent. Tolerance in the work place, tolerance in your neighborhood. But if the ongoing support of the current leader is any clue— there are a large number of individuals who are just unwilling to share power with anyone who is non-white, non-Christian, non-straight.
ReplyDeleteThese are the folks who like to get on their soap box and scream “ALL LIVES MATTER”. I AM HERE TO TELL THOSE FOLKS THAT ALL LIVES WILL NEVER MATTER UNTIL BLACK LIVES, BROWN LIVES, ASIAN LIVES, GAY LIVES MATTER. ALL LIVES indicates inclusion of ALL and therefore, All Lives will never matter until we have a society in which all are truly equal.
And to all of you out there who remain stalwart in your unwillingness to give equal footing and to actually share political and social power with non-white individuals—those of you who want to impede a movement to change our society for the better, I have a few parting thoughts.
You should be thanking your lucky stars-- or thanking your god that the black people are asking only for Equality and Not Revenge for the wrongs they have suffered since they reached our shores— because if they ever start seeking the justice they deserve, we are all in trouble.
Let’s Make America Great Again- Share power. Embrace Diversity. Stop Hatred. Do what your Jesus told you to do: Love One Another. (Hint- love is a verb, but that’s an entirely different topic).
Kathryn, it really all depends. I work two jobs and every job I've worked (4), I've either been hired by a black or Jewish female. Mostly black, although the senior center I was hired by an elderly Jewish woman. For three out of the four jobs I've held, I'm thankful that they gave me a chance where others didn't really want to. They saw potential in me and helped me grow. I will always be grateful for that and I love everyone equally.
DeleteMy full-time job is the exception to the rule. I work with mostly black people at my full-time job and while most are gracious, beautiful people that I love dearly, there are some that are so racist against white people and they often start trouble by telling white people they don't belong at the job. Two young women, who aren't on my team anymore, one was promoted and the other one found a job elsewhere, were rebel rousers. The one was half and half. One day, about 2 years ago, we were having a team meaning about work and these two start saying, "white people suck. It's because of white people we can't get ahead." They continued on and my manager joined in, instead of stopping them, she joined in and encouraged it. A half an hour spiel about "evil white people." I was the only white person there and the one said, "Jess, you're different." I get the grievances, but work in the middle of a meeting is not the place to air those grievances.
Those two girls, I used to bend over backwards for them. I would lend them money and the one I used to babysit for. The agreement was I wouldn't charge her per hour, but I wanted reimbursement for activities. She is a single mom and I thought that was fair. Her 8 year old was a doll and I loved spending the day with her. She shorted me a bit, but I let it go. The next year, I offered to treat her now 9 year old, to a day in Philadelphia. We'd go to one of the museums and have fun. Her daughter reminded me of me when I was her age and I truly enjoyed spending time with her. The night before I was supposed to treat her 9 year old, I got a text from her that she found out day care was cancelled and her 3 year old didn't have a sitter and asked if I would watch her. I said I would, but since I couldn't really afford an extra person, we agreed that she would reimburse me for the 3 year old. I wouldn't charge her per hour, but reimbursement for the museum. That was fair.
Let me tell you, I didn't see a dime from her. I am a kind and generous person and she took advantage. As a few of my older friends have said, who have been single moms, "Jess, parents know weeks ahead of time if the day care is going to be closed. She knew and she also knew of your kind heart and took advantage." The baby broke my camera and the coworker reimbursed me for that, I took it as lesson learned. I overheard her tell to her other friend, "Jess is so nice and so gullible, this is how we will exact our revenge on white people." I never saw a dime from the other gal, I didn't have the heart to ask her because she came from a poor family, she was helping out her family, and it's hard to be mean to people. I wasn't raised that way.
DeleteYet, sometimes I can be mean. Someone wasn't following rules last year and was listening to her music so loudly I could hear it through mine. I told her, she called me a cracker, I pointed to the rules, she kept going and going and told me some day I'll get beat up. I said, "well, with that smart mouth of yours, some day you will die." She was black. Liz thought that was racist of me. No, no it isn't. Rule and law abiding isn't a race issue, it should not be a race issue. Wrong is wrong and if I see you breaking the rules, I'll mention it to you. Why call me a racist?
I treat others the way I want to be treated. I am one of those who screams all lives matter because my dad is a deputy, he retires in a few months, and he's worked with his communities, he doesn't treat anyone differently, he treats everyone kind and just, and before he was a deputy, he worked in domestic relations and is trained in mental health care. His attitude: "no one deserves to die. The key is to neutralize a situation before it gets to the point of no return; no one deserves to die." Yet, there are some in Black Lives Matter who call for the murder of people like my dad. That's wrong too and I don't care for it. I used to fear my dad never coming home. He mostly serves those getting sued, he doesn't normally arrest, but those who are in the midst of losing their homes or getting sued, they're not the most pleasant people either. Fortunately, dad has only had a finger broken.
I'm not straight, I'm actually LGBTQIA+ and I've faced my share of injustice. I agree with you there; even though I was raised and taught that we are all equal and that we all should be kind to one another, not everyone is and it doesn't matter what race or religion they are. I think we can make America and the whole entire world great again is by being kind to one another. Embrace diversity, listen to one another and I mean actually listening without shouting and thinking, and stop hatred. At the end of the day, we are all people; we all have the same needs, we all bleed, we all breathe, and at the end of it all, we all turn to dust. We have a lot more in common than what we differ on.
Shady, I love the music selection. I'm familiar with all of these except Puddles the Sad Clown. What an interesting piece and I can't wait to listen to it again.
Have a great Thankful Thursday!
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThank you very much for your visit and elaborate comments on this issue. Since you addressed your remarks directly to Mrs. Shady, I will let her reply if she chooses to do so. Again I thank you for expressing yourself. I'm happy to have introduced you to the song styling of Puddles the sad clown, no relation to Insane Clown Posse, I take it. :)
Happy TT to you, dear friend JM!
Hi Shady,
DeleteI was afraid to post my response because some on Instagram called me racist for watching the kids and thought I was being a typical Karen. Not at all. I was lucky to have Nan when I was a child and my parents were lucky to have Nan because they didn't have to take any time off for my care. That's why dad took semi-retirement for almost 2 year... he has 20 years of vacation to use up. Although the county gives them federal holidays, he only took a week once per year, never took sick time and didn't take many vacations. Until 2012, he could carry it all over, and fortunately he was grandfathered in.
Given how lucky I was and I don't usually take a lot of time off either and can only carry over a week into the new year, I have to use time or I lose it. I know my co-worker was in a bind before she became an analyst and the fathers were in binds too. I wanted to help her because I have a feeling those binds are awful. I truly did that from the bottom of my heart.
