My Monday: Summer Nights -Grease

Sandy (Olivia Newton-John) and Danny (John Travolta) are singing to their friends at lunch on the first day of senior year, about the romance they had over the summer. The boys are at the football stadium and the girls are in the courtyard. Neither of them are aware, at the time, that they are actually attending the same High School. The performance is a mix of solos, duets, and ensemble singing. I love how the boys' versus the girls' lyrics bring out stereotypical perspectives regarding their activities and feelings for each other. When I watched this film as a 10 year old (1978), the frequent sexual references throughout the movie went right over my head. This is by far my favorite song of the whole wonderfully written and performed soundtrack.

Sometimes Saturday: Wallpaper Lessons

I have an older home that once had rooms with layers upon layers of wallpaper. I have spent countless hours removing said layers and fancy myself an expert on this craft. Well that is to say I did, until recently. This week I was asked to remove one strip of border about 6" by 48" before painting the small room where it was located. I surveyed the border and prepared myself for its removal accordingly. It was such a small amount (won't take long), it's just one layer (won't need my tools) and it was over a painted wall (won't need removal chemicals). I arranged to have the room set up the day before so that I could begin painting the next morning, I confidently opened the paint cans and set out for the small task of removing the border that was on the top of one of the four walls. Upon my first attempt of removing said border I soon learned that I had been outwitted. What I thought would take a few seconds actually took about 45 minutes. I hadn't even considered bringing my tools or chemicals, big mistake. The beauty of tedious jobs like this is that while they can be frustrating and time consuming they also provide a chance for the mind to wander and contemplate. As I worked three resonating life lessons revealed themselves through the task:
#1 Never presume that just because something looks like a small task/problem etc that it is small. As I view the world I often look at other's lives and think that others have a handle on their lives, "gee so and so is really livin' the dream" I may notice that they have wallpaper to remove but it doesn't look nearly as bad as mine. There have been many times when I realized a marriage I thought was strong was crumbling, when a teenager I thought was the perfect child was actually struggling or that someone I had always thought was confident was actually second guessing themselves continually. We should only survey our own wallpaper and the wallpaper of those who are willing to let us. We can learn from our own removal and we can help others as long as we keep in mind that all wallpaper removal is different and even though experience is valuable it is rarely the same thing twice.
#2 If you've got the tools, bring them, share them and use them. Tools (experiences etc.) aren't going to do you or anyone else any good sitting on the shelf. I have various tools and chemicals that aid in wallpaper removal unfortunately I did not bring any said items with me because --see #1 above. I know the procedure for getting rid of wallpaper and even without the proper tools I was able to improvise with what I found onsite. As we reach out to others who are asking for help we need to look within for how we can show and express empathy. Brene Brown says, "me too are the two most powerful words to kill shame" in other words as we share our vulnerable side(s) with others they may become useful tools for others and aid them in being vulnerable as well. Brene Brown has discovered that being vulnerable is the gateway to innovation and creativity etc. To be clear I'm not suggesting that I should take my tools to all my friends' houses who have wallpaper. Not all people want help to remove their wallpaper. This week my friend was ready for this border to come down, knew that I had experience in doing so and had called on me to take hers down.
#3 The cycle I have developed over many hours of wallpaper removal: Scrape what you can, pierce the paper, soak it/let it sit, pick scappings off the floor (so you don't rush the soaking process), repeat.  As I work on the layers of wallpaper in my life I need to remember there may be some parts that are harder to deal with than others. Even though at first I didn't realize the task of removing this border was going to be difficult I later found myself celebrating when a large chunk came off at once. What I once thought was going to be easy wasn't and so I adjusted myself accordingly and found celebrations in the victories along the way. I am currently unsure of a lot of things in my life. Here is a cycle I have traveled a dozen or more times in the last year: Define desired path, do all I can to direct myself, open myself up/share with others my desire, dream/think about reaching this hope, wait while others have final say regarding this desire, get rejected, rant/cry/regroup, think of another idea, repeat. I have found new things to celebrate such as the supportive people this has brought into my life that I may not have otherwise gotten to know so well. I continue to adjust my dreams, goals and plans.  I have been listening and reading about others who have traveled similar paths in their lives that eventually led to greater things. This reality gives me hope and I am grateful for those who have shared their experiences so that others may benefit.

