The Barron Blog

Tuesday, 6 December 2011

Musical Discoveries Through The Decades

Although I grew up with the "so-called oldies" of the 1950s, 60s, and 70s, I did manage to make musical discoveries that had nothing to do with the top songs on the hit parade at the time.
As a teenager, I discovered on television: Al Jolson in "The Jolson Story" and Nelson Eddy/Jeanette Macdonald in "Maytime".
I also discovered Gilbert and Sullivan in a high school production like the one on the left.
Although none of these productions had a rock and roll score, I found them all entertaining and even moving.
Al Jolson was the first singer to make black music into popular music.
Nelson Eddy and Jeanette Macdonald brought their hidden love to the big screen.
Gilbert and Sullivan made fun of English nobility and pomposity.
My musical journey didn't end there. I discovered great country and heavy metal songs when I performed karaoke in the1990s.
When I went to Newfoundland, I got introduced to great Newfoundland music from Harry Hibbs, Derek Pilgrim, Buddy What His Name, Simani and Roy Payne.
YouTube makes it easy for anyone to get acquainted with any kind of music. That isn't the case with radio or television which seems to pander to certain kinds of audiences who like specific things.
Fortunately, through the internet, we can break free from any artistic or cultural prison.

Posted by qualteam at 10:33 PM EST

Updated: Wednesday, 7 December 2011 12:24 AM EST

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Friday, 25 November 2011

The Future Of Music: The Tailor-Made Flashdrive Mix

I picked up a 32 gig flashdrive for $19.95 yesterday. I then realized how cheap these storage drives had become. My 2200 song library would fit into 8 gigs of this drive.
I paid for some of the songs, but most of them I got through the peer to peer network. This network doesn't exist the way it existed a couple of years ago. Take "Bearshare". It advertises itself as a free song downloading site, but try to burn a CD or download tunes for an MP3 player,  no way, Jose. You have to pay for the MP3 codes that makes songs playable on different media.
If you're starting from scratch, the cost of a diverse music library could cost you thousands of dollars. However, if you know someone with thousands of songs on a flashdrive, you can get your library cheap from him or her.
Personally, my collection goes from Al Jolson to Lady Gaga. This also includes many rare oldies and classical Do-Wop. I've tried to find the best english songs on Earth, according to me, naturally.
Added to the above are novelty songs, anti-war songs and inspirational tunes.
I have many songs by the great artists and groups of the 20th century. Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee, Bobby Darin, The Beatles, The Beachboys, The Eagles, Abba, Fleetwood Mac are just a few of those hit makers.
Heavy metal is represented by Joan Jett, Pat Benatar, AC/DC, Twisted Sister, Quiet Riot, Bon Jovi, etc.
Country is represented by Jim Reeves, Johnny Horton, George Jones, Shania Twain, Alan Jackson, Carrie Underwood, Taylor Swift, etc.
R & B is represented by Brook Benton, Marvin Gaye, Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Ray Charles, etc.
Newfoundland/Irish music is represented by Simani, Derek Pilgrim, Foster and Allen, A. Frank Willis, etc. The link on each performer's name is a YouTube video of their biggest hit.
Getting closer to present time, there's tracks from Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Adele, and Train. If something is good, moving or exciting, I'll admit it. I'm not stuck to one or two genres or a few particular artists.
If peer to peer networks hadn't been suppressed, I would probably have over 3000 songs now.
The best way to improve your song library is to find a friend with 2000 good songs who would put it on an 8 gig flashdrive for you. It might cost you some bucks, but not 2000 dollars.
Would you be interested in all or some of my collection? Email me at qualteam@rogers.com. I'm a reasonable person, but it took over 10 years to accumulate my audio treasures.
Singers may age, but youthful, passionate, high energy songs never do. The right kind of music can enhance any activity in life (exercising, relaxing, sharing meaningful moments, etc.)
Without a doubt, rock and roll has a divine origin.
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Posted by qualteam at 1:33 PM EST

