Wednesday, August 15, 2012

... How that music used to make me smile.

I've been puttering around on this blog and the other so that the sum total will help my daughters get to know me as a real person and not just their father.  And important element of me is my friends, so I've come up with a way to take a 'snapshot' of them, as real people.

I'm letting each person, for the most part, speak for themselves (since I get to make up the arbitrary and capricious rules:  I will remove certain proper names and situations to preserve people’s privacy.)


And so first up, MB's Desert Island List

Today’s Desert Island Disc conversation is with my friend MB. MB is going to be one in a long line of Bronx High School of Science grads that we know.  MB is Mary’s oldest friend and I’ve known her since she was just 16, (gallantry prevents me for saying just how long I’ve know her.)  We’ve gone to a lot of great concerts back in the day.

MB comes from a large family and we have spent many a happy evening ensconced in their warm embrace.  MB’s family enjoys the holidays and much like Dicken’s Fezziwig - they knew how make merry of Christmas.  Lord and Taylor’s holiday windows have nothing on MB’s home during the holidays.

MB is currently the owner of Creative Waves, a Qualitative Research firm.


Music
   
    I choose each of my songs because of the memories they evoke and clearly not because they are great pieces of music.  (Everyone has been so apologetic about their choices.)
    
1.    Moon River, Frank Sinatra



    My parents made my sisters and I memorize this song and sing it for company while my oldest sister played it on the piano.  It makes me think of giggling with my sisters and watching my parents entertain and have a good time.  It takes me back to simpler times for me and story telling from my dad and grandfather.

    
2.    American Pie,  Don McClean



[This was the] first album that I ever owned. My Dad got it for me - he loves music and used to buy records all the time.  Last year my kids were playing Rock Band and I asked to play this song with them and they were laughing so hard because apparently, I've been singing the wrong words all these decades.  LOL.


    
3.    Bat Out of Hell,  Meatloaf




4.    Piano Man,  Billy Joel




these two songs are all about the high school years and senior summer for me.  One of the best times in my life and you, Mary and John were all apart of that.  I went to my first Billy Joel concert at Carnegie Hall with Mary (when we were sophomores.)  I love the piano runs in the Piano Man album and the song Piano Man always struck a chord with me.  I could clearly envision everyone he talked about in the song.

    
5.    Vacation, Go-Go's




[I'm almost embarrassed that] I picked the Go Gos. But, when my kids were younger, we would play this song in the car and all sing to it.  It was a necessity for a road trip or driving to Ocean City, MD for vacation.  We all got into it and it was a song that energized us. I equate it with happy stuff. Every time I hear it, I want to get up and dance!


    
6.    Someone to Watch Over Me,  Linda Ronstadt




I've always loved strong female voices - Jane Oliver, Adele, Edith Piaf, for example.  This was my wedding song.  It is the one piece of music that bridges the type of music my parents listened to and grew to love and, my marriage. I loved that we had this song as our wedding dance song -- although I remember the surprise look on David's face when he finally heard all the words to it on the dance floor.
 

  
7.    Something, The Beatles




David played The Beatles for the kids all the time and brainwashed them.  Now my eldest son is a Beatles fan, loves John Lennon and Paul Mccartney.  It's the one music we can easily agree to in the car....not bad for 3 teens and 2 parents.

    
8.    London Calling,  The Clash




I'd have to pick this because it symbolizes David for me; he'd probably pick a totally different song to symbolize his taste in music. It was his ring tone for awhile and although he is a Grateful Dead fan, I don't think I want to listen to that on a desert island, I rather listen to the Clash for a little variety in my own music world.



What was one piece of music did you not get to pick?


Did I leave off anyone?  Absolutely: White Christmas by Bing Crosby ... for all the obvious reasons, I've always loved Christmas; Carol King (almost anything from the Tapestry album);  Robert Goulet singing on the original broadway cast of Camelot; Carly Simon on her Hotcakes album; Johnny Mathis singing Gina; My Way by Frank Sinatra; songs from Wicked; Katy Perry makes me smile; Like a Prayer by Madonna; I Will Survive by Gloria Gaynor, I'm on the Top of the World by the Carpenters - I'm going to stop her here or well have dozens more.


I've added a question not in the original Desert Island Disc, Have your muscial tastes changed over the years?


No, I don't think so; I've always loved "pop" music.  However, what I get to listen to has totally changed. My eldest son loves Nirvana, Aerosmith, John Lennon and Rap. My daughter loves Taylor Swift, Katy Perry and others. David loves anything that isn't mainstream.  So I rarely listen to "my music" which is why when I think about music that makes me smile, I think about music from previous years.



What Book would you take with you?:

One book to take?  not sure about that one. i'll have to get back to you.  I've enjoyed many books 
(esp now that I'm in a book club) but I can't say there's one I'd read over and over again.
    

Luxury Item:

MB didn't pick a luxury item. (silly girl)

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