I was lucky to be born during a time that music was in a period of renaissance. Rhythms of all kinds surfed the airwaves, touching the hearts and minds; speaking to us. The 1970’s was when I became ‘music aware’, so to speak, and it was then that it became a part of me. I’ve probably mentioned this before, but one of my best early recollections, is mowing the lawn with the push mower while blasting the Beatle’s ‘Revolution’ single on my parent’s little record player, in the living room. I was ten. There was so much to choose from. From the sixties on, rock was king; with everything from psychedelic to punk, but genres like funk, disco, even electronic music, all thrived because fans, I believe, were more open to new sounds, and beats. Sitting in front of the stereo with your friends was one of the most enjoyable things to do. There’s something to be said about shared experiences, especially when you’re young. From my experience, the eighties saw not only the increase in variety, but an increase in the types of music a DJ could play during any given night, while still pleasing everyone. I had that experience as a DJ. I remember, even then, being amazed that the same people would fill the dance floor whether I played new wave, ska, punk, rock, reggae, or pop. Radio stations, the main source of new music, were much more independent, and mostly privately owned, but great many of us also counted on word of mouth, and friends that lived in other places, to discover the new bands. Lots of vinyl and cassettes. 

As we can all see, society is being guided toward individualism. Even music is now only usually played into headphones and earbuds; even at home. It’s a fact that most households no longer have a family stereo. Many of us are in our own capsule, wherever we go, often oblivious to what’s going on around us. It’s great that everyone has their suggested lists, but music also needs to be shared; and I don’t mean bars, they are one of the cultivators. The culture of getting together over music, to listen and talk, needs to be more cultivated; it gives people more reasons to be in the company of friends. I think this will also serve as a catalyst to turn music back into the carrier of the message, the voice of the people. Mainstream music has very little diversity, and even less of a message. For the 

most part, it’s nothing but love, relationships, sex; all great themes, but mostly empty calories. Where are the sounds and the words that move millions, that create change, that make us think? They’re out there, by the thousands, but we have to go looking for them. Today’s mainstream has put most people in sleep mode, but they have a responsibility to nurture the culture of music and to unleash it on the public. We need diversity in mainstream music. We need to hear more than what the algorithm suggests. Hats off to those who are already doing something to combat the mainstream head on. There must be plenty of you out there who are way ahead of me. My wife and I did our bit by passing on our love of music to our two children, who today are deeply into music, never tiring of listening to the old, and seeking the new. I’m so glad we played a part in that. Start them early, with music from your past. 

Fiquem bem, 

Raul Freitas/MS

A few days ago, it was the bribe; if Americans, (right wing), voted in the upcoming midterms and he managed to keep the House and the Senate, then every adult in the country would receive a cheque for five grand, totaling roughly 40 trillion dollars.

A clear and calculated bribe, that anywhere else would land said politician in the courts. But since he doesn’t care about that, seeing as he controls the administration of cowards, opportunists and lackies, and he’s apparently shielded everyone, including himself and his family, from responsibilities for their actions, I guess he can do almost anything he pleases. Today, we hear about the 2.8-billion-dollar arms deal with the Israeli government, 40000 bombs, many of the one-ton variety. Since he took over the White house, he has spent a lot of taxpayer money providing the Israeli government with weapons. In 2024, Biden held back on a shipment, citing concerns over the mass destruction capabilities these 2000lb bombs possessed. As soon as DT took over, one of the first things he did was lift Biden’s order. Last year, he bypassed the normal congressions review and approved a shipment of over 35000 of these bombs. In January, he approved another contract of over 6 billion in arms. How does the Israeli government pay for all this? With the money of the American people, through the US Foreign Military Financing, a piggy bank set up in the late 70’s, to ensure that USA-friendly countries had the equipment and training to do their bidding. Sadam Hussein’s Iraq was one such recipient. Anyway, the way it works is that Trump gets the order, sends Netanyahu the money, and he quicky hands the cash to the US weapons manufacturers, who the send it over as expeditiously as possible. They don’t even pay to destroy their neighbours. Good timing though. It sends the message that DT knows he’s in trouble, although he continues to insult everyone who questions his moves and his character, and continually lying about how great everything is going, and what an incredible president he is; best ever, in fact. He’s seriously counting on his illiterate MAGA cult, because anyone with any amount of brain, or education will not help this guy. Even with all the Zionist support he has, his BS is just too obvious and stupid; there really is no other way to call this. It makes me wonder how this will go after he’s turfed out of the White House. How long will it take to begin to normalize

the world he continually tries to break, and how will the next government, I should say the Democrats, who also have close ties with Zionists. Speaking of, what about Raggedy Andy, or should I say Ed Sheeran? Dumped all his values and his buddies to appease a Group of Zionist billionaires? I can’t wait to see the backlash from this. I don’t think he’ll be able to lean on his childish good looks to get sympathy, especially since he claims he wants to stay neutral. Thing is he has supported the Ukraine, raising funds by participating in a benefit concert in 2022. He even wrote an open letter to PM Theresa May, against going through with the Brexit deal; he even endorsed the leader of the Labour Party, Jeremy Corbin. I never liked him as an artist, but from what I’ve read, even Ireland doesn’t want him to claim that he’s Irish anymore; apparently one of his grannies was, or is, Irish. That, my friends, is some serious 2020’s arse kicking!

Fiquem bem,

Raul Freitas/MS