Kansas City Playlist: Everybody Ready For MAGA Recession?!?!

Let's be fair . . . The fundamentals of this latest recession were set in motion during the Biden administration. 

Look even deeper and notice that the economy never really recovered from the 2008 collapse of the global banking system and subsequent bailout of "too big to fail" financial institutions. 

Do a bit more research and then notice that money has been pretty much FAKE after Nixon took the world off the gold standard 1971.  

For those of us on the low-end . . . The REAL recession started on the afternoon of November 22, 1963 when the American middle-class was dutifully reminded that the human condition is defined by the power of the haves over the have-nots . . . On the bright side . . . Big TVs are a lot cheaper and readily available to poor people.

But better than our snark . . . Tonight we highlight and want to consider a quote from the Prez about the recession that's already here . . .

Asked twice by “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker whether it would be OK in the long run if there were a recession in the short term, the president said, “Look, yeah, it’s — everything’s OK. What we are — I said, this is a transition period. I think we’re going to do fantastically.”

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . .

Trump downplays recession fears, saying the U.S. would be 'OK' in the long term

President Donald Trump on Friday downplayed concerns about potential economic trouble, saying everything would be "OK" in the long term, even if the U.S economy experienced a recession in the short term.

Jobs market defies expectations amid fears tariffs could soon spur economic downturn

The U.S. labor market beat expectations last month, adding 177,000 jobs as the unemployment rate held steady at 4.2 percent. But the April jobs number was lower than the March tally and some economists are concerned that cracks in the economy are beginning to show as the effects of President Trump's tariffs become clearer.

Don't Look Now. The Recession Has Begun. Job Market In Danger.

Officially, an economic downturn is not a recession until there are two consecutive quarters of GDP shrinkage. We're halfway there.

And, of course . . . All of this inspires our playlist on the topic of continued harsh times . . . And overcoming adversity:

A good place to start given that this space is always saved to indulge in nostalgia . . . 

Background: Eye of the Tiger is the third album by American rock band Survivor, released in 1982. It reached #2 on the US Billboard 200 chart. The album features the title track, which is also the theme song of the film Rocky III. The single went to #1 in both the US and UK. 

Even better, TKC always wondered about this line in a classic American rock song that SEEMS to speak to class divisions: 

"They stack the odds till we take to the street . . ."

The words are a strange choice for a beloved American B-movie that does its best to uphold the status quo and imagines that a 5'4 Italian guy could beat up Mr. T without even using a ladder.

And that brief aside confirms one of our core beliefs that the only real art is nothing more or less than an act of subversion.  

Either way . . . The song remains great even if the video is nearly unwatchable . . .

Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche once wrote "What does not kill me makes me stronger" (German: Was mich nicht umbringt, macht mich stärker) That phrase is part of aphorism number 8 from the "Maxims and Arrows". . . Like most of Nietzche's work it's almost completely FALSE but sounds cool for somebody in decent health. More importantly, chubby pop diva Kelly Clarkson used the phrase to come up with a worthwhile "girl power" pop anthem. In 2011, Clarkson scored her 3rd #1 Billboard song with "Stronger" which continues to get airplay on corporate radio to this day.

Credit to the first judge in this case for his verdict on this song that still remains TKC's favorite Taylor tune that serves as a guide to anyone who wants live in this digitally connected world . . . 

The lawsuit against Taylor Swift over the lyrics to "Shake It Off" was dismissed, as the songwriters dropped the case after a five-year legal battle. The lawsuit claimed Swift's song copied lyrics from 3LW's "Playas Gon' Play," specifically the phrases "players gonna play" and "haters gonna hate". While a judge initially dismissed the case, finding the lyrics too "banal" to copyright, an appeals court reversed that decision, and the case was set to go to trial. Ultimately, the songwriters reached an agreement with Swift and the case was dismissed, according to Variety.

Before "Queen B" went solo . . . Her girl band produced this tune which is actually probably their best work inasmuch as R&B fans have been through enough disappointment . . .

Finally, we share the quintessential anthem of hope for every middle-class white woman over 30. 

A dirty little secret . . . Most dudes over 40 also enjoy "Hold On" as well because the power ballad has its roots in the foundations of modern popular music given that Wilson Phillips was an American pop vocal group formed in Los Angeles in 1989 and consists of sisters Carnie and Wendy Wilson, the daughters of Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys, and Chynna Phillips, the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas & The Papas.

As always, thanks for reading this week and have a safe & fun late night/early morning.