dadSongs: Surprise!

April fools? Maybe, if it were April.

I was shuffling the ipod and a song called “Guilty” by the Bee Gees comes up.
Is that Barbara Streisand I hear?
He he he

This isn’t a dadSong, but it reminds me of one that is.
Usually your dad is pretty bold about what he likes. He’s not afraid to admit it, show it. Unlike me, I’m a little more private. I’ll reveal in calculating ways.

On one occasion before you were born your dad had a cd playing in his car. I don’t recall the exact circumstances, but he had a sheepish kind of look on his face.
Barbra Streisand.
Barbra?
Not only Barbra, but “ Woman in Love”
Um, excuse me?
Huh?
Apparently when he was a little boy his dad would put on the lite rock station at night to go to sleep to. This must have been one of those songs playing as little Mikey tried to avoid going "night night".

On a related note there is a dj on a local radio station (Mary Lucia, the Current) who plays a "No Apologies" song at 4 o'clock during the week. Songs you might not otherwise hear on the station. I don't usually hear it, but once and awhile I'll catch it. Recently I heard the Spice Girls with the warning "Hipsters, hit the deck". Guilty pleasures. Actually I'm not sure what her definition is, but I'll say they are songs that you secretly enjoy (THE WIGGLES!).

On a self-disclosure note I have my own No Apologies tracks. That may have to be a separate line of posts. For some reason I remember a Dionne Warwick song that used to come on a lot at some point in my pre-school life. I had orchestrated some sort of routine (lip synching and hand gestures or something) when it came on. I'm sure I could figure out which song it was if I did some looking. What I remember is getting really excited when it came on and being really pleased with myself that I had such a clever routine. My memories are of me doing this all by myself in the living room. No audience. Just for my own enjoyment. Oddster.

dadSongs: In the Sky

In the Sky
Mark Knopfler

Previously mentioned, I am sure. Still worthy of an actual re-print in the dadSongs section.
Another song that brings about a snapshot in time, but also a feeling.
Your dad and I are in the car, driving to the hospital to visit you in the Special Care Nursery. We’re holding hands, this song is playing. We’re happy to be go seeing you and calmly cautious. It’s a difficult feeling to convey. The world crashed in some respect, but everything was okay.

“…You’ve been away roaming…” (Roman!)

Listen

dadSongs: Motherless Child

Motherless Child
Eric Clapton

Your dad is the big Clapton fan. I've learned to appreciate Mr Clapton beyond the big radio hits. Although pre-dad I did have a copy of the BB King/ Eric Clapton album Riding With the King (and it's awesome).

Some time ago, pre Ro/Zo, I had the From the Cradle album playing on my ipod. I talked to your dad about the album and he mentioned this song. I can't remember if he said it was one of his favorites on the album, but he did specifically mention it. Then he said he didn't like the title. My memory of what he said is hazy, but I recall the feeling at the time - love and caring. Your dad didn't want to even think about a "motherless" child. Hey, that means he cares. I don't know why I'm always surprised, but I guess it's moments like this that drive it home. I want to say I was pregnant with you two at the time, but I don't think that's true. He was just anticipating your existence!

dadSongs: Hotel California

Hotel California
Gipsy Kings

I'm not sure what I was listening to recently (the radio? It seems unlikely this version would come on!), but I heard this. It stirs up a couple of things. It's a tangle of The Big Lebowski and driving around somewhere diligently listening and trying to translate.
I think of your Dad and I both first heard this (independently) in that movie. It's a remake of the Eagles song by The Gipsy Kings. Flamenco-ized and translated into Spanish. It's actually pretty cool. And we know your dad appreciates a new spin on the old (while still loving the old). Your dad had it burned on a disc during our 2004 adventure. That's where I come in. I recall listening to it over and over in the car with your dad, attempting to translate the Spanish back into English. I didn't know the English lyrics, but your dad could confirm. Did we come to a conclusion? I don't know. All I recall from it when I listen now is champana en el hielo/champagne on ice. They're singing too fast! And my Español is getting to be nearly 2 decades out of practice. Ugh.

