Second for this month is my fave Ugandan ever. Ragga Dee. He was a comedian in Uganda before musical career. I think it translates to his appeal. He is a guy you could terrorist fist pound with, take a drink of nasty Ugandan beer, and laugh that you both have gals for girlfriends from Uganda or Ugandan decent. God bless Uganda!!!

Peace! Great tunes you have to admit!!! –dave

The next band is Spanish.   I came across this vid when I was doing the Nena post.   This band is Nena Daconte. ”Tenía Tanto Que Darte”.  A fun one to hum with (or sing along with if you can speak Spanish).

Don’t worry, we have 2 more great ones for next month!

I was doing laundry today.  I was watching the frontloaded washer do it’s thing.  So fascinating.   Watching the soap bubble and my clothes twirl, I thought, “Man Parrots are funny!”

I love to watch YouTube.  One night I thought, “Wonder if they have talking parrots on there?”  OMG!   It was better than watching Dumb and Dumber.   The only thing close is a talking Chihuahua dog.  They don’t really talk like a parrot does, but even fake a talking Chihuahua is DARN funny!  !YO QUIERO TACO BELL!   I miss that little dog!   Wait!  Isn’t this about parrots?  Um…yeah, I think so Mr.. B.!

To be honest I was talking to my brother about the Dominica flag and we are getting a kick out of the parrot on it.  I don’t mean that bad (Vandy) but it is unique.  In a good way.  And think about it, Americano, does a bald eagle talk?  Does it make sounds like a toilet flushing and make you pound your fists on your knees laughing?  Then you point to the bird and yell, ‘You are amazing!!!”  Then you try to pet it on the head as you yell at the children, “This deserves a smoothie!  Blend my child like they did in the bible days!  Blend!  Blend my child!“  Naw.  An Eagle cannot do that and make you excited like that.  But a parrot?  Oh yeah!  I have personally seen it happen.

I am going to post some videos.  Grab your popcorn and favorite beverage (bottled water is not considered a beverage!), relax and enjoy.

Now was that funny as all get out?  Talking birds may be funnier than people….

Oh geez, don’t even talk, just ride the scooter!   OMG!  I am rolling.   A bird on a scooter!

OMG!  This African parrot can rap!  hmmm.. I don’t mean that racial.  Amazon parrots can rap too.  The African parrots…Naw I am not going there!

Now my favorite.  Einstein  As Vandy told me, “Don’t forget Einstein from Animal Planet!”  Of course not!  I will be watching the vid and checking Craigslist for parrots.  Wow, is there anything better than a talking parrot and my cats?  I don’t think so.  Ohhhh! Sorry Vandy!   Kisses, but you don’t talk on command for a cracker….OUCH!

Wanna cracker?

Here is to crackers (not white people!) and talking birds.  God bless our parrot friends!

So for the first Blast from the Past, I have to go with one of my faves.  Paul McCartney.  The king of melody.  The Beatles are my favorite of all time.  Paul was the most successful after the band broke up.  Here are 3 songs that I like.  There are many more, but these are personal favorites for me.  Which means I got burned out of Band on the Run, so it will not be included.   But 3 better songs will!  YEAH!!!

I remember this song getting overplayed.  I still love it though.  In the heyday of Wings.  Was released in 1978.  From the London Town album.  With a Little Luck!

Paul McCartney and WIngs — WIth A Little Luck!

The next song is McCartney’s biggest hit away from the Beatles (Did i say Beatles?  You have to toast when you hear Beatles – Beer, wine, soda, milk, even bottled water [ewwww] whatever.  Pay your tribute!).   According to Wikipedia,  “In addition to a comment about “silly love songs” by John Lennon, McCartney had often been teased by music critics for writing lightweight songs, and he wrote this number in response”.  Not only was it the biggest hit for McCartney and Wings, it was one of the biggest hits of the ‘70’s.  From the Wings at the Speed of Sound album (1976).  Silly Love Songs!

Paul McCartney and Wings — Silly Love Songs

The next song is my favorite.  I remember getting this album and listening to it over and over again on my Radio Shack stereo that I saved all summer for.  Ahhh, the beauty of real vinyl.  This song was the biggest hit ever in the UK at the time.  It never made it in the US, it ended up at 45 on the easy listening chart.  It was released as a single in the UK and only made it later on the WIngs Greatest (1978) album.  I listen to this and feel I am in a green pasture with rolling hills hearing the ocean splash against the rock….MMMMM.  Mull of Kintyre!

There are many, many more songs from Paul, even after the Beatles (Tribute!!!).  These are just 3 I love.  He was and is the king of melody!  Thanks for the tunes Paul!

I finally saw it. I will not save the rating until last. Here it is — Out of five stars for a non Star Trek fan it gets a 4 star rating. For a Star Trek fan like me, it gets a 3. Huh? What do I mean by that?

This was probably one of the best Star Trek movies. Period. I would only put Wrath of Khan up against it. The characters were good but of course it was Zachary Quinto (Spock) and Chris Pine (Kirk) that stole the show. But didn’t Spock and Kirk steal it most of the time?

This was a great Star Trek movie. This movie even non trekkers would love. I love Trek, but not a freak. I went to a Trek fan club in Grants Pass, OR. They asked what my race was. So-and-so was half Klingon and Human. He even had that on his membership card. Of course I just nodded and said I would think on it. Then they laughed because another member knew what I was thinking. She was Betazoid. I laughed too, but not because it was funny. Needless to say I never went back.

So is this a great movie Dave? Well, I say it is good. Darn good. Pine is Kirk. No doubt about it. This kid knows the character and I look forward to seeing him as Kirk in the future. Spock was great. The other characters were good too. Not a bad story for having to create another bad guy and then the crew save the universe. Good effects, but that is a given now days. It MADE the story to have Leonard Nimoy be a major character. Did he get old or what? Makes me look in the mirror and say so have I!!! A bow to Leonard is in order — bow now.

