Monday's Music Moves Me

Happy Birthday, Erika! #4M

January 29, 2018 /

Good morning, Kittens and Dawgs! It’s fabulous to see you!   This week Joyce from Catch My Words is our Spotlight Dancer and she had the privilege of submitting a “Happy Birthday” theme to honor her daughter, Erika, on her 25th birthday. Let’s get this party on the road! Are you ready to groove to some mewsic?

I’m not in to astrology but I find the information sort of fun and since I’m looking for inspiration to honor the birthday girl that’s what I’m doin’ now, pulling out my creativity of sorts. Erika you’re born under the Aquarius sign making you an intelligent and creative gal inspiring me to send you warm wishes today with these song picks on your special day.

  1. “Age of Aquarius” written in 1967 for the Broadway mewsical, Hair and released by the American R&B group, The 5th Dimension. It topped the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles charts for 6-six weeks in 1969. The lyrics based on the astrology beliefs that the world would be entering an age of love, light, and humanity “Age of Aquarius”. Wikipedia reports Neil Spencer denounces the lyrics, when the moon is in the 7th house and Jupiter aligns with Mars as astrological gibberish because Jupiter aligns with Mars several times each year and the moon is in the 7th House two hours every day. He believes the words are merely a poetic expression and not some sort of prophecy.  Interestingly, the “Age of Aquarius” presumably would take place at the end of the 20th century but Astrologers widely disagree, somewhere between the years 2062 – 2680, when this will occur. At the earliest possible date most of us won’t be here to see the “Age of Aquarius”.
  2. “ABC” released in 1970, taking the number one spot on the charts away from the Beatles’ “Let It Be” recorded by Motown pop artist group formed by brothers known as The Jackson 5. It became the bands’ signature song. Did you know this is one of the shortest song titles to hit #1?
  3. “Just My Imagination” Motown writers Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong penned the words for this 1971 #1 hit for The Temptations. It tells a story of a guy who’s madly in love with a girl he sees from a far who doesn’t know he exists and imagines his life with her.
  4. “The Future’s So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades” sounds like Huey Lewis & the News but actually released by Timbuk 3 in 1986. It’s the only mainstream hit by the group, peaking No. 19 in the US and it’s a new-to-me tune. I like the uptemp composition and the positive flow of the lyrics. Listeners heard this song as “graduation theme” but songwriter, Pat McDonald debunks the positive message with a gloomier picture of the author’s intent. I prefer to think happy thoughts, thank  you and will keep that in mind when I listen to this song. Hopefully, you will, too!
  5. “Sayonara Aquarius” released in 2015 from Album the Third by Lars Sorensen is a piano arrangement. I don’t know much about the artist or the song but I think it’s very lovely.
  6. “Dream Weaver” written and released by American singer Gary Wright in December 1975; it peaked #2 in the US while reaching the top of the Cash Box charts. Songfacts reports when asked about the meaning of this song, Wright responsd… I really wasn’t sure myself and would answer ‘it was about a kind of fantasy experience… a Dream Weaver train taking you through the cosmos.’ But I was never satisfied with that explanation, and as years went by I began to reflect on what the song actually meant and then it came to me: ‘Dream Weaver, I believe you can get me through the night…’ was a song about someone with infinite compassion and love carrying us through the night of our trials and suffering. None other than God Himself.
  7. “Rainbow Connection” Paul Williams and Kennth Ascher wrote this song for the 1979 The Muppet Movie and sung by Kermit the Frog (Jim Henson). This song stayed in the top 40s for several weeks. Who’d believe a frog would make the Billboard charts? I guess there’s hope for me yet. Anywho, Williams and Ascher won Best Original Song at the 52nd Academy Awards.  The American Film Institute named this as the 74th greatest movie song of all times and I’d have to agree it is one of the best. This song drives some to do the craziest things for instance in 1996, a young New Zealand man burst into a radio station taking the manager hostage and demanded Kermit’s “Rainbow Connection” be played.
  8. “Weird Science” is the theme song for the 1986 movie written and sung by Danny Elfman (Oingo Boingo) and released on the films’ soundtrack. I recall going to the theatre to see the flick and totally forgot about this sung  until several years ago when it surfaced on a fellow blogger’s site.  The song was #45 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and #21 on the US Dance Club charts. I get a chuckle every time I hear this song and think about the scene of those two crazy high school boys inventing a beautiful woman.
  9. “Daydream Believer” written by John Stewart shortly after leaving the Kingston Trio and recorded (1967) by The Monkees lead singer Davy Jones. It was the last number one US hit for the band and perhaps one of my favorites by the group. I loved watching the Saturday morning sitcom! It was a silly show with a lot of groovy mewsic.
  10. “Aquarius Star Sign” This is a clever little ditto of characteristic traits of an Aquarius by Just Peachey. I couldn’t resist including this in Erika’s birthday tune mix.
  11. “Classical Music for Brain Power Mozart Effect” People born under the Aquarius sign are supposedly intelligent and while there is no scientific proof, studies indicate that listening to classical mewsic stimulates short-term improvement in certain mental tasks called the Mozart Effect. What a better way to round out this playlist  but with an hour plus of beautiful, mind enriching Mozart compositions by Halidon Music.

