Do you ever let your email really pile up? I mean, REALLY. Like over 500 messages. Yes, I admit it! I get so much promotional email. It's not SPAM; I probably checked a box saying I wanted to sign up for emails on every site I used to order Christmas gifts. And everyone knows when you click "unsubscribe," it might take you off the mailing list in a month or two. I went to work and whittled mine down under 250, clicking on each and every one of them and deleting them. And only then did I figure out how to get rid of all of my unread, old messages in one click. Yeah. I'm not feeling too smart right now. But at least I have a clean slate.
You know that silver foil lining that comes on medications? Is anyone else particular about getting ALL of it off before using the medication? Yeah, me, neither!
Does anyone else remember WHY we have those foil seals (or other types of barriers)? In 1982, some numbskull (they never caught the criminal) laced Tylenol capsules with cyanide.
This crisis resulted in the deaths of at least 7 people and fear across the entire nation, not to mention a severe drop in Tylenol sales. Other results included the introduction of the easy-to-swallow "caplet" rather than a capsule, and the Tylenol bill which made tampering with consumer products a federal offense. By 1989, all manufacturers were required to have tamper resistant packaging. So as annoying as it is to get every little piece of it peeled off, I'm glad it's there!
Funnies!
I feel like mine would look like this if all combined!
Haha!
Even when I haven't been away, my cat leads me straight to it!
I just love "punny" jokes!
Well, if I'm dead, I won't be able to pay for fine!
This is sooo me!!! And here's a song I can totally own (on the words I actually know)!
Obviously, I have heard all of these songs, but if I were to choose the ones I like the most it would be numbers 4 and 11, I can't decide which. What about you? Are any of these your fave or can you think of more?
I never realized how many songs my daughter has to select for her wedding! I've suggested keeping the processional simple and classical. Think "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring," "Ode to Joy," "Canon in D," and so on. However, they need a song for the recessional, a song for their grand entrance, one for first dance as Mr. and Mrs., dad/daughter, mom/son, cake-cutting, flower toss, garter toss, grand exit. Whew! It's so hard to choose, so I made a list of some ideas for my daughter.
A long long time ago I can still remember how That music used to make me smile And I knew if I had my chance That I could make those people dance And maybe they'd be happy for a while...
You probably recognize the lyrics above: American Pie (1971) by Don McLean. I love this song! There has always been some disagreement over what the lyrics mean, and Don McLean wasn't too keen to clear up the mysteries, but in 2015, his original manuscript was up for auction at Christie's, so he gave a little information in an interview to promote the auction. The manuscript sold for $1,205,000!
The Manuscript
The song also made a 26 year old McLean famous quickly.
But February made me shiver With every paper I'd deliver Bad news on the doorstep I couldn't take one more step 1. McLean was actually a paper boy who was on the job the
day the music died.
I can't remember if I cried When I read about his widowed bride Something touched me deep inside The day the music died
2. This, obviously refers to the deaths of Buddy
Holly (age 22), Richie Valens (age 17), and the Big Bopper (JP Richardson) in a
plane crash on February 3, 1959. Waylon Jennings, a member of Holly's band, had given up his
seat to Richardson who was ill at the time.
3. McLean believed the music industry started heading
in the wrong direction after this. "There is no poetry and very
little romance in anything anymore," he said.
So bye-bye, miss american pie.
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Singin', "this'll be the day that I die.
"this'll be the day that I die."
Did you write the book of love,
And do you have faith in God above,
If the Bible tells you so?
Do you believe in rock 'n roll,
Can music save your mortal soul,
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Well, I know that you're in love with him
`cause I saw you dancin' in the gym.
You both kicked off your shoes.
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues.
I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck,
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the music died.
I started singin',
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
And singin', "this'll be the day that I die.
"this'll be the day that I die."
Now for ten years we've been on our own
And moss grows fat on a rollin' stone,
But that's not how it used to be.
When the jester sang for the king and queen,
In a coat he borrowed from james dean
And a voice that came from you and me,
4. The line "moss grows fat on a
rolling stone" likely refers to the tight outfit Mick Jagger wore at a
show that
displayed
a roll of belly fat.
Oh, and while the king was looking down,
The jester stole his thorny crown.
The courtroom was adjourned;
No verdict was returned.
And while lennon (lenin?) read a book of marx,
The quartet practiced in the park,
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died.
5. The King refers to
Elvis Presley.
6. The Quartet likely refers to the
Beatles.
The dirges in the
dark refers to the 1960's peace marches.
We were singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
And singin', "this'll be the day that I die.
"this'll be the day that I die."
Helter skelter in a summer swelter.
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter,
Eight miles high and falling fast.
It landed foul on the grass.
