I don’t thank soldiers for doing their job and I don’t salute the flag and you can curse me to hell if you want to I could care less. I am a class A ungrateful American who was born with a silver plated spoon in her mouth and really has had no major adversity. I have never been oppressed (that I am aware of)
I have been persecuted for my beliefs and I have persecuted others for theirs. I can be a raging bitch and “Never Forget” is the stupidest catch phrase of all time cuz if you have to remind yourself to remember something not to forget..you’re an idiot-get a PDA.
I don’t like Apple Pie and although a Red Sox fan, baseball isn’t ‘my sport’, I don’t eat hot dogs. I drive a foreign car, love my British heritage and really I live here cuz its easier than filling out paperwork to be elsewhere.
I vote. I pick the dick that sits in the big white house but he is nothing but a talking head- I vote cuz maybe someday it’ll mean something and I like getting the sticker and the extra half hour out of work on election day.
The fourth of July is a day off of work and its stupid to fall mid week tack it on to a weekend like Labor and Memorial Day- make it worth my time.
I don’t ooh and ahh over fireworks cuz what is that symbolic of? War…enjoy the show. Until they can send up pretty lights and have it rain down body parts the authenticity is a moot point. Have a beer for me cuz I don’t drink those either.
In honor of this fine holiday chock full of relish and corn I offer you the band America. I had the distinct pleasure of seeing these cats with the opening act of Burton Cummnings when I was just a small child and I’m pretty sure I got a contact high off the rafter seats where I sat. Biggest memory? Being terrified to fall down all those stairs. Who the hell designed those soup bowl coliseums’ anyway?
HiFi America is a greatest hits sort of thing.. best part? Its only five songs long. See, cuz bands like America really only had five good tunes, the rest was just crap
“A Horse With No Name”, begins this little gem. “the heat was hot….” When I was a wee one I remember this song clearly and I felt really bad for the horse, mostly because he had no name. In listening to it now it’s really a moody tune with some fantastic guitar work. I mean for a folkie pop song. Its melodic enough not to be ‘hippy’ but has a somewhat trancy vision. What the hell is he setting the ‘The ocean is a desert with its life underground. And a perfect disguise above”, yeah ok
“Sister Goldenhair”, now that’s a great tune. I have always loved the vocals to this song painting a lovely summer picture. I don’t know if its really his sister or a nun. “a woman sure could be a friend of mine”, that old ‘just friends bit’ this tune has a killer tambourine by the way. “I don’t mind saying I just can’t make it”. The doo wat a doo wat fade out is so cheesy that you cant help loving it, especially with the ‘1-2-3-4’. What they were thinking and how smoky was the studio? I have to say that vocally there is a beautiful voice. Yup, I find it really pleasing and really clear. Problem is there was never a designated singer so I cant pinpoint who that is- you do it. A vocal story teller even if the story is a bit lame. Soft on the ear with a nice boy vulnerability really showcased in this tune of indecision. As in all America tunes I find the doo doo’ of the back up boys a bit comedic and it sorta takes away from the cool. I am unsure of what their fans were like back in ‘their day’ but I’m thinking they were a bit of what we would refer to as ‘nerd’. There is no 70s sex and hardness it’s a more poppy love sorta cryptic thing going on. In 2012 it makes the tune much more fun- because of its seeming innocence.
“Muskrat Love”, ‘doing it right in the evening it’s pretty pleasing’ I remember Captain and Tennille doing this tune. I loved that show. This bongo fused sincere cartoon is fucking hilarious the muskrats are floating like the heavens above? This song has the wicked maraca back beat. Basically this tune reminds me I have to book a dentist appointment. Total doctor office mellow jam… I can feel the drill just listening to it. As for the rodent choice, anyone know why muskrats were chosen over say, chipmunks? I mean chipmunks are much cuter and Im thinking them doing the jitterbug and chewing on trees is more adorable?
“I Need You”, this is the reason I chose this album well aside from its short duration and the band name. This song is one of the most beautiful songs of all time. Yeah, its hokey as hell but in its simplicity is its beauty. There is a time when you love someone so much that you actually need them to survive. This comes down ot how cynical you are about love in general. If you don’t like this song lyrically- you’re a jaded fuck and you may as well just find a tree house cuz you’re hopeless. I’m not saying you must like the music or its delivery but the lyrics.
“Don’t Cross The River” is the jamboree bear band. Too banjo plucking podunk for me to even tolerate. Its so terrible that they sound like they should be on the back of a flat bed truck at a country grange fair.
I remember clearly the album covers for “Holiday’ and their self titled “America” lp. I recall finding the Indians on the cover (for back then they were not native Americans..they were injuns” sorta scary but the guy with the blue t-shirt was cute. How appropriate that the band whos name is the ‘greatest country on Earth’ chose the warriors to be behind them. Symbolic? Yeah, Im sure but not in a more happy America way rather than the ‘hey man Imma let you pow wow but first Imma steal your land’ type thing, dig?
So fire up your grill and watch those booming sky shows, stick that in your pomp and circumstance and back to work tomorrow
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