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brand new Friday post
starting on April 28.
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great music blogs and videos
all day, every day in
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and it’s gonna be cool!
BIG NEWS!
LA FAMIGLIA
“Course One: Escarole Soup. Course Two: Manicotti and Salad. Gina, what is this – Sunday dinner or a reception for the Pope?”
My girlfriend Gina showed me a copy of the menu her mother had planned for dinner. It was a seven course feast! “Do you eat like this every Sunday?”
“No, silly – only when we have company. This week it’s my dad’s side of the family. There’s a lot a people and mom always says it’s better to have too much food than not enough.”
“Wait a second. There’s going to be other people besides your parents? Like how many?”
Gina started counting on her fingers. “About 18, maybe 20.”
“The first time I meet your parents I’m also going to meet 20 strangers and you didn’t think to warn me??”
“Oh, don’t worry. They’re gonna love you.”
“No. They’ll be employing Sicilian interrogations tactics. They’ll chew me up and spit me out. I’m Irish with blonde hair and pale skin. I don’t stand a chance!”
Gina laughed. “Oh stop exaggerating. We’re not The Mob, ya know. Just a mob!”
And she was right. I couldn’t believe the number of people that descended on her house. They were loud, funny, loving and very welcoming.
Gina’s mom set the table extravagantly, using her best dishes, utensils and glasses. And the food was incredible. Besides the soup, pasta and salad there was fresh baked bread, an antipasto, a huge platter of meatballs and sausages, two roasts, a bunch of vegetables, fennel, fruit, nuts, a slew of desserts I couldn’t pronounce and coffee. Gina’s uncles and male cousins ate like there was no tomorrow and no one stopped talking the entire time – except for Gina’s grandmother who didn’t utter a sound and stared at me with beady eyes the whole day. Honestly, that tiny woman dressed in black from head to toe scared me to death.
As the woman cleared away all traces of dinner, Gina’s dad got up, went to the cupboard and returned with a beautiful box made of highly polished wood with the finest Italian marble inlay. Placing the box on the table, he opened it to reveal an assortment of expensive imported cigars. The men lit up and a bottle of anisette appeared out of nowhere.
Gina’s Uncle Vito produced a deck of cards from his vest pocket. “Ya know how to play Red Dog, Phil?” he asked me.
“Um … it’s Bill, sir. And no, I’m not familiar with the game.”
“Hey, no problem, Irish. We’re gonna teach ya. And don’t look so nervous. We may rob ya but we ain’t gonna kill ya. For some reason our Gina likes ya and if she likes ya, we all likes ya.”
While we played cards, Gina’s cousins Louie and Frankie played their accordions and the women danced; it was the most surreal and unforgettable experience of my life.
I watched as Gina’s grandmother rose from her chair. Slowly she walked over to me and looked me square in the eyes. She grinned and pinched my cheek till it was beet red. And la famiglia howled.
I swear – 53 years later her stamp of approval is still on my face.
NAR © 2023
Originally posted in 2019
Join me today At The Movies
for another interesting post
and a great music video.
https://rhythmsection.blog/
AT THE MOVIES (April 20, 2023)
Now just for fun ….. here’s something you don’t see every day.
Marlon Brando in the role of Sky Masterson singing “Luck Be A Lady” from the 1955 film “Guys and Dolls”. If you thought Frank Sinatra sang this song in the movie, like many other people you’d be wrong!
Who knew! I wonder if his Lady Luck was named “STELLA!!” 😉
Let’s go with an easy peasy question today:
Marlon Brando is famous for a lot of movies; however, this 1972 multi-award-winning blockbuster is his most famous. Name the movie and his character.
Here’s the question from last week:
Since 1998 Barbra Streisand has been married to actor James Brolin; however, he was not her first husband. Her first marriage was in 1963 to an actor who went on to achieve great success; together they have one son, actor Jason, who was born in 1966. Who was Barbra Streisand’s first husband?
And the answer is … Elliott Gould.
Well, the movie’s over; wonder what Mr. Bump’s got cooked up for Saturday.
Have a great week! Catch you next time At The Movies.
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
THE BENCH
Grundy sat in his favorite spot: a dilapidated bench on the boardwalk at Coney Island overlooking Brighton Beach. He was celebrating the sixteenth anniversary of his divorce from Barbara, the “Bitch of Brighton” as he called her. And he was getting drunk as he did every night.
His routine never changed. After his shift at McDonald’s, he’d grab a Big Mac, walk across the street to the Liquor Loft, buy a $7.49 bottle of Old Crow Kentucky Bourbon and a pack of Camel cigarettes, then stroll over to his bench and settle in.
Grundy’s Bench … his home away from home. Well, not literally. Thanks to his cousin Marcy and her husband Phil, he had an actual roof over his head. Grundy was real close to Marcy, growing up together and all, and Phil was as nice as they come, humble but with the bearing of a prince. Grundy lived with them and their three kids and all Marcy asked was for Grundy to cook Sunday dinner for the family. Hell, he’d cook dinner every night for those precious people if he wasn’t always shit-faced after work.
“Pretty sweet deal” Grundy thought as he took a swig of his Old Crow. “I’m a freaking loser, an embarrassment, yet they treat me with a love I don’t deserve.” He had his own room, a TV and Marcy did his laundry. He mostly kept to himself, getting home late. He had the day shift, breakfast and lunch included. The pay was lousy and so was the food but it beat a blank.
How the fuck did he end up here? Carl Grundy, a graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, working in some of the finest restaurants in the world … once one of the best chefs in New York … now a burger flipping drunk in Brooklyn.
So what happened? Bourbon happened. He wasn’t much of a drinker – an occasional beer – but one night after a particularly ugly argument with Barbara, he surreptitiously chugged a shot of the restaurant’s finest bourbon. It was ambrosia and he had another. Before long it became a ritual, then a habit and finally an addiction. He got caught, fired and the cycle began. Land a new gig, drink their booze, get sacked. Eventually the only job he could get was at Mickey D’s and Old Crow was all he could afford.