Please read….This is a weekly hop for mewsic enthusiasts regardless if you follow our weekly theme if you have tunes to share then we’re ready to dance with you. Otherwise, I ask that you do not link non-related posts below to boost traffic to your site. You’re welcome to leave your URL in comments with a brief description inviting me (and others) to check it out. Thank you!

I invite you step on the floor with my dance partners:  XmasDolly, Stacy, & Colette!

What music moves you today?  I’m sure many of you know but if you don’t this isn’t Audrey Hepburn. I liked the image so I borrowed the quote from Brainy Quote to add to the picture to create today’s inspirational meme contribution. 😉

I invite you to plug-in with the “Sparks” community hosted by good pal, Annie at McGuffy’s Reader where you can energize your soul and make the world a little better with sparks of encouragement. Let’s make the world a nice r place starting with onself and passing it on! 😉

Keep those tunes playing and your body swaying, I’ll see ya around the cyber block!  Don’t forget to check back tomorrow for another issuse of “Get to Know Me 2018” on Cathy Chats!

 
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41 Comments

  • Alana Mautone (@RamblinGarden)

    February 4, 2018 at 6:10 pm

    Some of my favorite hits are January hits, and I never quite paid attention to that. Daydream Believer (I am a big Monkees fan), Age of Aquarius, Dream Weaver, Just my Imagination…what a way to celebrate a birthday. Too bad I’m a December gal so my birthday always gets swallowed up in Christmas. Ah well…hope Erica had a wonderful birthday thanks to the 4Mers!

    • Cathy Kennedy

      February 5, 2018 at 5:57 am

      Alana,

      Well…when you put it that way then I can say the same about January mewsic. 🙂 I hear you about birthdays, mine is also in December and always got mixed in when I was a kid. Thankfully, DH always makes a point to separate the occasions. The interesting thing is I was supposed to be born in January but came a month early. They had to keep me in an incubator for a few days. I was small but not super duper like some premies. My birth weight was 5lbs. 7oz but I imagine by the time I left the hospital I was much closer to 5lbs. Have a good day and thanks for dropping by for a dance!

  • Stacy Uncorked

    February 4, 2018 at 12:30 am

    I love what you did with the theme, Cathy! And now I have ‘Rainbow Connection’ running through my head – but I don’t mind, it could be worse! 😉 Thanks for the dance! 🙂

  • Kim

    January 31, 2018 at 9:20 am

    Daydream believer is one of my favorite songs (and part of my blog tagline!) I was clearly born in the wrong generation musically. Well…..maybe not, since I like everything. Dream Weaver is good, too!

  • greyzoned/angelsbark

    January 30, 2018 at 11:01 am

    Hey Sweet Cathy, LOVE your playlist!!
    Starting out with Age of Aquarius: soooo good!
    I love the Jackson 5. ABC and Rockin’ Robin have always been favorites. Michael Jackson sure had a strange trajectory with his career — from what he was in youth to what he became I think had so much to do with his father’s abusive ways. Have you ever seen any of the Jackson’s real-life stories and their upbringing? That Joe Jackson was a monster, it seems. Too bad. No matter what one feels about him, the thing that can’t ever be taken away from MJ: he was without a doubt a brilliant artist. His music all through his years was fantastic. To see his performances and his music videos, knowing about what a perfectionist he was and so dedicated to his craft. (I saw him in concert back in the 80s…and in the same week I also saw Prince! What a incredible comparison/contrast that was!)

    That Timbuck3 song sure does sound like Huey Lewis! Part of me says I’ve heard this song before and then another part thinks I’m confusing it with a Huey Lewis song… It’s good though. Great harmonica solo in there too!

    You’ve included one of my very favorite songs too: Dream Weaver sure takes me back! Was interesting to hear Gary Wright’s explanation of the song’s meaning. I never really thought about it before (I’m one who kinda naturally leans more toward the music as opposed to the lyrics). Great song, no matter the interpretation!

    Why do I not remember the Kermit song?? It stayed in the Top 40 for weeks? I must have missed out on that block of time… which isn’t a surprise considering that was kinda the height of my “party” days back then… I do adore Kermit though. Those muppets crack me up. Especially the rock band — a muppet “hair band” Lol!

