My long time friend SaraSue challenged me with a musical meme. And I will spare you the usual bullshit everybody spills out about "Ohh, I hate memes." Yeah, yeah. We always say that just before we spend a half hour DOING one, don't we? NOBODY hates talking about themselves, so either do it or don't. And I'm gonna do it.
The questions are:
What is the first music you remember hearing?
Did you come from a musical family?
Do you remember a lullaby from your childhood? If so, what is it?
What song(s) changed your life?
If you could have dinner with three dead musicians which three would you choose and why?
You are stranded on a deserted island. You are allowed the complete musical works of one band and its members. Which band or musician would you choose?
Does music play in your head? If so, what is playing right now?
Can music truly soothe the savage beast? If so, what music soothes your beast?
My responses:
What is the first music you remember hearing?
The first song I remember hearing … at least clearly remember .. was “Sentimental Journey”. My parents had an enormous Hi-Fi record player/ television (black and white, thank you very much) and only a few records. I have no idea which version it was, but I loved it then and I love it still.
Ohhh, and since I did this for Sara, I've remembered another, and it was a pivotal song: my mother would play a Spike Jones song for me called "Cocktails for Two". As a very young boy, I had a facility for sound effects - my mother would call me Gerald McBoingBoing after a kid's story about a "little boy who couldn't talk but made noises instead". Well, the song was liberally sprinkled with hilarious sound effects and within a week I was able to sing along with it perfectly. So my parents would trot me out on bridge nights with my little party trick and everybody would laugh and I'd be able to stay up late. It was my first performing gig, and should have been fair warning.
Did you come from a musical family?
My family wasn’t particularly musical - my Mom used music to entertain us (kids records on the Hi-Fi), and my Dad was a lusty, if tuneless singer. Mom played a bit of piano, although we never owned one. And none of us kids followed through with the music lessons my parents offered each of us.
(That’s a huge regret of mine, by the way, and the reason that music was not an elective subject for my kids. They took Music, just like they took Math or History - the only difference being it was after school hours. But no choice about quitting or giving up. And how did that turn out? One’s now a music teacher, the other is putting herself through University as a professional musician. So, yeah, kinda worked out. )
Do you remember a lullaby from your childhood? If so, what is it?
My first lullaby? Well, this is kinda … disquieting. My mother used to sing us a song called “Babes in the Woods” (I didn’t know this at the time, but it’s an old traditional English lullaby which grew out of the story of the Little Princes who were murdered in the Tower of London).
The lyrics are nothing you’d want to send a young kid to bed with:
“Oh, say, do you know
That a long time ago,
There were two little children,
Whose names I don’t know.
Were stolen away
On a bright summer’s day,
And left in the woods
In a place far away.
And when it was night
So sad was their plight
The stars were not out
And the moon gave no light
They sobbed and they sighed
And they bitterly cried.
Poor Babes in the Woods!
Poor Babes in the Woods.
And when they were dead (! ) ( Nice, mom .. thanks)
The robins so red
Took mulberry branches
And over them spread
And all the day long
They sang their poor song
Poor Babes in the Woods!
Poor Babes in the Woods."
I cannnot believe that with a lullaby like that I did not end up twisted. (twitch)
What song(s) changed my life?
This is an odd one, and I’ve given this a lot of thought. The first Beatles album I ever laid my hands on was in 1964, when my sister convinced mom and dad to buy her “Meet the Beatles”. I was sick that winter, at home a lot, and I would spend the entire day with the record player on “Repeat”, playing that record till the grooves were deep enough to bog down a four wheel drive.
It was a good record, with lots of classic music - “Love Me Do”, “She Loves You”, “Please Mister Postman”, and “Twist and Shout”. But it was a filler cut on that album that changed how I looked at music forever.
Side One, Cut Four (possibly Five - hey, it’s been 42 years): “‘Til There Was You”.
