Saturday 9: Only Love

Saturday 9: Only Love Can Hurt Like This (2014)

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

1) In this week's song, Paloma Faith sings that she thought she wouldn't care if her lover left but now she's begging him to stay. Can you think of something you were surprised you missed when it was gone or over?

A. I have been surprised at how much I miss newspaper work. It's been 10 years and I still miss it. I rather thought I would be over it by now.

2) Paloma obviously has a powerful, versatile voice. She's also a trained dancer. Tell us about two things you do well.

A. I can write well, and I play the guitar decently. I would never claim proficiency on the guitar, but I do it well enough.

3) She was a judge on two British TV shows: The Voice and The Voice Kids. Do you watch competition shows (The Voice, American Idol, Dancing with the Stars, etc.)? If so, are you any good at picking the winners?

A. I watch The Voice and I don't think I've ever picked the person to win. 

4) This week's song was written by Diane Warren. She's one of America's most successful song writers, having written more than thirty Top 10 hits. Think of your favorite song. Do you know who wrote it?

A. Yes, Landslide, written and performed by Stevie Nicks.

5) She's made a fortune writing love songs, mostly from her Hollywood Hills office. Diane spends up to 10 hours a day in a room she describes as "cluttered," and admits it's an unlikely setting to write about romance, yet it works for her. Describe a setting you consider romantic.

A. Beaches at sunset are romantic. A cabin by a lake in the mountains is romantic. Bedrooms can be romantic, as can candle-lit dinners.

6) In 2014, when "Only Love Can Hurt Like This" was popular, Joan Rivers died. Best known as a comedienne, she was also a successful businesswoman, promoting her jewelry line on QVC. Do you ever watch shopping networks?

A. No, I do not watch those.

7) The Apple Watch was introduced in 2014. Are you wearing a watch as you answer these 9 questions?

A. Yes, but it is a Timex. I always wear a watch and have for as long as I've been able to tell time.

8) One of the best-selling books of 2014 was The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. It won awards for best YA (young adult) fiction. Is YA a genre you often read?

A. I read several YA books a year. I read a lot of different genres and have an eclectic reading list most years.

9) Random question: What's something on your to-do list that you just can't get around to doing?

A. Decluttering. Mostly I don't know what to do with the stuff I'd like to remove. We're too rural for a yard sale.

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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: She'd Rather Be with Me

Saturday 9: She'd Rather Be with Me (1967)

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

1) In this week's song we learn that this particular girl would rather be spending time with her lover. Instead of answering these 9 questions, what would you rather be doing?

A. I enjoy answering the questions, so there really isn't anything I'd rather be doing at the moment.

2) Lead singer Howard Kaylan was a very good student. First, he won a Bank of America Fine Arts Award, then he was the valedictorian of his graduating class, and was awarded a scholarship to UCLA. Tell us about something that distinguished your high school career.

A. I graduated 4th in my class of 252 students, I was in the National Honor Society, and I was chosen to speak at graduation.

3) Howard Kaylan formed this week's group, The Turtles, with Mark Volman. They met while performing in their high school choir and continued working together for 55 years. Are you still in touch with old friends from high school?

A. Sort of. I connected with many of them in 2011, when we had our 30th reunion. I see their posts flit across my Facebook feed from time to time. Sometimes what I see are obituaries. We are growing old. Also, my husband and I attended the same high school, though he graduated four years ahead of me. I see more of his friends than I do my own.

4) First Daughter Tricia Nixon was a big Turtles fan and brought them to the White House to perform for a private party. They almost didn't go. When the engraved invitation came, tied with ribbon, the boys thought it was an elaborate practical joke. Have you ever successfully pulled off a practical joke?

A. A very long time ago, my father had a band. They were playing music in a parking lot across from the high school. It was a hot day and there was little to do except listen to them play and I'd heard them often. I wandered around and found some tarry asphalt and rolled it into rolls so that it looked like black licorice. I innocently went up to one of the band members and asked him if he'd like some licorice. He accepted. I stopped him before he put it in his mouth. His girlfriend lit into me like I'd committed murder. I just laughed at her. She was really mad, though. I'd have never let him eat it.

