Belated A to Z Summary Post

April’s A to Z Challenge is over. Well and truly over. Like…18 days ago. True to form, I started out strong, fell a little behind, then completely lost the plot three quarters of the way through. After the letter T to be exact. All those pesky, difficult, bloody letters at the end of the alphabet. Weirdly enough, I have a stack of books lying around which I have read to exactly the three quarter mark, then put on the shelf never to return to again. Anyway…I digress. In an effort to belatedly tie up this A to Z business in a neat but very small package, here is the briefest of explanations of how I planned to finish. Should have just done this after T.

U to Z

U is for U2. because I’m okay with any band that can write lyrics like – A woman needs a man, Like a fish needs a bicycle, When she’s trying to throw her arms around the world.

V is for Van Halen because their songs still rock and how can you not love the weird sexiness of David Lee Roth in the Jump film clip, despite his very lazy attempt at lip syncing.

W is for Wuthering Heights, When Doves Cry and Working Class Man.

X is for X-rated lyrics. This would have been a great post. I may revisit this Muthaf*@#!* at a later date.

Y is for You…Shook Me All Night Long because an Aussie backyard party isn’t a party until someone cranks up the Acca Dacca.

Z is for Ziggy Stardust because we all miss Mr Bowie. (And to be honest, there’s not a lot of songs to choose from starting with Z).

Had fun with the A to Z Challenge and I’ll definitely be back next year, this time with more planning and some pre-prepared posts! The biggest lesson I took from it was how something good can come from nothing. Some of my favourite posts were letters I didn’t have a topic for but in the end it somehow all came together. Thanks to those people who gave support and comments along the way. I loved meeting new bloggers and learning what you are all about!

The Big Chill and The Bigger Soundtracks

There are great movies and then there are great movies with gigantic soundtracks. Movies that become loved for their music as much as the movie itself. The Big Chill is a fine example out of the vault from way back in 1983.

The Big Chill tells the story of a group of thirty-somethings getting together for a weekend reunion following the death of their former college friend Alex. Alex was famously played by Kevin Costner who is not shown in the film (apart from a quick shot of his arms as a corpse) as all of the flashback scenes were cut. Luckily Kev didn’t take this personally and soldiered on to bigger and better things. It’s a fun flick but the soundtrack is even better. There’s not a dud on it. From I Heard It Through The Grapevine to (You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman with A Whiter Shade of Pale thrown in for good measure.

Looking even further back into the vault, all the first movies I loved were ones in which I also loved the music. Footloose, Flashdance, La Bamba, Top Gun. The soundtracks to these films were the very first cassette tapes I owned. Later on in the nineties, I continued to buy soundtracks to fab flicks like Thelma and Louise, Reservoir Dogs, Reality Bites and Pulp Fiction. Many of my own memories from the past are forever linked to songs that remind me of a time, event or person. The soundtrack of life perhaps?

What are your favourite movie soundtracks of all time?

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Cutting loose Kevin, not cut out of the movie Kevin

7 Worlds Collide

Seven Worlds Collide.
Selection of musicians by Neil Finn.
Secret rendezvous rehearsals at Kare Kare Beach.
Season is Autumn, April 2001.
Set of songs to be performed by this imaginary band.
St James Theatre in Auckland, New Zealand for five nights only.
Scene relaxed like lounging with mates at the good end of a party.
Simple melody of Neil just singing with his guitar.
Symphony of voices from the audience in complete harmony.
Smile breaking out on Neil’s face, knowing his dream is a reality.
Stuff n’ Nonsense sung by Eddie Vedder and Tim Finn on piano.
Suspended belief at this haunting rendition.
Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr grooving to Down On The Corner.
Seeing Red as Eddie, Tim and Betchadupa slam a rock version across the stage.
Spectacular.
Sensational.
Spiritual experience.
Simply unforgettable.

