Super Bowl LV Pt.1

Sunday, February 2nd (7/2/21) saw America hold the Fifty Fifth Super Bowl.

Played between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Kansas City Chiefs: The Champions of the American Football Conference (AFC) they went into the game as reigning Super Bowl Champions. Having won in 2020.

The Chiefs are, of course, not from the Kansas City in the State of Kansas. They are from the Kansas City in the neighbouring, southern, State of Missouri.

This confusion over the Chiefs location is likely to be most severe amongst America's liberal elite. Making up the real America both Kansas and Missouri are amongst those 46 anonymous States somewhere in the middle. 

They are though often dismissed by the elites as; "The Fly-Over States." The ones they annoyingly have to fly over to get between the coastal paradises of New York and California. 

Kansas State is home to former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.

Alongside the likes of Dick & Liz Cheney, John F. Bolton, John McCain and others Pompeo makes up the Republican Establishment. Forged under President Reagan and his rantings about Iran and Trickle Down Economics.

Making them almost indistinguishable from the Democrat Party.

The Chiefs were playing in a uniform of red and white. Red helmets. Red jerseys, jackets or coats. White britches.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The National Football Conference (NFC) Champions.

They are from the State of Florida. Now the home State of former(ish) President Trump.

The Buccaneers star player is Super Bowl legend Tom Brady. Who was playing in his tenth Super Bowl. Which is nearly 6% of all the Super Bowls there have ever been.

Although for nine of those Super Bowls Tom Brady was playing for the New England Patriots.

So now Tom Brady has brought the Buccaneers to the Super Bowl. You could almost describe them as; "The New Patriots."

The Buccaneers are also really the most ethnically diverse and inclusive team in the National Football League (NFL).

All three of their head coaches are Black men. While their squadrons of assistant coaches feature two women. Including Maral Javadifar who is of Iranian heritage.

The Buccaneers played in a uniform of White. Although not exclusively White. Their White jerseys were complimented by Black helmets and Black britches.

In a Super Bowl first the Buccaneers were playing at their home ground. The Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.

Apparently this wasn't the result of some pre-ordained plan. It was just the luck of the draw.

In The Game the Chiefs took an early three point lead. After doing whatever you need to do in American Football to score three points.

Shortly afterwards the Buccaneers scored a Touch Down. Giving them seven points and the lead. The rest of the game was really just the Buccaneers building on that lead.

Now I really don't understand American Football. Which, at this point, is something that's starting to resemble a learning disability.

However it never looked to me as though the Chiefs were ever going to catch, let alone beat the Buccaneers. Despite the Chiefs spectacular comeback in the 2020 Super Bowl.

And so it was. With the Buccaneers beating the Chiefs 31-9.

Making the Buccaneers 2021 Super Bowl Champions. And Tom Brady a seven time Super Bowl Champion.

Something which, looking at it in the wider context, never seemed like a surprise

The Super Bowl is, of course, so much more than an American Football game. It is a vast spectacle which, along with the Oscars, is part of America's loosely political, social conversation.

Similar to the role the Eurovision Song Contest performs within Europe. Or the Olympics perform globally.

So alongside the Game you have a Pre-Game Show and a Half-Time Show. All interspersed with a multitude of specially produced, one-off, commercials.

Frustratingly the UK broadcaster, the BBC, doesn't broadcast the Pre-Game Show.

Mainly this is because it normally begins at 11pm UK time. Which is when the BBC 1 channel is showing its soccer highlights show.

Cutting into coverage of Britain's national sport to show some American thing we don't understand. That's not something that's going to go down well.

This year the BBC decided to be particularly infuriating. Starting their Super Bowl coverage at 11pm on the BBC 2 channel.

Yet still refused to broadcast any of the Pre-Game Show. Instead sticking to studio based pundits.

I have since been able to piece together what I think are the main performances of the Pre-Game Show. Although I suppose I'm just going to have to guess at the running order.

Chorus of the Captains: A short poem by America's Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman.

Officially this was dedicated to three appointed; "Captains." Essential workers who have helped their communities and the nation during the pandemic;

Nurse and military veteran James Martin. Educator Trimaine Davis. Nurse Manager Suzie Dorner.

That's not really why Amanda Gorman was there though. 

She was really there to revisit her performance at the alleged Presidential Inauguration.

I hate to break it to you. "The Hill We Climb" wasn't actually that good. Even for a youth poet.

The flippant comment would be that it didn't rhyme. However the real problem was that it lacked a rhythmic structure.

I don't mean that it lacked the traditional rhythmic structure of long dead White poets like John Keats.

It lacked a rhythmic structure of its own. 

Constantly slipping, sliding and stuttering all over the place. Sadly not an intentional metaphor for the difficulties of climbing a hill.

Also it really didn't have much to say in terms of offering an incisive commentary. Instead just offering vapid platitudes that make people feel good about themselves.

That last point is hardly surprising. With Amanda Gorman citing Maya Angelou as a major influence.

Maya Angelou was another poet who really has very little to offer. Beyond vapid platitudes. Her success is really the result of her being included on school and college syllabuses.

Part of a concerted effort by Liberals to re-write America's racial history for political gain.

Although I should make clear that I'm referring to the specific political doctrine of; "Liberalism." 

Not the term; "liberal" as it is commonly used. The two very rarely coincide.

The history of racial politics in America has always been the Republican Party trying to give rights to ethnic minorities, particularly Black people. 

In the face of, sometimes extremely violent, resistance from the Democrat Party.

If we assume that the current era is still to be written. Then the most recent chapter in America's racial politics was the Civil Rights Era.

This was really born in the Second World War. 

Where the military draft and battlefield conditions forced Americans of different races together. Leading to the US military to be formally desegregated in 1948.

Then in 1954 the Brown v Board of Education forced the desegregation of schools.

However in the face of Democrat opposition it took until 1957 for that ruling to actually be enforced. 

With Federal Military forces having to be sent to Little Rock, Arkansas. To put down an armed Democrat insurrection.

The real history of the Civil Rights Era is actually a battle within the Democrat Party. The Liberal faction won out at the 1968 convention.

They then set about re-writing that history to erase the Democrats negative role. Including by things like adding Maya Angelou to school and college syllabuses.

I think that if you ask Americans about the Civil Rights Era the answer you'll get is this almost childlike bedtime story. 

About Rosa Parks sitting on a bus. Then Martin Luther King Jr single handedly ending racism.

Obviously I'm not saying that Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr had no role in the Civil Rights Era. Martin Luther King Jr was certainly the one who got the thing over the line.

However it's important to remember that the Civil Rights Era didn't start with Martin Luther King Jr. As it's important to remember that he also had a lot of White Republicans standing behind him, pushing him forwards.

Despite Liberals attempts to erase that from history.

Likewise many Americans will tell you the Three Fifths Compromise was the Republicans saying that a Black man is worth only 3/5ths of a White man. It really wasn't.

It was the Democrats insisting they could own Black men as property. Then cast votes on behalf of the human property they owned. Until the Republicans forced them to cast votes on behalf of only 3/5ths of the Black men they owned.

Amanda Gorman's appearence at the alleged Inauguration was intended to highlight this historical revisionism.

From that I'm sure you can draw a talking point. About America's teaching unions and pandemic school closures.

Particularly in her yellow coat Amanda Gorman was also intended to highlight the Opening Ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics. Held in PyeongChang, South Korea.

I think the 2018 Winter Olympics largely passed America by. They were distracted from it by the Parkland School Shooting.

That was perhaps fortunate for some in America. 

The 2018 Winter Olympics was just the World rounding on America. For its false claims of Russian Interference in the 2016 Election.

The consensus being that was an attempt by the Democrats at rigging the 2016 Election. Following almost the exact tactics used in the rigging of the 2012 South Korean election.

The 2018 Winter Olympic Opening Ceremony particularly introduced the World to the Animist concept of the Wu Xing. 

The five essential elements the universe is made up of. Which must be kept in balance.

This is similar to the Tree of Life concept within Judaism. That God is the universe and the universe is God. So everything in the universe is also God.

It is also similar to the Logos concept with the philosophy of Stoicism. God's movement of the elements of the universe.

These are ideas that modern, conventional Physics has begun to try and explain. Through Quantum Field Theory.

Whatever you call it. It appears that all the political pressures of late 2019 went up into the universe. Then came back to us in the form of COVID-19.

