Farewell Kisses of Fire

[tedwords]

I find myself fascinated by this whole President Bush shoe-throwing incident. I've played the video over, a few times. That shoe was thrown with such force!

It makes you realize what dangerous situations Presidents put themselves in...what if it had been worse? I know that people get checked before they enter news conferences, particularly in volatile areas such as Iraq, but even so...

But I do think that's the worst that Bush will see, however. This is his Zapruder film. Instead of a grassy knoll, he gets a size nine. And I have to say, the whole incident puts me in mind of the first few lines of a poem by Sylvia Plath...fitting final words for the last days of a disastrous administration...

You do not do, you do not do
Any more, black shoe
In which we have lived like a foot
For eight years, poor and white,
Barely daring to breathe or Achoo.

###

In other, equally as important news, Sirius has, to my delight, relaunched a week of 24/7 ABBA radio, in time for the DVD release of Mamma Mia. Since I spent much of the week-end traveling back and forth to Corb's hotel, which is about an hour away from our apartment, this came as a welcome treat. It made me realize that there are quite a few ABBA songs that you just never hear, beyond the songs found in Mamma Mia, or even in most "Greatest Hits" packages.

So, as a public service, here's my Top seven list of ABBA songs you never hear...but should, if you haven't.

7.) As Good as New--Adorned with classical strings, I just think it's such a bouncy, happy song...the first song in Visitor, I want to say? Anyway, it has a great, snappy chorus.

6.) Cassandra--One of the last songs they ever recorded, and a damn catchy tune, too. It was a nice note to go out on.

5.) Nina Pretty Ballerina--This song is total cheese, with some of the dumbest lyrics ever. It's sort of a dumbed-down Dancing Queen, telling the compelling tale of a mousey young lady who comes to life every week-end on the dance floor. Doing splits? Dancing on her tippy toes? The world may never know.

4.) Dance (While the Music Still Goes On)--If ABBA ever reunites for one night only, they should play this song. It would be incredibly fitting, I think.

3.) Head Over Heels--There's just something about the opening notes of this song that always draws me in. And then, the melody keeps you hooked throughout.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5SX_qdvxjg
2.) Kisses of Fire--You never hear this song played, but it really is a lot of fun. I actually used it in a play I directed many years ago, and gave it to my character to sing (my character, incidently, wore Sally Jesse Raphael glasses and a kilt). So, picture my wearing that as you listen to it.

1.) Angeleyes--When I heard this on the radio on Friday night, I had to call Josie and play it for her. Both of us have memories, as teenagers, of unrequited love, and both of us used this song as a way of finding solace. It brings back such memories.