Out of nowhere he recalled the words of some televangelist his mother used to watch: “Your decisions cause your circumstances”. Damn straight! He didn’t even realize he was crying. Well, enough reminiscing for one night.
Grundy gave his beloved bench a pat and stood up to begin his walk to Phil and Marcy’s. Suddenly he felt a searing pain in his chest and crumbled to the ground.
“Oh, Lord! I’ve made a fine mess of things” Grundy gasped. “I’m hurting and I want to go home. Mom and Dad are waiting for me.”
He died alone that night, his hands still clutching an empty bottle.
NAR © 2023
It’s that time of year.
Come on over to
In The Groove;
find out what’s the buzz.
https://rhythmsection.blog/
IN THE GROOVE (April 18, 2023)
Well, whaddya know? It’s tax day here in the USA! And what better way to say “Thank you” to The Man than by listening to one of the coolest songs written by George Harrison.
I know it’s an exciting day, another chance to show our gratitude for the privilege of paying taxes on our earned incomes. Wow … what a concept! As always, we tell it like it is here In The Groove. Just one of those things that make you go “hmmm”.
Now let’s all try to cheer down and have a listen to a really great tune. Follow the lyrics closely; they are spot on. As I like to say, “There’s not a single thing wrong with a George Harrisong!”
Every time I hear this song I’m reminded of two things: 1) the very creative and clever lyrics and 2) George’s incredible (and often overlooked) guitar playing.
So here’s the question of the day:
In my little blurb before the video, I tossed out the name of another great song written by George Harrison. Did you notice it?
I’ll have the answer for you next week.
Now here’s a reminder of last week’s question of the day:
Jimi Hendrix is a member of an exclusive and extremely unique club. What is the name of that infamous club?
And the answer is … “27 Club”. Jimi Hendrix, Brian Jones, Alan Wilson, Janis Joplin and Jim Morrison all died at the age of 27 between 1969 and 1971. At the time, the coincidence gave rise to some comment but it wasn’t until Kurt Cobain’s 1994 death at age 27 that the idea of a “27 Club” began to catch on in the public eye.
That’s it for another segment of In The Groove; come on over and join me Thursday At The Movies and don’t forget to check in on Deb tomorrow for another magic carpet ride through the World of Music!
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
SYLVIA REPLIED
“Walnut, definitely walnut” declared Sylvia Klein. “Look what is says in the brochure”:
Honor your loved one by choosing an exquisite solid wood casket.
The strong, stately Elite Walnut is a timeless casket that comes with
beautiful platinum swing bars and a secure locking mechanism.
Like most of our funeral caskets, the Elite Walnut features
an Eternal Rest Adjustable Bed and matching pillow.
The luxurious silk velvet lining makes this casket an excellent choice
at the remarkably low price of $17,000.
“Doesn’t that sound ideal, Lenny?!” Sylvia exclaimed to her husband.
“$17,000?! What else is in there – the Crown Jewels?! Who pays that kind of money for a casket?! Sylvia, for that amount we can give our grandsons a bar mitzvah feast fit for a king!”
“Did you see the part where it says ‘adjustable bed and matching pillow’? Oh, Lenny, think how comfortable I’ll be.”
“Comfortable?? For crying out loud, Sylvia, you’re gonna be dead. D-E-A-D dead! This isn’t a week at the Ritz Carlton! Adjustable bed my ass!”
“Lenny, why are you acting like an old tightwad? You always said money is just a number. This means a lot to me!” Sylvia exclaimed tearfully.
“Sylvia, calm down. When have I ever been a tightwad? Our daughters had extravagant weddings. You wanted that chandelier for the dining room which, I’ll remind you, cost a pretty penny. Then there was the Steinway mahogany baby grand and you don’t even play the piano! Let’s not forget the Jaguar with all the bells and whistles and more cruises than 10 seasons of ‘The Love Boat’! Everything you ever wanted I happily gave you but this – this is just a big waste of money!
“Leonard Klein, how can you say that?! My final resting place and you’re calling it a waste of money! Sylvia wailed.
“Sylvie, I’m sorry. Calm down. Can we please discuss this later?” Leonard pleaded.
“Wait, Lenny. You haven’t heard the best part. This is a special for Rosh Hashanah – buy one, get one at half price. That’s only $25,500 for two – one for me and one for you!”
Leonard sighed deeply. “Oy vey, Sylvia, I don’t need all this stuff! Put me in a plain pine box and toss me off the yacht. You can even write on it ‘Leonard Klein sleeps with the fishes’!”
Sylvia started sobbing. “Oh, Leonard, how can you say such a horrible thing? The thought of you being nibbled on by fish and crabs and God knows what … I could die!”
“Sylvia, please stop crying. I was just making a little joke. If you want this ‘Elite’ whatever, we’ll get it. Ok? You feel better now?”
Sylvia sniffled and nodded her head. “Oh yes, Lenny! You’ve made me very happy! Now one last thing: I can’t be buried. I’m terribly claustrophobic. The thought of being underground – I’d die! I want to be cremated.”
“Cremated?!” Leonard yelled, running his fingers through what little hair he had. “Now you want to be cremated? Are you meshugenah, Sylvia? $17,000 for a piece of firewood?!”
“$25,500, Lenny” Sylvia replied.
NAR © 2023
Check out my new
Name That Tune
post today in
The Rhythm Section
https://rhythmsection.blog/
NAME THAT TUNE (April 16, 2023)
It’s time for another edition of Name That Tune. No pressure but I think this is a pretty easy one; let’s see if you can guess our featured artist and song.
Are you ready? Hit it!
