Noon’s Tunes: “In Color” by Jamey Johnson

My parents were in their early 40s when they decided to adopt me, back in 1966.  Both of my parents lived through The Great Depression, and World War II.  My dad was in the Navy (then the Army) during the war, and was on a medical frigate when they tested the Atomic Bomb, dropping it in the waters of Bikini Atoll, in the Marshall Islands.  My mom, she was part of the Women’s Army Corps, and worked on the bombing range, using surveying equipment to help improve the accuracy of the bombs.

My aunts and uncles were of the same generation, most of my parents friends were too.  So I grew up around them, hearing stories of war and depression first hand.

This song by Jamey Johnson, who is just about a decade younger than I, tells the story of him talking with his grandpa.  For me, because my parents had been older, this song is a generation closer, it’s not me talking to grandparents, but parents.

The story of the song may be of Jamey Johnson’s grandpa, but, it’s also a story of a generation of people who are becoming fewer and fewer in number.  The last of the World War I veterans died last year, aged 110.  My mom, who was 21 when she enlisted, during the last year of World War II will be turning 90 this year.  Soon, the generation who survived depression, war, Holocaust, will too be gone.

I’m thankful to have heard so many of the stories from my parents, my relatives, their friends.  And, like all stories, they need to be told in order to be remembered.

This song resonates with me, and I thank Mr. Johnson for the gift of his song.

There’s a verse from that song that makes my eyes water every time:

This one is my favorite one
This is me and grandma in the summer sun
All dressed up, the day we said our vows

You can’t tell it here but it was hot that June
And that rose was red and her eyes were blue
And just look at that smile, I was so proud

I’m reminded of my dad saying that he was so proud to be standing next to my mother, while the Justice of the Peace performed their wedding.

Every day, I’m reminded of that day my dad said those words to me, because, hanging in the living room is a painting — made from their wedding photo. Their wedding may have been in January, not June, but the roses were red, and, though you can’t tell in the photo here, my mom’s eyes are a beautiful blue.

 

Noon’s Tunes: “Church” by Ruthie Foster

 

It’s more story than song, but let The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster’s story and groove take you to Church…New Hope Missionary Baptist Church.  Meet Aunt Cora, the ladies with the fans, The Amen Corner.  Oh yes, listen, and let it take you back to a time…

Trust me… I’m not religious, but, I do enjoy people’s stories.  If you enjoy a good story, you’ll want to listen to this. You’ll be smilin’ for sure.

Best part: “When the wig comes off, you know you’re havin’ some church!”

Noon’s Tunes: “Still This Side Of Gone” by Allison Moorer

If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you’ll have noticed (besides the fact that I’m slightly odd) that I’m interested in a variety of things: books, music, poetry photography, humor, quotations, to name a few.  I’ve mentioned before that I could never be a niche blogger, as I don’t think I can be interested in just one thing to talk about it over and over and over and over.  And over again.

There is one thing that ties all my interests together: words.  I love words.  I love writing them down, I love saying them aloud, I love sharing them, I love the power they have.  Even my photography is tied to words, for what is a photo but a visual representation of words, right?

The best part of words is sharing them.  Especially when you hear a word, or a phrase that simply takes your breath away.

Recently, I’ve discovered the music of Allison Moorer.  I’ve been a fan of her sister, Shelby Lynne for quite a number of years, though I didn’t know that she and Allison were sisters until I ran across a story on an NPR podcast of something or other.  So, I looked her up, and that was pretty much it, I was hooked.

Just a little while ago, a song started playing from my Rhapsody library, a song I’d not heard, and it caught me with it’s haunting melody, and the words of love gone wrong certainly resonated — like most of us, I’ve had my heart broken a time or two.  The song is as heart-breaking as a broken-hearted love song can be.  And, then there was a line, an image, a set of words that just took my breath away.

There’s no video for the song, so you’ll have to open up the Spotify app I keep telling you that you need, because it makes music sharing so easy!  And, I’ll post the lyrics below, and highlight the words that made me catch my breath — it’s such a simple line, simple words, yet a stark, wrenching image.

