So when you think Independence Day fireworks audio productions do you think of John Mellencamp, Kid Rock, and Neil Diamond as the musical accompaniment? Apparently the City of Chicago did. Either that, or the City of Chicago didn’t care enough about the patriotism inherent in an Independence Day fireworks show to make sure that the radio station they farmed the job out to bothered to include any patriotic songs in the program.
Not only were there no patriotic songs in the program (unless you think “R O C K in the USA” is a patriotic song?) but someone forgot to tell the obviously clueless radio station that the William Tell Overture is supposed to serve as the finale of the show, not as the tune that is supposed to start off the display!
The City of Chicago is becoming well known for raping its citizens, but it is also now widely known for doing its level best to ignore the Constitution of the USA with its unconstitutional gun banning laws, its practice of high taxation for little return, its internal, mobbed-up corruption, its high murder rate and now even a casual disregard for patriotism.
In a stroke of genius, Chicago farmed out its fireworks audio to local Chicago radio station 101.9 FM THE MIX. And with the result, one can only assume that there was no oversight at all, that no one in the city inquired as to what sort of music the station was going to put in its tape. And if someone in the city did review the music, then they are just as unpatriotic as this radio station for which self promotion was far more important than the event, it seems.
WTMX is a soft rock, adult contemporary station that plays a lot of female artists and girly men like Justin Timberlake. It features a morning team that likes to talk to Hollywood types when they are in town or are hawking something over the phone, but generally the morning hosts are bland and free of any edginess or informative programming. Whatever the station is, it seems pretty obvious that not a one of them are informed enough about America, our traditions or patriotism in general to warrant the job that the city handed them.
As mentioned, the fireworks show started with the William Tell Overture, the music that is supposed to serve as the exciting finale of any fireworks presentation. And, as the city’s paltry 20 minute fireworks display weakly played out, the station played Neil Diamond’s “Coming to America,” Kid Rock, Johnny Cougar Mellencamp, and other contemporary rock standards that in no way fit the occasion. There were no John Philip Sousa marches, no rousing renditions of “America the Beautiful,” not even the National Anthem was bothered with by these halfwits
The show itself was poor and anticlimactic. At a mere 20 minutes, the Chicago show lagged behind New York City’s Macy’s sponsored 30-minute-long show as well as the City of Los Angeles’ much longer, 60-minute-long show.
The indifference that the City of Chicago displayed in its choice of radio partners, the obvious disregard for a proper, patriotic show, and its tiny run time really shows how unconcerned Mayor Richard “King” Daley is over the people of his city. And, as all these foolish residents wasted their time attending this farce, as they got soaked for parking and other fees to do so, Daley laughed at each and every one of them.
The City of Chicago is a disgrace and this incident is just one more example of it.
Neil Stevens
Steve Maley
Daniel Horowitz
Jake Walker
We tried to watch the Macy's 4th Fireworks show
peg_c (Diary) Monday, July 6th at 9:18AM EST (link)There may have been patriotic songs at the end but we quit mid-way. Not only were the NYC fireworks over-programmed, too synchronized and boring, but the accompanying music was so dreadful I sent a complaint email to NBC. (We actually unblocked NBC on our DVR to watch this dreadful show.)
I’m afraid patriotism really is relegated to Small Town America, now.
Government cannot be the solution when government is the problem.
I live in a small town
tanstaafl1019 Wednesday, July 8th at 5:01PM EST (link)(Mellencamp reference completely coincidental) and while our display didn’t have official music, per se, we had it during our summer festival. During the time the fireworks were launching above our city hall, the rock band that had been playing for two hours at that point paused from their regular playlist and instead played “The Star-Spangled Banner.” It was an inspiring and pride-inducing moment that sounds as if it outdid many larger displays in major cities.
The two highest achievements of the human mind are the twin concepts of “loyalty” and “duty.” Whenever these twin concepts fall into disrepute—get out of there fast! You may possibly save yourself, but it is too late to save that society. It is doomed.
Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors–and miss.
unless you think “R O C K in the USA” is a patriotic song
uncledad Monday, July 6th at 10:01AM EST (link)Sure why not. Hitler was fond of telling people what was and was not patriotic!
nice comparison, invoking Hitler, fantastic-nt
DONTREADONME (Diary) Monday, July 6th at 10:05AM EST (link)Oh...
DONTREADONME (Diary) Monday, July 6th at 10:06AM EST (link)that was a snark comment BTW.