- Our featured performer was born on November 30, 1955 and is a British singer, songwriter, musician and actor who also holds U.S. citizenship. While in school, a teacher described him as “lazy”, perhaps leading to his homophonous stage name.
- As a 21-year-old guitar-playing university drop-out, today’s performer (literally) made a name for himself by forming a “generational” punk group in 1976, garnering some of the members after placing an advertisement in the British weekly music magazine, Melody Maker.
- Our featured song is the title track of the 1983 album of the same name, the second album released by today’s singer. The song received critical acclaim and in 2009 was named the 79th best hard rock song of all time by VH1.
- At a televised performance of VH1 Storytellers, our towheaded singer recalled an event where Mick Jagger and Keith Richards were taking swigs from a bottle of bourbon. He was not familiar with the brand but he liked the name, which was the inspiration for today’s song. I guess the spirit moved him!
- It’s very likely the name of that fabled bottle of bourbon had a lot to do with this performer’s signature howl.
Now that you have the clues, do you have the answers? Scroll down to see the big reveal.
Yeah, baby! The answer is Billy Idol doing his famous “Rebel Yell”.
Let’s check out the video!
Gotta love that yell and the perfect lip curl!
Did you know the name of the song and our famous singer? What was the clue that clinched it for you?
FYI – Billy Idol’s’ teacher said he was “lazy and idle“, inspiring his name change. The bourbon Keith Richards and Mick Jagger were drinking was called “Rebel Yell” and the rest, as they say, is history.
Thanks for joining me today at Name That Tune; I hope you had a blast!
We’d love to hear your comments so don’t be shy.
Happy Sunday! Why not stop by during the week and check out our other posts?
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
JAVA JIVE
Coffee mug in hand, I leaned over the railing of my little vacation rental staring out at the Great Smoky Mountains. Recently divorced and childless, I was now truly alone for the first time in a dozen years.
“Glorious sunrise, isn’t it?” a smooth southern baritone voice remarked. I turned my head to see a ruggedly handsome man with unruly blonde hair in jeans and a sweater.
We exchanged smiles and appreciative glances. I replied that it was indeed glorious.
He lingered for a moment or two, then declared “Well, I’m off. Flapjacks, bacon and a great cuppa java for breakfast”. He walked a few steps and turned. “I wonder, do you like Double Barrel Cabernet Sauvignon? “
I sipped my coffee thoughtfully and said, “I haven’t had the pleasure but I do enjoy a good chilled white wine.”
“Meet me right here tonight; if you think this is a thing of beauty, you should see the sunsets. They’re astounding.” And he walked off, the clop of his boots on the deck the only sound.
He was right about the wine and the sunset. That was the last night I would ever be alone again.
NAR © 2023
(Renamed and repurposed for The Unicorn Challenge, April 14, 2023. The gauntlet has been tossed and the challenge accepted. Write on!)
IT RUNS IN THE FAMILY
Originally, the Chelsea Piers evening boat tour was scheduled to depart at 6:00 PM but was cancelled due to dense fog. Disappointed, Emma consulted her tour guidebook for something else to do. She read:
THE VORTEX. NOT YOUR FATHER’S WATERING HOLE.
LOCATED AT 15 CHRISTOPHER STREET
IN THE HEART OF CHELSEA.
SMOKING PROHIBITED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE NEW YORK CLEAN INDOOR AIR ACT.
OTHER THAN THAT, ANYTHING GOES!
“Hmm. Now that’s intriguing” Emma thought “and it’s nearby.”
Just a short walk later and Emma arrived at The Vortex, a secluded and rather alluring place. Finding a seat at the bar, she ordered a dirty martini. Reflected in the mirror behind the bar was the image of a retro-looking poster. Sliding off her barstool, she casually walked up to the poster for a better look. She snapped a photo and returned to the bar.
More people were coming in now – an intriguing and diverse patchwork of ethnicity, race and sexual orientation. Emma found it all so exciting and very New York! When the bartender brought her drink, she commented on how electric yet relaxing the atmosphere was and asked “Can you tell me something about that poster?”
“Sure! It’s a beauty, isn’t it?” he replied. “The Vortex is an edgy and somewhat somber play written by the literary giant, Noël Coward. It premiered in London in 1924 garnering Coward great critical and financial success. It’s a story about a nymphomaniac socialite and her cocaine-addicted son. Many thought the drug was a cover for homosexuality. As you can imagine, it was considered pretty shocking back then. Rumor has it that Princess Margaret owned the original poster for a while. She was a free spirit and loved a good lampoon, especially those directed at the upper classes and British aristocracy.”
“Wow! You certainly know a lot about that poster! It’s all very fascinating!” Emma exclaimed. “Something tells me there’s more to the story.”
“Oh, there is” the barkeep agreed. “During the run of “The Vortex”, Noël Coward met an American director and producer named Jack Wilson. They ran with the same crowd where drugs, booze and same-sex relationships were prevalent. Wilson became Coward’s business manager and lover. We thought ‘The Vortex’ was a cool name for the bar. My mother recently brought that poster to me; it looks great there, doesn’t it?”
“It does! Sounds like you might have a personal connection to this story” Emma suggested.
“Yeah, in a circuitous way I do. My great-great-grandmother was once a chorus girl and she got on famously with Jack Wilson – so much so that she and her husband named their first baby Jack Wilson Morrow and asked Jack to be the baby’s godfather. The tradition continued through the years; lots of my relatives were named Jack Wilson so-and-so. In fact, my name is Jack Wilson Connors.”
“Pleased to meet you, Jack Wilson Connors” Emma laughed as she extended her hand. “I’m Emma Peterson Kennedy and you have officially blown my mind with that great story!”
“I like you, Emma Peterson Kennedy! Always nice making new friends. How about another drink – on the house?”
Emma blushed a little and said “Yes, I’d love one.”
