Quirky T Examines Representative Love Songs

 

Quirky T has some post Valentine’s Day musical observations. Where I work love songs are played constantly since a high percentage of pop songs from the 80’s to today are love songs. My workplace playlist regularly plays Billy Joel, Richard Marx, Peter Cetera, and Elton John so love songs are highly represented on a daily basis. The plus side of the daily repetition is I enjoy these artists. On an almost daily basis, I can also hear two (love) songs from one of my faves, Huey Lewis (“Do You Believe in Love?” and “Happy to be Stuck with You”). I can also hear a favorite (love) song from my favorite movie – The Proclaimers “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” from “Benny and Joon”. So the only way I realized that the music selection had changed to a Valentine theme a few days before the holiday was when I heard Nat King Cole’s “When I Fall in Love”. It definitely stuck out among the more modern music. It’s interesting that even though mostly every song being played was a love song, the music programmers thought they had to dig deep decades before the 80’s to find true love songs. It got me excited that maybe next I would hear some Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin. I didn’t. Nat King Cole was the anomaly. The other “Valentine’s songs” were from the 80’s to today and included Starship’s “Nothing’s Gonna Stop Us Now.”

I found it interesting when all the possible love songs in the world are narrowed down to just three songs to represent this incredibly large and diverse genre. A store sold musical balloons for Valentine’s Day with only a choice of three songs – “Got My Mind Set on You” the George Harrison version,   “You’re the One that I Want” from the movie “Grease”, and “Hooked on a Feeling”. Of course I prefer the George Harrison song but I don’t think it’s his most romantic song. “Something” and “Old Brown Shoe” come to mind before that cover song. The song from “Grease” is fun but problematic when you consider the scene from the movie where the song appears. Danny makes positive changes to his life to impress Sandy such as giving up smoking and exercising. While Sandy takes up smoking and dressing slutty to attract Danny. So who really is the one that they want? The one who they really are or the one that they become to impress each other? “Hooked on a Feeling” is not the most romantic song as it is more about lust than romantic, lasting love. Plus, whenever I hear that song, I think of the dancing baby on the TV show “Ally McBeal”.

Hallmark, the greeting card company, actually sold vinyl 45 records with their Valentine greeting cards. The three records chosen were Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are”/”Marry You”,  Aretha Frankin’s “Respect”/”Think”, and INXS’ “Need You Tonight”/”Never Tear Us Apart”. Again, I am not sure these are the best love songs to represent all love songs. Even being limited to just Atlantic Records recording artists would yield a huge amount of love songs. (For example, my favorite Phil Collins who released a compilation actually called “Love Songs”). The Bruno Mars songs are appropriate, romantic, and current. The Aretha Franklin songs are more warnings to men than love songs. “Need You Tonight” like “Hooked on a Feeling” is more about lust than love. While “Never Tear Us Apart” seems romantically appropriate. I’m surprised that INXS was included with the amazing Bruno Mars and the legendary Aretha Franklin. If not for the quirky fact that my workplace actually plays those two INXS songs on an almost daily basis, I probably wouldn’t have heard those songs since they came out thirty years ago.

 

Songs do send messages so the musical balloons or records with the greeting cards given to a sweetheart on Valentine’s Day could be a way of sending a message that may not be as romantic as the occasion calls for. Of course it’s hard to narrow down a huge genre to less than 10 representative songs. I just found it interesting which songs were chosen to represent that love.

 

Guitar Train passengers, what three songs would you choose to represent Valentine’s Day?

 

Boarding the Wrong Train – Stop # 2

As frequent passengers on the Guitar Train know, Quirky T conducts this musical train with stops about The Beatles, Phil Collins, Genesis, Gloria Estefan, and Huey Lewis and the News. Along the way, there have been other stops to look at topics such as favorite movie and TV show soundtracks, We Are the World, and Live Aid. Also along the way, passengers have boarded this train by use of search terms on the Internet. Since my first stop on January 8, 2015 https://guitartrain.wordpress.com/2015/01/08/boarding-the-wrong-train/ looking at whether these searches led to the correct blog, more interesting search terms have been entered. So let’s analyze them in this second stop.

