Rock And Roll History: the 2000's!

[Janice]

Rock on, continue on.

[ABlairican Pie]

Woah, the switch caught me off-guard! All righty then!!

So where were we... Oh yes! Here we go!

[ABlairican Pie]

In spite of the controversies over his and the Church's unwillingness to consider changing their stance on sexuality and women's roles, Pope John Paul II made a number of statements which were seen as a needed change of heart by the Vatican. In regards to advancements in science, John Paul in 1992 publicly apologized for the legal mistreatment of Italian astronomer and scientist Galileo Galilei, a devout Catholic who, in 1633, was placed under house arrest and threatened with death if he did not recant his findings about the earth orbiting the sun, in spite of Biblical "evidence" in the Book of Joshua suggesting otherwise.

In 1996, the Pope stated that the theory of evolution, long a source of consternation between scientists and many traditional Christians, need not necessarily be at odds with Christian belief. In his Message to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences on Evolution, he asserted thusly:

"In his encyclical Humani Generis (1950), my predecessor Pius XII has already affirmed that there is no conflict between evolution and the doctrine of the faith regarding man and his vocation, provided that we do not lose sight of certain fixed points....Today, more than a half-century after the appearance of that encyclical, some new findings lead us toward the recognition of evolution as more than an hypothesis. In fact it is remarkable that this theory has had progressively greater influence on the spirit of researchers, following a series of discoveries in different scholarly disciplines. The convergence in the results of these independent studies -- which was neither planned nor sought -- constitutes in itself a significant argument in favor of the theory."

However, he cautioned against embracing a materialistic view of the origin of the human soul:

Theories of evolution which, because of the philosophies which inspire them, regard the spirit either as emerging from the forces of living matter, or as a simple epiphenomenon of that matter, are incompatible with the truth about man."

John Paul II also wrote to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences on the subject of cosmology and how to interpret Genesis:

"Cosmogony and cosmology have always aroused great interest among peoples and religions. The Bible itself speaks to us of the origin of the universe and its make-up, not in order to provide us with a scientific treatise, but in order to state the correct relationships of man with God and with the universe. Sacred Scripture wishes simply to declare that the world was created by God, and in order to teach this truth it expresses itself in the terms of the cosmology in use at the time of the writer. The Sacred Book likewise wishes to tell men that the world was not created as the seat of the gods, as was taught by other cosmogonies and cosmologies, but was rather created for the service of man and the glory of God. Any other teaching about the origin and make-up of the universe is alien to the intentions of the Bible, which does not wish to teach how heaven was made but how one goes to heaven." (October 3, 1981 to the Pontifical Academy of Science, "Cosmology and Fundamental Physics")

Pope John Paul II also made apologies for many great injustices caused by the Catholic Church in times past, such as the conquest and massacre of indigenous Americans living in the New World during the time of European exploration and expansion, all done in the name of the Church and "Christianization", as well as for the Church's subjugation of them and denying of their cultures and customs. He also apologized for the Church's involvement in the slave trade hundreds of years ago, as well as for the religious persecution and wars in European history between Catholics and Protestants which contributed to the rise of the Spanish Inquistion and murderous practices, such as burnings at the stake, during the Counter-Reformation. He publicly apologized for the Church's silence and inactivity during the Holocaust in World War II. He apologized for the horrific actions of the Crusaders when they attacked and sacked Constantinople in 1204, the "New Rome" in the eastern part of the Roman Empire, which finalized the Great Schism between the Roman Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church for centuries. He even apologized for the Church's denigration of women and denial of equal rights. For his public statements asking for the correction of such injustices, he built many bridges with Protestants, Jews, and various ethnic groups.

Unfortunately, his acts of good will and reconciliation did not please everyone. Longstanding grievances with those of other religious traditions and other countries greeted him in his attempts to build avenues of communication with many. In his visit to Greece in 2001, the first by a pope since 1054 AD, Archbishop Christodoulos, the head of the Greek Orthodox church. After a private 30 minute meeting, the two spoke publicly. Christodoulos read a list of "13 offenses" of the Roman Catholic church against the Orthodox church since the Great Schism, including the pillaging of Constantinople by crusaders in 1204, and bemoaned the lack of any apology from the Roman Catholic church, saying "Until now, there has not been heard a single request for pardon" for the "maniacal crusaders of the 13th century." The Pope responded by saying "For the occasions past and present, when sons and daughters of the Catholic Church have sinned by action or omission against their Orthodox brothers and sisters, may the Lord grant us forgiveness," to which Christodoulos immediately applauded. John Paul II also said that the sacking of Constantinople was a source of "deep regret" for Catholics. "We shall do everything in our power, so that the Christian roots of Europe and its Christian soul may be preserved. … We condemn all recourse to violence, proselytism and fanaticism, in the name of religion." The two leaders then said the Lord's prayer together, breaking an Orthodox taboo against praying with Catholics. Pope John Paul II's desire was to end the schism which had divided Catholics and followers of the Orthodox Church for nearly a millenium in the 21st century.

Pope John Paul II met also with the Dalai Lama, with whom he felt a kinship in not only wishing for peace in the world, but that both men were from countries held under communist dictatorships, Poland and Tibet. 2001, Pope John Paul II became the first Catholic pope to enter and pray in an Islamic mosque. Respectfully removing his shoes, he entered the Umayyad Mosque, a former Byzantine era Christian church dedicated to John the Baptist (who is believed to be interred there) in Damascus, Syria, and gave a speech including the statement: "For all the times that Muslims and Christians have offended one another, we need to seek forgiveness from the Almighty and to offer each other forgiveness." He kissed the Quran in Syria, an act which made him popular amongst Muslims and more unpopular amongst traditionalist Catholics.

