Saturday, March 31, 2012

Heart on Tour...and Barracuda

So, I'm not sure if they just announced this, but Heart posted their summer tour dates on their website.  You can see them at http://www.heart-music.com/tourdates.html.  I was SO excited to see this, and I am wishing that I still lived in Indiana so that I could see them in Hammond.  Oh well... Maybe I will make a special trip out there this summer, because I would absolutely love to see them live.  Pat Benatar will be playing somewhat nearby where I am now on April 21st -- so I will have to decide if I can get out to that show (Rhode Island is kind of closeby).  Anyway, in honor of Heart, I wanted to share "Barracuda."  This is one of my all-time favorite Heart tunes.  It is just so terrific.  I love the cranking guitar line and Ann Wilson's unbelievably powerful voice.  If you read the history behind the song, you'll find out that it is about a man--well, sort of.  It's not about some cheating ex-boyfriend or anything like that.  No, it's about the dirty, sleazy press and how they tried to make people think that Ann and her sister Nancy were "lovers."  Oh please...that is sad, low, pathetic.  Yeah, just like a barracuda.  Nevertheless, this song could really be about anything.  I am SURE that they could put any lyrics to the music and it would be a virtual rock and roll explosion.  I've included two versions of the video here--one from 1977 and one from 2002 (live in Seattle).  I know the original was from the '70s and not the '80s, but that is alright because Heart has been rockin' through many decades, and I am sure they will for many more.  Hope you enjoy "Barracuda."

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Take....On....Me.....

So, obviously, I am hearing the chorus from A-Ha's "Take On Me" this evening.  This song was a HUGE hit in the '80s.  It was released in 1985 and had everyone captivated for many reasons, including the cool, catchy synthesizer and super-handsome lead singer.  Plus, the group was from Norway, which to kids on this side of the Atlantic was quite the point of interest.  That being said, I took a look at the lyrics this evening because I honestly did not know what they were.  I only remembered the chorus.  Actually, I don't think I could understand the lyrics back then.  You know how sometimes you listen to a song and just can't quite determine what the words are?  Well, that was the case for me with this song.  Sadly, it is still the case!  Even after reading the lyrics, I don't quite understand what they mean.  Maybe it makes more sense in the Norwegian tongue.  I'm not sure.  All I know is the the song is catchy and very unique--still quite appealing after all these years.  Sadly, the video still scares the daylights out of me, too.  Something about that line between fantasy and reality--and fictional characters coming to life...  Also, when the lead singer is smashing himself against walls to knock the cartoon out of him, well, that frightens me.  Nevertheless, the synthesizer is spectacular, and the lead singer's voice has a lovely, soothing quality.  Doesn't hurt that he is quite movie star-esque, too.  Hope you enjoy this 1985 classic!

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Piece of My Heart



Come on, come on, come on!
So, this evening I was listening to my favorite radio program.  You guessed it--Nights with Alice Cooper.  He played "Piece of My Heart" as covered by Big Brother & the Holding Company with Janis Joplin on lead vocals.  This is the only version of the song I had heard, but I did a bit of research and found there are many versions.  In fact, the song was written in 1967 and first performed by Erma Franklin (Aretha Franklin's younger sister).  So, the song has been covered in the 60s. 70s, 80s (Sammy Hagar), 90s (Faith Hill), and 2000s (Joss Stone and Melissa Etheridge).  It has also been covered by Bonnie Tyler and a host of others, but the performance in this video with Joss Stone and Melissa Etheridge is just truly amazing.  In the YouTube notes, someone commented that they felt Janis Joplin was smiling from above when these ladies performed.  It is powerful and passionate.  AMAZING.  Yeah!!!!  "Take another little piece of my heart now baby...break another little piece of my heart now darling..."  I cannot think of any other song that really packs as much punch and delivers the message as well as this one.  I think we've all had our hearts broken, but when you have really had it ripped out and smashed into a million pieces, this sums up the feelings perfectly!  Come on--we've all experienced this, right?  If you haven't, well, this tune paints a perfect picture.  So, listen and enjoy.  This particular performance gives me goosebumps.  It is just awesome.  I would love to hear Heart perform it sometime.  I bet Ann WIlson would change the earth's rotation with her voice on this tune.  Nevertheless, Ms. Etheridge and Ms. Stone really tear this one up.  BRAVA!!!!!