The Beatles’ Abbey Road – reverse angle

As in my previous stop on this topic, I am astonished that anyone searching anything relating to The Beatles would be led to my blog. At least people who repeatedly searched “The Beatles Anthology” book and were led to my blog did find mentions of the book in my stops called “Favorites Month – The Beatles” https://guitartrain.wordpress.com/2013/09/05/favorites-month-the-beatles/ and “Am I Fan Enough?” https://guitartrain.wordpress.com/2014/06/26/am-i-fan-enough/ Someone who searched “Paul McCartney playing guitar at Abbey Road” was led to my blog. That person did not find whatever he or she was looking for because this blog does not have photos of Paul McCartney playing guitar while literally standing outside on Abbey Road nor does it have photos of Paul McCartney playing guitar inside the Abbey Road Studios. My blog might have been more of what the person who searched “see inside Abbey Road from the angle of each Beatle” was looking for. Assuming the searcher meant the album cover of the same name and not inside Abbey Road Studios, the stop called “The Guitar Train Stops at Abbey Road (kind of) and sees The Beatles in Concert (sort of)” https://guitartrain.wordpress.com/2012/07/17/the-guitar-train-stops-at-abbey-road-kind-of-and-sees-the-beatles-in-concert-sort-of/ contains photos of the wax Beatles from Madame Tussaud’s in the Abbey Road album cover poise. The photos show the reverse angle behind George Harrison as well as the front view with John Lennon leading the band. My blog couldn’t help the person searching for “George Harrison Salisbury Train”. That is definitely boarding the wrong train.

Luckily some people have boarded the right train as I have mentioned subjects or written Guitar Train stops about subjects they were searching. The person searching for “Frank Sinatra Standards” found the perfect stop at “The Standards – Frank Sinatra”. https://guitartrain.wordpress.com/2014/10/02/the-standards-frank-sinatra/ Whoever searched for “the Bella Luna CD from Starbucks” was led to a mention of that CD in the stop, “Quirky T’s Favorite Instrumental Movie Soundtracks”. https://guitartrain.wordpress.com/2015/01/22/quirky-ts-favorite-instrumental-movie-soundtracks/ The search for “Huey Lewis guitarist” led to the stop mentioning the News’ guitarist James Harrah in “The Guitar Train Stops at a Huey Lewis and the News Concert!!!”. https://guitartrain.wordpress.com/2013/08/22/the-guitar-train-stops-at-a-huey-lewis-and-the-news-concert/ As requested in a search, I have included ticket stubs from concerts by Richard Marx, Steve Winwood, and Phil Collins in the Guitar Train stop “Concerts Quirky T Has Attended”. https://guitartrain.wordpress.com/2013/08/01/concerts-quirky-t-has-attended/

There are some searches I feel like I have to correct in order to further my goal of conducting the Guitar Train to the destination of Advanced Musical Knowledge. I can tell the searcher not only “who wrote the music for We Say Hello Goodbye Genesis” but also the correct title of the Phil Collins written solo song is “We Said Hello Goodbye”. Being that it is my absolute favorite song, I better know those facts. Also, “Christie Allie” wasn’t exactly “Walking on Sunshine” but the actress Kirstie Alley did star in the move, “Look Who’s Talking” which contained The Katrina and the Waves song “Walking on Sunshine”. I mentioned this song in the stop “Quirky T’s Favorite Movie Soundtracks”. https://guitartrain.wordpress.com/2014/12/18/quirky-ts-favorite-movie-soundtracks/ That also leads to correcting the search for “Kenny Loggins Look Who’s Talking To”. This I had to actually search for on my own since this topic was never mentioned on The Guitar Train. I found that the actual title of the 1990 movie is “Look Who’s Talking Too” and Kenny Loggins was not involved in the soundtrack for the movie. Interestingly, I did find some Guitar Train related info in my search. The movie soundtrack does contain George Harrison’s version of “Got My Mind Set on You”, John Lennon’s “Jealous Guy”, and “Please Mr. Postman” (although it’s the Marvelettes version, not The Beatles version).

