Feb 24
i mean, he’s borderline asshole, right?
Alright, it seems like a good evening to revisit Herr Barefoot’s 55 Topics. Today we’ll discover #35–I Couldn’t Live Without This Song.
So. First, let’s provide some background, shall we? If I had to compare my life to any film genre, I would definitely say ‘musical’ because–wait, before you guys laugh, hear me out–because every significant memory/turning point/ordinary event in my life is associated with a particular song. And I know most of you have to know what I mean by that. It’s pretty fabulous in this day and age to be able to pick exactly what songs I listen to, and while I do have a goodish selection of new discoveries, the majority of my music is old stuff, songs that mean something to me. Rarely do I like a song just because it’s snappy.
And lack of musical talent aside, I was getting my groove on at a pretty young age. Yup, I can remember hanging out in the playroom with the 8-track, playing Leader of The Pack over, and over, and over…I don’t remember how you rewound those things, but I do remember singing my heart out and how…grief-stricken I would become at the song’s end. I knew all the words to every Kiss song via my brothers’ music tastes, and my sisters introduced me to Elton John and Styx and Supertramp. I loved it all! I even loved my mom’s music (other than the opera, which…mom. MOM. Realllly?) and ‘Mrs Robinson’ and ‘Honey’ (Bobby Goldsboro–um…you know what, let’s tangent for a moment on this one)
Okay, tangeting. You guys. I don’t know how many of you have heard the song ‘Honey’ by Bobby Goldsboro, but I’m betting not many. However. I LOVED that song when I was small, LOVED. I would get so upset at this dramatic, heartfelt song, and the obvious love Bobby felt for his Honey. Every time the angels came, I would cry. And for years, that song held a soft spot in my heart. And then, one day when I was in Korea, my mom sent me a cd, and it was a Bobby Fucking Goldsboro Greatest Hits compilation. I took it to work and explained why I had it and decided to have everyone listen to the song, and when we did…holy crap. FUNNIEST SONG EVER. Because when you are not five, and you listen to the words, you discover that Bobby didn’t really love Honey, he hated her and mocked her stupidity! He kept her around for his devious fun! He treated her like a child! Don’t believe me? Go read the lyrics and see for yourself that in that relationship, Bobby was definitely THE MAN and Honey? Well, poor Honey was obviously…s-l-o-w. God. We laughed and laughed about that at work for days. And I’m pretty sure I actually told that story before but…this version is better!
Anyway! Enough of Bobby and his chauvinistic ways! Back to me! I love music! Almost all of it! I don’t care if it’s mainstream or indie or classic. I just want it to make me feel how I want to feel at the moment. And while I can’t pick out just one favorite song, I can tell you that there is one song on my iTunes that has been played exponentially more than the other songs, and that song is ‘Everlong‘ by the Foo Fighters. There’s so many things…Dave Grohl has an amazing voice anyway, but on that song, it’s magic. And, I don’t know. Just…the music? Everything about it? The melody ignites so many emotions in me–good and bad. I listen to it when I’m sad, when I’m happy, when I’m excited, when I’m angry, and it can fix everything.
I can remember, exactly, the first time I ever heard it. I was in Kuwait, and it was nine years ago, and I was sitting on a recumbent bike, sweating my ass off in the hotter-than-hell makeshift gym we had over there. It was between 4 and 5 in the morning, and I was one of less than five people in the room, and when the video came on I thought, wow. What is this song? Who is this band? They are FABULOUS! I MUST HAVE THIS NOW!
So, I listen to it at least once a day, sometimes over and over on the way to or from work, and when it comes on the radio at work (quite a bit, actually, yay AFN radio…sometimes) my co-workers always go, “Oh I looovee this song so muchhh” and turn it up and I always pretend they aren’t making fun of me and enjoy the happy interlude.
For real, though. Make sure you read the ‘Honey’ lyrics. How that shit got recorded I won’t ever know. Also, if you don’t read them, how will you ever be able to answer the question posted in the title?
Tschuss!!
February 25th, 2008 at 9:49 am
Styx? Supertramp? You struck a nerve…gave me some serious flashbacks. Somebody once told me that would happen.
February 25th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
It’s so nice to know that other people have the same reaction to music as me! And, I fear, I’m raising my girls to be the same way. They love all kinds of music and it makes me so proud!
Thanks for the inspiration to go listen to some tunes!
February 25th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
You’re not actually supposed to listen to the lyrics, if we did that we’d realize how little sense most songs make!
Fun fact, Dave Grohl went to my high school, my brother’s high school (yeah we went to different schools), and another high school where I grew up in northern Virginia. This was before I went there, but still.
February 26th, 2008 at 2:11 am
ok, having never heard this little ditty, i have to say… it makes very little sense. but it seems like the girl does a lot of crying, so i’m assuming she’s depressive, and offed herself ?
i listened (and was besotted with) mickey gilley when i was 5. you know why ? he wore jewelry. there’s no accounting for 5 year old taste. i loved ‘room full of roses’, used to play it over and over and over on the 8 track. it’s about infidelity, and i just looked up the lyrics, the woman’s unfaithful, and even though the guy knows, he just wants her back. or roses. it’s anyones guess.
February 26th, 2008 at 5:57 am
Jeff - Flashbacks? What exactly were you doing in PA in the 70s? Hmm?
Kari - Yeah, my girls too. In fact, I count on Lindsey for my new music discoveries, she’s got a pretty good ear.
FG - What! I want your autograph. Can you get me backstage?
IB - Thank you! Yes! Exactly. You’re the only one to complete the assignment, btw. Gold star! Your song is looks as good a choice as mine!
February 26th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
As I was sitting here reading about Dave grohl… one of my favorite musicians as well… breakout came on my zen lol
That was an awesome video for Everlong… Parody of Evil Dead 2 lol
If you ever get a chance look for the video of foo fighters playing stairway to heaven on kilborn. It was on daily media last I saw. Its awesome. You should also look for the acoustic version of Everlong. It was on the movie Little Nicky
February 26th, 2008 at 5:50 pm
Wow oh wow but you took me back! I was the same way! Of course I had a HI FI stereo then moved on to 8 tracks (FYI you couldn’t rewind, you had to listen to the WHOLE thing and start over, you could “skip” ahead to the next track though)
I had the same “honey” experience with “Have you seen her” by the Chi-lites. for me, it was the song about someone that obviously, as I, had lost their cat. Years later I found out my cat had died, not run away, sad story blah bloggity blah.
Anyway, I am LMAO at the Honey story. I bet you would of been a blast to hang with when we were kids!
February 26th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
Oh and Everlong sounds like the 2nd part to Honey. This part anyway ‘I know you’ve always been
Out of your head,’ ROFLMAO!
February 26th, 2008 at 9:48 pm
rodney - i’m going to look for the acoustic everlong right away! thanks for the tip.
kay - ha! yours sounds funnier than mine!