Tag Archives: Will & Grace

Music Monday: January 22, 2024

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Hi, everyone. Welcome to another edition of Music Monday.

Blog image for 2024

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I have been a fan of Kenny Loggins-who celebrated birthday #76 on January 7-since he was in a duo, as a solo artist to his days as the “King of the Movie Soundtrack” to his 2023 Farewell Tour. If that were not hard enough to accept, this month marks 40 years since the release of the song, “Footloose”. 

Featured in the 1984 movie of the same name, Loggins not only performed the track but co-wrote it as well. It was the #1 song in the country for three consecutive weeks beginning March 31, 1984 and it was nominated for “Best Original Song” at the 57th Academy Awards in 1985 (it lost to “I Just Called to Say I Love You” by Stevie Wonder). 

In June 2021, Loggins combined all his movie music on one album as a special Record Store Day release, At The Movies. Today’s song may have be written for a film, but since 2002 I cannot think of this track without picturing the man who brought it to life in the movie-Kevin Bacon-dancing to it with Will Truman, much to Jack McFarland’s shock and horror, on “Will & Grace” (S5 E2, “Bacon and Eggs”).  

Happy birthday, Kenny Loggins, and congratulations on 40 years of “Footloose”.    

KL 1970
Footloose movie
Bacon and Eggs
KL 2012

Top: Kenny Loggins circa 1980’s. Middle 1: The 1984 “Footloose” movie poster. Middle 2 (L-R): Jack (Sean Hayes) catches Will (Eric McCormack) dancing with Kevin Bacon. Bottom: Loggins in 2012. (Images found online.  Original sources linked or unknown.)

Kenny Loggins: ”Footloose” (1984, written by Kenny Loggins and Dean Pitchford). 

Stay safe & well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 453

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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?

June 2021 blog

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

I know we are still facing a serious situation but a new year gives us hope for the new days, seasons, opportunities & moments ahead. Still, music is something that will never change for me. It is my refuge, the most comforting part of my life & the one thing I consistently count on. So until a more normal semblance of life 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.

One of the best lines I ever heard in my life was from a 2000 “Will & Grace” episode (S3 E4 “Girl Trouble”) by The Queen of the Quips, Karen Walker. When she noticed Grace wearing a beret, Karen set her straight:

“Grace, I thought we talked about the beret. Patty Hearst couldn’t even pull one off and she had money and a gun”. EPIC!!!

Fifteen years earlier, today’s song was released by Prince extolling his love for that particular head wear. It was from his seventh studio album, which was the follow up to his smash, Purple Rain. With more of a psychedelic pop sound than its predecessor, Around The World In A Day was another #1 album for the superstar with today’s track as the lead off single.

Prince Rogers Nelson was born 63 years ago on June 7, 1958 in Minnesota. His unique name came from his father’s jazz combo, the Prince Rogers Trio. He was always Prince to me, even when he was re-crowned “The Artist Formerly known As” in 1993 when he changed his name to a symbol because of an ongoing feud with his record company.

His music was an inventive and unique hybrid of soul, funk, rock, R&B, classical, pop, jazz & more setting him apart from everyone else when he broke through the music scene in the 1980’s. His sophisticated coiffed appearance, his progressive lyrics & videos combined with his dynamic stage shows helped elevate his legendary status, cementing his role as one of the most influential artists of all time. His death five yeasts ago was an absolute shock to fans & the industry alike and left a hole in music that has yet to be filled. And probably never will.

“The rain sounds so cool when it hits the barn roof
And the horses wonder who you are
Thunder drowns out what the lightning sees
You feel like a movie star“.

Prince

Prince circa 2005. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Prince & The Revolution: “Raspberry Beret” (1985, written by Prince).

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

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 169

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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?

Bruce quote

(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 have loved “Saturday Night Live” since I was too young to see it.  But that did not stop me from doing so by secretly watching it in my room or on the weekends when I was out of the house babysitting.  By the fall of 1981, Lorne Michaels departed as producer and a whole new group of performers replaced the “Not Ready For Prime Time Players”.  The new producer, Dick Ebersol, attempted to reclaim some of the show’s old magic by hiring the first head writer for the show, Michael O’Donoghue.  His first tenure with the show was from 1975-1977 but his second one in 1981 was even shorter because of alleged problems with the cast due to his temper (by the mid 1980’s he re-established his writing talent as a co-writer of the screenplay for SNL alumni Bill Murray’s 1988 movie, “Scrooged”).

But while he was at SNL the second time O’Donoghue wrote today’s song.  It was performed by then cast member, Christine Ebersole, in a skit with her sitting in a bar.  No comedy, just her singing this incredible song with a piano accompaniment.  I remember watching that night, listening to her voice and being completely floored by her performance and the song itself.  She went on to do a lot of other things, including plays & guest TV appearances.  In 2005 I was lucky to see her on Broadway when she played M’Lynn in “Steel Magnolias”.  She was also in one of my favorite “Will & Grace” episodes from 2001 as a rival to Karen (season 3 episode 19).

Another woman heard this song and decided to record it.  Since that women is Dolly Parton (Truvy in the 1989 “Steel Magnolias” movie) you know her version is nothing short of fabulous.  It was a top ten hit for her in 1982 and features a wonderful sax arrangement.  I have struggled for months to pick just one of her incredible songs to share, and even though she did not write this one herself, I still think it is one of her best.  And SNL may have its ups and downs, but it is moments like the one created for today’s song that keeps me tuned in week after week because I know the magic of that show is just one surprising skit away.

