George Harrison & Three Dog Night, African YouTuber Loves ApX
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J. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX here. I got a really amusing email from ApologetiX alum drummer Bob Flaherty this week, and he gave me permission to share it with you. Here’s what he said: |
In 10th grade, I signed up for jazz band. On the first day, the teacher asked me what instrument I played, I told him drums.
"You can read drum music right?" he asked.
I thought he was joking and replied, “There's no such thing as drum music.”
His eyes got big and he asked, “You can't read drum music?” I knew two things: 1. Drum music must be a real thing, and 2. I was about to get kicked out of this class. So I replied “Yeah, I'm just kidding; I can read drum music," thinking to myself "what the heck is drum music?” There were two other drummers in that class that year, so my strategy was just to never be the first one to play a new song; I'd watch what they were trying to do and then iud just sit and play. The final exam was a cold sight-read: sit down and play a song for the first time that we had never done. “I'm busted," I thought, I had made it nine months by hiding my inability to read music, but was going to be dead in the water when the song started. I sat down and turned over the sheet music — "Got My Mind Set on You" by George Harrison. BOOM! I had grown up listening to Weird Al’s parody, "This Song's Just Six Words Long." I knew the whole song cold. A+ Moral of the story: Parodies can save your academic career. |
Bob sent that story after he saw that we’d just spoofed “Got My Mind Set on You” as part of our latest single. You can read more about that new single and the story behind our parody in the first and second articles below. |
On Sunday night, we released our 12th single of 2024. It spoofs big hits from 1974 and 1987. |
Got My Mindset From You - Got My Mind Set on You - George Harrison Media Circus - The Show Must Go On - Three Dog Night |
| The Stories Behind the Songs on This Single |
The Stories Behind the Songs on This SingleJ. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX here again. Here are the stories behind the songs on our 12th single of 2024: GOT MY MINDSET FROM YOU
Remember when Mr. Spock used the "Vulcan mind meld" in Star Trek? Many times I've wished I could do that in order to help other people understand my point of view. However, God has a better way to get us to see things from His perspective, and that's what this parody is about.
I was just minding my own business on December 13, 2023, when the title came to me. The first Bible reference I thought of was 1 Corinthians 2:16, which first quotes Isaiah 40:13 — "'Who has known the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?'" — then makes this bombshell statement: "But we have the mind of Christ.”
I went on to refer to four other passages in the lyrics: "In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus" (Philippians 2:5); "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things" (Colossians 3:2); "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Romans 12:2a); and "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things" (Philippians 4:8).
The tune we spoofed here was notoriously redundant. In fact, "Weird Al" Yankovic made that the subject of his version, "This Song's Just Six Words Long." In contrast, I found myself continually adding new lyrics as ours went on. There were just too many things I wanted to say.
MEDIA CIRCUS
I was nine years old when Three Dog Night's "The Show Must Go On" came out. It was a favorite of mine at the time, and I was not alone; the single went to #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #1 on both the Cash Box and Record World charts.
I'm sure the circus music used throughout didn't hurt. That famous instrumental piece, "Entrance of the Gladiators," was originally written as a military march by Czech composer Julius Fučík in 1897.
Anyway, "The Show Must Go On" was one of the first candidates considered when I got the idea for the ApologetiX '74 project on October 11, 2023, but it just missed the final cut. However, once I realized we wouldn't have the personnel available to get the last song we had planned for the CD done in time, I came back to "The Show Must Go On" on May 23, 2024, and got the parody idea the same day.
Unfortunately, it seems many people have forgotten that one of the Ten Commandments is “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour" (Exodus 20:16 KJV). Maybe they're confused because the command doesn't simply say "thou shalt not lie." However, elsewhere in God's Law it does say, "Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another" (Leviticus 19:11 KJV).
Jesus calls Himself "the truth" (John 14:6) and Satan "the father of lies" (John 8:44). In my prayers, I frequently ask God to "open ears, eyes, hearts, and minds" and "reveal the truth, expose lies, convict liars, and cause them to repent." |
| African YouTuber Reacts to ApologetiX |
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We received the following message this week from ApologetiX fan and friend Russell Cruzan in San Antonio TX:
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Here is a link to a YouTube channel done by a friend of mine in Nairobi, Kenya. Her name is Faith Obaga but she goes by Fay. She is a Christian and she does reactions to songs on YouTube.
Over the past year, I have sent her links to several songs by you guys for her to react to, and she is in love with ApologetiX.
