Ray Charles Mania

[Big Bri]

I need to vent about something...

Ray Charles is dead. Can everyone just accept this and stop kissing his a$$?

At the Grammy Awards a couple of months ago, Ray Charles Santana-like album "Genius Loves Company", swept all the major awards, and as a DJ and music lover, I must say, it wasn't all that great, although your opinion could differ.

If that wasn't enough, last night at the Oscars, JAMIE FRIGGIN' FOXX wins for Best Actor for portraying Charles. Yes, I said Jamie Foxx, who starred in a film called "Booty Call" not too long ago. Now all of a sudden, he's Sindey Pottier.

I think Foxx is a good comedy actor and all, but he was completely undeserving of this award, IMO. But then again, we're all still riding on the Ray Charles A$$kissing Bandwagon.

If Charles were alive these award shows wouldn't give him 3) seconds of airtime and anything done in his name wouldn't even get mentioned. So the guy dies and these award shows go apes**t for him. It's really sad.

Okay, I feel better now.

[Werner Mueck]

That's the way it goes sometimes, older singers/actors are largely ignored and as soon as they die everybody starts appreciating them. Ray Charles' movie was already in the works and Ray was involved with it but would the movie had done so well if he hadn't died when he did? Same thing happened with Johnny Cash. Love both of these guys but how many other people did until they died. I can understand your rant and I feel the same way sometimes.

Since we're ranting (and not to change the subject), have you noticed that certain songs you never hear on the radios are all of a sudden played constantly on the radio after they appear in a commercial. I like Rubber Band Man, but the idea that it's starting to be played again on the radio tells me the DJ's are just hopping on the band wagon and didn't care for the song until Office Max decided to use it. This goes for 90% of the older songs you hear in commercials nowadays. Maybe I'm not listening to the right stations or something. I can be completely wrong about all of this but sometimes you are when you're tired....

[Nemecys]

I'm not a big Ray Charles fan, just don't like that type of music, but I respect what he's done. As for Foxx, the only movie I've seen him in is Collateral, which I loved.

Now that aside, if you're going to recognize a performer of "oldie" music (no offense to fans of it...the stuff just annoys me), you also better be recognizing the other great performers who recently passed. I want a Rodney Dangerfield tribute (I don't remember anything said about him other than a 30 second report on his passing....guess he wasn't kidding about getting no respect!), and why is there nothing for Johnny Carson?

Okay so there are only so many hours in the day to recognize performers so they can't get everybody (they seem to forget wrestlers who put their lives on the line every day for our entertainment), but if you're going to include one, you need to include someone else also.

Jay

[Graymar]

BRI,

As to Foxx winning the award...there are three times when I saw a movie and KNEW that the performances were such that they should win an Oscar...not for political reasons...not for lifetime acheivement...but for thier performance in those movies.

Fonda in "On Golden Pond"
Nicolson in "Batman"

and Jamie Foxx in "Ray"

That being said...I don't think "Ray" was close to being an Oscar nominated movie.

Graymar

[Graymar]

Werner Mueck,

Some possible causes to the revival of a song...

First, its a market conspiracy...Staples, etc. push these revivals on the radio because the theme is now associated with thier store/product.

Second, DJ, etc. hear the song and say...I remember that...that was a great tune...lets play it.

Third, it's like when you buy a car...then all of a sudden you notice more and more of that same car where you never saw any previously.

I think it may be a combination of all three!

As to the stations you listen to...I'm an XM guy! ;D

Graymar

[Werner Mueck]

I want XM but I can't afford it Probably right about the music but I've noticed that at least half of the songs I've been hearing on the local station are tied into commercials in some way. I thought it fit into the Ray topic, out of sight, out of mind until the person dies (or is used in a commercial).

As for Rodney Dangerfield, you're right, he didn't get any respect and he was funny as hell. Johnny got some but I guess he wasn't appreciated as much because he decided to bow out of the spotlight for ten years. People tend to forget how good somebody is unless they're bombarded with them constantly which usually happens right after they pass away.

[Graymar]

People tend to forget how good somebody is unless they're bombarded with them constantly which usually happens right after they pass away.

Like HHH? ;D

Graymar

[Big Bri]

What a joy it is to discuss a topic with three of my favorite COTG people!

Werner: I hate that song revival thing too. I've liked "Rubber Band Man" for years, and as soon as I saw that Office Max commercial, I said to myself, "Great, there goes another one", meaning that it won't be long before I hate it because of the mainstream attention. When I hear someone singing revived songs like that, I always ask them who the artist is and seldomly can they tell me. It's pretty funny. By the way Werner, i never got to thank you for drawing the EC set. I'm loving it! THANKS!!

