Saturday 9: Jive Talkin'

Saturday 9: Jive Talkin' (1975)

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

This month we're going to recall Summer Songs. These will all be records that topped the charts during August.

1) Number 1 on the charts in August 50 years ago, "Jive Talkin'" was originally called "Drive Talkin'," because it was inspired by the "chunka-chunka" sound the Bee Gees' car made as it rolled over the bridge from Biscayne Bay to Miami every morning. Tell us about a drive you make regularly. What do you love, or hate, about it?

A. I drive regularly to the grocery store. I don't love it or hate it; it is just the way to the grocery store. If I go left from the driveway, eventually I make another left, and I'm on a curvy road that has no middle line, and you wave at people as you pass them if you feel like it. If I go right, then another right, the road has been updated and has a line, and even turn lane lines, and eventually it turns right onto a major 4-lane highway. This way is 1 mile longer than the other, but if my husband and I leave at the same time, and one goes left at the end of the driveway and one goes right, we used to end up at the stoplight on Catawba Road at the same time. Now there are two stoplights between my house and Catawba Road if I go to the right, so I doubt we'd end up at Catawba at the same time.

2) Barry, Maurice and Robin Gibb always enjoyed singing together and as kids, practiced their harmonies in the bathroom because that's where the acoustics were best. Do you sing in the shower?

A. I do sing in the shower.

3) Early in their career, the brothers wrote and recorded a radio jingle for Coca Cola. If we were to peer into your refrigerator right now, would we find any carbonated beverages?

A. You would find my husband's Diet Dr. Pepper.

4) Though their sound depended on tight harmonies, all three Bee Gees were heavy smokers, which is bad for the throat. Do you smoke? Are there smokers/vapers in your life?

A. I do not smoke, nor does my husband. I do not know of any smokers/vapers in my life.

5) Robin Gibb agreed to perform on the CD Sesame Street Fever so his kids could meet Cookie Monster. Who is your favorite Muppet?

A. I do not have a favorite Muppet, but I will say Frog because he sang that lovely song about rainbows. "Why are there so many songs about rainbows, and what's on the other side? Rainbows are visions, but only illusions, and rainbows have nothing to hide."

6) In addition to younger brother Andy, who also scored hit records, the Bee Gees have a sister, Lesley. Unlike her siblings, she didn't go into show business. Instead, she became a dog breeder. Tell us about a dog who holds a special place in your heart.

A. When I was a child, we had many dogs. I think my favorite dog was Major, a white poodle. His mother was Heidi, a black poodle, and she gave birth to Major. I don't know if Major was the dog I saved from the water when it was a pup, but I have always thought he might have been. When I was 7, Heidi had her pups, and one night I heard a noise, and I got up and one of the pups had crawled into Heidi's water bowl, and it wasn't moving. I got it out and wrapped it in a towel and went to wake my mother. She and I massaged the pup and it came back to life. As an adult, I only had one dog. She was a pup I picked up at a flea market, a mix of an Eskimo Spitz and a terrier. She was not an affectionate dog but she was my dog. We kept her outside because of my allergies and honestly, she seemed to prefer being outside to being inside when I put her in the garage on very cold nights. She died in early 2001 at the age of 17, which is quite old for a dog. It took me a year to stop looking for her when I pulled into the driveway.

Let's look at the summer of 1975.

7) That summer, producer Lorne Michaels was auditioning talent for the Not Ready for Prime Time Players. This band of comedic performers would premiere that October in a new show called Saturday Night Live. In the days before DVRs and streaming, Saturday Night Live was considered "appointment television," a show you wanted to catch when it aired so you made sure you were in front of a TV to hear "Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!" Is there a show you go out of your way to watch when it airs? Or is most of your viewing either recorded or streamed?

A. We watch The Voice live, but we also record a lot of things these days, or stream.

8) The top movie at the box office that summer was Jaws. Have you seen it?

A. I don't think I have ever seen Jaws. Nor have I ever wished to.

9) In 1975, Jim Palmer of the Baltimore Orioles was having a career season and won the second of his three Cy Young Awards. In 2012 he put all three trophies up for auction. As proud as he was of the awards, he said, "My priorities have changed," and the money would help pay for college for his grandchildren. Think about your belongings. Is there anything you would never part with at any price?

