Today’s song is actually the cats’ theme music. As I’m reduced to staying at home (see: novel coronavirus news), the cats have employed a shadowing technique. Wherever I’m at, here they come. That brought to my mind (and I’m sure it’s already in the cats’ minds), Blondie’s song – “One Way Or Another” (1979) – about stalking.
Tuesday’s Theme Music
Stumbled down nostalgia lane this morning. Probably a combination of mood, weather, and personal struggles, the sort of thing that sometimes takes most of us. It ended up with a stream of what I used to do and used to be. That invited the 2008 Coldplay song, “Viva La Vida”, into my morning’s mental music stream.
It’s not a dance number but the way the song’s layers build always rouses me. It is at once a contemplative and reflective song about what had been, and a song that reinforces my will about what I will do. Does anyone else experience an effect like that? No? Well, maybe it’s the coffee.
Monday’s Theme Music
I can only imagine the shit so many people face daily. I’m sorely aware of my privilege. I have it pretty fucking good. Don’t need to work, having put my time and life into two moderately successful careers while experiencing good luck and little tragedy.
Others aren’t having it so well. They’re struggling to pay for food and shelter. Many times, they work several jobs; work defines their lives and aspirations. They’re being forced to work for little pay under conditions that the rest of us shun. Yet, we depend on them while looking the other way and pretending all is good.
As data about COVID-19 is gathered and analyzed, and corporations, governments, and faux patriots demand that businesses re-open, that we ‘return to normal’, people must decide, should I stay or should I go? That makes the Clash’s 1981 classic the official theme music for this May Monday during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.
Sunday’s Theme Music
An old but apropos song hit my mental music stream last night. Maybe it was the sunshine and rain. Could be that the green full trees and blossoms cast a spell on me. Probably a combo of that, along with restless mind syndrome, but the weeks of limited movement and near-continuous confinement gave me a jab.
“We gotta get out of this place,” I sang to my wife, remembering the 1964 hit by the Animals. “If it’s the last thing we ever do.”
Here it is. Turn it up. Sing along. “We Gotta Get Out of this Place”. Watch the video. Dig that set.
Midnight Floof
Midnight Floof (floofinition) – Australian floof rock (flock) band (informally referred to as the Floofs) active from 1972 – 2002.
In use: “Midnight Floof had two songs, “Treats are Burning” and “The Floof Heart”, which reached number one in numerous countries.”
Friday’s Theme Music
“Well you don’t know what uh we can find
Why don’t you come with me little girl?
On a magic carpet ride
You don’t know what we can see
Why don’t you tell your dreams to me?
Fantasy will set you free
Close your eyes girl
Look inside girl
h/t to Metrolyrics.com
Yeah, it’s Steppenwolf with “Magic Carpet Ride” (1968). I was a big Steppenwolf fan in those days; “Born to be Wild”, “The Pusher”, “Sookie, Sookie”, and today’s theme music were heard at least once a day in the summer of my twelfth year. Mom was aware enough of them that when an article about the group and John Kay’s escape from the Soviet side of Germany was in the Pittsburgh Press, she brought it to my attention.
It’s come up today because, hey, locked into the house, a magic carpet ride would be mighty fine to do a flyover. Even more, fantasy will set you free. Fiction writing is the fantasy that sets me free. Although my quasi-official writing time is about three hours a day, fiction writers (including me) will tell you that the story and its twists and characters invade every mental recess, influencing (and influenced by) every interaction and activity. It’s an interesting trip.
Enjoy the music. Happy Friday, and happy May 1st. Another month in the books. Persevere and overcome the current adversity, endure, and then prosper.
That is all.
Thursday’s Theme Music
Out in the backyard last night, breathing in the quiet and cool air, looking for stars through the clouds. A cat twined around my legs and then did a tuck and roll, stretching out for a belly rub.
Lyrics from a Smashing Pumpkin song, “Tonight, Tonight” (1996) came to mind. I’d just retired from the military the year before and was in my first civilian position ever as an adult. It was a bit different, and I was questioning myself and my plans back in that era.
And you know you’re never sure
But you’re sure you could be right
If you held yourself up to the light
And the embers never fade
h/t Genius.com
Funny, but I’m still questioning myself and my plans, in this era. ‘Nuff said.
Jefferson Airfloof
Jefferson Airfloof (floofinition) – San Francisco-based floof-rock (flock) band who had multiple platinum albums, well known for their early floofedelic musical style.
In use: “Jefferson Airfloof eventually became Jefferson Starfloof, and then morphed into Starfloof, but many associate the name with their early hits, “Floof Rabbit” and “Somebody to Bite”, both written by Floof Slick.”
Wednesday’s Theme Song
Came across this song last night as I drifted the net. I’m a Nirvana, Grohl, Foo Fighters, AC/DC fan. This Foo Fighters cover of “Let There Be Rock” by AC/DC fills those squares.
The song itself, released back in 1977, with lyrics about the birth of rock, is sillier than I enjoy, but works well for nostalgia and thoughts of back in the day. The Foo Fighters (like always, it seems) does a fine cover. Lovely heavy bass line. I could use more of Chris on lead but the band’s intensity is mesmerizing.
While I’m on about nostalgia, we had a short net outage yesterday, reminding me of what it’s like without the web to offer news, opinion, entertainment, and diversion.
Cheers
Tuesday’s Theme Music
Pearl Jam broke into the morning’s mental music stream (M3S, patent pending) with “Even Flow” (1992), a song about a homeless man. It’s one of the songs that was on my commuting play tape when I was stationed at Onizuka and living in the SF-SJ Bay Area.
The lyrics that started my stream aren’t at the beginning, but the first refrain.
Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies
Oh, he don’t know, so he chases them away
Someday yet, he’ll begin his life again
Life again, life again…
Kneelin’, looking through the paper though he doesn’t know to read, ooh yeah
Oh, prayin’, now to something that has never showed him anything
Oh, feelin’, understands the weather of the winters on its way
Oh, ceilings, few and far between all the legal halls of shame, yeah
h/t AZLyrics.com
I enjoy this live version. They’re pretty faithful to the song but the band’s energy is on full display.
Michael Seidel, writer 