Often his endorsements of some right-wing dictatorships, such as Pinochet's regime in Chile, ran contrary to his denunciation of communist tyranny. The Pope did not always condemn so strongly human rights abuses by right-wing regimes in the West as he had of the Soviet Bloc. He seemed to be oblivious to the concerns of many clergy tied in with Liberation Theology. But he was not always supportive of the "blessings" of capitalism, finding hedonism and greed running rampant, a feeling that one could live apart from God based on
unchecked prosperity.

Pope John Paul II did urge economic responsibility and charity in his later years. In 2000 he publicly endorsed the Jubilee 2000 campaign on African debt relief fronted by Irish rock stars Bob Geldof and Bono. The Pope also became a staunch critic of America's invasion of Iraq in 2003: "No to war! War is not always inevitable. It is always a defeat for humanity." He sent a spokesman from the Vatican to speak on his behalf to President Bush about his opposition to the war. He said that it was up to the United Nations to solve the international conflict through diplomacy and that a unilateral aggression is a crime against peace and a violation of international law.
“Wars generally do not resolve the problems for which they are fought and therefore... prove ultimately futile.”

One of the Pope's greatest achievements was the dismantling of communism and the Iron Curtain in Eastern Europe in 1989. He provided the spiritual basis for it, prompting Polish Solidarity leader Lech Walesa to state: "The pope started this chain of events that led to the end of communism. Before his pontificate, the world was divided into blocs. Nobody knew how to get rid of communism. He simply said, ‘Don't be afraid, change the image of this land.'" Soviet primier Mikhael Gorbachev even claimed that the fall of the Iron Curtain would have been impossible without Pope John Paul II. "Warsaw, Moscow, Budapest, Berlin, Prague, Sofia and Bucharest have become stages in a long pilgrimage toward liberty. It is admirable that in these events, entire peoples spoke out — women, young people, men, overcoming fears, their irrepressible thirst for liberty speeded up developments, made walls tumble down and opened gates."

Pope John Paul II was a man of paradoxes, to many: Some considered him too conservative and traditional in his positions, while others castigated him as being too liberal and modernistic. He was criticized for promoting common language as opposed to traditional Latin in the Mass, as well as for promoting "false religions" in his calls for an ecumenical Day of Prayer For Peace in the World in both 1986 and 2002. He was also criticized for not dealing quickly with the growing scandal of sexual abuse by priests toward children in America. Regardless, he was a hero to many with his own faults and shortcomings who not only meant well but succeeded for the most part in opening doors and encouraging dialogue between various groups who had long been separated by ideological, religious, or ethnic differences.

On March 31, 2005, the Pope developed septic shock, a widespread form of infection with a very high fever and profoundly low blood pressure, and was treated at his private home at the Vatican rather than taken to the hospital. It was clear that the Pope had not much longer to live. Last rites for the sick were administered, and thousands of faithful Catholics kept a vigil in St. Peter's Square. The ailing Pope told them, "I have searched for you, and now you have come to me, and I thank you." Lights were kept burning all night and day for the next few days at his residence.

On the morning of April 2, 2005, Pope John Paul II uttered his final words in Polish, "Pozwólcie mi odejść do domu Ojca", ("Let me go to the house of the Father"), to his aides in his native Polish and fell into a coma about four hours later. He died in his private apartment of heart failure, sepsis and Parkinson's disease. He had been suffering from Parkinson's disease for quite some time. He died 46 days short of his 85th birthday. Millions flooded the streets of the Vatican in public mourning. World leaders sent their condolences, and flags were set to half-mast in remembrance for the beloved pope. One of the largest Christian pilgrimages ensued as many from around the world came to pay their final respects to Pope John Paul II. He was remembered with these final words to the faithful:

“Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.”




This may not be a rock and roll-related item, but it does reflect the times when rock and roll addressed similar issues of peace, the cry for freedom, as well as changing mores in religion and politics in the late 20th century as well as in the Third Millenium.

The "Popemobile" in 2004:

The Pope at the Polish Parliament in 1999:

The Pope and Mother Theresa:

The Pope and Greek Orthodox Archbishop Christodoulos:

The Pope and the Dalai Lama:

Bono meets with The Pope, who tries on the U2 frontman's glasses:

Bush bestows the Pope with the Presidential Medal of Freedom (in spite of the Pope's denunciation of the invasion and war in Iraq):

[ABlairican Pie]

In the fall of 2005, the film biopic of Johnny Cash, 'Walk the Line', debuted in theaters and became a successful hit. The movie, which starred Joaquin Phoenix in the title role and Reese Witherspoon as June Carter, his future wife, depicted the often tumultuous relationship between the two singers as "the Man in Black" rose to the top in the 50's and 60's.

The film begins at San Quentin Prison in 1968, where Cash recorded his legendary concert album with inmates as his audience. Before taking the stage, he stops in a prison workshop and eyes a table saw. This sparks horrific memories of his childhood in rural Arkansas in the 40's where his brother was found to have been mauled nearly to death by a large buzz saw. On his deathbed, his brother describes his visions of angels in heaven. This incident traumatizes Johnny and influences his songwriting and outlook on life. The incident also shows his father's disapproval of the surviving brother Johnny. His father Ray claimed, "The devil took the wrong son." Not only does Johnny Cash suffer incredible guilt over the incident, but tensions between him and his father increase over much of their lives. Cash began to feel worthless in the eyes of his father. His brother was favored because he was studying to be a pastor, a worthy vocation.

