Monday Leadership Music #MusicMovesMe

Who are the #MusicMovesMe bloggers? We are bloggers who blog about music each Monday and if you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only , please!)   First, there is XmasDolly,   Her co-hostesses are: Stacy of Stacy Uncorked, Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, and me. Xmas Dolly has had some issues with her blog, but I understand she will attempt to join us today.

Each month we have a guest co-hostess who picks themes for the month, and this month we are featuring Songbird from Songbird's Crazy World.

Songbird's theme for today is "Songs About Leaders".  Why?  Because this was supposed to be posted on a holiday in our country that honors all our Presidents, rather than on Valentine's Day. 

Yesterday's Valentine's Day was a bittersweet one this year, especially for everyone who lost a loved one this past year. 

So, before I dig into our theme, here's "I Will Always Love You" as sung by Dolly Parton.  I never realized this song, made famous by Whitney Houston was written and first sung by Dolly Parton.  What a treasure she is!  A leader of the music industry.

To me, leaders aren't necessarily Presidents or others who rule countries.  We find leaders throughout our society, including in some less likely places.

How about a boy from the wrong side of town.  Back in 1964, when this was a hit, there was a sub-genre of sorts one might call "teenage tragedy" songs.  These songs of the late 50's and early to mid 60's were full of teens dying in car accidents.  Here and there a plane crash was thrown in for variety, or even a suicide or two because teens in love weren't allowed to have a relationship for whatever reason.

This one is a tad different and, in my humble opinion, one of the best ones.  From 1964, the Shangri-las and "Leader of the Pack".

From 1988 - R.E.M. and "World Leader Pretend". 

Billy Joel's 1989 hit "We Didn't Start the Fire" isn't strictly about leaders but it mentions several.  I chose this lyric video rather than the official one - I hope you enjoy the historical slides that make up part of this presentation of events from 1959 to 1989.   Here is a visual listing of the events.

From 1968, Dion's hit "Abraham, Martin and John" mentions four leaders of our nation, two of whom were Presidents.   Dion grew up just a few miles (and a few years) from where I grew up.

My last selection is heartfelt and in line with today, Valentine's Day.  Dan Fogelberg's song "Leader of the Band/Washington Post March" is a tribute to his father Lawrence, who was a band leader. 

The song was released in late 1981, charted in 1982, and his father passed away later in 1982.  There is a pause at the end of the song after which a few bars of Sousa's "Washington Post March" play.  I never knew this until researching this song, but his father was conducting the band in that clip.

And that's a loving wrap.

See you again Monday February 22.