"(I'm Not An) Effigy" by Ministry

I'm sure for hundredth time I can't believe I haven't posted this song before!  This was one of my favorite songs back in the 1980's..

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Vs9jVAhGok
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdB6e91stm0
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcqUt1g58t0

"I Feel Like I'm Drowning" by Two Feet

I'm fucking annoyed that YouTube has started suggesting Ben Shapiro videos to me.  I watched a part of one where he claims that transgender people are men trying to become women and women trying to become men.  I cannot believe anyone is that fucking STUPID!!!  Why is it so fucking hard for these idiots to understand that people can be born with a body that doesn't match their brain?!?!?!  People are NOT defined by their genitalia!  FUCKING IDIOTS!!!!  Of course he is a dick so maybe he is defined by his genitalia.

Now I'm so fucking annoyed I want to spit nails!!!

On a much nicer note, I heard this on the radio today:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_WTHkBuqbg
YouTube (lyric): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HLIMp2rkFc
YouTube (live TV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5LHj82d1Rw

"Out Of The Black" by Daphne Willis

`I've had so much trouble lately staying out of "The Blues" and I suppose The Black as well.  Ever since I heard the news about Alexis' suicide just before Christmas.

YouTube (Lyric): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouECZLqMSMk
YouTube (Live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvzH_4Ujjog

"Blue Christmas" by Elvis Presley

Christmas eggs SueZQ made as gifts

It was definitely a blue Christmas for me.  Funny, though, I only performed this song once during the season (at Handle Bar).

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6WnnZRSKYs
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDmmwECdf8I
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QipqXel5G4g

"...Baby One More Time" by Britney Spears

This TEDx talk popped up and I found it pretty interesting.  One of the songs he uses for example is this one.


YouTube (TEDx): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tjFwcmHy5M

Plus some people have done this song at karaoke and it is fun.  I never thought I would post a Brittany Spears song, but now that I think about it I shouldn't ever think things like that.  That would be like all the people who dis Barry Manilow which really pisses me off.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-u5WLJ9Yk4

"I Like Your Kind of Love" by Andy Williams (feat. Peggy Powers)

Photos taken 29-Mar-2007

Broadway Music when it was on State Street in Salt Lake City

I was looking through some photos and found some photos I had taken back on 29-Mar-2007 of two businesses that are no longer there: Broadway Music and Virg's Fish and Chips.

I added the photo of Virg's Fish and Chips to my post for 30-Mar-2017.

Record that was likely purchased when Broadway Music was on 6th South

I was putting away records yesterday and remembered seeing my note about a Broadway Music price tag on the Andy Williams record.  I dug it back out today and used the old lighter fluid trick to remove the sticker on top, to reveal the Broadway Music price tag.  I'm sure this record would have been sold when Broadway Music was on 6th South, before it moved to State Street.

It is interesting how Peggy Powers is depicted on the label as playing "Andy's Girlfriend"

Anyway, this is another favorite by Andy Williams.  I also made a list below of the other favorites I've posted.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xj80dGQYU1E

A Fool Never Learns - Jan. 26, 2013
Are You Sincere - Oct. 14, 2014
The Bilbao Song - Oct. 12, 2014
Butterfly - Dec. 1, 2016 *
Can't Get Used to Losing You - Sept. 23, 2012 *
Canadian Sunset - Sept. 24, 2012 *
Charade - Sept. 22, 2012
Days of Wine and Roses - Sept. 25, 2012
Don't Go to Strangers - Oct. 15, 2014
I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face - Nov. 7, 2016
Lonely Street - Oct. 13, 2014
May Each Day - Sept. 27, 2012
Moon River - Sept. 26, 2012 *
On the Street Where You Live - Nov. 6, 2016
The Shadow of Your Smile - July 26, 2013
Suddenly There's a Valley - Oct. 17, 2014
(In the Summertime) You Don't Want My Love - Oct. 16, 2014

