Sagan is the David Duncan Professor of Astronomy and Space Sciences at Cornell University. He is author of many best sellers, including Cosmos, which became the most widely read science book ever published in the English language.
In this book Sagan discusses the claims of the paranormal and fringe-science. For instance, he examines closely such issues as astrology (p. 303), crop circles (p. 75), channelers (pp. 203-206), UFO abductees (pp. 185-186), faith-healing fakes (p. 229), and witch-hunting (p. 119). Readers of The Skeptical Inquirer will notice that Sagan’s approach is very similar.
Sagan writes:
The Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal is an organization of scientists, academics, magicians, and others dedicated to skeptical scrutiny of emerging or full-blown pseudo-sciences. It was founded by the University of Buffalo philosopher Paul Kurtz in 1976. I’ve been affiliated with it since its beginning. Its acronym, CSICOP, is pronounced sci-cop C as if it’s an organization of scientists performing a police function CSICOP publishes a bimonthly periodical called The Skeptical Inquirer. On the day it arrives, I take it home from the office and pore through its pages, wondering what new misunderstandings will be revealed (p. 299).
Sagan points out that in 1991 two pranksters in England admitted that they had been making crop figures for 15 years. They flattened the wheat with a heavy steel bar. Later on they used planks and ropes, but the media paid brief attention to the confession of these hoaxers. Why? Sagan concludes, ‘Demons sell; hoaxers are boring and in bad taste’ (p. 76).
Christians must admire Sagan’s commitment to critical thinking, logic, and freedom of thought. He takes on many subjects in this book, and the vast majority of his analysis is exceptional. However, his opinions on religious matters are affected by his devotion to scientism. Sagan believes only that which can be proved by science is true. He disputes psychologist Charles Tart’s assertion that scientism is ‘dehumanizing, despiritualizing’ (p. 267). Sagan comments, ‘There is very little doubt that, in the everyday world, matter (and energy) exist. The evidence is all around us. In contrast, as I’ve mentioned earlier the evidence for something non-material called `spirit’ or `soul’ is very much in doubt’ (p. 267).
Science can only prove things about the physical world, and it cannot prove anything about the spiritual world. Does that mean that the mind and soul don’t exist? Of course not! First, we must realize that science is not the only way to truth. Even Sagan must admit that he must justify values like ‘be objective’ or ‘report data honestly’. Where do those values come from? They came from outside science, but they must be in place for science to work.
Sagan gives an illustration that contrasts physics and metaphysics. He shows that the physicist’s idea will have to be discarded if tests fail in the laboratory. Therefore, the main difference between physics and metaphysics is that the meta-physicist has no laboratory. This is a cute story, but can science answer the basic questions that underline all knowledge? Metaphysics is necessary for science to take place. It is not true that science is superior to metaphysics like Sagan would have us believe. The presuppositions of science can only be validated by philosophy. J. P. Moreland has correctly said, ‘The validation of science is a philosophical issue, not a scientific one, and any claim to the contrary will be a self-refuting philosophical claim’ (Scaling the Secular City, p. 197).
Second, the absence of scientific evidence for the soul does not mean the soul does not exist. Sagan himself states, ‘Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence’ (p. 213).
I was impressed with the way Sagan put his inner thoughts on the table. For instance, he comments, ‘Plainly, there’s something within me that’s ready to believe in life after death…If some good evidence for life after death was announced, I’d be eager to examine it; but it would have to be real scientific data, not mere anecdote’ (pp. 203-204). What kind of evidence is Sagan looking for? It certainly is not vague prophecies. He states, ‘Think of how many religions attempt to validate themselves with prophecy…Think of how many people rely on these prophecies, however vague, however unfulfilled, to support or prop up their beliefs…Yet has there ever been a religion with the prophetic accuracy and reliability of science? (p. 30). The answer to that question is yes. Christianity can point to very clear passages such as Isaiah 53 and Daniel 11 written hundreds of years before the events occurred.
While comparing science to religion, Sagan comments, ‘Science is far from a perfect instrument of knowledge. It’s just the best we have (pp. 27-28). Here Sagan is only half right. Science is imperfect, but it is not better than the Bible.’
The Demon-Haunted World is a thought-provoking book that I thoroughly enjoyed. Some of Sagan’s anti-Christian views come through, but on the whole, this book uses critical thinking and logic and applies them to the claims of the paranormal and fringe-science of our day.
Reviewed by Everette Hatcher III, P.O. Box 23416, Little Rock, AR 72221.
________________ Kansas – Dust In The Wind “Live” HD Rolling Stones: “Satisfaction!” U2 Still Haven’t Found (with lyrics) Carl Sagan appears on CBC to discuss the importance of SETI [Carl Sagan Archives] __________________________________________________ On December 5, 1995, I got a letter back from Carl Sagan and I was very impressed that he took time to answer […]
I have gone back and forth and back and forth with many liberals on the Arkansas Times Blog on many issues such as abortion, human rights, welfare, poverty, gun control and issues dealing with popular culture. Here is another exchange I had with them a while back. My username at the Ark Times Blog is Saline […]
On March 17, 2013 at our worship service at Fellowship Bible Church, Ben Parkinson who is one of our teaching pastors spoke on Genesis 1. He spoke about an issue that I was very interested in. Ben started the sermon by reading the following scripture: Genesis 1-2:3 English Standard Version (ESV) The Creation of the […]
At the end of this post is a message by RC Sproul in which he discusses Sagan. Over the years I have confronted many atheists. Here is one story below: I really believe Hebrews 4:12 when it asserts: For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the […]
In today’s news you will read about Kirk Cameron taking on the atheist Stephen Hawking over some recent assertions he made concerning the existence of heaven. Back in December of 1995 I had the opportunity to correspond with Carl Sagan about a year before his untimely death. Sarah Anne Hughes in her article,”Kirk Cameron criticizes […]
During the 1990′s I actually made it a practice to write famous atheists and scientists that were mentioned by Adrian Rogers and Francis Schaeffer and challenge them with the evidence for the Bible’s historicity and the claims of the gospel. Usually I would send them a cassette tape of Adrian Rogers’ messages “6 reasons I know […]
I have debated with Ark Times Bloggers many times in the past on many different subjects. Abortion is probably the most often debated subject and I have noticed that many pro-life individuals are now surfacing on the Arkansas Times Blog. Here are some examples. Arhogfan501 asserted: This is the beginning of the end for recreational abortion in Arkansas. Songbird777 noted: Babies have a right to live and not be chopped up for someone else’s convenience. The person using the username “baker” commented: Planned Parenthood (PPA) does not nor cannot provide mammograms, indeed no affiliate has the necessary license. PPA is an abortion provider and at some 900 plus killings a day rather prolific.
Here is another debate I got into recently on the Arkansas Times Blog and I go by the username “Saline Republican”:
Organizers of the “Protest at the State Capital” event are calling on women who are appalled at the treatment the Arkansas legislature has handed them this session to rally at the Capitol at 3 p.m. March 23, and so far more than 1,000 people (men and women) have indicated on the event”s Facebook page that they will attend.
Organizers Donna Shade and LeeWood Thomas issued a press release today about the event today and said a speaker line-up is being formed. (Press release on the jump.)
The rally will protest the newly-enacted laws unconstitutionally rescinding abortion rights and well as bills still under consideration to grant personhood to the embryo and defund Planned Parenthood.
1000 PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SHOW UP FOR PRO-ABORTION EVENT IN ARKANSAS? I doubt that very much. (Actually 500 came out when the day came according to Ark Times Blog.) Of course there has been a lot of lies spread out there in the past about how many show up for pro-abortion events. Here is a post I did from 2011:
Go to Fox 16 website and you will read this story below and watch a video clip on both marches. What you will not read is the fact that only 150 people showed up for the pro-choice march on Jan 22, 2011 while over 5000 came out for the pro-life rally the following day. In fact, on the video the reporter notes, “A similar scene on Saturday..” The reporter summarizes, “Both pro-choice and pro-life rally organizers say they were pleased with the crowd their events drew.” In the article on the website are these words, “Both pro-life and pro-choice rally-goers came out strong, equally passionate about their beliefs.”
Read this info below from the Fox 16 website:
LITTLE ROCK, AR – Thousands of Arkansans marched near the Capitol this weekend to make their voices heard. Saturday it was those in favor of a woman’s right to choose. Sunday, pro-life supporters gathered for the 33rd Annual March for Life. Both pro-life and pro-choice rally-goers came out strong, equally passionate about their beliefs. Lauren Long is pro-life and says, “I’m 16 today because my mom chose life and I’m really proud of that.”Politicians, doctors, religious leaders and even the famous TV family from Arkansas, the Duggar’s, came out for the Right to Life March. Jill Duggar says her family is a prime example of what it means to be pro-life. “Life is precious and a lot of people don’t understand the significance of it. It’s not just a ball of tissue, it’s a baby from the very start.”
Dr. Matt Sellers is an OB/GYN with the Cornerstone Clinic for Woman. He says, “Every unborn life is a treasure that should be treated as such.”
Congressman Tim Griffin also attended Sunday’s pro-life rally. He says, “We need to respect life and all our policies in the way we treat other people, and the way we think about public policy, we need to think about life.”
Pro-choice rally-goers lined the steps of the Capitol on Saturday. Senator Joyce Elliott spoke to the crowd. “Trust women, show respect for women and the choices they make.” Senator Elliott also added, “It’s in our national and economic best interest to make sure women have the choice of good healthcare services.”
Stephanie Oshrin, with the National Organization for Women says, “We believe every person has a right to choose their family and plan their family. We advocate strong, healthy women, and happy children.” Oshrin also mentioned, “We’ve made monumental gains over the last decade, however we recognize with all the gains, we still have many struggles that we will continue to fight for.”
Both pro-life and pro-choice rally organizers say, they’re pleased with the crowd their events drew, and hope to continue to spread their messages long after these rallies are over. Both rallies were peaceful and respectful, and while police were present at both events, there have been no reports of any problems. Both crowds drew larger numbers than last year.
We should not denigrate salinerepublican personally here on the blog. We should simply denigrate his ideas. Unlike most trolls, he does not insult people or call them names; he simply provides opposing ideas. Unlike larock (a/k/a coolbeeze). Steven E., arhogfan, and the other obnoxious trollers on the blog, I would call him a positive troller, someone who throws out assertions that we can all disagree with. As far as I can tell from his posts, he has never gotten angry with people who disagree with him.
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I truly believe that many of the problems we have today in the USA are due to the advancement of humanism in the last few decades in our society. Ronald Reagan appointed the evangelical Dr. C. Everett Koop to the position of Surgeon General in his administration. He partnered with Dr. Francis Schaeffer in making the video below. It is very valuable information for Christians to have. Actually I have included a video below that includes comments from him on this subject.
Francis Schaeffer Whatever Happened to the Human Race (Episode 1) ABORTION
Francis Schaeffer: What Ever Happened to the Human Race? (Full-Length Documentary)
Part 1 on abortion runs from 00:00 to 39:50, Part 2 on Infanticide runs from 39:50 to 1:21:30, Part 3 on Youth Euthanasia runs from 1:21:30 to 1:45:40, Part 4 on the basis of human dignity runs from 1:45:40 to 2:24:45 and Part 5 on the basis of truth runs from 2:24:45 to 3:00:04
Francis Schaeffer and, former Surgeon General, C. Everette Koop deal directly with the devaluing of human life and its results in our society. It did not take place in a vacuum. It is a direct result of a worldview that has rejected the doctrine of man being created in the image of God. Man as a product of the impersonal, plus time and chance has no sufficient basis for worth.
For a while, Western culture — from sheer inertia — continued to live by the old Christian ethics while increasingly embracing the mechanistic, time-plus-chance view of people. People came more and more to hold that the universe is intrinsically and originally impersonal — as a stone is impersonal. Thus, by chance, life began on the earth and then, through long, long periods of time, by chance, life became more complex, until man with his special brain came into existence. By “chance” is meant that there was no reason for these things to occur; they just happened that way. No matter how loftily it is phrased, this view drastically reduces our view of self-worth as well as our estimation of the worth of others, for we are viewing ourselves as mere accidents of the universe.
(Francis A. Schaeffer and C. Everette Koop, Whatever Happened to the Human Race?, Ch. 1)
Today is the 40th anniversary of the tragic Roe v. Wade decision – as good a day as any to pass along some pro-life resources that I’ve found particularly insightful:
Bad Pro-Choice Arguments (Neil Shenvi): Dr. Shenvi debunks a number of popular, yet seriously flawed, pro-choice arguments. Examples include “The unborn is not a human being, it is just a mass of cells” and “We should combat abortion by reducing poverty, not by making it illegal.”
Questions for Pro-Choice People (Michael Pakaluk): Dr. Pakaluk poses some tough questions to those who support legalized abortion. This is a must-read for anyone who considers himself “pro-choice”, but nonetheless has a few inner qualms about the actual practice of abortion.
A Future Like Ours (Clinton Wilcox): This summary of Don Marquis’s “Future Like Ours” argument appeared recently on the Secular Pro-Life Perspectives blog. The argument states that murder is wrong, in part, because it deprives the victim of future experiences. This “future value” of a living entity constitutes a sufficient reason to presume that killing is wrong. Abortion is thus tantamount to murder…even though the embryo or fetus is at an early developmental stage, and may lack some of the physical qualities that we otherwise associate with “humanness”.
The Pro-Life Position and the Bible (J.W. Wartick): My friend J.W. demonstrates how Scripture compellingly supports a pro-life stance. He’s written extensively on the issue of abortion, and you can check out an index of his pro-life posts HERE.
Why I Lost Faith in the Pro-Choice Movement (Jennifer Fulwiler): In this powerful narrative, Ms. Fulwiler explains how she came to abandon her support of “abortion rights”. In particular, she discusses the widespread fear of information within the pro-choice movement, as well as the startling lack of interest among many pro-choicers in defining when, exactly, we should start protecting life.
Unstringing the Violinist (Gregory Koukl): The well-known “violinist argument” for abortion rights (sometimes formulated as the “parasite argument”) is widely regarded as one of the most persuasive pro-choice arguments. Mr. Koukl uncovers some serious flaws with this argument, however, and explains why its strength is only illusory. In addition to Mr. Koukl’s criticisms, I would also emphasize the issue of implicit consent to the possibility of pregnancy that comes with the act of sex – at least in the vast majority of abortion cases that don’t involve rape.