Still This Side Of Gone
If I don’t move an inch if I don’t make a sound
Maybe you’ll forget and decide to stick around
Even though I know it’s hopeless at best
I’m gonna fool myself

While you’re still this side of gone
While you’re still this side of gone

When did you decide I wasn’t good enough
I wish I had known instead of getting my hopes up
They’re hanging by a thread heavy in the air
But let them linger there

While you’re still this side of gone
While you’re still this side of gone

Stay a little longer
Till I’m a little stronger
And I can face the love-shaped hole you’ll leave

Nothing I can say nothing I can do
I’m down on my knees calling on St. Jude
Maybe he will hear this broken-hearted prayer I pray
And send a miracle my way

While you’re still this side of gone
While you’re still this side of gone

Noon’s Tunes, Sunday Evening Edition: “Fly Away (Live)” by Indigo Girls

Night before last, as I was sitting here, still working on my Very Big Project, this song popped up on my playlist.

I mentioned a few weeks ago that I had recently ‘rediscovered’ the music of Indigo Girls.  Well, seems I’ve ‘rediscovered’ another song.  It’s possible that I’d heard this before, back when I was listening to the Girls more, but, if I had heard it, I’ve long since forgotten.  Listening to it the other night was as if hearing something for the first time.

I’ll be honest.  I replayed the song a dozen or so times, tears streaming down my face the entire time.

I’m not sure why the tears… I think the lyrics stirred something in my soul, but, what it was, I do not know… (feeling Seuss-ish right now)

The only videos for this song I could find was a fan-made version for the original recording of the song, and a couple of fan videos taped at recent IG shows.  I was tempted to share one of those, but, there was something about this live version, from their album Staring Down The Brilliant Dream, that I liked.  So, I spent 20 minutes learning iMovie, and made a quick video.  It’s nothing special, just the image of a bird I took several years ago, and the song.   Anyway, I think it’s a song made for listening, rather than viewing, so it probably doesn’t matter much that the image doesn’t change.

Fly away little bird
Any place in this open mouthed world
Begs to be fed like a bed that beckons you, but you won’t rest
Everyone’s got a need to go
Most of us stick with our row to hoe
But not you, you’re the black crow
With a straight line, and no time
For the birds of prey who wreck your nest
Twice your size steal your best
They set you on this course of your collision

I am a stop along your way
I am the words you’ll never say
I crossed the great beyond of fear
I opened my eyes and saw us there, what a view
You went there too

Fly away little bird
Find the song in you that no one’s heard
Strenghthen your wings as you sing your solo flight
Through this short life
Everyone’s got a deep regret
We try to ground ourselves to forget
But your race to the end is neck and neck
You love them, you love them not
The birds of prey who wreck your nest,
Twice your size steal your best
They set you on this course of your collision

I am a stop along your way
I am the words you’ll never say
I crossed the great beyond of fear
Opened my eyes and saw us there, what a view
And you went there too

But all along your chosen path are
Window panes and sheets of glass
That you won’t see
You fly too fast
One day it will be over

Fly away little bird
The saddest song I ever heard
Was the one I wrote you in my heart
That never made it to the world

Noon’s Tunes — Just Out: “Where Are We Now?” by David Bowie

I’ve long been fascinated by David Bowie.  Bowie the man, not Bowie the musician.  My love of his music came much later.

Growing up in the 1970s and 1980s, being gay was less acceptable than it is now.  So, for much of that time, I was closeted, struggling, and, not even really sure what being gay meant.  I just new that I was different from all the other males around me.  I never thought of Bowie as gay, just that he was different.  To watch him, to look at him, I just knew that he could understand what it was like to be different, and that he knew what it was like to be made fun of for being different.  I admired, and was jealous of, his ability to publicly revel in his differentness.  Ziggy Startdust might not seem so different in todays world, but, back in the mid-70s, Ziggy was about as different as it gets.

I didn’t understand the music then.  It didn’t appeal to me.  I was caught up in the Divas Of The Day: Diana Ross, Barbra Streisand, Donna Summer, Karen Carpenter, Olivia Newton-John, Pat Benatar, Annie Lennox.  Bowie’s music was much too different, much too odd.  But, I was still fascinated with him.  I loved encountering new photos of him in my mom’s magazines, relishing each image, and knowing that somewhere, wherever he was, there was someone who, if I told him of my struggles, would tell me “It’s Okay.”

The 1908s turned into the 1990s, and Bowie’s music became a bit more “pop”, a bit more mainstream, and, I began to see the appeal of his music.  And, ok, I’ll admit, when he had the blond hair, and the tight suits, I fell a bit in love.

It wasn’t until I was in my 30s that I began to really listen to his older music, and, I could really appreciate how brilliant he is.

