Category: memories

Sunday’s Theme Music

The usual nut cluster of dreams swept me last night, providing a sea of material to think about. When the dreams ended, I began streaming an eclectic selection of songs. “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer” (G. Thorogood) “Gloria” (by Laura Brannigan), “Wild Horses” (the Rolling Stones), “Will It Go Round In Circles”, Billy Preston, and “Kyrie” by Mr. Mister. But the last song was Bryan Adams, “Summer of ’69”.

Summer of ’69 was a good year for me, a thirteen-year-old white boy living in a middle-class suburban housing plan in Penn Hills, outside of Pittsburgh, Pa. I had a good cotorie of friends, and was playing sports, enjoying school, and meeting girls. Likewise, when the song was released in 1985, I was with a unit I enjoyed. Although I was traveling a lot, the song fit my mood. Released in June, it was a big hit by the time I returned from the field to America a few months later.

The song becomes a unique bridge then, between my early teen years, my early thirties, and now, my early sixties. Let’s rock.

 

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Saturday’s Theme Music

I’m streaming a favorite Led Zeppelin song from a favorite Led Zeppelin album. These lyrics always speak to me, and I enjoy their delivery:

“Walking through the park the other day baby, what d’ya think I saw?”

“I didn’t notice but it had got very dark and I was really, really out of my mind.”

“You really don’t care, if they’re coming. Whoa oh, I know that it’s all a state of mind.”

This was my generation’s music (oh, great, now I’ve started streaming a Who song).

Anyway, here’s a little “Misty Mountain Hop,” from almost half a century ago.

 

 

 

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Friday’s Theme Music

So, yeah, streaming this in my head: “You spin me right round, baby, right round.” That’s something to have going through your head.

I don’t know much about the group who performed it “You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)”. The song came out in 1985. I was traveling a lot in the military. Stationed in South Carolina in America, I traveled from Africa to America to Asia, and back again, dipping down to Florida and Louisiana, up to WV, PA, Illinois, and to New Jersey, and a few other places. When in Asia and America, we were mostly cut off from modern pop culture. This was by the military’s doing, as we were trying to blend in. No uniforms, tee shirts, jeans, ball caps, and sports shoes (or cowboy boots, buckles, and hats), because those were all considered indicators that we were ‘Mericans. Always travel in a group of three, but never more than five. And don’t take the same routes, or travel the same times every day.

Anyway, I ended up with spotty exposure to what was happening in America, with these gaps that were sometimes sixty days long. Sixty days in pop culture? Songs came and went in that period.

First time I saw the video is today. Have to laugh. This song is catchy, though, like electronic popcorn, with easy to learn lyrics, right? It’s stuck in my head today, so, hello? Take it off me, would you? Before I get spun right round again.

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Thursday’s Theme Music

In one of those serendipity moments that I enjoy, I’d started streaming “Le Freak” by Chic yesterday. This was a disco era hit from 1978. It was all washing across the airwaves, so it washed into my brain.

Why was I singing along to the stream in my mind yesterday? Don’t knoaw. But reading this day in history, Studio 54 opened back in 1977. The place was a curiosity. Partiers and the famous and wealthy loved it, but it triggered a meh response in me.

Here is where the serendipity arrives. Chic band members wrote the song “Le Freak” when one of their members (Niles Rodgers) was turned away.

Here’s to the disco era. Let’s freak out!

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Wednesday’s Theme Music

Long hair and suits. That seemed to be part of the transition from blues to rock & pop.

“For Your Love” by the Yardbirds was part of that transition. I like watching this video for these pieces – the suits and hair, the somewhat bored or impassive expressions of the band members, the band’s setup, and what seems like a tiny, tiny drum set. Everything was simpler. This video was from 1965, and within a few years, changes would be visible in how pop/rock stars should dress and act. Fun to have YouTube and the associated technology to look back into the early years of the rock era.

 

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Tuesday’s Theme Music

A good friend of mine used to proclaim Tears for Fear’s “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” as the BEST SONG EVER. I’m always hesitant to declare a song BSE. Music speaks to moods and eras of life for me, just as books and movies do. What any of them depends upon how they fit into my life at the time. I can still use to them stream memories and experiences, though.

I haven’t seen this good friend in over twenty years. He changed, I changed, and we were in the military, and assignments changed. But, hearing this song, there’s his grinning face as he demands, “Turn it up.”

Thinking back on my life, I’m amazed how many songs are attached to moments with specific people.

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Monday’s Theme Music

You ever get on the telephone, listen to ads, or generally engage with sales people, and get the feeling that they have music going through their head, and that music is some variation of “Money (That’s What I Want)”? Seems like a large proportion of the world’s population is has this theme song going.

It ended up streaming into my head this morning after reading the news (I read the news today, oh, boy). After a little thought, I went with the Beatle’s version because I’m most familiar with it.

Look back on a little Beatlemania in this clip, or, if you’re too young to know what I’m talking about, view it for the first time.

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Sunday’s Theme Song

I heard “I’m A Man” by the Spencer Davis Group, but the Chicago cover (when the band’s name was still Chicago Transit Authority) is my preferred version. I have a fond memory of being sixteen. I was at a friend’s place with several others. We had the lights low, and were smoking some grass, drinking beer, and listening to “I’m A Man” cranked up. That opening bass begins, and then drums rise and other instruments join and build tension.

Ah, fond memory.

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Saturday’s Theme Music

This was another song (aren’t many of them?) that prompted me to ask, “What are they singing?” This was P.I. (Pre-Internet), when the means of learning a song’s lyrics were more challenging today. (Cue old curmudgeon mode: “These kids today don’t know how good they have it,” except, of course, worries about getting shot in school, or being black and stopped by police.)

Sorry for the detour. When I heard Tool’s song, “Sober”, in 1992, I could clearly make out some lyrics. Others made little sense. Then, when I finally learned them all, I confirmed, the phrases and words aren’t necessarily the logical poetry of seeing a flower or a tree, or being a cloud. The person in the song was angry, frustrated, and confused, trying to understand themselves and why they do things, and sometimes asking for help to overcome their urges and needs. These are things many people face, but can’t fully articulate. This song, backed up by sharp, bitter guitar notes, expresses it better than most people can.

Powerful song. Not much for dancing, mind you.

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Friday’s Theme Music

Watching Bernadette Peters in Mozart in the Jungle reminded me of the movie she did with Clint Eastwood, Pink Cadillac. I never thought much of that movie. It seemed to drag and was straightforward, without much comedy or thought. But, my synapses also linked up to a song, “Pink Cadillac” by Bruce Springsteen. Released in 1984, the song echos with a beat and sound from decades before, with a quasi Peter Gunn feel. I like it. A good song to stream while walking through a day trying to find spring.

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