Monday, June 9, 2008

What a Wonderful World remix



I am really hoping this is my last singing video. I hope I have gotten it all out of my system. (As do I suspect many of you.) This is basically an extension of a “Grand Old F**k”-- I recycled many of the same themes. What can I say, little has changed in the past few weeks—and I felt like singing again. Lately I’ve been working on my next Tonight Show and this mirrors many of the themes. Hopefully once I make that appearance, it will represent the final purge. I’m not a big fan of the F word—but in “Grand Old F**K” I was using it as a mechanism to grab people’s attention and then hit them with something perspicacious.

I took the two verse “What a Wonderful World” and made it six verses. It would’ve taken my fifteen more verses to say everything I wanted to say. As is, it already seems a few verses too long. The world is really NOT that bad, but it does seem a bit dismal these days. And I certainly feel when I was younger life was more innocent. We were naïve and ignorant—as youth should be. We discovered through experiences, many failed experiences, and not by googling.

We did not have this sense of entitlement. In “What a Wonderful World remix” I briefly comment on an aspect of contemporary life that boils me—the hurtful comments people make on message boards, blogs, and under my videos; I have fifteen year old kids criticizing my work—like they’re some sort of expert. A fifteen year old who’s greatest accomplishment is probably emptying the dishwasher telling me what I’m doing wrong? When I was a kid we had to take responsibility for our words. We didn’t have the internet— the space-- we had to say it face to face. And get punched. But zero accountability seems to be the trend. Not that fifteen year olds don’t deserve an opinion, but maybe they should accomplish something or put themselves out there in such a capacity and then express it. In other words, it’s OK to NOT say something too. What I am trying to say is, at least have a prom rejection under your belt before you write BLEH under my videos. The anonymous, drive by, hurling of insults has become a revered form of expression that I think will have later consequences for them in life… or at least I can hope so. I like justice. Careless opinions will get you no place fast—and the internet is habit forming. You can’t go through life just expecting to say whatever you want. The bigger problem created by the internet, kids start to think that their opinion even matters. Most of the time—OUR opinions DO not matter. WE are NOT supposed to know what everybody thinks about us!

Plenty of adults write hurtful things too—and often it seems to come from a sad place. I see plenty of individuals doing things I am not fond of, but I don’t feel the need to express it to them. Why are we trying to be so hurtful everybody?

I have been VERY fortunate lately—most of the time, people leave my stuff alone. That is the way I like it! If you don’t care for what I do—I don’t really care. So keep that in mind when you seek revenge for your own emptiness with the taps of a keyboard. I can also handle criticism, I have been a victim of plenty of it in the past. Through the years I have developed the temperament to cope with it. But in high school, I would’ve been a wreck if the internet was around and ADULTS were designing sites for kids to go on and defame each other. Honestly, I am more worried about this dark side of humanity than the high gas prices.

I create these videos for my friends and those that have continued to support me—the many that have reached out to me and encouraged. Enjoy them. These are not intended for the masses. So please share them quietly with those of like values and sensibilities. How the hell did I get off on this tangent… I sat down to write that I hope this is my last singing video and I started typing typing typing…??? COME ON O!

Want to lift your spirits? Watch the original Louis Armstrong version—I watched it about ten times to tried and mimic his non stop ear to ear smile. In two minutes, he smiles more than I have in all of 08. That is a gross exaggeration. But certainly more than January and February. I wanted to get a trumpet, hold it, and NOT play it like Louis did—but it seemed like too much work and then some fifteen year old buffoontard would slam me for it anyway… “bleh the trumpet… I want my four minutes back.” (Oh how original.)

Watch this guy and smile-- the world should be this way!

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

I see where you were going with that. When I was 15, I would never have presumed to be disrespectful to an adult by posting a rude comment.. I think you sang well and you looked sexy. You not only have amazing eyes but you also have lucious lips and a beautiful smile.
Love,
Michelle

The Actress said...

