Sunday, April 30, 2017

Z is for...

...Zeppelin (Led implied)
My theme for this year's a-z challenge is off the top of my head-the first musical group to pop into my head...not necessarily my favorite, just the first to show itself.


Holy cow! This is it for April, eh? Much like my first a-z song themed challenge in 2013, this one will close out with Zeppelin. My collection of Led Zeppelin vinyls may have left my side, but there are certain songs that are like hearing from an old friend.

Have you got time for a quick story before we wrap this thing up? If not, you do you, and it will still be here waiting when you get back.

It was the fall of 1990, and I was a senior in college. I was at a party, and ran into a guy I had recently met. The late night was turning even later, and he told me he was going to try to find us a ride back to campus. He left me in good hands, sitting on the front porch of the house with a very good friend of his, a guy I vaguely knew through a couple of my roommates. We exchanged pleasantries for a bit until this Led Zeppelin song came on, and then we both just had to sing along. He added some fine air drum moves. Fun way to pass the time waiting to hear about a ride, for sure. 

Next thing I know, my potential new love interest is walking towards us. He then proceeded to point at me and wink at his friend sitting next to me, giving a thumbs up. Ummmm. His friend opened his mouth to perhaps offer some kind of a reminder. At the same moment the guy with such promise got close enough to where his beer goggles focused and jarred his memory that he was the super lucky co-ed who had been hanging out with me. I could have been appalled, but instead figured I did still garner a thumbs up. That story ended with us having to walk a couple of miles back to our dorms, and the relationship ended three and a half years later. Good times, bad times, you know we had our share, and this still makes me laugh.


Even if you haven't had a few beers, sing loudly and bang those imaginary sticks.

Saturday, April 29, 2017

Y is for...

...Yaz
My theme for this year's a-z challenge is off the top of my head-the first musical group to pop into my head...not necessarily my favorite, just the first to show itself.


Remember back in April 2013 when I chose to do angsty eighties songs for the a-z challenge? This band fantastically captured the letter M.  I don't want to be redundant here in my commentary, so I will keep this brief. Just two albums in two years, and I do have the entire collection. The funky synthesizer, I admit I can take or leave, but her voice. My gosh, that voice!

Friday, April 28, 2017

X is for...

...XTC
My theme for this year's a-z challenge is off the top of my head-the first musical group to pop into my head...not necessarily my favorite, just the first to show itself.


Thank goodness for sampler cassette (which was very similar to, but nothing like a mix tape) my friend across the hall in St. Mary's dorm sophomore year made for me. Otherwise I may not have had a legitimate group for this letter! Full disclosure? I could not remember what song I knew that they sang, and could only picture the band's name written on that yellow lined cassette insert. Of course now I will have this stuck in my head until tomorrow.

Thursday, April 27, 2017

W is for...

...(The) Waterboys
My theme for this year's a-z challenge is off the top of my head-the first musical group to pop into my head...not necessarily my favorite, just the first to show itself.


My husband made me a mix tape back in 1994 when we first started dating. Well, obviously he did because how else would there have been proof that we were enough in love to get engaged?! He was the proud owner of over 500 cd's in those days, as well as one hell of a vinyl collection. Despite what I thought of my own wide variety of musical tastes and knowledge, I was clearly an amateur - barely a casual listener.

I remember his chicken scratch handwriting on the cassette, naming bands that became one-hit wonders of a sort to me. The Waterboys - The Whole of the Moon...

My husband just walked in and heard the song playing. 
"Hey, that is my favorite song by The Waterboys!"
"Yes, and it is still the only one I know."

Wednesday, April 26, 2017

V is for...

...Violent Femmes
My theme for this year's a-z challenge is off the top of my head-the first musical group to pop into my head...not necessarily my favorite, just the first to show itself.


Junior year of high school, riding around with my drummer boyfriend, listening to such edgy music!
Words to memorize, words hypnotize
Words make my mouth exercise
I am sure I am not alone in knowing only two songs by The Violent Femmes, but they are amazing tunes, and it is better than knowing none!

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

U is for...

...U2
My theme for this year's a-z challenge is off the top of my head-the first musical group to pop into my head...not necessarily my favorite, just the first to show itself.


I was introduced to some of U2's earlier music in high school by a few friends, but none of the songs really integrated into my daily mix. U2 was probably too cool for me to be quite honest. In the spring of 1987, my high school graduation was looming, The Joshua Tree was released, but I still hadn't found what I was looking for. 1988 brought Rattle and Hum with a bit of Desire, Pride and there was something about Angel of Harlem.

When Achtung Baby was released in November of 1991, six months after I graduated from college, and by then I had finally been exposed to enough U2 to know I should buy the CD. That was absolutely not a mistake.

Monday, April 24, 2017

T is for...

...Thompson Twins
My theme for this year's a-z challenge is off the top of my head-the first musical group to pop into my head...not necessarily my favorite, just the first to show itself.


I figured this would be an easy one because, despite Thompson Twins being the first band that flew out of my mouth, I only associated them with one song. Curiosity led me to a quick google consult that only gave me two more readily recognized possibilities. I asked DJ Jazzy Husband if I knew any of the other songs displayed and just didn't realize it. His response, without even looking, was the obvious choice. It was not on the greatest hits list, but that means nothing. Enjoy the song, love the moment*...




*Especially you, Kari, future curator of the John Hughes museum (and celebrator of a birthday this week!)