#bobby McFarrin

[tomthefanboy]

Today was the day I learned that Cary Loudermilk from Legion (the taller, whiter Loudermilk, pictured here on the left) ...

was the "other guy" in the video for infamous 80s earworm Don't Worry Be Happy.

I had always been vexxed by his inclusion in the video, not as an insult to his talents as a clown and dancer, but because he was being given equal billing alongside the performer themself and superstar ROBIN WILLIAMS.

Bill Irwin had not even played his most famous part at the time! It wouldn't be until 1999 that he played Mr. Noodle in Elmo's World.

I'm glad that I can not only put a name to that face, but that it's a name that is associated with such high quality programming.

[firstumcschenectady]

“Radical Experience of Acceptance” based on Isaiah 60:1-6 and Matthew 2:1-12

I have a very clear recollection of the first time I paid attention to the words of Bobby McFerrin's arrangement of the 23rd Psalm. I'd heard it before, but I hadn't LISTENED before. There was a church choir concert in Hollywood, the church I interned at was hosting, and one of the choirs sang it.

I was in seminary. I was reasonably familiar with the 23rd Psalm. I had expectations of what words I would hear. And then what I did hear was: “The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all I need. She makes me lie down in green meadows Beside the still waters, She will lead”1 All my breath left me, and I found tears rolling down my cheeks.

I went to a progressive seminary. I'd been led by intentional and caring clergy for years. I knew, and used inclusive language for God. I'd heard it used. I knew that the Holy Spirit was feminine in Greek. I knew God wasn't male. I knew I was made in the image of God.

And.

And in that moment in a new and profound way, I felt included as a child of God. This overly common imagery of God as a shepherd translated from a distinctly male image with male pronouns to a distinctly female image with female pronouns mattered to me, to the deepest parts of my being. This is related, I think, to music touching a different part of our beings than logic and rational though. When that choir sang “she makes me lie down in green pastures” I felt safe and welcome, cared for and most significantly of all, I FELT the reality that I could be a reflection of God as a woman. To hear the metaphor of God as female in that song healed me a little bit. EVEN THOUGH I'd already “known” all of that.

Probably because there is a difference between knowing (head) and knowing (body and spirit).

As I read these epiphany scriptures this week I found myself cringing a little bit at the repetition of “daughter.” It felt like too much. I wanted to soften it, take it back, make it quieter. It felt like maybe it would exclude those who aren't female.

But, I read the textual notes, and Dr. Gafney wrote in them, “Isaiah 60 speaks to a female entity, Zion, Jerusalem, frequently styled as God's daughter; each “you” and “your” is explicitly feminine and singular, rhythmic and repetitive in Hebrew. I have added “daughter” each place this occurs for the English speaker-reader-hearer.”2 So, it is truly there, and what is odd is to hear it explicitly in English, “Arise, daughter; shine, daughter; for your light has come, daughter, and the glory of the Holy One has risen upon you, daughter.” (Isaiah 60:1)3

So, instead of softening the language, I've sat with it. What I'veheard is that when God reveals God's self to us (“epiphany” which is the name of the Sunday we're celebrating) it often has to do with a radical experience of acceptance – and quite often a radical experience of acceptance when we were expecting rejection.

This is where we are gifted with a lot of wonderful power as a church. We are the people who can use they/them pronouns for God, and let people who are non-binary that we see God in them and them in God. What a gift to be able to give!

I have often reflected with awe at the impact of this church on those who were raised in it. In the process of preparing celebrations of life for church members, I get to know their families, and I am often struck by how this church has gifted the world with men who are free to be tender and compassionate and women who are free to be strong and clear, and visa versa, and more so. This has been for a long time a place where gendered expectations are put away and space is made for the fullness of God's gifts in each person to emerge. What an incredible legacy this church has!

