Five Song Friday: Let's Talk About the C-Word
This Week: Infinite Loops, Garbage Music and Sleazy Bangers
I’m not sure this is the place to talk about hot button issues.
You don’t come here for hard takes on world politics, religion, or gender issues.
But recent events have made it hard to keep quiet.
That’s why I’m going to take a stand on a very divisive topic.
I have to speak my truth.
Some may disagree.
Some have warned me that taking sides will only widen the chasm that stands between “them” and “us.”
Some say I’m putting myself in danger.
I appreciate the concern, but I’ve remained silent long enough.
What I believe is what I believe.
And what I believe is that cats are assholes.
You heard me.
Cats have tricked us into thinking they are so great, but they are actually the worst.
They are selfish and aloof. They shed. And they go number two in a box they force us to keep inside our house!
I met a cat recently.
I sat down and patted my lap, but he barely acknowledged me and walked away.
And I’m thinking, I just wanted to pet you! I was offering you a warm seat here on my thighs! I was being VULNERABLE!
But he couldn’t care less.
If cats could laugh, I’m sure he would have walked away snickering. If he had fingers, I would have seen the middle one.
Whatever, cat.
Have fun living for only 18 years.
Be careful crossing the street.
I have two best friends at home who appreciate the privilege of sitting on me.
They come when called. And instead of spending their days sleeping and licking themselves, they actually protect my home by barking at every stranger and falling leaf that poses a threat.
And yes, my best friends are dogs.
It all makes sense now, right? You got it figured out.
This guy HATES cats and LOVES dogs.
He’s a “dog person,” the sworn enemy of “cat people.”
A feline loather. A ride or die doggy daddy.
But here’s the twist…
Our dogs are assholes too.
They only like me when I have food. They only hang out with me if nobody else is around. And when we take them for walks, I have to pick up their number twos with my hands!
They can’t even understand English.
So what’s my point?
Cats can be assholes AND dogs can be assholes too.
Sure, I prefer dogs over cats.
But if an animal is cool with me, I’m cool with them. I don’t see species.
Not every issue needs to be a THEM versus US.
Life doesn’t have to be Thunderdome or Bloodsport, where “two men enter and one man leaves.” We should be able to agree to disagree.
Every argument doesn’t have to be to the death.
You can love cats and I can like dogs.
It’s not a competition. Nobody has to “win.”
But if we’re honestly keeping score?
We’re the ones scooping the poops.
Sincerely,
DJ CrankyPete
Five Song Friday 088
“Di-gue-ding-ding” - Michel Legrand
I want this song as the soundtrack of my life. I want to wake up to it every morning and have it playing in my head on an infinite loop. How great would that be? It would be even greater if I lived in a big city and commuted to work and greeted coffee shop baristas and street grocers and construction crews while “di-gue-ding-ding dinging” all the doo-dah day! While it would eventually chip away at my sanity and leave me twitching and drooling on a park bench, those first few hours would be delightful!
“Cherry Cola’” - TTRRUUCES
I’ll admit that I don’t understand why this group needed to go ALL CAPS with extra letters in their name. But so what? I don’t need to “get” everything to enjoy it. No need to overthink. This is a sticky sweet pop-song, perfect for a carefree, sunshine-filled day on a beach somewhere far from here. Where? Anywhere you like. But for some reason, when I close my eyes and listen? I’m reminded of Barcelona.
“Pasi na bisengo’” - Fulu Miziki
I swear I’m not being lazy here, but sometimes it’s silly to try and fix what ain’t broke. Fulu Miziki roughly translates as “music from garbage.” And here’s what it says on the group’s Bandcamp listing: “From guembris built out of computer casing, to jerry-can drum-kits, keyboard inventions from wood, springs and aluminium pipes, and old flip-flops used as pads by plastic tube-wielding percussion players, the Democratic Republic of Congo-formed group’s ethos lies in the respect of nature, the celebration of its gifts and the importance of its preservation through environmentalism.” I literally could not have said it better myself!
“Florence-Jean’” - Damien Jurado
I throw a lot of weirdness your way and I know it can be a lot. I appreciate your tolerance and just want you to know that every once in a while, I’m happy to reward with you a quietly beautiful song from a good old-fashioned singer-songwriter from Seattle. Just a guy and his guitar singing about a girl. No pop culture samples. No noisy synth freestyling. No guest appearances by Snoop Dogg or Ice Spice. Just words and music!
“The Killer” - Greg Dulli
I gave myself a rule when I started this newsletter that I wasn’t going to do more than one song per artist. I’m pretty sure Greg Dulli is the reason for that rule, because without boundaries, odds are good that he would become a series regular. I’d consider it my duty to spread his words and music far and wide, kind of like Johnny Appleseed. But instead of boring old fruit trees, the countryside would be littered with his solo albums and bonafide masterpieces from The Afghan Whigs and The Twilight Singers. Sure, you can use apples to make cider and pie and stuff, but nothing satisfies like a sordid, soulful, slightly sleazy Dulli banger.
“Forget Oreos, eat Cool J Cookies,” - LL Cool J