That radio programmer must be an ATHEIST!

[onager]

Earlier today I was listening to the local oldies station here in L.A. This nifty (and no doubt purely coincidental) juxtaposition tickled me.

First, "What A Wonderful World" by Louis Armstrong. I've always considered that one of the most "humanist" pop songs ever written. It mentions some REAL wonders of the world, without once invoking any damn deities or messiahs.

It also works in the values of multiculturalism and education, without preaching. What a hat trick!

The colors of the rainbow, so pretty in the sky
Are also on the faces, of people going by...

I hear babies cry, I watch them grow
They'll learn much more, than I'll ever know,
And I think to myself, what a wonderful world

Whenever I'm having a bad day, that song always makes me feel better.

RISKING REVOCATION OF MY MALE GENDER CARD: It also sometimes brings tears to my eyes. I think because I ain't getting any younger, and the song makes me stop and think about all the wonderful things I won't be seeing anymore. No matter how much the Xians try to convince me otherwise.

That one was followed by John Lennon's Imagine. Somewhere, a programmer for Clear Channel Comm. was listening and had an aneurysm. (After the 9/11 attacks, Clear Channel put Imagine on its "Do Not Play" list.)

For anybody else who needs a lift - here's a version of "Wonderful World" with a neat spoken intro by Louis Armstrong:

&feature=related

[OriginalGeek]

1. Shit

I got a tear just reading the lyric.

If that means I give up my card, fuck it. TPTB can have it.


Years ago there was a talk show host here (he is still here actually but this happened several years ago) whose producer was often on air and they gave me years of fun and entertainment and I even had the pleasure of meeting them once at a promotional function but then the producer died of cancer. The next day the talk show host just came on, explained to us what happened and played What a Wonderful World and went to a recorded show. It was one of the most heart-felt tributes to a friend I have ever heard and I have loved this song ever since.

[Ron Obvious]

2. Me too..

Hell, I'll gladly tear up my masculinity card with you. Years ago, I burnt a CD with music to get me out of the dumps. That song's on there, as are "Here comes the sun" by the Beatles, "Beautiful Morning" by the Rascals, Eric Idle's "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life", John Denver's "Welcome to my Morning", Herman's Hermits "I'm into something Good" and more like that.

We're too quick to equate depressing music with intellectual in this world, and these are useful antidotes.

And I'm not ashamed to admit it.

[JNelson6563]

3. It IS a great song & no one does it like Louis Armstrong.

Glad to know I'm not the only one who can tear up a bit when I hear it.

Julie

[Starboard Tack]

4. It's a wonderful song and perfectly delivered by Satchmo!

[Kolesar]

5. The Cleveland oldies station cues Louis Armstrong every few days

And that's the song, of course.
Majic 105.7!

[ChadwickHenryWard]

6. I always marvel at other people's ability to misunderstand Lennon's "Imagine."

It's such a popular song, but its three central ideas are deeply unpopular in mainstream circles. He advocates the abolition of religion, private property, and the nation-state. These are heavily Anarchist-influenced ideas, and generally heretical to people of polite and uncontroversial opinion. And it just gets all this airplay with no real discussion of its ideas.

As for the 9/11 "Do Not Play List," I find it most interesting that Rage Against the Machine's entire catalog was put on the blacklist. I would consider it the highest honor if, as soon as those with a controlling interest in society get an excuse to do so, they would censor all of my ideas, as though they are so dangerous that the plebs cannot even be allowed to hear them. I think it has to do with the notion of angering all the right people.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. If people haven't seen it - the BBC spoken version