* = I've performed the song at karaoke

"Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms

Chad and Tiffany 15 years ago tonight at the house in Suncrest in Draper

This has to be my Christmas song of the year, I've done it several times now at karaoke.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itcMLwMEeMQ
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNbb8omXnpA

"Tangerine" by Helen O'Connell

Hanging out with Joni, Tifffani and Jenni this evening at Jitter Bug Coffee Hop.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBMbQ1VHbOc&t=3m

"Carol of the Bells" by Trans-Siberian Orchestra

I've decided to post more Carol of the Bells. The first video I've listed is really fun.  And the official one is fun too!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GufRiBUZQPc
YouTube (Official):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MHioIlbnS_A
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBJx_AfKQBM
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCabI3MdV9g

"Carol of the Bells" by David Foster

Lily not doing well

They have been playing the shit out of this on FM100 this last week.  Since Lily (my car) is in very bad shape I/we've been driving my old Prius (Ma Petite Shu).  Half of the dashboard controls don't work after they were sprayed with Coca-Cola, so the only option is to listen to the radio.

But if you saw my post from 18-Dec-2011... wow exactly 7 years ago today, I love this Christmas song!  Definitely a tune I *LOVE*!!!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcp3_VdL80s
YouTube (TV Special): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvHAkxm0Su4

"When I Get Home" by Ivy Levan

Ivy Levan is so... fucking hot!  And I love her voice when she sings really deep and sultry.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr1poQzcln8

"A Rose for Emily" by The Zombies

I finished watching the 2nd season The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel on Amazon Prime and I can't say how disappointed I was!  I loved the first season!  I thought it was the best series I've seen in years.  I had to suffer through the second season, it was downright painful.

Anyway, they used the song "This Will be Our Year" by The Zombies in the final episode.  I it posted on 3-Jan-2015, almost 4 years ago, in my old blog.  2014 was the year I discovered who I really was and I found joy and happiness beyond what I had ever imagined.  So I was predicting that 2015 would be a great year and I had no idea how wonderful my life would be after that.

I came out and started living full time as a woman at the end of March 2015.  I transitioned from my old blog on 12-Apr-2015 by making my last post and my first post in this blog.  The judge signed my name and gender change on 5-May-2015, and I legally became Rachel Edwards and Female.

So this another great song from The Zombies "Odessey and Oracle" album.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF55LNrHBSw
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha2fLpBaB1k
YouTube (official): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gs-bVMs1LKU
YouTube (live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFoZwe-hZCE
YouTube (Full Album): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goDxhJl1UJE

"I Was Made For Lovin' You" by Kiss

I can't remember now where I heard this but it's cool...

YouTube (topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LbvlHOo_G8
YouTube (1979): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlSFmotba2I

"I'm Not In Love" by 10cc

My friend Heather and I at The 5th

I can't remember what brought this song to mind, but here it is...

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STugQ0X1NoI

"Oh, honey... if the date ends with you cutting a check, that's not love!"

YouTube (Late Night): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGmrk2KzPnU

YouTube (Oh honey...): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGmrk2KzPnU&t=6m33s

"Morning Rider on the Road" by The Partridge Family

45's I got in Pleasant Grove

I found a plastic bag with some 45 RPM singles in it on my floor, I wasn't sure exactly where they came from until I found the receipt from Purple Turtle.  I remembered I found the 45's in that little thrift shop in Pleasant Grove and then went and got something to eat at the Purple Turtle.

When I lived in Lehi / Pleasant Grove and later when I worked at Incognito in American Fork I used to love to eat at the Purple Turtle.  It didn't seem to be as good this time and I thought it was outrageously expensive.

