Okay…time to lighten up on my blog. My silly thoughts on some silly songs from the 70’s.
My girl, is obsessed with the 70’s. The music, mostly. Feels like she was born in the wrong era….who could blame her? Born in the 60’s…high school and college in the 80s? I had the best musical childhood EVER. I have been playing “who sings this song” with my kids since they were little.
A few years back, when the kids were tiny, we spent a week with family and friends in a beach mansion. It was fantastic. The boys (and my X) spent many hours in the basement playing Guitar Hero. My kids continued to play once home (as did the X). At some point, we were driving down the road and an Aerosmith song came on. I asked “who sings this song?” and my son answered (and so happy and proud he knew the answer)…he punched his fists towards the roof of the car and yelled out. “Guitar Hero!”…..well, he wasn’t wrong.
Anyway….I was not about to spend my kids childhood listening to radio disney or some other such nonsense. I am still mad about the PMRC, no edited versions for me. Well, I gotta admit, some songs coming out of my kids mouths were ridiculous…..I could write many blogs about that…but, think Godsmack, Kid Rock, Hollywood Undead, Sublime. You get the picture.
I have taught my kids all about all the great bands, musicians, guitarists, vocalists, etc….from old school country to current metal. I want them to have a broad taste in music and appreciate as much as they can. And, I am just the one to teach them. And, it works both ways…they play stuff for me…and, then I know what they are listening to. The other day I thought it was time to introduce her to the ridiculousness of the 70’s….and, because Playground in My Mind has been stuck in my head for days (IKR? WTH?) …..when I searched for it on apple music (and, yes, why pay for something I can get for free…but, really….I am saving money not buying all the music I want to listen to. Yes…I know there are free apps…but, no commercials and apple music has EVERY song! I don’t buy coffee, get weekly manicures, or color my hair anymore…sue me).
“Why stop there?”, I thought….So, I popped out “Billy Don’t be a Hero” and “Run, Joey, Run” (do yourself a favor and watch/listen to that one….! Why those two songs? I think they were on the same K-tel record…I miss those things…well, they do still have them in other forms, but I digress. Then, I played “Shannon” for her…..Then, “My Ding-a-Ling”. I couldn’t stop….. “Heartbeat, It’s a Lovebeat” and all the other boy bands of that era: Donny Osmond, The Osmonds, The Jackson 5, David Cassidy, his little brother, Shaun Cassidy, Leif Garrett and the Brothers Gibb (Bee Gees for the young folk)..including youngest brother, Andy. I was on a roll.
I think the worst of this whole thing…I sang these songs at the top of my lungs while I wore out my K-tel record. I can still sing almost every word..and I did. Much to the girl’s amusement (and irritation…she is 15 after all). These songs were bad. I should be embarrassed that I even know them. As ridic as they are….I still love them. LAME. Better go listen to some Metallica. I played all those dumb bubble-gum songs (I had forgotten that description—it just surfaced) She found them ridiculous and hysterical. Well, I did too…I mean who wouldn’t? They don’t stand the test of time. But, they remind us of how music and radio has evolved.
We lost Gregg Allman not too long ago. I figure I have written enough about musicians dying. But, a tiny little memory crept into my head…..remember when Duane (Gregg’s brother) died in a bike crash in 1971? I do, because my older sisters were worried that Wayne Osmond was the one who died. And, even at my very young age….it didn’t make sense….and Osmond on a motorcycle? Anyway…..there was some confusion back in the day. Took a while to get sorted out for the fans. That wouldn’t happen today….not only music and radio have changed….but the way we get our news as well.
My brain works in ridiculous ways……