It’s been a decade since he’s had any new music, and, imagine my surprise when I ran across his new song and video last night, a song that was just released this week, from his forthcoming album The Next Day, being released on March 11.  From the video comments, it seems there’s a mixed reaction to the song — I guess this is true of most music: music does not appeal to everyone equally.  My first reaction was tears.  I don’t quite know why.  I think it’s the nostalgia for days long gone.  Some of it is the beautiful music — it’s so sad and melancholy.  I like the song more and more with each listen.

 

Dear Mr. Bowie:  Thanks for the great new song.  Thanks for all the years of letting me know that Different is something to celebrate.

Sincerely, with much affection,

That One Different Kid.  The one from Aurora.

 

(For more on the new album, check out this article from The Sun)

 

Noon’s Tune At Noon: “For You” by Eric Bibb

I love this song, by the brilliant blues/folk singer-songwriter Eric Bibb.

It’s a New Year, and, though I say it often, I can’t ever tell Julian “I love you” enough times.  Nor can I ever truly find the words to say how much he means to me, how much strength he gives me, and how grateful I am that we are together.   That’s why we have music, which so often says the things we want to say.

So this is my New Year’s promise to you Julian, my Sweetpea:

I would walk across burning desert
Bearing water to quench your thirst
Just call my name
In the time it takes to think of me
I will be there by your side
I’ll be there
Call my name

Give me your hand
And I’ll take you somewhere so beautiful
Give me your dreams
Together we’ll make them come true
Give me the pieces
Of your heart when it’s broken
I’ll mend it
For you

I will carry you when you’re weary
When your faith is running low
Just rest in me
I’ll be there for you just believe it
Any hour any day
I’ll be there
Rest in me

Give me your hand
And I’ll take you somewhere so beautiful
Give me your dreams
Together we’ll make them come true
Give me the pieces
Of your heart when it’s broken
I’ll mend it
I’ll mend it
Oh I’ll mend it
For you

Noon’s Tunes, Evening Edition: “I Don’t Wanna Work” by Donna Summer

 

As the holidays wind down, and we drift back into the working world, here’s a song to get your fingers snapping, and, hopefully put a smile on your face.  I don’t know about you, but, I sure don’t wanna work that hard….

 

Noon’s Tune At Noon: “I’m Not The One” by Bettye LaVette

Readers who have followed me for awhile will know that I adore Bettye LaVette.  From the moment I saw her perform The Who’s Love Reign O’er Me, at the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors, I was hooked.  LaVette has a genius for getting every drop of emotion, from every word in a song — when she sings, not one word is wasted, each word is necessary to the story of the song.

Imagine my excitement, nay, my delirious with joyness at learning that her new album, Thankful N’ Thoughtful, will be out September 25, celebrating her 50th anniversary in the music business. And, if an album isn’t enough, her autobiography, A Woman Like Me, will be released on September 27.

The album is described this way:

Produced by Craig Street (Norah Jones, Joe Henry, k.d. lang, Meshell Ndegeocello, John Legend, Charlie Sexton, etc.), TN’T is a selection of contemporary tracks written and previously recorded by Bob Dylan, The Black Keys, Tom Waits, Neil Young, Patty Griffin, Gnarls Barkley and others, which BETTYE consumes whole, rearranges deep within her soul and exorcises as her own through her voice filled with longing, rage, desire, despair, survival and victory. BETTYE’s voice—rough, tender, sensuous–is her instrument of inspiration and her dynamic power seethes throughout each song, wringing out the pathos, sharing her hard earned wisdom and story throughout these tales of her reinvention.

Thankful N’ Thoughtful opens with the funk injected Bob Dylan cut “Everything Is Broken” and when Bettye moans and howls the title refrain you have no doubt as to the trouble she’s seen. The entire album turned out to be a companion piece to her autobiography as while she was writing the book, she was also recording the songs on TN’T. On Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy,” she slows it down just a tad, then wrings every drop of sweat and blood from each and every syllable till your spine tingles, with “Dirty Old Town” (The Pogues/Rod Stewart), Bettye reworks the lyrical setting to Detroit—singing about her first love at Northern High and the Detroit race riots. Meanwhile, when she takes on The Black Keys’ “I’m Not The One,” the sensual grit of the song sizzles with her all-knowing rasp

Here, then, is the first song released from the album, “I’m Not The One:”

Noon’s Tune at Noon: “Perfect World” by Gossip

.