These are the sort of thing that gets discussed at the Olympics.

In its 2012 Ceremonies Britain's touched on the concept of Quantum Field Theory. 

In their 2018 Ceremonies South Korea really drilled down into specific concepts of Quantum Physics. Such as Time Dilation.

Another area of fringe science that is popular at things like the Olympics is Slime Mold.

Slime Mold is made up for very simple single cells. Somewhat like COVID-19 virus cells. However Slime Mold cells can join together and act with a sort of collective consciousness.

This phenomenon has particularly interested people involved in Artificial Intelligence. 

The theory being that the human mind is just the collective consciousness of a series of simple, single brain cells. So if we could replicate it we could build computers as complicated as the human brain.

Most of the work on Slime Mold has been done by Hokkaido University in Japan. 

Including experiments showing how Slime Mold's collective intelligence is actually greater than the human mind. In terms of designing Tokyo's Metro system.

The 2020 Summer Olympics were supposed to be held in Tokyo, Japan. 

With much of the focus being on using it's Metro system for the travel between venues. As part of the commitment to combat Climate Change.

Unfortunately we weren't able to have a 2020 Summer Olympics. Due entirely to COVID-19.

Further contributing to the uncomfortable sensation. That maybe COVID-19 is actively plotting against us.

Within the Wu Xing the five essential elements are each represented by an individual colour. 

The section of the Opening Ceremony which dealt with the yellow element was very similar to Amanda Gorman's performance at the alleged Inauguration. In her yellow coat.

It featured four South Korean music stars, from different eras. Uniting to sing a version of John Lennon's vapid platitude filled musical poem; "Imagine."

Accompanied by videos sent in by musicians across the globe and dancers forming symbols of peace and unity. Such as the Peace Sign and Doves.

It was very much intended to mock the Liberal revisionism and the bedtime stories of the likes of Maya Angelou.

In delivering her new poem in a pre-recorded video Amanda Gorman was wearing another statement coat. A formal business suit like jacket. In blue and embossed with rhinestones.

America The Beautiful: This year the traditional performance of the song was made by H.E.R.

In true Super Bowl fashion this allows me to force something I want to talk about into the conversation. Even if it's probably better suited to the agenda of the Eurovision Song Contest.

I want to talk about the way that Internet Streaming has impacted on Music TV.

As recently as a couple of years ago I had about a dozen Music TV channels on my satellite TV package. As Internet Streaming has taken off that has dropped to just one.

The reason is obvious.

Why should channel operators go the expense of operating a Music TV channel?   

In terms of getting licensed and included on satellite packages along with performance rights for the content. Then try to meet those costs by selling advertising space.

When they can instead eliminate most of those costs by setting up a Streaming App. Then rake in money both from selling advertising space and selling the personal information of the App's users.

As a consumer I have to say this has made it now pretty much impossible to just casually watch Music TV. Rather than simply flipping the channel whilst bored you need to actively choose to load an App.

I really noticed this just before the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. 

When I suddenly realised that if any of the entries referenced a music video released in the past year. I wouldn't notice, let alone understand.

It was only on the Thursday (4/2/21) before the Super Bowl I finally opened the "VEVO" App included in my Streaming package. Promptly "Liking" about a dozen videos before figuring out how the controls worked.

This no longer being able to absent mindedly watch music videos may be part of the reason. That I really don't know much about H.E.R.

Prior to the Super Bowl my knowledge is limited entirely to her; "Saturday Night Live (SNL)" appearence. Which is a little disappointing.

This current culture of people being able to make up ever more elaborate gender pronouns for themselves. Suggests there might be something worth keeping an eye on. In a female artist who chooses the stagename; "H.E.R."

One of the first things that most sighted people would notice about H.E.R is that she is Black. Something which has become increasingly unusual amongst Super Bowl performers.

American Football has been hit particularly hard. By the racial divisions that have been cleaving through American society since, just before, the 2014 Mid-Term Elections.

Due to Colin Kaepernick's kneeling during the national anthem. An absurd practice that seemed to spread like a pandemic in 2020.

As a result many Black performers have boycotted the Super Bowl in support for Kaepernick. 

Despite the Super Bowl's artistic director continuing to be Jay Z. A Black man who seems perfectly happy to play both sides. For a price.

A return of Black performers to the Super Bowl could indicate a fall in support. For Kaepernick and Black Lives Matter. Particularly amongst Black women.

I would also say that H.E.R bears something of a physical resemblance to Rihanna. 

Which, being the Super Bowl, could trigger a discussion about whether to White people think all Black people look the same.

I though maintain. There are more physical similarities between H.E.R and Rihanna than skin colour and breasts. Five heads, perhaps. Based on her SNL performance H.E.R herself is not above making a play on those similarities.

In fact H.E.R's costume for this performance involved 1970's style flares and platform boots.

Possibly a reference to the; "Kendra" character in the TV Show; "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Who initially appears dressed in a similar 1970's style. 

Seemingly a deliberate nod to the; "Blaxploitation" movies of the era. A genre which is critical to any discussion about the battle to get Black people portrayed in US movies and TV shows.

That Kendra reference could have been an attempt by H.E.R. To provoke Rihanna's Existential Crisis. 

That she's not really a popstar. Just the first person who looked enough like the Kendra character that could be grabbed and made famous.

Although if H.E.R and Rihanna are about to get into it. That's a Fighting 69 that not even I want to get involved in.

H.E.R's flares were faded blue denim and embossed with rhinestones. As was her jacket. Combined with the guitar she was played this invoked a cowboy, Country Music style.

The whole package particularly reminded me of the William Cook song; "You Can Have Her." 

In which the male singer uses the full force of a Gospel choir to mock an ex-girlfriend on an almost operatic scale. Perhaps undercutting his argument in the process.

It's been recorded many artists over the years. 

The version I'm most familiar with is by White Country singer Waylon Jennings. However another widely known version is by Roy Hamilton who is Black.

From that you can probably get into a discussion about the musical; "Hamilton." Particularly in its role in revising the history of racial politics in America.

I think there's now a whole generation of Americans who genuinely believe Alexander Hamilton was Black. Or Hispanic, I couldn't get tickets.

While, in reality;

"Yo, yo. Alexander Hamilton was White!”

As the TV Show; "Family Guy" once put it. A line possibly delivered by Buffy the Vampire Slayer alum Seth Green.

The viral moment of H.E.R's performance though was not provided be her.

Instead it was provided by a man standing behind her in the crowd. Very prominently displaying the logo of the can of; "Cutwater Moscow Mule" he was drinking.

Perhaps an intentional reference to the; "SodaDream." 

That Iceland's 2019 Eurovision entry insisted on having with them at every press conference. In clear violation of Eurovision's rules on product placement and corporate sponsorship.

Something which was an intentional reference to Scarlett Johansson's controversial 2014 Super Bowl commercial for SodaStream.

To which the Super Bowl's main sponsor Pepsi might have overreacted to slightly.

Buying SodaStream. In order to shutdown its Lehavim plant in the Israeli Occupied, Palestinian West Bank.

 

Continued in Part 2; https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2021/02/super-bowl-lv-pt2_26.html

20:07 on 26/2/21 (UK date).

 

Super Bowl LV Pt.2.

A Direct Continuation of Part 1; https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2021/02/super-bowl-lv-pt1.html

The Star-Spangled Banner: This year the national anthem was performed as a duet. Between R&B singer Jazmine Sullivan and Country singer Eric Church.

This referenced a way in which American society has self-segregated along racial lines.

It's the longstanding convention that only White people like Eric Church can sing and listen to Country music. While only Black people like Jazmine Sullivan can sing and listen to R&B/Rap music.

As rapper Lil' Nas X suggested. Through his duet with Country star Billy Ray Cyrus; "Old Town Road." This supposedly massive racial split might not be such an unbridgeable chasm after all.

Obviously people are doing innovative things in both genres. However at their core both Country and Rap seem to be very similar. Someone telling a lyrical story over a rhythmic baseline.

Immediately after H.E.R's performance the example I'd think of is; "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way." By Waylon Jennings. 

Even if that's really a song about Jennings and his band of musical outlaws breaking the conventions of Country music. As laid down by Hank Williams.

While trolling the Country music establishment about its opposition to the drugs. Along with the homophobia that was endemic in all sections of American society at the time.

One of the first recognised Rap songs is; "Apache" by The Sugarhill Gang.