Updated: Sunday, 27 November 2011 10:57 AM EST

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Monday, 21 November 2011

Changing Some Songs On My Top 1000 Play List: Adele Is Now On The List

Over the last four years, I've made few song changes on my MP3 player. However, I did notice that I was skipping certain songs frequently. These included "Bad Day", "Complicated" and Matt Monro songs (slow moving ballads).
Bad Day and Complicated are two excellent tunes, but I dropped them off my top 1000 song list.
Lately, I've been looking for youthful high energy songs with original beats and background harmonies. I didn't want to listen to music that sounded similar one song to another. That's why "The British Invasion" of the middle 1960s knocked U.S. pop music for a loop.
Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" is a fantastic song with an incredible beat that climaxes during the passionate choruses.
In looking for unique high energy material, I discovered rare treasures from Barry Mann, Bobby Darin and James Darren.
It took some searching on YouTube, but here are four new additions to my top 1000 list: Barry Mann's "Warpaint" and "Little Miss U.S.A", Bobby Darin's "Somebody To Love" and James Darren's "Mary's Little Lamb".
I love happy feel-good songs with a bit of humor in them and the four above fill the bill.
You don't have to move like Jagger. You can move wherever the music takes you.

Posted by qualteam at 9:29 PM EST

Updated: Monday, 21 November 2011 10:44 PM EST

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Wednesday, 16 November 2011

Stupid and (Funny?) Stuff In The Media

Lately, I've been looking at stories in the Media that are laughably called news. Take the "Occupation Movement in Toronto". Why don't these squatters live at home until they find a job like many of the young people in Italy.
It's amazing how the media has given so much attention to these malcontents who have made their protest points over the last month. They just didn't go home after the wrap party.
Then there's William Shatner's goofy video on the dangers of turkey frying called "Eat, Fry, Love". Why not bake the turkey in an oven? That's probably the safest thing to do.
How's this for a headline: "Kid's Balls Kicked Out In School". This looks like extreme bullying, but it isn't. The "balls" are footballs, soccer balls and even tennis balls which are forbidden on a school playground. Why? It seems some parent got a concussion when a soccer ball hit his head. You have to be kidding. Players score goals by hitting a soccer ball with their head.
There's been a lot of dumb gossip about Justin Beiber and Kim Kardashian. With any luck, maybe he'll knock her up just like "The Beaver" did with his grandmother.

Posted by qualteam at 10:17 PM EST

Updated: Wednesday, 16 November 2011 11:59 PM EST

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Friday, 11 November 2011

Remembering My Father (Eddy Barron) On 11/11/11

My father didn't have much time to do lots of "dad things" with his kids. In raising four children, he worked at one main job and two or three part-time jobs.
He was a veteran of the Second World War and spent a great deal of time with Barrie's "Gray and Simcoe Foresters". I wrote a blog about his war experiences in this entry in 2008.
The military meant a great deal to him. He was an instructor for cadets at the Barrie Armory and he even instructed me when I was a reservist in my late teenage years.
Although, we didn't spend much time together. He got me at least five jobs during my teenage years. The first one was in a tuck shop at the armory. The second was a stint in the summer student militia. The third was a part-time job at the Barrie Post Office. The fourth was a summer caretaker job at Camp Borden and my fifth job, was as a casual mailhandler on the railway.  Some of the jobs, I didn't do so well, but he stood by me.
My father also helped my other two brothers in getting part-time jobs.
My father died at 50 while working as a railway postal clerk, but I walked in his footstep as a postie until I retired from the postal service a couple of years ago.
I'm proud to have Eddy Barron as my father. He set a good example by supporting his country and his family with dedication and sacrifice.

Posted by qualteam at 10:26 PM EST

Updated: Friday, 11 November 2011 11:17 PM EST

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Thursday, 10 November 2011

I Have Lots To Remember Around Remembrance Day

I have lots to remember for today and tomorrow. Today is the 5th anniversary of my mother's (Doreen Barron) death.
As you can see from the photo above, she was a very pretty mom who had an adventurous son (me) who liked to see the world around Barrie, Ontario by myself. Many a time, a policeman brought me home when I got lost on my adventures. In desperation,  my mother tied me to a tree so she wouldn't have to send out a search party.
While times were often tough for a family of four (My father, Edwin Barron was the sole provider), we always had lots of presents at Christmas time and a summer vacation at my grandfather's (Lindsay Peever) cottage in Pembroke.
My mother also helped me as an adult when I had debts to pay off.
The Barron family, Ted, Bob, Linda and myself were nearby when mom passed away at South Lake hospital in Newmarket on Nov/11/2006.
I still miss her.
Love you too mom!!!

