Wish I'd Written That...

[Hostile]

IMO, this honor goes to Milton's portrayel of Satan in "Paradise Lost" as his is probably the best literary showing of the greatest antagonist of all, the Devil

I understand your reasoning, but I disagree. While he is the most interesting character of that work, he just isn't as interesting to me as Ahab. There is a parallel of the two drawn out in Moby Dick. I'll try and find the passage, but at the moment I forget which chapter it is in.

 

[silverbear]

"Sunday Morning Coming Down" is not only a fantastic song, there is an amazing story behind it. Kris wrote it for Johnny Cash and Johnny was going to sing it for the very first time on "The Johnny Cash Show." The song has a line, "I'm wishing Lord that I was stoned." The Producers at CBS were opposed to that line being in the song and insisted that Johnny remove it with something tamer.

When Johnny sings that song as he gets to that line he looked into the upper deck at Kris, and sang it as written.

The show was canceled.

I knew he'd written it for Johnny, didn't know about the hassles with that line... that's exactly what I liked about Kristofferson's songs (obviously, it wasn't his VOICE), he didn't pull any punches... it's the same thing I related to instantly when I heard Jimmy Buffett sing:

I've done a bit of smuggling
I've run my share of grass
I made enough money to buy Miami
But I p***ed it away so fast...

Jimmy knew good and well that pretty song would never be "commercial" with that line in it, but he still wrote it and sang it the way he felt it... Kris was always the same way... he is, I think, a VERY underrated songwriter... certainly, he's a better songwriter than he is an actor, LOL...

 

[Crown Royal]

With those passages I'm hooked. I'll go buy Moby Dick tomorrow.

BTW - another great villain - Big Brother, possibly the most perfect evil I have ever read. Though I am a little tired of dystopian societies in media lately. The genre is oversaturated.

 

[The30YardSlant]

I understand your reasoning, but I disagree. While he is the most interesting character of that work, he just isn't as interesting to me as Ahab. There is a parallel of the two drawn out in Moby Dick. I'll try and find the passage, but at the moment I forget which chapter it is in.

Ahad's obsession with Moby Dick always struck me as an odd basis for a novel. Granted, Melville's story set the stage for generations of stories following the plotline of an individual having something stolen from him and the insuing obsession to seek out revenge in some way, but it has always just been too big a leap for me to accept the great imagery within it.

 

[Hostile]

With those passages I'm hooked. I'll go buy Moby Dick tomorrow.

BTW - another great villain - Big Brother, possibly the most perfect evil I have ever read. Though I am a little tired of dystopian societies in media lately. The genre is oversaturated.

I don't know it. Who is it by?

One of my other favorite literary works is very short. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. You can read it in just over an hour. I cannot ever get the image out of my mind of the man with the mustaches trying to put out the hut that is on fire with a water bucket that is full of holes and him reporting that everyone is behaving "splendidly." Maybe it's just me but I find that a perfect allegory to politics on both sides of the political fence.

Oh, and when you start reading Moby Dick let me know. I will gladly discuss passages with you any time. I keep a copy in my desk.

 

[Hostile]

Ahad's obsession with Moby Dick always struck me as an odd basis for a novel. Granted, Melville's story set the stage for generations of stories following the plotline of an individual having something stolen from him and the insuing obsession to seek out revenge in some way, but it has always just been too big a leap for me to accept the great imagery within it.

It isn't about acceptance though. It's about megalomania and it's destructive influence when there is power wielded with it.

 

[Crown Royal]

I don't know it. Who is it by?

1984 by George Orwell. One of my favorite novels ever - it's an easy read, I highly suggest it.

One of my other favorite literary works is very short. Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad. You can read it in just over an hour. I cannot ever get the image out of my mind of the man with the mustaches trying to put out the hut that is on fire with a water bucket that is full of holes and him reporting that everyone is behaving "splendidly." Maybe it's just me but I find that a perfect allegory to politics on both sides of the political fence.

Oh snap - I seriously almost bought that last weekend. Wound up with American Psycho instead, because I am trying to read more recent classics.

But I really want to read some more Joseph Conrad. He and Ayn Rand have my highest respects - non native English speakers who have mastered the language better than 90% of the those who grew up speaking it. Except Conrad isn't as opinionated as Rand.

 

[Hostile]

I knew he'd written it for Johnny, didn't know about the hassles with that line... that's exactly what I liked about Kristofferson's songs (obviously, it wasn't his VOICE), he didn't pull any punches... it's the same thing I related to instantly when I heard Jimmy Buffett sing:

I've done a bit of smuggling
I've run my share of grass
I made enough money to buy Miami
But I p***ed it away so fast...

Jimmy knew good and well that pretty song would never be "commercial" with that line in it, but he still wrote it and sang it the way he felt it... Kris was always the same way... he is, I think, a VERY underrated songwriter... certainly, he's a better songwriter than he is an actor, LOL...

I include Bob Dylan in that select group Bear. He is not a singer, but damn that man can write great songs.

 

[Hostile]

1984 by George Orwell. One of my favorite novels ever - it's an easy read, I highly suggest it.

Oh crap, I have read that and now what you wrote makes sense. I was thinking that was the name of the book.

Oh snap - I seriously almost bought that last weekend. Wound up with American Psycho instead, because I am trying to read more recent classics.

But I really want to read some more Joseph Conrad. He and Ayn Rand have my highest respects - non native English speakers who have mastered the language better than 90% of the those who grew up speaking it. Except Conrad isn't as opinionated as Rand.

