In the United Kingdom, Dame Shirley Bassey has become the first female artist to claim a Top 40 album in seven consecutive decades. Congratulations, Shirley!
Dame Shirley Bassey goes out in style on this week’s Official Albums Chart as her new – and final – album I Owe It All To You sets an Official UK Chart record.
The [83-year-old] music icon’s new collection debuts at Number 5 on this week’s chart, marking her 35th Top 40 entry and highest charting album in 42 years, since 1978’s 25th Anniversary Album. (See Shirley Bassey’s chart history in full here.)
The entry gives Shirley the record as the first female artist to claim a Top 40 album in seven consecutive decades.
Shirley scored her first Official Albums Chart entry in 1961 with Fabulous Shirley Bassey. Unbelievably, of her 35 Top 40 albums, none have reached Number 1, but eight have landed in the Top 10.
The news comes a week after fellow chart icon Cliff Richard set a record as the first artist ever to score a Top 5 album in eight consecutive decades.
I Owe It All To You contains a mix of new songs and cover versions “handpicked to reflect [Shirley’s] incredible life and career.”
“My new album is a celebration of seventy years in showbiz,” the Dame said. “Seventy years of support from my fans and seventy years of music! I’ve trodden the boards of many stages and kicked up many a diamante heel! The songs I have chosen all feel very personal and connected to my life. I hope they will do the same for my fans.”
The title track and trailer single “Look But Don’t Touch” are the album’s original compositions, with the latter written by acclaimed songwriter Eliot Kennedy, whose credits include Spice Girls, Bryan Adams and Gary Barlow.
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Following is Shirley performing “You Ain’t Heard Nothing Yet,” a track from her new album, I Owe It All to You.
Republicans had little success in teaching their voters to despise and fear Joe Biden like they despised and feared Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. Trump’s election fraud lies are doing that work for them now, whipping the base into a frenzy of anger and priming them to regard Biden as the beneficiary of a stolen election.
This is not a plot to steal the 2020 election. [Oh, really?] It is a decades-long campaign to undermine American democracy, which treats Democratic governance as inherently illegitimate.
Republicans played Russian roulette with American democracy by supporting the presidency of an aspirational authoritarian. They’ll continue doing so by supporting his paranoid attacks on the electoral process. The reason they’re willing to weaken American democracy is very simple: They don’t care about democracy.
Marianne Williamson on the meaning of
the 2020 general election for the Democratic party
– and the task for progressives in a Biden era.
Earlier today, Joe Biden was declared the projected winner of the 2020 presidential election. He will be the next president of the United States, and Kamala Harris the next Vice-President of the United States, beginning January 20, 2021.
Although I'm greatly relieved that the racist and fascist Donald Trump has been defeated (albeit in a disheartenedly narrow way), I'm also very aware that, as progressives, we now have a monumental task before us. We have to work to bring about a fundamental course correction of the political and economic system of the United States so that in four or eight years time we’re not contending again with Trump or with the rise of another authoritarian populist (perhaps even Donald Trump Jr.). This means challenging and transforming the centrist, neoliberal agenda of the Democratic party and rebuilding our political system so that it is truly of the people, by the people, and for the people.
In recent decades this system has sadly de-volved into one that is much more of, by, and for the short-term profits of corporations, with little or no regard to the well-being of individuals, communities or the environment. That has to change, and a Biden win has brought us a step or two back from the brink so that we can indeed facilitate and embody this change, this transformation.
Author, activist, and former Democratic presidential candidateMarianne Williamson has long advocated for this much-needed transformation, one that involves the recognition of the need for both individual and societal healing. Throughout his campaign and in his acceptance speech tonight, Joe Biden has eloquently and sincerely spoken of “healing the soul of America,” but Marianne literally wrote the book on that decades ago. (Her most recent book serves as a “handbook for a new American revolution,” one based on a “politics of love.”) Accordingly, Marianne recognizes that a Biden win is itself not a healing but rather a reprieve, and that this needs to be made clear to Biden and his incoming administration.
On Wednesday, before Biden was officially declared the winner yet looking certain to prevail, Marianne was a guest on The Zero Hour with Richard “RJ” Eskow. As is her way, she did some “radical truth-telling,” especially in terms of the role that progressives (i.e., people who recognize the absolute necessity for a fundamental course-correction and transformation of our political and economic system) can and should play within – and in relation to – a Biden administration, one that will most likely be populated by people dedicated to re-establishing the pre-Trump status quo. As a progressive, Marianne recognizes that this would be a disaster, as it was this neoliberal status quo that in many ways helped pave the way for the rise of Trump.
Following is part of what Marianne said about this and other related issues when interviewed three days ago on The Zero Hour.