Nemecys: Johnny Carson requested that no public memorial / similar hoopla be done to honor him, because he was a private guy. I'm sure he also knew how the media would blow it all out of proportion and figured that would be enough to honor him.

Graymar (& Werner): About 90% of all music played on the radio these days has nothing to do with the DJ's. The programming comes from boardrooms of big conglomerates such as Cumulus and Clear Channel. Of course, Office Max could be pumping money to these guys, and that's why you hear the song(s) so much. This is why on most stations, especially Top 40, you hear the same 15 songs OVER AND OVER AGAIN in the course of a day, and another reason why XM and Sirius are gaining such popularity.

The Music Choice channels that come with most TV cable systems are also great to listen to for variety and "songs you never hear anymore".

[ringsyde]

Well, we were granted one rant to introduce this topic, so I'll intrude with a second rant for the other side. Have any of you guys ever listened to Elvis or Tupac, watched a Bruce Lee movie, or bought, wore, watched or collected ANYTHING done by a departed icon? The lives and legacies of some demand attention. Especially within a year of their final performance, biographic immortalization and death. Kissing Ray Charles' A$$? The arrogance is amazing. I can remember a time not too long ago when Princess Diana and the Titanic took more radio and TV time, bookshelf space and awards nominations than any DESERVING subject on the planet. One had recently died, and the other had recently won numerous awards (including some that were grossly undeserved). It would seem that this sort of thing happens everytime something is done well enough to stir nostalgia . . . or when something is done in relatively close proximity to an icon's death. Make no mistake about it; Ray Charles , the inventor of soul, rhythm and blues and crossover appeal, and the man who was either too talented or too stubborn to live within certain limits, was an icon. I'd love to know why Jaimie Foxx didn't deserve recognition for his frighteningly accurate portrayal (I've read a few times that "certain people" ought to stick to comedy because that's all they're good at), and I'd love to know how it is that he was voted (by fans, journalists and insiders alike) as the most-likely Oscar winner some TWO MONTHS before Ray Charles died (mid-April edition of ENTERTAINMENT magazine an a later edition of USA TODAY WEEKEND papaer), and yet he is somehow benefiting from Charles' death. Sorry; while I agree that celebrity deaths make for good times for media types to honor them, I don't see that as the reason for Foxx's honor or Ray's legacy enduring. An era of poorly written music performed by techies, airheads and wannabe thugs who dare to call themselves musicians and a great movie starring a versatile actor portraying an even more profound member of American culture may have had just a bit more to do with the recent successes - and overwhelming celebrity - of both men.

I feel Blacker, now.

[Big Bri]

Oh, so it's a black thing now? I think you're jumping the gun there, let me try to explain this in another way for you...

I'll call Foxx a "versatile" actor after he does a couple more convincing dramatic roles. I felt the same way about Tom Hanks after "Philadelphia," in that I needed to see more of his dramatic side to be a true believer. Well, another Oscar and a few more nominations later, I'm now convinced that he's got the goods. I'm still waiting on Foxx, that's all I'm saying. It has nothing to do with his race. I used "Booty Call" as an example because it was the only Foxx movie I could think of at the time.

[ringsyde]

I don't know, Bri. Is it a "black thing". Don't forget to mention "race card'", "discrimination" and other platitudes that denigrate discenting views.

[ringsyde]

Wow. Aside from grammatically butchering my last post, I took the low road to a greater point. It doesn't surprise me that someone on this board essentially trashes two great, black performers, admittedly doesn't like the music or the man behind the music because it doesn't fit his "qualified" tastes, then immediately uses the "GREAT RACE INVERSION DEFENSE" to swat down any discenting opinions - especially those of a black man. I suggested you use "race card" and other tomes because this is what happens all too often on this board. Personally, I couldn't care if you were wearing the sheets and stroking your swastika as you read this. That type of ignorance and stupidity is seldom disguised or extinguished in this type of forum. I simply felt, as a black man who for once sided with the overwhelming majority, to rant against your bias and speak my mind about two performers who clearly weren't getting a fair shake here. I'll leave you to your fraternal chat (by this, I refer to your March 1st post; not any ties you may or may not have to any clandestine, race purification groups).

[Big Bri]

Well RingsYde, I read your last post three days in a row, trying to comprehend what you are trying to say to me here. I also noticed your little hello on that Matt Hardy/Lita thread, so I'm guessing that you like to argue with people.

