Music: One Hundred Years of Memories--1912-2012--Part

Five
When President Geroge H. Bush was running for office he made the famous statement: Read my lips,
no new taxes." He reneged on that this year and that would eventually cost him the next election.

This was also the year that the beloved entertainer Sammy Davis died.
He had begun his career as a child in vaudeville and ended up a member of the famous Rat Pact best
known for their zany but highly entertaining shows in Vegas.

Desert Storm
entered Kuwait.

started this year when Saddam's Iraqi army

This was the year that the nonsense of political correctness came into fashion, a reminder of big
brother politics really and a kind of bending the freedom in free speech.
My minds tired
Ive worked so hard all week
Cashed my check
I'm ready to go
I promise you
I'll show you such a good time
Come on baby lets get away
Lets save your troubles for another day
Come go with me we've got it made
Let me take you on an escapade
The Gulf War was won in a very short time in '91 and President Bush announced that Kuwait had

been liberated.
In this same year the last of 17 U.S. prisoners in Lebanon were freed after being captive since 1984.
A fellow by the name of Boris Yeltsin won Russia's first "free" election while in California, police
brutality was caught on film resulting in the now famous Rodney King case.
As for the songs. Here's the Timmy T hit--One More Try--written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards.
It's been a long time since you left me

I didn't mean to make you cry

I didn't mean to disappiont you

I didn't mean to tell you lies

And after all that we have been through

Won't you let me tell you why

Chorus:

One more try

I didn't know how much I loved you

One more try

Le t me put my arms around you

Living all these lonely nights without you

Oh baby can we give it one more try

[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/t/timmy_t/one_more_try.html ]

It's been a long time since I've kissed you

It always used to feel so good

If you knew how much I missed you

You'd forgive me if you could

Now that we have found each other

Can't we give it one more try...

1992 was basically a quiet year compared to decades that preceded it. Indeed, it seems with only a
few exceptions the U.S. had a rollercoaster of crucial dynamics since...well, 1929.
In any case, while it will be pretty meaningless for those born in the 1980s and beyond but this was

the year that Johnny Carson

had his 30 year run on NBC.
Johnny Carson was probably the most beloved and enjoyed comedian and TV host of the second half
of the 1900s. We old timers miss him to this day:
The big news of '92 was that Bill Clinton won the presidency from Geroge H. Bush. Bill Clinton

is perhaps my favorite president--not because he's a

democrat or republican but because he was (and remains) Bill Clinton, a president not afraid to

show his humanism and give us a laugh along the way. He liked cigars

and women! His affair with Monica Lewinsky made headlines

and
nearly got him impeached but when push came to judge he simply said, "I did it because I could." I
loved that; that was spunk in the face of his peers and, for that matter, the world. Clinton is still
beloved internationally. And, just because he had a keen sense of humor doesn't mean that he didn't
do a great job as president. Like all presidents he was imperfect and certainly didn't make all the
humanistic decisions he might have but in overview he did a lot more good than
harm...internationally and domestically.
A great hit of '92 was a Boyz II Men, End of the Road.
[Spoken:]

Girl you know we belong together

I have no time for you to be playing

With my heart like this

You'll be mine forever baby, you just see

We belong together

And you that I'm right

Why do you play with my heart,

Why do you play with my mind?

Said we'd be forever

Said it'd never die

How could you love me and leave me

And never say goodbye?

When I can't sleep at night without holding you tight

Girl, each time I try I just break down and cry

Pain in my head oh I'd rather be dead

Spinnin' around and around

[Chorus:]

Although we've come to the End Of The Road

Still I can't let you go

It's unnatural, you belong to me, I belong to you

Come to the End of the Road

Still I can't let you go

It's unnatural, you belong to me, I belong to you

A great many people gathered in Washington D.C. in August of this year to celebrate (and

remember) Martin Luther's

"I have a Dream" speech given 30
years before; a teacher of the heart and mind speech not only for blacks but for all people who
listened.
This was also the year that the president's wife, Hilary proposed a health plan that would give every
American "a comprehensive package of benefits that can never be taken away." It would not be until
the next millennium that a health program would be presented to congress that fulfilled her basic
projections.
This too was the year that the "Don't ask, don't tell" law was passed permitting gays to serve in the

arm forces.
What this actually meant is that the ban on
homosexuals in the armed services was still a taboo, but a kind of ostrich came into effect

. A very odd way for supposing American intelligence to work--why

not just say homosexuals can now enlist? Ah, social mores!!
I've been

Runnin'

In circles all day long

I'm out

Of breath

But I'm still goin' strong

I'm gonna get you yeah

No matter what they say

You think I'm losin'

But I always get my way

[Chorus]

Don't walk away when I'm talkin' to you

This ain't no time for your bad attitude

Don't give me that face

When you know I'm really down for the chase

Cause my heart's already in it

And I'm never gonna quit it

When you finally gonna get it

Don't walk away

'94 started out with a bang, so to speak. Los Angeles was hit with an Earthquake leaving a lot of
damage behind. These pictures show some of the damage,

