Let's Discuss Ray Stevens, Part 27...

In an article that popped up on-line today, De Pasquale's Dozen, Ray Stevens offers a brisk Q&A to a series of questions. The author of the write-up agrees with a lot of us that Ray Stevens was indeed a big hit at this year's C-PAC gala. The expansion into the political arena, obviously, has enabled Ray to acquire an entirely different audience in addition to the audience that's seemingly been there since the beginning.

Within the above link to De Pasquale's article you'll be able to access Ray's music video, "The Skies Just Ain't Friendly Anymore", as well as access an Amazon link for the single. I often keep track of the Amazon sales rankings of Ray's current material...last year I was keeping track of the "We The People" single, for example.

This time around the TSA single has appeared on Amazon's Top-100 Comedy Song list, off and on, for a number of weeks. Remember...the single had been available since early February...it's only the music video that's been available to watch for just 2 weeks now. The video's continuing to show it's strength as the unique views have totaled 101,112 in that short amount of time.

This expansion into political humor, while having a majority favorable response, has also netted Ray some negative criticism, too, but this can be summed up as nothing more than...well...politics. Whenever anyone gives a political viewpoint there's almost always going to be the favorable responses and then there's going to be the unfavorable responses. There's an underlying positive/favorable response to Ray's political music videos and his TV/radio interviews in general. This favorable reaction among Independent voters, no doubt, increases the animosity of the opposing point of view. You can check the various News/Blog entries throughout 2010 from various left-leaning organizations who did articles about Ray Stevens to see what I'm referring to. The anger and downright nastiness that spilled out from those liberal blogs was atrocious.

The animosity stems from the fact that Independent voters shape the outcome of elections.

Now, the latest song from Ray, "The Skies Just Ain't Friendly Anymore", doesn't necessarily have the same kind of political overtone of his previous recordings...even though toward the end Ray makes reference to the faces of the Democrat party: Obama, Nancy, Harry, and Hillary. If anyone denies that Hillary isn't a face of the Democrat party how quick you're to forget who her husband is and what political party they belong to. Just because someone becomes Secretary of State it doesn't mean that their individual political views go away or that their political convictions play no part in their decisions. In a perfect world those who hold those offices should be apolitical and never let politics enter their minds but the truth is that doesn't happen.

Ray Stevens...Critical Reaction, Part 6...

Yesterday afternoon a small write-up of Ray's TSA song/video, "The Skies Just Ain't Friendly Anymore", shown up on the newsmax web-site. The page also offers a link to the You Tube music video which I'm thrilled to say has gotten an increase of over 6,300 plays and now sits with 47,377 total hits since my previous blog earlier this morning. The write-up re-prints some of the lyrics from the song and given the positive nature of the write-up, of course, that's why I decided to mention it in this blog. I'm sure that write-up will become unavailable as the months/years go by...what often happens are on-line articles are available for all to see for a certain period of time and then the owners of the site's make the content exclusive to subscribers at some point.

If anyone ever finds themselves searching Google news archives for Ray Stevens-related stories and you come across sites that state something like "limited view only-subscribe for full view". Well, those are examples of what happens with a lot of on-line content. The reason I also like to keep track of write-up's and critical reactions is because those kinds of things illustrate mood and personality of the writer(s) and during my research I've often found that Ray's music has a polarizing affect. Long before he began associating himself in a distinctly political public image there had always been critics all too willing to put his material down and marginalize his appeal. On the other hand there was, and continues to be, an appreciation for his work by just as many supportive voices and, for them, the political direction is a welcome addition as it adds a new dimension to his career.

Although I'm a dedicated fan of Ray Stevens I never act as if I know him and I never personalize myself with him in my writings, either. I have watched a lot of his performances on TV and have heard a lot of his interviews and have read a lot of interviews he's given and those are the only things a person can legitimately go by when attempting to write about him. Some people, who get way too personal, assume negative criticisms must certainly hurt Ray's feelings. Although none of us like to see negative commentary written about Ray the fact is he's been in the music business for awhile. If negative criticisms really ate at him or caused any kind of depression or sadness there's no way he would've been able to survive in the music business as long as he has.

