I have a brain fart that the medical community calls an Arnold Chiari Malformation. After decompression surgery in 2006, my brain is learning to coexist peacefully with my spinal cord in the cramped quarters of my spinal canal. With a real hole in my head, I am now free to continue the pursuit of life, liberty, and good coffee -- between headaches, nausea, dizziness, and seizures, of course!
Want to join the Monday's Music Moves Me blog hoppin' fun? Join us by visiting XmasDolly's blog for the links and instructions.
**OOps! It wasn't until I started hopping around other blogs that I saw there was a theme. Don't know how I missed it on XmasDolly's blog, but I did. Sorry, please forgive the newbie. I promise to do better next time, LOL!**
This Monday, it's the music of the Dixie Chicks that's moving me. Call me a radical, call me a liberal, call me a lunatic, just make sure that you call me a fan of the Dixie Chicks and free speech as well. I miss these girls and their awesome voices!
Thanks to Amanda over at Bloggin' with Amanda for keeping this awesome meme alive!
I've blogged about my favorite singer of all time before and have even used a couple of his songs for Musical Monday posts in the past, but today's entry is extra special. You see, Merle Haggard, received special recognition on December 5, 2010 when he became a Kennedy Center Honoree for his musical contributions to the fabric of American society: "The honesty of Merle Haggard’s music and poetic lyrics has helped to shape the world of country music for nearly five decades." It was long, long overdue in my opinion; however, some things are just worth waiting for! It was amazing to see this one time fugitive from Oildale, California, this now 71 year-old man who spent much of his youth in the prisons controlled by the California Youth Authority, and who, while Johnny Cash sang about Folsom Prison, he spent time in it, sitting next to Oprah and President Obama while some of the biggest stars in country music performed his songs at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Merle Haggard sings a lot about tragedies that happen in December. My mom died in December, so I have a special connection to every single one of those songs. And the one I chose for today fits my dad and his girls after our mom one December long ago to the proverbial TEE. I hope that even if you don't like country music, you will see why the song has moved me this Monday.
The Farmer's Daughter Lyrics
Tonight there'll be candlelight and roses In this little country chapel that's almost falling down There'll be tears in this old farmer's eyes this evening When I give my one possession to that city boy from town
His hair is a little longer than we're used to But, I guess I should find something good to say About this man whose won the farmer's daughter And will soon become my son-in-law today
Mama left eight years ago December And it was hard to be a Dad and Mama too But, somehow we made home of this old farmhouse And love was all my baby ever knew
He could be the richest man in seven counties And not be good enough to take her hand But, he says he really loves the farmer's daughter And I know the farmer's daughter loves the man
Albert Hammond must not have lived here, cuz it sure does rain in Southern California! Still, it's a great song and the one that is moving me this morning.
Dianne from Good Mourning, Glory is taking a break, so hats off to Amanda for hosting this wonderful meme during her absence.
In honor of America's birthday, I chose one of my favorite Elvis Presley songs, "American Trilogy," from the Aloha from Hawaii satellite TV special that aired way back in the days when I was a teenager. You know, back in the days when only the government had satellite TV and were generous enough to share it with Elvis and his fans for a couple of hours. . .
Visit Diane, the gracious hostess of this meme, to see other entries or to play along.
First, let me say Happy Anniversary to Diane and Jory and to thank them for hosting Musical Monday for one year now. It's been a blast, and I look forward to many more weeks of music with you.
I really like American Idol, but I love The X-Factor! Through the magic of satellite (the show airs in the UK), I've been lucky enough to have seen three seasons of Simon Cowell's "other" show. Although similar in that they both provide an opportunity for fledgling singers to showcase their talent in the hope that they will win a recording contract, American Idol and The X-Factor differ in one crucial way: the judges act as mentors to the contestants and choose their songs. After the auditions have concluded and the group of wannabes narrowed to 24 contestants, the judges learn which of the four categories -- girls, boys, groups, and over 25 -- they will mentor. By the time the contestants go to live performances, each judge has 4 proteges under his or her wing. Leona Lewis, the protegee of Simon himself, won The X-Factor in 2007; Alexandra Burke, under the careful mentoring of Cheryl Cole, won in 2008; and my entry for this week, Joe McElderry, also a protegee of Cheryl Cole, won in 2009.
