“Some Things Simply Must Be Seen to Be Believed” Division:

Russian singers from the 60s — awesome. Russian singers lip-synching a vocalise on Soviet television, complete with gorgeous set tricked out in week-old mustard-colored backdrop and tattered fence-like apparatus — incomparable.

Watch it twice. It’s Finkday, after all. Treat yourself.

The R & B world lost another great last night. Teddy Pendergrass, formerly of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes (remember them, fellow 70s people?), has passed away after colon cancer surgery.

I liked his voice a whole lot better than Barry White’s. In fact, BW kind of creeped me out. Not only did every song sound pretty much the same, but the constant, ubiquitous droning harmony (with himself) in thirds just grated on me like I don’t know what. No bueno. But back to Teddy.

He toured for several years in the 2000s, despite constant physical barriers he experienced as a result of a 1982 car accident that left him a paraplegic. His story is quite interesting. I had no idea about the trials — both figurative and actual — he endured while trying to physically and emotionally recover. Especially striking is the tactic his therapist used to cure him of his suicidal feelings. Have you ever heard of staging your own funeral? Whoa. I guess it worked:

“I had a sheet over my face,” [Pendergrass] said. “People were giving eulogies and talking about me as though I had gone. It helped me turn my life around. I didn’t want to be dead. I took away the option to die, and knew I had to live.”

Sad day. I liked his music. I also like how the animation on his website shows him walking. Cool.

Have a good day, fiends. My hatred component is on hiatus, temporarily. As Martha says, “That’s a good thing.”

FO

[Hey, I forgot to wish Lars a happy 26th birthday here at Finktown yesterday. The baby grows up...]

Live music at large parties has seen its share of troubles over the last 25 years or so, agreed BoomR?

I remember having to market my cover band extra-enthusiastically when the DJ idea started to catch on for wedding receptions in the early 1980s. In fact, a movement was started by the musicians’ union (American Federation of Musicians) to choose live music over DJs. I forget the slogan now. The same guy who was the secretary-treasurer in 1978 when I joined the AFM is still the secretary-treasurer today. Maybe I should ask him. I seriously do not know what the Mansfield local is going to do when Eddie retires.

Anyway, I was on Facebook and noticed that BoomR and BluVox are playing a gig tonight in Dallas, 8-1. Awesome. We need more live music.

I know that people want to hear the “original” versions of their songs, done by the original artists, and I  have seen DJs who can really spin a party. But there’s something about a hot band — loud, live, spontaneous, rockin — that can’t be matched.

But how about the best of both worlds? Mixing live with digital, this is one of my favorite musicians (and one of my favorite people in general) in the world: BoomR, with BluVox playing guitar. Take a listen…

Let’s Stay Together

~

*sigh* Love it. Anyway, back to New Years Eve and the holidays in general. Some silly memories:

• A guy who’d had a few tee many martoonis came up to the bandstand and told Tom, the sax player, “I wanna hear some jazz. How about playing some Kenny G?”, to which Tom immediately responded, “Well, which do you want?” HAaaa. One of my all-time fave comeback lines.
• Another guy who’d also had a few tee many martoonis danced/stumbled his way across the floor, right into an amp stack. The stack stood firm…the guy, not so much.
• BoomR, remember this one? We played a Christmas party thrown by the owner of a large local business (this “owner” is now a state senator), and two of his sons got into a drunken brawl about a half hour after the party started. We got paid full price for a 4-hour gig that we only played for 30 minutes.

Funny stuff, but booze really is stupid juice. Don’t get me started on that subject today….

Hey, today is the Thriller’s and my wedding anniversary. How about that? He gets the Longsuffering Perseverance of Job Award for the 13th year running.

Be careful out there tonight, fiends.

I’ve always wanted to use that word in a sentence.

Those who know me as a choral director also know that I do not like to brag about my students’ musical achievement, prowess, what have you. In other words, I’m not too generous with the compliments.

Recently, I had a request from a former student to locate a recording of the choir from 2-3 years ago, so I found one. On a kick (because I *never* listen to my own ensembles’ recordings — I hate not being able to fix stuff), I put the disc into the Ranger’s CD player on the way home last night. I must say, I was not offended. The music was actually pretty good in places.

One particular song really impressed me stylistically, tonally — every way. So I thought that today I might let you have a listen, if you like. You don’t have to. Really. But you can if you want.

I’m particularly proud of these two juniors and two seniors from 2006 (one of them is RtB fiend Mathew, singing first tenor). I hope you enjoy this from O Brother, Where Art Thou?

Platinum – Man of Constant Sorrow

And because I can’t leave you without featuring Mr. Mathew on a sweet solo from when he was an 11th grader…

Platinum – Good Night, Sweetheart

Yes, fiends. It’s 09.09.09. And we all know what that means…

I covets it. I wants the game. Complete with the Hofner bass and Ludwig drum kit.

And speaking of the Fabs (and being fab in general), RtB fiend Ross — my writer idol — did a new piece for AskMen.com on the top ten controversies surrounding the Beatles. Checking it out is mandatory; you won’t regret it.

“…coolest coven of all time.” Haha. Yep. Home run, Ross — loved it!

*sigh* I don’t want to work. I just want to bang on de drum all day. Have a goody, everybody.

Fink Rundgren