What Happened to the Backyardigans?

Most of the parents who read this are going to hate me, but I like the Backyardigans.  It’s gentle, it’s creative, and it’s relevant to what toddlers and pre-schoolers need to absorb in a pop culture setting.  And the tunes are catchy (OK, maybe too catchy).  But with my 6-year-old twins, all of the sudden the Backyardigans are no longer cool.  Now they think this is cool.  Now I’m not complaining about the techno-pop aspects of scoring anime (even if it is somewhat silly anime).  But Teen Titans?  When did Robin ever leave Batman anyway?  That’s just not how it works!

This is about a loss of innocence, even if it’s normal, and even if, God forbid, it’s going to happen again and again – my kids are growing up.  And, for the first time ever, something they’ve outgrown has been publicly chastised as “stupid.”  Thankfully, we have the buffer to control this.  After all, our two year old is just getting to the age where The Backyardigans are interesting.  So my twins are going to have to put up with them for just a few years more.

One more thought:  If this bothers me now, how on earth am I going to survive puberty?  I’ll just look to Don Henley and Bruce Hornsby for inspiration.

Current Events Soundtracks:

Eunice Kennedy Shriver passed away at the age of 88 today.  Again, all politics aside, this is a family that has given a great deal to this country and the world.  Mrs. Shriver was no exception, as she started the Special Olympics.  In her honor, here is a song for the most recent Special Olympics in 2007, composed by Quincy Jones. 

By the way, Quincy Jones is a spectacular composer, conductor and arranger.   He started orchestrating albums for such notables as Dinah Washington.  But Soul Bossa Nova is probably his best known tune.  It’s amazing to listen to September in the Rain (where he conducts and Dinah sings – sorry no clip) and then Soul Bossa Nova and get the breadth of diversity there.

Also of interest is the fact that tonight, tomorrow night and Thursday night the sky will light up with the Perseid Meteor Shower.  If you’re looking for majestic accompaniment, try Jupiter, from The Planets by Gustav Holst.  More ethereal?  I’d opt for Vangelis’ Heaven and Hell (the theme to the hit PBS series Cosmos.  Get either on your I-Pod, go lay down on the lawn, and watch the show.  Oh – and let’s hope for no rain!

Finally, it’s Independence Day in Chad.

Soundtracks for this day in history:

In 1929 Babe Ruth knocked his 500th career home run out of the ball park, while playing in Cleveland Ohio (another great New York Yankee moment – sorry I can’t help it).  For the Babe, one of the original recordings of Take Me Out to the Ball Game, sung by Edward Meeker and recorded in 1908. 

By the way, Take Me Out to the Ball Game was written by Jack Norworth and Harry von Tilzer.  Jack Norworth was also married to the great singer Nora Bayes, who is an important figure from the first two decades of 20th century popular music.  She was actually the first person to record Ball Game, and wrote many hits with her husband, the best known of which was Shine On, Harvest Moon.  And while that song has managed to live on through the mists of time, here’s the wild part (I know, wild?):  Shine On, Harvest Moon was actually the sequel to an even bigger hit that Bayes and Norworth had together called Turn Off Your Light Mr. Moon Man.  Several years later, Bayes had perhaps her biggest recorded hit:  Over There , the great American call to arms during World War I.

This date in history also features a convergence of 2 events and one theme.  In 1965 riots began in Watts (the predominantly African American part of Los Angeles).  In 1972, the last ground unit of American troops left South Vietnam.  There is no more fitting song for these two different, yet iconic events of the same era than Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On.

Birthday Soundtracks

Alex Haley was born today in 1929.  Of course, his best known work is Roots.  Here is a clip with the opening theme.

Ian McDiarmid (1944) is an accomplished British actor best known for his role as Emporer Palpatine in the Star Wars movies.  Ian, this is for you.

Eric Carmen was born today in 1949, and he gave us the anthem of whining, crushed, single people everywhere – All By Myself.  Just to keep things in perspective, here is Gilbert O’Sullivan telling us what he wants to do when he gets dumped.  I think Gilbert is going to need more time on the couch – don’t you?