As I close I want to clearly state that these lessons have little or nothing to do with wallpaper and everything to do with being sensitive to the needs of ourselves and others (looking/listening beyond appearances), sharing ourselves with others when asked ("me too") and to not be afraid to travel the often heartbreaking and repetitive process (cycle) of goal defining and redefining.

Freedom Friday: 54th Street Bridge Song-Simon & Garfunkel

When I 8 years old I was given the lyrics to 54th Street Bridge Song (not as accessible back in the 1970's) and I worked hard to memorize them. I thought of this song when my son asked for his 54 degree club on the golf course early this morning. As he swung his club I went over the words in my head and thought, this is actually the perfect song for us at this moment. The lyrics challenge us to not rush through life (or golf games), as we often tend to do. Here are the lyrics and a video of an early live performance.

Slow down, you move too fast.
You got to make the morning last.
Just kicking down the cobble stones.
Looking for fun and feelin' groovy.

Hello lamppost,
What cha knowing?
I've come to watch your flowers growing.
Ain't cha got no rhymes for me?
Doot-in' doo-doo,
Feelin' groovy.

Got no deeds to do,
No promises to keep.
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep.
Let the morning time drop all its petals on me.
Life, I love you,
All is groovy.

Throwback Thursday: Nights in White Satin by Moody Blues

6/8 time
their signature orchestrated sound
emotional build into the "I Love you lyrics" chorus (twice)
beautifully tranquil flute solo----
band/ orchestra hint at the chorus
1st verse restated
chorus
turns into piccolo featured within the orchestra ending into a string feature

Here is a relatively recent video I chose because it is live with orchestra:

What's New Wednesday: Uptown Funk -Mark Ronson and Juno Mars

Great beat for dancing along with a crowd pleasing set of lyrics equals this Top 40 Hit from late 2014 and well into 2015. Here are the lyrics (slightly adapted in this video) and video performance from the show Ellen:

This hit, that ice cold
Michelle Pfeiffer, that white gold
This one for them hood girls
Them good girls straight masterpieces
Stylin', whilen, livin' it up in the city
Got Chucks on with Saint Laurent
Got kiss myself, I'm so pretty

I'm too hot (hot damn)
Called a police and a fireman
I'm too hot (hot damn)
Make a dragon wanna retire man
I'm too hot (hot damn)
Say my name you know who I am
I'm too hot (hot damn)
Am I bad 'bout that money, break it down

Girls hit your hallelujah (whoo)
Girls hit your hallelujah (whoo)
Girls hit your hallelujah (whoo)
'Cause uptown funk gon' give it to you
'Cause uptown funk gon' give it to you
'Cause uptown funk gon' give it to you
Saturday night and we in the spot

Don't believe me just watch (come on)

Don't believe me just watch uh

Don't believe me just watch
Don't believe me just watch
Don't believe me just watch
Don't believe me just watch

Hey, hey, hey, oh

Stop, wait a minute
Fill my cup, put some liquor in it
Take a sip, sign a check
Julio, get the stretch
Ride to Harlem, Hollywood
Jackson, Mississippi
If we show up, we gon' show out
Smoother than a fresh dry skippy

I'm too hot (hot damn)
Called a police and a fireman
I'm too hot (hot damn)
Make a dragon wanna retire man
I'm too hot (hot damn)
Bitch say my name you know who I am
I'm too hot (hot damn)
Am I bad 'bout that money
Break it down

Girls hit your hallelujah (whoo)
Girls hit your hallelujah (whoo)
Girls hit your hallelujah (whoo)
'Cause uptown funk gon' give it to you
'Cause uptown funk gon' give it to you
'Cause uptown funk gon' give it to you
Saturday night and we in the spot

