WHERE HAVE ALL THE FLOWERS GONE?

Where Have All the Flowers Gone - Pete Seeger

Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the flowers gone?
Girls have picked them every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young girls gone?
Taken husbands every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the young men gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the young men gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the young men gone?
Gone for soldiers every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Gone to graveyards every one
When will they ever learn?
When will they ever learn?

Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time passing
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time ago
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Covered with flowers every one
When will we ever learn?
When will we ever learn?

OH, MAKER.

THE ARCHANDROID | JANELLE MONÁE

I've always had an appreciation for art, but especially for art formed by the people, for the people.
Now, I talk about the lovely Janelle Monáe a lot, not just because she's extremely talented, but because she is at the front lines of a Renaissance in 21st century music. Her latest album The ArchAndroid is a mindblowing, danceable, thought-provoking fusion of hip-hop, R&B, soul, rap, funk, rock, and the sweet sounds of the future.

In a recent interview with BET's 106 & Park, she described the overarching meaning behind The ArchAndroid. She says,

The ArchAndroid. I speak about androids because I feel that the android represents The Other, and I feel that sometimes, like I'm The Other. At one point in all of our lives I think we've all felt that, whether we're part of a minority or the majority. So The ArchAndroid is very similar to the archangel or Neo from The Matrix - the mediator between the haves and the have-nots, the oppressed and the oppressor, and so that's where the name comes from.

Watch the rest of the interview here and another one here.

Hallelujah.

RELEVANT READINGS.

Just perusing the interwebz and collecting interesting goodies as per usual.
An assortment of news, politics, social commentary, fashion, art, and culture.
Enjoy! (Actually, I'm just bookmarking these for myself.)

Week of May 17, 2010

• Rand Paul and Civil Rights | Alas, a blog

• stinkfish* in Oaxaca | Wooster Collective

• Can We All Get Along? Black-Asian Tension Won't Go Away | change.org

• [¡Ask a Mexican!] Special Arizona Buycott Edition | Gustavo Arellano

GENERATION HOPE(LESS)?

Droppin' some Shepard Fairey wisdom for your rainy Wednesday ...

Obama Check

Check out this critique of Obama. I agree with the writer on 90%. However, I think he fails to recognize the climate Obama must operate in. I disagree with the Afghan war escalation, but it does not surprise me. In general, the tenor of “normal” or moderate political conversation on issues has shifted so far to the right that Obama is being called a Socialist! Good ideas need to have a receptive audience to take hold and right now they don’t. Obama’s faults are in many ways reflective of a retarded audience. Maybe more people should serve in Iraq etc… to gain the writer’s perspective on war. That was not necessary for me… I’ve been a believer in the MLK approach for years. I think the realistic goal is to change the attitudes of the people, causing the leaders to fall in line. The leaders are credited too much with being the cause when they tend more to be the effect. Bush was atrocious and was still re-elected in 2004. I’m disappointed in Obama, but even more so in Americans. I’m working on a healthcare graphic right now, not waiting for Obama or congress to fix things without pressure. 

-Shepard (via OBEY GIANT)

 Word.

(I started writing this back in December .... Why has it taken me so long to formulate my thoughts?)

Although I was born and raised in one of the most liberal cities in the US (i.e. The People's Republic of Cambridge), I've never really even tried to align myself with any particular political party or school of thought. Frankly, I hate politics, despise theory, and tend to skirt around "friendly" debates, especially with the premise of mainstream American dirty politics.

RAINY DAY SHUFFLE.

it's that time again.
i present to you the rainy day shuffle #2.
a baker's dozen of random tunes.

1. Breathe In Breathe Out (feat. Ludacris) // Kanye West
2. 83 // John Mayer
3. Hell No // Sondre Lerche & Regina Spektor
4. Changes // Army Of Me
5. Block Rockin' Beats // The Chemical Brothers
6. Right As Rain (nVMe Remix) // Mick Boogie & Adele
7. Vertigo (U2 Cover) // Lemar
8. Africa Bamba // Santana
9. Zo // Sarbel
10. Go To Sleep // The Avett Brothers
11.  Hoochie Koo (ft. Mos Def & Jim Jones) // The Black Keys
12. Worried Shoes // Karen O & The Kids
13. Check Your Time // Westbound Train

stay dry.

THE SWEETEST THING.

The Sweetest Thing - Lauryn Hill

 The sweetest thing I've ever known
Was like the kiss on the collarbone
Soft caress of happiness
The way you walk, your style of dress
I wish I didn't get so weak
Ooo, baby, just to hear you speak
Makes me argue just to see
How much you're in love with me
See, like a queen, a queen upon her throne.

Your kisses taste like amaretto
Intoxicating, oh, so intoxicating
How sad, how sad that all things come to an end
But then again, I'm, I'm not alone.

It was the sweet, sweet, sweetest thing I know.

damn lauryn, gets me every time.