Roger Bourland
writes about music and life

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Rejection
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“Rejection” from HOMER IN CYBERSPACE
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Music: Roger Bourland
Lyrics: Mel Shapiro
Calypso: Jessica Armstrong
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REJECTION
Flypaper sings Rejection
After much introspection
It’ud be dereliction
Not tellin’ you what turns me on
(Baby)
Profound inspection
And sheer detection
Makes obvious what turns me on
(Baby)
Tear up my letters
Don’t return my calls
Spurn me every which way
See how this sucker crawls
Rejection!
Love it to death
Oh yeah
Rejection
Who needs crystal meth?
When he’s finished, lost [...]

After an intense year being chair of the music department and writing a musical, it seemed like an easy transition: just chair? no problem! All of a sudden, my TO DO list has become formidable. And having this list just sit there is very stressful knowing that I am going to have to do most [...]

Today we’re hosting a party for faculty, staff and families from the departments of Music, Musicology and Ethnomusicology. We’re anticipating around 80 people. Not everyone can make it but those that will be here should have a good time. A warm day is in store and there is enough shade in our backyard to keep [...]

The people in the southwest portion of the US were warned about killer bees slowly coming up from Mexico. We were all terrified. I can’t say I’ve seen any yet––just the mellow honey bees that are always hitting on one flower or another around here.
But what I HAVE seen is an amazing rise in killer [...]

Difficult times lately. The economy sucks, the earth has even MORE carbon dioxide surrounding it this year, family members with some real health challenges, budget cuts at work, but this ol’ world keeps on turning ’round and I still love you.

A mosaic of Jupiter’s ring system, acquired by NASA’s Galileo spacecraft when the Sun was behind the planet, and the spacecraft was in Jupiter’s shadow peering back toward the Sun. (NASA/JPL/Cornell University)

I just participated in one of the American dreams: to put a hundred down and buy a car. Well, it was over a thousand and I’m leasing it (2008 Acura TL, black with beige interior). I’m gambling that there will be a great selection of electric or hybrid cars at the end of the three [...]

Sung by Rufus Wainwright, Martha Wainwright, and Teddy Thompson (2001),

I keep forgetting how to do this. This should help me remember. Mmmm Mangoes!

“Aloha Oe” by Queen Lili’uokalani”
Mitchell tells me “oe” is the equivalent of “y’all.” Aloha means hello and goodbye and I love you and probably many, many more things. Here, the song is traditionally translated as “Farewell to Thee.”
Here is a new take on the song by Grammy nominated artist Amy Hanaiali from the album Nostalgia [...]