In the same year ex-president Richard Nixon

died as did ex-

First Lady Jackie Kennedy

. Jacqueline was a beloved first lady, beautiful
and smart. With few exceptions American adored her.
The shocking news of the year, however, became an unexpected murder for which O.J. Simpson the
famous football player would be accused. There was a police car chase with Simpson in a Bronco

with a friend.
He would eventually give himself up...but
without admitting to the murder that no one believed he was innocent of.
As for music Ace of Base took All The She Wants to the top ten of '94.
When she woke up late in the morning light

And the day had just begun

She opened up her eyes and thought

Oh what a morning

It's not a day for work

It's a day for catching tan

Just lying on the beach and having fun

She's going to get you

All that she wants is another baby

She's gone tomorrow boy

All that she wants is another baby

All that she wants is another baby

She's gone tomorrow boy

All that she wants is another baby

All that she wants - all that she wants

Back in 1993 the government along with local law enforcement attacked am compound in Waco
Texas housing a religious cult of people calling themselves Branch Davidians. Nearly a hundred

human beings were massacred

when the group refused
orders from the FBI to evacuate--after a lengthy standoff between the cult members and authority

tanks such as this one

was put into action and soon enough
the cult members perished in the flames shown here: The vicious attack was never fully justified by
authorities and the ordeal soon enough faded from the public's mind.
In 1995 an act of terrorism a car bomb tore more than 90 feet into the Alfred Murrah federal
building in Oklahoma City. Mid-Eastern terrorists were first to be suspected but as it turned out a
white man by the name of Timothy McVeigh had murdered 168 innocent people in the bombing
because, it is thought, to seek revenge for the 1993 murders at Waco.

In this same year O.J. Simpson was acquitted:

Rose Kennedy passed away this year. She was the 104 mother of Jack and Robert Kennedy and their
siblings. Indeed, the Kennedy family is very large extremely wealthy and have much influence in the
country.
As for music, Michael Jackson's You Are Not Alone will bring back a lot of memories for a lot of
people.
Another day has gone

I'm still all alone

How could this be

You're not here with me

You never said goodbye

Someone tell me why

Did you have to go

And leave my world so cold

Everyday I sit and ask myself

How did love slip away

Something whispers in my ear and says

That you are not alone

For I am here with you

Though you're far away

I am here to stay
But you are not alone

For I am here with you

Though we're far apart

You're always in my heart

But you are not alone

The positive news of 1996 was that the summer Olympics were held in Atlanta, Georgia Medical
marijuana was approved in California. The sad and tragic news was a TWA flight to Paris went down
just 30 minutes after takeoff. All 238 people aboard were killed.
As for pop songs. A big hit was Quad City's, Comon and Ride It.
Come on ride the train hey ride it woo woo

Come on ride the train hey ride it woo woo

Come on ride the train woo woo hey

Ride it woo woo

Come on ride the train

Woo woo hey ride it woo woo

Come on ride the train

It's the choo choo ride it woo woo

Come on ride the train it's the choo choo train

Come on ride the train it's the choo choo

Ride it, woo woo

Come on, ride the train, it's the choo choo train
Way deep down south, where we play this game

It's them Quad City DJs and you,

We call it the train

So if you wanna ride your thing

Just come on down the train

We gonna rock, ooh, Lord, just jump aboard, baby

So get your next of kin, your sister and your friend

Pack it up now, choo choo, ride on this, choo choo

And, boo, you need to stop faking, and come on with me

I wanna take you home with me, to be alone with me

And I can see you wanna hide it, come on, just divide it

And please don't knock it, until you ride it

So to all of you girls, you know, I'm calling your name

Michelle, Tamika and Tanya

Wanna ride this train, ride out now

1 Come on ride the train hey ride it woo woo

Come on ride the train hey ride it woo woo

Come on ride the train woo woo hey

Ride it woo woo

Come on ride the train

Woo woo hey ride it woo woo

Come on ride the train

It's the choo choo ride it woo woo

Come on ride the train it's the choo choo train

Come on ride the train it's the choo choo

Ride it, woo woo

Come on, ride the train, it's the choo choo train
Way deep down south, where we play this game

It's them Quad City DJs and you,

We call it the train

So if you wanna ride your thing

Just come on down the train

We gonna rock, ooh, Lord, just jump aboard, baby

So get your next of kin, your sister and your friend

Pack it up now, choo choo, ride on this, choo choo

And, boo, you need to stop faking, and come on with me

I wanna take you home with me, to be alone with me

And I can see you wanna hide it, come on, just divide it

And please don't knock it, until you ride it

So to all of you girls, you know, I'm calling your name

Michelle, Tamika and Tanya

Wanna ride this train, ride out now...