Benny and Joon CD

Good thing the person who searched “Sunshine on Leith Aidan Quinn” was led to my stop “Do I Want To Hear More – The Proclaimers” https://guitartrain.wordpress.com/2014/11/06/do-i-want-to-hear-more-the-proclaimers/ where I explained that The Proclaimers’ song “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” from my favorite movie “Benny and Joon” starring Aidan Quinn led me to listen to more songs by The Proclaimers. “Sunshine on Leith” is the title of their CD containing that song. The person who searched for “Mary Stuart soundtrack instrumental” was probably led to my post about “Benny and Joon” called “The Guitar Train Looks at the 20^th Anniversary of Benny and Joon”. https://guitartrain.wordpress.com/2013/05/30/the-guitar-train-looks-at-the-20th-anniversary-of-benny-and-joon/ The movie also starred Mary Stuart Masterson. Except for the one Proclaimers’ song, the soundtrack for that movie is all instrumental.

 

Now for the category of “how did those search terms lead to my blog?”. I guess I can see why the search terms “train umbrella guitar” led to The Guitar Train blog but what I don’t know is what the person was actually looking for. The train where he or she left her umbrella and guitar? Sorry but I also cannot help the person searching for “Chanel old watches from 1960 – 1970”. The only topic I continually write about from the 1960’s is The Beatles. Although, now I’m curious to see photos of Chanel old watches from 1960-1970.

 

Finally, to answer Bill in the Russian Federation, this train does not stop at York. But to Bill and everyone else who was led to the Guitar Train by Googling and searching, I say, “Welcome Aboard”. Please stay on board for at least a few stops; you may find something else you like even if it isn’t exactly what you were searching for.

 

To other bloggers, have you ever been astonished by the search terms that have led people to your blog?

Quirky T’s Favorite Instrumental Movie Soundtracks

To continue December’s month long listen to movie soundtracks, this quick station stop on the Guitar Train lists Quirky T’s favorite instrumental film soundtracks. Not coincidentally, two of the theme songs come from my two favorite movies. Also, two of the three songs are composed by Henry Mancini.

 

1. “Charade” by Henry Mancini
2. “Benny and Joon” by Rachel Portman
3. “A Shot in the Dark” by Henry Mancini

“Charade”, the 1963 film starring Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant, is one of my all time favorite movies. It stars my two favorite actors and is a comedy, romance, thriller, and mystery. Henry Mancini’s music can first be heard during the very 60’s style animated opening titles. The jazzy music does set the tone of the movie.

 

Benny and Joon CD

“Benny and Joon”, the 1993 movie starring another of my favorite actors, Aidan Quinn, as well as Mary Stuart Masterson, and Johnny Depp, is another of my all time favorite movies. Rachel Portman composed the instrumental soundtrack for the movie. Although many of the songs sound similar to me, “Sam’s New Home/Raisins” always stands out.

“A Shot in the Dark” is from the 1964 movie of the same name which is the second movie in the Pink Panther series. This cool, jazzy song really gets me moving. I wish it could be the soundtrack of my life but obviously it is already taken. “A Shot in the Dark” came to my attention on a compilation CD offered at Starbucks stores called “Bella Luna”. It contains an interesting mix of Italian themed songs. I prefer this song to the more popular “The Pink Panther Theme” also composed by Henry Mancini (which is also a very good instrumental soundtrack, too).

 

Guitar Train passengers, what are your favorite instrumental soundtracks?

Quirky T’s Favorite Movie Soundtracks

To continue on The Guitar Train for Movie Soundtrack Month, this stop looks at Quirky T’s favorite movie soundtracks. At the last stop, I explored movie soundtracks by my favorite musicians – The Beatles, Gloria Estefan, Phil Collins, Huey Lewis and the News, and Jon Secada. This stop lists my favorite movie songs by musicians other than my favorites.

 

1. “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” – The Proclaimers
2. “Walking on Sunshine” – Katrina and the Waves
3. “Sweet Freedom” – Michael McDonald
4. “Say You, Say Me” – Lionel Ritchie
5. “Footloose” – Kenny Loggins

 

I’ve already posted about my love of the 1993 movie “Benny and Joon” which contains the fun, upbeat song “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” by The Proclaimers. https://guitartrain.wordpress.com/2013/05/30/the-guitar-train-looks-at-the-20th-anniversary-of-benny-and-joon/  This song works perfectly in the fun movie starring my favorite actor, Aidan Quinn, and Johnny Depp.

I’ve also already posted about another fun, upbeat song, “Walking on Sunshine.” https://guitartrain.wordpress.com/2014/11/20/do-i-want-to-hear-more-katrina-and-the-waves/   This song has been used in several movies but the one I identify it with is 1989’s “Look Who’s Talking” starring John Travolta, Kirstie Alley, and the voice of Bruce Willis.