Anyway, this 45 jumped out at me.  I loved this song back in the day.  The lyrics seem a little weird now, like the lines "like a hobo in the sun" and "like an Indian on the run" feels a little weird now, but I still like it.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJy_oW2QSlA
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QeK1-UU8ljc
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3gpxAdYgKI


But what I really find disturbing now is the second 45 in the photo "For the Love of Him" by Bobbi Martin.  Can you say misogynistic!?!?!  I like this song, but it's pretty painful listening to it.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1tuw5d-1_k

"This Diamond Ring" by Rachel Edwards

The "This Diamond Ring" album was the first record album I ever bought and paid for with my own money.  It was at the old Wangsgards on 2nd Street in Ogden.  They relocated a few years ago and I suspect they don't sell vinyl records anymore.  ;)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hck2-Bej3y4

It has been eye opening for me how much work and time it takes creating music and videos for them.  When I was writing software we would make an estimate and then quadruple it.  (We often went over that LOL!)

I spent hours and hours over several days on that "rough draft" video for "Five to One" that I changed  released on Election Day (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=883O0LNoRWc).  It's going to take many more hours to redo it the way I have envisioned now.

I thought I could bang this song out in one or two takes and be done.  The first take wasn't too bad, I debated whether to call that it.  But then I thought I could make it just a little better.  I did six more takes and, once again, I felt each one had some minor flaw.  I finally gave up in frustration.

I performed this song last night at karaoke and decided to give it one more go when I got home.  I recorded this at 1:30 AM and it's not perfect but it's okay.  We used to have a saying at work: there comes a time in every project where you have to kill the engineer.  LOL

Anyway, the point I wanted to make is support musicians and art, especially your local musicians and artists.  Our local music scene is Salt Lake is INCREDIBLE!!  Music and art make life worth living.  There is just no way I could have made it this far without music in my life.

Please don't just rip their music, buy their CD's, official downloads, AND vinyl records (Talia Keys and the Love's vinyl record is so COOL!!!).

Michelle Moonshine: http://michellemoonshine.com
Shecock and the Rock Princess: http://shecock.band
Stop Karen: http://stopkaren.bandcamp.com
Talia Keys: http://taliakeys.com

Wangsgards Market: https://www.facebook.com/Wangsgards-Market-419492170012/

"Bad Seed Rising" by Bad Seed Rising

Car at the Utah State Capital yesterday for the Prop 2 debacle

Watched the really fun movie "Spy" with SueZQ tonight and this song payed over the ending credits.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSUMF5bSGTI

"Be the Resistance" by Talia Keys

Talia Keys at The Garage on Beck Street - Nov. 29th, 2018

Talia and I with the ladies in red that night at The Garage

I was watching this interview of Chris Hedges (author of the book "America: the Farewell Tour") on YouTube and the part at the end where he was talking about resistance reminded me of Talia's song ("Be the Resistance") she performed a few nights ago.  It made me cry.  I have transcribed that portion of the interview below.

Unfortunately the memory on both my phones filled up and I was unable to record Talia performing this song that night at The Garage.  I promise that as soon as I am able I will video it and post it here.

Talia Keys: http://taliakeys.com/
Talia Keys (upcoming performances): http://taliakeys.com/tour.html

---

This is the full interview, almost an hour long:

YouTube (Chris Hedges): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCDd3VoAFUs

This is just the part where the talk about resistance starts:

YouTube (Resistance): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCDd3VoAFUs&t=48m15s

Chris:  Resistance entails suffering.  It requires self-sacrifice.  It accepts that we may be destroyed.  It is not rational. It is not about the pursuit of happiness, it is about the pursuit of freedom.  Resistance accepts that even if we fail, there is an inner Freedom that comes with defiance and perhaps this is the only freedom and true happiness we will ever know.

To resist evil is the highest achievement of human life.  It is the supreme act of love. It is to carry the cross, as a theologian James Cone reminds us, and to be acutely aware that what we are carrying is also what we will die upon.

Interviewer: You write so passionately about the ideal of resistance, is resistance a spiritual act?

Chris: Yes!

Interviewer:  How so?