After a fruitless foray into door-to-door sales, he decides to join the Air Force while pursuing a career in music. His first wife, Vivian, was depicted as unsupportive of his attempts to become a performer while the young couple had fallen on hard times. He formed a band with two other musicians and headed for Sun Records in Memphis. He and his bandmates performed a quaint, laid-back gospel tune for legendary producer Sam Phillips, who blew off their rendition. He was not convinced that the band believed in what they were singing, and besides, gospel was outdated. Johnny, taken aback, thought that Phillips was ragging on his belief in God. Phillips replied that if this was the one song he'd play in the last moments of life, would he want to be remembered for some limp, lackluster gospel ditty that had barely any impact on anyone? He was about to pass on recording his music when Johnny
began playing and singing a tougher tune, "Folsom Prison Blues", full of pain and hardships. Phillips was immediately impressed.

The film then depicts Cash's rise to stardom as he tours with some of the biggest names in rock and roll and their various misdeeds. During one show, June Carter, from the famous Carter Family singers, performs a rollicking number, stomping her feet onstage with unbridled enthusiasm. She clearly makes a huge impression on Johnny, with her sense of humor and candor. During the movie, their relationship is a sort of on-again, off-again affair, hampered by his growing abuse of amphetamines. June also refuses to commit to him, as she has already married someone else, much to Cash's disappointment. His drug use, and his relationship to Carter, strains his marriage to the breaking point, eventually leading to their divorce. His drug use soon disrupts his performances, causing him to become violent and belligerent at his shows. Carter and Cash's family try to intervene, and here we get a glimpse of the frayed relationship that Johnny had with his father, who appears to be displeased with the road his prodigal musical son has taken in life. But through the chaos of it all, he, and June, manages to come up with classic hits that stand the test of time.

His daughter Kathy, one of the daughters from his previous marriage to Vivian, criticized the movie for inaccuracies about Cash's relationship with first wife. The film did not show that theirs was a loving relationship where his new wife was actually very supportive of his budding musical career. The two wrote over ten thousand pages of love letters to each other while he was in the military. Before Vivian passed away that year at the age of 71, she described June Carter as a homewrecker who imposed upon their marriage, wanting to get her claws on her man. Vivian's marriage was plagued by his drug use and his dalliances with Carter, so in order to put an end to this, she filed for divorce, hoping this would bring him back to his senses. Unfortunately, it did not. Vivian even insists that, in spite of June Carter's claims to have written the song "Ring Of Fire", it was actually Cash who wrote it, while on pills and alcohol--and that the alleged "ring of fire" is actually a reference to a *certain part of the female anatomy*! Regardless, film biopics are never true to the actual events of a person's life, they are simply re-structured in a way to tell a dramatic story. Call it a bit of literary or cinematic license.

[Steve M.]

Meanwhile, pop stars of the 2000s were making up their lives as they went.

[ABlairican Pie]

'Walk the Line' was nominated for five Academy awards, with Reese Witherspoon winning an Oscar for Best Actress in the movie.

Vivian died on May 29, 2005, due to complications from surgery for lung cancer, at the age of 71. The song "I Walk the Line" was dedicated to her, in which Cash proclaimed his faithfulness to his first wife. Unfortunately, drugs got in the way of his marriage, which ultimately led to their divorce. Other
factors included his growing fame and constantly, and the intrusion of June Carter. Cash claimed that if it were not for his addiction to amphetamines, they would have remained married. Early in their relationship, the lovestruck couple carved their names into a park bench which read "Johnny Loves Vivian". Before her death, Vivian tried unsuccessfully to buy back the bench, but local officials in San Antonio, Texas, declined her request.

Pictures of Johnny Cash and Vivian Liberto, his first wife:

Johnny Cash with June Carter:

[ABlairican Pie]

In the spring of 2005, Mariah Carey released The Emancipation Of Mimi, which became the biggest selling
album of 2005, debuting at #1. The album featured such hits as "We Belong Together", which became Mariah's
longest lasting chart-topper at 14 weeks, "Don't Forget About Us", "It's Like That", "Shake It Off", and "Fly Like
a Bird". The album was a comeback of sorts for Carey as her previous two albums suffered from poor sales.

The title, according to Carey, was a reference to an old nickname and her personal freeing of herself as an artist
and as a person. She felt that she was dropping the emotional baggage of who she was professionally and as a
celebrity icon.

We Belong Together

oh oh sweet love ohyeah [yeah]
I didn’t mean it when I said
I didn’t love you so
I should have held on tight
I never should have let you go
I didn’t know nothing,
I was stupid, I was foolish I was lying to myself
I couldn't of fathomed that I would ever be without your love
Never imagined I’d be sitting
Here beside myself
Guess I didn’t know you
Guess I didn’t know me
But if I knew everything.
I've never felt

The feeling that I’m feeling
Now that I don’t hear your voice
Or have your touch and kiss your lips
Cause I don’t have a choice
Or what I wouldn’t give
To have you lying by my side
Right here, cause baby

When you left I lost a part of me
It’s still so hard to believe
Come back baby please cause
We belong together
Who else am I gonna lean on when times get rough
Who’s gonna talk to me on the phone
Till the sun comes up
Who’s gonna take your place
there ain't nobody better
Oh baby baby
We belong together

I can’t sleep a night you are on my mind
bobby womacks on the radio
now sing it to me
if you think your lonely now
now wait a minute this is too deep [too deep]
I gotta change the station
So I turn the dial tryin’ to catch a break
And then I hear Babyface
I Only Think Of You it's breakin’ my heart
I’m tryin’ to keep it together but I’m falling apart

