R.I.P.

by Will 'The Cranky Music Man' Golightly

It’s always sad when one of the world’s great talents passes away. It reminds us of our own mortality, which is what music helps us escape from. This world we live in is completely fluid; time passes without a sound, and the next thing you know you’re at death’s doorstep. These are just some of the reasons I’ve been troubled by the passing of Melanie Thornton.

Dear Melanie was the singer in La Bouche, a pop group made up of two Americans who made it big in Germany and then took their Euro-dance sound to the people of Europe. They were even seen on Billboard’s Hot Dance Music chart around five years ago, back when ridiculous dance music was just hitting its stride. She died in a plane crash about a week ago.

Before the stench of death had cleared, I was faced with the reminder of another bright talent snuffed out too soon: Aaliyah’s final video on MTV. I realize it has been in rotation for several weeks, but it was the first time I’d caught it. Hype Williams, the video’s director, called his work with the young singer "a very special project." Kevin Taylor, a producer for BET, was behind a documentary on the making of the clip. He called the video "ethereal and heavenly." Having seen it before most other people, he gave a teaser: "There are lots of shots of water and clouds." He even gives away the ending, describing how Aaliyah swims up "from the bottom of a pool, almost looking like she’s going into the clouds."

That’s pretty mesmerizing stuff, but I think he was watching the wrong video. I admit there was a disclaimer at the beginning of "Rock Da Boat" about how Aaliyah’s final work is a testament to her splendor (or something like that). But then it turned into late night Cinemax. "I want you to rock the boat, work the middle, change positions, now stroke it baby, stroke it for me."

This song isn’t about sailing at all! And that’s just the chorus. During the song she does a lot of writhing around and the like. You can’t get that kind of action from a tombstone.

But to top off what had been a terrible couple of weeks, I find out that one of the Beatles died. All things come in threes, I guess. George was "The Quiet One," unless you got him talking about Eastern mysticism. Then he wouldn’t shut the hell up. But in general he carried himself with admirable decorum.

If he had only brought the gangly Rickenbacker 12-string sound to prominence it would have been enough. He single-handedly brought the sitar to popular music, as well as created the first major benefit concert. George had the best song on the Beatles’ best album: "Something" on Abbey Road. His All Things Must Pass is the best solo Beatle album by a country mile, and he was probably the only man able to get away with long hair after turning 40. His work with the Traveling Wilburys was only besmirched by the inclusion of that leech Jeff Lynne, and their single "Handle with Care" is still fantastic.

Now there are two Beatles left. My money is on Ringo to be the last man standing.