I'm a little slow on the draw expressing my sadness about jazz great Al Jarreau's death the other day. I wasn't feeling like writing yesterday. I'm still getting over last week's disease and was feeling kind of upset that my husband's mom can't visit this weekend because she got injured.
Anyway... I own just one album by the late Mr. Jarreau. It's a greatest hits collection. I actually really like it a lot and used to listen to it frequently, which makes me think I should have explored more of his music when he was still living. I knew Al Jarreau for his hit songs "Morning", "We're In This Love Together", and of course the theme to Moonlighting, which was an 80s show I never watched.
But... this is the kind of music that really impressed me the most!
Here he takes on Elton John's classic, "Your Song".
I read that Al Jarreau had been experiencing exhaustion lately and that had led to his decision to retire from music. I'm not sure what the whole story is, but I do know the world lost a wonderful singer two days ago. I was genuinely sad to read the news, which in my case was broken by Carole King on Facebook. Rest in peace, Al... I hope you're scatting away with the angels above.
Man, 2016 has really sucked for celebrities. This year, we've lost so many incredibly talented people. When musicians I respect die, I usually post a tribute right away. I had to take a couple of days to post about Prince on my music blog, though I did write about him on my main blog. I just had to think about it some more...
Prince was at the height of his success when I was a kid. He burst into the mainstream when I was in the 5th grade, though he was certainly around before then. The first song I remember by him was "1999". Later, I was introduced to earlier hits like "Controversy" and "I Wanna Be Your Lover". Purple Rain was, of course, huge. That's when I really started listening to and enjoying Prince.
But there's one Prince memory that really stands out to me... It was from the late 1990s, when Muppets Tonight, a 90s era remake of the popular 70s era variety show, was airing in reruns on cable TV. I was off work, sitting at home alone one night, and there was an episode starring Prince. Incidentally, if you ever wanted to see something bizarre, check out the episode I linked below. I never thought I'd see Prince in overalls in a Hee Haw spoof.
Here's Prince among Muppets...
During that episode, Prince sang a song called "Starfish and Coffee". I remembered his performance and went looking for it yesterday.
Prince sings with the Muppets.
I didn't know this until yesterday, but "Starfish and Coffee" was written by Prince and Susannah Malvoin about an autistic girl Malvoin knew growing up. The girl, named Cynthia Rose, was teased for being "different". This song is about realizing that being different can be beautiful and there's no one "right way" to be.
I'm sitting here actually feeling a bit emotional after listening to the song. For so many years, I thought of Prince as this provocateur who often wrote sexually explicit lyrics designed to shock. But there was so much more to Prince than that. I am dumbstruck by how he and Susannah Malvoin were able to paint a picture of a different but endearing girl and managed to touch so many hearts. I can relate to "Starfish and Coffee". People have been calling me weird my whole life. And I am also guilty of thinking different people are "weird", too. But if you embrace the weird, sometimes you can run into something just plain awesome.
The lyrics to Starfish and Coffee...
It was 7:45 we were all in line 2 greet the teacher Miss Cathleen First was Kevin, then came Lucy, third in line was me All of us were ordinary compared to Cynthia Rose She always stood at the back of the line A smile beneath her nose Her favorite number was 20 and every single day If U asked her what she had 4 breakfast This is what she’d say Starfish and coffee Maple syrup and jam Butterscotch clouds, a tangerine And a side order of ham If U set your mind free, baby Maybe you’d understand Starfish and coffee Maple syrup and jam
Cynthia wore the prettiest dress With different color socks Sometimes I wondered if the mates were in her lunchbox Me and Lucy opened it when Cynthia wasn’t around Lucy cried, I almost died, U know what we found?
Starfish and coffee Maple syrup and jam Butterscotch clouds, a tangerine And a side order of ham If U set your mind free, honey Maybe you’d understand Starfish and coffee Maple syrup and jam
Starfish and coffee
Cynthia had a happy face, just like the one she’d draw On every wall in every school But it’s all right, it’s 4 a worthy cause Go on, Cynthia, keep singin’
Starfish and coffee Maple syrup and jam Butterscotch clouds, a tangerine And a side order of ham If U set your mind free, baby Maybe you’d understand Starfish and coffee Maple syrup and jam
The truth is, I hadn't been listening to Prince so much recently. But I did find myself downloading a bunch of his albums yesterday, including "Sign O The Times", which includes "Starfish and Coffee". I remember wanting to buy that album when it was brand new, but I was 15 at the time and lacked funds.
I'm just sad Prince is gone now, like so many others this year. 2016 might very well go down as the year the music died. :(
Okay, so maybe I was somewhat less surprised when I read that Maurice White died. He'd been battling Parkinson's Disease since 1992 and had quit performing with Earth, Wind & Fire in 1994. Recently, his health took a turn for the worse and the 74 year old passed away peacefully in his sleep on February 3, 2016.
I think of all the rock stars who have died recently, I liked Maurice White the most. His music makes me happy. I love seeing old videos of him in his prime, fronting EWF. He had an amazing charisma and joy when he performed. He was a man who belonged in front of an audience.
This video may give you a migraine, but the music is awesome.
Maurice White had a raw, masculine power that worked so well with Philip Bailey's falsetto. Though I still enjoy watching EWF and listening to their music, it hasn't been the same since Maurice White left the group. And now that he's dead, I feel like it's the end of an era.
A later video post White's retirement.
When I listen to EWF, I'm reminded of my childhood and a time when things were simple. And every time an iconic performer from that time period passes away, it reminds me that my time is coming.
At the same time, I saw the condition my father was in at the end of his life. He had lewy body dementia, which is somewhat like Parkinson's Disease. It robbed him of his dignity and autonomy. I can't imagine having to suffer with it for decades. I don't know what Maurice White's final days were like, but I can make a guess.
Sigh...
The music world has lost one more bonafide star. Rest in peace, Maurice White.
I was very sad and surprised to hear about Glenn Frey's passing as I woke up this morning. As a child of the 70s and 80s, his music has always been a big part of my personal soundtrack. While I think I appreciate Don Henley more as a musician and songwriter, I can't deny that I've also very much enjoyed Glenn Frey. A lot of the songs he sang lead on with the Eagles are favorites of mine.
I guess what is more shocking to me is that so many famous people have died in the past week and they've all been men in their late 60s, early 70s. I guess you just never know when your time is going to be up.
This song immediately passed through my head when I heard about Glenn's death. It's probably my favorite of his solo efforts.
I had read that Glenn Frey had his demons and enemies. I will always appreciate his gift for R&B hooks and pop. He and Don Henley were a dynamite songwriting duo. Frey was like Paul McCartney to Henley's John Lennon. Not surprisingly, I seem to like Lennon over McCartney, too.
I suppose there is more I could write about Glenn Frey, maybe a few days from now when the news has had more time to sink in. Oddly enough, I found out about Glenn's death on RfM instead of Facebook. Go figure.
I just hope this is the end of dying rock icons for awhile.
I got the sad news this morning that David Bowie died. He was just sixty-nine years old and had been suffering from cancer for 18 months. The press hasn't indicated what kind of cancer he had.
Growing up in the 70s and 80s, I listened to a lot of David Bowie's music. It was all over the radio at the time. One song that always haunted me was "This Is Not America", which he did in 1985 with Pat Metheny.
Cool song...
He was also known for his duet with Mick Jagger, "Dancing in the Street". This video usually makes me cringe, but it is a memorable song.
This video always cracks me up. David Bowie and Mick Jagger were very flamboyant in this performance.
David Bowie probably became mainstream in the 80s, but his 70s era stuff was really cool and timeless. I love songs like...
"Young Americans"
And "Golden Years"...
He was such an elegant, artistic, imaginative, glamorous, talented man. The music world is richer because he was in it, making his unusual and distinctive sound.
"Ziggy Stardust"
I could always add songs like "Let's Dance", "Blue Jean", and "China Girl", but I have a feeling I'm going to see those songs plastered all over my Facebook feed today. Anyway... while others are definitely bigger David Bowie fans than I am, I am genuinely sad that he's gone now. I'm always sad when a music legend dies. It seems like we have so many fewer of them now. I'm sending warm thoughts to Bowie's family, friends, and other loved ones.
If you've been reading my main blog, you know that my father died two days ago. I've already done posts about funeral songs on this blog, so I won't rehash that now. Instead, I'll just write about a song I recorded in May. I guess I knew my dad was going to be dying soon, but really I just liked the sentiment of the song, "Goodbye My Friend". It was written by Karla Bonoff, who recorded it for one of her albums. Linda Ronstadt later recorded it for her Cry Like A Rainstorm, Howl Like The Wind album.
Karla Bonoff's version...
Linda Ronstadt's version…
Oh we never know where life will take us We know it's just a ride on the wheel And we never know when death will shake us And we wonder how it will feel
So goodbye my friend I know I'll never see you again But the time together through all the years Will take away these tears It's O.K. now Goodbye my friend
I'd see a lot of things that made me crazy And I guess I held on to you You could've run away and left, well maybe But it wasn't time and we both knew
So goodbye my friend I know I'll never see you again But the love you gave me through all the years Will take away my tears I'm O.K. now Goodbye my friend
A life so fragile, a love so pure We can't hold on but we try We watch how quickly it disappears And we'll never know why
But I'm O.K. now Goodbye my friend You can go now Goodbye my friend
I just learned this old Billie Holiday song today after hearing some seven year old Norwegian girl sing it Norway's Got Talent. It turned out pretty well… I should probably sing it when I'm really depressed. The subject matter is basically grief… a woman's lover has died and she wants to join him. I do have days like that sometimes.
This girl is very good…kind of a deep subject for a seven year old, though. I predict she'll go far.
Today is the 25th anniversary of Andy Gibb's untimely death at age 30. I'm also listening to music and a couple of good funeral songs just came on. I suspect when I die, I won't know what music plays at my funeral or if anyone will even bother having one for me. But I got to thinking about songs I like... and would want played at my funeral. I know I've done this before... sorta. When we lost our dog, MacGregor, back in December, I posted about songs that bring me comfort. But just now, I was listening to a beautiful Beth Nielsen Chapman song that I would want played at my funeral. If I outlive my husband and can stand it, maybe I'll sing it. I even have the sheet music.
Okay, so this video is a tribute to Princess Diana, but I think it's fitting for anyone who has died...
"Sand and Water", also by Beth Nielsen Chapman, is a good song for a funeral.
I also love "Psalm 23", specifically by Eden's Bridge... (an Irish Christian band)
But what if the dearly departed had a sense of humor? In that case, how about these songs?
I would like this one at my service...
What if you'd like to remember your loved one in a happy way?
I never really gave this song much thought as a good funeral song until we adopted our new dog, Arran, and this song randomly popped up on my iPod. It seemed like our old dog MacGregor was sending us a message and by the time it was over, I was crying...
Seriously, though... for me, the top three songs would be good ones at my service. I hope someone's still cares enough to attend by then.
And again, I do love "On Heaven's Bright Shore", too... would love to have the sheet music for this...
