Previews and Reviews that are Z's Views
Yeah, I realize it came out a few years ago, but it’s now my favorite jam. The funny thing is, I was never a huge Tom Jones fan and didn’t care for the Ram Jam single when I was a kid.
Tom Jones is one of those guys that just gets cooler as he gets older. Sorta like me. And you.
Since I was a little boy, it’s been a Zablo Christmas tradition that the clan gather at grandma’s house on Christmas Eve. Family members from near and far would meet for an evening of gift exchanges, great food, laughter and stories.
My grandparents passed away years ago, but we still meet in the same house, which now belongs to my mother. Mom is also a grandmother, so although the wheel has turned — the Zablo Christmas tradition is still in place. We all meet at grandma’s on Christmas Eve for the family festivities.
The kids always love this tradition, because they get to open some gifts on Christmas Eve. Of course they have to wait until Christmas morning to see what Santa brought them, but the long wait until the morning is eased by the gifts of Christmas Eve.
I hope that you have family traditions that add to the joy of Christmas. The best part is being with family and creating memories. But, if you’re one of those people that love surprise gifts, I hope you enjoy Leon Redbone and Dr. John singing Frosty the Snowman.
Consider it my Christmas Eve gift to you.
Thanks and an extra glass of egg nog to Bill Crider for the original link.
I just learned that R.B. Greaves passed away on September 27, 2012 at the age of 67.
R.B. Greaves was best known for his million selling hit, “Take a Letter Maria” which was released in 1969. He followed up a year later with a cover of “Always Something There to Remind Me” which peaked at 27 on Billboard’s Hot 100. His cover of “A Whiter Shade of Pale” reached 87 the same year.
“Take a Letter Maria” ended up selling over 2 million copies and was the first 45 I ever bought. I loved that song (and still do) and every time I hear it, it takes me back to my childhood.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to R.B. Greaves, his family, friends and fans.
Batman Maybe is without a doubt my favorite music video right now.
Here are 20 Things You Might Not Know about American Pie by Don McLean. Just one piece of advice, do not search out the cover of American Pie performed by The Brady Bunch. Seriously. Don’t do it.
Have you seen this mashup?
It’s the opening music from Alfred Hitchcock’s “Vertigo” combined with the opening bank robbery sequence from Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight”. Bernard Herrmann’s score perfectly matches Nolan’s shots.
How crazy-cool is that?
Robin Gibb of the Bee Gees died yesterday after a long battle with cancer. He was 62.
I’ve always been a Bee Gees fan. I liked their music before the disco craze hit, loved the stuff that they did during it, and continued to enjoy their work even after it was no longer cool to do so. One of my stations on Pandora is named Bee Gees Radio. 62 is way too young to die.
We’ve lost another talent, but as cliche as it sounds, the music will live on. Our prayers go out to Robin Gibb’s family, friends and fans.
Donna Summer passed away today after an extended battle with lung cancer. Ms. Summer was 63.
Donna Summer was known as the Queen of Disco and rightly so. She rose to fame in the 1970’s and helped lead a generation into the disco craze. In 1975, she co-wrote and performed her first hit, Love to Love You Baby which shot up the charts. Hit after hit followed.
Ms. Summer had 19 number one hits on the dance charts. She was the first female singer to have four number one singles in a 13 month period, had three consecutive double LPs to hit #1 on the charts, and she won five Grammys. Donna Summer’s music helped define the Disco era.
I always liked Donna Summer’s music. I can remember being in Camelot Music the first time I heard her sing, Love to Love You, Baby. The song came on and she started singing and I was hooked… along with a generation of music lovers.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Donna Summer’s family, friends and fans.
Although I was never a Blue Oyster Cult fan, I always liked the song that they’re best known for: Don’t Fear the Reaper. I think I may like The Alice Band’s version even better.
A tip o’ the scythe to Bits and Pieces.
This is Jane Lui’s second appearance here. In her first, she performed 25 Songs and 49 Years of Non-Lyrics. This time, Jane gives us her take on Madonna – Crazy for You & Rain mash up.
Last night, at a little after 7pm est, as my wife and I were watching The Double on Netflix, our son, Chris, texted us that Whitney Houston had died. Like most of the rest of the world, we were saddened and surprised, but not shocked.
Whitney Houston was a superstar. A singer beyond compare. She was the first female to have an album debut at #1. She was the first and only recording artist to have 7 straight number one hits. These are only two of her many recording records. Whitney Houston was also an actress appearing in several films, the best known being The Bodyguard and Waiting to Exhale.
Ms. Houston married singer, Bobby Brown, in 1992. Many blame him for Whitney’s descent into drug addiction. Houston and Brown were married for 16 years and had one daughter, Bobbi Kristina Houston Brown. Sadly, as the years passed, Whitney made fewer and fewer albums or movies and her appearances in the press were usually something drug-related. Ms. Houston made at least three attempts at rehab and talked openly about her struggles with drugs in a famous interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2009. Fans hoped that Whitney had kicked the drugs and things looked promising in 2010 when she began her “Nothing But Love” world tour. Although drugs had a taken a toll on her, Whitney was back on stage and touring and things seemed to be headed in the right direction. Whitney Houston was set to appear on the Grammy awards tonight. It would have been a wonderful step in her comeback. Unfortunately that was not to be. Instead the Grammy’s will feature a tribute to the once-reigning queen of pop.
Rest in Peace, Whitney Houston. Our thoughts and prayers go out to her family, friends and fans.
Today is Thanksgiving and many of us will come together with family and friends to pause and give thanks for what we have and perhaps what we’ve been spared. Charles Dickens may have said it best…
Of course not everyone gives thanks. The Sexy Pilgrim doesn’t. Instead he says, “You’re welcome.”
I hope that you and yours have one of the best Thanksgiving Days ever. Count your blessings, eat too much turkey, ignore that family member who irritates you, make big plans, eat too much pie, doze in front of the tube, have a bit more turkey, and remember to watch a bit of the parade and some football!