Monday, March 26, 2012

Happy Birthday to Steven Tyler!

Rag doll...
Best wishes to Steven Tyler today on his 63rd birthday.  Earlier this year, he announced his engagement, so it has been very full year for Mr. Tyler so far.  In honor of his birthday, I thought I would pick one of my favorite songs, although "Walk This Way" really is my favorite Aerosmith tune.  We looked at that song in an earlier post.  So, tonight, I've chosen "Rag Doll" in honor of Mr. Tyler.  This song simply makes me laugh because the lyrics sound, well, a bit like jibberish.  With all due respect to Mr. Tyler and Aerosmith, it is a great song, and the meaning is pretty straightforward..."Rag doll, livin' in a movie, hot tramp, daddy's little cutie, so fine, I never see ya leavin' by the backdoor...man."  Yes, she is so fine that she doesn't need to sneak around--the guys are coming to her!  Aha!  So, she's got it made.  Kudos, Rag Doll!  I think my other favorite part of the song is the very end, when Tyler does a sort of bluesy/rock/pop skat sequence, and I swear he says, "bibbity bibbity bop...."  Just be careful, because if you are watching the video, the very end has an extremely sloppy kiss between Tyler and his rag doll.  Look out.  Don't say I didn't warn you!  Anyway, all kidding aside, many happy returns to the one, the only, the legendary Steven Tyler.  Thank you, sir, for the fabulous musical gifts you have given us over the years.  May you have many today in return!

Good Times Bite the Dust

This evening Alice Cooper wasn't on, so I listened to some Pandora radio.  Queen's "Another One Bites the Dust" came on, and I thought it would be a great song to write about.  So, I did some research and found out that the bass line was inspired by the bass line to "Good Times" by Chic.  Turns out that the bass player from Queen and the bass player from Chic spent some time together in the studio.  There was a bit of controversy in the press, too, because the press claimed that Chic "ripped off" the bass line from Queen, when in actuality Chic's song came first.  "Good Times" was released in 1979, and "Another One Bites the Dust" was released in 1980.  Nevertheless, both are terrific tunes.  I may eventually talk about some Queen songs later on, because they are really, really artful and amazing.  Freddie Mercury had a voice like none other.
Clams on the halfshell

...and roller skates
So, back to Chic.  Nile Rodgers is one of the most recognizable names in music.  He went on to have an extremely fruitful career as a record producer, working with Madonna, Diana Ross, David Bowie, and Duran Duran to name a few.  He and bassist Bernard Edwards formed the group Chic back in the 70s.  Supposedly, this song is about the happier times of the 1970s and its roller disco days.  Turns out that the bass line of "Good Times" was sampled in tons of songs.  There is a huge list on songfacts.com--check it out.  In the meantime, I can't help but groove to this song no matter what the decade.  That is what happens when you pair an awesome bass line with lyrics that exclaim, "Good times!  These-are-the-good times!  Leave-your-cares-behind!  These-are-the-good times!"  Woo!  Yeah!  This song has to make you feel like getting up and dancing, or roller skating, or just bustin' whatever kind of move you want.  I still have no idea what "clams on the half shell and roller skates" means...

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Don't You Want Me - Part II

In an earlier post, I looked at the song "Don't You Want Me" by Jody Watley, but there is another very popular song by the same title from much earlier in the decade.  "Don't You Want Me" by the Human League was released in 1981 and is a completely different tune.  Story line is simple--guy finds waitress at a cocktail bar, turns her into a star, they have a five year love affair, and boom--she doesn't want him anymore.  It's that simple.  Makes for an interesting story, but the funny thing is that the actual song is very upbeat, uptempo, and has that kind of synthesized "happy pop" feel to it.  Pretty neat considering the song's lyrics seem a bit sad--and kind of desperate.  "Don't...don't you want me?  You know I can't believe it when I hear that you won't see me...Don't...Don't you want me?  You know I don't believe you when you say that you don't need me..."  It's alright, though, because the video will put you in trance with the stone cold faces of the singers, which are really mesmerizing.  I forgot that back in the day men and women wore makeup -- well, men in rock bands like The Cure and many, many other groups from the U.K.  The other thing that I forgot about was how cool it was for kids in the U.S. to watch the video and see cars with the steering wheel on the right side.  AMAZING.  I know--it didn't take much to entertain us back then.