A. Belongings are just things. I don't know of anything I hold that dear. There are people I hold that dear, but not things.

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Saturday 9: Rhythm of My Heart

Saturday 9: Rhythm of My Heart (1991)

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

1) Rod Stewart sings that the words "I love you" roll off his tongue. When did you most recently say, "I love you?"

A. Last night. My husband and I say it all the time.

 

2) In "Rhythm of My Heart," he recalls running down the alley with his lady love. Does your neighborhood have alleys?

A. My neighborhood has farm trails. No alleys.

 

3) Rod is well known for his coif. Are you having a good hair day today?

A. Lots of humidity and high heat today, so no.

 

4) Rod was the youngest of 5. He remembers that, as a family, they enjoyed singing with Al Jolson records. Did your family have singalongs?

A. Not exactly.

5) He is proud of his luxury car collection, which includes a Rolls Royce, a Ferrari and the one rumored to be his favorite: a classic mid-70s Lamborghini Countach LP400 Periscopio. Looking back on years as a driver and a car owner, which vehicle is your all-time favorite?

A. I had 1989 Ford Taurus that was a very good car. I drove it for 10 years. I also liked my 2003 Toyota Camry, which I also drove for 10 years. Both performed well and required little maintenance.

 

6) Rod turned 80 this year and he's still touring. Once known for his hard partying, he takes better care of himself now and rides a stationary bike every day. What steps do you take to keep fit?

A. I walk on the treadmill.

7) In 1991, when this song was popular, Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry died. Do you have a favorite Star Trek character?

A. From the original series, my favorite would have been Dr. McCoy aka Bones. My favorite from the series overall would be Captain Kathryn Janeway.

8) Also in 1991, Seinfeld was a big deal on network television. Today the entire series is available to stream and on DVD. When you binge a show, are you more likely to pop in a disc or turn to a streaming service?

A. We have DVDs of many shows, so I guess that, although I also stream some shows now that we have Internet that actually works.

 

9) Random question: Have you ever cared for a hamster or a gerbil? (Extra non-existent Saturday 9 points for its name.)

A. I have never had a hamster or a gerbil.

 

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Saturday 9: It All Depends on You

Saturday 9: It All Depends on You (1959)

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

1) In this song, Shirley Bassey sings that she could be happy or sad. As you answer these questions, do lean more toward happy or sad?

A. I am fair to middlin'. 

 

2) She tells us that she can save money or spend it. Do you try to stick to a budget?

A. I try to stick to a budget for the household items. The farm? Eh. Depends on machinery breakdowns and bugs and such.

 

3) By the time Shirley Bassey recorded "It All Depends on You," it was already an oldie, written back in 1926. Can you think of a song, book, or movie that you enjoy today that you believe audiences will relate to 2125?

A. For a song: I Did It My Way. For a book: The Lord of the Rings. For a TV series: M*A*S*H. For a movie: The Wizard of Oz.

 

4) Though she has risen to the title Dame Commander of the British Empire (DBE), her childhood allowed her little education. She dropped out at 15 and got a factory job to help her family. How old were you when you got your first full-time job? What was it?

A. I was 18 and I worked as a receptionist.

5) A favorite of the Royal Family, Shirley performed at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Party at Buckingham Palace. How would you like to celebrate your next anniversary or birthday? Are you in the mood for a big blow out, or would you prefer something low key?

A. My anniversary is next, and we will, as always, have a quiet celebration.

 

6) Madame Tussaud's has two wax figurines of Shirley – one in London and a second in Las Vegas. Do you enjoy wax museums, or do you think they're creepy?

A. I have memories of visiting a wax museum in Williamsburg when I was in elementary school and we took a school trip there and being rather creeped out by it. I don't think it still exists, though.

7) In 1959, when this song was popular, most women wore nylons on a daily basis and the average price per pair was $1. What socks or leg wear – if any – do you have on right now?

A. Nothing on right now, but I normally wear compression socks. I take medications that make my ankles swell.

8) Also in 1959, Alaska became our 49th state. Today, cruise lines showcase Alaska on 4- or 7-night cruises. What do you consider the perfect length for a vacation trip? Is a 3-day weekend too short? Are two weeks away from home too long? What's your ideal?

