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Truth Matters

Welcome to my regular Friday song/tune day, ladies and gentlemen, where I pick a piece of music that reflects my mood or the times, to share with you.

I dislike political games and the lies or half-truths that go with them. There is a long history of politicians and vested interests, saying whatever they like about their opponents. It seems to me that without proper checks and balances, a blatant disregard for truth can lead to malignancy, hate and ruin.

Lies create long shadows. A country’s potential is diminished when its citizens are divided and incited to violence, and trust in its leaders and institutions is lacking. Honesty can be a unifying force in building shared purpose. Rebuilding trust is an almighty task. I don’t envy the new US President.

Certain Australian politicians would do well to heed this lesson, although, as yet, there has been no official public admonishment of recent spurious claims and actions.

I think Billy Joel has the right idea, the right song for the times – A Matter Of Trust.

Stay in your corner, everyone.

Kind Regards.
Tracy.

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Safe Journey

Welcome to my regular Friday song/tune day, ladies and gentlemen, where I pick a piece of music that reflects my mood or the times, to share with you.

What a week it has been for everyone, particularly for my readers in America. Sometimes I am just awed by how extraordinary ordinary people are when they can agree to disagree but still work together for love of this world. For love.

Here’s a song made famous by Gladys Knight and The Pips. It is Midnight Train to Georgia. I’ve chosen a cover by some ordinary people and extraordinary musicians from Arizona, Outside The Line, to sing it for you. Have a dance, sing along, hold a hand.

Safe journey, everyone.

Kind Regards.
Tracy.

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Drum Roll Please

Welcome to my regular Friday song/tune day, ladies and gentlemen, where I pick a piece of music that reflects my mood or the times, to share with you. It is also New Years day, so I thought this start of this new decade, which follows a very shitty year for many of us, needed a big number to ring it in. Still, I am ambivalent. because I love the tune I have selected but its history is complicated and it has been exploited in rather inappropriate and insensitive ways. At least in my opinion. I could write an essay about it but I won’t go into the details. Perhaps I’m overthinking this.

My choice to ring in the 2021 new year is Emerson, Lake and Palmer’s adaptation of Aaron Copeland’s Fanfare for the Common Man. It seems appropriate that it is performed in an empty stadium. I dedicate my choice to all those who endured 2020 and survived and to all those who weren’t so lucky. I guess that’s everyone.

Kind Regards.
Tracy.

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The Spirit Of The Dance

Welcome to my regular Friday song/tune day, ladies and gentlemen, where I pick a piece of music that reflects my mood or the times, to share with you. It also happens to be Christmas Day today and if you celebrate Christmas, or even if you don’t, I wish you peace and good health on this day and every day. I would also like to share with you a photo that represents my Christmas in Australia.

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Imagination Goes Mad

A few personal thoughts on the Sydney coronavirus outbreak. I’m not an expert. I don’t debate facts or fiction. Best go elsewhere if debate is what you are after.

Sars-Cov-2 has made a break for it again in Sydney, Australia, and we’re all pretty nervous. I bet the 83 people infected over the last week aren’t happy either. This new community outbreak has left many people’s Christmas plans in disarray. On the one hand, I am impressed by the amazing job the New South Wales (NSW) contract tracers have done to identify the chain(s) of infection in Sydney. Thank you, contract tracers! On the other hand, I know further outbreaks are inevitable but I am deeply unimpressed by the circumstances that apparently led to the outbreak in the first place.

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Tea Tune

Today we’ve been invited to join the lovely Su (aka Zimmerbitch) for a Christmas afternoon tea get-together and chat in the blogosphere. Pull up a chair wherever you are and join in some socially distant camaraderie. I’m often too disorganised and my kitchen too messy to join in with my own post, but today I am bursting with excitement and ready for show and tell. Last week, I went actual shopping and bought an outdoor lounge setting! I know. Very un-me. Couch shopping seems to be a Covid thing here in Australia.

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Passions Run Deep

Welcome to my regular Friday song/tune day, ladies and gentlemen, where I pick a piece of music that reflects my mood or the times, to share with you.

In Australia, we had our warmest November on record and now we’ve drifted into summer. It’s a weird time. The entire Australian populace is on holiday, moving en masse around the countryside come hell or high water. Our biggest trading partner and (former?) comrade doesn’t want to talk to us anymore. Our ally and trading competitor is fighting an internal war while its citizens die in their thousands each day as its national leader abrogates any duty of care.

I’ve picked this song for its mournful and wistful tone. I wish it didn’t have to be like this. It doesn’t have to be like this. Let’s all be friends and leave love enough alone. Cue Doug Ashdown’s Winter in America.

Take care, everyone. Be kind to others and to yourself.

Kind Regards.
Tracy.

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Crazy Woman On A Boat In A Gale

Welcome to my regular Friday song/tune day, ladies and gentlemen, where I pick a piece of music that reflects my mood or the times, to share with you.

I cannot conceive why anyone would deliberately sail/motor into a gale force wind. To be perfectly clear, my admiration is great. Some women are braver than others I guess. I know I’m rambling but someone somewhere will understand what I’m talking about. This would probably be my last thought faced with rough weather. Enjoy.

Stay safe, everyone. Leave the boating until finer weather.

Kind Regards.
Tracy.

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Songs of Hope

Welcome to my regular Friday song/tune day, ladies and gentlemen, where I pick a piece of music that reflects my mood or the times, to share with you.

Several years ago I was a member of an Aussie secular gospel choir. That must sound really weird to some, secular and gospel being quite the opposite of one another. I suppose what motivated me to join was an interest in history and social justice issues. For my Friday song pick, I have chosen one of the gospel songs that I learnt in that choir. I particularly like this rendition by the Detroit Mass Choir. Enjoy.

Kind Regards.
Tracy.