A peaceful Monday afternoon in the Southern Tier of New York.
Nature seemed to be drawing a line.
Joining Yogi and other skywatchers for #SkywatchFriday.
It's Monday and it's time for music!
Who are the Music Moves Me bloggers? We are a group of music loving bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday (or even later in the week). If you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! We are brought to you by Cathy of Curious as a Cathy, Stacy of Stacy's Random Thoughts, Marie (Xmas Dolly), and myself, plus other music loving bloggers.
Why not join us? Our theme this week is "In the US, May is National Barbecue month. It’s time to go hog wild! Share music that make you think of a great cook out."
I saw this as two ways to go. One way, is songs mentioning barbecue, or, as many of us write it, BBQ. I've lived in several parts of the United States, and have experienced some of the various interpretations of what a sauce should consist of.
The BBQ Song from Rhett and Link gives us a rundown of those variations.
A favorite food at many BBQ's is sausage. Or, in our area, white hots. In many other places, hot dogs.Next up is Hot Dog from Led Zeppelin from 1979, and it's not about the food. Fun fact, the album this came from (In Through the Out Door) is my favorite Led Zeppelin song.
Cheeseburger in Paradise - Jimmy Buffett because there is nothing like hearing Jimmy Buffett music at a BBQ.
BBQ's are all about having a fun time. From Ray Stevens, Barbeque.
As for the music, let's listen...Listen to the Music - Doobie Brothers
Finally, let's end this virtual BBQ with Whisker Brothers and Good Ol' BBQ.
Well, not so fast. Today, in the United States is Memorial Day, a day that was originally intended to honor the war dead of our 1861-1865 Civil War. Originally called Decoration Day, this holiday evolved into honoring the war dead of all wars. Sadly, this holiday has also evolved into a major shopping day.
So I will end this with a song from Freda Payne, Bring the Boys Home, from 1971. That was our wish then as it is now.
And that's a wrap!
Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.
It's Monday and it's time for music!
Today I am joining up with other Music Moves Me bloggers (and you can join us at the linky above). We are a group of music loving bloggers who blog about music each Sunday or Monday (or even later in the week). If you have music to share with us, you are most welcome to join! (Music Posts Only-meaning at least one music video, please! Otherwise, your post link may be labeled "No Music" or even removed.)
Our head host is Xmas Dolly, and our co-hosts are Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and, last but not least, me.
Every other week we have a theme. This week's theme is "Your choice". I'm going to be jumping around a lot in this week's post.
I can't believe it is (in the United States) almost the end of May. In the United States it is also Memorial Day, the day we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice so we at home could live free. Although Memorial Day is designed to honor those who made that sacrifice, I am casting my net (so to speak) a little broader.
Before I get into the cost of war, here is Dolly Parton with "Color Me America"
I was born, and spent my childhood in, New York City. I grew up among first and second generation Americans, many of whom had fled from one war or another. It is humbling to think of those who served in armies fighting against evil and how many young lives were lost so others could flourish. Some boys I grew up with ended up going to Vietnam, although, as far as I know, they all came back home.
Billy Joel's family was touched by the Holocaust. In turn, Billy has sang about the horrors of war. Here is Billy Joel and Goodnight Saigon, written from the point of view of a soldier serving in the Vietnam War.
Two songs from the country genre:
George Jones and 50,000 Names, from 2001.
For too many people, war has touched their lives in ways they will never forget. Here is a classic song about war: 1970's War Pigs, from Black Sabbath.
I will end this post with an anti-war song from Simon and Garfunkel from 1966: 7 o'clock News/Silent Night.
I dedicate this post to all who have felt the horror of war.
And that's a sad wrap.
Join me again next week for a (hopefully) happier Music Moves Me.
It's Monday, it's Memorial Day in the United States, and it's time for music.
The bloggers of Music Moves Me blog about music each Sunday or 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! Otherwise, your post may be labeled "No Music".) Our head host is Xmas Dolly, and our co-hosts are Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and, last but not least, me.
Every other week, we have a theme. On alternate weeks, we can blog on any music theme we want. This is one of those weeks.
On at least one Memorial Day in the past, I paid tribute to musicians who died recently. Sadly, I have several to pay tribute to today. This isn't even a complete list - May was a sad month of inductions into Rock and Roll Heaven.
Doug Ingle, lead singer and organist for Iron Butterfly, died May 24 at the age of 78. He also wrote most of their songs. He was the writer and organist on perhaps their most famous song, In-A Gadda-Da-Vida. Ingle was the last surviving member of the original group.
Here is the full version, all 17 minutes of this classic from 1968. I hope you have the time to listen to all of it. True, the video isn't the best quality. But, the various solos are so haunting and - well, I just love this song.
