Stuff I'm Listening To - The Specials

Artist: The Specials

Title: Ghost Town

Lyrics:
This place (town) is coming like a ghost town
No job to be found in this country
Can't go on no more
The people getting angry

Why?: 
Today the City of Toronto finally made their decision and will be fining people who aren't following the rules of physical distancing. Three weeks into this and they are sort of putting their foot down. I say 'sort of' because I feel like we don't have enough people to properly enforce the rules.

On March 15th I posted about this song in an Instgram post, as my iPhone has this weird sense of the world and a wonderful sense of humour. It likes to make the soundtrack to my life relevant for the moment when I put it on shuffle. I had gone out for a ride and this was the song that kicked off my ride as chosen by my iPhone's ever sardonic Artificial Intelligence. Things were very quiet in Toronto because of the COVID-19 pandemic was becoming a very real and frightening reality. Normally the city would be busy and bustling. It would be two days later when the state of emergency would be declared in the province of Ontario and a week later when the province finally shut down all non-essential businesses. 

Today the city should have been like ghost town, but it wassn't. There are still crowds to be found. I am not against people going outside. You can't expect us to be cooped up. But if you see that some place is packed, move along. With the exception of grocery stores, I can't understand why the parking lot at Humber Park was full this past weekend. I can't understand why people aren't able to understand what physical distancing is. I've decided, if I need to go out to pick up supplies, I will probably have a hockey stick strapped to me and poke people who come too close. Thing is. I'm short so my hockey stick is most definitely shorter than two meters. Which also means if I take a swing and I connect, you were most certainly in my personal space. 

Hockey sticks aside, stay safe everyone, stay home if you can, avoid crowds if you can't and remember social distancing.

Stuff I'm Listening To - Happy Birthday Bob Marley

Artist: Bob Marley and the Wailers

Title: Simmer Down

Lyrics:
Simmer down, you lickin' too hot, so!
Simmer down, soon you'll get dropped, so!
Simmer down, can you hear what I say?
Simmer down, simmer won't you, why won't you,

Why: You have to acknowledge some legends and birthdays are awesome days to do so. Happy birthday Bob.

Stuff I'm Listening To #62 - Reel Big Fish

Artist: Reel Big Fish

Title: Everyone Else Is An Asshole

Favourite Lyrics: 
They called it assault
But it really wasn't my fault
Everyone else is an asshole

Why?: Every have one of those days? Yeah... I'm actually not having one of those days, but I heard this song and busted a gut laughing at it. I love these guys. I first discovered them as they'd done a pretty rocking cover version of 'Hungry Like the Wolf' by Duran Duran. Very much worth a listen.

They're so much fun to listen to. Their bouncy fun delivery is the very reason I've always loved Ska. They remind me of Madness, another bouncy fun group. Happy to see this music is still alive and well.  

Stuff I'm Listening to #4 - Madness

Artist: Madness
 
Title: One Step Beyond

Favourite Lyrics (heh): 
Hey you! Don’t watch that! Watch this! 
This is the heavy heavy monster sound. 
The nuttiest sound around! 
Why?: Ska! Ska! Ska! I knew when I was young I was never going to fit into mainstream culture. At my heart I identified as a mod (and irony of ironies, here I am riding a motorcycle, married to a rocker. And even in subculture, I don’t quite fit in!) But I always loved ska. My kingdom for a James jacket... I miss that thing. :(

Note: This was originally published with video link and lyric choice only.