Now I am an adult, so it takes a bit more to make me laugh...but not much.  I happened to find an "orchestral version" of this song on YouTube.  There are several of these videos, which are completely man-made and rather hysterical.  I especially love reading the comments when they say "Hey--they're not really playing this.  This is fake.  This is so dumb!"  Well, yes, they are not really playing "this," and that is why it's so funny.  This particular video is a mash-up of parts of the San Francisco Symphony performing Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 4 and Stravinsky's Rite of Spring (the composer's names are misspelled in the YouTube notes, unfortunately).  Anyway, for classical music geeks like myself, it is amazingly funny.  Michael Tilson Thomas is one of the greatest conductors out there, which makes it even funnier.  So, I hope you will enjoy this clip.  I've added the original Human League video and the "orchestral version."

Friday, March 23, 2012

Urgent!


Tenor sax with fire in its veins...
Foreigner released the song "Urgent" in 1981, and I never realized until today that it has a huge sax solo in it!  In fact, it's really more than a sax solo.  The saxophone  (tenor by the way) is really an integral part of the song, which is great, because...well...  How can I saw this politely?  I think we all know what "Urgent" is about, and if you're not sure, take a look at the lyrics.  I admit that I not only failed to remember the saxophone part, but I had no idea about the lyrics.  All I remembered from the 80s about this song was, "urgent, urgent--emergency."  Although the lyrics are incredibly clear and straightforward in terms of their meaning, they are also extremely well-written.  Almost paints a picture of someone who is all over the place, which can make the listener feel frantic.  Actually, I think that frantic feeling equals urgency!  And, we are back to square one.  Awesome song with a totally kickin' tenor saxophone part that (thankfully) is not cheesy or "smooth jazz" sounding in the list.  No, folks, it is not a "careless whisper" solo in the least.  It is a rock saxophone solo.  Excellent.  Hope you enjoy this song.  Don't wait--listen now!  IT"S URGENT, URGENT!  EMERGENCY! 

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Burnin' for You

I'm not quite sure why I was thinking about this song today, but it was running through my head for some reason.  Actually, I guess you could say it was burnin' through my mind.  Anyway, I admit that I knew basically nothing about the song or group.  All I knew was "I'm burnin', I'm burnin', I'm burnin' for you..."  Yup, the lyrics from the chorus can put you into a trance where that's all you can sing over and over.  So, I was curious to know what the rest of the lyrics were, and I am not sure what to make of them.  One could probably split hairs about it and discuss all kind of interpretations, but it seems to me that the song is about a guy who is so deeply in love that all he can think about is, well, that he's burnin' for this girl.  Sounds like he is so in love that he feels he sold his soul to the devil ("I'm living for giving the devil his due").  Hey, I can understand this.  Haven't we all been crazily and hopelessly in love at least once in our lives?  Have no fear, though, because you really won't combust like the guy in the video.

Original alien cult member?
I am pretty psyched to learn that the group is from NY.  YES!  I am from NY as well, so wooooo hooooooo!!!!!  Always good to have an awesome rock band from the homeland.  These guys are amazing, and I am sorry it's taken me this long to really discover them.  I probably heard "Don't Fear the Reaper" a million times on the radio and had no idea who sang it or what the title was.  That's what I get for not paying attention.  I also wondered what was up with the name.  Why is there an umlaut over the O?  I mean, it's an oyster!  I guess it doesn't matter.  This group is rockin', and they can put an umlaut there if they so choose.  Turns out the "blue oyster cult"came from a poem written by the band's manager about a group of aliens gathered secretly on earth to guide history.  Ah, aliens!  Once again, they come walking in...and make for a terrific rock band name!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Bringin' on the Heartbreak

So, once again I was listening to "Nights with Alice Cooper," and "Bringin' on the Heartbreak" by Def Leppard came on the show.  It's interesting--I've actually grown to enjoy Def Leppard's music more and more as I get older.  They were very popular when I was younger, and I knew this one teenaged friend who was completely obsessed with them.  Now I can see why.  They seem to have had the magic rock n' roll touch.  All of their songs were huge hits, and I can't seem to think of any I didn't like (well, except "Pour Some Sugar on Me," probably because it was really overplayed).  Anyway, the point is... this group rocks.  Plus, their lyrics are amazing.  Listen to the lyrics for "Bringin' on the Heartbreak"--they are ultra sensitive and poetic.  Really intriguing as well, and so vivid that you can essentially visualize a story line and video in your own mind as you listen.  The gentle guitar playing under the verses really brings out the lyrics, too.  Makes me want to cry from the very beginning: "Gypsy, sittin' lookin' pretty, a broken rose with laughin' eyes..."  If you can make it past there, you will really enjoy this song.