5) The Turtles' bass player was Chip Douglas. He left the band in 1967 to produce The Monkees. It's Chip that Davy Jones refers to at the beginning of "Daydream Believer" ("What number is this Chip?" "7A!"). What's your favorite Monkees song?

A. Last Train to Clarksville is the first one that comes to mind.

6) The Turtles broke up in 1970. Pressure from their record label to do more and do it cheaper was just too much of a hassle. But Howard and Mark continued to work together, renaming themselves Flo and Eddie. They sang backup on records by Frank Zappa, Alice Cooper and Bruce Springsteen and on children's TV shows like The Care Bears. Backup work provided less money but more fun. Given the choice, would you rather do a job that paid well that you didn't enjoy, or a job you liked that earned you a smaller paycheck?

A. I would prefer to do work I like. That is basically what I did. It didn't pay well, but I don't regret it.

7) In 1967, when this song was popular, the RMS Queen Mary was retired after 31 years of service. Now docked in Long Beach, the ship has been refurbished with state-of-the-art wifi, satellite hookups, and projection screens and is a popular choice for conventions and annual business meetings. When were you most recently on a boat or ship?

A. We toured a warship when we were in Charleston, SC. The USS Yorktown is on display there for tourists and visitors.

8) Also in 1967, Elvis married Priscilla. You don't need last names to know who we're talking about, do you? Can you think of another couple with whom the world is on a first-name basis?

A. Lucy and Desi, Barrack and Michelle, George and Barbara, Sonny and Cher.

9) Random question: If your phone were to ring right now, who do you think would be calling?

A. My brother.

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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: Diamond Girl

Saturday 9: Diamond Girl (1973)

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

1) This week's song is by Seals and Crofts, a pair of Texas boys who met when they both joined a local band called The Crew Cats. Have you ever visited The Lone Star State? If yes, where did you go?

A. If I have been there, it was in 1977 when my parents drove us across the US to California. But I am not sure we went into Texas. I was 14 years old and I really wasn't paying attention to what states we rode through.

2) Lead singer Jim Seals compliments his girl by comparing her to a precious stone. What's the nicest compliment you have ever received? Who was it from?

A. I recently had my former editor tell me this: "You were fearless when you went after a story." That may not be the nicest compliment I've ever had, but it certainly ranks up there. Now I keep asking myself, where did that fearless woman go?

3) Diamonds are birthstone for people born in April. What's your birthstone? Do you wear it often?

A. My birthstone(s) are pearl, alexandrite or amethyst (depending on the website), and moonstone. My birth month is one of only three months to have three birthstones. I have always used the pearl and amethyst as my birthstone, and I have jewelry with each. I like to wear pearls; for some reason it brings out my facial features when I have on a pearl necklace. 

4) In ancient times, Hindus believed diamonds brought good luck. Do you have a good luck charm?

A. No. 

5) On the other hand, some believe that one of the world's most famous gems, The Hope Diamond, is cursed. 14 of its owners have died from unnatural causes. Those who possessed the diamond committed suicide, were murdered, tortured to death in prison, and even torn apart by dogs! If you received a beautiful piece of jewelry that was rumored to be cursed, would you be concerned? Or do you think curses are silly?

A. I'd probably sell it as soon as I could if it were as valuable as The Hope Diamond. That would pay a lot of bills. I don't know that I would be concerned about the curse. I think curses are things that only have power if we believe them.

6) Rare diamonds share an element with the common pencil. Both contain graphite. Sam is crazy about pencils, pens and felt-tip markers. Do you enjoy shopping for office supplies?

A. I love shopping for office supplies, or I used to, anyway, back when the stores were better stocked. We only have a Staples now and I don't particularly like shopping there. I'd rather shop for office supplies than anything else.