Chris: It's an act of faith.  Because empirically everything you do in terms of resisting radical evil, as Cone called it, may show that all of your efforts have been futile.  But it doesn't invalidate resistance.  It's the belief, as Daniel Berrigan once told me, the great radical priest, that the good draws to it the good.  Even though there's nothing around us to justify that belief.  The Buddhists call it Karma.

And I think that that's true.  I think that, ah, having covered the revolutions in Eastern Europe, I saw how these great dissidents... I was in the Magic Lantern theater in Prague every night with Vaclav Havel, that you keep that other moral narrative alive.  And you don't always know who hears it, what effect it has and it's only sustainable by faith, and I don't mean in any kind of any Orthodox religiosity.

It's what Nebra (?) calls Sublime Madness, the belief that you know an act of resistance in itself confers freedom and I think that's right, even if you fail.   And it's bleak, out there.  But we can't use the word hope if we don't resist.  I have children, these corporate forces have us by the throat and they have my children by the throat.

I don't know if we're even going to survive as a species.  And we may fail.  But you know as parents we have a duty to make sure that at least our children say they tried.  And that will require forms of self-sacrifice, it will be unpleasant.  Maybe even dangerous.

It means removing our faith in established systems of power, which have proven unable to deal with the most significant challenge to human life.  Which is climate change, which was first identified as a problem in 1902 or 1905.  I mean as the world devolves, people are going to look back at us and say were we the good Germans, did we just sit there and watch the trains roll by and do nothing.  Ah, I don't want them to say that about me.

Wikipedia (James Cone): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_H._Cone
Wikipedia (Daniel Berrigan): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Berrigan
Wikipedia (VacLav Havel): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A1clav_Havel

"Echo Valley 2-6809" by The Partridge Family

I wanted to sing this song at karaoke tonight, but apparently there isn't a karaoke version, so I did "I Think I Love You" again.

YouTube (TV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jV-mS3x4kAI
YouTube (LP): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lu0sdWBFa3Q

"It's No Sin" by Eddy Howard

I was thinking this morning it would be fun to sing a Eddy Howard song for karaoke, but I didn't find any karaoke for Eddy Howard on YouTube.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42XcQ0eyNAQ
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXDr2nK4-Tg

---

I decided it would be easiest if I made a list of all the Eddy Howard songs I have previously posted.  I noticed I posted these songs just a couple of weeks before I came out.  I've been Rachel for long enough now that it's weird to think about... a time before.

28-Nov-2018 It's No Sin
15-Mar-2015 My Best to You
17-Mar-2015 My Last Goodbye
8-Mar-2016 Ragtime Cowboy Joe
14-Mar-2015 The Rickety Rickshaw Man
16-Mar-2015 To Each His Own

"Wildflower" by Skylark

These flowers just looked so pretty - they always cheer me up!

So I've had this one line of a song playing in my head for 3 or 4 days now: "'Cause she's a lady".  Definitely not the Tom Jones "She's a Lady" song, more of a ballad.  I sang the line for SueZQ and she came up with even more lyrics but neither of us could even identify the band.

Google to the rescue!  As soon as I saw the word "Wildflower" pop up it all came flooding back to me.  I'm amazed by how many karaoke versions of this song there are.

YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ8n_Esop5I
YouTube (lyrics): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tU_ecCRlXA4
YouTube (live 1973): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zPWlOXwnGo
YouTube (live 1973): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9bJJNUdXEs


YouTube (karaoke): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l878arGKgg
YouTube (karaoke): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yF0kL7WthYg
YouTube (karaoke): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QILiu9rV2j8
YouTube (karaoke): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7VV__ZuDaQ
YouTube (karaoke): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoV5Od0MRAQ

"P Party" by Reverend Morley

This is so fun!  And not just because I acted in it (but that was really fun too)!