The baseline that uses is from the 1960 song of the same name. 

Which was first recorded by Bert Weedon, no relation to Buffy the Vampire Slayer's Joss Whedon. Before being made famous by British band The Shadows.

In the dark days of lockdown I found myself listening to a lot, really too much, Lonnie Donegan. Who plays an infuriatingly catchy genre of music called; "Skiffle."

Lonnie Donegan was really Britain's first recording artist. 

I hesitate to describe him as a Popstar. This was really before Pop music came into being. Teenagers were only really invented in about 1950.

Through Lonnie Donegan's work you can hear a lot of the influences of what music was like before it was recorded. So if you wanted to hear music you either had to play it yourself or go to see it performed live.

At this time so-called music halls were very popular. This was a theatre where you would go to see music and comedy performed live in a variety show.

It's was a very different experience to going to the theatre now. Where you're expected to wear white tie, sit in silence and applaud quietly, only at the end.

Music hall really encouraged extremely coarse comedy and audience participation. Its heckling tradition continues in Pantomime and stand-up comedy.

One of Lonnie Donegan's most famous songs is; "Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavour On The Bedpost Overnight."

Which seems less about chewing gum. More about a generation of soldiers returning from the First World War. With new found experience of French brothels.

Alongside that you've got a lot of traditional folk songs.

What friends and families used to sing together. Back when Spotify or watching TV weren't options. 

Lonnie Donegan sings many slightly worse versions of Woody Guthrie songs. Who was really America's first recording artist.

Primarily amongst people of Irish heritage this is known as the; "Rambling House" tradition. 

Where people would sit, sing and play music together. Really being encouraged to add to and adapt the few songs known as; "Folk standards."

One good example is; "Worried Man Blues." Which both Lonnie Donegan and Woody Guthrie recorded. 

However this is no official version of the song. With each singer adding verses of their own.

One key verse is about being asked; "Who wrote this song?" To which you can make up all sorts of different answers.

Then there's the other big place people would come together to sing. Church. 

So Lonnie Donegan did a lot of covers of Gospel hymns and what are termed; "Negro Spirituals." Such as; "Michael Row The Boat Ashore."

In much of the World many of these places where people come together to sing have been closed due to the pandemic. 

This section of the Super Bowl allows the entertainment community to highlight how much it has been hurt by these closures. Very few working musicians are millionaires.

It must be said though. Lonnie Donegan's, as a White man, versions of Negro Spirituals now seem astonishingly racially insensitive. The musical equivalent of blackface.

However, to me at least, that seems to be naive rather than malicious. Lonnie Donegan's work dates back to the 1940's and 1950's. When the World was a much less well connected place.

People in Britain would get rare records imported from America. With absolutely no information about them. Other then the title and artist's name on the label.

They would by then learn to play their instruments by listening to and trying to exactly copy the songs. 

Without any way of knowing that Michael Row The Boat Ashore is a slave song. Or that a certain singer was putting a racist spin on a folk standard.

It's from copying these records that Rock and Pop music was born. 

In the 1970's and 1980's post-Punk/New Wave bands like Spandau Ballet added elements of Disco. Creating Electronic music.

The Half-Time Show was performed by The Weeknd. Looking at some of his more recent work he might not mind a return to this more innocent time.

Before Music TV and certainly the Internet. When all you would know about a singer is what they chose to include on the inlays to the record or CD you'd brought.

You could almost say that it was a time. When singers were judged on their soul, or the content of their character. Rather than how much skin they were prepared to show, the texture and colour of that skin.

For me this bygone age was really highlighted by the death of Country singer Charely Pride in December 2020.

I've got a couple of his songs in my collection. Notably; "Chrystal Chandeliers" and "Me & Bobby McGee." 

I particularly like listening to Chrystal Chandeliers while waiting for the last bit of battery on my Bluetooth headphones to run down.

Despite that. Until reading about his death on the Internet it never even occurred to me that Charely Pride was Black. 

Due to the longstanding convention that only White people can sing and listen to Country music. 

It was also the first I heard of him touring Northern Ireland. During the height of; "The Troubles" civil war in the 1970's.

In which context Chrystal Chandeliers seems like a warning. To the newly formed Irish National Liberation Army (INLA). Part of the Soviet Arc of Resistance alongside Malcolm X and the Black Panther Party (BPP).

With the threat of a No Deal Brexit looming. Charely Pride's death and his version of; "Me & Bobby McGee" seemed particularly timely.

Allied with the Liberal faction of the Democrat Party. The BPP and their progeny, Black Lives Matter (BLM), have engaged in mass revision of this musical history.

Claiming that all music is based on slave songs, brought over from Africa. White people being influenced by it constitutes the thought crime of; "Cultural Appropriation."

As with other aspects of the Liberals historical revision this doesn't hold up.

Slave songs are examples of work songs. A tradition which pre-dates America, let alone slavery in America. 

The current Sea Shanty craze goes back thousands of years. Certainly to the time of Ancient Greece and Rome. Really the first people to record things on wax plates.

America's Liberals and BLM were particularly roasted for this Cultural Appropriation claim in the Opening Ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics. In PyeongChang, South Korea.

The event where the World rounded on America for its false claims of Russian Interference in the 2016 Election.

Where the consensus was those false claims were an attempt by the Democrats at rigging the 2016 Election. Following the almost exact same tactics used in the rigging of the 2012 South Korean election.

The event that many Americans may have missed. Having been conveniently distracted by the High School shooting in Parkland, Florida.

In one sequence traditional South Korean drummers were used. To reference the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics and the thousands year long history between the Korean Peninsula and China.

It also served to remind the Cultural Appropriation crew. Black Americans certainly can't claim to have invented rhythm and drumming.

I would go even further than that.

Periodically Fox cubs appear and grow up in my garden.

One year this thin plank of wood was resting on, essentially, a brick. Rather like a Seesaw. One of the Fox cubs discovered that if he pushed down on this plank of wood it would snap back. Making an interesting noise.

So he sat there repetitively pushing this bit of wood, impressed by the sound. Which didn't get at all annoying.

Meaning that not only don't I think any one race of humans can claim a monopoly on rhythm and drumming. I don't think the human race can claim a monopoly on rhythm and drumming.

Comparing the Waylon Jennings Country song; "Are You Sure Hank Done It This Way." With the Sugar Hill Gang Rap song; "Apache." 

Also allows you to educate the elites about those 46 anonymous, fly-over States somewhere in the middle.

At the time of the US Civil War, 1861-1863 America was only about one third of its current size. 

What's considered; "The South" really stopped at the Louisiana/Texas border. It is only after the Civil War that America spread out to the west.

It is perhaps ironic that California, Washington and Oregon States have become bastions of Liberalism. Huge supporters of BLM. 

They only exist due to their ancestors running as far as they possibly could from the newly freed Black slaves.

It was that great; "White Flight" that saw them slaughter the Native American population. Including the Apache Tribe.

Waylon Jennings is from the State of Texas. While the home of Country music is considered to be in Nashville, Tennessee. Which is one of the Southern States.

A lot of Waylon Jennings' work seems to be influenced by the offence Texans feel at being mistaken for a Southern State. Particularly the song; "Bob Wills Is Still The King."

Texas and Texans have a long and proud history for fiercesome independence and rebellion. You could almost say Texas really doesn't play well with others.

Initially Texas was part of the Spanish colony "New Spain. It then rebelled against the Colonialists become part of Mexico. The Mexican War of Independence, 1808-1821.

Texas then rebelled against Mexico. Becoming an independent nation following the Texas Revolution, 1835-1836

Texas then joined the United States in 1845. Before rebelling during the Civil War. More as an effort to become an independent nation again. Rather than to join the Confederacy.

Finally Texas rejoined the US in 1870.

As a result Texas has probably the closest links with Mexico of any US State. 

In June 2019 former(ish) President Trump compared the Texas/Mexico border to the Northern Ireland border. He was roundly mocked for this.

That's despite it being an entirely valid comparison. One that many people made prior to President Trump.

Take for example the song; "Fernando."  By essentially Eurovision royalty ABBA. Fernando was released in 1975 at the height of The Troubles. Around the time Charley Pride was touring Northern Ireland.

ABBA's Fernando seems loosely inspired by the Texas Revolution. 

However musically it is similar to a song about the 1916 Irish Easter Rising "Meet Me At The Pillar." The Dublin City Ramblers version being the one with which I'm most familiar. 

