Week Thirteen: Obscure 80s - Trans X - "Living On Video" - Living On Video

When I worked for Hilton Hotels' Corporate Office in Carrollton, I used to get free and/or discounted hotel rooms at corporate-owned Hiltons, Embassy Suites, Doubletrees, Homewood Suites, and Hampton Inns, as well as certain international hotels. This allowed for me to do quite a bit of travel for dirt cheap rates.

My mother and I decided that we needed a weekend away, and so we headed to Houston and stayed in a Hilton somewhere near downtown. While there, I convinced her that we should hit up the 80s night at Numbers, a local nightclub. Wowzer ka-powzer... the drinks there were poured insanely strong, and they played rare and obscure remixes of familiar songs, as well as tunes I had never even heard before.

One of these tunes was “Living On Video” by Trans-X. How I managed to miss out on this song for approximately 22 years of my life is still a mystery to me, but it was well worth the 22-year wait! Thanks to the wonders of the internet, it was not difficult to quickly locate my very own copy of “Living On Video” once I arrived back home.

 

 

I will now take this opportunity to say: “Shame on all you local DFW dj's who never played this song while I was in attendance at your club and for making me drive all the way to Houston to hear it!” Oh and.... “Thanks, Numbers!!”

Give me light
give me action
at the touch of a button.
Flying through hyper-space
in a computer interface.
Stop - living on video
stop - integrated circuits.
Stop - sur un faisceau de lumieres
stop - is this reality?

Traveling in a light beam
laser rays and purple skies.
In a computer fairyland
it is a dream you bring to life.
Stop - living on video
stop - integrated circuits. . . .
Living on video - sur un faisceau de lumieres

I see your glittering blue eyes
you look at me with a smile.
It's a computer fantasy
it is waiting for you and me.
Living - living on video
living - living on video

Living - living on video
living - living on video - stop. . . .

Week Thirteen: Obscure 80s - B-Movie - "Nowhere Girl" - Just Say Yesterday (Compilation)

I just happened upon this little gem of a song.  I bought this particular compilation because I wanted to get my hands on a copy of “Warm Leatherette” by The Normal.  So after I listened to that tune a few hundred times, I finally decided to give the entire CD a listen.  As soon as the lengthy intro (not present in the video clip) kicked in, I became entranced by this song, and it, too, went on repeat about a hundred times.  I did eventually make it through the entire CD.

My band actually did a cover of this song, at my humble request, and it was always a big hit when we played it live.  It was super-simple to play on bass.  I don’t know what it is about this song, but it just always seems to tug at my heartstrings.  I think maybe it could be that I have felt like a “Nowhere Girl” many times in my life, especially around the time I first heard this tune!

Nowhere girl, you're living in a dream
Nowhere girl, you stay behind the scenes
Nowhere girl, you never go outside
Nowhere girl, because you prefer to hide

Every day, every night
In that old familiar light
You hung up when I called you at home
And I try to get through
And I try to talk to you
But there's something stopping me
From getting through

Nowhere girl, what you have you need
Nowhere girl, all functional and neat
Nowhere girl, in self-imposed exile
Nowhere girl, a martyr like denial

Every day, every night
In that old familiar light
You hung up when I called you at home
And I try to get through
And I try to talk to you
But there's something stopping me

Week Thirteen: Obscure 80s - Vicious Pink - "Cccan't You See..." - Cccan't You See...Single

The Vicious Pink song, “8:15 to Nowhere”, was always a staple at many retro clubs, and it is such a catchy tune, despite the fact that it lacks lyrics (youtube clip included below). It was actually “8:15 to Nowhere” that first piqued my interest in Vicious Pink; however, as I have already mentioned, prior to the Internet, the primary methods for finding out information about bands required copious amounts of time and copious amounts of patience. It also helped if you had one or more subscriptions to monthly music magazines. However, when it came to obscure bands, like Vicious Pink, it was practically impossible to find out anything.

So in the mid-90s, when my family acquired a dial-up AOL connection, I used my “designated computer time” to scour the Internet for details about these obscure bands. Lo and behold! What did I find sitting there waiting for me behind the computer screen one evening but this little gem - “Cccan't You See...”?  However, with dial-up, I think it took me almost 45 minutes to listen to a 30 second clip of the song.  "We've come a long way, baby!"

Since it quickly came to my attention that many local nightclub DJ's had a copy of “8:15 to Nowhere” readily available to play but no copy of “Cccan't You See...”, I began to carry around a copy with me to certain clubs where I knew they would be willing to play it. That's exactly how I got one of the DJ's at The Church at the Lizard Lounge, as well as one of the DJ's at The Art Bar in the Club Clearview Complex, to play this tune so that I could dance to it, somewhere other than my living room or my bedroom...

**UPDATE** - 2/9/2013 - So frustrating!!! They keep removing and blocking youtube clips for this track; so I have to keep updating as I find new ones...