Jazz saxophonist and session musician David Sanborn died from cancer on May 12 at the age of 78. Among many, many songs he played sax on was David Bowie's classic Young Americans.
May they rest in peace.
Now, two songs recognizing Memorial Day.
Dire Straits and Brothers in Arms from 1985. This song comes out of the Falkland Islands War of 1982, but its message is universal.
Last up in my Memorial Day tribute is a tribute called May We Never Forget Freedom Isn't Free. Note, to play this video you will have to click the link in the "this video is disabled" which tells you that you can play it on You Tube. Sorry about that; I didn't realize that when I posted this video. Thank you, Songbird, for the heads up.
I grew up in the Vietnam War years. The two boys I grew up with in the apartment next door both fought in Vietnam (and came home), along with a former manager of mine years ago who served two tours, and one of my spouse's cousins, who was also exposed to Agent Orange.
May we reflect on the high cost of our freedoms today and every day, and honor those who never came home.
And that's a wrap.
Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.
In the United States, Memorial Day is tomorrow. First, a memory.
In 2002, my spouse, son, and I were on our way from our home in New York State to the Black Hills of South Dakota. We stopped off in Iowa City, where
one of my aunts (now deceased) then lived. It was the Memorial Day weekend.
Just after we crossed into the city limits, we passed a cemetery. It
was decorated in a sea of American flags. I could not believe how many flags
there were.
It showed that the residents of Iowa City had not
completely forgotten the meaning of Memorial Day, a special day for residents of the United States.
In 2010, I blogged about a GI love story for Memorial Day. In other years, I've repeated posts about our Memorial Day in the United States. This year, I'd like to blog once again about the origin of this
holiday, which is tied up with our Civil War, 1861-1865.
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day. It was first observed in 1868 with laying of flowers on the graves of both Union and Confederate troops at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
 |
| "Sam the Bear" honors the village of Waterloo, New York - Empire State Carousel |
My home state, New York, was the first to adopt Decoration Day as a holiday. The village of Waterloo considers itself the birthplace of Memorial Day, and has a museum devoted to the holiday.
After World War I, Decoration Day became a holiday (Memorial Day) to honor the dead of all wars.
I can remember, growing up, when Memorial Day was observed on May 30, no
matter what day of the week it was. In 1971, I believe, it was changed
to the current "last Monday in May" so that it could become part of
several three day weekends being created. Many people think that
celebrating Memorial Day more as a "first day of summer" blowout
beach/BBQ/shopping day has been recent, but apparently even in the early
20th century the day was already starting to drift away from its
original meeting.
Another ceremony connected with this holiday is the playing of Taps.
Taps originated during the Civil War, composed by a member of the Army
of the Potomac to serve as a "lights out" signal. Research I've done
indicates that it didn't take long for Taps to be adopted by both
Federal and Confederate armies. It is so well suited to military
burials that, again, its true origin is somewhat buried.
At 3pm, all over the United States, the 24 notes of Taps will be played as part of a commemoration called Taps Across America. Each musician has his or her reason for playing.
My late father was a disabled non-combat veteran of World War
II. The war he served in, World War II, took the lives of millions of both civilians and military. This is a list of the casualties by country.
There is now an official National World War II museum in New Orleans, Louisiana. I hope to visit it one day.
And that is the true meaning of Memorial Day - to honor our war dead and, yes, their loved ones.
Today, tomorrow, and perhaps on all days, let us take a moment to honor the veterans of all wars who gave their lives. They are our reminders that the price of freedom is sometimes a very steep one for those who pay it on our behalf.
Let us not dishonor them.
Tomorrow, in the United States, it will be Memorial Day, the day we honor our heroes who died in military service. This is a
portion of a post I wrote for Memorial Day, 2012, updated for this year.
Memorial Day.
This day, sadly, has evolved into a major shopping event for many
people, missing the element of what it originally stood for. It is also
thought of as the "unofficial" beginning of summer. In my area of
Binghamton, New York, the six (only five operating this year) carousels
we are famous for open for the season, as do the lakes, and some other
recreation areas.
But in memory of my late father, a veteran of
World War II service in the Army Air Corp, and one who struggled with a
service connected disability for the rest of his life, I will also take
some time to honor his memory and those
of other veterans I knew.
This leads me to a discussion of how this
holiday originated here in the United States.
Memorial Day, in my youth, was celebrated on May 30. Today, it is observed on the
last Monday of May, to allow many to have a three day weekend.
It's Monday, it's Memorial Day in the United States, and it's time for Music!
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!) Our head hostess is Cathy from Curious as a Cathy, and she is joined by the knowledgeable Stacy of Stacy Uncorked and the world famous (not) me. Our founder, Xmas Dolly, has stepped back from blogging
for now, and would appreciate your good thoughts as she works through
some health issues.