“And it’s gettin’ near to closing
And the seconds pass like years
Lots of friends to share the laughter
Not a one to share the tears“.

Christine Ebersole on SNL in 1981 and Dolly Parton as Truvy in “Steel Magnolias” from 1989.  (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

Dolly Parton:  “Single Women” (1982, written by Michael O’Donoghue).

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

Stay well.

 

Let’s Take A Moment Day 104

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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?

Kerouac

(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.

In September 1998 I watched the pilot episode of “Will & Grace”.  As much as I liked the two title characters, I fell head over heels in love with their friends, Jack & Karen, played by Sean Hayes and Megan Mullally.  Their chemistry was remarkable and their onscreen antics were like none I had ever seen before on network television.  For the eight years of the show’s original run, I followed Mullally on the talk show circuit where I discovered her beautiful singing voice.  She has put out a number of CD’s over the years and one included one of my favorite songs by Tom Waits (see Day 92).  I saw her perform it on “The Late Show With David Letterman” in 2002 and she was fabulous.  The last verse has some of the most beautiful lyrics I have ever heard:

“In a land there’s a town, and in that town there’s a house
And in that house there’s a woman
And in that woman there’s a heart I love
I’m gonna take it with me when I go.”

Megan

(Image courtesy of meganmullally.net.)

Megan Mullally:  “Take It With Me” (2002, written by Tom Waits and Kathleen Brennan).

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

Stay well.

Let’s Take A Moment Day 23

Posted in Music by

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.

How does a musical group measure success?  Is it by how many records they sell?  Or how many concerts they sell out?  Or perhaps by how many awards they have won?  It could be all three, or they could measure their success by how long they stay together.  But becoming a part of pop culture is a clear sign that regardless of the awards you’ve won or the number of records you’ve sold, you have cemented your place in history.

Case in point:  Fleetwood Mac releases their “Rumours” album in 1977.  It becomes a best selling record of that year, of that decade, of all time.  Every fan knows what member sings which song or wrote which song along with the lyrics to all those songs, having heard them 100’s of times at home or on the radio or in concert even.  The fans also know the background of the songs stem from the members of the group breaking up with their respective partners and having affairs with different people, including other members of the group.  That may make the album remarkable, but that still does not earn the group a place in pop culture.  That comes 25 years after the album’s release.  In March 2002 on an episode of Will & Grace”, Will finds out that both his parents are having affairs.  His reaction?

“Fantastic.  Everybody’s cheating on everybody.  Suddenly my parents are Fleetwood Mac!”

Place in pop culture solidified  🙂

Rumours

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Fleetwood Mac:  “The Chain” (1977, written by Fleetwood Mac:  Lindsey Buckingham,  Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie and Stevie Nicks).

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

Stay well.

In Like A Lion

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March has arrived.  With a vengeance.

Here in New England, it came in with a wild wind storm driven nor’easter.   I have to admit, it was pretty mesmerizing,  And reminded me of something my grandmother used to say about this month….”In like a lion, out like a lamb”.  Now that the roar of the wind is over, we are expecting the white noise later in the week.  Not sure yet how much.  I know so many of you have spring fever already, but I am relishing these last few official weeks of winter.  Call me crazy  🙂

2018-Oscars-Logo

Did you catch the Oscars last night???  They did a nice tribute to the military with a montage of many of the war movies Hollywood created in the last nine decades.  I found it hilarious and fitting they brought back Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway to present Best Picture after last year’s mix-up.  And I was sooooo happy Frances McDormand won.  I loved how her unity speech rallied the women in the audience, too!!!  I am really enjoying this movement of women supporting women.  It’s time we take it back from the mean girls and the others who strive to divide, break or silence us.

And it was so great to see some old school Hollywood at the show, especially since it was the 90th Academy Awards.  How beautiful did Eva Marie Saint look?

90th Annual Academy Awards - Show

And how handsome was Christopher Plummer?

Plummer

How about Rita Moreno wearing the same dress last night…..

Rita Moreno 2018

…..that she wore to the Oscars in 1962?

Moreno

I always love watching the red carpet for all the fashion, too.  What about you?  Here are some of my favorites:

Mary J. Blige:

mary j

Mira Sorvino:

Mira

Best Supporting Actor winner Sam Rockwell:

Sam Rockwell

Margot Robbie:

Margot Robbie

Jennifer Garner (my favorite of the night!!!):

jenn garner

Matthew McConaughey (sa-wooooon!!!):

Matthew

Taraji P. Henson:

Taraj

Woody Harrelson & his wife:

woody

Laurie Metcalf:

metcalf

I really wanted Laurie Metcalf to win for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Lady Bird” (great movie, btw).  I have been a big fan of hers since she played Jackie Harris on “Roseanne“.  And that reminds me-are you as psyched as I am for the re-boot of that series starting later this month?  I was such a fan so I cannot wait.  If it is half as good as the “Will & Grace” revival, I am IN!!!

For this week’s song, I chose Mary J. Blige’s Oscar nominated “Mighty River” from “Mudbound“.  Her voice is beautiful and incredibly powerful, just like the lyrics she co-wrote:

“Life is a teacher, time is a healer,
And I’m a believer like a river wild.
Ego’s a killer, greed is a monster
But love is stronger, stronger than them all.”

So how are you enjoying March so far???

All the pictures from the Oscars except the one from 1962 are courtesy of Getty Images.

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing some things that I love with you  🙂

Until next time, happy digging!!!