7) In 1973, the year this record was popular, Shelley Hack was a hard-working and well-paid model. She regularly appeared on the pages of catalogs, on magazine covers and then launched Revlon's popular Charlie cologne in print and on TV. What commercial have you seen recently? Did you watch it on TV, online or on your phone?

A. It would have been on TV because I have an ad blocker on my computer, and I don't recall seeing any ads on my phone because all I've been doing with it is listening to a book. I remember a Toyota commercial with a 4.59% interest rate or something like that from last night. To be honest, I usually have a book in my hand when the TV is on, and I read that during the commercials.

8) Also in 1973, Motown great Stevie Wonder was in a car accident that left him with a scar on his nose. Tell us about how you got one of your scars.

A. I have a scar on my hand that I obtained from a minor scratch in the county courthouse one day while I was over there looking up records for a story I was writing. I remember I hit my hand on the corner of a filing cabinet and didn't pay much attention to it until I saw a drop of blood splat on the court document. Then I had to hit up somebody for a Band-Aid. The court document will be there forever; so will my drop of blood. I have always been surprised that this little scratch scarred.

9) Random question: What's your perfect day -- weatherwise?

A. Blue skies with an occasional cloud, an occasional very mild breeze, and between 70 and 72 degrees, with the trees fully leafed out, birds chirping, and bees buzzing.

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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: Easter Sunday Sweethearts

Saturday 9: Two Easter Sunday Sweethearts (1954)

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

1) This song is about a couple dressed in their "Sunday Best." Will you be getting dressed up this weekend?

A. No.

2) The happy couple is walking up the street arm-in-arm. Have you recently seen a couple holding hands or walking arm-in-arm in public? Were you one of that romantic duo?

A. My husband and I usually hold hands when we are out.

3) This week's featured artist, Vera Lynn, was a beloved English singer who is affectionately remembered for her tireless work entertaining the troops during WWII. She famously sang "There'll Always Be an England" during outdoor concerts in Egypt, India, and Burma, even as battles raged nearby. What is your favorite patriotic song?

A. America the Beautiful.

 

4) Though she became a celebrity at 19, Vera continued to live with her parents until she married at age 21. How old were you when you left home for good? 

A. Twenty.

 

Now, here are some questions in honor of this weekend's holiday . . .

5) More than 1.5 million Cadbury Creme Eggs are produced every day. Do you enjoy Cadbury Eggs all year around, only at Easter, or not at all?

A. I eat a few around this time of year but that's it. I don't see them to purchase at other times (the Halloween ones are not good). I don't eat them like I used to because they don't taste as good as they once did. They're also smaller.

 

6) Pretzels are considered a delicious Easter snack in Germany. Do you more often crave salty treats or sweet ones?

A. Sweet ones, I'm afraid.

7) We've been talking a lot about sweets this morning. The only holiday that generates more candy sales is Halloween. When do you eat more candy: Easter or Halloween?

A. I will say it's about the same amount.

8) Easter is considered the season of rebirth. What makes you feel refreshed or rejuvenated?

A. A hot shower and a good night's sleep.

9) This year, April Fool's Day happens to follow Easter Sunday. Do you expect to fall victim to any pranks?

A. No.

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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: Got the Money

Saturday 9: If You've Got the Money (1950)

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

1) In this week's song, Lefty Frizzell is eager to go out on the town and hit all the night spots. What are your plans for the weekend?

A. I may go listen to an author talk at the library, but it depends on the weather. We have lots of rain and wind in the forecast. Also, if Virginia Tech wins in the women's basketball game today, then I will watch their next game.

2) He tells his girl he'd rather ride in her Cadillac than his old car. Back in the 1950s, Caddys were quite the status symbol. Lefty bought a white one with the profits from this record. Elvis also had a fondness for Cadillacs and preferred pink. Have you ever owned a Cadillac?

A. I have never owned a Cadillac. My father has, though.

3) Lefty was a big deal in Big Spring, TX. He was a popular attraction at local bars, a favorite among oil workers who liked to unwind by listening to live music. How do you relax after a tough day?