And Sittin' Up in My Room y Brandy:

Seems like ever since the first day we met

There is no one else I think of more than you

Can't seem to forget,

can't get you out my head

Guess the verdict's in, I'm crazy over you

How can one be down, tell me where to start

Cause every time you smile, I feel trembles in my heart

I have but one concern, how can I get with you

Till my day comes, here's what I'm gonna do

[Chorus:]

Be sittin' up in my room

Back here thinkin' bout you

I must confess I'm a mess for you

Be sittin' up in my room

Back here thinkin' bout you

I'm just a mess with a thing for you

Pray that you'll invest in my happiness

All it takes is just one simple call from you

Turn my heart around,

if I'm making ground

Pretty baby please, tell me if I'm getting through

Tell me what is up

You see I need to know

Tell me if I'm far or, if I'm getting close

I have but one concern, and that one concern is you

Till I'm with you, here's what I'm gonna do

1997
The law can be a little wacko at times too. As you recall O.J. was acquitted for murdering his wife
and her friend. Okay, you can't be tried for the same crime twice right? Well, a civil case this year
went against O.J. and found him "liable" for the deaths of Nicole Simpson and Ronald Goldman and
the jury found O.J. guilty of "willingly and wrongfully" causing Goldman's death by stabbing.
Goldman's family was awarded 8.5 million dollars for O.J.'s wrong doing.
If you, the reader are having a hard time figuring all this out...Me too!
There was another mass suicide this year: This occurred at the rather prestigious Rancho Santa Fe

outside of San Diego, California. Marshall Applegate

led
the "group" of 39 members who believed that they had been sent to earth as angels. What they
thought was that a flying saucer was hiding behind and traveling behind the Hale-Bopp comet and
was on its way to take them to the stars. The only flaw in the ointment was that they had to be "out
of their containers" (their bodies) to fulfill the plan. Thus they committed suicide. The entire cult was
so "way out there" that Newsweek even ran a story on it.
Tiger Woods was making positive waves on the golf courses in this year and quickly becoming the
love-object for millions of Americans. No one dreamed what was to come.

The hit song of '97-Elton John's Candle in the Wind made the top of the charts:
Goodbye Norma Jean

Though I never knew you at all

You had the grace to hold yourself

While those around you crawled

They crawled out of the woodwork

And they whispered into your brain

They set you on the treadmill

And they made you change your name

And it seems to me you lived your life

Like a candle in the wind

Never knowing who to cling to

When the rain set in

And I would have liked to have known you

But I was just a kid

Your candle burned out long before

Your legend ever did

Loneliness was tough

The toughest role you ever played

Hollywood created a superstar

And pain was the price you paid

Even when you died

Oh the press still hounded you

All the papers had to say

Was that Marilyn was found in the nude

And it seems to me you lived your life

Like a candle in the wind

Never knowing who to cling to

When the rain set in

And I would have liked to have known you

But I was just a kid

Your candle burned out long before

Your legend ever did

Goodbye Norma Jean

Though I never knew you at all

You had the grace to hold yourself

While those around you crawled

Goodbye Norma Jean

From the young man in the 22nd row

Who sees you as something more than sexual

More than just our Marilyn Monroe

1998
This was actually the year that President Clinton caught red handed, fooling around in the White

House with the young government worker, Monica Lewinsky

Because of
the tattle-tale news that broke loose, Clinton/Lewinsky cigar jokes were immediately popularize but
somehow all this seemed to make the president even more popular with the public and not less; a
frustration to the moralists of course.
Not all was fun and games on the Hill, however: Two U.S. embassies were bombed this year--one in
Kenya and another in Tanzania so the Clinton Administration retaliated by bombing targets in
Afghanistan and the Sudan. The justification at the time was that Afghanistan was a center for
terrorists. As far as the Sudan it is said that we bombed a chemical factory but as it turned out, we
hit a factory producing medicines for at least half the population--the result of the bombing was sad
and devastating.
This was the same year that a serious attempt to change the law occurred in Washington in an early
try to legalize same sex marriages. The U.S. was ready for change as we approached the new
millennium.
Pop music of 98 gave us Brandy and Monica's dynamic, The Boy is Mine. Bring back any memories?
[Brandy] Excuse me, can I please talk to you for a minute

[Monica] uh huh, sure, you know you look kinda familiar

[Brandy] Yeah, you do too but, umm,

I just wanted to know do you know

somebody named you,

you know his name.

[Monica] Oh, yeah definitely I know his name.

[Brandy] I just wanted to let you know he's mine.

[Monica] Huh..no no, he's mine.

You need to give it up.

Had about enough.

It's not hard to see,

the boy is mine.

[Brandy] - I think it's time we got this straight,

let's sit and talk face to face.

There is no way you could mistake him for your man,

Are you insane?

[Monica] - See I know that you may be

just a bit jealous of me.

Cause' you're blind if you can't see

that his love is all in me.

[Brandy] - See I tried to hesitate,

I didn't want to say what he told me.

He said without me

he couldn't make it through the day,

ain't that a shame.

[Monica] - And maybe you misunderstood,

Plus I can't see how he could

wanna take his time and that's all good.

All of my love was all it took

The boy is mine.

You need to give it up.

Had about enough.

It's not hard to see,

the boy is mine.

I'm sorry that you

seem to be confused.

He belongs to me

the boy is mine.

1999
1999 was a fairly mellow year for most American'sbut that doesn't imply "mellowness"
internationally. Anyway,this was the year when impeachment proceedings actually start against Bill
Clinton, Barbie turned 40 and the Columbine High School killings by two teenage boys

occurred to give just about everyone else a shock.

