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.
Thursday’s Theme Music
Aretha Franklin is a treasure, a galvanizing, energetic vocalist. She brings it, baby.
Her song, “Who’s Zoomin’ Who?” has been zooming through my streams of being today. I like this song’s sly lyrics, and the implications that someone else thinks they’re in control, but their game is exposed, and they’re the ones being played.
The music has that techno-disco vibe that I don’t really enjoy, but I like Aretha’s voice and delivery. I also enjoyed the song, “Freeway of Love” from the same album.
But “Who’s Zoomin’ Who?” is the one stuck in my head this morning, so here it is.
Wednesday’s Theme Music
Ever get a craving, and the craving stays with you, getting larger and more intense, demanding that you address it? I have one of those going on right now. It’s all about cheeseburgers.
Love a good cheeseburger. The ones that Miss Lee made in Osan City were pretty good for a dollar, when you’ve been out on the town and are heading back to the base to crash. Better were the ones we had at the original Fuddruckers. My grandmother was visiting, and we decided to take her. Once we got there, we were a bit hesitant because the place looked like a dive. But Grandma insisted, so we ate there, even though the burgers were pricier than what we were used to. They were revealed to be amazing burgers.
Next on my list of burgers that I enjoyed was at a place called Clark’s Mountain Broiler in Mountain View, California. They were most excellent. At almost three hundred miles, it’s a little far to drive for one today. So is the In ‘n Out Burger in Medford. Besides that, the lines there are ridiculous. If I were to drive to get a burger, I’d probably go to the Next Level Burger in Bend. The drive is shorter, easier, and more relaxing than the one to Clarke’s. NLB’s burger is plant-based, but it’s astonishingly good, and their fries were awesome.
But I’m not driving for a burger. Louie’s in downtown Ashland has a good burger, as does Flips, both of which can be changed into a cheeseburger (it’s almost magic!). That craving, though, drives me to share a song that’s been rolling around in my head for the last few days.
Hit it, Jimmy.
Tuesday’s Theme Music
Ah, these words:
And she was lying in the grass
And she could hear the highway breathing
And she could see a nearby factory
She’s making sure she is not dreaming
See the lights of a neighbor’s house
Now she’s starting to rise
Take a minute to concentrate
And she opens up her eyes
The world was moving and she was right there with it (and she was)
The world was moving she was floating above it (and she was) and she was
I find this song, “And She Was” by the Talking Heads to be jubilant and affirming, a terrific song to lift your spirit higher as you’re navigating the day’s whims. Play it loud and sing along. It’s great for dancing, too.
The Lead
To all those politicians, political parties, companies, and organizations who like to shade the truth, cut corners, exercise doublespeak, dismiss ethics and principles, and flat-out lie and cheat, you shouldn’t be surprise if your customers and supporters can no longer be trusted because they do the same thing.
They’re just following your lead.
Today’s Theme Music
1976 was an enjoyable year for the most part. Twenty years old, I celebrated my first year of marriage, and my second year in the U.S. Air Force, and then was sent to Clark Air Base and the 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing in the Philippines on unaccompanied assignment. I ended up listening to a lot of music while reading in my room when I was studying for my promotion, walking around the base, exploring Angelis City, or working. I didn’t have a television, and besides, AFRTS’ offerings were well-meaning but not to my taste.
A friend introduced me to an Irish rock band name Thin Lizzy. She was a big fan of this group that I’d never heard before. One of the songs was “The Boys Are Back in Town,” partly because she incessantly played it, enthusing about the singer’s style. I just liked it because I thought it was a rocking tune.
Sunday’s Theme Music
We attended a show called “Million Dollar Quartet” at the Oregon Cabaret Theater last night. Great show, very lively. I was familiar with the music played but it was all from before my time. Still, it put me in a rock and roll frame of mind while I was walking to my writing today. Lots of songs streamed in, but the one that grabbed me was David Bowie’s “Suffragette City”.
I enjoy how the song cranks up with raucous overtones right from the start. It seems like both a conversation between the singer and others about a woman he’d met but also an internal conversation about a person reflecting on who he is, his sexuality, and where he’s going and doing. There’s a sense of a decision being made at a fork in the road. Most of all, though, it’s a rocking song and easy to sing. Love that hook, “Ahhh, wham, bam, thank you, ma’am.”
Saturday’s Theme Music
It’s a Stevie Ray Vaughn Saturday. He’s one of those performers that I can say, I’ve never heard something that he performed that I didn’t like. His heart and soul were heard in his sound, no matter the venue or song. No matter what he performed, it seemed so electric and amazing, it seemed like he channeled a higher power.
Here’s SRV and Double Trouble with “Cold Shot”, live, 1985.
Friday’s Theme Music
“Champagne Supernova” by Oasis was one of my top twenty songs of 1996. My first year of retirement after the military, I was working Palo Alto for a medical device startup. “Champagne Supernova” resonated with me because the words didn’t always have a cause and effect relationship; I saw the same lack of cause and effect in my life. I was just floating along, and things were happening.
Thursday’s Theme Music
A car passed by as I walked in the wind, drizzle, and sun yesterday. One of the car’s windows were down, and the Bee Gees streamed out:
“You don’t know what it’s like.”
Naturally, my mind completed the song and then put it on a loop and added it to the day’s shuffle. I haven’t heard “To Love Somebody” in a long time. I think the last time was in a movie. It was released in the late sixties, before the Bee Gees became embedded with disco. I liked a lot of Bee Gees music back then. They had some tight harmonies.
So, from my ear worm to yours. Please, enjoy this on your Thursday. Cheers
