"Sixty-Minute Man" - Billy Ward and The Dominoes

Good morning peeps! Remember when you were a youngster and heard songs that you thought you knew the meaning of but didn't? I sure do! So, I've decided to write a little ditty about some of  the most clever "innuendo" songs from then and now; only now, these songs are way more explicit, and younger children have them figured out. It's the parents that often don't know the true meaning of these songs. Back in the fifties, Doo-Wop music was all the rage, although it wasn't called *Doo-Wop; (*see yesterday's blog for a little history); it was called rhythm and blues. My mother had a particular fondness for this music and had many records in her collection. She would play music almost everyday as she cooked and cleaned house. On weekends when we were home from school, I'd sit under her and sing-along with the songs she played, not fully understanding what the songs were about. I just knew that they sounded good. I'd also watch my mother's reactions, and form a child's opinion as to whether the song was a "somebody-done-somebody-wrong-song," or some other grown-up dilemma. Little did I know that some of these songs were actually  talking about sex!

It wasn't until years later when I became a teen-ager did I understand the true meaning of these delightful songs! The first innuendo songs that I figured out the meanings of were, "Work With Me Annie" by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters (he wrote and performed the original version of The Twist, which later became a monster hit for Chubby Checker), and a song called "Sixty-Minute Man" by The Dominoes. A follow up song to "Work With Me Annie" was called "Roll With Me Henry" by  Etta James and Hank Ballard, later to be retitled, Wallflower...perhaps to quell the controversy. Now both songs were purportedly about dancing, but another follow-up song declared, "Annie Had A Baby", also written by Hank Ballard. Now I ask you...can you have a baby by merely "dancing" with Henry? I think Not! These are innuendo songs. The other popular one, "Sixty Minute Man" speaks for itself: "there'll be sixty minutes of kissing, then you'll holler don't stop, they'll be 15 minutes of teasing, 15 minutes of squeezing, and 15 minutes of blowing my top!" Through the years, many more songs joined the ranks of  innuendo or double entendre songs. 

Fast forward to eighties and nineties: The New Jack era introduced a whole 'nother type of innuendo songs; songs that were more explicit and less implied. Songs like "I Wanna Sex You Up" by Color Me Badd" and anything by R. Kelly. Songs about bumpin', grindin' and knocking da boots! The Rap lyrics were very explicit and soon warning labels had to be added to the jackets and labels. Biggie Smalls had a song that clearly stated what he wanted to do to his woman tonight! I used to cringe hearing that blared on a boom box out in public...not that I'm a prude, but I felt it was inappropriate for children to hear, in that context. More recent songs contained lyrics that talked about "milkshakes" and "skeets,"and I swear I didn't know what any of this meant until younger people explained it to me. By the time Flo -rida sang about about "when you go downtown", I knew for sure what he was insinuating! I wondered if the producers of American Idol knew when they had him on? After all, that is supposedly a family show! LaBelle's Lady Marmalade seems tame now, when they ask, "voulez-vous coucher avec moi, ce soir?" As Bob Dylan said, "times, they are a changing."

"Those Oldies But Goodies" - Little Ceasar & The Romans

Good morning peeps!!  "I love music...any kind of music"...so said The O'Jays. Well, the same goes for me! I was raised in a home that valued music as a form of entertainment and enjoyment. Some of my happiest memories from very early childhood include music as a back drop. My mother, Vergie, fancied herself as a singer and would always harmonize along with the Doo-Wop artists of her generation: The Clovers, The Heartbeats, Shep and The Limelight's, The Platters, The Dells, The Spaniels, The Five Keys, The Five Satins, The 5 Royales, Billy Ward and The Dominoes and The Drifters to name a few of her favorites. Then there were the various "bird name" groups: The Penguins, The Ravens, The Orioles, The Wrens, The Flamingos, The Crows, The Larks and so on. I can't forget the "car name" groups: The Cadillacs, The Edsels, and The Fleetwoods. So, what is "Doo-Wop?" A young friend of mine recently asked me this question upon learning about my preference for this type of music. Now, I thought it would be an easy enough question to answer until he offered examples of what he thought it was. His frame of reference only went back to the late sixties or early seventies, and his examples were groups like The Temptations, Stylistics, Delfonics and Whispers. I thought about his choices, then explained that although these groups sang in a style that was influenced by Doo-Wop, these are not really Doo-Wop groups. So, what is Doo-Wop?"