Spanish lyrics - I can still pick up words, but you know words don't a sentence make. Well they do, but not the way I see them.
On the desert road, the wind somethings me.Up comes the aroma of colita. What's colita? Ha! The moon, the moon of no-one. There in the distance a light centela. The idea of my being.

See? Doesn't work! But I'm still glad I studied language. ;)

dadSongs- Margaritaville

[anything by]
Jimmy Buffet

Ah, Jimmy. I think of a tent down by the river near Red Wing. Your dad was working in the event business and invited me down to watch him work. Your dad's like that. He's always wanted to include me. His free time could be short and sporadic, so he tried to take advantage of the down time during and event. So I went down to hang out with him. This had to be 2003 or so.This particular event was tied in with a marina and had a nautical/island type theme. Bring on Jimmy. Apparently the Buffet soundtrack had been used a fair number of times before by his employer. Your dad, he's not so fond of it anymore (and maybe he never was a Parrothead). So whenever one of his greatest hits comes on (Margaritaville, Volcano, Cheeseburger in Paradise) I think of your dad and giggle. Or sometimes sing along if he's in the room, just to pour salt into the wound.

dadSongs, momSongs

Dad wanted to clarify he didn't/doesn't like the last dadSong I posted. Yeah, I know. But this is mom writing about songs that make her think about dad. So if Itsy Bitsy Spider reminds me of Dad, there's going to be an entry. By the way it does. Daddy doesn't like spiders. Early in our relationship I became aware of this and I was amazed and all the knowledge he had about spiders. He'd study them if he saw them outside, but at a respectable difference. It struck me odd, but I guess it's filed under "keep your friends close, but your enemies closer". He doesn't like them, but he wants to know all about them. He's a bit (4000 times) more educated about nature anyway, so it fits.

dadSongs - Suddenly I See

Suddenly I See
KT Tunstall

Okay, this one's a much less romantic version of memory. I was watching tv with your dad (there's a whole category for these songs!) and this song came on one of his crime investigation shows so popular these days. The name of the show escapes me, but I've only watched it a couple of times (the one with the blond who's got messy hair- on CBS). I loved it. I found out who it was (thanks Google) and got the cd. Good album.
I also strongly associate this with my job because I listened to it repeatedly the first summer I was there, in the windowless basement. Thank God we got moved up a floor and can see outside now.

dadSongs - Breezin

Breezin'
George Benson

Your dad and I are in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. Winter 2004. A nearby beachside restaurant's music spills over into our path. "Is that live?" your dad asks. He tells me it's "Breezin." Wonders never cease. I am amazed. Not something I expected from your dad. He was heavy into Led Zeppelin when we first met. And as you read this you might know your dad goes thru phases of obsession, so we were hearing a lot of the Zep, at least until I gave the "this is giving me a headache" look. Breezin,huh? At some point your dad explained to me that he was a big fan of Muzak- the kind of stuff that hotels pipe in as neutral, non-intrusive background music. He told me he'd crank it up when he was out on the road on "jobs", much to the chagrin of his co-workers. The mental image of that still makes me grin. Your dad, he's one of a kind - and isn't that why we fall in love with someone? I recently saw a preview for a remake of the movie Fame. There's a line in there about the side of you that you want to hide. It's your power. It's you. That hit home. What is different about you is what makes you. Don't be afraid of it Roman and Zoe. Embrace it and nurture it.

dadSongs - On Broadway

Ever hear a song and it brings to mind a memory, a story, or just a feeling? Yeah, I think we can all relate. You, little ones, have a lifetime of building these memories and associations. One day at work it occurred to me that a bunch of songs make me think of your dad. I thought I might jot down some of them as time goes on. I love music. I love your dad. So tagged dadSongs.

On Broadway
George Benson
You Tube link

I think this one sticks out because I was surprised you dad liked it. I'd heard it before, but I don't think I could have named it or the artist before your dad pointed it out. This feels like a song that came up early in our relationship. Your dad appreciates the section where George sings the guitar melody. Again, not something I would have picked out, but your dad did. And actually it's pretty cool. I have an appreciation for it now I didn't have before. Your Dad likes his guitars (as you undoubtably know, I'm waiting for the "don't touch Daddy's guitars" lesson as you get older...that and the "don't touch Daddy's Star Wars collection". Ah, the fun we'll have learning lessons).