I’m feeling all out of my element
Throwing things, Cryin tryin
To figure out where the hell I went wrong
The pain reflected and this song
Ain’t even half of what I’m feeling inside
I need you, need you, back in my life
baby

When you left I lost a part of me
It's still so hard to believe
Come back baby please come
We belong
Who else am I gonna lean on when times get rough
Who's gonna talk to me on the phone
Till the sun comes up
Who's gonna take your place
When there ain't nobody better
Oh baby baby
We belong together baby

When you left I lost a part of me
It’s still so hard to believe
Come back baby please cause
We belong together
Who am I gonna lean on when times get rough
Who’s gonna talk to me till the sun comes up
Who’s gonna take your place
There ain’t nobody better
Oh baby baby
We belong together

Don't Forget About Us

Don't baby, don't baby, don't let it go
No baby, no baby, no baby no
don't baby, don't baby, don't let it go
My baby...boy


(Verse I)
Just let it die
With no goodbyes
Details don't matter
We both paid the price
Tears in my eyes
You know sometimes
It be like that baby (yeah)

(Bridge I)
Now everytime I see you
I pretend I'm fine
When I wanna reach out to you
But I turn and I walk and I let it ride
Baby I must confess
We were bigger than anything
Remember us at our best
And don't forget about...

(Chorus)
Late nights, playing' in the dark
And waking' up inside my arms
Boy, you'll always be in my heart and
I can see it in your eyes
You still want it
So don't forget about us

I'm just speaking from experience
Nothing can compare to your first true love
So I hope this will remind you
When it's for real, it's forever
So don't forget about us

(Verse II)
and they say
That you're in a new relationship
But we both know
Nothing comes close to
What we had, it perseveres
and people can't forget it
How big we used to get it
boy...
(Bridge II)
There's only one me and you
And how we used to shine
No matter who you go through
We are one, that's a fact
That you can't deny
So baby we just can't let
The fire pass us by
Forever we'd both regret it
So don't forget about

(Chorus)
Late nights, playin' in the dark
And waking' up inside my arms
Boy, you'll always be in my heart and
I can see it in your eyes
You still want it
So don't forget about us

I'm just speaking from experience
Nothing can compare to your first true love
So I hope this will remind you
When it's for real, it's forever
So don't forget about us

And at least she got your head all messed up now
That's that trickery
she'll wanna act like you know how this lovin' used to be (ah)
I bet she can't do it like me
She'll never be MC

Baby don't you, don't you
forget about...

Late nights, playin' in the dark
And wakin' up inside my arms
Boy, you'll always be in my heart and baby and
I can see it in your eyes
You still want it
So don't forget about us

I'm just speaking from experience
Nothing can compare to your first true love
So I hope this will remind you
When it's for real, it's forever
So don't forget about us........(oooh oh)


Late nights, playin' in the dark
And wakin' up inside my arms
Boy, you'll always be in my heart and
I can see it in your eyes
You still want it
So don't forget about us

I'm just speaking from experience
Nothing can compare to your first true love
So I hope this will remind you, babe
When it's for real, it's forever
So don't forget about us

Don't baby, don't baby, don't let it go
No baby, no baby, no baby no
don't baby, don't baby, don't let it go
when it's for real, it's forever
so don't forget about us.

[ABlairican Pie]

Say Somethin'
with Snoop Dogg

I'm over here
Looking at you
You're over there
Watching me, too
Both painting pictures of

So what we gon' do?
(So what ya gon' do? What ya gon' do?)
Tell me why we're standing here
I could tell with my eyes closed
And baby, I'm ready to go

But uh
If it's worth your while
Say something, say something
If it's worth your while
Say something good to me
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey
If it's worth your while
Do something good to me

(Let's make it)
Hot as you can stand it
Something like volcanic
You and me seems organic
Just like the stars and planets
Yeah, we are
So what you gon' do
(So what ya gon' do? What ya gon' do)

Tell me why we're still in here
I could tell with my eyes closed
That baby, I'm ready to go

But uh
If it's worth your while
Say something, say something
If it's worth your while
Say something good to me
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey
If it's worth your while
Do something good to me

If it's worth your while
Say something, say something
If it's worth your while
Say something good to me, baby
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey
If it's worth your while
Do something good to me

[Snoop Dogg:]
Everytime I fall though
Want me to speak on the word or two
It's the D-O-double-G
And dude, its so lovely
Don't make a sound
I'll take you, lay you down
Make your body go round and round
Most girls play shy

Baby Im ready to go

But uh
If it's worth your while
Say something, say something
If it's worth your while
Say something good to me
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey
If it's worth your while
Do something good to me

If it's worth your while
Say something, say something
If it's worth your while
Say something good to me
Hey, hey, hey
Hey, hey
If it's worth your while
Do something good to me


Fly Like a Bird

Da da da da da da
da da da da da da da da dooo
[Priest]
Weeping may endure for a night,
but joy comes in the morning
Trust him.