Why Your Friends are ‘Pro-Choice’ (Scott Klusendorf): This article analyzes the common claim, “I don’t like abortion, but I don’t think the government should be involved in taking away a woman’s choice” (or, “Don’t like abortion? Don’t have one.”). Abortion is wrong not because pro-lifers find it distasteful, but because it violates rational moral principles.
Guest Post on BadCatholic (Michael Frances): In the “pro-choice” vs. “pro-life” debate, which viewpoint is the scientific default, and which viewpoint must rely on philosophical or religious assumptions? The answer might surprise you.
As a bonus, I’ve listed below a few of my own previous articles on the issue of abortion:
The Roots of the Abortion Debate: I explain why pro-life and pro-choice advocates both seem to genuinely believe they are acting ethically. The answer, I believe, often boils down to one’s philosophical views on the value of life.
Abortion Methods: An Overview: I describe the various surgical and non-surgical methods used to terminate a pregnancy. I intentionally avoided using gory photographs, but the content is nonetheless quite disturbing. As it should be.
Possibly the Worst New York Times Op-Ed in the History of New York Times Op-Eds: This was my response to a NY Times opinion piece by Thomas Friedman. I point out the hypocrisy of those who support a “woman’s right to choose” when it comes to killing her unborn child, but not when it comes to consuming “giant sugary drinks”.
Francis Schaeffer: “Whatever Happened to the Human Race” (Episode 1) ABORTION OF THE HUMAN RACE Published on Oct 6, 2012 by AdamMetropolis The 45 minute video above is from the film series created from Francis Schaeffer’s book “Whatever Happened to the Human Race?” with Dr. C. Everett Koop. This book really helped develop my political views […]
E P I S O D E 1 0 Dr. Francis Schaeffer – Episode X – Final Choices 27 min FINAL CHOICES I. Authoritarianism the Only Humanistic Social Option One man or an elite giving authoritative arbitrary absolutes. A. Society is sole absolute in absence of other absolutes. B. But society has to be […]
E P I S O D E 9 Dr. Francis Schaeffer – Episode IX – The Age of Personal Peace and Affluence 27 min T h e Age of Personal Peace and Afflunce I. By the Early 1960s People Were Bombarded From Every Side by Modern Man’s Humanistic Thought II. Modern Form of Humanistic Thought Leads […]
E P I S O D E 8 Dr. Francis Schaeffer – Episode VIII – The Age of Fragmentation 27 min I saw this film series in 1979 and it had a major impact on me. T h e Age of FRAGMENTATION I. Art As a Vehicle Of Modern Thought A. Impressionism (Monet, Renoir, Pissarro, Sisley, […]
E P I S O D E 7 Dr. Francis Schaeffer – Episode VII – The Age of Non Reason I am thrilled to get this film series with you. I saw it first in 1979 and it had such a big impact on me. Today’s episode is where we see modern humanist man act […]
E P I S O D E 6 How Should We Then Live 6#1 Uploaded by NoMirrorHDDHrorriMoN on Oct 3, 2011 How Should We Then Live? Episode 6 of 12 ________ I am sharing with you a film series that I saw in 1979. In this film Francis Schaeffer asserted that was a shift in […]
E P I S O D E 5 How Should We Then Live? Episode 5: The Revolutionary Age I was impacted by this film series by Francis Schaeffer back in the 1970′s and I wanted to share it with you. Francis Schaeffer noted, “Reformation Did Not Bring Perfection. But gradually on basis of biblical teaching there […]
Dr. Francis Schaeffer – Episode IV – The Reformation 27 min I was impacted by this film series by Francis Schaeffer back in the 1970′s and I wanted to share it with you. Schaeffer makes three key points concerning the Reformation: “1. Erasmian Christian humanism rejected by Farel. 2. Bible gives needed answers not only as to […]
Francis Schaeffer’s “How should we then live?” Video and outline of episode 3 “The Renaissance” Francis Schaeffer: “How Should We Then Live?” (Episode 3) THE RENAISSANCE I was impacted by this film series by Francis Schaeffer back in the 1970′s and I wanted to share it with you. Schaeffer really shows why we have so […]
Francis Schaeffer: “How Should We Then Live?” (Episode 2) THE MIDDLE AGES I was impacted by this film series by Francis Schaeffer back in the 1970′s and I wanted to share it with you. Schaeffer points out that during this time period unfortunately we have the “Church’s deviation from early church’s teaching in regard […]
Francis Schaeffer: “How Should We Then Live?” (Episode 1) THE ROMAN AGE Today I am starting a series that really had a big impact on my life back in the 1970′s when I first saw it. There are ten parts and today is the first. Francis Schaeffer takes a look at Rome and why […]
Francis Schaeffer: “Whatever Happened to the Human Race” (Episode 5) TRUTH AND HISTORY Published on Oct 7, 2012 by AdamMetropolis This crucial series is narrated by the late Dr. Francis Schaeffer and former Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop. Today, choices are being made that undermine human rights at their most basic level. Practices once […]
The opening song at the beginning of this episode is very insightful. Francis Schaeffer: “Whatever Happened to the Human Race” (Episode 4) THE BASIS FOR HUMAN DIGNITY Published on Oct 7, 2012 by AdamMetropolis This crucial series is narrated by the late Dr. Francis Schaeffer and former Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop. Today, choices […]
Francis Schaeffer: “Whatever Happened to the Human Race” (Episode 3) DEATH BY SOMEONE’S CHOICE Published on Oct 6, 2012 by AdamMetropolis This crucial series is narrated by the late Dr. Francis Schaeffer and former Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop. Today, choices are being made that undermine human rights at their most basic level. Practices […]
Francis Schaeffer: “Whatever Happened to the Human Race?” (Episode 2) SLAUGHTER OF THE INNOCENTS Published on Oct 6, 2012 by AdamMetropolis This crucial series is narrated by the late Dr. Francis Schaeffer and former Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop. Today, choices are being made that undermine human rights at their most basic level. Practices […]
It is not possible to know where the pro-life evangelicals are coming from unless you look at the work of the person who inspired them the most. That person was Francis Schaeffer. I do care about economic issues but the pro-life issue is the most important to me. Several years ago Adrian Rogers (past president of […]
This essay below is worth the read. Schaeffer, Francis – “Francis Schaeffer and the Pro-Life Movement” [How Should We Then Live?, Whatever Happened to the Human Race?, A Christian Manifesto] Editor note: <p> </p> [The following essay explores the role that Francis Schaeffer played in the rise of the pro-life movement. It examines the place of […]
Great article on Schaeffer. Who was Dr. Francis A. Schaeffer? By Francis Schaeffer The unique contribution of Dr. Francis Schaeffer on a whole generation was the ability to communicate the truth of historic Biblical Christianity in a way that combined intellectual integrity with practical, loving care. This grew out of his extensive understanding of the Bible […]
I have spent a lot of time talking about Woody Allen films on this blog and looking at his worldview. He has a hopeless, meaningless, nihilistic worldview that believes we are going to turn to dust and there is no afterlife. Even though he has this view he has taken the opportunity to look at the weaknesses of his own secular view. I salute him for doing that. That is why I have returned to his work over and over and presented my own Christian worldview as an alternative.
San Francisco has been good to Woody Allen, from his 1969 directing debut with “Take the Money and Run” to his lead turn in 1972′s “Play It Again, Sam,” and a long-overdue return visit provides just the shot of artistic adrenaline he needs in “Blue Jasmine.” It doesn’t hurt that this serious-minded but ruefully funny work is centered around a mesmerizing performance by Cate Blanchett as a neurotic Allen heroine for the ages, a desperate New York socialite who heads West after losing her husband and their ill-gotten fortune. Probing the allure of romantic fulfillment and upward mobility with rigor, emotional generosity and a pleasing sense of dramatic balance, this Sony Classics release won’t do “Midnight in Paris”-sized numbers, but solid critical response should pull in more than just the Woodman faithful.
Following the frivolities of “Midnight in Paris” and “To Rome With Love,” Allen makes an invigorating return to American soil with a meaty, fully realized drama that cleverly functions as both an update of “A Streetcar Named Desire” and a satire on One Percent excess. And while “Blue Jasmine” is rather less idyllic than the writer-director’s previous creative high point, “Vicky Cristina Barcelona,” it superficially recalls that 2008 comedy in charting the fortunes of two women, a blonde and a brunette, pursuing their very different goals in life. Yet Blanchett’s performance is so dominant in terms of screentime and emotional impact that the film succeeds as not only a virtuoso ensemble piece, but also an unflinchingly intimate study of the character in the title.
The fact that Jasmine sometimes still uses her birth name, Jeanette, provides an early clue that this is a woman with a talent for self-invention — someone who can’t help but delude herself and others, and who doesn’t mind turning a blind eye to those inconvenient realities that might threaten her life of privilege. That privilege has been yanked away from Jasmine as she arrives in San Francisco, evidently broke and single, and moves in with her sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins).
That the girls were adopted from different sets of biological parents explains their lack of resemblance, in looks and temperament. While laid-back, free-spirited Ginger works at a supermarket, has two rowdy kids from a previous marriage, and is engaged to a macho, greasy-haired tough named Chili (Bobby Cannavale), Jasmine is clearly made of classier stuff, or so she thinks. Regular flashbacks reveal her life of luxury in the Hamptons with her businessman husband, Hal (Alec Baldwin), who turned out to be as chronically unfaithful to her as he was to his investors. Among the many victims of his Madoff-like schemes were Ginger and her then-husband, Augie (actor-comedian Andrew Dice Clay), who made the mistake of entrusting Hal with $200,000 in lottery winnings.
The contrast between past and present begins to feel almost unbearably cruel as Jasmine is forced to pull herself up by her bootstraps, not an easy task for someone accustomed to Jimmy Choos. Eventually she begins working as a receptionist for a lecherous dentist (Michael Stuhlbarg) and taking computer classes, the first steps toward a highly improbable career in interior design. Yet far from humbling or inspiring her, hard work seems to make her only more pinched, whiny and abrasive, and as she compulsively mixes martinis and Xanax, she becomes ever more critical of the easily contented Ginger and her “loser” boyfriend.
While the New York flashbacks occasionally veer toward overstatement, they convey more than mere backstory, providing a psychological entry point as Jasmine becomes more and more unglued with every painful reminder of what she’s lost. Quivering with barely repressed rage, at times muttering to herself as she stares blankly into the void, Jasmine instantly takes her place among the most dynamic female protagonists in the Allen oeuvre, which is no small feat. It’s a brilliantly bipolar piece of acting, bringing an almost Method rawness to the writer’s typically refined dialogue, and what gives Blanchett’s performance such force is how expertly she modulates her character’s mood swings: One minute she’s a pill-popping, bleary-eyed wreck, the next she’s a vision of radiant, sylphlike elegance (especially in an array of stunning outfits designed by Suzy Benzinger), cozying up to a handsome diplomat (Peter Sarsgaard) who may hold the key to her future.
It becomes clear that while Jasmine scarcely deserves her fantasy world of effortless, extravagant wealth, it’s a world she absolutely belongs to and thrives in. Our sympathies are artfully scrambled; we begin to root for this over-entitled, self-destructive shrew to find love and lucre in spite of herself, lending the story a certain train-wreck fascination as it barrels toward its bitterly ironic conclusion.
The script takes a similarly complex view of its secondary characters, and what gives “Blue Jasmine” its particular integrity is its acknowledgment that, despite their obvious differences in sophistication, taste and socioeconomic background, every one of these folks may have a point. Allen’s sense of class stratification here isn’t exactly nuanced, but his sympathies are more evenly distributed than usual, and he happily reveals more than one side to every personality, a strategy that helps bring out the best in a very fine cast.
Inclined as one might be to condescend to coarse, working-class Joes like Chili and Augie (the names here are especially pungent and evocative), the film duly acknowledges that these dudes are far more admirable than their upscale counterparts, a point that Cannavale and Clay (an especially offbeat and rewarding casting choice) underscore with their mouthy, big-hearted performances. The other male roles have been cast with similar care: Baldwin, back for more after “To Rome With Love,” is almost too persuasive as a Wall Street sleaze; Louis C.K. is likable as a guy who takes a particularly randy interest in Ginger; and Alden Ehrenreich makes a welcome appearance as Hal’s Ivy Leaguer son. But besides Blanchett, it’s Hawkins who leaves the strongest impression as the sensitive and sensible Ginger, deflecting her sister’s attacks with endless patience and the occasional well-deserved telling-off. It’s the less flashy of the two roles, but Hawkins inhabits it with a graceful, unshowy depth of feeling.
While Allen displays more interest than usual in the particulars of lower-income living and even deigns to usher some of his characters into the computer age, the result can’t help but feel at times like a somewhat cushy, elevated Woody-world fantasy of workaday existence. Even Ginger’s Mission District apartment, meant to seem cramped in comparison to Jasmine’s beachside estate, looks relatively spacious considering the location. Along similar lines, Javier Aguierresarobe’s sun-dappled lensing can’t help but show off San Francisco to great advantage, as the film makes time for a walk along Ocean Beach, an amble through Chinatown, and a brief, obligatory shot of the Golden Gate Bridge. The old jazz standard “Blue Moon” makes a poignant main theme for this tale of romantic longing.
