IT'S VALENTINE'S DAY - TELL ME WHO DO YOU LOVE

That's a very good question, and who better to formally ask it than Ronnie Hawkins and The Band. Check out this nice vid from the famous concert.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYPVyJwzerM

Here we are once again celebrating that special day for lovers young and old. Given that love is the theme, I think it’s a little odd that the day is in honor of some obscure old Roman martyr (possibly more than one; history records several Valentines) that apparently no one, not even the Church itself, really knows much of anything about. My diligent (okay, it was one click) research shows that what we observe today as Valentine’s Day had more to do with later emphasis by Geoffrey Chaucer and Courtly Love (and no, that’s not a misprint, I didn't mean Courtney). The main focus back then, and for centuries afterwards, was the intimate exchange of hand-made heart-shaped love notes, no doubt discreetly delivered by servants, to the object of one’s affection. Nowadays of course it’s a mass marketing bonanza. A lot less intimate, I’m certain, but nevertheless, people, especially men, ignore it at their peril. The checklist has gone from simple cards to flowers, candy, jewelry, cars, real estate...who knows where the top end might be. Our interest here today is the music. One that gets featured (and covered) a lot is the classic oldie, “My Funny Valentine,” but really, any song about undying love will do. Here’s a couple of my particular faves. Both of them express their sentiments in astronomical terms, which is about as long term as it gets.

Everly Brothers – “Devoted To You” – A long-term declaration, all right. He’ll love her ‘til “the sun dries up the sea.” Eventually the sun will become a red giant, swell in size, and everything on all the inner planets, including Earth, will be toast – literally. That’s roughly 4.5 billion more years, according to some estimates, so if that’s the offer you get from your sweetie, I’d relax. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXeiExU8lrA

Beach Boys – “God Only Knows” – I’ve read comments about the opening lyrics to this one, saying that “I may not always love you” is a pretty strange way to start a love song. But listen on…it’s kind of like using a double negative. What he’s really saying is – “I’ll love you as love as there are stars in the sky.” As for that timetable, qualified people are still arguing over what will happen eons from now. Check out the Wikipedia article titled "Ultimate fate of the Universe.” No matter what happens to the Universe, love-wise it looks like an even better deal than the Everly’s are offering. Either way, you got nothin’ to worry about. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hi1HdLogwQk

Of course, not everybody out there will have a model Valentine’s Day. In case that’s you, here’s a little something for you, too. Kind of goes with the cookie picture, now that I think about it. I just added a link to a really neat video montage of Janis Joplin singing "Piece of My Heart" to my January 25/2007 on Fringe Benefits, so I won't post the same one again today. Instead, here's another vid of "Piece of My Heart" which I think is one of the cleverest I've found on YouTube yet. Same song, but juxtaposed with images from the BBC production of Jane Eyre! Ladies, you may wince at the very thought - pairing wild woman Joplin and the frilly ladies (and frilly gentlemen) of the 19th Century (kind of like wearing sneakers with a designer dress) but hey...it works! Anyway, I think it's an inspired choice. See what you think. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pme-S8WenRs

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY TO YOU ALL

JUST SAY "YES YES YES"

CAUTION: This blog post contains irony, and possibly even a pinch of satire. Reader (at least those without a functioning sense of humor) discretion is advised.

I didn't catch the Grammy’s this year, but it's hard not to hear about it all anyway, so I know that troubled Brit bad girl Amy Winehouse won a whole swack of ‘em. For those of you who, like me, are stuck (mostly) in the 60s, and don't know who Amy is, let me put it this way: Amy Winehouse is the one in the tabloids who looks kinda like a feral Ronette. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not criticizing her look. I think her mix-it-up outfits and multiple tattoos are probably what Joplin would be wearing if she were doing her gigs in this millennium. I’ll also add that I think Amy’s voice is not without its appeal. But it’s the content of her winning song, “Rehab,” that leaves me knitting my brows. Because the song is all about how she does not want to go there. Well, fine, but still, with all the entertainment headlines she’s been making lately almost out-Britneying Britney, when I hear her sing about not going into “Rehab,” I can’t help but hear Dr. Phil, too, going, “And how’s that workin’ for ya?” (I warned you there’d be irony)