Thick skins and backbones are a prerequisite, it seems, in sustaining longevity based upon things I've read from those who've seen the bad side of fame and it's pitfalls but have rebounded and triumphed through sheer talent and strength. The bottom line is just because a critic or two, or three, decides to roast and skewer something Ray Stevens has said or done it doesn't mean you, the fan, should feel that the criticisms bother him in any kind of way.

Ray Stevens...Critical Reaction, Part 4...

In my previous blog entry, when I was writing about the latest You Tube numbers for "The Skies Just Ain't Friendly Anymore", I wrote this: "The actual total is 7,661. It may obtain 10,000 plays at some point next week!". Obviously I was being modest...a check on the most recent numbers reveal 10,909 to be the play count for the music video. Given that we're approaching the 3-day period of this video's availability on You Tube and with it already well over 10,000+ hits it should be a quick climb into the 50,000 level and then the hundred thousand level.

His previous music video, the seasonal "Nightmare Before Christmas", has gotten 96,140 hits in a 3-month time period. If I recall correctly it was a slow climb to even reach 50,000 plays for that particular music video. I don't expect a lot of activity for that music video to really pick up again until, of course, Christmas season 2011. The thing that was obviously missing last time around was widespread sharing on social network and blog sites. There wasn't a timely national issue featured in the song...only a commentary on political correctness which has been debated steadily since the early '90s.

You Tube wasn't around in 1997 when the song was originally recorded and there weren't any comical music videos made at that time of any of the songs from Christmas Through a Different Window, the CD in which the song originates. So, fast-forward to 2010, and a music video is made of the 13 year old song. It's a funny music video all the same and although political correctness is a continuing nuisance in our culture it's not exactly at the forefront of everyone's minds unlike some of the other issues of the day...such as invasive screening at airports all over the country, spoofed in "The Skies Just Ain't Friendly Anymore"...or illegal immigration which is dealt with in both the serious "God Save Arizona" and the comical "Come to the USA".

I'd put "The Global Warming Song" in the same category as "Nightmare Before Christmas" in that each music video deals with a hot-button issue but in either case the issue isn't at the top of the priority list and therefore their You Tube plays suffered somewhat. The video about global warming has gotten 91,669 plays since it's debut on June 29, 2010. Should any of Obama's environmental or energy plans get passed and signed into law at some point I expect "The Global Warming Song" to get much more rigorous publicity the second time around.

Although they're not singled out in the lyrics it's the EPA who are pushing the idea of global warming...aided by several media outlets. The EPA, at it's core, is a well-intentioned agency much like the TSA...but like the TSA, the EPA becomes the face of whatever goes on in their specific field whether they're directly or indirectly involved or not. Like the TSA, the EPA was founded by a Republican Administration. It was the Nixon White House that created the EPA...but I'm quite certain that it wasn't meant to get in cahoots with media outlets in an effort to brainwash the citizens of the country into feeling guilty if we don't "go green" or if we don't go to outrageous lengths to "save the planet from destruction".

NBC, from things that I've noticed, blatantly panders to the environmentalists...the network paints their peacock logo green whenever some environmental program or event is taking place. I may be wrong but I don't think those kinds of hyperbolic worries and fears, or media involvement, were on the minds of the Nixon Administration when the EPA was in the planning stages.

Those reading this blog, if you hadn't done so already, should seek out information about climate change, global warming, or the Cap and Trade concept to fully understand the humor in "The Global Warming Song". I'm not suggesting any of you should spend hours upon hours researching those environmental and energy topics but just a glimpse into those particular issues will certainly enable you to understand/appreciate the song's humor much better than you perhaps already do.

Ray Stevens and the TSA, Part 5...

Ray's interview on KSCJ radio this morning was great, I think. The host of the show, Randy Renshaw, brought up several obscure recordings that Ray performed and this allowed Ray to talk about his early years and the kind of radio he grew up listening to.

