A to Z Challenge - 2016

F is for...

Funiculi Funicula!

I could have gone the easy route with this one and chosen Fleetwood Mac or Foreigner, both of whom I've seen at least four times each, but I wanted this to be a different type of musical abecedarian and so sometimes I'm going to reach as far out there as I can.  Funiculi Funicula is reaching all the way to Italy!

Funiculi Funicula happens to be a song that I heard a lot growing up.  I could almost sing along in Italian at one point.  My mom and dad both liked listening to Italian songs and so that was what was played a lot in our house.  Dean Martin sings Italian is even something I have incorporated into my iTunes library so when I put my iPhone on shuffle, occasionally I get a blast from that part of my past.

At any rate, Funiculi Funicula is a Neopolitan song written in 1880 by Luigi Denza with lyrics by Peppino Turco.  It was actually written to commemorate the opening of the first Funicular cable car on Mount Vesuvius.


If you look carefully you can see it going up the side of the mountain.  It was destroyed in 1944 by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius.

Funicular in Hastings, England

Here is one that is in England.  Doesn't that look like a fun ride?  In California, we have a modern version of the cable car going up some of the hills in San Francisco.  

But, I digress.  Back to the song, Funiculi Funicula.  The original lyrics are translated to be the story of a young man who compares his sweetheart to a volcano and invites her to join him in a romantic trip to the summit.

I prefer the more recent version, translated by Edward Oxenford, sometimes called "A Merry Life."  The first verse goes like this:

Some think the world is made for fun and frolic,

And so do I!  And so do I!

Some think it well to be all melancholic,

To pine and sigh; to pine and sigh;

But I, I love to spend my time in singing,

Some joyous song, some joyous song,

To set the air with music bravely ringing

Is far from wrong!  Is far from wrong!

Harken, harken, music sounds a-far!

Harken, harken with a happy heart!

Funiculi, funicula, funiculi, funicula!

Joy is everywhere, funiculi, funicula!

It would be expected that Italian singers such as Connie Francis and Mario Lanza would sing this song but I was quite surprised in doing the background for this post to learn that Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead used to use it as part of their warm up.  Take a listen if you like:

And if you need a little more, here is Annette Funicello singing her version, "Dream Boy."

There is my "F" fun for the challenge.  What about you?  Ever take a trip on a funicular?  Love Annette?  Dead-Head?  I'd love to hear about it!

A to Z Challenge - 2016

E is for...

Eight track tape:

According to Wikipedia, eight tracks were formerly called Stereo 8 and were a magnetic tape sound recording technology that was popular in the mid-60's to late 70's when the Compact Cassette format took over.

This is what they looked like:

Some people had them in their cars.  I did not.  In fact, by the time I was able to drive and get a car, cassette tapes had already started to take over. 

I never owned any eight tracks.  I remember my sister and brother-in-law had them and when I would babysit my nephews sometimes I would listen to them.

It seems to me that eight track tapes weren't around very long, but maybe that's because I never owned any. 

At any rate, that's my "E" in the A to Z Challenge.  Guess you can tell some letters are going to be longer than others.  Keeping up?  We have a way to go!      

Did you have eight tracks?  Still have them?  Love to hear about it.

A to Z Challenge 2016

D is for...

Drum of course!

Mick Fleetwood

We have been fortunate enough to be able to see quite a few bands in concert over the last few years, (actually pretty regularly for the last 10 years I just realized)!

Fleetwood Mac is one of our favorites, although I primarily go to hear Stevie Nicks sing her mystical songs and my husband goes to hear Lindsay Buckingham perform "Big Love."  Still, Mick Fleetwood is a heck of a drummer and really gets into his work.

REO Speedwagon's Bryan Hitt

We have also seen Bryan Hitt (great name for a drummer, right?) from REO Speedwagon a few times and they are on our ticket for this season as well.  Such enthusiasm!

Kottak from Scorpions

Rock and Roll

FOREVER!

And then there is James Kottak from the Scorpions.  During the concert he does a drum solo and his drums slowly rise from the ground until they are suspended high above the stage.  Then he proudly stands on top of them and turns around so that you can read the words on the back of his vest, "Rock and Roll Forever."

The crowd is screaming and, taking off his vest with dramatic flair, you can see that he has the same words tattooed on his back.  The crowd goes wild of course.

That really is forever!  













I think the most interesting drummer I have ever seen, however, is Rick Allen of Def Leppard.

Rick Allen

After losing his left arm in a car accident, Rick Allen was determined to continue to play the drums and realized that he could do many things with his feet that his arm used to do.  He successfully returned to the group, who had waited for him to heal.  What an emotional show that must have been.  He plays with one arm and no shoes on his feet.  Definitely a sight to see.  The story of the band has been captured in the movie, "Hysteria."  

So, there you have the letter "D" in my musical A to Z Challenge.   What do you think so far?  Could you drum with one hand?  Love to hear your comments!

A to Z Challenge 2016

C is for...

Cowboy Jack

Cowboy Jack was the hero in a song my mom used to sing to us to put us (and her grandchildren as they came along) to sleep.  It was a sad tale (as Cowboy songs usually are), about a Cowboy who fell in love with a fair maiden but through a misunderstanding (spoiler alert!) loses his lady love.

