The Sequins of Events
Updated: Jul 22
This morning we have something more than a bit different -- odd, even -- for a political posting. But it fits. Perfectly, I think.
As I was watching the weeks-long build-up to Trump's gaudy, circus grift "Freedom 250" extravaganza of a cage fight -- filled with flying motorcycles on the day of the event, and banners of corporate branding on White House grounds -- and then it all coming to fruition on with military-like introductions through the Lincoln Memorial with the highly inappropriate use (arguably illegal) of honor guards, along with flyovers, fireworks and laser lighting, the grift was almost overbearing. And all the MAGA praise at how supposedly "patriotic" everything was -- as if this was what "Freedom" and patriotism was all about (especially since the actual 250th anniversary of the United States isn't for a month, and this was just celebrating an insecure, needy Trump's 80th birthday -- without any mention of it being the actually-patriotic 250th anniversary of the founding of the U.S. Army that never got mentioned) -- the emptiness of the bright lights and shiny objects was all too apparent and pathetic.
And one song immediately came to my mind through it all, and kept getting repeated over and over on the day itself.
It's the song "Razzle Dazzle" from the musical Chicago by Kander and Ebb. It's one of my favorite of their songs, for the extremely clever lyrics and rhymes...and also for the spot-on sensibility of the words. And as I said, it fit the whole, gaudy "Freedom 250" impeccably.
This is performed by Jerry Orbach who created the role of lawyer 'Billy Flynn' in the shows original production. He originated the number when a guest on The Mike Douglas Show. Though the video runs five minutes, the song itself only goes for 3:40.
It's as great a piece of political commentary of this past Sunday as anything presented by an expert. Snap, snap.
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