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I love the movie “Midnight in Paris” by Woody Allen and I have done over 30 posts on the historical characters mentioned in the film. Take a look below:
I have spent alot of time talking about Woody Allen films on this blog and looking at his worldview. He has a hopeless, meaningless, nihilistic worldview that believes we are going to turn to dust and there is no afterlife. Even though he has this view he has taken the opportunity to look at the weaknesses of […]
I have spent alot of time talking about Woody Allen films on this blog and looking at his worldview. He has a hopeless, meaningless, nihilistic worldview that believes we are going to turn to dust and there is no afterlife. Even though he has this view he has taken the opportunity to look at the weaknesses of […]
Woody Allen video interview in France Related posts: “Woody Wednesdays” Woody Allen on God and Death June 6, 2012 – 6:00 am Good website on Woody Allen How can I believe in God when just last week I got my tongue caught in the roller of an electric typewriter? If Jesus Christ came back today and […]
I have spent alot of time talking about Woody Allen films on this blog and looking at his worldview. He has a hopeless, meaningless, nihilistic worldview that believes we are going to turn to dust and there is no afterlife. Even though he has this view he has taken the opportunity to look at the weaknesses of […]
A surprisingly civil discussion between evangelical Billy Graham and agnostic comedian Woody Allen. Skip to 2:00 in the video to hear Graham discuss premarital sex, to 4:30 to hear him respond to Allen’s question about the worst sin and to 7:55 for the comparison between accepting Christ and taking LSD. ___________________ The Christian Post > […]
Crimes and Misdemeanors: A Discussion: Part 1 If you like Woody Allen films as much as I do then join me every Wednesday for another look the man and his movies. Below are some of the posts from the past: “Woody Wednesday” How Allen’s film “Crimes and Misdemeanors makes the point that hell is necessary […]
I really enjoyed this documentary on Woody Allen from PBS. Woody Allen: A Documentary, Part 1 Published on Mar 26, 2012 by NewVideoDigital Beginning with Allen’s childhood and his first professional gigs as a teen – furnishing jokes for comics and publicists – WOODY ALLEN: A DOCUMENTARY chronicles the trajectory and longevity of Allen’s career: […]
Crimes and Misdemeanors: A Discussion: Part 3 Uploaded by camdiscussion on Sep 23, 2007 Part 3 of 3: ‘Is Woody Allen A Romantic Or A Realist?’ A discussion of Woody Allen’s 1989 movie, Crimes and Misdemeanors, perhaps his finest. By Anton Scamvougeras. http://camdiscussion.blogspot.com/antons@mail.ubc.ca ______________ One of my favorite Woody Allen movies and I reviewed […]
Crimes and Misdemeanors: A Discussion: Part 2 Uploaded by camdiscussion on Sep 23, 2007 Part 2 of 3: ‘What Does The Movie Tell Us About Ourselves?’ A discussion of Woody Allen’s 1989 movie, perhaps his finest. By Anton Scamvougeras. http://camdiscussion.blogspot.com/antons@mail.ubc.ca _________________- One of my favorite Woody Allen movies and I reviewed it earlier but […]
I have spent alot of time talking about Woody Allen films on this blog and looking at his worldview. He has a hopeless, meaningless, nihilistic worldview that believes we are going to turn to dust and there is no afterlife. Even though he has this view he has taken the opportunity to look at the weaknesses of […]
Crimes and Misdemeanors: A Discussion: Part 1 If you like Woody Allen films as much as I do then join me every Wednesday for another look the man and his movies. Below are some of the posts from the past: “Woody Wednesday” How Allen’s film “Crimes and Misdemeanors makes the point that hell is necessary […]
I have spent alot of time talking about Woody Allen films on this blog and looking at his worldview. He has a hopeless, meaningless, nihilistic worldview that believes we are going to turn to dust and there is no afterlife. Even though he has this view he has taken the opportunity to look at the weaknesses of […]
Crimes and Misdemeanors: A Discussion: Part 1 Uploaded by camdiscussion on Sep 23, 2007 Part 1 of 3: ‘What Does Judah Believe?’ A discussion of Woody Allen’s 1989 movie, perhaps his finest. By Anton Scamvougeras. http://camdiscussion.blogspot.com/antons@mail.ubc.ca _____________ One of my favorite films is this gem by Woody Allen “Crimes and Misdemeanors”: Film Review By […]
Crimes and Misdemeanors: A Discussion: Part 3 Uploaded by camdiscussion on Sep 23, 2007 Part 3 of 3: ‘Is Woody Allen A Romantic Or A Realist?’ A discussion of Woody Allen’s 1989 movie, Crimes and Misdemeanors, perhaps his finest. By Anton Scamvougeras. http://camdiscussion.blogspot.com/antons@mail.ubc.ca ______________ One of my favorite Woody Allen movies and I reviewed […]
Crimes and Misdemeanors: A Discussion: Part 2 Uploaded by camdiscussion on Sep 23, 2007 Part 2 of 3: ‘What Does The Movie Tell Us About Ourselves?’ A discussion of Woody Allen’s 1989 movie, perhaps his finest. By Anton Scamvougeras. http://camdiscussion.blogspot.com/antons@mail.ubc.ca _________________- One of my favorite Woody Allen movies and I reviewed it earlier but […]
Crimes and Misdemeanors: A Discussion: Part 1 Uploaded by camdiscussion on Sep 23, 2007 Part 1 of 3: ‘What Does Judah Believe?’ A discussion of Woody Allen’s 1989 movie, perhaps his finest. By Anton Scamvougeras. http://camdiscussion.blogspot.com/antons@mail.ubc.ca _____________ Today I am starting a discusssion of the movie “Crimes and Misdemeanors” by Woody Allen. This 1989 […]
Music Video for The Daylights and their song, “Terra Firma”. Directed by Ben Grayson.
_______________________
The Daylights – Rogue Machine (Don’t Say That You Want Me) Official Video
Uploaded on Feb 19, 2010
Official Music Video For Rogue Machine By The Daylights.
Directed By Walter May
DP Ryan Myer
______________________
The Daylights, ‘Weapons’ Music Video
Uploaded on Sep 12, 2007
Directed by Walter May, Director of Photography Samuel Brownfield
The Daylights “Quick Fix” Music Video directed by Walter May
The Daylights: Happy Live
if they are excited to be back in Dallas, an
I ask them if they are excited to be back in Dallas, and sans hesitation, I receive a collective “yeah” coupled with the nodding of heads. “Are y’all from Dallas?” asks bassist and vocalist Ricky Jackson, his organic southern drawl showing. A state-shifter between Texas and California for my entire life, talking about where I’m from is one of the hardest conversations to have. Currently experiencing a problem similar to mine, as LA transplants on tour in their hometown of Dallas, The Daylights are the only band that can help me confront this location-based conundrum.
“I don’t think that we would claim to be from LA. We’re pretty proud Texans. Annoyingly so, I’d say. So we definitely say we’re from Dallas. As a band we’re from LA, because we met in LA, we live in LA, we formed there, we write there, we do everything there, and have a studio there, but we’re definitely Texans, and he’s definitely a Dane,” Ricky says, gesturing to Svend. “If we’re asked, ‘where are you from?’ Texas rolls right off the lips. If you say, ‘where are you guys based out of?’ it’s LA.” This doesn’t help shorten my answer any, but it does provide ample context for a pretty in-depth response.
“The thing is, we are hardcore Rangers, Mavs, and Cowboys fans.” Good thing, as it’s the perfect time to harness those particular affiliations (except for maybe the Cowboys). “[Texas has] also changed a lot since we left, it seems like the Mavericks are actually a good basketball team now, which is weird. And the Rangers are actually good.” Heck yes, ALCS champs, and heading in that direction again this season, (not to jinx them) thankyouverymuch. “I don’t know what any of those things are, so, sure,” says the Dane. “It’s pretty tough being with two Texans. They’re proud.”
Does he have to fight for his voice to be heard? “Sometimes,” says Svend. “I mean, we’re very similar and very different at the same time. I think it creates a very interesting dynamic.” I ask him what kind of sports fan he is; if you’re going to put up with two Texans, you better have some kind of affiliation. “If it’s either bat ball or tackle ball, I don’t know,” he laughs. “I just like to tease them because football to me is nothing with a ball and foot.” Point taken, but don’t tell that to Jerry. So what does Svend think of this state? “Oh I love it – I like Texas a lot.” Smart answer. “We could still actually secede,” Ran quips. “But anyway, we’re very proud to be from Texas, to answer your question!” he laughs, after a massively round about way to say where we’re all from.
The Daylights possess the sort of sound that belongs onstage at American Airlines Center, rivaling acts such as Kings of Leon and Rihanna. When thinking of a band to compare them to, U2 continues to surface.
For now, venues such as The Prophet Bar support their sound and provide fans with a close-up concert experience. “We dig playing on a smaller stage in smaller rooms, so you can have that intimate atmosphere,” Ricky says. “It’s good to connect with our fans and be able to hang out after,” adds Ran.
The Jackson brothers stem from a musical family tree; their mother had a career as a professional drummer. “We didn’t get fed unless we sang in five-part harmony,” Ricky jokes of their childhood. With a larger-than-life sound, and the potential to ignite radios into flames, the wonderful thing about The Daylights is that on each song of their 15-track self-titled debut album – regardless of how much mainstream play they will inevitably receive from MTV – there are noticeable moments of truthfulness to themselves as a band. The instrumental tracks, “Richmond Park,” Pts I and II, leave one wondering what the hell must’ve happened there.
Their current single, “Rogue Machine,” is doing very well on the charts, but after listening to their self-titled debut album, I have to know if there are plans to release “Outsider” as the next single. “It’s funny you say that” Ran starts, “because for the longest time, everyone thought that was going to be our single, and then we wrote “Rogue Machine” and that was the favorite. I’m rooting for “Outsider” to be our new single – what do you think?” If that were to occur, it would do for them what “Breakeven” did for The Script. You know, put them on the map. Pinpoint their exact coordinates in terms of musical popularity. “Can you guarantee that?” Ricky questions, teasingly. Put me down for a high five and a ‘thank you to’ on the next album’s digital booklet, if I’m accurate.
“I think our band’s favorite song, correct me if I’m wrong, is ‘Weapons,’” says Ran, and the guys go on about how radio isn’t into the ‘deeper sort of songs’, but those are the songs they love to write. “I think “Weapons,” would be a blast; I think “Digital_Kiss” would be great for alternative radio,” Ran says of deciding which song to release next. What to do? Overseas fans are already demanding The Daylights jump ship and sail across the Atlantic for a show. “I think that would help decide our next single,” they determine.
The Daylights are genuinely nice guys with the raw talent to elevate them to the next level. “We’re writing a ton, we’re touring nonstop, we’ve been recording in the studio nonstop; so for us, it’s just about continuing to create, and have a blast. I think that’s the most important ingredient,” Ran says of the band’s future. Hey, music scene – take heed – you won’t want to leave The Daylights in the dark.
Currently on their first headlining tour, prodigal band The Daylights sat down with YouPlusDallas to tell us about their music, origin, and fan affiliation.
“What a couch!” guitarist and vocalist Ran Jackson exclaims before shaking my hand and introducing himself. We’re in the green room of The Prophet Bar, where a worn, mustard yellow sofa sits against the wall, beckoning the band to have a seat for their on-camera interview. “I think we’re going to need to take a bath after we get off this couch,” he jokes. The band is relaxed and down to earth, cracking jokes with each other a few hours before they go onstage. “So what history does this room have?” Ran questions. Drummer Svend Lerche, with his dark hair and unexpectedly bright blue eyes, guesses the rainbow of colors the room may have seen before living up to its namesake. “It’s very green,” he offers, but Ran disagrees.“[It’s] more of like a green tea – matcha green tea.” I can relax a little now – it’s refreshing to know that the up-and-coming rock stars have an authentic sense of humor.
The Daylights have toured with big names such as OneRepublic and Needtobreathe. “They’re good guys,” says Svend, “good to hang. That was almost the best thing about the tour, was to hang with them.” Recently, the talented musicians earned their first headlining tour. “It kind of exceeded our expectations, actually,” Ran says of the tour that kicked off on the west coast, “everywhere we went, we were like, ‘well, we’ve never headlined that city before.’”
I ask them if they are excited to be back in Dallas, and sans hesitation, I receive a collective “yeah” coupled with the nodding of heads. “Are y’all from Dallas?” asks bassist and vocalist Ricky Jackson, his organic southern drawl showing. A state-shifter between Texas and California for my entire life, talking about where I’m from is one of the hardest conversations to have. Currently experiencing a problem similar to mine, as LA transplants on tour in their hometown of Dallas, The Daylights are the only band that can help me confront this location-based conundrum.
“I don’t think that we would claim to be from LA. We’re pretty proud Texans. Annoyingly so, I’d say. So we definitely say we’re from Dallas. As a band we’re from LA, because we met in LA, we live in LA, we formed there, we write there, we do everything there, and have a studio there, but we’re definitely Texans, and he’s definitely a Dane,” Ricky says, gesturing to Svend. “If we’re asked, ‘where are you from?’ Texas rolls right off the lips. If you say, ‘where are you guys based out of?’ it’s LA.” This doesn’t help shorten my answer any, but it does provide ample context for a pretty in-depth response.
“The thing is, we are hardcore Rangers, Mavs, and Cowboys fans.” Good thing, as it’s the perfect time to harness those particular affiliations (except for maybe the Cowboys). “[Texas has] also changed a lot since we left, it seems like the Mavericks are actually a good basketball team now, which is weird. And the Rangers are actually good.” Heck yes, ALCS champs, and heading in that direction again this season, (not to jinx them) thankyouverymuch. “I don’t know what any of those things are, so, sure,” says the Dane. “It’s pretty tough being with two Texans. They’re proud.”
Does he have to fight for his voice to be heard? “Sometimes,” says Svend. “I mean, we’re very similar and very different at the same time. I think it creates a very interesting dynamic.” I ask him what kind of sports fan he is; if you’re going to put up with two Texans, you better have some kind of affiliation. “If it’s either bat ball or tackle ball, I don’t know,” he laughs. “I just like to tease them because football to me is nothing with a ball and foot.” Point taken, but don’t tell that to Jerry. So what does Svend think of this state? “Oh I love it – I like Texas a lot.” Smart answer. “We could still actually secede,” Ran quips. “But anyway, we’re very proud to be from Texas, to answer your question!” he laughs, after a massively round about way to say where we’re all from.
The Daylights possess the sort of sound that belongs onstage at American Airlines Center, rivaling acts such as Kings of Leon and Rihanna. When thinking of a band to compare them to, U2 continues to surface.
For now, venues such as The Prophet Bar support their sound and provide fans with a close-up concert experience. “We dig playing on a smaller stage in smaller rooms, so you can have that intimate atmosphere,” Ricky says. “It’s good to connect with our fans and be able to hang out after,” adds Ran.
The Jackson brothers stem from a musical family tree; their mother had a career as a professional drummer. “We didn’t get fed unless we sang in five-part harmony,” Ricky jokes of their childhood. With a larger-than-life sound, and the potential to ignite radios into flames, the wonderful thing about The Daylights is that on each song of their 15-track self-titled debut album – regardless of how much mainstream play they will inevitably receive from MTV – there are noticeable moments of truthfulness to themselves as a band. The instrumental tracks, “Richmond Park,” Pts I and II, leave one wondering what the hell must’ve happened there.
Their current single, “Rogue Machine,” is doing very well on the charts, but after listening to their self-titled debut album, I have to know if there are plans to release “Outsider” as the next single. “It’s funny you say that” Ran starts, “because for the longest time, everyone thought that was going to be our single, and then we wrote “Rogue Machine” and that was the favorite. I’m rooting for “Outsider” to be our new single – what do you think?” If that were to occur, it would do for them what “Breakeven” did for The Script. You know, put them on the map. Pinpoint their exact coordinates in terms of musical popularity. “Can you guarantee that?” Ricky questions, teasingly. Put me down for a high five and a ‘thank you to’ on the next album’s digital booklet, if I’m accurate.
