Linda Ronstadt, political firebrand? Yes indeedy; according to CNN. Apparently, Ms. Ronstadt was ejected from the Alladin casino in Las Vegas this weekend, after she dedicated a performance of "Desperado" to Michael Moore and "Farenheit 9/11", urging the audience to see the film. Enraged patrons tore down her posters, spilled their drinks, and walked out in droves. An Alladin representative huffed that she was hired "to entertain the guests of the Aladdin, not to espouse political views."
Now, the Alladin rep may have a point, but the hotel's response to this was to immediately escort her from the premises - she wasn't even allowed to go back to her suite (what'd they do next, I wonder, smudge the rooms with Texas sage?)
I'll let you in on a secret - 'Desperado' is one of my all-time favorite guilty pleasure songs especially this version recorded by a 9 year-old in a school gymnasium on "The Langley Schools Music Project".
I love Desperado!! I didn't realize that it was a guilty pleasure -- why? should I stop singing loudly along with my Best of the Eagles cd?
Posted by: ann | July 20, 2004 at 03:18 PM
I love Desperado too! And I have much newfound respect for Ms. Ronstadt. Screw The Alladin! I have a feeling if she'd dedicated the song to Bush, she wouldn't have been thrown out...
Posted by: Erica | July 20, 2004 at 03:34 PM
All those years and I didn't know--
Posted by: Grusinskaya Speaks | July 20, 2004 at 04:33 PM
Damn! Anyone over there at the Aladdin heard of Freedom of Speech? What the heck?
Posted by: Nathania | July 20, 2004 at 05:06 PM
Oh for pete's sake. I might have to just cue up all Linda's albums tonight just in protest. We're closer to a police state every day.
Posted by: Lorette | July 20, 2004 at 09:33 PM
Do you think the response would have been the same had Linda been wearing the outfit she's pictured in there?
Sorry. But the funny thing is that's exactly how I picture her in my head. Every time. With those rollerskates and that jacket that I always wanted. You're no good, you're no good, you're no good, baby you're nooooo gooooooooooood.
Posted by: Em | July 21, 2004 at 07:18 AM
Not only am I forced to drudge up a new respect for Linda Ronstadt, but now I'm also doomed to have Desperado in my head all damn day. Sheesh.
Posted by: cari | July 21, 2004 at 10:02 AM
Hmmmm... backtrack much?
http://launch.yahoo.com/read/news.asp?contentID=219049
Posted by: Erica | July 22, 2004 at 03:08 AM
Linda Rondstadt is a favorite, ever since the days of "Different Drum." (You and I...travel to the beat of a different drum...") As I understood it, she encouraged people to see the film so they could form their own opinions..agree or disagree. This is a scary polarized world we're living in.
Posted by: Sharon | July 23, 2004 at 11:10 PM
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the Langley Schools Music Project CD. I love it irrationally and without measure. I am going to go play it right now.
I've been on vacation and hadn't heard about the Linda Ronstadt incident. Why didn't security escort the patrons who were, um, VANDALIZING the place out of the building?! Between this story her cameo role in the classic Simpsons episode "Mr. Plow", I think Linda's my new hero.
Posted by: Michelle | July 28, 2004 at 12:43 AM