Tossing Salt Presents:
Music Fact or Fiction
Rihanna, Dolly, American Idol & More
February 17, 2023
DougMaynard.com

You’ve all seen Wrestling Fact or Fiction many times. Now it’s time to take it to a new level and new genre. It’s Music Fact or Fiction where I take a look at several statements about the music industry and decide if I agree or not and then explain why. Are you ready? Let’s do this.

You enjoyed Rihanna’s halftime show at the Super Bowl.

FICTION: Do you mean the show where she groped herself and then lipsynced through 98% of the show, not even making an effort to pretend to be singing? Is that the show that you mean? No, I was not impressed. I watched it since it’s written in the gay man’s rulebook that Rihanna is supposed to be a big deal, but I wasn’t impressed in the slightest and can honestly say it was one of the worst “live performances” I’ve ever seen.

You’re looking forward to Dolly Parton’s upcoming “rock album”.

FACT: It’s Dolly Parton and she does not make bad music, period. From what I understand, she’s already recorded with Metallica and Judas Priest in preparing for this new album and I’m sure that was excellent. I so want to hear her and Alice Cooper do a song together as well. Dolly as a rocker? Well, she’s in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame so why not?

Everyone should stand when the Black National Anthem is played.

FICTION: Do we stand when Hank Jr. sings Family Tradition? No, but we probably should. Do we stand when Weird Al sings Amish Paradise? No, but it’s an awesome song. Lift Every Voice And Sing is a decent song, but it’s NOT the National Anthem. There is only one National Anthem and it’s The Star Spangled Banner, period. Every other song is just a song, regardless of how much a person might like it. I stand every time a Waylon Jennings song comes on the radio or the sounds of David Allen Coe fill the room. But they’re not the National Anthem and neither is that other song, no matter what the libs try to tell you.

American Idol is still relevant in helping to discover new musical talents.

FICTION: American Idol was good in the day and I enjoyed hearing the youngsters sing their songs and jump through hoops in their attempts to be a big musical star, but it seems that as time has taken its toll, Idol isn’t what it once was. When was the last time it produced a new chart-topping sensation? The funny thing to me about that show, and all the musical talent shows out there, is that stars like Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Alice Cooper, David Bowie, Iggy Pop, Tom Petty, Elvis, etc., wouldn’t have made it through the first rounds of elimination by today’s standards. They’d be too “weird” or not “pretty enough”. Idol was a good thing in its day and fun to watch and through that show, I discovered some amazing singers to listen to and enjoy, such as Casey Abrams, James Durbin, and Haley Reinhart. But now, the formula is dated and the talent isn’t all that. Idol was good in its day, but now? Not quite so much.

You are excited that Randy Savage’s rap album, Be A Man, is having a limited re-release in April.

FACT: Only 1000 copies will be printed and sold on vinyl, but it’s The Macho Man. Anything that Savage did outside the wrestling genre always made me smile. Hearing this news makes me want to go call out Hogan for having eyes for Miss Elizabeth. This is great news.

And there you go. My thanks for reading. Comments, thoughts, and any questions are welcome and appreciated. And don’t worry. This will be a regular thing going forward. I had fun so why not? Until the next time, stay well, keep your feet on the ground, and keep reaching for the stars. Love you – mean it.

Ubuntu!