“I think our band’s favorite song, correct me if I’m wrong, is ‘Weapons,’” says Ran, and the guys go on about how radio isn’t into the ‘deeper sort of songs’, but those are the songs they love to write. “I think “Weapons,” would be a blast; I think “Digital_Kiss” would be great for alternative radio,” Ran says of deciding which song to release next. What to do? Overseas fans are already demanding The Daylights jump ship and sail across the Atlantic for a show. “I think that would help decide our next single,” they determine.
The Daylights are genuinely nice guys with the raw talent to elevate them to the next level. “We’re writing a ton, we’re touring nonstop, we’ve been recording in the studio nonstop; so for us, it’s just about continuing to create, and have a blast. I think that’s the most important ingredient,” Ran says of the band’s future. Hey, music scene – take heed – you won’t want to leave The Daylights in the dark.
Currently on their first headlining tour, prodigal band The Daylights sat down with YouPlusDallas to tell us about their music, origin, and fan affiliation.
“What a couch!” guitarist and vocalist Ran Jackson exclaims before shaking my hand and introducing himself. We’re in the green room of The Prophet Bar, where a worn, mustard yellow sofa sits against the wall, beckoning the band to have a seat for their on-camera interview. “I think we’re going to need to take a bath after we get off this couch,” he jokes. The band is relaxed and down to earth, cracking jokes with each other a few hours before they go onstage. “So what history does this room have?” Ran questions. Drummer Svend Lerche, with his dark hair and unexpectedly bright blue eyes, guesses the rainbow of colors the room may have seen before living up to its namesake. “It’s very green,” he offers, but Ran disagrees.“[It’s] more of like a green tea – matcha green tea.” I can relax a little now – it’s refreshing to know that the up-and-coming rock stars have an authentic sense of humor.
The Daylights have toured with big names such as OneRepublic and Needtobreathe. “They’re good guys,” says Svend, “good to hang. That was almost the best thing about the tour, was to hang with them.” Recently, the talented musicians earned their first headlining tour. “It kind of exceeded our expectations, actually,” Ran says of the tour that kicked off on the west coast, “everywhere we went, we were like, ‘well, we’ve never headlined that city before.’”
I ask them if they are excited to be back in Dallas, and sans hesitation, I receive a collective “yeah” coupled with the nodding of heads. “Are y’all from Dallas?” asks bassist and vocalist Ricky Jackson, his organic southern drawl showing. A state-shifter between Texas and California for my entire life, talking about where I’m from is one of the hardest conversations to have. Currently experiencing a problem similar to mine, as LA transplants on tour in their hometown of Dallas, The Daylights are the only band that can help me confront this location-based conundrum.
“I don’t think that we would claim to be from LA. We’re pretty proud Texans. Annoyingly so, I’d say. So we definitely say we’re from Dallas. As a band we’re from LA, because we met in LA, we live in LA, we formed there, we write there, we do everything there, and have a studio there, but we’re definitely Texans, and he’s definitely a Dane,” Ricky says, gesturing to Svend. “If we’re asked, ‘where are you from?’ Texas rolls right off the lips. If you say, ‘where are you guys based out of?’ it’s LA.” This doesn’t help shorten my answer any, but it does provide ample context for a pretty in-depth response.
“The thing is, we are hardcore Rangers, Mavs, and Cowboys fans.” Good thing, as it’s the perfect time to harness those particular affiliations (except for maybe the Cowboys). “[Texas has] also changed a lot since we left, it seems like the Mavericks are actually a good basketball team now, which is weird. And the Rangers are actually good.” Heck yes, ALCS champs, and heading in that direction again this season, (not to jinx them) thankyouverymuch. “I don’t know what any of those things are, so, sure,” says the Dane. “It’s pretty tough being with two Texans. They’re proud.”
Does he have to fight for his voice to be heard? “Sometimes,” says Svend. “I mean, we’re very similar and very different at the same time. I think it creates a very interesting dynamic.” I ask him what kind of sports fan he is; if you’re going to put up with two Texans, you better have some kind of affiliation. “If it’s either bat ball or tackle ball, I don’t know,” he laughs. “I just like to tease them because football to me is nothing with a ball and foot.” Point taken, but don’t tell that to Jerry. So what does Svend think of this state? “Oh I love it – I like Texas a lot.” Smart answer. “We could still actually secede,” Ran quips. “But anyway, we’re very proud to be from Texas, to answer your question!” he laughs, after a massively round about way to say where we’re all from.
The Daylights possess the sort of sound that belongs onstage at American Airlines Center, rivaling acts such as Kings of Leon and Rihanna. When thinking of a band to compare them to, U2 continues to surface.
For now, venues such as The Prophet Bar support their sound and provide fans with a close-up concert experience. “We dig playing on a smaller stage in smaller rooms, so you can have that intimate atmosphere,” Ricky says. “It’s good to connect with our fans and be able to hang out after,” adds Ran.
The Jackson brothers stem from a musical family tree; their mother had a career as a professional drummer. “We didn’t get fed unless we sang in five-part harmony,” Ricky jokes of their childhood. With a larger-than-life sound, and the potential to ignite radios into flames, the wonderful thing about The Daylights is that on each song of their 15-track self-titled debut album – regardless of how much mainstream play they will inevitably receive from MTV – there are noticeable moments of truthfulness to themselves as a band. The instrumental tracks, “Richmond Park,” Pts I and II, leave one wondering what the hell must’ve happened there.
Their current single, “Rogue Machine,” is doing very well on the charts, but after listening to their self-titled debut album, I have to know if there are plans to release “Outsider” as the next single. “It’s funny you say that” Ran starts, “because for the longest time, everyone thought that was going to be our single, and then we wrote “Rogue Machine” and that was the favorite. I’m rooting for “Outsider” to be our new single – what do you think?” If that were to occur, it would do for them what “Breakeven” did for The Script. You know, put them on the map. Pinpoint their exact coordinates in terms of musical popularity. “Can you guarantee that?” Ricky questions, teasingly. Put me down for a high five and a ‘thank you to’ on the next album’s digital booklet, if I’m accurate.
“I think our band’s favorite song, correct me if I’m wrong, is ‘Weapons,’” says Ran, and the guys go on about how radio isn’t into the ‘deeper sort of songs’, but those are the songs they love to write. “I think “Weapons,” would be a blast; I think “Digital_Kiss” would be great for alternative radio,” Ran says of deciding which song to release next. What to do? Overseas fans are already demanding The Daylights jump ship and sail across the Atlantic for a show. “I think that would help decide our next single,” they determine.
The Daylights are genuinely nice guys with the raw talent to elevate them to the next level. “We’re writing a ton, we’re touring nonstop, we’ve been recording in the studio nonstop; so for us, it’s just about continuing to create, and have a blast. I think that’s the most important ingredient,” Ran says of the band’s future. Hey, music scene – take heed – you won’t want to leave The Daylights in the dark.
The Keith Green Story pt 3/7 Keith Green had a major impact on me back in 1978 when I first heard him. Here is his story below: Spiritual Conversion Keith had a Jewish and Christian Science background, but grew up reading the New Testament. He called it “an odd combination” that left him open minded […]
The Lou Gramm Band – You Saved Me (great song) Uploaded by SacredWarrior1991 on May 2, 2011 This song is taken from The Lou Gramm Band (LGB – 2009). ______________________________________ The Lou Gramm Band – I Wanna Testify (great song) Uploaded by SacredWarrior1991 on May 2, 2011 This song is taken from The Lou Gramm […]
Double Vision – Foreigner Foreigner- Urgent Foreigner – Cold As Ice _____________________________ The Lou Gramm Band – Redeemer (great song) Uploaded by SacredWarrior1991 on May 2, 2011 This song is taken from The Lou Gramm Band (LGB – 2009). ____________________________________ Lou Gramm Knows What Love Is – CBN.com Uploaded by CBNonline on Nov 4, 2009 […]
Katy Perry Dedicates Song to Tim Tebow at Super Bowl Party Sun, Feb. 05, 2012 Posted: 07:01 PM EDT Flamboyant pop star Katy Perry dedicated suggestive song “Peacock” to evangelical quarterback Tim Tebow at a pre-Super Bowl party Saturday night. Perry, the daughter of Christian ministers, said “This one goes out to Tim […]
Wikipedia reported: Blondie Chris Stein and Deborah Harry in 2008 Background information Origin New York City, US Genres New Wave punk rock[1][2] dance-rock[3] pop punk[3][4] post-punk power pop Years active 1974–1982 1997–present Labels Chrysalis/EMI Beyond/BMG Epic Sanctuary Private Stock Website http://www.blondie.net Members Debbie Harry Chris Stein Clem Burke Leigh Foxx Matt Katz-Bohen Tommy Kessler Jimmy […]
Chynna Phillips is open about her Christian faith jh31 “Dancing with the Stars” (DWTS) is a very popular show. I have only watched it a little, but I am a big fan of Chynna Phillips. I love a lot of her music. Dancing With the Stars: Chynna Phillips Speaks Openly About Her Christian Faith Actress […]
In-Studio Interviews – Tyson Ritter ‘The All American Rejects’ Interview: Kids In The Street I enjoyed the concert in Little Rock on 12-13-12, and lead singer Tyson Ritter wrote a song on his latest cd that we should all pay attention to because it covers an issue that both him and many other lead singers […]
The Poison – The All-American Rejects Avril Lavigne and Tyson Ritter from All American Rejects Talk Almost Alice The All-American Rejects – Dirty Little Secret Tyson Ritter, the leadsinger of the All-American Rejects has admitted that he was a jerk for the last couple of years when he lived a sexually impure life by sleeping […]
I’m In A Rock ‘N’ Roll Band – The Singer (Part 1) Jim Morrison – books on tape – w subtitles Light My Fire – The Doors The Rolling Stones – Satisfaction ________________________ The Rolling Stones – The Breakthrough The Rolling Stones – Brian Jones The Rolling Stones- Paint it Black Nirvana – Smells Like […]
Great article by Muehlenberg. Bill Muehlenberg’s commentary on issues of the day… John Lennon, Rock Culture, and Eternity It may have been “twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play,” as the Beatles sang about in their 1967 album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,” but I in fact wish to go […]
Wikipedia reported: “Without You” is a song written by Pete Ham and Tom Evans of British rock group Badfinger, and first released on their 1970 album No Dice. The song has been recorded by over 180 artists,[1] and versions released as singles by Harry Nilsson (1971) and Mariah Carey (1994) became international best-sellers. Paul McCartney […]
“The Next Three Days” Soundtrack – Be The One by Moby Moby – Extreme Ways (The Bourne Ultimatum soundtrack) I really enjoyed reading about Moby and his views on Christianity. Moby From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search For other uses, see Moby (disambiguation). Moby Moby in 2009 Background information Birth name […]
Wikipedia noted: Johnny Cash recorded a version of “God’s Gonna Cut You Down” on American V: A Hundred Highways in 2003, with an arrangement quite different from most known gospel versions of the song. A music video, directed by Tony Kaye,[1] was made for this version in late 2006. It featured a number of celebrities, […]
Would you like to know the spirtual meaning of these words above by Coldplay or find a christian response to the song “The Last Resort” by Papa Roach? You could if you checked out “Music Monday” here every week and see all the videos and articles. Take a look at the links before that refer to these songs: […]
O Brother Where Art Thou – Man Of Constant Sorrow Uploaded by MartinBestClips on Oct 29, 2009 O Brother Where Art Thou – Man Of Constant Sorrow O Brother Where Art Thou film movie comedy 2000 George Clooney John Turturro John Goodman Holly Hunter _________________ Wikipedia notes: History There is some uncertainty whether Dick Burnett […]
Josh Wilson – Before the Morning Documentary (Full Version)
Published on Feb 17, 2012
Music video by Josh Wilson performing Before the Morning Documentary (Full Version). (P) (C) 2012 Sparrow Records. All rights reserved. Unauthorized reproduction is a violation of applicable laws. Manufactured by EMI Christian Music Group,
“Before The Morning”
Do you wonder why you have to,
Feel the things that hurt you,
If there’s a God who loves you,
Where is He now?Maybe, there are things you can’t see
And all those things are happening
To bring a better ending
Some day, some how, you’ll see, you’ll see
Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
That you still have a reason to sing,
’cause the pain you’ve been feeling,
Can’t compare to the joy that’s coming
So hold on, you got to wait for the light
Press on, just fight the good fight
Because the pain you’ve been feeling,
It’s just the dark before the morning
My friend, you know how this all ends
And you know where you’re going,
You just don’t know how you get there
So just say a prayer.
And hold on, cause there’s good who love God,
Life is not a snapshot, it might take a little time,
But you’ll see the bigger picture
Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
That you still have a reason to sing,
’cause the pain you’ve been feeling,
Can’t compare to the joy that’s coming
So hold on, you got to wait for the light
Press on, just fight the good fight
Because the pain you’ve been feeling,
It’s just the dark before the morning
Yeah, yeah,
Before the morning,
Yeah, yeah
Once you feel the way of glory,
All your pain will fade to memory
Once you feel the way of glory,
All your pain will fade to memory
Memory, memory, yeah
Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
That you still have a reason to sing,
’cause the pain you’ve been feeling,
Can’t compare to the joy that’s coming
Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
That you still have a reason to sing,
’cause the pain you’ve been feeling,
Can’t compare to the joy that’s coming
Com’n, you got to wait for the light
Press on, just fight the good fight
Because the pain you’ve been feeling,
It’s just the hurt before the healing
The pain you’ve been feeling,
Just the dark before the morning
Before the morning, yeah, yeah
Before the morning
Josh Wilson in Concert
Josh and his band will be here Saturday night, December 14th at First Baptist Church bringing their NOEL tour!
The church lobby will open at 5:30 pm and we will be selling tickets to a meet and greet featuring Josh. He will answer questions and play a little private concert for those in attendance. Admission to the Meet and Greet is $20 and includes reserve seating for the concert. The meet and greet and private session with Josh will be 30 minutes long and will begin at 6 pm.
General admission is $5 at the door and the doors will open at 6:30 pm. The concert begins at 7 pm.