I have heard stories from many of you about your process of finding your way here, and the radical experience of acceptance that kept you here. One story involves sitting in a car in the parking lot and wondering if this church would really have enough love for the one waiting to enter. (You did.) One story involves looking for a long time for a church that could welcome two people with very different needs, and the powerful relief that came when it was offered. You did that too. A lot of stories involve a positive experience of faith in childhood, a developing sense of scientific knowledge and logic, and the wonder of finding a place where faith and knowledge can be held together in peace. Many stories involve a yearning for a community, and a struggle to find one who knows God well enough to know how big God's love is. (This actually saddens me. I wish every church knew the expansive and epic extent of God's love.)

Thanks be to God, that for many people, this is a place of epiphanies. This is a place where God reveals God's self. This is a place where people experience radical acceptance, and that changes EVERYTHING.

Arise, daughter; shine, daughter; for your light has come, daughter, and the glory of the Holy One has risen upon you, daughter.

AND

Arise, son; shine, son; for your light has come, son, and the glory of the Holy One has risen upon you, son.

AND

Arise, child-of-mine; shine, child-of-mine for your light has come, child-of-mine, and the glory of the Holy One has risen upon you, child-of-mine.

God speaks to all of you, to all of us.

It strikes me as sort of funny that this story from Matthew is the one that gets called the story of the Epiphany. Of all of the revelations of God in the scriptures, this doesn't seem like the most notable. Most of the story is about the sages from the East talking to Herod, which I'm quite confident was NOT a strong God-moment. I will give it to them though, the story is courageous. Asking the King of Judea about the one born TO BE King of Judea is not usually a good choice. But, it is the one presented here.

The story says that they had a God-filled experience in following the star, an even stronger one in meeting “the child with Mary his mother” and an additional one in a dream that warned them about Herod. So there ARE three epiphanies in this story, but what is the Bible if not stories of the revelations of God's love?

It seems to me there are some profound reflective questions gifted to us by these texts:

When have you had a radical experience of acceptance? What was it like? Why did you need it? Is it share-able?

When can you/we offer radical experiences of acceptance? Where is it needed? How can we do it?

I'm encouraged to note that it isn't always a heavy lift to do this work. Hearing a beautiful song can be a radical experience of acceptance. Seeing the progress pride flag in out hallway has been for many a radical experience of acceptance. Using a variety of pronouns for God and God's people can be a radical experience of acceptance. Making space for someone to be sad or mad can be a radical experience of acceptance. The reminder that it can be little things that offer radical experiences of acceptance lightens the load a little bit.

Because I believe we are called to radically accept, and love, and celebrate God's gifts in all of God's people. We are called BY our epiphanies to be people who offer space FOR epiphanies. We are ourselves radically loved by God, and we are able to offer God's abundant love to others.

Thanks be to God! Amen

1 Lyrics here: https://genius.com/Bobby-mcferrin-the-23rd-psalm-dedicated-to-my-mother-lyrics, has a link to recording too.

2 Wilda C. Gafney, A Women's Lectionary for the Whole Church (New York: Church Publishing Incorporated, 2021), 35.

3 Dr. Gafney's translation, page 33.

Rev. Sara E. Baron  First United Methodist Church of Schenectady  603 State St. Schenectady, NY 12305  Pronouns: she/her/hers  http://fumcschenectady.org/  https://www.facebook.com/FUMCSchenectady

January 8, 2023

[temp-check]

Wednesday's temperature check (2-15)

