May 1964: Louis Armstrong & The Beatles met in the pop charts

On this day in 1964, Louis Armstrong's "Hello Dolly" ended The Beatles' historic domination of the US pop charts.  

The band from Liverpool had the # 1 song on Billboard for 100 days.  It was truly amazing!

The Beatles came back with more hits in 1964 and a movie that summer.  

We remember today that it was Louis Armstrong himself who ended the streak, one of the most amazing streaks in music history.

 Click here for "Hello Dolly", a great song!

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

 

Cinco de Mayo and nachos in Mexico? No, in Texas!

(My new American Thinker post)  

Today we celebrate “Cinco de Mayo” in Dallas, Los Angeles and elsewhere.   Your favorite Mexican restaurant will be all dressed up and ready to serve a delicious round of nachos, enchiladas and beer.    "It sells a lot  of beer" as my Filipino friend who owns a Mexican restaurant likes to boast.  He doesn't really know anything about "Cinco de Mayo" but the sound of the register makes him happy.  

So what’s the big deal about “Cinco de Mayo”?  Why is everyone so happy and festive?

Allan Wall, who lived in Mexico, wrote a good summary for those of us who are not Mexican or studied Mexican history in school.   

Here it is so read it before your beer & nachos:     

Cinco de Mayo, Spanish for “May the 5th,” is the holiday celebrating the Mexican victory over the French army on May the 5th, 1862, at Puebla, east of Mexico City.

The city of Puebla holds a big annual celebration on the anniversary of the battle. But in most of Mexico, Cinco de Mayo is not really an important holiday. It’s mostly a bank holiday and a day off from school. But this year it’s on a Saturday so my students don’t even get a break for it!

In the United States however, Cinco de Mayo has become, in recent years, the major Mexican – American celebration. Throughout the Southwest, and in other parts of the U.S., there are various Cinco de Mayo celebrations – parades, mariachi music performances, and exhibitions of Mexican dancing, etc.

Washington D.C. has an annual Cinco de Mayo Festival and President Bush is known for Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the White House. Cinco de Mayo is also a big beer-drinking day, with Mexican beer brands doing 5-10% of their U.S. sales for the occasion.

“Cinco de Mayo” means "Fifth of May".

In the U.S., especially in the Southwest, “Cinco de Mayo” has turned into a day of celebrating Mexican heritage.  

Down in Mexico, “Cinco de Mayo” is about a battle around Puebla, or south of Mexico City.  Up here,  it is one big excuse for taking a longer lunch.

So another "Cinco de Mayo" is here.  Up here, we will eat some good Mexican food.  

Down in Mexico, they will ask again:  "Why are those gringos suddenly so crazy about Mexican food"?

Enjoy your Mexican food.  We all need an hour off from inflation, gas prices and leaks.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

Pass ‘la cerveza’ and here is a little history of ‘Cinco de Mayo’

(My new American Thinker post)

You probably saw a lot of celebrations around the theme of “Cinco de Mayo” in Dallas and elsewhere. Count me in. I love the day because there is Mexican food all over town as well as those little girls dancing in their traditional dresses.     

This is what real diversity is. In other words, Americans celebrating their ethnic origins.   

So what’s the big deal about “Cinco de Mayo”? What do we have these parties?

Allan Wall has a good summary for those of us who are not Mexican or studied Mexican history in school:

“Cinco de Mayo, literally “May the 5th,” is the holiday celebrating the Mexican victory over the French army on May the 5th, 1862, at Puebla, east of Mexico City.”

In the U.S., specially in the Southwest, “Cinco de Mayo” has turned into a Mexican version of St. Patrick’s Day in Boston, Columbus Day in New York or Polish Day in Chicago.     

“Cinco de Mayo” is a Mexican-American celebration. Every year, our parades have gotten bigger and bigger. 

As Mr. Wall writes, “Cinco de Mayo” is a very good day for local retail merchants :

“Cinco de Mayo is also a big beer-drinking day, with Mexican beer brands doing 5-10 percent of their U.S. sales for the occasion.”

So pass the beer, the chips and those wonderful enchiladas. I’ll catch the Rangers in Toronto and tell my friends again that “Cinco de Mayo” is not Mexico’s July 4th! “Cinco de Mayo” is just a fun day to eat Mexican food!

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.