Ziggy Marley, ZZ Top, Zac Brown Band, (Frank) Zappa… Ziggy Stardust, Zero to Hero, Zebras and Airplanes… Zither, Zorro (musical 2008), Zombie Prom (musical 1997)… zany choices.
One music type I haven’t really talked about that I am a fan of is swing. One of my favorite songs is the song Zoot Suit Riot but Cherry Poppin’ Daddies. It is a great upbeat song. I had the pleasure of seeing Big Bad Voodoo Daddy in concert before the pandemic hit. It was also one of the many music styles my Dad would listed to, and he had a couple of BBVD CDs. Take a minute to enjoy a musical riot…
Yardbirds, Young Rascals, Yes, Yoko Ono… You’re Beautiful, You Better You Bet, Yesterday, You Belong to the City… yodel, yo (Indian flute), Yung Kin (Chinese instrument)… you pick your favorite.
I had a little bit more to work with using the letter Y. But it was easy to pick what I would write about. “You Are My Sunshine” is a song I always used to sing to my daughter both at bedtime and when she was sick. The memories that song inspires in me gives me so many emotions. I am happy to be her mom, miss the days she was little, and wish I could see her more.
I have heard many artists cover the song, but it was originally recorded in 1939, said to be written in 1937. But there is also speculation it was written and performed, but not recorded, in the early 1930s. Then Jimmie Davis bought the rights to the song and recorded it in 1940. According to Google the song has been recorded over 350 times from artists such as Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, Carly Simon and as recently as 2017 by Charles McDonald for the movie Annabelle – Creation.
X… well this is a tough one. I looked up artists and only found eight that started with x and I didn’t know a single one of them. Songs were a little more familiar as in I knew who sang them X, X Marks the Spot, Xanadu, Xscape. And back to more struggles with musical terms… xylophone. So this post is going to be short.
When I was a kid my grandparents had an old xylophone that I used to like to play with. In music class in elementary school we would take turns playing the xylophone. I remember my first professional musician I saw was on an HBO special that Mom and Dad taped called Here It Is, Burlesque. He played a couple of songs and was so FAST with the mallets!
Since I can’t find that show on video I will include a video of someone doing one of the same songs, Saber Dance, although she is not near as animated when she plays as he was… wish I could remember his name.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Who, Whitney Houston, Whitesnake… What a Wonderful World, Words, What About Me, Whiskey Lullaby…Waltz, woodwind, Wurlitzer, Wicked… who should I listen to first?
This post will not be what I originally envisioned. I learned back on the letter T that I cannot share music unless I have a premium plan over the free one. I apologize that you will not be able to hear this.
About a million years ago… ok. It really wasn’t that long ago, more like 35-36 years ago. I have talked about some of my favorite local musicians before. There was one band where I friended the guitar player and we talked often. Long story short, I gave him a few of my lyrics I had written in my love of writing with hopes he might find one acceptable as a song.
A few months later he sent me a cassette tape (I did say this was a while ago) and he had added a few lyrics and altered just a couple of words and set it to music! It was such a rush to hear words I had written actually sung. I think he did a great job on it and I did eventually switch it to a CD and would share the song here if I could. Since I don’t have that ability, here are a couple of the other songs I have listed along with my original lyrics that provided the seed for “We Tamed the Night.”
Van Halen, Vanilla Ice, Vince Gill, Village People… Valleri, Vacation, Vienna, Video Killed the Radio Star… Violin, vivace, vibrato, vocal music… very diverse verses.
This is something out of the ordinary. It is something I found I enjoyed a lot more than I thought I would. This is Video Games Live. It is a concert experience like no other. Tommy Tallarico hosts the concerts that take place with a local symphony. The music is not your normal symphony pieces though.
The local symphonies practice and perfect video game music. The stage show runs video footage of the games the songs are from. And it is lighted like a rock concert. I only play a select few games, so I didn’t know all the songs or anything, but they all sounded awesome! First time I have been to a symphony with yelling and cheering going on (that was at Tommy’s request).
After the show (at the show I went to) Tommy set up to sign autographs. Unfortunately, we were unable to stand in line as we had a long drive home. But we did purchase some merchandise before the night ended.
The concert and available CDs include everything from the early 8bit songs to the driving rock tunes written exclusively for todays edgy games. They have costume or cosplay contests of the video game characters. Giveaways on stage and it is so much FUN!
Unfortunately, with covid there is only one concert on their tour schedule right now and it is not until next year. Check out their website here and this is a piece of one of their shows.
UB40, Usher, U2, Uncle Kracker… Unchained Melody, U and UR Hand, Umbrella, Urgent… Upbeat, ukulele, unison, upright piano… unknown unique songs.
