Monthly Archives: December 2013

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We Didn’t Start The Fire

As this year comes to a close and we prepare to begin a new one, we tend to look back on the past year with a discriminating eye and look to the next year with a hopeful one.  In reality, all the mistakes of the previous year motivate us to make new changes in the upcoming one, which in turn become the mistakes of that year when looked back upon come next New Year’s Eve.  We are always looking to grow and improve, hence the tradition of making New Year’s Resolutions.  I’ve never been a fan of them and really do not partake in this particular holiday tradition but I guess I can see the appeal.  The idea would be to reflect back on the past year, learn from our mistakes, and set goals to do better next year – take some sort of proactive approach to living a better life.  At least that’s the idea.

I’m not entirely convinced that New Year’s Resolutions actually work.  It would be interesting to see the results of some sort of study done on it and figure out exactly how many of these “resolutions” are actually followed through on and ultimately end the following year with positive results.  I have also never been a fan of history in general.  I didn’t do well with that class in school; too many dates and events to remember.  Additionally, it seemed like the more I learned about history, the clearer it became that we (as a collective society) didn’t appear to learn from the mistakes of our past.  History continues to repeat itself over and over again and it just didn’t make much sense to me to continue to research the past in the same way we have always done which didn’t seem to make an impact in changing the future.

Regardless of my aversion to history classes and studying the events of the past, I had one teacher that was able to break the traditional teaching methods and get me interested in history for the first time.  She had us listen to this song and study the words, as well as the events discussed in the song.  Anyone that incorporates music into a history class has my vote for best teacher ever!

So, in honor of that super cool teacher and in the spirit of looking back on the past, I welcome the New Year with this musical “blast from the past”!

 

We Didn’t Start The Fire

Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray,
South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio,
Joe McCarthy, Richard Nixon, Studebaker, television
North Korea, South Korea, Marilyn Monroe.

Rosenbergs, H-bomb, Sugar Ray, Panmunjom
Brando, “The King and I” and “The Catcher in the Rye,”

Eisenhower, vaccine, England’s got a new queen,

Marciano, Liberace, Santayana goodbye!

We didn’t start the fire,
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning.
We didn’t start the fire,
No we didn’t light it
But we tried to fight it.

Joseph Stalin, Malenkov, Nasser and Prokofiev
Rockefeller, Campanella, Communist Bloc,
Roy Cohn, Juan Peron, Toscanini, Dacron,
Dien Bien Phu falls, “Rock Around the Clock”

Einstein, James Dean, Brooklyn’s got a winning team,
Davy Crockett, Peter Pan, Elvis Presley, Disneyland,
Bardot, Budapest, Alabama, Krushchev,
Princess Grace, “Peyton Place”, trouble in the Suez.

We didn’t start the fire,
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning.
We didn’t start the fire,
No we didn’t light it
But we tried to fight it.

Little Rock, Pasternak, Mickey Mantle, Kerouac,
Sputnik, Chou En-Lai, “Bridge on the River Kwai”
Lebanon, Charles de Gaulle, California baseball,
Starkweather homicide, children of thalidomide,

Oh-oh-oh.

Buddy Holly, “Ben Hur”, space monkey, Mafia,
Hula hoops, Castro, Edsel is a no-go,
U-2, Syngman Rhee, payola and Kennedy,
Chubby Checker, “Psycho”, Belgians in the Congo.

We didn’t start the fire,
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning.
We didn’t start the fire,
No we didn’t light it
But we tried to fight it.

Hemingway, Eichmann, “Stranger in a Strange Land”
Dylan, Berlin, Bay of Pigs invasion,
“Lawrence of Arabia”, British Beatlemania,

Ole Miss, John Glenn, Liston beats Patterson,
Pope Paul, Malcolm X, British politician sex,
JFK, blown away, what else do I have to say?

We didn’t start the fire,
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning.
We didn’t start the fire,
No we didn’t light it
But we tried to fight it.

Birth control, Ho Chi Minh, Richard Nixon back again,
Moonshot, Woodstock, Watergate, punk rock,
Begin, Reagan, Palestine, terror on the airline,
Ayatollah’s in Iran, Russians in Afghanistan,

“Wheel of Fortune”, Sally Ride, heavy metal suicide,
Foreign debts, homeless vets, AIDS, crack, Bernie Goetz,

Hypodermics on the shore, China’s under martial law,

Rock and roller cola wars, I can’t take it anymore.

We didn’t start the fire,
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning.
We didn’t start the fire,
But when we are gone
Will it still burn on, and on, and on, and on.