At the same time, I don't like bullying and injustice. If I see it, I will speak up and I don't care what race is involved. Wrong is wrong and I don't like being called a Karen because of it. Sometimes I think it's part of the PC culture and sometimes I think well intentioned things miss the mark and sometimes PC culture really misses the mark.
Haha, Puddles the Sad Clown is no relation to ICP. Although, I wonder if Violent J might have heard of him and got an idea. You never know. LOL!
Have a great Friday dear friend.
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteHeck, I thought you needed to be middle aged and hysterical to be labeled a Karen. :) Seriously I hear everything you are "saying" (expressing in writing), Jess. All I know is this, and Mrs. Shady and I are in complete agreement about it along with millions of others. People who, for whatever reason, simply cannot bring themselves to say or put into writing the words "Black Lives Matter," need to do some soul searching and introspection and make sure they are not condoning, perpetuating or at the very least turning a blind eye to the rampant institutional racism that persists in this country. We need all hands on deck and that means you, JM. You are wanted and you are needed. You are one of the most open-minded individuals I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. Don't let a couple of unfortunate interactions with black co-workers cause you to turn your back on the fight for equality and social justice. People of all colors behave badly at times. People lash out at others when they are having a bad day, dealing with their own demons, personal issues and relationship problems. Let go of it and lend your talents to the greater good. Mrs. Shady and I were just discussing a phenomenon that has exhibited itself throughout history. Group A is afraid that if they allow Group B to get up off their knees and assume equal power, that Group B will want to take over and dominate Group A, knocking Group A down to the bottom of the totem pole. Even if the members of Group B are only asking for equality, they are denied it because there is a lack of trust and "better safe than sorry." To paraphrase Marilyn Manson, "Slave don't want to be free. Slave just wants to be King." People of all races need to resist the urge, the hunger, the thirst for revenge and wanting to be on top and dominate those who once dominated them. That thinking is what keeps us stuck and impedes reconciliation and progress. However people who honestly only want equal rights and freedoms under the constitution should be granted them. Holding them down out of fear they will rise up and take over as society's top dogs is racist doctrine. It is anti-American.
Now that you have told your personal stories and replied to comments, I hope you will turn your attention to the content of the actual post. Listen to these wonderful songs I offered you by diverse artists and bands around the world, and let me know what you think of them. Thank you, dear friend JM, and have a safe and happy weekend!
Black Lives Matter. Black trans lives matter too. There were so many murders last month of black trans women, many of them unsolved, and it's sad that the media doesn't talk a lot about that either. :(
DeleteI think we're all stronger when we work together. I was just reading this article: https://markmanson.net/10-things-most-americans-dont-know
I think we're all scared that if we aren't being individual and "being soft", we can't lead. That just isn't true. While individual is great, working in a group is great too, and I think most power comes from being soft. It's easier to lead when you can be empathetic with others. I would trust a leader more if the leader could be soft, work well with others as well as work well by themselves, and just act human.
I'll give the playlist one more listen tomorrow. :)
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteFor the 4th time (on the 4th) I wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY, dear friend! :)
Thank you for writing those magic words. You have given yourself a gift on this your 31st birthday. I agree that trans persons are targeted, abused and murdered and few people seem to care because they are a marginalized group. Pretty little white girls get most of the attention, sympathy and assistance in our twisted society, and they grow up to be entitled Karens.
I also thank you VERY much for linking to that Mark Manson article! I will share it with Mrs. Shady because it gets at the truth. Key takeaways: People in other countries don't spend all their time loving America, hating America or otherwise obsessing over us. We aren't that important to them. In spite of all our boasting and chest thumping, America is not #1. Many places in the world are cleaner, more beautiful, safer and offer a better, more affordable lifestyle including better healthcare than the good ole U.S.A. "Happiness takes effort. It requires being proactive, confronting fears, facing difficult situations, and having unpleasant conversations." Embedded in the article is the iconic Jeff Daniels speech in the pilot episode of The Newsroom that sets the tone for the entire series which Mrs. Shady and I watched, own on DVD and highly recommend. I doubt many of the people who need to hear its message ever will, because the very title of the series The Newsroom sounds too liberal to them and is therefore a big turn-off (unless you're talking about the Fox Newsroom). A fundamental and essential element of a working democracy, the free press is today scorned by the so-called President and by those who still support him. For those who haven't yet watched The Newsroom, take a look at what is described as the most honest three-and-a-half minutes of television...EVER as Jeff Daniels explains to a young college coed why America is not, in fact, as "star spangled awesome" as certain people keep claiming it is, and that "the first step in solving any problem is recognizing there IS one. America is NOT the greatest country in the world anymore."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16K6m3Ua2nw
That wasn't the first great speech delivered in a drama by Jeff Daniels, a fine actor and a principled man. In the role of Colonel Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain in the 1993 film Gettysburg, Daniels uttered these inspiring words as Chamberlain addressed troops of the Union Army on the eve of the historic Battle of Gettysburg, a three day engagement that turned the tide of the American Civil War on that 4th of July weekend in 1863. The parallels to the Civil War that America is fighting today in 2020 are striking:
"This is a different kind of army. If you look back through history you will see men fighting for pay, for women, for some other kind of loot. They fight for land, power, because a king leads them, or just because they like killing. But we are here for something new, this has not happened much, in the history of the world. We are an army out to set other men free. America should be free ground, all of it, not divided by a line between slave states and free - all the way from here to the Pacific Ocean. No man has to bow. No man born to royalty. Here we judge you by what you do, not by who your father was. Here you can be something. Here is the place to build a home. But it's not the land, there's always more land. It's the idea that we all have value - you and me. What we are fighting for, in the end, we're fighting for each other." "Gentlemen, I think if we lose this fight we lose the war, so if you choose to join us I will be personally very grateful."
We need every man, woman and child in America to join the fight to save the soul of our nation. The outcome of this year's presidential election will determine who we are as a people, what we really stand for and if Democracy still has meaning. God help us. God bless these United States of America.
Hi Shady,
DeleteGettysburg is my favourite movie. I own a lot of the Civil War films and I think I'll have to pull it out.
I agree with you. This election depends on our souls. I am really afraid for what everything is becoming.
Thanks for providing soundtrack this morning. The covers of We Are the World, Love is the Answer, and Ain't No Stopping Us Now are my favourites. Puddles the Sad Clown, he takes the cake! I Googled him and he's originally from Philadelphia, so I guess that could be why I like him. He's also having a digital meet and greet. Maybe after I meet ICP, I'll meet Puddles. :)
Have a great day, dear friend.
Hi, Jessica Marie!
DeleteThank you for making good on your pledge to return and listen to the songs I posted. I'm glad you found a few favorites in the bunch. Wouldn't it be something to see Puddles the clown in a live show along with ICP? :) If you interact with him at the digital meet and greet maybe you can relay your impressions in a subsequent post.
In case you didn't know, today is Blackout Day. I've been reading about it on other blogs. Wiki sez: "Blackout Day is a social media-promoted event in which all supporters of the Black Lives Matter Movement are encouraged to not spend any money for a full day in hopes of attaining attention and resolve to end police brutality and racism towards Black people." However the blogs I've read are encouraging people to buy things today, but only from black owned business. Seems like a good idea for one day out of the year, but I'm sure there will be people who demand a Whiteout Day. That's the mentality we're up against in this country.
I'm glad G-burg is your favorite movie. Mrs. Shady and I own the DVD and watch it nearly every year on the 4th of July holiday. This year we got busy and it didn't happen but there's always next year.
Thanks again for being a good friend, Jessica Marie, and enjoy the rest of your week!
Welcome to Shady's Place, Kathryn! I believe it has been close to two years since you dropped by. I remembering you being here for my very first post in the summer of 2018. That might have been the last time. Anyhow it's nice to have you back here and I thank you for weighing in on this important subject. With Independence Day approaching I decided to present this celebration of diversity in America and around the world.
ReplyDeleteThis post was inspired by recent events in the news including the ones you described in your comment. There have been even more in the days since you viewed the draft and submitted your remarks. More ugly incidents take place every day. I sincerely believe most Americans are sick and tired of the madness and mayhem of the last 3.5 years. I believe most are firmly against the bully who currently occupies the highest office in the land using weapons of fear and hate to divide this nation, turning brother against brother in a civil war of the 21st century. I believe, as Sam Cooke and The Fabsisters sang, that a change is gonna come. I believe Americans will do the right thing and restore honor and dignity to the office of the President of the United States of America.
This special celebration of diversity includes a UK-based black sister act, a band in Georgia made up of young members and old members, a man who chooses to present himself to the world as a sad singing clown, a mixed gender cover band in Australia, a nine year old black figure skater and a young woman from the nation's Heartland now living in LA who bravely took a stand against racism on her YouTube channel knowing that she would face backlash from the trolls and haters who are always lurking online waiting to pounce on anyone who dares to speak out against tyranny and injustice. Finally, the post offers a marvelous group of theater artists, singers and musicians, young and old, their voices woven together in a tapestry of love singing "We Are The World," a glorious performance tagged with the quote by Mahatma Gandhi "Be the change you wish to see in the world." As presenters for this special program, we have a black man, a black woman, a Hindu woman in India, a gay Spaniard, a Korean woman, a Chinese woman and a trans woman. Therefore, as you seen, the post offers diversity in music acts and diversity among the people introducing them. Diversity makes life exciting and interesting. It amazes me that so many are still fighting to stamp it out. “It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences,” declared Audre Lorde. (Wiki source) Audre Lorde was an American writer, feminist, womanist, librarian, and civil rights activist, a self-described “black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet,” who dedicated both her life and her creative talent to confronting and addressing injustices of racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, and homophobia. Audre Lorde's life and work helped inspire The BIPOC Project, a current movement that "aims to build authentic and lasting solidarity among Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), in order to undo Native invisibility, anti-Blackness, dismantle white supremacy and advance racial justice."
I agree with you, Kathryn, and with the statement Anne Reburn made at the end of her song. It is no longer enough just to be passively not racist. It's time to be vocally anti-racist, and that's why I was compelled to do this post.
Read my lips: Black Lives Matter.
Thank you very much for your visit and comment, dear Kathryn!
Puddles the sad clown. I don't think people got him when he performed on AGT.
ReplyDeleteI can see why that group called themselves Foxes and Fossils.
Some talented singers in this world. Music is just so universal.
Hi, Alex!
DeleteThanks for coming over early to partake of my Diversity post, good buddy!
Puddles and his Pity Party YouTube channel offer some great cover performances. As a singer and musician, he's for real. I will be posting more of Puddles' videos as time goes by. If you watched his performance of "America The Beautiful" all the way to the end, you saw a "Happy July 4rth" message written across his fingers. Foxes And Fossils has some awesome covers on their channel, too, and I will be bringing them to you in future posts.
Thanks again for coming over early, good buddy Alex!
I had no idea that Todd Rundgren wrote Love is the Answer - I only remember the England Dan & John Ford Coley version. I can imagine him singing it, though. (My all-time favorite Rundgren is Something/Anything... wonderful LP!) I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed the Foxes & Fossils cover!
ReplyDeleteHi, Kelly!
DeleteI'm happy to see you, dear friend. Thanks for coming to my diversity party on day one!
"Love Is The Answer" is simply a great song. I remembered it, but can't be sure if it was Utopia's version or the hit by England Dan & J.F. Coley that I knew better from the past. However after hearing "Chase," the young woman who sang lead on this version by Foxes And Fossils, I am convinced this wonderful Georgia band gave us a classic version in its own right. I can't watch their video or listen to their marvelous harmonies without getting misty.
Thanks again for taking an interest in my Diversity post, dear friend Kelly. Give Pat a pat for me and enjoy the rest of your week!
The last song is very still moving after 35 years, friend Shady. I came to Canada 38 years ago … moved from one culture to another … still as confused as in Day one. c.
ReplyDeleteHi, cat!
DeleteHow are you, dear friend? Thanks for coming down to help me celebrate Diversity around the world!
I totally agree, cat. The Michael Jackson - Lionel Richie song "We Are The World" is a great one and it is timeless. It's message touched hearts and minds 35 years ago and it is still relevant today. I have always admired you for building a life far away from your place of origin. You have courage unknown and I applaud you. You are not alone. Confusion has become a permanent part of life for many of us.
I hope you enjoyed sampling the diverse mix of songs in this special post. Thanks again for spending some time at Shady's Place, dear friend cat!
This comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteI heart you, cat!
DeleteLUBBINS! LUBBINS! LUBBINS!
This is a terrific post, Shady. The most wonderful Sam Cook’s song, A Change is Gonna Come was beautifully covered by The Fabsisters. That song always stirs something in me and when it is played, I always hit replay. It is a prayer that, shamefully still has not been answered. Ann Reburn’s clone group rendition of I’d love To Teach The World To Sing (and her words) was perfect. I enjoyed the other artists also. I have seen Puddles before on AGT and enjoyed his act. Nobody expected him to have that voice. I think I heard that he has a successful act in Las Vegas. If one’s heart doesn’t swell while watching Kaitlyn Saunders skate to Rise Up, there is something very wrong with them.
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post, Shady. I have hope that now that the baton has been passed to the younger generation and their hearts are just, change will finally come. It’s been a long time coming.
Hi, Arleen!
DeleteThank you very much for coming to see my special post on diversity, dear friend! I was hoping you'd like what I put together and I'm thrilled that the post resonated with you.
In your wonderful comment you touched on some of the important high points of the post. The Fabsisters bring me to tears with their rendition of that Sam Cooke Civil Rights anthem. They are simply adorable, and so is little Kaitlyn skating her heart out at the Black Lives Matter mural - a very special moment and a rare bright spot in this dark and dismal year 2020. I am also pleased that you already knew Puddles the clown from watching him on America's Got Talent. He does have genuine talent. When he gets to the end of "America The Beautiful" and sings the words:
America! America!
God shed His grace on thee,
And crown thy good with brotherhood
From sea to shining sea.
...I can't help wondering if some in our country have forgotten the part about "brotherhood from sea to shining sea" in this time honored patriotic song. I share Puddles' sadness.
I am also delighted that you gave a nod to Anne Reburn, a brave young woman who knew she'd come under attack for taking a strong stand against racism and declaring her support for Black Lives Matter. Anne is the real deal, a genuine talent and a young person who deeply cares that America lives up to its promise of liberty and justice for all.
Thank you again, very much, dear Arleen, for your time and your comment. I greatly appreciate it. Please continue to stay well. Your country needs you and the world needs you!
Dear friend Shady, what a wonderful post this is. The song "Love is the Answer" was beautifully done and the "We Are The World" remake gave me chills. I can remember dancing at the bars (when I was young and single) to "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now." I sincerely hope that some actual changes can come of all this. Crossing fingers for a big change in November. Have a spectacular 4th of July! We will be setting off some safe and sane fireworks in front of our house as usual.
ReplyDeleteJanet’s Smiles
Hi, Janet!
DeleteThanks for joining me for this salute to diversity, dear friend! I'm very happy to know the post meant something to you. I assure you it was a labor of love. Mrs. Shady and I sat together and previewed the draft the other day so that she could compose her comment in advance. To my surprise she watched every video from start to finish, very unusual for her given that she is always super busy. By the end of the post we were both wiping away tears. "We Are The World" really does seal the deal. It is one of the finest performances I have ever witnessed. In my opinion it surpasses the star-studded original. Like you I danced in clubs to McFadden & Whitehead's groovy hit "Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now" during my second stint as a bachelor. The single was very big here in the East and the Aussie band HSCC does a tremendous cover of it. I am also pleased that you noted the quality of that performance of the Todd Rundgren song by Foxes And Fossils featuring "Chase" on lead vocal and on backing harmony. It really grabs me.
I'm with you all the way in hoping for a big change come November. Let me take this opportunity to say R.I.P. to Carl Reiner and Hugh Downs, two men I very much admired during my life. Both died this week and were in their upper 90s.
Thank you again for adding your voice to this celebration of diversity. I deeply appreciate your visit and comment, Janet. Have a safe and happy 4th of July, dear friend! :)
Hi Shady. This is an amazing post, and so many great comments. It seems as though we had diversity in our society for some years, but somehow, it did evolve into certain unpleasantness, and there are so many reasons why. I certainly do not have the answers, but agree that we all need to stay calm, get together, and be more passionate and caring toward each other. I see a lot of that going on now, and I am hoping for more folks will step up and participate in a better union of the people.
ReplyDeleteI had forgotten Todd Rundgren's name, but I know a lot of his music, and I think he is great. "Hello It's Me" is one of his best. "Love is The Answer" is a good song, and I must say Foxes and Fossils really owned it! They are good!
I followed Puddles on America's Got Talent and enjoyed his performances. I had no idea of his real name, or that he was more well known.
I think my favorite is "Ain't No Stopping Us Now" cover by Hindley Street. The original by McFadden and Whitehead is fantastic, however, the Hindley group commands the song as though it was always theirs.
Shady, I enjoyed this post very much...it's fantastic! The Fabsisters are just beautiful and did such a great job on Sam Cooke's "A Change is Gonna Come". And, your finale of "We are the World" truly rocks and brings chills just as the original did so many years ago. I recognized quite a few of the singers in this video.
We just need to stand up and remember that "WE ARE THE WORLD". Thank you for this uplifting post Shady. I want you to have a safe July 4th holiday! ♫
I
Hi, Suzanne!
DeleteI'm excited to see you, dear friend. Thanks for joining the Diversity party!
I suspected that you would find a lot to like in this set of songs. Keep in mind that a few of these homemade "quaran-tunes" by homegrown bands were taped in recent weeks at the height of the COVID crisis. The high quality of those productions and the fine, spirited performances make them all the more remarkable to me.
Yessum, Todd Rundgren is a great songwriter. Heavens to Betsy, Todd just turned age 72 a week ago! (On a side note, did you read that Carl Reiner and Hugh Downs both died this week? Both icons of television were in their late 90s. There go two more big pieces of our youth and middle years.) Getting back to Rundgren, "Love Is The Answer" is a timeless classic, and lead singer "Chase" and the other members of the Georgia family & friends band Foxes And Fossils, turned in a new classic version, in my opinion. It's just sensational!
Everybody seems to know Puddles from American's Got Talent. I used to watch Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts and Ed McMahon's Star Search, but I have not been following the current crop of TV talent shows. I only knew Puddles from finding his YouTube channel Puddles Pity Party about a year ago. He is a gifted singer and musician.
I'm thrilled that you singled out the McFadden & Whitehead cover by the Australian band Hindley Street Country Club as your Pick to Click. I agree that they make M&W's disco-era soul anthem seem like it was always theirs. Those three frontwomen cook! I'm glad you also gave a nod to the UK duo The Fabsisters. They touched my heart with their rendition of Sam Cooke's famous song adopted by the American Civil Rights Movement. What can be said about "We Are The World" that hasn't been said before by you and others who have commented? Those stars of Broadway, young and old, blew me away with their updated rendition of a song conveying a message that is still relevant and becoming increasingly urgent in these troubled times.
Thank you for experiencing my tribute to diversity at home and around the globe, and thank you for being part of the solution, dear friend Suzanne. Take care, have a safe and happy weekend with Scootie, and don't miss my next post in the middle of next week when Natalie Teeger from Monk drops by to host another special salute at Shady's Place!