YouTube (pt. 1): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2lBfO9iuGI
YouTube (pt. 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9Inem2Vcro

"Five to One" by Talia Keys and the Femmes feat. Rachel Edwards

Genevra, Aaron, me and TenAce

Marz, Shell, Sara, me, Joni and Genevra

With June and Hillary

I got on stage last night at my fundraiser with Talia Keys and the Femme (Lindsay, Sofia, Hillary and Kat).  It was so powerful feeling!!  I forgot the 3rd verse and kinda fucked that up, but it was still so fun!!  I can't wait to do it again sometime.

This is the only video I have found so far and it apparently requires you to log into Facebook before you can view it:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/june.hiatt/videos/t.100009331899173/10157086767598313/

"I Forgot That Love Existed" by Van Morrison

Facebook Event for fundraiser

Facebook (event): https://www.facebook.com/events/2280325958908598/

YouTube (hero): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQrWVnRUYTA

Some of my incredible friends at the Rock-n-Roll Camp for Womyn

I have truly been at a loss for words at the very concept of this benefit show that my incredible friends have put together.  This song doesn't fit perfectly, as it is more like I had no idea love like this even existed.  I'm crying just thinking about it!

Lindsay's video above made me cry.  I've never thought of myself as a hero, I just wanted to try to help people.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzz3-NPwgjo
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bv0qexZEaHw
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SseS5ATB2wI
YouTube (live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2DXzsA3Ris


CatPalmer: http://catpalmer.com

"Killer Queen" by Queen

This creepy thing turned itself on this morning and started scanning the discs.

I'm standing in front of my closet this morning and suddenly heard noises from the other side of the room.  It scared me and when I looked this old DVD player had turned itself on and was scanning through the discs.  Very creepy!

SueZQ and I went and saw the "Bohemian Rhapsody" movie tonight and it was AWESOME!!  We loved it!!!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZBtPf7FOoM

---

A video for Transgender week:

HuffingtonPost: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-real-thing-transgender-film_us_5bef4438e4b07573881e935d

#TransIsBeautiful

"Won't Get Fooled Again" by The Who

I've been reading this book "America: The Farewell Tour", very scary and depressing!  I fear he is correct about what is happening and we are FUCKED!!!  He says this is all going to come crashing down and because America is a violent society overflowing with guns, it is going to be ugly!!

He quotes this song in the book "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss".

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHhrZgojY1Q
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHhrZgojY1Q
YouTube (Live 1977): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WX_96uKZ7yQ
YouTube (Live 1978): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n19GVGtBAUE
YouTube (Live 1985): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDVdomcsjBA

---

This video on Canadian TVO is what I saw and learned about this book:

YouTube (TVO): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tPk9HSLagVg

"I think Trump is the symptom, not the disease. He's a con artist.  He's a demagogue."

"John Wayne" by Lady Gaga

Gotta love Lady Gaga, just so outrageous!  This popped up after yesterday's song.  I love it!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9iQ8lIfyEs

"Biscuit" by Ivy Levan

You know how my life revolves around red, Red, RED!!!  I would *LOVE* this video even if I didn't like the song, so much *RED*!!!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKVImK7DFFU

---

I've had some hella good laughs watching Stephen Colbert, but I think this is the first time I've ever been laughing so hard I couldn't breathe!!

Matt Whitaker's History Of Time-Travel, Toilets & Bigfoot:

YouTube (Late Show): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5VpXBKxt_U

"Five to One (Election Day Version)" by Rachel Edwards

I made this video a couple of months ago and used some photos from protests we did here in Utah.  Mostly photos from the Women's March at the Utah State Capital.  Many of the photos are not that interesting, I decided I needed to completely rework it.