I love Joe's voice and had a really hard time choosing just one of his performances. Since I love the meaning behind the words, I chose the song that became Joe's first single. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do -- Joe sings it much better than Miley Cyrus, LOL!
For more entries or to play along, visit Diane or Jori, the hostesses of this fun meme!
Being the first grandchild and niece on both sides of one's family has certain perks and privileges, a fact that I learned the day that I was lucky enough to have been born into that blessed position. I'm the first to admit to having been spoiled by my grandparents and having experiences that other kids my age never got, thanks to my aunts and uncles who dragged me along with them on their various adventures. One of those adventures was my very first concert which I attended with my Aunt Naomi and a couple of her friends in 1965. I was nearly six years old at the time and every bit as much in love with The Beatles as my mom and aunt.
I don't remember a lot about the concert except that it was loud, full of crying and screaming girls, and that some of the girls peed their pants from excitement! My aunt bought me a purple t-shirt from that concert, and somewhere my dad has a picture of me wearing it. I'll have to ask him to scan it so that I can post it (he's on vacation in Colorado at the moment).
The video I have chosen is from The Beatles first US concert at Shea Stadium in New York because it gives the feeling of excitement that we experienced when we saw them in California.
When I first saw this week's theme, I struggled to come up with a song that would fit it. Not wanting to go with the obvious -- a song by Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons -- I had to really wrack The Brain for a while. Considering that The Brain usually ignores me and just takes control, this was no easy feat!
As I scrolled through the nearly 23,000 songs on my iTunes, hoping that at least one would jump out at me as having something to do with winter, my favorite season, that wasn't a Christmas song, I kept hearing Willie Nelson's version of "Moonlight in Vermont" from his Stardust album playing softly in my head. I hummed along with myself and continued to scan the iTunes list.
Frustrated at not finding just the right song, I needed a little more inspiration than humming and began to sing the lyrics of "Moonlight in Vermont." And then, The Brain had a lightbulb moment: the song mentions falling leaves, ski trails, and snow light. Duh, it's the perfect song which explains why I've been humming it for well over an hour!
Because once is never enough for such a beautiful song, I've compiled three different versions, two vocal and one instrumental, for your listening pleasure. Enjoy!
Version #1: Ella Fitzgerald (Did I mention before that I love Ms. Fitzgerald? I think so!)
I'm sad, genuinely sad, at the death of Mary Travers. After my mom's youngest brother introduced me to the music of Peter, Paul, and Mary, it became a staple in my library of albums and later, CDs. Their songs informed my earliest concept of justice with "If I Had a Hammer," while "Puff the Magic Dragon," a song I still can't listen to without tearing up, helped me to understand that the transition from childhood to maturity would be painful. I can't think of a time when I didn't have Peter, Paul, and Mary songs to brighten my day, remind me of happier times, or make me wish for better ones.
The world has lost a treasure, and I feel as though I have lost an old friend.
While the Amazing Egyptian Dude is attending his weekly "class" with the other old farts, I'm cleaning up and reorganizing my iTunes library. Now this is quite a monumental task because I collect songs from everyone which I add to the collection of my own music that I have burned onto an external drive where the iTunes library is stored. Sometimes I end up with several copies of the same song, especially if it's an old standard, but I never seem to find the time to clean them up and delete the duplicates. As I click and trash, I am listening to tunes that I didn't know I had or had forgotten about. That's how I came across the song in the title of this post. It is just to beautiful for me not to share!
Post about 5 favorite things from the past week. It can be anything that tickled your fancy: favorite quotes, posts, happenings, scriptures, recipes, pictures, great internet finds, etc., etc. Be as detailed as you like, the more detail the more fun for those of us visiting. Susanne, the hostess, just asks that it be kept family friendly. To see entries from other participants or to play along, click here.