A. I take a hot shower and read a book.

4) This was Lefty's first hit. He wrote "If You've Got the Money" and recorded a demo for producer Jim Beck to play for established singers. When no one else wanted to record it, Beck decided to give Lefty a shot. The result was a million seller that spent 22 weeks on the country charts. Tell us about someone who took a chance on you.

A. In 1984, the owner of the local weekly hired a new editor. I popped in and asked if I could write stories for him. In October 1984, my very first article, "Making Shiloh Apple Butter," appeared in the paper, and I've been writing stuff since. If the new editor hadn't agreed to let me write, I wonder what would have happened to me? 

5) After this record became a hit, success came quickly to Lefty, perhaps too fast. He signed conflicting contracts with promoters and managers which resulted in lawsuits. Have you recently consulted a lawyer or had a document notarized?

A. Not recently, no.

6) This song hit number one on the country charts twice: first this version and then in 1976 by Willie Nelson. Do you have a favorite Willie Nelson song?

A. Not really. He wrote "Crazy" which is a good song.

7) In 1950, when this song was popular, Americans began using credit cards. Do you pay with a credit card to get rewards? If yes, what rewards are you accumulating (cash back, airline miles, etc.)? 

A. I accumulate cash back. I usually let it build up and then use it over the holidays.

8) Also in 1950, Sears Roebuck and Co. acknowledged a major spike in catalog sales and took the unusual move of devoting the cover of their Spring/Summer catalog to their "satisfaction guarantee." This was meant to allay the fear of customers uncomfortable with ordering by mail instead of buying in person. 74 years later, Amazon delivers more than 3 million packages every day. Would you rather check out a product yourself in a store, or do you prefer the convenience of ordering from home?

A. It depends on the product. I would rather see furniture in person, for example. I'd also rather try on clothes before I buy them. Things like books or pots and pans and such I don't mind ordering online.

9) Random question -- You're singing along with the car radio to your favorite song when you reach your destination. Do you wait until your song is over to get out of the car?

A. I generally wait until the song finishes. I do the same thing with an audiobook. I used to sit in the garage until the end of the chapter, back when I was using CDs to listen to audiobooks instead of my cellphone.

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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: Charlie Mops

Saturday 9: Charlie Mops (2007)

Not familiar with this week's song? Hear it here.

 

1. This week's song is about a legend, Charlie Mops, the man who invented beer. Tell us about something you enjoy so much you could sing about it with the same enthusiasm the Salt Sea Pirates sing of beer.

O! I enjoy the place I live, the beautiful Blue Ridge, there's not much I can say about the mountains that would be bad! Here and there you find a bridge, a flower, and a tree, there really isn't much in the mountains to make me sad!

2. The lyrics tell us beer goes well with breakfast, dinner and snacks. Think about what you dined on yesterday. What beverages did you have with your breakfast, your dinner, and your between-meal snack?

A. Just water. That be all I drink, matey.

3. "Charlie Mops" was chosen because it's an Irish drinking song and Sunday is St. Patrick's Day. Do you expect to raise a glass in honor of the day?

A. No.

4. Beer is not the only beverage often dyed green for St. Patrick's Day. In 1970, McDonald's introduced the Shamrock Shake, a milkshake made with a minty green syrup. If we were to go out for shakes right now, what flavor would you order?

A. Chocolate, although I am allergic to milk and haven't had a shake in 40 years or so.

5. Legend has it that wearing green makes you invisible to leprechauns, who can be mischievous pranksters. Is there anyone you would like to avoid today?

A. There are always people I would like to avoid. That is what makes home so attractive. They aren't here.

6. For all our talk of green, it was not the original color of St. Patrick's Day. Through most of the 18th century, blue was worn across England and Ireland to honor St. Patrick. The Irish switched to green to express their independence from the English. Which color do you wear more often: blue or green?

A. Blue.

7. Today St. Patrick's Day is observed all over the world. In Tokyo, it's not a single day but a weekend celebration. When you think of Japan, what's the first thing that comes to mind?