Somehow I know that
There's a place up above
With no more hurt and struggling
Free of all atrocities and suffering
Because I feel the unconditional love
From one who cares enough for me
To erase all my burdens
And let me be free to

[chorus]
Fly like a bird
Take to the sky
I need you now Lord
Carry me high
Don't let the world break me tonight
I need the strength of you by my side
Sometimes this life can be so cold
I pray you'll come and carry me home

Can we recover
Will the world ever be
A place of peace and harmony
With no war and with no brutality
If we loved each other
We would find victory
But in this harsh reality
Sometimes I'm so despondent
That I feel the need to

[chorus]
Fly like a bird
Take to the sky
I need You now Lord
Carry me high
Don't let the world break me tonight
I need the strength of You by my side
Sometimes this life can be so cold
I pray You'll come and carry me home

Da da da da da da
da da da da da da da da dooo

[Priest]
He says he will never forsake you
Or leave you alone
Trust him

I need You right here right now Lord
I need You right here by my side
Keep your head to the sky
With God's love you'll survive

Fly like a bird
Take to the sky
I need you now Lord
Carry me high
Don't let the world break me tonight
I need the strength of You by my side

Sometimes this life can be so cold
I pray You'll come and carry me home
Carry me higher, higher, higher
Carry me higher, higher, higher
Carry me home
Higher Jesus
Carry me higher Lord

[ABlairican Pie]

The ongoing saga of Michael Jackson and his legal woes concerning alleged child molestation finally came to a head in 2005. Amid accusations of acting inappropriately toward his young male charges during sleepovers at his Neverland Ranch in the San Fernando Valley, Michael Jackson was finally brought to court in a widely publicized trial. Just like the rest of his public life and career, "Wacko Jacko's" court appearance took on Theater Of the Absurd tone and character.

The plaintiff in the case was a young boy named Gavin Arvizo, who initially went by the condition of anonymity. The 13-year old young man had suffered from cancer and had his spleen and one kidney removed. In 2000, in an outpouring of sympathy, Jackson reached out to the lad and had many phone conversations with him. The owner of an L.A. comedy club the Laugh Factory, Jamie Masada, arranged the opportunity for Arvizo to meet his idol and fulfill his lifelong dream. The boy stayed over at the Neverland Ranch and was able to visit Jackson often.

Afterwards, Arvizo allegedly became increasingly disruptive in class at school and unable to focus on his homework. The child's parents concluded that this was due to his encounter with Jackson, eventually accusing the pop entertainer with molesting him and offering him intoxicating beverages. These incidents apparently traumatized him and interfered with his schoolwork. Even more, the parents accused Jackson of holding them against their will at the Neverland Ranch. Jackson himself denied all these charges.

In the trial that followed, much was learned about Jackson's accusers: Gavin's father David Arvizo was known not only to have had a history of spousal abuse and child cruelty, but he was constantly begging for money from celebrities, one can assume over his son's medical condition. The boy's mother Janet encouraged their family to call Jackson "Daddy", and even called herself Janet Jackson. During her cross-examination at the trial she contradicted herself often and was difficult in questioning. She was criticized for her constant snapping of her fingers and staring down the jurors. She did not give straight testimony often, but repeatedly made speeches to the court and answered in constant catch-phrases. The courtroom erupted in laughter at many of her comments. She often used phrases such as "It's burned inside my memory" and "Money doesn't buy happiness" during her testimony.

Jackson's arrest came at the end of the taping for his video "One More Chance". While out of town in Las Vegas, he willfully surrendered to police, but the sight of the entertainer in handcuffs prompted howls of outrage worldwide, many accusing the police of being racist and unjustly targeting Jackson. Even stranger, Jackson's bail was set at $3 million, while the bail for producer Phil Spector, on trial for murder, was only at $1 million. Was this not an example of racism in the American court system? Why was Jackson's bail much higher? Jackson's passport was also confiscated to prevent the singer from fleeing the country. On November 25, 2003 it was revealed that unknown to Jackson, the private jet that was chartered to take him and his attorney from Vegas to California was secretly wired with recording devices. A third party took recordings on this trip and attempted to sell them to major television and radio networks for an extremely large amount of money; all declined to purchase. During his booking, Jackson said in an interview on '60 Minutes' that he suffered from bruises and other injuries from the handcuffs, though police denied this.

Jackson was accused of physically touching the boy inappropriately as well as giving a minor an intoxicating beverage (what was allegedly called "Jesus Juice"). Some legal adult magazines featuring heterosexual nudity were found by the boy and his brother while Jackson was away, without his permission, and the two boys drank alcohol in Jackson's absense. The two claimed that Jackson had shown the magazines to them for the purpose of grooming them and lowering their sexual inhibitions, which Jackson denied. The allegations that Jackson slept in the same bed as the boy were true, according to witnesses, including actress Elizabeth Taylor, but emphatically were not in any way sexual. A psychology expert who previously witnessed Jackson's actions concluded that the entertainer had regressed to the emotional level of a ten-year old. Jackson may have had some psychological issues, but a molester he was not, according to him. Jackson held hands with the young man, but this was not a "romantic" or sexual gesture. The media circus soon ensued as Jackson would often appear in court in pajamas, looking rather disheveled. Was something really wrong with him?

Ultimately, Jackson was found by the court:

NOT GUILTY.

It appeared that Jackson was in fact the victim of a bizarre extortion conspiracy by the boy's parents who attempted to extract a sizeable sum of money from the entertainer. Questions remained as to other incidents of alleged molestation, but Jackson, with his large sums of money and his reputation for odd behavior and previous accusations of illegal activities with minors, was an easy target. Jackson's legal ordeal was over, but what was next for the beleagured entertainer? Could his public reputation be salvaged?

Jackson with Arvizo, second pic:

[ABlairican Pie]

Female hottie singer Lil' Kim released The Naked Truth, her first album since being released from prison for perjury.
The album was critically acclaimed though not a huge seller. The album featured such tracks as "Spell Check", "Lighters Up",
"Woah", and plenty of other hip hop tunes with provocative titles. R & B magazine awarded the album Five Mics, an excellent
score, though controversy ensued as many thought the accolade was not warranted.