I saw Amy Grant perform in Little Rock around 1991 in Barton arena with Kim Hill opening. Actually I went to high school at ECS in Memphis with Kim Hill and we were on the same track team. In fact, both the boys and girls track teams won conference championships several times while we were […]
I saw Amy Grant perform in Little Rock around 1991 in Barton arena with Kim Hill opening. Actually I went to high school at ECS in Memphis with Kim Hill and we were on the same track team. In fact, both the boys and girls track teams won conference championships several times while we were […]
AMY GRANT tekstovi 800 x 533 | 127KB | tekstovi-pesama.com Michael W. Smith & Amy Grant – El Shaddai – (Live) Uploaded on Feb 15, 2011 MICHAEL W. SMITH with AMY GRANT – EL SHADDAI – (LIVE) — From the album “LIVE IN CONCERT – A 20 YEAR CELEBRATION 2004″ — The View Chatting with Amy Grant in […]
I got to hear Andrae Crouch at the Billy Graham crusade in Memphis in 1978 and also a full concert at Memphis State University in 1981. The concert in 1981 was in front of a crowd of around 800 in a small room and I was on the 3rd row. The Billy Graham crusade was […]
I got to hear Andrae Crouch at the Billy Graham crusade in Memphis in 1978 and also a full concert at Memphis State University in 1981. The concert in 1981 was in front of a crowd of around 800 in a small room and I was on the 3rd row. The Billy Graham crusade was […]
B.J. Thomas – Home Where I Belong ( 1976 ) Uploaded on Sep 27, 2011 B.J. Thomas – Home Where I Belong ( 1976 ) ______________ B.J. Thomas – Testimony (1980) B.J. Thomas – Softly and Tenderly (1982) Related posts: Christian music from the 1970′s and 80′s May 7, 2013 – 2:32 pm Keith Green – Asleep In […]
Evie Tornquist – It Only Takes A Spark † Pass It On ( 1976 ) Uploaded on Sep 25, 2011 Evie Tornquist – It Only Takes A Spark † Pass It On ( 1976 ) ____________ Evie Tornquist Karlsson on Billy Graham Crusade singing her hit song Born Again EvieComeOnRingBells.avi EVIE MY TRIBUTE CROUCH Evie – […]
I got to hear Andrae Crouch at the Billy Graham crusade in Memphis in 1978 and also a full concert at Memphis State University in 1981. The concert in 1981 was in front of a crowd of around 800 in a small room and I was on the 3rd row. The Billy Graham crusade was […]
I saw Petra in concert in North Little Rock in the 1980′s. Here is the link for the bio. Classic Petra – 2011 – DVD Documentary Uploaded on Sep 17, 2011 The videos published here are for pure enjoyment, these videos are very inferior quality to the quality of the original DVD, please let us bless […]
Paul McCartney “Wonderful Christmas Time” Uploaded by YesMan46 on Dec 16, 2007 http://andykazie.com/ ******************************************** A music video of Paul’s great Christmas song to the scenes of Bryant Park and Rockefeller Center in Manhattan. From Wikipedia: “Wonderful Christmastime” is a 1979 Christmas song by Paul McCartney. It enjoys significant Christmas time popularity around the world.[1] The notable synthesiser riff […]
But I guess I must be a mean-spirited anti-government ideologue, because I can’t stop myself from mocking the President’s ill-fated healthcare scheme. Whether I’m sharing funny cartoons or sarcastic videos, I can’t resist the temptation to kick Obamacare while it’s down.
In this spirit of love and togetherness, let’s take a look at some recent news about the law.
McClatchy News has a big expose that reveals the magnitude of the President’s if-you-like-your-insurance-you-can-keep-it prevarication. Let’s review a couple of excerpts from the story, beginning with a comparison of the President’s promise and the staggering revelation that as many as 52 million Americans may have the rug pulled out from under them.
Even as President Barack Obama sold a new health care law in part by assuring Americans they would be able to keep their insurance plans, his administration knew that tens of millions of people actually could lose those their policies. …report in 2010 said that as many as 69 percent of certain employer-based insurance plans would lose that protection, meaning as many as 41 million people could lose their plans even if they wanted to keep them and would be forced into other plans. Another 11 million who bought their own insurance also could lose their plans. Combined, as many as 52 million Americans could lose or have lost old insurance plans.
Amazingly, the President continues to be truth-challenged.
Obama insisted anew Thursday that the problem is limited to people who buy their own insurance. “We’re talking about 5 percent of the population who are in what’s called the individual market. They’re out there buying health insurance on their own,” he told NBC. But a closer examination finds that the number of people who have plans changing, or have already changed, could be between 34 million to 52 million. That’s because many employer-provided insurance plans also could change, not just individually purchased insurance plans.
Now let’s examine an example of what this means. The Weekly Standard reports on what has happened to some citizens from flyover country.
In North Dakota, only 30 people have so far signed up for Obamacare. Meanwhile, 35,000 people have already or will be losing their existing health insurance plans in that state alone.
But that’s not the only bad news for the President’s statist healthcare scheme.
To the list of problems plaguing President Obama’s health care law, add one more — fraud. …State and federal authorities report a rising number of consumer complaints, ranging from deceptive sales practices to identity theft, linked to the Affordable Care Act. …Some level of fraud or abuse is predictable with any big government program… But now, the technical failures troubling the HealthCare.gov website, as well as the law’s complexity, threaten to make matters worse. …Authorities warn that in some cases the come-ons are merely a ruse to get people to divulge sensitive Medicare and banking information. …Medicare has also long been a magnet for swindlers, thanks to its sheer scale and complexity. The troubled rollout of the new health care law has amplified the problem.
By the way, this story doesn’t even mention the possibility and risk of hackers and identity thieves breaking into the massive government databases that will be created as a result of Obamacare.
And if you’ll allow me to briefly digress, the same danger exists if politicians create the huge tracking-and-monitoring database that would be necessary if state politicians get the authority to tax out-of-state Internet sales.
Returning to the topic of Obamacare, it’s also worth noting that the growing burden of taxes and spending isn’t part of the aforementioned stories. Yet can there be any doubt that the program’s failures will lead to even more spending?
Not that any of us should be surprised. That’s almost always been the case when politicians create new entitlement programs. Indeed, I would pat myself on the back for making exactly this predication about Obamacare, but anybody with a room-temperature IQ knew this would happen, so I can’t claim any special insight.
But this does give me a reason to share this new Lisa Benson cartoon.
Needless to say, I’m enjoying the ongoing Obamacare disaster. But not just for reasons of Schadenfreude. The cluster-you-know-what of Obamacare is good news because it increases our chances of repealing the law in a few years (just as I predicted back in April).
(Emailed to White House on 3-15-13.) President Obama c/o The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President, I know that you receive 20,000 letters a day and that you actually read 10 of them every day. I really do respect you for trying to get a pulse on what is […]
Senator Pryor pictured below: Why do I keep writing and email Senator Pryor suggestions on how to cut our budget? I gave him hundreds of ideas about how to cut spending and as far as I can tell he has taken none of my suggestions. You can find some of my suggestions here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, and they […]
(Emailed to White House on 3-15-13.) President Obama c/o The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President, I know that you receive 20,000 letters a day and that you actually read 10 of them every day. I really do respect you for trying to get a pulse on what is […]
The Dysfunction in Washington is Republicans and Democrats that are unwilling to cut spending in order to vote for more programs (Democrats want more food stamps etc but Republicans vote for their pet programs and wars too like No Child Left Behind Act, the Iraq war, the prescription drug entitlement, and the TARP bailout). If […]
Senator Pryor pictured below: Why do I keep writing and email Senator Pryor suggestions on how to cut our budget? I gave him hundreds of ideas about how to cut spending and as far as I can tell he has taken none of my suggestions. You can find some of my suggestions here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, and they […]
If you want to cut wasteful spending then the disability program must be reformed radically!!! October 7, 2013 1:19PM 60 Minutes Disability Investigation By Chris Edwards Share The abuse and overspending in government disability programs is so bad that even National Public Radio and 60 Minutes have taken notice. On the heels of this excellent […]
If you really want to cut wasteful spending then why not shut down Dept of Housing and Urban Development, Dept of Education and SBA? There are many other areas that should be cut but these should be shut down!!! October 7, 2013 4:57PM Close Washington to Dismantle the Welfare-Warfare State By Doug Bandow Share […]
Senator Pryor pictured below: Why do I keep writing and email Senator Pryor suggestions on how to cut our budget? I gave him hundreds of ideas about how to cut spending and as far as I can tell he has taken none of my suggestions. You can find some of my suggestions here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here, and they […]
We need to stop wasteful government spending by privatizing the post office!! Postal Service Won’t Shut Down but Will Default on Its Debt James Gattuso October 1, 2013 at 9:30 am Newscom The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) defaulted on its debt last night. No, it has nothing to do with the partial shutdown of the […]
We need to stop the stupid spending by Bureaucrats!!! Bureaucrats Gone Wild: Government Spends Recklessly as Fiscal Year Ends Rob Bluey September 29, 2013 at 1:55 pm Credit: Tetra Images/Newscom Washington’s reckless spending is driving America into debt — and yet federal bureaucrats continue their wasteful and frivolous ways. The latest example comes courtesy […]
I was shocked to learn that both Arkansas and Tennessee pay their football coaches top 4 salaries!!!Everybody knows that when Texas and Alabama won the national titles they raised their coaches up to the highest paid football coaches in the nation and who could blame them? Also you can not blame Oklahoma, Ohio State, and LSU for paying a huge amount of money to coaches that have won national titles. However, Tennessee and Arkansas are paying an enormous amount of money to coaches that have not won national titles. I personally like Coach Bielema and think he will do a great job at Arkansas and I am glad we took what it takes to get him. We will just have to wait and see how things will turn out.
Alabama last year had to play Tennessee and Kentucky from the East and their conference record was 1-15 while LSU had to play Florida and Georgia and their record was 14-2. Doesn’t seem fair does it? In the old days Tennessee would have been a top 10 team almost every year and playing them as […]
ESPN’s final recruiting rankings are not as good as others as I have seen. I do have a hard time with Missouri (38) having such a good ranking when other services had the tigers tanking their class this year compared to other SEC schools. However, Kentucky (36) is almost as bad when there is vast […]
Nick Saban Streeter Lecka We finally found a Top 25 in which the SEC is more dominant than the USA Today Coaches’ Poll: the post-Signing Day recruiting class rankings. ________ I have to say the SEC is really doing well these days. Everyone expects Alabama is going to be on top on most years […]
I am not so mad anymore about Arkansas being ranked number 64 in recruiting this year while Auburn is #20 and Tennessee is #30 and even Kentucky is doing better than us. That is because they racked up lots of players when they had coaches during the year while we had John L. Smith. What […]
It is no surprise that John L. Smith and Derek Dooley may be heading out the door at the end of this season. That was expected by most people that watch SEC football. However, could Gene Chizik of Auburn being out the door too? If that happens then I must admit that I did not […]
I am very happy with the new football schedules that the SEC released for next year. It is a stand alone schedule that will not affect the final decision that make concerning the rotation in the 2014 schedule and beyond. 2013 Georgia Bulldogs Football Schedule Date Opponent Time/TV Tickets Saturday 04/06/13 G-Day Spring Game […]
Arkansas defensive tackle Jared Green (57) and linebackers Alonzo Highsmith (45), and Tenarius Wright (43) attempt to tackle Alabama running back Eddie Lacy (42) as offensive lineman Barrett Jones (75) looks on during second quarter action of an NCAA college football game in Fayetteville, Ark., Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012. (AP Photo/David Quinn) ___________ When you […]
Photo by Adam Brimer, Knoxville News Sentinel The Volunteer waves the Power T flag during the Vol Walk down Peyton Manning Pass outside Neyland Stadium before the Vols’ matchup against _____________- My son Wilson and I got pretty wet during the Arkansas- Alabama game. We got to visit with Rex Jones at halftime. His two […]
~A fan made slideshow~
***RAY MANZAREK 1939-2013***
Ray Manzarek, a great storyteller and an even greater musician, talks about the last sessions on LA Woman, Morrison’s departure to Paris and the eventual news of his death.
________________________
I wrote of series of four posts on the conversion to Christ of Brian Walsh of the heavy metal band Korn and that was because my son Hunter told me about Walsh’s Christian testimony. Then I stumbled on the Christian testimony of Reggie “Fieldy” Arvizu of Korn. This subject has always interested me and I have written about Lou Graham of Foreigner, and Kerry Livgren and Dave Hope and their similar experiences. In all of these cases they convert to Christianity and give their lives totally to Christ and then they are delivered from drugs.
This biographical articleneeds additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately, especially if potentially libelous or harmful.(June 2013)
Prior to Arvizu’s time in Korn, he and Brian Welch, who would later become one of Korn’s two guitarists (alongside James Shaffer), had played together in a number of bands, having become friends while still at school. Upon their graduation from high school, Arvizu, Welch, Shaffer, and drummer David Silveria relocated from Bakersfield to Los Angeles and Arvizu, Shaffer, and Silveria formed L.A.P.D (the name first stood for “Love and Peace, Dude”, but this abbreviation was later changed to “Laughing As People Die”). Although L.A.P.D. did succeed in signing a record deal, their success was limited until the band hired singer Jonathan Davis and changed their name to Korn.
The name “Fieldy” is said to have come about as an inside joke. Originally, his band mates called him “Gopher”, due to his large cheeks. Gopher quickly became “Gar”, Gar became “Garfield” (based on the comic strip character of the same name), and eventually “Gar” was dropped and a “y” was added to “Field”, which became Fieldy.[2] His full moniker is “Fieldy Snuts”, which when spoken aloud sounds like “feel these nuts”.
He plays a five-string Ibanez model SDGR SR1305, named the K-5, which is his signature bass.
His playing style consists of slapping, standard finger-style plucking, and left-hand muting; his standard tuning is: A, D, G, C, F. He states Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers as being one of the main influences towards his playing style. He has also stated to have been influenced by Billy Gould from Faith No More.
Fieldy is also one of the main songwriters in Korn. The majority of his bass riffs are hip-hop inspired. He says he gets inspiration from anything hip-hop. On the business side of Korn, Fieldy is responsible for all Korn merchandise, its buying and selling. He will come up with a number of designs, shows them to the band and they either approve or disapprove.[citation needed]
In August 2012 it was reported that Fieldy would be taking a brief break from Korn as his wife Dena was expecting a child. Korn began touring through Eastern Europe, Russia and India throughout August and September 2012 with fill in Bassist Ryan Martinie from Mudvayne.