It was a beautiful medium tempo ballad, sung by Paul McCartney with sparse arrangement behind (oh, George Martin, you genius) - just some acoustic guitar and a little percussion. I was intrigued by it because McCartney had this little “English-ism” in the song … he pronounced “saw” as “sawR” (saur). ” … birds in the sky, but I never sawr them winging …”. It became one of my favourite songs on the album.
THEN … my father came home from a trip away, was reading the paper, putting up with the hated “Ya-ya music” I was playing, and this song came on and he started to sing along. He KNEW THE WORDS. My DAD. Knew the words to a Beatles song! INCONCEIVABLE! (”You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”)
I looked around at him … astonished. He looked at me and said “What?”
“You hate the Beatles. How do you know this song?”
“It’s not a rock song, you dope. It’s a show tune. It’s from “The Music Man”. Do they sing “76 Trombones” too?”
The Beatles. Show tunes. The future of rock and roll, the group that changed everything for everybody, the group that launched modern music in ten thousand different directions … and they sang show tunes. My world crumbled just a little …
… and then I realized that great music is great music, that it’s timeless and perfect and that it can’t be butchered or murdered because the greatness is in the music, not just in the performer. From then on, my musical tastes expanded like a starburst, out in every direction, because I knew that great music could be found in every genre, every culture, every nook and cranny of human thought. And to this day, with hundreds of CDs in my music library, nobody could come in and look at the titles and artists and say “Oh, you’re a big fan of X type of music”. I love it all.
If you could have dinner with three dead musicians which three would you choose and why?
Can we assume that the dead musicians would be brought back to life for the dinner? Because if not, I’ll take the most recently deceased. And I guess we’ll also say that language isn’t a barrier - hey, if we’re injecting them with life, we can give them the ability to speak English.
But certainly I would choose John Lennon. Everything I’ve heard and seen about him tells me he’d be a funny, entertaining guest.
I felt a deep sense of personal loss when Harry Chapin died - I loved his music (saw him in concert three times) and admired what he did for the cause of World Hunger. So he’d be there, and hopefully wouldn’t be too earnest.
The third? Well, I’m tempted to say Keith Richards, because surely to God he’s dead. Nobody looks that bad and still draws breath. But assuming he’s still clinging to life, let’s go with Stan Rogers.
Stan was a Canadian legend - a folk singer and songwriter who died in an airplane fire in Cincinnati at age 33 ... before his music received the international acclaim it deserves. (Incidently, the “no Smoking on Aircraft” policy stems directly from that incident in 1983).
His music is timeless and wonderful and holds up decades later - songs like “The Mary Ellen Carter” and “Barrett’s Privateers” are incredible examples of living folk art. He was a hard drinker, reportedly could be a bit of an asshole, but anyone who could write songs like his (I’m sure they’re available on Amazon - you’re looking for the album “Home in Halifax”) would have to be a fascinating guest.
You are stranded on a deserted island. You are allowed the complete musical works of one band and its members. Which band or musician would you choose?
Desert Island discs? Easy. Beatles. No contest. But we’re not including Yoko, are we? OK, because if we were, I’d say "Fuck it" and take my chances with the sharks.
Does music play in your head? If so, what is playing right now?
Does music play in my head? Yes. And because of this stupid bloody meme, and in an effort not to clap my forehead and come back and say “Oh, I forgot X, he’d be a great dinner guest!”, what’s playing in my head RIGHT NOW is that stupid goddamn “If there’s a rock and roll heaven, well you know they got a helluva band” song. Thank you, SaraSue. Kiss my ass.
Can music truly soothe the savage beast? If so, what music soothes your beast?
Can music soothe the savage beast? Well, I don’t know. But I truly believe that “Music hath charms to soothe the savage BREAST, To soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak. (William Congreve. [Source: The Mourning Bride. Act i. Sc. 1.]) (God, I am SUCH a pompous asshole by times!)
