Michael's Musings

"You Have To Believe We Are Magic"
Olivia Newton-John & Michael Shinafelt

Ho ho ho, and Merry Christmas Eve Day (say that three times fast) While this Holiday Season is quite unprecedented, there's still no reason why we can't make it fun! Thus I am caught up in and Olivia Newton-John/Xanadu fugue.

"Magic" is something we should, and all need to believe in. Not to mention it's one of ONJ's best songs ever from the movie Xanadu, which despite it's bad reputation, I have enjoyed viewing multiple times. So let's get the party started Minions!!!

Reminder, it won't work unless you are holding my flower

Got anything you need to Mansplain to Santa? Now's the time to do it

The Three Kings of Hell have returned, discuss

"And if all your hopes survive, Destiny will arrive..." - Magic, Olivia Newton-John 

Well now, that was a whole bucket of miss

Start preheating your oven now so your Holy Infant will be tender and mild

"If I can wear a mask while I give birth, you can wear a mask at Walmart" - Sophie Turner 

All I want for Christmas is January 20th

Woman Crush of the Week - duh, Olivia Newton-John and Magic!

My tranquility needs to be refurbished

I finally binged The Queen's Gambit, LOVED IT!!!

That time Santa jacked your Mom's Coke from the fridge on Christmas Eve 

You deserve a stripper for Christmas, just sayin'

How am I celebrating Christmas? Enjoying Christmas breakfast with a friend and watching Wonder Woman 1984, that's how

Come Into My World at:

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt    

Hump Day & Chill

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Barnyard Christmas

Legendary country music singer/songwriter and animal advocate David Frizzell, is supporting animal rescue with his new ten-song CD and storybook, Barnyard Christmas. This original project presents the story of the birth of Christ as told by animal characters that were present in the manger. 

“The greatest story ever told…the birth of Christ as told by the animals that were there. What a blessing for me to create these amazing animated characters as they tell of their participation in the birth of Christ and the wonderfully talented artist, graphic designers, musicians, singers, studio engineers, and co-producer who help bring the whole project to life. From my heart to yours,” shares Frizzell.

With Barnyard Christmas, Frizzell gives a unique perspective on the meaning of Christmas, through the eyes of animals that were present at the birth of Jesus. The album and accompanying storybook presents a tender and whimsical musical tale, woven brilliantly by Frizzell with guests Allen Frizzell and the Martin Family Circus, and an impressive list of talented musicians.

To order the CD and storybook, visit www.davidfrizzell.com for more information.

About David Frizzell:
David Frizzell was born in El Dorado, Arkansas, in 1941. He began touring with his legendary brother, Lefty Frizzell at the age of 12 throughout the 1950s and 60s. After serving in the Air Force, Frizzell signed with Columbia Records in 1970 and charted his first Billboard single with “L.A. International Airport” and then a Top 40 with “I Just Can’t Help Believing.”

During the 1970s, Frizzell appeared regularly on Buck Owens' All American TV Show and began recording for Capitol Records. In 1981, he recorded his first number-one country hit, "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma," a duet with Shelly West. The song won the Country Music Association's Song of the Year and Vocal Duet of the Year awards in 1981, was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Country Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal, and was featured in Clint Eastwood's film ‘Any Which Way You Can.’ Frizzell and West also won the Academy of Country Music award for Vocal Duo of the Year in 1981 and 1982.

In 1982, Frizzell released “I’m Gonna Hire A Wino To Decorate Our Home,” which made its way to number one. In recent years, Frizzell created his own label Nashville America Records, and has released several albums including Frizzell & Friends: This Is Our Time which includes a bonus track, written in honor of Lefty Frizzell, Merle Haggard, and traditional music in general. “Lefty, Merle & Me” features David with Marty Haggard.

David Frizzell is a timeless and tireless entertainer who continues to share his many gifts to the delight of fans old and new across the US and throughout the world. In 2020, Frizzell signed a distribution deal with Time Life / Warner Music Group to release his catalog of recordings.
 

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Winter Solstice Queen

Hail The Queen!
Dua Lipa

"Don't look around, The leaves are brown, And the sky is a hazy shade of winter" Hazy Shade of Winter, Simon & Garfunkel 

Today is officially the first day of the Winter of our discontent. Buck up the year is almost over, in the meantime check out the ever so talented Dua Lipa wearing all white on her recent Saturday Night Live gig.

Dua is Winter chic and the perfect way to represent and kick off the Winter Solstice. 

I had merely heard of Ms. Lipa prior to her Future Nostalgia album. Which I gave a listen to and LOVE!

