Today is Veterans Day, a holiday and a day many think about the Veterans in their lives, either still with us or not.  I have immense respect for them, no matter when they enlisted or served.  The mere idea of of putting your love of country over your own life and family is simply amazing.  That's what it is, in its basic definition, there is no more honest and simpler way to describe the ones who voluntarily sign up.

Many years ago things were very different of course, as WWII was raging and the draft was here and the very idea of freedom was literally on the line. The future of the free world was in real danger.  For many of you reading, your grandparents may have been around at that time, but for me it was my dad and his three brothers.  All four of them served in action in WWII, in different places, and they all came home and for the most part healthy.

My father was Robert, he was the youngest of 6 children.  He was a star high school athlete, all-state Ohio in three sports.  Got a football scholarship to Duke University and reported there in the fall of 1942.  His stay there was short as the military asked him to enlist, and he did in the United States Army Air Corps, as a tail gunner in a B-25 bomber in the South Pacific.  He then went on to be in occupied Japan after the bomb was dropped for about 18 months after the war was over.

My Dad - WWII

His older brothers, John, Joe, and Hank were also all in the war.  I don't know much about John as he died when I was very young, although I met him once and he only had one arm.  Joe, was in D-Day and the Battle Of The Bulge, and lived to be very old, well into his 90's.  The stories he could tell were incredible.  Short, and to the point, but painted a real picture.  Hank was in Belgium, right by enemy lines as a parts Sergeant making sure planes had the parts to fly in Europe. I knew him the best as he and my dad were close and Hank lived to be about 90.  My father died of cancer in 1978 at 53.  But, all four of those boys came home.

Me, Joe And Hank  - Many Years Ago

None of them talked a lot about their experience, but when they did it was very enlightening.  The war changed everything about the lives they planned to live.   It did that for everyone in the country.  I can only imagine what thier parents went through in those days wondering if their sons were OK, and if they would come home.  It was the 1940's. Sending 4 brothers off to war in that respect, we don't do that much anymore and that's a good thing.

I am proud of those guys, and if you have a similar story in your family, I am proud of them too.  Going off to a foreign land and fighting to remain free no matter what the conflict, is a very big deal and I am forever grateful we have those incredible souls who do it, and are proud to do so.

Incredible people  - you bet  - Veterans!

Box Office Results -

#1 – Venom  - 16 million

#2 - Heretic - 11 Million

#3 - Best Christmas Pageant Ever -  7 Million

New This Week - Red One   (Dwayne Johnson) 

NEXT WEEK - Wicked and Gladiator 2

November 27 - Moana 2

Some Workers - On the set of Joker 2 were saying, “This is the worst movie ever made”

Denzel Washington – Says when he finishes up his current movie projects, he will retire

You Watched - The premiere of Yellowstone's fifth season scored 16.4 million people tuning in Sunday, highest premiere episode ever.

Transformers One - Hits Paramount+ today

My - Country Music Memory Lane (link)

Also - 50 Most Important Country Songs 1980 – Today #5 (Link)

This week we are taking another look at one of the real faces of mid 1980's Pop Country, Dan Seals.  He had as many big pop country songs as anyone. Very talented guy.

Remembering Dan Seals

Hillbilly Deluxe - Brooks And Dunn - 2005 - (Album-Hillbilly Deluxe)

Even gigantic acts can get into the Forgotten Jukebox.  Some artists are so big, we can't remember or play them all. This is one of my favorite songs from them, as it was very different, but still still the same from them.  This has a real Southern Rock feel to it, and speaks directly to a large swath of country fans.  I also loved this album as it was a very different direction for them from previous projects.  Brooks And Dunn are drawing huge new local interest as they are coming to Neon Nights this summer and it's not just going to be a concert, but it's an event. One of our biggest acts in our history still putting on great shows and still sounding great!

Last Weeks Selection

My Full Profile On Brooks And Dunn

The Browns had an embarrassing loss being manhandled the new look Chargers dropping them to 2-7. This is a far cry from where this organization honesty thought they would be.  They were thinking that with 11-6 last year, all the off season accolades, and Watson coming back this was their time to go to the big game.  And them thinking those thoughts is even more embarrassing than last weeks loss.

Okay every team should have those thoughts, but there's reality.  They have overestimated this roster, but so has the national and local media for a couple years.  This team is now one of the oldest teams in the league and the Watson trade has stopped a nice flow of difference making younger players from making it here. This season is a disaster.

So why is this?  Why is it that we seem to be here and seldom over there at 11-6.  Well, the wrong people are making the wrong decisions and their biggest blunder is not recognizing this team has no identity.  They throw things against the wall to see what sticks, and great teams don't do that. Teams that are perennially not good do that, it hasn't worked, doesn't work, and won't work. 

Look at teams that do a lot of winning.  Steelers, 49ers, Bills, Patriots, Chiefs, Ravens, Rams, and others. They know who they are, and what kind of player fits who they are.  All of them have different long standing identities that work.  They have a "way."  They have a direction drafting and signing players that fit who they are. Good teams and organizations know full well who they are year after year.

