Dear Prudence

I always loved the White Album, all 30 songs lending themselves seamlessly to the whole, but "Dear Prudence" has only recently popped out at me as a stand-alone masterpiece. The gathering momentum of the orchestration, the loving encouragement to coax us out of our shell and into the world of experience. What a life-affirming mantra. Holy shit, it's so beautiful.

Artist: The Beatles
Year: 1968
Rating: Hot!

(Just Like) Starting Over

I did hear this song on the radio the other day, upon the occasion of John Lennon's would-be 70th birthday. It feels relevant to my emotional space these days, so filled as it is with dramatic endings and nascent beginnings. Artist: John Lennon Year: 1980 Rating: Luke Hot Note: Some of the old Jewish youth group crew might remember that I used this song for my intro-aisle walk when I delivered the State of the Region address in 1990. It's special to me.

What I Got

The video is here. It's a tribute to dearly departed lead singer Bradley Nowell who famously died of a heroin OD just before Sublime's hit self-titled album release.

Not my favorite style of music, but I will say that I love that the line "I can play the guitar like a mother fuckin' riot" is followed by a mellow bluegrass riff.

Artist: Sublime
Year: 1996
Rating: Lukewarm

Note: I wonder if they acknowledged Lennon/McCartney for the ripped melody from Lady Madonna?