Monday, February 14, 2022

Polar-. . . .

 . . . ization

(from Thomas Jefferson: The Art of Power by Jon Meacham)
". . . "Why, then," (George Washington addressing Thomas Jefferson about the latter's differences with Alexander Hamilton) "when some of the best citizens in the United States - men of discernment - uniform and tried patriots, who have no sinister views to promote, but are chaste in their ways of thinking and acting are to be found, some on one side, and some on the other of the questions which have caused these agitations, should either of you be so tenacious of your opinions as to make no allowances for those of the other?". . . "


So Near and Yet So Far

- Fred Astaire, from You'll Never Get Rich (1941)



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Sunday, February 13, 2022

Elephants . . .

. . . and Grains

‘Grains’, an eclectic yet approachable album of songs, will be released as a digital download only, via the worldwide web. The album is an amalgamation of jazz influences and chops, Brill Building pop writing and colors from a life well-lived and loved. The album includes 'Broken'- a former tyrant expressing his regrets, 'Thinking'- a pure love-song, 'Otherwise' and 'Elephants'- reflections on recent events and 'Baggage'- the frustration with the everyday grind. 'Grains' (as in 'like sands through the hourglass' ) will be available through most online music retailers, including music.apple.com and amazon.com, June 14, 2022.  Grains’ differentiates itself from all of my prior releases by its composition of entirely vocal music. Much of my music is written with lyrics but released as instrumental as the musical content and performance have always taken priority for me. I do like, however, many of the lyrics I write and have therefore chosen to make an album consisting of vocals exclusively. A track from 'Grains' is included here for you to sample.


Elephants

©2021 Raymond M. Jozwiak
from 'Grains', release date June 7, 2022


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Saturday, February 12, 2022

Living Color . . .

 


Much analysis, many comments and various reflections have been offered regarding this performance, these photos, and the production of the film "Get Back" since its release on Disney TV. But the one, lasting, most impressive aspect of the entire thing, has really got to be the color of those pants.


Where'd You Get Those Pants?

- Fishbone



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Thursday, February 10, 2022

Complacency . . .


It won’t happen.
Turmoil’s not round the bend for us.
All controls are in place;
Neat in their space

See the keeper’s
Keeping vigilant watch
Through a window obscured.
This I assure.

It just can’t
Happen here.

No one saw it 
Sneaking up round the corner. Was
Like a thief in the night
Without a fight.

Quite the artist.
Candy-coating what he’s saying
For his own selfish means. 
That’s how he leans.

Advocate progressive-sounding ideas.
Tell the people what they want to hear.

There’s no hiding
Dissatisfaction you feel. 
Keeps on burning inside.
Still you abide.


Can't
©2021 Raymond M. Jozwiak
from 'Grains' to be released June 7, 2022



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Wednesday, February 9, 2022

Familiar? . . .

 

(from Thomas Jefferson; The Art of Power by Jon Meacham)
". . . Debt-ridden, France faced a supreme test. In the mid-1780s, partly because of its spending on the American Revolution, the Bourbon government of Louis XVI was in a long-term financial crisis, exacerbated by widespread hunger and by anger over the concentration of wealth in the hands of a few. Jefferson was shocked by the poverty he saw among ordinary Frenchmen: Patsy always remembered the beggars who surrounded their carriage as they first traveled to Paris. . . The financial and political difficulties facing the monarchy and the French nation were immense. Taxes were unequal and haphazardly collected; the heaviest burden of the cost of the Crown and its expensive ways and wars fell less on nobles or clergy, who were largely exempt, and more on commoners, creating understandable tension and popular hostility. . ."


Money (That's What I Want)
- The Beatles



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Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Sailing . . .

Sailing on an emerald sea.
Advertisements and color photographs
Don’t mean that much to me.
Poolside cocktails; 
Love in the sand. 
It’s like a dream that just came true.
I just don’t know how much that I can stand.
Many temptations are swimming round my head. 
So many places that you’d think I’d like to be instead but . . . 

I’m always thinking of you.
I hope you think of me too.
I only want to be where you are.

Riding to the Wellington Club.
I’d have a driver and he’d take me there.
I’d just sit back and put my two feet up.
Money doesn’t measure the man.
All you can do is spend it; spend again.
It only goes so far. You can’t pretend. 
Many times over I’ve seen it slip away.
I’d like to live that life sometime
But baby not today. Cause . . . 

I get a feeling when I’m with you
That nothing else captures the same way.
You know it’s true.

If you see the pyramids rise
Above the desert sand into the sky,
A greater sight you just won’t realize. 
River fights its way to the sea.
Worthy opponents just can’t hinder it.
It always gets to where it wants to be.
Just like the river, I see my destiny.
It’s right there in your very eyes
Each time you look at me and . . . 


Thinking
©2021 Raymond M. Jozwiak from 'Grains'
Release date June 7, 2022



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