Love Hangover

Happy Valentine's Day!  I know it is already February 14th in some parts of the globe, so I thought I would get a headstart on the celebration.  Valentine's Day is the number 1 holiday in Becky's World.  Why?  Well, I'm not sure, but it happens right before my birthday, so there must be something in the stars to make this my all-time favorite holiday.  There are also so many great love songs out there, and I have written about many of them in some of my previous posts.  I am trying to think of my favorite love song, but there are just so many...and not all of them have "love" in the title.  But, it is Valentine's Day after all, so I thought I would check out some songs about love.  There are over 1072 songs with "love" in the title, so this was a tough one...until I remembered "Love Hangover" by Diana Ross.  Now, this was written in 1976, so it is not an 80s song.  Again, I am cheating, but I couldn't help it.  It was performed by Erykah Badu at the BET tribute to Diana Ross in 2007, so it has definitely spanned the test of time.  I actually think this is my favorite performance of the song, so I had to post the video.  It is amazing.  What a terrific tribute to Ms. Ross!  "I don't need no cure...I don't need no cure...I don't need no doctahhhh...I don't need no cure..."  Pretty amazing stuff.  Ms.Badu's performance was really top notch.  Even Diana Ross looked pretty entranced!

On the flip side, I think my first memory of this song was from the Muppet Show.  I used to watch that show religiously.  Loved Ms. Piggy and wanted to be just as glamorous.  Meanwhile, I am not sure why this song was on, because it surely isn't for kids...but it was the 70s, so that's alright.  It was a different time altogether.  All I know is that the clip from the show scared the daylights out of me.  Something about the darkness and those big muppets dancing around frightened me.  Well, and maybe the slow tempo in the beginning, too.  Then, when the bass guitar came in, I seem to remember identifying the sound with a rubber band.  Wow, I am so glad I became a musician, because my take on the clip is so much different now.  Still a little creeped out by the muppets, but certainly not by the music.  Enjoy!  Happy Valentine's Day!

Tribute to Whitney Houston

I still cannot believe that we have lost the great Whitney Houston this week.  It was so sudden and unexpected -- almost surreal.  I heard the news last night when I was out of town.  This morning at the airport, all the news channels were running stories about her untimely passing.  Tonight on the Grammys, I believe Jennifer Hudson and Chaka Khan will be paying tribute to her in song.  It's so sad -- I think she was at an age to really stage a comeback, but now she will live on in spirit.  Rest in peace, Whitney.  We will miss you.

Pat Benatar - Love Is A Battlefield

Well, I am away from home at a conference again, so it took me a while to decide on a tune for this evening.  I did a bit of browsing and decided to take a look at Pat Benatar's "Love Is A Battlefield."  I absolutely LOVE this song and always did.  I can't believe it came out in 1983 -- it seems like just yesterday!  I used to play this song over and over and never got tired of watching the video, too.  I think I took a hiatus from listening to it in the past few years, because it may have gotten just a bit too much airplay for my taste.  It is a terrific song.  Don't want to spoil it by hearing it too much.

So, I heard it again this evening and watched the video.  I knew the video was terrific and remembered how cool the dance sequences were.  I read that Pat Benatar had to learn the dances and found it to be very challenging since she was not a dancer.  I can understand that.  The first time I saw an opera, I was amazed at how the chorus had to sing AND dance.  No way that I would be able to do that!  Anyway, the video is awesome.  If you haven't seen it in a while, check it out.  Short story line -- Pat plays a young woman who gets in an argument with her folks.  They throw her out of the house, she runs away (taking a bus out of town) and ultimately winds up as a prostitute/stripper or something like that.  I think it's a prostitute, because she is in some kind of club with a bunch of other women and one really, really ugly looking pimp.  Yikes.  His gold tooth and the look on his face are so creepy.  But, he is a terrific dancer.  You can tell when they have the little shoulder-to-shoulder dance off.  My guess is that the actor was a dancer.  Gotta love when Pat throws the drink in his face, too.  Take that, pimp!  She and the girls have one last dance number and then escape from the place.  Yup, they go out into the sunrise as opposed to sunset.  We see Pat on the bus again.  I guess she is on to her next destination (hopefully someplace with less scary pimps).  Just kidding.  I LOVE Pat Benatar.  I know others have tried to sing this song, but only Pat can do it the way it should be done.  She has a couple of tour dates in April.  Maybe I will get to see her!

Madonna - Halftime Show Super Bowl XLVI

I haven't had a chance to watch Madonna's Halftime Show in its entirety, but here it is!  I will have to comment later.  I was so happy that she performed some of her classics, like "Vogue" and "Like a Prayer."  Enjoy!