What soothes my savage breast is classical music, beginning with Bizet (woohoo! Let’s get Bizet!). I also love classics from the Big Band era - they really do not write songs like that any more.
But, of course, when I really need soothing, I lay back, close my eyes, and sing myself a lullaby about infanticide. That does the trick.
Thanks, mom.
(twitch)
Who do I tag? Nobody. If you want to comment and answer any or all of the questions, I'm all ears. If not, just say something nice. And if you can't even do that, I hope you get stranded on a desert island with Yoko. And an accordion. And Yoko decides to learn how to play it. And sing along. Show tunes.
From now on, I think we should bombard you with memes. :)
Posted by: Laura | September 13, 2006 at 09:59 PM
interesting...i don't listen to too much music, so i wouldn't be able to answer that questionnaire.
Posted by: Gora_Kagaz | September 13, 2006 at 10:01 PM
LOL! I'm with Laura!
The Beatles? Really? Wow. Those are some of my favorite Beatles' songs, too.
This post made me laugh -- the part about whether or not we're bringing the dead musicians back and if not, making sure the musicians weren't long dead...
And I think you're right to take your chances with the sharks if Yoko's included in the deal.
As I was reading this tonight, Sweet Pea saw your picture along the side there and wanted to know if you were my grandpa! LOL!
Lastly, a half hour? I'm guessing this meme took you longer than that... ;)
Posted by: CircusKelli | September 13, 2006 at 11:24 PM
I LOVE Gerald Mc BoingBoing! the cartoon is brilliant. hats off to the National Film Board o Canada.
ok, meme time.
What is the first music you remember hearing?
Thats a toss-up. Either "Mama Told Me Not To Come" on a 45 that my mom had (Three Dog Night, btw) or "Will We Make It Through December?" by Merle Haggard, which has got to be the MOST disturbing depressing song ever written, and my dad LOVED it. urg. I get violently ill whenever I hear any of it now ever.
Did you come from a musical family?
The folks were good listeners - jazz, blues, folk, country AND western, and the occasional pop tune.
But no, that was my big teenage rebellion - to go into music studies. I BEGGED for a piano. I still am begging.
Do you remember a lullaby from your childhood? If so, what is it?
Nope, not a one.
What song(s) changed my life?
It would be a broadcast, not a song. 1976, the Metropolitan Opera, Wagners Der Fliegende Hollander (The Flying Dutchman)
Yeah, "Die Frist Ist um" allright.
I had never heard anything so cool in my life.
If you could have dinner with three dead musicians which three would you choose and why?
Mozart, Mozart and Mozart.
You are stranded on a deserted island. You are allowed the complete musical works of one band and its members. Which band or musician would you choose?
See the last answer. Although giving up getting to hear the Replacements play "Unsatisfied" ever again will be kinda rough.
Does music play in your head? If so, what is playing right now?
I get earbuds pretty badly, so just about anything tends to stay in there for a REALLY long time.
Can music truly soothe the savage beast? If so, what music soothes your beast?
Bizet? BIZET? Soothing? Passionate, emotional, and driven, yes, but soothing?
hmmm...that says a LOT, Nils, and I'm just going to leave that alone right now. ;)
Posted by: whfropera | September 13, 2006 at 11:35 PM
Uhm, good thing you decided to pass that jewel of a lullaby on to your own kids.
(twitch)
Posted by: Allie | September 14, 2006 at 12:02 AM
I'm cracking up at Allie! I love the answers that came out of this one (if I do say so myself). I guess you really can get to know people from a meme! Thanks for playing along, y'all!
Posted by: Sara Sue | September 14, 2006 at 12:34 AM
What is the first music you remember hearing? My first clear memory is of George Jones and my mama cleaning house on a Saturday morning.
Did you come from a musical family? Not really..well, we don't actually play any instruments, but music has always been a large part of our family. We're all singers, for good or for bad, we all sing.