But I woke up this morning thinking about this being such an important election and I wanted to express my feelings.  So I switched up the ending, both the vocal and the video.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=883O0LNoRWc

"Hard to Explain" by Rachel Edwards

Being transgender is not hard to explain!  What IS hard to explain is how "good" Christians, or any "good" person for that matter, can support an evil con-man as Donald Trump.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CdWm87QmA54

"Spooky" by New Order

Melahn, I, Sofia and Talia after the Shecock & the Rock Princess Halloween show

Shecock: https://www.shecock.band
Talia Keys: https://taliakeys.com

This is another song from New Order's "Republic" album.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qc-1spEDBI
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9w333I0mbkQ
YouTube (32-bit @ 96Khz): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETjmUEEn1lM

"Angel On My Shoulder" by Shelby Flint

This popped up on YouTube when I was searching for yesterday's song and it's fun having this same song, but with a female vocal.  One interesting change was putting the four-leafed clove in her locket instead of his pocket.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CZgDW01kHY

"Angel on My Shoulder" by Jerry Wallace

Rewinding the tape on my Reel-to-Reel tape deck

This is a 45 RPM single that I distinctly remember from my childhood, that I loved both sides.  I wasn't really aware of the whole A-side, B-side thing back then.  Turns out this is the B-side.

YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk9ohGwvtpo

And the 45 I recorded on a reel-to-reel and then made a video of playing it back.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bvdiHiaNz4&t=44m11s

"Wild, Wild West" by The Escape Club

Rob and I DJ'ing at the Wasatch Mtn. Club, 17 years ago in 2001

First may I note that when you're cool the sun never goes down!  LOL

I bumped into Craig in Natural Grocers earlier this evening.  He said he was too sick this year to arrange for us to do the Halloween party at the Wasatch Mountain Club, so someone else booked a Techno DJ.  Craig said he didn't like it at all and can't wait for Rob and I to do it again this year.

Here's a great song that we usually play every year at the Halloween party...

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ES3iNPcPL8
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vE5ewvxdfo
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqrSYOVdPek

"Somebody's Watching Me" by Talia Keys and the Love

I went to Talia's show tonight.  It was so empowering!!  I felt like hell most of today.  I spent most of the day in bed, hurting all over.  Now I feel absolutely amazing, stronger and more powerful.  Music is so healing!!

I was Marz's date this evening, plus many of our tribe were there all dressed up.  Hillary was even wearing red high heels  :)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ6DGOn7Rbw

"Armor" by Sara Bareilles

Just came across this new song from Sara, I love it! 

"Only the little boys tell you they're a big man" - Amen sister!  Pay attention Donald Trump you tiny little boy!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=igm2cMXrOZY

"What's Up" by Heather

My beautiful, wonderful friend Heather, performing the karaoke version of this 4 Non-Blondes song at The 5th in Bountiful, Utah.

I swear this is the song I have heard more than any other song at all of the places I've done karaoke this year.  My opinion is that Heather has done the best of them all.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi6uh_DmftQ

"Prey" by Rackett

This popped up on YouTube today.  This video is really twisted, but I love the setting.  I owned a yellow vacuum exactly like that one and we had that TV when I was a kid.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0H6k6WcAReg

"Hey Good Lookin'" by Rachel Edwards

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fEBE01J2K4

"The Circle Game" by Tom Rush

I got out the Tom Rush album "The Circle Game" to record one of my favorite songs ("No Rush") to practice for karaoke.  I ended up listening to this song, written by Joni Mitchell, over and over and over.

This first video is beautiful and depicts the lines of the song.  I love the "Live 2016" video because Tom talks about Joni Mitchel writing songs and the events surrounding the song.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzXyoeKOcx4
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dURdp9tXa6k
YouTube (Live 2016): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EVc5U5zpno

"Sweet Jane" by Cowboy Junkies

Yet another song from the second episode of "The Romanoffs" on Amazon Prime.  I love it!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fa9nN3G2CSg
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGQp38_lzCg

"Sabre Dance" by Aram Khachaturian

I started watching "The Romanoffs" series on Amazon Prime and this tune was in the second episode.

Such powerful music!  I love seeing it played by the orchestra, amazing!!

