Beach Music 101

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:33:14 GMT

"I love beach music. I always have and I always will..." ~The Embers, "I Love Beach Music"

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I've been on a bit of a "beach music" kick lately. I think maybe it's because I am wishin' and hopin' and prayin' for some beach-like weather...soooon.

Some of y'all may not be familiar with what I am talking about. If you're not one for clicking on the link, here's the short definition: Beach music is a regional genre of music which came about in the 40s, 50s and 60s from a variety of styles of music (blues, doo-wop, early rock 'n roll) and is also most always associated with a style of dance called the shag (all you Brits/Austin Powers fans get your mind out of the gutter). It--the shag--originated along the beach strands of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and Wilmington, North Carolina starting in the 40s. When I think of beach music, I think of groups like The Drifters, The Tams, The Temptations, The Platters...this is the music of my parents' generation. And others like Clarence Carter, General Johnson and the Chairmen of the Board, The Embers, The Catalinas, The O'Kaysions, and many many others came along to add some excellent hits as well. I'd say beach music kinda had a resurgence in the 80s...and that's when I started listening to it.

One of the (many!)songs I love is called Up On The Roof originally recorded by The Drifters (Save the Last Dance For Me, This Magic Moment, There Goes My Baby, Under The Boardwalk, etc.) in about 1962. And just 'cause I thought you'd like to know....it was written by a guy named Gerry Goffin and a gal named Carole King (Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow, Natural Woman, You've Got a Friend, It's Too Late, One Fine Day, Locomotion...) It has been recorded by others including Carole King herself, as well as James Taylor (aka JT). But I digress.

This is the kinda song that just makes ya feel all warm and fuzzy inside, so if you are feeling a little overwhelmed today, here's a song for you....

Up On The Roof (Goffin/King)

When this old world starts getting me down
And people are just too much for me to face
I climb way up to the top of the stairs
And all my cares just drift right into space
On the roof, it's peaceful as can be
And there the world below can't bother me
Let me tell you now

When I come home feelin' tired and beat
I go up where the air is fresh and sweet (up on the roof)
I get away from the hustling crowd
And all that rat-race noise down in the street (up on the roof)
On the roof, the only place I know
Where you just have to wish to make it so
Let's go up on the roof (up on the roof)
At night the stars put on a show for free
And, darling, you can share it all with me

I keep a-tellin' you
Right smack dab in the middle of town
I've found a paradise that's trouble proof (up on the roof)
And if this world starts getting you down
There's room enough for two
Up on the roof (up on the roof)

Up on the roo-oo-oof (up on the roof)
Oh, come on, baby (up on the roof)
Oh, come on, honey (up on the roof)
[Fade]
Everything is all right (up on the roof)

Maybe your "roof" isn't a literal roof...but you can find your "roof" and somehow make it your place where your cares can "drift right into space". Time to get quiet, think, pray, read, relax, let go. We all need it. And even though it's hard to make that time, I know it's key to my mental and spiritual health!!

Make some time to go up on the roof! And boogie a little while you're up there!

Keepin' it old school

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 06:48:21 GMT

"We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance." ~Japanese Proverb

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It has been an interesting week around here. I've had sick kids and a sick car. Yes, Big Red is having some issues. She does have 120,000 miles on her. And I fear this could be the beginning of the end. But I'm holding on. I just love her so. Join hands and say a collective prayer for her. 'Preciate it.

Thankfully, the kids are feeling better. Now Hubby and I have also contracted the crud, but we are fighting on, because what else can you do? Moms don't have time to be sick. And HVAC's have to be installed at Daddy's work and well, the show just must go on! In the midst of the collective crud, I've been visiting the doctor with Emma, visiting the car doctor, feebly attempting to finish my Christmas shopping, building the gingerbread train with Emma and Co., decorating our "nekked" Christmas tree and sadly neglecting my housekeeping duties. Whew, yes, if anyone came in my house right now, they would think it had been ransacked by intruders. Complete ransackery I tell you! YIKES. And here I sit at midnight blogging while I should be sleeping. But I find I cough less if I'm upright, so here I am.

The long awaited weekend has arrived...well, almost. Drumroll please...It is time for the "official" 20th reunion--NPHS Class of '87. I'm excited. My bff Kristi asked if I could come up with some song suggestions for the DJ. I love music--y'all are well aware of my LCD (Lyric Compulsive Disorder)--and I love to dance. I came up with quite a list of tunes. Mostly R&B stuff from '83-'87 that I really liked. Oh how they have made me smile...I emailed them off to the DJ.

One of my favorite things about high school was going to the dances after the football games on Friday nights. They were held in the school cafeteria. Tito the Party Rican would be up there spinning those records. Good times. Good times. There was a song he used to play and all I could remember was "WIKI WIKI WIKI WIKI" was part of the song. Kristi thought maybe I could find out what the song was. Well, thanks to the miracle that is the world wide web, I found it. The song is "Jam On It" by Newcleus. (I wanted to embed the video, but apparently I can't. SIGH. Whatever. Click on the link and view the "pimpest 80s rap video ever".) How it does take me back. We'd be tearing up the ~~cafeteria~~ dance floor. Back in the day. Yep, yep, yep.

Should be a fun weekend. The sickness cannot keep me down and it sure can't stop me from keepin' it old school!

And I'm keepin' it real too!

Circa 1985. That's me sporting the female mullet. That's right. I had a mullet and I'm proud. It was the 80s after all. I was stylin'. And so was my Daddy.

Post reunion ramblings next week...

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!

Red Van Ramblings: Music

Beach Music 101

Keepin' it old school