Hello Mr. Shady and what a beautiful and poignant post you created. I love all of these especially the sisters at the top who have amazing voices. I love Puddles who was so eloquent and moving in his singing of that song plus the little girl roller blading to the music was very meaningful. The last song with the Broadway Actors made a much better version of this song than the original in my humble opinion. I love that Coke song and the girl singing it was very funny with her clones but I loved what she said after. If only people could let their racist thinking dissipate...
ReplyDeleteHi, Birgit!
DeleteThank you very much for joining the chorus of voices standing proudly in favor of diversity and against racism, dear friend!
In your wonderful comment you touched on several key moments, and I appreciate the time you set aside to dig deep and fully experience what the post has to offer.
The Fabsisters sing with purity and sincerity, no frills or fancy stuff. Their message comes through loud and clear. A change needs to come, and a change is gonna come. They gave us a new classic version of the Sam Cooke song that became famous when posthumously released as a single late in 1964, eleven days after Sam was shot to death.
Puddles the clown sings all of his songs with a long face, and I can't help believing he was especially sad when he sang "America The Beautiful" in mid 2017, aware as he must have been by then that our democracy was in jeopardy, our United States of America deeply divided, and that the words "brotherhood from sea to shining sea," - brotherhood defined as "the belief that all people should act with warmth and equality toward one another, regardless of differences in nationality, creed, ethnicity, etc." - was a concept being mocked as a sign of weakness by a leader who only respects power, might and winning at all cost.
I am also thankful that you were lifted up by the roller performance on the BLM Plaza by little Kaitlyn Saunders - "The Skate Kid" - a video that has gone viral. Here is another vid of Kaitlyn on the ice doing a figure skating routine to the song "Freedom" by Beyoncé:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sXeZ4ChidR8
I totally agree with you that Broadway United's updated version of "We Are The World" surpasses that of the star-studded original from the mid 80s. Thank you also for giving props to Anne Reburn for her charming version of the famous Coke jingle performed in harmony with her clones, and with a courageous spoken message at the end letting the world know where she, an Okie born in the nation's Heartland, stands on the issue of systemic and overt racism in America. As Anne reminds us, it is no longer enough to sit on the sidelines and shake our heads at the daily news headlines about white supremacists targeting and acting out against people of color. The time has come for us to rise up, millions strong, and become more outspoken and actively anti-racist in thought, word and in deed. "Let not any one pacify his conscience by the delusion that he can do no harm if he takes no part, and forms no opinion. Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing." - John Stuart Mill (British philosopher and political theorist)
Thank you again, dear friend BB, for being here and sharing your thoughts as we celebrate diversity across America and around the world!
This post stirred more than my enjoyment of the songs presented. (which were awesome!) Mrs. Shady had very well thought out and heartfelt comments. I love this country and many of my family members have sacrificed their lives in order to make it as great as it is today. I will defend my flag, this beautiful and diverse land we have because of others who went before us. Were there injustices in that quest? Absolutely but I also think we need to really exam history, not destroy it. Learn the true facts and then base your protests on your values and understanding of history before following mob mentality. I have friends and also family members who are black, brown, Asian, and all out beautiful. I've said this before and I will repeat it. I'm tired of apologizing for something I never did, and for things I will never do. What I will do is treat all people as I want to be treated. In healthcare I've had to take care of all kinds of folks with all kinds of problems, illnesses, mental health and aging. My only goal is to make them better even if they hit me, spit at me, bite me, call me names and then go out and do harmful practices that got them in the hospital to begin with. Maybe that has helped me feel that everyone deserves love, compassion, and understanding. I wont' go into a political rant about our government leadership. I can't believe in this large and intelligent nation we can't find suitable candidates to present for our vote and our confidence to lead us out of this mess we're in today. That's why I will continue to pray and find my faith that we can do this together, as friends, as a nation. God help us please.
ReplyDeleteHi, YaYa!
DeleteThank you very much for coming, dear friend! I am proud to have you here to add your personal perspective to the dialogue as we celebrate diversity and listen to some great music performed by artists around the world.
I don't know who specifically is asking you to apologize over and over again, so much so that you are tired of it. Our thinking is this, YaYa. No one should expect you to apologize for something you never did and would never do, nor should you, Mrs. Shady or I feel the need to apologize on behalf of the white race for the sins of the past. All that matters is where we are now and where we go from here. We all need to check ourselves on a daily basis to make sure we are part of the solution and not part of the problem. We all need to be the very best version of ourselves we can possibly be. We must go out of our way to give kindness, especially to those with whom we have the least in common, people whose lives and beliefs we have difficulty understanding, people with whom we don't feel a natural kinship. When we do that, when we go out of our way to be kind and generous to people outside of our own race, there will be times when we do not get the expected outcome. We might be dismissed, spit upon or suffer other indignities. That's on them, not on us. A few months before the COVID crisis changed the game, Mrs. Shady and I went to a busy restaurant. I noticed a black family ahead of us in line waiting to walk through the entrance. I jumped out of line, ran up and held the door for them. As they passed through the door they said nothing, didn't smile or nod, didn't even look at me. That kind of thing will happen sometimes, and it could happen just as easily with a white family or an Asian family or a family of any other ethnicity. How did I respond to that disappointing moment when it played out so differently than I expected? I chose not to assign meaning to what I experienced based upon what I perceived as rudeness. Indeed I have no idea what that family was going through at that moment that prevented them from acknowledging my random act of kindness. Maybe they had been arguing all the way to the restaurant, something that had nothing to do with me. Maybe out of the corner of their eye they saw an old white guy and assumed I am a Trump supporter and therefore didn't think I deserved their respect. If that was the case, it's unfortunate, and it's on them, not me. By the same token for me to assume that they are Democrats just because they are black, prompting me to hold the door for them in a display of solidarity, would have been equally shallow. How often are we guilty of judging books by their covers? Most importantly I did not form an opinion of all people of color based on that one experience.
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We need to do what you are doing in your encounters, YaYa, and that is to follow the Golden Rule. Treat all people as you wish to be treated. If you don't always achieve the desired outcome, keep coming from unconditional love of all people. Remember the concept of priming the pump. At first you get no water at all, but if you have faith and keep pumping the water will eventually come, perhaps only in brief spurts at first, but eventually in abundance. If we remember to keep on loving and giving despite meager or spotty results, only then can we reap a bounty of positive change across our land. Only then can we start to turn the rudder in the other direction and get America back on track. We must all come together and support and defend the rights of all Americans, lend our support to those who are justified in protesting against social injustice, racial profiling and overt acts of violence committed by entitled white people against people of color. As I am sure you agree, the brave men and women of our Armed Forces fought and died to protect the values upon which our nation was founded, the principles we as a people hold dear, the qualities and beliefs symbolized by our flag, that we are all created equal, that America is, always has been, and always should be a melting pot, a land of diversity with liberty and justice for all. I applaud you for all your hard work even when you are taken for granted and receive little or no thanks for it. I applaud you for being a voice of reason, recognizing that we all need each other. If we don't pull together, we will surely pull ourselves apart, and this great experiment called Democracy which many have fought and perished to preserve, will have failed, not because of attack from a foreign adversary, but because it imploded upon itself.
