The Faculty Lounge

All That Jazz -- In Tokyo?

There’s an interesting article in The Wall Street Journal about the popularity of jazz in Japan, particularly in Tokyo. I don’t know why this surprises me, as I’ve heard (pun intended) that Tokyo is one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world. Also, there are some great jazz musicians who hail from Japan, including Keiko Matsui, and the wonderful group, Hiroshima. Speaking of jazz, I once worked with a colleague who had a small, hidden radio in his office, and jazz was always softly playing in the background, even when he left for the day. For some odd reason, the sound never seemed intrusive; instead, it was just…nice. Does music belong in the office? Can we, do we, whistle while we work in academia? If so, to what?

Gratuitous, tenuously-law-related, musical post

Because I'm covering World Wide Volkswagen v. Woodson and Calder v. Jones in Civil Procedure this week, and because I'm a fan of old movies, I couldn't resist the temptation to show this clip of Shirley Jones in her movie debut, Oklahoma! The students' reactions appeared to range from amused to bemused. They should be glad I didn't ride into class in a surrey with the fringe on top.

The Faculty Cocktail Lounge

Taking up Kim Krawiec's excellent suggestion, here is my contribution to law & cocktails blogging:



I wonder if anyone has written an article on country music and domestic relations law?

Inflation or Deflation?

By popular request, another (earlier) Merle Hazard video: 

  

From the chorus: 

Inflation or deflation? 

Tell me, if you can 

Will we be Zimbabwe 

Or will we be Japan? 

Credit markets came undone 

And still are in distress 

Will the dollars in my mattress 

Buy much more next year or less?

Related Post:  Bailout!

Singing the National Anthem

Revisiting a post from a few years back at propertyprof:

I thought I’d pass along a link to Marvin Gaye’s rendition of the National Anthem at the 1983 NBA All Star Game.  Given the recent discussion of what language we should sing the national anthem in, you might enjoy hearing this version.  And here’s a nice article about it, too.

It's a great, great story, which has taken on mythic proportions (there was fear Mr. Gaye wouldn't show up, then that the rendition wouldn't go well and, afterwards, about how he held the audience). It was his last appearance on national television.  Here's a link to a video of Mr. Gaye singing the "Star Spangled Banner" on youtube.

One aside here: Mr. Gaye was running late and the officials at the game asked an usher to stand in, which she was happy to do.  That vignette reminds me of one of my heroes, Ralph Ellison.  Mr. Ellison was working away in mostly anonymity until his 1952 novel Invisible Man appeared.  There are many, many talented people out there whose talents we may never know.  We were fortunate to learn of Ellison's talents--but that usher, who might have filled in for Mr. Gaye, remains anonymous.  The most recent example of suddenly (though belatedly) recognized talent that comes to mind is James Carter's rendition of Po Lazarus, which Alan Lomax recorded in Mississippi in 1959.  Lo those many years later, it was used as part of the soundtrack to O Brother Where Art Thou?  And, after some searching, Mr. Carter was located in Chicago, given a big check, and a Grammy.

The image, of a poster for Flag Day from 1939 is from the Library of Congress.

Bailout!

Bailout -- the new video from Merle Hazard

From the chorus:

We got a great big bailout, ten trillion bucks and more

Unprecedented bailout, it costs more than a war

We bailed out even big banks, like Citi and WaMu

Yes we got a great big bailout, but there’s more left to do!

Bailout!    (Bailout)

Bailout!    (Bailout)

(HT: Calculated Risk)