Yes, boys and girls, we know what time it is.
It's time for Music Moves Me!
Who are the Music Moves Me 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-meaning at least one music video, please!) First, there is XmasDolly. Her co-hosts are: Stacy of Stacy Uncorked, Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, and me.
Each month we have a guest conductor. Today, we welcome once again our guest conductor (and all around wonderful person) Cathy from Curious as a Cathy. Cathy has picked as our theme for this week: "National Boss/Employee Exchange Day - Songs about filling another person's work shoes or in general for those who don't work outside the home."
I work part time - does that mean I only have to go with the theme for half the songs?
I decided to give it my all anyway, and I did an online check about trading places with someone. There are lots and lots of songs about hating your job, quitting your job, escaping from your job, and so forth. Not too many about trading places, it seems.
Now, escape sounds like a great topic. Don't we all want to escape from....something? Work? The pandemic? Our spouses? Our life, in general? Or paying tribute to the worker? Or those who have lost jobs and struggle? I'm making those my themes today.
Let's start with those about to lose their jobs or struggling in times of change.
Work For the Working Man - Bon Jovi. Here is its story.
The Downeaster Alexa - Billy Joel, from 1990. Billy Joel has supported the Baymen of Long Island (New York), The Alexa (actually, the Alexa Ray) was a real boat.
Working can be dangerous and thankless.
We've got to escape.
The Animals - We Gotta Get Out of this Place.
Bruce Springsteen - Born to Run, from 1975. This song also has an interesting story. I am not a huge Bruce Springsteen fan, but I love this song, and I was mesmerized by Springsteen's performance at the 9/11 memorial at the World Trade Center on Saturday.
Next, a song about quitting the job. Country isn't my preferred genre, but what says it better than Johnny Paycheck and his 1977 classic "Take This Job and Shove It"? The phrase, I discovered in my research, is a "snowclone". I never heard of that word before now.
BONUS song if you have time - the classic Dolly Parton's crossover hit about working:" 9 to 5".
And that's a wrap!
Join me and the other Music Moves Me bloggers next Monday, same time, same place.
Alana,
ReplyDeleteYou did a fab job with your song picks. I think I made the theme too hard but I think everyone will do okay. If nothing else it'll put our brains to work. :) I don't recall Billy Joel's "The Downeaster Alexa". It occurred to me that Billy wasn't seated at piano in this song instead he's using an accordion. Now, that's an instrument you don't see every day in pop music. I didn't know at the time "Workin' In a Coal Mine" was a cover but I do recall Devo's version. Johnny Paycheck's song was really popular when it came out and I just love Dolly's "9 to 5". We even went to the theater to see the film which was a lot of fun. I think this was the first movie we saw Dolly in. The 80s totally rocked. Thanks for sharing and dancing with me. Have a boogietastic week, darlin'!
...many I know.
ReplyDeleteReally great choices! I especially love the Billy Joel song.
ReplyDeleteOh, Working in a Coal Mine! It's in a skit in the movie Muppets Most Wanted. My son had never heard it before, and couldn't believe it was a real song! I won't say that Muppet movie comes close to the great ones of old (like Treasure Island or even A Christmas Carol), but it's got Ricky Gervais and Tina Fey starring with the Muppets!
ReplyDeleteI never heard that one by Billy Joel, and man didn't know he played the accordion too! Wow Jack of all trades & instruments. I haven't heard that Animals tune in ages or the or Devo & Take this job & shove it I use to sing with my cousin on the way home from work when we worked in downtown Chicago. hahaha GOOD TIMES. Thanks baby girl for all your help. You're duh best! BIG HUGS!
ReplyDeleteGreat songs! Now I've got 'Workin' in a Coalmine' happily running through my mind! ;)
ReplyDeleteWell, your first tunes were new to me- including the cover of the Coal Mine (I knew the original well)... But, the Animals were among my favorites as a youth.
ReplyDelete(BTW, Bon Jovi impressed me with that song- for the first time ever!)