At The Races

We have a small horsetrack not far from us. I've never been there, but I'd like to go at least once. I have read almost every book Dick Francis wrote. My vicarious adventures with him and my past as a little girl who wanted (and never got) a pony make me race-curious. Here are songs about a variety of races:

This video has some footage from the very first horse race movie, done in 1878. There are several verses I don't remember hearing before. Doo-da, doo-da!
Stephen Collins Foster; Camptown Races

Probably one of the sweetest songs about racing evah.
Dan Fogelberg: Run for the Roses

Now for something a little more rowdy. This song carries images of car and horse racing, and how it can be an odd escape for things you don't want to face.
Cake: He's Going the Distance

And now for something completely. . . .different. The weird genius that is Spike Jones. I especially love the puns!
Spike Jones: Spike Jones' William Tell Overture. . .and Feeeeeetlebaum.

My father always loved this song. He was a country boy, and I don't know if he ever was involved in drag racing, but I know he wanted to be. If he was, it would have been especially interesting because he lived in the mountains, and would have been racing down hairpin turns.
The Playmates: The Little Nash Rambler (BEEP! BEEP!)

If you find yourself having to rush around today, try to have at least as much fun as the fun in these songs. Tell me how you like the music choices in the comments!

Pro-California

Sigh. I am so nicey-nice. I feel guilty about shunning a state. Not a person, not a group. A STATE! In my last blog, I said I didn't like California. Ok. I don't HATE it. I just . . .wouldn't want to live there. I'd visit (especially if it was a stop on the way to Hawaii)! So here are some of the tons and tons of songs that like California:

I confess to sometimes having a vague fond memory of SoCal when it's rainy and 37 degrees again in Virginia:
1. The Mamas and The Papas: California Dreamin'

For people who moved away. . .and want back in:
2. Wallflowers: Back to California

You can't really do a pro-California song list without the Beach Boys, can you?
3.The Beach Boys: California Girls

I had a little debate about putting this one in. It's *not* melodic, but it's definitely pro-California. It's by the incredible Tom Waits.
4. Tom Waits: Going Out West

And now for the big finish.
5. Tony Bennett and Judy Garland: I Left My Heart in San Francisco

So now maybe I will be allowed to enter the state if I decide to visit. I sort of miss fresh kumquats. . .

Songs Against California

I admit it: I'm not a California fan--especially Southern California. I lived there for a year. I had a headache the whole time from the smog, was followed in stores because my casual clothes weren't nice enough for the Beautiful People, and even the perfect weather couldn't tempt me by the time the year was up. The whole place seems like one big city, and getting back to my southern roots was a huge relief.

Seems I'm not the only one with severe issues towards our movie capitol. Also not surprisingly, a lot of the artists that dislike California are either from the country or have made their home there. Here's a quick list of songs for the West-Coast impaired:

I was so glad I never needed to drive in California. Guy Clark feels the same.
1. LA Freeway: Guy Clark (the picture is actually Steve Earle, but hey, it's all Texas writin'.)

"Brown LA Haze". . .I'll take the occasional Richmond smog any day.
2. Come Monday: Jimmy Buffet

 I know exactly what this song is talking about--if you aren't "in," you're out--and that's that.
3. Beverly Hills: Weezer

4. California's its own little prison. And when you're talkin' California and prison, there's only one song that will do:
Folsom Prison Blues: Johnny Cash

This song reminds me of several trips to Hollywood. I learned Hollywood is the land where people urinate in the streets, "ladies of the evening" work during the day, and being nutty is part of the place (and not in a good way).
5. I Sang Dixie: Dwight Yoakam

The Perfect Day

Today is a nearly perfect day. . .sunny and clear, just not super warm. Here are some beautiful, perfect day songs:

1. The Jolly Boys. . .Perfect Day:

The sun is just a' shinin'
2. Good Day Sunshine. . .Sir Paul McCartney

On such a pretty day, it's hard to think of anything going wrong:

3. On a Wonderful Day Like Today. . .Johnny Mathis

And if your perfect day is not quite perfect, just keep saying "It's a Beautiful Day."

4.Beautiful Day. . .U2

I wish you nothing but blue skies on this perfect day:
5. Blue Skies .. .Ella Fitzgerald

I hope your day today was perfect, too. Did I miss any great day songs?

Moon! Christine Lavin!

I've tried to find interesting songs, since so many songs have the moon in their lyrics. But I found so many I loved by one of my favorite artists I just indulged myself. Christine Lavin is a gifted singer-songwriter with a love for science and is, well, more than a little quirky.

As it turns out. . .she doesn't have a lot of songs on YouTube. So the last Moon Song is not from her.

Appreciate the moon. Some people think we won't have it forever:

1.What if We Had No Moon

Most people have someone they've moved on from, but never quite forgotten. Evidently, so has Christine. She wrote the song, but another fave of mine, David Wilcox, revamped it and this is his version.
"At times like this, when the moon is right. . .":

2. It was the Kind of Love You Never Recover From

This is one of my favorites. Just sweet and lovely.
3. Shining My Flashlight on the Moon:

Another astronomical song. I love the way she paints the picture of meeting a love. Key lyric: "I feel like a satellite way too long in space." Tee-hee. There was no YouTube for this one, so here's the link from MySpace. This whole album is great!

4. Venus Kissed the Moon














5. This is just a snippet from La Boheme. But it's also a clip from MOONstruck. It was one of the first movies my husband and I watched while we were dating. (He also introduced me to Monty Python, but that's not nearly so romantic.) After all Christine Lavin's fairly wistful songs, this seemed like a fitting end to today's entry.

What are your favorite moon songs?

Monday

It's MONDAY!!!!! Don't let it get you down. Monday means lots of cool music:

It's not like you haven't faced a Monday before. It's just another. . .

1. Manic Monday

Don't be blue!

2. Blue Monday--The Jolly Boys

Sometimes, Monday is the day you look forward to. Especially if you're missing somebody.
3. Come Monday--Jimmy Buffet

Of course, if you miss someone and they aren't coming back on Monday. . .
4. Monday, Monday--The Mamas and the Papas

Ok. I admit it. Mondays can be long:

5. Long Monday--John Prine

Hope your Monday is great!

Stars

Today I was thinking about the sky, and about stars. So here are five Star Songs:

Hopefully you don't have Van Gogh's ear for music:
1. Starry Starry Night. . .Don McLean

But starry skies can do more than cause depression and missing ears. Keep your loved ones close at night:
2. Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes. . .K D Lang

As an American old enough to remember her in her heyday this star song brings a lump to my throat and gives me goosebumps all at the same time:

3. The Star-Spangled Banner. . .Whitney Houston

Speaking of memories. . .here's a lovely old song from old school Disney days:
4. When You Wish Upon a Star. . .Louis Armstrong

And everything's bigger in Texas. . .evidently including the stars at night. . .
5. Deep in the Heart of Texas. . .Gene Autry

I hope you've enjoyed the star songs. Please share your favorites!