Are you in a New Albanian State of Mind?

Billy Joel's live version of New York State of Mind is from "America: A Tribute to Heroes", just after September 11, 2001. My amended lyrics are accompanied by profuse apologies to Mr. Joel, whose stellar career recently was summarized at Rolling Stone:

Joel was never a critical favorite during his heyday, and the endless criticism must have played at least a small role in his decision to stop releasing pop songs twenty years ago. But with each passing year, love for the man seems to grow, and it’s becoming harder and harder to remember a time when the tastemakers deemed him uncool. Simply put, he’s outlasted the haters, and (to steal a line from Matt Stone in the Rush documentary Beyond the Lighted Stage) you gotta give it up to him now, or you’re just being a dickhead.

As we've been saying here at NAC since 2004, New Albany is its own state of mind, too.

Some folks like to get away,
Take a holiday from the neighborhood.
Hop a flight to Branson or to Hollywood.
But I'm takin' a Greyhound on the Fall Run line.
I'm in a New Albany state of mind.

I've seen all the oligarchs in their fancy cars and their limousines.
Been high in Birdseye under the evergreens.
I know what I'm needin', and I don't want to waste more time.
I'm in a New Albany state of mind.

It was so easy livin' day by day
Out of touch with the rhythm and blues
But now I need a little give and take
The News and ‘Bune, as in picayune.

It comes down to reality, and it’s fine with me ‘cause I've let it slide.
I don't care if it's Silver Hills or the riverside.
I don't have any reasons.
I left them all behind.
I'm in a New Albany state of mind.

It was so easy living day by day
Out of touch with the rhythm and blues
But now I need a little give and take
The News and ‘Bune, as in picayune.

It comes down to reality, and it’s fine with me ‘cause I've let it slide.
I don't care if it's Silver Hills or the riverside.
I don't have any reasons.
I left them all behind.
I'm in a New Albany state of mind.

I'm just taking a Greyhound on the Fall Run line.
Cause I'm in a, I'm in a New Albany state of mind

Ladies and gentlemen ... Steve Price. He's kicking "99 Red Balloons'" ASS.

(Nena's title cut and photo courtesy of KC)

Last evening's Exclusively New Albany fundraising event featured karaoke by a former councilman. From a balcony above the garage, Steve Price serenaded attendees with a delightfully unexpected medley of smash hits, including "Oh, What A Night" by the Four Seasons and the Monkees' "Daydream Believer," the latter dedicated as a tribute to Davy Jones, the late singer and Harvest Homecoming parade marshal.

By the time Price took us on a one-way trip to the sun with a stone-cold mashup of Engelbert Humperdinck's bewitching "After the Loving," there wasn't a dry eye in the house -- or underwear, for that matter. The only disappointment was when the show ended without a version of "Eternal Flame" by the Bangles, and someone threw rotten fruit at the deck. Price just stuffed it in his longneck Bud.

But here's the rub: Apparently Price allowed Develop New Albany to use his adjacent field for event parking in return for the karaoke gig. His over-the-top, scenery-chewing performance of ridiculously cheesy pop songs was leering parody of the highest magnitude, and if you think I'm exaggerating, consider the audience. It was composed almost entirely of the very same people who scoffed at Price's council tenure.

Last night, he crashed the grownups' party and laughed back, using karaoke to return the favor in spades. No, not altogether so dumb. Not at all. I'd confess to admiring the calculated chutzpah, except that the trauma remains much too fresh.

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ENA notes: Next year's edition will take place in June a week later than the 2012 gala, and will be held at the Ricke residence on the corner of Elm and 10th. Let's hope that King Larry doesn't own a parking lot across the street.

Practice makes perfect.

"I practice what I preach.”
-- Ron Craig, property owner, at the November 18 city council meeting.

Music soothes the savage vinyl siding mogul.