A few weeks ago, I sent her a link to "Scarborough Fair" by Simon and Garfunkel. Along with it I sent her the link to "Offer Your Prayer" by you guys. I am including the link here for you to watch if you like.
I think you will be blessed by her reaction. So we are trying to increase the presence of ApologetiX in Kenya. 😊
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We watched the video and Fay’s reaction (facial expressions, gestures, and commentary) was priceless. If you get the chance to watch it, we think you’ll be blessed.
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| Bible-Reading for Next Two Weeks |
We began our latest trip through the Bible on Wednesday, April 3. Here's our Bible-reading plan for the next two weeks for those of you reading along with us: Sat., June 15 - Judges 10-12 Sun., June 16 - Judges 13-15 Mon., June 17 - Judges 16-18 Tue., June 18 - Judges 19-21 Wed., June 19 - Ruth 1-4 Thu., June 20 - 1 Samuel 1-3 Fri., June 21 - 1 Samuel 4-6 Sat., June 22 - 1 Samuel 7-9 Sun., June 23 - 1 Samuel 10-12 Mon., June 24 - 1 Samuel 13-15 Tue., June 25 - 1 Samuel 16-18 Wed., June 26 - 1 Samuel 19-21 Thu., June 27 - 1 Samuel 22-24 Fri., June 28- 1 Samuel 25-27 Note: If you don't have a Bible handy, you can look up these passages for free on Bible Gateway. They have about 60 different English translations/versions there to choose from, plus translations in many other languages, many of which also have multiple translations/versions. |
| Getting Our Complete Library Just Got Easier |
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We recently revamped the downloadable version of our complete library. Now it comes in a PDF with pictures of every album and single for easy reference. You just click on the ones you need to download them instantly.
We're giving our complete library on download to everyone who donates $100 this week.
That's 1678 tracks, including various versions (studio, live, rarity, album, single, EP, revised, remastered, etc.), plus side projects ... even our most-recent single, “Got My Mindset From You / Media Circus" and our latest CD, Unchained Medley.
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- Standard CDs 1993–2024 (919 tracks)
- Remastered Classics CDs (219 tracks)
- Singles, EPs, Rarities, Side Projects (540 tracks)
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New USBs Include Latest CD & Single
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We recently got a brand new batch of ApologetiX USB thumb drives.
They contain the digital versions of all 73 of our CDs, plus any singles, EPs, or rarities that aren't on CD ... including our latest single, “Got My Mindset From You” and “Media Circus."
Emblazoned with the band's logo, they have a storage capacity of 16 GB, and they’re write-enabled, so you can add more music to them if and when you get future ApX downloads.
They’re available for a donation of $150 or more. If you've donated for our complete library before, they're available for a donation of $50 or more.
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| Influential Albums 1493–1499 |
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J. Jackson, lead singer and lyricist for ApologetiX here again.
Here are the latest entries in the "albums that influenced me" series I started writing in May 2020.
Note: Just because an album appears on this list doesn't mean I give it a blanket endorsement. Many of the secular albums on this list are mainly there because they wound up being spoofed by ApologetiX.
1493. Billboard Top Hits: 1992 - Various Artists
Remember General Halftrack from the Beetle Bailey comic strip? Well, half of the tracks on Billboard Top Hits: 1992 made it all the way to #1, although obviously none were by The Beatles: "Baby Got Back" by Sir Mix-A-Lot, "How Do You Talk To An Angel" by The Heights, "Jump" by Kris Kross, "I'm Too Sexy" by Right Said Fred, and "To Be With You" by Mr. Big. Although this compilation contained no #2 hits, the remaining five tracks each peaked at a different chart position between #3 and #7: "Masterpiece" by Atlantic Starr (#3), "Live and Learn" by Joe Public (#4), "Just Another Day" by Jon Secada (#5), "Tell Me What You Want Me To Do" by Tevin Campbell (#6), and "I Can't Dance" by Genesis (#7). We launched ApologetiX in '92, so I was a little preoccupied and didn't listen to mainstream radio much that year, but we did eventually spoof "To Be With You" in 2015 and "I'm Too Sexy" in 2022.