DeleteThank you again, my wonderful friend YaYa, for contributing to the discussion as we head into the Independence holiday. I pray that it will be a happy and restful one at The Pines!
A fabulous tribute, my friend! When put to music, so many problems seem solvable. I've left the fire on the mountain, and the turmoil in the valley for a much-needed respite. Common sense prevails in quietude where compassion once again glistens like a clear flowing stream. No battleground here. No need for graffiti or duct tape. God Bless America.
ReplyDeleteHave a safe and happy 4th, dear Shady. Thanks for your thoughtful contribution to the brighter side.
Hi, diedre!
DeleteThank you very much for keeping your promise and visiting me when you reached your destination and had time to catch your breath. I hope you are breathing clean rather than smoky air and having a restful holiday.
Yessum, great pieces of music like those found in this essay on Diversity have the power to inspire us, unite us and make us believe that we can work together to find solutions to our problems. It remains to be seen how many will heed the call, how many will sit on the sidelines as observers, and how many will continue to beat the war drum, fan the flames of fear, hate and intolerance, and revel in a nation divided against itself.
Your words thrill me, diedre. I love your poetic style of communication, always have. That is why I am drawn to Pensive Pens month after month and year after year. You are a person of great wisdom. I like you and trust you, and that's what quality relationships are all about. Thank you for sharing your glorious words with us today, dear friend, and enjoy your days of quietude. Please come back and see me soon, for you are always welcome here.
Wonderful post for this moment in time, Shady. I love every aspect of your salute to diversity. I'm warmed and inspired. The Fabsisters' music, so soulful. And 9 year old Kaitlyn is a dynamo. I want to give her a big hug. Thank you, Shady. Big (socially distant, virtual and safe and yada yada) hug to you too for a safe, loving, meaningful holiday weekend.
ReplyDeleteStay well, my dear friend.
Hi, Robyn!
DeleteThank you very much for joining us, dear friend! It was great timing when you reached out in friendship and started following me a few weeks ago, because I wouldn't have wanted you to miss this labor of love, my musical salute to diversity to coincide with Independence Day.
Thank you for your kind compliments on the post, Robyn. Clearly it explores a timely issue, one that you and I and many others take to heart. There comes a time when we heed a certain call, when the world must come together as one. I'm pleased to know that these songs of love and unity inspired you. I am especially grateful that you gave props to The Fabsisters and "The Skate Kid" - Kaitlyn Saunders. Their contributions to this special tribute added to it tremendously.
I wish I could give you a real hug, Robyn, because in the brief time we have known each other, you have proven to be the kind of friend I trust and treasure. As an added bonus, you have a sense of humor, an important (and increasingly rare) attribute to have if we are to pull through this challenging period in our nation's history.
Thank you again for your visit, comment and support, dear friend Robyn. Have a safe and peaceful holiday weekend!
OK, as far as I'm concerned, Anne Reburn wins that one! As a matter of fact, as nice as it is to know that Chita Rivera and Ben Vereen are still working, I think you should have used Reburn's video for the grand finale.
ReplyDeleteI honestly think all this unrest has as much to do with the slow but steady decline of the once-great American Middle-Class as it does with racism, with whites and blacks fighting for a slice of an increasingly stale pie. Also, the lower you go down the socioeconomic scale, the more rough around the edges people tend to be, no matter what their race. Unfortunately, white people (including white cops) notice this roughness more in African-Americans than they do in their fellow Caucasians, because blacks are, as Kurt Vonnegut pointed out in his novel Hocus Pocus, "color-coded". Finally, neighborhoods tend to diversify from the bottom up (if you don't believe me, go visit a gated community, if you're physically healthy enough to climb over the fence and outrun the Dobermans), so that if a family of color moves on to an all-white street, it can be seen as a sign of decline EVEN IF THEY HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF MONEY IN THEIR BANK ACCOUNT, and that can spark racial tensions.
None of this is to say that old-fashion mindless prejudice doesn't exist (especially in the case of trans women), but that it's exacerbated by economics. I firmly believe that.
Shady, you mentioned in the comment section of my blog that you didn't care for Blazing Saddles. I agree that the movie is overrated and ve-r-r-r-y uneven, but by putting blacks and Jews in a typical Hollywood Old West setting, Mel Brooks was in his own way striking a blow for diversity (he once said in an interview that Richard Pryor wrote all the Jewish jokes and that he himself wrote all the black ones.)
Happy 4th...er, happy 4th WEEKEND!
Hi, Kirk!
DeleteThank you so much for getting up early to visit and submit your usual excellent comment, good buddy!
I'm delighted that you singled out Anne Reburn's clone harmony song tagged with a courageous spoken message in support of BLM. Anne is a high profile YouTube star who draws her share of trolls and haters no matter what type of content she uploads.
Thank you for explaining how the steady decline of the Middle-Class in the U.S. factors into the problem of racism and how color coding causes law enforcement personnel to respond differently, often more forcefully, to African Americans.
I also agree that neighborhoods tend to diversify from the bottom up. With that in mind I'm going to reveal something to you that I don't think I have discussed with anyone else in my blogging career. People like Anne Reburn have awakened me to the realization that many white folks are guilty of aiding and abetting the institution of racism without being consciously aware of it. Recently I have become more aware than ever before of how much racism I was exposed to in my own family as I was growing up. I know that my dad was raised by a racist father and adopted some of his father's values and attitudes toward black people, including the telling of cruel jokes and using racial slurs. I always thought of my mother as anti-racist. She was outspoken about the plight of blacks in America, vocally expressed her support of the Civil Rights Movement, loved Martin Luther King and seemed to take his teachings to heart. Yet, like many white people, there was a limit to how far she would go in accepting black people as part of the community. She agreed with the concept of equality for blacks as long as they kept their distance from her. I'm sure she would have freaked out if a black family had moved onto our block, because she would have imagined property values plunging and crime increasing. In my freshman year at Penn State I met and briefly dated a black girl. I went home on break and told my mother about it, thinking that she, a person who always preached tolerance toward other races, would be proud of me for being open-minded as she had taught me to be, proud that I didn't allow the color of a person's skin to prevent me from befriending and spending time with a "Negro." When my mother heard the news she looked as if she had seen a ghost. She became very upset and pleaded with me not to tell my father because, in her words, "it will kill him." That bitter episode stuck with me through the years and has led me to the conclusion that many white people simply are not willing to walk their talk because, in doing so, they risk losing friends and social status.
