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Music: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2012
“People who make music together cannot be enemies, at least while the music lasts.” Paul Hindemith
Music: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2012… Beastie Boys
The Beastie Boys – (You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)
Music: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2012… Guns N Roses
Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child O’ Mine
HBO hosted a special event tonight: The 27th annual Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony which honored the artistic and musical contributions of the following inductees: Guns N’ Roses, Beastie Boys, Donovan, Laura Nyro, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Small Faces/Faces, Freddie King, Don Kirshner, Cosimo Matassa, Tom Dowd, Glyn Johns, The Crickets, The Famous Flames, The Midnighters, The Comets, The Blue Caps, and The Miracles. If you have never heard the music of any of these brilliant artistes, now is not a bad time to look them up and check out their sounds. Personally, I have a few favorites on the list and I’ll share some songs.
“Music is enough for a lifetime, but a lifetime is not enough for music” Sergei Rachmaninov
Music: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2012… Laura Nyro
Laura Nyro – Stoney End (Censored Single Version)
Music: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2012… Freddie King
Freddie King – Hideaway – excellent version
The show had its share of zany musicians, great speeches and stellar performances. I have to say that Ledisi did a brilliant rendition of Etta James song “At Last” as pictures of all the great musicians who passed away this year scrolled down a large screen. Bitter sweet to see Whitney Houston, Adam Yauch of the Beastie Boys, and a number of others on it. There were lots of moving, passionate speeches; Rappers Chuck D and LL Cool J and several others did a brilliant job when they paid tribute to the late Adam Yauch of The Beastie Boys. Bette Midler gave a very emotional and touching speech about the brilliant work and life of Laura Nyro. ZZ Top paid a great homage to Freddie King. John Mellencamp, in his tribute, admitted to stealing material from Donovan.
A funny moment was when Chris Rock cracked a joke that if Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses was going to show up for the event, he would still be on his way… Axl Rose had declined to be inducted into the Hall of Fame for reasons he explained in a letter he wrote to the RRHF. I applaud his gumption. You can read the letter at end of this post explaining why. Meanwhile, Slash thanked everyone including the kitchen sink… just kidding. Ron Wood of The Rolling Stones was inducted again for his gig as a member, back in the day, of The Small Faces/Faces. He was inducted with fellow former band members Rod Stewart and Kenney Jones of The Who. Like Axl Rose, Rod was a no show…The Red Hot Chili Peppers wrapped up the evening performing Stevie Wonder’s ‘Higher Ground.’ with Ron Wood, Slash and George Clinton jumping in to bring the event to an energetic conclusion. Get a recap here: Ultimate classicrock. More below! 😉
Weekly Photo Challenge: Unfocused…
“When man unfocuses his mind, he may be said to be conscious in a subhuman sense of the word, since he experiences sensations and perceptions.” Ayn Rand
Weekly Photo Challenge: Unfocused… Driving by in Stockholm
Weekly Photo Challenge: Unfocused… Paris Unfocused…
Weekly Photo Challenge: Unfocused… A gathering of protesters at a park in Stockholm
“Psychologically, the choice “to think or not” is the choice “to focus or not.” Existentially, the choice “to focus or not” is the choice “to be conscious or not.” Metaphysically, the choice “to be conscious or not” is the choice of life or death.” Ayn Rand
When I first saw the prompt for this week’s photo challenge – Unfocused – I was not sure it would be feasible to find a half decent photo to fulfill the challenge. For starters, I’m not a professional photographer and, when I take lousy photos, I usually delete them to rid myself of the evidence of a poorly focused shot… Who knew that someday, the unfocused would become sublime; there is a lesson there to be learned. The Stockholm shots were taken from a moving vehicle (those are lit candles in the park), and the Paris one I took on foot… All embarrassingly out of focus.
“And so it (fear) stays just on the edge of vision, a small unfocused blur, a standing chill that slows each impulse down to indecision.” Philip Larkin
Weekly Photo Challenge: Unfocused… Lilacs
Weekly Photo Challenge: Unfocused…Buttercups
Weekly Photo Challenge: Unfocused… Iris in bloom
Although some of the pictures I found were taken from a moving vehicle, (see above), others were taken in my garden, at a concert, or elsewhere, and were out of focus which works for this challenge. I was trying to capture the lilacs, buttercups and lone blooming iris in the garden and some of the shots went south… Even though I usually delete photos like these, I somehow let them sit in the files as other important tasks called my attention. So, I’m grateful to find time to now focus on the unfocused…
“Whatever I did, I didn’t do a very good job. We were so unfocused and undisciplined. I’m embarrassed.” Al Lang
Weekly Photo Challenge: Unfocused… Sade Unfocused…
Weekly Photo Challenge: Unfocused… Another Unfocused Sade shot
Weekly Photo Challenge: Unfocused… Backup singers/dancers for John Legend
Weekly Photo Challenge: Unfocused… Another shot – Backup singers/dancers for John Legend
These were part of a collection of photos I took with a tiny camera at the Sade concert. I took tons of pictures that night and while some turned out great, many of them were blurry and unfocused… In the excitement of the evening, Sade’s first tour in the USA in ten years, I kept dropping the damn camera, taking shots while dancing in the aisles, and wondering why my sub-par camera was acting up. Duh? 😆 You can see my better shots of the show in this special post. Anyhow, I looked through the collection for this challenge and picked a few to share. More below! 🙂
Musings: In Brief…
“Be sincere; be brief; be seated.” Franklin D. Roosevelt
Musings: In Brief… Piet Mondrian – Composition with Yellow, Blue, and Red,
Musings: In Brief… Blinky Palermo – Staircase 1979 @ Tate Museum
“There is a brief moment when all there is in a man’s mind and soul and spirit is reflected through his eyes, his hands, his attitude. This is the moment to record.” Yousuf Karsh
There are times when our spirit urges us to be still, or silent, or even brief… I don’t know what triggers that sensation but when it descends, it is like a satisfying meal or the magic of a minimalist painting…
“Happiness is brief. It will not stay. God batters at its sails.” Euripides
Musings: In Brief… Frank Stella – Harran II
Musings: In Brief… Tony Smith – Freeride Sculpture
“Watching a peaceful death of a human being reminds us of a falling star; one of a million lights in a vast sky that flares up for a brief moment only to disappear into the endless night forever.” Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
“To be brief is almost a condition of being inspired.” George Santayana
Musings: In Brief… Elsworth Kelly – The Meschers
Musings: In Brief… Jo Baer – Sex Symbol @ MOMA
“I will be brief. Not nearly so brief as Salvador Dali, who gave the world’s shortest speech. He said I will be so brief I have already finished, and he sat down.” Gene Fowler
“Grant us a brief delay; impulse in everything is but a worthless servant.” Caecilius Statius
Musings: In Brief… Josef Albers – Homage to the Square
Musings: In Brief… Sol LeWitt – Untitled Lithograph
“When a small child, I thought that success spelled happiness. I was wrong, happiness is like a butterfly which appears and delights us for one brief moment, but soon flits away.” Anna Pavlova
Consider the beautiful works and thought-provoking quotes presented above and below… Enjoy! More below! 🙂