While Jack was preparing Emma’s drink, all sorts of thoughts were running through her head … ‘He’s cute, friendly, great personality and no wedding ring. It’s been far too long since I went out with a really nice guy who didn’t have a lot of excess personal baggage. He likes me, he seems interested. I wonder – should I? What have I got to lose?’
“For my lovely new friend, Emma. One perfect dirty martini” Jack said with a flourish. “I hope I get to see a lot more of you.” His engaging smile revealed two incredibly delightful dimples that melted Emma’s heart on the spot.
Trying to sound nonchalant, Emma said “You know, Jack, it says here on the poster that there’s a performance of “The Vortex” tomorrow night. If you’re not working, how about we make it a date?”
“I’d really love to see the play with you, Emma” Jack said “but my husband and I already have plans for tomorrow night.”
“Husband!? Oh my God, Jack! I’m so sorry! This is so embarrassing. I didn’t realize………”
“That I’m gay? No worries, Emma. It runs in the family.”
NAR © 2023
I have a brand new post for you today
At The Movies in The Rhythm Section.
Why not stop by a take a took?
https://rhythmsection.blog/
AT THE MOVIES (April 13, 2023)
Welcome back from yesterday’s trip to Finland; thanks for the tour, Deb!
Today I have a beautiful song for you performed by one of the premier artists in the world of music – Barbra Streisand.
“People” was composed by Jule Styne with lyrics by Bob Merrill for the 1964 Broadway musical “Funny Girl” starring Barbra Streisand. She introduced the song to the world and made it her own; it is without a doubt Streisand’s signature piece.
“People” was one of the first songs written for the musical based on the life and career of Fanny Brice, comedic star of stage and screen, and her stormy relationship with entrepreneur and gambler Nicky Arnstein. The song was used again in the 1968 film version of “Funny Girl” starring Barbra Streisand as Fanny Brice – the role she played on Broadway – and Omar Sharif as Nicky Arnstein.
I don’t know who was more beautiful in that movie – Barbra or Omar! That was rather ironic for me when I read that in the early days of her career, Streisand was repeatedly told she was too ugly to be a star and was advised to get a nose job, which she did not do. Good for her!
Barbra Streisand is one of a handful of performers who have been awarded an EGOT – an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar and a Tony.
Here now is the incomparable Barbra Streisand singing “People”.
What a great song and a phenomenal voice! Some of those shots from the movie were so terrific, I want to watch it again!
Now for our question of the day:
Since 1998 Barbra Streisand has been married to actor James Brolin; however, he was not her first husband. Her first marriage was in 1963 to an actor who went on to achieve great success; together they have one son, Jason, who was born in 1966. Who was Barbra Streisand’s first husband?
I’ll have the answer for you next week.
As a reminder, here’s the question from last week:
Actor George Maharis appeared in the movie “Exodus”; he was also the co-star of the 1960s TV show “Route 66″. Do you recall his character’s name on the show? Extra credit if you can name the other star of the show and the character he played.
And the answers are … George Maharis played Buz Murdock on “Route 66” and his co-star was Martin Milner in the role of Tod Stiles. How well did you do?
It’s time to bring down the curtain on another edition of At The Movies; I hope you enjoyed today’s production.
Thanks for being with us here at The Rhythm Section.
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
Way Of The Warrior – Courage
An incredible post by my friend Spira.
It’s not necessary to have read his previous
posts to feel the depth of this one but that
would definitely be your loss.
Chapter V of Way Of The Warrior.
(previous chapters can be found at the dedicated page of the blog, here)
{Written in Six Sentence form.}
View original post 372 more words
ARR, MATEY!
It was a beautiful Saturday morning when my son Tom called.
“Dad, Allie’s gone into early labor! We need you to stay with Molly.” He sounded excited and nervous.
“I’m on my way!” I immediately answered.
As soon as I arrived Tom and Allie left for the hospital.
“Grampy, can we go to the school fair?” Molly asked. “Daddy was gonna take me today.”
“Sure, pumpkin. Let’s go!” I replied – anything to help pass the time.
The playground of Molly’s school, St. Cecilia’s Elementary for Girls, had been magically transformed into a carnival with food stands, games of chance and a giant inflated pirate ship.
“Look, Grampy! A bouncy ship!” Molly tugged at my sleeve. “Can I go on, please?”
“You bet, honey! Looks like fun!” I gave my granddaughter a boost. I was half in and half out when the ship started bouncing, taking me for a ride I’ll not soon forget!
Well, a bouncy anything is no place for a 60-year-old man and 20 little girls. They were rolling all over me and every time the damn thing came to a stop, I tried getting out but kept losing my balance.
Then, just when I thought things couldn’t get worse, the pirate ship was surrounded by police. One cop with a megaphone shouted “Sir, this ride is for children only. You’re in serious trouble. Come out now or we’ll come in and drag you out!”
I finally managed to crawl my way out. My clothes were in total disarray, little girls were crying and I heard someone yell “You sick bastard!”
Arr! I made the news that night. My fifteen minutes of fame!
NAR © 2023
I have a new post up today
at the Rhythm Section for
In The Groove.
Why not stop by and
check it out?
https://rhythmsection.blog/
IN THE GROOVE (April 11, 2023)
Do you remember when I told you last week that we’d be going on a trip today? And do you remember when I used that old phrase “Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em!”? Well, there’s a whole lot of tripping going on here and they were definitely smoking!
“Purple Haze”. Yeah, baby! The name alone sounds trippy. This is the music I cut my teeth on.
There can’t be anyone reading this who hasn’t heard of Jimi Hendrix. Written in 1967 by Jimi, “Purple Haze” showcases his extraordinary talent and inventive guitar playing. Listeners interpret the song as referring to a psychedelic experience; Hendrix described it as a love song. Hmm, interesting.
Regardless of what people may think of this type of music, nothing can change the fact that “Purple Haze” launched not one but two revolutions: late-sixties psychedelia and the unprecedented genius of Jimi Hendrix. “Purple Haze” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and has been called one of the greatest guitar songs of all time.