We didn’t start the fire,
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning.
We didn’t start the fire,
No we didn’t light it
But we tried to fight it.

We didn’t start the fire,
It was always burning
Since the world’s been turning.
We didn’t start the fire…

* Lyrics retrieved from www.metrolyrics.com

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What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?

Christmas has come and gone and next up is celebrating the brand new year heading our way!  I was debating what to do for New Year’s Eve and of course, it immediately dawned on me what my next song would be!

This is my first New Year’s Eve as a single woman in quite some time and I’m certainly in no hurry to be in another relationship so New Year’s plans are still eluding me.  I’m not too into parties or large crowds and I’m not entirely sure if I’ll have my son with me or not but either way, probably won’t be spending it snuggled up to a special someone.

However, I do love this song, always have.  Although many artists throughout the years have covered this song, I’ve always been partial to it being sung by a woman.  The independent, strong-willed woman inside of me likes the assertiveness of the song and admires the courage of the woman singing it.  Clearly, having just begun a relationship with someone who is quite popular, the song portrays confidence as well as a slight touch of vulnerability and insecurity.  I think the best part of the song is that is doesn’t actually have a conclusion.  We are left wondering what the answer to her question will be and whether or not she was ever able to enjoy a lovely New Year’s Eve with the one she was longing for.  I guess we can just create our own ending to this love story!

Another holiday classic written by Frank Loesser, my favorite version of this particular song is the 1947 one sung by Margaret Whiting.  So, I leave you with the unanswered question…

 

What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?

Maybe it’s much too early in the game
Ah, but I thought I’d ask you just the same
What are you doing New Year’s
New Year’s Eve?

Wonder whose arms will hold you good and tight
When it’s exactly twelve o’clock that night
Welcoming in the New Year
New Year’s Eve

Maybe I’m crazy to suppose
I’d ever be the one you chose
Out of the thousand invitations
You receive

Ah, but in case I stand one little chance
Here comes the jackpot question in advance
What are you doing New Year’s
New Year’s Eve?

Maybe I’m crazy to suppose
I’d ever be the one you chose
Out of the thousand invitations
You receive

Ah, but in case I stand one little chance
Here comes the jackpot question in advance
What are you doing New Year’s
New Year’s Eve?

* Lyrics retrieved from http://www.metrolyrics.com

 

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Never Stop

I’ve been questioning love a lot lately.  Given my relationship history I’m not entirely sure I know what true love really is.  I tend to process life as a series of logical events, facts, and absolutes.  Unfortunately, love doesn’t seem to fall into any of those categories.  I sometimes have difficulties experiencing genuine feelings.  I think a ton, but I don’t feel so much.  I have OCD and NVLD so I tend to just obsess over things, not necessarily feel something for them.  When I hear others describe love I just can’t seem to relate as I have never experienced the same things.  I realize love is different for every person so I don’t feel completely nuts but I do think that I may need to take some time trying to figure out exactly what love would mean to me.  Of course I will turn to music for help in this matter as there is certainly no lack of love songs out there!

Never Stop (Wedding Version) by SafetySuit

This particular song describes love in a way that sounds pretty incredible to me.  If I could choose what love would look like I think it would be something like this.  A love that’s never ending with someone that won’t ever give up on you, won’t ever stop doing things for you, and who’s heart continues to race whenever they see you, for as long as you are together.  Yup – I think that sounds pretty darn good to me!!

Never Stop

This is my love song to you
Let every woman know I’m yours
So you can fall asleep each night, babe
And know I’m dreaming of you more

You’re always hoping that we make it
You always want to keep my gaze
Well you’re the only one I see love
And that’s the one thing that won’t change

I’ll never stop trying
I’ll never stop watching as you leave
I’ll never stop losing my breath
Every time I see you looking back at me
And I’ll never stop holding your hand
I’ll never stop opening your door
I’ll never stop choosing you babe
I’ll never get used to you

And with this love song to you
It’s not a momentary phase
You are my life, I don’t deserve you
But you love me just the same
And as the mirror says we’re older
I will not look the other way
You are my life, my love, my only
And that’s the one thing that won’t change

I’ll never stop trying
I’ll never stop watching as you leave
I’ll never stop losing my breath
Every time I see you looking back at me
And I’ll never stop holding your hand
I’ll never stop opening your door
I’ll never stop choosing you babe
I’ll never get used to you

You still get my heart racing
You still get my heart racing for you
You still get my heart racing
You still get my heart racing
For you