Not a broken rose...just a pretty one
Meanwhile, as I was doing some research on this song, I ran across the title with Mariah Carey's name.  I thought, "Oh no... say it ain't so.  Please...."  But, unfortunately, it is :( No offense to Ms. Carey, but, uh, well...no, not the right song for her to cover.  Yikes.  She has a lovely voice and a great range, but I think she sings her genre of pop and pop ballads well.  Just not right for this heavy rock ballad.  So, try to dodge those clips on YouTube and enjoy the one and only Def Leppard.  It is THE version to hear.  THE original.  THE best!

Just a Steel Town Girl on a Saturday Night...

Once again, it's pretty late, but I wanted to get a song in here before the day is completely done.   I'm looking at the time, though, and I didn't make it!  Oh well.  Anyway, I am not sure what inspired me to pick this, but I stumbled upon Michael Sembello's "Maniac" from the movie Flashdance.  That movie is one of my absolute, all-time favorites.  Actually, Flashdance and Footloose are two of my favorites.  They are both super-inspiring, classic dance movies from the '80s.  I think I have lost track of the number of times I have seen them, and both have terrific soundtracks.  I think Flashdance is an easier story line to follow, and this song pretty much sums it up.  The video does as well, since it is chocked full of scenes from the movie.  One thing that bothered me, however, is that there are all kinds of different versions of the lyrics out there.  They have three different lyrics for the first line, too.  I read, "Just a small town girl," "Just a still town girl," and "Just a steel town girl."  Aha!  Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner.  I always thought it was "steel town girl," because the movie takes place in Pittsburgh, PA---which is a "steel town."  I was dumbfounded when, at first, I could not find that lyric documented anywhere.

So, the song follows the main character in the movie, Alex.  She is just a steel town girl who works as a welder by day and an dancer by night.  Some of her dance gigs are a bit, well, different.  Not obscene or anything--just a bit provocative.  She's always dreamed of attending a formal dance school, but she doesn't have the money.  She meets her Prince Charming, he pulls some strings at the school, and she gets accepted.  She's thrilled--until she finds out he is the reason she got in.  She gets mad at him, pummels him (not enough to hurt him, though), and then they make up and everything is okay.  They live happily ever after!  I don't think he is in the video, but there are plenty of dance scenes complete with legwarmers.  I loved legwarmers--still do.  Hers were the best.  Made everyone back in 1983 want to become a dancer (or at least wear legwarmers and a torn sweatshirt).  Ah, the good old days...  Enjoy!

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Getting the Gig

Hello everyone.  I know it is late, and I really wanted to write about a song this evening.  But, alas, I am too sleepy to give you something that would be worth reading!  So, I will cop out and give you a link to something I wrote earlier in the week that was just published!  Yes, it is in MusicianYou Magazine!  Better yet, you can even see a real picture of me with my bass clarinet--as opposed to just the rainbow smoke that is on the "About Me" section of this page.  Anyway, I hope you'll enjoy the article.  It's about getting started in the music business/arts world.  You can find it here: http://www.musicianyou.com/articles/getting-the-gig.  Until next time...

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Down Under

I've wanted to write about this song for quite some time.  The video always made me laugh, and the song had such a positive, happy groove.  I never really understood the lyrics in their entirety--just little bits here and there.  I think my favorite part is "I met a strange lady, she made me nervous, she took me in and gave me breakfast."  Just kind of funny, and the way Colin Hay sings the lines of the verses, they keep you on the edge of your seat.  He met a strange lady? She made him nervous?  And.......  Ah, she took him in and gave him breakfast!  She said, "Do you come from a land down under?"  And then it is all good.  Chorus comes in, and everything is alright.  The song has several verses that have the intrigue of some sort of mysterious situation--with a bit of doom or something eerie, and then it's okay.  Everyone's happy when they find the common thread of being from the land down under--or at least a common understanding.  I think the video is pretty funny, and I imagine it is supposed to be.  Not many videos have a man playing flute up in a tree.  In fact, I think this song wins for the best use of a flute in pop music--at least for the '80s (that award should be given to "The Hustle" for the previous decade).