The late, great Mike Douglas was born on August 11, 1925.  A beloved talk show host (oh, come on, both of my grandmothers watched him, didn’t yours?), he started as a big band singer.  And – surprise – he’s the singing prince in Disney’s Cinderella!

Finally, Pakistani singer Hadiqa Kiani was born today in 1974.  Here she is singing Tuk Tuk, which has a real Bollywood feel.

Passing Anniversary Soundtracks:

Phil Harris (1995) was a jazz musician and singer with a flare for Dixieland.  Most of us would recognize him today as the voice of Baloo in Disney’s Jungle Book, but he recorded many a 78 record.  In 1950, he recorded The Thing, one of the most popular novelty songs in an era that was loaded with them.

Rafael Kubelik (1996) was a Czech conductor who specialized in the music of Dvorak, Smetana and other central European composers.  Here he is conducting the Berlin Philharmonic in a performance of The Carnival Overture by Antonin Dvorak.

Baby You Can Drive My Car

 

Well, actually, now you can’t.  I’ve been driving for 28 years, and I think I’ve had less than 5 accidents.  All fender-benders.  None memorable.  No injuries.  Until Friday.  This one hurt, and here’s the kicker:  I wasn’t even in the car.  Another kicker:  Both of our cars got hit.  In a movie parking lot.  After my wife Kate and I got our first movie date in months.  How romantic!

We were parked next to each other.  I had just given my wife a kiss as she got into our minivan (any excuse will do really) and was in the process of unlocking and opening my front door when  – vrroom, whoosh, screeeeech – and then my I was bouncing back and forth like a pinball.  And it hurt.  Alot.  Turns out a woman facing the other way accidently hit the gas while backing out of her spot and blew her car into both of ours as well as the one on the other side of mine.  That car then hit me.  That’s right- I was hit by a parked car.  I have bruises to prove it, and I’m very, very sore.  Thank God, my wife wasn’t hurt at all.  Neither was the lady in the car that did the deed.  And the third car was empty.  I win “the only injury “prize.

I’m very lucky that was it.  My car, however, is not.  I’ll be surprised if it isn’t totalled.  The minivan has a huge, deep dent way in the back on the driver’s side (she kind of landed there), but at least we can drive that.  So, for the past few days, including yesterday when I premiered my musings, I have been popping ibuprofin, icing the swollen spots and feeling – alternatively – cursed and blessed.

Today, however, after a full day of work and the feeling that I was working in heavy gravity, I think there needs to be humor in this.  Really.  So to the lead-footed lady who clearly needs a refresher on how her car works, I dedicate this.  Consider it avenging my Yaris.

Current Event Soundtrack

I am keenly aware of how important the debate is about health care, and I certainly have my opinions on it.  But this is not a political blog (who wants another one of those?), so to the lunatics screaming at town hall meetings, the associations throwing millions of dollars at ads trying to influence the debate, and the hotheads on television and talk radio I say this:  Put a little love into your debate!  I give you Sophia Loren and Peter Sellers.

It’s Independence Day in Ecuador.

Soundtracks for this day in history:

In 1519, Magellan set sail to become the first person to circumnavigate the globe.  For this, I think Victor Young’s beautiful score to Around the World in 80 Days is extremely appropriate.  For those of you who are not familiar, Victor Young composed soundtracks and popular songs throughout the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s.  I think Stella by Starlight is one of his greatest songs, and here it is sung by the incomparible Anita O’Day.

In 1792, King Louis XVI of France was arrested as mobs stormed his palace at the Tuilieries.  What must have been going through his mind as he awaited the angry populace?  Phil Collins has the answer.

Missouri was admitted into the union as the 24th state on this date in 1821.  Here is the Missouri Waltz, the state song, as recorded by Prince’s Orchestra in 1922 – right from a 78.  For those of you who don’t like all that static, I’m afraid you’ll have to understand:  There’s just too much history in our music on 78’s to ignore them.  Some of the greatest voices from the dawn of time come just that way.  Case in point:  Sophie Tucker, who some argue is one of the greatest women singers of all time.

