I posted something kind of controversial on Facebook today, and a friend commented, We will agree to disagree.
I’ve never liked this phrase. In fact, it’s awfully presumptuous, if you ask me. I disagree that we should agree to disagree! The Taurus in me will have none of this peaceful compromising stuff. My way or the highway, baby!
Granted, my post was definitely an unpopular opinion, one sure to elicit rage and scorn. Politics? Nope. Religion? Negative, ghost rider.
Pop music.
For the record, “We Built This City” is not a good song. The criticism is valid: Starship evolved from Jefferson Starship, which evolved from Jefferson Airplane – a band that was the epitome of hippie ideology. The whole countercultural-icons-selling-out thing bugs me. And the hypocrisy of the lyrics, which rail against corporate sellouts, vs. the glossy overproduced corporate sheen of the song itself is ridiculous. Not to mention half the song is nonsensical. Marconi plays the mamba, listen to the radio. WTF? The inventor of the radio is…playing a poisonous snake?
But you know what? It’s catchy as hell. Definitely not the worst song ever.
Hating “We Built This City” is trendy. GQ Magazine, Blender, and Rolling Stone have all labeled it The Worst Song of all Time.
That’s just bullshit.
Then what *is* the worst song of all time? another commenter asked. Great question. Two songs that immediately come to mind are “Disco Duck” by Rick Dees (shameless money grab by someone who isn’t even a singer!) and “The Ballad of the Green Berets” by STAFF SERGEANT (which makes it even worse) Barry Sadler, which is nothing more than a glorified Army recruitment ad disguised as a patriotic ditty that urges Americans to go fight in a senseless war we had no reason to be taking part in.
How about Steve Miller Band’s “Abracadabra”? Abra, abracadabra / I wanna reach out and grab ya has to be the worst rhyme ever strung together.
(I kinda like that one, too. As well as Rod Stewart’s “Do Ya Think I’m Sexy.” Maybe I’m a sucker for the underdogs.)
Look, if you want a really good Jefferson Starship song, listen to “Stranger” or “Jane” or “Winds of Change” or “Find Your Way Back” or “Count on Me.” Better yet, dive into Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit” if you want a timeless classic.
At least “We Built This City” isn’t “Achy Breaky Heart.”
Earlier today, I got a text from Justin the Realtor.
Fair warning. My dad is en route to deliver zucchini and other goodies.
We met Justin’s dad at the Make Music Madison event on June 21. Great guy, and practically a neighbor. He lives right here in Fort Atkinson. Jerry threatened/promised to bring over zucchini from his garden that day, and we told him we love zucchini.
Today, he delivered. Boy howdy.
In addition to five large zucchini, he gave us five dozen farm fresh eggs and about 10 lbs. of green beans, which we cooked up this evening for dinner (delicious). Such a thoughtful gesture.
Midwest Nice is a real thing.
He was interested in our ponds, so I walked him around the backyard. That’s when I noticed just how close our peaches are to being ripe. I sense a peach pie or cobbler in the very near future.
Justin apologized for the intrusion, but why would I ever be mad at free produce and dairy?
Sorry for the pop-over, he texted. This is a first. Possibly a new service I should pitch.
Funny guy, that Justin.
Is “We Built This City” the worst song ever? If not, what’s a song you despise? Have you ever had your realtor’s dad drop by your house with a carload full of dairy and produce?
Mark My Words 
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