Easter is still almost two months away, but that won’t stop the bunny from claiming the top spot for candy’s favorite holiday.  In a survey of more than 2,000 Americans, 65% agreed that Easter was the holiday with the best candy. Meanwhile, 57% of participants said that Easter candy is superior to Halloween candy, specifically. Regardless of their preference, an even larger majority of participants showed enthusiasm for Easter candy in general: 77% of survey respondents affirmed they would be buying Easter candy this year.  It’s understandable then that candy manufacturers are goosing production in order to fill all those baskets with marshmallow chicks and chocolate bunnies.  However, whoever wants the title of Easter’s counterpart to the Grinch (Is it Arthur Slugworth? It’s probably Tucker Carlson) is ruining the holiday for everyone.  First, you may recall that back in June, a pair of would-be Augustus Gloops were pulled from a vat of chocolate at the M&M/Mars factory in Pennsylvania. There were no pipes to take them to the fudge room, but Mars Wrigley was fined by OSHA and forced to change to a non-human chocolate recipe.  Then, over the weekend, police in London (I believe they are called bobbies after Bobby McFarrin famous for his 1988 hit, “Don’t Worry Be Happy”, the moto of Scottland Yard) arrested a man for stealing a semi-truck then breaking into the Cadbury factory to make off with $38 thousand worth of Cadbury Eggs.  He claimed to be the Easter Bunny.  I hope not; he’s not going to be free in time to deliver those eggs.  Ugh, Slugworth!

Now that I’ve filled your head with that throwback earworm, I’ll check the closet for lost candy.

Stay safe!

Tom

[askgracenote]

Grace

[drtanyasamuel]

Bobby McFarrin’s “Don’t worry—be happy still makes me giggle!” (I will be 46 on 2/14 and yes I still giggle 🤭). From popular music to a cultural slogan, this adage is stated in the form of an imperative. It reflects the idea that happiness can be evoked by an act of the will. Yet the prevailing assumption among us is that happiness is something that happens to us or in us. It is a passive experience. We may be active in seeking it, as its pursuit is considered to be an inalienable right of Americans. But the thing itself, as elusive as it may be, is often regarded as something involuntary. There is a difference between happiness and the joy of which Scripture speaks. The term happiness tends to be broader than the term joy. Happiness tends to include a notion of contentment and satisfaction along with, perhaps, feelings of joy. Happiness comes and goes.... shifts like the wind. Joy suggests something more intense—a strong feeling of gladness, appreciation and deep gratitude. If we are serving God without joy, there is something wrong with that service. If joy is not characteristic in our lives, it may be a sign that we are not Believers in the finished work of Christ at all. #thinkonthat 🙌 #imoveyouforward #win #cantstopwontstop #leadershipdevelopment #abundancemindset #lifeandbusinessstrategist #lifeandbusinesscoach #success #leadershipcoaching #entrepreneurlife #lifehacks #businesshacks #winner #leadershipcoach #consistency #makeithappen #ceochat #ileadinheels #iamtanyasamuel (at Las Vegas, Nevada) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtWMGT9HhRG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=181htcg92k054

[vardasvapors]

berrysphase replied to your post: reasons I love my state’s classical public radio station: an a...        

  Does this have anything to do with Bobby  McFarrin by any chance             

gskjfhjsdfgd NO I DON’T THINK SO I think the announcer said it was a pretty old recording iirc....actually upon googling around for a couple minutes, I believe it was this one: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-feS3WBjXKU

[ernest-k-fabian-blog]

DPW 10/14/17

Ernest K Fabian Presents:

Descension Pro Wrestling Match Report:

Descension Pro Wrestling Presents:  "Karmagedon"

Pro wrestling fans of all ages packed the VFW hall in Wolcott CT for an exciting evening of pro wrestling action.  Ed Wood (Matthew John) was an excellent host as always & the card featured excellent wrestling talent and was a taut, well run show that started on time.  It is also always great seeing friends like Joanna Robinson, Don Kincaid, Jay Smith and Ron Schluter.  I only wish DPW ran more events.  

Ring Announcer:  Matthew James

Time Keeper: Ed Wood

Ring 2nd: Chelle "The Ring Girl"

Referees: T.J. Johnson, Lenny Lame & Aubrey St. John

Ringside Commentary:  Brian Cady, Lurch Collins & MrJoseph DeNucci

Preliminary Matches:

Singles Match:  Isaiah Rex defeated Alegro Grande via pinfall

Singles Match:  "Mr. Canada" Rick Williams beat Liam McFarrin via pinfall after planting him head 1st into the mat.  Williams cheated by using the ropes for leverage, preventing McFarrin from kicking out.