Don't believe me just watch (come on)

Don't believe me just watch uh

Don't believe me just watch uh
Don't believe me just watch uh
Don't believe me just watch
Don't believe me just watch

Hey, hey, hey, oh

Before we leave
Lemmi tell y'all a lil' something
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up uh
I said uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up

Come on, dance, jump on it
If you sexy then flaunt it
If you freaky then own it
Don't brag about it, come show me

Come on, dance
Jump on it
If you sexy then flaunt it
Well it's Saturday night and we in the spot
Don't believe me just watch come on!

Don't believe me just watch uh

Don't believe me just watch uh
Don't believe me just watch uh
Don't believe me just watch
Don't believe me just watch

Hey, hey, hey, oh

Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up (say what?)
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up (say what?)
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up (say what?)
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up
Uptown funk you up (say what?)
Uptown funk you up

Traditional Tuesday: Leonard Bernstein's Birthday

James Galway the famous flutist posted the following video today to celebrate what would have been the beloved conductor's 97th birthday. It shows him conducting, in rehearsal, the London Symphony with James Galway as principal flutist.

My Monday: Annie's Song by John Denver

A beautiful waltz written and sung by the late John Denver who really enjoy the outdoors and this song relates the love of his life, at the time, to the beauty of the earth.

You fill up my senses
Like a night in a forest
Like the mountains in springtime
Like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert
Like a sleepy blue ocean
You fill up my senses
Come fill me again

Come, let me love you
Let me give my life to you
Let me drown in your laughter
Let me die in your arms
Let me lay down beside you
Let me always be with you
Come, let me love you
Come love me again

Let me give my life to you
Come, let me love you
Come love me again

You fill up my senses
Like a night in a forest
Like the mountains in springtime
Like a walk in the rain
Like a storm in the desert

Freedom Friday: He Was a Story Tellin' Man by Ken Madema

I sang in this musical when I was in Elementary Children's Choir and the songs have stuck with me ever since. "He was a story tellin' man...He came to bring good news to every land....some people called Him son of God, some people call him just a fraud..."  and "Let's have a party, let's make a racquet, I'm so happy I'm as joyful as ever I could be" and finally "There is more joy in heaven over one lost soul who has found his way than for all 99 who have never gone astray" All three of these songs are brought together and sung at once at the end.

I'm posting a video I found of a bunch of kids singing just as we did almost 40 years ago.

Throwback Thursday: Killer Queen by Freddie Mercury/Queen

The band Queen portrays lyrics with a unique point of view sung through catchy melodies and intoxicating harmonies. According to Wikipedia and various other sources this tune was a breakout hit for them. The guitar solo in this tune is well placed in the middle of words that portray that a woman who, though rich, is not reputable. I have listed the lyrics below along with a live performance from the 1970's. 

She keeps Moët et Chandon
In her pretty cabinet
'Let them eat cake,' she says
Just like Marie Antoinette
A built-in remedy
For Khrushchev and Kennedy
At any time an invitation
You can't decline

Caviar and cigarettes
Well versed in etiquette
Extraordinarily nice

She's a Killer Queen
Gunpowder, gelatine
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Anytime

Recommended at the price
Insatiable an appetite
Wanna try?

To avoid complications
She never kept the same address
In conversation
She spoke just like a baroness
Met a man from China
Went down to Geisha Minah
Then again incidentally
If you're that way inclined

Perfume came naturally from Paris
For cars she couldn't care less
Fastidious and precise

She's a Killer Queen
Gunpowder, gelatine
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Anytime

Drop of a hat she's as willing as
Playful as a pussy cat
Then momentarily out of action
Temporarily out of gas
To absolutely drive you wild, wild..
She's all out to get you

She's a Killer Queen
Gunpowder, gelatine
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Anytime

Recommended at the price
Insatiable an appetite
Wanna try?
You wanna try...
'Let them eat cake,' she says
Just like Marie Antoinette
A built-in remedy
For Khrushhev and Kennedy
At anytime an invitation
You can't decline

Caviar and cigarettes
Well versed in etiquette
Extraordinarily nice

She's a Killer Queen
Gunpowder, gelatine
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Anytime

Recommended at the price
Insatiable an appetite
Wanna try?