1. Jokes from friends always make my day.
Bob Hill and his new wife Betty were vacationing in Europe... as it happens, near Transylvania. They were driving in a rental car along a rather deserted highway. It was late and raining very hard. Bob could barely see the road in front of the car. Suddenly the car skids out of control! Bob attempts to control the car, but to no avail! The car swerves and smashes into a tree.
Moments later, Bob shakes his head to clear the fog. Dazed, he looks over at the passenger seat and sees his wife unconscious, with her head bleeding! Despite the rain and unfamiliar countryside, Bob knows he has to get her medical assistance.
Bob carefully picks his wife up and begins trudging down the road. After a short while, he sees a light. He heads towards the lig ht, which is coming from a large, old house. He approaches the door and knocks.
A minute passes. A small, hunched man opens the door. Bob immediately blurts, "Hello, my name is Bob Hill, and this is my wife Betty. We've been in a terrible accident, and my wife has been seriously hurt. Can I please use your phone?"
"I'm sorry," replied the hunchback, "but we don't have a phone. My master is a doctor; come in and I will get him!" Bob brings his wife in.
An older man comes down the stairs. "I'm afraid my assistant may have misled you. I am not a medical doctor; I am a scientist.. However, it is many miles to the nearest clinic, and I have had a basic medical training. I will see what I can do. Igor, bring them down to the laboratory"
With that, Igor picks up Betty and carries her downstairs, with Bob following closely. Igor places Betty on a table in the lab. Bob collapses from exhaustion and his own injuries, so Igor places Bob on an adjoining table.
After a brief examination, Igor's master looks worried. "Things are serious, Igor. Prepare a transfusion." Igor and his master work feverishly, but to no avail. Bob and Betty Hill are no more.
The Hills' deaths upset Igor's master greatly. Wearily, he climbs the steps to his conservatory, which houses his grand piano. For it is here that he has always found solace. He begins to play, and a stirring, almost haunting melody fills the house.
Meanwhile, Igor is still in the lab tidying up. His eyes catch movement, and he notices the fingers on Betty's hand twitch, keeping time with the haunting piano music.. Stunned, he watches as Bob's arm begins to rise, marking the beat! He is further amazed as Betty and Bob both sit up straight!
Unable to contain himself, he dashes up the stairs to the conservatory.
He bursts in and shouts to his master:
"Master, Master! ..... The Hills are alive with the sound of music!"
2. The awesome beauty of nature always amazes me. Click on the photo to make it larger, then look for a mountain lion. Can you find it?
3. In the midst of all the animosity and ugliness that permeates our nation these days, I have been thinking a lot about Abraham Lincoln and Franklin D. Roosevelt. Both of these amazing leaders, one Republican and one Democrat, saw our country through its two roughest periods: the Civil War and the Great Depression and World War II. In rereading several of their speeches, I find inspiration for these troubling times:
"The probability that we may fall in the struggle ought not to deter us from the support of a cause we believe to be just; it shall not deter me." -- Abraham Lincoln ("Speech on the Sub-Treasury" delivered in the Illinois House of Representatives, December 26, 1839)
"The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent experimentation. It is common sense to take a method and try it: If it fails, admit it frankly and try another. But above all, try something." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1932
4. Because I hope for a brighter tomorrow, this song has been stuck in my head for a few days.
5. Last, but not least, I am grateful to have survived what has turned out to be a very, very rough week.
There are plenty of songs that "make me feel like dancing" (thank you, Brothers Gibb), but only a few will make me pretend to dance if I hear it in a place where really dancing is either not possible or practical. One of those songs is "The Joker" by The Steve Miller Band. It's not the kind of song that makes you want to simulate having sex in the manner of contemporary "dancing" -- and people thought that dirty dancing was nasty back in my day! -- it's the kind of song that has a rhythm so compelling that it captures the listener in its web and won't let feet stop tapping or shoulders stop swaying until the final chord is finished playing. I love it!