Fieldy married girlfriend Dena Beber on Tuesday, 16 May 2006. Korn’s guitarist, Munky played nylon guitar at the wedding. It is her first marriage and his third. Fieldy has two daughters, Sarina and Olivia Arvizu, from his second marriage from Shela Arvizu; he and his current wife Dena had a son in early 2007 and named him Israel. Following the death of his father, Fieldy became a born-again Christian.[3][4][5]
Fieldy has stated that his second album, Bassically, is still in the works. Originally intended to be a hardcore rap album, Fieldy has scrapped the original idea in favor of a jazz fusion style.[citation needed]
Fieldy is currently working with independent rap artist Q-Unique on a side project called StillWell. The song “Killing Myself To Live” can be heard on their MySpace page. Stillwell’s debut album, Dirtbag, is set to be released on May 10, 2011.
Fieldy was also working on his own clothing line Immanuel one twenty three; when asked about it while backstage at the West Palm Beach stop of the Mayhem Festival in 2010, he stated that it was “much harder than he had previously expected” to start a clothing line, and has moved on to the side project that he can “be more proud of, opposed to his first solo CD under Fieldy’s Dreams titled Rock’n Roll Gangster”
Got The Life: My Journey of Addiction, Faith, Recovery and Korn is a memoir Fieldy penned, which hit shelves March 10, 2009. His autobiography tells the story of how he found God, quit drugs, and found the better part of himself.[6]
Fieldy has a tattoo that was done by Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst while he still worked in a tattoo parlour.
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Eric Blair of “The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show“ recently conducted an interview with KORN bassist Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu at this year’s NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show, which was held January 14-17, 2010 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Watch the chat below.
KORN will top the bill on this summer’s Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival tour, which is scheduled to kick off on July 10 in San Bernardino, California.
The Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival will be the first major city tour for KORN in support of the band’s ninth studio album, tentatively titled “Korn III – Remember Who You Are”. The new album marks the return of producer Ross Robinson, who worked with KORN on their first two releases, “Korn” and “Life is Peachy”. Lead vocalist Jonathan Davis has said that the new material matches the pure raw emotion of KORN‘s early releases while the current touring band has never been tighter.
“We experimented with a lot of cool stuff on our last two records [2005’s ‘See You On The Other Side’ and 2007’s untitled effort], but we didn’t want to do another record like that,” Davis explained to Revolver magazine. “So we said, ‘Let’s strip it back again. Let’s do this as a four-piece and make it real raw like the old stuff.”
Eric Blair of “The Blairing Out With Eric Blair Show“ recently conducted an interview with KORN bassist Reginald “Fieldy” Arvizu at this year’s NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show, which was held January 14-17, 2010 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. Watch the chat below.
KORN will top the bill on this summer’s Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival tour, which is scheduled to kick off on July 10 in San Bernardino, California.
The Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival will be the first major city tour for KORN in support of the band’s ninth studio album, tentatively titled “Korn III – Remember Who You Are”. The new album marks the return of producer Ross Robinson, who worked with KORN on their first two releases, “Korn” and “Life is Peachy”. Lead vocalist Jonathan Davis has said that the new material matches the pure raw emotion of KORN‘s early releases while the current touring band has never been tighter.
“We experimented with a lot of cool stuff on our last two records [2005’s ‘See You On The Other Side’ and 2007’s untitled effort], but we didn’t want to do another record like that,” Davis explained to Revolver magazine. “So we said, ‘Let’s strip it back again. Let’s do this as a four-piece and make it real raw like the old stuff.”
KORN‘s forthcoming effort was tracked last October at the band’s studio. “We recorded everything on tape, just like we did in the old days,” said Davis. “And we didn’t stack four or five vocal parts like I usually do. I’m singing one part for every song, which was scary. It’s just me and the microphone, and you can really hear the emotion.”
Jim Morrison’s sad drug death was followed by Pamela Courson’s sad story!!! pamela courson/ jim morrison interview Interview with Jim Morrison’s father and sister Uploaded on Aug 9, 2010 This interview is from “When You’re Strange” DVD bonus material. I do not own this video and own no rights to it! Pamela Courson Uploaded […]
__________ NICO – I’m Waiting For The Man – (1982, Warehouse, Preston, UK) One of the top 10 songs from The Velvet Underground and Nico is the song “I’m Waiting for the Man I’m Waiting for the Man From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search “I’m Waiting for the Man” Song by […]
The life of Lou Reed (includes videos from 1960′s and 1970′s) ____________ Rock & Roll – Velvet Underground The Velvet Underground – Venus in Furs – Live 1) Lou Reed – Sweet Jane – live in Paris, 1974 Velvet Underground-”Sunday Morning” from “Velvet Underground and Nico” LP Lou Reed From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump […]
Jim Morrison’s relationship with Nico Nico Icon documentary part 1. Nico Icon documentary part 2. ______________ Jim Morrison at Andy Warhol’s Party.wmv (with Nico) Uploaded on Apr 26, 2010 From the Oliver Stone movie. The Doors. _______________________ nico discusses jim morrison. Uploaded on Jan 2, 2008 nico discusses jim, and how he impacted her […]
I really enjoyed the movie “Savannah Smiles” last night and afterwards I looked up what happened to Bridgette Andersen and where she is today. IMDB notes: Bridgette Andersen was born on July 11, 1975 to Frank Glass and Teresa Andersen in Inglewood, California and grew up in Malibu. She always considered it good luck to […]
Today I heard Tim Todd’s testimony about drugs. Related posts: Whitney Houston dead at 48, long history of drugs and alcohol February 11, 2012 – 8:31 pm Sad news about Whitney Houston’s death tonight. I have included some earlier posts about drugs and alcohol and rock stars. LOS ANGELES (AP) — Whitney Houston, who ruled as […]
I have written about the “27 Club” several times in the past and I have got a lot of hits in the last 30 days on these blog posts below that deal with Rock and Rollers and drugs. Keith Richards’ wife is a bible believing christian Pete de Freitas of Echo and the Bunnymen is a […]
I’m In A Rock ‘N’ Roll Band – The Singer (Part 1) Jim Morrison – books on tape – w subtitles Light My Fire – The Doors The Rolling Stones – Satisfaction ________________________ The Rolling Stones – The Breakthrough The Rolling Stones – Brian Jones The Rolling Stones- Paint it Black Nirvana – Smells Like […]
Amy Winehouse died last week and she joined the “27 club.” Pete de Freitas of Echo and the Bunnymen is also a member of the “27 Club.” This is group of rockers that have died at age 27. A tribute to the amazing drummer of one of our biggest influences, Echo & The Bunnymen. We […]
cc ‘Janis Joplin’ 2/5 from True Hollywood Story (Janis was having affair with Pigpen) Jerry Garcia (guitar, vocals), Ron “Pigpen” McKernan (vocals, harmonica), Bob Weir (guitar, vocals), Phil Lesh (bass), Mickey Hart (drums), Bill Kreutzman (drums). Grateful Dead “Don’t Ease Me In” Live @ Canadian National Exhibition Hall Toronto, CA June 27th, 1970 Grateful Dead […]
Amy Winehouse died last week and joined the “27 club” which is a group of rockers that died at age 27. Gary Thain also joined that same group long ago and I wanted to look at his life today. Uriah Heep – Wizard bb By Sean Nelson, Special to MSN Music , July 23, 2011 […]
Recently Amy Winehouse joined the “27 Club” when she died of a drug overdose. The “27 Club” is a group of rockers that died at age 27. Unfortunately Jimi Hendrix died at age 27 in 1970 and Janis Joplin did the same three weeks later. Today we are going to look at her life and […]
JIMI HENDRIX : FINAL INTERVIEW . The other day when Amy Winehouse died she joined the “27 Club” which includes other famous rockers who died at age 27. Most of them died because of drugs. Unfortunately Jimi Hendrix joined the club for the same reason. Something special for all music and Beat Club-Lovers on YouTube: […]
Amy Winehouse died at age 27 and unfornately joined the “27 club” which is made of famous rockers that died at age 27. Pete Ham was a member of Bad Finger which was one of my favorite groups that I followed. “Come and get it” was my favorite song of theirs. ___________________________________ Badfinger perform a […]
Brian’s Blues, Brian Jones on guitar in the early stones years. unreleased track Brian Jones died at age 27 just like Amy Winehouse did. I remember like yesterday when I first heard the song “I can’t get no satisfaction” by the Rolling Stones. I immediately thought about Solomon’s search for satisfaction in the Book of […]
The Rise And Rise Of Kurt Cobain part 1/3 Amy Winehouse joined the “Club 27 the other day with her early death. I am going through the others one by one. Today is Kurt Cobain. 7. Kurt Cobain very rarely does an artist come along and not just upset the “apple cart” but drops […]
Pictures and Videos of Edie Sedgwick and the story of her losing battle against drugs and alcohol Part 2 Drugs and alcohol have taken the life of many people and I have posted many times about their unfortunate deaths. Whitney Houston, Amy Winehouse, Gary Thain, Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones, Kurt Cobain, and Jim […]
Pictures and Videos of Edie Sedgwick and the story of her losing battle against drugs and alcohol Part 1 Factory Girl – The Real Edie Uploaded on Aug 30, 2011 Friends and family of Edie Sedgwick discuss what the factory girl was really like, and the battles and relationships she went through _____________ Edie Sedgwick Excerpt […]
Around 4 years ago I was in Philadelphia and the local radio station had a talk show that was blasting Alice Walton for coming into town and buying the 1876 Thomas Eakins’ masterpiece “The Gross Clinic” which was hanging at the Jefferson Medical College. However, the people of Philadelphia were given 45 days to […]
Flyleaf is an American hard rock band, formed in the Belton[1] and Temple, Texas[2] regions in 2002. The band has charted on mainstream rock, Christian pop and Christian metal genres. They performed around the United States in 2003 until releasing their eponymous debut album, Flyleaf, in 2005. The album went platinum after selling more than one million copies.[6] The band won an online poll on yahoo.com and was named Yahoo!’s Who’s Next band of the month in March 2006 and they were named MTV’s artist of the week on December 24, 2007.[7][8] Flyleaf released their second album Memento Mori on November 10, 2009 which debuted and peaked at No. 8 on the Billboard charts.
Flyleaf’s third album New Horizons was revealed in October 30, 2012. At the same time, lead singer Lacey Sturm announced her departure and the band announced the new lead singer for the band, Kristen May.
Early on Lacey Sturm started playing with James Culpepper. Guitarists Jared Hartmann and Sameer Bhattacharya were later recruited. “Sameer and Jared are really experimental with melodies and pedals, and we all had different influences that were all blending together with the same passionate and hopeful heart, and that brought out this beautiful feeling. It was magical,” said Sturm.[9] Bassist Pat Seals joined after leaving his previous band The Grove.
As Passerby, the band released three EPs and played over 100 shows in Texas alone over the span of two years under the booking and promotion company Runt Entertainment.[citation needed] In 2004, Passerby played a showcase for RCA Records in New York City in hopes of getting signed. RCA passed on the band, but the president of Octone Records was very interested. They waited for two days in their van at a truck stop for a phone call about an Octone showcase. They were signed after the showcase, and on January 7, 2004, Octone Record’s website announced their arrival to the label.
In March 2004, Flyleaf traveled to Seattle, Washington to record an EP with Rick Parashar. Afterwards, they toured with Skillet, Breaking Benjamin, Staind and 3 Doors Down to promote their self-titled EP. Due to legal reasons, they renamed themselves Flyleaf in June 2004.[10] In October, the EP was released to stores (as Flyleaf), spawning their first official single and video for the EP version of “Breathe Today”.
Debut album (2005–08)
In 2005, the band recorded their first full-length album with Howard Benson. On October 4, 2005, the record was released under the title Flyleaf. Appearances on the album include Dave Navarro of Jane’s Addiction and Ryan White of Resident Hero. The first mainstream single from their debut album was “I’m So Sick“, “Fully Alive” was the second, “All Around Me” was the third, and “Sorrow” was the fourth.
In the summer of 2006, the band played on the mainstage of the Family Values Tour 2006 and in late 2006, Flyleaf toured with Disturbed, Stone Sour and Nonpoint on the Music As A Weapon III Tour. The band issued an exclusive EP, which was sold at the tour called Music As A Weapon EP which features an acoustic version of “Fully Alive”, and three previously unreleased tracks: “Much Like Falling”, “Justice And Mercy”, and “Christmas Song” (Much Like Falling and Justice and Mercy later appeared on Much Like Falling EP). A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the EP went to World Vision.[11]
In 2007 Flyleaf toured with Three Days Grace and throughout Australia with the Soundwave festival, and also toured Europe with Stone Sour and Forever Never. In the spring of 2007, Flyleaf headlined their Justice & Mercy Tour which first featured Skillet and Dropping Daylight. Later on they did a second leg of the tour which featured Sick Puppies, Kill Hannah and Resident Hero. Flyleaf again joined the Family Values Tour in 2007.[12] The music video for “I’m So Sick” appeared briefly in the 2007 film Live Free or Die Hard. Also a remix of the song “I’m So Sick” is on the Soundtrack to the movie Resident Evil: Extinction. “Perfect” was also released as a single in late 2007 to Christian radio stations. Released on November 5, 2007, the The Sims 2 expansion pack Teen Style Stuff featured the band’s song “Cassie” recorded in Simlish.
Flyleaf at Beale Street Music Festival on May 2, 2008.
Flyleaf also released a song entitled “Tina” which was the first song that they debuted in the release of Guitar Hero 3 as part of the Companion Disk Set. Also, the song “I’m So Sick” appears in Rock Band. On October 30, Flyleaf also released a digital EP titled Much Like Falling EP. The songs included on this EP were “Much Like Falling”, an acoustic version of “Supernatural”, the limited release song “Tina”, and The EP is available on iTunes along with the expanded edition of their debut album. On April 26, 2008, the band released their fourth video “Sorrow” from their debut album on MTV2.[13] The band toured with Seether in late spring, but had to cancel five shows due to a problem with Sturm’s voice. The members of Flyleaf took the fall off to write new music, hoping to begin recording by January.
When the band finished recording their second album, The band had selected 14 songs out of the 30 already written. Some of these songs, such as “Again“, “Have We Lost”, and “Beautiful Bride” have been performed live. The band reunited with producer Howard Benson and enlisted the mixing services of Chris Lord-Alge[14] It was released on November 10, 2009.[15] The album has been titled Memento Mori. It features songs such as “Beautiful Bride”, “Arise”, “Missing”, “Again” and “Set Apart This Dream” which was inspired by the Christian book Wild at Heart.[16] Flyleaf has debuted an additional two songs live during a small acoustic tour the band did in Afghanistan for United States Armed Forces called “Chasm” and “Circle”.[17] As they published on their MySpace page, Flyleaf’s first single “Again” was released on iTunes and also played on the radio. Meiert Avis directed the single’s music video titled “Again”.