The players tried for a forward pass,
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast.
7. Helter Skelter refers to the Charles
Manson murders.
Eight
miles high and falling fast refers to the Byrds' popular song "Eight Miles
High."
8. The jester here is
Bob Dylan.
Now the half-time air was sweet perfume
While the sergeants played a marching tune.
We all got up to dance,
Oh, but we never got the chance!
`cause the players tried to take the field;
The marching band refused to yield.
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died?
9. While sergeants
played a marching tune likely refers to the Beatles' "Sergeant Pepper's
Lonely Hearts Club Band."
10.. From "We all
got up to dance" to "the marching band refused to yield" refers
to the huge numbers of young people that went to Chicago in 1968 for the
Democratic National Convention thinking they would be able to take part, but
the Chicago police did not allow them to.
We started singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
And singin', "this'll be the day that I die.
"this'll be the day that I die."
Oh, and there we were all in one place,
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again.
So come on: jack be nimble, jack be quick!
Jack flash sat on a candlestick
Cause fire is the devil's only friend.
11. Jack Flash refers
to the Rolling Stones.
Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage.
No angel born in hell
Could break that satan's spell.
And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite,
I saw satan laughing with delight
The day the music died
He was singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
And singin', "this'll be the day that I die.
"this'll be the day that I die."
I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news,
But she just smiled and turned away.
I went down to the sacred store
Where I'd heard the music years before,
But the man there said the music wouldn't play.
And in the streets: the children screamed,
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed.
But not a word was spoken;
The church bells all were broken.
And the three men I admire most:
The father, son, and the holy ghost,
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died.
12. McLean was a
practicing Catholic, thus, the trinity that he admires, but it may also be
another reference to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper.
And they were singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Singin', "this'll be the day that I die.
"this'll be the day that I die."
They were singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die
13. And here is a missing verse that McLean decided not to include in the song: And there I stood alone and afraid I dropped to my knees and there I prayed And I promised him everything I could give If only he would make the music live And he promised it would live once more But this time one would equal four And in five years four had come to mourn and the music was reborn.
The Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts named "American Pie" the “Song of the Century." At 8 minutes 32 seconds, this is the longest song in length to hit #1 on the Hot 100. References: People Magazine Los Angeles Times The Telegraph Songfacts Join in the fun at Thursday Thirteen!
Please visit "A New Paige is Here" and leave an encouraging comment for this new-ish, young blogger. This time, she writes about worship songs that move her. Take a look! Thanks!
Monday, December 23, 2013
My favorite Christmas song!!! So happy and cheerful. Who can hear this and not be happy? No one!
A video in honor of the last day of school. Live from 1972, the year I completed 2nd grade, Seals and Croft (both from TEXAS!) perform their #1 hit Summer Breeze. Makes me feel nice... warm, simple, melancholy, and pure, like things should be. Enjoy!
So, I don’t watch American Idol on a regular basis. I’ve never watched an episode until this season, and then, it was ONLY because my daughter was so into it. Music is just not my favorite thing, unless I can fast –forward through the parts I don’t want to hear. I would actually rather watch a soap opera. (You can laugh if you want to!)
BUT… and this is a big BUT, not like my big butt, but, a big BUT…
I was up late last night watching the finale’ for lack of something better to do. I knew who won, but I wanted to see some of the performances like Judas Priest and Tom Jones (I know, right? What a combination!), and much to my complete and utter surprise, there was Steven Tyler singing “Dream On”, just about the best rock song ever!
Did my daughter bother to tell me about this? Did anyone else even mention that he performed? How could they not tell me? What if I had deleted it from the DVR instead of watching it? Oh. My. Gosh!
He may be 63, but Steven Tyler is still amazing! And, gosh, I love that song! Dream On everyone!
This week I'm posting the top 13 songs (according to Music Outfitters) from the year I graduated high school. Can you guess what year it was? 1. Every Breath You Take, Police 2. Billie Jean, Michael Jackson 3. Flashdance...What A Feeling, Irene Cara 4. Down Under, Men At Work 5. Beat It, Michael Jackson 6. Total Eclipse of the Heart, Bonnie Tyler 7. Maneater, Daryl Hall and John Oates 8. Baby, Come to Me, Patti Austin and James Ingram 9. Maniac, Michael Sembello 10. Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This), Eurythmics 11. Do You Really Want to Hurt Me, Culture Club 12. You and I, Eddie Rabbitt and Crystal Gayle 13. Come On Eileen, Dexy's Midnight Runners This song is sure to make you wanna get up and dance~ Click for more Thursday Thirteen.
Today I'm celebrating the year of my birth... 1965.
Here are the top 13 songs from that year.
