UFO's, Jazz, and Roast Beef
Hello!
It’s been a weird week, with UFOs being shot down and whatnot. Fret not! Life goes on. And what a beautiful, exciting, inspired life it is!
Here are five things to inspire you to think, feel, and appreciate.
Bash can’t get enough of the song “Watermelon Meow Meow.” It’s his jam! When I was a kid, I liked “Scooby-Doo”, “Superman,” and “Star Wars.” Bash likes different stuff.
It can be tough to sit back and let him find his fun. I want to show him all my favorite things from back in the day. But he’s not me and it is no longer the late 70s.
When we allow our kids to explore and experience the world on their own (within reason, of course), they’ll surprise and inspire us; we can experience a whole new outlook on life.
Do you watch SNL? I haven’t sat and watched an episode since the ’90s. I don’t hear a lot about it these days, but TV isn’t what it used to be, in many respects. However, this SNL skit about Arby’s popped up in my YouTube feed. I gave it a watch and was pleasantly surprised. It’s been a while since I’ve seen good satire. You don’t see much of that these days.
There’s a scene in a recent episode of “The Last of Us,” that features a couple of characters singing the song “Long Long Time” by Linda Ronstadt. That song, as you know, is from the 70s, yet it was thrust back into the cultural zeitgeist with this instance (the YouTube comments back me up). Take some time to listen to “Long Long Time” again. Really listen. It’s an amazing song and beautifully sung. As for “The Last of Us,” well, watch at your own risk.
The great Burt Bacharach passed away recently. What a career! For folks my age and a little older, his songs are like the soundtrack to our memories. And while he has literally scores of songs, my favorite has to be “God Give Me Strength,” a collaboration with Elvis Costello. It has such emotion and range; a powerful lamentation.
In these times of strange news involving UFOs and train wrecks, it can be challenging to find moments of ease and soft joy. Enter Rachel and Vilray. I recently heard their 2019 album “Rachel and Vilray” and was instantly enamored with their style. It’s light, funny, jazzy, and beautiful. All my fears and concerns melted away as I floated on the waves of their energy for a moment. You gotta hear them!
Thank you for reading. The best way to support my work is to become a premium subscriber. You’ll get my stream-of-conscious zine “Oddballs.” It’s fun, odd, and could be yours every month!
Until next time, keep on keepin’ on!
Jason