Ray was describing a "Top-40" station where all formats were played on the same radio station and that there wasn't a specific format geared to each and every station like there is now. Ray also spoke about the upcoming Encyclopedia of Comedy Songs and made it clear that he wasn't going to be re-creating any stand-up routines [such as those performed by Jonathan Winters, Foster Brooks, Bill Cosby, etc. etc.] and that the collection would be nothing but music driven. Ray commented about 'Ray Stevens Backstage', the premium feature at his web-site, and he remarked that he and his associates stay pretty busy in the recording and, or, video studio.

The radio host asked about the change in direction from pop/country to political music and what was the feedback from the public in general. Ray remarked that he can't help it if some may not like his political direction...he commented that it's his decision and those who support it, support it...and those who don't, don't. He spoke about C-PAC and the host brought up any ideas of becoming a political commentator on news programs as a second career. Ray said he never really thought about that but the idea sounded good.

The interview on KDWN just wrapped up minutes ago and in this particular interview Heidi Harris interviewed Ray and asked about the TSA and she played a clip of "The Skies Just Ain't Friendly Anymore". As a fan of Ray Stevens, as I am, you've got to be thrilled with all the attention the song's getting. The music video's gotten even more plays...currently it's sitting at 1,894 which is an increase of over 1,500 from my blog post last evening.

At one point in the KDWN interview Ray and the host discussed the TSA's commentary about the images of the full-body scans never being made public and yet they were leaked and made their way onto the internet. Ray talks about "The Streak" and "Ahab the Arab", too. The host complimented Ray for still being in fine voice after all this time. He credits it to never having been a smoker. By the way, the host opened the segment playing a bit of "Ahab the Arab" and she closed the segment playing a clip of "The Streak".

Up next, as of now, on the Ray Stevens radio interview tour will be a February 22 radio interview on The Dennis Miller Show. The reason I say "as of now" is because additional radio interviews could pop-up prior to the twenty-second...one never knows...but for now the next one will be with Dennis Miller on February 22. Several days later there will be an XM satellite radio interview on February 25 conducted by Charlie Monk on The Roadhouse program. Satellite radio is a premium service so the content is exclusive.

Ray Stevens: The TSA music video...

What a wonderful treat Thursday turned out to be! Due to time zone issues I was unable to stay awake today and hear Ray's interview on radio station WSGI in Tennessee. The interview took place at 1pm central time which is 2pm here in the eastern time zone and given that I work nights I couldn't stay awake to catch it. If I had known ahead of time when the interview was to take place I could've gotten some sleep earlier in the day...but...when I woke up this evening I discovered that Ray had uploaded the much anticipated music video of his TSA song, "The Skies Just Ain't Friendly Anymore".



The video, in my opinion, is quite hilarious. It's surely going to become another mega viral hit on You Tube. On Twitter it's been tweeted and shared and re-tweeted throughout much of the afternoon by various Tea Party and conservative bloggers in addition to Ray's core fan-base who've supported him for years. I don't know the name of the woman playing the airline passenger ahead of Ray and "Charlene". I know that Sabrina plays the role of Charlene and that Ray's longtime songwriting partner and business associate, Buddy Kalb, plays the role of the security agent. If you want to see the video on a much larger scale click the following video link and it'll take you to the video's page at You Tube. As most of you know, I don't embed videos at their original size simply because they're way too large to fit within the space provided and would mess up other features of the blog page and cause the page to load slower...therefore I re-size the videos.

On Friday morning February 18th (that's TOMORROW!) Ray will be interviewed on two radio stations. The first station, KSCJ, will have an interview at 9:30am Central time, 10:30am Eastern. The second station, KDWN, will have an interview an hour later at 8:30am Pacific, 10:30am Central, 11:30am Eastern. Those two interviews I'll definitely hear...they air earlier in the day, of course. KDWN is in Las Vegas...I'm sure Harry Reid will become a topic of conversation during the interview. The show's host is Heidi Harris. KSCJ is located in Sioux City, Iowa. Ray will be calling the Open Line program with Randy Renshaw. In both instances you can listen live from their web-site's.

