Today’s featured song comes with the very recent news of Billy Joel’s brain condition diagnosis where he had to cancel tours. The 76 year-old singer-songwriter is said to be receiving ‘excellent care’ and is ‘fully committed to prioritising his health’. The Longest Time is the third song to appear here from Billy Joel, with his last entry – The Downeaster Alexa in April. Apart from his well-known early major classics, my listening appreciation of him was born out of songs like today’s entry from his 1983 ‘An Innocent Man’, ‘The Bridge’, and ‘Storm Front’.
I have recounted the personal story below on a few occasions, but it remains one of my favourites; so bare with me those already familiar with it:
I saw Billy Joel’s Stormfront tour in ’91 in Sydney with my schoolmate Gary. He’s actually the one who drew that caricature of my family – the one featured in the ‘Reflection’ menu. Anyway, Gary was a massive Billy Joel fan. We used to go back and forth over music because, while he was all about Billy, I leaned more towards Elton John.
I still remember when Elton’s Kiss the Bride came out – Gary would mock me by belting out, “I want to kiss the bride……groom!” Classic Gary with his injection of ‘Groom‘ in place of John’s ‘Yeh!’ A clever jab, just like his caricature work.
So yeah, I went to the concert mostly to appease him, though I did (and still do) dig a lot of Joel’s music – including today’s featured track: The Longest Time.
This all reminds me, I have had in my movie collection for years now, the DVD of Billy Joel and Elton John collaboration of the 1994 “Face to Facetours“. I’m dusting off that baby this morning and my daughter and I will enjoy it over breakfast and the rest of our lazy Saturday morning.
The following was extracted and abridged from the Wikipedia reference below:
The Longest Time is a doo-wop song released in 1984 as the fourth single from the 1983 album An Innocent Man. Following the theme of the album in paying tribute to Joel’s musical influences, the song is presented in the style of Frankie Lymon and the Teenagers. It reached number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 25 on the UK Singles Chart.
The song features Joel on lead vocals, all backing vocals, and percussive sounds such as finger snaps and hand claps. Joel had intended to feature a vocal group but Joel recorded each of the parts himself.
[Intro] Dum dum dum
[Chorus] Woah, oh, oh, oh (For the longest) For the longest time Woah, oh, oh (For the longest) For the longest time
[Verse 1] If you said goodbye to me tonight There would still be music left to write What else could I do? I’m so inspired by you That hasn’t happened for the longest time Once I thought my innocence was gone Now I know that happiness goes on That’s where you found me When you put your arms around me I haven’t been there for the longest time
[Chorus]
[Verse 2] I’m that voice you’re hearing in the hall And the greatest miracle of all Is how I need you And how you needed me too That hasn’t happened for the longest time
[Bridge] Maybe this won’t last very long But you feel so right and I could be wrong Maybe I’ve been hoping too hard But I’ve gone this far, and it’s more than I hoped for
[Verse 3] Who knows how much further we’ll go on? Maybe I’ll be sorry when you’re gone I’ll take my chances I forgot how nice romance is I haven’t been there for the longest time
[Bridge] I had second thoughts at the start I said to myself, “Hold on to your heart” Now I know the woman that you are You’re wonderful so far, and it’s more than I hoped for
[Verse 4] I don’t care what consequence it brings I have been a fool for lesser things I want you so bad I think you ought to know that I intend to hold you for the longest time
[Outro] Woah, oh, oh, oh (For the longest) For the longest time (Repeat)
Although The Phoenician Scheme is the third Wes Anderson film to feature in my Friday’s Finest segment, it wasn’t one I had high hopes for going in. My hesitation was two-fold: first, I’d come across a wave of negative reviews beforehand (more on that below), and second, just as the previews began to roll, my son called me with a grievance. As I tried to talk, I was promptly shushed by those around me, and I couldn’t properly deal with the issue until after the film. Needless to say, I was anxious as the opening scenes began – not a good headspace to be in for a Wes Anderson film.
But alas, this story has a happy ending. Apart from my son’s issue being resolved thereafter – by the time the credits rolled, I was licking my chops at the thought of watching it again. I felt so affected and enlightened by what I’d seen – there’s just so much to unpack, especially at the breakneck pace of Anderson’s signature absurdity. That said, I saw it at a nearby cinema with, frankly, rubbish video and audio quality, so next time I’ll be heading to a higher-end complex and sitting closer to the screen (there’s a lot of on-screen text to catch). One thing’s for sure: this film now rounds out my personal trilogy of favourite Wes Anderson works – The Royal Tenenbaums, The Grand Budapest Hotel, and (drumroll please… da-dah!) The Phoenician Scheme. I also enjoyed, but to a lesser extent – Rushmore, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and Moonrise Kingdom.
