It Will Stand!

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IT WILL STAND

Astute readers might recognize the title of today’s entry as a song title from an obscure New Orleans vocal group called the Showmen. This was the title I originally intended for a radio broadcast on New Orleans’ innate ability to survive seemingly anything…until the levee broke and the news grew more and more disturbing. By Tuesday afternoon, one day after hurricane Katrina, it is painfully obvious that this city has so much to do. It is a civil engineer’s worst nightmare, but I believe in my heart that New Orleans will indeed survive this.

Those of you familiar with the ‘American Hit Radio’ program know of our deep affiliation with the city; Heidy was born and raised there for virtually her entire life, while I have been traveling to the city with religious regularity. It is where Heidy and I met, and it is where we plan(ned?) to retire together. We plan to get married there next year, and I trust that the city has the resilience to piece itself back together by then. Meanwhile, we are here in New York, relying on the god-awful media for some signs of hope, but it is very hard to not feel frustrated and helpless. We desperately want to convey solidarity with those who have lost so much, and we also want to distract ourselves from the sensationalist ratings-mongers disguised as journalists. For these reasons, we offer this show as a musical love letter to friends, family, and all other residents of the Crescent City. Our thoughts are always with you.

It was somewhat painful to do this show, and I’m afraid that I jabbered a bit too much at the beginning, but I hope you’ll forgive me, as I was still trying to deal with the surreal image of familiar landmarks immersed in water. We feel a strong love for New Orleans and its people, but just you wait and see. It will stand.

Songs Featured:
1) THAT’S MY HOME – LOUIS ARMSTRONG
2) MY BLOOD – THE NEVILLE BROTHERS
3) GOD MOVES ON THE WATER – BLIND WILLIE JOHNSON
4) LOUISIANA 1927 – RANDY NEWMAN
5) NEW ORLEANS WINS THE WAR – RANDY NEWMAN
6) LEVEE TOWN – SONNY LANDRETH
7) GREAT GULF WIND – SONNY LANDRETH
8) YES, I’M IN A BARREL – LOUIS ARMSTRONG