Posted by qualteam at 2:30 PM EST

Updated: Thursday, 10 November 2011 3:23 PM EST

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Saturday, 5 November 2011

Mark Carney: One Answer To "The Occupation Movement"

Mark Carney is the CEO of the Bank of Canada. He was recently appointed as head of "The Financial Stabilility Board". This board is charged with bringing more regulation and oversight over world markets.
As you might know, lack of international banking regulation and oversight lead to a big recession in 2008 that still lingers today. Those who are occupying major cities around the world are suffering the consequences of that recession.
Mark Carney is well qualified for his new job because he fought against Asset-Backed Commerical Paper which almost lead to the bankruptcy of the world's financial system. He also fought against big bonuses for financial CEOs that paved the way to the recession.
Canadians banks never suffered this meltdown because former Finance Minister, Paul Martin kept the banks on a tight leash.
While many nations have to deal with severe deficits and slowing economies, Mark Carney's appointment is a good move in putting the world's financial system on sound footing.
If you're not happy with the people are who running the show, you have to replace them with more capable individuals. That includes politicians, bankers and those suffering from the Peter Principle.

Posted by qualteam at 12:07 PM EDT

Updated: Saturday, 5 November 2011 12:43 PM EDT

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Sunday, 30 October 2011

A Halloween Moon

Halloween can be a funny occasion as well as a scary one.
You can watch a dancing skeleton or take in Achmed's(i.e. the dead terrorist) routine with a stupid orange.
For a good laugh, you can watch funny zombie movies like "Zombieland" and "Shaun of the Dead".
There's also Halloween jokes that will make you the life (or death) at a party, just good gloulish fun.
Have a happy and safe Halloween.

Posted by qualteam at 11:28 AM EDT

Updated: Sunday, 30 October 2011 12:17 PM EDT

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Friday, 28 October 2011

The Age Of Nano Has Arrived

Just as computer techology revolutionized the 20th century, nano technology will revolutionize the 21st century.
David Suzuki's "The Nature of Things" presented a three part series on how nano tech is changing our world. This was fascinating stuff that covered health, water purification, solar power, and other applications.
I few years ago, I wrote blogs on "Green Activism" and "Green Investing". The new wealth of the future would involve training and investment in new technologies like nanosolar power.
The politicians and bankers of the world should know that and young people occupying Wall street and Bay street should know that.
Cheaper energy, better water, better health, less pollution, these are the things that would improve the quality of life on Earth for everyone.
It's time for more individuals to start passionately using and investing in green technology

Posted by qualteam at 11:30 PM EDT

Updated: Saturday, 29 October 2011 12:01 AM EDT

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Wednesday, 26 October 2011

Lots Of Room At The Top For Good Executives

Back in late 2008 and 2009, I had a small online trading account that was actually showing a profit.
Needless to say, I collapsed this account in order to pay down my mortgage. After all, a house is the biggest investment for most people.
I wrote many blogs about investing. One of the funnier ones was "Smart Investing versus Sheep Investing" which is under the topic list on the right hand side called "Investing In The Future". Anyone starting out in the workforce or looking for additional sources of income should be aware of the different ways one can make his savings grow.
Right now, I wouldn't advise anyone to buy stocks in any catagory or country. The pessimism in European governments and banks appears to be at an all time high. The financial picture not only in Greece but in Italy and Spain is grim and getting grimmer.
Who's responsible for getting Europe and the U.S. in this mess? Who are the main incompetent politicians and bankers behind these problems?
In any industry or trade if a person can't do their job, their fired.
The world needs better politicians, bankers, and financial advisors. When there are financial haircuts and train-wrecks all over the place, it's time to find new personnel.
Steve Jobs and Bill Gates started the computer revolution. Who going to revolutionize the banking and financial sectors?

Posted by qualteam at 4:10 PM EDT

Updated: Wednesday, 26 October 2011 5:27 PM EDT

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