IMDB Storyline – The Phoenician Scheme:
Wealthy businessman Zsa-zsa Korda appoints his only daughter, a nun, as sole heir to his estate. As Korda embarks on a new enterprise, they soon become the target of scheming tycoons, foreign terrorists, and determined assassins.
Warning: There are spoilers below of larger plot and character deviations in the film
Some viewers have dismissed The Phoenician Scheme as something akin to ‘pretty as a picture, but emotionally vacant like an empty parking lot‘ or that Wes Anderson has become a caricature of himself, more interested in the ‘Wes Anderson style‘ than powerful story telling.. I beg to differ. For me, this is one of Anderson’s most emotionally resonant works. Beneath its ensemble cast and intricate plotting lies a poignant exploration of a father-daughter bond, brought to life with sensitivity by Benicio del Toro and Mia Threapleton (Kate Winslet’s daughter). The film also charts the existential awakening of a powerful industrialist who, in the midst of executing an ambitious infrastructure project, experiences a profound internal shift – an almost spiritual reckoning reminiscent of a more self-aware Citizen Kane. He starts to embrace religion, personal relationships and demonstrate benevolence towards those less fortunate.
That’s not to infer The Phoenician Scheme doesn’t have its ha-ha comedy moments, it does and I laughed out loud many times to the detriment of those in attendance. Anderson’s unmistakable touch is everywhere, from the elaborate set design and stylised pacing to the frenetic narrative stuffed with duels, escapes, and dramatic turns. Yet for all its eccentricities, The Phoenician Scheme feels more grounded than much of his recent work. It offers a focused character journey rather than nesting tales within tales, and what it reveals is a surprisingly heartfelt meditation on faith, forgiveness, and what really matters when the facade falls away.
All the cast are great especially Benicio Del Toro as the lead as Zsa-zsa Korda. It’s my favourite performance by him although special mentions to his work in Sicario, Traffic and The Usual Suspects. I would like to give shout-outs to Michael Cera ( of ‘Juno‘ fame) in his superb supporting role and the surprise, but hilarious appearance of Benedict Cumberbatch as the villainous brother Uncle Nubar.
Wes Anderson’s films have always been hit-or-miss for many viewers, though his 2014 feature The Grand Budapest Hotel arguably stands as his most widely acclaimed, earning a slew of Academy Award nominations. While the Anderson trademarks are certainly present here, I believe The Phoenician Scheme deserves recognition in its own right. That said, I’ll likely need a second viewing to determine whether my initial excitement truly holds up – his films often take time to absorb and fully appreciate, but I’m confident that my appreciation for the film will only grow with future viewings, especially given the wealth of fascinating material on offer here.
Below is an official clip from the film, called ‘Human Rights‘. It shows Benicio del Toro as Zsa-zsa Korda, one of the richest men in Europe; Mia Threapleton as Liesl, his daughter/a nun and Michael Cera as Bjorn, their tutor. And below that is Wes Anderson discussing his new film and his unique style.
‘In Grasa there definitely had to be a Salsa song. People were asking for it and it’s part of my job. So in Miami we got down to work and ‘La Presa’ was born…I consume Salsa everyday of my life. When I wake up – it’s like my engine. I consume a lot. Tony Vega, Willie Colón, Hector Lavoe. The classics Frankie Ruiz. And I feel that this school of Salsa is the one that defines me. That’s the sound I’m after. Also how we recorded it with microphones from the 70’s, with the recording techniques that were used in the 70’s, with musicians playing for these artists at the time. And on top of that we had the backing vocals recorded by El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico which is the greatest blessing I could have in Salsa for me.’
Here is some lavish salsa from one of my favourite modern music artists – Nathy Peluso who is truly at the cutting edge of Latina Music. I was putting off writing about La Presa (ThePrisoner) because over the last year she has inundated this blog with a plethora of songs from different genres. But when I was at the gym yesterday and I found myself intuitively bopping away to this song in between sets I decided enough is enough – ‘let this baby rip’. I’m so enamoured with it, as I am with all of her music showcased here. Presa comes from Nathy’s 2024 album Grasa (Fat) for which she won 3 Grammy awards.