What happened was that two disgruntled school boys walked into the Littleton, Colorado, school and
most virtually started shooting. When they stopped, 15 were dead; 15 had their dreams and hopes
stolen away by two extremists. The obvious question is...why, and while we can all accept one person
snapping for one reason or another, how do two potential crazies find each other, plot an insane
killing spree and carry it out?
Jack Kevorkian

is another mystery of '99. He had been having problems with authorities for ten years when in this
year he was sentenced to 10 to 25 years in prison for second degree murder. His crime as a doctor,
participating in assisted suicides with people wanting to die. His last "patient" had endured a
chronic, crippling and fatal decease and evidentally simply want to get it over with. Doctor
Kevorkian, if you will, gave a helping hand. The question is, was Kevorkian a twisted psychopath or a
man with deep philosophical principles" Does the individual have the right to choose to die?
In the meantime Clinton had his mind on the bombing of Yugoslavia through NATO aggressions; a
war most basically between the Serbians who had attacked Bosnia, and was now being attacked by

Kosovo
nationalists in a bloody struggle for...for what? If we strip
away all the formality of national justification the answer is, at bottom line, hate. This particular,
bloody war was religious at root level:. The nearly two million residents of Kosovo included 1.6
million Muslims....150,000 Serbian Orthodox...60,000 Roman Catholics. Here's a photo showing the

result of all these devotees to their beliefs:

The war ended before Clinton's term was up and Geroge Bush

stepped into the Oval Office.

As all this occurred most Americans were unaware of the turmoil in Europe or gave much thought to
the Kevorkian question and, as nearly always, just tried to live as well and as happily as they
possibly could. And, as far as the music of '99, there was some great songs that hit the charts
starting with Cher's, Believing:
No matter how hard I try

You keep pushing me aside

And I can't break through

There's no talking to you

It's so sad that you're leaving

It takes time to believe it

But after all is said and done

You're gonna be the lonely one

Do you believe in life after love

I can feel something inside me say

I really don't think you're strong enough

Do you believe in life after love

I can feel something inside me say

I really don't think you're strong enough

What am I supposed to do

Sit around and wait for you

Well I can't do that

And there's no turning back

I need time to move on

I need a love to feel strong

Cause I've got time to think it through

And maybe I'm too good for you

And if this doesn't bring back special memories for you, how about Britney Spears', Baby One More
Time?
Oh baby, baby

Oh baby, baby
Oh baby, baby, how was I supposed to know

That something wasn't right here

Oh baby, baby, I shouldn't have let you go

And now you're out of sight, yeah

Show me how you want it to be

Tell me baby 'cause I need to know now, oh because

My loneliness is killing me (and I)

I must confess I still believe (still believe)

When I'm not with you I lose my mind

Give me a sign

Hit me baby one more time

2000
Geroge W. Bush took over the presidency this year in one of the closest races in U.S. history. Mobil
phones were popularized in this year and a disaster hit the beloved Mississippi River. Over 300
gallons of black sludge was released into the river when an energy company's dam broke in Inez,
Kentucky. Millions of fish were killed, the river was further violated and it cost nearly 80 million to
clean up at least that area of the river.
Prices were high for the time in the year 2000:

Gallon of gas $1.26

Pound of bacon $2.97
Loaf of bread $1.72
Dozen eggs .89cents
The cost of an average new house around $ 135,000.
As for a pop song during that year--Recall Faith Hill's, Breathe:
I can feel the magic floating in the air

Being with you get's me that way

I watch the sunlight dance across your face

And I've never been this swept away

All my thoughts just seem to settle on the breeze

When I'm lying wrapped up in your arms

The whole world just fades away

The only thing I hear

Is the beating of your heart

'Cause I can feel you breathe

It's washing over me

And suddenly I'm melting into you

There's nothing left to prove

Baby, all we need is just to be

Caught up in the touch

Slow and steady rush

Baby, isn't that the way that love's supposed to be

I can feel you breathe, just breathe

2001
There is not anything that occurred in 2001 that overshadows the great disaster of the terrorist
attack on the Twin Towers. The following pictures show the devastation:

2,758 were killed in the New York attack. 343 Firefighters and paramedics were killed and 23 N.Y.
police officers. The coordinated attacks using commercial jet airliners as missiles struck the Twin
towers and, approximately 30 minutes later, another jet slammed into a portion of the Pentagon. At
the Pentagon all 58 passengers along with 4 flight attendants died as did 125 occupants of the
Pentagon.
"Credit" for these vicious attacks was taken by al Qaeda headed by a Muslin fanatic by the name

Osama bin Laden.

from Saudi Arabia.

The bulk of terrorist completing the mission(s) were

President Bush's Address to the Nation was applauded across the country. He said: "These acts
shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve." Although most Americans were
still in a state of shock, the American spirit to fight the enemy had been stirred in the hearts of most.
America after all had been "treaded upon."
A Pop song of that year was a Lifehouse hit: Hanging by a Moment.
I'm desperate for changing

Starving for truth

I'm closer to where I started

I'm chasing after you

I'm falling even more in love with you

Letting go of all I've held onto

I'm standing here until you make me move

I'm hanging by a moment here with you

Forgetting all I'm lacking

Completely incomplete

I'll take your invitation

You take all of me now

I'm falling even more in love with you

Letting go of all I've held onto

I'm standing here until you make me move

I'm hanging by a moment here with you

I'm living for the only thing I know

I'm running and not quite sure where to go

And I don't know what I'm diving into

Just hanging by a moment here with you

There's nothing else to lose

There's nothing else to find

There's nothing in the world

That can change my mind

There is nothing else

There is nothing else

There is nothing else...

