Friday, June 05, 2009

Rise up and sing! by gimleteye

I've tried cajoling, collaborating, satire, and cynicism. I've tried reporting. I've tried fund raising for groups and causes. I've invented campaigns and I've followed others'. I've spent my own money and time and raised money from others. I've organized groups and coalitions and political campaigns, I've strategized, argued and nodded in agreement and opposition. I've attended public hearings, recruited citizens, businessmen, and the clergy. I've signed petitions and given speeches. I've attended meetings. I've tried being reasonable, excessive, calm and over-the-top. I've hired lawyers and consultants and lobbyists. In twenty years trying to change Florida's status quo hell-bent on wrecking Florida's quality of life and environment, I've tried everything. Maybe not everything. Here's something I haven't tried.

from Libby Hunter, Ann Arbor, MI

10 comments:

Geniusofdespair said...

Okay, Gimleteye, can't wait for you to sing that version of "Whatever Lola Wants" at a county commission meeting. Maybe we should hire a singer, I would chip in -- but only if the singer is wearing the outfit Gwen Verdon wore.

Is it my imagination, or does your post sound a little "defeated" today?

Gimleteye said...

Defeated? Hell no. When we audition singers; here's the rule: the guys have to dress like Dorrin Rolle when he's being investigated; in dashikis. I'm not sure who the women should dress like?

OK. Here is a challenge for our readers. Post your versions of Beyonce's "Halo" to these lyrics on youtube, send us the link and we'll make you famous!

Halo (new version)


Remember those walls they built
Well, baby they’re tumbling down
And they didn’t even put up a fight
They didn’t even make a sound.

You found a way to make them pay
But I never really had a doubt
Standing in the light of your halo
I got my angel now.

It’s like we’ve been awakened
Every rule they’ve been breakin’
It’s the risks they were takin’
We aint never gonna let them win

Everywhere I’m looking now
We’re surrounded by their mistakes
Baby I can see your halo
You know you’re my saving grace.

The developers wrecked this place
But now you’re making them pay
Baby I can feel your halo
Pray it won’t fade away.

Baby I can feel your halo halo halo

I can see your halo halo halo

I can feel your halo halo halo

I can see your halo halo halo



Hit me like a ray of sun

Burning through my darkest night

You're the only one that I want

Think I'm addicted to your light

They claimed that they were right
Foreclosures everywhere in sight
But now we see they were wrong
Gravity pulled us back to the ground again



Feels like we’ve been awakened

Every rule they are breakin'

The risk that they are takin'
Letting them shake us down.

I'm never gonna shut you out


Everywhere I'm looking now

I'm surrounded by your embrace

Baby I can see your halo


You know you're my saving grace


You're everything we need and more

It's written all over your face

Baby I can feel your halo


Pray it won't fade away


I can feel your halo halo halo

I can see your halo halo halo

I can feel your halo halo halo

I can see your halo halo halo

youbetcha' said...

Well. Count me out on this one. I can't carry a tune in a bucket. I am not too sure this lady's delivery was strong enough...maybe she needed a different tune?

What was nice about that lady's presentation is that we did not hear background noise and the council moving around. They were quiet. Wow.

Anonymous said...

I suggest you e-mail this to Charlie and the Tallahasee crowd.

Geniusofdespair said...

She sang the song too slow, jazzier would have been better...like the movie.

Anonymous said...

i appreciate the critiques of my singing! it's been a long time since i sang professionally, so the voice isn't what it used to be. regarding the tempo: i purposely articulated the lyrics carefully and on the slower side to make sure they were all easily understood. LH

Geniusofdespair said...

Libby - welcome to our blog, I knew you were trying to get the point across with your deliberate delivery...we have a government body made up of mostly short attention spans here in Miami. They get up and walk away and chat amongst themselves. Very rude indeed. I think your town is more civilized.

Anonymous said...

i'm not sure i'd use the word civilized...they don't walk away - however, what they do is type snarky emails to each other (the ones in the in-crowd) about their contempt for the citizenry and other city councilors. some people recently had the emails FOIA'd, and they're possibly going to be scandalous. i hope so!
while i was singing, they watched me intently, and mostly all looked more and more displeased as the song went along.

Geniusofdespair said...

Sounds like the same old song...Developers and their cronies in Government are birds of a feather all over the U.S.!

Anonymous said...

ok - here's mine:

Ode to a Depression

1st verse:

I think I'm gonna buy me a brand new house - there seems to be a lot around

I think I'm gonna buy me a grand new house - on the edge of town

Gonna buy me a house, gonna paint the front door, gonna plant a little garden and so much more

I think I'm gonna buy me a brand new house - there seems to be a lot around.

Chorus

Master card and Visa, Amex and Countrywide too - my, oh my, what a wonderful thing since I got credit with you.

2nd verse:

I think I'm gonna buy me a brand new car - my old one uses too much gas

I think I'm gonna buy me a brand new car - you can bet your ... ass

Gonna buy me a car, gonna drive it to the mall, gonna fuel that baby with ethanol.

I think I'm gonna buy me a brand new car - my old one uses too much gas.


3rd verse:

Oh, my, my, the mailman came with a big old bundle of bills.

Oh, my, my the mailman came and there began my ills.

My credit card company done me wrong, I can't pay my mortgage and I'm feeling down.

Oh my, my, the mailman came with a big old bundle of bills.

Chorus

Paging Alan Greenspan. Get him on the phone. My, oh my, what a terrible thing - it seems that you were wrong.