web analytics

Pop Rock Nation

Blog

  • Cringeworthy musical moments on classic TV…

    Cringeworthy musical moments on classic TV…

    This morning, I saw a YouTube video that totally inspired me to write about cringeworthy musical moments on classic TV…

    Forgive me. I’m having issues coming up with a good topic today. When this happens, I often turn to YouTube for inspiration. The very first thing I found was a classic video from 1978.


    Here’s William Shatner performing “Rocket Man” while smoking a cigarette and backed up with a disco version of Elton John’s and Bernie Taupin’s classic song.

    Some people claim this video is unwatchable, but I find it strangely fascinating. I sit here and wonder what possessed someone to ask William Shatner to act out this song. On the other hand, it’s kind of hilarious, especially when he gets all boogiefied with his bow tie undone. Bizarre and definitely cringeworthy.

    Never one to pass up an opportunity to be cringeworthy, Donny Osmond also makes this post when he sings this truly horrifying cover of “Johnny Be Good”. He’s changed up the lyrics, though, to honor the then nearly elected U.S. President, Ronald Reagan.


    This is godawful. I notice that no one in the audience seems to get into this number. Is it just because they’re straight-laced Republicans? Or is it because this number is truly cringeworthy?

    Marie Osmond does her best to rally the crowd, but it all kind of falls into a cheesy kind of hell. I like the guy sitting behind Reagan, who looks like he might need to pull the underwear out of the crack of his ass.

    In 1975, the late country singer Charlie Rich showed up for the 1975 Country Music Association awards completely bombed out of his mind. Watch how he presents the Entertainer of the Year award…


    I like how Glen Campbell introduces Charlie Rich while holding a lit cigarette. Everybody smoked in the 70s, didn’t they?

    And because everybody smoked, Mr. Rich had a cigarette lighter with him, which he used to light John Denver’s winning ballot on fire. I’ve read that poor Charlie’s career suffered due to that little stunt. I also love the way Glen Campbell looks nervously at the camera… which immediately reminds me of this scene from 2005.


    I remember watching this live in 2005 when Kanye West went off script…

    Poor Mike Myers looks like he wants to just fall through the floor. Bless his heart. Totally cringeworthy, although I can understand why many people were fine with what Kanye West said.

    Kanye West was also at the forefront of cringeworthy at the 2009 MTV awards, when he totally dissed poor Taylor Swift, who was just trying to graciously accept an award…


    I’m not a Taylor Swift fan, but I thought she handled this fairly gracefully. If I were her, I’d be itching to kick Kanye in the cojones.

    Here’s a relatively mild clip from the ACM awards from 2003. Vince Gill presents an award to Toby Keith…


    If you recall, Toby’s name was referenced on a t-shirt worn by a certain Dixie Chick.

    Maybe not as cringeworthy as Kanye’s antics, but I do like the way Vince and Reba banter back and forth.

    And finally, here’s a clip from 1993 starring RuPaul and Milton Berle…


    I don’t remember when this happened… but dayum! Definitely cringeworthy. I think RuPaul won that round, too.

    I’m hoping to get out this weekend and find some fresh inspiration for my music posts. For now, I hope your weekend isn’t cringeworthy and you don’t spend it watching TV.

  • Worrying…

    Worrying…

    Today’s post is inspired by worrying… I do way too much of it.

    I was up half the night last night due to my dog, who somehow injured his right hind paw on Saturday. He tore off the skin on his paw pad. My husband, Bill, took him to the vet, coincidentally the same one we used last time we lived in Germany. She wrapped up his paw and advised Bill to bring him back in on Monday, which Bill did. A different vet checked the paw and re-wrapped it. I don’t know if it’s the process of healing or the material in the “boot” the vet put on Zane, but he was very agitated last night. I ended up removing the boot and he spent the night chewing his paw, which made me start to worry that maybe the paw injury wasn’t just a simple flesh wound.


    I tried to find Monty Python’s original, but these two did a pretty decent cover of “I’m So Worried” and changed up the lyrics a bit…

    The worry over the dogs paw made me start thinking about my tooth, which has been bugging me. It’s the last molar on my bottom row of teeth that hasn’t yet been crowned. As we’re now in Germany, I don’t have a dentist yet… or dental insurance. Naturally, that made me think of how much dental treatment will cost and whether or not we can pay for it.


