Saturday, September 5, 2015

Freddie Mercury (Queen)

Freddie Mercury was born on September 5, 1946. He was the lead vocalist of the rock band, Queen.

Queen had lots of hit songs. Radio Ga Ga was one of them. I was a junior high student. I was listening to foreign music through FM radio. It was 1984.

Are you listening to radio in the age of the Internet?

Radio be praised!

Friday, September 4, 2015

Richard Wright

Richard Wright.jpg

Richard Wright, a black American writer, was born on September 4, 1908.
He coined the phrase of “black power.”
In his Native Son, a big rat appeared in the room from the morning.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Beatles & Black

With the Beatles is their second album.


8 songs are their originals. 6 are cover songs.
Among 6 cover ones, 5 tunes are from “black music.”
I’d like to write on this topic.

The Beatles were the first white artists to ever admit that they grew up and honed themselves on black music. (Smokey Robinson)

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Twist and Shout

The Royal Variety Performance,
November 4, 1963, Prince of Wales Theatre, London.

John Lennon said before the performance,
“For our last number, I’d like to ask your help.
Would the people in the cheaper seats clap your hands?
And the rest of you, if you’d just rattle your jewellery.”
The audience laughed.

Dickie Henderson, an English entertainer, said after the performance,
“So successful. So young. Frightening.”
The audience laughed again.


Tuesday, September 1, 2015

There's a Place

There is a place where I can go /
When I feel low, when I feel blue /
And it’s my mind.

Our mind is not an empty space.
It is a place.