Author: admin

O.K., so I have a few more things on my mind to share while on my summer break, which is going just fine by the way.

Last week the Rolling Stones wrapped up a two-night stand at Soldier Field.  Many of my friends attended one or both shows and by all reports and video clips I saw, Mick, Keith and the rest of the guys were still in fine form.  I admire REM’s reasons to retire from road shows years ago to stave off any claims of their skills diminishing. However, the Stones still roll great at age 80!  And I would kill for that dark purple leather jacket Jagger wore.

Despite them being octogenarians, the Rolling Stones still bring it hard every night.

Another recent cool live event happened at the CMA fest in Nashville.  Newer star Jon Pardi paid homage to the 35^th anniversary of the release of Clint Black’s “Killin’ Time” debut album and song.  Jon invited Clint onstage to duet on “Killin’ Time” and they both killed it.

Jon Pardi & Clint Black knocked their duet out of the park.

Last Sunday I guested with my pal Jim Turano as he filled in for Dean Richards on his Sunday morning radio show on WGN AM 720.  One of the things we talked about was how 40 years ago was a great year for big albums from music acts who were known but hit it bigger with their releases in 1984.  Besides Springsteen’s “Born in the USA”, there was Prince’s “Purple Rain”, Van Halen’s “1984”, Madonna’s “Like a Virgin”, Bryan Adams’ “Reckless”, The Pretenders’ “Learning to Crawl”, REM’s “Reckoning” (my personal favorite of theirs) and Tina Turner’s smash solo record “Private Dancer.”  Also, Huey Lewis’ “Sports” disc was filling the radio airwaves with hits like “I Want a New Drug” and “The Heart of Rock n Roll.”  The “Sports” album was actually released in 1983 but from ’84 through 1990 Huey was on a massive high with hit songs and sold-out concerts.  I got to hang with Huey twice during this time and he was one of the nicest and most unaffected stars I ever met.

1984 was a banner year for landmark albums.

Speaking of anniversaries, July 9^th marks the 25^th anniversary of the first (and best) of the “American Pie” movies.  I still love that comedy. A bit raunchy and yet so truthful and even sweet as the teen characters pursued their sexual interests.  I even came up with a novel idea for the film that a co-worker got made for me. Somewhere in my closet I have a t-shirt that reads, “And This One Time at Band Camp…” And under that phrase is a picture of a flute.  (Figure out that one for yourself)

“And then this one time, at band camp…”

On the subject of current movies, I took a hard pass on Kevin Costner’s “Horizon” and the smash with kids “Inside Out 2”. However, I really liked “Thelma.”  Ninety-three year old June Squibb plays a grandmother who chases after the people who scammed her out of ten thousand dollars.  Richard Roundtree co-stars in this comedy about the elderly which doesn’t mock them and gives us all a preview of what we face as we age.

“Thelma” was a darn good movie. I graded it a B+.

O.K… it’s time to resume my summer break.  Yet, in a few weeks I’ll post a new blog.  It’s all about the time we all sang ‘Let’s Go Crazy.” Stay tuned.

Come 3 p.m. this Friday, my summer break begins.  It’s been another fun and challenging school year and our fantastic staff has more than earned our 6 ½ week  vacation… 

Can’t wait for more long days in my local pool, can you blame me?

The cicadas’ once every 17 years concert of sound is fading out so here are a few random thoughts:

Last week I re-watched the late 90’s mystery thriller “The Sixth Sense” and found it to actually be quite dull.  Filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan has had an interesting and much talked about career, but for my money, his best film was “Unbreakable.”  His next film “Trap” comes out on August 2^nd and is a reported psychological thriller as a father and daughter attend a concert while the dad is being watched and hunted by authorities.  Sounds intriguing.  There really aren’t many other new movies to look forward to this summer, unlike last year when we had the whole “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” thing happening.

The Sixth Sense wasn’t as good as I remembered it to be.

With the warm and steamy weather here, I’m spending a great deal of time at East End Pool and that will go full blast starting June 29^th.  It’s so good to reunite with my ‘Summer Family.’  I know I’ve said this before but it bears repeating. There are few things more appealing than seeing a woman in a tasteful one-piece swimsuit. Some bikinis are O.K. but ladies, ditch the thongs. They smack of desperation and look unsanitary.

The one piece swimsuit attracts without being a crude distraction.

While the Cubs and White Sox have been disappointing so far this season, I have a new set of score sheets printed and will be doing some at home score card tracking for various ballgames. (Holy crap, am I nerdy!)