1494. Billboard Top Hits: 1994 - Various Artists
Although Billboard Top Hits: 1994 featured a measly five Top five hits, three of them went to #1: "The Sign" by Ace Of Base, "Bump N' Grind" by R. Kelly, and "Here Comes The Hotstepper" by Ini Kamoze. There were only 10 chart toppers on the Hot 100 in 1994, and one of them was a carryover from 1993. At the time, that was the lowest amount of #1 hits in the history of that chart; the current record for fewest in a year is now eight (2002 and 2005). Moreover, there were only five singles that peaked at #2 in 1994, and one of them appeared on Billboard Top Hits: 1994, "Regulate" by Warren G. & Nate Dogg (#2). The rest of the collection consisted of the following: "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm" by Crash Test Dummies (#4), "Baby, I Love Your Way" by Big Mountain (#6), "Now And Forever" by Richard Marx (#7), "Can We Talk" by Tevin Campbell (#9), "Cantaloop (Flip Fantasia)" by Us3 (#9), and "If You Go" by Jon Secada (#10). My favorites are "Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm," which also hit #1 on the alternative chart and #25 on the mainstream rock chart, and "Cantaloop," which also hit #29 on the alternative chart and #21 on the R&B chart. ApologetiX spoofed "Baby I Love Your Way" in 2016, but we did it in the style of Peter Frampton's original. There are two other cuts on this collection I hope to cover eventually; we already have the concepts in place.
1495. Billboard Top Rock 'n' Roll Hits: 1961 - Various Artists
As far as #1 hits go, Billboard Top Rock 'n' Roll Hits: 1961 scored a perfect 10; every single track topped the Hot 100. "Tossin' And Turnin'" by Bobby Lewis, "Runaway" by Del Shannon, "Blue Moon" by The Marcels, "Runaround Sue" by Dion, "Quarter to Three" by U.S. Bonds, "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" by The Shirelles, "Take Good Care Of My Baby" by Bobby Vee, "Please Mr. Postman" by The Marvelettes, "Mother-In-Law" by Ernie K-Doe, and "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by The Tokens. ApologetiX spoofed "Runaway" in 1999. "Tossin' and Turnin'" was the biggest hit of '61 — staying in the premier position for seven weeks. Meanwhile, "Please Mr. Postman" was the first-ever #1 hit (of many) for Motown Records. In the mid-'90s, ApologetiX met one of the original members of The Marcels, Richard Knauss, after one of our concerts. At the time, I wondered about his claim, because he was white and the only photo I'd ever seen of The Marcels clearly showed five men who were black. There wasn't much I could do in the way of research in those pre-Google/pre-Wikipedia days, but I now know the original line-up of The Marcels that recorded "Blue Moon" had three white members and two black members. Multiracial groups were extremely rare in the early '60s, so that caused problems when The Marcels toured in the Deep South, which resulted in a line-up change. The photo I'd seen was apparently taken after that change. Ironically, although The Marcels were a Pittsburgh-based group like us, we actually met Richard in Virginia.
1496. Billboard Top Rock 'n' Roll Hits: 1968 - Various Artists
Billboard Top Rock 'n' Roll Hits: 1968 was originally released in 1988 and then re-released in 1993 with a revised track listing. I owned the latter, which featured five #1 hits: "Tighten Up" by Archie Bell & The Drells, "Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)" by John Fred & His Playboy Band, "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" by Otis Redding, "People Got To Be Free" by The Rascals, and "Green Tambourine" by The Lemon Pipers. It also included a pair of #2 hits by artists who'd had #1 singles the year before, "Chain Of Fools" by Aretha Franklin (who'd hit the top spot with "Respect" in '67) and "Cry Like A Baby" by The Box Tops (who'd reached the pinnacle with "The Letter" in '67), plus a third #2 hit by an artist who'd never made the Top 40 before and never would again, "The Horse" by Cliff Nobles & Co. The remaining two tracks, "Mony Mony" by Tommy James & The Shondells and "Yummy Yummy Yummy" by Ohio Express, had to settle for #3 and #4 respectively, but they probably attained more lasting fame than about half of the other songs on Billboard Top Rock 'n' Roll Hits: 1968. ApologetiX spoofed "Mony Mony" in 2000 and "People Got to Be Free" in 2014.
