Super Bowl LV. Pt.2 (draft)

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

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 flicking the channel whilst bored you need to actively chose 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.

It was last Thursday (4/2/21) 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 have 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 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 resemblence to Rihanna. Which, being the Super Bowl, could trigger a discussion about whether to White people all Black people look the same.

I though maintain. There are more physical similarites between H.E.R and Rihanna than skin colour and breasts. Five heads, for example. 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; "Blacksploitation" movies of the era.

That 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 demin 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-girfriend on an almost operatic scale.

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 are a generation of Americans who now genuinely believe Alexander Hamilton was Black. While;

"Yo, yo. Alexander Hamiliton was White!".

Is a joke I remember from the TV Show; "Family Guy." 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 it's Lehavim plant in the Israeli Occupied, Palestinian West Bank.

To be continued. 17:50 on 9/2/21 (UK date). 

Edited at around 16:30 on 11/2/21 (UK date) to copy & paste;

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. 

While trolling the Country music establishment about it's 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.

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 quiety, only at the end. 

Music hall really enouraged 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 It's 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 produces many slightly worse versions of Woody Guthrie songs. Who was really America's first recording artist.

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." 

It must be said those songs 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 artists name on the label. 

They would then listen to and copy the songs. Without any way of knowing that Michael Row The Boat Ashore is a slave song.

It's from copying these influences 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 Electionic 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 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 when 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 occured 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. 

At around 16:40 on 11/2/21 (UK date) I'm going to need a moment to recover my train of thought.

Edited at around 18:30 on 11/2/21 (UK date) to copy & paste;

Allied with the Liberal faction of the Democrat Party. The BPP and their progengy, 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 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.

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

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

The consenus being 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 thosands long year history between the Korean Penninsula and China.

It also served to remind the Cultural Appropriation crew. Black Americans certainly can't claim to have invented rhythym 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 repetatively 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. The human race can't 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 it's current size. What's considered; "The South" really stopped at the Lousiana/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."

Up until 1835 Texas was actually part of Mexico. Until it staged its own Revolution and declared itself an independent nation. It was only after the US Civil War that it became part of America.

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 ABBA song; "Fernando." Which was released in 1975 at the height of The Troubles. Around the time Charley Pride was touring Northern Ireland.

ABBA's Fernado seems 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 I'm most familar.  

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. 

At around 18:35 on 11/2/21 (UK date) it's more time for my dinner than for proof-reading. 

Edited at around 21:40 on 11/2/21 (UK date) to copy & paste;

You'll probably have a tough time. 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 Ammonia Nitrate fertilizer plant. Which may as well have just been a named reference to the 2013 West Fertilizer plant explosion. Which 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 Ammonia Nitrate explosion at the Beirut Port in Lebanon.

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

Ammonia 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 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.

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 long running joke. Initially hesitant to go and work with the Rednecks he only agrees if he can be as provocative as possible.

So he brings with him his gay firefighter son. Immediately recruiting devot 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.

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 industies 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 noticable 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 sufferage. 

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 Sullivans 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 annointment by God. Since the early Jewish Messiahs or Kings would wear it. This meaning was adopted by the Roman's and continues to this day.

Purple or lavender is also an important colour with the gay community. While the Rainbow flag is used to signify Gay Pride the colour purple was used more as a coded reference. Allowing gay people to identify each other in less tolerant times.

It 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.

Possibly as part of the discussions about Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Israeli archeologists suddenly 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 peadophila 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 importantance fly-pasts were added to the pagentry. Normally in the form of a display team such as the Blue Angels.

This year was different though. The fly-past was made up a B1 Lancer, a B2 Spirit (flown by a woman) and B52 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.

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. 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 play 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 blinfolded 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. 

 

To be continued in a Part 3.

21:50 on 11/2/21).