A. Three-day weekend vacations are too short, two weeks is too long. I think a week is about right.

 

9) Random question: Which cable channel would you watch more often – one that shows nothing but classic sitcoms, or one that shows nothing but new movies?

A. Probably the one with the sitcoms.

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Saturday 9: Since U Been Gone

Saturday 9: Since U Been Gone (2005)

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

 

1) In this song, Kelly Clarkson is dissatisfied with her relationship and she's moving on. What's something you've moved on from lately? It could be anything from a romance to the laundry detergent you've been using for years.

A. I've moved on from complete distrust of AI to playing with it to see what it can and can't do. It's another tool, really, like spell check, if used correctly.

 

2) She sings that she can now breathe. Studies have shown that July can be a good month for allergy sufferers because trees and grasses are no longer pollinating. How are your eyes, ears, nose and throat this morning?

A. I've been having lots of allergy issues this July, more than I normally do. Maybe because we've had such heat and humidity. Humidity creates mold.

 

3) Kelly complains that their romance reminds her of a "stupid love song." Let's be more positive: what love song do you associate with positive memories?

A. Longer by Dan Fogelberg

4) While Kelly's first love is music, she's established herself as a TV personality. In addition to her daytime talk show, she's been a judge on The Voice and hosted an awards show. Have you ever been on TV?

A. I was on TV when I was young, on some local show. I was interviewed on the local news some years ago.

5) She has confessed a weakness for Doritos. Would we find salty snacks in your kitchen right now?

A. Lays Baked Potato Chips, Lays Wavy Chips (low sodium) (the latter are my husband's, the former are mine)

 

6) Kelly has found her weight the source of public debate. Are you like Kelly, whose weight fluctuates? Or does it stay stable?

A. It moves around a bit. But I am overweight and a few pounds one way or the other doesn't seem noticeable to anyone but me.

 

7) In 2005, when this song was popular, a motorist made news in Texas when he was ticketed for driving over 200 mph in a 75-mph zone. Have you ever been pulled over by the police?

A. Not for speeding.

 

8) Also in 2005, Tom Cruise had a pop culture moment when he famously jumped on a sofa. Do you remember where he did this?

A. He was on some talk show, I think. Dave Letterman, maybe?

 

9) Random question: Tell us about a photo you wish you'd taken but didn't.

A. I've been trying to take pictures of lightning but so far, I've failed. We aren't situated where we have a good view of storms. There are too many trees around us. I wish I had taken more pictures of my grandparents, though. I think there is only one photo of my maternal grandfather around.

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Saturday 9: Lady Liberty

Saturday 9: Lady Liberty (2018)

. . . because it's 4th of July weekend.

Hear Barbra Streisand sing it here.

1) This song is a Valentine to the Statue of Liberty. Have you ever visited Lady Liberty?

A. I have seen her from afar during a visit to New York City, but I have not seen her up close.

2) When you combine the lady herself and her pedestal, she stands 22 stories high. What's the tallest building you've ever been in?

A. I have been in the 21-story Wells Fargo Building in Roanoke, VA. It was called the Dominion Tower at the time, though.

 

3) Her crown represents universal liberty with seven spikes for the seven seas. Without looking it up, can you name the seven seas?

A. Pacific, Atlantic, Indian Ocean, Mediterranean, Arctic Sea, and I'm not sure any of those are right. Nope, I am only partly right.  Artic, North Atlantic, South Atlantic, Indian, North Pacific, South Pacific, Southern. That's according to NOAA. But a search also gives me: Black Sea, Adriatic Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Indian Ocean, Caspian Sea, Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea. I guess it depends on which 7 you want to pick. 

 

4) The song was written by Desmond Child, a Cuban American from Gainesville, home of the University of Florida. In 1965, a team of UF scientists invented Gatorade. Do you have any Gatorade in your home right now?

A. I do have Gatorade in my house right now.

5) While best known for his work with KISS, Bon Jovi and Cher, Desmond Child was nominated for an Emmy for his work on the Muppets 2003 holiday special. This morning, as we enjoy summer, what's the first Christmas carol that pops into your head?

A. Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

6) Desmond wrote this song specifically for Barbra Streisand. Watching her record it was a dream come true and he found himself standing very close to her as she sang. When he asked if he was "hovering," she suggested it might be better if he gave her a little more space. Does it bother you when someone stands very close or reads over your shoulder?

A. Yes.

7) Fireworks were introduced to celebrate the 4th because they represent the "rockets red glare and bombs bursting in air." When did you most recently sing "The Star Spangled Banner?"

A. I can't recall. It is not an easy song to sing.

8) John Adams predicted the 4th would be observed with "pomp and parades." Does your community have a parade in honor of the day?

A. Yes, there are parades here on the 4th of July. When I was in high school, the band used to march in one of them. They would give us salt tablets before we went marching to keep us all from passing out in the street from dehydration.

9) Celebrity chef Rachael Ray says she considers mini-hamburgers, or "sliders," the All-American food. What will/did you dine on this 4th of July?

A. Hot dogs.

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Saturday 9: Consider Me Gone

Saturday 9: Consider Me Gone (2009)

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

 

1) In this song, poor Reba McEntire confronts a lover who makes her feel like she's not good enough. Let's go in a more positive direction: Who in your life makes you feel happy and secure?

A. My husband and my friends. 

 

2) Reba hopes her lover will look back on her as someone who used to make him laugh. Who did you most recently laugh with?

A. My husband.

 

3) She was director James Cameron's first choice to play Molly Brown in the 1997 blockbuster Titanic, but she had to turn down the role because she was committed to a concert tour. Think of the last invitation you received. Did you say yes or no?

A. I said yes.

4) Reba comes from a rodeo family: both her father and grandfather were champion steer ropers and her mother was a barrel racer. Have you ever been to a rodeo?

A. I went to the rodeo when I was a child.

5) She loves game nights with family and friends because she says she's "a competitive person." When you play friendly board or card games, do you always play to win?

A. I play to have fun. I don't care if I win or lose so long as no one cheats.

 

6) Reba wears tall boots all the time, even in summer, and has more than 100 pairs. Do you often wear boots?

A. I do not wear boots at all anymore. I did when I was younger. Now I just wear sneakers.

 

7) In 2009, when this song was popular, Mark Zuckerberg tried unsuccessfully to buy Twitter. Elon Musk acquired it in 2022 and renamed it X. Do you often post to Twitter/X?

A. I do not have a Twitter/X account anymore. I deleted it.

 

8) Back in 2009, DuPont announced that silver and black were the most popular vehicle colors, accounting for half the cars the world over. What color is your ride?

A. My ride is white.

 

9) Random question: Have you ever had a job that required you to wear a hairnet?

A. I have not.

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Saturday 9: I Fall in Love Too Easily

Saturday 9: I Fall in Love Too Easily (1945)

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

1) In this song, Dinah Shore admits that her impetuous romances don't work out. Do you consider yourself impulsive?

A. Not particularly, but I can be.

2) The songwriting team of Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne composed this in a single evening. Since the song is rather short Sammy considered adding another verse, but Jule thought better of it, saying, "No. That's it." Are you more like Sammy and keep revising, tinkering and tweaking? Or, like Jule, do you find it easy to leave well enough alone?

A. I tend to revise and tweak, but eventually leave it alone.

 

3) The song was introduced in Anchors Aweigh, a movie about two sailors who find love during a two-day leave in New York. Have you ever enjoyed a romance while on holiday?

A. I have enjoyed romance with my husband while on a holiday.

 

4) Though Frank Sinatra sang the song in the movie, Dinah's version was also popular. Her record sales in the 1940s were boosted by concerts, radio appearances and performances for the troops. What singer who is no longer with us do you wish you could have seen in concert?

A. Janis Joplin.

5) Dinah was shy with new people but discovered as a high school cheerleader that she was good in front of a crowd. Give us one of your high school cheers.

A. We're Cavalier born and Cavalier bred and when we die we'll be Cavaliers yet! 

6) She loved golf and was so good at it, she became the first woman admitted as a member to the prestigious Hillcrest Country Club in Los Angeles. What's your best sport? 

A. I don't have a best sport. I am bad at all of them.

7) Dinah found her greatest success in television. She was so popular for so long that she was able to afford a luxury home, built to her specifications, in Palm Springs. Leonardo DiCaprio now owns it. Do you know who lived in your home before you moved in?