You decide. Here is the Jimi Hendrix Experience and “Purple Haze”.
Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em!
Far out, man! His guitar fingering was amazing!
Ok, here’s the question of the day:
Jimi Hendrix is a member of an exclusive and extremely unique club. What is the name of that infamous club?
The answer will be given next week.
As a reminder, here’s the question from last week.
Can you name the doo-wop group who had a hit revival of “You Belong to Me” in 1962?
A few of you got it right (you know who you are)! And the answer is … The Duprees.
Well, whaddaya say we score some snacks and meet At The Movies on Thursday? And don’t forget to check out Deb’s “trippy” post tomorrow!
‘Scuse me while I kiss the sky!
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
BLISSFULLY UNAWARE
“Come, I want you to see something” my mother beckoned.
She showed me two graduation portraits, one of me, and one of my twin sister.
Pointing to my portrait, she said “That’s my beautiful daughter, Nancy.”
She looked at my sister’s portrait, cocked her head and declared “I have no idea who that is”.
Blissfully unaware, no longer cognizant.
NAR © 2023
Written for Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt #306
HALLELUJAH!
Happy Sunday to all and to my friends
who are celebrating today,
best wishes for a joyous Easter!
I hope sometime during your busy day
you can take a break and join me
in The Rhythm Section
for the Easter edition of Name That Tune
https://rhythmsection.blog/
NAME THAT TUNE (April 9, 2023)
Welcome back to Name That Tune. To all who observe this day, I wish you a very Happy Easter.
I don’t want to talk about this song; I’d rather just cut to the chase and listen to my favorite rocker … but first, let’s see if you can guess the song, the composers and perhaps even the performer. I’m rooting for you!
Keeping in mind the historical religious events which led up to today, here are your five clues:
- This song is featured prominently in a Broadway show and film which both achieved international success.
- The setting for this song is at night in a garden where an indecisive and troubled man is asking his father a soul-searching question.
- This song is just one of 23 which were written and conceived as an album before the show was created or staged. The album was released October 27, 1970; almost one year to the day the show opened on Broadway October 12, 1971.
- The singer on the original album was the frontman for one of the biggest rock groups to come out of England. Because the group was on the top of the musical world at the time, the singer was unable to join either the production on Broadway in 1971 or the film in 1973. On the album, the singer portrays the lead character.
- The music was composed by one of the most famous British writing duos in the industry.
Any ideas? Well, cogitate on it a bit then scroll down for the big reveal.
Did you figure it out? If you said “Easter Parade” you’re wrong! Sorry, just having a bit of fun.
Now for the correct answer:
In keeping with the holiday, here is “Gethsemane” (“I Only Want to Say”) from Jesus Christ Superstar, music and lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice, sung by Ian Gillan, lead singer of the rock group Deep Purple, in the role of Jesus.
There have been other singers since Ian Gillan who tackled the role of Jesus but none came close to this original recording and his incredible voice.
For those of you who thought the answer was “Easter Parade”, here’s a video from the movie of the same name. If you’re a musical buff, you’ll enjoy Judy Garland and Fred Astaire singing “Easter Parade” (often mistakenly called “Easter Bonnet”) from the 1948 movie.
Thanks for joining me today; I hope you had a good time playing Name That Tune.
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
I AM GROOT
Two young brothers were on their way home from the bake shop with sweets they purchased for Easter. Taking a shortcut through the woods, they greedily ate their delicious treats.
To their surprise as they rounded a bend, they came upon a gnarled old tree branch blocking their way. Because the path was exceedingly narrow and the brothers were exceptionally chubby, they knew they would not be able to walk around the branch.
They decided to toss it into the murky pond below.
The brothers wiped their sticky faces with pudgy fingers and licked the crumbs off their hands, then wiped them on their shirts. Just as they reached out for the branch, it growled angrily at them.
“Get your fat, gooey hands off me!
The boys were too pudgy to jump back and only teetered like Humpty Dumpty. “Who are you? What do you want?” they asked the branch.
“I am Groot. I was once part of the oak tree in your yard until you uncaringly jumped on me. Your hefty weight caused me to break away and here I lay, forgotten.”
The boys were indifferent. “We were having fun and you are only a branch.”
Without warning Groot’s arms began to grow. They wrapped themselves around the boy’s ankles and flung them into the pond. The brothers sank to the bottom, never to be seen again.”
Groot smiled. The couple who mindlessly used him to hang their heavy swing was approaching.
“Come to me”, he thought.
NAR © 2023
Written for the April 7, 2023 edition of The Unicorn Challenge. Jenne Gray and has thrown down the gauntlet and I have accepted the challenge.
LAMB OF GOD
WEEPING
WATER, WATER EVERYWHERE
DAY 1 – Today, as I walked the hills, God spoke to me. We’ve had many talks before but today was different. There was a certain unhappiness in his voice and he didn’t say much. Later, right in the middle of dinner, I heard God calling: “Noah? NOAH!” Oh, for Christ’s sake! Always when I’m eating! I got up and went to our usual spot. God said that he was going to start a torrential rain that would flood the earth, essentially killing everyone. Then he told me to wait for instructions. OMG! This is heavy duty. I totally lost my appetite.
DAY 15 – Two weeks later God called again and said he wanted me to build a boat … actually, he called it an ark and it had to be a certain number of cubits (Note to self: Google cubits). After it’s built I can bring only my wife Na’amah, our sons and their wives. In truth I did ask if I could leave the women behind but God just laughed and laughed. He said there was a method to his madness and I’d thank him later. Now, here’s where it gets really m’shuge: God told me I had to bring two of every animal, male and female, and enough food to feed every living thing for forty days and forty nights. I don’t think even He knows what a monumental undertaking this is.