The lead track off their forthcoming album A Joyful Noise:

.

.

(Gossip)

Noon’s Tune at Noon: “Only The Horses” by Scissor Sisters

.

Watch this in the highest quality, biggest screen your computer will support.  It’s a catchy tune, but, the video is beautifully filmed.

.

Noon’s Tune at Noon: “The Conqueror” by Beatrice Eli

.

.

“‘The Conqueror’ might seem like a traditional love song, but I wrote it from seeing people – and being in a situation myself – where you find yourself loving the other person’s love more than being in love. It’s like if you manage to conquer his love and own his heart, even though you fail as a couple, at least you’ll be remembered. You’ll always be special for that person.’”

(via Music Is My King Size Bed)

.

.

Noon’s Tune at Noon: “Always Something There To Remind Me (Acoustic Version)” by Naked Eyes

.

.

If you were concious during the 1980s, you’ll no doubt have heard this tune:

.

.

.

But, I bet you’ve not heard the acoustic remake the band did for their 2007 album Fumbling With The Covers.  I think think this version brings new meaning to the song, giving it a bit more depth of feeling:

.

(email subscribers can watch video here)

Noon’s Tune at Noon: “Another World” by Antony and the Johnsons

.

.

This is so beautifully heartbreaking.

.

.

.

(email subscribers can view video here)

.

(Antony and the Johnsons)

Noon’s Tune at Noon: “These Roads” by Mia Borders

.

Today’s tune comes from Mia Borders, off her 2010 album Magnolia Blue.

.

Noon’s Tune at Noon: “I Would Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That)” by Meat Loaf (Jim Steinman Week)

What better way to wrap up Jim Steinman week with what I think of as his most epic song.

Meat Loaf teamed up with Steinman again, and recorded this over-the-top song in 1993.  This song has it all, and then some.  It even contains a bit of a mystery — unless you really listen carefully, you might miss what it is that he won’t do.  There are actually a couple of different things he says he won’t do.  Take a listen, and see if you can find them all.  (If you get a chance, check out the full album version of this song — it clocks in at a truly epic twelve minutes.

Noon’s Tune at Noon: “Total Eclipse of the Heart” by Bonnie Tyler (Jim Steinman Week)

It’s Day 6 of Jim Steinman week, and I know you’re ready for all the pulse-pounding drama to stop.  Almost, dears.  Almost.

I mentioned earlier in the week, when posting “Making Love Out Of Nothing At All”, by Air Supply, that it was the #2 song in the country, while at the same time, another Steinman song was #1.  This is that #1 Song.

Arguably the most well-known of Steinman’s songs, “Total Eclipse of the Heart” sold about 6 million copies. It’s much more rock and roll than some of the other songs from earlier in the dark, and Tyler’s scratchy, powerhouse voice makes the song nearly perfect.  Can you really envision anyone other than Bonnie Tyler singing this song?

I happen to think that Bonnie Tyler should have been a bigger star here in the U.S, but, alas, she came and went, as so many others before and since have  (though she’s much more successful in Europe).  In tribute, and, because I know you secretly are loving these Steinman songs, I’ll include another Steinman song that Tyler sang on the Footloose soundtrack.

Noon’s Tune at Noon: “Left In The Dark” by Barbra Streisand (Jim Steinman Week)

So, here we are at Day 5 of Jim Steinman week.

Have I mentioned that Steinman is one of this year’s inductees into the Songwriters Hall Of Fame?  He’s in good company, as this years class also includes Bob Seger and Gordon Lightfoot, among others.

Today’s entry is a performance by The Mother Of All Divas: Barbra.

 

I have to admit, when I first encountered this song, I was skeptical.  Barbra singing a Meat Loaf song?  Barbra?  Really?

Then I listened to it.  Know what?  It works.  She’s got The Big Voice, and the skill to handle all the vocal aerobics the song requires.  She brings some real feeling to the song: a strong woman demanding of her cheating lover to “Tell me who! Tell me where! Tell me when!” (you can practically see her standing there, confronting her lover, and ticking the three things off on her fingers), and mixes it with a heartbreaking vulnerability, when she softly sings “I just need some love, so turn out the lights, and I’ll be left in the dark again.”  On of Streisand’s strengths, her phrasing, is quite evident in this song, you can her the anger, the sarcasm, the longing, even the irony of it all, coming through loud and clear.

