Super Swift Bowl MMLIXVIIIIII

Being the only essayist in North America to not write about Taylor Swift and her role in this year’s Super Bowl is something to which I’ve not aspired. I take my role seriously and I knew that it was incumbent of me to listen to some of her music before I could write authoritatively about it. Besides, I didn’t want to be unhip—especially in the eyes of Swifties. I had assumed that a Swiftie was a floor-cleaning product until I was told differently. I did, at least, then listen to a few examples of the pop diva’s music.

Call me WOKE. (Actually, please don’t.)

I grew up listening to the pop singers that my father liked. That’s because we only had one record player and it was his. It turned out okay because my dad liked listening to Rosemary Clooney and Peggy Lee, Jo Stafford and Dinah Washington. I didn’t mind them at all, especially Ms. Washington. In a remarkable twist of fate, those singers outlasted their pop origins, being replaced by a new breed of music called rock ‘n’ roll. Many of the old pop singers, excluding those who went the way of singing novelty numbers, became jazz and/or blues singers.

That was not a sudden transformation. The music changed less than it was the naming of a new category. Those singers mentioned above joined the ranks of jazz singers that included Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan, Carmen McRae and Betty Carter. A generation later came Dee Dee Bridgewater and Diana Kral, Dianne Reeves and Diane Schuur.

If Miss Swift belongs to a cadre of currently popular singers I don’t know who they are.

Relying on my musical upbringing, I was prepared to not like Miss Swift. While I can assure you that I won’t be buying any of her eleven records any time soon, I can admit to recognizing a certain sense of musicality and professionalism in her work. I’m not fond of the “techno” sound she uses, and I’ll admit to having some trouble understanding all the lyrics. It’s rhythmically moving and there seems to be a certain urgency to it. It’s been noted that the singer/songwriter who started out as a country singer excels with a brand of music with pop and rock styles such as “heartland rock, dubstep and dance-pop,” whatever those are.

Following the script of American Bandstand, “It’s got a good beat and you can dance to it. I’ll give it an 82.”

Millions of listeners around the world love her music—live and on record—and have ponied up enough cash to make the 34-year-old Miss Swift’s worth an estimated $1.3 billion. Her various social networking sites have 600 million followers. She is a one-woman industry that is an actual player in the U.S. economy. On the side, she dabbles in real estate, flipping mansions like a diner cook flips pancakes.

And here’s what’s really cool about her: she seems unable to give her money away fast enough.

OMG! I think she’s a socialist.

Many of those poor and hungry people are benefiting from her charity and, in the process, are being registered to vote.

As if that’s not threatening enough, they’re being encouraged to vote for Joe Biden. And who’s being threatened? Trumpers!

Today is Super Bowl MMLIXVIIIIII and the Kansas City Chiefs will face the San Francisco 49ers in a 60-minute contest coming toward the end of a week-long celebration in Las Vegas. The average ticket price is in the neighborhood of $9,000 and there is a serious parking problem for private jets at McCarran International Airport.

Until a couple of weeks ago, the Trumpers were pretty much fans of KC. But as the truth about Taylor Swift emerged (she’s dating Travis Kelce), the Trumpers were faced with an existential threat to their own red necks and their over-sized pickup trucks. Bud Light was already off the table and now the under-educated were faced with supporting a team whose hometown is credited with being decidedly pro-LGBTQ+. And therein lies the dilemma. How could one possibly side with a bunch of Swifties? And how could one possibly side with a bunch of the socially apt lesbians, gays, et al?

I’m a lifelong Bears fan, which is only marginally better than being a lifelong Cubs fan. By the end of the fifth or sixth game of the season, the Bears are typically out of the running. I had a backup team, the Seattle Seahawks, until they dumped Russell Wilson. My next backup was the Chiefs, although I do wish they would find a non-indigenous name. I like Kansas City. It has great barbecue and a museum telling the story of the Negro Leagues. It was also home to Charlie “Bird” Parker and Count Basie.

But beyond KC’s obvious attributes is that their biggest fan is Taylor Swift. She’s a pretty woman whose heart and mind are in very good places. She and the tight end Kelce are a handsome couple, and they seem to share a sense of philanthropy. Kelce runs a pair of charities that focus on education.

And her value to the Chiefs is unbelievable as she has, through her mere attendance at their games (and dating Kelce), added more than $331.5 million in value to the franchise’s brand. More than 5 million women have joined the team’s fanbase.

I’m too old to be a Swifty, but I sure admire her for all she’s done.

Enjoy the game. Go Chiefs!

Photo illustration by Courtney A. Liska

Kansas City Pork Ribs

2 racks baby back pork ribs
Kansas City Style BBQ Sauce
Kansas City Style Dry Rub

Remove the membrane from the back of the rack, and trim the pork ribs of any excess fat. Rub each rack liberally with the rub on both sides. Wrap ribs in foil or large container and refrigerate over night (optional, minimum 2 hours).
Remove the ribs from the fridge and allow to come to room temperature.

Heat oven to 300°F.
Place the ribs, bone side down, on top of a wire rack set in an aluminum foil lined baking tray and bake for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Halfway through cooking, cover ribs with aluminum foil to protect them from drying out.
In the last 1/2 hour of baking, baste the top of each rack with the barbecue sauce, re-cover with foil, and finish cooking. At this point they should be tender enough to pull apart with your fingers. The ribs should have an internal temperature of 195°F. Allow to rest 5-10 minutes prior to cutting.