Birthday Soundtracks for August 10:

Michael Praetorius (1560), one of a few noted Renaissance composers.  This is the dawn of classical music folks, and very focused on bringing the sound of the popular dances of the time among the “peasant folk” to the castle and court.  This Dances from Terpsichore is a noted example of just how versatile Praetorius was.

Alexander Glazunov (1865) was an extremely innovative Russian composer.  And – yes – he packs in all the drama and pathos of 19th century Russian composers.  This is his Melodie for Cello and Orchestra.  The soloist is Julian Lloyd Webber.

Herbert Hoover (1874) was elected President of the United States in 1928, and served one term from 1929 – January 1933.  He also presided over the advent of the Great Depression.  And this is his anthem, sung by Al Jolson.  Al Jolson, by the way, had more staying power than just about anybody in the history of popular music.  He first appeared on stage in 1911 and continued performing up until his death in 1950.

Jack Haley (1898) was best known for his role as the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz.  But, he was a versatile and well-known performer before he got that role.  This is Haley with Shirley Temple and Alice Faye performing Military Man in the film “Poor Little Rich Girl” in 1936. 

Jimmy Dean (1928) was an icon of the classic country era, and one of the first celebrities to have a product line.  But, sausages?  Hey, they’re in your grocer’s freezer today!  Here he is performing his big hit, Big Bad John.

Also born today in 1928 was Eddie Fisher.  Fisher was best known for marrying Debbie Reynolds (they are the parents of Carrie Fisher), and for a string of popular hits including Oh My Papa, which is based on an Austrian folk song.  My grandmother had a cuckoo clock that used to play this tune every hour on the hour.

Al Alberts (1922) was the lead singer of one of the great guy groups of the 1950’s, The Four Aces.  Here they are singing Three Coins in a Fountain, perhaps their biggest hit.

Ronnie Spector (1943) and the Ronettes were a huge girl group in the 1960’s.  Here is their biggest hit – Be My Baby.

One of my favorite progressive rock groups is Jethro Tull, distinguished by his talent with the flute, as well as his vocals.  Here is their anthem – Aqualung.  Can you think of any other rock group that features the flute?  I can’t.

Natsumi Abe (1981) is part of a new generation of very hip Japanese musicians that combine traditional Japanese elements with western rock and pop rhythms.  The results are extremely intricate.  Don’t let her youth fool you – she’s impressively talented.

Passing Anniversary Soundtracks:

The original Rin Tin Tin died on this date in 1932.  The character went on to make movies and television episodes for years following.  Here is the TV theme.

And, on this date last year, music lost Isaac Hayes, who poured his soul into soul for decades.  His anthem, Shaft, became the icon of the crime drama in the 1970’s.

More notes on notes tomorrow.

Overture

I promised myself – no blog unless I had something meaningful to contribute.  I mean, honestly, there are hundreds of thousands of these out there – the vast majority of which are the online version of  “Dear Diary…”, and I didn’t just want to make noise.  And therein lies the goal and point of my venture.  Most music is not just about noise – not to me, not to you, not to anybody on the planet.  More than any other artform, music is with us on the most important moments:  Intimate family time, a first dance at your wedding, the hymn at the memorial of a loved one – even a song your child sings in pre-school.

Don’t believe me, though, test yourself.  When was the last time that you heard a song or piece of music you that you hadn’t heard in a long time? And – unbelievably – it still grabbed you and dragged you back across months, years and even decades to a memorable moment in your life.  And it brought a smile to your face or a tear to your eye, didn’t it?  Yes, it’s sappy, but come on, you know it’s true!