A. We built our home and have been its only occupants.

 

8) In 1945, when this song was popular, Abbott and Costello appeared in the movie The Naughty Nineties, which featured their famous "Who's On First" routine. Do you know it?

A. I am familiar with it but I can't repeat it verbatim.

 

9) Random question – Fill in the blank: After all these years, I still ____________.

A. am not a dinosaur.

 

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Saturday 9: I Will See You

 

Saturday 9: I Will See You in C-U-B-A (2010)

 

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

This song was chosen in honor of Father's Day.

 

1) In this week's song, Lucie Arnaz encourages us to hop a ship and join her in Cuba. Is your passport up to date?

A. No, it is not.

2) She sings that Cuba is a great place to enjoy wine and Panatelas. Do you like the smell of a good cigar?

A. I am allergic to cigarette smoke and cigar smoke makes me gag and then have an asthma attack.

 

3) Lucie said her Latin Roots CD represents "the rhythms of my soul" and is a tribute to her father, Desi Arnaz. Cuban-born Desi starred on Broadway and in nightclubs but was best known for co-starring in and producing the 1950s sitcom, I Love Lucy. When you think of I Love Lucy, what's the first thing that comes to mind?

A. Lucy stuffing chocolate in her mouth because she can't keep up with the line.

 

4) While Lucie's parents – Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball – are famous for their TV work, Tony-nominated Lucie has found her greatest success on the stage. She inherited their love of performing, saying, “My parents were always happiest when they were working.” What have you inherited from one or both your parents? (It could be anything from your work ethic to your eye color.)

A. I have my father's aversion to going barefoot and my mother's hands.

 

5) Though "Ricky Riccardo" often mangled English on I Love Lucy, Desi's English was very good. Lucille Ball admired his facility with languages and encouraged him to speak Spanish to their children so that they would be bilingual. When you were growing up, did your family speak any language other than English?  

A. My family spoke only English. I studied Spanish and Latin in high school, but I have forgotten most of it.

 

6) Desi Arnaz often performed "I Will See You in C-U-B-A." Is there a song that reminds you of your father?

A. "Daddy, Don't You Walk So Fast," by Wayne Newton

 

7) After Lucie's parents divorced, Lucille Ball remarried and Lucie got a stepfather, Gary Morton. Lucie appreciated how positive Gary always was about Desi. Decades later, when she married a man who already had children, Lucie said she better understood what a tough role stepparent can be. Did you have a stepparent? Are you a stepparent?

A. I have a stepmother now, but I was an adult when my father remarried. 

8) As a single dad, Desi lived south of Los Angeles in Del Mar. Lucie and her brother, Desi Jr., spent school vacations there, going to the racetrack, bowling, and fishing with their dad. Share a happy memory from one of your school vacations (Christmas, Spring Break, or Summer).

A. We stayed with my grandmother during the summers. We - my brother and two young uncles and myself - rode out bicycles around the block, and not far away was an old, abandoned house. About once a week, we'd dare one another to go up to the house and peek in a window.

 

9) Father's Day began in Washington state. In the early 1900s, Spokane resident Sonora Smart Dodd listened to her minister deliver a sermon celebrating Mother's Day and devoted herself to similarly honoring fathers. A century later, more money is still spent annually on Mother's Day. Why do you suppose that nationally we still make more of a fuss over Mother's Day than Father's Day?

A. I suspect it is related to the patriarchy. Mothers are supposed to be in charge of the children while the father goes out and makes the money. That mindset is firmly entrenched in this country even though women have always been in the workforce.

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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. 

Saturday 9: Hold On

Saturday 9: Hold On (1990)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here. 
 
1) This song gives encouragement to someone who is enduring heartache. Have you more recently given support, or received it?

A. I have both given and received support lately.
 
2) "Hold On" is featured prominently in the 2011 movie Bridesmaids. It's an anthem for the friends in the film and they love to sing it together. Is there a song that reminds you of good times with a good friend?

A. No, but one of my favorite memories involves the time my husband and I were shopping at Broadway at the Beach in Myrtle Beach, SC, and the Macarena song came on over the loudspeakers. Nearly everyone stopped what they were doing and did the Macarena. I loved it. It felt like I was in a musical.
 