To avoid complications
She never kept the same address
In conversation
She spoke just like a baroness
Met a man from China
Went down to Geisha Minah
Then again incidentally
If you're that way inclined

Perfume came naturally from Paris
For cars she couldn't care less
Fastidious and precise

She's a Killer Queen
Gunpowder, gelatine
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Anytime

Drop of a hat she's as willing as
Playful as a pussy cat
Then momentarily out of action
Temporarily out of gas
To absolutely drive you wild, wild..
She's all out to get you

She's a Killer Queen
Gunpowder, gelatine
Dynamite with a laser beam
Guaranteed to blow your mind
Anytime

Recommended at the price
Insatiable an appetite
Wanna try?
You wanna try...

What's New Wednesday: Cheeleader by Omi (Remix Felix Jaehn)

The opening piano and trumpet surprised me and then the catchy rhythm and melody hooked me for good. I love Omi's Jamaican accent and that the premise of the lyrics are about someone who's happy with the girl he's found and how she treats him. This song is at the top of Ryan Seacrest's Top 40 and I can see why, my toe can't stop tapping and I feel happy every time I listen!

Traditional Tuesday: Mahler's Symphony I Movement IV

Starting in this video just after 35'37" with a big burst of cymbal crashing of excitement with full orchestra and upbeat tempo. The third movement's quietness is still lingering in the air when the fourth bursts onto the scene.

The trumpets fanfare with responses of eerie descending strings

with lots of booming timpani

around 37'15' the theme bounces along

slowing down and then speeding up trumpets are racing along

horns around 38'08 and then strings take over briefly until everyone slows way down and gets quiet

by 39' the violins are starting a new theme colored with horn and lower strings

oboe 39'54"

I love listening for the low pizzicatos throughout this very passionate section

intensity built in with dynamic changes led by horns

a new tonality and then horn solo 41'45"

soooo quiet, cello, drops of sound in low clarinet a little low brass and trumpet until

short sort of recapitulation starting with another cymbal crash

44'25" intensity raises, violins getting higher and low brass coloring leading to a full fanfare in trumpets (with triangle) and timpani

Horn play out theme in unison proudly with timpani adding in here and there

another slow long tone section leading into violin recapitulation, horns, brief muted trumpet

piccolo, clarinet.

strings at 47'07"give us a reprieve of relaxing sounds

Just before 48 minutes the clarinet, bassoon and flute playfully enter with renewed sweetness followed by cello (some timpani rolls) and violins

oboe solo at 49'10"

strings build intensity and higher pitch with timpani and horn bringing A LOT of emotion

violas enter at 50'30" with a repeated three note clip followed by violins and other entrances until violas have more of the theme leading into more entrances and dynamic swells and then going higher in pitch with intensity in the cellos and fanfare in horns

Trumpets come in brightly leading into a brass chorale and cymbal crashing section (coda?)

Timpani giving a nice toe tapping beat for a moment and then back into the beautiful brass chorale
cymbals crash with full orchestration long timpani with crashes of cymbal, dynamic swells into a big robust finish

My Monday: Veris Leta Facies from Carmina Burana by Carl Orff

Primo Vere (In Spring)

Veris Leta facies (The joyous face of Spring)

Video starting at 11'42"

 I love how this section plays out three times. It is very celebratory. Here is the English translation:

The merry face of spring
turns to the world,
sharp winter
now flees, vanquished;
bedecked in various colors
Flora reigns,
the harmony of the woods
praises her in song. Ah!

Lying in Flora's lap
Phoebus once more
smiles, now covered
in many-colored flowers,
Zephyr breathes nectar-
scented breezes.
Let us rush to compete
for love's prize. Ah!