When the style of music we now call Doo-Wop was introduced to our culture, it was not called "Doo-Wop." This style of group harmonizing was originally sung by gospel groups and influenced by blues singers. These groups often sang "A Capella" which is an Italian term that means, "in the style of the chapel." However, it has taken on the meaning of singing without instrumental accompaniment. Credited as being an African-American vocal style that emerged from the streets of Northeastern and industrial Midwestern cities like New York, Pittsburgh, Chicago and Baltimore, this music was called "Rock and Roll" or "Rhythm and Blues." When performed by Black artists, it was also referred to as "race music." However, when the same songs were "covered" by Caucasian artists, it was called, "pop" or "mainstream" music.

One of the earliest groups to sing in the style that was later labeled "Doo-Wop" were The Ink Spots, who recorded a nifty tune called, "My Prayer" in 1939; a song which was later covered by The Platters. Rhythm and Blues groups usually consisted of anywhere from three to six members; singing in 3, 4 or even 5 part harmonies. Bass singers held exalted positions in Rhythm and Blues groups; (think Bill Pinkney singing bass on The Drifter's White Christmas) Okay, when did it become "Doo-Wop?"

The term "Doo-Wop" first appeared in 1961 at the height of a vocal harmony resurgence. The first hit record (don't quote me on this) to use the actual syllables "doo-wop" in the refrain was the 1955 hit, When You Dance" by The Turbans. Other songs using this particular set of syllables soon emerged including, In The Still Of The Night, by The Five Satins. This song incidentally, is often considered the greatest "Doo-Wop" song of all time by some loyalists. Now I am certain that there are other schools of thought regarding what constitutes "Doo-Wop" music, but this is my opinion, backed by some informal research and readings. Regardless of the origins of this music, it will always hold a most favorite place in my heart...and soul.

"Benny and the Jets" - Elton John

Good afternoon peeps and peepettes!!! Are you caught up in football fever? I'm not but...I can't think of another topic to write about that I haven't already touched lately, so I'll go with the perennial flow and talk about...gasp...football! There! I've said the "F" word! As you might have figured, I am not a football fan; nor baseball for that matter. However, I am a New York fan and will get caught up in the hoopla of a New York sports team making it to a playoff of any type. In speaking with my son today, who is celebrating his Bornday, I now know some of the "whys" and "wherefores" of the game. I must however add this caveat: my native New York born son is a die hard, staunch Pittsburgh Steelers fan! Always has been and always will be! He even went The University of Pittsburgh for goodness sake! By the way ladies, weigh in as to whether or not you watch the games with your significant other; back in the day I used to cuddle up with my then husband and pretend to watch the game...he too was a Pittsburgh Steelers fan (so, that's where my son got it from); don't think I'd be willing to do that today...unless my man agreed to watch Project Runway with me that is!

Here's what I know:

1. The Jets and The Colts are AFC teams

2. The Vikings and The Saints are NFC teams

3. Mark Sanchez is The Jets QB

4. Peyton Manning is The Colt's QB

5. The Colts used to be situated in Baltimore but are now representing Indianapolis (guess they watched The Wire too).

6. Brad and Angelina broke up...oops, how'd that get in here?

7. The Vikings play for Minnesota (son, I knew that!), and are called The Purple People Eaters

8. The Raiders play for Oakland ; gang bangers and rappers love to wear their hat.

9. The Jets are called Gang Green

10.The Jets and The Saints are the favored teams today

My Top Football songs (Team names, colors, related to football)

1. Benny and the Jets - Elton John

2. It Ain't Easy Being Green - Kermit D Frog

3.When You're A Jet - From West Side Story

4. You Gotta Be A Football Hero - Jon Reeves


5. When The Saints Go Marching In - Everybody


6. I'm Going Down - Rose Royce (what? somebody has to)


7. Jet - Paul McCartney


8. leaving On A Jet Plane - Peter, Paul and Mary

9. The Saints Are Coming - U2


10. We Love Brett Favre  - Tom Sumner


11. The Purple People Eater - Sheb Wooley


12. A Horse With No Name - America

Nightshift - The Commodores

thGood morning peeps!! It's good to be here again albeit on a sad note. This new year of  2010 had hardly settled in good when the bad news just kept on coming. January, 2010 will forever be known as the year that the small country of Haiti was decimated by a catastrophic earthquake! The death toll still not yet tallied. The flip-side though, is that after nearly two weeks, survivors are still being pulled from the rubble! Nothing short of miraculous!

