Category: pop culture

Friday’s Theme Music

I quite enjoy this group’s first album from when I first heard a song from it. Then, with playing it, it grew to be one of my quiet favorites from the 1980s.

Of course, The Traveling Wilburys members – Jeff Lynne, George Harrison, Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, and Roy Orbison – were musically gifted, established, and well-known. While none of that guarantees success or recognition, it worked out pretty good for them and us with that first album, The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 1. I think I can select any song on that album and sing the words without issue.

For today, I’m going with “End of the Line”.

 

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Thursday’s Theme Music

In a lovely piece of cynicism, my mind looked at the map of Oregon’s wildfires today and the smoky blue sky outside and began channeling Boston’s “Smokin'” from 1976.

I don’t know how I became so cynical. Of course, my mother is cynical, as is my father, so it could be in my genes. Or it could be from all those protests during my formative years in the 1960s, or the corrupting influence of rock and roll. Maybe it was all the reading I did when I was a child, or how the stars were aligned when I was born or conceived, or my years of government service.

I don’t know. Let’s just enjoy the music.

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Tuesday’s Theme Music

The eighties had a lot of music going on. (I know, like, what decade in the last hundred  years hasn’t had a lot of music going on?) One song that popped up in my stream this week is “Your Love” by “The Outfield”.

The song came out in 1986, a few weeks after the Challenger disaster. For some reason, they’re linked in my mind, not in a cause and effect way, but as part of the montage of existence and life that was taking place when the Challenger exploded.

After hearing “Your Love” a few times, I bought their CD, Play Deep. It didn’t really take me anywhere, though, and was relegated to storage in the CD drawers.

I still like this song, though. The vocal style reminds me of the Australian rock band, Men At Work. “Your Love” is a decent song for streaming while walking along hot city streets.

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Monday’s Theme Music

Ah, today I find myself streaming Pat Benatar’s “Invincible” from 1985.

It’s a do or die situation – we will be invincible.
This shattered dream you cannot justify.
We’re gonna scream until we’re satisfied.
What are we running for? We’ve got the right to be angry.
What are we running for when there’s nowhere we can run to anymore?
We can’t afford to be innocent
stand up and face the enemy.
It’s a do or die situation – we will be invincible.
And with the power of conviction there is no sacrifice.
It’s a do or die situation – we will be invincible.

h/t to azlyrics.com

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Another Joan Said

I understand this feeling. Why, then, do I feel responsible for the quality of the words?

Well, because I’m the filter. The vision and story is being told, seen, and experienced as the muse guides me, but I ultimately flutter over the words, periods, commas, and all the other elements that writers must endure to get the story out.

 

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Sunday’s Theme Music

I like this song, “New Rules”, by Dua Lipa. I like the beat, the embedded humor, relationship observations, and the overall message. It’s a good streaming song when for when I’m out and about walking. (Though, in a mental pause, I think, isn’t that redundant? Can I be in walking? So trite.)

One, don’t pick up the phone
You know he’s only calling ’cause he’s drunk and alone
Two, don’t let him in
You’ll have to kick him out again
Three, don’t be his friend
You know you’re gonna wake up in his bed in the morning
And if you’re under him, you ain’t gettin’ over him

h/t Azlyrics.com

I think they’re damn fine, common sense rules. Not really new, except to her. In a touch of cosmic serendipity, the song was released one year ago today.

 

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Saturday’s Theme Music

 

I fall into the screaming guitar, thundering drums, and driving bass preferences for rock — or rock and roll, what have you. I’m not thinking about or debating the genres and sub-genres, or rock and roll’s changes across the decades. I know that’s all out there. I’m just talkin’ basics about what I like. Yet, words always draw me in. When you get a band that has the first three elements with interesting words and delivery, I buy.

But this song is mostly about the words. It’s a laid-back song, which is fine. Mellow music has its place. The song’s rhythm and tone invite me to kick back and relax. The lyrics, though, have passages that I think, yeah, I could be speaking those words to someone, or someone could be telling them to me.

The song begins,

I used to hurry a lot, I used to worry a lot
I used to stay out till the break of day
Oh, that didn’t get it
It was high time I quit it
I just couldn’t carry on that way

Later, they ask and conclude,

Did you do it for love?
Did you do it for money?
Did you do it for spite?
Did you think you had to, honey?

Who is gonna make it?
We’ll find out in the long run
(In the long run)

h/t to AZLyrics.com

Here is Eagles with “The Long Run” from 1979.

 

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Friday’s Theme Music

On this day, they remind us, Live Aid took place in 1985.

Yes, children, I remember the event, but I believe I didn’t watch it, as I was living in tent city in Egypt as part of Bright Star 85.

In honor of that event, I’m streaming the Boomtown Rats’ “I Don’t Like Mondays”. It’s perfect for Friday, because Monday is always lurking.

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