DAY 18 – Tonight I told the family what we had to do and they looked at me like I was from Mars. I said “I know, I know! Enough with the looks already! As nuts as it sounds, that’s what He wants so that’s what He’s gonna get.” My sons began helping me build the ark while the women baked plenty of unleavened bread, cured meat and picked legumes, vegetables and fruit.
DAY 318 – Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, we finished the ark. You should have seen the crowd we attracted! I guess these people have nothing else to do all day except watch us work and crack jokes. “Just wait; you’ll see” was all I could say. So now came the major task of collecting the animals from their holding bins and loading them all onto the ark. Just as we got the last of the animals on board, the skies opened up and it started to pour. Rain like I’ve never seen before came down in sheets. The water rose quickly and we pulled up the plank, making sure everything was totally secure. We could hear the people outside; they weren’t laughing at us now. We felt the support beams fall away and the ark was afloat. Soon we were far enough away and all was quiet except for the sound of the rain. It was not easy and the women were very upset but I knew I was doing God’s will.
DAY 358 – Let me tell you, these last 40 days were no pleasure cruise; I don’t remember ever being locked up with four women and no means of escape. I would not wish it on my worst enemy. Today we opened the hatch and discovered the rain had stopped. We released one of the doves; after a while it returned with a branch and we knew the waters had started to recede. Things looked promising; we even saw a rainbow. Then out of nowhere my wife says “Noah. There’s a problem. Nobody noticed we forgot the unicorns.” Well, I sure had a good laugh over that one. “You believe that fairytale??” I guffawed. “Next thing you’re gonna tell me is someone’s gonna write a book of biblical proportions about us. Maybe they’ll even make a movie. Na’amah, you crack me up!”
NAR © 2023
Please join me today
At The Movies
in The Rhythm Section.
https://rhythmsection.blog/
AT THE MOVIES (April 6, 2023)
Welcome back to another installment of At The Movies.
To all my friends who observe Passover, I wish you a blessed celebration.
Today I bring you “Exodus” as performed by the legendary piano duo of Ferrante and Teicher. This brilliant song was written for the 1960 award-winning movie of the same name. The epic historical drama was directed by Otto Preminger, screenplay adapted from the novel “Exodus” by Leon Uris.
Please enjoy the amazing “grand twins of the twin grands”!
Wow! That was terrific! I bet they didn’t miss many piano lessons! Now it’s time for the question of the day:
Remember the 1960’s TV show “Route 66”? George Maharis, one of the actors in the movie “Exodus”, was one of the costars of “Route 66”. Can you remember his character’s name on the show? Extra credit if you can name the other star of the show and the character he played?
This was the question from last week:
We already know that John Travolta was the star of the Saturday Night Fever. What was his character’s name?
And the answer is … Tony Manero. How many of you remembered?
Thanks for joining me once again At The Movies. Sunday is my turn to toss out the questions for Name That Tune; stop by and check out what I’ve got planned.
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
world music – e
Deb’s got something fabulous
and exotic going on today.
Check it out!
Welcome to World Music – a musical journey around the world. The object of this segment is to showcase artists from around the world, and in particular the musical styles synonymous with each country. Last week we went to wonderful Denmark, but I suspect you might need your sunglasses for E.
Egypt
Music has been an integral part of Egyptian culture since antiquity in Egypt. Egyptian music had a significant impact on the development of ancient Greek music, and via the Greeks it was important to early European music well into the Middle Ages. Due to the thousands of years long dominance of Egypt over its neighbors, Egyptian culture, including music and musical instruments, was very influential in the surrounding regions; for instance, the instruments claimed in the Bible to have been played by the ancient Hebrews are all Egyptian instruments as established by Egyptian archaeology. Egyptian modern music is…
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I can’t brain today, I have the dumb — sign language edition
I do not reblog indiscriminately.
God, I hope stupid isn’t contagious!
DAD’S DESK
“Did I look at them?! Are you kidding me? Of course I looked at them! They’re phenomenal!! I thought my eyes were gonna bug outta my head!” my brother Paul jokingly remarked to his twin Patrick. I obviously walked in on them in the middle of a private conversation – probably about girls or sports – two subjects constantly on their 15 year old minds. They quickly shuffled the books and papers on Dad’s desk into one big pile, their faces turning red.
“What are you doing here, Penny? Aren’t you supposed to be at math club?” Patrick asked nervously.
“Yes but today’s session was cancelled because our math teacher had a meeting. But what I’m doing here isn’t nearly as interesting as what you’re doing here in Dad’s study.”
Paul and Patrick both started talking at once, turning even brighter red and getting more nervous every second while fiddling with the mound of papers on the desk. “Who, us?” asked Paul. “Nothing much – just the usual. We were talking about some of our favorite ball players … you know like A-Rod, Derek Jeter, Cal Ripken, Roger Clemens.”
“Yeah, that’s right” agreed Patrick. “We were looking at our baseball cards and magazines and comparing stats. No big deal.”
“Oh, is that so?” I challenged. “Then explain to me why you sounded so excited if it was ‘no big deal’ and why you’re here in Dad’s study using his desk – which you know is off limits – when all your baseball cards, magazines and what have you are upstairs in your bedroom?”
My brothers started squirming as I continued.
“I know you boys and I’m sure you’re up to something. Where are all your cards? Where are all your magazines? I don’t see anything baseball related at all. So you see by this simple matter of deduction, your lame answers are wrong and my reasoning is right!”
The boys looked at each other, quickly gathered their piles of papers and books and began running to the stairs and the safety of their bedroom. In their haste to get away from me, everything they were holding slipped from their arms and fell to the floor.
And there it was – the thing they were so desperately trying to hide – a copy of Playboy with Farrah Fawcett in all her glory on the cover.
I gasped in righteous indignation. “I’ve never been more ashamed of you two! That’s a filthy sex magazine! Do you know what she is??”
