INDICTMENTS OF AMERICAN CULTURE
Re: Daniel J. Flynn’s The Day the Music Died :
While Don McLean’s song may indeed be a “surrealistic ode to the
tragedy,” it involves far more than the Iowa plane crash. It’s an
indictment of much of American culture, from that 1959 event
through Sergeant Pepper. And, of course, for more than three
decades, it’s kept people guessing.
Was the “widowed bride” Holly’s or was she Jacqueline Kennedy?
Could Jack Flash be Mick Jagger? Is it Lenin or Lennon? The
Manson murders, The Byrds, the threat of nuclear war, even the
NFL’s decision to stage its games during America’s weekend of
grief are referenced.
It’s a dazzling piece of allegory and metaphor, among the
greatest bits of writing in all of pop music, far more than a
lament about the passing of rock’s first era.
— Dennis Bergendorf
As a grizzed ‘ol graybeard from the days “before the music
died”… I’ll always keep a warm spot for that era, its new music
and the brief blast of youthful energy; often supported by
nothin’ more than… “three chords and a cloud of dust.” It was a
point in time that began a pop music trip that has lead us
through generations of new sounds, changing styles and
occasionally The Archies and bands called…Abba.
Hey, even The Mick struck-out on occasions.
I guess trying to link-up today’s rap music to Buddy and company
is a long stretch for this old ear, Fact is, I’m reluctant to
admit that I might being infected with the dreaded Fud Disease.
Truth be told? While Buddy and Diddy may in fact be remotely
linked, at my age, I just don’t have enough hair to go with the
“corn rows” thing. Sadly, I’m probably a better candidate for the
Kojak look.
Sorry, P.
Meanwhile, just wrapping up a 35-year career as an old school
radio disk jockey — I’m reminded on this Iowa anniversery date
as to just how brief a career in pop music can be after the hits
dry up and “The Love Is Gone.”
A few years ago I read a quote from one of the legendary Everly
Brothers as to what it takes to stay on top in pop: “Keep
crankin’out the hits or they’ll forget ‘ya.” And that’s true of
thousands who’ve cruised through the business since “The Day.”
Frankly, it really didn’t long at all before the Donnas, Peggy
Sues and Miss Mollys were going ga-ga over the next swingin’
pelvis in pink peggers.
As far as Buddy, Ritchie and The Bopper go — one of the most
sobering comments I ever read was from an unknown source who said
something like “Yeah, they were good; they just didn’t live long
enough to…fail.”
I guess it’s kind of icky, but as far pop legacies go, maybe
that’s the best way to leave the building.
— Dave
California
The event itself is beyond my memory experience…but the music
of Buddy Holly became very important to me. Three-chord songs
that any stumblebum with a guitar like me could play without
trouble…lyrics that spoke to me and the life I was going
through…even his appearance. To this day, I wear thick-rimmed
glasses…I can say to the clerk that I want glasses “like Buddy
Holly,” and get what I’m looking for.
It wasn’t the movie, it wasn’t any of the books…it was the
music. I heard that, and then it was the movie, the books, and
all the records I could find.
He might’ve died fifty years ago today, but, because his music
can still be heard, original versions or echoes in his
rock-musician descendants, he lives.
(By one of those quirks of memory, I can remember the first time
I heard “That’ll Be the Day.” I knew “Peggy Sue” from my mother’s
record collection…I’d heard about Buddy Holly, and figured out
that the first stanza of “American Pie” was talking about
him…I’d seen the title “That’ll Be the Day” in a couple of
lists but hadn’t yet heard it. Then I was listening to an AM
radio station one evening. The DJ announced that they would play
“That’ll Be the Day” after the commercial break…they played a
couple of commercials, and then the guitar intro began. Sounded
nothing like the version I had created in my head…sounded
better.)
— Robert Nowall (former member of the Buddy
Holly Memorial Society)
Cape Coral, Florida
A BLACK EYE FOR TEAM OBAMA
Re: Philip Klein’s You’re Out, Tom:
Philip Klein delightfully exposes another major
stumble-and-face-splat for the Obama Administration in the
resignation of former senator Tom Daschle from nomination for the
post of Secretary of Health and Human Services. To have someone
of Daschle’s ilk in charge of that area would have spelled huge
trouble for the country.