3) The video for this song finds Wilson Phillips outdoors on a snowy mountainside and then on a sandy beach. What's the view outside your window?

A. I see trees of green, skies of blue, white puffy clouds, and a deer or two.

 
4) The mountain segments were filmed in California's San Gabriel Mountains. The girls were flown to the set by helicopter. Have you ever been in a helicopter?

A. I have never been in a helicopter.
 
5) The members of Wilson Phillips are authentic "California Girls." Wendy and Carnie Wilson's father is Brian Wilson, who wrote the Beach Boys hit. Chynna Phillips is the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas, who sang "California Dreamin'." Have you been to California? If yes, where did you visit?

A. I went to California when I was 12 years old on a trip with my family. We went to visit relatives in San Francisco and possibly other areas, but I don't remember all that much about it now.
 
6) Another generation of the Wilson family has entered the music business. Carnie's daughter/Brian Wilson's granddaughter, Lola Bonfiglio, participated in the current season of American Idol. Has a family member followed you in your chosen profession?

A. No.
 
7) In 1990, when this song was popular, satellite radio was in its infancy and streaming was unheard of. Our cars gave us a choice of AM/FM and maybe CD player/tape deck. When you're driving and a favorite song comes on, are you more likely to sing along if you're alone? Or don't you care if anyone hears you?

A. I sing along in the grocery store, in the car, wherever I am. I do not care. 
 
8) Also in 1990, actor Alan Hale Jr. died. He was "the skipper" on Gilligan's Island. Without looking it up, can you name the other six castaways? (If not the actors, then their characters.)

A. The Skipper (whose first name was Jonas), Gilligan, Mr. Thurston Howell, III and his wife, Lovey, Mary Ann, Ginger Grant, The Professor. That's all seven, but I don't know the actors' names.
 
9) Random question: What superhero would you like to have as your best friend?

A. Supergirl, aka Kara Danvers. I really liked the CW version of that series when it was on.

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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. 

Saturday 9: Too Shy

Saturday 9: Too Shy (1983)

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

1) This song laments vulnerability and self-consciousness in a social setting. Are you often "too shy?" Or are social gatherings easy for you?

A. I am quite introverted and generally do not do well in gatherings. That is why being a news reporter was a great job for me. I could be in the room, but not a participant. I could talk to people to ask questions but not worry about small talk.

 

2) In the lyrics, a girl self-censors, telling herself, "Hush hush." Have you more recently shushed someone, or were you shushed?

A. I was hushed.

 

3) Band member Nick Beggs recalls that they called themselves Kajagoogoo because it sounded like something that would make a baby laugh. It is fun to say. Can you think of another word that you just enjoy saying?

A. Serendipity. I have always liked the sound of that word.

 

4) This was the only US hit for the British band, earning Kajagoogoo the title "One Hit Wonder." Can you think of another artist or band who had one really popular song and then just kind of disappeared?

A. Looking Glass, the band that sang Brandy (You're a Fine Girl). 

 

5) Though fame was fleeting here, Kajagoogoo remained popular in England. Lead singer Limahl recalls the adulation as "overwhelming," and he was shocked when he stepped on stage in Cornwall to see row after row of fans wearing their hair like he did. Have you ever handed a photo to a stylist and said, "Make my hair look like this?"

A. I have never handed a hairstylist a photo that I can recall, although when I was younger, I asked for a Farrah Fawcett cut. That needed no photo.

 

6) In 1983, when this song was popular, the Lotus 1-2-3 program made it easier for PC users to make spreadsheets. Are you answering these questions on a Mac or PC? Laptop, phone or tablet?

A. I am answering these questions on a PC desktop.

7) 1983 saw Abbey Road Studios open their doors for the first time for public tours. During the first two months, 22,000 tickets were sold to fans who wanted to see where the Beatles made their magic. What's the last ticket you purchased?

A. The last ticket I purchased was a ticket to a Melissa Etheridge concert that was cancelled because of the 2020 pandemic.

 

8) Also in 1983, McDonald's introduced Chicken McNuggets. When was chicken most recently on the menu at your home? How was it prepared?