KSCJ radio

KDWN radio

Ray Stevens and the TSA, Part 4...

Good Valentine's Day morning...I'm not a romantic so I'll jump to the main topic of today's blog entry: Ray Stevens, of course!

Ray called radio station WHO-AM this morning and did an interview with Jan Mickelson. This radio station, located in Iowa, is the #1 talk-radio station in the area. Ray was asked if he were a class-clown while in school and then the conversation turned to C-PAC. Ray commented that he enjoyed being there and was thrilled over the reception that his TSA song had gotten from the audience. The host asked about politics in general and Ray remarked that he has always held what he calls common sense beliefs but it wasn't until decades later that he realized that conservatism mirrored what he saw as common sense approaches to a lot of political and social causes. Mickelson brings up Ross Perot and plays a snippet of "Sucking Sound" and then the conversation switches to You Tube, on-line music, and conventional music buying. Today's episode should be available in the archive section of the host's web-page at some point today so you can hear the actual interview for yourselves.

About an hour before Ray called WHO radio this morning another interview, this one conducted by Christian Toto, surfaced on-line at Big Hollywood, a web-site operated by Andrew Breitbart. This particular interview featured more discussion about the TSA song he's currently promoting and the interviewer commented that a music video to that TSA song, officially called "The Skies Just Ain't Friendly Anymore", will be available on You Tube soon. The interview can be found by clicking the Big Hollywood link.

Ray Stevens and the TSA, Part 2...

As Ray Stevens' new TSA single becomes more and more publicized I'll be writing frequent blogs about it's impact with those who have heard it. Today "The Skies Just Ain't Friendly Anymore" became available as an Mp3 digital single. Previously, on Tuesday, it was only available as a hard-copy/physical CD. For those unaware of the phrases "physical CD" or "hard-copy CD" that you'll see me use it basically means a CD that a person can literally hold in their hands. In the digital age you can't really say the phrase "the latest single" because some will automatically think something's available in Mp3 form and go searching for it whereas in this case a physical CD single and now a digital Mp3 single are available.

So far the song is hitting a positive response from those who've heard it. It's wonderful to see messages/comments from those who get the point of the song and laugh along with it. However, earlier this morning I came across a web-site where the usual contemptuous crowd gather to spew their hatred and, or, collectively look down their noses at "novelty songs". In some of their remarks it was plain to see that the point of the song went over people's heads. One comment suggested that Ray was criticizing a political party (Democrats) even though it was a Republican administration in power when the TSA came into existence. The person making that comment, and others making comments in the same style, completely misunderstood the song or flat out didn't want to understand the song.

The TSA was created in the aftermath of 9/11 for obvious reasons. The song isn't criticizing or spoofing the TSA's original intentions and it isn't criticizing the TSA for it's main function neither. The song, and I feel silly having to explain it because it's message is so crystal clear, the song is about the extreme nature of the TSA's current security policies in airports all over the country. It's amazing how a song can be so crystal clear in it's message but yet without fail there are people who don't want to hear that message or don't have the capability of hearing that message.

Within the song, well more precisely toward the end of the song, Ray singles out the faces of the national Democrat party in Washington, D.C. and those faces are: Obama, Hillary, Nancy, and Harry. Some ask why the song would include those names and, again, it's quite obvious why: When asked about the TSA's security methods each one of them publicly supported what's happening at the airports. So, when you have the leaders of the Democratic party siding with an embarrassing and invasive security policy from the TSA it wouldn't make any comical sense to single out whatever obscure Republican figures there may be who side with the TSA, too. The fact is a majority of Democrats haven't criticized the TSA and instead they come off as supporters of the embarrassing security policies whereas a majority of Republicans have criticized the TSA. That is why the faces of the Democrat party are singled-out in this recording. It shouldn't take a brain surgeon to understand any of this.