Lyrics:
Some people call me the space cowboy, yeah Some call me the gangster of love Some people call me Maurice Cause I speak of the pompitous of love
People talk about me, baby Say I'm doin' you wrong, doin' you wrong Well, don't you worry baby Don't worry Cause I'm right here, right here, right here, right here at home
Cause I'm a picker I'm a grinner I'm a lover And I'm a sinner I play my music in the sun
I'm a joker I'm a smoker I'm a midnight toker I sure don't want to hurt no one
I'm a picker I'm a grinner I'm a lover And I'm a sinner I play my music in the sun
I'm a joker I'm a smoker I'm a midnight toker I get my lovin' on the run Wooo Wooooo
You're the cutest thing That I ever did see I really love your peaches Want to shake your tree Lovey-dovey, lovey-dovey, lovey-dovey all the time Ooo-eee baby, I'll sure show you a good time
Cause I'm a picker I'm a grinner I'm a lover And I'm a sinner I play my music in the sun
I'm a joker I'm a smoker I'm a midnight toker I get my lovin' on the run
I'm a picker I'm a grinner I'm a lover And I'm a sinner I play my music in the sun
I'm a joker I'm a smoker I'm a midnight toker I sure don't want to hurt no one
Wooo Woooo
People keep talking about me baby They say I'm doin' you wrong Well don't you worry, don't worry, no don't worry mama Cause I'm right here at home
From the first time I heard John Denver sing "Rocky Mountain High" back in 1973, I have been a fan. Even when it wasn't popular or cool to like John Denver in my high school days, it simply didn't matter to me -- the man had a way with words and music that touched me like only a few other artists ever have. But the one thing I admired most about John Denver's music was the fact that at a time when the generation gap was growing ever wider and communication between parents and their children was becoming increasingly difficult, my family found a young, talented, and vibrant artist whose music we all enjoyed listening to together. That didn't happen very often back in the 70s!
While I miss hearing new compositions from John Denver, I am forever grateful for the legacy of music that he left for the world. Today, my selection is one of my favorite of his songs, "This Old Guitar." I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do.
Lyrics:
This old guitar taught me to sing a love song It showed me how to laugh and how to cry It introduced me to some friends of mine And brightened up some days It helped me make it through some lonely nights Oh, what a friend to have on a cold and lonely night
This old guitar gave me my lovely lady It opened up her eyes and ears to me It brought us close together I guess it broke her heart It opened up the space for us to be What a lovely place and a lovely space to be
This old guitar gave me my life my living All the things you know I love to do To serenade the stars that shine From a sunny mountainside Most of all to sing my songs for you I love to sing my songs for you Yes, I do, you know I love to sing my songs for you
On December 5, 2008, I wrote about rediscovering an artist whom my mother loved one night when I couldn't sleep. The video that I am going to share today is the piece that actually reignited that spark. This week, it's Ella Fitzgerald who moves me.
Of Fitzgerald, Johnny Mathis said, "She was the best there ever was. Amongst all of us who sing, she was the best." From those early days on Harlem streets to the upper stratosphere of musical fame, Ella Fitzgerald's life was the quintessential American success story. Through fifty-eight years of performing, thirteen Grammys and more than forty million records sold, she elevated swing, bebop, and ballads to their highest potential. She was, undeniably, the First Lady of Song. (source)
Today's video is a clip from a movie made in 1938, the year before my parents were born. A young, beautiful, and vibrant Ella achieved her first hit with this song. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do!
Lyrics:
A-tisket A-tasket A brown and yellow basket I send a letter to my mommy On the way I dropped it
I dropped it I dropped it Yes on the way I dropped it A little girlie picked it up And put it in her pocket
SHE WAS TRUCKIN ON DOWN THE AVENUE Not a single thing to do She went peck peck pecking all around When she spied it on the ground
She took it She took it My little yellow basket And if she doesn't bring it back I think that I will die
Oh gee I wonder where my basket can be (So do we, so do we, so do we, so do we, so do we) Oh dear I wish that little girl I could see (So do we, so do we, so do we, so do we, so do we)
Oh why was I so careless with that basket of mine? That itty bitty basket was a joy of mine!