    Listening to some Monkees is a great way to get my day started! I too used to love watching their Saturday morning show. I caught an episode of the show a few years back on some retro TV station and thought “How did I ever think this was good??” It was sooo goofy!

    That Aquarian song was cool. I’d love to hear the band to one for Virgos!
    I also enjoyed the piano instrumental.

    This was a very cool variety of songs Cathy! I’m sure Erica really liked it! I know I did. Thanks for the flashbacks and the introductions.
    Have a wonderful week.

    Michele at Angels Bark

    • Cathy Kennedy

      January 30, 2018 at 5:23 pm

      Michele,

      I have read a little over the years and seen interviews with the Jackson kids reference to their father’s abusive behavior. I don’t remember much about it. MJ was a brilliant entertainer. I remember wanting so much to see him when he came to town for the Victory tour but the tickets were too much! It’s too bad that his life ended too soon. Dream Weaver is a fave of mine, too. I’m like you I’m in tune with the mewsic than the lyrics but it’s interesting to learn these tidbits. What’s this you don’t remember “Rainbow Connections”? What planet have you been on? lol I was surprised how much I liked this cute song when the movie came out. It really caught fire! The whole point of shows like The Monkees is it’s supposed to be ridiculously silly. That’s part of the charm of these programs. 😀

    • Cathy Kennedy

      January 30, 2018 at 4:39 am

      Annie,

      Oh definitely there will be coffee! I cant start my day without it and lots of it. 🙂 Cathy Chats isn’t replacing “Coffee Chat” as I’ve always had this slot for quite some time. I just didn’t have a linky up but after you mentioned missing Les’ then I thought I’d give it a try. We’ll see how this goes. Thanks for the interest!

  • Mary B

    January 29, 2018 at 6:06 pm

    I really like your choices for today. I was worried we’d be hearing so many happy birthday songs that it kind of turned me off, but you really put together a great list. Thanks for the dance!

    • Cathy Kennedy

      January 30, 2018 at 4:42 am

      Mary,

      I sort missed the mark with the theme a bit but I somehow didn’t notice part of Joyce’s request so I sorta struck out on my own getting a little inventive. I’m delighted you liked it. That makes me feel good coming from someone such as you who does an excellent job with playlists. 😀

  • Pamela

    January 29, 2018 at 5:24 pm

    Fabulous music choices Cathy and I’m going to be singing them all week, especially Rainbow Connection – love that song. The Audrey Hepburn quote is fabulous – she was a very wise woman and I often refer to a lot of her quotes.
    Have a really lovely week.:)

    • Cathy Kennedy

      January 30, 2018 at 5:23 am

      Pamela,

      Audrey Hepburn is an interesting woman. I read up on her a little a few years ago and was fascinated by her life. She sure had a hard youth fighting in the resistance and nearly starving to death. I can’t imagine how those in Europe survived the ravagings of the world wars. I bet you heard some interesting stories from your grandparents and great-grandparents growing about those times.

  • XmasDolly

    January 29, 2018 at 4:44 pm

    WOW! YOU GO GIRL!!! Love this tune since it came out, but actually I always loved the 5th Dimension. Great pickin’ there girlfriend! Great idea. By the way, found out about my mistake with the link of our Spotlight Dancer. I had last week’s link 🙁 bummer, but I have fixed it. Well, must move on time’s a wastin’ for us old folks like me gotta keep movin’! hugs ~ehehehe~

    • Cathy Kennedy

      January 30, 2018 at 5:27 am

      Marie,

      What’s that your linky code got mixed up? Oh well…I found everyone’s 4M post just fine. Thanks for stopping by to dance. Keep feeling better and take it easy!

  • Comedy Plus

    January 29, 2018 at 1:47 pm

    ♪♪Happy Birthday to you,♪♪
    ♪♪Happy Birthday to you,♪♪
    ♪♪Happy Birthday Dear Erika,♪♪
    ♪♪Happy Birthday to you.♪♪

    Have a fabulous day, Cathy. ♥

  • 15andmeowing

    January 29, 2018 at 1:40 pm

    Happy Birthday to Erika! Nice music choices, I am going to have Age of Aquarius and Daydream Believer stuck in my head all day now. 🙂

  • Joyce Lansky

    January 29, 2018 at 11:36 am

    Thanks so much for the birthday shout out! Erica fits the Aquarian mode as someone who is smart and creative! Erica said, “This is cute. I like seeing all the blogposts about my birthday!” I love the Aquarius angel. So clever! The other songs are fun, too. Cute little Michael Jackson was fun! I liked him better as a little boy. I would have thought the future’s so bright was Huey Lewis and the News had I not read otherwise. I love the Weird Science movie, too. Fun! Finally, while the world was in love with Davey, I loved Mickey!