Last night, we both said things that we regret
Things that we didn't mean
Broke up, all that we ever had
You went, said you weren't coming back

Baby please, can't you see
Back in your arms is where I want to be
Baby please, answer me
Back in your arms is where I want to be

I know, things started going wrong
And yet, my loves goes on and on
I think, that we can make it work
Ignore, all of those things you've heard

Baby please, can't you see
Back in your arms is where I want to be
Baby please, answer me
Back in your arms is where I want to be

Week Thirteen: Obscure 80s - Peter Godwin - "Images of Heaven" - Images of Heaven

Since my last two weeks of posts have been a bit on the sullen side, I decided to move to a more upbeat genre and hopefully introduce (or re-introduce) some of my favorite obscure 80s tunes...

DJ Joe Virus from The Church (at the Lizard Lounge) was the person whom I believe introduced me to this song (*note: this was typically played towards the very, very end of the night*). The reason I say this is because I remember this very tall African-American girl who would show up at the various “gothic-related” events around town and dress in belly dancer-type garb with the gold clangy chains around her waist and wrists and head and such. This was definitely “her song”. She commanded the dance floor and everyone's attention when this song was played.

I may have heard it at Red Square Retro (at The Red Jacket) or Retrocadia or Numbers (in Houston) prior, but even if I did, I can honestly say that it did not stick with me until I saw her gyrate around the room to this song.

Most people call this an 80's one-hit-wonder, and while I would have to agree with them, I would also add that I would listen to this 80's one-hit-wonder any day over the nonsense that is being marketed and sold to the kiddies today!

There is not an official video for this song, but here is a super-cool fashion video created by someone on youtube:

nothing is sacred - so give me your soul my love
nothing is wasted on someone like you
somebody killed me - they tore out my heart my love
somebody filled me with photos of you
and there’s nothing I can do - the media made you
there’s nothing I can do - cause you don’t exist - you don’t exist
just images of heaven that take me to hell
images of heaven - or something for sale
oh images of heaven - images of heaven

something possessed me - an image of you my love
video visions that play on my mind
nobody blessed me with power to reach my love
one cheap illusion can still be divine
and nobody believes in this new religion
yes nobody believes - cause nobody sees-nobody sees
these images of heaven that take me to hell
images of heaven - or something for sale
oh images of heaven - images of heaven

and there’s nothing I can do - the camera made you
there’s nothing I can do - cause you don’t exist - you don’t exist
just images of heaven that take me to hell
images of heaven - or something for sale
oh images of heaven - images of heaven

Week Twelve: Amy Winehouse - "Back to Black" - Back to Black

What?!?!?!  No "Rehab"?!?!?!  Well, my dear blogland readers, I chose not to talk about Amy's song, "Rehab", in depth during Amy week, on purpose, because I feel that "Rehab" has been torn apart and reconstructed from every angle, as well as has been used to attack Amy and her family relentlessly; therefore, anything you want to know about the song, "Rehab", is just a mouse click and a few keying entries away.

Instead, I chose to have "Back to Black" close out Amy week.  Wow, and this video gives me the heebee-geebees, in a way, because it so eerily predicted her fate in the form of burying a tiny box, albeit symbolic of a dead relationship in this video.  If you don't already know, Amy was cremated as part of her funeral ceremony.  Mitch noted in the biography that although cremation is not typically done in most Jewish ceremonies, Amy's grandmother was cremated, and he felt that Amy would want to go in the same form and fashion.

Amy's handlers/bodyguards were photographed with her ashes one last time.  Although her box of ashes is not black, as was the one in the video, she still ended up in a tiny box, with a whole slew of individuals mourning over her passing.



I have already mentioned in a previous post - I believe it was "Thieves" by She & Him - how much of a fan I am of black and white concepts in films and videos.  I think it adds such an element of grace and beauty to this video.  Mitch recalled that during the filming of the video, it was so cold, and Amy called and begged him to bring her the jacket that you see her wearing. 

Additionally, I love the beats in the song.  This was finally the song that sold me on Amy.  She was just a bit too "rough around the edges" for me when she was first introduced in the States, but little by little, as I began to learn more and more about her, I began to appreciate her and her struggles in a way in which I have never connected with an artist so personally in the past.  I said it before, and I'll say it again: I actually shed tears on July 23, 2011, when I heard that Amy was dead.  I was even feeling a bit glum this past Monday, on the anniversary of her passing.  RIP, dear sweet, Amy!!!  You are greatly missed by many!!!! <3



He left no time to regret, kept his dick wet
With his same old safe bet
Me and my head high and my tears dry
Get on without my guy

You went back to what you knew so far removed
From all that we went through
And I tread a troubled track, my odds are stacked
I'll go back to black

We only said goodbye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to, I go back to us

I love you much, it's not enough
You love blow and I love puff
And life is like a pipe
And I'm a tiny penny rolling up the walls inside

We only said goodbye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
When I go back to

We only said goodbye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to

Black, black, black, black
Black, black, black
I go back to
I go back to

We only said goodbye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to

We only said goodbye with words
I died a hundred times
You go back to her
And I go back to black

Week Twelve: Amy Winehouse - "You Know I'm No Good" - Back to Black

I love it when odd little coincidences occur throughout my day!  For instance, when I was conducting research on the lyrics to this song, since there are so many variations of certain lines on the web, I learned that the album, Back to Black, was released on my birthday in 2006: October 27th.  Then as I was just about to begin typing today's entry, Carole King's song, "So Far Away" found its way onto my iPod while in shuffle mode amongst 4000 other songs.  If you aren't aware, that was the song that Amy's guests were asked to sing along with at her funeral.  Is Amy contacting me from the great beyond?  Her parents believe that she has taken the form of a black butterfly in the afterlife.  No black butterflies have been flying around lately, but I still think my two above mentioned coincidences are a bit neat-o!!