Following the August 2019 mass shooting in El Paso, Texas. You could almost hear the Democrat conspiracy theories writing themselves;

The vain President Trump ordering his fellow White Supremacists. To launch the attack and highlight Mexico/Texas cross-border trade. In order to prove his detractors wrong!

A conspiracy theory which may well have been the real motivation between the El Paso shooting.

Discussion of America's western expansion also seems to reference Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Specifically The Thanksgiving Episode - Season 4, Episode 9; "Pangs."

There's something of a tradition in US TV Shows that they do special episodes for the big winter holidays. Such as Thanksgiving and Christmas.

It was in Season 4 that Buffy the Vampire Slayer finally bowed to this pressure. However it decided to do a very different type of Thanksgiving episode.

It begins with the unearthing of a Christian Mission for Native Americans. This releases the spirits of the Native Americans who were horribly mistreated by the Missionaries.

Those spirits then take revenge. Killing people in the way they were mistreated. 

The Xander character is smited with all the diseases White Colonialists brought with them. Such as Smallpox and Syphilis. Particularly Syphilis.

The Native American tribe featured is the Chumash. A real Native American tribe. 

Over its course the episode looks at the real history of the tribe. Along with the way they were really mistreated by Missionaries and others.

Of course nowadays discussion of this real history of Thanksgiving is common place in America. 

With "Woke" mobs demanding the whole holiday be cancelled. Along with Columbus Day and any other example of; "White Supremacy."

However I think that back in 1999 this episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer was rather revolutionary. Forcing that then rarely mentioned, real history of Thanksgiving onto network TV.

Not only that it also looks at the best way to discuss that troubling history. Bringing it to view from beneath all the whitewashing.

The Willow character's mother is some sort of liberal college professor. Who is notable only by her absence. 

Very much part of the Woke mob there are jokes about her ranting about Critical Race and Gender theories in response to kid's TV shows. Like Charlie Brown.

As soon as the mission is unearthed the Willow character launches into one of those Woke rants about Thanksgiving. As the other characters just stare at her she apologises for channelling her mother.

The episode then goes on to make many of those exact same points. But in a much more fun, accessible and engaging way.

The episode also muses on how to deal with the crimes of the past. 

After the Willow character discovers how the Chumashwere treated she argues that they're entitled to their revenge. While the Syphilis ridden Xander is much less keen on the idea. After all he didn't actually mistreat the Chumash.

The episode also looks at the "Western" genre of movies. Often centred around heroic Cowboys defeating evil Indians this isn't a genre that is particularly well loved by the Native American population.

The Pre-Game Show and Half-Time Show portions of the Super Bowl lasted for about 40 minutes in total. 

This Thanksgiving episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer also lasted for about 40 minutes. So dissecting it is really a separate task of its own.

However the references to Western movies were made in this context of bringing this troubling history to light. So I think the intent was to take a critical look at Western movies rather than to simply celebrate them.

In the spirit of being fun and accessible. At one point one of the characters says something along the lines of;

"This isn't a Western. This isn't the Alamo. The cavalry aren't suddenly going to ride to the rescue."

Then some of the characters leave. Only to rush back to the apartment as it comes under attack. Riding to the rescue. On bicycles rather than horses.

This episode also seems to be where the idea for; "Firefly" was born. Joss Wheedon's next project. Which was spread out over fourteen 40 minutes episodes and a two hour movie.

Firefly is probably unique in the genre of; "Space Western." It does seem to be Wheedon's further exploration of the genre.

I can't say that I'm any sort of fan of Westerns. I think the only one I've seen is; "Carry On Cowboy." Which probably doesn't count.

However they seem to have a recurring theme of teaching boys to become men.

So they have a clear moral code. 

The old joke being that in Westerns the bad guy is the cowboy in the black hat. While the good guy is the cowboy in the white hate.

This has long being used in computer programming. Particularly cybersecurity. 

Where "Black Hat" hackers are malicious. While "White Hat" hackers test systems to keep the bad guys out. Malicious code gets added to a; "Black List" which is blocked.

Amid the madness of 2020 Tech companies found themselves engulfed in this argument. Over whether they should retire such terms.

In case any non-White employees find it too traumatic to cope with. 

As if the Pacific North-West's long history of White Flight and Ethnic Cleansing would actually allow any non-White people in to begin with.

This being the Super Bowl. With its links to Tom Brady and the New Patriots. It's not a huge leap from there to the March 2013 Boston Marathon Bombing. Which I certainly remember from Rihanna's Diamonds World Tour.

That saw police search for two suspects. One in a white hat. The other in a black hat.

I've yet to recover the emotional energy to watch the movie; "Patriots Day." The livestream was exhausting enough.

I think one of the actors most synonymous with the Western genre is Clint Eastwood. 

He really examined the genre's theme of teaching boys to become men in the 2008 movie; "Grand Torino." While certainly addressing the issue of racism.

Firefly seems very focused on teaching the youngsters to become adults in the digital age.

It really throws at the viewer every psychological trick and manipulation that filmmakers can legally use on TV. 

There are plenty you can't even legally use in movies. As the people at Guantanamo Bay will tell you.

However it does it such a way as to reveal the trick. Sort of like an older sibling would do after they've played a prank on you.

The central premise is this Firefly class ship named; "Serenity." It's Captain and First Officer now run smuggling operations having fought alongside each other in a secessionist, almost civil war.

The secessionist side are known as the; "Brown Coats." Alongside the general Western theme this could be interpreted as a racist celebration of the Confederacy. It is certainly not a show that is afraid of playing tricks on your mind.

However the First Officer is played by Gina Torres. One of the few Black actresses who, in 2001, was secure enough in her career not to have to put up with this crap.

It is also very clearly not about the US Civil War. It is set in the future and in outer space for starters.

The Federation the Brown Coats rebelled against was a planet Earth. In which the US and China had united as a single, global nation. Which then went out to colonise other planets.

An evil Empire that grooms children from birth. To become telepathic weapons of mass destruction. Regardless of the psychological damage they might inflict.

It is a metaphor for the recurring theme within economic Globalisation. Between Libertarian Capitalism, the Brown Coats and Totalitarian Capitalism, the Federation.

Sadly this fiction seems to be coming truer every day. Particularly with the US Democrat & Republicans seeming to unite as a single party. Against Trump and his band of rebels.

Needless to say the corporate networks shut Firefly down almost immediately. Long before I think anyone figured out the "Reavers/Uighurs" reference.

If briefly explaining Firefly is a challenge. 

Then is will probably be near impossible. Trying to educate the elites about the hostility between the Western State of Texas and the Southern States.

Given as how they've already dismissed those anonymous 46 in the middle as the Fly-Over States. Just as they've dismissed their citizens as gun-toting, Bible-bashing, Homophobic, Illiterate. White Supremacists.

If they were ever to travel to somewhere like Texas they'd probably be very surprised. To discover that many of its citizens are. I want to use the term; "liberal." However that has been hijacked by; "The Liberals." So shall we go with; "Sensible."

A point well illustrated by the 2020 US TV Show; "9-1-1 Lone Star." A spin-off from the Los Angeles set; "9-1-1."

Lone Star begins with a company of Texas firefighters being all but wiped out. In an explosion at an Ammonium Nitrate fertilizer plant. 

Which may as well have just been a named reference to the 2013 West Fertilizer plant explosion. That I remember well from Rihanna's Diamonds World Tour.

Obviously there was no Shakira this year. However it's not a huge leap from there to the August 2020 Ammonium Nitrate explosion at the Beirut Port in Lebanon.

At the time Britain was trying to weasel out of its Brexit commitment. To establish a customs border between Northern Ireland and the UK mainland. Using the threat of the violence of The Troubles.

Ammonium Nitrate, Fuel Oil (ANFO) explosives being one of the signature weapons of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA). Often with a trigger of Semtex provided from Tripoli. The one in Libya, not the one in Lebanon.

So it seemed mighty convenient then. That one of the largest ANFO explosions there has ever been would wipe out a customs post at Beirut Port. Along with most of the port and large section of Beirut itself. Killing at least 204 people in the process.

I like to think my retaliation was not covering it. As you perhaps would expect me to do.

I also like to think there were plenty of people queuing up behind the prospect of a No Deal Brexit. To make their retaliation.

Following its ANFO explosion Lone Star then calls on Captain Strand to travel to Texas to rebuild the lost company. 