Baseball nerds unite. Time to keep score of some ballgames on TV.

HOME WORK-

My home chores will include re-painting the trim on the front of my garage, water sealing the back steps and raking out the leaves, dust and assorted garbage out of my garage which luckily is not jammed up with much junk.  I also need to trim back some bushes and other growth in the yard. Our wet and warm spring has really made stuff overgrow.

I have a sleep study set for July (my first in 12 years) and need to look into buying a new set of tires for my car.

Other than these things, I need to get more research done to self-publish my memoir “Raised on the Radio” which I REALLY want to get out to the public next spring.  This past year flew by and I want to set up that book publishing and promotion the proper way.

I’ll be taking a break from blogging with the next post coming sometime in mid to late August.  Til then, it’s flip flops, t-shirts, swimming, sunning and living life without a set schedule.  I look forward to all of it!

Happy Summer to everyone!

I was a major REM fan since their debut release of the “Chronic Town” EP back in August of 1982.  I was in the midst of my college radio career at WRSE FM 88.7, based in the student union building at Elmhurst College. (Now called Elmhurst University) Few people knew who these guys were and their fandom slowly but steadily grew over the next several years.

I was way into REM ever since they released their debut music, an EP titled “Chronic Town.”

In the summer of 1983, I saw REM in concert for the first time during their tour to support the “Murmur” album.  Get this, it was a WXRT budget show at the Park West with opening act Let’s Active. Tickets cost me and my pals 4 bucks apiece! If you think that’s sweet, my close friends Marko and Bobbo saw the quartet from Athens Georgia the previous year in the student cafeteria at S.I.U. for two dollars! 

For me, of course it was the band’s songs that hooked me.  They were different and hard to put into a specific genre of musical style. You also were never sure of the meaning behind the songs. With Peter Buck’s jangling guitars and the often hard to decipher lyrics from lead singer Michael Stipe’s each of REM’s songs required close and repeated listening and I was fine with that.  Bill Berry’s drumming was a great compliment to each tune and bassist Mike Mills was a fine vocalist in his right. 

Thanks to my first career as a radio producer, I had the opportunity to meet the band members twice.  In person, these guys were just normal dudes with no pretense or attitude, in spite of their musical skills and accomplishments.  REM was cool because they didn’t TRY to be cool.  These guys just went about their craft without falling into typical rock or pop star cliches. 

An early pic of the group from Athens, Georgia.

REM’s music kind of lost me after 1994’s “Monster Album” but that record and the previous releases were enough to garner my lifetime admiration.   As far as my song favorites; I’d go with “Radio Free Europe”, “Talk About the Passion”, and the entire “Reckoning” album .  After that, each disc added more forever loves for me including my all-time favorite REM song, “Driver 8.” 

I bring up all this REM nostalgia (and I could list many more tunes I love and concerts of theirs I saw) because last week the band was enshrined into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.  A well-deserved and overdue honor that includes all four members because they all shared EQUALLY in songwriting credit and yes, the money earned from every track they ever recorded.  More of this can be learned in the two links I’m posting at the bottom of this blog as CBS journalist Anthony  Mason interviewed REM in well covered segments.

REM performs live for the very last time as they played the hit “Losing My Religion” at the Songwriters Hall of Fame event.

You’ll also see that REM will never play as a band again.  Their reasons for this reticence is honorable and accurate.  Don’t get me wrong, I like that The Who, Eagles and Rolling Stones continue to tour but for the quartet from Athens, Georgia, they’ve been there, done that, got the T-shirt and are gone for good. Once again, cool without trying to be cool.

Here are those 2 links to check out.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/r-e-m-discusses-bands-breakup-songwriters-hall-of-fame-honor-and-more

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/r-e-m-discusses-surprise-reunion-at-songwriters-hall-of-fame-reveals-why-there-wont-be-another

Next Blog: A last post before my summer break!

I have a few things on my mind.  I apologize in advance because most of what I’ve got to post is pointing towards women in a less than positive light.  Hopefully what I state is constructive.

J-Lo’s Woes- Jennifer Lopez is not having a good year.  Tickets to her upcoming concert tour were not selling and she just canceled the whole three- month summer road run. She claims dropping the tour was because she wants to spend more time with her family.  Granted, Lopez’s marriage (her 4^th) to Ben Affleck is all but over but trust me folks, had ticket sales been going great, J—Lo would’ve put the  tour before anything else.  Add to this, Jennifer Lopez’s latest movie “Atlas” got brutal reviews and minimal views.