Singles Match:  Nathaniel Carr got by "The Man With a 35 Lb Head"  El Jabroni via pinfall after stomping Jabroni in the corner & then setting him up for the pin.  Jabroni was able to gain a temporary advantage after raking Carr's eyes.  Jabroni then stood on Carr's neck but was unable to translate those tactics into a victory.

Main Card  

Fatal 4 Way:  The winner of this match advanced to the main event title match VS DPW champion; "Hard Hittin'" Bobby Ocean. "Sexy Jesus" Hammer Tunis gained the victory against Dan DeMan, Kenny Bengal & "Concept" Johnny Torres via pinfall after pinning Torres following a "crown of thorns" finisher.  Tunis was thrown out of the ring early in the match & seemingly injured his shoulder.  Tunis was helped to the back whilst Dan & Kenny teamed up to pound Torres into motorcycle grease.  Tunis "rushed the ring" later in the match & cleaned house but ended up getting thrown to the floor again.  At the climax of this match, Dan & Kenny are "putting a beat down" on Torres but Torres ducked & Bengal knocked Dan out of the ring.  Tunis recovered and re-entered the ring whilst Bengal was distracted & knocked Bengal out of the ring. With no one standing in his way, Tunis finished the beaten Torres & gained the victory.

Tag-Team Match: "The Reckoning" ("Big" Jym Anderson & "Big" Jim Sullivan with Jimmy Meaz) stopped "Law & Disorder" ("Insane" Dick Lane & Judge Chambers) via pinfall when Sullivan pinned Lang following a double-team neck-breaker off Sullivan's shoulders.   After the match Judge Chambers attacked "Law & Disorder" with a chair but Meaz jumped in & broke it up.  "Law & Disorder" will face "The Reckoning" in a "chairs" match at the next DPW show.

Single Match: "Northern Fury" Big Vigo (weighs in at half of all of it) stopped Drake Evans via pinfall after delivering a groin shot on Drake followed by a "Double Stack" Splash.  At the start of this match, Vigo wanted to thumb wrestle.  Evans thought thumb wrestling was stupid but eventually "gave in" & used the opportunity to attack Vigo before the bell.  Evans raked Vigo's eyes & choked Vigo on the ropes but Vigo turned the tables on Evans by doing a bit of his own rule-breaking with a "low blow" to gain the victory.  

At this point on the card DPW champion; Bobby Ocean came to the ring and was interviewed by Matt James.  James asked Ocean what his plans were for his title match VS Tunis.  Ocean replied by stating that his plan is to knock Tunis "the hell out."  James then asked Ocean what weakness will Ocean exploit in his match VS Tunis.  Ocean replied, "I'm gonna break his hands."  Tunis then came to ringside & proclaimed that Ocean's title reign was going to end that night.  Suddenly, the lights went out in hall & everything was dark.  When the lights came back on Action Ortiz was in the ring beating down Ocean.  Tunis, still at ring side demanded that his tile match VS Ocean should still happen, despite Ortiz's attack.   Ortiz took the microphone & stated that Hammer was eliminated in their last encounter & that the main event should be Ortiz VS Ocean, then called Tunis a loser.  Promoter; Ed Wood decided that the main event would be a triple threat match.  Tunis was not pleased with this decision & replied, "are you kidding me?"

Tag-Team Match:  "Revelation" ("Maniacal" Jack Kruger & "Diabolical" Scott LeDeur with manager Joseph J. Alexander) dismantled "The Epidemic" (Sean Leiter & Thomas Billington) via pinfall after Kruger pinned Leiter following a DDT on Kruger's knees that was executed by LeDeur.   At the start of the match Alexander proclaimed that Thorson Creed had been poisoned & introduced LeDeur as the newest member of "Revelation."  "Revelation" dominated most of this match & employed rule breaking tactics.  "The Epidemic" made a brief comeback but "Revelation" gained the final victory.

