Happy Hump Day and Happy 4th of July! From now until July 11th, I’m taking over for Don Durito, spinning tunes and serving drinks for everyone’s entertainment.
As I wrote in the final comment to Midweek Cafe and Lounge, Vol. 71, “expect songs about the 4th of July.” I begin with Chicago – Saturday in the Park (lyrics) HD.
“Saturday in the Park” is a classic song written by Robert Lamm and recorded by the group Chicago for their 1972 album Chicago V. “Saturday in the Park” was very successful upon release, reaching #3 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the band’s highest-charting single to date, helping lift the album to #1. – Wikipedia
Moving forward to the 1980s, I present John Mellencamp – R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A. (A Salute To 60’s Rock) to continue the patriotic pop music.
Music video by John Mellencamp performing R.O.C.K. In The U.S.A. (A Salute To 60’s Rock).
Since Mellencamp referenced the 1960s, I’ll conclude the music portion of the diary by traveling back to that decade with Surfin’ U.S.A. by The Beach Boys.
Surfin’ U.S.A. (Stereo) · The Beach Boys
Once again, I’m concluding the diary proper by quoting Don Durito.
For those of you wondering how I and Neon Vincent are circumventing Sucuri to embed videos, here is an example of the embed code we use, so that you can replicate as wanted:
Just remember that each unique 11-digit video code in YouTube needs to be pasted in two separate locations within the embed code in order for your video to show up properly. So easy that I can do it!
With those instructions, feel free to post your favorite music videos in the comments.
Tipsy Bartender has at least a dozen drinks for holiday, so I’ll start with the most recent: American Firecracker.
I plan on posting more 4th of July drinks from Tipsy Bartender. In the meantime, the bartender is taking requests.
Today’s patriotic drink from Tipsy Bartender is Jello Shot American Flag.
Continuing with the patriotic holiday theme, today’s drink is 4th of July Pop Rocks Martini, where Skyy suggests that drinking it is like going to Disney World.
For the last drink comment, unless someone else recommends this diary to keep it on the rec list, I present Four 4th of July Drinks.
We should really take this opportunity, on America’s `birthday’ to thank the American service men whom spent so much blood and treasure liberating countries that were under the yoke of tyranny.
So let’s start with the Americans that died liberating Belgium at the end of WWll.
Belgium was a neutral country, by which is meant….they depended on the military strength of surrounding countries to protect Belgium borders, allowing them to spend little on defense, and yet wrap themselves in a nice warm blanket of moral superiority. This did not work out so well, because in 1940 they were conquered for the second time in thirty years by the Germans. After the Germans conquered them, the Germans moved on to France, but fearing a Belgium uprising, the Germans did leave a couple platoons to keep an eye on the famously rambunctious Belgiums.
But Belgium did not worry! They knew the British and Americans would not desert them. And sure enough, the Allies landed on D-Day. This consortium was made up of England, Canada, Australia, France, and America. I believe some Belgium troops did take part, coming ashore on the third day (after all the beaches were secure). Everything went great (from the Belgium perspective), until the Germans decided to drive the allies `into the sea’ in the Ardennes Forest. They attacked the Americans in what became the `Battle of the Bulge’. The Americans were surrounded, and cut off….and in such dire straights that the Germans demanded their surrender. Of course the Americans knew defeat would be disastrous, not only losing the newly rescued Belgium, but putting the whole invasion in doubt. So, knowing the stakes, the Americans decided to fight to the last man….for Belgium. And at the cost of the most American casualties per capita of any battle in the European Theatre for the whole war, the Americans prevailed. On Belgium soil there are American graveyards, where these brave men are buried. And in the Ardennes, you can still find the remains of men who died, rather than face defeat.
No Belgium soldiers took part in the battle, nor in the rescue of the trapped troops. But they did cheer them, when the wounded came into Brussels.
Where was the King of Belgium during this? Well, King Leopold was a Nazi sympathizer, who was busy trying to accommodate the Germans.
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I have something planned for the “Belgian” next week. Stay tuned.
Happy 4th everyone! Good music, good beverage ideas, and even an educational post. All the makings of a good diary and comments. Catch you all soon-ish. Back to my walkabout.
Now for a song I thought was released in the 1970s, but is actually from 1968, Living in the U.S.A. by the Steve Miller Band.
Jumping back to the 1980s, I present James Brown – Living in America, which YouTube suggested to me when I watched the song immediately above.
Again, unless someone recommends this diary to keep it on the rec list for another day, I will close my comments with a patriotic song by Bruce Springsteen. No, not Born in the U.S.A., Bruce Springsteen-This land is your land – With Lyrics from the end title credits of “Food, Inc.”
Between this and “Living in America” from “Rocky IV,” I show that I never get too far from movies in my music choices.
See you next week!