2002
Soon after the 911 attack President Bush gave the order to bomb Afghanistan. It was thought that
Osama bin Laden was somewhere hiding there. Bill Clinton had done the same thing after the attack
on the Tanzania and Kenya embassies had been bombed. Indeed, Clinton also bombed the Sudan.
Anyway, as in all armed conflicts a great many innocent people suffered and yes, died because of the
Osama attack and America's response to that attack. Both the defense and offense had harmed
innocent bystanders because of the nature of war itself. The fundamentalist religious nuts would
soon enough escalate suicide bombings just to appease their god of injustice by murdering
bystanders. In many ways 2002 was the year that the world had gone mad. And, at the time of all
this, Iraq was refusing to let the U.N. have permission to do weapon inspections. And, there was a
lot of turmoil on the horizon!
During this same year Colorado had the worst forest fires in its history; Bushed signed the No Child
left Behind Act and it was estimated that 40 million people (worldwide) had the Aids/HIV virus. If all
this wasn't upsetting enough a tornado swept through the southern states killing 36 people. What is
that old saying...it never rains but it pours?
As for music. A big 2002 hit was Nellie's, It's Hot in Here:
Hot in.....

So hot in heerre.....

So hot in.....
I was like, good gracious ass is bodacious

Oh, flirtatious, tryin to show patience

I'm waitin' for the right time to shoot my steez

Waitin' for the right time to flash them keys

Then um I'm leavin, please believin (oh)

Me and the rest of my heathens

Check it, got it locked at the top of the four seasons

Penthouse, roof top, birds I feedin

No deceivin', nothin up my sleeve and, no teasin'

I need you to get up on the dance floor

Give that man what he askin' for (oh)

'Cause I feel like bustin' loose and I feel like touchin' you (uh uh)

And can't nobody stop the juice so baby tell me what's the use
Its getting' hot in here

So take off all your clothes...

2003
The terrorists were busy in this second year after the destruction of the Twin Towers. In Iraq a

terrorist bombed the United Nations Baghdad Headquarters. In Turkey Al-Qaeda terrorists drove
two trucks packed with explosives into a synagogue in Istanbul killing 27; car bombs in Najaf, Iraq
killed nearly 100 people and in India two large car bombs exploded in Bombay killing 50 and
injuring three times that count.
The United State plans for an invasion of Iraq based on a supposition that Iraq is harboring weapons
of mass destruction. The reasons for the invasion however were far more complex and involved with
Saudi Arabia than the fear of a Iraqi leap into a nuclear power position. Nevertheless, off we went
accompanied primarily with British troops to take our stand in the mid-East. The U.S. and U.K.

started with a massive airstrike in Baghdad

landed their land forces.

and then

The war was on...the war was over and finally Saddam Hussein the former President of Iraq was
captured in his hiding place, in Tikrit. Here is the president of Iraq at the height of his power

and again at the time of his capture.

There wasn't anything overshadowing all the bitter fighting and terror attacks in 2003. Yet, at home
life was going on as normal with R. Kelly hitting the top of the charts with Ignition.
You remind me of somethin'

I just can't think of what it is

Girl, please let me stick my key in your ignition,

babe

So I can get this thing started and get rollin', babe

See, I'll be doin' about 80 on your freeway

Girl, I won't stop until I drive you crazy

So buckle up 'cause this can get bumpy, babe

Now hit the lights and check out all my functions,

babe

Girl, back that thing up so I can wax it, baby

Honey, we gon' mess around and get a ticket, babe

'Cause we off up in this jeep

We foggin' up the windows

We got the radio up

We all up in the back

We got the shit bouncin'

We goin' up and down

And we smokin' and we drinkin'

Just thuggin' it out

2004
The big news of 2003 was that the CIA admitted that there was no imminent thread from weapons of
mass destruction before the 1003 invasion of Iraq. The propaganda that followed was that we were
there to give the Iraqi people freedom. It was in this same year that Secretary of State Colin Powell

retired

and Condoleezza Rice

was nominated to take his place. And, Geroge W.

Bush beat John Kerry winning a second term in the White House.
A major story of torture of Iraq prisoners at the Abu Ghraib Prison

was reported. (Before making a judgment call one should read

"The Lucifer Effect" by Philip Zimbardo).
Also those terrible and terrifying tsunami waves that reportedly killed 250,000 people on the
coastlines of Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Burma, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Maldives.
The massive waves were caused by what is called the biggest earthquake in 40 years, originating in
the Indian Ocean. Here's a photo showing damage off the coast of Sri Lanka.

Back home the Usher hit, "Burn" might ring your memory bells:
I don't understand why

See it's burning me to hold onto this

I know this is something I gotta do

But that don't mean I want to

What I'm trying to say is that I-love-you I just

I feel like this is coming to an end

And its better for me to

Let it go now than hold on and hurt you

I gotta let it burn

It's gonna burn for me to say this

But it's comin from my heart

It's been a long time comin

But we done been fell apart

Really wanna work this out

But I don't think you're gonna change

I do but you don't

Think it's best we go our separate ways

Tell me why I should stay in this relationship

When I'm hurting baby, I ain't happy baby

Plus there's so many other things I gotta deal with

I think that you should let it burn

When the feeling ain't the same and your body don't want to

But you know gotta let it go cuz the party ain't jumpin' like it used to

Even though this might bruise you

Let it burn

Let it burn

Gotta let it burn

Deep down you know it's best for yourself but you

Hate the thought of her being with someone else

But you know that it's over

We know it is through

Let it burn

Let it burn

Gotta let it burn...