It would seem that things are somewhat different these days (and boy, am I ever going to sound like an old fogy here) from the days of my youth. Sure, we had songs extolling marijuana and bottles of Cracklin' Rose, but we also had Canned Heat's “Amphetamine Annie” (speed kills!) and Steppenwolf's “The Pusher” (tombstones in their eyes!) and Donovan's cover of "Cod'ine"– all decidedly what you’d call anti-substance abuse. Those were rockin' little Public Service Announcements from our peers about avoiding serious bodily or mental harm. I don’t know whether it’s tougher out there today than is was in the 60s, or if it just seems that way. But peer influence sure has done a one-eighty. As for Amy, well, time will tell, but whether in rehab or out, let’s wish her well. Ya gotta support big hair and big eyeliner, it's just the right thing to do!

YouTube came up a bit short this time - no "Amphetamine Annie" and no Donovan cover, but here's a vid of Buffy Sainte-Marie singing "Cod'ine" (she wrote it) back in 1964.

Rehab http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD5sahXoj0U

Cod'ine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEK_w0SIFHY

FRINGE BENEFITS

Folk Rock, Country Rock, and some Acid Rock too. We've been looking to the south and the west (coast) in recent posts. And last time we remembered the musical, "Hair." Now it's time to pay tribute to that staple of the hippie rock era - fringe. Like hair itself, fringe could be a very individual thing. If it was leather, you could leave it natural brown or doeskin white, or have it dyed any color that took your fancy. You could also have it made of synthetic strands, decorated with beads, long or short, thick or thin. Fringe in the 60s/70s was a visible statement of your mindset, lifestyle, politics - you name it. Plus it was a lot of fun to wear. I not only had the aforementioned fringe vest in my youth, but these days I still have fringes on a purse, a jacket, and some work gloves (but now it's more of a "cowgirl" thing, the result of all my years in Alberta). Anyway, in this post we will look at some memorable fringed outfits. These are the standout ones I remembered and could find easily on YouTube, but I know there are others. Feel free to post your favorites.

THE GREAT FRINGES OF ROCK AND ROLL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FxGcAm0EkTU
Neil Young is known for several fashion statements, one of which is pictured above on the left. But, as the photo on the right shows, he also had some killer fringe. This is from the album, "Everybody Knows This is Nowhere." I couldn't find a definitive video at YouTube of Neil in full fringe, but this is a nice one regardless, and...he's wearing a jacket that may or may not have a bit of fringe at the elbow...you be the judge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfycUkxbnlk&feature=related
This one starts with Graham Nash solo at the piano, but hang in there, David Crosby steps in at 1:43 to harmonize, wearing a gorgeous brown abundantly-fringed shirt. After a little goofy chit chat in the middle, they duet up again on Marrakesh Express. I wonder where that shirt is today...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuVffu0YCa8
At the "Woodstock Nation" fringe was king. Here's Roger Daltry all bedecked, doing "See Me Feel Me" from "Tommy." The video is pretty dark (in the optical sense) in places, but you want to catch the last 2 minutes, when it brightens up, and Roger really works that fringe, and Pete Townshend does his signature jumps and fans the guitar. Love it love it love it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nbhZEi2uNg&feature=related
Here we have Jimi, starting out with a familiar riff, then just taking off, with his beautiful blue and white fringe swaying along.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkmmBa7wDG4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Ig-6f0g55c
Okay, there's two of these; both still at Woodstock. The first one is actually of Janis (who was really more of a feather than fringe gal) but it's the very first few seconds of the video that shows Sly Stone when he raises his fringed arms like a bird taking to the sky. The second link is for the complete video of Sly's performance of "I Want to Take You Higher" which ends with the same flight. Like the Who video above, it's pretty hard to see in places, but gets better. And that whole performance had to have been one of the most moving of the weekend. And the fringe is the piece de resistance, as far as I'm concerned. Big wow.

Feb. 12/08 Update: Bingo! Just found one of Janis with fringe. Check out the photo at 3:45. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZS2YgqDf-bg