Building on his experience helping to rebuild a company of New York City firefighters lost on September 11th 2001 (11/9/01).

Captain Strand is very liberal and metrosexual. His obsessional hair and skincare regimes are a recurring joke. 

Initially hesitant to go and work with the Rednecks he finally agrees. Only if he can be as provocative as possible.

So he brings with him his gay firefighter son. Immediately recruiting devout Muslim female firefighter, Marjan and Black Trans-male firefighter Strickland. On arrival he hires Hispanic DREAMER firefighter Mateo.

Captain Strand is somewhat crestfallen then.

When the sole surviving Redneck fighter Judd introduces him to his wife. Grace, a Black woman. Almost immediately before his son starts dating the openly gay Hispanic local police officer Reyes.

The Hijab wearing Marjan does experience some hostility and intolerance though. From the Muslims at the much more conservative local Mosque.

It's appropriate that a TV Show is referenced to highlight the sensible reality of America's Southern and Western States.

By offering tax breaks for the entertainment and tech industries States such as Texas and Georgia have managed to attract many newcomers. For the Liberal paradise of California.

As the newcomers often bring their slavish desire to vote Democrat with them. This is having a noticeable impact on the electoral demographics of those states.

Although I suspect Texas in particular will be able to knock some sense into them. Sooner rather than later.

For the performance Jazmine Sullivan was wearing a dress in the white of women's suffrage.

The movement which forced the 19th Amendment to the US Constitution. Which, despite the current allegation, most certainly still stands.

As with Amanda Gorman's and H.E.R's outfits. Jazmine Sullivan’s dress was embossed with rhinestones.

Eric Church was wearing a Purple denim jacket. An interesting spin on what is really the uniform of Country music.

Within the Abrahamic religions; Judaism, Christianity, Islam. Purple has been used to signal anointment by God. Since the early Jewish Messiahs or Kings would wear it. 

This association with wealth and power given by the gods was adopted by the Roman's and continues to this day.

Purple or lavender is also an important colour with the gay community. I'm particularly familiar with its role within the Anarchist gay-rights movement.

Anarchists have long used the Black Flag as their main emblem. Like the pirate Black Flag flown by Buccaneers this has its origins in military and particularly naval military signals.

I think we're all familiar with the White Flag. Used to signal surrender.

Traditionally this wasn't a message to your enemy but a message from commanders to their troops. Instructing them to lay down their arms and peaceably allow themselves to be taken prisoners.

The Black Flag means the precise and exact opposite. Give no quarter, take no prisoners. Do not stop until you are dead or you have won.

Recently a black flag has become associated with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). It really shouldn't be.

What ISIL have stolen as their battle flag is the Shadda. The Muslim proclamation of faith. It's normally written in white on a black background. On in black on a white background. So you can see it.

Particularly in dusty, desert countries the black background is more popular. As it's easier to keep clean.

On behalf of the Muslim world I have to say. The US media really need to stop referring to the Shadda as; "The ISIS Flag." It's massively offensive to Muslims and only serves to help ISIL.

Anarchists use the Black Flag in the way it is used in military signals. Don't quit until the battle's won or you are dead. 

It is often accompanied by another colour, signifying the cause that tactic is being employed in service of.

So red for workers rights. Green for environmental action. Or purple for gay-rights.

If you look closely at the more widely known Rainbow Flag of Gay Pride. You'll notice the purple stripe is on the bottom.

I like to think that is an intentional reference to who will be first to raise the flag. Along with what will still be there once the rest has been torn to hell by the raining fire. 

Rather like that US flag which was famously raised on Iwo Jima.

Obviously there seems little point in asking the current, Pacific Northwest strain of ANTIFA about that piece of Anarchist history. It's unlikely they've ever even heard of it.

Whereas as my leftwing bone fides. They're pretty well established. The British police and security services certainly seem to think so.

That combination of purple & black was used extensively in the TV Show; "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Alongside the Rainbow of Gay Pride.

As a signal of the battle with the network to introduce "Willow Rosenberg" as a major gay character on US network TV. When Christian Evangelicals were already up in arms about the references to magic.

Possibly as part of the discussions about Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Israeli archaeologists suddenly, recently discovered fragments of purple fabric dating back to Biblical times.

So Eric Church seemed to be sending a little signal of his own. Encouraging Country music's Christian fans. To be more like the Jewish attitude towards homosexuality.

Which sees God as the Universe and the Universe as God. Meaning everything in the Universe, even the gays, are also God.

Not that he would wish to abridge anyone's freedom of religion. Despite the current allegation the 1st Amendment to the US Constitution most certainly still stands.

Then there is the famous 1982 book and 1985 movie; "The Color Purple." This tells the story a Black girl growing into a Black woman in the Southern State of North Carolina in the 20th Century.

Obviously she has to deal with the racism and poverty inflicted by White people. Yet she also has to deal with the domestic violence, incest and paedophile inflicted on her by members of the Black community.

It is, of course, the 14th and 15th Amendments to the US Constitution. Which prevent any US State amending their laws to stop Eric Church and Jazmine Sullivan making sweet music together.

Despite the current allegation both the 14th and 15th Amendments most certainly still stand.

Military Fly-Past: These pre-game rituals are unapologetically militarised in nature.

They were introduced in 1918. As a way to show the nation's support for its troops fighting and dying in the First World War.

So there is a possibility that Colin Kaepernick and his cronies don't understand how offensive they are being. When they choose to kneel during them.

Although they were clearly informed at the 2018 Super Bowl. So you'll have to draw your own conclusions about their decision to continue.

As military aviation grew in importance fly-pasts were added to the pageantry. Normally in the form of a display team such as the Blue Angels. Who fly F/A-18, multi-role fast jets.

This year was different though. The fly-past was made up a B1 Lancer, a B2 Spirit (flown by a woman) and B 52 Stratofortress. 

These are all three types of America's strategic nuclear bombers. They are designed specifically to drop nuclear bombs on people's heads. Or failing that massive amounts of conventional bombs.

I got to see the B1 Lancer in action during the Battle of Kobane. 

I was thousands of miles away and it was on my side. Neither of which stopped me being slightly terrified.

One thing that particularly worried me was the way the B1 Lancer was being used.

To the west of Kobane there is a hill. Before ISIL arrived this was just a hill. I don't think anyone had even bothered to name it.

However this hill quickly became the strategic key to the battle. 

If ISIL could set up their artillery cannons on the top of the hill. Then they could rain shells down on Kobane. Essentially game over for the battle.

So ISIL tried with all their might to force the, then, People's Protection Units (YPG) off this hill. Every time ISIL would reach the top the B1 Lancer would appear and literally blow them back to the bottom again.

Unfortunately the B1 would then have to take a 4-6 hour break. To fly back to the US, refuel and rearm before returning to the battle. By which time ISIL would be back to the top of the hill again.

What was needed was tactical bombers, such as the F/A-18 used by the Blue Angels. Who could fly quick reaction missions to stop ISIL before they even got close to the base of the hill.

Now I think there were quite a few people in the US Navy and Air Force who were able to point this out to then President Obama. Which made it hard to explain why he kept insisting on using the B1.

It made, me at least, think that Obama was trying to help ISIL defeat the YPG. 

But trying to hide it by putting on a big display of using one of America's biggest weapons. Hoping no-one would notice that weapon was being used in completely the wrong way.

For the fly-past the three aircraft took off from three different points dotted across the continental US.

So if you've ever experienced a delayed flight or missed a connection. You would know what a challenge it was to get them in formation in exactly the right place at exactly the right time.

So this was a massive display of American military power and prowess.

Given the current allegation you've got to wonder who it was aimed at. With Kansas' reputation the Buccaneers Maral Javadifar must have been particular nervous.

Since then it's been announced that B1 Lancers are to be stationed in Norway. Meaning the current allegation is back to ranting about Russia.

Speaking of massive displays of power and prowess. This does seem to have included rather a lot of references to Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Possibly a way of reminding Britain; This plan it's fighting to cling on to isn't a plan at all. It's a prank the bigger boys played on you.

Meanwhile I seem to have been shown the names of the teams involved in the game. Along with a partial list of the performers. No other information.

Then delivered a pinpoint perfect performance. Whilst blindfolded by the BBC.

Something that's considered quite the party trick. Within the intelligence community. 

