Counterpunch to the gosh-awful, bullshit news currently infecting our airwaves, another episode this Saturday of my musical ‘Destination‘ series (last one here), where unusual tunes of personal value create a seemingly alternative auditory diagram to the screaming-loud noises coming off life in 2021 A.D.

Eleven years ago at about the turn of the decade, I remember one night coming up with this thought: If someone had written a science-fiction/apocalyptic novel in the 1970s, the most-perfect title would have been, ‘2010 AD;‘ a book-cover image illustrating a crazy-ass future, either “Planet of the Apes,’ or ‘The Jetsons.’ An idea which held true until last year: ‘2020 AD,’ a massive change-of-pace milestone for creative terror.
In the 1970s no one would believe this shit, all such books would be in the sci-fi/baneful section of any bookstore or library.

Anyway, that was a long-around-about in explaining the origin of the ‘Destination‘ posts, of music I’d discovered at the end of 2020 AD that seemed to soothe a virus of darkness/gloom, and caused the series, in which I enjoy some new music discovered late in life. Music simple and easy with a sentiment of hope.
Core turntable of the series is a musical couple I’d discovered as if by chance looking for something else on the InterWebs, and really digging their music.

In the interest of repeating-time, this I wrote last Christmas Eve (‘Destination‘ 2): ‘In the last two or three months, I’ve become quite fond and appreciative of The Running Mates, a husband/wife duo who perform apparently mostly covers, with original material, too, but it’s the covers that really hit the mark, for me, anyway — they seem to capture a sought-after sense for 2020, an acoustical touch update for some way-old songs, recreated for a more personal, confidential setting (maybe like a small coffee shop — currently verboten!) and supplies an emotional bonding that sometimes even the great originals can’t give right now.‘
And a playlist of the ‘Mates’ songs is found here.

As far as that coffee shop angle mentioned above is concerned, seven-plus months later it now looks like we’re back to the ‘verboten’ category with COVID surging around — time circles the memory hole, but someone/something remains the same.
Contextual to that bullshit is the first song on today’s musical docket, the cover of Shania Twain’s “You’re Still the One,” a country-folk mesh softly done, and potent (original here);

Ain’t nothin’ better
We beat the odds together
I’m glad we didn’t listen
Look at what we would be missin’

These songs today I’d just heard this week, three dropped (YouTube) this summer, one from last year. Neat to see some new stuff.
Next on the disk, another love song softly done, Extreme’s “More Than Words” (original here):

And straight for that 90s sound, Nirvana’s “Heart Shaped Box.” Project a fantasy of an MTV program 25 years ago filmed in a setting staged this morning. Sad and lonely (original found here):

Next up, we climb aboard the way–way-back machine, The Beatles, “Eleanor Rigby.” Words for the times: “Look at all the lonely people … where do they come from?” Mostly from ICU (original found here):

Finally, what’s become a sort of anthem for the entire ‘Destination‘ series, the 4 Non Blondes’ ‘What’s Up,” and is the real finish to each episode (original was found here):

Twenty-five years and my life is still
Trying to get up that great big hill of hope
For a destination

(Illustration out front: ‘Shelter in the Storm,” found here).