On a not so whimsical note, I feel that this tune, "You Know I'm No Good" is Amy at her most raw, bitter, and angst-ridden self.  Throughout the biography that I read about Amy written by her father, Mitch, he kept repeating the ideas that as Amy was getting older, Amy wanted to be good; Amy wanted to get better; Amy wanted to stop all the madness; Amy wanted anything but what she had - especially a husband and a baby.  However, in the battle of the angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other, the devil was always winning out. 

When I ran across the wiki page about this song, checking to see if they had any insight about the lyrical discrepancies, I found this humorous quote by Roger Moore: English actor Roger Moore said he had no idea why Winehouse chose to include him in the lyrics, unless she wanted a word that rhymed with "door", or could not find a word that rhymed with "Connery".

Meet you downstairs in the bar and heard
Your rolled up sleeves in your skull T-shirt
You say, "What did you do with him today?"
And sniffed me out like I was Tanqueray

'Cause you're my fella, my guy
Hand me your Stella and fly
By the time I'm out the door
You tear men down like Roger Moore

I cheated myself
Like I knew I would
I told you, I was trouble
You know that I'm no good

Upstairs in bed with my ex-boy
He's in a place but I can't get joy
Thinking on you in the final throes
This is when my buzzer goes

Run out to meet you, chips and pitta
You say, "When we married", 'cause you're not bitter
There'll be none of him no more
I cried for you on the kitchen floor

I cheated myself
Like I knew I would
I told you, I was trouble
You know that I'm no good

Sweet reunion Jamaica and Spain
We're like how we were again
I'm in the tub, you on the seat
Lick your lips as a I soak my feet

And then you notice likkle carpet burns
My stomach drop and my guts churn
You shrug and it's the worst
Who truly stuck the knife in first

I cheated myself
Like I knew I would
I told you, I was trouble
You know that I'm no good

I cheated myself
Like I knew I would
I told you, I was trouble
Yeah, you know that I'm no good

Week Twelve: Amy Winehouse - "Cupid" - Back to Black: B-Sides

When I write about covers, I always do my best to credit the original artist, which in this case is Sam Cooke.  Sam Cooke was an amazing talent with a phenomenal voice, and I truly wish that he had an opportunity to hear Amy's version of this tune because I think it would have made him proud.

My contract law professor was a huge Sam Cooke fan, and he told us a funny story about how he would joke with his wife and tell her that when he died, he wanted to go only in his sports coat and shoes, just like Sam Cooke, minus the bullet.  She would respond something along the lines of: "If you don't watch it, you're gonna get nothing but the bullet!"

I love the reggae beats that Rhythms Del Mundo used on this track, and Amy's voice is spot on.  I have this tune on my MP3 player in my truck, and every time it comes on, I am so tempted to roll down the windows and blast it for all the surrounding vehicles to enjoy!   However, I generally don't because in my neighborhood, I'd have to compete with monster bass blasters anyhow, and my Ford Ranger speakers don't quite measure up.



Cupid, draw back your bow

  And let your arrow flow

Straight to my lover's heart for me

Nobody but me

Cupid, please hear my cry

And let your arrow fly

Straight to my lover's heart for me

I don't want to bother you, but I'm in distress

There's danger of me losing all of my happiness

For I love a man who doesn't know I exist

And this you can fix so

Cupid, draw back your bow

And let your arrow flow

Straight to my lover's heart for me

Nobody but me

Cupid, please hear my cry

And let your arrow fly

Straight to my lover's heart for me

Now if your arrow makes his love strong for me

I swear I'm gonna love him until eternity

I know that 'tween the both of us, his heart we can steal

Cupid, help me if you will so

Cupid, draw back your bow

And let your arrow flow

Straight to my lover's heart for me

Nobody but me

Cupid, please hear my cry

And let your arrow fly

Straight to my lover's heart for me
Hey Cupid

Week Twelve: Amy Winehouse - "Between the Cheats" - Lioness: Hidden Treasures

Before I forget to mention it elsewhere, I read in the biography written by Mitch Winehouse that when it was time to come up with a name for Amy's label, they looked to a lioness pendant that was given to Amy by her grandmother, and Lioness Records was born. 