My ego is tempered only slightly. By the fact a lot of this seemed to be my recent work simply being read back to me.

Almost as if it had been specifically designed just to make me look good.

So rather like COVID-19 then. 

 

Continued in Part 3; https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2021/02/super-bowl-lv-pt3_26.html

20:06 on 26/2/21 (UK date).

Super Bowl LV Pt.3

A Direct Continuation of Part 2;  https://watchitdie.blogspot.com/2021/02/super-bowl-lv-pt2_26.html

The Half-Time Show: This year it was performed by Canadian popstar The Weeknd.

It began with a performer dressed in white choral robes being lowered from the sky. Rather like an angel. 

However in flowing white robes with arms outstretched it seemed to be more a reference to the; "Christ the Redeemer" statue in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

This was confirmed when the performer was lowered onto a multi-tiered stage above the arena floor. The stage was dressed to resemble a cityscape stretching out across a hill.

A direct reference to a sequence from the Opening Ceremony of the 2016 Summer Olympics held in Rio. Which I entitled; "The Voice of the Favelas."

Using the same imagery of a city sprawling up a hill this highlighted Rio's Favelas, slum or shanty towns. Specifically the Rochina favela which is built, illegally, on the hill leading up the Christ the Redeemer statue.

It followed immediately another sequence in the 2016 Summer Olympic Opening Ceremony which featured Gisele Bundchen. The current wife of The Buccaneers star player Tom Brady.

However rather than making any comments about Brazil. This seemed intended to highlight that 2021 is not a scheduled Olympic year.

Obviously there aren't any hard and fast rules about what the Super Bowl shows involve. However as, primarily, a domestic event it tends to focus on domestic US issues.

In the wake of Colin Kaepernick and Black Lives Matter (BLM) the Super Bowl found itself being all consumed by just that one issue. 

I remember the 2018 Half-Time Show seeming to make a point of how boring that was getting. Everyone going over the same issue again and again. Without anything new being added or progress made.

The 2020 Half-Time Show really pulled out all the stops. 

With Shakira and Jennifer Lopez covering a range of global issues. Such as Muslim women access to menstrual products in the three-way dispute between India, China and Pakistan over Kashmir.

That's because 2020 was supposed to be an Olympic year. With the Super Bowl firing the first shots in a global discussion of global topics.

Referencing the Olympics seemed to be making the point not to expect so much this time. A more traditional, sedate event focusing on more domestic US issues.

Although there were some references to America's special relationship with Britain. Due to Britain being the former Colonial power. As it continues to be in The Weeknd's native Canada. 

Obviously the 2020 Summer Olympics didn't happen because of the pandemic. There remains some debate whether they will be held in Tokyo, Japan this year. So it was useful to leave a question mark over whether this was an Olympic year or not.

There are though so elements of Brazilian society which are useful to compare to the US' own domestic issues. Such as race.

The issue of Race in Brazil is rather unique. In that it has no majority ethnic group. 

 The largest ethnic group describes itself as White. Yet they only make up about 43% of the population. There are also sizeable Hispanic, Black, Asian and Indigenous groups.

Most interestingly Brazil has a large mixed-race population. 

With people being a mixture of several, sometimes more, ethnicities. I remember one of the 2016 Olympic Ceremonies highlighting this with a very attractive woman with Afro hair, Hispanic skin and Japanese features.

This though doesn't mean that Brazil has eliminated racism. In fact some will say that there are sections of Brazilian society which are very racist. 

However due to the widespread mixing of races this racism isn't really based on skin colour but on hair type. With Afro hair being considered the least desirable.

The 2016 Voice of Favelas sequence was also used to express Brazil's Displeasure at Black Lives Matter. 

Black Lives Matter's worship of crime and violence being exported from the US to Brazil. Making Brazil's own significant crime and violence problems worse.

As the "Angel Christ" descended onto the multi-tiered stage it parted in the middle. As if it were the Red Sea at Moses' command.

From the parting The Weeknd emerged. As if making his Exodus from Egypt and its 10 Plagues.

Under the disclaimer that this is intended as a discussion about domestic American issues. Rather being directed at the actual Red Sea.

The Weeknd then just sung three of his songs. "Call Out My Name," "Starboy" and; "The Hills." However in his loafers and with his dance moves he did them very much in the style of Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson against the backdrop of the Favela skyline was a direct reference. To the Brazilian version of his 1995 video for; "They Don't Care About Us."

This was part of Michael Jackson's big comeback after being tried for multiple counts of child sexual abuse. Between 1992-1995. 

It was certainly said at the time. That the Spike Lee directed video attempted to dismiss those allegations as part of a global Jewish conspiracy against Black people.

The fact the video seemed to be Michael Jackson touring a Favela. To pick up poor young boys to sexually abuse. Really didn't help his case.

This was intended to make a point. About how America's Black community seems to have an unusually high tolerance for domestic abusers. Both child sexual and others.

Obviously America's White community hardly has clean hands when it comes to sexual abuse. Harvey Weinstein and Jeffery Epstein spring to mind. However when sexual abusers are exposed they tend to be immediately vilified and exiled by the White community.

Through its vaccination policy Britain was keen for you to focus on Gary Glitter. 

Particularly the faux pas made by the 2012 movie; "Silver Linings Playbook." Which, perhaps, not knowing who he was included Gary Glitter on its soundtrack. Earning him royalties before it was edited out.

However I think Britain was more interested in the direction it had given to Myanmar/Burma's rabble. To use the three-fingered salute from; "The Hunger Games" trilogy. 

Apparently they almost had Jennifer Lawrence's eye out. Something about an explosive device near Boston.

Standards seem different though in the American Black community. 

Now he's dead we can talk openly about what a nasty little paedophile Michael Jackson was. Yet people still seem happy to worship him as some sort of hero and openly play his music on the radio and elsewhere.

Although as with Epstein. There is an issue with his estate now being used to compensate his many victims.

After those three songs the Red Sea parted again and The Weeknd disappeared into the multi-tiered stage.

The Weeknd then performed; "I Can't Feel My Face" surrounded by dancers dressed almost identically to him. Except for their faces being hidden by bandages. 

While singing this song The Weeknd seemed to be struggling to find his way down to the arena floor. As if trapped in a shiny golden, mirrored labyrinth or elevator.

This being the Super Bowl you could take that as a reference to the famous shiny gold elevator in Trump Towers. 

You could also take it as a reference to the 2014 incident Super Bowl artistic director Jay Z had in an elevator with his wife Beyonce and his sister-in-law Solange.

Mainly though it seemed to be a reference to Justin Timberlake's 2003; "Rock Your Body." 

The video for which was shot in a similar shiny golden, mirrored lighting cube. Through that it referenced Justin Timberlake's 2018 Super Bowl performance.

This was when a point was made about everyone being so bored by the Super Bowl. With it just going over-and-over the Kaepernick issue. 

Justin Timberlake didn't even bother perform on the arena floor. Instead performing in one of the stadium bars.

As if to say;

"I'll do the Super Bowl if they give me a complimentary box. But I'm not going to bother getting out of my chair."

At the 2018 Super Bowl the National Anthem was performed by Pink. In reference to how, around 2003, one third of my World Famous Thrupple was known by the codename; "Pink." 

While I was known by the codename; "Justin Timberlake. A rumour I'm still not rushing to dispel by posting pictures.

In 2003 the actual Justin Timberlake was dating the actual Britney Spears. Unfortunately, rather like Buffy the Vampire Slayer, this all rather passed me by at the time.

However Britney Spears went onto develop significant psychological issues. A topic I'm rather familiar with. 

This resulted in her being appointed a Conservator or Legal Guardian to control her affairs. An experience similar to the one my paternal grandmother was subjected to. At the hands of Britain; "The Brits."

In the week following the Super Bowl the documentary; "Framing Britney Spears" was released. Just has her legal guardianship was being reviewed by the Courts. Tempting you all to discuss those metaphors in more detail.

Clearly I didn't get where I am today by caring much about my image or what people think of me. It's seems silly for me to start now.

Justin Timberlake also actually performed "Rock Your Body" during his 2004 Half-Time Show. 

The one where Janet Jackson's nipple was momentarily exposed. Falling foul of the Federal Communication Commission's (FCC) delightful absurd; "No Nipples Rule."

Despite Janet Jackson's never top level career being well past it’s prime by that point. This incident has fuelled earnest allegations of misogyny and White Privilege ever since.

