Music Video of the Day: Something To Believe In by Ramones (1986, dir by Preacher Ewing and Bill Fishman)


Wow, I had know idea that the Ramones were in it.

This video, obviously, is a parody of star-studded charity events, which were apparently as big a deal in the 80s and they are in the 20s.  Amongst those supporting the band are Toni Basil, X, Weird Al Yankovic, Ted Nugent, Penn and Teller, Harry Shearer, and the band’s Rock and Roll High School co-star, Mary Woronov!

(Do you all remember the whole U.S. Red Nose Day fiasco?  I know it’s a big deal in the UK but it’s never really caught in here in the States.  For the first American Red Nose Day, all three networks surrendered prime time to Red Nose Day and the ratings reflected the fact that 1) most Americans, despite all of the very aggressive advertising, still had no idea what Red Nose Day was and 2) gone were the days when people would watch anything as long as it was on the “major” networks.)

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Big Black X by X (2024, dir by Shane McKenzie and Gilbert Trejo)


X is still here.  That sort of longevity from the greatest punk band to come out of Los Angeles, that’s cause for celebration.  This music video celebrates both the band and their history.

Co-director Gilbert Trejo is the son of the one and only Danny Trejo, whose longevity is also worth celebrating.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Sink or Swim by OneRepublic (2024, dir by Isaac Rentz)


Are we going to sink or swim?

I would be more concerned with all of the random explosions!  That can’t be good.

Remember at the height of the COVID lockdowns, when they tried to fill all of the skate parks with sand to keep skaters from spreading COVID, despite the fact that the people most at risk of dying from COVID were also the people least likely to be hanging out at a skate park?  Seriously, people have mentally blocked out so much of the weirdness that went on from 2020 to 2022.

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Ron Paul Revolution Theme Song by Aimee Allen (2008, dir by ????)


Does everyone remember this blast from the past?

The YouTube video says 2012 but the song, if I remember correctly, was actually written for Ron Paul’s 2008 campaign and Aimee Allen even performed it at Ron Paul events.  It wouldn’t surprise me if the song was reused for his 2012 campaign.  I’m going to assume this video is from the 2008 campaign but again, I could be wrong.

(Ron Paul was huge amongst my friends in 2008, many of whom had previously been crazy about Dennis Kucinich and who later went equally crazy over Bernie Sanders, Mike Gravel, Marianne Williamson, Tulsi Gabbard, and RKF, Jr.  2008, of course, was before most people really understood what ‘too online’ meant and there was a general belief that having a lot of followers posting on message boards and on social media would translate into getting a lot of votes in a primary.  Needless to say, that didn’t quite turn out to be the case.)

Aimee Allen is currently the lead singer for The Interrupters.

Happy Labor Day!

Enjoy!

Music Video of the Day: Already Done by Annie Hardy (2024, dir by ????)


After three really difficult months, I’m ready to get back to the Shattered Lens.  And what better way to start things anew than with this latest music video from Annie Hardy.  The video stars some of her friends as well.  I love the possum, especially.

(We’ve got quite a few possums that live around here and Erin and I are always happy to see one of them making its way through our backyard at night.  The possums will always be safe around here.)

Annie Hardy previously starred in Dashcam, which I still consider to be the best film made about what life was like during the COVID lockdowns.  Check it out if you haven’t already.

Enjoy!

Song of the Day: Born To Be Wild by Steppenwolf


My Dad passed away last night.  Today’s song of the day is dedicated to him.

My Dad was many things.  He was a fighter.  He was a trucker.  He was a biker.  He was a rebel.  He loved action movies.  He loved his country and distrusted his government.  He was the most honest man I ever knew, always telling the truth even when it would have been easier to lie.  He was someone who stood up for himself and never backed down from a challenge.  I remember, when I was a kid, he would frequently get pulled over for speeding and he would always give the cop the finger while accepting the ticket.  My mom would get mad at him for that and my other sisters would admonish him with, “Dad, you’re going to get another ticket!” but deep down, we all knew that was what he had to do.  That was just who he was.  He lived his life his way and I’m thankful that we reconnected and we were able to fix our own relationship before he passed.

My Dad was ten years sober when he passed and I know he took a lot of pride in that.  A lot of people didn’t think he was serious when he said he had given up drinking but I knew he was and I knew he’d stick with it.  I was proud of him and I still am.

Today’s song of the day could have been written about him.