Saga 3

Some things are so bad, that it's impossible not to burst into a heavy dose of lethal laughter when witnessing them… and I'm not on about the sight of one slipping on a banana peel. Oh no… today we'll be dealing with some serious stuff. So serious that it's actually… well, ridiculous!

 
Do you know that feeling, when you watch a film or a TV program and it's so bad, that the smile usually worn on your face starts to deform? 
The opposite is also true to form: if you don't usually wear a smile, has it ever occurred that, while watching a particularly bad program, a deformed smile suddenly appeared on your face? Either is your case… shortly after, you experience a change of mood, and suddenly it feels like, 'the decision to watch that stupid c*** was correct after all'. Sounds familiar? And if so, could the laughter involved be a sign of relief, like "Thank God I didn't reach that low level… yet"?

I wouldn't subscribe to the verdict that one's life is totally media controlled. Had that been true, we would have, probably, lost the sense which enables us to differentiate between "redundant" and "essential"… and as long as we have that sense, "Bad" can be as sensual/enjoyable as "Good"… like a certain record from my collection: 

Gloria Balsam – "Fluffy"

Squeaking on wax, anybody? Whilst many eyebrows are already up there touching the foreheads, it's guaranteed that the record scanned herewith does exist. As they say, it can only happen in America, and though the original 45' single from 1980 didn't storm the charts, many copies found their way into the realms of alternative radio stations across the USA where, reportedly, they got lots of airplay. 

What about the publishers? No, I don't really imagine you wonder. Sure, they didn't exactly get rich but the song eventually gained a wider exposure via the first volume of "The World's Worst Records" series, which was pressed by Rhino records later in the 80s.

Since the record was a "Turntable Hit", that is, played a lot on American radio regardless sales, the lady was invited for a series of shows.
What shall we gather from the following video, in which the singer sings and squeaks the very questionable tune? Either due to respect from the audience or because they were astounded by her dare, the fact that Ms. Balsam was not bombarded with tomatoes (or pickles) during the "live" performance, is amusing.  



Today's "worse" may be yesterday's "great"… and many people's taste tends to be fickle, be it due to a change of season or a change of fashion, and the way it affects them. Those who still don't believe what they've just seen and heard may feel free to go check their very own attic or basement, just for the sake of pretentiousness sensed towards items they once cherished and today are embarrassed to have ever actually owned.


Love you all!

Matt

To read saga  2, saga 1