A. Honestly, it would be my college professor who translates poetry and has spent time in Japan; I've seen her photos from there and it's been like taking a trip with her, sort of. So, when I think of Japan (and China), I also think of Jeanne, who used to be my professor but is now my friend.

8. One of the biggest parades each year in Buenos Aires is for St. Patrick's Day. Have you ever participated in a parade?

A. Yes. I was in the high school band, and we marched in lots of parades. I hated them. Then when I became a news reporter, I had to take pictures of them. 

9. Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, GA, crowns a Miss St. Patrick's Day. Tell us about an event you recall from your college days.

A. I was an adult student who lived off campus, so I didn't really participate in much of the after-school events. I went to numerous poetry readings, though. Once, I begged my husband to come with me, I don't remember who was reading but at the time it was important to me - but he bought a load of cattle at 3 p.m. that day, and I went on to the reading by myself, but he came from the stockyard to be with me - in boots covered with mud and he smelled like cow. I was so glad to see him that I didn't mind. Well, I didn't mind too much. I'm not sure what everyone else thought, though. Those poetry readings were awfully hoity-toity.

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

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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 Me Now

Saturday 9: Hold Me Now (1983)

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

1) This week's song begins with a young man gazing at a picture of himself and his girlfriend in happier times. Are there any photographs in the room you're in right now?

A. There's a photo I took of a bee in a flower, and a picture I downloaded of Melissa Etheridge playing her guitar.

2) His girl tells him he's a dreamer. Do you consider yourself more a dreamer or realist?

A. Definitely a realistic dreamer.

3) "Hold Me Now" was a big hit for the British pop band, The Thompson Twins. They got their start in the late 1970s in the English city of Sheffield, so named because the River Sheaf runs through it. Do you know how your town got its name?

A. My closest town, Fincastle, was named for Lord Fincastle, the son of Lord Dunmore, Virginia's Lieutenant Governor in 1772, when the town was established.

4) Today lead singer Tom Bailey performs solo and is an outspoken advocate for veganism. Vegans abstain from consuming animal products, particularly in their diets. Are you a vegan, or have you ever tried to stick to a vegan diet?

A. No and no. 

5) Tom's former bandmate Joe Leeway has left show business altogether and concentrates on a career in hypnotherapy. This therapy is commonly used to treat insomnia, smoking cessation and obesity. Is hypnotherapy something you have tried, or would consider?

A. I have tried hypnotherapy. 

6) In 1983, when this song was popular, Motorola introduced the first cell phone. Today cell phones are an essential part of our everyday lives. Do you still have a landline?

A. Yes.

7) Also in 1983, American West airlines took off, flying between Las Vegas and Phoenix. Where did you travel to on your most recent flight?

A. I haven't been on an airplane since 1993. We went to Disney in Florida and back.

8) In 1983, Princess Diana was the world's top cover girl. Are there any magazines in the room you're in? If yes, who or what is on the cover?

A. The only magazine in here at the moment is the one I wrote for the county's 250th anniversary, and it has a picture of the county courthouse on the front.

9) Random question: Is anyone on your bad side this morning?

A. No one I know personally.

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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: Blame

Saturday 9: Blame It on the Bossa Nova (1963)

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

1) This week's song tells the story of a girl who found love at a dance. Share a happy memory from a party, prom, or dance you attended.

A. My husband threw me a surprise 50th birthday party. He got a hold of my phone and called everyone in it, I think. There were people I never would have expected to come there. It was humbling to see folks cared enough to take a few hours out of a Saturday to see me and eat pizza.

2) This record was a big hit for Eydie Gorme, which surprised her. When she first heard the song, she disliked it and had to be convinced to record it. Tell us about a pleasant surprise you had recently.

A. We had a calf born that is almost white. I need to get out and take a photo of it, when it stops raining.

3) "Blame It on the Bossa Nova" is about love at first sight on the dance floor. Eydie's husband Steve Lawrence maintained he fell in love with her the first time he heard her sing. Have you ever felt a sudden, powerful attraction to someone? If yes, did you act on it?