In the world of politics, backlash is rearing it's ugly head. Opponents of President Obama's Health Care initiatives are gloating about the democratic defeat or republican victory if  you will, in the state of Massachusetts, where the late Senator Teddy Kennedy's seat is going to be filled by republican Scott Brown. Brown defeated his heavily favored; Obama endorsed democratic opponent, Martha Coakley. To add further insult to injury, he defeated the other possible heir to the seat, Independent Joseph L Kennedy, with Kennedy acquiring a mere 1 percent of the vote! Notable because not only is Joseph a Kennedy, but the Kennedy's have held a stronghold on Massachusetts for over forty years! For many, the vote was not as much for Scott Brown as it was a vote against President Obama's agenda. Remember when Rush (Hush) Limbaugh declared he wanted Obama to fail? Well it seems that his followers have taken this to heart. We all knew there would be a backlash against Barack Obama sooner or later, didn't we? Well now it is coming to fruition. This persistent opposition can only serve to undermine President Obama's legacy, as his approval rating is slipping drastically.

Finally, 2010 has seen the death of some of the singers we have loved and listened to as we entered adulthood. Teddy Pendergrass: "The Chocolate Teddy Bear" He was one of the handsomest, most soulful singers of our generation. Tall, dark and deliciously handsome...he will be missed! Robert "Squirrel" Lester of The Chi-lites; I used to chuckle as he bounced around the stage in the Chi-Lite's live concerts' wearing their traditional "Chicago gangster" style zoot suits! Oh how the ladies loved Squirrel! Smooth and still fine well into his sixties; he will be missed too!

The "B-side" of these losses is that the "Heavenly Soul Band" just became more soulful! Can you imagine the jam session that must be taking place? Michael Jackson "Moon Walked" down to the Pearly Gates to greet the new comers with open arms. James Brown said, "I Feel Good," as Marvin wondered, "What's Going On?" Sam Cooke chimed in with, "A Change is Gonna Come" while Curtis Mayfield said this band is going to be "Superfly!" Jackie Wilson added, "You Better Know It." Brook Benton said "Fools Rush In" but Dinah Washington added, You Got What It Takes!" Billy Holiday said, "Our Love Is Here To Stay!" Fats Waller piped, "One Never Knows, Do One?" Louie Armstrong intoned, "What A Wonderful World"
Paul Williams, David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks and Melvin Franklin harmonized,"Don't Look Back"
 Ah yes, the Heavenly Soul Band...God is jammin' with the best!

"Turn Off The Lights" - Teddy Pendergrass

Good morning peeps! Another day and more sorrow. Our sisters and brothers in Haiti are reeling in suffering, pain, death, missing family members, hopelessness, lack of everything! Whatever we are going through in our lives certainly pales in comparison. Unfortunately, there are those who would even use a tragedy like this, to bash our president! Right wing pundit Rush Limbaugh, is criticizing President Obama for pledging aid to Haiti so quickly. Limbaugh says the president wasn't as concerned about the passengers on the flight with the so-called "underwear bomber", and didn't respond in a timely manner. We are not surprised though, because this man; Rush will always "rush" to judgement when it comes to Barack Obama. He has nothing but disdain for this president, and will take any opportunity to bash him; even this most recent tragedy. If President Obama had not responded swiftly, he would have been resoundly criticizes by all...including Rush. Next, Pat Robinson, the conservative so-called religious spokes person (I don't know what he really is) makes the outrageous and most outlandish statement that I've heard in a long time! He says, with great relish I might add, that "the Haitian people made a pact with the devil, in order to be freed from French rule, therefore, they are now being punished, while the Dominicans (who also occupy the same island of Hispaniola) are flourishing." This man really said this with a straight face, as the woman he was speaking with nodded in agreement. You can see this on YouTube. Now I don't begrudge him his right to say what he wants to, but I cannot believe that he truely believes what he is saying...in the year 2010! It sounds like what was said in the 1600's during The Salem Witch Trails; Salem Massachusettes. What?