Conrad is more opinionated than you might expect. Heart of Darkness is a very harsh critique of the practice of Colonial land grabs. It is every bit as opinionated as The Fountainhead. Conrad and Kipling are the best authors ever on the excess of Colonial powers. I recommend Lord Jim by Conrad as well, and Kim by Kipling.

BTW, I love the simple way Moby Dick begins.

"Call me Ishmael."

I haven't read American Psycho. Should I?

 

[BrAinPaiNt]

A few lyric lines I happen to like from Ronnie James Dio...these are different songs.

You know the word Confused has been abused, but that was just what he was.

Or walk a long bloody road like the hero who never ran.

Hanging from the cobwebs in you mind it looks like a long long way to fall.

And is the wise man always right, no he can play the fool.

Silver linings can disappear but they always shine.

You're a runner but you're chasing yourself feel the hot breath on your shoulder.

You 're hungry for heaven, But you need a little hell.

Do you like the dark do you like the way it moves do you come alive when neon kills the sun.

Sing me a song, you're a singer
Do me a wrong, you're a bringer of evil
The Devil is never a maker
The less that you give, you're a taker



Just some of the lines I like...yes I am a big fan of the little guy with the big voice.:laugh2:

 

[silverbear]

I include Bob Dylan in that select group Bear. He is not a singer, but damn that man can write great songs.

Absolutely... as it happens, I can do a KILLER job on "I Shall Be Released"... if I ever go audition for American Idol (LOL), that'll be the song I do...

Now, if you wanna have a good laugh at my expense, it was only like a year ago that I figured out that the old Hendrix song "All Along the Watchtower" was actually the Dylan classic... must have heard both like a jillion times, and never put them together... how obtuse is THAT??

When I first got into music, I was kind of a folkie-- Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, that kind of stuff... so naturally, I came across "Blowing In the Wind" and "The Times They Are A-Changing" pretty quick, and I've liked ol' Bob ever since...

It seems that a lot of our best songwriters can't sing a lick, but still try to... of course, the first name that comes to mind is Willie Nelson...

 

[silverbear]

I haven't read American Psycho. Should I?

Seems pointless, you already know BP...

And me... we're both American psychos...

 

[Yeagermeister]

Absolutely... as it happens, I can do a KILLER job on "I Shall Be Released"... if I ever go audition for American Idol (LOL), that'll be the song I do...

Now, if you wanna have a good laugh at my expense, it was only like a year ago that I figured out that the old Hendrix song "All Along the Watchtower" was actually the Dylan classic... must have heard both like a jillion times, and never put them together... how obtuse is THAT??

When I first got into music, I was kind of a folkie-- Simon & Garfunkel, James Taylor, that kind of stuff... so naturally, I came across "Blowing In the Wind" and "The Times They Are A-Changing" pretty quick, and I've liked ol' Bob ever since...

It seems that a lot of our best songwriters can't sing a lick, but still try to... of course, the first name that comes to mind is Willie Nelson...

Aren't you a little long in the tooth to try out for AI?

 

[silverbear]

Aren't you a little long in the tooth to try out for AI?

Hey, gray hair worked for Taylor Hicks, and he ain't NEAR as gray as I am... let those middle-aged ladies get a load of this silver fox and...

Wait a sec, this is me we're talkin' about... never mind...

Is there an "American Idle" competition?? Maybe I'll give that one a whirl...

I'd be more of a "Nashville Star" kind of guy, anyway... I mean, if Jimmy Buffett is now a best selling country artist, that must be where I was meant to be...

 

[Yeagermeister]

Hey, gray hair worked for Taylor Hicks, and he ain't NEAR as gray as I am... let those middle-aged ladies get a load of this silver fox and...

Wait a sec, this is me we're talkin' about... never mind...

Is there an "American Idle" competition?? Maybe I'll give that one a whirl...

I'd be more of a "Nashville Star" kind of guy, anyway... I mean, if Jimmy Buffett is now a best selling country artist, that must be where I was meant to be...

There are two major differences between you and Taylor

1. Taylor is in his early 30's not 50's

2. Taylor could sign

 

[Hostile]

There are two major differences between you and Taylor

1. Taylor is in his early 30's not 50's

2. Taylor could sign

Yeah, but it's a singing competition, not a sign language competition.

 

[Viper]

I loved Moby Dick, read it when I was a young boy. It is one of my favorites. Another very good book is The Count of Monte Cristo, I highly recommend it.

You can read classics online for free, here is the site http://www.classicreader.com/

 

[silverbear]

There are two major differences between you and Taylor

1. Taylor is in his early 30's not 50's

I've got socks older than that...

2. Taylor could sign

So can I... you have nooooo idea...

Ask either of my ex-fiancees, they would have never given me a second glance if they hadn't heard me sing... for sure, I didn't get 'em with my LOOKS...

 

[silverbear]

Yeah, but it's a singing competition,

The continuing presence of that Indian kid (Sanjay??) disproves that theory...

Seriously, what reality TV needs is a variation on the American Idol/Nashville Star theme, one that goes out and finds the best bar bands in the nation... that's a competition I'd tune in for...

 

[jackrussell]

The continuing presence of that Indian kid (Sanjay??) disproves that theory..

Have you heard this story?

Apparently, there is a website, not sure exactly what it is...but their goal is to get everyone to vote for sanjaya to see if they can get the worst singer to win. Howard Stern has also joined the fray...along with several radio stations nation wide. Something like worst2first.com or something.