Geroge W. Bush began his second term as 43rd president of U.S.A. this year. It was also this
year that he admitted he'd authorized a secret eves dropping program in the U.S. after September
11th terrorist attacks. Prisoners go on a hunger strike at the US Guantanamo Bay Prison while
Secretary of State, Donald Rumsfeld, refuses the United Nations commission all access to inmates of
that prison.
It was during this year too that the U.S. government ran a car race out on the Mojave Desert. What
made the race unique was that the race was between robotic cars like this one

Just think one day you might be taking your Sunday drive

like this
garage?

or perhaps you'll have a futuristic Lexus in your

Actually the military advantage is the practical hope for these vehicles: imagine a tank with full
firing power being able to drive right into the enemy's camp or town and simply start firing.
The weather was treacherous in '05. A tornado hit western Kentucky and Southern Indiana killing
22; a F3 tornado struck Indiana killing 25 people. The big killer, however, was Hurricane Katrina

hitting Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. 1600 known deaths occurred from that storm and

around 80% of New Orleans was flooded

The first half of the new millennium had more than its share of tragedy world wide--both man made
and nature made.
We kept singing though and a very popular song of 2005 was Mariah Carey's, Shake it Off:
I goota shake you off

'Cause the loving ain't the same

And you keep on playing games

Like you know I'm here to stay

I gotta shake you off

Just like the Calgon commercial

I really gotta get up outta here

And go somewhere

I gotta shake you off

Gotta make that move

Find somebody who

Appreciates all the love I give

Boy I gotta shake you off

Gotta do what's best for me

Baby and that means I gotta

Shake you off

%20Washington.jpg" width="314" />
By the time you get this message

It's gonna be too late

So don't bother paging me

Cause I'll be on my way

See I grabbed all my diamonds and clothes

Just ask your momma she knows

You're gonna miss me baby

Hate to say I told you so

Well at first I didn't know

But now it's clear to me

You would cheat with all your freaks

And lie compulsively

So I packed up my Louis Vuitton

Jumped in your ride and took off

You'll never ever find a girl

Who loves you more than me

I gotta shake you off

'Cause the loving ain't the same

And you keep on playing games

Like you know I'm here to stay

I gotta shake you off

Just like the Calgon commercial

I really gotta get up outta here

And go somewhere

I gotta shake you off

Gotta make that move

Find somebody who

Appreciates all the love I give

Boy I gotta shake you off

Gotta do what's best for me

Baby and that means I gotta

Shake you off...

2006
The U.S. and the world saw a lot of turmoil in this year too: that North Korea became the world's 9th
Nuclear Power--you have to hope that none of those leaders goes nuts, gets high, drunk or just
outraged and...worry started this year about Iran wanting "the bomb" too and, speaking of Iran, this
is the year they tested missiles capable of reaching Israel and when

Iran's leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

said the Holocaust never
happened. He actually looks brighter than that but he simply thinks the Holocaust never existed but
believes when he gets to heaven there'll be beautiful virgins waiting for him. Hmmm, something to
ponder!
This was also the year that President Bush admitted that we have secret CIA prisons worldwide so
that "somebody" can do all the cruel stuff outside US jurisdiction. Hypocrisy, I should think.
This was also the year the tsunami struck the Indonesian island of Java killing 300: There's just so
much sadness in the world without man's inhumanity to man.
It almost seems fitting that the top of the charts would be Donald Powder's, Bad Dad.
Where is the moment we needed the most?

You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost

You tell me your blue skies fade to grey

You tell me your passion's gone away

And I don't need no carrying on

You stand in the line just to hit a new low

You're faking a smile with the coffee to go

You tell me your life's been way off line

You're falling to pieces every time

And I don't need no carrying on

'Cause you had a bad day, you're taking one down

You sing a sad song just to turn it around

You say you don't know, you tell me don't lie

You work at a smile and you go for a ride

You had a bad day, the camera don't lie

You're coming back down and you really don't mind

You had a bad day, you had a bad day

Well you need a blue sky holiday

The point is they laugh at what you say

And I don't need no carrying on

You had a bad day, you're taking one down

You sing a sad song just to turn it around

You say you don't know, you tell me don't lie

You work at a smile and you go for a ride...

2007
The presidential race begins this year--Republicans: Mitt Romney, Rudi Giuliani, John McCain, Mike
Huckabee, Tommy Thompson, Duncan Hunter, Sam Brownback, Tom Tancredo, Jim Gilmore and
Fred Thomson--Democrats: Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama. John Edwards, Ron Paul, Mike Gravel,
Chris Dodd, Bill Richardson, Joe Biden and Dennis Kucinich. America's choice would surprise if not
shock the world.

Nancy Pelosi
Congress.

is elected as first female Speaker of the U.S.

