Corona - what does help you? Your fears, thoughts, everything

[CellarDweller]

Any reactions to the second shot?

I haven't gotten it yet, Chrissi.  I get it this Wednesday, the 28th.

[Jeff Wrangler]

I haven't gotten it yet, Chrissi.  I get it this Wednesday, the 28th.

Mine is set for 1:05 p.m. tomorrow.

I had a bit of a time getting the appointment. It seems I frequently have trouble deciding which key to push whenever I get one those electronic menus. The Walgreens electronic system wanted to give me an appointment at a different store from where I got the first shot. I didn't think that was such a good idea. Finally I decided to walk over to the store where I got the first shot. I figured the worst they could do was tell me No, and then I would go back to the phone and take what I could get and hope it was close by. So I walked over to the store and got an appointment.

Meanwhile, when I woke up this morning, the Eighties-Nineties radio station was playing "It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)," by R.E.M.

[serious crayons]

Meanwhile, when I woke up this morning, the Eighties-Nineties radio station was playing "It's the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)," by R.E.M.

Yes, I recently read that song has stuck in people's heads lately -- a real instance of the Toto Africa phenomenon.

[Jeff Wrangler]

Yes, I recently read that song has stuck in people's heads lately -- a real instance of the Toto Africa phenomenon.

Well, it has here! 

It's pretty amazing how Michael Stipe gets out those lyrics.

(The next song they played was "Margaritaville."  )

[serious crayons]

It's pretty amazing how Michael Stipe gets out those lyrics.

Yeah, I've always wondered if that song counts as rapping. I don't think so, but I'm not sure exactly why. Something about the rhythm, maybe?

[Jeff Wrangler]

Yeah, I've always wondered if that song counts as rapping. I don't think so, but I'm not sure exactly why. Something about the rhythm, maybe?

I wouldn't count it as rapping. The delivery reminds me of--something--but I can't place it. Maybe it was some song about the 1980s that I used to hear over the speakers at my gym, but I can't recall that either, and I'm certain I never knew who did it. It's almost like some sort of chant until he gets to the chorus.

[serious crayons]

I wouldn't count it as rapping. The delivery reminds me of--something--but I can't place it. Maybe it was some song about the 1980s that I used to hear over the speakers at my gym, but I can't recall that either, and I'm certain I never knew who did it. It's almost like some sort of chant until he gets to the chorus.

Well, that's kind of what rapping is like -- saying rhyming phrases tunelessly between choruses -- right? Some rappers are more tuneless than Michael Stipe, but then all other REM songs have tunes, so it's a novelty for Stipe. Eminem can chant even faster than Stipe does in ItEotWaWKI.

I do think there's a diffaerence in rhythm or beat, but I don't really understand that stuff. Someone more familiar with rap might ....

... OK, I just texted one of my sons. He said: "I feel like just stylistically it doesn't really fit as rap." That seems true, if a little lacking in definitiveness. Certainly the subject matter and kinds of things they talk about are different.



 

[Jeff Wrangler]

Well, that's kind of what rapping is like -- saying rhyming phrases tunelessly between choruses -- right? Some rappers are more tuneless than Michael Stipe, but then all other REM songs have tunes, so it's a novelty for Stipe. Eminem can chant even faster than Stipe does in ItEotWaWKI.

I do think there's a diffaerence in rhythm or beat, but I don't really understand that stuff. Someone more familiar with rap might ....

... OK, I just texted one of my sons. He said: "I feel like just stylistically it doesn't really fit as rap." That seems true, if a little lacking in definitiveness. Certainly the subject matter and kinds of things they talk about are different.

I know nothing about rap except that it's a thing. I was under the impression that the lyrics were (probably) slower than Stipe.

[southendmd]

Here is my version of early rap:  it's from 1955, "Guys and Dolls".  Whadya think?

[southendmd]

And then there was this, from "Music Man" (1957), also early rap, in my opinion.