(1) The video you linked to is only partially correct when it attributes this as debt to other nations. For the most part, China and other countries have exploited the interest of their US loans, so that's true. A lot of this debt, however, is due corporate entities. We gathered a lot of these during the recent spate of wars.
(2) I was saddened to learn of Winehouse's death. It's a waste of talent.
A couple of months, I had a quiz over on my site about people I wrote about who died after I posted on them. Ms. Winehouse now joins that list.
It's unfortunate that she became tabloid fodder, as she was an amazing musician. Goatman, if you can, listen to her first record called "Frank". She was 19 years old. It's clear that she wanted to be a jazz singer, not a pop singer. Although I really like Back to Black, Ronson compromised her sound or perhaps that was what she wanted as she wasn't drugged out when she recorded it, and she wrote all of the songs save the title one.
She isn't a Lindsay Lohan who only knows how to be a famous floozie. She had real talent. And she had an addictive personality in an industry that doesn't know how to say no to their stars, often to their detriment.
I have met some of the same demons she was dealing with at the end of her life. They are tough muthers. Was she weak, no, who the hell are we to judge? Did she just give up, I don't think so. I just hope to hell wherever she is now, that the demons that chased her in this lifetime aren't still after her in the next. I will miss her talent. I will miss her music that was still inside of her. Talent that wasn't wasted, just stolen from us by forces that we can't see or control.
With addiction, weak and strong aren't good words to use as they suggest a lack of character. That's what really gets me: people are judging Amy because of her substance abuse--people are not armies. A lot of addiction comes from sensitivity: this is a cruel world and some people have a hard time dealing with it, plus God only knows what they have come from. In my job alone, I see a lot of addiction, but many of these folks are functional so they would be considered "strong". Amy hurt herself badly with her addictions, and my sense is that she felt she deserved it; someone hurt her and she blamed herself.
We got wack jobs out there murdering children and shooting up teens. Now that is weak. Amy gave us the gift of her voice. Her musical expression came at a price: herself. And she got her drugs from somewhere--look at Michael Jackson: people don't say no to stars.
I don't think she gave up either. My guess is that it was an accident, or a consequence of compounded substance abuse that took its toll.
When Micheal Jackson died i was really disappointed to read all the harsh criticisms of him, his life, his weirdness. I wonder how one maintains equilibrium once they become the cash cow for an army of handlers and hanger ons: managers, promoters, lawyers, friends, family and anybody else that makes a dollar off that talent. People like Winehouse are surrounded by enablers and yes people. Not to take away the blame for her own choices, but like you point out her first big success came at 19.
I think about Elvis -sick bloated and tired. You could see it the last performances..but there were fingers all over his back to get out there and earn and the rest is history.
when i think of MJ, i think of a 6 year old bustin a groove on the ed sullivan show -bright and shiny and bursting with talent. He never had a chance.
Michael Jackson's death really broke my heart.Sure, I got sick of Thriller, but I was also so amazed by it. I agree: he was one huge cash cow with handlers galore eager to make their buck. What a warped life he had to lead, and he too had a sweet soul.
Perhaps Elvis is the most disgusting example of a nice kid who got wrung out to dry by umpteen asshats. Amazing talent, and despite what people say about him, he wasn't stupid; he knew what was going on, but he was manipulated to the point that he couldn't fight back.
Anonymous said...Well, in Elvis' case there was one MAJOR asshat. Michael Jackson had a number of them gnawing on him--some of them even cross into my territory (conspiracy).
Then again, Susan, K9, most of us do not experience celebrities as actual people, but as icons--symbols of identification, symbols of all the things we love and hate. When the actual person dies, the symbol continues forever, and is very difficult to challenge (and defend, once challened).
When you think about it, none of us have a right to criticize someone we've met unless their public actions impact upon our life in a direct way (e.g., a political figure). But people judge, and prejudge all the time. This is an example of that.
X-- I was drawing a blank--Col. Tom Parker. Yes, the ASSHAT. But he sure got people to play ball with him.
X, Chris--it would be nice if people could be charitable toward illness as I'm sure they would want the same. It's frustrating to see such talent self-destruct. I too, tried to ignore the tabloid stuff, but it was very difficult-I just kept hoping she would get better, but I never realized how serious her addiction had been. I've been listening to her music a lot since her passing, and really, she is so great.
I thought at one time that she would be the Janis Joplin of the twenty-first century. She had the voice, the inflection, and you knew that she knew from which she spoke.
Looking back, I really didn't mean it that way. She only put out what, two, maybe three albums, but there are some FM simulcasts on the net worth looking for.
As it is with most celebrity's, many rumors surround her passing, including one that sounds like she died of sudden sobriety. I'm sorry she's gone, but hope she is at peace with herself and with God.
I never thought of Janis Joplin--good one. She had two albums, plus two B sides. There are some more recordings; some are pretty basic, but if Ronson produces them, they will sound good--I'm not sure if her family will give permission.
Sudden sobriety? I guess I haven't heard that one.
She makes me think of James Dean in a way--a small body of work, but incredibly impressive.
She may know the peace now that she never did here.
ReplyDeleteNot by me. Never listened to her rants and the occasional picture of a clueless lush was not appealing.
ReplyDeleteI'm a hard guy!
(1) The video you linked to is only partially correct when it attributes this as debt to other nations. For the most part, China and other countries have exploited the interest of their US loans, so that's true. A lot of this debt, however, is due corporate entities. We gathered a lot of these during the recent spate of wars.
ReplyDelete(2) I was saddened to learn of Winehouse's death. It's a waste of talent.