Paul sighed deeply and whispered “She’s a goddess.”
“Yeah, a goddess” repeated Patrick breathlessly.
“She is not a goddess!” I yelled. “She’s a Hollywood bimbo, a floozy … at least that’s what Mom says.”
“I don’t think Dad would agree with that” replied Paul. “After all, it’s his magazine. He’s got quite a collection!”
“Dad’s?!?” My hands flew to my face in shock and all my books fell to the floor.
“Well, what have we here?” quipped Patrick. “Playgirl magazine, Penny? I’m appalled!” Paul pretended to faint.
“Oh, you two think you’re real funny. I bet you won’t be laughing when I tell you it’s Mom’s magazine!”
“Mom’s?!?” the boys shouted in unison. “But she’s … Mom!!”
“Looks like we’re at a standoff, wouldn’t you agree, boys?” I said conspiratorially “Let’s put both these magazines back in the desk where we found them.”
“And no one will be the wiser” agreed Paul.
Just then we heard a loud “AHEM” and spun around to find our parents behind us!
Dad was angry. “Well, it’s obvious you little snoops can’t be trusted. You were caught red-handed and now you’re going to have to pay the price. I’m very disappointed in the three of you. You’re all grounded for two weeks.”
On my way upstairs to my room I heard my parents laughing and Mom teasingly saying “Could you imagine if they found our stash of VHS tapes? Good thing I keep them well hidden!”
“Oh, you are so right! Come here, my little vixen” Dad replied in a voice that sounded strangely like Ricardo Montalbán.
Ew! Gag me with a spoon!
NAR © 2023
Don’t forget to join me today
as we get In The Groove
at The Rhythm Section.
https://rhythmsection.blog/
IN THE GROOVE (April 4, 2023)
OK, I admit it; I struggled a bit with Mr. Bump’s Name That Tune on Sunday and was totally stumped by his post yesterday for Breaktime Whodunnit. That said, I don’t feel the least bit guilty for today’s post as I take you “youngsters” on a little trip back in time.
Now I’m pretty sure I’m correct when I say that the majority of you reading this right now are not part of the Baby Boomer generation (those born between 1946 and 1964). You probably won’t know this song or who the singer is and it’s doubtful you’ll be able to answer the question of the day. But you know what? That doesn’t matter. A great song and a great singer are timeless and no one’s keeping score as to who answers the most questions correctly. It’s all about fun!
We’re going back to 1952 with a sentimental tune called “You Belong To Me”. The version you’re about to hear is the most popular interpretation of this ballad done by a chanteuse by the name of Jo Stafford, one of the biggest stars of her time.
Jo Stafford had a lovely voice, smooth and silky as warm bourbon. Her rendition of this song is my favorite; here it is now for your enjoyment.
I thought that was really nice!
This song reminds me of those old war movies such as “From Here To Eternity” or “The Longest Day”. You can imagine soldiers listening to a tune like this, huddled around a radio on their bunks, and someone saying “Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em”.
I’m going out on a limb now when I say one, may two of you will know the answer to this question but what the hell … as I said, it’s all about having fun! Here goes:
Can you name the doo-wop group who had a hit revival of this song in 1962?
I’ll have the answer for you next week.
Hope you enjoyed the trip. And speaking of trips, get ready for another great adventure tomorrow with Deb.
Thanks for stopping by and going back in time with me!
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
CATASTROPHE
She’s not a bad girl, not really.
True, she’s defiant. Unruly.
Aren’t they all at that age?
Pushing the corners of
their little envelopes simply because
girls just want to have fun.
No, she’s not a bad girl.
Mischievous, naughty, uncontrollable.
But look at that adorable face.
How can anyone stay mad?
She’s not a bad girl.
Unrepentant and willful
but for heaven’s sake;
It was only a plant!
NAR © 2023
UPON CLOSER INSPECTION
It had only been two weeks since Diane moved into her house in Sag Harbor and she was already questioning her decision. The house once belonged to her grandparents and she’d visited often as a little girl. Diane didn’t remember the neighborhood being so quiet back then.
The area was beautiful with its charming architecture but she saw no one except for an occasional jogger or dog walker. She hadn’t realized just how far off the beaten path her grandparent’s house was.
Now here she was, a recently divorced thirty-something with nothing but time on her hands. The cottage was lovely but she wondered how many hours she could spend in the pool. No, she needed to find something to occupy her time. She needed a job.
Diane poured herself a cup of coffee and set up her laptop on the little table in her backyard. She was about to scan the job listings when she was distracted by noises next door. Looking up she saw a man leaning a ladder against her neighbor’s house.
“They must be having work done” Diane thought and went back to her laptop. Another noise caught her attention and she saw the same man preparing his tools. She also couldn’t help noticing he was rather handsome and well-built. When he removed his shirt in the hot afternoon, Diane decided she was being a bit hasty about looking for a job.
She would be quite content here in her yard enjoying the view.
NAR © 2023
Written for the March 31, 2023 edition of The Unicorn Challenge. Jenne Gray and C. E. Ayr have thrown down the gauntlet and I have accepted their challenge. Let the quest begin!
SHATTERED
“I’m sorry, ma’am, there’s no one registered here by that name.” The young man behind the desk looked at me with a mixture of embarrassment and pity.
“You must be mistaken” I replied quietly.
“There’s no mistake, ma’am. Perhaps you have the wrong hotel” the clerk suggested, trying to give me a way out.
Well, of course I didn’t have the wrong hotel! Frank and I had been meeting at the Pierre the second weekend of every month for three years. I checked my phone for any texts or missed calls; there were none. Rather than stay in the lobby looking distraught and abandoned, I walked into the lounge and ordered a martini. I sipped my drink and waited for Frank.
After thirty minutes and two martinis I began feeling paranoid. It was painfully obvious, at least to me, that everyone who saw me sitting by the bar thought I was either an elegant call girl just past her prime or a now lonesome and tedious woman who had been stood up.