A. We had chicken last night. It was roasted. We had home-grown kale with it.

 

9) Random question: Have you ever forgotten where you left your car in a parking lot?

A. Not that I recall.

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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. 

Saturday 9: American Soldier

Saturday 9: American Soldier (2003)

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

Memorial Day is a federal holiday that honors men and women who served and died in the United States Armed Forces. We want to make sure that message is not lost this weekend.

1) Are you a veteran? Are there veterans in your family? Do you know anyone who is active military? We are grateful and want to hear about it.

A. I have veterans in my family, but I do not know of any relatives who are actively in the military now.

2) In this song, Toby Keith reminds us soldiers "work straight through holidays," even this one, and we are grateful for that, too. Have you ever had to work on a federal holiday? If yes, did it make you sad to be on the job when everyone else was celebrating?

A. I have worked on federal holidays, and my husband, who was a firefighter, worked on many federal holidays.

3) The video for this song was filmed at Edwards Air Force Base. This site was chosen to make it easier for off-duty soldiers, reservists and their families to appear. Have you ever visited a military base?

A. I visited a military base called Fort Story in Virginia Beach in 2017. We went on the base to see an historic lighthouse on Cape Henry. You can read about our visit here. I did not like being searched when we entered the base.

4) Toby Keith never served in the military but often performed for the USO. While the USO is best known for providing entertainment to our troops, they also have a "Canine Comfort Crew." Local USO centers make dogs available to troops who long to see a wagging tail. Are you a dog lover?

A. I love dogs, but I am allergic to them to the point where I can't be around them without having a reaction.

 

5) Memorial Day kicks off the summer season. What's your favorite picnic food? 

A. I like watermelon.

6) Let's welcome summer with ice cream. What's your favorite flavor? Cone or cup?

A. I don't eat ice cream anymore, but I hope to partake of a hot fudge sundae one of those days just because. I would prefer a cup, if I could eat ice cream.

7) This marks the weekend when Americans step up their outdoor activity and do things they may not have been able to do during the winter months. For example, when is the last time you applied mosquito repellent?

A. I don't use mosquito repellent. I use little things you wear on your wrist that are supposed to keep the bugs away. I'm sure they have a name, but it escapes me at the moment. I also tend to wear long sleeves and long pants to keep from being eaten by bugs.

8) Or swam?

A. It's been a very long time since I went swimming. 

9) As you answer these questions, is there an air conditioner or fan on?

A. At the moment, there is nothing running except the air purifier. We are having a pleasant day that doesn't require the air conditioner.

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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. 

Saturday 9: Nothing's Gonna Stop Us

Saturday 9: Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now (1987)

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

1) In this song, Gracie Slick challenges, "Let them say we're crazy!" Tell us about something you're glad you did, even though your friends or family may have advised you against it.

A. I am glad I went to work for the newspaper and became a writer. My mother in particular was totally against that as a career path, but it was what I wanted. Well, I also wanted to be a ghost writer and write Nancy Drew books, but they stopped publishing them.

 

2) Slick is the lead singer of Jefferson Starship. This band got its start in 1965 as Jefferson Airplane but updated their name in 1974. Part of their reasoning was that by the 1970s, airplane travel was commonplace. In 2023, an estimated 820 million Americans flew domestically. When was your most recent flight? When is your next one?

A. I haven't been on a plane in 30 years, and given the state of things, I have no plans to be on one anytime soon.

 

3) Songwriter Albert Hammond said the song was inspired by his divorce. After years of legal wrangling, he was finally free to marry his long-time, long-suffering girlfriend. They're still married today. What is something you waited a long time for? Was it worth the wait?

A. I took 8 years to obtain my 4-year bachelor's degree. It was definitely worth it. I wouldn't give up that knowledge for anything, even if I don't remember a lot of it now.

 

4) Albert Hammond is perhaps best known as the one-hit wonder who sang, "It Never Rains in Southern California." Is rain expected where you are today?

A. We have thunderstorms in the weather forecast. We have been in a moderate drought, and then we had too much rain all at once, so it ran off and turned into small stream flooding as opposed to being a soothing rain that seeped into the ground. Rain is welcome.

