~ ~ Postscript from David Lawrence Dewey

We have lost great stars in the past like Lucille Ball, Katherine Hepburn, Jane Wyman, Cary Grant, John Wayne, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Jessica Tandy, Christopher Reeves, Don Knotts, James Brown, Journalist, Ed Brown, Jack Palance, Shelley Winters and singer Kate Smith who could sing 'God Bless America' better than anyone. And we have lost more great bright stars in 2007.

These stars of the past and those that are still living like Elizabeth Taylor, Merle Streep, Jack Nicholson, Shirley McClaine, are "stars". They are unlike the new "breed" of actors and singers like Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Nicole Kidman or singer Fergie. And most of the new teenage sensations are nothing more than marketing machines to mass merchandise for profit, forget the talent. Remember the Olson Twins. Do I need to say more?

Another such teenage so called "sensation" is Mylie Cyrus/Hannah Montana daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus. In my opinion, there are unknowns that have a much better voice than she does, but she is just an example of the marketing machine of Disney. And there are certainly much better teenage actors than she is as well. Disney has put massive amounts of dollars behind marketing these new teen "sensations" who do nothing but gyrate all over the place and show little talent compared to the great stars of the past. Then there is Disney's High School Musical! Zac Efron and Vanessa Anne Hudgens play Troy and Gabriella who are teenage high schoolers. Talent, yes, they have the "looks" and can "sing", but outstanding talent, I don't think so.

It makes me wonder.. are Americans losing their sense of what real talent is? Is it better to simply watch someone move all over the place gyrating their hips to the beat, making sensual moves regardless their voice is common? Has it become nothing more than selling "sex" in music form. Now there are a few that are truly gifted like, Josh Groban. Groban has a beautiful voice and is a remarkable songwriter, they need to find more like him. And there is Carrie Underwood, now this young lady has a voice, and again a remarkable songwriter, she is in the same league as Dolly Parton. ABC had Cyrus and Underwood as entertainers for the New York New Year Eve's telecast, I would have much rather have listened to Carrie than Cyrus, yet for some reason Cyrus got more air time than Underwood. Garth Brooks is another super star, as well Paul McCartney of the Beatles.

And don't get me started on the "rap" music. Most of this music depicts violate acts against woman and others. How in name this music ever became what it has become making billions for these so called "artists" totally amazes me. I guess there is a new defintion of "artist" and that is, write a song where you beat your girlfriend or wife then go out and kill someone and you make a billion dollars from it and it doesn't matter if it actually a melody to it, three notes is all it takes. 99% of these so called "artists" couldn't carry a tune even with a pitch pipe in my opinion. There is music and their is "noise".

I am probably going to take some hits over my comments, but I leave you with this thought...

Would you rather listen to a beautiful song sung with full orchestra and by someone with a beauiful voice or, would you rather listen to a dum,dum drum beat song that has 3 beats to it and maybe 3 notes in the whole song? I think American needs a culture shock, watch some old movies and shows from the past and see "real" talent, not this mass merchandising, we want you to buy t-shirts, mugs, CD's and even key chains designed by these so called sensation "stars". Talk about hype!

I wish you a happy, healthy and prosperus 2008.

~ David Lawrence Dewey

~ In Memory Of Those Who Passed On In 2007 ~

Dan Fogelberg Singer and songwriter Aug. 13, 1951 - Dec. 16, 2007

Chris Benoit Professional wrestler May 21, 1967 - June 2007

Joey Bishop Comedian and Rat Pack member Feb. 3, 1918 - Oct. 17, 2007

Lady Bird Johnson Former first lady, wife of President Lyndon Johnson Dec. 22, 1912 - July 11, 2007

Evel Knievel Motorcycle daredevil Oct. 17, 1938 - Nov. 30, 2007

Anna Nicole Smith Model, actress and TV personality Nov. 28, 1967 - Feb. 8, 2007

Calvert DeForest Actor best known as "Larry 'Bud' Melman" July 23, 1921 - March 19, 2007

Joel Siegel Film critic July 7, 1943 - June 29, 2007

Wally Schirra Astronaut March 12, 1923 - May 3, 2007

Sean Taylor NFL player April 1, 1983 - Nov. 27, 2007

Charles Nelson Reilly Actor Jan. 13, 1931 - May 27, 2007

Dick Wilson Actor best known as Charmin's 'Mr. Whipple' July 30, 1916 - Nov. 19, 2007

Porter Wagoner Country music singer Aug. 12, 1927 - Oct. 28, 2007

Julia Carson Congresswoman July 8, 1938 - Dec. 15, 2007

Jack Valenti Motion Picture Association of America president Sept. 5, 1921 - April 26, 2007

Paul Tibbets Enola Gay pilot Feb. 23, 1915 - Nov. 1, 2007

Beverly Sills Operatic soprano May 25, 1929 - July 2, 2007

Tom Poston Actor Oct. 17, 1921 - April 30, 2007

Sidney Sheldon Writer Feb. 11, 1917 - Jan. 30, 2007

Brooke Astor Philanthropist and socialite March 30, 1902 - Aug. 13, 2007

Norman Mailer Writer Jan. 31, 1923 - Nov. 10, 2007

The Fabulous Moolah Professional wrestler July 22, 1923 - Nov. 2, 2007

Ingmar Bergman Film director July 14, 1918 - July 30, 2007

Ike Turner Musician Nov. 5, 1931 - Dec. 12, 2007

Johnny Hart 'B.C.' cartoonist Feb. 18, 1931 - April 7, 2007

Jerry Falwell Televangelist and Moral Majority founder Aug. 11, 1933 - May 15, 2007

Merv Griffin TV host and Hollywood mogul July 6, 1925 - Aug. 12, 2007

Marcel Marceau Mime artist March 22, 1923 - Sept. 22, 2007

Art Buchwald Columnist Oct. 20, 1925 - Jan 17, 2007

Leona Helmsley Hotel magnate July 4, 1920 - Aug. 20, 2007

Brad Delp Boston lead singer June 12, 1951 - March 9, 2007

Robert Goulet Singer and actor Nov. 26, 1933 - Oct. 30, 2007

Henry Hyde U.S. representative April 18, 1924 - Nov. 29, 2007

Yvonne De Carlo Actress Sept. 1, 1922 - Jan. 8, 2007

David Halberstam Journalist April 10, 1934 - April 23, 2007

Liz Claiborne Fashion designer March 31, 1929 - June 26, 2007

Don Ho Musician and entertainer Aug. 13, 1930 - April 14, 2007

Phil Rizzuto Baseball great Sept. 25, 1917 - Aug. 13, 2007

Bob Evans Restauranteur and businessman May 30, 1918 - June 21, 2007

Tammy Faye Messner Televangelist and TV personality March 7, 1942 - July 20, 2007

Tom Snyder TV host May 12, 1936 - July 29, 2007

Kurt Vonnegut Writer Nov. 11, 1922 - April 11, 2007

Arthur Schlesinger Historian Oct. 15, 1917 - Feb. 28, 2007

Jane Wyman Actress and first wife of Ronald Reagan Jan. 5, 1917 - Sept. 10, 2007

Luciano Pavarotti Operatic tenor Oct. 12, 1935 - Sept. 6, 2007

Richard Jeni Stand-up comedian and actor April 14, 1957 - March 10, 2007

Tommy Newsom Musician and backup bandleader on 'The Tonight Show' Feb. 25, 1929 - April 28, 2007

Thomas Eagleton Senator Sept. 4, 1929 - March 4, 2007