00:001-0:02:33) Everyday People by Joan Jett & The Blackhearts off of Greatest Hits
0:02:34-0:04:29 (Rev.’s First interruption music: Untitled I by Rasputina off of Unknown)
“People Suck.” At least that’s what I hear from; friends, coworkers, folks I randomly eavesdrop on, and of course, Bill Hicks. And I wonder if it’s some original-sin type self-loathing – saying that me is a people so I must suck too. Or a me-against-the-world kinda hyper-elitism and it’s everyone else who’s doing the sucking. Little of Column A and Bit from Column B I suppose. I ask because today, the 20th Day of December, is International Human Solidarity Day. And it’s difficult to feel unity and cooperation when you’re sure the whole world’s out to get you, and that you probably deserve it.
In our lives we’ll physically interact with tens, and tens, and tens of thousands of people. So we must to ask ourselves, is the number who’ve actually, intentionally done us wrong (or we’ve done wrong) really a high enough percentage to justify discriminating against the entirety of humanity?
Yes, tiz I Rev. your Pontificator in Chief, you are my adventurous coconspirators, and we’re once again here to chant strange hymns together, in our little incorporeal sanctuary of sound – Aurally Fixated.
We welcomed you with the help of Ms. Joan Jett (bless her black little hearts.) I played her cover, instead of the 1968 Sly and the Family Stone classic, because sometimes something’s so ubiquitous you take it for granted, like the air, or the original. Her mix was just different enough to make the words pop and regain their original meaning. But before I expand and expound too much in your ears all at once, I’ll shut up and let RuPaul do some preachifying for me.
0:04:30-0:08:10) People Are People (GoodandEvil) by RuPaul & Tom Trujillo off of People Are People featuring Tom Trujillo (Remixes)
0:08:11-08:45) Don’t Dress Your Cat In An Apron by Billy De Wolfe off of Free To Be…You And Me
08:46-13:00) Born This Way by Lady Gaga off of Born This Way
0:13:01-0:13:34)My Dog Is A Plumber by Dick Cavett off of Free To Be…You And Me
0:13:35-0:17:55) Everybody’s Something (ft. Saba & BJ The Chicago Kid) by Chance The Rapper off of Acid Rap
0:17:56-0:20:30 (Rev.’s Second interruption music: Nine Mile Blubber Pile by Kid Congo & The Pink Monkey Birds off of La Araña Es La Vida)
We cannonballed into that clamor and glamor with RuPaul completely covering Depeche Mode’s People Are People, the GoodandEvil mix. We followed that up with a bit from Free To Be…You And Me. That was Billy De Wolfe reading Don’t Dress Your Cat In An Apron. Then we heard the confession from Lady Gaga – that she was Born This Way. Then another snippet from that afore mentioned grand old children’s book, that was Dick Cavett reciting My Dog Is A Plumber. And we Brought up the rear with Chance The Rapper reminding us that Everybody’s Something, from his free online album Acid Rap.
Ya know, It’s amazing humanity has survived as long as it has. We weren’t built for fighting. Our “claws” are pathetic, as soon as our nails are long enough they break. We don’t have a thick hide, we get paper-cuts for fuck sakes! Our fangs are so pitiful we can’t even eat most animals without a knife, let alone use them for hunting or fighting. What we do have though, is our tribe. Together we brainstorm, and become smarter, and stronger, through our diversity. Different ways of thinking help us come up with things we might never have – because we are so different. Different strengths and ways of thinking have made us an unstoppable force on a planet where most everything can kill us. The positive aspects of this is what today, International Human Solidarity Day is all about. Celebrating unity in diversity. I know it sounds trite, but if we work together, we can solve just about any problem – to make the world a better place. We’re conditioned to think that it’s more sophisticated to be jaded, and hate others, like all the cool kids. But that “us vs them” shit only shoots ourselves in the foot, by reducing the amount of minds, talents, and possibilities that might help us change the world. “Us vs them” is the easiest trap to fall into – and the most dangerous.
0:20:31-0:22:45) Everybody Thinks Everybody Else Is Dead Bad by The Skodas off of Avon Calling
0:22:46-0:26:44) White Nigger by Ill Bill off of The Hour Of Reprisal
0:26:44-0:31:10) Drop the Rock by Figli di Madre Ignota off of Combat Disco Casbah
0:31:11-0:35:55) Union (Ft. Sting) by The Black Eyed Peas off of Monkey Business
0:35:56-0:37:55 (Rev.’s Third interruption music: First Track by Paper Tiger off of Made Like Us)
We started that off with The Skodas, from Avon Calling that was Everybody Thinks Everybody Else Is Dead Bad. Then we heard an offering from Ill Bill’s, second album, The Hour Of Reprisal. Definitely a fun one with guests like; B-Real, Everlast, H. R. and Darryl from Bad Brains, Tech N9ne, Immortal Technique, Max Cavalera, Raekwon, Jedi Mind Tricks and many more! After Mr. Bill we heard from a song with guest vocals from Tod A. (of Cop Shoot Cop and FireWater) That was Drop the Rock by Figli di Madre Ignota. Off the perfect album Combat Disco Casbah. And lastly we heard from The Black Eyed Peas and Sting singing about Union.