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Thank you for echoing Jessica Marie's comment about trans women having huge targets on their backs. I also thank you for explaining Mel Brooks' intention to strike a blow for diversity in the casting and writing of Blazing Saddles. I have no trouble believing that Rich Pryor came up with the Jewish jokes and Mel the black gags.
DeleteMan, you hit one out of the park again today, Kirk, and I thank you very much for reporting in and sharing your thoughts on a subject that I felt compelled to explore. Shady's Place was conceived as an oasis, a place where people can come and enjoy music and silliness, a place where they can escape the stressful and disturbing breaking news of the day and dance, laugh and have fun. It is rare for me to open my site to debate over weighty issues like America's persistent race problem, and rare for me to inject my own personal beliefs on this or any other issue. I am a peace loving individual, but there comes a time when, after being pushed and pushed and pushed by a bully, guys like me start pushing back HARD. From now on and until that fine day when we see Carl Reiner's dream come true, I will be more outspoken than I have been in the past when called upon to do so. I will stand up for what's right, and I call on all good men and women to join me, join us, joins millions of us, in this noble cause. "Fourscore and seven years ago our fathers brought forth, on this continent, a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived, and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war." This November we will take the battle to them and, with God's help, sir... we will prevail.
Thanks again, good buddy Kirk. Stay well and have a great week!
What a fantastic musical showcase of diversity! The songs, the artists and the presenters are all great picks.
ReplyDeleteI love how you started off with the cover of Sam Cooke’s treasured and aptly thought to be the primary civil rights movement anthem. The Fabsisters did a wonderful performance.
Foxes & Fossils (great name for their band given the span of the singers age groups) did a beautiful job with Utopia’s “Love is the Answer”. Such a great song! I was surprised to learn that Dan England & John Ford Coley also had a hit with Todd Rundgren’s song. I only knew Utopia’s version. (Btw, I met Todd Rundgren on my cruise in February. He was kind of a jerk actually. I later learned something surprising about him: he was a main father-figure to Steven Tyler’s daughter Mia when he was married to her mother. In Mia’s book she writes about him saying what a wonderful “father” he was to her).
Oh, another fun fact: Did you know that “England Dan” (Dan Seals) is the younger brother of Jim Seals of Seals & Crofts? Both England Dan & John (Ford) Coley are native Texans, hailing from Dallas.
Anyway, I really enjoyed the Foxes & Fossils performance of this awesome song.
As for your next song, America the Beautiful, I have to be honest: I had a hard time watching Puddles the Sad Clown. Clowns freak me out and I just couldn’t watch it all. I did watch the beginning and end of the video so I saw his “Happy 4rth” message on his knuckles though. 😆
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ReplyDeleteI was familiar with McFadden & Whitehead’s 1979 hit “Ain’t No Stoppin’ Us Now” but didn’t realize it was considered the new black national anthem.
It pains me to realize how much hope and belief there was in the lyrics of both Sam Cooke’s and McFadden & Whitehead’s songs that positive change was just on the horizon...and that it truly felt like that all those years ago (1964 and 1979 respectively) because look how far we still have to go. How chilling it has been over these last 3-1/2 years to see just how pervasive and widespread racism is in our country. The cult of Trump has certainly shined a light on just how far and wide it is. It shocks me to see the number of people who fall in step with Trump’s hateful rhetoric. I see all these people at his rallies and I’m constantly in disbelief that so many people hold his views. It’s sickening.
The recent tragedies and the ballooning of the BLM movement are going to bring about some real change, I do believe, finally. We the people have been shaken to our core as a country, finally, by this insane and evil and treasonous Administration and I do think there will be bright light at the end of this very dark tunnel.
I was very impressed by Kathryn’s comment and so many of us are feeling the same kind of disillusionment and anger.
I love the song “Rise Up” and how awesome it was to watch young Kaitlyn Saunders skating so gracefully to Andra Day’s song on the Black Life Matters Plaza.
My two favorites in your diversity post are first: Anne Reburn’s talented and harmonic cover of “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing”. Her video is so fun to watch! I found myself smiling the whole way through it. She did a brilliant job with the clone performance, especially with all the different facial expressions. Super talented girl for sure! And to top it off with her powerful message at the end, this was just the best!
And you brought your diversity post to a powerful close with Broadway United’s fantastic collaboration piece “We Are the World”.
This was definitely an incredible celebration of diversity, my friend. Great job!
Now, let’s make diversity and inclusion a true reality and get our country back on a course we can all be proud of at the ballot box in November!
Michele at Angels Bark
Hi, Michele!
DeleteThank you very much for coming by to experience this celebration of Diversity, dear friend! I am thrilled to see you and thank you for taking time to listen to the songs, ponder their messages, acknowledge the artists who performed in the videos along with the diverse field of presenters who introduced them. I also thank you for reading the comments that keep coming in on this vitally important topic.