Wow. Godwin's Law in the second comment. -nt-
Lammo (Diary) Monday, July 6th at 12:51PM EST (link)Don’t be so open minded that your brains fall out. (John Corapi, The Black Sheep Dog)
Texas is still patriotic
izoneguy (Diary) Monday, July 6th at 10:10AM EST (link)We went to a show on July 3 and on the 4th. Both shows were great.
Patriotic music all throughout both shows.
The point cannot be made often enough: Modern liberalism, as embodied in the Obama presidency, is the defender of the status quo. And the status quo is a road to economic ruin. Political forces cannot redistribute the wealth that the economic system does not produce.
At least our Nation's Capitol
Jlerner Monday, July 6th at 10:19AM EST (link)thought it was appropriate to play only American music. We had the usual Sousa marches and standard patriotic music. But they also worked in uniquely American sounds as well; classic folk songs (they even played Dixie!), Jazz standards, Gershwin (which was amazing, btw), etc. It was not “popified” or internationalized; it was a good mix of traditional and more modern musical forms. The only common theme was the quintessentially American sound they all invoked. It was lovely.
Change Chicago to Long Beach
elliesue Monday, July 6th at 11:42AM EST (link)Change Chicago to Long Beach, California and this describes perfectly our experience at the fireworks display. Actually, it was even worse. The display lastest only 20 minutes but there was no music at all. Old Glory was blowing in the wind but you couldn’t tell because it was dark and there was no light on her. Many families turned out but it was hard to tell why. Our small hand held American flags and a very small percentage of the people wearing the red, white and blue were the only visible signs that we might be celebrating America’s birthday. I even heard one young man of age 12 or so making fun of celebrating “our nations birthday” and he was with his parents and brothers (one who looked to be about 8 years old sported a peace sign t-shirt). It was a discrace. We felt very depressed when we turned in that night. Next year we’ll stay in Orange County where we live. I hear Huntington Beach did American proud.
Patriotism is more than a song or waving a flag made in China.
NotFooledByDistractions Monday, July 6th at 12:32PM EST (link)Patriotism and love of country is more than a song or waving a flag made in China.
This seems like a desperate attempt to complain about something…anything. Would it really have been that hard just to enjoy the day and the commaradere without looking at the events through the bitter lenses?
Yeah
uncledad Monday, July 6th at 12:46PM EST (link)What he said.
do not let this guy (troll) slip through the cracks...
DONTREADONME (Diary) Monday, July 6th at 4:48PM EST (link)check out his last comment, quite the classy invocation of Hitler to make an argument.
And imagine...
Warner Todd Huston (Diary) Monday, July 6th at 12:53PM EST (link)… you wasted everyone’s time telling us so, too. See, it DOES take all kinds.
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Why did Diamond's "Coming to America" make your hit list?
The_Gadfly (Diary) Monday, July 6th at 12:46PM EST (link)I think it is one of the classic patriotic songs from the Reagan era, along with Charlie Daniel’s “In America.” I won’t speak to some of his other songs, but that one I always think of as patriotic. While I wouldn’t put “R.O.C.K. in the USA” in the same league, it does strike me as one of the songs the mushy middle would tend to think of as patriotic. I will agree they should have saved “The 1812 Overture” to last. Or even left it out completely rather than put it first.
The 4th is about celebrating our country as a whole, not just the fighting aspects of it.
Correction
The_Gadfly (Diary) Monday, July 6th at 12:50PM EST (link)Title to Diamond’s song is just “America” no “Coming to” although that being the chorus it’s easy to forget. And I really do have to stand by these lyrics being fully and completely patriotic:
Everywhere around the world
They’re coming to America
Ev’ry time that flag’s unfurled
They’re coming to America
Got a dream to take them there
They’re coming to America
Got a dream they’ve come to share
They’re coming to America
How 'bout
Warner Todd Huston (Diary) Monday, July 6th at 12:52PM EST (link)How about because it’s crap?
That would be good enough for me. Johnny Cougars melloncamp is also crap.
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Nope, you said it wasn't patriotic.
The_Gadfly (Diary) Monday, July 6th at 1:02PM EST (link)And I happen to think it’s a great song which makes my patriotic play list often.
1812
Jay_Cee Monday, July 6th at 1:00PM EST (link)And the 1812 doesn’t really have any connection to US history at all.
But it sure makes for a good fireworks display!
William Tell?
bauer Tuesday, July 7th at 11:03PM EST (link)I think you meant The 1812 Overture, not William Tell.
1812 is an awesome fireworks tune — althogh it has nothing to do with America.