Name: Doanld Trump
Age: 73
Occupation: golfer
Last Seen: Washington, DC
Bee-otched For: 12,000 strong... and growing
Age: 73
Occupation: golfer
Last Seen: Washington, DC
Bee-otched For: 12,000 strong... and growing
----
When Bill Withers died last week, I hope he was happy to see his signature hit become the unofficial anthem of the COVID-19 crisis.
While he was dying, people started using his iconic 1972 smash "Lean On Me" in viral videos illustrating the hard, essential workers during this very crucial time. Since his death, Walmart even released a commercial showing their workers singing it. I do wonder if he was alive enough to see that his nearly-50-year-old song is still inspiring many after all those years.
Withers died a week ago at the age of 81 from heart failure. He grew up humbly in the tiny town of Slab Fork, WV, pop. 200 and change. His father died when he was 13 and after high school, he joined the Navy. After being discharged, he started working in factories. But, Withers discovered that he had a gift: music.
After saving up some of his paychecks to record a demo tape, Withers was signed to Sussex Records. His first record, "Just As I Am" was released in 1971 when he was 32. The album's front cover showed Bill walking out of his factory job, holding a lunch pail. His first single, "Ain't No Sunshine" was a #2 smash on the pop charts. His next major single - this time from 1972's "Still Bill" - was his biggest. "Lean On Me" was Withers' sole #1 hit. The follow-up, "Use Me" went to #2.
For years, people thought that Bill Withers had died. He didn't. He simply disappeared from the music map because of how his record labels treated him. After his 1974 album "+'Justments" tanked, Sussex Records went out of business. Withers signed to a five-album deal with Columbia, but his only success from that deal was his 1977 classic "Lovely Day". It's a classic now, but it only peaked at #30. The relationship between Withers and Columbia was not a friendly one. As a matter of fact, he relied on collaborations during this time. His hit with Grover Washington, Jr. from 1980, "Just the Two Of Us" peaked at #2. After his last album, 1985's "Watching You, Watching Me", Withers walked away from the music business. But, the business wanted him more than he needed them. In 1987, the R&B group Club Nouveau shot straight to #1 with their rendition of "Lean On Me". As a matter of fact, it won the group and Withers a Grammy. In 1989, the movie called "Lean On Me" was released about a principal, played by Morgan Freeman, who's trying to save a failing high school. The movie was centered around the iconic tune.
Over the years, "Lean On Me" has been covered by many artists like Tina Turner, Michael Bolton, The Temptations and even Kid Rock. With the royalties he got from the song, no wonder why Bill Withers retired at 47.
A few weeks ago, the city of Kalamazoo made headlines with the COVID-19 crisis when six radio stations played a certain tune at the same time. They encouraged residents to play it loud to help maintain their spirits during the pandemic. I look back and thought it would have been cool if "Lean On Me" was chosen since obviously at that time, Bill was on his death bed.
But, no. They chose the shitty, overrated 1981 butt rock classic "Don't Stop Believin'" by Journey.
Being forced to hear that song over and over again growing up in musically tasteless northern Michigan, it would make me projectile vomit if I was forced to hear that shitty tune in seclusion. Hell, I would lovingly blast death metal to drown Steve Perry's wussy-assed vocals out.
Folks, I'm going to be Debbie Downer here. "Don't Stop Believin'" is a HUGE reason why America's COVID-19 crisis is worse than anybody else's. You see, the song was co-written by keyboardist Jonathan Cain, whose wife, televangelist Paula White is part of Drumpf's evangelical advisory board. Hell, Cain himself sang the horrible tune on an episode of Jim Bakker's latest show.
The sad truth is that God simply couldn't help Drumpf, even if he wanted to. The evangelicals keep throwing out their thoughts and prayers that he can Make America Great Again. But now, it's official: Drumpf is the worst president in American history. Over 12,000 Americans have now died from the coronavirus. 2,500 more people than those who perished on 9/11 and Bush's fake wars COMBINED. Only two other nations on Earth have more COVID-19 deaths than America: Spain and Italy.
Folks, Drumpf had it all in front of him. He got rid of Obama's defense team in terms of fighting viruses and diseases. He called coronavirus a hoax in the beginning and that it would be gone shortly. Now, along with the 12K dead from COVID-19, 370,000 Americans are struggling with the disease. Expect more to die in the next few weeks, especially those who can't stay home, like essential workers.
True, there's pluses regarding COVID-19. Gas prices are extremely low, wildlife is prancing everywhere, smog levels in major cities are the lowest it's been in decades and because many churches aren't having Sunday services, they aren't making money. However, we have assholes like Kenneth Copeland - who flies around in private jets and even owns his own airport - who tell people that we all need to keep giving to the church, even if you're out of a job. Oh, and there's Pat Robertson, who recently proclaimed on his 700 Club that COVID-19 started with oral sex. Yes, the same Pat Robertson who, along with Jerry Falwell blamed 9/11 on liberals and gays just days after it happened.
Granted, there are churches whose pastors don't drive around in a Lambo and fly coach instead of their own jet. But sadly, even the smallest churches do preach stupidity. It's sad and shocking that the evangelicals love their Drumpf but call Obama the great Satan. Obama goes to church while Drumpf doesn't. They hated Carter because he told Playboy that he had lust in his heart. Yet, they loved Reagan, who showed no sympathy to anybody battling AIDS because heaven forbid that we help the LGBTQ+ community. They also loved Dubya even though his ignorance killed over 7,500 on 9/11 and with all the wars he started.
The sad reality is that Republicans are assholes, plain and simple, and the Democrats aren't far behind. It's all about how much money they make in office while the morons who voted them in get fucked. George Carlin said it best: "It's one big club, and you ain't in it!"
Since I was born, we've had four Republicans and only two Democrats as president. And sadly, the two Democrats were centralist at best. Tragically, we need to put the blame on our country's COVID-19 problem on the Democrats, too, especially with how they treated Bernie Sanders in 2016. He won the primaries fair and square, but he got fucked simply because Debbie Wassermann Schultz and her millionaire buddies force-fed a corporate Democrat, Hillary Clinton onto us. The fix was in, and Hillary proved to the world that you can win an election by almost three million votes and still lose the election.
True, we're all getting a lot of money soon. But, we need to spend it wisely. I hope the people who get this money will spend it on things we all actually need. Or best yet, spend it on people who actually need the money who have been off work, like wait staff, bartenders and other jobs where people might get paid less than minimum wage, especially if things are slow. It's time we start worrying about the people who truly make America great instead of those who want to divide and hurt us. This is why I hope the worst will be over soon.
We should tell our leaders to "Lean On Me" instead of saying "Use Me".
--
Got a Bee-otch to nominate? E-mail us @ chuck69dotcom@gmail.com. All suggestions (except for me) are welcome!
Bee-otch of the Day Archives can be seen on http://beeotchoftheday.blogspot.com
Bee-otch of the Day is a production of Chuck69.com, Grand Rapids' site for Stern, politics and more!
Bee-otch of the Day Archives can be seen on http://beeotchoftheday.blogspot.com
Bee-otch of the Day is a production of Chuck69.com, Grand Rapids' site for Stern, politics and more!
CHUCK69.COM IS ALWAYS ON!
No comments:
Post a Comment