I should have known that falling for you wouldn’t be a problem despite our differences.
You are a sophisticated denizen of the city and I’m just a plain country boy.
You find excitement and excellence in the hustle and bustle. I find peace and quiet in the simple bromide of country life.
But even though we wear different tags in society, and seem opposites in everything,
We complete each other in a truly amazing way.
Written for these daily prompts: Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (falling), The Daily Sour (problem), Your Daily Word Prompt (denizen), Word of the Day Challenge (excellence), Ragtag Daily Prompt (bromide, and My Vivid Blog (tags).
The idea behind Who Won the Week is to give you the opportunity to select who (or what) you think “won” this past week. Your selection can be anyone or anything — politicians, celebrities, athletes, authors, bloggers, your friends or family members, books, movies, TV shows, businesses, organizations, whatever.
I will be posting this prompt on Sunday mornings (my time). If you want to participate, write your own post designating who you think won the week and why you think they deserve your nod. Then link back to this post and tag you post with FWWTW.
My pick for who won the week this week is Evolution. In a recently published study by the University of Michigan, the level of public acceptance of evolution in the United States is now solidly above the halfway mark. The study was based on a series of national public opinion surveys conducted over the last 35 years.
The study determined that 54% of Americans now agree with the statement that, “Human beings, as we know them today, developed from earlier species of animals.” Just a decade ago, only 40% believed in evolution.
Examining data over 35 years, the study consistently identified aspects of education — civic science literacy, taking college courses in science, and having a college degree — as the strongest factors leading to the acceptance of evolution. “It’s hard to earn a college degree without acquiring at least a little respect for science,” one of the study’s co-authors noted.
The Michigan study consistently identified religious fundamentalism as the strongest factor leading to the rejection of evolution. and predicted that religious fundamentalism would continue to impede the public acceptance of evolution. Further, like almost everything else in America. As of 2019, 34% of conservative Republicans accepted evolution compared to 83% of liberal Democrats.
So congratulations evolution. It seems that the thinking of at least a small majority of Americans is beginning to evolve. At least with respect to evolution.
What about you? Who (or what) do you think won the week?
When I saw that Jim Adams had chosen the themes of Fraud, Hypocrite, Phony, Pretender, and Snob for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday, I knew I was going to go with Jackson Browne’s song, “The Pretender” for my pick. But then I realized that I had already used that song for a Song Lyric Sunday post way back on December 17, 2017, back when Helen Vahdati was hosting Song Lyric Sunday.
So rather than duplicating that post, I decided to go with the song, “The Great Pretender.”
“The Great Pretender” was recorded by The Platters, and was released as a single in November 1955. The words and music were written by Buck Ram, the Platters’ manager and producer who was also a successful songwriter. The song reached number 1 on Billboard’s Top 100.
This song describes a man who deals with his heartbreak by denying it. He’s mastered the art of smiling through the pain. Buck Ram, who needed a follow-up to the group’s first hit, “Only You,” wrote the lyrics in about 20 minutes in the washroom of the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas, where the group was performing.
“The Great Pretender” was the first ever number 1 doo wopp song in the U.S. and it also made The Platters the first R&B group to have a number 1 hit on the pop charts. Freddie Mercury revived “The Great Pretender” in 1987 when he released his version of a single. It didn’t make an impact in America, but went to number 4 in the U.K.
Here are the lyrics to “The Great Pretender.”
Maybe it’s just me, but I find it interesting that the original Platters hit was released as a single in 1955 on the Mercury label and was released as a successful single 32 years later by Freddie Mercury. Also on the Mercury label.
Oh oh, yes I’m the great pretender Pretending that I’m doing well My need is such I pretend too much I’m lonely but no one can tell
Oh oh, yes I’m the great pretender Adrift in a world of my own I’ve played the game but to my real shame You’ve left me to grieve all alone
Too real is this feeling of make believe Too real when I feel what my heart can’t conceal
Yes I’m the great pretender Just laughin’ and gay like a clown I seem to be what I’m not, you see I’m wearing my heart like a crown Pretending that you’re still around
Too real is this feeling of make believe Too real when I feel what my heart can’t conceal
Yes I’m the great pretender Just laughin’ and gay like the clown I seem to be what I’m not, you see I’m wearing my heart like a crown Pretending that you’re still around (Still around)
And for those who are interested, here’s Freddie Mercury’s rendition.
Welcome to August 29, 2021 and to Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (aka, FOWC). I will be posting each day’s word just after midnight Pacific Time (U.S.).
Today’s word is “falling.”
Write a post using that word. It can be prose, poetry, fiction, non-fiction. It can be any length. It can be just a picture or a drawing if you want. No holds barred, so to speak.
Once you are done, tag your post with #FOWC and create a pingback to this post if you are on WordPress. Please check to confirm that your pingback is there. If not, please manually add your link in the comments.
And be sure to read the posts of other bloggers who respond to this prompt. You will marvel at their creativity.
Welcome to August 29, 2021 and to Fandango’s One-Word Challenge (aka, FOWC). I will be posting each day’s word just after midnight Pacific Time (U.S.).
This, That, and the Other 