My advice for J—Lo would be to first settle her marital issues with Affleck.  Next, I think she would benefit by hiring a new management team who could better guide her to more worthy film projects. Finally, it would be smart to slip away from the public eye for several months, maybe longer.  Bad publicity on Jennifer Lopez’s woes isn’t helping matters.

MY ADVICE TO J-LO: LAY LOW, GET NEW MANAGEMENT AND CLEAR THE DECK ON YOUR 4TH MARRIAGE. SPEND TIME WITH YOUR KIDDOS AND PUT ROMANCE ON THE BACK BURNER.

Chicago Sky star Angel Reese is on a bad run.  Two weeks ago, she posted a jab at Indiana Fever and WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark on social media.  The gist of Reese’s words was how the Sky was winning because of team efforts and that Clark alone can’t win it all for the Fever.  It was a mocking and totally unnecessary slam at a fellow female athlete. Caitlin Clark’s popularity is helping benefit the ENTIRE league of women’s hoopsters, Angel Reese included, and Reese is throwing shit on her?  Angel, a rising tide lifts all ships. 

Then last weekend when Reese’s Chicago Sky team played Caitlin Clark’s Indiana Fever, Sky player Chennedy Carter drew a flagrant foul for hip checking Clark to the floor when she didn’t even have the ball.  Angel Reese was seen cheering that foul from her seat on the bench. 

Carter refused to answer press questions and Chicago Sky coach Teresa Weatherspoon defended the physical hit claiming her players are just competing. I’m not saying Caitlin Clark should be babied or treated with kid gloves, but for a league trying to grow in popularity, I’d hate to see them damage the star who  helps them all!

NOT SO ANGELIC ANGEL REESE. TIME TO WISE UP AND GROW UP.

Have you heard about Ozempic Face?  It’s the result of women who are using the diabetes drug to quickly lose weight.  Turns out, that kind of rapid weight loss causes many to develop sunken eyes and drooping skin on their face.  So, these weight losers might be thinner but they’ve got a hanging look to their faces.  Yikes!  I know there’s all sorts of plastic surgery fixes to aid any failing physical feature but think of the wise words of one of the most beautiful women of all time, Catherine Deneuve: “After a certain age, a woman has to choose between her fanny and her face.”  In other words, if you want a skinny body and a trim tush, you may end up with a face that resembles the cartoon character Droopy Dog.  If I were a woman, I’d opt for the more attractive face than the smaller backside.

OZEMPIC USE CAN LEAVE WOMEN WITH SAGGY FACIAL FEATURES, MUCH LIKE DROOPY DOG.

I watch a lot of TV news, sports and interview shows. A couple weeks back, I  slammed the men on screen for wearing suits with gym shoes on their feet.  Now for the women on TV, I see the new trend: White nail polish.  Ugh.  Now while finely manicured white nails are a better choice than the past fad of black nails, this still isn’t a good look.  I keep thinking these women have had their fingernails and toenails done over with Liquid Paper. 

I DON’T CARE HOW WELL DONE THE MANICURE MIGHT BE, WHITE NAIL POLISH IS NOT A GOOD LOOK.

Finally, one of the bright stars on local TV can be found on the WGN Morning News.  Bhrett Vickery has been doing traffic reports and fill in news spots for the weekday show since last December and her youth and newness has been well received.  So, you guessed it, me and Al Flash had to put together a parody song for her.  Al had the idea to twist Paul McCartney’s 1970’s hit “Jet” and that’s what I put together.  (We actually have another song for Ms. Vickery ready to record as well.”

NEXT BLOG: When I know, you’ll know.

June 4th, 1984 is when Bruce Springsteen’s monster album “Born in the USA” hit record stores.  The lead single “Dancing in the Dark” came out on May 9th and radio stations were all over that track. I have to admit I was dubious about the album but that was judging on this opening single which sounded pretty popish to me. It sure wasn’t stark and gritty like Bruce’s most recent release, 1982’s “Nebraska” album was.

THE PICTURE SLEEVE FOR THE ‘DANCING IN THE DARK’ SINGLE. I WAS MORE PARTIAL TO THE FLIP SIDE, ‘PINK CADILLAC.’

Still, I was ready to hear more from “B.I.T.U.S.A” and the weekend before I could buy it, my buddy Dave Ross called me from the WMET FM studios in Chicago.  Dave worked in promotions there and had his hands on the new album.  He was raving about the songs and needle dropped snippets of each track over the phone to me.  The music sounded big and fascinating.  I remember clips of “Cover Me” blew my ears off.