As usual, I agree with almost all of what you've written. You and I had responsible parents and hail from a different time. As a result, we think alike in many ways — and that is a scary thought. ; )

However, sometimes, I think you fail to see the humor in what is intended as a good-natured barb. That may be because your standard of what constitutes "funny" is set higher and/or is more developed than the rest of us, or you're just slightly overly sensitive with regard to your work, because you give so much of yourself and put so much time and effort into your craft. Most people never stop to realize that what you're doing is an art that requires years of practice to perfect; and, the fact that it does not appear to be a performance is testimony to your skill. In many ways, you provide a very difficult public service. It's not easy keeping people happy and laughing.

But sadly, indeed, many people — too many — are simply thoughtless and rude. Some are even cruel.

On a completely different topic....

"Perspicacious!?" Since when did you start doing Bob Costas impressions??? You are sending me to the dictionary, sir! That is a one I don't know — and you know how much I love my 25¢ words!

The Actress said...

P.S. Anonymous Michelle is now 16.

= D

Anonymous said...

I completely agree Orny. There's an enromous amount of negativity out there and what's really frightening is that it seems like people actually look for it now.

You seem to have nailed it on the head though when you said "It's ok not to say something too." How exactly do you say someone's not entitled to their opinion when the internet encourages these people to post a comment on everything? I can't even read a news article online without getting to the bottom and seeing a bunch of comments. The majority of which are usually two people arguing with each other and calling each other names, and on top of that someone trying to mediate the argument between the two of them! It's ridiculous. But again this is all just my opinion.

I do enjoy your videos and I hope you keep posting.

-John Poveromo

Just call me Katie! said...

Oh Orny! Your heart and mind are musical. You don't have to sing. But do whatever you desire.

Your writing and humor are musical all on their own.

Louis Armstrong had a contacious smile! You, Orny Adams, have a scabrous mind. It seems to get you into all kinds of trouble. But we love you still.

Peace!

Katie

The Actress said...

Oops! One more thing —

I agree with almost all of what you've written and EVERYTHING you sang.

Anonymous said...

As always Orny... classic. Enjoy your work...keep it up. Always a fan..

carl2000 said...

I can totally relate to where you're coming from concerning the spiteful criticism. The kids dish it out simply because they're third generation dickheads (The idiot gene is spreading. Beware.), while others are just taking you way too seriously.

It reminds me of something my dear old dad once told me during one of his drunken lectures:

"Son, you can please some of the people some of the time, and you can please some of the people some of the time, but you can't please some of the people some of the time."

Just call me Katie! said...

Ha! Thanks,Carl for the words of wisdom. So profound. It is like this new version of music called Scah...? They don't identify with jazz but they don't really hit the range of any musical note that a human can understand. Maybe it was because it was the fifth henny I had for night but the music was crap. Very disappointing. But the "musician" was proud.

Just call me Katie! said...

Ha! Thanks,Carl for the words of wisdom. So profound. It is like this new version of music called Scah...? They don't identify with jazz but they don't really hit the range of any musical note that a human can understand. Maybe it was because it was the fifth henny I had for night but the music was crap. Very disappointing. But the "musician" was proud.

Anonymous said...

Orny-Your smile is also very contagious, and your humor is hilarious. Please keep making the videos. I love them.
H

Anonymous said...

~Whatever happened to the Good Ole days,
when if you had something
bad to say about someone,
you wrote it on a
Bathroom Wall?

Michelle36 said...

Orny, You are right. We are fat. I think I have been looking in the mirror and seeing somebody else. I have decided that from now on, I'm taking responsibility for my fat ass. I have lost 12 lbs in 2 months and I work out almost every day. I'm building muscle so I'm not worried about the lbs that much but I have gone down 3 sizes and I'm still going. We have to get up off our collective butts and move around and drill for oil in Alaska. Orny, you are brilliant and beautiful and funny and you keep it real.
Love,Michelle
Love,
Michelle

Anonymous said...

No negativity from me! I'm very late watching this and it absolutely spot on. By the way I'm digging the long hair.

Michelle36 said...

ou look pretty... I know you are not supposed to say that about a man but you are so gorgeous and you smile makes me smile.
Love,
Michelle

Tom said...

Don't stop the singing videos. They are great!

Tom said...

Seriously, this stuff rocks!

dvb said...

this song rivals Monty Python's "bright side of life" in Life of Brian.