Never Saw Anything Like It

I never watch the Grammys anymore - not since rap became de rigueur.  Noise, verbiage with a beat, usually objectionable, but not music.  I was busy doing things around the house and didn't have time to sit in front of the television, so listened and occasionally looked at the TV.  Saw that this was coming and watched Lady Gaga's tribute to David Bowie.  I don't know too much about GaGa, nor know many of her songs and have only seen snippets of her performances.

Unbelievable.  An understatement.  There are artists - and then there is Lady Gaga.  I've never seen anything like it.  There should be another word for her performance and talent.  It was something to behold on the big screen. There is another video of her preparing, scoring, practicing, etc. for this performance that is also very interesting.

Boom!

That was my head exploding.

Wow!

You know how I've been whining about books lately.  I have said I was tired of reading books I wouldn't finish or thought 'eh.' Then I found JUST KIDS, a National Book Award winner.

I said I wanted to read books that quicken the pulse; make my head explode.  Books that, well, don't take my advice as this is merely my own reaction to this tome.  I am certain it isn't for everyone.  What I'm not certain about is, whether or not you had to have lived it... the times, I guess.

I have heard of Patti Smith.  Rock goddess, poet, actor, songwriter, performance artist - but she's so much more.  My personal favorite song of hers is Because The Night. They don't make them like Patti Smith anymore: she has it all, the idiosyncratic talent of our age.

This is her story of her early years in NYC with her longtime love and muse, Robert Mapplethorpe.  I don't want it to end.

But it isn't going to yet.  I got M TRAIN at Barnes and Noble recently.  It is her newly released book.  I hope it's as good as JUST KIDS.  Hurry out to get a signed copy if you are so inclined, before they are all gone.  Patti performed in Paris as recently as October and you can watch it on Youtube.  I'm a big fan of hers now.