The terrible foreclosure explosion began in this year PIC and a new homeless population began

With all the negative stuff, hope for the future remains as seen by the "Liberty of the Seas"
passenger cruise shipped launched this year,
As for pop hits--remember Fergie's Big Girls Don't Cry?

The smell of your skin lingers on me now

You're probably on your flight back to your home town

I need some shelter of my own protection baby

To be with myself and center, clarity

Peace, Serenity
[CHORUS:]

I hope you know, I hope you know

That this has nothing to do with you

It's personal, myself and I

We've got some straightenin' out to do

And I'm gonna miss you like a child misses their blanket

But I've got to get a move on with my life

It's time to be a big girl now

And big girls don't cry

Don't cry

Don't cry

Don't cry
The path that I'm walking

I must go alone

I must take the baby steps 'til I'm full grown, full grown

Fairytales don't always have a happy ending, do they?

And I foresee the dark ahead if I stay

Like the little school mate in the school yard

We'll play jacks and uno cards

I'll be your best friend and you'll be my Valentine

Yes you can hold my hand if you want to

'Cause I want to hold yours too

We'll be playmates and lovers and share our secret worlds

But it's time for me to go home

It's getting late, dark outside

I need to be with myself and center, clarity

Peace, Serenity
[CHORUS]
La Da Da Da Da Da The smell of your skin lingers on me now

You're probably on your flight back to your home town

I need some shelter of my own protection baby

To be with myself and center, clarity

Peace, Serenity
I hope you know, I hope you know

That this has nothing to do with you

It's personal, myself and I

We've got some straightenin' out to do

And I'm gonna miss you like a child misses their blanket

But I've got to get a move on with my life

It's time to be a big girl now

And big girls don't cry

Don't cry

Don't cry

Don't cry
2008
U.S. economy takes a terrible dip this year and the cost of the Iraq war goes on--so far we have
spent $3 trillion dollars. Need we wonder what is supporting the recession?
In this year General Motors reported their largest loss--$38.7 billion in 2007. Citigroup, among other
large American banks report a loss of $9.83 billion. Housing prices keep falling so President bush
signs a $700 billion bailout and agrees to a $150 billion stimulus package including a tax rebate of
$600 for individuals...$1,200 for couples and families with an addition $300 per child.
There is yet a most incredible piece of historic Americana--Republican Bush is out, Democratic

Obama is in.
Yes, that's right a black man. The historic
significance and importance was and remain phenomenal.

The Republicans lost but kept their sense of humor

songs--Alice Keys, No One hit the top of the charts:
I just want you close

Where you can stay forever

You can be sure

That it will only get better

You and me together

Through the days and nights

I don't worry 'cuz

Everything's going to be alright

People keep talking they can say what they like

But all i know is everything's going to be alright

No one, no one, no one

Can get in the way of what I'm feeling

No one, no one, no one

Can get in the way of what I feel for you, you, you

: As for pop

Can get in the way of what I feel for you

2009

The Rock star Michael Jackson

dies under suspicious
circumstances this year and the world responded with shock and grief. He was without any doubt
whatsoever amidst the very best entertainers in history:
The good news was that Airways Flight 1549 had a miraculous save by Captain Chesley B. (Sully)

Sullenberger

crash landing on the Hudson River.

Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th President in in 2009--at long last black children would
be given a new view of the possibilities of their own futures--an incredible change in a hostile world.
As for pop songs of '09--Lady Gaga's Poker Face was high on the charts:

I wanna hold em'

Like they do in Texas plays (Ay)

Fold em', let em' hit me, raise it

Baby stay with me (I love it)

Luck and intuition play the cards

With spades to start

And after he's been hooked

I'll play the one that's on his heart

Oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh-e-oh-oh

I'll get him hot, show him what I've got

Oh, whoa, oh, oh, oh-oh-oh-e-oh-oh

I'll get him hot, show him what I've got

Can't read my, can't read my

No, he can't read my poker face

(She got me like nobody)

Can't read my, can't read my

No, he can't read my poker face

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face

(Mum mum mum mah)

P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face,,,

2010
Average prices of 2010 are:
Gallon of gas $2.49
Dozen eggs $1.37
Loaf of bread $2.49
And the price of oil is steadily getting higher!
The world's financial crisis has continued to worsen with higher unemployment spreading across
the U.S.A.
New Political faces on the block are escalating in what is called the "Tea Party." Sort of Libertarians
actually doing something as opposed to just talking about it...however, they are based on a NormanRockwellian prospective which discredits their objectivity. Nevertheless, they are out to foil Obama
from gaining a second term.
In this same year the crazies attack trains at the central LaBianca station and the Park Kultury
station on the Moscow Metro leaving 40 dead and 60 injured by suicide bombers. One more
unnecessary tragedy caused by indoctrinated fanatics. A modern dilemma of a kind that should have
been left by the wayside in the Dark Ages!
A pop song of 2010 was another (off-the-wall) Lady Gaga hit, Bad Romance written by Stefani
Germanotta and Nadir Khayat:
Oh, caught in a bad romance

Oh, caught in a bad romance

Rah, rah, ah, ah, ah

Roma, Roma, ma

Gaga, ooh, la, la

Want your bad romance

Rah, rah, ah, ah, ah

Roma, roma, ma

Gaga, ooh la la

Want your bad romance

I want your ugly, I want your disease

I want your everything as long as it's free

I want your love

Love, love, love, I want your love

I want your drama, the touch of your hand

I want your leather studded kiss in the sand

I want your love...