I know most of them, but I don't know #6 or #12.
These are some great oldies, but goodies!
1. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction- Rolling Stones 2. Yesterday- Beatles 3. Turn! Turn! Turn! -Byrds 4. I Got You Babe- Sonny & Cher 5. Help-! Beatles 6. Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter- Herman's Hermits 7. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin-' Righteous Brothers 8. Downtown- Petula Clark 9. I Can't Help Myself- Four Tops 10. Help Me Rhonda- Beach Boys 11. Stop! In The Name Of Love -Supremes 12. This Diamond Ring- Gary Lewis & Playboys 13. Get Off Of My Cloud - Rolling Stones
I grew up listening to the Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson. The words to express his impact on the music industry, my own adolescence, my coming of age, pop culture, the world... those words aren't coming to me. So I will leave the verbage to those who can better express it, and I'll leave you with this video, one I believe truly expresses Michael Jackson's philosophy. May he rest in peace.
What was the #1 song on ... - the day you were born? - the day you graduated from high school? - the day you were married? - the day your child was born? (according to Billboard Magazine)
I'm reminded of a ballerina music box that I had when I was little. The song was lovely, but also very melancholy and seemed to invoke sadness. I can't remember the name of the tune it played. "Love Story" or something like that. I don't know what happened to it over the years. It was probably sold in a garage sale, unfortunately. I would have liked to have given it to my daughter. Here's a video of Frank Mills' "Music Box Dancer" which became an international hit in the late 1970's.
Coin flipping as a game was known to the Romans as "navia aut caput" (ship or head), as some coins had a ship on one side and the head of the emperor on the other.
In Italy this game is called Testa o croce. In Spain Cara o cruz. In Catalonia the game is called Cara o Creu (all "head or cross"). In Germany the game is called Kopf oder Zahl ("head or number", because the other side shows the coin's value). In Ireland it is usually called Heads or Harps, since the reverse side of Irish coins (both Euro and the former currency, the Irish punt) always shows a harp. In Brazil, it is called Cara ou Coroa ("face or crown"). On Brazilian coins, one of the sides are called "Cara" (marked with a face); the other side is called "Coroa" (crown, or another symbol).
And I'll leave you with thid video of JoDee Messina singing her hit song live, "Heads Carolina, Tails California."
This week Skittles (our Heads or Tails host) has flipped "heads" with the topic "Direction."
What comes to my mind is the Bob Dylan song "Like a Rolling Stone." These lyrics in the second verse , in particular:
How does it feel?
How does it feel?
To be on your own,
With no direction home,
A complete unknown,
Like a rolling stone.
There are quite a few YouTube videos of this song, but I chose this one because the pictures and the message of the song blend together and strike a poignant chord with me. Here ya, go! And to visit other Heads of Tails, click here.
March 4: TAILS - List 7 things from any category of your choice
7 Songs Guaranteed to make me sing, dance, or both!
1. The Boys are Back in Townby Thin Lizzy- brings back fond memories. Love this song! 2. Scandalous by Miss Teeq - it's got a great beat and it's a sexy song. 3. Love Trainby the O'Jays - who can't help love this upbeat song?
4. We are Familyby Sister Sledge - all about the "sisterhood." great, upbeat song. 5. Mambo #5by Lou Vega - it's got some funky music and a catchy melody. 6. Blinded by the Lightby Mannfred Mann - brings back fond memories, has some unique segments, and it's funny to hear what everyone thinks they're saying and then go look up the actual lyrics. 7. God Blessed Texasby Little Texas - I live in Texas! My daughter marched in a parade to this song when she was 4 years old. And it's a happy tune!
Visit 5 Minutes for Mom, and you could be the winner of a new Insignia Bluetooth MP3 Player. The contest is sponsored by Best Buy. Go on, click. You know you want to!
Friday night I made a video of my daughters playing piano. I uploaded it to YouTube, but I am making a better quality DVD of it for them. The older girl's boyfriend was in the audience, so she was quite nervous and messed up a lot, but I don't think there was one player who didn't have any mistakes. They were great, though. I wouldn't have the courage!
13. Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree 12. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (Mannheim Steamroller Version) 11. Carol of the Bells 10. I’ll be Home for Christmas 9. It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas 8. Mary Did You Know 7. Jingle Bell Rock 6. The Christmas Song 5. Deck the Halls (Mannheim Steamroller version AND my daughter’s piano performance) 4. White Christmas 3. Oh, Holy Night. 2. Santa Claus is Coming to Town (Bruce Springsteen version) 1. Sleigh Ride Instrumental
Here's a video with pretty pictures and animation to the tunes
of Sleigh Ride and Home for the Holidays
Sleigh ride with pretty animations (and home for the holidays)