(R)equesting More Peas Please

How Request + Line by The Black Eyed Peas was not number one across the entire universe I do not know. It’s on my list of Songs I Will Never Get Sick Of, For As Long As I Shall Live.

It has a luscious, laid back, down and funky groove. Superstar lyrics…Last night a DJ saved my life and Macy Gray’s gravelly tones wrapping you up like your favourite grandma singing you to sleep…alright, alright, alright now, alright.

If this is playing in my car, I’m dancing. Not full on dancing because I’m driving and that takes up at least one leg and arm but the rest of me is moving. There’s shoulder rolling, head swaying and singing like I just don’t care who’s looking at me whilst stopped at the traffic lights. If I had a hairbrush handy, I wouldn’t be afraid to use it.

If this doesn’t get you at least tapping a toe or two, check your pulse. You might need a DJ to save your life.

(Q)uintessential Artist

There are singers, bands, musicians…and then there are those who transcend these titles to that of Artist. Rare individuals who defy standard descriptions. Yes they sing, perform, write, play instruments but they are much more than this. They create.

Prince was one of these rare beings and the creative world shines a little less brightly now that he no longer struts amongst us. His Royal Purpleness, The Artist Formerly Known As Prince, Love Symbol, Prince Rogers Nelson. A man small in stature and gigantic in presence.

In true superstar style, announced just two weeks prior, Prince’s first ever Perth show exploded for one night in February this year. I was very keen to go…but didn’t. The rave reviews that followed his solo, piano based performance were thunderous, tinged with a religious fevour, leaving me with a lump of regret in my throat ever since. None more so than today. What an amazing opportunity those concertgoers had two months ago to see this man in full flight. An enormous loss to the musical industry but a legacy that will not be forgotten. Embed from Getty Images

Pearly Shells and Goober Peas

P is for…a little Hawaiian song called Pearly Shells. Sung by a number of people but in this case by Burt Ives who was a favourite of my Poppa. Pearly Shells was “my song”. Our version of I love you to the moon and back.

Pearly shells, from the ocean,
Shining in the sun, covering up the shore.
When I see them…my heart tells me that I love you,
More than all the little pearly shells.
For every grain of sand upon the beach,
I got a kiss for you.
And I’ve got more left over for each star,
That twinkles in the blue.

Hearing it make me feel five years old again, sitting by my Poppa’s side in the car. Heading to the beach for fishing in the tinny or the river for billy tea and biscuits. Maybe a road trip to a faraway camping spot in which case Pearly Shells would be followed by A Little Bitty Tear, Funny Way of Laughing and Goober Peas.

I loved my Poppa more than all the little pearly shells. He was Harry Butler, Johnny Cash and Bill Oddie all rolled into one. To others a more complicated, complex man, not always forgiven but always unforgettable. For me though, Burt sums him up perfectly.

Pearly Shells and Goober Peas.
xxx

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RBOxw6vbDyo

Oh, The Big O

O.
The Big O.
Orbison, first name Roy.
Only The Lonely.
Oh, Pretty Woman.
Ooby Dooby.
One of the Lonely Ones.
1936 – 1988

Some music tiptoes into your life from the edges. Maybe you’ve never owned an album or can’t even remember where you heard the music. It was just there. In the musical catalogue of your mind. Familiar, comforting, haunting in the manner of a good memory from the past.

Maybe you’ve sat on the lounge room floor as two families come together for a rare moment that won’t oft be repeated. Watching the joy of another magical moment in time called Roy Orbison and Friends – A Black and White Night Live.

The Big O.
One of a kind.
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November Rain, Video Pain

Bring back Steve

Nobody told Axl that the excessiveness of the eighties was over prior to the 1992 release of the video clip for November Rain. It goes for 9 minutes. 9 minutes! Can you imagine the time poor, attention deficient whippersnappers of today putting up with that?