Speaking of unions, here’s a hymn about black and white sex workers in New Orleans – over 100 years ago (back before women were even allowed to march in the Mardi Gras parade) realizing there’s strength in power, and coming together to fight sexism and racism. This is Tigerman WOAH! with their Babydolls.
0:37:56-0:42:09) Babydolls by Tigerman WOAH! off of Up South Vol. III – EP
0:42:10-0:44:24) Feminazi by Fea off of Fea
0:44:25-0:46:54) Sisters And Brothers by Sisters And Brothers off of Free To Be…You And Me
0:46:55-0:49:54) Oh No by Gogol Bordello off of Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike
0:49:55-0:52:00) Us by Brother Ali off of US
0:52:01-0:54:14) What’s still in the background tickling your tympanic is the title track off Brother Ali’s Us. Before that, from Gypsy Punks: Underdog World Strike we heard Oh No! from Gogol Bordello. And yes, when the fit hits the shan people really do band together. There’s even a book abut it. Paradise Built in Hell: Extraordinary Communities That Arise In Disaster by Rebecca Soinit. And before that, those Brothers and Sisters were more from Free to Be you and me. Then we heard from Fea’s self titled album with a tune called Feminazi. I first heard of them when they just absolutely killed it opening for Agent Orange. And of course we kicked it all off with Tigerman WOAH! I first heard of them when they just absolutely killed it opening for The Goddamn Gallows. Always show up for the openers!
0:54:15-0:56:40) I Ain’t Marching Anymore by Phil Ochs off of I Ain’t Marching Anymore
0:56:41-1:03:05) Anarchy by Ani DiFranco & Utah Phillips off of The Past Didn’t Go Anywhere
1:03:06-1:07:49) Bomb The World (Armageddon Version) by Michael Franti off of Everyone Deserves Music
1:07:50-1:09:25 (Rev.’s Fifth music interruption: Mano De Mono by Corrosion Of Conformity off of Deliverance)
First we heard from Phil Ochs who rallied against; war, racism, big business exploiting workers, and most things worth fighting. Unfortunately it became to much for him though, and he took his life, and his razor sharp wit, and great sardonic sense of humor with him. From him we heard I Ain’t Marching Anymore. We followed that up with Anarchy by the; folk-singer, story-teller, labor organizer, poet-activist, keeper of the hobo histories, and once-upon a time long-term pert-time resident of Caffe Lena, in Saratoga Springs, New York, Mr. Utah Phillips. (With Mz. Ani Difranco setting the musical background) That tune about overcoming war and shame and hate was from their The Past Didn’t Go Anywhere album. And lastly we heard the Armageddon Version of Michael Franti’s Bomb The World – off Everyone Deserves Music. Now, As I say just about every episode, time is short. So let shut the funk up.
1:09:26-1:13:34) One Nation Under A Groove by Funkadelic off of One Nation Under A Groove
1:13:35-1:16:15) Everything is Awesome by Leo Moracchioli off of Leo Metal Covers Volume 10
1:16:16-1:18:04 (Rev.’s sixth music interruption: Nothing’s Perfect by Sixo off of The Odds Of Free Will)
As you may recognize from World Car Free Day, that was Leo Moracchioli. If you haven’t checked out his YouTube page you’re missing out. Of course, since that show I had to get all twenty-something Leo Metal Covers albums. He usually has sales when he puts out a new one, so it won’t break your bank. And naturally, before that was Funkadelic with the shortest edit of One Nation Under A Groove. In another world I would have just rode out on the 7 or 11 minute one, but I knew I wanted to end with Immortal Technique’s One Remix.
Ya know, It’s true what they say (too often) “Life’s not fair.” But that’s not a reason to just “look out for number one” No. Use it as an excuse to make it more fair. Try and help each other out every chance you get. The rising tide raises all boats. And we’re certainly in this one together. Enough of that – Till next time or never – whichever comes first. I’ve been Rev. You’ve been perfect, and we’ve been Aurally Fixated together.
1:18:05-1:21:40) One (Remix) [feat. Akir] by Immortal Technique off of Revolutionary Vol. 2
1:21:41-1:21:45) Free To Be… You And Me (Bonus) by Marlo Thomas & Friends off of Free To Be…You And Me
