SOTD - Night Flight by Led Zeppelin

This song is for one of the greatest friends you could ever ask for. Happy Birthday, Will! --Nick

Wikipedia:
"Night Flight" is a song by English rock band Led Zeppelin from their 1975 album Physical Graffiti. Originally recorded at Headley Grange in 1971, it was intended for Led Zeppelin IV but was held over and placed on Physical Graffiti to fill up the double album.

It was written largely by bassist John Paul Jones, who is listed first on the writing credits. Guitarist Jimmy Page played his guitar through a Leslie speaker for this track. A somewhat lyrically ambiguous song, singer Robert Plant recounts the tale of a young man attempting to evade the military draft. A different version was also recorded which included extra backing vocals.

The song was never performed live at Led Zeppelin concerts. However, bootleg recordings exist of the band performing the song during a soundcheck at the Chicago Stadium on 6 July 1973, which took place during Led Zeppelin's 1973 North American tour.

Me and Micah

SOTD - Shady Lane by Pavement (1997)

Wikipedia: "Shady Lane" is a song by Pavement that appears on the band's album Brighten the Corners. It was also released as a two-part single and as an EP, which collects the B-sides from both the British singles. The single was accompanied by a promotional video directed by Spike Jonze. "Shady Lane" would become a top 40 hit in the UK for the band.

Nick: This is my favorite Pavement song, although "Cut Your Hair" is a close second.

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SOTD - My Humps by Black Eyed Peas (2005)

Wikipedia: "My Humps" is the third single from The Black Eyed Peas' fourth album, Monkey Business. It samples a section of the song "I Need a Freak" by Sexual Harassment as well as the 1989 song "Wild Thing" by Tone Lōc. Released in 2005, it reached number three in the U.S., becoming the Black Eyed Peas' third top ten single in the U.S. The single also reached number three on the UK Singles Chart, their sixth top ten single on the chart. The song was not initially released as a single; "Don't Lie" was intended to be the lead-off release for the album. The song won the 2007 Grammy Award for "Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal". On an interview with ITV1 show This Morning in the UK, will.i.am claims that he originally wrote the song for the Pussycat Dolls. will.i.am wrote 'My Humps' in just 5 minutes as he saw a pretty lady while he was having something to eat.

Nick: Sorry, I'm in a weird mood, and yes, I know it was ranked first in the list of 20 most annoying songs in a Rolling Stone poll. I don't care. This is the song of the day.

SOTD - Disco 2000 by Pulp (1995)

Wikipedia: "Disco 2000" is a hit single by British band Pulp. It is the third one from their album Different Class, following #2 hits "Common People" and the double A-side "Mis-Shapes"/"Sorted for E's & Wizz".

The song tells the story of a narrator falling for a childhood friend, called 'Deborah', who is more popular than he and wondering what it would be like to meet again in the year 2000, rendering it thematically consistent with the album title, "Different Class". It is believed that the fountain referred to as the meeting place was Goodwin Fountain, located on Fargate, in Sheffield city centre. The song is also thought to be influenced by Laura Branigan's 1980s hit Gloria. This song peaked in the UK at #7.

Nick: When I hear this song, it just makes everything alright.

SOTD - Holy Diver - Dio (1983)

"Holy Diver" is the first single released by heavy metal band Dio, appearing on the the band's 1983 LP, Holy Diver. Although it only reached #40 on the charts, it is one of Dio's most popular songs.

In 2009 it was named the 43rd best hard rock song of all time by VH1.

Nick: Personally, I think Ronnie James Dio is flippin' awesome, and this song simply rocks.

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Key to the City

AMP/PNCA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

In the hopes of supporting youth in the pursuit of art, AMP has created a summer scholarship fund for youth who are interested in attending college. This year we have selected two youth who are first generation College students who come from low income backgrounds.

The Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, Oregon offers a summer pre-college program for high school juniors and seniors to experience one month of intensive art studies. Students hone their practice in perspective, point of view, composition and structure and choose a focus in digital photography, fine art, design and illustration or the graphic novel. From this work, students will create compelling portfolios in preparation for college applications. The 2009 summer program will run from July 13 – August 7, 2009, for a total of four weeks

Tuition per student is $2838 with three hours of elective college credit and $2145 without credit. Dormitory style housing is $1495 and includes breakfast and dinner, no lunch.

The two extremely talented youth who applied, to the PNCA pre-college program, have had their portfolios ranked in the top 25% of all applicants by the PNCA reviewers. These students were ranked in the top 25% of all students that applied nationally, this is not just a local summer program, and they are competing for space from students all over the US. This is particularly inspiring considering that Alpha High School (the local school these youth attend) is a small school with no art teacher or designated art curriculum. The work that these two students have submitted was created on their own time, with their own supplies and materials.

Additionally, one of these students works over 30 hours a week outside of school to help support his family, and the other daily obligates himself to care-taking for his nieces, nephews and younger siblings, a huge commitment for any teenager.

Both of them have stated, firmly, that ART SAVES THEM. It’s not something that they live to do; it’s something that they do to live. It has helped set them apart from the realities of gangs and drug dealing which they’ve grown up around and has been an avenue for them to connect with people from different walks of life with art as their common bond.

These two students deserve the chance, not only because of their talent and passion for art, but because it is an opportunity to bring two incredibly mature, talented, and intelligent young men into the folds of an education that is fiscally out of their reach and broaden the horizons of those who will interact with them.

These students have turned their academic life around at Alpha High School, their attendance is strong and their grades are consistently high, something unknown to them before arriving here. One of them was requested to stay at Outdoor School for an additional week because his leadership skills are so valuable and the other has achieved a 4.0, is on the honor roll, and has been recognized by the school for his excellent work ethic on job sites and perfect attendance.

These young men deserve a fighting chance for success in their futures and the opportunity to create strong portfolios during the summer to help ignite their inspiration and increase their chances at attaining scholarships for post-secondary education after they graduate from Alpha.

They are hard working, critically thinking, motivated young men. They applied for the pre-college program and scholarship without knowing how much the scholarship would award and hoped for the best.

PNCA has contacted Alpha High School to let us know how much they want to include these two students in their program. Their life experiences, their talents and their diversity (both students are Hispanic) will add to their program. However, PNCA cannot offer full scholarships to both students and are hopeful that we are able to locate the means to make this dream a reality.

I deeply urge you to consider opening a funding pathway for these two students, we will all be remiss should this opportunity pass.

to donate go to www.amprocks.org and help to change a life forever.


William Kendall
AMP coordinator.