First of all, I'm delighted that you agree on the quality of that performance by the homegrown Georgia band Foxes And Fossils. Those young women can really sing up a storm and I will have more of the band's song covers coming up in future posts. Thanks for sharing that new to me info about Todd Rundgren. It is quite a coincidence that you met him on your rock cruise a few months ago. I'm surprised that he acted like a jerk. At one time I might have known the connection between the Seals and the fact that England Dan & J.F. Coley are both from Dallas, but thanks for refreshing my memory. I'm sorry you were spooked by Puddles Pity Party. Knowing that clowns freak you out, I suggest that you avoid the 2019 psych thriller movie The Joker starring Joaquin Phoenix. I saw it a couple of months ago and still have nightmares. :)
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Thank you for sharing your thoughts about the "state of the union." I'm delighted that you enjoyed the update of "We Are The World" by Broadway United and one-woman band Anne Reburn's song and statement regarding Black Lives Matter. I don't know how there could be a dry eye in the place after seeing and hearing those soulful siblings in the UK, The Fabsisters, do their rendition of the Sam Cooke song that became famous when released as a single just days after Sam was gunned down. How could one's heart not be stolen away by little Kaitlyn Saunders as she spun figures across the BLM Plaza, even as her country's leader made statements referring to such murals as "symbols of hate" while at the same time promising his base that he will fight to save Confederate statuary! As you might have noticed, the comment section beneath Kaitlyn's skating video on YouTube was turned off, no doubt because she is a minor, but also to prevent her from having to read the devastatingly hateful comments that always pour in from extreme right wing trolls and haters whenever someone on social media tries to lift us up and asks us to see the beauty in diversity. You're damn right, Michele. We were hopeful in 1964 that "a change is gonna come." We were still hopeful in 1979 that "we're on the move and ain't no stoppin' us now." Yet, here we are, in 2020, still fighting the Civil War, with a president and his supporters trying their best to stack the deck in favor of the white man and billionaires and corporations pumping big bucks into his reelection bid. Fortunately there are signs that many of the people who supported Trump in 2016 have had a belly full of his divisive rhetoric and dim-witted response to the COVID crisis and other major issues, and they are pledging not to vote for him again. Indeed, after all the lies and dirty deeds of the last three and a half years, I can't believe there is a single person left in America who would vote for him, and certainly not anyone who calls himself or herself a Christian and does so with a straight face. I was raised in the church, Michele. I went to Sunday school every week and stayed for the church service afterward. As a child I sang the words "whether yellow, red, black or white, they are precious in his sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world." I took those words to heart. What Trump and his so-called Christian supporters stand for is the direct opposite of the true teachings of the Christian church. The church has been hijacked, its message distorted and bent to serve a white male dominated society. If you call yourself a Christian and still support Trump, then this is just a little Peyton Place and you're all Harper Valley hypocrites. The once great Republican party has also been hijacked, taken over by a band of thugs, and voters allowed it to happen. I agree with you, Michele, that a change is gonna come. Is must come and this must be the year when we finally move the boulder forward. I sense a powerful wave forming and growing into a tsunami that, come November, will sweep across America from sea to shining sea.
DeleteThank you again, Michele, for devoting so much time and care to your comment. You're the best! Have a safe and happy week, dear friend, and please stay in touch!
Tom,
ReplyDeleteYou shared some great mewsic. The UK sister act is new to me and a pleasure to be introduced to. Recently a friend shared Foxes and Fossil with me which I enjoyed learning about. I have plans to use them in an upcoming BoTB set for mid September, I believe. I first heard Puddles the Clown on AGT. It was a definite wow moment for me. I really don't like the theatrics, though. It puts me off a little. In my opinion, he needs to put aside this gimmick and stand on his talents alone. I think the singer I enjoyed most in your line up is Anne Reburn. Everyone needs to have a Coke and a smile about now. :D I'm totally for equality for all mankind. We're all the same but how we get our point across should never be with violence and destruction. I don't think history should be rewritten by removing public landmarks because they are offensive to some people. These monuments should serve to remind us of where we came from so to not repeat the mistakes of those who came before us. Unfortunately the sad truth is regardless of what happens with all this mess, racism will live beyond the madness. Change has to start in the heart and until that takes place then it will always exist. Black lives matter but so do all lives. I'd like to know why there isn't this kind of out cry for the millions of babies that are murdered and this is the leading cause for the end of hundreds of thousands black American lives each year. It doesn't make sense to me. Anywho, thanks for the fine mewsic. Belated Happy Independence Day wishes to you, my friend! Have a great week. :)
Hi, Cathy!
DeleteWelcome back over to Shady's Place, dear friend. I'm pleased to see you!
I'm glad you found so much to like in this special post celebrating diversity. Chances are if you use Foxes And Fossils in a BOTB at some point I will be making duplicate use of the same cover song on my blog, because I have a post drafted that is devoted entirely to their performances. Regarding Puddles Pity Party, many mewsic acts feel the need to use a gimmick. I usually find it interesting and amusing as long as the talent is there. Mike has talent and I will be using more of his covers in future posts as well. I am thrilled that you turned thumbs up to Anne Reburn's cover of the old "buy the world a Coke" jingle. I trust that you also listened to her courageous message at the end voicing her support of Black Lives Matter. Imagine Anne, a native red state Okie, courageously standing up for what is right, even as so many other red-staters are reciting Trump/Fox News talking points, mocking the movement, rolling their eyes and asking "what's all the fuss about?" Let us remember that peaceful protest is part of what actually DOES make America great. Our current "leader" (with quotes around the word) doesn't like any person or group disagreeing with him, including the news media. As a proud veteran of television news, I am shocked and horrified that so many people have allowed themselves to be hoodwinked and their opinions shaped by Donald Trump, Fox News and other right wing conservative outlets. Trump’s response to protest isn’t to listen, learn and negotiate. His knee-jerk response is to threaten military intervention to quash dissent. That's not a leader. That’s not a president. That’s a dictator, and this will not stand.
I do not favor violence in the streets either, but as we look back through history at all the abuse and violence black people have endured at the hands of white people since the era of slavery, all the cross burnings and lynchings, police brutality, the killing of young black men and bad cops making funny videos afterward to demonstrate that black lives are expendable, we are damn lucky, as Kathryn pointed out in her comment, that black people are only asking for equality and not taking all-out revenge on the white race.
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The shame and disgrace of America is that the deck remains stacked in favor of white people. The hierarchy in this country is set up to serve and benefit the white man and keep him entrenched at the top with women and other races beneath, Trump and his allies are burning the midnight oil trying to figure out ways to suppress the black vote so that he can steal the election for a second time. We cannot allow him to succeed and have four more years to tear us apart and destroy our democracy.
DeleteI agree with you that Confederate statues and monuments should be preserved, but they should be placed in a museum with a banner above them making it crystal clear that they represent what was wrong with America in the past. You and I both know that if they are left standing in town squares, those symbols of hate and intolerance will be admired and celebrated by people who wish we could turn back the clock to the good old days of slavery.
Let us hope and pray for a sweeping change all across America beginning as you stated where it needs to begin, in the hearts and minds of its people. Let us pray that this time, in this election, Americans will send a powerful message to those who seek to keep us divided by spreading their poison of fear and hate. Fortunately there are signs everywhere that many of the people who rolled the dice and took a chance on Trump in 2016 are now crying “enough is enough” and are abandoning him. We believe that the vast majority of our fellow Americans are sick and tired of fighting the Civil War all over again and will vote for change. It’s time to remove the childish, selfish, mean-spirited bully and put a grown-up back in the White House. Together we can and must restore honor, dignity and sanity to the office of President of the United States of America. If we fail, we might not get another chance.
It's good know you support equality for all mankind, Cathy. You are a Christian and that is what true Christianity stands for. It is what I was taught growing up in the church. I have known you for years and I like and love you. Thank you for expressing yourself so eloquently here today. Your remarks were measured and reasonable and I am grateful for your contributions to this important discussion. Have a great week. I hope to see you again soon, dear friend!