A-tisket A-tasket I lost my yellow basket Won't someone help me find my basket And make me happy again? again
(Was it red?) No, no, no, no (Was it green?) No, no, no, no (Was it serese?) No, no, no, no
Just a little yellow basket A little yellow basket
INSTRUCTIONS: Using only song names from ONE ARTIST, cleverly answer these questions. Try not to repeat a song title. It's a lot harder than you think! Post as "Jodi's Meme: My Life According to (BAND/ARTIST NAME)"The great thing is that if you have already done this meme, you can do it again with a different artist! Please do!
Here we go . . .
-Are you a male or female?
Hey, Little Girl
-Describe yourself
I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide
-How do you feel right now?
My Bucket's Got a Hole in It
-If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
A Thousand Miles from Nowhere
-Your favorite form of transportation
Long White Cadillac
-Describe Your Morning Routine
The First Thing Smokin'
-Your best friend is
Little Sister
-What's the weather like
It Won't Hurt
-Pet Peeve?
Holding Things Together
-If your life was a TV show, what would it be called
Sorry You Asked?
-Your relationship
My Heart Skips a Beat
-Your Fear
Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room
-What is the best advice you have to give?
Don't Be Sad
-If you could change your name, you would change it to
I have loved Gilbert O'Sullivan's music since I was about 13 years old. He hit the US scene about the same time as Rick Springfield did, and both of them rocked my world for different reasons. I loved the wit and politics of O'Sullivan's lyrics and well, Rick Springfield was the best eye candy this thirteen year old had ever seen!
"Matrimony" is the perfect example of Gilbert O'Sullivan's witty lyrics. I hope that you'll enjoy the song as much as I do.
Wishing everyone a great week,
Lyrics:
I've no wish to hurry you luv But have you seen the time It's quarter to ten and we're supposed to be there at nine I don't think the registrar Will be very pleased When we show up an hour late Like two frozen peas Both now facing for the first time Presently and past Something that begins with M And ends in alas More than not complete disaster Even form the start What could it be... It's Matrimony
I know how you've dreamt about Being walked down the aisle But think of the money we'll save And you'll see it's worthwhile It won't please our mums and dads But they don't even know, Besides if they did what's the betting They wouldn't even go You and me are all that matters Disregard the rest Trust your soon to be old man He knows what is best Very shortly now there's going to be An answer from you Then one from me That's matrimony
I'm truly grateful for the little things in life That have made me so glad Every other hour that I spend with you Is not in the least bit sad Quite the opposite in fact And if you don't believe me Here's the proof Ask me if I and I'll say "Aye, I do"
You and me are all that matters Disregard the rest Trust your soon to be old man He knows what is best Very shortly now there's going to be An answer from you Then one from me That's matrimony
Marriage-the joining together of the two people For better or for worse Till death them do part Ole!
Header from samulli Click here to see other entries or to play along.
When you've got a name like Carleen, finding it on things like coffee cups, keychains, t-shirts, and the like is impossible. As a kid, I remember scouring gift shops along Route 66 hoping to find something -- anything -- that had Carleen written on it. I never had any luck. My sisters didn't have problems finding kitchy little tourist gifts with their names emblazoned on them. As much as I have always loved my name, it has always been a problem.
For starters, my own grandmother consistently spelled it wrong! There aren't a whole lot of Carleens in the world to begin with and if the info that I found online is accurate, the total is 24,567. Of that number, only 6,142 of us spell our name C-A-R-L-E-E-N; the most common spelling of the name is to change the last three letters to E-N-E. So I don't really blame my grandmother for spelling my name that way; she probably figured that my mom had gotten it wrong!
Pronunciation has always been an issue with my name. In fact, it got so bad that as a kid, if I heard an authority figure call a name that ended with an "een" sound, I responded just in case they meant me. Charlene and Colleen were the two most common mistakes made with my name, but I was also called Darlene quite frequently.
