Anthem

I've been hearing Joey Ramone's version of "What a Wonderful World" for the past couple of months, enjoying it more than anything else I've heard in ages. (My favorite "cover tunes" are those that add something to the original and this one hits the mark with perfection.) Picked up the CD today and found this:

Venting (It's A Different World Today)

World out of control on the evening news
We're all screwed up and psychologically bruised
Kids killing kids, making society pay
Just blow up your school and have a nice day
Reality today's much stranger than fiction
A sick fuckin' world with a violent affliction
It really, really, really bugs me
And it really, really, really bugs me
Live your life to the fullest and fuck everything

It's a different world today
I just don't understand
It's a different world today
And I just don't understand
Oh, yeah

Does anything ever really get accomplished?
Does anything ever really get done?
Politicians talkin' through their assholes
It makes you really wanna go and kill someone

It's a different world today
I just don't understand
It's a different world today
And I just don't understand...

Been listening to the album, smiling every now and again, feeling content. Years slip away and my heart is lighter.

'Tis a gift from beyond the grave, this final effort, and I'm grateful. It pulls no punches and enthuses me.

Perspective is everything, no?

	The FDA (none / 0) (#1)
	by Peter Johnson on Thu Feb 21st, 2002 at 08:19:06 AM PST

	Recommends 350mg of raw angst per day. As part of this complete breakfast, the Ramones can help you reach that goal. --Peter Are you adequate?

	"Peter Johnson" (5.00 / 2) (#8)
	by Anonymous Reader on Fri Feb 22nd, 2002 at 01:10:16 PM PST

	Is your middle name "Richard"? Your names are all slang for penis.

	Three Chords (More or Less) (none / 0) (#4)
	by doofus on Thu Feb 21st, 2002 at 10:55:22 AM PST

	One of my favorite songs by The Ramones is "I Wanna Be Sedated". The great thing for me about that song is it has twice the number of chords of most rock songs, but only because they modulate the melody 2 steps up and never modulate back down. Pure musical genious in a "We have no idea what we're doing" kind of way. And "What A Wonderful World" is wonderful, no doubt.

	Hmm. (none / 0) (#7)
	by hauntedattics on Fri Feb 22nd, 2002 at 11:54:40 AM PST

	I like the 'live your life to the fullest' bit, but I'm not so hot on the 'fuck everything' that immediately follows, for what are (I hope) painfully obvious reasons.

	Depends on your interpretation, really... (none / 0) (#9)
	by chloedancer on Fri Feb 22nd, 2002 at 07:18:41 PM PST

	I don't take the "fuck everything" directive as being literal, all things considered. Instead, I prefer to see it as simply a bit of verbal shorthand for jettisoning emotional baggage, casting off stress and realizing that the cluttering crap in life just ain't gonna be what counts when the clock runs down. There are times when my mantra is "It just doesn't matter" and for me it works.

	Bill Murray fan? (none / 0) (#10)
	by hauntedattics on Mon Feb 25th, 2002 at 08:25:34 AM PST

	n/t