It's no secret to anyone that both Blake and Amy cheated on one another throughout the course of dating and their marriage.  It kind of goes back to my post from yesterday, in regards to an addict's reaction to those "feel good" brain chemicals and how love and sex can become just as much of an addiction as any type of drug or alcohol.

In the youtube clip that I selected for this song, the individual who created it compiled some very nice moments between Blake and Amy.  It's touching to know that these seemingly happy times occurred because it would be even more heartbreaking to think that Amy never got some type of legitimate affection from Blake, though she appeared to love him almost unconditionally.  It makes you consider forgiving him for all of the horrible thoughts the press has conjured up about him in your mind...

That is until you come across another youtube clip (included below) that includes his mother, Georgette, who is still trying to convince everyone that Amy introduced Blake to hard drugs.  Mitch speaks very poorly of Georgette in the biography that he wrote, and I honestly did not know much about her up until now.  However, I think I'm siding with Mitch on this one - the woman seems a bit delusional!!

I would die before I divorce ya
I'd take a thousand thumps
For my love
Cause you
Kissed a lucky horseshoe
Stuck it in my boxing glove

Does anyone
Who will listen up
To our victories and dumb defeats
Knows they all take you to the cleaners
If you come between the cheats

Between the cheats
Between the cheats
Between the cheats

My husband is the finest handsome hustler
And he still makes this housewife blush
So I go with him, my hand flicks
I'm sitting on the royal flush

Women drink him in
Swim in him with green eyes
Then go home and cash the chips you've got
And here maybe two
Oh two bottles of
The jack of heart is my jackpot

Between the cheats
Between the cheats
Between the cheats

Cause we all have to lock eyes
And I know my heart beat
There's a winning secret to both
And it's sworn between the cheats

Between the cheats

Week Twelve: Amy Winehouse - "Love is a Losing Game" - Back to Black

On this, the one year anniversary of Amy Winehouse's death, I have selected the song that I feel properly sums up her struggles - "Love is a Losing Game".  First and foremost, I would like to mention that I spent two years of my life studying to be a substance abuse counselor; so I am not pulling the analysis that I am about to offer in regards to this song out of my arse.  I got to the very end of the program and only needed to complete a one-semester internship and then go down to Austin to take the state exam, and then I would have been a certified substance abuse counselor.  I couldn't go through with it.  Addiction and working with addicts is heartbreaking.  It's full of relapse and failure - often resulting in death, as was Amy's sad fate.  I realized that I would take my clients' relapses and failures far too personally, and I had to begrudgingly admit to myself that it was not the line of work for me.  I still came out of it with a Mental Health/Substance Abuse Prevention Certificate, and I realized that I was actually far better geared towards working as a Paralegal through the ethics and legal studies I had to conduct in regards to the medical field and practices; so I do not view it as lost time, by any means!!

Now, back to Amy... so when one has an addictive personality, anything that gets those "feel good" chemicals flowing in the brain has the potential to become an addiction.  For Amy, I believe that love gave her the same highs (and lows) that drugs and alcohol did.  Where love becomes a losing game for an addict is in the sense that there is generally an endless supply of drugs and alcohol; whereas, there is not always an endless supply of love and affection from your romantic partner, especially if they are also an addict.  Then you have the whole co-dependency cycle that develops and the substituting more drugs and alcohol for the loneliness and games that are being played.  It becomes a mess, and all of those cognitive connections that you have created in regards to your feelings are so entangled that it often takes a great deal of counseling and dedication to oneself (i.e. - a good deal of time single) to get it all sorted out.  Above all, though, it takes sobriety and a clearer head.  So even if Amy had ever been able to kick her alcohol addiction on her own, which was what she was attempting; I still fear that she would have battled love addiction for eternity, or until she sought help.

Subconsciously, I think Amy might have known this about herself.  I have come to this conclusion through some of her lyrics.  In her song, "Addicted," she talks about weed substituting the place of a man in her life, and in "Tears Dry On Their Own," she knows that she shouldn't: f*(C)k herself in the head with stupid men.  Ultimately, I think she makes it crystal clear in this song, "Love is a Losing Game"...



For you I was a flame,
Love is a losing game
Five story fire as you came,
Love is losing game

One I wish I never played,
Oh, what a mess we made
And now the final frame,
Love is a losing game


Played out by the band,
Love is a losing hand
More than I could stand,
Love is a losing hand

Self professed profound
Til' the chips were down
Know you’re a gambling man
Love is a losing hand

Tho' I battled blind,
Love is a fate resigned
Memories mar my mind,
Love it is a fate resigned

Over futile odds,
And laughed at by the Gods
And now the final frame,
Love is a losing game

Week Twelve: Amy Winehouse - "Tears Dry On Their Own" - Back to Black

It's so odd to think that just a year ago today, Amy Winehouse was living out the last 24 hours of her life.  The accounts of those closest to her in regards to these last 24 hours are so bizarre to me.  Her mother, Janis, says that she stopped by Amy's flat for tea and that they sat around and chatted (and I believe looked at some photos).  Her boyfriend, Reg, says that he was trying to wrap up some work before they headed off for a friend's wedding and that he was supposed to stay the night at Amy's place, but he got stuck at work; so she was going to settle in with some DVDs.  Her "handler" (such a weird term to me since it makes her sound like an animal), Andrew, says that she was tipsy throughout most of the day but that she had been really loud that evening playing her drums in her room and that he had to quiet her down.  Her doctor said that Amy was a bit tipsy when she left from completing Amy's checkup but that she had not expressed a desire to die or self-harm, or anything of that nature.  So what went so wrong that caused her to consume such copious amounts of alcohol to the point of causing her own death?