It was a controversial time for many reasons. Gunners purists were hesitant about the direction the band were heading in. There was the issue of a double album release named Use Your Illusion I and II. Additional band members including…hold your breath…a KEYBOARDIST. Significantly more ballads. A softer sound that appealed to younger teenagers who didn’t wear black t-shirts or drink Jack Daniels from the bottle. The band sporting stylised, designer, heroin chic attire rather than the old heroin addict look.

Not to mention the rumours of increasing tensions between Axl and Slash. Tensions that were not helped by a nine minute video featuring Axl playing indulgent piano solos in the beginning, middle and end. His supermodel girlfriend with seven foot legs and bee stung lips starring as his doomed bride. A wedding dress so rock n’ roll that the front fell off. Tongue kissing at the alter that made a Jesus statue bleed from his eyes. Slash was so upset he took off half way through the service and ended up at the wrong church. Solitary, sad (and possibly secretly in love with the bride), playing a stormy guitar solo in the middle of a dust bowl.
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Why do I keep getting lost?

Extravagant doesn’t quite cover it. It cost a bloody fortune. Was it also the beginning of the end? Suddenly there were more long videos with crazy story lines featuring…Axl. His doomed bride. Helicopters, babies lying on beds of candles, Axl buried alive in a grave, Axl in therapy, Axl and a dolphin hanging out in their dressing gowns. By this stage, Slash had decided his best option was to drive his hot rod off a cliff a la Thelma and Louise, and the band were wearing “Where’s Izzy?” signs around their necks. Before long everyone had left. Apart from Axl.

Extravagantly brilliant. Excessively enjoyable. Right until the very end.

M is for…Misheard Lyrics

What did you just say??

For those who love singing along to their favourite tunes there is always the danger of not quite grasping what is actually being said. This provides the funny bone tickling pleasure that is Misheard Lyrics. Discussion on this topic never fails to produce a snort laugh or two at a party. According to some brief research I have done, the technical term for this musical phenonemeon is mondegreen. It is specific to the unintentional use of similar sounding words in place of the real ones.

Not to be confused with when you’re trying to be funny by singing, “It’s a long way to the shop if you want a sausage roll” in AC/DC’s It’s A Long Way To The Top (if you want to rock n’ roll). Or that thing large groups of Aussies do at the pub when The Angels politely ask,”Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?” and we reply, “No way, get f*****, f*** off!” I don’t think there’s a technical term for that.

Here are my personal top three mishaps in the misheard lyrics department.

Flashdance, What A Feeling – Irene Cara
Take your pants off, and make it happen (Take your passion and make it happen)
I was a naive young girl in primary school when this song was out and I can remember being very scandalised by these racy lyrics.

Luka – Suzanne Vega
My name is Hooker, I live on the second floor (My name is Luka)
Again, I was very worried about a song discussing a prostitute that lived upstairs.

Bad Moon Rising – Creedence Clearwater Revival
Don’t go out tonight, cos it’s bound to take your life, there’s a baboon on the run
(There’s a bad moon on the rise)
This misheard song lyric did nothing to help with my irrational fear of large, human killing baboons.

Another honourable mention has to go to the friend who grew up believing the peace loving Bob Marley had his own serial killer tendencies when he sung: I shot Sherry, but I did not shoot Debbie down.(I shot the sheriff but I did not shoot the deputy). And last but not least, a recent family favourite to be sung whilst shaking your booty on the kitchen floor to Sheppard’s Say Jeronimo:

Bums away, bums away, put your bums away, bums away (Bombs away, bombs away, put your bombs away). 

What are your own favourite misheard lyrics?

Let’s Go

L is for Let’s Go by The Cars.
Because it is poetry.
Because he says she’s got “wonderful eyes” but doesn’t mention what colour they are.
Because she’s got a “risqué mouth” instead of beautiful, rosy lips.
Because she’s a goddamn frozen fire.
Because I could hear that she’s so beautiful now, she doesn’t wear her shoes a million times and it would still make me shiver just like the first time.
Because it reminds me that one person can write a few words on paper and create a moment that someone will remember for a lifetime because…

Because.

Let’s go.