I Want You Back
There's nothing worse than a totally contrived and uninspired writing of any kind, so I'll spare you one of those kinds of posts today. I'm feeling tired after a long week so just enjoy the song stock in my head from this AM. "I Want You Back" from The Jackson 5. It's a good one:
We Are All Enlisted
It's pretty rare that a church hymn weasels its way into my head in the morning, which is a surprise, since religion and music in church is such a big part of my life.
Today's song is called "We Are All Enlisted." It's hymn number 250 in the hymnbook with which I'm so familiar. I've been an organist at my LDS congregation for the last 7 years. It's a challenging song to play, mostly because of the fast tempo and dotted quarter notes.
Here's what the song sounds like:
I couldn't find much about the hymn, like the year it was written or any stories about it or anything. A quick search tells me that 4 of Bradbury's hymns have found their way into our LDS hymnbook. As far as I can tell, you can't find this hymn in other places besides LDS hymnbooks, but I didn't look terribly hard. I do wonder, however, if he would be happy to know this or upset as some of the Christian world seems to dislike Mormons. I hope he would be pleased about it.
I have a semi-blasphemous joke about some of the hymns we sing in church. I think a lot of them sound like old drinking songs. This song definitely fits into this category in my book- but I digress.
OK, a quick story. I've shared this with lots of people, but I think it's a fantastically embarrassing story and I love the reaction I get from people as I tell it:
I bite my fingernails. I bite them like my life depended on it. It's a terrible habit and I've always done it. I've tried to stop several times in my life to no avail.
Well, a few years ago my oldest daughter challenged me to stop doing it. I didn't want to let her down so I took her up on the challenge. I went a good month or so without biting them, to the point that they started to look like "normal people fingernails."
Usually I am tempted to bite them when I am stressed, nervous or just plain bored. This particular Sunday, church had been pretty boring and I so I started biting my nails. I hadn't realized I was doing it, that's how bored I was! Soon the close of the meeting had come and it was time for me to play the closing hymn.
I rushed to the stand where the organ sits and played my little heart out. I hadn't noticed that my fingernail was bleeding as I tickled the organ keys with my graceful and musically dexterous fingers. Needless to say, I got blood on the organ keys.
I didn't notice though until I half-opened one of my eyes while my head was bowed during the closing prayer. So I did what any person would naturally do in the same situation: I wiped the blood of the keyboard.
BLAAAAAAAH! The organ blared its loudest sound, interrupting the reverence of the prayer. I quickly folded my arms and caught a glimpse of members of the congregation who had started giggling. I had to stop myself from laughing out loud, and used one hand to hold the key in place as I wiped the blood stains off with the other.
A friend stopped my in the foyer "a little anxious there huh?" We had a good laugh, but I know my face was bright red from the whole situation.
Oh, I still bite my nails. Really badly.
Today's song is called "We Are All Enlisted." It's hymn number 250 in the hymnbook with which I'm so familiar. I've been an organist at my LDS congregation for the last 7 years. It's a challenging song to play, mostly because of the fast tempo and dotted quarter notes.
Here's what the song sounds like:
A little about the song itself, and then a quick funny story....
The hymn was written by William Batchelder Bradbury in the 19th century. He was a well-known religious writer and musician who had been raised himself by a father who led a church choir. He wrote several religious hymns in his life.
I couldn't find much about the hymn, like the year it was written or any stories about it or anything. A quick search tells me that 4 of Bradbury's hymns have found their way into our LDS hymnbook. As far as I can tell, you can't find this hymn in other places besides LDS hymnbooks, but I didn't look terribly hard. I do wonder, however, if he would be happy to know this or upset as some of the Christian world seems to dislike Mormons. I hope he would be pleased about it.
I have a semi-blasphemous joke about some of the hymns we sing in church. I think a lot of them sound like old drinking songs. This song definitely fits into this category in my book- but I digress.
OK, a quick story. I've shared this with lots of people, but I think it's a fantastically embarrassing story and I love the reaction I get from people as I tell it:
I bite my fingernails. I bite them like my life depended on it. It's a terrible habit and I've always done it. I've tried to stop several times in my life to no avail.