I became aware of someone approaching. Expecting to see Frank, I looked up, smiling; it was the concierge. Whispering discreetly, he handed me a note. It read: “Dearest Christine. I have treasured our little trysts but now we must go our separate ways. Farewell. Frank”
“Our little trysts!” I was shattered.
Just like that, as suddenly as it began it was over. Looking straight ahead, I gracefully walked out of the hotel. After buying a bag of roasted nuts from a vendor on the corner, I walked over to Central Park. I sat on a bench feeding the pigeons, thinking of everything and nothing.
NAR © 2023
BLOW
It was the middle of February, probably one of the coldest days of the year, but that didn’t bother me. I liked the cold; people just assumed my persistent runny nose and watery eyes were from the harsh weather when in reality the cause was yet another hit of cocaine – my constant companion, my best friend and my most insidious opponent.
I was waiting outside the NY Public Library in Manhattan for my guy to show up with that lovely little glassine envelope of blow. He was running late, as usual, and I was freezing my ass off, so I decided to wait in the lobby. At least it was a little warmer.
Just a few feet from the entrance sat a bench where I took up residence. I was starting to get agitated, my fingernails tap-tapping on the wooden slats. It had been several hours since my last snort – an eternity for an addict – and I couldn’t still my scattered mind. A disapproving prune-faced woman sitting on a bench opposite me kept looking from my fingers to my face, clearly annoyed. Self-consciously I put my hands in my pockets, immediately coming in contact with my little amber bottle with the attached spoon – what a clever design that was, although I must admit the one with the little golden spoon neatly built into the inside bottom of the lid was pure genius. You know the one I’m talking about. OK – this was a nice surprise! I’d completely forgotten about it when I changed jackets the other day; I always keep my stash in my backpack.
Elated, I wrapped my fingers around the bottle, delighting in the feel of the all-too-familiar smooth surface. I could just walk to the corner of the lobby and pretend to blow my nose while actually taking a hit. I’ve done it a hundred times. One quick glance at the bottle and I cursed; it was empty. Hoping against hope, I decided to check my backpack just in case I’d hidden a spare bottle.
I reached down to retrieve my backpack from under the bench when I caught a glimpse of a bright pink book, obviously forgotten or misplaced by a library patron. Being a curious sort, I reached over to check it out and my heart stopped; in bold black print was the title of the book – QUITTING COCAINE: YOUR PERSONAL RECOVERY PLAN. That book and I stared at each other for a full minute. Was this some kind of joke, a sign of divine intervention or just a crazy coincidence? Well, I’m not the type who believes in coincidences; everything in our lives happens for a reason, whether we like it or not.
My leg was bouncing up and down like a jackhammer – something that always happened when I needed a hit – so I put my backpack on my lap, crossed my legs and snuck a peek at the book. The first line was a blistering slap across the face: “Keep shoving coke up your nose and you’ll be dead by this time next year.” No “probably” or “there’s a chance”; just a flat-out death sentence, literally. I read the first chapter in five minutes; still no sign of my guy so I continued reading. Forty-five minutes later I’d read the whole book and still no delivery. But I realized my leg had stopped bouncing; when did that happen?
Slipping the book into my backpack, I noticed the author’s name on the back cover: Dr. Arnold M. Washton, an internationally recognized psychologist and author specializing in substance abuse treatment. A little further down was a picture of the good doctor, an email address, phone number and the location of his office. Holy shit! This was definitely no coincidence. His office was about a three-minute walk from where I sat at the library.
For the first time in my pathetic and broken life I felt like I had a purpose. I left the library and walked straight to Dr. Washton’s office. I had no idea if the place was even open but I knew I had to take the chance. When I arrived I hesitated for a second, then rang the bell. Immediately there was a buzz and the door unlocked. As I entered I heard a man’s voice call out “In here” and I walked into a dimly lit office. It was a very calming room with the smell of leather and black cherry pipe tobacco.
Dr. Washton sat in a large over-stuffed chair next to a blazing fireplace reading a book. He took the pipe from his mouth and looked up at me; his eyes were warm and kind.
“I need help” was all I said.
“Then you’ve come to the right place” was his response.
And I knew I had.
NAR © 2023
Don’t forget to check me out today At The Movies.
I have another great video for you!
https://rhythmsection.blog/
AT THE MOVIES (March 30, 2023)
Get out your spandex pants, shine those platform shoes and polish up your glitter balls; we’re heading to Studio 54 cos it’s time for some DISCO!
“Stayin’ Alive” was written in 1977 by the Bee Gees and was the second single from the “Saturday Night Fever” movie soundtrack. In 2004, “Stayin’ Alive” was placed at #189 on the list of Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. It became one of the Bee Gees’ most recognizable and beloved signature songs.
Since my goal is to bring you only the best quality videos I can find, the one today is from the movie “Saturday Night Fever”. I thought the Bee Gees’ official video was visually unappealing but you can check it out for yourself on YouTube.
Here now are the Bee Gees singing and Travolta dancing! Enjoy “Stayin’ Alive”!
Check out those dance moves! Travolta was so young and skinny! How many of you knew he was a dancer before he became an actor?
The question of the day will appeal to trivia buffs (or those of you with great memories). Here we go:
We already know that John Travolta was the star of the movie. What was his character’s name?
The answer will appear here next week.
Here is the question from last week: Noel Harrison’s father was a very famous actor who starred in many different types of movies. Can you name this famous Englishman and any of the musical movies he made?
The answer is Rex Harrison whose musicals include “My Fair Lady”, “Doctor Dolittle” and “Anna and the King of Siam” (“The King and I”). Thanks for playing along!
That’s a wrap, folks. Catch you next time At The Movies.
See you on the flip side.
I’m The Sicilian Storyteller
NAR © 2023
The Elephant's Trunk 