Not surprisingly, the truth wasn't the only thing naked people wanted to see from Lil' Kim.

[ABlairican Pie]

In other tragic news in 2005, Paul Hester , drummer for one of Australia's biggest musical exports Split Enz and their successful spinoff Crowded House, was found dead on March 26, the victim of an apparent suicide. It was known that for years he had suffered from depression and wide mood swings, and had gone through a split with the mother of his two daughters. He had hung himself from a tree near his home. He was 46 years old.

Hester's mother, a jazz drummer herself, had encouraged her son to take up drums. Hester had been a fixture in the Melbourne music scene since the late 70's, playing in such bands as Thunder, Deckchairs Overboard, and others when he was recruited to play drums for Split Enz in 1983, after the departure of former drummer Noel Crombie. In the mid-80's, Hester and Neil Finn decided to form a new band when Split Enz broke up. Crowded House was formed and scored several hits such as alternative pop hits "Don't Dream It's Over" from 1986 and 1987's "Something So Strong", as well as "Better Be Home Soon" from 1988. The band was successful in America until the early 90's when their 1991 track "Chocolate Cake", a humorous take on American excesses, was misinterpreted as a criticism of America. The band's success faltered stateside, and in 1996, Crowded House broke up. Hester wanted to spend more time with his family rather than continue recording and touring.

The band and their devoted fans were devastated by the news of Hester's untimely passing. However, in 2007, the surviving members of Crowded House
announced that they would reform and tour.


I remember seeing Crowded House playing at Seattle's Bumbershoot Festival in 1991. Very entertaining show. Hester was announcing to the crowd that "I am the king!" He had a crazy wit about him.

But sometimes wit and a sense of humor masks a deep inner pain.

[ABlairican Pie]

In 2005, Beck released his highest charting album to date, Guero. The album featured such singles as as "E-Pro" and "Girl", as well as other tracks including "Qué Onda Guero", "Hell Yes", and "Go It Alone". The album was co-produced by The Dust Brothers, who also co-produced his successful 1996 album 'Odelay'. Beck released an album of Guero remixes called Guerolito later that year.

'Guero', pronounced "wero", is a Spanish slang term for a light-skinned or blonde-haired person.

It was also during this time in 2005 that Beck revealed in interviews that he was in fact a Scientologist. "Yeah, I'm a Scientologist. My father has been a Scientologist for about 35 years, so I grew up in and around it." He added, "What it actually is is just sort of, you know, I think it's about philosophy and sort of, all these kinds of, you know, ideals that are common to a lot of religions....There's nothing fantastical...just a real deep grassroots concerted effort for humanitarian causes. I don't know if you know the stuff they have. It's unbelievable the stuff they are doing. Education...they have free centres all over the place for poor kids. They have the number one drug rehabilitation programme in the entire world (called Narconon). It has a 90-something percent success rate...When you look at the actual facts and not what's conjured in people's minds that's all bulls*** to me because I've actually seen stuff first hand." His wife Marissa is also a Scientologist, and interestingly, she and her twin brother were both delivered by Beck's mother Bibbe.


E-Pro

See me comin to town with my soul
Straight down out of the world with my fingers
Holding onto the devil I know
All my troubles'll hang on your trigger
Take your eyes and your mind from the road
Shoot your mouth if you know where you're aiming
Don't forget to pick up what you sow
Talking trash to the garbage around you

Na na na na na na na (x4)

See me kickin the door with my boots
Broke down out in a ditch of old rubbish
Snakes and bones in the back of your room
Handing out a confection of venom
Heaven's drunk from the poison you use
Charm the wolves with the eyes of a gambler
Now I see it's a comfort to you
Hammer my bones on the anvil of daylight

Na na na na na na na (x4)

[x2]
I won't give up that ghost
It's sick the way these tongues are twisted
The good in us is all we know
There's too much left to taste that's bitter

Na na na na na na na (x4)


Girl

I saw her, yea I saw her
With her black tongue tied round the roses

A fist pounding on a vending machine
Toy diamond ring stuck on her finger
With a noose she can hang from the sun
And put it out with her dark sunglasses
Walking crooked down the beach
She spits on the sand
Where their bones are bleaching

And I know I'm gonna steal her eye
She doesn't even know what's wrong
And I know I'm gonna make her die
Take her where her soul belongs
And I know I'm gonna steal her eye
Nothing that I wouldn't try

Hey, my sun-eyed girl
Hey, my sun-eyed girl
My sun-eyed girl
Hey, my sun-eyed girl

I saw her, yea I saw her
With her hands tied back
Rags a' burnin'
Calling out from a landfilled life
Scrawlin' her name upon the ceiling
Throw a coin in a fountain of dust
White noise, her ears are ringing
Got a ticket for my midnight hanging
Throw a bullet from a freight train leaving

And I know I'm gonna steal her eye
She doesn't even know what's wrong
And I know I'm gonna make her die
Take her where her soul belongs
And I know I'm gonna steal her eye
Nothing that I wouldn't try

Hey, my sun-eyed girl
Hey, my sun-eyed girl
My sun-eyed girl
Hey, my sun-eyed girl

Hey, my sun-eyed girl
Hey, my sun-eyed girl
My sun-eyed girl
Hey, my sun-eyed girl

Hey, my sun-eyed girl
Hey, my sun-eyed girl
My sun-eyed girl
Hey, my sun-eyed girl

[ABlairican Pie]

In 2005, Nine Inch Nails released With Teeth, which was leaked on the internet prior to its release. The album was released following Trent Reznor's
bout with alcoholism and substance abuse, which would explain the six-year delay between it and its predecessor. Many of the themes on the album touched on the topic of his substance abuse problems.