A couple of months, I had a quiz over on my site about people I wrote about who died after I posted on them. Ms. Winehouse now joins that list.
It's unfortunate that she became tabloid fodder, as she was an amazing musician. Goatman, if you can, listen to her first record called "Frank". She was 19 years old. It's clear that she wanted to be a jazz singer, not a pop singer. Although I really like Back to Black, Ronson compromised her sound or perhaps that was what she wanted as she wasn't drugged out when she recorded it, and she wrote all of the songs save the title one.
ReplyDeleteShe isn't a Lindsay Lohan who only knows how to be a famous floozie. She had real talent. And she had an addictive personality in an industry that doesn't know how to say no to their stars, often to their detriment.
Must confess that I am not at all familiar with her but it's always a shame to lose young talent.
ReplyDeleteI have met some of the same demons she was dealing with at the end of her life. They are tough muthers. Was she weak, no, who the hell are we to judge? Did she just give up, I don't think so. I just hope to hell wherever she is now, that the demons that chased her in this lifetime aren't still after her in the next. I will miss her talent. I will miss her music that was still inside of her. Talent that wasn't wasted, just stolen from us by forces that we can't see or control.
ReplyDeleteWith addiction, weak and strong aren't good words to use as they suggest a lack of character. That's what really gets me: people are judging Amy because of her substance abuse--people are not armies. A lot of addiction comes from sensitivity: this is a cruel world and some people have a hard time dealing with it, plus God only knows what they have come from. In my job alone, I see a lot of addiction, but many of these folks are functional so they would be considered "strong". Amy hurt herself badly with her addictions, and my sense is that she felt she deserved it; someone hurt her and she blamed herself.
ReplyDeleteWe got wack jobs out there murdering children and shooting up teens. Now that is weak. Amy gave us the gift of her voice. Her musical expression came at a price: herself. And she got her drugs from somewhere--look at Michael Jackson: people don't say no to stars.
I don't think she gave up either. My guess is that it was an accident, or a consequence of compounded substance abuse that took its toll.
When Micheal Jackson died i was really disappointed to read all the harsh criticisms of him, his life, his weirdness. I wonder how one maintains equilibrium once they become the cash cow for an army of handlers and hanger ons: managers, promoters, lawyers, friends, family and anybody else that makes a dollar off that talent. People like Winehouse are surrounded by enablers and yes people. Not to take away the blame for her own choices, but like you point out her first big success came at 19.
ReplyDeleteI think about Elvis -sick bloated and tired. You could see it the last performances..but there were fingers all over his back to get out there and earn and the rest is history.
when i think of MJ, i think of a 6 year old bustin a groove on the ed sullivan show -bright and shiny and bursting with talent. He never had a chance.
Michael Jackson's death really broke my heart.Sure, I got sick of Thriller, but I was also so amazed by it. I agree: he was one huge cash cow with handlers galore eager to make their buck. What a warped life he had to lead, and he too had a sweet soul.
ReplyDeletePerhaps Elvis is the most disgusting example of a nice kid who got wrung out to dry by umpteen asshats. Amazing talent, and despite what people say about him, he wasn't stupid; he knew what was going on, but he was manipulated to the point that he couldn't fight back.
Anonymous said...Well, in Elvis' case there was one MAJOR asshat. Michael Jackson had a number of them gnawing on him--some of them even cross into my territory (conspiracy).
ReplyDeleteThen again, Susan, K9, most of us do not experience celebrities as actual people, but as icons--symbols of identification, symbols of all the things we love and hate. When the actual person dies, the symbol continues forever, and is very difficult to challenge (and defend, once challened).
When you think about it, none of us have a right to criticize someone we've met unless their public actions impact upon our life in a direct way (e.g., a political figure). But people judge, and prejudge all the time. This is an example of that.
Very sad loss. Never followed the tabloid stuff but her albums are both amazing.
ReplyDeleteX-- I was drawing a blank--Col. Tom Parker. Yes, the ASSHAT. But he sure got people to play ball with him.
ReplyDeleteX, Chris--it would be nice if people could be charitable toward illness as I'm sure they would want the same. It's frustrating to see such talent self-destruct. I too, tried to ignore the tabloid stuff, but it was very difficult-I just kept hoping she would get better, but I never realized how serious her addiction had been. I've been listening to her music a lot since her passing, and really, she is so great.
Just saw a neat quote from John Waters (he always seems to hit nail heads):
ReplyDelete"It's hard to look that cheap and pull it off"
I plan to look into her music. "Frank" sounds interesting -- I like the slow bluesy voices.
I thought at one time that she would be the Janis Joplin of the twenty-first century. She had the voice, the inflection, and you knew that she knew from which she spoke.
ReplyDeleteLooking back, I really didn't mean it that way. She only put out what, two, maybe three albums, but there are some FM simulcasts on the net worth looking for.
As it is with most celebrity's, many rumors surround her passing, including one that sounds like she died of sudden sobriety. I'm sorry she's gone, but hope she is at peace with herself and with God.
I never thought of Janis Joplin--good one. She had two albums, plus two B sides. There are some more recordings; some are pretty basic, but if Ronson produces them, they will sound good--I'm not sure if her family will give permission.
ReplyDeleteSudden sobriety? I guess I haven't heard that one.
She makes me think of James Dean in a way--a small body of work, but incredibly impressive.
Now she's resting in peace!
ReplyDeleteI love Amy Winehouse . . . Sad.
ReplyDelete(all the misc. about this and that -- better not to judge artists in those areas, at least that's my approach)