This is an April Blog Challenge. Normal blog posts will resume in May.
So much more than moons and Junes
So much more than moons and Junes
- Songs beginning with P
- And lyric snippets
1960s: People - Barbra Steisand
1970s: Piano Man - Billy Joel [...sing us a song, you're the piano man...]
1980s: Physical - Olivia Newton John
1990s: Promise Me - Beverley Craven [You light up another cigarette and I pour the wine...]
People
This song was written by Jule Styne and Bob Merrill for the musical Funny Girl but I'm not entirely sure if I agree with these lyrics.
'...people who need people
Are the luckiest people in the world...'
My experience of people who always need people around them is that they don't particularly like themselves. It's good to enjoy the company of others but it's also good to be able to get on with yourself.
Do you prefer to be with lots of people or do you enjoy your own company too?
Do you prefer to be with lots of people or do you enjoy your own company too?
And I could have added:
Physical was released at a time when there was a massive rise in the popularity of keep fit, especially aerobics with stars like Jane Fonda promoting its virtues and producing videos for us to do at home. The words to the song are a little 'racier' but the message on Olivia Newton John's video was to keep fit.
I remember going with my friend to just about every type of fitness class we could find. We tried Yoga, dancing with ribbons, Chinese wand, you name it, we did it!
Did you have a fitness fad in the 1980s?
Have you got a favourite P song from one of these decades?
I love Piano Man. Was that really from the '70s? Anyway, it's a classic hit, and it's one of Billy Joel's greatest hits, I think.
ReplyDeleteI think my favourite is Just the Way you Are.
DeleteWhat an excellent choices. I simply adore Piano Man, whilst in California a few years back a man walked into a bar and started to play the piano, I wrote a poem of the proceedings and called it Mr. Piano Man.
ReplyDeleteLook forward to Q tomorrow.
Yvonne.
It's great when music inspires us to write, isn't it.
Deleteooh I remember Olivia N J - used to do some vicious exercise routine to 'Physical'. I think it's probably the reaSON MY BACK IS SO RUBBISH NOW!!
ReplyDeleteI realise that you aren't shouting at me but having trouble with your fingers! I'd like to think we could blame Olivia Newton John for all our problems but suspect that some of them are due to age!!
DeletePlease Please Me - but then anything by the Beatles sent me in a shrivelled heap of remembering!
ReplyDeleteAnd - I'm very happy on my own. And I'm happy spending time with friends. (I do know how lucky I am!)
Please Please Me isn't my favourite Beatles track. As for being with friends, it's great to meet up but it's just as good to close your front door on them and have some space.
DeleteI also thought of Please Please Me for similar reasons. Being alone and with others each have advantages and disadvantages. I know I'd never want to live on my own because I'd be alone too much. ~Miriam
ReplyDeleteI've never lived on my own. I know when Mr A went into hospital it was difficult but that was because I was so worried about him. I suspect I'd feel the same as you about it.
DeleteI remember the first two songs, which is a better score than yesterdays!
ReplyDeleteThat photo of ON-J looks as if she's wearing a nappy - most unbecoming.
As for people - my ideal would be to live alone with family and friends within easy reach.
I used to aspire to look like Olivia Newton John and now you're saying she looked stupid! It's a good job my aspirations were never reached!! I think you've hit an excellent compromise with the 'people' issue.
DeleteI remember when ONJ first released that song. It was memorable only because it made me cringe with embarassment. That was a seriously bad song.
ReplyDeletePiano man on the other hand was and is a classic
I'm now cringing myself because I loved and still do love that song. It makes me want to leap out of the chair and do exercises... and there's not a lot that makes me do that these days!
DeleteI enjoy my own company. I have a few friends who are not happy unless their house are filled with people. Love having family around but like peace and quite to do my own thing too.
ReplyDeletePiano Man is a lovely song. I have lots of fitness videos and still not fit.
I'm with you on the 'people' issue. I too have lots of fitness videos, DVDs, Wii dance, Wii Yoga, Wii fitness, and I suspect I'm less fit than you are!
DeleteMy wife is the fitness fanatic with gym visits three times a week. I remember the Fonda fitness videos even if the songs are just a blur.
ReplyDeleteThree times a week! I'm impressed. I can't resist asking which one of you has the most attacks of pulled muscles though!
DeleteI never thought about that with the People lyrics but you are so right! Needy people can really be terribly annoying.
ReplyDeleteWhen Physical came out I was only 11 or so and I didn't totally get that the lyrics were about something besides getting fit LOL. I was kind of a sheltered kid I guess.
It's quite racy isn't it!
DeleteI love the musical, Funny Girl. I do put most of the other songs in a list above "People." But it's a nice slow contrast to most of the others. I agree with you. But the older I get, the less I want to be around people. I'm just getting to be a bitchy old woman. LOL
ReplyDeleteI don't believe that for a minute, Manzanita.
DeleteIf I never have to listen to People again it would be fine with me.
ReplyDeleteKatie atBankerchick Scratchings
I've got a beautiful version recorded by Dionne Warwick.
DeleteMy mother loved Barbra Streisand and the song People, so that brought me a memory. As far as Piano Man, I first saw Billy Joel play at Dickinson College in their cafeteria - 1976 - and the "kid" could play.
ReplyDeletePerfect Post!
How brilliant! Billy Joel is another star who I haven't seen live.
DeleteLove Billy Joel's Piano Man.
ReplyDeletePhysical is so bouncy, it makes you want to exercise even if you don't normally enjoy it. A good motivator to getting a copy.
Barbara
P is for Putting First Things First
The Daille-y News
And these days it takes a lot to motivate me to exercise!
DeleteI still remember all of the words to People, and I remember singing along with Barbra Streisand. Needless to say, I think you can still need people without being needy.
ReplyDeleteJulie
Yes you can indeed but are people who need people lucky?
DeleteI have quite a few fitness DVDs but I don't put them on very often. I find them in charity shops where the previous owners have no further use for them!
ReplyDeleteI have quite a few and don't use them either!
DeleteThis song has been on my mind this afternoon, and I happened to mention it on a blog post which was all about people.
ReplyDeleteI remember the 80's fitness fad... quite clearly! Who can forget the headbands and chunky leg warmers!
Writer In Transit
I loved that fashion. All those amazing leg warmers.
DeleteOh the 80's with the Jane Fonda workout!
ReplyDeleteAnd all of us with pulled and twisted muscles!
DeleteOh, has to be Puppet on a String as my 1960's song. Reminds me of my childhood :)
ReplyDeleteI loved that song but it is a bit moons and Junes.
DeleteLove Billy Joel's Piano Man.
ReplyDeleteDropping by from AtoZ.
My "P" song, which happens to be my very fave in the whole wide world, is "Promised You a Miracle" by Simple Minds.
ReplyDeleteSome Dark Romantic
I love Olivia Newton-John and Physical. She did some great songs.
ReplyDelete