I’ve been following the Argentine-Spanish Diva Nathy Peluso for quite some time now, and I continue to track her evolution with keen interest – much like I do with all my favourite contemporary singer-songwriters. What captivates me most is how boldly and authentically she has reshaped the Latin music scene, fusing genres like hip-hop, salsa, trap, and neo-soul with theatrical flair and intellectual depth.
‘There were three pillars in my career that defined me as a musician, which is my hip-hop content, then my soulful, jazzy side and finally my salsa, bolero, latin and all other roots’.
Her artistic transformation has been nothing short of electric, blending raw intensity with conceptual sophistication. Today’s featured track, Presa, is a striking showcase of her fiery, unapologetic talent.
La Presa is a salsa-infused anthem that reimagines love as both a crime and a prison. She confesses to “killing” her lover – not with weapons, but by denying him affection – embracing incarceration over emotional submission. Through this metaphor Peluso critiques possessive relationships and asserts female autonomy, blending humor and defiance with lines like “I’d rather be behind bars than with him” which heads this blog.
‘I like to approach Salsa from a place that isn’t so traditionally feminine considering how women have navigated Salsa throughout history which has always been more romantic, more idyllic, more soap opera-like. I like to take it to the tough side, a more masculine angle as it has been throughout the history of Salsa.’
I have included two versions of La Presa below, both of which I enjoy viewing. The first is the more ‘bare bones’ live session for Vevo control and the second is the oficial video release. P.S You may need to open the chosen video in You tube to see the English subtitles.
A loose English translation follows:
[Intro] Police, take her away
[Verse 1] Police, open the bars I’m going to confess if you let me (Let me) I’d rather be a criminal than an idiot And for that, you have to have courage Police (Uh-uh), take me to jail If it’s life, I don’t care Yes, it’s true that I killed that man But I killed him, I killed him with love It wasn’t with a gun, nor with a knife It was because I denied him my kisses and that’s why he died Because I didn’t want to give them to him
[Chorus] Here’s a moral for you To be with him, I’d rather be behind bars Relax, police, I won’t be short Whoever gives me a visit, a conjugal visit Here’s a moral for you (Cuckoo, cuckoo!) To be with him, I’d rather be behind bars (Salsa!)
[Verse 2] Police, take her to jail From the tip of her shoe to the top of her head I’ve already left through your door, I’m not coming back through that one Police, take her to jail Because of my noble humanity, they call me “criminal” Police, take her to jail That’s why I don’t care if they put me in shackles Let them bail me out, I have money to spare Police, take her to jail That man isn’t breathing Call the police
[Interlude] Tell him, tell him! Cuckoo, cuckoo!
[Outro] When love doesn’t give you freedom It’s a prison, a disease When love doesn’t give you freedom You have to kill it coldly
Band of Horses at the 2006 SXSW festival. Second from left is founder and sole original member, Ben Bridwell
Band of Horses certainly has a passion to them—the kind of singing and strumming that sounds like crying…. (Is There A Ghost) – not much lyrically, but it paints a picture of nostalgia, the supernatural, and isolation.
– Bernie in response to my last post on the Band of Horses – The Funeral.
My cinephile friend Bernie (of Reely Bernie) mentioned that today’s featured track – Is There a Ghost – is his favourite by the American rock band Band of Horses, who hail from the indie-grunge haven of Seattle. That was all the encouragement I needed to seek it out. From the very first listen, I was caught hook, line, and sinker. The lyrics consist of just two lines, repeated throughout the song: “I could sleep, I could sleep. When I lived alone, is there a ghost in my house?” I particularly enjoy how the understated finger-picking melody gives way to an exhilarating burst of guitar just after the one-minute mark – Giddy-up, you Band of Horses! The indie vibes in this track are undeniably strong. One reviewer claimed, ‘Is There A Ghost‘ is the catchiest song with only 14 words to its credit since Pearl Jam’s Smile.
The band initially received attention after opening up for Iron & Wine cerca 2005 during Seattle area shows. Iron & Wine are also no stranger to this blog – featuring here twice already with their latest entry – The Desert Babbler. Is There a Ghost is the first single taken from Band of Horses‘ second album Cease to Begin, released on August 28, 2007. It reached No. 34 on the US Alternative Songs chart. It’s said that Cease to Begin has a more Southern rock, less indie sound than Band of Horses’ debut album Everything All the Time. However, Is There a Ghost has a strong indie feel, in contrast to the rest of Cease to Begin. To date, the band has released six studio albums; the last one Things Are Great (2022).