Now from a Trekker fan — It was good. I liked it. Good story. I say GOOD. I grew up on Star Trek reruns, NG was even better to me. I was all over DS9, Voyager, Enterprise and read so many Star Trek books it could classify my as a geek. I dispute this, but my daughter would (and does) passionately say I am be a geek. Of course she is 16 and has much to learn.

Abrams uses a time differential to make this actually a parallel star trek beginning. To me, things are not right. Checkov arrives later in the series. This Chekov has such a strong accent that it is too much. He had 4 years in Starfleet Academy and is an earthling and cannot speak clear English? Uhura kisses a white guy? Maybe a big deal in the ‘60’s but really not an issue in the 2000’s.

Maybe that is why Star Trek movies don’t cut it compared to the series or books. The series is a great vehicle to deal with present day issues. The movie has to be 2 hours of action to keep us involved. The original series touched upon war, civil rights, sexuality, and mankind’s lust for knowledge that a science fiction movie may not be able to do. Do you remember the 2 guys fighting because one had a black/white face and the other had a white/black face? Oh I do. It was not about a space fight, it was about stupidity. I could list episode after episode, but all it would say is that Star Trek was not about the future as much as it was about mankind present.

As a Trek lover, this was nice. But not the real Star Trek universe that Roddenberry created. A parallel Abrams universe that will be worth it to see and we can enjoy, but won’t tug on the heartstrings like the Roddenberry universe that some of us grew up with and adore. I think I am going to read my new Trek book, the one where Kirk is going after the Orion woman and McCoy and Spock are arguing and making me laugh…..

Live Long and Prosper! (My daughter — “DAD! Stop!!! OMG You are a geek!”)

(Wir Lieben Unser Nena! – We Love Our Nena!)

This is the initial offering of the Artist of the Month posts.  These will be singers or bands that I enjoy.  Who better to be the first?  Our German superstar, Nena!  She just gets better with age.

Name:  Gabriele Susanne Kerner

Born:  March 24th, 1960 in Hagen, North Rhine-Westphalia, West Germany

I am not going to go into her life details.  It can all be found at Wikipedia -  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nena.

The first video is the 1984 classic.  “99luftballons”.  Most Americans remember the English version, “99 Red Balloons”.  A song that was more than just a pop song during the cold war.  Of course since listening to Nena, I am quite fluent in German (not really) and enjoy the version from the fatherland!!!

I ran across the 2002 version she made.  “99luftballons(2002)”.  It is actually an entirely different song.   I like the hard guitar licks!

The next song, “Anyplace, Anywhere, Anytime”, is a 2003 remake of her song  “Irgendwie, irgendwo, irgendwann” with Kim Wilde of “Kids in America” fame.

This song, “Kleine Taschenlampe” is a live version of an older song she did with a German singer named Markus. I put the older song first becasue you have to see how young they are in that one from 1982.  So far I have not found out much about the original.  What a laugh, huh?  The later version they are so much older, I am guessing this is from the first half of the 2000′s.  Kind of a touching reuinion.

old version

newer version

Wow!  did Nena change in the 90′s or what?  She cut her hair and looks like the singer from the cranberries.  I will still give her kudos for this song.  Thank god the hair came back!

That will be it for artist of the month, 5 songs max (Always an exception to the rule!).   Since I HAD to put in the old and new version of the last song, I am going to add one more.  It is “Willst Du Mit Mir Gehn” from 2005.

Do a youtube search to see more from Nena. From what I have read she is still popular in Germany. Pretty popular on my computer too!!! Below are some links to check out to find out more about Nena. Lang PhasenNena! Wikipedia Band Site Myspace Tribute

Obsessions: Jangu

Oshen: Siasi

Sean Kingston: Me Love

2Face Idibia :African Queen

Next month there will be another two I wonder what will they be

If you were my woman I’ll see to it that your heart never get bruised,

For a girl like you deserve a vacation, even better a cruise.

If you were my woman you would be treated with elegance,

However this can’t happen if I never get the chance.

If you were my woman you would never have to breathe,

For I would breathe for you and all you have to do is live.

If you were my woman I’ll be provocative,

That would be easy for you’re sexy, charming and attractive.

If you were my woman I would pretend that you where a placard,

I would put you up on my wall and I would always be in your backyard.

If you were my woman I would write you a lot,

Just like this poem I would never give it a second thought.

If you were my woman I would stay with you,

You are one in a million and that’s so true.

If you were my woman I would treat you with respect,

It wouldn’t be hard because you’re so perfect.

If you were my woman I would stop looking and searching,

Falling in love takes time and extensive researching.

If you were my woman I would be writing you this poem that’s all,

So once you’re the reader then you’re the one I want on my wall.

By Paul Joseph

When we are together the rest of the world doesn’t exist.

Especially if I receive one of does intense kiss.

When we are together you are the main focus and the center of attraction.

Your mere presence stimulates my reaction.

When we are together the normal cycle goes confused,

You stun me and I am pretty much amused.

When we are together it’s like an announcer says, “can we have a moment of silence please.”

All the attention is diverted to us and you become a tease.

When we are together there’s elasticity in my smile,

There’s excitement and I am hypnotized for a while.

When we are together you wake up the dead,

He speaks and spit’s from his very big head.

When we are together I can feel love and romance,

It’s like I am in a coma or better yet a trance.

When we are together you make my body shiver,

My chest expands and it’s like a heart beat in my liver.

When we are together the stars in the sky lit up and gets brighter,

I’m sure that you doubt that I am the poem writer.

When we are together all these things happen and more,

I hope I didn’t miss anything and let me know if I score.

By: Paul Joseph