So now, let’s see. Tom Daschle…Nancy Killefer…Timothy
Geithner…Charlie Rangel…who’s next in the “Gee, I forgot to
pay my (insert type here) taxes for (insert time frame).” And
here,
I thought the Republicans were the “Culture of Corruption.”
Silly me!
— Jim Bjaloncik
Stow, Ohio
ONLY HURT THE ONES YOU TRY TO HURT
Re: Eric Singer’s Blast From the Past :
Two of the other by-products of the passage of the Lilly
Ledbetter Act will be; 1) More small business employers will turn
to temporary help through temp agencies thus reducing the
effective pay rate for women and 2) The larger companies will
look to move more operations overseas to not only avoid this
debacle but the myriad of new and existant rules and regulations
at the federal and state levels and resultant litigation that
will result.
As usual those the Democrats claim to help will suffer the most
while the deep pocket contributors ( e.g. trial lawyers) will
benefit.
— Stephen J. McCann
NY TIMES, THE NEW GOLDEN CALF
Re: Jeffrey Lord’s The Limbaugh-Hannity
Administration:
The problem remains the domination of the popular culture and
educational institutions by the liberal elites of both coasts.
For those Americans seeking to appear hip and modern it is still
fashionable to parrot the West Coast in-touch-with-your-feelings
politics of liberal do-goodism. In this way those spouting the
sophistry of their sophomoric creed demonstrate their deep
concern for humanity. In turn those worried about their status as
members of the elite ruling class are compelled to demonstrate
their supposed intellectual superiority by mimicking the New York
Times editorial page. These are the same people who are more
concerned with the name of the university to which they send
their children rather than the actual quality of education their
children receive. It’s fine with them if their children are
indoctrinated in socialism and secular humanism as long as the
institution conducting the indoctrination is named Harvard or
Princeton. Obama represented a candidate that satisfied
status-seekers on both coasts. This, combined with the in vogue
opinion among the elites that Bush was both evil and stupid,
resulted in the election win by the current administration. Let’s
face it, Limbaugh and Hannity might be right philosophically, but
until that philosophy assumes status across a broad spectrum of
our national institutions, their influence will be limited.
— Peter Killie
Ridgefield, Connecticut
BECAUSE POOR PEOPLE REALLY NEED…BIKE
PATHS
Re: J. Peter Freire’s blog post, You Know What America
Needs? Bike Paths:
Way to be open minded…I’m sure there are no public spending, like
bike paths, in the Republican plan. You’d rather give tax breaks
to the wealthiest 1%…like the last 8 years. No, you’re right,
bike paths don’t create jobs, they just create themselves.
Also, I’d like to know what polling you’ve seen that states the
public is against it, My guess is some Republican pollster who
cannot be trusted. You’re a joke. Enjoy being a regional
party
— Chris Cannon
CLICHE IT UP
Re: William Murchison’s Authors of Their Own Doom:
To use a cliché, Murchison’s piece today is brilliant. Not just
about the newspaper angle, but as a societal statement. This is
textbook stuff. On the way to defeat totalitarianism, America got
sidetracked by totalitarianism. Woodward and Bernstein are
examples of the Peter Principle. They were good reporters who
were elevated to sages. They were (are) not sages.
One example of lies, dishonesty, unethicality. News people flock
to interview Tom Friedman. Tom Friedman is/was a newsman.
Communists are now elevated to experts on nature and health.
Perhaps it was the drugs, perhaps the communists/anarchists
pushed the drugs, but everything became surreal and to a great
degree everything still is.
— Bob Montgomery
Yorktown, Indiana
COLORADO VICTIMIZED
Re: Melanie Harmon’s
Repealing the Bill of Rights:
This is what happens when a state is inundated by refugees from
California and other benighted territories: Fleeing the excesses
of Liberalism (especially confiscatory taxes), they nevertheless
bring their “useful idiot” voting habits with them and soil their
new nest.
Migration has consequences!
— Charles Romer
Tomball, Texas
HOW WERE THE SPECIAL EFFECTS
Re: James Bowman’s Valkyrie :
Stauffenberg’s son told Tom Cruise to go back to Hollywood. What
more needs to be said, what more do you need to know about this
movie?
— Christopher Holland
Canberra, Australia