That week, like many fans of Springsteen, I rushed out to a record store and secured my copy of “Born in the USA” with Bruce’s blue jeaned ass on the cover.  Needless to say, that slice of vinyl remained on my turntable for most of that summer and beyond.

YEAH, THAT’S BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN’S ASS ON THE COVER OF HIS ALBUM.

I first saw Springsteen in concert three years earlier when going to school in Carbondale. I got to meet Bruce as he arrived for his soundcheck that afternoon and scored his autograph too.  Me, my buddies Marko, Bobbo and other guys from my dorm floor all sat together for our virginal night with the Boss at the S.I.U. arena. 

During Bruce’s intermission that night, I saw a woman in the concourse with vomit all over her top.  Not sure whose puke it was but she ducked into a restroom and came out a few minutes later with a vomit free but soaking wet blouse.  That’s how dedicated some Springsteen fans are!

Walking back to the dorm after the show, my college pals and I just kept looking at each other in amazement at the high energy killer night of music we’d just witnessed.   It was like nothing we’d ever seen or heard before. Or since.

In 1984 the Born in the USA tour kicked off in St. Paul, Minnesota. That’s where Bruce filmed the infamous “Dancing in the Dark” video, directed by Brian DePalma and featuring the stage dancing of a barely known actress named Courtney Cox.  It was comedian Bobcat Goldthwait who commented that in the video, Springsteen looked like he’d joined “Up with People.”  No matter, millions of fans ate it up and everything else that was on “Born in the USA.”

SPRINGSTEEN DANCING IN THE DARK WITH LITTLE KNOWN ACTRESS COURTNEY COX.

The Boss’ tour hit the Rosemont Horizon for three shows in mid-July.  I had tickets to the third night but after hearing the buzz of his opening show on July 15th, I went down to the venue to buy tickets off anyone who was selling for concert number two on July 17th.  Me and a former park district co-worker landed two seats in the upper level, 2 rows up and right behind Bruce and the band.  The tickets sold for $15 bucks, we paid five dollars above face value and it was damn worth it.

That night, Springsteen took the stage and in the dark, he called off “One, two, one two three four!” and launched into ‘Born in the U.S.A.’ I thought a bomb had gone off in the Horizon.  It was insane! Just a wild ride of hot music played with relentless energy.  Bruce and the band were still doing two sets back then.  Play about an hour, take a twenty- minute break then roll out two hours or more of rock and roll.

THIS WASN’T MY TICKET BUT THIS IS WHAT SEEING BRUCE IN CONCERT IN 1984 COST YOU.

Springsteen played several of the new songs plus he and the band handled some of my favorites from “Nebraska.”  Then there were rockers from “The River’, “Darkness on the Edge of Town”, “Born to Run” and all.  But the star of the night was the fever pitch that the new tracks from “Born in the USA” was bringing to the crowd.  Nils Lofgren replaced Little Steven Van Zandt who went out to do his own solo tour.  And there was a chick back-up singer named Patty Scialfa who a few years later would become Bruce’s second wife.

When the show ended, my friend and I walked back to my car drenched in sweat and exhausted from this crazy frenzied night of amazing music.  I turned to him and said, “Bruce’s life will never be the same.”  He agreed.  And it wasn’t. 

HIS BODY BULKED UP, AND AN ALBUM FULL OF HIT SINGLES. BRUCE’S “BORN IN THE USA” TOUR WAS A HUGE DEAL.

It didn’t take long for Springsteen’s mega-stardom forced him to play football stadiums across the country and the globe.  I next saw the Boss in concert in August of 1985 at Soldier Field.  At the time, I was producing the Larry Lujack morning show on WLS AM & FM.  Larry wondered aloud to his newscasters Jeff Hendrix and Catherine Johns what was so great about a Springsteen concert.  I buzzed in from my producer’s desk and shared my view of what a special thing an evening with Bruce was.  They took my word for it when I said, “You have to see him to believe him.”

So, here we are.  Forty years down the road from “Born in the USA” and still rocking to those songs.  As Springsteen sang on that record, “Glory Days, yeah they’ll pass you by, glory days in the wink of a young girl’s eye, glory days!”  

NEXT BLOG- J-Lo’s woes, A not so angelic Angel, Ozempic Face, White Nail Polish and more.