Thus I will also being listening to Lipa (say that three times fast) today while looking at her in her Winter finest to "celebrate" the first and shortest day of the longest year.

Fingers crossed it the kick off for Winter doesn't feel like a year unto itself, that's why I getting down with Dua to help make the day more jolly.

Mic Drop!

Dua on IG -

https://www.instagram.com/dualipa/   

Ho Ho Ho...5 More Days!

Hurry Down My Chimney...
Ryan Phillippe

With a mere 5 days left until the "Big C" let's continue our countdown to Christmas with another Sexy Santa, this one comes in the form of Ryan Phillippe.

Ryan as you may know is currently starring on the TV Show Big Sky, however this photo looks like Phillippe the vintage years. You know when he did two of my favorite movies I Know What You Did Last Summer & Cruel Intentions. The latter edging out the former on the how much I like it scale.

So here we have Ryan in all his shirtless Sexy Santa glory for you to behold. Behold him I said, do it and do it now!!!

Have you gotten your halls decked yet? Are your stocking hung? Well then have a ball and enjoy the last 5 days until Santa comes to your house and....

Ho ho ho 😉

Ryan on IG -

https://www.instagram.com/ryanphillippe/?hl=en  

Down Home Blues

Down Home Blues: Miami, Atlanta, and the South Eastern States: Blues In The Alley Three Disc Box Set, 83 superbly remastered tracks in total, featuring Richard Armstrong, Willie (W.C.) Baker, Willie Brown, John Bullard, Ray Charles, Earl Hooker, Tommy Malone, Jerry McCain, Poor Jim, Jimmy Wilson and more Also includes a 78-page book featuring essays, rare period photographs, complete sessionography, and extensive gallery of original 78 and 45 record labels Available in the US on December 18th via Wienerworld (UK) - PRE-ORDER NOW Wienerworld is proud and excited to present to you the fifth box set in our unmissable Down Home Blues series, exploring the unique regions of the African American blues scene. Blues In The Alley features 29 artists that were influential in continuing and developing the traditions of the blues in the southeast. This release includes early down home blues recordings from none other than Ray Charles, before his climb to fame with his bigger sounding jazz-tinged blues. Alongside this, there are early recordings from Earl Hooker and Jerry McCain, two exceptionally gifted musicians who were always left on the cusp of success. Don't forget to check out the first recordings from Frank Edwards, who captivated audiences with his rack-mounted harmonica guitar one man band style, from the 1940s right up to his last years of performing and recording in 2003. Down Home Blues: Miami, Atlanta & The South Eastern States is a three CD set, packaged in a deluxe digipak with outer slipcase, featuring 83 tracks, all of them superbly remastered. This collection has been collated thanks to the generous help of blues collectors from both sides of the Atlantic, with rare recordings that are for the first time made available for listening via today's compact disc medium. An outstanding 78-page book, featuring a 15,000-word essay by blues historian Chris Bentley, accompanies the release. Rare period photographs illustrate the essay throughout with a complete sessionography and extensive gallery of original 78 and 45 record labels. Blues In The Alley is a close companion to Wienerworld's Tough Enough collection (WNRCD5104), with both sets dovetailing the post-war blues from America's north and southeastern states. The southeastern states were known as slow starters in having record companies to start up to record, produce and distribute the artistes that were performing on their own doorsteps after WWII. The best chance for any blues artistes in this region, looking to record, was to get up to New York for any opportunity to arise. By 1950 things certainly were different, and new recording companies who had taken the time and trouble to record such fine music had made up for a lot of lost time. Blues In The Alley captivates the efforts of those producers who gambled on their feel for the music – and their pockets to produce sounds from unadulterated country blues to the hard-edged electric tough blues sounds similar to that then being recorded in Chicago and Detroit.

Happy Birthday 2 Me!

Guess What Today Is???
Michael Shinafelt

Today is my Birthday and it's also one week until Christmas, Woot! Every year I do a post to celebrate it, usually containing some reflection about where I've been and how far I have come.

Well, not so much this year. This year has been a challenge for us all. My take from it is we as a collective whole are more resourceful and stronger than we initially thought ourselves to be. 

Thus on my Birthday I am grateful for each and every one of us, we are still in tough times, but remember tough times don't last, tough people do!

Our 2021 is looking brighter, wiser and full steam ahead with a lot of perseverance and hard work there is nothing that can stop us. We are all in this together, and, yes we can!

Celebrate today with me here:

https://www.instagram.com/michaelshinafelt/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/MShinafelt