In harp-like tones sings
the sweet nightingale,
with many flowers
the joyous meadows are laughing,
a flock of birds rises up
through the pleasant forests,
the chorus of maidens
already promises a thousand joys. Ah!

Freedom Friday: O Fortuna -Carl Orff

The first 2 minutes and 32 seconds of the following video is from the opening of Carl Orff''s. 
Carmina Burana. The music is uplifting and powerful and gives a sense of victory over the defeated tone of the lyrics. 

[My Monday: more Carl Orff]

O Fortuna (O Fortune)
velut luna (like the moon)
statu variabilis (you are changeable)
semper crescis (ever waxing)
aut decrescis; (and waning;)
vita detestabilis (hateful life)
nunc obdurat (first oppresses)
et tunc curat (and then soothes)
ludo mentis aciem, (as fancy takes it)
egestatem, (poverty)
potestatem (and power)
dissolvit ut glaciem. (it melts them like ice.)

Sors immanis (Fate - monstrous)
et inanis, (and empty)
rota tu volubilis, (you whirling wheel)
status malus, (you are malevolent)
vana salus (well-being is vain)
semper dissolubilis, (and always fades to nothing)
obumbrata (shadowed)
et velata (and veiled)
mihi quoque niteris; (you plague me too;)
nunc per ludum (now through the game)
dorsum nudum (I bring my bare back)
fero tui sceleris. (to your villainy.)

Sors salutis (Fate is against me)
et virtutis (in health)
michi nunc contraria, (and virtue)
est affectus (driven on)
et defectus (and weighted down)
semper in angaria. (always enslaved.)
Hac in hora (So at this hour)
sine mora (without delay)
corde pulsum tangite; (pluck the vibrating strings;)
quod per sortem (since Fate)
sternit fortem, (strikes down the strong)
mecum omnes plangite! (everyone weep with me!)

Throwback Thursday: Same Old Song and Dance -Aerosmith

Great guitar solos mixed with disheartened lyrics and lots of hair.

[Freedom Friday: Carl Orff]

Get yourself cooler, lay yourself low
Coincidental murder, with nothing to show
When the judge's constipation go to his head
And his wife's aggravation, you're soon enough dead

It's the same old story, same old song and dance, my friend
It's the same old story, same old song and dance, my friend

Gotcha with the cocaine they found with your gun
No smoothy face lawyer to getcha undone
Say love ain't the same on the south side of town
You could look, but you ain't gonna find it around

It's the same old story, same old song and dance, my friend
It's the same old story, same old story

Same old song and dance

Fate comes a-knockin', doors start lockin'
Your old time connection, change your direction
Ain't gonna change it, can't rearrange it
Can't stand the pain when it's all the same to you, my friend

When you're low down and dirty, from walkin' the street
With your old hurdy-gurdy, no one to meet
Say love ain't the same, on the south side of town
You could look, but you ain't gonna find it around

It's the same old story, same old song and dance, my friend
It's the same old story, same old story
Same old song and dance

What's New Wednesday---Some Adult Language

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats perform SO..B. on The Tonight Show

Right away I was captivated by this soulful, bluesy, southern rock song with its determined and harshly honest lyrics. Rateliff's style mixes these words with an upbeat tune that is joyfully orchestrated with a delightful group of instrumentalists. I am left feeling vindicated and equipped to face life's hardships.

I am posting the Jimmy Fallon video since this show introduced me to this song/band.
These lyrics could be considered offensive:

[Throwback Thursday: Aerosmith]

I'm gonna need someone to help me
I'm gonna need somebodies hand
I'm gonna need someone to hold me down
I'm gonna need someone to care
I'm gonna writhe and shake my body
I'll start pulling out my hair
I'm going to cover myself with the ashes of you and nobody's gonna give a damn

Son of a bitch
Give me a drink
Won't more night
This can't be me
Son of a bitch
If I can't get clean
I'm gonna drink my life away

Now for seventeen years I've been throwing them back
Seventeen more will bury me
Can somebody please just tie me down
Or somebody give me a goddamn drink

Son of a bitch
Give me a drink
Won't more night
This can't be me
Son of a bitch
If I can't get clean
I'm gonna drink my life away

My heart was aching hand are shaking bugs a crawling all over me.