Unable to make his way to the arena floor The Weeknd returned to the multi-tiered stage. Where he really just sang three more of his songs. "I Feel It Coming," "Save Your Tears" and; "Earned It."

Needless to say. There were a fair few fiddles during Michael Jackson's latest trip to the favela.

The main element I noticed during this sequence was the backdrop. Which I would really liked to have gotten a better look at. 

However it was primarily an image of the moon. As in the TV Show; "From The Earth To The Moon." About the Apollo Space Missions.

It also seemed to be a reference to an old Irish rebel/folk song; "The Rising Of The Moon." 

About the 1798 Irish Rebellion. In which Theobald Wolfe Tone gathered a small band of rebels, at night, to rise against British rule.

In light of the references to Lonnie Donegan this song seems to provide a valuable lesson. About the importance of considering things in their proper historical context.

Nowadays it sounds like a woman singing about her husband sneaking out. To meet up with other men in the park at night. To compare each other's pikes and polish each other helmets.

It sounds more than a little bit gay. Which may well be the point of the Marie O'Brien version I'm most familiar with.

Another good example being; "The Tri-Coloured Ribbon." Originally written as female, almost acapella, solo. Such as by Peg Clancey Power.

A widow's lament. Amid the truth & treaty of the 1922-1923 Irish Civil War.

However sung by a man, such as Derek Warfield, with a jaunty backing track. Then it certainly seems to lean a different way.

Eventually The Weeknd did find his way to the arena floor. Where he performed; "Blinding Lights" with the army of dancers who'd accosted him in the elevator.

They were dressed just as the Canadian singer was. In long red coats.

The same Red Coats worn by the Brit Colonialists as they fought the American Revolutionaries. 

Particularly in The War of 1812. Which Democrats have referenced frequently as the last time the US Capitol Building was stormed.

This was a direct reference to Beyonce's 2016 Super Bowl performance. Where she performed with an army of dancers of her own.

Beyonce's army was dressed in the uniform of a black beret, black trenchcoat and bullet bandolier/Sam Brown belt. 

Beyonce believed this to be the uniform of the Black Panther Party (BPP). Forerunners to Black Lives Matter.

However it is actually the uniform of the Original Irish Republican Army (OIRA). 

Who won the 1919-1921 Irish War of Independence. Leading to the creation of the Northern Irish Border. Between the newly formed Republic of Ireland and the British province of Northern Ireland.

Well, I say; "Uniform." It was really just what people in Ireland were wearing at the time. With a holster and bandolier of bullets pulled on at the last minute.

At the risk of a tangent. The OIRA really invented the concept of Guerrilla Warfare. 

Copying OIRA tactics Britain established the Special Operations Executive (SOE) during the Second World War. Which was copied by America to set up the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

So you know all these elite Special Operations Forces (SOF). That they make all the TV Shows and movies about. Ireland kind of invented them.

Then managed to make the whole business seem rather wistful and romantic. Through songs such as that sniper's promise; "Dirty Old Town."

During the Northern Irish Troubles the OIRA uniform was co-opted by the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA). The paramilitary wing of the Irish Republican Socialist Party (IRSP). They were part of the Soviet; "Arc of Resistance" during the Cold War.

Via Libya and Muammar Qaddafi's "Pan-Africanist" ideology. This Arc of Resistance was extended to the US. In the form of the Black Panther Party.

So it's quite amusing to watch. US Democrats deploy Black Lives Matter while ranting about "Russian Interference." 

When They're the Russian Interference. They're the Colonial Red Coats. They're the Plot Against America.

Apparently this performance of; "Blinding Lights" included elements of; "Happy House" by Siouxsie and the Banshees. 

Not that I'd have recognised. Just as I didn't really recognise much of the music used here. Did I mention the issue with Music TV?

The Sioux are, of course, one of the tribes of Native Americans. Who were all but wiped out during liberal America's great White Flight to Oregon and the Pacific coast.

In Irish folklore a; "Banshee" is a fairy woman, often old and greyhaired. Who heralds the death of a loved one through her chilling shriek. 

It is invoked a lot in the lyrical tradition of various Irish rebellions. The wives and mothers who wail over the dead.

I invoked it myself through the Sean Dunphy version of the song; "The Valley Of Knockanure." 

In reference to the most recent round of fighting in the Nagorno-Karabakh Region (NKR). A primarily Russian and Turkish affair. With definite elements of Brexit.

Unfortunately you were all denied my free analysis. By Britain's refusal to accept the clear and obvious fact;

That this big plan it's fighting to cling onto. It's not a plan at all. It's a prank the bigger boys played on them.

Unlike with the Beirut explosion. My decision not to cover this NKR fighting wasn't so much a strategic one.

It was more to do with the fact that the NKR conflict has been ongoing since, at least, 1994. 

While I'm aware of it. I'm very far from being an expert on it. Really the only thing I know is that via Turkey and Russia it has become interlinked with the conflict in Syria and Iraq.

Cut off, by Twitter, from the networks I built up in Syria and Iraq. During Brexit. It wasn't possible for me to go and find out what I needed to know. In order to get involved without doing more harm than good.

Although I didn't provide an analysis. I did break the news that Turkey was supplying Syrian Islamists to fight for Azerbaijan in the conflict. With absolutely no legitimate way of knowing that.

Considered a major party trick within intelligence circles.

Particularly as I'm able to preface it with the words; "Not that I was really trying."

Unlike The Weeknd the dancers were wearing bandage masks over their faces.

Along with the long coats the slight conical appearence of these masks gave the impression of; "Plague Doctors." 

The Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worn by physicians during the Black Death. The Bubonic Plague pandemic of the 14th century.

The current COVID-19 pandemic was the overarching theme of the Half-Time Show. Dominating as it has dominated all of 2020.

This sequence happened in the shadow of the multi-tiered stage above the arena floor. 

In response to the pandemic governments around the World have imposed different tiers of lockdown or quarantine restrictions in an effort to control the virus.

The term; "Quarantine" actually comes from the Italian word; "Quarantena" meaning; "Forty Days." 

Referring to the 40 days that ships were held in port in Venice before being allowed to disembark. In order to prevent the spread of the Bubonic Plague.

This sequence though focused more on the issue of Facemasks. Which in America in particular has been a very politically divisive response to COVID-19. 

Whether you decided to wear a facemask or not was almost a declaration of whether you intended to vote Democrat or Republican at the November 2020 Election.

When they first appeared the masked dancers had very jerky, uncoordinated, chaotic movement. Rather like the Zombies we've become used to in various Horror/Disaster TV shows and movies.

Almost all viruses, including COVID-19, work by taking over a cell. Then hijacking that host cell for its own purposes. So in a way almost all viruses are; "Zombie Viruses." 

The little joke that is played out in all those Horror/Disaster TV shows and movies. I particularly think of; "World War Z."

The dancers then organised themselves into well regimented rows. Before breaking from that formation to whizz and ping about the place almost randomly.

This was intended to make the point that Masks Don't Work. 

As even the World Health Organisation (WHO) has been forced to concede. The science claiming they do is flawed to the point you can't actually call it science.

The main problem with the research is that it assumes COVID-19 particles are far larger than they actually are. 

You could explain this in terms of saying it assumes the particles are the size of basketballs. When, in fact, they're the size of tennis balls.

However you could also almost say that the research supporting mask wearing assumes that the particles behave in laboratory conditions. The orderly rows of the dancers. 

When, in fact, they behave in real world conditions. The later chaotic movements of the dancers.

These bandage masks were not the only ones featured in the performance. 

The performers on the multi-tiered stage was wearing Vue-Shield masks. Adorned with LED's to make the otherwise see-through masks visible.

Showered with art, design and fashion awards the Vue Shield doesn't strike me as an attempt to provide protection from COVID-19. Instead it seems to provide a talking point to allow the art, design and fashion communities to discuss the issues around COVID-19.

Although it must be said. While not intended as proper PPE as a sealed, full face visor the Vue Shield is probably more effective as PPE than the masks everyone's wearing. Based on their political affiliation.

The Vue Shield was developed, in part, by the Israeli design company Geomatrix.

As quite a few people have commented. It appears as though all the intense political pressures at the end of 2019 went up in to the universe. Then came back to us in the form of COVID-19.

One of those pressures was my failure to cover the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. Held in Tel Aviv, Israel. 

