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.

Monday, April 27, 2009

Uncertain times...

Yes, these are days of uncertain times.
And no, I don't mean the Swine Flu.
Things around here are much more serious than that.

I leave for Jeff and Rachel's wedding in four days.
My MOG periwinkle lavender/blue toned dress is not back yet...and I have to figure out what shoes to wear to the wedding.

Since I didn't have the dress to work with, I just bought shoes that might work.
Now before I discuss each option, please note the size of the heels on the above shoes.
I don't wear heels.
I wear loafers and Crocs.

They do make high heel Crocs now, but they just didn't look quite right, and I didn't think gluing some extra do-dads to them would make any difference, except to possibly make the wedding guest chortle and guffaw as I walk down the aisle on my son's arm.

There is already too much violence in the world, so I won't go into how my son would feel about me clomping along in regular Crocs.

So here we go: This pair has an iridescent purple color, very deep with navy under tones with a cross over toe. The dress has bead work around the hem of the jacket that would match the tone perfectly.
I tend to walk out of the back one of the shoes, as I have a very narrow right heel. A heel "snug" could work.
They are also the highest of all the heels.

These are very comfortable, a silver satin with a discreet rhinestone buckle. The bridesmaids are all wearing silver shoes with navy dresses, so I could blend in with them. Silver would look good with periwinkle, but I always feel one's shoes should be darker than one's hemline.

The least comfortable of the shoes, selected only because of the lavender tones. I don't like snake skin, but maybe they would really rock with the outfit.
The number one contender in Bernie's opinion: Navy slingbacks. Very high spiked heels, a bit unnerving, but the sling backs will stay on my heels. They make my size nine feet look small with I find odd since they are so elongated.

Hoo boy.

So I showed all of these to B. and he expresses his doubts that I will be comfortable in high heels. I explain that I will just need to go down the aisle and back up and stand a bit for pictures, then I can switch to....

These flats. (I'm going to have to have a look at my camera lens, all my pictures were blurry. Or maybe my hand is shaking. Dunno.)

Of course the shoe decision will influence the purse decision. I have a silver satin baguette bag, and I *had* a satin navy clutch that I can't find, and that I am hoping I gave to Laura, because there sure as heck aren't any navy dress purses out there. There are hardly any navy shoes out there...Nordstroms had exactly three navy pumps. Silver, gold, black, brown and red are very popular...NOT navy.

I'm calling about my dress today. Really, it should be done by now. I've got a list of 13 things I've got to do by Wednesday, working around my work schedule. No stress...no stress.....


Oh, and I have to figure out what song I want to dance to with my son at the wedding. He just informed me last night that that would be included in the reception.
I am a terrible dancer.
I suppose I will have to stay in heels until after that is over.
Eeek.
Have an ambulance ready....
Anyone have a good suggestion for a song?
Help!