eighties music

20
Oct
2023

f.f.f.f.f.f.FRIDAY!

Today is Mashujaa Day, a public holiday in Kenya. Mashujaa is Swahili for ‘Heroes’ and as such Mashujaa Day is also known as Heroes’ Day. It is a public holiday to honor all Kenyans who have contributed towards the struggle for Kenya’s independence.

This holiday used to be known as Kenyatta Day, named after Jomo Kenyatta, who was first Prime Minister and then President of Kenya. Kenyatta was a prominent campaigner for the independence of Kenya from British rule. He was arrested in October 1952 along with five others (Achieng’ Oneko, Bildad Kaggia, Fred Kubai, Kung’u Karumba and Paul Ngei) on charges of being members of the Mau Mau Society, a movement engaged in rebellion against Kenya’s British rulers. The accused were known as the ‘Kapenguria Six’.

When Kenya adopted a new constitution in August 2010, several changes were made to the public holidays observed in Kenya and Kenyatta Day was renamed to Mashujaa Day and the focus of the day was widened to include all those who contributed to the independence of Kenya.

Star Trek

Today is the birthday, in 1951, of Alan Greenwood, keyboards, with English-American rock band Foreigner, who scored the 1985 UK & US No.1 single ‘I Want To Know What Love Is’. They are one of the world’s best-selling bands of all time with worldwide sales of more than 80 million records. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySb1f9zWJkQ

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Posted by Tom in eighties music, Humor, Music
13
Oct
2023

And……it’s FRIDAY (the 13th)!!!

Today is Prince Louis Rwagasore Day, a public holiday in Burundi. This holiday commemorates the life of one of Burundi’s national heroes, who was assassinated on this day in 1961.

Prince Louis Rwagasore was the son of King Mwambutsa IV. He was active in nationalist movements and campaigned for independence from Belgium. The Belgians had maintained a strong colonial rule by skillfully avoiding a unified Burundi nationalist movement by pitting the different ethnic groups against each other. Rwagasore diffused these tensions by organizing cooperatives and political parties that included members from all ethnic groups and my marrying outside his own ethnic group.

He antagonized the Belgian colonial administrators by creating power centers outside their control and because of his popularity among the people of Burundi. In the September 1961 elections before independence, he won 80% of the vote and became the first Prime Minister-elect.

He was gunned down in a hotel restaurant a few weeks later on October 13th 1961. Though his assassin was Greek, strong suspicions remain that his murder was sponsored by a pro-Belgian group.

Today is the birthday, in 1941, of Paul Simon, singer, songwriter, (1970 UK & US No.1 single with Simon and Garfunkel, ‘Bridge Over Trouble Water.’ The duo’s 1970 album ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’ spent 307 weeks on the UK chart). Solo, (1986 UK No.4 single ‘You Can Call Me Al’, 1986 UK No.1 album Graceland spent 115 weeks on the UK chart). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fmf9ZJ_Yn0A

Posted by Tom in eighties music, Humor, Music
10
Oct
2023

the morning of TUESDAY!

Today is Maroons Day, a public holiday in Suriname. This holiday celebrates the heritage and contribution to Suriname by the Maroon people.

Maroons were Africans and their descendants in the Americas who formed settlements away from slavery. Some had escaped from plantations, but others were born free within these communities. Maroon communities grew up in several places in the Americas and even in other colonized parts of the world, such as Madagascar.

Suriname was seized by the Dutch in 1667. The Dutch then established about 200 plantations producing sugar, coffee, cocoa and cotton, most of which was exported back to Holland. Over 13,000 African slaves were brought to Suriname to man these plantations. The local Maroon community grew from slaves who managed to escape from the plantations into the jungle. It is a reflection on the horrific conditions within the plantations, that living in a wild, inhospitable South American jungle was preferable to most slaves. The Maroons grew in number and would attack the plantations to acquire supplies and to free female slaves.

On October 10th 1760, the Maroons signed a peace treaty with the Dutch colonial authorities whereby they were recognized as free people and received a yearly tribute that provided them with the goods they used to take from the plantations.