Well, a few years ago my oldest daughter challenged me to stop doing it. I didn't want to let her down so I took her up on the challenge. I went a good month or so without biting them, to the point that they started to look like "normal people fingernails."
Usually I am tempted to bite them when I am stressed, nervous or just plain bored. This particular Sunday, church had been pretty boring and I so I started biting my nails. I hadn't realized I was doing it, that's how bored I was! Soon the close of the meeting had come and it was time for me to play the closing hymn.
I rushed to the stand where the organ sits and played my little heart out. I hadn't noticed that my fingernail was bleeding as I tickled the organ keys with my graceful and musically dexterous fingers. Needless to say, I got blood on the organ keys.
I didn't notice though until I half-opened one of my eyes while my head was bowed during the closing prayer. So I did what any person would naturally do in the same situation: I wiped the blood of the keyboard.
BLAAAAAAAH! The organ blared its loudest sound, interrupting the reverence of the prayer. I quickly folded my arms and caught a glimpse of members of the congregation who had started giggling. I had to stop myself from laughing out loud, and used one hand to hold the key in place as I wiped the blood stains off with the other.
A friend stopped my in the foyer "a little anxious there huh?" We had a good laugh, but I know my face was bright red from the whole situation.
Oh, I still bite my nails. Really badly.
(I've Had) The Time of My Life
Isn't life neat?
Isn't blogging about songs neat?
This song has been in your head before. If it hasn't you are a liar.
Here's "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" from 1987's beloved classic Dirty Dancing.
I've never seen this movie (don't tell my wife! She'll make me watch it!) but I've definitely heard the academy award winning song from the movie. Here it is if you dare listen.
I'll give you a dollar if you can tell me who sings this song.
Don't know?
Of course you don't.
So I'll tell you. It's a duet between Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes.
This song is nearly 30 years old. So is the movie. When it came out in 1987, I was 8 years old. My daughter turns 8 in a few months. I'm starting to feel old.
Patrick Swayze is no longer alive.
RIP Patrick Swayze. :(
Isn't blogging about songs neat?
This song has been in your head before. If it hasn't you are a liar.
Here's "(I've Had) The Time of My Life" from 1987's beloved classic Dirty Dancing.
I've never seen this movie (don't tell my wife! She'll make me watch it!) but I've definitely heard the academy award winning song from the movie. Here it is if you dare listen.
I'll give you a dollar if you can tell me who sings this song.
Don't know?
Of course you don't.
So I'll tell you. It's a duet between Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes.
This song is nearly 30 years old. So is the movie. When it came out in 1987, I was 8 years old. My daughter turns 8 in a few months. I'm starting to feel old.
Patrick Swayze is no longer alive.
RIP Patrick Swayze. :(
Miss Amanda Jones
How many of you saw a movie from the 80's called "Some Kind of Wonderful"
I've seen it, and many times.
How many of you were totally crushing on Lea Thompson as Amanda Jones in that movie?
I know I was!
So, the song stuck in my head comes from this movie, but I was surprised when I found out today that the song is actually by the Rolling Stones from their 1967 album BETWEEN THE BUTTONS. Apparently the name of this character was inspired by the song.
I DID NOT KNOW THIS!!!
Here's the song, first the version by The Stones:
And then the one I was familiar with before researching the song (and consequently the song stuck in my head this morning)
It's by The March Violets (I haven't heard of them either)
Have a good week y'all.
I've seen it, and many times.
How many of you were totally crushing on Lea Thompson as Amanda Jones in that movie?
I know I was!
So, the song stuck in my head comes from this movie, but I was surprised when I found out today that the song is actually by the Rolling Stones from their 1967 album BETWEEN THE BUTTONS. Apparently the name of this character was inspired by the song.
I DID NOT KNOW THIS!!!
Here's the song, first the version by The Stones:
And then the one I was familiar with before researching the song (and consequently the song stuck in my head this morning)
It's by The March Violets (I haven't heard of them either)
Have a good week y'all.
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