 

Before the days of digital music and songs being available instantly for listening, I had to tape “Sweet Freedom” off of the radio so I could listen to it any time I wanted. I really liked this song and still do.   The 1986 movie it appears in “Running Scared” is a great, fun movie starring Billy Crystal and the late Gregory Hines.

 

My favorite Lionel Richie song is also one of my favorite movie soundtrack songs. “Say You, Say Me” is in the 1985 movie “White Nights” starring Mikhail Baryshnikov and the late Gregory Hines. Interesting how two of my favorite movie songs come from movies starring the great Gregory Hines. “White Nights” also contains a song by one of my favorite musicians, Phil Collins. He duets with Marilyn Martin on the bitter song “Separate Lives.” Both songs were nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song with the Lionel Richie song winning the award.

 

Kenny Loggins is known for contributing songs to several movies. My favorite of his movie songs is “Footloose” from the original 1984 movie of the same name. The song is fun, upbeat and makes me want to dance so it is perfect for the movie.

 

Guitar Train passengers, what are your favorite songs from movies?

Do I Want to Hear More? – The Proclaimers

This month on The Guitar Train, Quirky T stops to ask the musical question, “Do I Want to Hear More?” There are several musicians who have made one song I have really liked. Now I’m wondering why I never took the time to listen to more of their songs to find out if I would like more of their music. Or are they just one hit wonders on my favorites playlist?

 

For this first stop, I listened to The Proclaimers. The only song by the Scottish twins, Charlie and Craig Reid, I had heard was “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”. I first heard it over 20 years ago in 1993 when it was part of the soundtrack of one of my all time favorite films, “Benny and Joon”. I wrote about this great movie starring Aidan Quinn (one of my favorite actors) and Johnny Depp in The Guitar Train stop, “The Guitar Train Looks at the 20^th Anniversary of Benny and Joon”. https://guitartrain.wordpress.com/2013/05/30/the-guitar-train-looks-at-the-20th-anniversary-of-benny-and-joon/

So to further my musical knowledge of The Proclaimers, I went to my local library’s website to find more albums by this band. (I’m not going to pay money to buy a CD that I will possibly not like and not listen to enough to justify the money spent on it). Interestingly, the only item available for check out was a cassette tape of their first release, “This is the Story”, from 1987. The fact that in a large library system, this was the only item available from this group who has released nine albums from 1987 to 2012 says something about their popularity in the United States. They are more popular in the United Kingdom where they still perform.

 

Benny and Joon CD

My first reaction when listening to this tape was “Are they singing in English?” I had trouble understanding the lyrics because of their Scottish accents. I don’t know how the actress Mary Stuart Masterson who played Joon in “Benny and Joon” understood them enough to recommend using their song in the movie. The songs are short and vary between slow and fast. I found the songs interesting. So yes, I do want to hear more. I also want to understand more.

In researching this stop, I discovered that The Proclaimers’ song, “I’m On My Way” was included in the 2001 movie, “Shrek”. I had seen the movie years ago but I didn’t remember the song so I watched the video on You Tube. And a revolutionary event occurred on The Guitar Train – I liked a song the moment I listened to it! It’s a catchy, fun tune with a cute dismembered video.

 

So not only have I listened to one complete cassette tape and another hit single from The Proclaimers, I want to hear even more. So I will actually be buying their 1988 CD “Sunshine on Leith” which includes “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)”. I’ll provide an update in a future Guitar Train stop as to whether I liked (and understood) that CD or not. For any Guitar Train passengers who want more information on this band, check out their website http://www.TheProclaimers.co.uk

 

At The Guitar Train’s next stop, Quirky T asks “Do I Want to Hear More?” about another group who also had a hit song which deals with walking and romance. Hop aboard The Guitar Train to find out who this group is and if I want to hear more.

