A look at some tunes and videos, after-the-jump …..
But first: Top Comments appears nightly, as a round-up of the best comments on Daily Kos. Surely ... you come across comments daily that are perceptive, apropos and .. well, perhaps even humorous. But they are more meaningful if they're well-known ... which is where you come in (especially in diaries/stories receiving little attention).------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Send your nominations to TopComments at gmail dot com by 9:30 PM Eastern Time nightly, or by our KosMail message board. Please indicate (a) why you liked the comment, and (b) your Dkos user name (to properly credit you) as well as a link to the comment itself.
While I like Yuletide songs, I need a break this season …. if Thanksgiving had held as a firewall (as it did 30+ years ago) maybe not so much. Now, I’m unsure if even Halloween will last as a firewall.
With the death of Stephen Sondheim, I found this group of ensemble singers from the UK — who completing a US tour now — giving his most popular song outside the theater world … a new-lease-on-life.
Staying in the UK — in 1995, there was a by-election (special election) that was called in the Littleborough & Saddleworth district, following the death of the Conservative Party representative. The following is the announcement by the returning officer of the results, with the candidates on-stage. The three major parties (Labour, Liberal Democrats and Conservative) were there … and some horrific (as well as some fun) fringe candidates, as well.
* The UK Independence Party (UKIP) was the brainchild of your-friend-and-mine, Nigel Farage. Right-wing xenophobes, they were behind Brexit. In this election, the reading of candidate John Whittaker’s name was (mercifully) met with silence by the audience.
* Children’s TV character Mr. Blobby— yes, the pink blob you’ll see — was chosen as the ‘House Party’ candidate — as he was featured on the BBC television show Noel’s House Party during the 1990’s. He was the subject of a novelty song release Mr. Blobby — reaching #1 on the British charts at Christmas 1993. If you listen to it… well, you’ll know why UK listeners consider it among the worst songs of all time. In order to get on the ballot, John McLagan posed as him.
* Lastly, the fringe party to-end-all-fringe-parties: the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, founded by a rock musician named Dave Sutch. He had a 1963 horror novelty hit in the UK, Jack the Ripper— and through some cajoling and subterfuge, he managed to record this album in 1969 … heavy friends, indeed. Yet many of the guest musicians were upset; thinking they were only recording a demo … and this album makes many of the Worst Album rankings.
In politics, Dave Sutch had an endearing slogan: “Vote for insanity ….. you know it makes sense”. In one campaign, he joined with another fringe group to form the “Monster Raving Loony Green Chicken Alliance”. I recall thinking, Dang, won’t that put the fear-of-God in their opponents!!
Despite his oddball appearance (and often comical policies) a few of the policies he campaigned on in the 1960’s (reducing the voting age to 18, commercial radio, calling for pubs to be open all day) - were to become reality before his death.
With that background: a short video announcing the special election results
And despite his cheerful exterior, Dave Sutch suffered from depression much of his adulthood … and affected by the 1997 death of his mother, took his own life just two years later at the age of fifty-eight. Then-prime minister Tony Blair summed-up his political life thusly:
Screaming Lord Sutch will be much missed. For many years he made a unique contribution to British politics. Our elections will never be quite the same without him.
Finally, just a standard video from ten years ago: when the country music channel CMT hosted a CMT Crossroads episode (where a non-country performer joins an established Nashville star). Here, on the night before Super Bowl XLV in Houston was an (uncommon) live performance in Dallas: with Faith Hill joining Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders in singing one of her major hits, Brass in Pocket. While two of the original Pretenders died (as a result of drug overdoses), she is joined on-stage by her longtime drummer, Martin Chambers.
And I always recall that (1) both Faith Hill and her husband Tim McGraw are Democrats, and (2) Tim is the son of the late Tug McGraw, whom I saw pitch as a young NY Mets fan in the 1970’s.
Now, on to Top Comments:
(Nothing from the field for this evening)
And from Ed Tracey, your faithful correspondent this evening ........
In the front-page story about how the Man from Mar-a-Lago has nearly all up-for-sale for visitors — blue aardvark hopes for a repeat of a 2012 event.
Next - enjoy jotter's wonderful (and now eternal) *PictureQuilt™* below. Just click on the picture and it will magically take you to the comment featuring that photo.
TOP PHOTOSDecember 15th, 2021
|
And lastly: yesterday's Top Mojo - mega-mojo to the intrepid mik ...... who rescued this feature from oblivion:
2) Thanks Greg … by Denise Oliver Velez +1295) Lawrence O’Donnell by Denise Oliver Velez +9711) Across the pond ... by Denise Oliver Velez +8211) The Great Unravelling picks up speed. by skillet +8214) Indicated? … by GrumpyOldGeek +7523) Definitely the gnomicron variant. by angry marmot +6627) jamess: … by MutareParadigm +66