An Apology and a Few Thoughts

In thinking over the posts from the past couple of months it has occurred to your faithful correspondent that the has violated his word about not discussing politics. Much too much of this space has been taken up with politics and such.

But the weight of the world sometimes crushes upon one's shoulders to the point that one violates one's promises without realizing it. The current antics of the Mohammedans and Mexificornicans overwhelms the dikes here at Bloody Nib Manor. Your faithful correspondent hardily apologizes for this breach.

So let us look at the state of popular culture.

The alleged singer named Madonna this week opened a tour in Los Angeles at the old Great Western Forum. Perhaps the operative word is old. Miss Madonna seems to have decided that, at the age of forty-eight, she is still in the business of trying to shock people. During her set she did a bit where she crucifies herself ib a disco mirrored cross as a statement of something. Then she goes on to dry hump the leg of a gay male dancer, and then so on and so forth -- the usual Madonna nonsense with yoga and gay bath house posing.

This is the same woman who claims to be an adherent of Kabbhala (or however it's spelled), claims to be a good mother despite the fact that she is one of the pioneers of slut culture, and tries to speak with an upper class English accent despite the fact that she was born and raise in Detroit. what Madonna seems to be is an example of cultural confusion. She's middle-aged and tries to shock. Her confidence in her talent as a singer seems to be lacking because she doesn't rely on her voice alone. Perhaps this is because she's not really a very good singer. Her philosophy seems to be that if she can't pull in the bucks by her singing she can pull in the bucks by attracting those who revel in her offence to the general culture.

On the other hand, we have the Colombian singer, Shakira. Shakira is, facially, not a particularly attractive woman. She is rather plain, though she has interesting hair.. But the woman has a voice. She's trying to crossover into the American market with her song "Hips Don't Lie." She has a good voice and good phrasing, though the lyrics of the song are rather inane. But aren't most pop songs inane when one examines them? We've also seen the video of the song and it is evident that the woman has the moves that Madonna (or Michael Jackson, for that matter) wishes she had. Jackson brought the world the "robot", Madonna brought the world the "poser." Shakira has the real moves.

But one often longs for the days with Peggy Lee and Julie London were able to hold an audience in thrall with their voices and strapless gowns while standing in front of microphones.