And OMFG watching Liberace play this on the piano I'm awe struck!  How he can hit all those keys that fast is absolutely incredible!!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqg3l3r_DRI
YouTube (Classic FM Orchestra): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMczfLNoGYQ
YouTube (Liberace): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2t6SWG1vgo

"The Song From Moulin Rouge" by Percy Faith & Felicia Sanders

I watched the old film "Dressed to Kill" about a "transsexual" serial killer.  I think this song was played during the credits.  Has been stuck in my head since.

I didn't like the film very much.  I give it two thumbs down.  I didn't like the style of the film and I definitely didn't like the concept or the way a "transsexual" was depicted.

"Transsexual" is now referred to as "Transgender", but I can still identify as a Transsexual.  In her book "Whipping Girl" Julia Serano argues that we are transsexuals.  Transgender is more of an umbrella term.  (See my post from 22-Sep-2015.  Wow!  Over 3 years ago... how time flies...  This song a hit 65 years ago!)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSQqLef23HY
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LPDF2ORPOFQ

"The Other Side of Life" by The Moody Blues

Choices for the Fundraiser

Genevera sent me the 3 photos on the above left as options as a picture of me for the fundraiser flyer.  The photo on the right was one I thought of as a possibility.

I decided this morning to go with the one where I was in red, that Cat Palmer took for her Transgender display last year.  After all red is my power color, I'm all about the RED!!

---

I was just thinking back over the last couple of days.  I fell yesterday trying to keep my MIDI keyboard and other shit from tipping over. (See yesterday's post)

Today I went into Trader Joe's and got a few things, and then into Natural Grocer's to get a few more things.  I had gotten a few cans of things and some spaghetti, when I suddenly felt so weak.  I could hardly move my legs and just picking up a can was hard.  In fact I dropped one can and one of the other shoppers picked it up for me.

I decided to cut the shopping short at that point, I needed to get home ASAP.  I couldn't even carry the basket at that point, I left it at the checkout stand while I found one last item.  After I checked out I asked if someone could help me by carrying my items out.  That same shopper said she would help me out.

When I got home, I didn't dare try to carry the small box of things into the house.  I left them in the car for Sue to get.  I thought I could carry the two bags from Trader Joe's in safely because it was with my arms at my sides and kind of balanced.

But just after I went through our back gate, I lost my balance, dropped the bags, spun slightly and started falling over.  I broke the fall by grabbing a pipe that supports one of the pergola's legs on my way down.  So I landed on my butt and my head didn't hit the ground.

However, I was too weak to pick myself up.  I pulled out my cell phone and called Sue.  She came out and tried to help me up, but I was in too awkward a position and could not get enough leverage to get my legs under me.  She finally went back in the house, got the walker and with it on one side of me and the pipe on the other I was able to get my legs under me and stand up.  Using the walker I made it to the stairs and was able to get into my room.

Sue made some spaghetti and I went to bed and slept until a few minutes ago.  I started thinking about how I've been facing the end of my life for most of this year.  I can't count the number of times, this year, I've thought that I should get my affairs in order.

Then the title of this song popped into my head.  For some reason I was thinking it was a Marty Robbins song, but this was the only song that popped out at me when I did a search on YouTube.

This has always been one of my favorite Moody Blues songs.  For some reason I kinda relate this song to Kim, I can't remember exactly why.  If I remember right, she really liked the album it was on.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uPnAbx6sgOY
YouTube (Vevo): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USujNc5uPBs
YouTube (Topic): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2dFmFLDnO0

"Rock Lobster" by the B52's

Marz shared my band's (FTP) practice with Shell and she said Shell was reminded of this song.  I thought gave it a listen and thought the keyboard part didn't sound terribly difficult and thought I would try playing along.

But the pins on the cheap-ass USB connector on my MIDI keyboard were still buggered up from last week.  I decided to try straightening them out again and borrowed a pair of needle-nose pliers from Sue.  The needle-nose tips were way too big to get down inside the USB plug.