The group, starting in Seattle, Washington on September 28, 2009, held VIP listening parties throughout the country inviting fans to be the first to hear a selection of songs from the new record and view brand new music videos before they aired nationwide. By partnering with Eventful, fans were given the opportunity to demand that their city get routed into the “Road to Memento Mori” using Eventful’s “Demand It!” service.
Based on overwhelming demand there were over 10 events. Fans saw Sturm, Sameer Bhattacharya, and Jared Hartmann, who made special appearances at these intimate gatherings across the country.[18]
On November 2, 2009, the band released a short Webisode for their new album.[19]
Flyleaf’s other video, “Beautiful Bride,” was shot in early August 2009 by director Don Tyler. The video was originally released at the Memento Mori listening events, but was later featured on Yahoo! the day Memento Mori came out. The video features James’ sister/Sameer’s wife, April, as the bride and Joshua Sturm, Lacey’s husband, as the groom. Like “Again,” this video features Pat’s artwork throughout the video. Future singles are set to include “Chasm” for rock stations and “Missing” for alternative.
Flyleaf toured throughout the United States with Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace that lasted from January to March 2010. They embarked on a headlining tour called the “Unite & Fight Tour” with 10 Years and Fair to Midland. The tour began on April 28, 2010 and ended on June 6, 2010. June 11, 2010 the group has acted on MUZ TV Award 2010(Премия МУЗ-ТВ) in Russia with songs: “I’m So Sick”, “Again” and a song: “All Around Me“. They are one of many bands that performed at Download Festival on June 12, 2010. The band encouraged fans to donate to stop human trafficking in other countries.
Flyleaf performing in 2010.
The band was scheduled to continue with the second leg of the “Unite & Fight” tour from September 10, 2010 to October 23, 2010, with Story of the Year, and performed at various festivals through the end of the year. They also released an animated music video for “Chasm” on September 22, which was directed/animated/illustrated by Giles Timms. At the end of the Unite and Fight tour in early November, Lacey collaborated with band Apocalyptica on the song “Broken Pieces”, as well as with Australian singer Orianthi in her new song “Courage”.[20] Soon after they released “Arise” as the next single from Memento Mori.
On November 6, 2010, the band performed at Rock the Hood, a festival at Fort Hood in memory of all the soldiers who have died, especially the 13 who died at the November 2009 shooting.
On November 15, 2010, Lacey publicly shared her pregnancy with the fans. Lacey said via Facebook that she and her husband Joshua would be expecting a baby boy in early 2011.[21]
On January 22, 2011, Hartmann announced that he and Culpepper were building a recording studio and preparing to record demos for their next album.[24] In February 2011, the band started pre-production for their next album at Treelady Studios in Pittsburgh, PA.[25][unreliable source?]
On June 1, 2012, the band confirmed via Twitter that the album and first single will be called New Horizons.[26] The single premiered on South East Michigan’s 89X Radio on August 1, 2012,[27] and released through iTunes on August 21, 2012.[28]
On September 4, 2012, Lacey Sturm’s birthday,[citation needed] Flyleaf released the official video for “New Horizons” on Fuse. The video included a picture in the background as a tribute to Rich Caldwell and footage of Lacey and Joshua Sturm’s son, Joshua “Jack” Sturm.[29]
Flyleaf also released an additional single, entitled “Call You Out”, on September 25, 2012.[citation needed] The album was released on October 30, 2012.[30]
On October 22, 2012, the band announced that Lacey Sturm was stepping down as the band’s lead vocalist. In a statement written by Pat Seals, Kristen May, formerly of Vedera, was announced as Sturm’s replacement. Sturm expressed that with the birth of her son, Jack, and the death of one of the band’s lead audio engineers, Rich Caldwell, that she knew the true meaning of “Memento Mori” (the title of their second full-length album).[31]
Guitarist Sameer Bhattacharya stated in an interview that they will write new music with their new lead vocalist Kristen May.[32]
Who We Are EP (2013–present)
Flyleaf released a new single on June 18, 2013 with May on vocals, “Something Better” featuring P.O.D. front man Sonny Sandoval. A new EP, Who We Are, was released on July 9, 2013.[33]
All members of the band are Christians.[citation needed] Their faith influences their music, but former lead singer Sturm doesn’t believe that necessarily makes Flyleaf strictly a Christian band. The band says they are Christians who play in a rock band, and their faith is heard within their music.[42] “We all share the same faith.”[this quote needs a citation] In 2005 Flyleaf performed a free concert at Los Angeles Pierce College for a Christian group at the college, which was a three-day event.[citation needed]
In a May 2010 interview, original lead singer Sturm was asked how it felt to be in a Christian rock band and play in Las Vegas:
Well, you know what? I don’t know what you mean by a “Christian rock band.” It’s hard to say that because people all have a different definition of what that means. If it means that we’re Christians, then yeah, we’re Christians, but if a plumber’s a Christian, does that make him a “Christian plumber?” I mean we’re not playing for Christians. We’re just playing honestly and that’s going to come out.[43]
New lead singer May has felt the band’s fans believe she’s “not Christian enough” despite professing to be a Christian. She also hopes that people don’t discount the band by using the “Christian” label.[44]
Band members
Current members
Sameer Bhattacharya – lead guitar, backing vocals (2002–present)
Jared Hartmann – rhythm guitar (2002–present)
Pat Seals – bass, backing vocals (2002–present)
James Culpepper – drums, percussion (2002–present)
Lykke Li ”I’m Good, I’m Gone” Uploaded on Jan 30, 2008 Acoustic live version with guests: Robyn, Adam & Bebban (Shout Out Louds), Daniel (The Concretes), Lars (Laakso) and Mikael (Hjalmar). Director: Ted Malmros + Christian Haag Album “Youth Novels” out jan 30 2008. ________________________ Lykke Li – Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow? Wikipedia has this […]
My favorite Christian music artist of all time is Keith Green. Sunday, May 5, 2013 You Are Celled To Go – Keith Green Keith Green – (talks about) Jesus Commands Us To Go! (live) Uploaded on May 26, 2008 Keith Green talks about “Jesus Commands Us To Go!” live at Jesus West Coast ’82 You can find […]
Coldplay Max Masters – Part 1 of 7 Uploaded on May 6, 2009 The ASTRA Award winning music documentary – Max Masters Coldplay – was voted MOST OUTSTANDING MUSIC PROGRAM for 2009. Sarah Linton Productions and The Post Box produced the Max Masters documentary to coincide with the album release of ‘Viva la Vida’. __________ […]
The Killers – Human The Killers – Read My Mind The Killers – All These Things That I’ve Done The Killers – Spaceman I have really enjoyed the music of The Killers band. The Killers From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Not to be confused with The Kills. For other uses, see […]
Drawing from some of the most pivotal points in his life, Steve Jobs, chief executive officer and co-founder of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, urged graduates to pursue their dreams and see the opportunities in life’s setbacks — including death itself — at the university’s 114th Commencement on June 12, 2005.
Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. — Steve Jobs, speaking at Stanford University’s commencement, June 2005.
Steve Jobs was a Buddhist and it is my view that this is almost the same as being an atheist. In this clip above he discusses the issue of death. There is one book in the Bible that confronts the view of death and the issue of atheism more than any other book.
Three thousand years ago, Solomon took a look at life “under the sun” in his book of Ecclesiastes. Christian scholar Ravi Zacharias has noted, “The key to understanding the Book of Ecclesiastes is the term ‘under the sun.’ What that literally means is you lock God out of a closed system, and you are left with only this world of time plus chance plus matter.”
Let me show you some inescapable conclusions if you choose to live without God in the picture. Solomon came to these same conclusions when he looked at life “under the sun.”
Death is the great equalizer (Eccl 3:20, “All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return.”)
Chance and time have determined the past, and they will determine the future. (Ecclesiastes 9:11-13 “I have seen something else under the sun: The race is not to the swift
or the battle to the strong, nor does food come to the wise
or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happen to them all. Moreover, no one knows when their hour will come: As fish are caught in a cruel net,
or birds are taken in a snare, so people are trapped by evil times that fall unexpectedly upon them.”)
Power reigns in this life, and the scales are not balanced(Eccl 4:1; “Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed—
and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors— and they have no comforter.” 7:15 “In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these: the righteous perishing in their righteousness, and the wicked living long in their wickedness. ).
Nothing in life gives true satisfaction without God including knowledge (1:16-18), ladies and liquor (2:1-3, 8, 10, 11), and great building projects (2:4-6, 18-20).
_______________________
Power reigns in this life and the scales are not balanced.
Solomon comes to the realization that powers reigns in this life and the scales are not balanced. Solomon notes, “Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless. (Ecclesiastes 4:1).
WOODY ALLEN
People that believe there is no afterlife must concede that Hitler will never face the due punishment for his acts. I am a big Woody Allen movie fan and no other movie better demonstrates Ecclesiastes 4:1 better than the movie CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS because the character Judah was able to get away with murder and in the end of the movie does not fear that God will punish him.
If you do not have God in the picture then you must come to the same conclusions that Solomon came to and Woody Allen shows that very clearly in his film.
By the way, the final chapter of Ecclesiastes finishes with Solomon emphasizing that serving God is the only proper response of man. Solomon looks above the sun and brings God back into the picture. I am hoping that Woody Allen will also come to that same conclusion that Solomon came to concerning the meaning of life and man’s proper place in the universe in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14:
13 Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil
ECCLESIASTES
Another chapter in Ecclesiastes takes on the issue of death head on.
Ecclesiastes 9:1-12
The Message (MSG)
Ecclesiastes 9
1-3Well, I took all this in and thought it through, inside and out. Here’s what I understood: The good, the wise, and all that they do are in God’s hands—but, day by day, whether it’s love or hate they’re dealing with, they don’t know.
Anything’s possible. It’s one fate for everybody—righteous and wicked, good people, bad people, the nice and the nasty, worshipers and non-worshipers, committed and uncommitted. I find this outrageous—the worst thing about living on this earth—that everyone’s lumped together in one fate. Is it any wonder that so many people are obsessed with evil? Is it any wonder that people go crazy right and left? Life leads to death. That’s it.
Seize Life!
4-6 Still, anyone selected out for life has hope, for, as they say, “A living dog is better than a dead lion.” The living at least know something, even if it’s only that they’re going to die. But the dead know nothing and get nothing. They’re a minus that no one remembers. Their loves, their hates, yes, even their dreams, are long gone. There’s not a trace of them left in the affairs of this earth.
7-10 Seize life! Eat bread with gusto,
Drink wine with a robust heart.
Oh yes—God takes pleasure in your pleasure!
Dress festively every morning.
Don’t skimp on colors and scarves.
Relish life with the spouse you love
Each and every day of your precarious life.
Each day is God’s gift. It’s all you get in exchange
For the hard work of staying alive.
Make the most of each one!
Whatever turns up, grab it and do it. And heartily!
This is your last and only chance at it,
For there’s neither work to do nor thoughts to think
In the company of the dead, where you’re most certainly headed.
11 I took another walk around the neighborhood and realized that on this earth as it is—
The race is not always to the swift,
Nor the battle to the strong,
Nor satisfaction to the wise,
Nor riches to the smart,
Nor grace to the learned.
Sooner or later bad luck hits us all.
12 No one can predict misfortune.
Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds in a trap,
So men and women are caught
By accidents evil and sudden.
In 1978 I heard the song “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas when it rose to #6 on the charts. That song told me thatKerry Livgren the writer of that song and a member of Kansas had come to the same conclusion that Solomon had. I remember mentioning to my friends at church that we may soon see some members of Kansas become Christians because their search for the meaning of life had obviously come up empty even though they had risen from being an unknown band to the top of the music business and had all the wealth and fame that came with that. Furthermore, like Solomon and Coldplay, they realized death comes to everyone and “there must be something more.”
Livgren wrote:
“All we do, crumbles to the ground though we refuse to see, Dust in the Wind, All we are is dust in the wind, Don’t hang on, Nothing lasts forever but the Earth and Sky, It slips away, And all your money won’t another minute buy.”
Both Kerry Livgren and Dave Hope of Kansas became Christians eventually. Kerry Livgren first tried Eastern Religions and Dave Hope had to come out of a heavy drug addiction. I was shocked and elated to see their personal testimony on The 700 Club in 1981 and that same interview can be seen on youtube today. Livgren lives in Topeka, Kansas today where he teaches “Diggers,” a Sunday school class at Topeka Bible Church. Hope is the head of Worship, Evangelism and Outreach at Immanuel Anglican Church in Destin, Florida.
You can hear Kerry Livgren’s story from this youtube link:
(part 1 ten minutes)
(part 2 ten minutes)
______________________
COLDPLAY
Briemeier of Christianity Today: “What does it all mean? With so many questions posed, a single interpretation of this album is virtually impossible… Yet taken collectively, there is no ignoring the fact that spiritual themes are prevalent throughout the album. Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends seems to be about coping with death in a world corrupted by sin, temptation, and war. Though it never goes deeper than mentioning God or referencing a specific theology, the lyrics often yearn with hope and love for a better world—utopia or heaven, it’s up to your interpretation… Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends is often provocative, spiritual, and seemingly on the verge of identifying a greater Truth, asking and inspiring many questions without providing the answers.”
Coldplay’s song “42” states, “Time is so short and I’m sure, There must be something more.” Yet in the song “Lost,” notes, “Every river that I tried to cross, Every door I ever tried was locked.” Blaise Pascal, the famous mathematician and philosopher once proclaimed, “There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every man which cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator, made known through Jesus.”
Coldplay’s latest musical lyrics indicate a Spiritual Search for the Afterlife
In Coldplay’s latest songs you can see that something has changed about the focus of the band’s song writing. What is going on? The internet has been full of speculation concerning the radical lyrical change in the latest Coldplay work compared to the previous 3 albums.
Russ Briemeier of Christianity Today: “What does it all mean? With so many questions posed, a single interpretation of this album is virtually impossible…
Yet taken collectively, there is no ignoring the fact that spiritual themes are prevalent throughout the album. Viva La Vidaseems to be about coping with death in a world corrupted by sin, temptation, and war. Though it never goes deeper than mentioning God or referencing a specific theology, the lyrics often yearn with hope and love for a better world—utopia or heaven, it’s up to your interpretation… Viva La Vida is often provocative, spiritual, and seemingly on the verge of identifying a greater Truth, asking and inspiring many questions without providing the answers.”