1497. The Rock 'n' Roll Era: 1964 - Various Artists
Released in 1987, this compilation was the 10th installment in a 40-volume set manufactured for Time-Life Music by Warner Special Products. It's ironic that the cover illustration alludes to the song "Hi Heel Sneakers" by Tommy Tucker, because that's the only one of the 22 songs on this collection that didn't hit the Top 10, although it certainly came close (#11). The Rock 'n' Roll Era: 1964 featured five #1 hits: "Where Did Our Love Go" by The Supremes, "Oh, Pretty Woman" by Roy Orbison, "My Guy" by Mary Wells, "Leader of the Pack" by The Shangri-Las, and "Chapel of Love" by The Dixie Cups. Four other tracks peaked at #2: "You Don't Own Me" by Lesley Gore, "Louie Louie" by The Kingsmen, "Last Kiss" by J. Frank Wilson And The Cavaliers, and "Dancing in the Street" by Martha And The Vandellas. The remaining dozen charted as follows: "Suspicion" by Terry Stafford (#3), "The Little Old Lady (From Pasadena)" by Jan And Dean (#3), "Under The Boardwalk" by The Drifters (#4), "G.T.O." by Ronny And The Daytonas (#4), "Surfin' Bird" by The Trashmen (#4), "California Sun" by The Rivieras (#5), "C'mon And Swim" by Bobby Freeman (#5), "Goin' Out Of My Head" by Little Anthony And The Imperials (#6), "The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss)" by Betty Everett (#6), "It Hurts To Be In Love" by Gene Pitney (#7), "Keep Searchin' (We'll Follow The Sun)" by Del Shannon (#9), and "No Particular Place To Go" by Chuck Berry (#10).
1498. Billboard #1 Hits of the '90s - Various Artists
In keeping with the '90s theme of this compilation, only 90 percent of the tracks actually topped the Billboard Hot 100. The lone exception, "Hold On" by En Vogue, stalled at #2 but did reach #1 on the Billboard R&B and dance charts. It was one of five songs featured from 1990: "Black Velvet" by Alannah Myles, "I Don't Have the Heart" by James Ingram, "I'll Be Your Everything" by Tommy Page, "If Wishes Came True" by Sweet Sensation, and "Hold On" by En Vogue. The remaining five on Billboard #1 Hits of the '90s were "I Adore Mi Amor" by Color Me Badd ('91), "Romantic" by Karyn White ('91), "To Be With You" by Mr. Big ('92), "Informer" by Snow ('93), and "Freak Me" by Silk ('93). My wife and I saw En Vogue in concert in 2022 along with New Kids on the Block, Rick Astley, and Salt-N-Pepa. I was very impressed with their performance. ApologetiX spoofed "Black Velvet" and "To Be With You" in 2015.
1499. Billboard Top Hits of the '90s - Various Artists
Every song on Billboard Top Hits of the '90s hit the Top 10, except one, "I'll Be There For You (Theme from 'Friends')" by The Rembrandts (#17 pop). However, that tune was actually one of the biggest hits of the decade, based on other charts (#1 adult contemporary for seven weeks, #1 Radio and Records for eight weeks, and #1 Canada for five weeks). It was also one of six tracks on this collection that ApologetiX spoofed — the others being "One Week" by Barenaked Ladies (#1), "To Be With You" by Mr. Big (#1), "I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles)" by The Proclaimers (#3), "Only Wanna Be With You" by Hootie & The Blowfish (#6), and "Sex And Candy" by Marcy Playground (#8). There were at least five other sections on Billboard Top Hits of the '90s that we have serious considered spoofing. I won't say which ones, but here are the remaining tracks in order of chart position: "The Sign" by Ace Of Base (#1), "Unbelievable" by EMF (#1), Missing" by Everything But The Girl (#2), "Whoomp! (There It Is)" by Tag Team (#2), "Feminine Canine" by Meredith Brooks (#2), "Right Here, Right Now" by Jesus Jones (#2), "Ordinary World" by Duran Duran (#3), "I Wish It Would Rain Down" by Phil Collins (#3), "Breakfast At Tiffany's" by Deep Blue Something (#5), "Baby I Love Your Way" by Big Mountain (#6), "I Can't Dance" by Genesis (#7), "Bad Boys" by Inner Circle (#8), "Free Your Mind" by En Vogue (#8), and "Where Have All The Cowboys Gone?" by Paula Cole (#8).
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If you'd like to donate to the ministry of ApologetiX, there are a couple ways you can do it.
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If you prefer to mail a check or money order, please make it out to "ApologetiX" and send it to:
ApologetiX
208 Charlemma Drive
Pittsburgh PA 15214-1414
Although the donations are not tax-deductible, they will be received very gratefully and used immediately. Thank you!
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Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. Proverbs 12:19 |
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P.O. Box 101705
Pittsburgh
PA
15237
United States of America |
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