Today is the birthday, in 1955, of American rock vocalist, songwriter David Lee Roth who with Van Halen had the 1984 US No.1 & UK No.7 single ‘Jump’ and the solo, 1988 hit single ‘Just Like Paradise’. Van Halen’s 1978 debut album has sold more than twelve million copies. This video gets to a slow start so skip to about 1:30 to start. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lN-4lX0QyZc

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Posted by Tom in eighties music, Humor, Music
02
Oct
2023

MONDAY is a holiday somewhere…

Today is Tuvalu Day, a public holiday in Tuvalu. October 1st is the National Day of Tuvalu and marks the date it gained its independence from the UK in 1978. If it falls on Sunday it is celebrated as a holiday on Monday.

Tuvalu is made up of three reef islands and six atolls spread over ten square miles. Tuvalu is situated halfway between Hawaii and Australia, making it one of the most isolated countries on Earth; as well as one of the smallest and most low-lying nations on earth. Its highest point is only 4.6m (15ft) above sea level.

In 1819, the island of Funafuti was named Ellice’s Island after a British politician; the name Ellice was then applied to all nine islands. The islands came into Britain’s sphere of influence in the late 19th century, when each of the Ellice Islands was declared a British protectorate by Captain Gibson of HMS Curacoa in October 1892.

A referendum was held in 1974 to determine whether the Gilbert Islands and Ellice Islands should each have their own administration. As a consequence of the referendum, separation occurred in two stages. The Tuvaluan Order 1975, which took effect on 1 October 1975, recognised Tuvalu as a separate British dependency with its own government.

The second stage occurred on 1 January 1976, when separate administrations were created out of the civil service of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony.

Elections to the House of Assembly of the British Colony of Tuvalu were held on August 27th 1977, with Toaripi Lauti being appointed Chief Minister in the House of Assembly of the Colony of Tuvalu on October 1st 1977. The House of Assembly was dissolved in July 1978, with the government of Toaripi Lauti continuing as a caretaker government until the 1981 elections were held.  

On October 1st 1978, Tuvalu became fully independent as a sovereign state within the Commonwealth realm, with Toaripi Lauti becoming the first Prime Minister.

Get ready…

What a deal!

Today is the birthday, in 1951, of Sting, (Gordon Sumner), singer, songwriter, The Police, (1983 UK & US No.1 single ‘Every Breath You Take’, plus 4 other UK No.1 singles). Solo, (1990 UK No.15 single ‘Englishman In New York’ plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles). As a solo musician and a member of The Police, he received 16 Grammy Awards and has sold over 100 million records. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OMOGaugKpzs

Posted by Tom in eighties music, Humor, Music
20
Sep
2023

Mercoledì today

Today is Ganesh Chaturthi in Mauritius – a public holiday. It is the culmination of the annual ten-day festival honoring the rebirth of Ganesha.

The elephant-headed god has an interesting story. The most popular tells the story of Goddess Parvati who is the consort of Lord Shiva. One day when Parvati was having a bath she rubbed some dust and oil from her body and created the shape of a boy. She then infused life into the shape and Ganesha was born.

Parvati told her son to guard the door when she has a bath. Lord Shiva came to visit and Ganesh would not let him in. How was Ganesh supposed to know Shiva was his father? So he fought with Shiva. Ganesh’s head was severed in the ensuing scuffle. 

As you can imagine Goddess Parvati was very upset. She asked Lord Shiva to bring her son back to life. Shiva sent his men to look for a head replacement for Ganesh. The brief was to bring the head of the first living creature they find facing North which is a direction associated with wisdom. Shiva brought Ganesha back to life and thus the story is one of rebirth and regeneration.

The Art and the Artist…

spellcheck fail…

SIGNZ

Today is the birthday, in 1949, of Chuck and John Panozzo, bass and drums, Styx. John Panozzo died on 16th July 1996. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e5MAg_yWsq8

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Posted by Tom in eighties music, Humor, Music