#381 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Saturday June 18)
Good morning,
MUSIC
Steve Fishman insists that “Get Together” by the Youngbloods is a classic. And it is, if nothing than for the laconic folksy-60s style and the amazing hair!
This clip is of the Youngbloods on Hollywood Palace, introduced by Milton Berle, who said they were “the hottest group that we have today in show business”:
When you hear their effort to jazz up their one hit, followed by a far lesser tune, one can question Berle’s observation that “they’re really rockin’ the charts.”
This led me to the question of great “one hit wonders.”
How about the “famous” group, Soft Cell? Forgot that name? Me too. Here’s the music video the song “Tainted Love,” which was hard to avoid at the time:
POETRY IN LYRICS
I have noted in a number of Musings the beauty and poetry of song lyrics. Whether in popular music, folk or musical theatre, a lyric can encapsulate a moment. Sondheim, the master lyricist, with his turns of phrases, remarkable rhymes, and emotional outbursts and playfulness, is the best. Here is one:
BEING ALIVE
One of the great Broadway tunes, here is the closing lyric of the ultimate song, sung by Bobby/Bobbie at the end of the show, as he/she realize that being married beats being single, pluses and minuses taken into account.
Somebody, hold me too close,
Somebody, hurt me too deep,
Somebody, sit in my chair
And ruin my sleep
And make me aware
Of being alive,
Being alive.
Somebody, need me too much,
Somebody, know me too well,
Somebody, pull me up short
And put me through hell
And give me support
For being alive,
Make me alive.
Make me confused,
Mock me with praise,
Let me be used,
Vary my days.
But alone is alone, not alive.
Somebody, crowd me with love,
Somebody, force me to care,
Somebody, make me come through,
I'll always be there,
As frightened as you,
To help us survive
Being alive,
Being alive,
Being alive!
Have a great weekend,
Glenn
From the archives: