When I was ten, you could find me laying on my bed, listening to Casey Kasem's American Top 40 on the radio, scribbling down the lyrics to popular songs as fast as my little fingers could fly. Back then, of course, the Internet wasn't available to download lyrics. If your favorite LP didn't include lyrics in the liner notes, you had to rely on a good ear for listening and, in some cases, a good guess to fill in any gaps.
As a child, I wasn't known for my extensive record collection. Liner notes were virtually non-existent in my budding musical life. At that point my vinyl included Marlo Thomas' Free to Be You and Me, the Broadway cast recording of Godspell, and my golden ticket, Ronco Presents I Love Music, a 1970-something, top hits compilation album. So I did the best I could with deciphering lyrics like Cheap Trick's "I Want You to Want Me" from my tinny AM station.
And when I confessed to my mother that my favorite female musical artists were Dolly Parton and Barbra Streisand? Her reply (after pausing, possibly to ponder big boobs and noses) was "What about Olivia Newton John? Why can't you like Olivia Newton John?" Clearly a more appropriate role model for a ten year old. It wasn't for another few years yet, that my life would dramatically change with the discovery of Joni Mitchell's Hissing of Summer Lawns.
My daughter, on the other hand, has had a jump start in her musical tastes, peppered with the influence of popular female singer-songwriters (not including Dolly Parton, Barbra Streisand, or Olivia Newton John). At eight, she bopped to Katy Perry, at nine she was belting 'em out with Adele, and at ten, she has a significant waiting list of songs she wants me to upload to her MP3 player. The singer-songwriter who has been a constant throughout her growing love of music, however, is Ingrid Michaelson. I believe Ingrid is to Miranda, what Joni was for me. I only wish I had Ingrid's songs to swoon over when I was ten too.
So today's little ditty is brought to you by Ingrid Michaelson. This song, titled "Maybe," is from her 2009 album Everybody. I chose it as an example of poetry in action, not so much for the profundity of her lyrics (though some of her other songs might fall into that category), but because I love the theatrical combination of Noh-style puppeteers, marionettes, and shadow puppetry, set in a Mary Poppin-esque world of anything can happen.
And, I bet, your mother would approve.
For more poetry, both on and off the page, visit Tabatha at The Opposite of Indifference with today's Poetry Friday roundup.
Great video -- thanks for the heads up on Ingrid Michaelson. This old fogey might not have known about her if not for your wonderful post.
ReplyDeleteI'm a big Joni fan, have always loved singer songwriters too. I remember scribbling lyrics down from the radio too :).
My pleasure-- anything for a fellow Joni fan. And looky here, we're still scribbling... just not from the radio. ;)
DeleteI've reflected a lot on how different my musical experiences as a teenager were from those of my children, with their access to the internet. I tried to figure out lyrics too, and made mix tapes from the radio, and watched music videos on TV (the ones they chose). Now kids can experience so much different music for free, and the choice is limitless. Thanks for this post!
ReplyDeleteI totally remember trying to write down lyrics from the radio. And I'm a Free to Be You and Me kid, too.
ReplyDeleteThat's so cool that you're a Free2B kid too! Usually when I mention that album (which, of course, comes up in conversation daily), I'm met with a blank stare.
DeleteCool video, Michelle. Thanks for sharing. I'm with Liz -- I remember spending hours with my best friend trying to figure out Adam Ant lyrics. In a way, it's a shame that my kids will never do that. They can go straight to the internet.
ReplyDeleteAdam Ant? Oooh, you must have been one of the cool kids! You make a good point, though, what is happening to this generation's problem solving skills when the Internet is so convenient?
DeleteI remember trying to decipher lyrics, too -- rewinding one confusing bit over and over again (and still not getting it right!). I love Ingrid Michaelson! I shared her Winter Song (with Sara Bareilles) a couple of years ago. Still a favorite.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, rewinding. I knew it well. Glad to hear you're an Ingrid fan too! :)
Delete"Rocket Man, burning up his fuse up here alone" - Elton John
ReplyDeleteI listened to that song hundreds of times and never knew that phrase. Thanks for the American Top 40 mention. My siblings and I were faithful listeners every Friday night. I tell children about only 3 channels on TV, but they don't understand. Great thought about problem solving skills in the above post as well.
Yep, most definitely a doozy of a phrase! Believe it or not, we don't subscribe to cable or satellite and still only get 3 channels. But what we avoid with television, we make up for in computer usage. :/
DeleteGorgeous visuals in this song. Wouldn't we have loved to 'see' our songs that we loved. I remember playing a song over & over so I could write the lyrics. Amazing how much things have changed just since I started teaching! Thanks for the post, & the video.
ReplyDeleteI remember being totally mesmerized by MTV when it first came out for exactly that reason! When music videos are done creatively, you just can't beat that audio/visual partnership.
DeleteWhat I've been thinking about the change in when and how (fast) kids get into music vs the (slow) way we did, you put into words here!
ReplyDeleteSome of the highlights of my music lyrics path were Burl Ives, Johnny Cash, James Taylor, John Denver, and Dan Fogelberg.
What a clever video! I have this album. I should dig it up. But instead I am typing her name into Pandora. Isn't new technology great?
ReplyDeleteAs I was growing up, my brother, who today is a professional musician, would put down the needle, play a little, pick it up, put it down, again and again. He was learning the song by ear to play and sing at our baby grand. Your post brought back that memory.
You're too funny! Pandora's box, Margaret, Pandora's box. ;) What a great memory of your brother.
DeleteWow! This is fabulous. I'm an ancient (way before Marlo Thomas! Think Elvis.) who is happy to know about Ingrid Michaelson. I love the video elements - Japanese puppeteers (Noh or bunraku?, shadow puppet elements,Mary Poppins and maybe a little Asian Sumi-e brush painting at the end. I will listen to more music by this artist.What a great post, Michelle.
ReplyDeleteSo glad I could share the love, Joyce!
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