Shakespeare wrote that a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. It was my own sweet rose that inspired this week's Thursday Thirteen -- songs that have the names of family members in the title. But even better, there's a bit of poetic justice here. Even though I still can't find a coffee cup with my name on it, the Amazing Egyptian Dude now has a ringtone on his phone that sings my name -- yes, you heard me correctly -- whenever I call him! I can't embed the video here as that feature has been disabled, but I am thrilled to report that at last, at long, long last, my name has been given some awesome recognition, even if it is spelled wrong: Phil Vassar's Carlene.
Enjoy!
1. Ode to Billy Joe: My dad's name is Billy Joe
2. My Melody of Love: My youngest sister is named Melody
3. Sherry: My middle sister is named Sherri
4. Help Me Rhonda: I have a cousin and a niece named Ronda and Randa (different spellings, same name)
5. Nola: This is the name of my very favorite aunt in the whole wide world
6. I'm Not Lisa: My step-sister is named Lisa (well, actually it's a shortened version of her name, but it's what everyone calls her)
7. Johnny Angel: Uncle Johnny is Aunt Nola's husband
8. Bette Davis Eyes: I have an aunt (by marriage) named Betty and a crazy funny mother-in-law (not mine, my sister Melody's) named Betty
9. Christine Sixteen: My mom's youngest sister is named Christine
10. Annie's Song: I have a cousin named Anne
11. Juanita: Aunt Juanita is the woman who stole my Uncle Jerry away from me when I was five
12. Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter: Mrs. Brown was my father's grandmother, my great-grandmother
To see other participants or to play along, click here.
This week I'm moved by yet another Roger Miller song. This time, though, instead of the song being all goofy and funny like the last one, it's a tear your guts out, grab a box of tissue classic country heartbreak song. I love, love, love the steel guitar in this one and if you listen carefully, I swear that you can hear it "talk"!
But best of all, I've located a video of the song by a young, just emerging on the country music scene, kd lang. The power of kd's voice shines in Miller's song and it doesn't matter how many times I listen to it, I get goosebumps and teary-eyed.
Here's hoping that you enjoy this marvelous song as much as I do.
Before she became the international singing sensation, I watched Leona Lewis on the British television show, X-Factor. Even then it was easy to see that she would go far.
I stumbled across your old picture today I could barely breathe The moment stopped me cold Grabbed me like a thief I dialed your number But you wouldn't be there I knew the whole time But it's still not fair I just wanted to hear your voice I just needed to hear your voice
What do I do with all I need to say? So much I want to tell you every day Oh it breaks my heart I cry these tears in the dark I write these letters to you But they get lost in the blue 'Cause there's no address in the stars
Now I'm driving through the pitch black dark I'm screaming at the sky cause it hurts so bad Everybody tells me all I need is time Then the morning rolls in and it hits me again And that ain't nothing but a lie
What do I do with all I need to say? So much I want to tell you every day Oh it breaks my heart I cry these tears in the dark I write these letters to you but they get lost in the blue 'Cause there's no address in the stars
Without you here with me I don't know what to do I'd give anything just to talk to you Oh it breaks my heart Oh it breaks my heart All I can do is write these letters to you But there's no address in the stars
From the first time I heard John Denver sing "Rocky Mountain High" back in 1973, I have been a fan. Even when it wasn't popular or cool to like John Denver in my high school days, it simply didn't matter to me -- the man had a way with words and music that touched me like only a few other artists ever have. But the one thing I admired most about John Denver's music was the fact that at a time when the generation gap was growing ever wider and communication between parents and their children was becoming increasingly difficult, my family found a young, talented, and vibrant artist whose music we all enjoyed listening to together. That didn't happen very often back in the 70s!
mber 5, 2008, I wrote about rediscovering an artist whom my mother loved one night when I couldn't sleep. The video that I am going to share today is the piece that actually reignited that spark. This week, it's Ella Fitzgerald who moves me.
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