Specifically the elements relating to the Israel/Palestine Conflict. Which, over the years, has become of global importance.

Israel's own 2019 Eurovision entry looked at the differences between Judaism and Christianity.

Jews consider the universe to be made up of God. 

Divided into the God head, which is unknowable, and God's body. The Tree of Life. Through which God sends messages. A concept similar to Wu Xing in Animist religions.

Christians believe that God is, almost, a person. Living outside of the human universe in a separate dimension. Heaven. They also believe that God once took human form, through his son Jesus Christ.

This Jewish concept of the Tree of Life could be one way of explaining. How the pressures of late 2019 morphed into COVID-19. One the nations most badly hit by COVID-19 has been Israel's arch-enemy Iran.

Put in those terms COVID-19 does sound like the start of an Anti-Semitic conspiracy theory. Possibly the greatest Anti-Semitic conspiracy theory ever dreamed up.

Invariably the Jews are the first people to get attacked when anything like this happens. 

So Israel and the wider Jewish community are obviously keen for people to discuss that element of COVID-19. Particularly as US Democrats and America's Black community are now rabidly Anti-Semitic.

I publish things like this and coverage of the Eurovision Song Contest under the name; "Sovereign." Meaning; "King" or; "Messiah." 

I'm also anointed with burn scars on the palms of my hands. In what is widely considered to be the shape of the Stigmata of Jesus Christ.

So Israel's 2019 Eurovision entry jokingly declared me to be their new Messiah. A rather strong rebuttal to Twitter's insistence that I must be banned as an Anti-Semite. 

This joke became a lot less funny when COVID-19 came into being. 

Alongside Iran one of the worst hit nations has been my arch-enemy Britain. Not that I was particularly affected. Catching COVID-19 in the first wave and recovering after only mild symptoms.

Worse than that the first wave struck Britain in March 2020. Causing this critical week when Britain had to decide whether to go into lockdown or not.

I was just deciding to bow to public pressure and help. Or to leave my superiors to their superiority. 

It was then I caught COVID-19. With the virus making the decision for me, putting me out of action for that critical week.

After that even I thought it unwise to argue further.

All of which rather gives the impression that the Messiah has smited his enemies with a plague of Biblical proportions. 

A plague that pretty much passed right over him. Something which not even Israel managed to achieve.

The last proclaimed Messiah to perform miracles like that was Jesus Christ. So that is about the most Anti-Semitic thing that it's possible to do. Shaking the Jewish faith at its foundation.

Although my position. Insofar as I have a position. Is that I didn't create COVID-19 to smite my enemies. God created COVID-19 on my behalf.

Not that that's a conversation anyone would relish me having with a psychiatrist. Least of all the psychiatrist. Unlike a long line of people claiming to be a messiah capable of performing miracles. I seem to have the receipts.

Although I think we'd all be quite amused to see me being tried for creating COVID-19 at the International Criminal Court (ICC). Everyone except for the ICC themselves.

So Britain should consider itself further warned. This doesn't sound like the sort of story people are going to be forgetting about in a hurry.

The Vue Shield design seems heavily inspired by the plastic masks used to treat facial burns. Specifically to prevent the type of scarring I have on my hands.

Cosmetic Injury seems to be a recurring theme of The Weeknd's recent work.

He performed at the 2020 Video Music Awards while appearing to suffer from a broken nose. Which it later transpired to be achieved through stage make-up. 

About a month ago The Weeknd released photographs online. Which appeared to show his face having been dramatically altered by cosmetic surgery. Again it later transpired that was the result of stage make-up.

At the press conference ahead of his Super Bowl performance The Weeknd appeared wearing the same facial bandages that his dancers later used. Creating more rumours and speculation about potential cosmetic surgery.

Within the context of the Super Bowl, particularly alongside H.E.R's performance. This made me think of Rihanna. The significant facial injuries she sustained during a beating at the hands of her then boyfriend Chris Brown. 

It probably also made a lot of people think of Michael Jackson. Whose addiction to cosmetic surgery left him almost unrecognisable as a Black man.

Both examples which reinforce the point. 

About Democrats and Black America having an unusually high tolerance for child sexual and other domestic abusers. Particularly when it comes to illegally rewriting election rules.

As far as I can tell. In its own right The Weeknd's work is attempting to explore, not so much vanity. As the Hollywood celebrity culture which values and promotes vanity above all else.

A culture where people are judged not on the content of their character. But on the colour and texture of their skin.

Within the Super Bowl this can be used to pose wider questions. About Identity Politics and; "Cancel Culture."

For example H.E.R's choice of stagename could be taken as an attempt to reduce her identity to nothing more than her gender pronoun. Trans-rights and gender pronouns be a major obsession within Identity Politics and Cancel Culture. 

In her Super Bowl performance H.E.R seemed to reference the "Kendra" character from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In a play on H.E.R's certain physical similarity to Rihanna. 

Perhaps as an insult that Rihanna isn't really a popstar. Just the first person they grabbed because she looked enough like the Kendra character. 

The flipside to that being. H.E.R  no doubt has her own insecurities. About whether she's a real popstar. Or just the first person they grabbed because she looked enough like Rihanna.

In her "Cowboy Uniform" of double denim H.E.R's performance. Alongside Eric Church and Jazmine Sullivan's performance also raises issues about Racial Stereotypes. 

Particularly the way they seem to be rigidly enforced within America's Black community. Sometimes to the detriment of that community. 

For Black men it seems the only identity available is of an overly aggressive, drug dealing thug.

The example I also choose to pick on here is British Formula 1 racing driver Lewis Hamilton. 

As an incredibly rich and successful Black man he's obviously been keen to be accepted by his American peers. Rappers, Basketball and American Football players and such.

However it seems that American culture has no place for a highly educated, polite well mannered Black man. 

So recently Lewis Hamilton has been noticeably trying to rough up his image, growing his hair out, changing his clothes etc. In 2020 he became a very vocal and, perhaps, embarrassing supporter of Black Lives Matter.

Then you have the stereotype of Black women as the exotic seductress. Who have natural rhythm, are great dancers. So by, implication must be really good at sex.

That's perhaps not such a damaging stereotype to have. Not that a woman being sexy means she's going to want to be sexy with you.

It turns out though. That there are some Black women who are, in fact, clumsy as all hell.

So rather than spending all night drinking and dancing. They'd much prefer be at home nerding out over a complex math problem. Or episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Famous NASA mathematician Mary Jackson perhaps being a good example. Not that I ever danced with her myself.

However if a Black person dares not to conform to the stereotype. Perhaps by doing something as horrifying as voting Republican. 

Then they seem to risk being ostracised by the Black community. For being a sellout or not authentically Black enough. 

This need to establish one's own identity seems to be particularly acute within the Gay community. 

People who don't really have the option of just going with the flow. Particularly as teenagers, when everybody is suddenly obsessed with the opposite sex. 

It's sort of a bit of a joke within the Gay community. That the identity some people choose for themselves is that of; "The Gay Rights Protestor." Their entire identity is defined by how they constantly protest for gay rights.

The problem is that the struggle for Gay rights seems to be more-or-less over. 

Even America is certainly a lot less homophobic than it was 10-15 years ago. Presenting something of an existential crisis for people who have defined themselves only by that struggle.

To combat this it seems that many have simply shifted to become; "The Trans Rights Protestor." Not to improve the lives of Trans people. Just to give themselves a sense of identity and purpose.

This is something that seems to have become more widespread in mainstream society. Turbocharging Cancel Culture.

People defining themselves by their victimhood. They injury they suffer by someone expressing an opinion different from their own. A new battle by which they can define themselves.

When, in reality. Unless you've been in a war or a terror attack. 

Then, chances are, you don't actually have Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). You certainly haven't inherited it through the historical trauma of America's legacy of White Supremacy.

Although I doubt The Weeknd cites it as an influence. There's actually a Lonnie Donegan song; "Putting On The Style" that address this. 

It's about the affectations these newly invented teenagers put on to impress their peers. 

Particularly a young woman who puts on her victimhood or agony as a form of flirting. As if it was cosmetic make-up. 

I have to say that I've never had much time for this seemingly desperate need for an easily defined identity. A neat and tidy label to put on people. 

After all I've got to be living proof; 

Of how much more interesting life gets.

When you meet the person in front of you. 

Rather than the label they've had stuck on them.

 

 

20:05 on 26/2/21 (UK date).