    Medical Love Song is an old Monty Python favorite, sung here by Eric Idle… and I’m sure once we figure out what’s up with my teeth, I’ll start worrying about my health.

    My mom had breast cancer surgery yesterday. She’d had two lumps removed last month, but the surgeon wasn’t sure he got all the cancerous cells. So she had a single, simple mastectomy yesterday. She was very stoic about the prospect of losing her breast, which I guess when you’re 76 ears old, your husband has died, and your kids are grown, it’s less of a big deal. It wouldn’t be to me, but then I’m not nearly as practical as my mom is. She’s from Virginia and has the accent to match, but to me she’s very Scottish and always maintains a stiff upper lip.


    My mom’s motto… “Always Look on The Bright Side of Life”… I’d do well to heed this advice.

    I really should relax and enjoy life, but little issues keep popping up conspiring to bother me and making me anxious and depressed. It’s a good thing I have a sense of humor.


    “Never Be Rude to An Arab” is perhaps a good reminder not to watch the news, which these days may provoke xenophobia, particularly when the subject of ISIS comes up.

    On the other hand, “The Galaxy Song” is a good reminder of just how insignificant my problems really are. I live in the first world, after all.


    I think I need to listen to Monty Python Sings all day today to remind me of what a big joke life really is.

    Hope everyone has a delightful Tuesday.

  • Home sweet home… for now…

    Home sweet home… for now…

    Our furniture is here. Our cars are on the way. I think we’re home sweet home… for now…


    Motley Crue sings “Home Sweet Home”…

    I’m not really a big fan of 80s hair bands, but “Home Sweet Home” by Motley Crue just popped into my head as I’m sitting here thinking that for the 6th time in seven years, I’m “home sweet home”. I’m glad to be in Germany, though the process of getting here and settling wasn’t particularly easy. It helps to have lived here before, though. In fact, coming back here after five years kind of feels like a homecoming. While we lived in the Stuttgart area for only two years last time, it was our favorite place to live and we became quite comfortable here. As soon as our cars get here, it should be somewhat easier. I won’t necessarily be stuck in the house all the time like I was last time.

    It does seem weird that I feel more comfortable in Germany than I did in Texas. Maybe it has to do with the weather, which today is cold and rainy.


    Van Morrison’s stormy “Close Enough For Jazz” makes me think of living in Europe again, especially when it’s raining.

    Hopefully we won’t be “Homeward Bound” anytime soon. At least not for good.


    Going home won’t involve a railway station…

    Actually, we do have to go to Virginia in November and Virginia is my home. We’re going to attend our annual Thanksgiving family reunion, which is held by my side of the family. I used to be a regular attendee of the annual reunion, but when I got married, we quit going so much. Last time I was at the annual shindig was in 2010. I had a great time, but the following year, we went to the Caribbean and the year after that, we went to Scotland. This year, we’re going because of my dad’s death. That’s when his memorial service is going to be. I’m supposed to contribute a song. My mom asked me to sing, then said she hoped I could provide a “tape” of my own accompaniment. I don’t use tapes anymore, but I do have a CD.

    In the meantime, I have to rehearse, which seems a little hard to do in our new German house. I’ve found that sound leaks a lot, probably because the walls are concrete and echo a lot. Germans are also kind of particular about a lot of things, including noise. The last thing I want is someone knocking on my door to tell me to pipe down.


    Jimmy Hughes sings “Neighbor, Neighbor”, a song I might need to dedicate to someone at some point…

    The first time I heard “Neighbor, Neighbor” was in Germany. Gregg Allman was singing a cover version on his album Searching For Simplicity. That CD has the distinction of being the very first item I ever got in the mail in Germany back in 2007. I ordered it before we left the States and it was waiting for me in the post office. This time, we couldn’t get a box right away, so I had to wait for my first package. And this time, I didn’t bring any CDs.

    I realize this post is about a whole lotta nothing, but it’s all finally sinking in. We’re settling in one more time and hopefully for longer than a year or two.