Memorial Day 2024 is in the books, the weather is warm, the grass, trees and plants are thriving.  Wrigley Field’s ivy is fully flushed and green, school days are winding down and we can smell the season of summer approaching.  We had a mild winter but no matter, the days of the summer solstice are always pined and looked forward to.  Here’s some of what’s going on.

Suave Don Draper from “Mad Men” shares thoughts on the coming of summer.

On the subject of baseball, the Cubs are chugging along O.K. in spite of plenty of players injuries.  The White Sox? Not so much.  Al Flash and I put together a Sox suck parody and as critical as I often am towards our works, this one turned out damn good.  So good that it has garnered hundreds of views on You Tube with very little push from me or Al.

Three weeks ago^, I drove by East End Pool and all swimming splashing sections of the place were completely filled with water.  That seemed early until I realized that the lifeguards who’ll work there this summer need to undergo their annual training and safety certifications and that takes a bit of time.  East End opened on Saturday May 25^th. More on that to be shared on a future post.

One caveat this year is the Elmhurst Park District agreed with my pleas to give us season pass holders freebie guest passes for friends.  We each get four of these passes so folks who normally aren’t at the pool can hang with us for some sun, fun and swimming. 

The Memorial Day weekend weather only allowed me to swim on Saturday but it was still good to be back in the water.

I’ve got freshly bought Reef flip flops to wear to the pool and a new tote bag.  My previous tote was in fine shape but I gave it to one of my students who was in need of a book bag.  She likes that bag and I was happy to give it to her.  Once the swim season is in gear, I pretty much live out of my tote bag.

This is the pool & beach tote bag I’ll be living out of for most of the summer.

Speaking of students, today Tuesday May 28^th my school holds its annual graduation commencement ceremony for high school and middle school grads. It’s a simple but touching event where we teachers get to pay personal tribute to the kiddos who’ve achieved and are preparing for the next step in their academic or real world lives.  I have three seniors from my caseload to honor that day and it’s going to be fun to launch them to the next phase of their lives.

Our school’s Graduation Ceremony happens on Tuesday May 28th. It’s always a special event.

Later this week, we’ll start ESY (Extended School Year or as most call it, ‘Summer School.’)  Those four weeks fly by fast and then we’ll get to our anticipated vacation time.

Summer school starts at the end of the week. And “Summer School” the movie is a fun watch.

ODDS & ENDS.  In June, I have an appointment to be re-fitted for contact lenses, which I haven’t worn in over ten years.  Glasses are O.K. but it’s time for a change both at school and at the pool.  I just need to remember when swimming to not open my eyes underwater when wearing those lenses.

Other things to take care of include getting my house fully scrubbed and cleaned by a local maid service which is something I do a few times a year. I’ll patch up a few driveway cracks then have it re-sealed and my back steps need to be water sealed.   I’m also out shopping for a new bed.  My mattress and box spring are worn down to the thinness of a Matzo and it’s time!

So, here’s to the tasks to take care of and the fun to be had come summer…

Clint Black sings it and we can feel it, Summer’s Coming.

Next Blog- A Special 40 Year Anniversary.

This past Sunday my alma mater York High School hosted its graduation ceremony.  It was held at the football stadium (Clarence D. East Field to you old timers) on a beautiful warm and sunny day.  The bleachers were packed butts to guts as were all other spots to witness the class of 2024 as they walked across the stage to get their diplomas. 

As we all know, the commencement event marks the end of one part of the students’ lives and the start of everything else.  These young folks had to endure remote learning in their first ever semester at York thanks to COVID and they now see a world full of plenty of other challenges. The whole Israel/Palestinian/Gaza conflict, our own country sharply divided in politics and loads of social issues, not to mention another contentious presidential election that will take place in November.   I wish them all the luck they can get.

As I drove by York’s event, I saw some late arriving family members rushing in with balloons, cards, bouquets of flowers and all sort of things to help celebrate the day.   A block north of Saint Charles Road, some kids around age 10 or so, were peddling freshly made lemonade.  I pulled my car over and asked how much. The drinks were free as the kids explained they were doing this to celebrate graduation day!  I thanked them for the drink and said in a couple of eye-blinks, THEY’LL be the ones graduating high school.  They smiled and waved as I pulled away.

This June will mark the 45^th year since I graduated from York at that very same football field.  Earlier that day in 1979, my family took in a lunch at the Café Parisien on North Avenue as a pre-grad celebration.  After the ceremony while my dad drove my sister and grandparents back home, my mom and I ended up walking the half mile home together.  Once at the house. we enjoyed cake and gifts.  The best one being the Norelco electric razor I asked for and my grandpa Kahler gave me.  I also got a cool steamer trunk for future moves. 