On another sad note: We music lovers have lost yet another one of the great voices of all time; the soulful Teddy Pendergrass. There will never be another like him...R.I.P. Teddy Bear!

"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" - The Hollies

Good afternoon peeps...well, not so good. How sad that as we enter a new year we are faced with a tragedy of catastrophic proportions. Under these circumstances, people are prone to question God...as if God is The "Punisher." When rationality resumes, we intellectualize, analyze and realize that the forces of nature kicks in every so often, as part of the "natural order" of things. Depending on your geographic location on this planet of ours, you are going to experience the forces of nature; be it hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, flood, tsunamis, volcanoes, wildfires or mudslides. Without getting into a technical, geologic discussion which I am not qualified to do anyway, I think it is accurate to say that Haiti happens to be located in area of the earth that is atop many a fault line and shifting plates, that move periodically. The results are devastating! So, what can we do about it?

Praying will make us feel better but a more pragmatic response would be to assist in material ways. No, we cannot realistically hop on a plane and physically go to the Island of Hispaniola; the portion called Port-Au-Prince Haiti. We can however, send monetary donations to The Red Cross; a reputable organization that offers disaster relief. There is a way to text a ten dollar donation: text HAITI to 90999, and The Red Cross will acknowledge your donation.Also, check with your local Red Cross to see if donations of food, clothing and other staples are being accepted. Pack up those clothes you or your children no longer wear because you feel they are "out dated" or no longer fit. They might seem useless to you but boy would they be appreciated by the people affected by this earthquake!

Before you do anything though, make sure you deal with a legitimate relief organization! Don't act impulsively out of feelings of sorrow, empathy, or misplaced guilt! Check the video I posted on Facebook about this. What a sad way to remember the new year of 2010. It will now be forever known as the year Haiti was struck by a 7.0 magnitude earthquake, that affected over three million people, and possibly killed untold thousands. As I write this piece, the totality of this disaster is not yet written!

"Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" - Chicago

Good morning peeps!! Recently my brother Keith, commented that 2010 seems to already be zipping by. How can this be? We just said "Happy New Year" about a minute ago; didn't we? But, could it be that as we get older, our perceptions of time alters? Of course this is the case, for as we get older we become more acutely aware of our own mortality, and time becomes more precious to most of us. Also, we have many more obligations to meet, that are bound by time constraints. We begin to lament that we don't have enough time in a day to meet these obligations. Leisure time comes and goes in the proverbial "blink of an eye." The solution? Sorry, don't have one. Advice? Yes...try and live in the moment more. Appreciate the fact that you wake up in the morning. Connect with family and friends; spend good times together as often as you can."Don't be fooled by the calendar. There are only as many days in the year as you make use of." - Charles Richards. And above all, CARPE DIEM!

My list of favorite songs about time:

1. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? - Chicago

2. Time In A Bottle -Jim Croce

3. Ain't It Funny How Time Slips Away? - James Hinton; Willie Nelson, Al Green; et al

4. Time Is On My Side - Rolling Stones

5. The Best Of Times - Styx

6. These Are The Times To Remember - Billy Joel

7. Time Can Make You Change -The Clovers

8. What Time Is It? - The Jive Five

9. Time Has Come Today - The Chambers Brothers

10. Out Of Time - Hall and Oats

11. Remember The Time - Michael Jackson

12. This Time Baby - The O'Jays

13. Second Time Around - Shalimar

14. Funny How Time Flies - Janet Jackson

15. Time After Time - Cyndi Lauper

16. Too Much Time On My Hands - Styx

17. Give Me Just A Little More Time - Chairman Of The Board

18. Night Time Is The Right Time - Ray Charles

19. For The Good Times - Al Green

20. Twilight Time - The Platters

21. Golden Time Of Day - Frankie Beverly and Maze

22. Yesterday - The Beatles

23. Turn Turn Turn - The Byrds

24. One Moment In Time - Whitney Houston

25. Summertime - Billy Stewart

"Who Let The Dogs Out?" - Baha Men

Good afternoon peeps!! So, San Francisco is flying several Chihuahuas to New York City, to be adopted by New Yorkers eh? Apparently the folks in California who owned these pooches, tired of them and abandoned them on freeways and in city dumps. Say it isn't so! Another theory is that the appeal of  Chihuahuas waned as more Californians became unemployed and couldn't afford to keep them, or lost their homes to foreclosures. Celebrities like Paris Hilton tote these dogs around as status symbols and carry them around in designer bags.  But why New York? Because New Yorkers live in smaller dwellings and prefer smaller dogs!! Excuse me? Uh, we have rats in New York the size of Chihuahuas! We have Pitt Bulls! We have...well, I won't go there. Welcome to New York City you lucky dogs!

"AEIOU" - Freeeze

Good afternoon peeps!! Acronyms! We all use them on a daily basis, especially in our texting, sexting, emailing, and sometimes even long hand writing. But let's get real. Will you admit that sometimes you find yourself scratching your head while trying to alternately be "cool" and in the know, but not really knowing what a particular acronym or internet jargon stands for? I admit it! It has happened to me more than a few times.  It could be something as simple as, "ty"  (you know this one, right?), or more complicated. In doing research for this topic, I consulted a "Teen Internet Lingo Dictionary" (can you believe it even exists?), and found some very interesting acronyms that I will share with you. First let me say that we have used acronyms way before the internet, and in fact, some have entered our lexicon as actual words. Here are a few: NATO, CEO, TGIF, AWOL, ASAP, AKA, BYOBB. Instead of saying the soldier went "Absent Without Official Leave", we say the soldier went "AWOL"! We have become a society of linguistically challenged individuals. Are we in such a rush to nowhere that we can't even take time to say or write a word completely? IDK...!

Now for the "new lingo" This is only a partial list because there are too many to list!

                     

BTW = by the way

AAMOF = as a matter of fact

BOL = back on later

G2G = got to go

B4N = bye for now

ROFL = rolling on the floor laughing


AML = all my love


BAC = back at computer

ZZZ = bored


Y2K = you're too kind (remember what this used to mean?)


CD9 = parent's around (you figure that one out)


?4U = question for you


>U = screw you (beats me)


420 4life = marijuana (huh?)


143 = I Love You


and last but not least,


53X = sex???

"I Am Woman" - Helen Reddy

Good afternoon peeps!! I am a child of the sixties; a time of many defining moments in our country's historical framework. The assassinations of: President John F Kennedy, Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Robert Kennedy. The beginning of the end of segregation and institutional discrimination; the enactment of civil rights legislation and the deaths of civil rights activists of all nationalities. It was a time of  The Black Panthers out of Oakland, CA. The Young Lords out of New York City, and many, many other movements. One particular movement was geared towards women and was labeled, The Women's Liberation Movement. At the time, women were fighting for equality in all areas of  life and were establishing themselves as equally able as men, to do certain jobs, make decisions and be more than just a man's appendage. Now, I ask you...what the hell happened???

In recent years, there have been a plethora of  so-call "reality shows" that seems to have set women back to the pre-liberation movement days!!! The women on these shows act like desperate shrews, who will cut each other's throats to get the prized man! On one such show, the prize was, get this; Flava Flave!! The young women would fight, spit, and act ignorant as all get out to be picked to date Flava. Oh I am not so naive to not realize that their real goal is that proverbial "fifteen minutes", as some actually went on to star on their own "reality" shows. And yes, men have appeared on these types of shows also, supposedly looking for love, wives, etc. Somehow, the women on these shows appear more desperate!

