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Any odds on Willard Romney offering Herman Cain a VP slot in return for his endorsement? I thought, going back to May, that Cain was angling for the “Mr. Palin 2012” role all along. Heavy media fluffing got a lot of GOP primary voters prematurely overexcited, but now that Cain has “suspended” his grab for the top ticket, I doubt he’s too proud to accept second best and I’m sure Romney’s not above making the offer. Mitt doesn’t need Cain to raise money for him, but he certainly could use some help in the “connecting with actual humans” part, and Cain seems to please those voters least susceptible to the Romneybot’s advances. Of course it will grind Mitt’s gears to be forced into faking bonhomie with someone who represents everything Romney isn’t, but then, if Mitt had an interest in retaining any last shreds of dignity he’d never have gotten on the 2012 primary train…
Song of the week
I like this choice, because it’s my favorite Xmas song, with all due respect to Frank, Ella, and everyone who’s ever covered “Baby It’s Cold Outside”. From JPK, as always:
Ronettes, “Sleigh Ride” (1963)
It’s a sad day to see Phil Spector imprisoned for murder, even sadder that he deserves to be, but never mind that. Let’s think about the good old days, when he was a tortured recluse with a Napoleon complex churning out his “little symphonies for the kids.” The Christmas album he released for the 1963 season came at the peak of his studio wizardry and contains some of his best stuff, applied perhaps disconcertingly to familiar Christmas standards. The Ronettes were a pet project of his and he always seemed to work a little bit harder on getting their material to pop. And did it ever. This version of “Sleigh Ride” really swings through the dense layers, including an entire string section in one break. Ronnie Spector sounds great too, and there’s even a whinnying, clip-clopping horse. Ring-a-ling-a-ling-a-ding-dong-ding!
Wednesday Morning Open Thread
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Many thanks to commentor THE for introducing me to a new and entrancing musical instrument!
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Today is the last chance to send your pet photos to [email protected] (or click on my name, near the top of the right-hand column) for the Balloon Juice 2012 Calendar, once again for the benefit of Charlie’s Angels Animal Rescue.
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What else is — or should be — on the agenda today?
Sunday Morning Open Thread
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Just made it home from the annual Thanksgiving excursion, the dogs are racing all around the house checking to be sure everything remains exactly where it was left three-and-a-half days ago, and I am soooooooo glad not to be spending another night in a Red Roof Inn.
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What’s on the agenda for the end of this particular long weekend?
Song of the week
That “Bloodrock” song from a few weeks ago now goes through my head every time I’m on a plane that’s flying low…spooky.
Here’s this week’s Song of the Week, from Can’t Explain…
Big Star, “Jesus Christ” (1974)
It’s that time of year again, and for the next several weeks I plan to wage make peace in the war on Christmas by featuring seasonal songs. As always, you are invited you to share better songs, similar songs, or anything you’ve a mind to in the comments. I know this first one is not particularly Christmassy, but they will mostly get sweeter from here on out, I promise. And besides, what else can you call a song that repeatedly goes to the line “Jesus Christ was born today / Jesus Christ was born”? It comes from my favorite album by Big Star, Third (also known as Sister Lovers), which is an astonishing amount of heartache anyway. For some of us, it appears that’s what we’re looking for in the first place, and year round, whether we know it or not.
One more before the veins open: “Nightime”
More at Can’t Explain.
Pet sounds
I just thought of a topic that I can’t believe we’ve never discussed before: songs about pets! The only song I can think of that is truly about a pet is the Shaggs classic (and alleged Jon Hunstman fav) “Foot Foot”. Maybe “Me and You and a Dog Named Boo”. So let’s add in songs where pets play a prominent role. I’ll go with these, in order:
“Move It on Over” (whole song)
“Mr. Bojangles” (“the dog up and died, up and died”)
“Stray Cat Strut” (maybe a stray is not technically a pet, I don’t know)
“Born On the Bayou” (“I can still hear that hound dog barking”)
“Devil Woman” (don’t remember the exact lyric but there’s a scary cat)
Update. An all-pet-themed name that tune.
What else?
A true blue, a spectacle
I had an amazing experience today. I hadn’t actually bought my tickets west to visit my sister, just held them for 24 hours two months ago then forgot to finalize the transaction. I called up Delta and got the exact same flights with frequent fliers even though my departure is tomorrow. It’s a holiday miracle!
This put me in holiday mode (lamh35’s comment on Thanksgiving in NOLA already had me partway there), so I’m going to mostly do fun posts on stuff other than politics the next week.
Here’s one. I just heard Aretha Franklin’s cover of “You’re All I Need To Get By” on Pandora and I thought it would be fun to do a thread on people’s favorite covers of all time. I will define a cover as something someone recorded before but not a folk song or standard. How about a top 5 or 6 or 7 list with one additional restriction: no performer can appear more than once (otherwise you could do an all-Aretha list). Also, all other things being equal, not too obscurantist. I’ll go with
Love in Vain (Rolling Stones)
For the Good Times (Al Green)
I Say A Little Prayer For You (Aretha Franklin)
I’d Rather Go Blind (Koko Taylor)
Blue Eyes Crying In The Rain (Willie Nelson)
Sail Away (Etta James)
I Fought The Law (The Clash)
What’s your list?