Single Match:  Narciso Rex destroyed Nathaniel Carr via pinfall after a gigantic flip-splash off the ropes.   Narciso rushed the ring before the bell & "beat down" the hapless Carr.

Singles Match:  Ty Shyne got the best of "White Delight" Scotty Wild via pinfall after rolling Wild up from behind following a low blow.  The referee, T.J. Johnson was actually Ty Shyne's partner.  This was a hard fought, fast paced match that was exciting to watch.   At one point during this match, Wild had Shyne in a winning pin but Johnson counted too slowly.  At the climax of this match, Johnson refused to count Wild's pin at all.  Wild was enraged by Johnson's actions but was distracted which enabled Shyne to come up from behind for the victory.   After the match Johnson & Shyne beat on Wild but Johnny Torres, Wild's partner in "The Tenacious Two" rushed the ring with a cane and was able to drive the "Tenacious Two" away and get Wild to safety.

MAIN EVENT

DPW Title Triple Threat Elimination Match:  "Hard Hittin'" Bobby Ocean retained his DPW title in his match VS Action Ortiz & "Sexy Jesus" Hammer Tunis via pinfall after pinning Ortiz following a spinning heel kick.  The special referee for this match was SWB Wagner Brown.  This match began with Tunis complaining about the presence of Brown & Ortiz.  Tunis called Ocean a paper champion & left the ringside area but came back and attacked Ocean & Ortiz as the pair battled in the ring.  A highlight of this match was when Ocean dove out of the ring onto Ortiz & Tunis, knocking both men to the floor.   Tunis was eliminated by Ortiz following a belly to back suplex.  Tunis complained that Brown counted the pin too fast so Brown punched Tunis in the jaw & threw him out of the ring as "Center Ring" host Mike Avitable shouted "Write it down Katool!"  At the end of the match Ortiz Had a pin on Ocean but Ocean kicked out after a seemingly slow count.   Ultimately, Ocean was able to gain the victory & retain the championship.  

See you at the matches!

[nirobiofficial]

Experimental Artists

Kendrick Lamar,

Little SImz

Willow Smith

Oshun

Sango

The Code

Bobby Mcfarrin

Andre 3000

[theatredirectors]

Christopher Diercksen

Hometown?

West Caldwell, New Jersey. 

Where are you now?

Astoria, Queens, New York City.

What's your current project?

I'm currently in rehearsal for That True Phoenix by Daniel John Kelley which runs at the Access Theater in Manhattan from April 21 - May 7. It's an exploration into the life and legacy of Lorenzo Da Ponte. He's most known for writing the Librettos to Mozart's great Operas, The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and Cosi Fan Tutte, but he is forgotten for being what we lovingly describe as "The Forest Gump of the 18th Century."  My company, Team Awesome Robot has been working with Daniel over the last year to develop this piece from the ground up; it's exciting and scary to be so close to production.

Why and how did you get into theatre?

I took what appears to be a pretty well worn path in that I started singing in the church choir when I was three and spent the next ten years looking up to the High School kids who performed and toured a musical each year. By the time I hit High School I was hamming it up and hitting high notes in both church and school productions. In undergrad at Albright College, I was afforded incredible opportunities to not just act, but to get hands-on experience in every aspect of theater creation. I worked as a shop assistant where I built sets, hung cable, painted floors, and focused lights; I imposed myself on the professors during dry-tech to watch them build the world and stand in when they needed a body on stage; I sat in on concept meetings between directors and designers; I revived the campus literary magazine which taught me more about dramaturgy and Artistic Directing than I could have known; I even founded the Improv Group. I had an inkling that directing might be where I would best be suited but it wasn't until I went to the National Theater Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center that I was able to use all of that experience to try on all the different hats in earnest. It was there where I truly became a director.