I’ll never stop trying
I’ll never stop watching as you leave
I’ll never stop losing my breath
Every time I see you looking back at me
And I’ll never stop holding your hand
I’ll never stop opening your door
I’ll never stop choosing you babe
I’ll never get used to you

You still get my heart racing
You still get my heart racing for you
You still get my heart racing
You still get my heart racing for you
You still get my heart racing
You still get my heart racing for you
You still get my heart racing
You still get my heart racing
For you

* Lyrics retrieved from www.metrolyrics.com

Video by

Songbird

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xl2ckt_songbird-eva-cassidy_music

My first Christmas Eve since separating from my husband will be spent making new traditions with my ever loyal best friend! We will wrap presents, indulge in festive drinks, and watch one of my all-time favorite movies – Love Actually. I am so looking forward to wonderful evening of fun and friendship with someone who has been near and dear to me for so many years.

In honor of new traditions and in memory of lost love (as this song was sung on my wedding day), today’s song will be plucked from a favorite soundtrack full of fun, love, and holiday happiness!

Songbird – from Love Actually soundtrack, performed by Eva Cassidy

For you there’ll be no more crying
For you the sun will be shining
And I feel that when I’m with you
It’s alright, I know it’s right

To you, I would give the world
To you, I’d never be cold
‘Cause I feel that when I’m with you
It’s alright, I know it’s right

And the songbirds are singing
Like they know the score
And I love you, I love you
I love you like never before

Oh…
Oh…

And I wish you all the love
In the world
But most of all
I wish it for myself

And the songbirds keep singing
Like they know the score
And I love you, I love you
I love you like never before

Like never before, like never before

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Blue Christmas

Growing up, I had much more of a musical connection to my father then I ever did with my mom.  Mom never really was that into music, although much later in her life she picked up the guitar which I admired greatly about her.  I played a lot of instruments in my life but could never quite get the guitar so I have huge admiration for anyone that plays the guitar.  My dad loved music though, almost as much as I did.  During car rides we had to listen to the “oldies” station because neither one of my parents could stand the “noise” that was the popular music at the time.  I loved music and loved to sing so I quickly picked up on all the music of the 50’s and 60’s.  I would constantly be asking Dad the names of the songs and who sang them and any other information he could tell me about the song or the artist.  He knew so much about the music of his time and he loved talking about it with me.  I will forever cherish that connection with him and never forget those classic songs that he loved so much.

Although Dad was the more musical oriented parent, there was one special musical connection that I was able to make with my mother.  Every year my mother did most of the holiday decorating and when I was old enough, I would help her.  We usually got our Christmas tree sometime shortly after Thanksgiving and once the tree was cut down and put up in our living room, the decorating would begin!  There was a great deal of decorating to be done around the house and it would take Mom and me at least a couple solid weekends to get everything accomplished.  During the decorating process, we would listen to music.  Although I’m never a fan of publically aging myself, it was a long time ago and the songs came from a record player.  I still have that record player today along with some of my parents’ old records, and their 8-track player too!  Anyway, while we decorated Mom and I would listen to Christmas records; Elvis Presley Christmas records to be exact.  I’m not sure why but it was our go-to decorating music every year, even when I got older and records were obsolete.  We still pulled out the old record player, put on Elvis, and went about our decorating duties.

So, in memory of my mother, in honor of Christmas traditions, and in a love for The King, I give you Elvis Presley’s Blue Christmas!

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xg5jxe_blue-christmas-elvis-presley_people

Blue Christmas

I’ll have a blue Christmas without you
I’ll be so blue just thinking about you
Decorations of red on a green Christmas tree
Won’t be the same dear, if you’re not here with me

And when those blue snowflakes start falling
That’s when those blue memories start calling
You’ll be doin’ all right, with your Christmas of white
But I’ll have a blue, blue blue blue Christmas

You’ll be doin’ all right, with your Christmas of white,
But I’ll have a blue, blue Christmas

* Lyrics retrieved from http://www.lyricsfreak.com

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Baby It’s Cold Outside

Continuing on with my favorite Christmas carols, I’ll switch modes from the traditional Christian based songs to a more lighthearted winter melody.

Baby It’s Cold Outside

What started out as a simple duet between husband and wife back in 1944 has turned into one of the most popular Christmas duets performed today.  Against his wife’s wishes, Frank Loesser sold the rights to this playful tune to MGM in 1948 and it’s been performed by many different artists over the years.  When it comes to Christmas carols I am a sucker for the classics though and my favorite version is the one recorded by Margaret Whiting and Johnny Mercer.  The chemistry between them during the song seems so real, so fun and playful and genuine.  Whether it was genuine or not doesn’t really matter, it is and forever will be one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs.

