SiriusXM highlights CLXVII

Monday morning standouts:

'40s Junction 

• Stompin' At The Savoy-Georgie Auld (The type of classy, brassy swing I enjoyed playing on WEW.) 

The Bridge Deep Cuts 

• Come Down In Time-Elton John (Some of the most effective lyrics about the pain rejection causes.  Sting covers it effectively, as well.)

Coffee House Classics

• Telephone-Shelby Lynne (To me, this ranks second only to "Gotta Get Back" among Lynne's songs.  This is one of her best rhythms, and it's paired with frank lyrics about how sometimes, you don't really want to have a conversation with someone; you just want credit for making an attempt to call.)

Deep Tracks

• Themes-Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe (If I didn't know otherwise, I might have thought the long, new age-ish keyboard intro was an extract from a Vangelis melody.)

Gas Station

• Take Me Home, Country Roads-John Denver (Longing for home, expressed honestly to a foot-stomping rhythm.)

The Groove 

• Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now-McFadden & Whitehead (Still one of the most positive anthems for anyone who feels overlooked or unheard.  Soccer fans might remember this as the theme song of the St. Louis Steamers.)

The Loft 

• Take The L-The Motels (This would have been a respectable follow-up hit after "Only The Lonely" due to its similar feel.)

Luna

• The Time Is Now-Eliane Elias (I've recommended many of Elias's vocal and piano instrumental tracks on this blog, but this one stands out for being atypically raucous.)

Real Jazz

• The "In" Crowd-Gregory Porter (Ramsey Lewis shows how cool this melody is, instrumentally.  Gregory Porter shows how cool it is, vocally.  Also recommended: Marshall Crenshaw's interesting midtempo cover.)

SiriusXMU

• What Do I Know?-Deep Sea Diver (Sometimes, it's difficult to accept that so many aspects of life are out of our hands.)

The Village

• If You Were There-Connie Kaldor (Even when you know you're in a great relationship, it's nice to hear your significant other say so.)

Yacht Rock Radio

• Sailin' The Wind-Loggins & Messina (As its title indicates, this is prototypical yacht rock subject matter--sung at an unhurried pace fit for sailing.)

Persistent earworm alert CDXXIV

When I wake up feeling groggy, I sometimes think of an early '80s TV commercial jingle for Downyflake waffles.  In the commercial, various family members wake up abruptly with huge smiles at the thought of eating such tasty waffles.  

As delicious as waffles are, I've never felt inclined to wake up smiling maniacally or sing the Downyflake jingle, "Wake up.  Wake up.  Wake up with Downyflake."  

However, the Downyflake jingle's lasting impression brightens my mood a tad on days when my disposition is sour.  Such is the healing power of waffles--and a peppy jingle.

STEAM over STEM

My school days ended decades ago, but it's still interesting to read now and then about what my local public school district offers students these days.  As I glanced over one recently mailed update, I did a double take.  At first, I thought the district was touting its STEM (i.e. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) offerings.  I looked again.  What was formerly STEM is now STEAM (i.e. Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math.)

Knowing that playing a musical instrument ranks with more technical fields in importance makes me think better of the district.  Hopefully, the district's increased prioritizing of the arts will resonate with other citizens and make them vote for school bond issues that accommodate student artists.

Context? CDXXV

Heard during a late '90s FM dial scan: "Hurry.  The 99-cent triple cheeseburger won't be around for long."

My response: "For those who crave triple cheeseburgers, that's a bargain.  That's way too much food, though, unless you've skipped at least one meal." 

Context? CDXXIV

Recently, a radio personality's closing pitch for using a particular heating and cooling company was, "All the technicians are happy to work there."

I asked the radio, "Did anyone survey them?"

Persistent earworm alert CDXXIII

Decades after graduating from college, the newspaper commercial jingle, "Wake up to The Missourian," still comes to mind at unexpectedly random times.  My frequent recall of it speaks to my desire to jump back into my past college life in Columbia, Missouri at times.  It also indicates my desire to go back to a time when more people read newspapers regularly to stay informed.

Sometimes, it's comforting to live in a world that feels less rushed--or to have the illusion, at least, that it's  relatively unhurried.

Persistent earworm alert CDXXII

Since hearing it on Community Radio St. Louis's "Move The Needle," I haven't been able to get Jesse Winchester's "Sham-A-Ling-Dong-Ding" out of my mind.  Somehow, this movingly written, sensitively sung track had eluded me until last Saturday.  If I'd never heard of the song or Winchester, I'd have guessed it was a Danny & The Juniors-style '50s dance tune.  Actually, it's a 2009 track with a convincing '50s doo-wop pastiche.  It's a fitting tune for Valentine's Day or any day you want to tell your beloved one how much she means to you.