Saturday, June 4, 2016

NICE EFFORT

You must have heard by now that boxing legend Muhammad Ali has passed away. The man often referred to as "The Greatest" or GOAT (Greatest of All Time) was known for his skills in the ring, his boasting, and his adherence to his own personal beliefs. I gotta say, I'm not particularly interested in men beating the shit out of each other within the confines of a roped off area, or anywhere for that matter. Seems like a pretty brutal thing to do, and even if a fighter is making loads of cash, how many spectators and gamblers exhibit some degree of blood thirst mixed with greed? That's two things that I really can't get behind. One thing I can get behind is a fighter who gave up three years in the ring in his prime, and a shitload of potential earnings, because of his opposition to the war in Vietnam.



There are a lot of videos of Ali related videos at YouTube, Ali in the ring, in news reports and biographical profiles of him, as well as tribute songs going back all the way to the sixties. There are quite a few songs, including several hip hop tributes, that sample his catch phrases. And as far as his own output, I wasn't surprised to hear "Ali's Historical Theme Song", in which he boasts of putting the crack in the liberty bell along with other things. It's as corny and playful as you would imagine, though I was surprised to find out that it's from a record promoting dental hygiene. WTF? Frank Sinatra, Richie Havens, Jayne Kennedy, Ossie Davis, and Howard Cosell are also on the same record. I wonder what their take on dental hygiene is. I found another record more interesting. In 1964, while still using his born name, Cassius Clay, he covered "Stand By Me" and it is actually pretty passable for a non-singer.

~ NOTE: ALL MEDIA IS HOSTED BY THE BLOGS & SITES NAMED BELOW ~
Listen:
Muhammad Ali - Ali's Historical Theme Song mp3 at WFMU's 365 Day Project
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