What is also interesting to me is that after Amy's death, The Sun (which I realize is a tabloid), quoted Blake as saying, "My tears will never dry...."  What struck me most about this quote is that it was so obvious that the entire relationship between Blake and Amy focused on Blake and on what Blake wanted and on what Blake thought and on what Blake felt.  Now, I can only go by what I read because I did not personally know either of them; however, no one close to either of them has even attempted to contest that idea.  Also, I want to make it clear that I don't hate the guy because, again, I don't know him or even much about him, other than that he is a recovering addict.  However, even in Amy's death, he still was putting the focus all on him - even going so far as to say that he had a plan to save Amy once he got out of prison.

I remember watching a youtube clip (included below) of Amy and Blake at the Paddington Station, and at one point, he goes walking off (to smoke a cigarette, I'm assuming, since he comes back with a pack of cigarettes in hand), and Amy chases after him like a woman obsessed!  He appears so callous and put out the whole time while Amy is pawing at him and trying to get closer as he just goes along with it all.  It's sad to watch it play out in front of you.

Then, what sickened me even more was when I read reports, confirmed by friends of both, that Blake would make Amy give him money to kiss her and be affectionate in public so that he could go buy drugs.  Others said that Blake was fond of Amy but that he was never truly in love with her.

Regardless, I suppose that where I am going with all of this is that: Yes, Blake, your tears will eventually dry... in fact, it seems they already have... even on their own, like Amy's... the ones that you, my dear, were the cause of...

All I can ever be to you is a darkness that we know
And this regret I got accustomed to
Once it was so right when we were at our high
Waiting for you in the hotel at night

I knew I hadn't met my match but every moment we could snatch
I don't know why I got so attached
It's my responsibility and you don't owe nothing to me
But to walk away, I have no capacity

He walks away, the sun goes down
He takes the day but I'm gone
And in your way in this blue shade
My tears dry on their own

I don't understand, why do I stress the man
When there's so many better things at hand
We could a never had it all, we had to hit a wall
So this is inevitable withdrawal

Even if I stop wanting you, a perspective pushes through
I'll be some next man's other woman soon
I cannot play myself again, I should just be my own best friend
Not **** myself in the head with stupid men

He walks away, the sun goes down
He takes the day but I'm gone
And in your way in this blue shade
My tears dry on their own

So we are history, your shadow covers me
The sky above, a blaze

He walks away, the sun goes down
He takes the day but I'm gone
And in your way in this blue shade
My tears dry on their own

I wish I could sing no regrets and no emotional debts
'Cause as we kiss goodbye the sun sets
So we are history, the shadow covers me
The sky above, a blaze that only lovers see

He walks away, the sun goes down
He takes the day but I'm gone
And in your way my blue shade
My tears dry on their own

He walks away, the sun goes down
He takes the day but I am gone
And in your way my deep shade
My tears dry on their own

He walks away, the sun goes down
He takes the day but I'm gone
And in your way my deep shade
My tears dry

Week Twelve: Amy Winehouse - "Our Day Will Come" - Lioness: Hidden Treasures

There are a plethora of reasons as to why I chose Amy Winehouse for my week twelve artist.  First and foremost, the world will be celebrating the one-year anniversary of her passing on Monday, July 23rd.  Secondly, I just finished reading the book that was penned by her father, Mitch Winehouse, called Amy, My Daughter, which was a very touching and heartwarming account of her life.  Finally, Elvis week segues nicely into Amy week since she was a fan of his, especially since Blake was a fan of his.  In fact, I read somewhere that the lightning bolt tattoo on her right inner wrist was her tribute to Elvis.  The lightning bolt was the symbol used for his TCB trademark.  However, I believe that Amy got that tattoo long before she met the Elvis-obsessed Blake; so it could have been more of an "afterthought" explanation for her because I also read somewhere else that the lightning bolt was symbolic of her "harsher" side and the corresponding feather, on the other inner wrist area, was symbolic of her "softer" side:

Shortly after her passing, when the web and news broadcasts blew up with reports about Amy, my father pointed out to me that Amy and I possessed many striking similarities.  She was very close to both her father and her paternal grandmother.  I am very close to my father and was very close to my paternal grandmother.  She mentored Dionne Bromfield; I mentor a young African-American girl.  She was of Russian ancestry; I am of Russian ancestry.  She loved 1960s Girl Groups; I love 1960s Girl Groups.  She was in an abusive relationship that destroyed her; I was in an abusive relationship that nearly destroyed me.  Her drink of choice was Vodka; my drink of choice was Vodka.  Where our similarities clearly end is that at the age she passed away, I was already a year into my sobriety.