Traditional Tuesday: Symphony 1 Movement III by Mahler

This post is a continuation of Marhler's 1st Symphony from the last two Traditional Tuesday posts it starts just after 25'17" mark.

Here is what I noticed after two full listens: (this is my favorite movement, so far)

timpani on two pitches with a walking beat back and forth

double bass starts with melody (solo)

bassoon starts in with same melody (solo) with echo in violins

cello next (tuti)

low brass

oboe enters with a lighter countermelody

Flutes enters original melody, listen for pizzicato and others with the walking beat

harp melody---long tones to end the sequence

at 27'25" the oboe starts with what at first seems like a darker version (is this from The Godfather?) of the same melody but evolves into a new theme  colored by the trumpets with rubato, 2nd time clarinet comes in with counter and as if the clarinet, with a little percussion push too got stuck on the accelerator the tempo increases wildly (but only briefly)

Bass Drum and crash symbol enters with more volume this time along with clarinet around 28'50" for a brief Hebrewic stint

back to the rubato with eerie horn sounds and violin/oboe cat-like dialogue

Violin remind us opening theme along with the timpani walking beat again

3 tone question in flute with followed later by long tones in flute and harp around 30'

30'36" string lovingly sing a new melody with flute entrances with violin while the horn answers all while harp arpeggios underneath

32'13" flute slow things down

back to walking beat of the timpani along with reminders recapitulate the initial themes in various sections of the orchestra bringing some new tonalities to the mix with trumpets eventually taking the lead

clarinet Godfather melody with bass drum/crash symbol reminders, rubato revisited....walking timpani

oboe adding that Hebrew theme back in just after the 34' mark....walking timpani

violin answer the oboe and then english horn

clarinet and other long tones lead into bassoon solo opening theme solo -- walking timpani

strings...low clarinet walking tones....sustained cymbal and other small entrances until the sounds fade out..with very quiet bass drum ending  third movement by 35'38"

 [Note: the 4th movement comes in suddenly and NOT subtly, more on that next week.]

My Monday: The Riddle Song sung by Joan Baez

I've always loved this song that I think I learned in Elementary School Chorus. Ms.Hilton, my elementary music teacher, did a wonderful job of giving us a variety of musical experiences and exposing us to many types of music. I love repetitive verse lyrics where something small changes each time. Songs like this can be sung, at least partially, the first time you hear it. This song offers the answer to the riddle making the lyrics especially enjoyable. This video has stills of the great folk/pop/rock singer guitarist.

I gave my love a cherry
That had no stone
I gave my love a chicken
That had no bone
I gave my love a story
That had no end
I gave my love a baby
With no crying.

How can there be a cherry
That has no stone?
And how can there be a chicken
That has no bone?
How can there be a story
That has no end?
And how can there be a baby
With no crying?

A cherry when it's blooming
It has no stone
A chicken when it's piping
It has no bone
The story that I love you
It has no end
A baby when it's sleeping
It's no crying.

Freedom Friday: Royals: ("Sad Clown With The Golden Voice" Version) - Lorde Cover by Postmodern Jukebox

Postmodern Jukebox led by Scott Bradlee has covered many hits on YouTube. With each video they bring a genre twist (often jazz). [Wikipedia] I love the way the instrumentalists and singers perform with such conviction. Bradlee's arrangement has made good use of Sad Clown with the Golden Voice, elevating the enjoyment of these raw lyrics and poignant melody.

"Royals"

I've never seen a diamond in the flesh
I cut my teeth on wedding rings in the movies
And I'm not proud of my address,
In a torn-up town, no postcode envy

But every song's like gold teeth, grey goose, trippin' in the bathroom
Blood stains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room,
We don't care, we're driving Cadillacs in our dreams.
But everybody's like Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece.
Jet planes, islands, tigers on a gold leash.
We don't care, we aren't caught up in your love affair.