    • Cathy Kennedy

      January 30, 2018 at 5:42 am

      Joyce,

      Thanks for the mewsic theme suggestion. It was great fun to pull together. I liked MJ better as a kid, too. He just got weird in the end. I always like Huey Lewis & the News but I don’t know the backstory to what happened to them. This sounds like a post waiting to happen if you ask me. 🙂 One of my good friends from my working years loved Mickey the best, too. I was shocked! I thought, “What’s this? Everyone is supposed to love Davey!” lol We went to see the Monkees when they did their retro show in the mid-80s. It was such fun, too! I’m so glad I got to do that. It’s great dancing with you!

  • K. Radford

    January 29, 2018 at 10:51 am

    Great music! Happy Birthday to ERIKA! And to LEE and to all the Aquarians! My daughter turns 25 next month. She is a Pisces. (I had to look it up lol) My oldest son is an Aquarian. He will be 33 on Feb. 5th. Honestly, I don’t know how this happened. I was young just a short time ago and now 2 of my 3 children are in their 30s!!! Yikes!

    • Cathy Kennedy

      January 29, 2018 at 11:30 am

      Thank you for stopping in K and wishing Erika a happy birthday, as well as Lee. I know what you mean about having kids growing up so fast. Our oldest will be 30 in June. If we had children straight out the gate, then they would’ve been in their upper 30s. We celebrate our 39th anniversary this June. Time really doesn’t wait for anyone, does it? One day, you’re young and the next you’re not so young. It’s better than the alternative. Of course, life on the other side of the pearly gates is gonna be wonderful but I enjoy my time in this life. I think God wants us to enjoy our earthly reign. I’d love to do a return visit but you didn’t leave a breadcrumb for me to follow. I hope you see my comment and let me know what your weblink is! 🙂

      • K. Radford

        January 29, 2018 at 2:37 pm

        Hi Cathy! I don’t have a blog/website right now. I did have a blog some time ago and then stopped writing on it and deleted it. A short time ago I was going to start a new one, but it seemed a bit complicated to me. Maybe I just didn’t find the right places to look, but It seems like it used to be easier or maybe I am just too old to figure it out! 😀 Anywho, if you ever want to get in touch with me, just send me a message through my email and I will get back to you. I check my email almost every day. Your note here really cheered me up today. I have been having trouble with our STUPID pharmacy! I will spare you the details, but someone made such a MAJOR mistake! Yikes! Your site is great! You put so much into it! I am really looking forward to Favorite Country Mewsic! ~Karla~

        • Cathy Kennedy

          January 30, 2018 at 5:32 am

          Karla,

          I’m glad you saw my question and I appreciate you hopping back to reply. Please, you aren’t too old to learn anything! 🙂 If you ever need help launching a new blog, I’m happy to assist with getting you started if you want to try again but no pressure. I just want you to know you’re not alone. The one thing I found in Blogosphere is the generous help of others. This is a wonderful community of people. I hope you got your pharmacy problem resolved and the major mistake isn’t as bad as it sounds. You’re welcome to drop by anytime or shoot me an email if you have questions! Have a good week, dearie!

        • K. Radford

          January 31, 2018 at 10:33 am

          Hey there Cathy! You are so sweet. I might take you up on help with a blog one of these days. I am guessing people might not want to hear about Keith Urban with every blog, maybe every other one. 😉 It is nice to hear that people in the Blogosphere are so generous! I have a cold and the cold meds are making me really loopy….more so than usual. …who even knew that was possible? My pharmacy problem FINALLY worked out and everything is fine now. Thank heavens! Love your pics…they are great!

        • Cathy Kennedy

          February 1, 2018 at 5:10 am

          Karla,

          Are you a Keith Urban fan? Being an AI viewer, I found Urban to be a rather likable fellow and his mewsic has grown on me over the years. The blogging community is a great group of folks. Whenever you want to take me up on my offer of help to start a new blog then let me kow. 😉 I hope you’re feeling better soon and am happy to hear the pharmacy fixed the problem. See ya around!

    • Cathy Kennedy

      January 29, 2018 at 11:17 am

      Patrick, that’s right you had a bday a few days ago, didn’t you? Was that last week? I’m so forgetful! lol “Rainbow Connection” is a great song. It always makes me smile!

  • Under the Oaks

    January 29, 2018 at 10:29 am

    Pretty much all those tunes make me want to tap my feet… love Just My Imagination, Age of Aquarius, Dream Weaver. Music has always been a big part of my life. I am a big fan of Motown and I am a huge fan of Smokey Robinson. Have seen him in concert three times!
    Love the quote… I like the words of kindness.

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