To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=37091
6 messages

BS: COLIN POWELL'S EL PASO PARODY

27 Jul 01 - 04:00 PM (#516232)
Subject: COLIN POWELL'S EL PASO PARODY
From: SINSULL

Sounds to me like he could have used some help from Aine and company. Do I see a Challenge in our future?

Colin Powell Sings in Vietnam The Associated Press Jul 27 2001 10:43AM

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) - ``Out in the West Texas town of El Paso, I fell in love with a Vietnamese girl. . The lyrics were a bit skewed, but the song was familiar and so was the singer - Secretary of State Colin Powell.

``Blacker than night were the eyes of Makiko, wicked and evil while casting her spell. My love was deep for this Vietnamese maiden, I was in love but in vain I could tell.''

Powell had spent the previous two days in serious deliberations with other Asia-Pacific foreign ministers at an annual meeting.

But, as has become a tradition for the gathering, the final evening is reserved for levity - with the delegates themselves doing the entertaining. Two of the groups did renditions of ``Yellow Submarine.''

The event was closed to all journalists except those from the government-run television network, which recorded the skits for domestic consumption. Copies of the tape were sold to some other news agencies. CNN broadcast the tape Friday.

Powell sang a parody of Marty Robbins' ``El Paso'' by himself to the accompaniment of a guitarist. Then he was joined by colleagues, ``Powell and the Unnamed Senior Officials.''

Then a woman appeared on stage with a typical Vietnamese conical hat. It turned out to be Makiko Tanaka, the Japanese foreign minister.

There is competition for Makiko's affection, there is a loud ``pop'' and Powell falls to the ground, dying. Makiko rushes to his side and kisses him on the cheek. The assembled crowd roars its approval.

The action on stage had been foretold by the song. Sort of.

``One night a wild young cowboy came in, wild as a West Texas wind. Dashing and daring, a drink he was sharing with wicked Makiko the girl that I loved.

``So in anger I challenged his right for the love of this maiden. Down went his hand for the gun that he wore. My challenge was answered in less than a heartbeat, the handsome young stranger lay dead on the floor. .

Powell's predecessor, Madeleine Albright, looked forward to these annual rituals.

Last year, Albright wore a bowler hat and swung a golf club in a parody of Bob Hope crooning out his signature ``Thanks for the Memory'' - a fitting song for her last appearance before stepping down.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTKBtIHb-gc


27 Jul 01 - 04:26 PM (#516256)
Subject: RE: BS: COLIN POWELL'S EL PASO PARODY
From: rea

hmmm.... in a few years, a new band comes to the limelight:

"And tonight, for the very first time at the 9.30 club, we have COLIN POWELL AND THE UNNAMED SENIOR OFFCIALS"

what is it with musical politicians?

(9.30 club is a music venue in DC - everything from techno to fruvous)


27 Jul 01 - 06:54 PM (#516356)
Subject: RE: BS: COLIN POWELL'S EL PASO PARODY
From: katlaughing

*sigh* I preferred a sax blown on SNL


27 Jul 01 - 06:56 PM (#516357)
Subject: RE: BS: COLIN POWELL'S EL PASO PARODY
From: Gareth

I can not speak for what the USA does but self par


27 Jul 01 - 07:36 PM (#516391)
Subject: RE: BS: COLIN POWELL'S EL PASO PARODY
From: Chicken Charlie

Makiko is supposed to be a Vietnamese name? But then, the whole exercise seems pointless, so why sweat the small stuff? Reminds me of Chris Chris-- doing "Laid Around and Played Around, Viet Nam Too Long," originally "Worried Man." I should post that if it isn't already in Delirium Tremens.

CC


27 Jul 01 - 07:46 PM (#516399)
Subject: RE: BS: COLIN POWELL'S EL PASO PARODY
From: Chicken Charlie

Just occurred to me (THREAD CREEP, get down!!!) that El Paso might be a sort of spin-off from "Spanish is a Loving Tongue." In the sense that EP develops the sort of story alluded to in SIALT. That and about 30 pesos will get you a Corona, at least in the cheap cantinas I hang out in.

CC