And we'll never be royals (royals).
It don't run in our blood,
That kind of luxe just ain't for us.
We crave a different kind of buzz.
Let me be your ruler (ruler),
You can call me queen Bee
And baby I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule.
Let me live that fantasy.

My friends and I—we've cracked the code.
We count our dollars on the train to the party.
And everyone who knows us knows that we're fine with this,
We didn't come from money.

But every song's like gold teeth, grey goose, trippin' in the bathroom.
Blood stains, ball gowns, trashin' the hotel room,
We don't care, we're driving Cadillacs in our dreams.
But everybody's like Cristal, Maybach, diamonds on your timepiece.
Jet planes or tigers on a gold leash
We don't care, we aren't caught up in your love affair

And we'll never be royals (royals).
It don't run in our blood
That kind of luxe just ain't for us.
We crave a different kind of buzz.
Let me be your ruler (ruler),
You can call me queen Bee
And baby I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule.
Let me live that fantasy.

Ooh ooh oh
We're bigger than we ever dreamed,

And we'll never be royals (royals).
It don't run in our blood
That kind of luxe just ain't for us.
We crave a different kind of buzz
Let me be your ruler (ruler),
You can call me queen Bee

And baby I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule, I'll rule.

Throwback Thursday: Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd

This mix of blues and southern rock sounds great both live and from the studio. I love how the crowd, in the live version I've posted, responds (no cellphones). The lingering instrumental sections of this song are what make it great.

"Freebird"

If I leave here tomorrow
Would you still remember me?
For I must be traveling on now
'Cause there's too many places I've got to see.

But if I stayed here with you, girl,
Things just couldn't be the same.
'Cause I'm as free as a bird now,
And this bird you’ll never change, oh, oh, oh, oh.
And this bird you cannot change.
And this bird you cannot change.
Lord knows I can't change.

Bye, bye, baby, it's been a sweet love, yeah,
Though this feeling I can't change.
But please don't take it so badly,
'Cause Lord knows I'm to blame.

But if I stayed here with you, now,
Things just couldn't be the same.
'Cause I'm as free as a bird now,
And this bird you'll never change, oh, oh, oh, oh.
And this bird you cannot change.
And this bird you cannot change.
Lord knows, I can't change.
Lord, help me, I can't change.

Lord, I can't change.
Won't you fly high, free bird, yeah?

What's New Wednesday: Tacky by Weird Al

It is impossible to listen to this parody of Happy by Pharrell without smiling (laughing!!!). Thankfully Wierd Al never stops figuring out ways to embrace (improve on?) the latest hits. Weird Al has unwavering originality and unparalleled artistry that he brings to each of his parodies. Search YouTube for more of his endless past and present musical and comical hits.  

Traditional Tuesday: Symphony 1 Movement 2 by Mahler

This post is a continuation of last Tuesday: Movement 2 starts after 16'15"
The opening sequence is very melodic. It reminds me of the folk music used in "The Sound of Music" during the puppet show and the kids dancing with Maria during the engagement party. The von Trappps and Mahler were both Austrian.

Notice that this movement is in 3 and is dance-like.

Lots of string calls with wind answers throughout.

Themes from the beginning are repeated the second time the tempo gets very fast leading into a horn call. Then the mood changes and becomes a slower waltz with strings and woodwinds. A rubato feel is used throughout this section.

Another horn call is heard along with the low strings returning the orchestra to the opening themes. Once again the tempo increases but this time the themes reach a cadence ending the movement at 25'04"

My Monday: Dance Dance Dance by Steve Miller Band

This song is county/square dance-like and I especially like the long-winded lyrics. It brings a smile to my face and tapping to my toes. I owned the Greatest Hits album used in the following audio/video.

[Traditional Tuesday: Symphony 1 Movement 2 by Mahler]