This election is a repudiation of both parties. We have a neo-fascist who is more like Mussolini than he is like Lincoln, and who has supervised the death of a quarter-million Americans. If all [Biden] can do is win by a razor-thin margin against him, [he’s] in trouble. And if we also look at the House races and the Senate races, the Democratic party did not do well.
So this is a real good moment to flash the mirror in front of the Democratic party. And I like to believe that there are some sober, intelligent neoliberals, moderates, even perhaps Democratic corporatists who still are not stupid, who will certainly realize that this is not a time for self-congratulations or giddiness. This is a time to realize that this election is as much the sounding of an alarm as it is a time for self-congratulations and “let’s all break out the champagne flutes.” And I think also that we can’t wait to have that conversation, because people will be lining up to be the next Trump in Congressional and Senate races all around the country. This will begin in two weeks.
Beginnings are extremely important. If Joe Biden strides into the White House, appointing all these corporatists as though he’s trying to impress John Kasich more than he’s trying to include progressives; if we get a strong message that, no, Bernie will not be part of the administration; no, Elizabeth will not be part of the administration, and if they dare to blame all that on Mitch McConnell rather than their own choices, then, God help us, we will be back here. And I don't think we can stress this too loudly.
[What would I say to Joe Biden?] You know, Joe is a nice man. I don’t know him well but every time I met him on the campaign he was very kind, very respectful. I really love his wife. But our political conversations have to go so far beyond who’s “nice” and who’s not “nice.” George Bush was “nice.” Laura was “nice.” And how many people died in Iraq? We have to go beyond who’s “nice.” This has to be a much deeper conversation than that.
Bernie Sanders said it correctly on television recently. He said, progressives have proven themselves; they deserve a seat at the table in [a Biden] administration. And anyone who is going to say to Joe Biden now, We don’t need the progressives, we won without them, obviously that’s untrue. He barely squeaked by, and he could not have won without the progressive vote. And this time I don’t think the progressives are just going to be “good kids” and take it. First of all, people are nor enamored of Joe the way they were enamored by Barack Obama . . . and also, I believe, with the formation of things like the People’s Party, there will be created this time a sense of some place else where progressives can go. You know, when you look at Wisconsin, when you look at Michigan, and you look at some of these other very, very close races, and you look where a third party got 1%, and you look at the fact that the 1% is exactly what we wouldn’ve needed to guarantee that Biden won, you cannot mess with that because progressives have had it this time. So that’s what I would say, in the kindest way possible, to Joe Biden.
Because he will be striding back into the White House with all the old Clinton and Obama gang . . . just so glad to be back in the building. Plus he will be bringing along with him what I call the political Ken dolls, who are just chomping at the bit to stand in line for their place in the neoliberal sun. He will be so surrounded by their voices that I think it’s extremely important that voices of serious progressives are around him to say, Don’t go down that path of ignoring us again, Joe. this will be disasterous for the Democratic party and none of us want that to happen.
[Biden does, however, have] the value of age. You know, they say you get more conservative as you get older. I don’t find that to be true. What the hell!? What's left? He’s not going to run again. He may as well do what he really thinks is right. And you know, Biden is known for having said during the Obama years that he felt Obama was too timid. So I believe that Biden’s age is on our side here; that he might be willing to say, You know what? There’s not going to be a future political journey for me. This is it. So there’s a real good chance he’s going to say, To hell with it! I’m going to do what’s in my heart and what I believe is best for America.
And our job is to lobby him in that direction.
Following is the full 30-minute interview.
UPDATE: The day after I shared this post, Marianne Williamson shared many of the thoughts and insights she expressed in her November 4 Zero Hour interview in her regular Newsweek column. She entitled her November 8 column, “A Battle for the Soul of the Democratic Party.” To read it, click here.
Opening image:Doug Emhoff, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, President-elect Joe Biden and Jill Biden after Joe Biden's speech to the nation in Wilmington, Del., on Saturday, November 7, 2020 (Photo: Andrew Harnik / AP)
Image 1: President Donald Trump’s last rally before the 2020 election in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Nov. 3, 2020. (Photo: Peter van Agtmael / Magnum Photos for TIME) Image 2: Donald Trump. (Photo: Reuters / David Becker)
Earlier today, Sen. Bernie Sanders shared the following message on various social media platforms.
Yes, this election was Biden vs. Trump. It was an election about health care, the economy, the pandemic, climate change, criminal justice, immigration, and all the other important issues facing our country.
But most importantly, in my view, this unprecedented election was about Donald Trump vs. democracy, and whether we were going to have a president who respected the Constitution, democratic norms, and the rule of law. Fortunately, for the future of our country, it appears that if current trends continue, Joe Biden and democracy will win.