(Back) Into the Groove with Madonna

Okay, so everyone is talking about Madonna and her Super Bowl performance tomorrow night in Indianapolis.  Lots of speculation, many quick links with supposed play lists for her set, and all kinds of short interviews on the web.  Meanwhile, I found a video on her YouTube Channel of the new song that she is performing ("Gimme All Your Luvin'" with Nicki Minaj and MIA).  The song is alright.  Catchy, upbeat, fun, modern.  But, alas, I still like vintage Madonna tunes, better.  One of my favorites is "Into the Groove."  Anyone remember that one from 1985?  It was from the movie "Desperately Seeking Susan," where Madonna starred with Rosanna Arquette.  Honestly, I saw the movie when it came out and had a lot of trouble following the storyline, but that is alright.  I was just a young girl, and the story was kind of off-beat.  Besides, I just saw the movie because Madonna was in it.  Essentially, it's about a woman who has amnesia (Rosanna Arquette) and becomes obsessed with the life of Madonna's character (Susan).  Yup, that's about it.  It's kind of cooky and crazy and takes place in NYC.  I just thought the song was so great, and the video had scenes from the movie.  Eventually, I realized the song was really much, much better than the movie.  Come to think of it, I believe the same can be said of "Dick Tracy."  Remember that movie with Madonna and Warren Beatty?  Oh, and the romance between Madonna and Warren Beatty?  I digress...so, back to the song...

I always liked the tune because it had an excellent beat and very "cool" lyrics -- especially to young 5th graders who wanted to be just like Madonna back in 1985.  I was on that list.  I loved the way she spoke in the beginning of the song, "And you can dance, for inspiration, come on, come on, I'm waiting..."  The rest of the lyrics are very hip indeed, focusing on dancing and love, and putting the woman in charge as Madonna sings, "Get into the groove, boy you've got to prove, your love to me, get up on your feet, yeah step to the beat, boy what will it be..."  Back in the day, I don't think any of my 5th grad pals really paid that much attention to the vocals, but we sure did memorize the lines so we could dance and sing to the records...and yes, they were vinyl records.  Ah, memories.  Now, it seems kind of fun and whimsical to listen to the lyrics.  Nothing wrong with cute lyrics about love.  I think her song for tomorrow night's Super Bowl performance will be about love, too, but I was so distracted by all the activity in the video and song that I think I missed the lyrics entirely.  Oh well.  Hope you enjoy this peek from Madonna's past..

Easy Lover

Finally, Friday....ah....  It's the day I have been waiting for all week!  Time to celebrate, and what better way to do that than with an up tempo '80s classic?  I was thinking of a particular song by Toto, and then I did some browsing on the internet, ultimately finding the song "Easy Lover" by Phil Collins and Philip Bailey.  This was written in 1984, so it is perfect!  I forgot how much fun this song is--and the video as well.  If you watch the video, it begins with  Phil and Philip (wow, I just noticed they have the same name) riding up in a helicopter.  The opening synthesizer line kind of goes with the helicopter controls engaging, so it all sort of syncs up so to say.  Then, the two are in the studio, rehearsing and recording the song.  It looks like they are having so much fun, and I especially like the part where they are working in this "swap the mic" dance move.  But, it is not as funny as the segment where it looks like Philip Bailey is showing Phil Collins some of his classic Earth, Wind, and Fire dance moves.  Awesome! 

I can remember this song from back in the day, and I admit that I didn't pay too much attention to the lyrics.  I remember "she's an easy lover, she'll get a hold on you believe it," but that was about it.  I actually remember the opening keyboard lick more than the lyrics.  So, I looked at the lyrics this evening.  Yeah, I kind of remember now: "She's an easy lover, she'll get a hold on you believe it, she's like no other, before you know it you'll be on your knees..."  Aha!  That is pretty interesting.  And then it gets better: "She's an easy lover, she'll take your heart but you won't feel it, she's like no other, and I'm just trying to make you see."  Ouch!  She'll take your heart but you won't feel it?  That is heavy.  Reminds me of "Maneater" by Hall and Oates or "Evil Woman" by the Electric Light Orchestra.  The difference with this tune is that it is kind of upbeat and happy--so much so that you don't realize the words are telling you this woman will rip your heart out!  Ah...love...and heartbreak.  Well, the woman is an easy lover, so I guess it all makes sense.  Whatever the case, the song is well-written, and both of the Philip/Phils harmonize amazingly.  Philip Bailey has that awesome "falsetto" type voice, and coupled with Phil Collins, it is just a terrific song.  They could be singing about anything, and it would be terrific.  Enjoy!

Don Cornelius - May You Find Love, Peace, and Soul

Unfortunately, Don Cornelius is not the latest in a string of death hoaxes.  No, the former host of "Soul Train" died yesterday.  He took his own life after struggling with health and personal issues.  He will be missed greatly.  I thought I would post one of my favorite Soul Train clips to remember him.  Wishing him eternal love, peace, and soul...