Back in March of 2016, I decided to dedicate a week on the blog to joy, a feeling that, at the time, seemed to be eluding so many people I knew and cared about, myself included. It wasn't a complicated or difficult process...or so I thought.
The first post simply stated, "Joy Week......where everyday for the next few days, I post something in an attempt
to make the hardest of hearts, the crankiest of the cranks and even a
few Morrissey fans crack a smile." I also posted a wonderful video of some rock and roll "giants" covering Jackie Wilson's "Higher & Higher."
Day Two's post: "From the looks of a few comments on Day One, Joy Week might turn out to be a 36 hour virus."
It only got uglier. The comments section made YouTube comments look like a staff meeting at Scientific American. It seems one man's joy is another's man laxative. It's not that I expected a universal love-in over a series of songs that put me in a good mood. I just didn't expect such vitriol over a few damn songs, and apparently neither did some of my readers. I guess joy to some people is to make sure others feel as miserable as they do.
The first draft of this post revisited some of those comments, but I thought better of it. What the hell would be the point of "Joy Week: Take Two" if I dwelt on the miserable past?
So...here we are.
To say it's been a rough couple of years is the understatement of a lifetime. But I am grateful that almost all of my loved ones are healthy. Those that aren't are doing their best to stay strong, and because of their will and their strength, and yes, their love of music and art and the joy of just being able to talk about music and art and share that joy, they will come through on the other side, stronger and more appreciative of life and the good things in it.
Don't sleep on the fact that music has healing powers. I don't know where I'd be without it, though I know some of you would love to find out.
Today, we begin "Joy Week: Take Two" with a photo, that according to the Official Kinks site, was taken yesterday.
That's it. That picture up top.
Ray & Dave, sharing a beer.
Magical.
Just try to put me in a bad mood.
(Actually, please don't. Not until next week.)
20 comments:
If those two can get along, there is hope for humanity......
Thx, Sal. I appreciate all that you do on this blog. Have a great (and safe) week.
The photo of Dave and Ray is great. May have to stop by the pub later.
As I type, I'm listening to a band I'd not heard before, Sorrows, who apparently were so unhappy with their second album after producer Shel Talmy hijacked it with strings, etc., they recorded the entire album 40 years (!) later and have just released it as "Love Too Late… the real album". It's glorious power pop. Highly recommended.
https://bigstirrecords.bandcamp.com/album/love-too-late-the-real-album
- Paul in DK
Baseball doesn't do a whole lot for me, but I can't deny the recent thing going around about that perfect home plate slide brought a smile to my face as well:
https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/dodgers-phillies-trea-turner-slide-video-memes.
As well as "Vank Walen": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ6bli9Xir4
That slide killed me!
And that Vank Halen is pretty great, too.
Slide Ballet!!
That my friend, is joyful!
Randy
Thank you Sal. I'm grinning from ear to ear.
The Davies Brothers bring the magic!
Captain Al
You, with the exception of this very example, will find no unfettered joy in the Comments section. Celebrate YOUR joy! Some will share in it. Others will be reviled by it, but it's your joy, freely offered. Then walk away and let the comments float out into the Googlesphere.
Hire a high schooler to read them all some day and give you a two-sentence synopsis.
Thank you for your sharing.
this blog, your writing and your deep examinations of your musical tastes, bring me joy. Daily.
It must be my tree-huggin', whale-savin' California personality, but even at six decades in I cannot fathom why anybody would go out of their way -- even to type a few words -- to darken somebody's day, as you say folks did back during Joy Week 1.0. ESPECIALLY when you're overt about the purpose of your endeavor -- to spread joy. I love individuals, but I've never been a big fan of humanity in general, despite plenty of evidence that we are as capable of grace and sublimity as we are of base shittiness. I wish you had a partner/reader who would vet the stuff folks send in, because it obviously affects you, and fans of this blog suffer the consequences when it shuts you down; I hate making my daily blog rounds and not having Burning Wood available (I'm selfish that way).
Hang in there, because this blog is a source of joy whether you're overtly aiming for it or not.
Is there a more British vision than a gaunt ol' dude wearing glasses and a newsboy cap and holding a pint? I think not.
C in California
Nothing but Joy here. Music, baseball slides, and Ray and Dave.
Well done, Sal.
People who can't handle other people's attemots at finding the good don't deserve the thing they're missing. Thanks for providing it.
fuck yeah, Sal--joyful noise, indeed!
thank you!
That picture does it for me.... Consider my heart joyful and warm.
Just a couple of blokes. Relatable. As is BW. Oh happy day.
Yes to Joy! Make it Joy Month! A Year of Joy!
Brothers smilin' and not feudin'. Me likee !!!!
illegitimi non carborundum, my friend!
Now, where *have* all those good times gone? Let's go find 'em!
Hi Sal
there will always be negative folks no matter how hard we try to convince them otherwise.
You have doing been a great service for us worldwide as we look for someone who truly understands our music,feeds us great personal stories and drops great songs and videos to us whilst we are in various stages of lockdown etc.
You will be rewarded somehow in future for your persistence,please keep going we are relying on you to bring us that crack of daylight through the dungeon of COVID. Best wishes mate from Perth,Australia. ( been following you for years).
Hey Sal,
I do remember Joy Week One and look forward to Two too :-)
Music gives me joy; Burning Wood gives me joy. Crappy comments notwithstanding we appreciate how Burning Wood enriches our musical lives and therefore our lives in general.
Thanks Sal!
That photo just kills me. N a good way.😀
Good seeing Ray and Dave together, smiling. This brings me Joy.
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