Now is the time to reaffirm our belief in democracy and to give states the time they need to count every ballot so that the will of the American people is heard. That’s what this country is about and must always be about.
– Sen. Bernie Sanders November 4, 2020
Earlier this evening I participated in a rally that called for two things: that every ballot be counted, and that no matter who is elected the next president, a “People’s Mandate” be enacted to address the “triple epidemic” of COVID-19, the recession, and systemic racism.
In publicizing today's rally and march, the organizers stated the following.
On the day after the elections, get ready to fight!
No matter the outcome, we need a People’s Mandate to address the triple pandemic of racism, COVID-19, and recession.
We want Trump out. But even if Biden wins, we cannot stop the fight. Our response on November 4 can set the tone for the struggle for the next four years.
At this time we don’t know the outcome. But we are ready to say any of the following:
• “Don’t let Trump steal the election!”
• “Fight Trump and everything he stands for!”
• “A Biden win will not give the freedom we demand!”
Following is part of this organization's statement about today’s action.
We are calling for mass protests the day after the election to highlight the fact that Trump’s scorched earth policies have left the political landscape almost as barren and bleak as COVID-19 and the police-state style racist repression used against tens of thousands of protesters, leaving thousands injured and jailed and some dead. Trump has openly sided with racist, right-wing, violent elements to attack the movement against police crimes.
Trump losing the elections will create greater organizing space for turning this page of history writ large with sickness, death and mass rebellion, and embarking upon the road to freedom, justice, and equality.
Biden’s victory is important in this moment of history; we do not deny this in the least. Yet we must face the sober reality that his victory will not necessarily provide the path to freedom, justice and equality for the 140 million poor, for the homeless, the sick, the hungry, and the working class.
We are also well aware that Trump has said he will not leave power. His administration has already tried to disrupt the election by undermining the Post Office and by attacking mail-in voting. Trump could try many things during and after the election such as trying to stop the vote count (a tactic that pro-U.S. forces in other countries have done to fix elections) or call out right-wing shock troops.
The fundamental truth at the core of our national call for protests on the day after the November presidential election is that the great historical lesson of the moment we are in is best characterized by the fact that over 22 million rebelled against racist injustice in response to the brutal murder of George Floyd. The social energy of this great rebellion is the same energy propelling us to call this protest. Join us and let us, the people united, open a new era of struggle for our liberation dedicate to never returning our country to like it was. We are fighting for a new day to dance with great jubilee in the sunlight of freedom.
Following the rally portion of this evening’s event, hundreds of those in attendance proceeded to march through the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood before occupying and blocking part of Interstate 94, just blocks from my home (above). Hundreds are currently being arrested. Similar protests are taking place tonight across the country, including in Boston, Portland, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh.
I began Election Day in the USA by joining with my friend Kathleen and about 20 others “bannering for Biden” on the 36th St. bridge over Interstate 35W in south Minneapolis. And, yes, that’s my Marianne 2020 hoodie I’m wearing!
As I’m sure most reading this would know, Marianne Williamson, along with Bernie Sanders, was my preferred Democratic presidential candidate. I remain deeply grateful that both run in the primary and, in so doing, shifted the conversation in important and much-needed ways. Here’s hoping that after Joe Biden decisively wins the presidency, he will find a place for both Marianne and Bernie in his administration.
Actually, my Election Day didn't begin with “bannering for Biden” on that 35W overpass. It began in the very early hours of today, after a time of prayer at around 1:00 a.m., when I shared with friends on Facebook the following message from the heart.
I want more than the defeat of Donald Trump today, and more than the election of Joe Biden. I want an awakening of the American people, an awakening embodied by a record-breaking number of citizens who overwhelmingly vote to reject and defeat not only Trump but all his Republican enablers. Every single one of them: McConnell, Cruz, Graham, all of them. I want Democratic establishment figures like Pelosi defeated by their progressive challengers, and I want new progressive candidates elected to both the House and Senate in overwhelming numbers, rattling the corporatist Democratic establishment to its core. Actually, more than rattling it; shattering it for good.
I want all of this to be tangible evidence of that shift in consciousness which I believe the Sacred is calling all of humanity to embrace and embody. As incredible as all this will be, I know our work will only just be beginning, as there are forces across the political spectrum who will always resist progress and change and instead attempt to lure us back to a delusional “normal” time before Trump. No, there’s no going back. Even with a Biden win (some would say especially with a Biden win), the great challenge will be to resist such a temptation and to forge instead a way predicated on repairing our broken democracy and re-setting our moral compass as a nation.