I love to sing and I hope to someday find a partner who shares my love for music and also has a desire to let his voice be heard.  Many times I will hear a duet on the radio and dream of someday having a boyfriend or husband that I could burst into song with.  This is definitely one of those songs that I would like to someday sing with my husband, just as Frank and Lynn did back in 1944.

Baby It’s Cold Outside

I really can’t stay
(But baby, it’s cold outside)
I’ve got to go away
(But baby, it’s cold outside)
This evening has been
(Been hopin’ that you’d drop in)
So very nice
(I’ll hold your hands they’re just like as ice)

My mother will start to worry
(Beautiful, what’s your hurry?)
And father will be pacing the floor
(Listen to the fireplace roar)
So really I’d better scurry
(Beautiful, please don’t hurry)
Well, maybe just half a drink more
(Put some records on while I pour)

The neighbors might think
(Baby, it’s bad out there)
Say, what’s in this drink?
(No cabs could be had out there)
I wish I knew how
(Your eyes are like starlight now)
To break the spell
(I’ll take your hat, your hair looks swell)

I ought to say no, no, no, sir
(Mind if I move in closer)
At least I’m gonna say, “That I tried”
(What’s the sense of hurtin’ my pride?)
I really can’t stay
(Baby don’t hold out)
Baby, it’s cold outside

I simply must go
(But baby, it’s cold outside)
The answer is no
(But baby, it’s cold outside)
This welcome has been
(I’m lucky that you dropped in)
So nice and warm
(Look out the window at that storm)

My sister will be suspicious
(Gosh, your lips look delicious)
My brother will be there at the door
(Waves upon a tropical shore)
My maiden aunt’s mind is vicious
(Ooh, your lips are delicious)
Well, maybe just a cigarette more
(Never such a blizzard before)

I’ve got to get home
(But baby, you’ll freeze out there)
Say, “Lend me your coat”
(It’s up to your knees out there)
You’ve really been grand
(I’m thrilled when you touch my hand)
But don’t you see
(How can you do this thing to me?)

There’s bound to be talk tomorrow
(Just think of my life long sorrow)
At least there’ll be plenty implied
(If you caught pneumonia and died)
I really can’t stay
(Get over that hold out)
Oh but it’s cold outside

* Lyrics retrieved from www.songlyrics.com

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Oh Holy Night

This time of the year my radio is tuned solely to Christmas music.  Christmas, by far, is my favorite of all holidays.  I have so many incredible memories from Christmas’ past and many of them revolve around music and old fashioned Christmas carols.

In celebration of the season, I’m sharing my all-time favorite Christmas song.  Oh Holy Night has been a favorite since I was a small child and it brings me to tears every time I hear it, even more so when I sing it.  I don’t love it just because it’s a classic song or because of the singer or the melody.  I love it because it is the story of Christ’s birth put to song.  The basis for this song is the basis for the entire holiday and arguably the basis for most of the Christian faith.

I once worked with a man whom I considered to be my friend.  We agreed on quite a bit in life and got along very well however there was one topic on which we never could see eye-to-eye and it was faith.  He was (and probably still is) an atheist and I a Christian.  We really didn’t discuss faith and religion much as we clearly had considerably differing opinions on the subject but I do recall, even after all these years, one discussion we had regarding Christmas and this song in particular.  He said the song was offensive; especially lines like “Long lay the world in sin and error pining, till He appeared and the soul felt His worth.”  He felt that it was incredibly audacious to state that the world was worthless, full of sin, and erroneous until some random child was born and then God somehow saved everyone and made the world a better place.

I found it so interesting that everything he found so offensive about the song was exactly what I found so inspiring!  I know in my heart that the song speaks the truth and that the world was a sinful and wretched place, full of arrogance and error prior to God sending us His son.  The child born of a virgin would fulfill the prophesy and grow up a sinless man who was put to death to save us all from our sinful ways.  I, for one, am so thankful for God’s sacrifice and for the forgiveness I was given by Jesus’ death on the cross.  I also, love that my faith can so precisely be described in such a beautiful song.

 

Oh Holy Night

Oh, holy night
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt His worth

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees
Oh, hear the Angel voices

Oh, night divine, oh, night
When Christ was born
Oh, night divine, oh, night
Oh, night divine

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother
And in His name all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all within us praise His holy name
Christ is the Lord, let ever, ever praise Thee

Noel, Noel
Oh, night, oh, night divine
Noel, Noel
Oh, night, oh, night divine
Noel, Noel
Oh, night, oh, night divine

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