The Browns used to have one of the best identities in the league for many years, going way back.  A great running game, great offensive line play, tough guys, and a deep connection with their fans.  Think about it, any era of Browns football from the beginning when they have had ongoing success, that's who they were.  But not now.

Just a few years ago we had the best running back room in the NFL.  A young and hungry defense, plus a culture changing young QB that was full of attitude guiding a very good play-action offense to a playoff win in Pittsburgh.  That was Browns football.  Then the very trouble laden Odell Beckham Jr showed up, the trade for Watson who said he didn't want to come here.  The casting off of some proven players and coaches, and alienating one of your leaders, Amari Cooper with contract issues and a trade threat.  They also were actively pursuing another player who didn't want to come here who seems to be in the NFL for only the money in Brandon Aiyuk.  None of that stuff struck to the wall, at all.  Cooper didn't recover and is now traded for virtually nothing.

Of course the NFL has changed over the years, as it is now a passing league, but the successful teams have kept their identity through many changes. The Browns just try this and that and decide things on the fly, its desperate.  They recently signed on to throw the ball 40 plus times a game, not really run the ball, and have rid themselves of many good football guys on and off the field in favor of bowing to a QB that most fans simply don't want to root for. Having the face of your franchise that unpopular is about the worst decision that can be made. That's the identity they chose to go forward with thinking we wouldn't care as long as we were winning. They honestly thought they were Watson away from the Superbowl.  They were dead wrong all the way around and proved again when it comes to intangibles, they have no idea what they are doing. 

Sadly we are more than likely closer to a medium to large rebuild than the promised land.  They really whiffed on this recent identity decision and now have to figure out what's next.  The true identity of your team begins with the understanding of who you are in your DNA.  Going in a direction that works, with players that fans want to get behind and see the kind of football they can identify with.  Here that's tough, time clock punching, lunch pail carrying, hard working players that want to win  - and really want to be here   -  and not just grabbing the money.

The beginning of the winning starts there.

The list of "Generational Songs" is very short.  Songs that are so popular, so relatable, so right on the money they take every listener to a place, a time, and with a person. Perhaps someone you haven't thought of in many years, that's this gem of a song. These songs instantly and over time define a certain generation of fans.  Deana Carter hit one into the upper deck with this treasure as this is still as loved today as it was 28 years ago.  This song is gritty, emotional, and hits hard, sung perfectly by the vulnerable voice of Deana Carter.  You can feel her mixture of muted joy, and regret as she looks back with her grown up perspective on a life altering experience growing up.  We all more than likely have many of those same feelings of our own pertaining to our own experience, which is once in everyone's life.  This song sky-skyrocketed to #1 on various charts.  Then won the CMA Song Of The Year 1997, Song Of The Year from the Nashville Songwriters, and was Grammy and ACM nominated, selling millions from an album that sold over 5 million.  This song also scores very high on the love list, as fans still embrace this song like it's the first time they've heard it.  It was also recently imitated by Lainey Wilson's Watermelon Moonshine, and that's fine, but this is the OG by a mile, as it's the template for generational songs.  It was also on my 2023 list of my 50 Favorites From 40 Plus Years  at #7.  With its impact on fans, its success and staying power, this song breathes very rare air.

Last Week #6

My Full Profile On Deana Carter

In case you missed any of my articles this week from wqmx.com, let's get you caught up!  Thanks for listening and reading everyday! I appreciate YOU!

BROWNS - Rust And Reps?

Eat Of The Week

50 Most Important Country Songs 1980-Today #6

Forgotten Jukebox LT-12

The Mega Star Series - George Strait (Revisit)

Wynn At The Movies And More!

Box Office Results -

#1 –  Venom   -  26   million

#2 -   Wild Robot  -  7   Million

#3 -   Smile 2  -   6  Million

New This Week -  Heretic  /  Best Christmas Pageant Ever /  Elevation /  Small Things Like This / Overlord:The Scared Kingdom

Tom Hanks – Here – smashed at the movies - a mere 5 million

Daniel Craig – Says “I don't care” who the next James Bond is - he was from 2006-2021

Michael Jackson - Biopic, Michael, has had its release date pushed back to October 2025.

The Final Season - Of Stranger Things will debut in 2025.

Richard Gere - Sold his Connecticut home for $10.75 million and said he's moving to Spain.

My - Country Music Memory Lane  (LINK)

Also - 50 Most Important Country Songs 1980 – Today -  #6 (Link)

Love And Theft - Angel Eyes  - 2012  - (Album - Love And Theft)

This was a #1 song that somehow has kept itself alive over many years now, through a few different phases of country. First, this song was co-written by a GREAT songwriter, Eric Paslay, who wrote a bunch of big songs for a few stars. Plus, this song proves there is always room for a feel good love song, that makes you smile, and sing.  I heard us play this song the other day, and I was amazed how good it still sounds and how it holds up with the new artists out today.  This was this duo's biggest song by far, and in addition to being a number one, it sold a million and is certified Platinum and that's no small feat.  Glad I heard it, glad we played it, glad they recorded it.

Last Weeks Selection

Happy Birthday Week to Brad Paisley.   Let' look back at his remarkable career!  Thanks for reading and listening everyday!

Mega Star Brad Paisley