I will not claim to have been a huge Amy fan while she was alive.  I always appreciated the unique nature of her work, and I never made fun of her for her issues.  Why would I?  I know what a struggle it was for her to battle her demons - I cannot imagine having to fight them while being scrutinized by the public eye.  I also know that you eventually have to put all that negativity behind you, and as long as she was expected to continue to sing about Blake and all of that heartbreak, she did not have a fighting chance.

I love her cover of "Our Day Will Come" which was originally by Ruby and the Romantics.  I just realized the other day that this song is playing very faintly while they are in the bowling alley the first time in Grease 2, while they are returning the shoes and right before Stephanie kisses Michael as he is coming through the entrance.  I know that Amy was a huge fan of the Grease films, so I wonder if that had any impact on her choice to cover this song.

 Our day will come (Our day will come)
And we'll have everything
We'll share the joy
Falling in love can bring

No one can tell me
That I'm too young to know
I love you so
And you love me

Our day will come (Our day will come)
If we just wait a while
No tears for us
Think love and wear a smile

Our dreams have magic

Because we'll always stay
In love this way
Our day will come

[Instrumental break]

Our dreams have magic

Because we'll always stay
In love this way

Our day will come

Our day will come

Our day will come

Our day....will come

Our day will come

Week Eleven: Elvis Presley - "Hound Dog" - Elvis Presley: History Disc One

Now, I will tell you about the song that began my love affair with Elvis.  When I was a little girl, I was very much a tomboy, and whatever my older brother did, I was bound and determined to do just a little bit better.  Since my grandparents lived near a lake, we grew up gardening, fishing, boating, bar-b-qing, and doing loads of outdoor activities.

Although my intentions were always good as a child, no matter what I did, I was always a klutz, and I was forever hurting myself - rusty nails in the foot from walking near the toolshed without shoes, scraped knees and elbows from falling off the three-wheeler, singed hair and scalp from firecracker accidents, and so on and so forth.

I always wanted to be tough, but with each accident came tons of tears.  My grandmother did not do so well with tears, and although she would try to be as tender and loving as possible, she could only tolerate so much.

One day after one of my accidents that inevitably left me squalling, she began singing "Hound Dog" to me.  I couldn't even focus on my pain any longer because the lyrics were so darn funny to me.  I couldn't figure out why she was talking about catching rabbits and not being her friend, but I could not get enough.  I kept making her sing it over and over, until I finally caught on to the lyrics and sang along too.  So, yes, "Hound Dog" was my introduction to Elvis Presley, and it was true love ever since.

I will leave you with one final photo of my grandmother.  This was taken in 1958, when she was 25-years-old and a full-blown Elvis fan.  Isn't she the cutest little Rockabilly girl?

You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog

Cryin' all the time
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine

Well they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Yeah they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine

You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time

You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine


Well they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Yeah they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine

Well they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Ya know they said you was high-classed
Well, that was just a lie
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
And you ain't no friend of mine

You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
You ain't nothin' but a hound dog
Cryin' all the time
Well, you ain't never caught a rabbit
You ain't no friend of mine

Week Eleven: Elvis Presley - "Blue Suede Shoes" - Elvis Presley Collection - Rock 'N Roll

I come from a long line of very tall ancestors; we are Czech, German, and Russian.  So for the greater part of my existence (aside from when I was a newborn), I have been incredibly tall, thin, and gangly, towering over all the boys and always playing the forward or center positions in basketball.

One negative side effect of being so tall was that I had to "grow into my paws," as my dad referred to it.  Yes, my dear blogland readers, I was in a size 6 women's shoe... in the SECOND GRADE!!!  So poor little me would be walking around in the equivalent of clown shoes, and lo and behold, I was constantly stepping on other peoples' toes - literally, not in the sense of an idiom.

My poor grandmother had very sensitive feet, so stepping on her toes was always a huge, dramatic production.  Sometimes, I would just barely nip her toes, and at those times, she would jokingly say to me, "Don't you step on my Blue Suede Shoes!"  Then we would laugh hysterically.  However, if I actually caught her toes full on, she would curse at me in English and in Czech.  It was quite frightening!!!