As to the "why" of this question, well that's something I'm still grappling with. As a kid with ADHD, there were two things that could keep my focus: reading and play practice. I'd go off my meds, be totally non-disruptive, and still be able to recite every line in the show or sing every part in the song. In this way, creating theater became my safe space. Now as a director I strive to create a similar experience for my audience: building a world where a story can happen with you - because you are in the room.

What is your directing dream project?

I've been asked this a lot and my answer is always the same: I haven't read it yet, but when I do, you'll hear about it. I'm passionate about creating new work for the stage that supports the writer's story. In this moment, my dream project is That True Phoenix by Daniel John Kelley... at a theater that has less budgetary concerns than Team Awesome Robot. My current dream is to take this project and share it with more people than we can afford.  come back to me in a few months and my dream project might be the next one I'm working on.

What kind of theatre excites you?

Theater of urgency. I want to see theater that exists in the present moment for a reason and that reason needs to be the audience. I want theater that treats its audience as intelligent, almost cynical people who are offering up their suspension of disbelief as a gift; theater that treats that gift with gratitude and wonder. I like theater where magic happens in the air.

What do you want to change about theatre today?

Representation and intersectionality of audience. Full stop. I want to see a greater diaspora of artists across all disciplines in all productions; greater representation of minorities in institutional leadership roles; regional theaters taking chances on touring companies; audience outreach that extends beyond the subscriber base and into the wider community. I want to see American Theater fight homogeneous experience.

What is your opinion on getting a directing MFA?

Nice work if you can get it. It's not a guarantee that you'll make a living or even be good, but it certainly opens you up to different avenues of employment. Of course, it usually comes along with a mountain of debt as well. So if that's a path that can work for you, I say go for it, but it's by no means the only way to be a theater director.

Who are your theatrical heroes?

Will Eno, Anne Bogart, Sam Hunter, The Elevator Repair Service, Thornton Wilder, Lloyd Richards, Nina Simone, Bobby McFarrin, Gary Gygax, The Legend of Zelda, The 1994 New Jersey Devils, Gwar, Bill Nye The Science Guy, Alton Brown, and the way a frisbee flies through the air all the way across the field and falls in the spot where only your partner can catch it.

Any advice for directors just starting out?

Nobody is stopping you from having some friends over and reading through a new play over wine. Take an interest in the people who make interesting things. Hang out after the show. Never be afraid to ask what someone is working on and never be embarrassed to not have a concrete answer to that same question; you're searching for your next project, not waiting. Remember all the people with whom you shared the dream of life in the theater and be grateful that you're still going.

Plugs!

Team Awesome Robot is a collaborative theater initiative specializing in new plays.

We wrote about our production process on Howlround Here, Here and Here.

That True Phoenix by Daniel John Kelley at the Access Theater (4/21-4/23; 4/27-4/30; 5/3-5/7). 

Check out our website for info on our dark nights reading series as well.

[doubletroubledaddy]

Overheard

The boys and I were on the way to the airport to pick up Shannon after one of her work trips.  I had on an XM Radio station that only plays one-hit-wonders, and a once popular song by Bobby McFerrin came on.  I was bobbing my head, and singing along.  Trying to get the boys to…

Overheard was originally published on DOUBLE TROUBLE DADDY

[supermanfinge]

Feline.

Era solo per dire che ieri sera, prima dello spettacolo di Benni, mentre quella ragazza cantava e io sparivo dentro la sua ombra, mi sono messa a piangere e adesso non so neanche perché. 

[davidcowlesillustrations]

Happy Birthday, Bobby McFerrin

[hello-mynameismegan-blog]

this is awesome

[indmusicnetwork-blog-blog]

Bobby McFarrin is best known for his hit "Don't Worry Be Happy." Here he teaches a group of scientists about the power of the pentatonic scale.  Really amazing to watch so many people connecting with music like this.

[lincodega]

common language

[rubber-ducky-you-are-not-the-one]

He fucking hacks your brain with MUSIC.

The best example of how music is the universal language.