Love, love, love, I want your love

(Love, love, love, I want your love)

You know that I want you

And you know that I need you

I want it bad, bad romance

I want your love, and I want your revenge

You and me could write a bad romance

I want your love, and all your love is revenge

You and me could write a bad romance

Oh, caught in a bad romance

Oh, caught in a bad romance

2011
The most celebrated news was actually forbidden news in a strange way--the leader of Al-Qaeda was
shot and killed by U.S. military; the man who gave the order for the Twin Tower attack, killing
thousands of innocent people is dead.
I say "forbidden" because I find it so depressing that after thousands of years of history we humans
are still confronting such acts of hate in the name of ideologies and religion. One would think all that
would have gone away long before the 21st century.
On a positive note NASA's Messenger spacecraft will become the first man-made technology to orbit

Mercury
McDonalds.

Mercury is only over forty million miles from the nearest

This is the year that Mitt Romney decided to run for president again.
A pop song hitting high on the charts is an unexpected "Move Like Jagger" by Christiana Aguilera:
Just shoot for the stars

If it feels right

Then aim for my heart

If you feel like

And take me away, make it okay

I swear I'll behave

You wanted control

So we waited

I put on a show

Now I make it

You say I'm a kid

My ego is big

I don't give a sh*t

And it goes like this

Take me by the tongue

And I'll know you

Kiss me till you're drunk

And I'll show you

You want the moves like jagger

I've got the moves like jagger

I've got the moves... like jagger

I don't need child control you

Look into my eyes and I'll own you

With them the moves like jagger

I've got the moves like jagger

I've got the moves... like jagger

2012
The presidential election was the highest on the priority list of interests in 2012. And, as it turned
out, the Barack Obama/Mitt Romney campaign was probably the most controversial campaign in
modern history. There was a large faction of Americans who despised Obama creating one of the
most vicious hate campaigns I had seen in my fifty years of being of voting age. In fact, all year my
email was flooded with negative information that was meant to discredit the president with
accusations that stretched from calling him a socialist to downright evil--there was never anything
racial in the comments except for...between the lines.
Rush Limbough the famous voice of conservatism on national radio talked to his millions of listeners
almost daily on how Obama was the ruination of the country. The Tea Party

members stood with placards denouncing the president's

intentions even painting Hitler mustaches on his photographs. Here's a sampling of the ignorance:

And some downright stupid.

In spite of it all Obama won 50% of the popular vote and a wide, wide margin of the Electro College
vote.
What was the cause behind his victory--I believe that the people (consciously and/or unconsciously)

feel strongly that government has separated itself from them over the past decades and that the gap
between the rich and poor has gotten too wide and the American dream too hazy. I think also that
we fear seeing more and more of the homeless community growing and a greater lack of compassion
for the poor. I believe that what the American citizen wants is, indeed, change and therefore a
returning to actually having their individual pursuit of happiness Protected (not provided) by a
leadership that...cares.
We will have to wait and see.
As for pop song of 2012, Will I Am's, "Reach for the Stars" is high on the charts:
Why they say the sky is the limit

When I've seen the footprints on the moon

Why they say the sky is the limit

When I've seen the footprints on the moon

And I know the sky might be high

But baby it ain't really that high

And I know that mars might be far

But baby it ain't really that far

Let's reach for the stars

Reach for the stars

Let's reach for the stars

Reach for the stars

Let's reach for the stars

Reach for the stars

Let's reach for the stars...

SUMMARY OF THIS MUSIC SERIES

When I started this series, "Music: 100 years of memories 1912-2012" I assumed it was going to be a
light, fun reporting of yearly happenings and at least one memorable song from the times. The
reader will notice that the first years are pretty much like that, light and fluffy. But the more I got
into the actual history part the tougher it became to keep the work lighthearted as I had planned.
The history simply kept unfolding with more human tragedy than triumph. Indeed, about the only
thing that supported the human spirit was the music itself.
Certainly I did not hit 100 when it comes to listing everyone's meaningful songs or even their
favorites. I had to pick and choose out of quite a long list over the years. I do hope that I hit at least
one or two of your favorite memories along the way or at least inspired you to think back on the
songs that have been meaningful in your life.
As I approached the ending pages I began wondering how the heck to end the series. For one
thing I wanted to make an impact on the readers heart and mind. I wanted to end in some dynamic
way that might cause positive change in the entire world. That's a big desire, I know but why not?
Anyway, with those gigantic goals in mind, here are the lyrics I believe best supports those desires:
You've got to give a little, take a little,

And let your poor heart break a little.

That's the story of, that's the glory of love.

You've got to laugh a little, cry a little,

Until the clouds roll by a little.

That's the story of, that's the glory of love.

As long as there's the two of us,

We've got the world and all its charms.

And when the world is through with us,

We've got each other's arms.

You've got to win a little, lose a little,

Yes, and always have the blues a little.

That's the story of, that's the glory of love.

That's the story of, that's the glory of love.

[Written by Benny Hill...first performed by Benny Goodman 1936]