Magical Moment 53, "The Cure for the Blues, the Blues!"

I spent my weekend googling, practicing, and memorizing blues standards. Although I have a repertoire full of jazz and boogie-woogie, I have only a couple genuine blues songs and next week I’m booked playing an entire blues set for hour and a half straight. I’ll be impressed if I keep the crowd entertained that long, considering blues is the same 3 chords played in the same format over and over again.

I began with the basics, Ray Charles, Jimmy Rogers, Ottis Redding, even some Bo Diddley. And soon my fears of monotony were put at ease when I discovered the full spectrum of the blues genre. I even found several new lines to add to my “greatest lyrics ever” list:

“If you don’t think you’ll come home soon, I’m gonna drown in my own tears” -Ray Charles

“You aint nothing but a hound dog, been snoopin round my door. You can wag your tail, but I ain’t gonna feedjya no mo.” –Etta James

“Put you down in a ditch with a great long spade. Wish to God that you hadn't never been made.” –Eddie James House Jr.

These are miserably sad lyrics, but I must admit that I smiled when I heard them. I know the blues are meant to be heart-wrenching, but now I know why so many people love to play and listen to them. The emotion, the freedom of musical improvisation, and the driving rhythm can cause even the most musically illiterate person to stomp their foot, bob their head, smile, or cry.

But I find it even more ironic, that such melancholy lyrics and “tear-in-my beer” melodies make me so happy and eager to learn and play more. I always felt the same way about those old classic country songs, the cheatin’ and leavin’ ones. The real “twangy” ones as my mother would say. I always thought, the sadder the better.

I think the 2 genres are related, 2^nd or 3^rd cousins I’d say. After all, Ray Charles recorded an entire country album. Willie Nelson recorded several of Ray Charles’ songs. Elvis, who was first a country and Gospel artist, derived his mainstream brand of rock ‘n roll from the early blues hits, “That’s Alright, Mamma” and “You Ain’t Nothin But a Hound Dog.” Bob Wills and the Texas Play Boys recorded, “Kansas City,” a straight up 12-bar blues song. The list goes on.

So the next time I feel a bit “blue,” maybe I’ll put some blues on and sing my heart out. Because for me, one truth will always remain the same when it comes to good song writing. There is just something about a really sad song that makes me so happy.

"Hound Dog" by Etta James

Magical Moment 625, "Thailand - the Elephants"

Needless to say, my favorite part of our Thailand vacation, was our week long volunteering at Elephant Nature Park ! The logging industry was banned in Thailand in 1989, leaving thousands of elephants unemployed. These elephants are now used for tourism. You may have heard of elephant shows featuring the animals playing soccer or painting pictures with their trunks. They are no doubt amazing to watch, but the sad truth is that these elephants have gone through a series of torture and abuse to "break their spirit" by their trainers. This short clip is very hard to watch, but it will give you an idea of what the elephants in captivity in the country of Thailand go through. The only elephants in Thailand who do not endure this, are the very few baby elephants who are first generation born in "safe captivity" at places like Elephant Nature Park. Every other elephant at this park has been brutally abused. Some have been blinded by their owners, le...

Magical Moment 620, "Lilac Garden"

Eddie and I visited the Lilac Gardens at Ringwood Manor in New Jersey, a pristine and beautiful state park with 8 species of lilacs and several varieties within. We went on a rainy afternoon, which turned out perfect because the rain stopped for us when we got there, and began again as soon as we left. It also decorated the plants with gorgeous rain drops, adding to their beauty. And now for a quick game of "Where's Elizabeth?" And "Where's Eddie?" ~~Have a great weekend! ~~

Magical Moment 280, "The Eleventh Hour"

The Veterans Day Parade, NYC On July 29, 2001 , five exceptional men were honored by the President of the United States for their remarkable military service. They were involved in a top secret mission that required unfathomable intelligence and as a result, literally won a battle which was instrumental in winning the war. Not the war that was happening in 2001, not even the Gulf War. It was World War II, and they were the Navajo Code Talkers who were largely responsible for winning the bloody battle of Okinawa. The only problem with the ceremony was that just 5 remained of the original 29. Our country was too late in thanking the other 24, and nearly too late in thanking those 5 men. On March 10, 2010, three hundred women won the Congressional Gold medal for their outstanding war service. Unfortunately, 800 received the award posthumously. These were the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of World War II, who devoted themselves to flying military aircraft like the B-26 and B-...

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