Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Still Thinking about Songs...

Finding a Mother-Son dance song is hard.
Most songs start out OK, then go to romantic love, or are about breaking up or something like that.
Others are too sticky sweet, or have a strange rhythm or questionable lyrics.

For instance:

The song "I get a kick out of you" by Frank Sinatra sounded fun, as have always gotten a kick out of my son. But it has these lyrics:

Some they may go for cocaine
I'm sure that if, I took even one sniff
it would bore me terrifically too
but I get a kick out of you

The music that I absolutely adore dancing to is the music to "Kissed from a Rose" by Seal (it was a song from the movie Batman Forever)

There used to be a greying tower alone on the sea.
You became the light on the dark side of me.
Love remained a drug that's the high and not the pill.
But did you know,
That when it snows,
My eyes become large and,
The light that you shine can be seen.
Baby, I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey.
kiss from a rose on the grey.
Ooh,The more i get of you,Ooh...Stranger it feels, yeah.
And now that your rose is in bloom.
A light hits the gloom on the grey.
I've been kissed by a rose on the grey,
and if i should fall, at all
I've been kissed by a rose
been kissed by a rose on the grey.
There is so much a man can tell you,there...woa...
So much he can say.
There's so much inside.
You remain
My power, my pleasure, my pain.
To me you're like a growing addiction that i can't deny, yeah
Won't you tell me is that healthy, baby.
But did you know,
That when it snows,
My eyes become large and the light that you shine can be seen.
Baby,I've...I compare you to a kiss from a rose on the grey.
Been...kissed from a rose on the grey.

There is dispute if it is kissed from a rose on the gray (which make no sense at all...) or if the word gray is actually grave. Hmmm.
Maybe just the instrumental version would work.

Then I find the comical songs, such as Laura's suggestion:

Hit the road Jack, and don'tcha come back no more no more no more no more...

And the uber appropriate song for the teen age years of my son's life:

Every Breath You Take (sung by the Police)

Every breath you take
Every move you make
Every bond you break
Every step you take
I'll be watching you.
Every single day
Every word you say
Every game you play
Every night you stay
I'll be watching you.

My in-laws suggested a nice slow song "The Serenade of the Bells."
I don't think they had considered the lyrics in light of modern terminology:

In the sleepy town of San Juanita,
There's a story that a padre tells,
Of a gay senor and senorita,
And the serenade of the bells.

One of songs that I most identify with Jeff is the theme from the movie "Top Gun" which he and his "posse" of friends seemed to play all the time:

Revvin' up your engine
Listen to her howlin' roar
Metal under tension
Beggin' you to touch and go
Highway to the Danger Zone
Ride into the Danger Zone...

"Close to you" by the Carpenters has these lovely words:

On the day that you were born the angels got together

and decided to create a dream come true.

So they sprinkled moon dust in your hair of gold and starlight in your eyes of blue.

Kinda of sugary though...

Maybe the 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' groovy) for a morning wedding?

Slow down, you move to fast

You've got to make the morning last

Just kickin' down the cobblestones

Looking for fun and feeling groovy.

The word "groovy"....pretty dated.

Jeff likes rap. I hate rap, so I not even going to go there.

Me, dancing to rap. Not a pretty picture.

I do like Techno, but am not familiar with enough techno songs to make a reasonable choice. I'm open to suggestions though.

Right now my top pick is a little unusual but it makes me feel good every time I hear it.

It reminds me of Jeff's childhood days, AND it is slow. Dancing a three step would work I am told.

Do you know it? I have been surprised to learn that no one in my family remembers it at all!

Happiness from the musical You're A Good Man Charlie Brown(Clark Gesner)

(You can hear a midi sound track of the tune here.)

HAPPINESS IS FINDING A PENCIL.

PIZZA WITH SAUSAGE

TELLING THE TIME.

HAPPINESS IS LEARNING TO WHISTLE.

TYING YOUR SHOE FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME.

HAPPINESS IS PLAYING THE DRUM IN YOUR OWN SCHOOL BAND.

AND HAPPINESS IS WALKING HAND IN HAND.