So I got my tweezers and tried straightening them out as best I could.  I got them to a point where they didn't look too bad.  I was able to plug the USB cable in at least most of the way... as far as I could tell anyway.

I got my laptop and plugged the other end into it.  I was so excited that the power came on the keyboard and it showed up in the audio connections in the Jack dialog box on my laptop.

I hooked up my MR Rack synthesizer to the laptop and connected the keyboard to it.  Nothing!  No MIDI events were being sent to the synth.  :(  :(  :(

I installed a virtual keyboard on my laptop to test the setup.  After a bunch of fucking around with them, I was able to determine that the synth was receiving MIDI events and playing sounds.

I was pretty stressed out at that point and then the keyboard started to tip over, I tried to grab it and knocked some other junk over trying to catch it.  I lost my balance fell into my record cabinet, then tipped sideways, fell into my walker that was sitting there and landed in the middle of the floor.  I laid there and cried for a while.  Eventually, Sue came to see what the rukus was, found me and helped me up.

Later I went to get some groceries but remembered that it was the rehearsal for the Equality Utah Allies Dinner and realized I was going to be late.  I got all stressed because I couldn't remember if it started at 6:30 or 7:00.  So I took off, got there at exactly 6:30 and the parking lot was empty.

My knee was far too messed up after last night at the SunTrapp to do anything but sit there.  I came to the realization that with all the problems I've had with my condition this year there was no way I was going to be able to participate this year.  The odds of my being in a state to perform are extremely slim to none.

And I was in such extreme pain from the MS Hug that I finally couldn't even wait to talk to Mindy or say goodbye to Talia, Melahn and Lisa G.  I had to get home ASAP.

Anyway, this is such a fun song and the video is SO fun too!!!

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ofkzvM7Skxg

"Moon River" by Rachel Edwards

Again, I feel weird about posting my own stuff, but at this point in my life I feel like I have to do the things that make me happy.  They may suck, but they are mine.  They are part of me.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d28lL0gyDuU

"A Scary Time For Boys" by Lynzy Lab

A friend send me this video and it is spot on.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N34hehRgw9g
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2OBaE_T9K8
YouTube (live): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN-3F8T4t5w

A video from some conservative asshole reacting to it popped up on YouTube and really annoyed me.  I'm not going to even validate it by adding a link.

"One Mint Julip" by The Clovers

I got the DVD of the film Carol and I love it.  This song came on the car radio in the film and I remembered the title but couldn't remember the group.

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carol_(film)

I believe there is at least one problem with the time frame.  The film is set in winter 1952-1953, but stereophonic sound is mentioned in two places in the film.  First, when Terez is in the department store there is an announcement to see the stereo console on display.  Second the desk clerk at the motel says there are stereophonic consoles in the rooms.

But according to wikipedia stereo didn't really become available for mass market until 1957:

Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stereophonic_sound

Anyway, this is a great song:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFZUC-GfwUY

"Lazy River" by The Mills Brothers

Back of Mills Brothers album and inner sleeve I tried to patch-repair

Sheet of notepad paper and 1207 S. Main today

See my post for Sept. 30th for the front of this album cover.

This is funny way back when I attempted to repair the inner sleeve by taping a sheet from an old note pad that my grandpa Gus had.  I was wondering what was at 1207 South Main now and found it was Nate Wade Subaru on Google Maps.

Note old style of phone numbers DAvis 2-1621, now 322-1621.

The live TV video is with Dean Martin.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zchVgfr9KI8
YouTube (live TV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rBBRePqMXg

"You Know I'm No Good" by Rachel Edwards

I never in a bazillion years would have thought I would be posting something I did here.  Mindy said last week this was the best female I've ever done with her, so I decided to make it the first female vocal I posted to my YouTube channel.

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVJHuotD74Y