Model: Erica Von Trapp (2009)
“We knew we wanted to make a dance record. But you know, there’s so many different levels of dance music and even different categories of house music. So, it was really like, what’s the bass line gonna sound like? Is it gonna be really stripped down and sparse, or is it going to be loaded up? Is it gonna be Chicago house? Is it gonna be U.K. house? It’s like, all over the place. Is it gonna be a little bit of one vocal line? Is it gonna be a whole choir singing? So we were experimenting and trying out different things. They all sounded good, but at the end of the day, we wanted it to sound timeless, also. Not just something of the moment” (Caulfield, Keith (December 21, 2014). “Madonna On New ‘Rebellious and Romantic’ Music, Demo Leaks, ‘Possibly’ Crashing the Grammys and the ‘Crazy’ Sony Hack”. Billboard.)
[one_half padding=”4px 8px 0 4px”]Some people handle adversity better than others and the fact that Madonna is still writing breakup songs at an age slightly more advanced than my own says something about her resilience not only in the field of music but in life as a whole. Yes, this is very much a breakup song, and if you’ve seen the video that goes along with it, full of matadors and a half-naked guy in a jeweled, horned mask, you know the passion Madonna puts into this song. She even does the whole choir thing, again. For someone who has been topping music charts for almost forty years, to still be writing breakup songs is both impressive and a little heart-breaking. Shouldn’t she have found that “happily ever after” love by now?
What’s different about this song, and the reason it reminds me of this photograph from 2009, is that it’s not all down on love, it’s not all hateful toward the lover that left, but rather it is a very positive-sounding anthem for picking one’s self up and moving on. There’s no time for melancholy, it’s on your feet and back into the game. Sounds a little crazy, perhaps, and such an approach may even leave one a little dizzy from the experience, which again, is part of the attitude of this photograph. Broken heart? Yeah, that’s over, I’m going to carry on. Disappointment? Sure, but you’re not stealing my smile. This isn’t a slow dance; it’s a get up, keep moving, don’t-stop-til-you-drop song.[/one_half]
[one_half_last padding=”4px 4px 0 8px”]The first verse of the song admits that she let down her guard, let someone in who ultimately did her wrong. The second verse, though, is where the determination kicks in. The line, “I deserve the best and it’s not you,” is like a slap in the face and then she follows with these words:
You broke my heart, but you can’t bring me down
I was falling apart, was lost, now I’m found
I picked up my crown, put it back in my head
I can forgive, but I will never forget
There is strength and courage in those lines. Going through a breakup is like being caught in a windstorm, being battered by flying debris coming at you from every angle. You come through with your hair out of place but still a smile on your face? You win.
I found this song appropriate for a Monday, which is also frequently disappointing. No matter what hits you today, don’t let it bring you down; pick up your crown, put it back on your head. Those who live for love are the ultimate winners.[/one_half_last]
Sunday Morning Update: 11/10/24
Please read quietly this morning. The kids are still asleep, and after all the activity they had yesterday, I’m sure they need it. I enjoyed listening to them interact with each other without fighting. Their conversations with friends were frequently hilarious. Neither teen has any filter when talking to their friends. Try cheating in a game? You’re gonna get called out. Heaven forbid you do something wrong while playing on their team! Curses are going to fly, especially if you’re playing with Tipper. There were times when it was difficult to pay attention to the football games because the kids were being too entertaining.
G has taken on the heavy task of helping me get my heavy leather duster back in shape for this winter. I’ve not worn it in several years. There are tears in the lining, one on the left shoulder, and all the buttons are missing. The shell was also pretty dirty. I took care of removing all the cat vomit from the shell and he went to work. I gave him a specific set of leather tools and thread to work with. His hand-stitching is absolutely remarkable! The replacement buttons came early this morning. There is still one place that needs a full leather patch, but I don’t have the funds for that at the moment. Fortunately, we still have a while before the snow starts to fly. But seriously, what G is doing with his sewing is seriously impressive!
Kat spent the day chilling and I’m sure she’ll do the same today. Don’t expect that to change too much. She hasn’t said yet whether she will try taking a couple of clients tomorrow. Please, don’t push. We all would much rather she take her time and come back healthy. Pulmonary embolism isn’t something from which one just bounces back. Please, give her space to heal.
You already know what I was doing yesterday. I’m going to miss college football when the season’s over. Yeah, the playoff games sort of extend the season, and then, there are all the bowl games that don’t mean a helluva lot anymore. I don’t have much faith in the playoff committee, though, in selecting the best teams, and there are so many bowl games scattered from mid-December to mid-January that one has to ask the question: why?
IU faced its biggest test yet, defeating Michigan 20-15. Everything the team does from this point forward sets a new record for the program. They still have a couple of rough games to go, and that final game against Purdue is always unpredictable, despite how much Purdue has been disappointing this season. By the way, Purdue embarrassed themselves again, losing at Ohio State, 0-45.
The Florida Gators should have just stayed home. They’re down to starting their third-string QB and it seems that much of the rest of their starters are out with injuries. As a result, Texas ran all over them, 49-17. That score fails to tell just how dominant Texas was. The score was 35-0 at halftime. The entire second-string squad played the second half. Arch Manning was able to run up the score easily, getting in some good play time that will help next year. This Texas program will be one to fear for several seasons.
There were a couple of significant upsets this week. Georgia got caught with their eyes shut and lost to Ole Miss, 28-17. Will that be enough to pull Georgia from playoff contention? Possibly, but there’s another opening on the playoff sheet as Miami lost to Georgia Tech, 28-23. That almost certainly pulls Miami from the playoff brackets. With three weeks left in the season, everything comes down to who makes the fewest mistakes and keeps their starters healthy.
You know that myth about deaths happening in threes? It’s not true, but deaths do often happen in multiples. This morning’s list includes:
I suppose one could make the argument that there are two sets of three, but c’mon, anyone who’s been around the industry will tell you that myth is false.
There are a few other tidbits of news. The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree arrived in New York City, pushing the holiday season on everyone whether they want it or not. If you’re even slightly at risk of stroke, you’ll want to know that there are new guidelines for preventing them. Be sure I’m paying extra close attention to that one. There’s also 8 Factors That Can Raise Your Heart Disease Risk. Don’t let these stories slide. Your life could depend on them.
The kids are both awake now, but still being quiet. The dogs have been out, all the animals are fed, and most everyone has settled back down for a morning nap. The rain that moved in overnight is supposed to continue through mid-afternoon. I’ll eat breakfast, take meds, and then probably pass out.
As Sundays go, this one almost feels normal. We know it isn’t, though. Behind the scenes, there are people planning mass immigrant deportations and the elimination of funding for offshore wind energy, among other things. The threats that we’ve talked about all week are still there. We just never know when they might be put into action. My level of trust in anyone is extremely low at this point.
As long as there’s coffee, we’ll survive. If that ever runs out, just go ahead and shoot me.
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