Then it was time for me to go out with friends and party it up a bit.  We ended up at a classmate’s house (I’ll withhold that person’s name) because the beer bash was packed enough to draw the police who swooped in to break up the fun.  I recall some girl cried out that she’d been maced!  Next, it was me and three pals heading out for late night beers at Stimac’s bar in Hillside and I rolled into my bed that night at about two a.m.

That summer of 1979 I spent working at White Castle, playing American Legion baseball and seeing most of my buddies leave to attend college out of town.  I did a year and a half at College of Du Page then scooted off to S.I.U. before settling my academics down for a three stint at Elmhurst College (now called Elmhurst University) and graduating in May of 1984.  The five-year plan wasn’t such a bad deal.  Ten months after that I was hired to be Larry Lujack’s producer and writer at WLS AM.  The rest after that was a crazy and memorable history.

But this all started with graduating from York High School.  Just like the class of 2024 has just done.  If those young people have just half the fun, adventures and success that I landed in my post-grad life, they should consider themselves lucky.  Heck, I wish them even more than that!

NEXT BLOG- Summer’s Coming.

The cicada invasion is underway.  The first 17 year cicada visit that happened in my lifetime was in 1973 when I was twelve years old.  Our whole street was lined with huge Elm trees and those bugs were all up in them!  The loud buzzing sound they made was one thing but so was the crunching sound that happened every time my blue suede Converse All-Star shoes walked on the cicadas and their leftover shells as well.

Those red-eyed bugs are back in town!

The next cicada tour stop was in 1990. Our Elm trees were gone thanks to Dutch Elm Disease but there were still lots of those red eyed buggers to see and hear.  There was talk of people baking cicadas into cookies and my mom did this.  We talked about it on the air as I was producing the Murphy in the Morning Show on Q-101.  Our host, Robert Murphy even agreed to EAT one of those cicada cookies and did so!  Murf was braver than I was.

Here’s a new tune from me and Al Flash as we celebrate the return of the cicadas.

The most recent tour of the cicadas happened seventeen years ago. Let’s look back on what was going on back then.  Some of these events didn’t happen when the bugs were here but within the calendar year of 2007.

Richard M. Daley was elected in what would be his final term as Mayor of Chicago.

Illinois Senator Barack Obama announced his candidacy to run for President.  

Down in Miami, the Bears lost to the Indianapolis Colts 29-17 in Super Bowl 41. Prince played the halftime show and while in a dressing room before the show, he was told it was raining hard.  Prince smiled and asked, “Can they make it rain even harder?”

The Chicago Blackhawks landed two young kid players who would turn the team’s fortunes around in just 3 years; Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews. 

The first I-Phone made its debut.  Apple bigwig visionary Steve Jobs was still alive, not passing away until 2011.

The Eagles released their last original set of songs, the double album “Long Road Out of Eden.” Then they went on another of their big money tours to support it.

Speaking of concerts, The Who went on a tour to support their “Endless Wire” album.  Since then, Pete Townsend and Rogers Daltrey and company have done 7 more world tours.

Taylor Swift’s debut album “Taylor Swift” was released late in 2006 and had amassed 5 top 40 singles by the end of 2007.  In the coming years Tay Tay would take over the world in music sales and sell out stadium concerts.

Top grossing movies in 2007 included “Spiderman 3”, “Shrek the Third” and “Transformers.”  Also, in the top 10 that year was, “Ratatouille.”  My mom and I saw that fun film the first weekend it was out.  Driving home mom said she’d like to try to make ratatouille for the first time ever. She went straight to Jewel, picked up all the ingredients and that night for dinner we were dining on the most delicious stew ever!  That was my mom.  Great cook and adventurous as she could be.

Also, in 2007- “Mad Men” premiered on AMC and would run for seven great seasons and “The Sopranos” ended its eight years of excellence with a controversial final scene. Was Tony Soprano whacked in that eatery?  Hard to know but I’d say yes.

Famous deaths in 2007 included the passing of Anna Nicole Smith, Robert Goulet, Charles Nelson Reilly and TV mogul Merv Griffin.

I’m sure there are other landmark events that happened in 2007 but these mentions give a peek at where we were in our American lives.  We were still mired in the Iraq War and eight years away from Donald Trump becoming a disruptive force in American politics.