The Spiritual Search for the Afterlife
Many of Coldplay’s latest songs mention God and other Biblical themes such as dealing with death, and the afterlife and the shortness of life. It seems to me that Coldplay has focused on spiritual issues in their lyrics but they are still in the process of working out all the answers and still formulating their religious belief systems. Here is a sample of their latest works:
In the song “Glass of Water”:
Oh he said you could see a future,
inside a glass of water,
With riddles and the rhymes
He asked ‘Will I see heaven in mine’
Ooooh, oooh, ooooh …
Possibly searching for the path to Heaven or hoping after death heaven is the destination. It reminds me also of the song “42” that says, “You thought you might be a ghost, You didn’t get to heaven but you made it close.”
The Search for the Meaning of Life
In the song “Now my feet won’t touch the ground”:
Now my head won’t stop
You wait a lifetime to be found
Could it be a way of saying that God is searching for you in a sense? In the context of the rest of the album that may not be such a bad interpretation.
The song “42” states,
Those who are dead are not dead
They’re just living my head
And since I fell for that spell
I am living there as well…
Time is so short and I’m sure
There must be something more
This is the same question that Solomon asked 3000 years ago in the Book of Ecclesiastes. He knew there was something more even though he was living the life of a very rich powerful King of Israel. The Christian Philosopher Francis Schaeffer noted that Solomon took a look in Ecclesiastes at the meaning of life on the basis of human life standing alone between birth and death “under the sun.” This phrase UNDER THE SUN appears over and over in Ecclesiastes. The Christian Scholar Ravi Zacharias noted, “The key to understanding the Book of Ecclesiastes is the term UNDER THE SUN — What that literally means is you lock God out of a closed system and you are left with only this world of Time plus Chance plus matter.”
Solomon had all the resources in the world and he found himself searching for meaning of life and trying to come up with answers concerning the afterlife. However, it seems every door he tries to open is locked. Solomon found riches (Ecclesiastes 2:8-11), pleasure (2:1), education (2:3) and his work (2:4) all meaningless and “a chasing of the wind.” None of those were able to “fill the God-sized vacuum in his heart” (quote from famous mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal). That reminds me of the Coldplay’s words in the song “Lost”: “Every river that I tried to cross, Every door I ever tried was locked.”
Moreover, what looms over Solomon’s search for the meaning of life is his upcoming death. In the song, “The Escapist,” which shares tract 10 with the song “Death and all his Friends,” Coldplay notes:
And in the end
We lie awake
And we dream
We’ll make an escape
Is this an escape from Death? The song states “In the End.” Does that mean the very end of our life? Since this song follows the song “Death and All his Friends,” it seems that would be the case.
Death and the time cycle
Over and over in Coldplay’s latest music you see the theme of death and the time cycle brought up concerning the shortness of a person’s life. Earlier I quoted the song “42” that states “Life is so short” and in the song “Life in Technicolor II” (Prospekt March) : “Time came a creeping, Oh and time’s a loaded gun.” Even more than this do you see death mentioned. The song “42” which I quoted earlier said, “Those who are dead” and the song “Poppyfields” (from Prospekt March) states, “People burying their dead” and later says, “I don’t wanna die on my own in a separate sky.” The song “Violet Hill” states, “When I’m dead and hit the ground.” Needless to say I do not even have to mention that other songs like “Death and All his Friends”and “Cemeteries of London” also deal with death.
Life experiences shaped Coldplay’s latest lyrics
Where did all this talk about death come from? Chris Martin said in an interview shortly after the release of the album Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends that the title came fromthe band’s life experiences which included some losses of life of close family members. Solomon rightly noted, (in Ecclesiastes 7:2-4) “It is better to spend your time at funerals than at festivals. For you are going to die, and you should think about it while there is still time. Sorrow is better than laughter; it may sadden your face, but it sharpens your understanding. A wise person thinks a lot about death, while a fool thinks only about having a good time.”
Furthermore, Solomon had to grapple with the fact of his own upcoming death. “I also thought about the human condition—how God proves to people that they are like animals. For people and animals share the same fate—both breathe and both must die. So people have no real advantage over the animals. How meaningless! Both go to the same place—they came from dust and they return to dust. For who can prove that the human spirit goes up and the spirit of animals goes down into the earth?” (Ecclesiastes 3:18-21).
The Two Conclusions of those who Deny Afterlife
Everything is dust in the wind
In 1978 I heard the song “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas. That song told me that Kerry Livgren the writer of that song and a member of Kansas had come to the conclusion that life without God in the picture was like dust in the wind which was exactly what Solomon said in Ecclesiastes when he talked about life “under the sun.” In fact, in the verses I just listed (3:18-21) Solomon says we are all returning to the dust and there is no reason to think we are going any where else with God out of the picture. Take a look at what Kerry Livgren wrote back in 1978:
DUST IN THE WIND
Same old song
Just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do
Crumbles to the ground though we refuse to see
Dust in the wind
All we are is dust in the wind
Now
Don’t hang on
Nothing lasts forever but the Earth and Sky
It slips away
And all your money won’t another minute buy…
However, Kerry Livgren’s God-given conscience told him that God did exist and he eventually found Christ after first trying some Eastern Religions. I remember telling my friends in 1978 when “Dust in the Wind” was the number 6 song in the USA that Kansas had written a philosophical song that came to the same conclusion about humanistic man as Solomon did so long ago and I predicted that some members of that band would come to know the Christ of the Bible in a personal way. Livgren noted that when he wrote DUST IN THE WIND “I was writing about a yearning emptiness that I felt that millions of people obviously identified with because the song was very popular.” You can hear Kerry Livgren’s story from this youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4hrSRfd3wg (part 1 10 minutes)
Power reigns in this life and the scales are not balanced.
Solomon comes to the realization that powers reigns in this life and the scales are not balanced. Solomon notes, “Again, I observed all the oppression that takes place under the sun. I saw the tears of the oppressed, with no one to comfort them. The oppressors have great power, and their victims are helpless. (Ecclesiastes 4:1).
People that believe there is no afterlife must concede that Hitler will never face the due punishment for his acts. Chris Martin is a big Woody Allen movie fan like I am and no other movie better demonstrates Ecclesiastes 4:1 better than the movie CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS because the character Judah was able to get away with murder and in the end of the movie does not fear that God will punish him. However, in the song “Viva La Vida” the evil king DID NOT MAKE IT TO HEAVEN. “I used to rule the world…Feel the fear in my enemy’s eyes…there was never an honest word and that was when I ruled the world, It was the wicked and wild wind, Blew down the doors to let me in, Shattered windows and the sound of drums, People couldn’t believe what I’d become.” Later in the song, “For some reason I can’t explain, I KNOW SAINT PETER WON’T CALL MY NAME, Never an honest word, But that was when I ruled the world.”
This last part indicates to me that Coldplay realizes that evil individuals will be judged in an afterlife. This is a direct result of our God-given conscience that tells us that there is an afterlife and God will bring evil kings into judgement.
God reveals Himself in two Ways
Through the Created World and God-given Conscience
Lets take a look at the lyrics from the song “Cemeteries of London:”
God is in the houses
And God is in my head
And all the cemeteries of London
I see God come in my garden
But I don’t know what He said
For my heart, it wasn’t open
Not open
In the Bible Romans chapter one clearly points out that God has revealed Himself through both the created world around us and also in a God-given conscience that testifies to each person that God exists.
Notice in this song that the song writer notes, “I see God come in my garden” and “God is in my head.” These are the exact two places mentioned by the scripture. Romans 1:18-20 (Amplified version)
18For God’s [holy] wrath and indignation are revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who in their wickedness repress and hinder the truth and make it inoperative.
19For that which is known about God is evident to them and made plain in their inner consciousness, because God [Himself] has shown it to them.
20For ever since the creation of the world His invisible nature and attributes, that is, His eternal power and divinity, have been made intelligible and clearly discernible in and through the things that have been made (His handiworks). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification].
I have shown what thought processes Solomon went through in Ecclesiastes and then compared them to the evident changes that are occurring with Coldplay. By the way, the final chapter of Ecclesiastes finishes with Solomon emphasizing that serving God is the only proper response of man. My prediction: I am hoping that Coldplay’s next album will also come to that same conclusion that Solomon came to concerning the meaning of life and man’s proper place in the universe in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14:
13 Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil.
Suggestions to Anyone Seeking the Christ of the Bible
1. You may not have as much resources as Coldplay or Solomon but you can still start on a spiritual search for the afterlife. .
A. Go to the Grand Canyon and see if you can deny the outward witness of God’s handiwork that Romans 1 talks about and then we move to the God-given conscience that God gave all of us. That leads me to the scripture in Ecclesiastes 3:11, “…{God} has planted eternity in the human heart…” Just as the song Cemeteries of London mentions God revealing Himself in both of these places, so does the Bible. I contend that Coldplay’s radical lyrical change is because they are relying on their God-given conscience when they look at this difficult subject of death and life. The next suggestion I want to mention really centers on this verse Ecclesiastes 3:11 and if you actually believe in the afterlife.
B. Rent a dvd of the movie CRIMES AND MISDEMEANORS by Woody Allen and see if you can answer this simple question: Do evil man like Hitler get off or will they be punished in an afterlife?
The 1989 movie Crimes and Misdemeanors by Woody Allen is about a doctor who hires a killer to murder his mistress because she continually threatens to blow the whistle on his past questionable, probably illegal, business activities. Afterward he is haunted by guilt. His Jewish father had taught him that God sees all and will surely bring justice.
But the doctor’s crime is never discovered. Later in the film, Judah reflects on the conversation his father had with Judah’s unbelieving Aunt May at the dinner table many years ago:
“Come on Sol, open your eyes. Six million Jews burned to death by the Nazi’s, and they got away with it because might makes right,” says Aunt May.
Sol replies, “May, how did they get away with it?”
Judah asks, “If a man kills, then what?”
Sol responds to his son, “Then in one way or another he will be punished.”
Aunt May comments, “I say if he can do it and get away with it and he chooses not to be bothered by the ethics, then he is home free.”
Judah’s final conclusion was that might did make right. He observed that one day, because of this conclusion, he woke up and the cloud of guilt was gone. He was, as his aunt said, “home free.” The basic question Woody Allen is presenting to his own agnostic humanistic worldview is: IF YOU REALLY BELIEVE THERE IS NO GOD THERE TO PUNISH YOU IN AN AFTERLIFE, THEN WHY NOT MURDER IF YOU CAN GET AWAY WITH IT? Woody Allen has put up his own agnostic moral philosophy to the test and it has come up short. The secular humanist worldview that modern man has adopted does not work in the real world that God has created. Man knows inside himself through his inner consciencious (Romans 1:19) that God exists and will punish evil men like Hitler. You see that in the song Viva La Vida the evil king does not get into Heaven. It is true that Chris Martin grew up in a Christian home that believed in Heaven and Hell and Martin has since made statements indicating that he does not believe in Hell, but evidently at 3:45am in the morning when he wrote the song Viva La Vida he had to make sure that people knew that this evil king was going to be held accountable. This is a direct result of his God-given conscience.
Coldplay‘s Album about Life and Death wins Grammy
Unlike many the past grammy winners of “Best Rock Album,” Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends by Coldplay is filled with songs that deal with spiritual themes such as death, the meaning of life and searching for an afterlife.
Leadsinger Chris Martin notes, “…because we’ve had some people close to us we’ve lost, but some mirales — we’ve got kids. So, life has been very extreme recently, and so both death and life pop up quite often” (MTV News interview, June 9, 2008).
Russ Briermeier of Christianity Today observes that this album is “often provocative, spiritual, and seemingly on the verge of identifying a greater truth, asking and inspiring many questions without providing the answers.” It reminded me of King Solomon’s search for answers in the Book of Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament. Solomon also dealt the subject of death a lot. Ecclesiastes 7:2-4 asserts, “It is better to spend your time at funerals than at festivals. For you are going to die, and you should think about it while there is still time. Sorrow is better than laughter, it may sadden your face, but it sharpens your understanding.”
The subject of death is prominent in the songs in this album. “Poppyfields”: “People burying their dead…I don’t wanna die on my own…” “Violet Hill”: “When I’m dead and hit the ground.” Other songs on the album that mention death are “Death and All His Friends,” “42,” and the “Cemeteries of London.” Then the song “The Escapist” states, “And in the end, We lie awake and we dream, we’re makin our escape.” In the end we all die. Therefore, I assume this song is searching for an afterlife to escape to. The song “Glass of Water” sheds some more light on where we possibly escape to: “Oh he said you could see a future inside a glass of water, with riddles and the rhymes, He asked ‘Will I see heaven in mine?’
The song “42” that is clearing the most provocative song on the album. “Those who are dead are not dead, They’re just living in my head, Time is so short and I’m sure, There must be something more.”Solomon went to the extreme in his searching in the Book of Ecclesiastes for this “something more” that Coldplay is talking about, but he did not find any satisfaction in pleasure (2:1), education (2:3), work (2:4), wealth (2:8) or fame (2:9). Solomon’s upcoming death depressed him because both people and animals alike “go to the same place — they came from dust and they return to dust” (3:20).In 1978 I heard the song “Dust in the Wind” by Kansas when it rose to #6 on the charts. That song told me that Kerry Livgren the writer of that song and a member of Kansas had come to the same conclusion that Solomon had. I remember mentioning to my friends at church that we may soon see some members of Kansas become Christians because their search for the meaning of life had obviously come up empty even though they had risen from being an unknown band to the top of the music business and had all the wealth and fame that came with that. Furthermore, like Solomon and Coldplay, they realized death comes to everyone and “there must be something more.”Livgren wrote:”All we do, crumbles to the ground though we refuse to see, Dust in the Wind, All we are is dust in the wind, Don’t hang on, Nothing lasts forever but the Earth and Sky, It slips away, And all your money won’t another minute buy.”Both Kerry Livgren and Dave Hope of Kansas became Christians eventually. Kerry Livgren first tried Eastern Religions and Dave Hope had to come out of a heavy drug addiction. I was shocked and elated to see their personal testimony on The 700 Club in 1981 and that same interview can be seen on youtube today. Livgren lives in Topeka, Kansas today where he teaches “Diggers,” a Sunday school class at Topeka Bible Church. Hope is the head of Worship, Evangelism and Outreach at Immanuel Anglican Church in Destin, Florida.
Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart. — Steve Jobs, speaking at 
The Daily Hatch 