Because the song itself meant a lot to our family, for Mother's Day one year I made a set of mini-albums for us.

My mom loved to sing this song, and others.  You can't tell by this picture but she is actually standing on a chair, leading her group of friends in a song.







Here is the song of Cowboy Jack, and the mini-album I made for the family:



He was just a lowly cowboy
With a heart so brave and true
And he learned to love a maiden
With eyes of heaven's own blue

They had learned to love each other
And had named their wedding day
When a quarrel came between them
And Jack, he rode away.

He joined a band of cowboys
And tried to forget her name
But out on the lonely prairie
She waits for him the same.

One night when work was finished
Just at the close of day
Someone said, "Sing us a song, Jack,
T'will drive our cares away."







When Jack began his singing
His mind it wandered back
And he sang of a lonely maiden
Who waited for her Jack.

Jack left the camp next morning
Breathing his sweetheart's name
"I'll go and ask forgiveness
For I'm the one to blame."

But when he reached the prairie
He found a new made mound
And his friends, they sadly told him
They'd laid his loved one down.

They said as she was dying
She breathed her sweetheart's name
And with her last breath, asked them
To tell him when he came:



Your sweetheart waits for you, jack
Your sweetheart waits for you
Way out on the lonely prairie
Where the skies are always blue.

The reason why this song is such a memory to our family is that my mom (who was using this as a lullaby mind you) would sing the chorus after EVERY verse!  That would make this simple song last for about 10 minutes!  But, of course, it worked because all the babies fell asleep!  Here is the song (attributed to the Carter Family) if you want to hear it. 

And that is my "C" contribution to the A to Z Challenge.    How about you?  Any songs from your childhood?  Got a mom who likes to sing?  Love to hear your comments!

A to Z Challenge - 2016

April 2:  B is for...Bell

According to Wikipedia, bells are percussion instruments.  They come in many sizes but are mostly the same shape, that of a hollow cup, with a clapper or uvula suspended from the middle.  They are associated historically with religious rituals and, in addition, with the concepts of peace and freedom.  The study of bells is called campanology and a set of 23 bells, spanning two octaves is called a carillon.

The biggest bell I have seen is the one ACDC  uses for their song "Hells Bells."

These pictures were taken at their
recent concert at AT&T park.  We were on the field and the bell moved out over the crowd.  It was very impressive; however, recently the lead singer of ACDC was told by his doctor that if he didn't stop touring, he would lose his hearing.  Wonder if so many trips hanging from the uvula in the bell (as in the video linked above) had something to do with that?  

But the most exciting bells I like to hear are the ones when I am a winner at the slot machines!  This was a recent win on Easter Sunday at Thunder Valley Casino. I think here was about 100 when it was finished.  I've won $1000 once and believe me I listened to the bells the whole time!  It was a thrill I'll tell you!

B is for bells.  How about you?  Got any favorite bells?  Win a big jackpot?  Love to hear about it.

Don't forget to check out some of the other participants in the A to Z Blog Challenge as well!

A to Z Challenge - 2016

April 1:  A is for...

A Cappella - Italian, meaning "In the manner of the chapel."  Specifically, singing with no musical accompaniment.

In my first blog post on the A to Z challenge, whose theme I have picked as Music, I am here to talk about no music.

One of the groups we have seen several times now is Huey Lewis and the News.  They do a few a cappella songs during their show and one of the best, I think, is "It's Alright."

Huey Lewis at Mountain Winery

You can listen to it here:  https://youtu.be/a3KlXn4Rsh4

It definitely is a change of pace when they break away from the horns and drums and just sing.  Quite simple.  It is not for everyone, for sure.  This is usually the portion of the show where my husband goes out to take a break.  He's not a fan of the a cappella.  

Another group that is strictly a cappella is a group called Straight No Chaser.  I have not seen them perform in person but I've heard they do a really good Christmas show.

  

So, here we go, off to a simple start for my A to Z ramblings.  What do you think of a cappella?  Rather have the drums and horns?  Love to hear your comments.  Be sure to check out some of the other participants in the A to Z challenge.  There are lots of interesting topics being discussed!       

 

Marvelous March

March 31 - One more quick post from Marvelous March before we turn the page to A to Z April and April Love, two of the challenges in which I will be participating.

Here is the full moon from March 23:

It was a lot clearer than last month's full moon, at least at the time I saw it.  Something magical about looking at that bright circle in the sky.  I always try to make a wish or ask the Universe to help me on my latest endeavor.

This year my wish was for a good result when I had our taxes done the next day.  I don't know about you but every year I have the butterflies in the stomach until tax time is over.

My intention worked!  We are getting quite a nice refund from both the Feds and the State (of course the fact that we had only one income so to speak and are putting our daughter through college probably had some effect on the outcome)!

At any rate, that is over for the year and, as always, I vow to be more organized with my paperwork (or at least start organizing now for next year so I am not doing it the day before I go to the accountant).

How about you?  Make any wishes on the full moon?  Hope they come true for you!