I was reading some commentary about the song, and Colin Hay said it's not really a patriotic song, but rather a bit of a protest against the over development and commercialization of Australia.  I can understand that.  I am sure it was a nation of immense natural beauty and indigenous people who were kind of trampled over from colonization and all that.  Unfortunate, but here in the U.S., everything is one "melting pot" as we've heard so many times.  Kudos to Colin Hay for remembering and celebrating the true heritage and beauty of the country--and especially for giving us such an incredibly fun, likable, upbeat, and unique tune.  Spotlight on a woodwind instrument never hurt, either!  I've included an additional version of the song from a live performance by Ringo Starr and His All-Star Band, which includes Sheila E and John Waite.  Pretty cool.  Nice to get all those legends together on stage.  Enjoy!


Thursday, March 15, 2012

Hold On Loosely

Hello blog world.  I know I have been gone for much too long.  I apologize.  I really have no good excuse, so.....  Let's just get down to business.  I heard "Hold On Loosely" the other day and thought it would be a great song to write about.  It was released in 1981 and is truly a classic.  Excellent tune with real kick.  Awesome guitar and a fun chorus that, sadly, has been misinterpreted.  Yeah, I know.  "Hold on loosely, but don't let go, if you cling too tightly, you're gonna lose control..."  I can hear snickers already, because we know what the lyrics have led people to believe the song is about.  But, I read the history behind the tune, which was very interesting--and quite touching.  It was written by two of the members of Survivor, but it didn't make the cut on their first album.  So, it was given to .38 Special.  The song was written as advice to young people dating.  The concept came from the songwriter's early dating experience with his wife.  When they were teenagers, he kind of smothered her by clinging too much.  I can understand that.  People need their space--both guys and girls.  I can truly understand it from the woman's perspective, because, well....yeah, it's no fun to be smothered by a clingy guy!  I am SURE guys feel the same way about girls who are too needy and cling to them constantly.  Yes--"hold on loosely, but don't let go.  Your baby needs someone to believe in, and a whole lot of space to breathe in."  That is perfect.  Should work like a charm, and if it doesn't, just go home alone and crank up some '80s tunes!

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Don't Stop Believing

So, let me just say that I absolutely LOVE Journey, and this is one of my favorite songs.  I think my favorite Journey song is actually "Anyway You Want It," just because it is so up-tempo and fun, and I love when Steve Perry sings about "the lovin' things."  But, alas, "Don't Stop Believing" is probably their most popular song of all time.  I've avoided writing about it at the risk of making folks tired of the tune, because I would not want that to happen.  It has gotten tons of airplay over the years, and I just read that it has been downloaded 2 million times - the most of any song that was recorded in the "pre-digital age."  It's an excellent song, as we know.  It has been in movies, on television, in political campaigns and rallies, and the list goes on.  Why is it such an awesome song?  Well, there are many reasons.  I can think of a few: Steve Perry's voice, the amazing guitar lines, the beautiful and very cool piano part, and...the lyrics!

The lyrics are ultra positive and inspiring, especially the chorus - "Don't stop believing, hold on to that feeling...."  However, the chorus only comes at the very end, after three verses and a repeated section that is similar to a chorus in principle, and come to find out, this particular "semi-chorus" section has caused quite a debate.  Is it "streetlight people" or "streetlights, people?"  To me, it sounds like he is singing "streetlights, people," but if you read some history and discourse on the song, you'l find that Steve Perry was interviewed for a magazine and talked about seeing people on the street under streetlights when he was in Detroit.  He said he liked the line "streetlight people" to describe them.  I guess you'll have to decide for yourselves.  The other part of the lyrics that has caused a HUGE debate is "South Detroit."  Yeah, uh, there is no such place.  I think we all know that, but come on folks, he just wrote it because it sounded good with the line.  Really.  No big deal.  Just like Billy Joel and the title/lyrics to"Allentown," which we discussed in my earlier post, "Into the Night."  Wow, people get really animated about this whole South Detroit thing.   It just makes a good line, that's all.  So, hopefully, we can all settle our differences, whether we are from Detroit or not, and enjoy the song--because it is awesome!