A. Yes, and yes.

4) While this was a solo success for Eydie, she was also known for recording and performing with Steve Lawrence. He was just 22 and she was 29 when they married. Eydie admitted she was self-conscious about the difference in their ages. Do you think age matters in a romantic relationship?

A. No.

5) Eydie was fluent in Spanish, which enabled her to pay for her classes at City College by working as an interpreter. Tell us about one of your early jobs.

A. I was a legal secretary for a lawyer. At the time, everything was typed on an IBM Selectric II, and it had to be perfect. No errors. No sloppiness. I wonder what happened to that work ethic. I still have it but I don't see it in others.

6) In 1963, when this song was popular, The Rambler was Motor Trend's car of the year. It was a 9-passenger station wagon, perfect for families. What do you remember about your childhood family car?

A. I remember that we had a green station wagon that my brother wrecked. We also had a blue Dodge Charger. My parents went through a lot of cars.

7) Also in 1963, President Kennedy made a state trip to Ireland. Have you visited the land of your ancestors?

A. No. I kind of live in the land of my ancestors. They settled here before the American Revolution.

8) The pilot for Gilligan's Island was filmed in 1963. Were you a fan of the show?

A. In reruns. I was too young to watch the original.

9) Random question: Crunchy, smooth or organic peanut butter?

A. Smooth Peter Pan peanut butter.
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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: Shambala

Saturday 9: Shambala (1973)

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

1) This week's song refers to the mythical kingdom of Shambala. Can you think of another song that mentions to faraway, mythical land?

A. Well, there's Olivia Newton John's Xanadu, or there's "a land called Honalee" in Puff the Magic Dragon.

2) "Shambala" is performed by Three Dog Night. The name is derived from an Aboriginal Australian legend. In the outback, hunters would sleep with a dog beside them. If it was very cold, they would sleep between two dogs. If it was freezing -- you guessed it -- it was a three-dog night. Was it cold last night where you are?

A. It was below freezing, but we seem to be heading for an early spring. Maybe the groundhog was right.

3) The lead singer is the late Cory Wells. Early in his career he was a member of the house band at the famous Sunset Strip nightclub Whiskey-A-Go-Go. Cory was a bit of an anomaly at "The Whiskey" because of his sober lifestyle. When did you most recently enjoy an adult beverage?

A. I don't drink anything but water. Still. 

4) Bandmate Danny Hutton auditioned to be a member of The Monkees TV show. He didn't get the part. While he was a talented singer-songwriter, NBC was looking for musicians who could also act. Have you ever fantasized about a career as a performer?

A. I played in a band and was a performer in high school, but I am not keen on the spotlight. Maybe in some other universe.

5) Brian Wilson of The Beach Boys was an early supporter of Three Dog Night's. What's your favorite Beach Boys song?

A. Good Vibrations is the only one I can think of. I read recently that Brian Wilson is quite ill.

6) In 1973, when this song was popular, one of the best-selling toys Curious George plush doll packaged with a Curious George book. Can you recall a favorite book from your childhood?

A. Miss Osborne the Mop, by Wilson Gage, was one of my favorite books when I was 9 or 10. It was a Scholastic Book, I think.  

7) The Exorcist was in theaters, terrifying audiences. It's still ranked among the scariest movies of all time. Have you seen it? Did it scare you?

A. I saw it at some point, but it was a long time ago. I always get that one confused with Rosemary's Baby. I think I saw them about the same time. Or around the same age.

8) Roller skates were a big seller in 1973. While most rinks had skates available for rent, committed skaters had their own pair. Are you better on roller skates or ice skates?

A. I'm not very good on either one. I'm lucky I can stand up on a flat surface.

9) Random question -- Here's $100. What will you spend it on?

A. I would either donate it to the library or buy books.

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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: Paper Doll

Saturday 9: Paper Doll (1943)

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

1) The song is about a fellow who is exasperated by men flirting with his girl. Do you have a jealous streak?