Lastly, Ray Stevens will be appearing at CPAC 2011 tomorrow evening. Ray is scheduled to do a show starting at 7:30pm in Washington, D.C.

Ray Stevens new TSA single...

Tuesday, traditionally, is the day new music gets released and today is no exception. I was originally looking for a commercial release last Tuesday but instead we get the opportunity starting today to purchase Ray Stevens new TSA single, "The Skies Just Ain't Friendly Anymore". The single, issued as a physical CD, can be found at Ray's web-site store located here. I suppose there will be more publicity surrounding the single's availability as Ray does more radio interviews. According to the product description there will be a video collection released which will include a music video of this song...so far a music video hasn't been uploaded onto You Tube which is where a vast majority of people are discovering Ray's material nowadays. I'm sure an official music video will make it's way onto You Tube, though, and when it does I'll embed it in a future blog post and help spread the video around the internet. The song, for those who haven't been keeping up on Ray's latest happenings, is about the TSA's full body scanning and pat-down procedures at airports.

In the meantime Ray is scheduled to be featured on a satellite radio program on February 9th (Tomorrow!). The program is titled Crusin' with Cousin Brucie and it's a show that spotlights oldies music of the '60s. I don't know if Ray will actually be interviewed or if it's an artist spotlight kind of thing. The program starts at 5pm Eastern and the official site is located here. When a person clicks the Listen Online feature it'll direct you to the SiriusXM sign-up page because with satellite radio being a subscription service it isn't free...unless you choose the 30 day free trial option. Given that the show spotlights pop songs of the '60s I imagine that the host will talk about Ray's early songs and then slip in some information about Ray's recent material.

Ray Stevens visits more Radio Stations...

On February 4th Ray was a guest on Jim Bohannon's radio program. In this interview link which runs nearly 2 hours you'll hear the host interview an author of a book dealing with radicals, terrorists, and other activity. You all can listen to the first guest's interview or fast-forward through it. Anyway, about 40 minutes into the link is when the host begins to focus on the next guest and the purpose of this fan-created blog page, Ray Stevens. The interview lasts 1 hour starting at the 40 minute mark and so Ray's on the show for the last 20 minutes of the first hour and then the first 40 minutes of the second hour. Throughout the interview the host takes calls from listeners and there's quite a few instances where they cite their favorite Ray Stevens song or mention they enjoyed a concert of his that they attended.

That is just one of the several radio interviews that Ray has given during what he's calling a radio tour. Tomorrow, February 7, he'll be featured on a radio program hosted by Martha Zoller. The listen-live link is located here. Those who stumble onto this link days/weeks/months from now will more than likely come across an inactive page. The radio program airs from 9am to 12pm. Ray will also give an interview on a Minnesota radio station, KLTF, which also takes place on February 7th. A link at Ray's web-site opens up to the morning show which airs 7am-10am Minnesota time. I have no idea if this interview will be available on-line or not or whether it'll be archived at their station for those who won't be able to hear it as it's taking place. These previous interviews have had listener call-in's and no doubt the other radio interviews taking place on Monday February 7th will be no different.

Much of the focus in these interviews centers around Ray's career first and foremost and then as listener's call-in we get to hear their stories about how various songs from Ray have been part of their lives. In one interview a listener called in and spoke about Ray's 1968 album, Even Stevens, and Ray remarked that he recently brought "Mr. Businessman" back into his concerts and now dedicates it to Bernie Madoff.

However, the other focal point of these interviews beyond Ray's career is the song he is currently promoting about the TSA, "The Skies Just Ain't Friendly Anymore". Those who have heard the song played during those radio interviews no doubt loved it...it's about a married couple's first visit to an airport and their introduction to the airport security procedures currently taking place under the mandate of the TSA. It's a catchy song and one that hits a nerve with a lot of fliers...and non-fliers alike. Those who pay attention to the news are no doubt aware of the pat-downs and full body scans that take place all in the name of security. The security procedures, seen by many as invasive and unnecessary, have even caused those non-fliers to not even attempt to fly since they have to put up with that kind of thing from the TSA.

