Multimedia manager Daniel Buckley
The song is on a collection of various artists called “Conjure” – a jazz setting of poetry by Ishmael Reed. The tune is titled “Dualism 1.” The words (sung by Taj Mahal) are:
“I am outside of history.
I wish I had some peanuts.
It looks lonely there in its cage.”
After the instrumental break it returns with:
“I am inside of history.
It’s hungrier than I thought.”
I pick this song because history has just swallowed the Citizen whole.
Book reviewer Larry Cox
It would have to be “Thanks for the Memories,” originally introduced by Shirley Ross and Bob Hope in the 1937 Paramount film, “Big Broadcast of 1938.” The song is wistful and a little sad, exactly how I feel as we get nearer to the final edition of The Tucson Citizen. A close second comes to mind after reading some of the nutty, over-the-top, hateful comments posted by some of our readers on the paper’s Web site: Bessie Smith’s “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out.”
Features editor Teresa Truelsen
I would dedicate “Closing Time” by Semisonic. Not only is its sentiment appropriate, but it reminds me of happier times at the Citizen, when former sports editor Peter Madrid would sing the one line – incessantly – early in the morning.
Arts writer Chuck Graham
This is a sad one to write, after working 35 years at the Tucson Citizen, but only one song keeps coming to mind. That would be Bob Hope singing “Thanks for the Memories.”
Reporter Ryn Gargulinski
I am in a bubble
I am in a bubble
I am in a bubble
A bubble
Covers
Me.
“The Bubble Song” (2009) by Ryn Gargulinski
Copy editor Rose-Mary Grzasko
This dedication goes out to my comrades in print journalism as we follow the path of the dinosaur (many of us became such during our years at the Citizen): “Time of Your Life” by Green Day.
“For what it’s worth,
It was worth all the while” . . .
“I hope you had the time of your life.”
I know I did!
Events coordinator Elsa Nidia Barrett
The first song that came to my mind is the ’80s rock song, “Another One Bites the Dust” by Queen. But the more I thought about it and dozens of endearing memories (about growing up at the Citizen) flooded my head, I could think of only one melody: Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U.”
“But/ nothing/ I said nothing can take away these blues/ Cause nothing compares/ Nothing compares 2 U.”
Online content editor Mike Truelsen
“Still Be Around” by Uncle Tupelo
It’s about loyalty and dedication and coming out the other side of tragedy/addiction and hoping someone is there when you do.
“If I break in two, will you put me back together?
When this puzzle’s figured out, will you still be around?”
Arts writer Otto Ross
“The Times They are A-Changin’ ” by Bob Dylan
“Come writers and critics
Who prophesize with your pen
And keep your eyes wide
The chance won’t come again
And don’t speak too soon
For the wheel’s still in spin
And there’s no tellin’ who
That it’s namin’.
For the loser now
Will be later to win
For the times they are a-changin’.”
Cartoonist Arnie Bermudez
“Where the Birds Always Sing” by The Cure
“The world is neither fair nor unfair
The idea is just a way for us to understand
No the world is neither fair nor unfair
So some survive
And others die
And you always want a reason why”
Copy editor Dave Petruska
I’ll go with The Beatles’ “Good Night.” I probably would have picked Billy Joel’s “This is the Time to Remember” if it hadn’t been used for the Lute Olson farewell.
Online editor Dylan Smith
Joe Jackson’s “Sunday Papers”
“Sunday papers don’t ask no questions
Sunday papers don’t get no lies
Sunday papers don’t raise objection
Sunday papers don’t got no eyes”
Metro columnist Anne T. Denogean
“Another One Bites The Dust” by
Queen
Reporter B. Poole
Sheryl Crow’s “Can’t Cry Anymore”
“It’s never ending
It could be worse
I could’ve missed my calling
Sometimes it hurts
But when you read the writing on the wall
Can’t cry anymore”
And too much time I’ve been spending
With my heart in my hands
Waiting for time to come and mend it
I can’t cry anymore”
Voices editor Paul Schwalbach
Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Gordon Lightfoot and “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald”
“That good ship and true was a bone to be chewed.” Sounds like us.
And really, for the whole f—— song. As nauseatingly hypersentimental as it is, on our last day, it will be fitting. “Fellas it’s been good to know ya.”
Reporter Heidi Rowley
“Ticket to Ride” by The Beatles or “Unbreak my Heart” by Toni Braxton
Reporter Alan Fischer
Joey Ramone, from a goodbye album he wrote and made while dying of cancer. The title song is “Don’t Worry About Me.”
“Ahh nothing lasts forever
And nothing stays the same
Feeling numb all over
And totally deranged
When you finally make your mind up
I´ll be buried in my grave
You don´t know what you want
You don´t know what you need
You don´t know what you want but you want it”
Information specialist Mary Watt
David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.” I feel like the astronaut out in space without a lifeline, with a circuit that’s gone dead.
“Here am I floating round my tin can, far above the moon, Planet Earth is blue and there’s nothing I can do.”
Designer Jan Todd
“Sounds of Silence” by Simon & Garfunkel
Former features editor Dina L. Doolen
As corny as it may sound, my dedication song to the Citizen would be “We Are Family” by Sister Sledge. In my 11 years working at the Citizen, that’s exactly how I felt. We were family, warts and all, and when adversity hit, supervisors and peers insisted that our real families came before the Citizen. Also, if the song was good enough for baseball great Willie Stargell and the Pittsburg Pirates, it’s good enough for the Citizen. Best wishes to all.
Designer Jen Lum
It’s too easy to be cynical about everything that’s happened, so instead I’ll dedicate my favorite ode to an ended relationship, “You and I Both” by Jason Mraz.
“You and I both loved
What you and I spoke of
And others just read of
Others only read of the love, the love that I love.”
I’ve never been able to accurately describe to nonnewspaper people just how much I’ve loved my job and the people I work with. I will miss the Citizen dearly. Thanks for a great run.
Calendar editor Rogelio Yubeta Olivas
After getting ridiculed by my co-workers for my first two picks (“My Heart Will Go On” by Celine Dion and “Wind Beneath My Wings” by Bette Midler), I’ll go with Charanga Cakewalk’s “Tu y Yo (You and I.” The love song not only adds some Latin spice to the Citizen playlist, it truly describes how I feel about the paper. It’s about two lovers who are linked forever.