Do you remember a lullaby from your childhood? If so, what is it? Not one particular lullaby, but I always sang and hummed myself to sleep.
What song(s) changed your life? "Don't Cry Daddy" by Elvis Presley...I was maybe 10 when I fist heard it.."Last Kiss" by J. Frank Wilson..awesome, awesome songs.
If you could have dinner with three dead musicians which three would you choose and why? Elvis Presley, Mama Cass, Johnny Cash. Why? That should pretty much be self explanatory..lol...I love them!
You are stranded on a deserted island. You are allowed the complete musical works of one band and its members. Which band or musician would you choose? Elvis Presley..he had it all...
Does music play in your head? If so, what is playing right now? YES!..I have this children's song running in my head.."Where is thumbkin? Where is thumbkin? There he is, there he is"
Can music truly soothe the savage beast? If so, what music soothes your beast?
Yes, I believe it does sooth a savage beast. My beast is always soothed by Andrea Bocelli
Posted by: Sandy | September 14, 2006 at 01:53 AM
Okay...I won't do the entire meme here, but will say that I agree with your choice of Lennon...and I'll raise you a George Harrison. As for the song playing in my head at present? "Grab a Chicken...Put it Back" by Peter Frampton.
Posted by: wordgirl | September 14, 2006 at 09:55 AM
Can I just say how very happy I am that you corrected that long-held mis...conception? Hearing? Miswhatever: music hath charms to soothe the savage breast.
I'm going to do this one, I think, on my own space.
Posted by: candace | September 14, 2006 at 10:22 AM
The first song I remember noticing was Nat King Cole..Rambling Rose..must have been played on CJOB on a Sunday morning for a shut-in, then a lot of Floyd Cramer and Vera Lynne. My entire family sings and sings pretty well. We could break into 4 part harmony without thinking about it. I know an inordinate number of songs from the 30-40's like Shine On Harvest Moon, Heart of my Heart, It's Only A Shanty In Old Shanty Town, sung on road trips..I always have song in my head right now, it's Oh My My by Ringo Starr..Ringo was the first "modern" album.. eight track actually he purchased and he played the crap of it...
Posted by: Jim Fogg | September 14, 2006 at 12:02 PM
First music I remember hearing was in church, with a big pipe organ up in front overhead of the preacher's stage, and my dad beside me singing "I come to the garden alone, while the dew is still on the roses".
Dad's favorite hymn was _Blessed Assurance_ and as soon as I learned that Alan Jackson had made a CD recording, I went and sent one for my mom.
My sister says she plays it all.the.time.
The first time I remember hearing _'Til there was you_ was Andy Williams, and I'm thinking it was on his tv show.
Aww, those last two words Show Tunes.
So now in my mind I have a memory John Cusack as a nutty college kid wooing Daphne Zuniga in the movie _The Sure Thing_. Tim Robbins driving the car.
Great, Great flick. I'll have to see if VHS is still on my romance shelf.
Posted by: MrsDoF | September 14, 2006 at 10:21 PM
I love the Beatles, too. My older brother brought the Beatles and the Beach Boys into our home.
Till There Was You is a favorite of mine, whether it's from the Beatles or Music Man. I love show tunes, too.
I think I'm going to do this one and put it on my site. I hardly ever post anything without pictures these days. It could be a relief for folks. :)
Posted by: Squirl | September 15, 2006 at 01:59 PM
I'm glad you had this attitude about music for your kids: that they had to study it. The discipline pays off. Sometimes you even end up enjoying music! No, of course it's supposed to be fun but becoming better often is frustrating. You can't challenge yourself without that.
Congratulations to you kids for pursuing it farther!
Posted by: sirbarrett | September 15, 2006 at 10:19 PM
Aaaaah, Bizet. I love to listen to "Carmen" at top volume.