A. Not really, no. I don't think I've ever been jealous over a person, but I have envied the work of others (as in a good book that I wish I'd written).

2) He's blue after a quarrel with Sue. Did you exchange harsh words with anyone recently?

A. My husband and I occasionally snap at one another, but we don't fight.

3) "Paper Doll" was #1 for 12 weeks in 1943-44, sold 11 million copies and remains one of the best-selling singles of all time. Had you heard it before today?

A. I don't recall ever hearing this song before. But I wasn't even a twinkle in my father's eye in the 1940s. Or my grandfather's eye, for that matter.

4) As kids, the Mills Brothers worked on their harmonies in front of their father's Piqua, OH, barbershop, much to the delight of passersby. Do you often encounter street musicians in your neighborhood?

A. I live in a rural area. We do not have street musicians here. However, there's a rooftop restaurant in Fincastle, and I once thought about taking an amp and my guitar and setting up and playing on the corner until someone paid me to go away.

5) The Mills Brothers were a long way from that street corner when, in 1936, they became the first African Americans to perform for the British Royal Family. It's about 4,000 miles from Piqua to London. What's the farthest you've ever been from home?

A. France, which is 4,015 miles away, according to Alexa.

6) In the early 1930s, the Mills Brothers not only performed songs on radio, they sang jingles for Standard Oil and Crisco. What commercial can you recall having seen (or heard) lately?

A. The new Kia commercial that premiered during the Super Bowl. It was the only one I really felt tugged at the heart strings (the Budweiser commercial was a bust). I saw it last while we were watching Big Bang reruns. The commercial shows a young girl ice skating, and she's disappointed when she sees an empty chair beside her father. Then she goes to an outside homemade rink and skates for her disabled grandfather.

7) In 1943, when "Paper Doll" was popular, WWII was raging and the US Mint began producing steel pennies because copper was needed for ammunition. Do you have any pennies in your pocket or wallet right now?

A. I have pennies in the tray in my car. Does that count? That's a cool factoid about the pennies; I didn't know that.

 

8) Also in 1943, a bottle of Coke was a nickel. When did you most recently have a soft drink? What was it?

A. I haven't had a soft drink since October 2020, and it was a ginger ale.

9) Random question: Have you learned more from your successes, or your failures?

A. My successes gave me some confidence, which I have always lacked. Failures show me what I need to change, though, so I have learned from them as well. I think it's a toss-up.

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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: At Last

Saturday 9: At Last (1960)

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

 

1) Etta James sings that "life is like a song." What song reflects how you feel about life these days?

A. What Was I Made For? by Billie Ellish.

2) She is delighted to have found the love she has always dreamed of. Have you found true love to be the way you imagined it would be? Or has it surprised you?

A. I never gave much thought to true love. I found a good man whom I love as best I can love, and he loves me back. We take care of one another and put up with each other, and we will walk off hand in hand, or something like that. Love has so many twists and turns, I don't think anyone can prepare for it, however it ends up. People change, and love takes work, whether you're simply friends or lovers. None of this has surprised me, really, though I could not predict all the changes. I am glad he's still with me.

 

3) Etta's mother encouraged her to not just sing but perform a song, telling her daughter, "Even if a song has been done a thousand times, you can still bring something of your own to it." Is there a singer whose performances often touch your heart?

A. I used to cry every time I heard Don McLean sing "Vincent (Starry Starry Night)."

 

4) As a teen, she was considered a gospel prodigy and churches all around Los Angeles requested she "guest" at their services. Do you have a favorite religious song?

A. No.

5) "At Last" is one of the most often requested songs for the newlywed's first dance at the reception. What song reminds you of a sweetheart?

A. "Longer," by Dan Fogelberg. It was played at our wedding. My brother sang it.

This is the last Saturday 9 before Valentine's Day and so this morning we shall focus on the upcoming holiday.

 

6) It's been reported that millions of roses are grown specifically for Valentine's Day each year. What's your favorite flower?

