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Mar 14, 2023Liked by Garrett Bucks

Adding this to the conversation re: Merle for the folks who haven't listened

https://cocaineandrhinestones.com/merle-haggard-okie-from-muskogee

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YES!!!!!

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Mar 14, 2023Liked by Garrett Bucks

Garrett! Have you been to Loretta Lynn's "home place" as pictured here? I went there with my dad once, many years ago. It was an intensely weird experience for two reasons:

1. It is a little museum of romanticized past rural poverty, surrounded by normal contemporary rural poverty

2. Partway through the tour it became clear from context clues that the dude giving the tour was her brother, whose job I guess it is to give tours of the the home he and his siblings grew up in.

Also can I inquire what you think "What's Yr Take On Cassavetes" says about whiteness?

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Ok, the tour experience at Loretta Lynn's house (which I have not been on) has now become my single greatest obsession.

Re: "What's Your Take...": I included it as a "Category Three" song (like "Coal Miner's" and "Cowboy Dan"): A specific and effective story song about a primarily White micro-community that does not explicitly talk about Whiteness but that invites (at least from me) so many follow-up questions. I wanted to try to include a few songs from a variety of class points of view (and placements across the rural/urban dichotomy) so congratulations art school Whiteness... you got a song on the list.

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Totally, that makes sense! Curious because I have a lottttttt of feelings about Kathleen Hanna & White cis feminism.

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Wait is Hanna a TERF?

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Mar 15, 2023Liked by Garrett Bucks

She played at Michfest and contributed to an anthology edited by a TERF, but also one of the current touring members of Bikini Kill is a trans woman (a cool one who makes/made a great zine!), so idk, but I'd personally love to see more "absolutely not a TERF" energy.

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I don’t think that’s too much to ask!

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Mar 14, 2023Liked by Garrett Bucks

I'm probably the only White Pages reader who knew you were referring to Paul Rey (re: the Swedish Macklemore reference). I was rooting hard for Loreen because I thought her song and performance were by far the best of the lot, but I also think it's cool that Sweden is sending a performer who identifies as Swedish-Arab (she grew up in a Muslim family, though I don't believe she currently practices that religion) to Eurovision in the current political climate. Here's hoping Loreen brings Sweden a win for the second time!

(I also enjoyed presenter Farah Abadi's little dig at the fact that Israel is represented in Eurovision, but not Pakistan...)

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Sue, thank you for properly identifying my love language, which of course is "wanting permission to talk about Mello as much as possible." Our family is super amped for Loreen- for both of the reasons you mentioned. We also loved that Farah line (and Farah in general-- she's my wife's professional crush). If I had to rank my finalist loyalties, I'd prob say: 1. Loreen (who I'm very optimistic for in Europe) 2. Jon Henrik Fjälgren and his bros, 3. Theoz, 4. Kiana and 5. Smash Into Pieces, though in general (as always) the whole thing was just an absolute garden of half-earnest/half-campy/extremely Swedish delights.

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I thought both Jon Henrik Fjällgren and Theoz had stronger entries in years past, but it was still an entertaining final. Now, if Marcus & Martinus had won, I would have been outraged (I don't mind that they're Norwegian; their song sucked!).

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One of my favorites: Flyover States https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1GZzucDMlQ

I play it and cry on planes lmao. But it is inherently white. I like the section you have on inherently white songs. This is all of our country but Flyover States ain't supposed to be for me. But I've driven through Indiana and my family busted their ass for you and me. lol k bye

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Ugh and of course I googled Jason Aldean + Trump and sure enoguh...he's a friend and a fan. :(

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Furthering both your "flyover states ain't supposed to be for me" and my investment in this project in which you claim it by hostile takeover from Jason Aldean!

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COWBOY DAN

No one got it here in the 206 when it came out. I grew up in the 208 so it made perfect sense.

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