I want to back-up for a minute, actually to about two weeks ago – to the evening of October 19 – when my friend Kathleen invited me to help her write letters to voters in Florida so as to help increase election turnout. We did this through the organization Vote Forward. It’s not Vote Forward's purpose to ask for support of specific candidates, only to encourage people to vote.
I encouraged the 25 people I wrote to by sharing the following words:
I believe with all my heart in the democratic and humanitarian ideals that inspired the founding of this nation. These ideals live and thrive through our actions as citizens, and voting is the most essential of these actions.
Closer to home, I encouraged two friends of mine to vote in this year’s general election. I also accompanied them to their polling places. I myself, not being a citizen but rather a “resident alien,” cannot vote. It therefore felt good to do my bit to make sure two others voted.
My friend Deandre (right) was one of 95 million Americans who voted early. In his case, he voted yesterday (above).
On actual Election Day today I helped my friend Adnan vote, a process that actually took what seemed like forever. This was because before he could actually vote (which took no time at all), we had to first figure out and find proof of residence for him. We ended up using his phone service statement, along with his passport.
Above and below: All the time spent and the hassles endured were worth that little sticker though!
As I write this, polling stations across the country are beginning to close and the first results of the U.S. 2020 general election are beginning to trickle in. I’m with a small group of friends (including Joseph and Calvin, pictured at right) gathered outside around a fire pit. We’re hoping for a decisive vistory for Biden but know that it could take days before we know for sure the results of the presidential race.
In terms of the Senate, I hope the Democrats flip it. I also hope they keep the House. In this way, even if Trump wins (as he did in 2016) without a mandate but with the necessary votes from the archaic and flawed Electoral College, he will at least be a lame duck president, hopefully for his entire second term.
Time will tell.
I established The Wild Reed in 2006 as a sign of solidarity with all who are dedicated to living lives of integrity – though, in particular, with gay people seeking to be true to both the gift of their sexuality and their Catholic faith. The Wild Reed's original by-line read, “Thoughts and reflections from a progressive, gay, Catholic perspective.” As you can see, it reads differently now. This is because my journey has, in many ways, taken me beyond, or perhaps better still, deeper into the realities that the words “progressive,” “gay,” and “Catholic” seek to describe.
Even though reeds can symbolize frailty, they may also represent the strength found in flexibility. Popular wisdom says that the green reed which bends in the wind is stronger than the mighty oak which breaks in a storm. Tall green reeds are associated with water, fertility, abundance, wealth, and rebirth. The sound of a reed pipe is often considered the voice of a soul pining for God or a lost love.
On September 24, 2012,Michael BaylyofCatholics for Marriage Equality MNwas interviewed by Suzanne Linton of Our World Today about same-sex relationships and why Catholics can vote 'no' on the proposed Minnesota anti-marriage equality amendment.
"I believe your blog to be of utmost importance for all people regardless of their orientation. . . . Thank you for your blog and the care and dedication that you give in bringing the TRUTH to everyone."– William
"Michael, if there is ever a moment in your day or in your life when you feel low and despondent and wonder whether what you are doing is anything worthwhile, think of this: thanks to your writing on the internet, a young man miles away is now willing to embrace life completely and use his talents and passions unashamedly to celebrate God and his creation. Any success I face in the future and any lives I touch would have been made possible thanks to you and your honesty and wisdom."– AB
"Since I discovered your blog I have felt so much more encouraged and inspired knowing that I'm not the only gay guy in the Catholic Church trying to balance my Faith and my sexuality. Continue being a beacon of hope and a guide to the future within our Church!"– Phillip
"Your posts about Catholic issues are always informative and well researched, and I especially appreciate your photography and the personal posts about your own experience. I'm very glad I found your blog and that I've had the chance to get to know you."– Crystal
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"I cannot claim to be an expert on Catholic blogs, but from what I've seen, The Wild Reed ranks among the very best."– Kevin
"Reading your blog leaves me with the consolation of knowing that the words Catholic, gay and progressive are not mutually exclusive.."– Patrick
"I grieve for the Roman institution’s betrayal of God’s invitation to change. I fear that somewhere in the midst of this denial is a great sin that rests on the shoulders of those who lead and those who passively follow. But knowing that there are voices, voices of the prophets out there gives me hope. Please keep up the good work."– Peter
"I ran across your blog the other day looking for something else. I stopped to look at it and then bookmarked it because you have written some excellent articles that I want to read. I find your writing to be insightful and interesting and I'm looking forward to reading more of it. Keep up the good work. We really, really need sane people with a voice these days."– Jane Gael
"Michael, your site is like water in the desert."– Jayden
