Saturday, June 09, 2018

Singapore Summit 2018: Trump, Kim: Rocket Man Elton John

Part One:

The term Rocket Man has come into prominence lately when Mr Donald Trump tweeted in a message on 30 November 2017 that: "the Chinese Envoy who just returned from North Korea, seems to have had no impact on Little Rocket Man," and that, "China and Russia condemned the launch." 

This twitter remark came after North Korea's ballistic missiles' tests when Mr Trump referred to Kim Jong Un as Rocket Man. The name stuck.

The phrase brings to mind Elton John's song of the same name. Released in 1972, it became a big hit going to number 2 in the UK. It was positioned in the halfway mark at number 24 under Rolling Stone List.

In the early 70's the space race had tapered down to a whisper and the Apollo missions and once heroic astronauts were treated as mundane and workers just doing their job. So suggests the lyrics by Elton John and Bernie Taupin.


And all this science I don't understand
It's just my job five days a week
A rocket man, a rocket man

Rocketman burning out his fuse up here alone
Mr Trump, of course, has a different take on the phrase, Rocket Man and finds Mr Kim a nuisance with his gadgetry and so-called firepower.  For Mr Kim, it's a threat of war.  

In his own way, the North Korean leader, to Trump, is also a "rocketman burning out his fuse," always in a fury, frustrated and raging his ego. According to Trump, Kim forgets that his own people are "living in such horrible conditions."

Let's all wish that the Trump/Kim Summit on Tuesday would be the beginning of a journey towards a nuclear-free world.

Catch Andy with Trump and Kim:
https://singapore60smusic.blogspot.com/2018/05/donald-trump-n-kim-jong-un-summit.html


YouTube Video:

This live rendition of "Rocket Man" is taken from The Red Piano, Elton's first residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas. Recorded in April 2005, it uses the video footage for "This Train Don't Stop There Anymore" on the background screen.


Part Two:
The Beast, the Presidential car that will haunt our roads will be seen in Singapore these few days, especially around the Orchard Road areas. This car is a moving fortress.

The jams and security are tight guys. Keep clear of these areas around Shangri-la Hotel and St Regis Hotel. Pix below on 9 June 2018.



Wheels by Billy Vaughn and His Orchestra 
1961 Instrumental Hit



Images: from Google and A Personal Collection.

6 comments:

MICHAEL BANGAR (GUITARIST, BLOG WRITER) said...

Dear Andy,

My personal opinion. The US President, the most powerful man in the world. The highest form of security measures to be used to protect him. Who in his or her right mind makes a video and shows it to the world.

All it takes is a massive explosive device along the reverse route to blowing up the car. Never underestimate the enemy. They said the Bismarck and the Titanic could not be sunk.

All the big experts in the US never expected planes to bring down the twin towers of the WTC.

RICHARD RAJOO said...

Goodness gracious. Great Ball of Fire. We pray to God for an amicable, peace, nuclear-free settlement and the world can be a better place.

STEPHEN HAN said...

Hope the two of them come to good terms.May the summit achieved success and make the world a better place for future generation

JERRY SARAM said...

Please see the driving skills test to qualify as US President's driver to manoeuvre the Presidential Limousine - The Beast.

The car can do reverse speed at a neck-breaking speed for a quick getaway, in case of an unlikely attack on the convoy.

JOHN BT TAN (MUSICIAN, ARTIST, PHOTOGRAPHER, GRAPHIC DESIGNER) said...

Fantastico! Drift car driver's skill. On hindsight, in a real attempt, if the planned assassination is carried out, I think there won't be so much space for the driver to escape.

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thanks for the immediate comments. I have added the piece about THE BEAST and it seems to have drawn more attention than the TRUMP-KIM visit.

The second video clip WHEELS has been posted to remind us of THE BEAST. There are hundreds of pop songs on cars in the 60's.

Hot songs they are and I thought DRIVE MY CAR, MAYBELLINE and MUSTANG SALLY would have been appropriate but chose the more subdued WHEELS since the subject is a Presidential limousine. Elvis Presley's rendition of LONG BLACK LIMOUSINE would have been a suitable title but the lyrics discuss the death of a girlfriend in the limo.