Kansas City Playlist: Stabbing Witnessed In Southmoreland Park

We're stealing from our social media betters tonight. 

Fun fact . . . 

Read closely and notice that mere mention of TKC is frowned upon on this this local Reddit because our community always mentions their website is p0wnz'd by the Chinese government.

However . . .

We always give credit where it's due and a recent mention of an iconic local event inspires us.

Here's the word . . .

"I saw a man get stabbed 8 times in the middle of Southmoreland Park and nobody did anything!"

More deets . . . 

"Damn it happened the last 11 nights in a row. I even witnessed it myself last night. It's a disgrace to our city. I bet it happens again tonight. Always the same victim though. One would think he would stop hanging out at that park around 9:15 pm each night."

A Kansas City specific reference for longtime locals . . . 

"I know, right! They were very clear about the rules when I arrived, stabbings are only allowed beyond the South Gate."

If our loyal readers haven't figured it out by now . . . 

They're talking about ‘Julius Caesar’ at Heart of America Shakespeare Festival. 

And this cowtown social media mockery over the demise of an EPIC ruler inspires tonight's www.TonysKansasCity.com playlist . . . 

Let's get started . . . 

More than 35 years ago, Living Colour shocked the music world with an overtly political hard rock song that featued exceptional musicianship with powerful lyrics and vocals. The band's signature hit questions merits of leadership, still resonates and should be familiar to anyone who tunes into the radio on occasion.

This track from AC/DC debuted in 1995 as the Aussie band continued their heavy metal reign for decades. It might be a bit on the nose but still ranks as worthy of a listen.

For a bit more context on how cultural evolution is a constant and that's why the longstanding works of Shakespeare remain an integral component of the controversial Western Canon that so many academics are working to erase . . . We include this track from Kraff because, like it or not, it exemplifies a musical journey from ritual to romance and then, sometimes, back again. We doubt there will be many defenders of this hip-hop clip with lyrics that are nearly indecipherable, a generic beat and visuals that we've seen so many countless times before in one rap music clip after the next. Still the name check to the dead ruler seems apropos.

For the bridge, we try to keep it classy around this dump and share an Elton John with track with quite a few Shakespearean references. On the doomed emperor, he sings: "Caesar had your trouble" in this clip backed up by Melbourne Symphony.

Finally, we conclude with one of our favorite tunes related to treachery. Documentation of a classic song: "Back Stabbers" is a 1972 song by the O'Jays. Released from the hit album of the same name, it spent one week at number 1 on the Hot Soul Singles chart. It was also successful on the pop chart, peaking at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 in October 1972.

As always, thanks for reading this week and have a safe & fun Saturday night.