Write a controversial opinion

[Z_TheWriter]

A symphony with lyrics is just an oratorio.

Beethoven's Ninth Symphony includes a chorus.

My controversial(?) music opinion:
Genre and style delineations are entirely fictional, often arbitrary, and while often useful to help us talk about and understand pieces, should not be viewed as having any real authority. They are descriptive, not prescriptive.

 

[SkyBubble]

Yeah. Some things you just can't forget, no matter how much you want to.

"I never forget a face, but in your case I'll make an exception." -- Groucho Marx

 

[SkyBubble]

it strikes me as an obvious instance of the "Seinfeld is Unfunny" phenomenon.

Well, Seinfeld is unfunny.

 

[SkyBubble]

Aren't there enough controversial opinions without bringing religion and/or politics into this?

Apparently not.

 

[SkyBubble]

Controversial opinion - I like living in a country where it is almost impossible to come into contact with firearms.

I wouldn't like that at all.

 

[SkyBubble]

Several years ago I bought my wife a set of portable pocket alarms, for when she's out and about by herself. She promptly lost two, and generally leaves the last one at home despite my grumbles.

But yesterday she decided to take it with her, so she tested it first. I was in another room, and the thing nearly deafened me.

I really wish she'd be more consistent about carrying it.

Try this: https://byrna.com/

 

[SkyBubble]

There's a HS in Michigan that had a rebel mascot. That damn flag was all over the building until sometime around 2015/16? Whenever they started tearing down Confederate soldier statues. Nice, right?

There xar at least 2 high schools on Native reservations that call their teams the Redskins.

 

[SkyBubble]

I periodically fly the Stars and Bars and also the Bonnie Blue just because the ignorant, recreationally offended assclowns don't know that these are Confederate flags.

 

[Statius]

There xar at least 2 high schools on Native reservations that call their teams the Redskins.

Pretty shitty.

 

[SkyBubble]

Chocolate ice cream is shit. Vanilla is the way, the truth and the light.

Vanilla is great -- especially with sauce on it, or berries. But chocolate is wonderful. I love chocolate.

 

[MillieDynamite]

The property they fought for was black slaves, not land.

 

[SkyBubble]

Frank Sinatra wasn't really a great singer.

I think that overstates it, but I prefer Nat King Cole from the singers of that era.

 

[RoperTrace]

An unfinished series is less of a catastrophe than people make it out to be.

I've written a cliff-hanger on one of my stories, and on another website, it was widely criticized as an unfinished series. The site even posted some label on the story as an unfinished story? It has over 300K views.

 

[RoperTrace]

It makes me think of an underaged male. No man that I have ever known calls it a penis.

Serious question: do a lot of your male friends or acquaintances talk about their dick?

 

[SkyBubble]

a cover that takes a strong divergence from the original often wins me over

In 1963, Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote a song. The actor Richard Chamberlain "sang" it. It went nowhere. They gave it to Dionne Warwick. The formula. A few sales, not much. A couple of other singers tried it. Nope.

Bacharach was frustrated. He was sure it was a good song that should be a hit.

Bacharach was with A&M Records and the A was Herb Alpert (yes, of the Tijuana Brass.) Burt was expressing his frustration about this song to Herb one day. Alpert said to him "I have these kids I just signed; they won the Battle of the Bands at the Hollywood Bowl. I think they could do great with your song." Why not give it a shot, Bacharach figured.

Alpert told them not to listen to any of the previous versions, but to come up with a brand-new arrangement. They did. The female lead singer's voice and the arrangement crafted for hr were just what the song had waited seven years for. And they finally had their hit.

The song was called "Close to You" and it made those "kids" stars. They were a brother and sister act known simply as Carpenters.

 

[SkyBubble]

And just because the Winter story contest kicked off today, and there is major controversy each year in my household ... I never decorate for Christmas until after the American Thanksgiving.

I consider it improper to do so, but then I'm the founder and President of the National Society for Only One Holiday at a Time.

 

[SkyBubble]

From Michigan here. Christmas stuff was in stores 2 weeks before Holloween.

What part of Michigan, Statius? I went to college about 90 miles west of Detroit.

 

[SkyBubble]

It's too much. The song that makes me want to go on a killing rampage is the Paul McCartney tune, "Simply having a wonderful Christmas time."

Mine is The Little Drummer Boy, which Dave Barry once described as "a bunch of people standing around saying 'Pum.'"

 

[Bramblethorn]

Maybe you've never read O Henry.

Or maybe you don't understand what the word "many" means.

"The Gift of the Magi" is a decent story; it's a bit twee but that was the fashion, and it doesn't run long enough to wear out its welcome. Unfortunately, most of the people trying to write twist endings aren't O. Henry.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

Mine is The Little Drummer Boy, which Dave Barry once described as "a bunch of people standing around saying 'Pum.'"

This version is really great though.

 

[SimonDoom]

Mine is The Little Drummer Boy, which Dave Barry once described as "a bunch of people standing around saying 'Pum.'"

Somebody figured out that the sound resonates in the inner ear in a way that makes you want to go shopping.

 

[dirk2024]

Serious question: do a lot of your male friends or acquaintances talk about their dick?

Occasionally the topic arises.

 

[TheLobster]

Occasionally the topic arises.

I bet it becomes hard to ignore.

 

[Kelliezgirl]

I bet it becomes hard to ignore.

Especially if there is a mom on your lap, apparently.

 

[dirk2024]

Especially if there is a mom on your lap, apparently.

in the backseat of dad's car...