Blog Posts by Robert of the Radish

There have been a lot of memorable characters in the history of boxing. Probably more than in any other sport. But no boxer has made as big an impact on the popular culture as Muhammad Ali, and he did so with both his fists and his mouth. Sports Illustrated named Ali the Sportsman of the Century in 1999 and it would be hard to make an argument against their selection.

To watch Muhammad Ali box was a thing of beauty, he was able to combine his incredible sense of space, his quickness, and his strength to bring down giants like they were but helpless children. He was also a controversial figure because of the cocky rhyme-speak he used to taunt opponents and brag about his skills. But also because of his involvement with the Nation of Islam and his refusal to fight in a war he considered unjust.

The passing of time has only made Muhammad Ali a more beloved figure as he publicly battled Parkinson's syndrome. We don't know how much longer he'll be with us, but he certainly was "The Greatest".

This playlist includes 10 songs that mention Muhammad Ali.

What would you add?

The number seven holds great importance in many of the world's religions. In the old testament God created the universe in 7 days, the feast of Passover lasted 7 days, the Menorah holds 7 candles, there are 7 things that are detestable to the Lord. In the new testament, Jesus multiplies 7 loaves to feed the masses, there are 7 gifts of the holy spirit, 7 heavenly virtues, 7 deadly sins, and 7 sacraments in the Catholic church.

In Hinduism, the Sapta Rishi are 7 stars named after 7 saints, there are 7 worlds in the universe, and 7 Chakras. In Islam, there are 7 layers of the Earth, 7 skies, 7 levels of heaven, and 7 doors to hell. In Buddhism, it is said that the Buddha walked 7 steps after being born.

So for some reason, 7 is a very important number. And as such you can find it used by artists a great deal.

For this playlist I have gathered together a 25 song list of "7 songs".

What would you add?

Today is February 28th. If it were a leap year, tomorrow would be February 29th. But we just had a leap year in 2012, so tomorrow is March 1st.

I've always wondered when people born on leap day celebrate their birthday during non-leap years. Do they celebrate it on the 28th, or the 1st, or do they skip it altogether? I'd be kinda bummed if I was born on the 28th and missed being born on leap day. Because when February 29th does roll around every four years It'd be a blowout birthday party, I just know it!

For this playlist I thought I would put together a list of songs by artists who were born on February 28th.

Happy Birthday! You're special too, leap day or no leap day.

1940 – Joe South, American singer (d. 2012)
1942 – Brian Jones, English musician (The Rolling Stones) (d. 1969)
1943 – Barbara Acklin, American singer (d. 1998)
1948 – Bernadette Peters, American actress and singer
1951 – Roseanna Vitro, American jazz singer
1957 – Cindy Wilson, American singer (The B-52's)
1958 – Jeanne Mas, French singer and actress
1969 – Patrick Monahan, American singer (Train)
1977 – Jason Aldean, American country singer
1978 – Jeanne Cherhal, French singer-songwriter
1984 – Ben Fagan, American musician
1985 – Fefe Dobson, Canadian singer

To many, pyramids are mysterious, even spiritually guided constructions. Some far out ideas include the Orion correlation theory, which says that there is a link between that pyramids at Giza in Egypt and three stars in the constellation Orion. Did ancient aliens help us build the pyramids?

I'm going to go out on a limb and say no. And further, if you believe ancient astronaut theories, I would strongly suggest you demand a lot more evidence in the future, and that you put the crack pipe down.

As far as the pyramid is concerned, a more logical reason for their appearance across the globe is a functional one. With less weight on the top of the structure, and a simple, sloped design that forces water away from the structure, it makes complete sense that our ancestors built large pyramids.

No aliens required.

For this playlist, I simply pulled together a bunch of quality songs from many different genres that use the word "pyramid" in the song title. So while you ponder the mystical questions of the pyramid, this can be your soundtrack.

What would you add?

Although Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Actress steal the show at the Oscars, music also plays a prominent role, with awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song up for grabs. At the 7th annual Academy Awards in 1934, the very first Oscar for Best Original Song in a motion picture was bestowed.

In the beginning, to win this award, all that was required was that the song appeared in a film the previous year. In 1941, the rule was tightened, and to be eligible the song had to be "original and written specifically for the film". Best Original Song is one of the few categories in which a film can be nominated multiple times, although starting in 2008 a new rule states that a film may only have two Best Original Song nominations.

This playlist features all songs, in chronological order, that have won the Best Original Song Oscar. It's fascinating to hear how music has changed over the years, and it's sure to bring back some wonderful memories of films that have had an impact on our lives.

So what are we going to add to this list tonight?

Yesterday I posted a playlist of songs inspired by Edgar Allan Poe. As I was doing a little research I came across the website Shareranks.com. This site is an aggregator of "Greatest Lists". The site claims to prevent "ballot stuffing" in order to get a good sense of how its users rank any number of things.

Shareranks.com listed Edgar Allan Poe as the fourth greatest American author of all time.

So who are the top 10?

Here's who they currently have listed:

1. Mark Twain
2. William Faulkner
3. Ernest Hemingway
4. Edgar Allan Poe
5. John Steinbeck
6. Tennessee Williams
7. Cormac McCarthy
8 . Flannery O'Connor
9. Harlan Ellison
10. David Foster Wallace

This playlist includes a song for each of these, with the exception of Harlan Ellison, for whom I could not find song on Spotify. I included a song by my personal favorite American author instead, Herman Melville, who came in at #12. I felt that this travesty needed to be corrected.

Who would be on your Top 10 American Authors list?

Edgar Allan Poe is arguably one of the most widely known American writers in history. In fact, Shareranks.com places Edgar Allan Poe as the #4 Greatest American Writer of all time, with only Mark Twain, William Faulkner and Ernest Hemingway beating him out for the top three spots.

Poe did a lot of different things with his writing during his short 40 year life, but he is most remembered for his stories of mystery and the macabre. He left an impression on generations of readers who have explored the dark side of mankind through his works.

Edgar Allan Poe's life was almost as troubled as some of his writings. Death and failure surrounded him, and he fought alcohol and drug abuse for most of his adult life. Could it be that the best art comes from the most troubled souls? Edgar Allan Poe certainly supports the notion.

Poe's work has had a huge influence on popular culture. Books and films inspired by his work are easy to come by, but he's also inspired generations of musicians who have been attracted to his melancholy writings.

This playlist includes songs inspired by the work and life of Edgar Allan Poe.

What would you add to your Edgar Allan Poe playlist?

I've always been a fan of bacon, but lately it seems like bacon has reached new heights of fame. On a flight home early this week I picked up a Skymall magazine and saw bacon print pillows and throws for sale. Later that evening, after arriving home and stretching out to relax with some TV, I saw an ad for a new cable show called the "United States Of Bacon". While I would not argue that bacon is indeed delicious, a full television series dedicated to it?

Really?

Last year, the UK’s National Pig Association sounded the alarm by claiming the world was headed for a massive bacon shortage. Maybe this is why bacon is seeing such a resurgence? I'm not sure, but with all the bacon talk lately I was inspired to create a playlist dedicated to our favorite greasy delight.

This playlist includes songs about bacon, inspired by bacon or that feature the word "bacon" in the song title.

So the next time you're frying up a big pan of bacon, put this playlist on and pay homage to the pork!