Thursday, March 8, 2012

No One Like You

Indeed, there is no one like the Scorpions when it comes to an awesome rockin' ballad like "No One Like You."  This song really nips it in the bud.  If you listen to the lyrics, you will notice the most intense, urgent feeling that comes from someone who is madly in love...and the guitar just kicks it up a notch.  Kind of funny, actually, because the guitar line is quite delicate under the main verses--- but, when the chorus comes in, it is electrifying.  The lead singer's voice has a certain edge to it that really gives the song gusto and almost a bit of tension.  Very, very cool.  I heard this song a few times (once again) on "Nights with Alice Cooper" (thank you, sir, for playing such great tunes!).  Oddly enough, I have rarely heard it on the radio.  I usually hear "Rock You Like a Hurricane," which is also a good song, but...."No One Like You" wins the prize for the most amazing rock ballad in the history of songs--or perhaps the history of tunes covered by Becky's World blog posts. 

The video is pretty interesting...  The lead singer is in jail and on death row, or so it seems.  But, alas, in the end, it is only a dream.  I wonder what this song would be like with a different video--maybe something kind of mystical and supernatural.  I think that would make for an interesting effect.  Kind of a juxtaposition of fantasy and reality, heaven and earth, darkness and light.  Just a thought.  In the meantime, this song stands terrifically on its own, video or not.  So, ladies and gentlemen, start your radios, computers, iPods, or whatever else you have to enjoy this awesome classic tune!

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Who's Got Two Tickets to Paradise?


Well, I think clearly the answer to the title of this post is Eddie Money for sure.  I heard this song tonight while I was listening to "Nights with Alice Cooper."  I have to say that everytime I hear this song, I have to smile.  If someone ever told me they had two tickets to paradise, I would pack my bags and leave tonight :) I don't know why this song makes me laugh, but you know what?  It is one awesome song.  I guess it depends on your interpretation.  Some people may find the lyrics and title to be sort of, well, "cheesy," but in all honesty, I think the lyrics are cool and creative.  Definitely has the sense of going on a trip and being swept away when we all know what it's about.   According to Wikipedia, it was inspired by Eddie Money's girlfriend, whose parents wanted her to marry a doctor or lawyer--but definitely not a musician.  He wanted to take her away--sweep her off her feet (and probably get her away from her parents before they made her marry someone else).  Whatever the case, the song has some excellent guitar playing and a real "drive" that kind of makes you want to get up and go.  I know I am ready to pack my bags.

There is no official video for this song--probably because it was released as a single in 1978.  So, I cheat a bit once again.  There are plenty of videos on YouTube of Eddie Money performing this live, so I thought I would throw one in.  This one is a vintage live performance from 1978, and the audio is really quite amazing.  I did contemplate posting a recent video of Eddie performing this live, but the vintage one is really a gem.  Helps us remember him from back in the day, and it really captures the essence of the song.  Eddie has changed a bit since 1978, but that's okay--he's always going to have those two tickets to paradise...

Monday, March 5, 2012

Turn Me Loose

For some reason, I've had "Turn Me Loose" by Loverboy playing through my mind over and over today.  I have no idea where that came from.  Honestly, I don't think I've heard this song in ages--certainly not on the radio.  When I looked at some song facts this evening, I found out that the song came out in 1980.  Wow!  I thought it was a bit later (maybe '82 or so), but nope.  It was 1980 on the nose.  The song's lyrics are pretty clear from my interpretation, although I read some crazy stuff about S & M overtones.  I think that is ridiculous.  I thought it was absurd when I first read it, and then I watched the video.  I was floored looking at Mike Reno--he was so young in this video.  So, for those who think there is an alternate interpretation, well, I disagree.  I think that is silly.  Reno even said it was a song written as a "put-down" to a girl.  Seems pretty clear.  He wants his freedom, he wants to call the shots, he does not want to be kept on a tight leash--so for heaven's sake, turn him loose!  I see lots of couples where either the guy or the girl has total control, and that's not good.  Doesn't sound from the lyrics like Reno wanted something balanced and magical, but he just had had enough---he's got to do it his way---or no way at all.

So, I hope you enjoy this vintage video.  Awesome bass guitar in the beginning.  I found a cover of this song from 2007 by an Australian group called "Young Divas," but, well...yeah, I didn't care for it.  So, here is the original "Turn Me Loose," along with a recent performance from 2006.  Turn yourself loose and crank it up!