These days, being tall and thin with size 10 feet is far from a horrible thing - especially since they usually have at least one size 10 shoe remaining in every clearance sale!! :-D

Well, it's one for the money
Two for the show
Three to get ready
Now go, cat, go

But don't you
Step on my blue suede shoes
Well, you can do anything
But lay off of my blue suede shoes

Well, you can knock me down
Step in my face
Slander my name
All over the place

Well, do anything that you want to do, but uh-uh
Honey, lay off of my shoes
And don't you
Step on my blue suede shoes
Well, you can do anything
But lay off of my blue suede shoes

Well, you can burn my house
Steal my car
Drink my liquor
From an old fruit jar

Do anything that you want to do
But uh-uh, honey, lay off of my shoes
And don't you
Step on my blue suede shoes
Well, you can do anything
But lay off of my blue suede shoes

Well, it's one for the money
Two for the show
Three to get ready
Now go, go, go

But don't you
Step on my blue suede shoes
Well, you can do anything
But lay off of my blue suede shoes

Well, it's blue, blue blue, suede shoes
Blue, blue, blue suede shoes
Yeah, blue, blue, blue suede shoes
Baby, blue, blue, blue suede shoes

Well, you can do anything
But lay off of my blue suede shoes

Week Eleven: Elvis Presley - "Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear to Tread)" - Elvis Presley: From the Heart (Disc 2)

While I am fully aware that Elvis neither wrote the music nor the lyrics to this tune, I feel that his cover of it is the best out of the dozen or so popular artists who have tackled it over the years.

Every time I hear this song, I can't help but want to do a little jig around the house.  It's such a sweet and simple song, and Elvis just nails it with his phrasing and voice.

If I could find a fella like my dear Elvis, I would gladly rush in like any other fool!!! :-D

I would also like to award a second and third place winner for covering this song.  In second place is... She & Him.  And in third place is... Bow Wow Wow.  In fact, the Bow Wow Wow cover made it into Sofia Coppola's film, Marie Antoinette!  I've added youtube clips of these two bands below for your own individual comparison.

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread
And so I come to you, my love, my heart above my head.
Though I see the danger there
If there's a chance for me, then I don't care

Fools rush in where wise men never go
But wise men never fall in love, so how are they to know?
When we met, I felt my life begin
So open up your heart and let this fool rush in (x2)

Just open up your heart and let this fool rush in
So open up your heart and let this fool rush in

Week Eleven: Elvis Presley - "A Little Less Conversation" - Elvis Presley: History Disc One

So today, I will give you a bit of a break from me talking about my grandmother, and instead, I'll tell you a little about my dad (since I've already mentioned my mother a time or two).  I think that this tune, "A Little Less Conversation", could possibly be my dad's theme song.

One very important lesson that my father taught me over time was that words mean precious little without solid actions to back them.  I absolutely consider my father to be a man of his word (and actions), and he would just shake his head at me as he watched me suffer through one ridiculous situation after another because of my naivete and because of my inclination to take people on their word.  He would utter the same line: "One day, you'll learn!"

Additionally, I was a youngster, a teenager, and even a young adult who would always "dream big", and I was constantly telling my dad about all these pursuits I was going to follow.  Again, I would hear one of two lines in response: "Quit talking about it and just do it!" or "Quit worrying about it and just do it!"  I swear the man coined that Nike commercial slogan.

While rummaging through my grandmother's photos, I found a super cool photo of my dad that was taken before one of his high school dances.  He looks like he might have borrowed some of his style from Elvis in the photo:



A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
Satisfy me baby

Baby close your eyes and listen to the music
Drifting through a summer breeze
It's a groovy night and I can show you how to use it
Come along with me and put your mind at ease

A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
Satisfy me baby

Come on baby I'm tired of talking
Grab your coat and let's start walking
Come on, come on
Come on, come on
Come on, come on
Don't procrastinate, don't articulate
Girl it's getting late, gettin' upset waitin' around

A little less conversation, a little more action please
All this aggravation ain't satisfactioning me
A little more bite and a little less bark
A little less fight and a little more spark
Close your mouth and open up your heart and baby satisfy me
Satisfy me baby

Week Eleven: Elvis Presley - "Love Me Tender" - Elvis Presley: History Disc One

After my grandfather passed away in 2000, I tried to visit my grandmother as much as I possibly could - despite the 2 hour drive there and 2 hour drive back.  One evening, we were sitting at her kitchen table watching the birds play around the birdfeeder, one of her favorite activities to pass the time, when I asked her if she would like to listen to some Elvis tunes with me.

She said that she would give it a go, but she also said that she hadn't really listened to any music since my grandfather's passing.  It all started out well, with a few of the faster and more upbeat songs, to which we hummed and sang along.

But boy, oh boy, when she heard the first few lyrics of "Love Me Tender", she started tearing up.  Then by the middle of the song, the waterworks were spilling uncontrollably.

I was already halfway to the CD player to turn it off by the time she blurted out, "Honey, I love Elvis, but right now, he's making me cry..."  I never asked my grandmother to listen to Elvis with me again after that evening because I knew it was just too difficult for her.  She attached events and people to music and songs, exactly the way I do.

However, every Christmas and birthday, without fail, I continued to give my grandmother some type of Elvis memorabilia.  It should not surprise you much when I tell you that all of that Elvis memorabilia is now safely in my possession.

I absolutely adore shuffling through all of my grandmother's photos, but my favorite photo of my grandparents was taken in 1946, when my grandmother was 13-years-old and my grandfather was 24-years-old.  They were at a carnival, and they look like they are so much in love.  She just looks like an Elvis fan in the making, since Elvis did not hit the scene until about 10 years later:

Love me tender,
love me sweet,
never let me go.
You have made my life complete,
and I love you so.

Love me tender,
love me true,
all my dreams fulfilled.
For my darling I love you,
and I always will.

Love me tender,
love me long,
take me to your heart.
For it's there that I belong,
and we'll never part.

Love me tender,

love me true,

all my dreams fulfilled.

For my darling,

I love you,

and I always will.

Love me tender,
love me dear,
tell me you are mine.
I'll be yours through all the years,
till the end of time.

Love me tender,

love me true,

all my dreams fulfilled.

For my darling I love you,

and I always will.

Week Eleven: Elvis Presley - "(You're the) Devil in Disguise" - Elvis Presley Collection - Rock 'N Roll

So since my paternal grandmother is the individual who really fostered a love for Elvis in me, I imagine that I will be mentioning her quite frequently throughout the course of this next week.  I lost my grandmother in 2008.  Sadly, she ultimately drank herself to death.  Even the coroner mentioned how rare it was for him to rule cirrhosis of the liver as the cause of death on a female's death certificate, but my grandmother was hardcore when it came to drinking.

Case in point - shortly after my grandfather passed away in 2000, my grandmother asked me to go with her to a local bar/dance hall.  When we arrived and got settled, the waitress came over to take our drink order.  I politely requested a Vodka/7, which was my drink of choice, for always and ever, until I took my very last sip of alcohol in 2004. 

My grandmother snapped back, "No, she'll have a Diet Coke!!"  My grandmother was a force to be reckoned with, so I just smiled and said, "Okay, Diet Coke sounds lovely!!"  I knew she was up to something...

Once our Diet Cokes arrived, my grandmother pulled her flask out of her purse, placed each Diet Coke between her legs, and proceeded to fill them with Christian Brothers Brandy.  As if that wasn't risque enough, she followed me to the restroom later on in the evening, forced herself into my stall, and encouraged me to take multiple swigs out of the flask.  So this song absolutely reminds me of my grandmother who was definitely a "Devil in Disguise" when she wanted to be!! 

Dear blogland readers, I hope you never have to stand by and watch a loved one die from alcoholism.  It is the most helpless feeling in the world, and it has reinforced my decision to embrace a life of sobriety because I have seen firsthand the possible destiny that awaits if I ever relapse.



You look like an angel
Walk like an angel
Talk like an angel
But I got wise
You're the devil in disguise
Oh yes you are
The devil in disguise

You fooled me with your kisses
You cheated and you schemed
Heaven knows how you lied to me
You're not the way you seemed

You look like an angel
Walk like an angel
Talk like an angel
But I got wise

You're the devil in disguise
Oh yes you are
The devil in disguise

I thought that I was in heaven
But I was sure surprised
Heaven help me, I didn't see
The devil in your eyes

You look like an angel
Walk like an angel
Talk like an angel

But I got wise
You're the devil in disguise
Oh yes you are
The devil in disguise

You're the devil in disguise
Oh yes you are
The devil in disguise
Oh yes you are
The devil in disguise

Week Eleven: Elvis Presley - "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame" - Elvis 30 #1 Hits

The number eleven reminded me of Elvis, for some reason, and so begins week eleven...

After my paternal grandmother passed away and we found ourselves on the tail end of the Grieving Process, my father, as the sole heir of my grandparents' possessions, invited us grandchildren to rummage through their treasures and to take whatever valuables we desired.  Upon receiving this invitation, I headed straight to the music corner and was met with one of the largest Elvis Presley collections that I ever laid eyes on.

My grandmother had always complained about how the phone solicitors from Time Life were constantly pestering her about purchasing items from their company.  She insisted that she would always refuse their sales pitches, and she included that she would tell them what dirty, rotten scoundrels they were for trying to take advantage of a poor, old woman.

Apparently, one of these phone solicitors called one day and uttered the magic words: Elvis Presley.  My grandmother possessed so many Elvis compilations that it left my head spinning: Elvis Sings the Blues, Elvis Sings Gospel, Elvis Sings Christmas, Elvis Sings Country, Elvis Sings Soul, Elvis Sings Love Songs, Elvis Sings Rock 'N Roll... you name it, and it appears that Elvis sang it!!!

I am fairly certain that it did not take much arm-twisting to get my grandmother to offer up her credit card information for these purchases!  Regardless, they turned into such a treat for me because I had heard many of the Elvis hits, but I had never heard this song, other than in The Smiths medley from Rank, which I have also included in a youtube clip for you below...

A very old friend came by today
'Cause he was telling everyone in town
About the love that he just found
And Marie's the name of his latest flame

He talked and talked and I heard him say
That she had the longest blackest hair
The prettiest green eyes anywhere
And Marie's the name of his latest flame

Though I smiled the tears inside were a-burning
I wished him luck and then he said goodbye
He was gone but still his words kept returning
What else was there for me to do but cry

Would you believe that yesterday
This girl was in my arms and swore to me
She'd be mine eternally
And Marie's the name of his latest flame