I'm also with you on loving all kinds of music. In my youth, I was very finicky about what I liked, and could name lots of styles I despised. Now that I'm older, my tastes have really broadened, and my ears are now as open as my legs.
Posted by: Bucky Four-Eyes | September 16, 2006 at 12:29 AM
...and when I say my tastes have broadened, I mean I also like broads.
Posted by: Bucky Four-Eyes | September 16, 2006 at 12:30 AM
Well, Mr. McBoingBoing, this was most enjoyable, and I will keep it in mind and may blog it soon. But I must say:
"Can we assume that the dead musicians would be brought back to life for the dinner? Because if not, I’ll take the most recently deceased."
Geez, I love you. I can just picture you there at the dinner table with the rotting corpses . . . oh, Nils, thanks, I needed that tonight ;)
Posted by: Susie | September 16, 2006 at 09:51 PM
Interesting, "Poor Babes" is the first one I remember too.
Posted by: Craig | March 04, 2007 at 09:32 PM
Musical meme is one i want to expand my knowledge. I first here music when I go to school in my kinder stage. I love music since when I hear its beautiful tune and easy to remember. My sister is the one who taught me how to sing and make music. Little Indian Boy is the one song I remember and memorized until now. Gospel music is the song change my life where I start praise and serve GOD, pray to him thtough music and ask help to him. I love this review it flashback my time when I was in childhood. EXCELLENT!
Posted by: BalladMusician | June 22, 2007 at 04:24 AM
"Babes in the Woods" was one of the many songs my mother taught us three kids. She learned them all from her mother, and so on and so on. When my oldest son was about two years old, I was singing this song while washing dishes at the sink. He was seated beneath our old stove that had a waist-high oven and room enough to hide beneath. I didn't know he was right there, until I finished the song and heard his strangled sobs as he asked, "Who dem babes? Dem babes Stevie and Scottie, I know!" (They were his first cousins, one and two years older than he.) I tried to assure him that no, "dem babes" were not Stevie and Scottie, but he refused to believe me. He kept on sobbing and insisting that yes indeed, dem babes were Stevie and Scottie. He just thought I was trying to break the news to him gently. He didn't actually believe me until he finally saw for hinself, several days later, that Stevie and Scottie were OK after all. I don't know if I warped the poor child's psyche irreparably. He seems to be OK now, 50 years later!
Posted by: Alice Tobler | October 23, 2007 at 07:43 PM
One of the first songs I remember hearing as a child was "Third Man Theme" and another one I heard about the same time was "Whispering Grass" by the Ink Spots. Those were a couple of my favorites. About Babes in the Woods...I sang that song to both of my children...now ages 45 years and 28 years and both of them hated it when they got old enough to understand the lyrics! My daughter literally asked me not to sing it because she "hated it", when she was about three or four years old so I stopped singing it until years later when our son came along. I really didn't like the lyrics so used most of the first section and wrote many verses which essentially have a moral that says don't go wandering in the woods by yourself, if you don't want to end up like these two little babes. I love the melody and now that I have reworded it so that the children aren't "stolen" away but instead wander away....it makes a good warning lullaby but is also melodic and helpful in getting little ones to sleep.
Posted by: Sherry | September 05, 2009 at 04:39 AM
My mother changed the lyrics to Babes in the Woods.
Oh don't you remember a long time ago
Two babes in the woods whose names I don't know
Were strolling away one fair summer day
And were lost in the woods I've heard people say.
And when came the night how sad was their plight
The sun went down and the stars gave no light
They sobbed and the sighed and the little birdies cheeped
Poor babes in the woods they laid down to sleep.
And when they were sleeping the robins so red
Brought strawberry leaves and over them spread
And sang a sweet song the whole night long
Poor babes in the woods, poor babes in the woods.
And when came the morning to their delight
Their daddy had found them during the night
This taught them a lesson no more should they roam
So always stay close to your home sweet home.
Posted by: Melissa Bailey | June 16, 2010 at 08:06 PM