This was an event of my youth. It was a big undertaking in the music industry in 1985. It happened in Los Angeles the night of the American Music Awards when most of the artists would be in town. Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson wrote the single and more than 25 different artists of the time sang it together that January night. It was called USA for Africa and the song was “We are the World.”
It was inspired by the fund-raising efforts of Bob Geldof and Band Aid overseas. They raised money with the song, “Do They Know It’s Christmas” which still gets air play every winter. “We are the World” did have success on the charts and raised about $60 million.
On Friday April 5th (Good Friday that year) there was a collaboration with many radio stations throughout the United States to play the song at exactly 10:50am EST and I will never forget it. I was in class and the principal made an announcement and played the 6 minute and 22-second-long song via the local radio station. It gave me goosebumps to hear it like that with “the nation” at the same time.
Some of the stars that were a part of USA for Africa were Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Wonder, Huey Lewis, Hall and Oats, Kim Carnes, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles and many more. This is the longer seven minute full version of the song used for the video (it had to be cut shorter for radio play).
Toto, Three Dog Night, Talking Heads, Train… Tennessee Flat Top Box, Tiny Dancer, Take it Easy, Tainted Love… Tuba, trombone, track, theremin… take this time to tap your toes.
This is a bitter-sweet post for me. About 30 to 35 years ago, I discovered a area band that blew me away. It was a four-piece band called of all things, Tasty Nickel. (You know I never did hear the story of where the name came from) They were a regular in two different bars here in town and I would see them play most every night they were here.
The band consisted of a married couple, his brother and a few different drummers. The highlight of every time I saw them was a song called “Too Old to Cry.” The lead singer, who wrote it, did the song so good with such emotion… I would sit and really get lost in the song about a break-up.
The band went through some changes, disbanded and the couple started another band briefly. But hung up the road life for something more stable. They completed some college and moved on to different lives. I lost touch with them when they moved to Virginia, I think it was.
Sadly, I recently discovered the lead singer who wrote “Too Old to Cry” had passed away from cancer. I do NOT own this song and I do NOT own the pictures, but I put together a video about 15 years ago for the song. I have debated whether or not to post it, but I still want Craig’s music to be heard. I really love this song and have always dreamed to hear it on the radio one day. So, if I can get this to work you will now see and hear “Too Old to Cry.”
Alas… WP does not allow free subscriptions to add video OR audio files without paying. So sadly I cannot share with you all. Trust me it is an amazing song! More videos will return with U tomorrow. SORRY!
Styx, Sawyer Brown, Skillet, Scott Joplin… Seven Nation Army, Stormy Monday, Sweat Pea, Sara Smile… Stage, staccato, Sing Off, symphony… so many singers.
This is all about friendship. No, it is not Thank You For Being a Friend (it is not on my list for T even). This is about a friend I got to know about 11 years ago. He had fallen on some rough times and something about the two of us just clicked.
He didn’t have a perfect life and he developed a bit of an attitude to get him through the worst of it. One day he called me up and told me to go to my computer to search for a song. It was by the group Band of Skulls and it was called Sweet Sour. The reason he wanted me to be aware of the song was the video reminded him of the attitude he had growing up.
The video features kids walking through a neighborhood trying to look tough. A scuffle takes place and well, just watch. This one is for you Jack!
REO Speedwagon, Ray Charles, Rupaul, Rascal Flatts… R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A., Radar Love, Raspberry Beret, Rebel Yell… Rhythm, radio, recorder, roadies… really want to relax with one of these.
I earlier mentioned my love of musicals during the letter F… this is one of my all-time favorites, Rent! The music is good, the story is heartbreaking but good. I have seen the movie and a touring stage production. Both have their own merits and are better in their own way. Just don’t ask me to pick a favorite.
By far my favorite part is when they go into the diner and sing “La Vie Boheme.” A close second is the introduction to Angel – “Today for You.” And you can’t dismiss the opening and closing song of the musical, “Seasons of Love.” It is all good, music, dance, acting… now I must get out my DVD!
Quiet Riot, Quarterflash, Queens of the Stone Age, Quincy Jones… Quinn the Eskimo, Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be Will Be), Queen of Hearts, Queen of the Silver Dollar… Quarter note, quartet, quintet, quadruple concerto… quite a narrow group of qualifying words.
Is there any question? The blaringly missing band? Of course, it is Queen. I would have given anything to have seen Freddy Mercury lead Queen in concert, but alas, I never had the chance before he was gone. But I do think Adam Lambert has a great voice and is doing Freddie proud. Now if they would just come to my part of the country. Until Queen makes a big US tour I am stuck with only albums and CDs.
My mom was a big fan of Queen too and as it is for me, she felt Bohemian Rhapsody was one of their best. There are too many to choose from so bear with me and enjoy a couple of videos…
And for a little fun (sorry this does start part way into the song) …
Leigha Robbins 