Tag Archives: Suspicious Minds

Music Monday: January 6, 2025

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Hi, everyone. Welcome to the first edition of Music Monday for the new year.

Blog 2025

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Welcome to 2025, everyone.

If you have been here for a while you know I am not much for resolutions. I try to find a word or a phrase to guide me for the year. Not surprisingly, I usually find said inspiration in a song. This year is no different.

My process is to think about it for most of December and once I have chosen my song, I know it will be the first one I listen to in the new year to start it off right. The track I chose for 2025 alludes to a state of mind of peace and happiness as well as the path to get there. And the older I get the easier it is to see I have the choice and ability-albeit temporarily-to keep MY world as safe and as peaceful as possible by limiting the amount of time I let THE world in.

That is a powerful force to realize and utilize which I plan to do a lot more this year. I started doing this during the pandemic lockdown and it really helped me cope. I continued keeping myself fairly isolated in the figurative sense since then but there is a lot more I can do to improve on it. Plus, this year’s song also takes me back to an absolutely glorious scene from one of my favorite shows of all time. It drives the point home about our ability to make the choices that are best for us.

“Wash away my troubles
Wash away my pain
With the rain in Shambala
Wash away my sorrow
Wash away my shame
With the rain in Shambala“.

lost-van-scene
Lost van Jin and Sawyer

Above: The sublime van ride scene in “Lost” S3 E10, “Tricia Tanaka Is Dead”. Top: Charlie (L) and Hurley (R) (Dominic Monaghan and Jorge Garcia). Center: The ride. Bottom: Jin (L) and Sawyer (R) (Daniel Dae Kim and Josh Holloway). (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Elvis Aaron Presley was born 90 years ago on January 8, 1935. At 19 years old he recorded his first record which put him on the path that led to his throne as The King. He changed music, pop culture and how we saw ourselves reflected back in the world he created. And we were all the better for it.

Singer, actor, Army veteran, entertainer, legend. He not only introduced rock & roll to the mainstream, he also brought it to life. What more can be said that has not already been said about this stunning mountain of a man except that he is missed every single moment there is air around us. And thank you seems like such a small phrase which does not come close to the amount of gratitude he is due.

All hail 90 years of The King.

Elvis A
Elvis B
Elvis C

Top: Elvis at the beginning circa 1957 when he introduced the world to his hip shaking moves. Middle: The King and his guitar circa 1958. Bottom: A moment from the 1968 TV special. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Three Dog Night: “Shambala” (1973, written by Daniel Moore).

Elvis Presley: “That’s All Right” (1954, written by Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup).

Elvis Presley: “Can’t Help Falling In Love” (1961, written by Luigi Creatore, Hugo Peretti and George David Weiss).

Elvis Presley: “Suspicious Minds” (1969, written by Mark James).

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: January 3, 2022

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Hi, everyone. Happy New Year! Welcome to the first edition of Music Monday for 2022.

Music Monday

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

My clean slate began with a grievous wound: the death of a dear cherished friend, Betty White. I am so happy she is home but utterly heartbroken that she left. And only three weeks before her 100th birthday.

What is there left to say about a queen, an artist, an animal advocate, a badass broad who took bites out of life where the rest of us barely nibbled? Nothing I can think of but this: I know she had a big, beautiful, incredible, rich, long life but my God, what are we going to do without her? Rest in love & peace you sweet wonderful funny friend to all.

Betty edited

Copyright 2011. Photo by me.

In season four of “The Golden Girls”, “the happiest most fulfilling day” for White’s character, Rose Nylund, was when she received permission to start an unauthorized chapter of The Elvis Presley Hunk-A-Hunk-A-Burning-Love Fan Club. How fitting since today’s song is by The King himself.

His life & legacy is another one where there is not much I or anyone else can add to. January 8 will mark the 87th birth anniversary of The King, Elvis Aaron Presley. He was and remains one of the true inventors of rock & roll in this & every other lifetime. He is music royalty & of course, one of the greatest artists of all time. Today’s song is in my Top Five of his recordings and it always will be. Hail to The King.

“Oh, let our love survive
I’ll dry the tears from your eyes
Let’s don’t let a good thing die
When honey you know I’ve never lied to you“.

Elvis

The King circa 1958. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Elvis Presley: “Suspicious Minds” (1969, written by Mark James).

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 8

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Hi everyone.  Hope you are all well and continue to stay that way during this global health crisis we are facing.  But in addition to protecting your physical wellness, what are you doing to stay mentally healthy today?

music heart

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are in a serious situation, but I need a break from the gloom, doom and bullying by way of hoarding. Music has always been my refuge and watching those beautiful Italians singing to each other from their balconies reaffirmed my belief that music is the answer. So until the old normal returns, I am going to share a song I listen to that helps me escape the current state of things, if only for a few minutes each day. And if this helps anyone else, even better.

I love every song this man recorded, and I understood by listening to them what a great singer he was.  But it was not until I saw one of his concerts on TV did I fully understand how he got his title.  His stage presence & energy were phenomenal, his interactions with the band and his audience were spectacular and his performance was just electrifying.  His voice was powerful, commanding, deep, expressive and passionate.  He was magic in every sense of the word.  All hail the King.

elvis presley
 Elvis Presley circa 1970 (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Elvis Presley:  “Suspicious Minds” (live from Las Vegas in 1970.  Originally recorded in 1969, written by Mark James).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing what I love and how I am coping with you.

Stay well.