Jun
18

Alberta Top 40

OH. MY. GOD.

As they say, may you live in interesting times. Just not too interesting, then you can’t keep up with events. And that is certainly the case this past week what with separatism continuing to dominate the provincial headlines and then Trump and the Americans signing a unilateral cease fire with the Iranian sharks, tossing both Israel and their own self-respect over the fence at the same time.

Look, peace in the Middle East is a laudable goal and I am glad that this ridiculous excursion is over and done with, at least for the next 30-60 days, but dis the US have yo given up so much? I guess a future blog can analyse the failures but on first glance – yeesh.

Nucular – to be negotiated

Oil – Iran can start selling tight away

Sanctions – removed

US troops – leaving

Strait of goddamn Hormuz – reopened for 60 days o clear the backlog, then it is Iran’s and subject to tolls, sorry, fees.

Money – all flowing in one direction

Reparations – a $300 BILLION fund to rebuld that which was built

Reime change – what?

Ballistic Missiles – who cares?

Wait, reparations? Didn’t the Americans win?

Oil prices – off a cliff!

Oil supply – umm, still constrained.

Nobel prizes…. Still eluive.

Look, it’s all crazy times and you would be forgiven for thinking that that was my topic for the week, but in that you would be wrong. Because I have other things going.

What? There is more going on? Well yes, there absolutely is.

There is so much going on that iy is hard to pick just one topic…

But. I must. So I am going to tick to my guns, because I do have a blog schedule that I must adhere to.

In many ways, I wish we had someone incisive and unapologetically skeptical to comment on all the madness surrounding us, someone like Sad Bill Ackman (not the real Bill, who was also sad), a prominent oil and gas and Alberta voice who left us tragically far too soon.

Sad Bill would have loved this timeline, no matter how annoying because it is just. So. Damn, Stupid. I miss my anonymous online friend. If you would like to learn more about someone who left us far too soon, check out this link.

Sad Bill – 80 and 5 will let you down.

Of course posting a link to a tribute doesn’t absolve me of my bloggy responsibility, instead it kind of reinforces that. So, I present to you this week’s very, vey important missive, which is, of course, nothing short of a revelatory miracle.

A soundtrack for the summer if you will.

Yes, you are correct – a top 40 summer playlist for all of us separatist and referendum participants – pro, con, otherwise.

Enjoy – in no particular order – because that is the only way it should be.

Should I Stay or Should I Go – the Clash. A classic song about stark choices. Trouble. Double.
50 Ways (to Leave your Lover) – Paul Simon. Classic exit ditty, shows the many ways relationships can be terminated.
We are Never Ever Getting Back Together – Taylor Swift. An anthem to the absolutism of a break up.
Mon Pays – Gilles Vigneault. Classic Canadian and Quebecois rallying cry for a cultural distinctiveness.
Go Your Own Way – Fleetwood Mac. All true separatists need the confidence inspired by this song.
Breaking Up is Hard to Do – Neal Sedaka. Don’t say, that this is the end.
I Want to Break Free – Queen. A true call for independence.
Everything is Awesome – Lego Movie Theme. Unironically celebratory in a never to be actually replicated way.
Won’t Get Fooled Again – the Who. A rousing, anthemic statement of independence from the yoke of Canadianism
Stuck in the Middle – Stealers Wheels. Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, here I am. About sums it all up don’t it?
Daniel – Elton John. Sure, it should read Danielle, but all leaders need a theme song.
Money For Nothing – Dire Straits. An apt description of the generic sovereignty economic policy
Bye Bye Bye – Nsync. A national anthem in waiting?
Alberta Bound – Paul Brandt. “I’ve got independence in my veins”. Enough said
It’s Too Late – Carole King. Definitive end of relationship ballad. Something inside has died and I tried and I just can’t make it.
I Will Always Love You – Dolly Parton. So long Canda, we had a good run.
Freedom – George Michael. Sure it’s about self-expression and being real about your sexuality, but who’s gonna tell that Rath guy?
Hit the Road Jack – Stampeders. So long suckers. Don’t you come back no more.
Don’t think Twice, It’s Alright – Bob Dylan. Ain’t no use to sit and wonder why babe…
Two Tickets to Paradise – Eddie Money. How bad can it be – we leave tonight!
No Surrender – Bruce Springsteen. It can be a fight song. Blood brothers in the stormy night with a vow to defend, no retreat, baby, no surrender.
Irreplaceable – Beyonce. A direction to avoid – To The Left.
Four Strong Winds – Ian Tyson. Come on. No Alberta playlist is complete without this. Think I’ll go out to Alberta, weather’s good there in the fall. Bound for moving on
Good Riddance (Time of Your Life) – Green Day. Hope you all had fun while it lasted.
Here’s a Quarter (Call Someone Who Cares) – Travis Tritt. Kinda what we all want to say…
You Oughtta Know – Alanis Morisette. A ragey lament to the rest of Canada. Why aren’t you paying attention?
Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd. A song about being incomplete. We’re like two lost souls swimming in a fishbowl, year after year.
Nothing Compares to U – Sinead O’Connor. A plea for unity.
Free Bird – Lynyrd Skynyrd. About the most anthemic declaration of freedom there is. But only the live version. I’m as free as a Bird Now. And this bird you cannot change.
I’m Free – The Soup Dragons. Any old time.
I Shall be Released – The Band. Quintessential Canadiana with a falsetto. I see my ight come shining, from the west down to the east.
We Are Family – Sister Sledge. Bringing the family together for some disco.
With a Little Help from My Friends – the Beatles/Joe Cocker . What would you do if I sang out of tune, would you stand up and walk out on me. Not a chance!
Taking Care of Business – Bachman Turner Overdrive. Come on people, let’s get to work and stop arguing.
Photograph – Nickelback. If there is a band that can unify Canadians one way or another, it’s Nickelback
Wheat Kings – The Tragically Hip. Prairie small town vibe.
Lost Together – Blue Rodeo. If there is one song that can unify us all, it’s this one.
What a Wonderful World – Louis Armstrong. I see trees of green, red roses too. Unity.
All You Need is Love – the Beatles. Who needs partisanship, when you can have love.
O Canada – Roger Doucette. Inspirational. Hockey.