Fools

Wednesday is April 1st and so April Fools’ Day, and I am going to do my online show that night with songs about fools. How to choose songs about fools is an interesting proposition, and I’ve had fun looking for songs that mention fools as well as contemplating what makes a song about a fool worthwhile. We tend to think of someone who is a fool as someone who is stupid and easily duped, but I’d like to turn that on its head a little bit. What if a fool is just someone who is wide-eyed and innocent and thus untarnished by the world and its cruelties? I even had one of my favorite fantasy book series by Robin Hobb called the “Realm of the Elderlings” that featured a character known as “The Fool” who was wiser than everyone else and who only played a court jester or fool to monitor and mentor another character who was going to change the world. Many of the songs I’m choosing feature someone who is a “fool for love” because they are so hopelessly in love that they will go to any level of commitment and embarrassment to show their love. Is that so bad? I think this extends to being a fool for other ideas as well. Sometimes being open to what are considered foolish ideas have opened scientists and great thinkers to discovering truths about our existence that have changed our world. My point is just that we may consider that being a fool for worthy pursuits is not necessarily a bad thing. I think that April Fools’ Day has always been about fooling someone with an outlandish idea or statement to see how gullible they are. Maybe being a little gullible is okay sometimes. Maybe we could use a little more of that in our jaundiced world.

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What have I been up to?

Last week I had 10 senior facilities, and I mostly sang spring songs or the CCR songs that I was singing for my Wednesday online show. I try to sing songs about whatever is currently going on, but I’m always willing to take a detour for whatever the folks I’m playing for would like to hear. Being flexible and caring is always a good thing. I love these folks!

My Wednesday online show was CCR songs as I mentioned in the previous paragraph, and it was so much fun learning more CCR songs for this show and connecting with the energy that this band put out. The ‘60s affected me in central Nebraska in my childhood in a different way than it affected a lot of people around the country and the world, and I get a real kick out experiencing that time though different eyes and ears. I know the folks in the audience really enjoyed it too.

My Sunday online show was doing favorites and requests, and there were some wonderful requests. I also did several Seals and Crofts songs to honor Dash Crofts at his passing as well as “Wild Thing” by Chip Taylor who also passed this past week. It was a fun show that I think everyone really enjoyed.

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What am I up to this week?

I have 8 senior facilities this week, and I will do mostly spring songs and a few songs about Easter if the folks want to hear them. It should be a good week as we head into April.

My Wednesday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be songs about fools as I wrote above. This will be an interesting exploration of songs about fools. There are so many fun and curious songs about fools, and I think the audience will really like these as well as having a few good requests too. Come on out and join in if this sounds good to you.

My Sunday online show 7-8:45 mountain time will be favorites and requests as always. These nights turn into a fine time of sharing camaraderie and good music, and I’d love to have you join in.

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That’s it for this week. I can’t believe it will be April this week already. The year is flying by, and there is so much angst in the world over all the war and troubles that make me really feel for everyone. I hope you are coping in a good way and taking care of yourself and those you love. 

Best always,

Tom

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Details this week:

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of songs about fools

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Wednesday, April 1, 7-8:45 pm mountain time

Who:  Tom Munch 

What:  playing and singing an online concert of favorites and requests

Where:  facebook.com/tom.munch and tommunch.com/online-concerts  

When:  Sunday, April 5, 7-8:45 pm mountain time 

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