Monday, November 20, 2017

Songs of Thankfulness #MusicMovesMe

Today, on this Music Monday before Thanksgiving in the United States, our theme is "Tunes with the word "Thankful/thanks or about Thanksgiving or tunes about what you are thankful for."

This year, it is more important than ever to be thankful - for family, or health, or even for our very lives, in a world that is in such turmoil.

It's going to be a hard Thanksgiving time for some families in the rock n' roll world; more on that a little later.

Anyone who has a best friend is so fortunate.  I am thankful that I have a best friend.  My first song is: Queen - You're My Best Friend.

To my spouse, who is a huge Led Zeppelin fan - Thank You, from Led Zeppelin II.

We Gather Together, a hymn we used to sing in public school (yes, public school) every Thanksgiving, in the elementary school I attended in New York City.  Guess I'm dating myself.

And one more - Thankful 'NThoughtful by Sly and the Family Stone.

And now, to the sad music news of this week.

Malcolm Young, rhythm guitarist for the band AC/DC, passed away from dementia at the age of 64 - the same age as I am.  His older brother had died earlier this year.   Blogger Angel's Bark blogged an excellent tribute to Young.

Here is one of my favorite AC/DC songs - Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, from 1976.

Mel Tillis died yesterday at the age of 85.  I am not that much of a country music fan, but I mourn the death of a great musician.  Here, from 1978, Coca-Cola Cowboy.


As I write this post, David Cassidy, of Partridge Family fame, is in ICU and is not expected to survive much longer.   Cassidy, 67, was suffering from dementia, but also had a drinking problem for years.  He was hospitalized Wednesday suffering from liver and kidney failure, initially put into a medical induced coma, but is now conscious and with family..

Here, he covers the song Cherish, done by the Association in 1966.

Join Xmas Dolly, the Conductor of this Musical trip and her other Conductors:   Callie of JAmerican Spice, and ♥Stacy of Stacy Uncorked♥  & Rockin’ conductor Cathy from Curious as a Cathy !
Don't miss this train when it leaves the music station!

20 comments:

  1. A bittersweet post. Great song choices. And yet you start with Freddy Mercury, who died way too young, and end with David Cassidy ...

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  2. Alana,

    DH is my BFF so I love that you included Queen's "You're My Best Friend" as this very good reason to be thankful. Everyone needs a best friend. I like all of your mewsic this morning. Not being an AC/DC fan I did not know know this legendary heavy metal band lost a member. Also, missed the mews about Mel Tillis, how sad! He had 85 years that's more than Malcolm Young and now what's this David Cassidy is standing at Heaven's gate?! Oh my, this is sad! I had such a crush on him when I was a kid. His mother died early due to dementia. I can't help but wonder if hard living caused by booze and drugs escalate health problems like dementia. We have one life it pays to be kind to our bodies! Saying prayers for David Cassidy and his family. It's great to have you on the dance floor, my friend. I hope you and yours enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving filled with lots of love!

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  3. Not being a fan of AC/DC or David Cassidy (it seems that he only did covers), I am sad someone died, but... (As opposed to a bit of smugness that Mr. Manson decided to join Mel Tillis and Malcolm Young on their journeys.)
    Oh, and I NEVER heard that song they taught you in NYC Public Schools. Thankfully!

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  4. The Queen song is my favorite here but also one of my favorites!

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  5. It's amazing the benefits that music provides. Great choices. So sad about David Cassidy

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  6. Great songs. Hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

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  7. I hate that so many musicians have died recently, and I had no idea about teenage heart throb, David Cassidy. Great song picks. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

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  8. A great selection here! I remember Mel Tillis from all the appearances he made on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. And David Cassidy... what a shock, huh? He was doing very poorly, so I guess it was a blessing, but what a shame...

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  9. What a great eclectic collection of music. I enjoyed it all, although, I admit, I am not a big fan of rock music. The loss of these musicians is so sad.

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  10. So much sadness in the music world this week, indeed. I wasn't a huge fan of any of them, but like you, mourn the loss of any great musician. The older I get, the more it happens :(

    Kim @ The ReInVintaged Life

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  11. So many tragedies in the music world. These songs all new to me... Haven't listened to these artists before. I can only recognize AC DC and that's a nice song too.

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  12. Great pickins' my friend! Every time I go by someone I smack myself in the head & say, "Why didn't I think of that?" Queen's tune my husband taught me on the keyboard & we did a duet with it when the band was called "Designated Riders"! It was a fun tune too! Great tunes my friend & I thank you for all your choices. HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you and yours! BIG HUGS

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  13. I haven't heard most of these songs, and I feel this post is a good ode to the musicians.

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  14. Yes the world has lost many artistes this year. I don’t recall any of these songs but the one song I like is ABBA’s Thank You for the Music. Happy Thanksgiving to you Alana.

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  15. Hey Alana,
    Awesome group of songs that are perfect for a theme of thankfulness. All of them are great (although I was unfamiliar with the hymn). I hadn't heard that Sly & the Family Stone song in so long! And Queen's "You're My Best Friend" is definitely one of my favs...and the Led Zep song definitely takes me back.

    Thanks so much for linking to my blog post about AC/DC's Malcolm Young! I really appreciate that.
    2017 has really been a tough year for music artists. My folks were very fond of Mel Tillis. And what heartbreaking news about David Cassidy. Lord, do I remember all the Teen Beat covers he was on! I had such a crush, as did so many girls at that time. So sad that he came to such fame and ended up with so little in his later stages of life. I just read a great article that you might like:
    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-5098847/JAN-MOIR-David-Cassidy-news-hearts-skip-beat.html

    I particularly liked this paragraph, which described that time perfectly:
    "Back then, we had Charlie perfume on our wrists, strawberry-flavoured gloss on our lips and David Cassidy on our bedroom walls. With his puka shell necklaces and appliquéd dungarees, he was the floppy-haired fount of a million schoolgirl crushes. Then and now, he represents the absolute essence of adolescence from a more innocent age – it is awful to think of him fighting for his life.
    For he was our original poster boy, most beloved pin-up, our first, our last, our everything. We were absolutely crazy about him."

    (And believe it or not, they still make Charlie perfume: I almost bought some a few months ago, for a little nostalgia. I think I still might...) :)

    I didn't partake in this week's 4M; I just didn't have time to put anything together. So I wanted to stop by and wish you a wonderful Thanksgiving. Hope you spend it surrounded by family and friends.

    talk soon,

    Michele at Angels Bark

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  16. Except Queens song all the other are new for me.But liked your trip down song memories.

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  17. So many beautiful songs to make one thoughtful and thankful.Loved your trip down memory lane.

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  18. What a great collection of songs and you had shown your gratitude in an interesting way, feel said with the last part..wishing you a happy thanksgiving day.

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  19. Excellent song choices - awesome tribute. Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving! :)

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