The Search is Over

Okay, I realize I am delinquent again in my blogging.  Bad, bad Becky...  I have no excuse.  In fact, I blog for my company every week -- four blogs in fact.  I think that's why I get so pooped out by the time I get home.  What's funny is that I started that part of my job because of this blog, so...  I better get back to this!

Anyway, I have wanted to write about Survivor's "The Search is Over" for quite some time.  It is truly a beautiful song, and the more I listen to it, the more I like it.  I thought the lead singer had written it, but it turns out that Jim Peterik did.  I didn't know much about Jim, so I did a bit of research.  Of course, I came across his Facebook page and several photos with Mindi Abair, which made me very jealous.  I am a single reed player, too, but I will probably never have the chance to hob-nob with rock royalty like she does now.  Alas, I will get over my jealousy.  There's still time.  Ann Wilson plays flute, and I work for a flute company, so...

Anyway, back to the song.  Can you believe that for the longest time, I had the wrong lyrics in my head?  Yeah, amazing, I know.  Just kidding.  I think by now we all know that this often times happens to me.  In this tune, I always thought at the chorus Jamison sang, "I was living for Audrey...."  I thought, "Well, who's Audrey?"  Then, I realized it was, "I was living for a dream..."  A ha!  The search was over for the lyrics!  Now it all made sense.  The song is about a man who is searching for love just about all over the place when it really was in front of him the whole time.  Yup, he had a very good female friend whose love and devotion he took for granted so to say.  He really considered her to be "just a friend" and not a "girlfriend."  Finally, he realized she was "the one," and the search was over!  Just like that!  And, even to this very moment in time, I find myself correcting another lyric.  Yup -- "taking on the world...that was just my style."  I always thought the lyric was "taking our love away...that was just my style."  Wow.  Living for Audrey and taking our love away?  Sheesh.  I'm glad I listened to this a few more bazillion times.  I hope, at least, that I have listened to it more times than the man in the song searched for love...

Is This Love? Yes, and It's Survivor...

When you hear the song title "Is This Love," you probably think about Whitesnake, right?  I know I do, and I looked at Whitesnake's song with the same title in a previous post.  Meanwhile, I completely forgot about the song "Is This Love" by Survivor.  It was written in 1987, and after I heard it again this evening, I remembered it.  I didn't think it got much airplay back in the day, but it hit number #9 on the Billboard Hot 100.  It's definitely a great song, and I'm not sure why it is less than a stellar memory in the Survivor discography.  It has the unmistakable Survivor sound, with Jimi Jamison's distinctive vocals.  It also has wonderful lyrics about a man who is obviously in love, but it seems that he is questioning himself or maybe even fighting it a bit.  "Is this love that I'm feelin'?  Is this love that's been keepin' me up all night?"  Yup -- it's love.  Love is at the door, making you toss and turn and lose sight of your clear thinking.  That is what love does to us, and luckily, we have some terrific Survivor songs to express this!  I'm a big Survivor fan and truly enjoy all their songs.  Their songwriting is really first rate and maybe a bit underestimated today.  Survivor's "Is This Love" is probably eclipsed by the Whitesnake "namesake" tune, but this song really is terrific.  Signature Jamison vocals, awesome guitar solo, and an excellent modulation make this one a keeper in my book.  Hope you enjoy it as well!

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!

Survivor on Tour? I Can't Hold Back!

Well, it's kind of late here in Becky's World.  Long day, and I am pretty tired.  Well...I was pretty tired, until I found out that Survivor is on tour now.  In fact, they will be performing in Rhode Island, which is not far from me.  I might just have to go see them!  I am feeling super-excited about this for some reason.  I think I can "feel the hand of fate" reaching out to me...just like in their song, "I Can't Hold Back."  Check out the lyrics -- they are pretty gripping and enchanting.  That coupled with lead singer Jimi Jamison's magical voice -- ah, yes, "I can't hold back, I'm on the edge."  What a fun song!  I had forgotten about it.  I'm sure "Eye of the Tiger" is their biggest.  Everyone remembers that from Rocky III, but Survivor had lots of great tunes.  I am officially naming "I Can't Hold Back" as my personal favorite.  Check out these lyrics:
http://www.metrolyrics.com/i-cant-hold-back-lyrics-survivor.html

The video is captivating as well.  The lead singer and the girl he's swooning over are at the book store (turning the pages of desire no doubt).  He sings the first two verses with acoustic guitar, and when the drums come in,,,BOOM!  A flash of light...and they are in the concert arena.  She is all glammed up super '80s style, and he is on stage sporting red leather pants with zippers all over the place (leather parachute pants I suppose -- remember those?).  The video continues, and they eventually have quite the subway ride home.  When I saw that, I thought, "Hey, is that the L in Chicago?"  Yup, it is.  The band is from Chicago.  Love that city!  Toward the end of the video, we see that the whole thing was a day dream, and he chases after her when she leaves the bookstore.  Alas, he misses her, and she rides away on the L all alone...  It's okay.  I am sure they found each other eventually and lived happily ever after  :)