And Then...Nothing Happened

There is a lot of railing against the current administration going on, primarily from the direction of Conservative talk radio and other right-wing pundits. You can hear it daily with the likes of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck. All day long you can hear the frenzied alarms and the pleas for action. Glenn Beck, in particular, has a trademark phrase, saying that people should “stand up” and take on the perceived attack on our nation from our government. It all sounds very passionate, but what I can guarantee you is this: absolutely no one will do anything about it.

These calls to action from the high-school educated radio talkers are the stuff of so-so rhetoric. The problem is that there is no one in this country who will do anything about their outrage. Anyone can utter as many “stand up and fight” or “take our country back” slogans as he wants, but all anyone will do is get pissed off. After all, it makes for great ratings. That’s why Conservative talk radio, and Conservative media as a whole, did their best to get Barack Obama elected. How? All they did was talk about Obama, preaching to their audience choir everyday, assuring the victory for Obama.

Personally, I don’t care either way. There’s nothing that can be done, especially when one reaches the realization that the electoral process is a joke and doesn’t exist anymore, if it ever did. Just like the two party system, there is nothing even remotely real in it anymore.
But that’s not the point. The point is that there is no one who will dare take any action other than pathetic Tea Parties that are no more than Tupperware Parties for the infuriated. I mean, Im' not suggesting anything drastic or revolutionary. I don't care enough. But if you're going to incite people, there must be some kind of concrete suggestion for relief. But no. Everyone loves being offended or beside themselves because they don’t actually have to do anything about it.
Even if there were actions to be taken, what would they be? Please don’t tell me, “The voting booth.” That’s a joke with no punch line. People won’t even get out to do that. Folks like being angry because it gives them a cause. Once the cause is resolved, there’s nothing left. Then life has no meaning.

And there is no excitement in satisfaction.

So what is the answer? There isn’t one, and nobody wants one. Righteous indignation looks good with any color.

Copyright 2009 by Andrew T. Durham

Eminem is Back: It's Been So Empty Without You

Eminem is back. And not a moment too soon. After I viewed his new video “We Made You” yesterday, I felt the stale air drain from the industry. As a musician, I have always liked Eminem because he actually uses MUSIC in his rap recordings. His sense of humor and irony, along with what appears to be a keen sense of what I can only describe as “disdain for trend whores”, makes his music actual music. There are statements that are overt and not couched in false poeticism, much like John Lennon’s early solo career.

I’ve played in rock bands most of my life, and I had grown to despise rap, as most sane people do. But Eminem changed that because of his uncanny ability to both elevate the medium and use it to parody itself at the same time. This is not easy, and something that is not done by anyone current. The Pet Shop Boys made a career out of such self-parody, but became stale. Someone once described Eminem as “hearing symphonies in his head.” I’m inclined to believe that.

No, I haven’t heard the entirety of his new record, but I intend to. If “We Made You” is any indication, it will be a treat.

Eminem is one of those rare personalities that I would love to sit down and talk to. I think the image he portrays is counter to what is going inside that bleach-blond head. That kind of quirkiness and what I’d call a sadistic passion for sarcasm can only come from something other than having had a tough life and killing people on the street. Some things come from genuine introspection and (dare I say) depth. Both of these are missing from the “life sucks” music of today, or the vacuous sex ballads by your generic female artist of the day.

Sometimes it is necessary to reach into inner space to escape the two-dimensional trash that assaults us from Entertainment Tonight, Access Hollywood, MTV or the mind-numbing garbage of American Idol (the untalented judging the talented. Imagine that.).
And, yes, sometimes it is necessary to bludgeon someone with a point instead of trying to slip it in through subconscious manipulation. No change of mind, no revolution, no spark of change ever started with a mere suggestion.

Eminem’s great song “Without Me” contains the line: “Feels so empty without me”. Yeah, it has felt that way.

Welcome back, Marshall.

(c) 2009 by Andrew T. Durham

Matt Smith: Eleventh Doctor in the Eleventh Hour

I have to admit, I have never seen any of Matt Smith’s acting. But when I saw the video interview with him when they announced he was to be the next Doctor Who, I was immediately sold. For those of you who don’t know – and if you don’t, you’re probably not reading this – Doctor Who is a British sci-fi series that has been going on since the early sixties. So far, 10 actors have played the part. You see, the Doctor is a time travelling alien, and when he’s near death he regenerates into a new body. This was an ingenious way for a new actor to take over the role when one tired of it, or was fired.

Therefore, the Doctor has had many personalities, my favorite being Peter Davison. I was first introduced to the series here in the US in the mid 70’s. I was about 9 years old, and I had a fever of 102 and was watching Public Television on a Saturday. I was watching Tom Baker as the Doctor – the most recognizable by many as Doctor Who – and the confusion and cheesiness of the show was adding to my delirium. I didn’t like it but after a while I couldn’t live without watching it.

When Peter Davison took over the role I was doubly interested because, at the time, I looked very much like him. In fact, at Halloween in 1988 I went as his Doctor in a costume that was meticulously tailored (at large expense) and it was EXACT. It was a fine moment for me.

I lost contact with the show since. I have been reading online a lot about the new series, but haven’t seen it, except for one small episode in which the current Doctor (David Tennant) meets one of his former selves (Peter Davison). This wonderful little vignette was oddly moving to me. It was so well done, and Tennant is the best Doctor I have seen since Davison. It was a very emotional experience for me.

When I heard they had picked a new Doctor, Matt Smith, I was relieved. My reason for my relief I will not expound upon other than to say I’m glad that casting people in the UK are much deeper than here in the US. I love them for not opting to turn the show on its ear or, worse, go politically correct. What I had been reading about speculation for future Doctors was making me nervous.

Anyway, I saw the little video interviewing Smith upon announcing his casting and I was, frankly, hooked again. Just watching this young man talk, his movements, his thankfully non-Hollywood appearance (oh, and the hair) was a spectacle to behold. I said – out loud actually – after watching the video, “You guys got it right!”

So I have a much renewed interest in the good old Doctor Who. I have no doubt whatsoever – none – that young Matt Smith will be a blessing to a show already blessed with long life. Amazing, amazing casting. Now I have to go rent something he’s been in.

Oh, and I think that at the end of every episode he should say, “Damn.” No reason. Just “Damn.”

So, as the Cloister Bell rings, I’m off.

(c) 2009 by Andrew T. Durham