WHY MUSIC IS IMPORTANT

I was about to start posting with the title:  How Many Strings Does a Zither Have?  Classic Arts Showcase on TV in the morning sometimes influences me on what to write.  The first video had Anton Karas playing the zither for The Third Man, and I noticed there were a whole lot of strings.  I have problems with just four of them on my (wife's) ukulele.  The zither had to be a greater challenge.

But my first duty of this day was to exercise my knees, so I switched the station to the '70's.  I do this on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings before breakfast.  It's been just about a year now, and as might be expected, but nevertheless to my astonishment, my knees are not a problem now when I walk on a golf course.  But more than that:

• My posture is a lot better when walking.
• My toes are stronger in the bathtub when taking a shower.  I didn't realize before how important they were in maintaining stability.
• I've gained a quarter inch in height, a combination of straighter back and knees.
• Improves bowel movement.

The first song that came on was by Stevie Wonder, I've already forgotten what it was, but there was a quote (left).

Rolling Stone magazine considers Superstition as his #1 hit.  #7 is I Just Called to Say I Love You.  This is something I should have done.  Something you should do more often.  Songs can teach you how to live better.  About a decade ago some huckster bilked the University of something known as the Wonder Blunder.  That concert was never held.  Stevie is now 70-years old.

The second song was Oh What a Night by the Four Seasons.  A memory of seeing The Jersey Boys in the MGM in Las Vegas returned, where my meal that night was next door at Emeril's, where I had bone marrow in the bar with a glass of Prosecco.  

The real title of this song is December '63, written by the group's keyboard player Bob Gaudio and his future wife Judy Parker.  And the lead singer was drummer Gerry Polci, not Frankie Valli.  The couple (photo to the right 30 years after they met) wrote the song for the repeal of Prohibition on December 5, 1933.  However, Valli talked them into repositioning the time to December of 1963 when Gaudio had his first affair...with Parker.  Thus memories make music important.

A couple of songs later, Rhinestone Cowboy by Glen Campbell.  The other day I mentioned how Tony Bennett had Alzheimer's, but was still touring.  Glen Campbell too had that affliction, and I saw him in Vegas almost a decade ago on his farewell tour.  He had just sung Rhinestone Cowboy on the Grammys, which was both inspiring and wistful.  He passed away a few years later at the age of 80.

On came YMCA by the Village People, as I'm writing this.  Released more than 40 years ago, it became the gay anthem for a part of the soul of America.  Here is a revealing story.  Then, and perhaps still today, liaisons were made at the YMCA, for you can stay overnight for a cheap price.  For some reason, YWCA's did not gain that reputation.  

I recall in the 70's asking a colleague at the University of Hawaii to arrange for an international conference in Taipei, Taiwan, using a minimal amount of money, because the budget was tight.  Then I forgot about it until the time came for travel.  We met at a YMCA, where we also stayed.  Unless you're familiar with academic travel, you are not aware that most university gatherings are held at a fancier location with  a historic reputation.

ABBA came on with Waterloo.  Did you know this is the song they sang to win the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest?  Abba is the name of a canned herring company in Sweden.  They appeared on the fifth episode on Saturday Night Live, and retired in 1982.  Yet their first #1 album in the U.S. was not until 2008 because of Mamma Mia!  It is reported that the group turned down $1 billion to tour again.

There were several disco songs.  This genre emerged in the '70's, perhaps reaching a peak with Saturday Night Fever (Rotten Tomatoes 82/71) in 1977 and Thank God It's Friday (this is the full album, RT 30/37) the following year.  Wow, that bad, but how can you go too wrong with Donna Summer performing Last Dance, which won the Oscar for Best Song?  This was early in the careers of Jeff Goldblum and Debra Winger, her first film.  Then the Commodores, before the ant of Lionel Richie, one of the American Idols' judges.  

This is Saturday, so perhaps tonight I'll see if I can find both of them to watch.  Thus, music can help determine what you will do today and the future.

Another Did You Know appropriate for the day. This photo was taken by Colin Leonhardt near Perth, Australia in 2013 from a helicopter.

I've certainly seen a full rainbow circle from an airplane, but also from my first penthouse, which was only 20 floors up in Honolulu.  Many times.  I must have a photo in my slide files, from which I need to pick out the best to convert into a digital form because I bought a device to do that.  I am in the midst of throwing a lot of stuff away, and these slides occupy too much space.  Maybe my writing about this will spur me to actually do it this coming week.

-