Well, I read your posts again, and all I can really reply with is WHAT IN THE HE.LL ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

Let me state my overall point for you AGAIN! All I was trying to say is that I was upset that Ray Charles was honored more in his death than he was in his life, and that I believe all the awards were given to him (& Foxx) because of his death. I was upset because I AM A RAY CHARLES FAN YOU IDIOT! When he died, I expected media hoopla for a couple days, but when this hoopla is extended to months, it gets a little out of hand and pretty annoying.

I think Foxx did a SUPERB job in "Ray", but I think the Oscar voters might have had the ballot in their hand, and thought "Gee, Ray just died, so out of sympathy I'm going to vote for Jamie Foxx." DO YOU GET THIS NOW?

Now, onto another related matter...

"certain people", "I feel Blacker now", "trashes two great black performers", "especially those of a black man", "sheets, swastika", and finally, "clandestine, race purification groups".

I believe that you are calling me a racist. I assure you I am not, but what's the point when you seem so hell-bent on indirectly calling me one. I could also be a black man myself for all you know, but again, I am not.

When did I EVER say that all the Charles mania had ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIS RACE? TELL ME THAT YOU NUTCASE! Were you intoxicated when you made these posts?

In the words of Ray Charles...

HIT THE ROAD JACK...A$S

[ringsyde]

Wow, the hello worked. Let me be clear; I AM NOT CALLING YOU (BIGBRI) A RACIST. Better, now? I found it interesting that you
1. Trashed Ray Charles and Jaimie Foxx as underserving of a$$kissing
2. Lose control when someone rants AGAINST your rant.
3. Assume my pride for my race is an indictment of you and yours
4. Respond only to what is perceived as racist commentary - days after the fasct - because I say "hello"

Talk about insecure. I could personally care less what your ethnocentric affiliation is (re-read my last post, here -and try not to extract HATE from it). I simply reveresed your rant.

I don't think you're racist, but you are clearly problemed. Grow some guts and a lexicon, and try not to let your bruised ego show so much by running away from a (perceived) uncomfortable discussion only to come back and make insults when you think you're being called out.

You may show your level of maturity again now.
Bye, BRI.

[ringsyde]

By the way, is it your position that all Black men have to be intoxicated to take a position on an issue? Do all Black men get intoxicated? Just checking. For one who assures purity of thought, you make some very interesting comments.

[Big Bri]

RingsYde,

Once again, I have had to re-read your latest posts a few times to again comprehend what you are trying to say to me. It takes awhile to form a response to someone who is mentally unstable like yourself. I had planned to respond to you anyway, and your hello reminded me that you were waiting for me to respond. I thought I was doing you a favor by feeding your desire to argue with others. Your welcome.

I also did not respond to you ONLY because the subject of racism was present. I responded to you because I did not think that you clearly understood my original point (Note where I say “Now onto another related matter…”). What you see as a loss of control was simply me trying to get my point across to you because you weren’t seeing it clearly.

Okay, so you’re not calling me a racist. I would say that the matter is cleared up now, but then in a second post you claim that I link a black person taking a position on something to intoxication. I asked if you were intoxicated because I’m guessing that either you were or you are just plain wacko. Again, this had nothing to do with the color of your skin. It’s called SARCASM.

Grow some guts? Nine months living in Afghanistan serving in Operation Enduring Freedom, getting rockets fired over me while fighting for the freedom of white, black, purple with pink polka dots, and ALL Americans. That’s all I have to say about that.

Again, your welcome.

[ringsyde]

We've as much proof that you are a soldier as we have proof that you are not a racist. That's it for racism (let's hope).

I'm thanking you for . . . ? I have a brother, two nephews and a cousin with medals and awards for service above and beyond. I had a father who, after swinging from a tree for nearly a half hour because someone who proposed to fight for his freedom tried to lynch him, went all over the world fighting enemies who tried to take over the country and the world. He and his friends died poor and alone without much thanks after giving everything so that guys like you could grow up and fight in Afghanistan (when you're not posting on gaming boards). These men were real and their lives meant something. You may very well have served, and for that you should be commended. Thanks, however is fleeting when your civilian life is spent trying to drown out, insult and belittle those you claim to defend (again, I have ZERO proof you ever served - I also have my own DD214 Honorable Seperation forms from the U.S. Marine Corps, so I could tell some stories, too). Yes, grow some guts, because if someone opposes your point of view, and all you can do is insult and sarcastically spread your world view, then you're not much of a hero. "Hit the road, jack-a$$" sounds like the kind of sophomoric B.S. that comes from guys who value one opinion; their own.