The show The Bachelor, is what motivated me to write this piece. It debuted it's new season last night, for the thirteenth year...wow! I am not a viewer of this show ordinarily, but based on a conversation I heard on a morning talk show, I decided to see what they were talking about this time around, so I watched the episode on Hulu. I already knew the premise: an eligible bachelor gets to pick a potential wife out of a harem of twenty-five women. He gets to size them up the way a potential slave owner probably got to size up slaves, before purchasing them; or the way one sizes up a horse, dog or other animal they wish to own. How degrading! On the other hand, the women; all career women, seem so eager and happy to be there. Each one has dillusions of being "the one." We, the viewers, get to hear snippets of conversation from each woman; sometimes in isolation and sometimes as part of the larger group. The Bachelor gets to "spend time" with each woman, one-on-one. Sounds almost like the function of a brothel to me...but I digress. At the end of each show, The Bachelor decides who gets to stay and leave, by presenting or withholding a rose. As the women anxiously await their fate, the camera moves around panning their faces. Some look pained and pitiful, if each rose given is not for them.

It is at this point that I shake my head and ask myself why these attractive, seemingly intelligent young women, put themselves out there like this. Some appear in agony as their peers receive a rose and sigh a sigh of relief at being "a chosen one." When the final rose is given and they are not chosen, some of these young women react as if their world and reason for being has fallen apart! Even before the rose ceremony, some of the women go through extraordinary lengths to gain favor with the bachelor. One woman, knowing he is a pilot, donned a faux pilot costume. Another brought a toy plane from her seven-year-old son, to give to The Bachelor. (There is something wrong with this picture)! Usually, a token African-American woman or two is put into the mix, but not this time. The only woman of color is a Cambodian woman, who belittles herself by saying something sexually suggestive in her native language: "you can land your plane on my landing strip anytime" The Bachelor himself says equally corny things like, "as long as I let my heart lead, I know I can't go wrong" awwww! Am I a cynic you ask? Well, yes, I am. But I used to be a romantic too! Young ladies, get your self-esteem back and listen to Helen Reddy's anthem of the seventies, I Am Woman!

"I Write The Songs" - Barry Manilow

Good evening peeps!! Long time no see! How have you been, boo? Miss me? I miss you, cause I haven't written anything since New Year's Eve. The reality is that I had "Writer's Block" and was feeling uninspired. However, today I feel like writing about the singer-songwriters of the seventies. In my opinion, some of the finest songs I've ever listened to were written in the seventies, by singers who penned their own songs, as well as wrote for other artists. One of my favorite singer-songwriters of that era is Cat Stevens aka Yusuf Islam. He had a string of songs that were not only pretty to listen to, but told stories that touched the soul. "Wild World" comes to mind. In the song, he sings about his woman leaving to go out into "the wild world" as he cautions her to be careful: "but if you want to leave, take good care, hope you make a lot of nice friends out there, but just remember there's a lot of bad everywhere;" a gentle, not hostile warning, from a man that is obviously hurting over losing his love.

Another prolific writer of the seventies is Don Mclean, who wrote the enigmatic, metaphorical, speculative masterpiece, American Pie and Vincent. While Vincent is a straightforward ode to the artist, Vincent Van Gogh's famous painting; Starry Night (maybe metaphorical also?); American Pie created a stir by referencing multiple figures, including "The Father, Son and Holy Ghost." Some interpreted that as the religious trinity; whereas others felt he was talking about the three rock and rollers that died in a plane crash on February 3, 1959: Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Richie Valens. This song has produced more interpretations than The Beatles walking barefoot on the cover of their Abbey Road album. My son Shannon, who was five at the time, even offered his interpretation of the song as he tried to explain it to me; it was one of his favorite songs at five!

The seventies was also a time of  female singer-songwriters as well. Carole King, Laura Nyro, Ellie Greenwich, Joni Mitchell and Carley Simon come to mind. Carole King started writing in the nineteen fifties; writing some of the best lyrics for rhythm and blues artists like The Drifters. She later recorded her own compositions. Ellie Greenwich wrote some of the most memorable lyrics ever sung by female and male groups: "Da Do Run Run Run, Da Do Run Run" and "Doo Wah Diddy Diddy Dum Diddy Doo"

How can I not mention Neil Sedaka, Paul Anka,  Gamble and Huff, Holland Dozier Holland, Linda Creed, Thom Bell, Smokey Robinson, who was called "the world's greatest poet" by none other than Bob Dylan  and of course, the man who writes the songs himself; Barry Manilow! Oh how I could go on and on about these singer-songwriters and how much I miss this kind of music...but I won't! Thanks to YouTube, I have been able to hear my favorites whenever I so desire.