“Get in the Cage” with the Real Nicolas Cage

Get in the Cage with Nicolas Cage

For our funny video of the week, check out the highlight from this week’s Saturday Night Live where the real Nicolas Cage appeared with Andy Samberg’s version of the actor. In several past episodes, Samberg has appeared on his “Get in the Cage” segment during Weekend Update with other actors as a running joke about Cage’s acting style, poor choice of movies, and legendary craziness.

Sure, Cage is promoting Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance (2012), where like all classic Nicolas Cage action movies: (1) “all the dialogue is either whispered or screamed;” and (2) “everything in the movie is on fire.” But he was a good sport for going along with the funny segment, which was one of the best parts of Saturday Night Live this week.



Does Cage seem a little subdued about the bit? What is your favorite Nicolas Cage film? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Lincoln & Liberty Too!

    Abraham Lincoln Music Today we look back at a campaign song that used new lyrics set to an old tune to support Abraham Lincoln’s run for president in 1860. Jesse Hutchinson Jr., part of a group of family singers, wrote the lyrics to the 1860 campaign song “Lincoln and Liberty.” I like the lines reminding the listeners that the candidate from Illinois also grew up in Kentucky and Indiana: “We’ll go for the son of Kentucky,/ The hero of Hoosierdom through.” Hoosierdom?

    The music to “Lincoln and Liberty” comes from an old English drinking song going back at least to the 17th Century, “Rosin the Beau.” The tune had already been used in campaign songs for William Henry Harrison in 1840 and for Henry Clay in 1844. Before Lincoln’s campaign, the tune also had been used in an abolitionist song (“Come aid in the slave’s liberation / And roll on the Liberty Ball!”). So listeners’ familiarity with the tune might have helped the Lincoln version of the song become so popular.

    Here is a version of “Lincoln and Liberty” recorded more recently by Matthew Sabatella and the Rambling String Band (with free download) from Ballad of America Volume 3: Songs in the Life of Abraham Lincoln (2009):

    In this video, singer Ronnie Gilbert explains some of the background of the song, “Lincoln and Liberty” before singing the tune:

    On November 6, 1860, Lincoln won 40 percent of the popular vote, which was enough to easily beat the three other candidates, John C. Breckinridge (Southern Democrat), John Bell (Constitutional Union), and Stephen Douglas (Northern Democrat). The election was not the end for the music to “Lincoln and Liberty.” The tune continued to be used after Lincoln’s presidency, including a song for Ulysses S. Grant’s reelection in 1872.

    I doubt we will hear the tune during elections in the near future, but you never know. The use of an old song might help avoid the problems of presidential candidates angering rock stars. Still, I suspect that most of today’s musicians would be proud to have their music used to celebrate the former president born in February 1809.

    Bonus Lincoln Information: Check out this post for a discussion of Lincoln’s birth. There are a couple of Lincoln films in the works too, including one with Daniel Day Lewis and one featuring Lincoln and vampires.

    What do you think of “Lincoln and Liberty”? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Whitney Houston RIP

    Whitney Houston has passed away at the age of 48. At this point, the cause of death or where she died has not been revealed. Despite all of her troubles in recent years, you cannot argue that she had a great talent. In the 1980s when she was on top of the world with songs such as “The Greatest Love of All,” it would have been hard to imagine the troubled last part of her career and her early death.

    Rest in peace.

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    Jake Clemons Plays “Jungleland”

    Jake Clemons Jungleland

    A previous post discussed the news that Eddie Manion will be playing saxophone along with Jake Clemons on the upcoming tour with Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. It will be interesting to see how the two trade off on the solos, how often they play together, and whether they fill different parts on different nights.

    Although nobody can replace Clarence Clemons, the previous post showed how Manion is able to tackle the epic “Jungleland” solo. If you are curious about Jake Clemons’s chops, here is his take on “Jungleland.” Note, though, that the guy who kind of looks like Bruce is not Bruce but Robert Philippi of the European cover band BruceBand. (Video starts at sax solo.)

    Jake Clemons has the music in his blood, being the nephew of Clarence Clemons. Springsteen’s decision to include both the experienced Manion and the talented young Clemons seems like an inspired choice. But then again, the Boss usually does not let down his fans. And the inclusion of Jake Clemons, and Jake’s decision to join the band, seem consistent with the message of the new single, “We Take Care of Our Own.”

    29 July 2012 Update
    : Jake Clemons played “Jungleland” with the E Street Band in Sweden last night.

    What do you think of the addition of Jake Clemons to the band? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    New Video for Springsteen’s “We Take Care of Our Own”

    We previously wrote about Bruce Springsteen’s new single, “We Take Care of Our Own” from his upcoming album, Wrecking Ball, due to be released March 6. Today, an official video for the song was released. The video for the song addressing society’s economic hard times shows Springsteen by himself playing his guitar in what appears to be an abandoned house, intercut with scenes of us common folk, beginning in black and white and ending in color with a little ray of hope. Or as Clint Eastwood would sum up, “It’s halftime in America.” Check it out.

    What do you think of the new video? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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