HAPPINESS IS TWO KINDS OF ICE CREAM.

KNOWING A SECRET.

CLIMBING A TREE.

HAPPINESS IS FIVE DIFFERENT CRAYONS.

CATCHING A FIREFLY.

SETTING HIM FREE.

HAPPINESS IS BEING ALONE EVERY NOW AND THEN.

AND HAPPINESS IS COMING HOME AGAIN.

HAPPINESS IS MORNING AND EVENING,

DAY TIME AND NIGHT TIME TOO.

FOR HAPPINESS IS ANYONE AND ANYTHING AT ALL

THAT'S LOVED BY YOU.

HAPPINESS IS HAVING A SISTER.

SHARING A SANDWICH.

GETTING ALONG.

HAPPINESS IS SINGING TOGETHER WHEN DAY IS THROUGH,

AND HAPPINESS IS THOSE WHO SING WITH YOU.

HAPPINESS IS MORNING AND EVENING,

DAYTIME AND NIGHTTIME TOO.

FOR HAPPINESS IS ANYONE AND ANYTHING AT ALL

THAT'S LOVED BY YOU.

Yup, I think that could be the perfect song.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

It worked for your own wedding, how about "Joy to the world?"

Anonymous said...

Mother/Son music: The dance between the husband and his mother.

Don't Know Much (Linda Rondstadt and Aaron Neville)
Butterfly Kisses (Bob Carlisle)
I.O.U (Jimmy Dean)
Moon River (Andy Williams)
Moon Dance (Van Morrison)
'Til The End Of Time (Perry Como)
Through The Years (Kenny Rogers)
Have I Told You Lately (Rod Stewart)
Because You Loved Me (Celine Dion)
Just The Way You Are (Billy Joel)
Unforgettable (Nat King Cole / Natalie Cole)
What A Wonderful World (Louis Armstong)
In This Life (Bette Midler)
You're The Inspiration (Chicago)
Wind Beneath My Wings (Bette Midler)
Friends (Elton John)
Wishing Tree (Sonia Dada)
Blessed (Elton John)
Hero (Mariah Carey)
In Your Eyes (Peter Gabriel)
A Song For My Son (Steve Moser, Mikki Viereck, Ray Allaire)
Sunrise, Sunset (Fiddler On The Roof - Sndtrk)
In My Life (The Beatles)
Ever I Saw Your face (Roberta Flasck)
Greatest Love Of All (Whitney Houston)
I Wish You Love (Natalie Cole)
Thanks Again (Ricky Skaggs)
Stand By Me (Ben E. King)

Dolores said...

Then, of course, there is always Tammy Wynette's song "No Charge."

Julie said...

I like your choice.. Jill.. but I think whatever you choose will be fine... your last dance as the most important woman in your son's life... will be a tear-jerker, I'm sure !

Becky said...

Sorry, Jill, I have not the slightest idea! Actually, I have never even heard of a mother/son dance song. I just live under a rock, I guess. Choosing just one song would be far too difficult - too serious, too meaningful, too monumental of an occasion to wrap it up in one song. I would probably go with "hit the road jack" too. :) Humour is my best escape!

Lovella ♥ said...

I just hope that someone videos' it. . .and then posts it here so we can all see it .. pretty please?
The words to your song are lovely. .and I was deligted to see all the options that annonymus left. ..

Anonymous said...

The corners of your eyes will have a tear or two and the song you pick will be the perfect one. I kinda liked the words of the song you are leaning towards. I too hope to see a glimpse of that sweet moment. Kathy

Marg said...

I love music, and somehow I couldn't plug into the song...but the last one had great words. Go with what your heart says.
Looks like someone found you a wonderful list.
We used Sunrise Sunset, but that's not popular anymore..

Judy said...

I'm with Lovella...pick your song and dance...and then post it right here for all to see! (That way we'll see which shoes you went with as well.)

Kathy said...

Hi Jill, I think the song - Happiness Is - is perfect for a mom and son dance. Fun, reminescent, happy - and unique. After all you do think different :)

Have fun with this season.

PhantomMinuet said...

Did you consider Van Morrison's "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You"?