Sunday, January 07, 2007

CHAMPAGNE, CAVIAR

A drawback to longevity is that one sees the same battles re-fought repeatedly. It gets boring after awhile.

Take, “Support Our Troops,” please.

Like an old comic’s material that never changes, but gets “discovered” by successive generations, this support-our-troops crap just won’t go away.

Basic to a soldier’s mission is to die if necessary, and to endure injury and discomfort in defense of the country. The most important support we can give our troops is to expend their lives and limbs wisely.

When an adventure is unwinnable because it’s unjust, we must bring our troops home.

Back in Vietnam war days Pete Seeger was so pissed off by the support-our-troops bullshit that he performed this really sub-par song to try to get his message across. That’s a weird kind of artistic compromise.

Pud wants to support our troops with champagne and caviar “on their flights home.”

Immediate, complete, unconditional. Caviar and champagne (and milk and sodas) on the flight home right now, today, or tomorrow at the latest.

“And free meals in high class restaurants when they get back,” Pud says, “I’m sure the American Restaurant Association would be happy to reserve their best tables and their best wines for our returned troops, as a way of showing their support.”

The first video is included as illustration. SF WILLIE’S BLOG does not endorse it as a well made song.

You know, I’ve always felt a little creepy about the fake folksiness of Pete Seeger. He sort of talks down to his audience, and he tries to be way too nice, usually.

Pud says Pete Seeger reminds him of guys who wear Greek fisherman’s caps. “Like, even Greek fishermen look dorky in Greek fisherman’s caps.”

Don’t get me wrong, the world is a better place, and my own life is richer, for having had Pete Seeger in it.

The second video provides a contrast to what I call fake-folksiness. The song isn’t well made either, there’s no bridge, but the folkness seems genuine, and the guitar picking is great. BTW: I think Mississippi John Hurt is responsible for the subversive classic., Candyman.

The third video is a guilty pleasure. It IS a well made song. And it contains one of the great couplets of bubblegumdom:

The roller coaster ride we took is nearly at an end.
I bought my ticket with my tears, that’s all I’m gonna spend.


Don’t be ashamed if you enjoy it, you’re in good company (Pud).

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