 

5) He co-wrote the song with Diane Warren. In January, she lost her home to the Los Angeles fires. When a friend is confronted by heartache or tragedy, what can you say or do for them? What shouldn't you say or do?

A. When a friend is confronted by heartache or tragedy, sometimes the best thing is a long hug and silence. I personally do not find things like, "It was for the best," or "It was God's will," to be comforting, so I don't say those things. Oh, and take a vegetable tray instead of a cake or other snack food. They need to be able to eat something healthy without thinking about it.

6) "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" was the love theme to the romantic fantasy Mannequin. In that movie, a department store mannequin comes to life and falls for a struggling artist. While it was a moderate success at the box office, the gritty Vietnam drama Platoon was a much bigger hit. When you sit down to watch a movie, what genre would you prefer (fantasy, romance, comedy, drama, etc.)?

A. My movie preference depends on my mood. But generally, I like fantasy or drama, so long as it's not overly gory.

 

7) In 1987, when this song was popular, Aretha Franklin became the first woman inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Aretha was proud of her Detroit roots. Have you been to Michigan? If yes, where did you go?

A. I may have passed through Michigan a long time ago, but it has never been a destination point.

 

8) In 1987, the Chevy Corvette made news by adding a low tire pressure light to its dashboard. When you're driving and a yellow warning light comes on, do you handle the issue promptly? Or is it something you'll get to when you get around to it?

A. If a warning light comes on in my vehicle, I take care of it as soon as possible.

9) Random question: A magic mirror reflects your appearance five years from today. Would you look at it?

A. I would look into the mirror. The future is never written in stone.

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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. 

Saturday 9: Mama Liked the Roses

Saturday 9: Mama Liked the Roses (1970)

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

1) In this song, Elvis tells us his mother loved tending the roses in the garden. Do you have a green thumb?

A. I don't do as much gardening as I once did, but I used to have a green thumb.

2) Mama would put the roses in a vase in the living room. Do you have cut flowers in your home right now?

A. I do not have cut flowers in my house. Because of my allergies, I don't do that. 

 

3) Elvis sings that he found Mama's rose petals pressed in the family Bible. Have you ever pressed petals in a book? If yes, what occasion were you commemorating?

A. I don't recall ever doing that. I might have pressed a 4-leaf clover in a book.

4) OK, so now we know Mama liked roses. What about you? Would you prefer white, pink, yellow or red roses?

A. I used to grow roses. We dug them up a few years ago and replaced the rose garden with rocks and potted plants. I loved the pink ones, and I had one that bloomed orange that I was partial to because it was personal to me.

5) Elvis' own mother, Gladys Presley, had a major impact on pop culture. When her son was 11, he asked for either a rifle or a bicycle for his birthday. She deemed the rifle too dangerous and the bike too expensive, and so he chose a guitar instead. The rest is history. Tell us about a special birthday gift from your youth.

A. I don't recall many special birthday gifts. We had cake and a small toy; most of our big gifts came at Christmas. But it seems to me I may have received store-bought blue jeans for my birthday when I was heading into the seventh grade. My mother made many of my clothes and I yearned for store-bought blue jeans. I still love blue jeans.

 

6) Abraham Lincoln credited his stepmother, Sarah, for her lasting influence on his life, saying she ignited his love of reading and learning. Tell us about a woman -- mother, stepmother, grandmother, aunt, Godmother, teacher, neighbor -- who changed your life for the better.

A. My mother-in-law changed my life for the better by giving birth to my husband. She raised him well and he turned out to be a wonderful, caring man. She's also pretty special in her own right and has been a good example to me of how to age gracefully.

7) Mother's Day is almost upon us. According to the National Restaurant Association, we like to eat out on this holiday, with revenue up more than 80% on Mother's Day weekend. When did you last dine at a restaurant? Was it a special occasion?

A. We ate out a few weeks ago. It was just an "I'm tired of eating the same things at the house, let's go out" occasion.

8) Candles are a big seller for Mother's Day, too. What's your favorite candle scent?

A. I only use unscented candles. They are hard to find.

9) Sam is celebrating Mother's Day with her mother's favorite, Hershey Bars. Would you prefer classic milk chocolate, dark chocolate or chocolate with almonds?

A. I would prefer milk chocolate, please.

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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.