Take a listen, and see what you think.  Loud is a good volume at which to play this one.

Noon’s Tune at Noon: “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now” by Celine Dion (Jiim Steinman Week)

We’re at Day 4 of Jim Steinman week.

If you’ve been listening to the songs this week, you’ll have noticed a pattern to Steinman’s songs.  The songs have quiet parts, loud parts, angelic choir parts, cymbals crashing, resulting in a sort of Wagnerian Pop-Rock Opera.  And, because they are operatic in tone, not just anyone can sing a Steinman song.  A Big Song needs a Big Voice.

From 1996, here’s “It’s All Coming Back To Me Now”, performed by Celine Dion, arguably the Biggest Pop Voice around:

Noon’s Tune at Noon: “Read ‘Em And Weep” (Jim Steinman Week)

Jim Steinman week continues with the video for Day 3.

When I was in eight grade, there was a girl in my class who loved Barry Manilow, and, if we’d lived in the same city as Manilow, I suspect she would have stalked him.  She had pictures of him taped to her notebooks and locker.  I sat next to her in one class, and I could usually catch her doodling his name over and over on her lined notebook paper.  I, on the other hand, was not much of a Manilow fan.  Ok, ok, so I know all the words to “I Write The Songs.”  Deal with it.  Other than that, meh.

For those of you of my generation, you’ll remember that Manilow looked like a real human being this:

For anyone who’s only just discovering Barry, you’ll see that he now looks like a sad, botoxed parody of himself this:

Plastic surgery aside, Manilow has what it takes to sing a Steinman song: a big voice.

Incidentally, lyrically, this is probably my favorite Steinman song.  From 1983:

Noon’s Tune at Noon: “Making Love Out Of Nothing At All” by Air Supply (Jim Steinman Week)

Welcome to Day 2 of Jim Steinman week.

Today’s Jim Steinman song is performed by Air Supply.

This song, and another Steinman song, held the top two spots for a period in 1983.  This was the Number 2 song. (The Number 1 song comes later in the week).

Noon’s Tune at Noon: “Paradise By The Dashboard Light” by Meat Loaf (Jim Steinman Week)

Welcome to Jim Steinman week here at Johnbalaya.

If you listened to radio anytime from the mid-1970s to the mid-1990s, you’ve heard a Jim Steinman song.  You probably never heard Jim Steinman singing a song, but, as a songwriter and producer he is responsible for some of the biggest hits, and some of the most epic, over-the-top operatic rock songs ever.  Steinman isn’t for everyone though — you either love him, or hate him; there is no middle ground.

The first thing you’ll notice about a Steinman song, when you’re looking at the song details, is the length.  Steinman doesn’t write three-four minute songs.  Steinman writes songs that fall into the five to twelve minute range, which, perhaps, might account for less airplay than the songs deserved (though he did have his fair share of hits).

When you start listening to a Steinman song you’ll begin to realize why the songs are so long: they tell a story — most songs are short stories, but a Steinman song is a novel set to music.  By the time a Steinman song is over, you really are left exhausted with the sheer epicness of the emotion in the song.

Meat Loaf is probably the artist most identified with Steinman’s songs, as they were the first big radio hits, but, there were many artists who worked with Steinman during his heyday, some recording original songs, others performing covers of his earlier songs with Meat Loaf.  This week, we’ll look at the variety of artists who worked with Steinman, and who created some of the most epic songs of the period.

Jim Steinman & Meat Loaf

First out of the gate: The One, The Only, The Great Meat Loaf, from the multi-million selling album, Bat Out Of Hell.

(Jim Steinman)

(Meat Loaf)

Noon’s Tune at Noon: “Stay With Me” by Bette Midler

Yes, you’re correct — I’ve changed the name of this series.  What the heck…might as well post Noon’s Tune at the stroke of Twelve Noon.  Right?

Sure.  Okay.

Today’s tune is an oldie from the soundtrack of “The Rose”, starring Bette Midler.  For those who’ve just dropped in from another planet who might not know, “The Rose” is loosely based on the life of the great Janis Joplin.

“Stay With Me” is a song that Janis Joplin did sing, though, it can be tough to find (there are a few live performance videos to be found using The Google.) It pains me to say, Janis fan that I am, I really think that this particular live version by Midler is actually a better version.

For anyone who’s been left, dumped, kicked aside in a relationship… this song is for you.