Bernie also wrote that he heard that most of the band lived homeless before they started scoring gigs. And lookee here (well at least according to Bridwell’s account):
“You know, it’s funny,” Bridwell said by phone. “I get here (Seattle) and I’m staying at this fancy hotel and it’s two blocks away from this parking lot, now a vacant parking lot, that they used to have Ryder trucks on — a rental place. And I used to actually sleep on those trucks. I’d get thrown out of the truck at 6 a.m. in my sleeping bag. It’s just funny. It’s two blocks away and I’m now on the balcony of this big hotel. I’m a bit reflective.” Read more at the Oregon Livearticle.
I could sleep, I could sleep I could sleep, I could sleep When I lived alone Is there a ghost in my house? When I lived alone Is there a ghost in my house? My house
“I’ve always been very content when I wrote all those songs. By this I’m saying that a lot of people think you have to live through something before you can write it, and that’s true in some cases, but I remember the times that I was unhappy or discontent, and I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t communicate, and I certainly couldn’t write a song, no way.“ – Roy Orbison speaking about the song Only the Lonely in 1980.
Only the Lonely was the first song I heard by Roy Orbison as a young’un and it remains my Desert Island track by him. It might not hit the powerful heights of Crying or compare to the infectious groove of Oh, Pretty Woman, but Only The Lonely is nuts and bolts – Roy Orbison. He had this ability to convey both vulnerability and strength at the same time. His singing style was unique of course and his vocal range was beyond impressive. He was often referred to as “The Caruso of Rock”. His emotional ballads set him apart from other male rock-and-roll performers of his time.
The doo-wop backed Only the Lonely marked a breakthrough at the start of Roy Orbison’s illustrious music career, establishing the emotional vulnerability and soaring vocal style that became his signature. The recording features an irresistible falsetto note hit by Orbison that showcased a surprisingly powerful voice. Decades later, Not Alone Anymore, recorded with the Traveling Wilburys in 1988, poignantly bookended his career. While Orbison’s voice had matured, the same melancholy was present, now tinged with the wisdom of experience. I consider ‘Not Alone Anymore‘ not only one of the most underrated tracks across the Wilburys’ two volumes, but one of the most affecting performances of his entire career, at least from what I have heard.
Now onto Only the Lonely. Most of the following was extracted / abridged from the Wikipedia article below:
Only the Lonely (Know the Way I Feel) is a 1960 song written by Roy Orbison and Joe Melson. It was the first major hit for the singer. It went to No. 2 in the US (blocked by Brenda Lee’s I’m Sorry). Only The Lonely reached number one in the UK and stayed there for two weeks (out of a total of 24 weeks spent in the chart) – the longest charting single of Orbison’s career. In 1999, the 1960 recording of “Only the Lonely” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
After several years without much success in the music business, and sharing a tiny apartment with his wife and new baby, Roy Orbison had taken to sitting in his car to write songs when, in 1958, his acquaintance Joe Melson tapped on the car window and suggested they collaborate. In early 1960, they wrote “Only the Lonely“, which they tried to sell to Elvis Presley and the Everly Brothers, who turned it down. So they recorded it themselves.
Dum dum dum, dummy doo wah Ooh yay, yay, yay, yeah Oh oh oh oh wah Only the lonely, only the lonely
Only the lonely (Dum dum dum, dummy doo wah) Know the way I feel tonight (Ooh yay, yay, yay, yeah) Only the lonely (Dum dum dum, dummy doo wah) Know this feeling ain’t right (Dum dum dum, dummy doo wah) There goes my baby, there goes my heart They’re gone forever, so far apart But only the lonely know why I cry Only the lonely
Only the lonely (Dum dum dum, dummy doo wah) Know the heartaches I’ve been through (Ooh yay, yay, yay, yeah) Only the lonely (Dum dum dum, dummy doo wah) Know I cry and cry for you (Dum dum dum, dummy doo wah) Maybe tomorrow, a new romance No more sorrow but that’s the chance You’ve gotta take, if your lonely heart breaks Only the lonely (Dum dum dum, dummy doo wah)
← A vast cavern in South Dakota shielded from the outside world will house sensitive equipment to detect tiny changes in sub-atomic particles
Scientists are searching for the answer to one of science’s biggest questions: why does our Universe exist?
