AUDIO: U.S. FOLKSINGER TO BRING DOWN ISIS WITH SONG
An Oregon folk singer plans to leave next week to sing to the Islamic State, bringing them a message of peace. James Twyman, of Portlandia— I mean, Portland, Oregon, says he feels a “calling” and believes he can soften the hearts of the Islamist army – the same one known for beheading Westerners, throwing gays off of buildings and executing innocent women and children. Twyman leaves January 20 for Israel. From there, he will then cross over the northern border shared with Syria to a small Druze village. While that village, Majdal Shams, is occupied by Israel, Twyman said he has contacts there trying to set up a venue in ISIS-controlled territory. Either way, the show is set for Jan. 31. Twyman said he will be joined by a large group of Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders. “Each one will lead the group in prayer from their religion,” he said. “It’s going to be pretty powerful. When people come together and focus on something in a positive way … there’s scientific evidence that it can change things for the better.” The man who calls himself a “Peace Troubadour” has performed in Baghdad in the late 1990s after Operation Desert Storm; in Bosnia and Croatia during the Balkan War in 1995 and has even performed previously in Syria to spread his message of peace through song.
* And look how well that worked out.
* He also wants to buy the world a Coke. (See sound bite. You could introduce it as “Here’s a clip of the guy’s song …”)
* Like they say in the pizza commercial, “Whaddaya want on your Tombstone?”
* I just hope he has someone back in Portland to look after his cat, long-term.
* Well, it could work. There’s always a chance. Which reminds me, I need to go buy a Powerball ticket after the show.
* If you want a singer to drive ISIS back to their caves, send over Bieber.
* Uh oh. Musicians could have predicted this. Now his girlfriend wants to sing backup.
* Maybe even play a little tambourine.
* We’re sending a folk singer? Look, they’re already mad enough at us.
* Ahh, what the heck. Nothing else is working. It’s worth a shot.
CLIP: The hyper-idealistic hyper-schmatltzy 1971 “I Want to Buy the World a Coke” commercial (which was resurrected to serve as the finale of “Mad Men”.)
