Assorted Behind the Musicks.

So this is what they meant by "Champagne Supernova."

For 6 years, the author of "Amazing Grace," John Newton, was a slave trader. Casual or intentional disinformation suggests he quit the slaving gig and then afterward wrote the song about his redemption. But it actually happened the other way around: he got into the Brown Sugar game after his religious awakening.

Speaking of cold english blood running hot, doesn't it seem awfully cold-blooded that "Rule Britannia," with its famous chorus: Rule, Britannia, rule the waves; Britons never will be slaves, was written during the height of the slave trade?

And lest this seem a slam on all things musically Brit, we here in the colonies have our own insane King George. Sing it George.