In preparing for this road trip, I made a couple of CD’s for the car. (Sorry, Courtney for taking so long to getting your CD’s to you!).
Also, in order to get my mind off the BBC’s Question Time from last night which I just watched online. There was a strange and rather shocking appearance of the British National Party’s leader sitting next to Bonnie Greer, an African American playwright (thank God for her views).
Yes, he was a bit bullied, but as, I believe, he should have been. Denying the holocaust? Saying that “Adolf Hitler went a bit too far.” – a bit?! Claiming the KKK were a non-violent coalition. Saying that Britain should remain mostly white and christian. What’s most worrying is how his party was voted for by a million people at the European elections, and how he now has a seat in Parliament.
Oh, Lord! How I could go on.
I couldn’t stop welling up when watching him – like I did the first time I ever experienced racism firsthand, and heard the N-word told to me from a passing man in a pick-up truck after I threw out the window a pack of my mother’s cigarettes because I was afraid she would die from smoking them. ‘You know better than to litter,’ he said seemingly good-naturedly as he pulled up besides us at the red light, ‘You don’t want to act like a N*&$@, now do you?’. My mother protected me, and yelled at the man “Don’t you dare speak words like that in front of my daughter. You should be ashamed,” and rolled up the window shielding me from the cruel world outside it. That seemingly quiet Baltimore suburb.
Except that time, my innocence took over and the tears didn’t stop for days.
It makes me so sick. Racism. Men like him smirking through the fear of it all. What would he make of me? An immigrant in his country, mixed with Cuban traces – muddying the white water. But by looking at me, he wouldn’t know…he might even take me as one of his own on first glance…until he realized the deceit I represent. White skin, blonde hair. Tainted. Last name of Lopez. Shocking!
What an ass. But this is what I fear the most about BBC’s decision to let him talk – “A huge swath of British people will remember some of the things I said and say to themselves they’ve never heard anyone on Question Time say that before,” Nick Griffin said. “Millions of people will think, ‘That man speaks what I feel.’ ”
I fear he’s right. But I must believe that good and love will win out.
So, that’s why I have to concentrate on music – to pick me up from this mean man. I don’t hate him. I just feel sorry for him. Some of those faces in the audience…they hated him. What good does that do us? To hate back.
So here is what I think is the best British music out there right now for me in my opinion noone else’s (some of it is very tongue and cheek and why I like it – no excuses, just saying!).
This is not a complete list, but in case you are interested in America, here are some gems…
British Pop
- Pencil Full of Lead, by Paolo Nutini (LOVE, LOVE, LOVE – Jessica, you must find this CD)
- Valerie, by The Zutons
- Stone Cold Sober, by Paloma Faith (I love her so much, I put two of her on here.)
- New York, by Paloma Faith
- Rabbit Heart, by Florence and the Machine
- We Are Golden, by Mika (yes, maybe a bit cheesy, but I love it)
- 22, by Lily Allen
- Chelsea Dagger, by The Fratellis
- Mama Do, by Pixie Lott
- Shine, by Take That (not a huge Take That fan, but tolerate this song)
BRITISH ROCK
- Mardy Bum, by Arctic Monkeys
- That Golden Rule, by Biffy Clyro
- Dreaming of You, by The Coral
- Men’s Needs, by The Cribs
- Ulysses, by Franz Ferdinand
- Had Enough, by The Enemy
- Ruby, by Kaiser Chiefs
- Uprising, by Muse
- Get Off Your High Horse Lady, by Oasis
- Fire, by Kasabian
British Rap/R&B
- Oopsy Daisy, by Chipmunk
- Diamond Ring, by Chipmunk
- Bonkers, by Dizzee Rascal
- Paper Planes, by M.I.A. (Amazing.)
- Dy-Na-Mi-Tee, by Ms. Dynamite
- Don’t Upset the Rhythm, by The Noisettes
European Pop/Dance (not my favorite genre, but I can stand these)
- Bulletproof, by La Roux
- I’m Good, I’m Gone, by Lykke Li
- Evacuate the Dancefloor, by Cascada
- When Love Takes Over, by David Guetta (featuring Keri Hilson)
- Remedy, by Little Boots
- Outta Here, by Esmee Denters
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