Rather than debuting the first single's video on MTV (which wasn't about playing much in the way of music videos anyway), Nine Inch Nails aired it on their official website. It was probably a good idea, because when they actually were due to play a live segment on MTV that year, they brought controversy when their set was to depict the image of Bush as a backdrop during the popular track "The Hand That Feeds". In spite of the network's decision to axe their set, most people got what the band was putting across, they understood completely.

Reznor had this to say about the decision to axe their performance:

"Nine Inch Nails will not be performing at the MTV Movie Awards as previously announced. We were set to perform 'The Hand That Feeds' with an unmolested, straightforward image of George W. Bush as the backdrop. Apparently, the image of our president is as offensive to MTV as it is to me. See you on tour this fall when we return to play in America."

A fall tour included Queens Of the Stone Age as openers.

The Hand That Feeds

You're keeping in step, in the line.
Got your chin held high and you feel just fine
'Cause you do what you're told
But inside your heart, it is black
And it's hollow and it's cold

Just how deep do you believe?
Will you bite the hand that feeds?
Will you chew until it bleeds?
Can you get up off your knees?
Are you brave enough to see?
Do you wanna change it?

What if this whole crusade's a charade
And behind it all there's a price to be paid
For the blood which we dine
Justified in the name
Of the Holy and the Divine

Just how deep do you believe?
Will you bite the hand that feeds?
Will you chew until it bleeds?
Can you get up off your knees?
Are you brave enough to see?
Do you wanna change it?

So naïve
I keep holding on to what I wanna believe
I can see
But I keep holding on and on and on and on

(Repeat x8)
Will you bite the hand that feeds you?
Will you stay down on your knees?

[ABlairican Pie]

Only

I'm becoming less defined, as days go by
Fading away, well you might say I'm losing focus
Kind of drifting into the abstract in terms of how I see myself
Sometimes, I think I can see right through myself
Sometimes, I think I can see right through myself
Sometimes, I can see right through myself

Less concerned, about fitting into the world
Your world that is, cause it doesn't really matter anymore
(No, it doesn't really matter anymore)
No, it doesn't really matter anymore
None of this really matters anymore

Yes, I am alone, but then again I always was
As far back as I can tell, I think maybe it's because
Because you were never really real to begin with
I just made you up to hurt myself

I just made you up to hurt myself
Yeah, and I just made you up to hurt myself
I just made you up to hurt myself
Yeah, and I just made you up to hurt myself

And it worked
Yes it did!

There is no you, there is only me
There is no you, there is only me
There is no fing you, there is only me
There is no fing you, there is only me

Only (x4)

When, the tiniest little dot caught my eye
And it turned out to be a scab
And I had this funny feeling
Like I just knew it's something bad

I just couldn't leave it alone
I kept picking at that scab
It was a doorway trying to seal itself shut
But I climbed through

Now I'm somewhere I am not supposed to be
And I can see things I know I really shouldn't see
And now I know why now, now I know why
Things aren't as pretty on the inside

There is no you, there is only me
There is no you, there is only me
There is no fing you, there is only me
There is no fing you, there is only me

Only (x8)


Love Is Not Enough

The more that we take
The paler we get
I can’t remember what it is
We try to forget
The tile on the floor
So cold it could sting
In your eyes is a place
Worth remembering

For you to go and take this
And smash it apart
I’ve gone all this f***ing way
To wind up back at…back at the start

Hey!
The closer we think we are
Well, it only got us so far
Now you’ve got anything left to show?
No, no I didn’t think so.
Hey!
The sooner we realize
We cover ourselves with lies
But underneath we’re not so tough
And love is not enough

Well, it hides in the dark
Like the withering vein
We didn’t give it a mouth
So it cannot complain
We never really had a chance
We never really make it through
I never think I’d believe
I believed I could get better with you

Hey!
The closer we think we are
Well, it never got us so far
Now you’ve got anything left to show?
No, no I didn’t think so.
Hey!
The sooner we realize (quiet repeat)
We cover ourselves with lies
But underneath we’re not so tough
And love is not enough

Love is not enough
Love is not enough
Hey!


With Teeth

She comes along
She gets inside
She makes you better than, anything you've tried

It's in her kiss
Black as sea
And it runs deeper than you, dared to dream it could be

With teeth
With teeth
With teeth
With teeth

Wave good bye
To what you were
The rules have changed, the lines begin to blur

She makes you hard
It comes on strong
You finally found, the place where you belong

With teeth
With teeth
With teeth
With teeth

I cannot go through this again
I cannot go through this again
I cannot go through this again
I cannot go through this again
I cannot go through this again
I cannot go through this again
I cannot go through this again
I cannot go through this again

With teeth
With teeth
With teeth
With teeth

She will not let you go
Keeps on and on
She will not let you go
Keeps on and on
This time I'm not coming back
She will not let you go
This time I'm not coming back
She will not let you go

[ABlairican Pie]

On the eleventh anniversary of the release of 'The Blue Album', in 2005, Weezer delivered Make Believe, an album which was met with mixed critical reviews, yet offered the band's biggest chart success, peaking at #2 on the U.S. charts. The hit "Beverly Hills" was a popular radio track, as was
"Perfect Situation".