I added the following information to my Ankidroid as a result of this BBC article:
What came into existence from the Universe’s creation, but cannot be explained. What should have theoretically occurred?
Matter – from which stars, planets and everything around us (including us) are made – and in equal amounts antimatter – matters’ exact opposite. Theoretically they should have cancelled each other out and left nothing except a big burst of energy. And yet, here we – as matter – are.
Explain the Dune particle detector (created to determine how we are here as ‘matter’): a. what it stands for b. location c. process d. objective
a. Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (Dune), b. 1,500 metre below surface in South Dakota, c. Firing Neutrinos and anti Neutrinos particles from Illinois 800 miles away. These particles change ever so slightly as they travel, and d. Detect if changes are different for the two particles. If they are different it could tell them why matter and anti matter don’t cancel each out.
This was the first time Ben Shapiro and Freddy Sayers appeared together and it sure didn’t disappoint. It’s a wide-ranging conversation and they discuss what Trump has got right – and wrong – in his current tenure, Shapiro’s public criticisms of the president, and his feud with Tucker Carlson amongst other topics.
Like how Brett Weinstein and Heather Heying’s Darkhorse podcast was a beacon of sanity for me during the craziness of the Pandemic and the phenomenon of Mass Formation, I have found both Sayers (Unherd more broadly) and Shapiro, as alternative news outlets, beacons of reasoning in the Post-Pandemic and nascent A.I. age.
I couldn’t fault here – Shapiro’s surgeon-like dissection of Trump’s incumbency so far (as well as everything else he discussed), and I’m not even a conservative per se. In fact here are my political compass test results (2019), which is not to insinuate they are definitive or that my world-view hasn’t shifted radically since the onset of the following: – Pandemic, – Corporate Stakeholdership (ie The Great Reset orchestrated by the World Economic Forum), and – The Woke Movement.
My favourite part of this interview came towards the end (at 48:20 to be exact) where Shapiro used the analogy of Plumbers to Politicians. It made me yelp with laughter and still makes me chuckle when I recall it. He said:
‘My overall perspective on every politician is that politicians are plumbers. If the politician is overall fixing the toilet I’ll be generally happy and if the plumber is actually throwing cherry-bombs down the toilet then I will be upset. And that remains true regardless of who the President is.’
So is ‘A Complete Unknown’ just another formulaic music biopic or does it offer something more? And how does it compare to Todd Hayne’s more cerebral 2007 Dylan biopic ‘I’m Not There’?
You may all be done and dusted with the Complete Unknown movie craze – as well as the aftermath and analysis phase – but I wouldn’t be posting this video here unless I thought it was well worth it. Or, not to put too fine a point on it, head and shoulders above the rest.
I shared my own thoughts on Complete Unknown in a previous News on the March segment, where I also highlighted an engaging written review over at Recliner Notes. But it would be entirely remiss of me to endeth the trilogy of the ultimate Complete Unknown opinion without including Elliot Roberts’ expert breakdown of the film. Such is the intricate level of detail and nuanced analysis, it left me gasping in appreciation of the knowledge, effort, and passion Roberts poured into it. In my humble estimation, it’s the definitive review I’ve seen so far on the biopic.
Elliot Roberts is an Australian YouTuber and actor who makes commentary videos on music and film, though his videos on The Beatles and its members have became his most well-known in his repertoire.
Here’s Bob at the apex of his protest music beginnings. The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll was one of the first songs I heard in my youth where I truly paid attention to the lyrics. It’s a song where every other aspect of the music takes a back seat – only the words seem to matter. Even the chorus feels like a brief respite in a sermon of grave injustice. What struck me wasn’t just the prominence of the lyrics, but how the story itself drove the song – as if the events were being reported and exposed right before my ears. And then to discover it all happened to a real person named Hattie Carroll – that just blew my mind while incensing me. There are people who have written about the actual incident and trial and recall with striking clarity the day the verdict made the headlines and their aghast reaction to it.