So, now, a bit about me (and we’ll dig right into the meat of this blog):  I was born into a very, very musical house.  It has been a central focus of my life for the entirety of it.  Honestly, neither of my parents were professional musicians (although my father was certainly an amazing one).  There was a baby grand piano in my house (I learned to play on that piano), and hundreds upon hundreds of music books, as well as three guitars, a banjo, a dulcimer, a Turkish ud, and two African thumb pianos – as well as hundreds more albums (followed by cassette tapes and CD’s when they came along).  Something was always on the radio, the stereo, or being played on some instrument.  As my sister and I got grew, we also picked up instruments:  She played the flute (and add a piccolo, too – that showed up at some point in high school), and I took up the cello, and then in junior high the bassoon, the bass clarinet, the clarinet (basically whatever the school band or orchestra needed and didn’t have).  I sing, I have composed (my own musical comedy got me into college – it sure wasn’t my grades!), I have conducted an orchestra, spun records on the radio, played at weddings, sung at concerts, music-directed a musical comedy, been a lounge lizard – and all before I actually got out of college.  But, at least equally importantly, I am an amateur musicologist – that is I like to know about who composers are, why things are written, why they are popular, and what they are about.  And that’s why I’m writing this blog – because like most things in my life, I like to thing most things in life in general bring something musical to mind.

So, as often as I can – and for as long as I can, I’d like to attach music to the people and events in my life, the day’s current events, and some past events (particularly musical ones), as well.  Hopefully, you’ll all thing about this too, and make your own suggestions.  So, let’s get started:

My wife is one of the most amazing people I have ever met.  We have been married for almost 7 years, and I still hear this in my head everytime I see her, although I think the piece barely does her beauty justice:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5A4CkUAazI.  The piece is L’Apres Midi D’un Faune (Prelude on the Afternoon of a Faun) by Claude Achille Debussy.  By the way, the conducter in the video is the great Leopold Stokowski with the London Symphony Orchestra.  Stokowski has the distinction of being the only symphony conducter to be satirized in a Bugs Bunny cartoon.  Let’s not let this all get too serious.

We have four children.  My oldest I inherited with her.  He’s 18 years old and going off to college in September, and plans to go pre-med.  Honestly, that would require more initiative than I think it’s possible for him to have.  I mean, he’s so lazy that he can’t sit on the couch, he has to lay down.  And thus a song for him:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQCJO6D9Dl0.  There are lots of lazy songs, of course, but you can’t really beat Bing Crosby (apparently, were he here, he would do the beating for you) singing this Irving Berlin tune.  It’s originally from the 1920’s, and – true to Irving Berlin form – he recycled it in the classic movie musical Holiday Inn.  Some people say Crosby had the greatest male recorded voice of all time.  It’s a great tune.  And my oldest is a very lazy young man.

We also have 6-year-old twins.  My daughter is, well, quite willful.  In fact, she seems to think that if she wants it, that makes it automatically hers.  And when we say, “no,” well the word isn’t finished forming before the fit is being thrown.  So, while we try very, very hard to get her out of this habit, here is her theme:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVVRD-nw_J0.  Now please don’t misunderstand – we have no intention of sending our daughter down the garbage shoot.  But we frequently refer to her as Veruca Salt when she’s all riled up.  She’s seen the movie, but the analogy is lost on her 6 year old brain.  By the way, I think this is one of the two best songs in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Her twin brother is a ball of Star Wars loving, lego-obsessed energy.  In fact, he’s taken to wearing a Star Wars clone outfit to be as pajamas.  He asks for new legos every day, sure as the old pieces are ripping up the bottom of my feet in the middle of the night.  This one is easy:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXcoM_AHuk8.  John Williams is one of my favorite composers – ever.  I’m not sure that Star Wars is necessarily his best work, but it is his most massive, and it works on so many levels.  He’s got a theme for every character, and these are skillfully threaded throughout all six films like a Wagnerian opera.  And that’s no easy musical feat – especially when it has to fit somebody else’s movie.

Last, our youngest.  He’s two and a half and super-cute.  Sweet, patient, and he seems to have the ear that I had, at least I think he does.  He’s already making his own music.  For example, when I hold him and he jumps on the trampoline, he hums this:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pNlMgH2p-Y.  I don’t know why he thinks that jumping on the trampoline is similar to running after Nazi’s while trying to retrieve a priceless artifact, but he does.  More amazingly, he does it every time – and he’s pretty much on the tune.  And for 2 and a half, that’s pretty amazing!

I hope you will think about the music that should be around you.  More notes on notes from this keyboard, tomorrow.