By DJ Bear / PopOff!
Let’s Raise A Glass to Kicking Ass:
“It will all be all right in the end. If it is not all right, it is not the end.” – Irish Proverb
Is there really anymore to add to what’s been said about the past year? I doubt it. Ironically, I started 2020 doing the first guru spot of the year here with motivational music and positivity pop. I guess I was predicting just how much we’d need that magic mojo this year, especially when isolation and quarantine hit.
I live alone, my friends don’t live close by, and I have no “family” (nor pets). So I have had plenty of time in isolation to really get deep in the inner mud and scum of things and figure out what I REALLY want for my life. This also really got me in touch with my “circle of control”. And the spring months that started with frustration, anger and rage have completely waned into months filled with a sense of calm and peace. “Que sera sera”, if you will. But more importantly for me, what you will. I have never felt more in control of my life than this moment. I think these lyrics from Rock Bottom by the biggest voice in 80s/90s country Wynonna sum up my sentiments right now.
When you hit rock bottom you’ve got two ways to go, straight up or sideways. I’ve seen my share of hard times and I’ll let you know, straight up is my way.
And so being back again for the first blog of the year I find that among all the great nominations I lean harder into hope and positivity or just the sheer bliss of a good pop bop to rile us into a frenzy of ecstatic dance and cheer. We’ve spent enough time in anger and rage and loss and sadness… Also it is a good way to remind ourselves to to not be so serious all the time. Some times just being silly pays great dividends. So I apologize to all the heartfelt middle finger muses nominated but I don’t have it in me this time out to stick it to the “man” musically. I feel like that would be letting 2020, “win”.
I also apologise that there is only one list. I did not have the heart to B-list anything on this 2021 greeting card. But if, for the sake of Marconium record, two lists are required, (B-list starts at song 11). There are twenty songs for 2020 plus my two 2020 guru picks. We start with Road To Nowhere by The Talking Heads because the future is unknown, life is absurd, so just come along and enjoy the ride.
Peace, Love, Happiness, Music, Dancing,
Bear
The Absolutely Ass-Kicking A/B List (On Mixcloud and YouTube):
Talking Heads – Road To Nowhere
Steve Winwood – Roll With It
Fleetwood Mac – Don’t Stop
Florence and the Machine – The Dog Days Are Over
Seal – Future Love Paradise
Billy Ocean – When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going
Derrick Morgan – Forward March
The Streets – Let’s Push Things Forward
D:Ream – Things Can Only Get Better
William DeVaughn – Be Thankful For What You’ve Got
P!nk – Get This Party Started
Andrew W.K. – Party Hard
AC/DC – Stiff Upper Lip
INXS – Kick
Elton John – I’m Still Standing
The Police – When the World is Running Down, You Make the Best of What's Still Around
Show Of Hands – You’ll Get By
Dr John & Mavis Staples – Since I Laid My Burdens Down
Friday Saturday & Sunday – There Must Be a Better Way
Nat King Cole – Let There Be Love
Guru’s Wildcard Picks:
The first pick is a classic by The The done as lyric video by some friends and myself. Yes I am in it! As is my grandfather! The second song is my favorite song of 2020 and out of all the songs written for these times this one comes off as the most timeless. Spoiler warning bring tissues.
The The – This Is The Day
Emily Scott Robinson – The Time For Flowers
These playlists were inspired by readers' song nominations from last week's topic: Goodbye 2020: songs for the spirit of 2021. The next topic will launch on Thursday at 1pm UK time.
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