The creative process for writing the album's lyrics came from Rivers Cuomo's involvement in Eastern meditation. The band sifted through scores of lyrics in the process, settling for final tracks which included the facetious "We Are All On Drugs" and "This Is Such a Pity". Rick Rubin produced the album.


Beverly Hills

Where I come from isn't all that great
My automobile is a piece of crap
My fashion sense is a little whack
And my friends are just as screwy as me

I didn't go to boarding schools
Preppy girls never looked at me
Why should they, I ain't nobody
Got nothing in my pocket

Beverly Hills... That's where I want to be! (gimme, gimme)
Living in Beverly Hills...
Beverly Hills... Rolling like a celebrity! (gimme, gimme)
Living in Beverly Hills...

Look at all those movie stars
They're all so beautiful and clean
When the housemaids scrub the floors
They get the spaces in between

I wanna live a life like that
I wanna be just like a king
Take my picture by the pool
Cause I'm the next big thing

Beverly Hills... That's where I want to be! (gimme gimme)(gimme gimme)
Living in Beverly Hills...
Beverly Hills... Rolling like a celebrity! (gimme gimme)(gimme gimme)
Living in Beverly Hills...

*Spoken*
Truth is...I don't stand a chance (aaaaaaaaaaaaaah)
It's something that you're born into...(aaaaaaaaaaah)
And I just don't belong...(aaaaaaaaaaah)

No I don't - I'm just a no class, beat down fool
And I will always be that way
I might as well enjoy my life
And watch the stars play

Beverly Hills... That's where I want to be! (gimme, gimme)
Living in Beverly Hills...
Beverly Hills... Rolling like a celebrity! (gimme, gimme)
Living in Beverly Hills...

Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills,(yeah)
Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills, (hey baby)(hey baby)
Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills, Livin' in Beverly Hills


Perfect Situation

What's the deal with my brain?
Why am I so obviously insane?
In a perfect situation
I let love down the drain.
There's the pitch, slow and straight.
All I have to do is swing
and I'm a hero, but I'm a zero.

Hungry nights, once again
Now it's getting unbelievable.
'Cause I could not have it better,
But I just can't get no play
From the girls, all around
As they search the night for someone to hold onto.
And just pass through...

singing...
ooooooh oh. Ooohhhhh oh. Ooohhh oohh.
Singing...
ooooooh oh. Ooohhhhh oh. Ooohhh oohh.

Get your hands off the girl,
Can't you see that she belongs to me?
And I don't appreciate this excess company.
Though I can't satisfy all the needs she has
And so she starts to wander...
Can you blame her?

singing...
oooooooh oh. Ooohhhhh oh. Ooohhh oohh.
Singing...
oooooooh oh. Ooohhhhh oh. Ooohhh oohh.

Tell me there's a logic out there.
Leading me to better prepare
For the day that something really special might come.
Tell me there's some hope for me.
I don't wanna be lonely
For the rest of my days on the earth.

[solo]

oooooooh oh. Ooohhhhh oh. Ooohhhhhhhhhh.
Singing...
oooooooh oh. Ooohhhhh oh. Ooohhh Oohh.
Singing...
ooooooooooooooh owoooooo owoooo owo owooooooooo

ooooooooooooooooooooo owo owoooooo wwwowwwo wowowoww
woooooooowoooowooooooooooooow


We Are All On Drugs

When your out with your friends
In your new Mercedes-Benz
And you're on drugs
And you show up late for school
'Cause You think your really cool
when you're on drugs
And you put on your headphones
And you step into the zone
When you're on drugs
But the world don't care
If you are or are not there
'Cause you're on drugs

Give it to me
We are all on drugs, yeah
Never getting enough,
Never get enough
We are all on drugs, yeah
Give me some of that stuff

(Woo)

And you twitch in your seat
'Cause you wanna hit the street
when you're on drugs
And you cause such a fuss 'cause
There's no one you can trust
When you're on drugs
And the best of your days
Will all vanish in the haze
When you're on drugs
And you wish you could quit
'cause you're really sick of it
But you're on drugs

Give it to me
We are all on drugs, yeah
Never getting enough,
Never get enough
We are all on drugs, yeah
Give me some of that stuff

I want to confiscate your drugs,
I don't think I can get enough (uhh)

Give it to me
We are all on drugs, yeah
Never getting enough,
Never get enough
We are all on drugs, yeah
Give me some of that stuff

We are all on drugs, yeah
Never getting enough,
Never get enough
We are all on drugs, yeah
Give me some of that stuff

We are all on drugs (6x)
(woo)


This Is Such a Pity

How is your heart little darling?
I didn't mean to get so mad.
Let me just hold you closely.
How did things get so bad?
I know how to pick on you.
You pushed me over the edge.
We caused so much agony.
We can't seem to move ahead.

This is such a pity.
We should give all our love to each other.
Not this hate that destroys us.
This is such a pity.
(This is a pity)

What kind of future will we have?
Will we ever find peace?
Everybody thinks we're crazy.
They're about to call the police.
I don't wanna be a chump.
You think I'm a fascist pig.
Right now everything is black.
I don't think we'll ever give.

This is such a pity.
We should give all our love to each other.
Not this hate that destroys us.
This is such a pity
(This is a pity)

[solo]

This is such a pity
We should give all our love to each other
Not this hate that destroys us
This is such a pity
(This is a pity)

This is such a pity
We should give
We should give
All our love
(Destroys us)
All our love
(Destroys us)
All our love
(Destroys us)
All our love
(Destroys us)
All our love
(Destroys us)
All our love
(Destroys us)