In short, the song puts a comical twist on airport security. I've written a few blog entries about this song and I feel as if it'll be commercially available soon!! Hopefully news will come out this coming week about the song's availability.

Ray Stevens and the TSA...

Hello all the Ray Stevens fans!! This is hot off the presses...well, 5 hours ago...but it's still very recent. It's an interview that Ray gave earlier today on KMOX radio in St. Louis promoting his latest song. I found out about it through Twitter and then I Googled "KMOX + Ray Stevens" and among the results was a link to a radio interview held today with Charlie Brennan.

I happened to enjoy the interview...Ray talked about some of his past recordings and his stay in Branson, Missouri. Political correctness was brought up which often becomes a topic of conversation in Ray's interviews given how some out there want to label some of his songs as being "politically incorrect" when there's no malice or vicious intentions behind any of his song's origins. The fact that "Ahab the Arab" is comical and an Arab is the focal point enrages some people. Also, the pronunciation of Arab as "ay-rab" instead of "air-ub" also enrages some people out there. Let's get real, though...Ahab and "ay-rab" rhyme...Ahab doesn't rhyme with "air-ub"...case closed, end of controversy.

Meanwhile, back to the interview...at the 4 minute 19 second mark, Ray and the host begin to talk about "The Skies Just Ain't Friendly Anymore", the brand new Ray Stevens song about airport security and the TSA. The audio may stop, since it did for me, and if that happens you'll of course have to replay it and fast-forward to the point where it stopped so pay attention to the time clock in the lower right side of the clip. The interview includes phone calls to Ray and all of it is sandwiched between roughly 18-19 minutes.

The host, Charlie Brennan, plays the song during the interview. At the time of this writing the single hasn't been made available for purchase yet...but Ray mentioned that it'll become available on his web-site and other places on-line in the near future. My guess is it'll become available next week but that's just my guess. A lot of us were hoping that Ray would have a musical response to the TSA and the invasive security practices that are going on in the airports nationwide and in this song he delivers a home-spun tale of a couple who experience hands-on airport security. The link indicates that this song is on his latest collection, We The People, but it isn't part of that particular collection. Nonetheless for those who don't have the We The People CD you should get it because it's chock full of political and patriotic material including his latest string of music video hits: "We The People", "Caribou Barbie", "Throw the Bums Out!", "Come to the USA", "The Global Warming Song", and an earlier song, the patriotic "Thank You". In addition to those songs there's "The Fallen Ones", "Fly Over Country", "We Are the Government", "The Solar Powered Song", and "Dear Andy Griffith" among many more.

As I mentioned, there's not been a release date set for "The Skies Just Ain't Friendly Anymore".

The song is so new that I don't have any information on who wrote it and if it'll be on any future collection of songs. Once again, the brand new Ray Stevens song is called "The Skies Just Ain't Friendly Anymore". The Ray Stevens interview will be the third audio clip in the following link.

FYI: Ray skewered political correctness in his direct-to-video movie, Get Serious, in 1995. It often comes up for sale on eBay. It's hilarious! For those who've never seen the movie it's 110 minutes...1 hour, 50 minutes...and it's an actual movie but there's music videos inserted throughout as the story moves along. In the link I provided there's a close-up of his video, the front and back cover, and on the back there's screen-caps on a role of film. We see Ray in character as Gitarzan chatting with Jerry Clower; Ray dressed as Ahab the Arab; Ray as psychiatrist Sickmind Fraud decked out in Napoleon attire; Ray as a Calcutta rug salesman; and Ray as a Woogie Indian (a fictional tribe, of course!). I'm sure that eBay link will expire at some point once the item is either bought or the seller takes it off the market and if that happens you can always Google the video or look it up on eBay by other seller's. Ironically there's not a DVD version...so for now the only way to see the movie is on VHS.