Such was my immersion into Dylan’s material as an early teen, I could tell his music and lyric were not just shaping me, but forming in large part my values system outside of the family microcosm. No one I knew liked Bob, or seemingly knew what he was about. It was only when my next door neighbour who happened to be my Geography teacher and table tennis coach at high school played the Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1 record on repeat in his van driving us on long trips to tournaments, did I realise my idol’s music wasn’t just confined to my bedroom. Trying to emulate my favourite artist, I started to write poems and lyrics about all the stuff happening in my life. Afraid I might be embarrassed and lead a terminal bullied life at school, I kept these written notes a secret. If they got out on the street or, much worse, into a school newspaper to join the bona fide list of school try-hards, the game was up.
William Zantzinger, shown here in police custody, was sentenced to six months for the manslaughter and assault of Hattie Carroll.
William Zanzinger killed poor Hattie Carroll With a cane that he twirled round his diamond ring finger At a Baltimore hotel society gath’rin’…
These are the opening lines of Bob Dylan’s song The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll, written in 1963 to pay homage to this 51-year-old mother of 10 children and purported to be killed by a wealthy plantation owner at the Emerson Hotel in downtown Baltimore.
Until researching more about the case for this article, I assumed (for decades mind you) that William Zantzinger had bludgeoned Hattie Carroll to death with his cane (Murder in the first-degree, if you will). Dylan’s song contains at least two inaccuracies (according to the Wikipedia reference below) Zantzinger was not booked for first degree murder, but for second degree murder. Dylan also misspells and mispronounces Zantzinger’s surname as “Zanzinger”. Below is what happened according to the Nation article reference. If you are unfamiliar with Dylan’s lyrics, then I would recommend you read them below prior to the following:
Carroll was serving drinks at the Spinster’s Ball, an annual event attended by Maryland’s white old-family elites, when one of the party’s drunken revelers, Billy Zantzinger, decided she was being disrespectful. He called her a racial epithet then struck her with his cane. Zantzinger also hit two other Black employees that night—a bellhop named George Gessell, whom he hit on the arm, and waitress Ethel Hill, whom he hit on the buttocks when she argued with him over his mistreatment.
Carroll died the next day at Baltimore’s Mercy Hospital, from a stroke brought on by the attack.
William Zantzinger was convicted of the manslaughter and assault of Hattie Carroll and not for first-degree murder. The court ruled that Hattie Carroll had died from a stroke possibly brought on by the stress of the attack, reducing the charge from murder to manslaughter and assault. According to the Wikipedia article below it was a ‘25-cent toy cane‘ in which Zantzinger drunkenly assaulted at least three of the Emerson Hotel workers.
Wikipedia: In the words of the court notes: “He asked for a drink and called her ‘a black bitch’, and ‘black s.o.b’. She replied, ‘Just a moment’ and started to prepare his drink. After a delay of perhaps a minute, he complained about her being slow and struck her a hard blow on her shoulder about half-way between the point of her shoulder and her neck.” She handed him his drink. After striking Carroll, he attacked his own wife, knocking her to the ground and hitting her with his shoe.
Within five minutes from the time of the blow, Carroll leaned heavily against the barmaid next to her and complained of feeling ill. Carroll told co-workers, “I feel deathly ill, that man has upset me so.” The barmaid and another employee helped Carroll to the kitchen. Her arm became numb, her speech thick. She collapsed and was hospitalized. Carroll died eight hours after the assault.
At the time of incident, Charles County was still strictly segregated by race in public facilities such as restaurants, churches, theaters, doctor’s offices, buses and the county fair. The schools of Charles County were not integrated until 1967.
Now, onto the song itself. Most of the following was extracted from the Wikipedia article below:
The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll was released on Dylan’s 1964 album – The Times They Are a-Changin’. My previous entry here from the album was One Too Many Mornings, although that article’s focus was on the Live Free Trade Hall 1966 version. The melody of ‘The Lonesome..’ chorus is largely taken from a folk song called Mary Hamilton, and you can listen to the Joan Baez version here.
According to a 1991 Washington Post report, Dylan wrote the song in Manhattan, sitting in an all-night cafe. A radio documentary on the song said rather that he wrote it both in New York and at the home of his then-lover, Joan Baez, in Carmel… He (Dylan) recorded it on October 23, 1963, when the trial was still relatively fresh news, and incorporated it into his live repertoire immediately, before releasing the studio version on February 10, 1964.
[Verse 1] William Zanzinger killed poor Hattie Carroll With a cane that he twirled around his diamond ring finger At a Baltimore hotel society gatherin’ And the cops was called in and his weapon took from him As they rode him in custody down to the station And booked William Zanzinger for first-degree murder
[Chorus] But you who philosophize disgrace And criticize all fears Take the rag away from your face Now ain’t the time for your tears
[Verse 2] William Zanzinger, who at twenty-four years Owns a tobacco farm of six hundred acres With rich wealthy parents who provide and protect him And high office relations in the politics of Maryland Reacted to his deed with a shrug of his shoulders And swear words and sneering, and his tongue, it was a-snarling And in a matter of minutes, on bail was out walking
[Verse 3] Hattie Carroll was a maid in the kitchen She was fifty-one years old and gave birth to ten children Who carried the dishes and took out the garbage And never sat once at the head of the table And didn’t even talk to the people at the table Who just cleaned up all the food from the table And emptied the ashtrays on a whole other level Got killed by a blow, lay slain by a cane That sailed through the air and came down through the room Doomed and determined to destroy all the gentle And she never done nothin’ to William Zanzinger
[Verse 4] In the courtroom of honor, the judge pounded his gavel To show that all’s equal and that the courts are on the level And that the strings in the books ain’t pulled and persuaded And that even the nobles get properly handled Once that the cops have chased after and caught ’em And that the ladder of law has no top and no bottom Stared at the person who killed for no reason Who just happened to be feelin’ that way without warnin’ And he spoke through his cloak, most deep and distinguished And handed out strongly, for penalty and repentance William Zanzinger with a six-month sentence
Such is my fascination with the Clueso Summer Tour 2024 concert in Berlin (presented below) and my preference of the live versions over the originals, I’m going to do something I have never done before, which is present a double feature. The two songs – Chicago and Keinen Zentimeter (Eng. Not a centimetre) respectively just happen to be the first two which open this monumental performance. The third song from 13:40 in the video called Sag Mir Was Du Willst (Tell Me What You Want) featured here back in March this year.
For the launch of my Music Library Project on July 25, 2019, I wanted to present a single song that could encapsulate the breadth and depth of the music I planned to feature. I ultimately chose the track Wenn Du Liebst (When You Love) by the German pop singer and rapper Clueso (pronounced [klyˈzo]) (image left). A friend, who shares a deep appreciation for German culture and language, introduced me to the song in 2019 and so started my slow, but gradual uptake and appreciation of the music from Clueso (born Thomas Hübner (9 April 1980).
The concert begins with a ‘lush’ and slow electric guitar strumming unveiling the song Chicago at tortoise pace. That’s fine, I don’t have anywhere to be – so lets see where our star Clueso goes here as he gets accustomed with his audience. Then the curtain backdrop suddenly drops away and ‘Boom’! – the band accompaniment jumps in and with great gusto! I would suggest – then we are treated to perhaps some of the best of modern music has to offer and it seriously rocks, but not in a untucked flannelette way smelling of cheap bourbon, but a chilled, crisp, and humble manner – just letting the music do the talking.
The extent of my knowledge of the German language is confined to a semester of German in grade 5, which means I understand ‘diddly squat’, but that doesn’t deter me from enjoying these rich melodies, rhythmic groove and polished instrumentals. The powerful drumming and infectious guitar playing is marvellously complemented by an effervescent, dynamic horn section. Also the transition from Chicago into this slamming guitar riff intro of Keinen Zentimeter is something to behold.
Now, lets not forget the setting – a breathtaking amphitheatre at dusk, adding to the magic and allure. Not to put too fine a point on it, I am truly enamoured with the first 17 minutes of this spectacle and I doubt I’ll ever grow tired of it.
Chicago
Chicago was first released as a single on April 21, 2006 as part of Clueso’s third studio album, “Weit weg,” from which it is the first single. The lyrics address drug use among teenagers and young adults. The chorus sings about being high on drugs in Chicago, where no one knows you. It’s about, among other things, “Chicago” and “The Last Supper.” about a female person who meets with a few people at an unspecified location and lets “fresh stuff” flow through her veins and passes the “spoonful” on to her friends.
Sometimes she meets up with a few people In an undetermined place And when fresh stuff flows through her veins You kick the bucket to your friends Only this time she didn’t come Maybe she didn’t make it
Unfortunately, I couldn’t find content on Keinen Zentimeter (Eng. Not a centimetre) other than the translated lyrics here.
