iPod Essentials #74: "Am I the Same Girl"--Swing out Sister

This catchy tune is a remake of the late 60's tune by Barbara Akin, but before that it was the great instrumental, "Soulful Strut" Young-Holt Unlimited, also featured on my iPod and will be discussed on a later Essentials blog. Yes, it is featured on the MARTHA STEWART SHOW.

Swing out Sister is one of those bands that should have become more popular than it did. It was British, sophisti-pop. Two guys and a gorgeous girl, Corinne Drewery, who could also sing.

This song has a positive message about change and affirmation: "Yes, I am. Yes, I am."

Stop and look it over...

iPod Essentials #73: "Don't Talk to Me About Love"--Altered Images

Ahhh, how terrible life without You Tube would be. No videos, no memories. "Don't Talk" is a bubbly 80's pop song, perfect for this July 4. Altered Images was a Scottish New Wave band. I believe they have broken up. Clare Grogan was the great lead singer. Even though her voice was thin, it's perfect for this tune about love gone wrong.

iPod Essentials #72: "I Am Love"--Jackson 5

For this week's Essential, I'm going to pick a great Jackson 5 song that was never popular for some strange reason: "I Am Love." Michael sings background on this, Jermaine does. The song begins, slow, sexy, mellow, and then turns into wild disco by the end. It's a surprising song because of the disco. Maybe it was too different for Jackson fans. Hopefully, it will be rediscovered.

Icons

On Thursday, part of my childhood and early adult years died, along with the passing of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson.

So CHARLIE'S ANGELS was a T&A show, but to this twelve year old, they were strong, sexy, and independent. I proudly wore a pink CHARLIE'S ANGELS t-shirt until the decal wore off. With beauty and wit, Farrah Fawcett as Jill Munroe always got her man, just by simply pointing a gun at him and telling him, "Freeze, turkey!"

Farrah Fawcett made mistakes, as we all do since we were are human. Yet she fought her battle with that horrible disease cancer in public, not to glorify herself, but to shed realistic light onto it. There's nothing glamourous about it. In her death, perhaps she will save lives.

Michael Jackson--I used to watch the JACKSON 5 cartoon on Saturday mornings. Michael was a cool kid, full of adventure and song. The THRILLER CD--who didn't own it? Watching MJ dance and sing. A few Jackson and Michael Jackson songs are on my iPod; videos on You Tube now make me sad, especially "I'll Be There." How could someone so brilliantly meant for pop music self-destructed in the ways he did? He was human, and all humans have their breaking points. MJ, it seems, had too many and a few demons always in his mind.

Mourn our icons today. Remember that they always human, neither perfect nor infallible.

iPod Essentials #71: "Hot Fun in the Summertime"--Sly & the Family Stone

In honor of BURN NOTICE, which I am becoming addicted to, this tune is a wonderful companion piece. The TV show offers so many scenes of lovely, tropical, sexy Miami--how can you not think of summertime.

The Sly Stone tune is also sexy and a bit bluesy. Perfect for Michael Weston's latest predicament.

The CCWC

The first Calfornia Crime Writers Conference was held at the Pasadena Hilton last weekend. This conference was a joint production with Mystery Writers of America, So Cal chapter and Sisters in Crime/Los Angeles. Those who participated launched a fabulous conference, FULL of practical information on writing mysteries and selling them. The agents and authors, such as Laurie King and Robert Crais, were approachable and helpful. (Also, they were fun to sit in the bar with!)

Because of everyone's effort, I am so proud to be affiliated with both organizations. And hey, my new finished mystery is currently with one agent who attended!

Writing, by nature, is a private affair, but attending conferences is so important to developing craft and marketing work. I can't wait for the 2011 CCWC!

iPod Essentials #71: "The Show Must Go on"--Three Dog Night

What a summertime classic from a classic pop band. The song reminds me a a roller coaster because of it's circusy, big top opening. It's a love song about a couple facing some challenges in their relationship: "on a high wire...High Wire." But they overcome their conflicts and get back to being in the circus of their existance.

Okay, this song was released in 1974, a far simpler time than today. However, the message remains the same: love and work can conquer the world.

Entitlement

Why do people believe they are entitled to a better grade, better service, a Super Sized meal? All because they feel they work hard, pay money, and in some cases I've encountered during travels abroad, are Americans.

Since I just finished grades at one school, I'm hearing the familiar strains of "I've worked hard. I deserve an A or a B." In academia, it doesn't go that way. Too many students want good grades without effort, just like they got in high school. In short, they are spoiled, thanks to Mom, Dad, and Teachers A through G. Newsflash: the real world seldom goes your way, Students, especially when you don't work hard or improve your skills or have others work for you. The sooner you understand this fact, the better student and person you will become.

This new generation I'm teaching is so full of entitlement issues it scares me. California is very screwed up right now due to budget cuts, fiscal mismanagement, and an incompetent government. What will happen to this state and this country if the generation feels they are entitled to coast along in their lives?

iPod Essentials #70: "Space Oddity"--David Bowie

Whenever I'm troubled, the first song on my iPod or on my Bose system at home or in the SUV on the road is "Space Oddity." I've been listening to it a lot this week. (My week: money troubles, didn't get hired at the same ______ community college that turned me down for a job last year, even though I was a finalist--go figure that one, and the new sudden growth on the face of my beloved dog, Magic.)

"Space Oddity" was a very unique song for 1969 telling the tale of Major Tom, a figure through much of Bowie's early works. Is Major Tom an astronaut, drug addict, or soldier? That remains to be seen. A depressing song, it reminds me that the universe creates problems that no one will ever understand.

iPod Essentials #69: "The Boys of Summer"--Don Henley

Ahhh, summer is arriving in a few weeks, so I always this of this song of innocence lost. Henley's voice and lyrics sell this song. The video is in black and white and is effective in conveying this "loss." iTunes and Henley should think about selling it; I'd buy it for the memories of a simpler time.