A. I have always been partial to irises.

 

7) The earliest recorded celebration of Valentine's Day was in Paris in the year 1400. Obviously, you weren't around for that one. What do you remember from one of your earliest, childhood Valentine's Day celebrations?

A. I remember those packages of Valentines we bought and then we were supposed to give one to every kid in the room. I was often left off of people's list, apparently, as I never received the same number back as I gave out. I gave one to everyone, but not all kids did.

 

8) About 20% of pet owners say they give their dogs, cats, birds or bunnies a Valentine. Is your pet getting something special on February 14?

A. The cows will get their usual bale of hay.

9) Of all the professions, teachers are #1 when it comes to receiving Valentine cards. Did you ever have a crush on a teacher?

A. I kind of crushed on many of teachers, but they were more like, "please save me and take me home with you" crushes. Not swooning "oh he's so cute" crushes.

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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: Poor Little Fool

Saturday 9: Poor Little Fool (1958)

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

1) Ricky Nelson sings of a girl with "carefree devil eyes." Are your eyes your best feature? If not, what is?

A. My skin is my best feature, or it used to be, anyway. It was very clear when I was younger, free of moles and skin tags, etc. Some of those have arrived as I have aged. My eyes are hazel and look like cracked ice if you look in them closely. They also are expressive; my husband looks at me and knows if I am having a good day or not simply by glancing at my eyes.

2) "Poor Little Fool" literally arrived at Ricky's doorstep. A pretty girl knocked on his front door, and played and sang her original composition for him. Who has most recently knocked on your front door (or rung the bell)?

A. My husband! He locked himself out of the house and rang the doorbell so I'd let him in to get his keys.

3) That girl was Sharon Sheeley. A teen model in Los Angeles during the 1950s, she met many of the early rock stars at promotional events. Elvis encouraged her to follow her heart and start writing songs, so she did. Who have you advised recently? Did they take your advice?

A. That would be my husband again, and no, I don't think he did.

4) With the success of "Poor Little Fool," Sharon gave up modeling and concentrated on music. Her songs were recorded by singers such as Richie Valens, Glen Campbell and Johnny Rivers. How many different occupations have you tried? Which was your favorite?

A. News reporting was my favorite. Besides news reporting, in my lifetime I've been a photographer, a musician, a parts counter manager selling automotive parts, a secretary, a legal secretary, and a teacher. I also held a number of jobs working for temp services at various times, most of which I did not like. 

5) Ricky Nelson was the son of Ozzie and Harriet and brother of David Nelson. They began performing together as a family with their radio program The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet. They took the show to television in 1952, where they were referred to as "The Most Famous Family in America." What TV family would you like to hang around with?

A. I'm not sure being a member of a crew stranded in the Delta Quadrant on the USS Voyager counts as family, but that's what I'm going with. If that doesn't work, then I'd like to be Diana Prince's younger sister.

6) While Ricky eventually became the audience favorite, he wasn't initially a likely candidate for stardom. A producer described him as "an odd little kid," shy and small for his age. In those early days, big brother David was more outgoing and considered a natural actor. Thinking back to your preteen years, were you more like David or Rick?

A. More like Rick.

7) Ricky never got over his shyness. He often closed his eyes as he sang on camera or before an audience because it helped him battle his nerves and concentrate on the music. Fan magazine oohed and aahed over his beautiful long lashes and young girls fantasized about Ricky closing his eyes before leaning in for a kiss. Who was your big pre-teen crush?

A. David Cassidy.

8) In 1958, when "Poor Little Fool" was #1, American women were shopping for Italian-inspired footwear. Heels were lower, and the leather was textured and less shiny that the popular patent leather of years gone by. If you were to go shoe shopping today, what would you be looking for?

A. Sneakers. That's all I wear although I could use a pair of dress shoes if I could find something that wouldn't kill my feet.

9) Random question -- Which of these parties sounds like the most fun: a) one you host yourself; b) one at a friend's home; c) a surprise party in your honor?

A. (b) One at a friend's home.

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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.