Friday, November 17, 2006
Dan the Man is in the House!
I can't really tell you when I first "met" Dan... I know it has been a long time! I always love reading Dan's "Scenes From a Wasted Life" because I can always count on a laugh, deep thought and reflection of not only what he has written but how I can relate to many of his writings.
Dan deserves a "Those Who Rock" ranking on everyone's blog!
Everyone Please Welcome my blogger bud, Dan... to My Music Highway Project!
1) What song has truly inspired/touched you? (Name of Artist and Song please) and 2) How did it inspire/touch/ or change you?
When I was a little kid, one of the few things that was always, always the case was that the music was always playing. My mom played guitar until her arthritis ruined her ability to. I was never musically inclined as far as playing my own (I just didn't have the talent), but I try to continue on with the tradition of keeping music on everywhere I go.
This is going to be something of a stretch, and something weird as far as the nature of your project. The song that sticks in my head and inspires me about the world everytime I hear it is a weird song by an old British band called Slade. Slade are listed as inspirations by basically every major rock band from KISS (who Gene Simmons has been quoted as saying they stole their entire career from Slade) to Oasis (who has covered Slade tunes). Slade never made it big in the States, but are the only band to come close to the Beatle's shart success in England. In fact, Slade is the only band to have Top20 hits in England in the 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. Lead singer Noddy Holder was knighted in 2000.
The name of the song is "Did Ya Mama Ever Tell Ya?" I heard this song alot as a kid, since my mom bought this record just about the year I was born when the band was trying desperately to make it in America. The gist of the song is putting a dirty spin on Mother Goose rhymes. Beyond that, however, is a deeper message about reading between the lines. Using your common
sense to get at the story behind the story, if you will. Of believing what's on the surface, or digging deeper to get at what's really going on.
In my adult life, just taking that spin on something so normally innocent makes me think twice; makes me wonder what it is that I don't know... that I don't understand. It makes me look for the whole story in things, not just the Disney-fied version of things. Like with the Iraq War... the surface
debate is whether it's good or bad. But there's so many more thigns going on beneath the surface about freedom and taking stands and staying until the job is done right and speaking for those who cannot speak for themselves.
It constantly reminds me nothing is simple. And so I need to pay attention. :)
3) What is one thing you wish for the future generations?
In the future, I wish there was more community building like this... recognizing our commonalities rather than idealizing our differences. War, anti-war... we're all interested in building a better world. Black, white, whatever--our heritage is as human beings first and foremost. Musically speaking, the choir of voices always sounds better than the soloist. :)
In today's world, that's the first thing we tend to forget.
4) What is one "Project"/ "Charity" that is dear to your heart?
Because my dad was a police officer for so long; and he took me and loved me unconditionally even though I wasn't biologically his own, the charity that's nearest and dearest to my heart is COPS (Concerns of Police Survivors) at http://www.nationalcops.org/ . There's alot of telemarketing scams about donating to widows and orphans of slain police officers. This is the single reputable organization that does so outside of the actual unions in each state.
I have great respect for people who put their lives on the line for my life to be orderly and safe and good. Their families sacrifice so much for them to be there on the front line of helping me live the life I do. I can never thank them enough for the sacrifices they choose to make for me; even if
they don't know me personally. :)
Did Ya Mama Ever Tell Ya? (Holder/Lea)
from the Slade album "Nobody's Fool"
Are you sitting comfortably?
Good! Then we'll begin... (spoken)
There was a crooked man
And he walked a crooked mile
He had a crooked stick
And oh boy how it cramped his stily
Well did ya mamma ever tell ya
Them kookie little nurs 'ry rhymes
Jack and Jill went up the hill
Supposed to get some water
They stayed up there a long time
Doing what they shouldn't ought-a
Did ya mamma ever tell ya
Them funky little nurs' ry rhymes.
Chorus
And when you got a little older
Did you learn to read between the lines
What did ya mamma ever tell ya
'bout the A's and B's and C's
Did she ever tell ya
'bout the birds and the bees.
S'ay mamma ever tell ya
You were brought by the stork
And how you could run before you could walk?
Mary had a little lamb, his feet we're black as coal
He even followed her to bed
The naughty little soul did ya
Mamma ever tell ya
Them kookie little nurs'ry rhymes
Little Jackie Horner sitting quite in his corner
How'd he get that name
Doing what he shouldn't ought-a
Did ya mamma ever tell ya
Them funky little nurs' ry rhymes
Chorus
R E P E A T
Solo
How about that oldie lady who was living in a shoe
She had so many children
She knew how and what to do - oh
Did ya mamma ever tell ya
Them funky little nurs' ry rhymes
Chorus
R E P E A T
How you could run, how you could run,
How you could run before you could walk yeah !
Thank you, Dan, for being a big part of "My Music Highway Project"...
'Musically speaking, the choir of voices always sounds better than the soloist.' I absolutely love this and you couldn't be more right!
...and the music plays on!
5 Comments:
>|
Permalink |
