Music Monday- Car Wash

Many people have memories associated with music. A song you heard on your first date, music that your grandparents always played, a song that made you smile, or one that made you cry. Music Monday, is a time to share those memories.

It's gotten pretty warm-- okay hot, here in the South. I was sitting outside at a restaurant the other day and heard the song "Car Wash" by Rose Royce. This song came out in 1976 and I remember seeing it performed on Soul Train, and being played at the roller rink (remember those?). I also remembered going through the car wash with my mom for the first time. It was so different than today's touchless car wash experience. There used to be actual people who would scrub down your car before it went through the wash. They also made sure your car antenna was down, so that it wouldn't get broken off. Then it went through the inner washing/drying assembly. I just thought this was the coolest thing! Since this was considered a luxury, at least in our house, we didn't do it that often. Maybe that is why it was such a memorable experience.

At any rate, it's classic 70's disco and I had to post the Soul Train clip. Check out the outfits and moves! I love it. A blast from the past. Besides what other song could make washing your car sound like so much fun?

Music Monday- The Monkees and The Banana Splits

Many people have memories associated with music. A song you heard on your first date, music that your grandparents always played, a song that made you smile, or one that made you cry. Music Monday, is a time to share those memories.

Two of my favorite shows when I was a kid were The Monkees....




and The Banana Splits.



These two shows came on after school and on Saturday mornings. The Monkees often made an appearance on The Banana Splits. It was great! (My husband says this explains a lot.)

During second grade one of my best buddies was a boy named Scott. We would race into school the day after The Monkees appeared on The Banana Splits show and discuss in detail the episode. At one point during the school year I was out sick for a couple weeks, and Scott sent me a card with a drawing of The Monkees with all of their instruments. It was a prized possession for a very long time. I moved at the end of second grade and never saw Scott again. I don't even know what his last name was. In second grade you just aren't very concerned about those things.

I was sad to hear of Davy Jones passing. However, it made me think of my antics with Scott in second grade and smile. All these years later I wonder if he remembers them too.

RIP Davy Jones.

Music Monday- Psychedelic Furs "Pretty in Pink"

Many people have memories associated with music. A song you heard on your first date, music that your grandparents always played, a song that made you smile, or one that made you cry. Music Monday, is a time to share those memories.

This Monday, in honor of the Oscars last night, I picked the Psychedelic Furs "Pretty in Pink." Now I have to admit that I listened to the Psychedelic Furs way before the movie "Pretty in Pink" ever came out. However, the movie maker John Hughes is responsible for making one hit movie after another in the 80's, specifically one's associated with teen angst. Some of these movies I saw with groups of friends, others I saw with dates. I still enjoy watching these movies and hearing the soundtracks. They are classics for my generation.

So when the song "Pretty in Pink" was picked for the movie I was thrilled. Although I like the original compilation of the song better, the version below shows clips from the movie. Enjoy!

Music Monday- Whitney Houston

So many events in life involve music or have memories with music involved. Music Monday is a time to share those music memories.

It should come as no surprise that this Music Monday is about Whitney Houston. Like everybody else I was shocked to find out about her death. I can't say that I was a devoted fan of hers or that I even bought any of her albums/cds. However, I do remember when she first came on the scene with "I Wanna Dance With Somebody." I remember seeing her video several times, thinking how pretty, talented, vibrant and impossibly thin she was. The video and music are very typically 80's, with its bubbly tune, bright colors, and fashion.

Whitney would go on to make many more hits, and own the 80's as a female solo artist (in a different way than Madonna). Witnessing her personal struggles was sad and somewhat baffling. However, I prefer to remember her in the "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" video.

RIP Whitney.

Music Monday-Video Killed the Radio Star

A lot of memories are made involving music. Music Monday is a time to share a song and the memory you associate with it. This week I'm jumping into the 80's. The 80's were such a transitional decade in technology. Suddenly people had more than a handful of television channels to chose from.

In 1981 MTV launched and the first video that aired was Video Killed the Radio Star by The Buggles. This video and music captures the 80's not only in sound, but in style as well. Music videos also turned marketing in the music industry on its ear. Suddenly bands not only had to have good music, but a "look" as well.

At any rate, as a kid I loved going over to friends' houses that had MTV and cable. I grew up on a farm in New Jersey a mile off the main road. We couldn't get cable. They still can't. I was still stuck with the handful of channels to chose from. In hindsight that was probably not such a bad thing, but at the time I felt like I was missing out.

I first heard this song on the radio and when I finally saw the video I was mesmerized. I couldn't wait to see it again. It certainly is not a great music video, it was just different for the time. Since then music videos have evolved and are the stepping stone in many directors careers. I don't think The Buggles ever released another hit song, however they will forever be remembered... at least by me. Anytime I hear this song I immediately think back to 1981 and the first time I saw this video.

Music Monday-Etta James

A lot of memories are made involving music. Music Monday is a time to share a song and the memory you associate with it. This week in light of the passing of Etta James, I've chosen At Last.

Before I met my husband I had a lot of dating disasters. No, really... I did. In fact, I had reached the point of acceptance that I would be the wacky school teacher on the block, who drove the beater car, and instead of a house full of cats I would have dogs. Then I met my husband. We spoke on the phone a few times before actually setting up a date. The conversations had been really good so the first date seemed promising. It turned out to be awkward. Where the conversation was easy and flowed over the phone, it was strained on the date. Later I found out he was so nervous, he didn't know what to say.

Needless to say, the second date was much better and led to many more dates. We got engaged a year later, and married a year after that. At our wedding for our first dance we chose At Last by Etta James. I know a lot of couples pick this song... it just says it all.

Etta James was a special lady who provided a lot of special moments through her music. May she rest in peace.