Finally, for me back in 2007 I was out of radio and in my 5th year as a paraprofessional and substitute teacher at South East Alternative School.  I was also finishing my part time studies at Roosevelt University to become a Special Education teacher.  All that waited for me in September were stints of student teaching:  Five weeks at Jefferson Middle School in Villa Park then ten weeks at Fenton High School in Bensenville which I wrapped up in December.  After passing my final state exam I became an official LBS1 teacher.  And what a ride that’s been since!

So where will we all be in 17 years when the cicadas return for another short visit of noise making and mating?  Here’s hoping we’re all still above ground.

Next Blog- Summer’s Coming!

I’ve been enjoying some serious big screen and little screen time.  Here’s what I think.

“The Fall Guy” gets a solid grade of a “B” from me.  I normally don’t go in for action movies but this one has more to it than cool stunts and fights.  Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt have great chemistry and their relationship prevents this from being a mindless action romp.  Also, a 45 year old song from Kiss is at the forefront of this film.  Enjoy it plus stay to watch ALL of the closing credits for 2 reasons. One, there’s serious tributes paid to the stuntmen and stunt women in the movie and there’s another little twist at the end that will bring a smile to your face.

THE FALL GUY IS FAST AND FUN ROMP. THIS COMING FROM SOMEONE WHO RARELY GOES IN FOR ACTION FLICKS.

“Unfrosted” is a Netflix offering as Jerry Seinfeld directs and co-writes this made- up history of the creation of the Pop Tart.  So many quick jokes and twists on pop culture and history both long ago and very recent are in this ninety three minute movie. It co-stars Jim Gaffigan, Melissa McCarthy, Amy Shumer, Bill Burr and hilarious scene stealing by Hugh Grant as Tony the Tiger. There are other guest stars that pop up and I don’t want to spoil any of that fun.  I’ve heard the critics reviews aren’t the greatest for “Unfrosted” but to be honest, I think to “get” this movie, you need to be at least 50 years old or older.  In fact, I think anyone 60 and older will get the best tastes out of “Unfrosted.” My grade for this one is a strong “B+.”

LOTS OF POP CULTURE LAUGHS AND MORE WILL BE SEEN AND HEARD WITH THIS LATEST OFFERING FROM NETFLIX.

Amazon Prime Video offers up “The Idea of You” which stars Anne Hathaway as a woman who falls for the much younger star of a boy band.  It’s a typical Lifetime romantic styled movie until it gets racy with some steamy sex scenes.  Kind of a weird twist but the movie is rated R.  On the subject of letters, I graded this movie a ‘C-.’

THE IDEA OF YOU IS NOT MY IDEA OF A GOOD MOVIE, BUT I THINK MOST WOMEN WILL ENJOY IT.

HBO Max brings us a third season of “Hacks” starting Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder.  Smart’s character, Deborah Vance is a more polished and bawdy version of what Joan Rivers used to be and Einbinder’s “Ava Daniels” is unflinching in standing up to the woman she writes and advises for.  There are side characters and subplots but it’s Deborah and Ava that make this series a fun one to watch.  Plus, Jean Smart’s cackle is timely and always cracks me up.

HACKS IS A WELL WRITTEN SERIES AND I’M GLAD IT’S BACK ON HBO MAX.

Back to Netflix, David Letterman’s “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction” has started a new season.  Dave’s first guest featured is the very cleverly funny John Mulaney.  They do a revealing sitdown interview at the Den theater in Chicago and visit Mullaney’s old high school, St. Ignatius Prep High School.  Letterman and Mulaney also have a dinner table chat with John’s father who is often featured in his son’s comedy.  Frank talk about Mulaney’s addictions happens and while Letterman asks great questions, he also often offers some insight to his own life and psyche.

JOHN MULANEY IS ON A ROLL WITH HIS STAND UP COMEDY AND HE AND DAVID LETTERMAN SHINE ON THIS SHOW.

On a side note, if you’ve never seen John Mulaney’s “Baby J” comedy special, that’s another one to see on Netflix.

I’m posting in a link to a recent CBS Sunday Morning feature on country star Randy Travis.  You’ll see how Artificial Intelligence and some backing vocals from another singer have brought stroke victim Randy a new song that’s been released.  Full disclosure: Randy Travis was and always will be one of my favorite country singers and I was blessed to spend time with him on several occasions during my radio days and before a stroke took away his voice.  The story behind what’s being attempted with Travis’ music is incredible and inspiring.

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/randy-travis-sings-again-courtesy-of-ai

CLICK THE ABOVE LINK TO SEE A COOL FEATURE ON HOW A.I. IS BRINGING RANDY TRAVIS BACK TO COUNTRY RADIO.