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Fleetwood Mac - Seven Wonders

So, yesterday I was in Office Max looking for some printer cartridges.  It was Friday night, and there I was--woo hoo!!!  Yeah, Becky's World is not always glamorous and overly exciting.  Sometimes, I'm just the only one shopping in Office Max on a Friday night.  Anyway, I heard Fleetwood Mac's "Seven Wonders" on the store's sound system.  I hadn't heard this song in ages.  It came out in 1987, and I absolutely loved it.  I remember putting it on one of my "mix tape" cassettes.  Remember those?  Ah, the good ol' days...  Anyway, there is something so nice and relaxed about this song.  It's a great diversion--nothing overtly sad, intense, heart-breaking, or anything like that.  It's just such a "nice" song, and Stevie's voice is clear, controlled, and just magical in that Stevie Nicks kind of way.  The timbre of her voice is unmistakably unique and really touching--and powerful.  I can listen to this song a million times and never tire of it.  When the song first came out, I paid attention to some of the lyrics, "If I live to see the seven wonders, I'll make a path to the rainbow's end, I'll never live to match the beauty again, the rainbow's end..."  I also remember hearing something about "you touched my hand," and everytime I hear that, it just strikes a chord (no pun intended) in me.  It's pure and touching.  The line about "you touched my hand" comes up in each verse--each time a little bit different.  My favorite, now that I read what the lyrics are, is "It's hard to find...someone with that kind of intensity...you touched my hand, I played it cool, and you reached out your hand to me..."  Ahh, that is raw feeling wrapped in poetry.  So beautiful, so simple, so touching.

And now on to the video...  It is pretty interesting to watch.  I had forgotten all about it, but it definitely says 1987.  No offense to Fleetwood Mac.  I am sure they had stylists on the set with outfits, make-up, etc.  You can tell the time period from the poofy crinoline skirt and tight bustier on Stevie.  The group definitely has the late-80s glam look, which kind of makes me chuckle when I think about Stevie Nicks.  She always really had her own very unique style.  She makes the late-80s thing work, though.  Kudos to her and the rest of the group.  They do look a bit uncomfortable, though, or maybe they are just laughing to themselves.  All I know is that if you watch the video carefully, you will see some interesting, tender looks between her and Lindsey.  Of course, we all know the history behind the two, and it is quite amazing.  You can even see a tear in Lindsey's eye if you watch super-closely.  Enjoy!

Friday, March 2, 2012

It's Jon Bon Jovi's Life--and His Birthday!

Happy Birthday to Jon Bon Jovi!  Yes, today is his 50th birthday.  I never stopped to think about how old he might be.  I just love his music and continue to be mesmerized by his "je ne sais quoi."  I guess he has this sort of magical power that puts me in a trance and makes me feel like a giggly 15-year-old....all while I seem to stop breathing watching his videos and listening to his music.  I am probably not in the minority, though, as I can imagine tons of women having this response.  That being said, let's get down to the music.

I chose "It's My Life" to celebrate Mr. Bon Jovi's birthday.  After all, it's his life, and he can proudly celebrate (and sing about) himself today!  I love this song, and even though it is from 2000, it's perfectly fine for an '80s music blog, because Bon Jovi IS the '80s.  The group, and Jon, are legendary.  There are several versions of this song out there, including the original, a "Storytellers" version, and an "Unplugged" version.  I prefer the original video and the "Storytellers" one.  The original video is an action-packed thriller of a piece, with lots of fancy stunt work and all kinds of stuff.  The "Storytellers" version lets us focus on Jon Bon Jovi and Ritche Sambora's beautiful vocals, harmonies, and awesome musicianship.  The lyrics are inspiring and really make me feel like getting "up and at 'em" so to say.  Jon sings, "It's my life...it's now or never...I ain't gonna life forever...I just wanna live while I'm alive.  My heart is like an open highway...like Frankie said I did it my way....I just want to live while I'm alive..."  Of course, Frankie is Frank Sinatra.  Very, very cool.  And Jon's heart is like an open highway?  Well, who can top that?  I feel myself getting weak in the knees...  Oh, Mr. Bon Jovi, hat's off to you!  We celebrate you and toast you today on your special day.  Thank you for being who you are and giving such great music to us (especially the ladies who aren't always paying attention to the actual lyrics but rather staring at you and smiling...).