Songs That Make Quirky T Happy

To continue Happy Month in October, the Guitar Train is stopping at songs that make Quirky T happy. No matter how I am feeling, as soon as I hear these songs, I am happy.
1. “Gimme Some Lovin’” – The Spencer Davis Group
2. “Walking On Sunshine” – Katrina and the Waves  http://youtu.be/iPUmE-tne5U
3. “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” – Wham!  http://youtu.be/pIgZ7gMze7A
4. “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” – The Proclaimers  http://youtu.be/tbNlMtqrYS0

 

Steve Winwood ticket stub

Steve Winwood wrote the very energetic “Gimme Some Lovin’”. It was one of the four songs I hoped he would play at his concert in New Jersey on February 13, 2010 which I attended. Being one of his best songs, he did perform it and it was great to hear it live.

 

 

 

I first heard “Walking On Sunshine” in the 1989 John Travolta and Kirstie Alley movie “Look Who’s Talking”. It’s such a fun, upbeat song that it makes me want to dance (although I can’t dance as well as John Travolta).

 

 

Wham! Make It Big

I still have Wham!’s 1984 cassette tape, “Make It Big”, which contains “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go”. In the 80’s, I practically wore out the tape playing this song, my favorite of theirs. My friends and I even made up our own dance to go with the song.

 

 

Benny and Joon CD

In my May 30, 2013 post, “The Guitar Train Looks at the 20th Anniversary of “Benny and Joon”,

https://guitartrain.wordpress.com/2013/05/30/the-guitar-train-looks-at-the-20th-anniversary-of-benny-and-joon/

I wrote about The Proclaimers and this song from one of my favorite movies, “Benny and Joon”. It took me awhile to understand what The Proclaimers are singing. Even after I learned what the words are; I didn’t know what one of them, “haver”, meant. This song is just a good, fun, happy song. I wouldn’t mind a cute guy wanting to do all the things for and with me (although I might draw the line at havering).

 

 
Guitar Train passengers, what songs make you happy every time you hear them?

The Guitar Train Looks at the 20th Anniversary of “Benny and Joon”

Benny and Joon DVD

Twenty years ago this month, Quirky T skipped out of school early, the nerd way, to see the great movie, “Benny and Joon”, for the second time. For all of you cool kids, the nerd way to skip out of school early was to give the school a legitimate note from your mom giving you permission to leave school early.
It was my birthday and what better way to spend my birthday than to go to a mall, eat a huge Ruben sandwich, and then see Aidan Quinn’s gorgeous blue eyes as Benny in “Benny and Joon”. After seeing the movie for the first time, all my four female friends and I could say was, “Wow, those blue eyes!”
Besides the blue eyes, this is a must see movie for several reasons. Johnny Depp is great as Sam. He does several amazing Buster Keaton and Charlie Chaplin bits including the always entertaining “roll dance” in the diner which was based on a Charlie Chaplin bit from his movie, “Gold Rush”.

Benny and Joon DVD back cover

Mary Stuart Masterson and Julianne Moore are also great in the movie. It was Mary Stuart Masterson’s idea to include music by the Scottish group, The Proclaimers, in the movie. Their song, “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” became a huge hit in the United States. The twin brothers, Charlie and Craig Reid, are still performing today, even in America. Check them out at their website, http://www.proclaimers.co.uk

Benny and Joon CD

Besides The Proclaimers’ song, the rest of the Benny and Joon soundtrack is all instrumentals, including Quirky T’s favorite, “Sam’s New Home/Raisins”. I always wondered why two songs that are in the movie were not included in the soundtrack. Those songs are John Hiatt’s “Have A Little Faith in Me” and “Can’t Find My Way Home” written by Steve Winwood and performed by Joe Cocker.
Another reason to watch Benny and Joon is for culinary inspirations. I discovered tapioca pudding because of this film. I also discovered a not as delicious treat – a peanut butter Cap’n Crunch smoothie. I have yet to smash potatoes with a tennis racket or make grilled cheese sandwiches with an iron like Sam did in the movie.
Every year on my birthday (after hearing The Beatles’ “Birthday”), I watch “Benny and Joon”. This year’s viewing will be more significant because it is the 20th anniversary of the movie.
So Guitar Train passengers, get your tapioca pudding and your Cap’n Crunch smoothie ready and watch this great movie. Then tell Quirky T what you thought about it.
All Guitar Train passengers should keep in mind that anything posted on the Guitar Train blog must NOT contain profanity or ethnic, racial, gender, or physical insensitivity. Anyone who violates this will have to disembark at the next stop on the Guitar Train and will not be allowed back on the train.