Saturday, September 30, 2023

Saturday 9: On a Clear Day


Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
 

1) Is today a clear day where you are?

A. It is partly cloudy, but the haze from the fires in Canada has dissipated and my beloved mountains are visible. There is a slight breeze, but it is a lovely day.
 
2) Streisand sings that today she's "astounded." What has recently shocked or greatly surprised you?

A. I am shocked on a monthly basis that there are some people in my locality who think someone died and left them in charge of "community standards." They apparently believe their thoughts and opinions are the only ones that matter. That kind of bigotry and narrowmindedness continues to surprise me even though by now I should be used to it. I once thought people were better than they have proven themselves to be. It makes me sad.

3) Streisand's voice astounded people from an early age. She began performing in New York clubs when she was only 18, too young to order a drink in the establishments where she sang. Do you remember the first adult beverage you ordered at a restaurant or bar?

A. I don't remember, no.

4) Barbra has discussed the importance of her Jewish faith in her life and has enlisted the guidance of Reform, Conservative and Orthodox rabbis as she explored her religion's complexities. Do you enjoy discussing religion?

A. I like to discuss it in a philosophical way, and a way that informs, illustrates, or compares and contrasts. I don't like discussions that are Bible-beating or trying to convert someone.

5) Taylor Swift just passed Barbra Streisand as the woman with the most #1 albums (12). What's the last album you purchased?

A. Blue and Lonesome, by The Rolling Stones. I gave it to my husband for Christmas one year.
 
6) The lyrics to "On a Clear Day" were written by Alan Jay Lerner. He attended Choate, a private boarding school in CT, at the same time as John F. Kennedy. While JFK was in the White House, Lerner had two major Broadway hits -- Camelot and My Fair Lady -- running concurrently. Obviously those two Choate alumni did very well. Have you been to any of your class reunions? Have you been surprised, pleasantly or less so, by how any of your classmates turned out?

A. I went to my 30th high school reunion, which was 12 years ago. The folks who showed up didn't surprise me. 

7) The music was written by Burton Lane. In the 1930s, Lane worked for MGM Studios in Hollywood. After he heard Judy Garland perform at the Paramount Theater in Los Angeles, he brought her to the attention of his studio bosses and the rest, as they say, is history. Lane and Garland later worked together when Judy was an established star. He wrote the song, "How About You?" for her to sing in Babes on Broadway and received an Oscar nomination. Judy's best known movie has to be The Wizard of Oz. How many times have you seen it?

A. At least 20, I guess. We used to watch it every year when I was young, but my husband doesn't like to watch it, so I have only watched it as an adult when it's been on when he was at work.

8) In 1970, Glenn Frey formed the Eagles. What's your favorite Eagles song?

A. Best of My Love.

9) Random question: Which would upset you more, being trapped in an elevator or stranded atop a mountain in a ski lift?

A. Wow. I have an elevator phobia (I once passed out the minute I stepped off an elevator at the hospital), so I would have to go with that, but being stranded atop a mountain in a ski lift doesn't sound like fun. Unless I have brownies and hot chocolate. Then maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

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I encourage you to visit the posts of other participants in Saturday 9 and leave a comment. Because there are no rules, it is your choice. Saturday 9 players hate rules. We love memes, however.  

5 comments:

  1. You know, I think your hubs is the first person I've ever heard of who doesn't like the Wizard of Oz. He marches to his own drummer, doesn't he?

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  2. I watched The Wizard of OZ every year as a kid, too. I think it was Thanksgiving weekend that it was always on, kicking off the Christmas season. I continued the tradition with my kids by buying our own copy to watch at home, though one year we went to see it on the big screen. The people I cared for at the nursing home loved it so we watched it several times a week. I still watch it every now and then, but only when my husband isn't home. He doesn't like it, either.

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  3. #2 Sadly yes, it has become who can shout the loudest.
    #9 In the summer yes, it wouldn’t be bad being stuck, but in winter forget it is not fun.

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