Maggie's Farm

This truly is.  If there's a classic fantasy every popular singer entertains, it's putting on a disguise, walking into a night club or karaoke bar, strutting your stuff and wowing the crowd.  There really couldn't be a better way to prove to yourself that you really do have that something special; that's it's not all just flashy PR and rabid fans who will drool over anyone.

Lay it on, Jewel.

I would only add that this must have been a fairly surreal experience for those in the audience with musically-adept ears.  Myself, I've heard lots of Beatles imitators over the years, and while I might have described some of them as being "eerily close to the original", voice characteristics and singing styles are just so distinctive that it's impossible to nail every nuance.

As a quick example, between those two Shakira songs I posted the other day, she sang exactly one word in falsetto.  One.  Nuance that into your equation.

So to be sitting there in the audience listening to some dumpy brunette with a hook nose nail down every single nuance, one after another, must have been surreal, indeed.

What a magical moment this Shakira video is.

So, you think it's pretty cool that your favorite singer has two different singing voices?

How about three?

In the same song?

Listen to how she starts off in what might be called her normal singing voice, then, as the volume increases, listen to how she starts using her 'throaty' voice here and there, weaving back and forth between the two. Then, during the quiet interlude, listen to the 'little girl' voice she uses, then back to normal, then back to full-bore throaty. It's really something.

And the magic.

You would had to have been there, watching "Divas Las Vegas", to understand how truly special this was.  For the previous hour, the stage had been hogged by the usual screeching divas, all singing at the top of their lungs, filling every micro-second of air time with their self-adored, self-adulated voices.

And then this precious thing walks onto the stage.

One more below the fold.

Well, again something bad came out of someone posting a music video here.  Last time it was polka tunes and Lady Gaga, this time it's even worse.  And, fittingly, it falls upon my mighty shoulders to set things right.

As we all know, the 'Opposites Clause' in the Blogger's Rule Book is designed to help eclectic sites maintain their eclecticity.  I post a video of a cute red fox prancing in the snow, Barrie responds with a searing exposé of ObamaCare.  That's how the Opposites Clause works.

Well, someone around here has been posting a whole bunch of songs by some guy named "Bob Dlyan" or something and the Opposites Clause alarm is clanging loudly.

And while I don't know who this renegade poster is, a lot of stuff from this "Bob Dlyan" guy sounds pretty left-wing to me.

Come you masters of war, you that build all the guns
You that build the death planes, you that build all the bombs
You that hide behind walls, you that hide behind desks
I just want you to know I can see through your masks.

Like Judas of old, you lie and deceive
A world war can be won, you want me to believe
But I see through your eyes, and I see through your brain
Like I see through the water that runs down my drain.

I mean, gee.

And I hope that you die, and your death'll come soon
I will follow your casket, in the pale afternoon
And I'll watch while you're lowered, down to your deathbed
And I'll stand o'er your grave 'til I'm sure that you're dead.

Gosh.  This "Bob Dlyan" guy sure doesn't mince words.

So it occurs to me that the Opposites Clause really needs to be engaged on two different levels — confronting both the artist's unorthodox music style and his virulent left-wing message.

And here our guest artist satisfies both requirements with the highest marks, as not only is his style radically opposed to the wild, frenetic cacophony of sounds emanating from this "Bob Dlyan" guy, but his message is one of patriotism, sacrifice, and pride in America.

Just the kind of message you'd expect to find on Maggie's Farm.

Jim Bowie lay dyin', his blood and his powder were dry
But his knife he drew ready, to take him a few in reply

Young Davy Crockett lay laughin' and dyin'
The blood and the sweat in his eyes

For Texas and freedom, a man was more willin' to die.

Hey, up Santa Anna, they're killin' your soldiers below
So the rest of Texas will know
And remember the Alamo.

It brings a tear to my eye to think of the young and brave Davy Crockett, who had so much, give it all up in the name of liberty.  Thank goodness there's still a musician out there who understand the pride in America that we all feel.

And we'll let him sing it below the fold.

Well, Something bad thing came out of Bird Dog posting two polka tunes the other day.

It means I have to post a song by Lady Gaga.

This is due to the 'Opposites Clause' in the Blogger's Rule Book.  The Opposites Clause is intended to help eclectic sites maintain their eclecticity.  I post an article on the latest in hard drive technology, Bird Dog responds with "Chipmunk of the Week".  That's how the Opposites Clause works.

However, despite the hordes of rumors to the contrary, I am not completely devoid of mercy and compassion, and thus I've taken into consideration the delicate sensibilities of the Maggie's readership and polka enthusiasts everywhere and have placed the vile, loathsome pop song safely below the fold.

Please let the children know it's safe to come out.