Today’s featured movie at Friday’s Finest is brought to you by a director who is married to Emma Stone. If that doesn’t deserve a high-five (and on the flip side), I don’t know what does. Anyhows, besides keeping tabs on celebrity marriages, channel zapping is something I am innately good at. Just ask any male of the species – it’s practically in our DNA. And at the far end of my remote-controlled travels, I almost always land on the ‘Film & Arts’ channel – which often houses movies which are quintessentially ‘Friday’s Finest‘ material ie one or more of the following: foreign made, low budget, independent or art-house. That as Anita Ward might put it – Rings My Bell as a movie-goer and it’s where I found Brigsby Bear.
Brigsby Bear has one of the most original premises as far as plots goes:
It tells the story of a man abducted as a baby and raised in isolation in a bunker where he obsessed over a children’s television program centered around a character named Brigsby Bear; after being rescued by the authorities and realizing that the show had been made for him only by one of his captors, his fascination leads him to finish the storyline himself.
The only other movie I could compare this quirky and highly entertaining comedy to is one I featured here at Friday’s Finest back in 2020 called American Movie (1999). Well technically American Movie isn’t a movie, rather it’s a documentary about a movie that was made. But it too exhibits this curious and irresistible charm towards the ‘movie-making process’ that as a keen cinema-goer I found so engrossing to watch and unashamedly funny.
Watching them took me right back to when I first got my hands on Dad’s strictly “for work only” JVC video camera. My brother and I set out to make little short films packed with all the cinematic thrills we’d soaked up from the movies. One highlight? Our attempt to recreate Mr. Miyagi’s training scenes from The Karate Kid – a real hoot. Anyhow both aforementioned films center around grown men (mentally hovering somewhere around 15) on a mission to turn their wild imaginations into reality – by making a movie and getting it onto the big screen.
I found Brigsby Bear to be a smile-inducing, heartfelt, and wildly creative film – despite its undeniably disturbing premise. It follows James Pope, a former abductee who – let’s not beat around the bush – is a deeply traumatised individual. He’s unable to let go of something that, while built on deception (a TV show made exclusively for him: Brigsby Bear), feels more real and meaningful to him than actual reality.
What’s clever is that the film doesn’t dwell too heavily on the clinical severity of his condition. Instead, it subtly reveals its emotional weight through the reactions of those around him – family and friends who, at first, are desperate to snap him out of what they see as delusion. Their concern even escalates to the point of him being hospitalised.
What’s so brave and quietly brilliant about this movie is how, over time, it invites us to shift perspectives along with those characters. Gradually, we find ourselves drawn into James’s Brigsby Bear fantasy, becoming just as curious, invested, and eager to follow the ride wherever it leads. And by the end, it doesn’t feel like fantasy at all – it feels like something that matters.
Let me just say as I ease my way out of this review, the ensemble cast is fantastic. It includes Mark Hammil, Greg Kinnear and Claire Danes. Of course the highest accolade goes to Kyle Mooney who inhabits James Pope with a delicate balance of wide-eyed innocence and emotional depth, grounding the character in sincerity without tipping into melodrama. His performance is earnest enough to be moving, yet subtly oddball, allowing the film’s darkly funny tone to breathe.
I hope the scene below, where the police investigator (Greg Kinnear) interviews James (Kyle Mooney) after his abduction, serves as an effective example of the aforementioned.
“The most beautiful and haunting melody I’ve ever heard” ~ Sinéad O’Connor
The Fureys return here in fairly quick succession, having featured just under a month ago with their monumental hit, Green Fields of France. Today’s spotlight falls on another piece that’s equally powerful and deeply moving. The Lonesome Boatman is a haunting, wholly immersive instrumental. As the video’s description puts it: “The Fureys put you on the shore before the boat leaves the harbour and take you out to sea. Close your eyes and you are there!” I couldn’t think of a better way to capture how this song feels and completely immerses the listener. I’ve been listening to this unforgettable melody since I was prepubescent, and it has never aged in my ears. On the contrary, it still feels as raw and untamed as the first time I heard it and was swept away.
Finbar Furey (one of the Irish Furey Brothers) wrote this all time favourite in 1968, originally on a 5 string banjo. In 1969, they released it as the title track on their debut The Lonesome Boatman. It is played hauntingly on a tin whistle (see image inset), as well as its version of the traditional ballad Carnlough Bay. The song has featured at football matches, most notably performed by fans of Glasgow team, Celtic FC. Moreover, it is played by musicians world wide, used in film and TV scores – a classic piece of Irish Music.
