MUSIC TO MY EARS 2

From Chris Heath’s profile of Paul Rudd in May issue of GQ:

“Rudd’s conversation is littered with pop-music references. To be specific, while sitting in the diner today, he will introduce into the conversation the following artists, in order: the Style Council, the Boomtown Rats, Ultravox, Adam Ant, Nik Kershaw, Depeche Mode, Blancmange, Yaz, Alphaville, Aswad, the Adventures, Howard Jones, Limahl, Elvis Costello, Tom Petty, Seals & Croft, John Mellencamp, Squeeze, Boston, David Geddes, Neil Sedaka, Glen Campbell, the Bay City Rollers, Spandau Ballet, Visage, Fad Gadget, Feargal Sharkey, Erasure, Frank Zappa, Flat Lux, Duran Duran, Ron Sexsmith, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Wang Chung, Huang Chung, Go West, R.E.M., the Pogues, Hipsway, Curiosity Killed the Cat, Level 42, Haircut 100, Nick Heyward, Split Enz, Hunters & Collectors, Midnight Oil, the Hoodoo Gurus, the Proclaimers, Roman Holliday, the JoBoxers, Will Oldham, the Decemberists, Fleet Foxes, the Divine Comedy, the Magnetic Fields, Neutral Milk Hotel, Lambchop, Animal Collective, Television, James Taylor, Elton John, XTC, Sade, Status Quo, Marillion, Camper Van Beethoven, U2, Black, and the Housemartins.”

Reading this list caused some tummy flips of recognition. The words in boldface represent artists that have earned a place in my musical history. How about you?*

Since GQ pretends to be a heterosexual publication, the article didn’t mention “The Object of My Affection.” Also, inexplicably, it failed to laud Rudd’s work as the horny Lamaze instructor on “Reno 911!”

*We got spirit

Yes we do

We got spirit

How ‘bout you?

 

MUSIC TO MY EARS 1

A wondrous thing happened over the summer. My friend Ron got tired of repeating the same scene ad nauseam in restaurants and bars:

ME: I love this song!

RON: I have it in my iTunes library.

So he sent me a list of 7000 songs and said that I could have any and all of them. After much winnowing, I requested and received 619 tunes. (I remember the figure because it’s the “classic” area code for San Diego.) In the ensuing months, about 300 became permanent members of my iTunes family.

Listening to this music brings back so many memories that I’ve decided to start a series called MUSIC TO MY EARS. Ron’s gift has also produced lovely things like Lily’s Dance Party. (See previous entry.)

LILY'S DANCE PARTY

Back in the day, my sister and I used to do “the egg dance” in the living room. She (the egg whites) would dance in a circle around me (the yolk), typically to the accompaniment of several ABBA albums or the SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER soundtrack.

Anyway, since my sister is now raising her daughter at the old homestead, I was inspired to make a dance mix for my niece’s second birthday to celebrate that connection. It’s never too early to start with the dancing. (James and Ron always bring up the cookie dance I stupidly told them about.)

Gay uncles rule!

Below are the combined track listings and insert text.

LILY: MOMMY & I USED TO DANCE AROUND THE LIVING ROOM TO SOME OF THESE TUNES

1. ALICE EVERYDAY, Book of Love

Other girls with cool names you can invite over for tea and conversation.

2. PROVE YOUR LOVE, Taylor Dayne

Sassy big-haired diva dance. This chick had a huge mouth!

3. DANCING QUEEN, ABBA

Not my favorite ABBA tune but a classic nonetheless.

4. PLEASANT VALLEY SUNDAY, The Monkees

Fast, bouncy tune about living in suburbia. Jump around!

5. IF I CAN’T HAVE YOU, Yvonne Elliman

This song has it all: violins, French horn, flute…one of my all-time favorites!

6. CARS, Gary Numan

Maybe you can act out car-related movements in a trippy way.

7. COME GO WITH ME, Exposé

Ignore the stupid timbales at the beginning and the weak vocals. Just go with it.

8. KIDS IN AMERICA, Kim Wilde

Do a tough dance like you’re wearing a leather jacket and ripped clothing. “In your face!”

9. TRAGEDY, The Bee Gees

Why did I love this song when I was a kid? Bleah…

10. CRUSH ON YOU, The Jets

This reminds me of dancing with Liz in high school. You know her!

11. TOGETHER FOREVER, Rick Astley

I thought you needed to hear a baritone voice, for once.

12. LUCKY STAR, Madonna

Cool beginning, then listen for the claps and keyboard BOINKS on the chorus.

13. LOVE IS IN THE AIR, John Paul Young

Optimist anthem from Australia with nice ascendant line before each chorus.

14. IT’S A FINE DAY, Opus III

More optimism about tonight and tomorrow. Definitely trippy!

15. OH L’AMOUR, Erasure (Matt Darey Mix)

Start off in slow motion, then FREAK OUT! Could that be Cousin Nathaniel and Uncle Paul jamming on the drums?

Those of you who knew me back then may be surprised that I didn’t include my ultimate dance tune, Janet Jackson’s CONTROL. I agonized over this decision, but in the end, I thought it was a little early for Lily to hear lyrics about declaring independence from one’s parents.