Side Note on Show-biz- I read that tickets to Jennifer Lopez’s concert tour are not selling. Earlier this year, J-Lo released her “This is Me Now: A Love Story” record.  It’s a tribute to her re-discovered love for actor Ben Affleck and their subsequent marriage.  I have not heard any of the songs from that disc but have my own theory on why the Jennifer Lopez concert tour is struggling to attract fans. 

#1. Lopez and Affleck’s relationship has been magazine and online fodder for going on 3 years.  And that’s not including their first go-round a couple decades ago.  Folks are tired of them and familiarity breeds contempt.

#2. J-Lo’s music is being overpowered by the works of Taylor Swift double album and Beyonce’s popular country set of songs.  Swift and Beyonce’ tours are also a major draw as is Rhianna’s and Madonna just finished her massively ambitious world tour.  Lopez is left in the dust.

#3. Jennifer needs to figure out who she wants to be.  A movie star or a singing star.  Trying to be both leaves her failing on both attempts and it’s hard for fans to embrace her identity.

#4. So much attention is focused on J-Lo’s butt, her age defying looks and dancing. But when you see a concert you’re gonna ask about her voice and the songs.  I think she’s lagging there.

So, if you want to see J-Lo when she comes to Chicago this summer, have at it.  My guess is you’ll be able to buy close-up seats and below market value prices.  And have fun!

NEXT BLOG– Here Come the Cicadas.

I’ve a few things on my mind.  Here it all is.

All the hubbub about Taylor Swift’s new double album.  Wow!  I admire her work ethic and the massive fandom she’s built around the world.  Pretty incredible stuff. With all that said, Taylor’s music really isn’t for me.  And at age 34, she’s still writing songs from the perspective of a spurned 15 year old girl.  Oh well.  Actually, my favorite Taylor Swift song is one she wrote but gave to the country band Little Big Town.  It’s called “Better Man” and it really carries the message of someone leaving an abusive relationship.  Well done Tay Tay!

“Better Man” is such a great song that Taylor Swift wrote and gave to Little Big Town to record.

At the start of the baseball season, I said the White Sox would lose 100 games. I need to amend that prediction.  In baseball’s 162 game schedule, every team wins at least 50 games and loses 50 games.  It’s what happens in the other 62 games that reflects what kind of season it’s going to be.  Well now I have to say I don’t think the Sox are even going to win 50 games!

They just won 3 games in a row but this White Sox season still looks grim.

Rumors say Adam Sandler is putting together a sequel to the 1996 farce fest “Happy Gilmore.”  In my sarcastic voice I say- “Did they ever make a sequel to the classic “Citizen Kane”?  No.  So why touch a film gem like “Happy G?”

Let’s see if a modern day classic gets a sequel.

I’ve posted on Facebook at how weak the final season of Larry David’s “Curb Your Enthusiasm” was.  There were lots of lame confrontations and way too much yelling which is a telltale sign that the comedy has dried up.  However, the next to last episode of “Curb” titled “Ken & Kendra” was really good.  Bruce Springsteen made a guest appearance and is spot on funny.  When Larry tried to visit Bruce’s L.A. house, Springsteen is damn hilarious.

Bruce and Larry were pretty funny together on ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm’.

It’s official, Mc Donald’s prices have spiked way too high.  The other day I hit their drive-thru for a dinky caramel sundae and it cost just under five dollars!  Jeez, for a buck and a half more I could get a much bigger and better treat from Culvers.  Sorry, Mc Donald’s, I’m NOT loving it.

People who drive cars with dark tinted windows are often the most aggressive and dangerous drivers on the road.  Kind of scary.

I’m puzzled these days by men on TV doing the weather or hosting sports reports & talk shows wearing sneakers.  (or do you say gym shoes?) These fellas are dressed in suits and ties, looking classy and then when you get a full body view, they’re sporting the latest in New Balance or Nike trainers.  Really?  Come on guys, let’s class it up a bit.

Dunk Tanks at carnivals would be more fun if the person getting dunked dropped into water that was loaded with flesh eating piranhas.

Elmhurst has many beautiful homes. Driving around town I see lots of them have Adirondack chairs set on front porches or neatly positioned in their yards.  Only one problem.  I NEVER see anyone actually sitting on them, relaxing and enjoying some chill time. 

Plenty of nice chair set-ups are out there. But I don’t see anyone sitting in them.

NEXT BLOG- The Return of the Cicadas.