We'd
love more music lovers to join our fun group. All you have to do is
join the linky above with a music post that contains at least one music
video (there must be a music video or your post will be subject to removal or labeling "No Music"). Easy peasy!
Each
month, except December, we have a guest host. For the month of May, our guest host was John Holton of "The Sound of One Hand Typing". Thank you for hosting May, John!
For today, John is choosing the theme "build an acrostic where the first letter of a song title spells out 'Memorial Day'. Memorial Day, for those music lovers outside the United States, started after our Civil War (1861-1865) to honor war dead. It has expanded to honor American war dead of all wars. On a lighter note, for many, it is also the start of summer but, overall, it is a time to stop and remember the ultimate sacrifices our men and women in uniform have made to defend our freedoms.
So here's my list except I am going to make this an 80's feast. All the songs in "Memorial" are from the 80's with one exception, because I felt this song needed to be included. The "Day" songs are from various decades. There's a lot of music here, so if you want to skip around, I won't tell on you. Some are songs appropriate for Memorial Day and some are just good songs.
"More Than A Name on A Wall", The Statler Brothers (1988)
Eat It, by "Weird Al" Yankovic. (1984), a parody of Michael Jackson's Beat It. This is one of two parodies Weird Al made of Michael Jackson's songs, the second being "Fat". (You'll have to click through on the link that shows in the video to play this directly on You Tube).
Mr. Roboto, from Styx (1983)
Only the Lonely, from The Motels (1982)
Remember the Heroes, from Sammy Hagar (1982).
All You Zombies from The Hooters (1982), a Philadelphia band that has been together some 40 years. I had the (vinyl) album this song came from, one of six albums they have released.
Dear Uncle Sam, Loretta Lynn (1966).
Last but not least. I never knew that the Dovells hit "You Can't Sit Down" was originally done as an instrumental by the Phillip Upchurch Combo in 1981. So I will end this Memorial Day set with a memory for some.
You Can't Sit Down (Pts 1 and 2) - the Phillip Upchurch Combo. Only Part 2 charted but this is a compilation of both.
And that's a long wrap!
Join me again next week for another episode of Music Moves Me.
This post, first written in 2012 and updated periodically, has become a tradition on my blog. This year, there is increased meaning in the Memorial Day holiday, as the world still struggles with COVID-19 and increased violence in several parts of the world.
Memorial Day is the holiday where we honor our war dead. This year, it
isn't just the war dead. As of yesterday, the U.S. veteran death toll in VA facilities, per AARP, is around 12, 100. I wonder how many World
War II vets have met their end since COVID-19 hit our shores in our non VA facilities,
nursing homes, and other places.
Memorial Day in the United States, sadly, had also evolved into a major
shopping event for many
people. It missed the element of what it originally stood for. But
now, people want to get out there so badly,
as they remember how things were just months ago. But let's not forget what Memorial Day, May 30, is all about.
There are several versions of the origin of Memorial Day.
Some of the stories depend on if you were from the Federal side, or the
Confederate side, of the United States Civil War (1861-1865.). What
the stories have in common is that Memorial Day, once known as
Decoration Day, originated in a desire to honor the sacrifice of those
who died in our Civil War. The Library of Congress lists several stories. Here are what are perhaps the two main origin stories:
Waterloo, New York,
considers itself the birthplace of Memorial Day, and has a federally
recognized Memorial Day museum.
According to this story, Henry Wells, a local druggist, suggested a
holiday in the fall of 1865 to honor the sacrifice of Civil War dead.
The idea gained traction, and the first Memorial Day was held on May 5,
1866. This year, their ceremonies have been cancelled, for the second year. Let's hope for next year.
But there are other stories. One takes place in Mississippi, a state
late a member of the Confederate States of America. As that story goes,
many of the wounded of the bloody battle of Shiloh (1862) were taken to Columbus, Mississippi. Columbus ended up with its Friendship Cemetery full of Civil War dead of both sides. Eventually, the Federal dead were relocated to other area cemeteries.
According to Columbus, the first Memorial Day was held on April 5, 1866,
as the women of Columbus decorated the graves of both Federal and
Confederate soldiers buried in Columbus.
Some states of the former Confederacy also have separate holidays, called Confederate Memorial Day, or Confederate Heroes Day.
Regardless of what the "true story" of Memorial Day is, I want to leave
you with this though:
Each loss of life from COVID-19 diminishes each of us. I will think of those veterans of wars, especially World War II, who gave up their late teenaged and early adult years to fight for our freedoms. In 2020, many died alone, unable to have family there to ease their last moments.
Tomorrow, a different type of memorial.
 |
| Forget me nots |
