The Pax Plena Song of the Week reminds me of a steamy New Hampshire summer, and Fourth-of-Julys past spent along the Charles River in Boston. Released in 2003, Brad Paisley’s Make a Mistake was an instant favorite of mine the momenet I heard its ornate guitar work, and upbeat lyrics, lo so many years ago.
The tune is simple and easily sung, like most Brad Paisley tunes. But in many ways it’s exactly this simplicity of country music that makes it at all interesting.
Rant: Let’s face it, if you want to listen to generic pop music all you need to do is pirate the latest Justin Bieber album, or the musical excrement we call Lady Gaga. I say ‘pirate’ because if your music taste is poor enough to actually pay for it, well, I can’t help you and your head will probably explode once you click video below and listen to real music. Suffice it to say, given how country music is the veritable, polar opposite of everything “pop” and generic, it’s little surprise that yours truly gravitates towards it – not unlike Charlie Sheen gravitating toward a train wreck. Moths to a flame, as they say.
Anyway, the lyrics of the tune tell a simple story of a boy urging a girl he likes to “make a mistake” with him. It’s a bit cliché admittedly, but so is a lot of what we enjoy about relationships. We’ve all seen the movie where the lovelorn girl tells her beau their romance cannot be because it would surely be a mistake. Paisley’s song is the beau’s rebuttal.
Rescuing the song, perhaps from itself, is Paisley’s nothing less than amazing handiwork on the guitar. The strumming and picking on both the melody and the chorus are stellar. Until hearing this song, I honestly did not comprehend how fast the human finger can move. I thought my 10-words-per-minute typing was impressive.
At any rate, there’s only so much that I can say on behalf of a song that is eminently qualified to speak for itself. With that, please enjoy the extended edition of Make a Mistake, featuring an extra three minutes of Brad Paisley making the guitar his bitch.
Make a Mistake By Brad Paisley
You over think things You say what if we’re not meant to be Well you know what so what Make a mistake with me
Nobody goes through this life and does Everything perfectly We’re all gonna fail so you might as well Make a mistake with me
Sometimes baby when we take A chance that has this much at stake We look back and in hindsight What seemed wrong looks more like right
So I say worst case we’ll be left with Lots of good memories This chance we have well it’s worth that So make a mistake with me
I’m tellin’ you the right thing to do Is make a mistake Make a mistake Make a mistake with me
The Pax Plena Song of the Week became an instant favorite when I heard it while watching the 1942 Hollywood classic, Road to Morocco. By the by, Road to Morocco has been called the most stereotypical film ever to come out of Hollywood. This, of course, makes it a must-see film for anyone with a sense of humor.
Sung by the greatest singer that ever lived, Bing Crosby’s Ain’t Got a Dime to My Name is a whimsical musing on the things that are important in life. And despite grappling with fairly weighty subject matter, the song is wonderfully light and fun.
In the film, Crosby’s character Jeff Peters has just sold his cousin “Turkey” Jackson (Bob Hope) into slavery. Having been properly chastised by his long-dead aunt (also played by Bob Hope), Bing walks the streets of the nameless Moroccan city looking for his cousin. I won’t spoil the ending, but slavery has been mighty kind to Turkey.
Like any cousin with the voice of an angel, Jeff Peters begins to sing Turkey’s favorite song in order to draw Turkey’s attention, and facilitate his rescue. Enter the song of the week.
The genius of the Jimmy Van Heusen-arranged piece is that it combines Crosby as the lone soloist with an airy jazz assortment typical of the era’s big band music. This gives the song a smooth, swing feel that immediately focuses the ear on Crosby’s singing. From there, the performance is pretty much effortless, despite the silly dance number Bing performs in the middle of the song.
The piece itself has a balanced mix of brass and wind instruments, that are accented nicely by an up-tempo percussion line. The gem of the song is brief jazz harp solo after the fourth stanza.
The lyrics, written by Johnny Burke, tell the story of an impecunious person who ‘ain’t got a dime’ to his name. But rather than sinking into the depths of despair, the man glibly replies, “ho, hum.”
The incongruity of the response makes the song especially fantastic. For most, money will always be a worry of sorts. But the song reminds listeners that a ‘shady ole tree’ can be as tremendous a luxury as ‘shirts made of silk.’ The point is as well taken now as it was then. The roots of our consumer culture, apparently, run quite deep.
True to form, the song concludes with the simple observation that the singer will ‘never get rich.’ This prompts the greatest line of ho hums in the entire song.
Please, enjoy the Pax Plena song of the week, Ain’t Got a Dime to My Name (Ho Hum) as performed by Bing Crosby.
Ain’t Got a Dime to My Name By Bing Crosby
Ain’t got a dime to my name, What a terrible shame Ho Hum, ho ho Hum.
Just found a hole in my shoe, And my stockin’ shows through Ho Hum, ho ho Hum.
I know that when you’re as free As a bird in a tree, life is a wonderful whim. Look at the crank with his dough in the bank, Don’t you feel sorry for him?
Rolling along at a loss, Never gathering moss, Ho Hum, ho ho ho hoo Hum.
(Take it!)
I’m no terrific success, I often worry I guess Ho Hum, Wo ho ho Hum.
I like a shady ole’ tree, Whats a matter with me? Ho Hum, ho hohoho Hum.
There’s nothing quite as grotesque, As a man at a desk, Looking outside at the sun, Shirts made of silk, And a diet of milk, Maybe he thinks he has fun.
I’ve got the vagabond itch, Guess I’ll never get rich Ho Hum, ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho ho hmm…
Since today is St. Valentine’s Day, I couldn’t think of a more appropriate song of the week than Nat “King” Cole’sL-O-V-E.
L-O-V-E was recorded on a sunny Wednesday afternoon on June 3, 1964 in Hollywood, CA. Having listened to the song in numerous movies, and in my own music collection, whenever I hear L-O-V-E I can’t help but think of a ride I once took down Hollywood Boulevard en route to the Capitol Records building, palm trees swaying against sun-drenched skies.
Isn’t this basically how love feels? Every cloud has beauty. Every kiss is an exciting mystery. It’s as if the skies were painted blue by God Himself, just for you. This feeling of wonderment associated with ‘love’ is what Cole’s song captures so well.
Oddly, what makes the piece work is the almost imperceptible crescendo of the music. As Cole begins his etymology of love, the initial lines are soft, if not sultry. As Cole delivers line after classic line, the music builds, interspersed by trombone vignettes, and trumpet solos. By the time Cole bellows that ‘love is made for me and you’ the music is enthralling enough to actually believe him.
The song itself is performed in a masterful legato style that is every bit as smooth as Cole’s baritone voice. The sound is one unique to the artist combining elements of Jazz with Cole’s provenance as a big band singer. At the end, the music almost has a dixieland band feel, concluding the song splendidly.
And what to say about the lyrics? The lyrics have really almost become their own definition of love. At the very least, it seems fair to say that Cole’s lyrics are the most famous acrostic in history. But perhaps the more intriguing part of the song is the way Cole’s simple melody has come to inform our consciousness of what love is and means.
Cole’s song reminds us that two people in love can ‘make it’, damn the odds and divorce rates. It reminds us that love is really all we can give to someone else. And it reinforces what is most important about our relationships. Sure, we can buy presents. We can devise exotic vacations. We can even share a delicious meal, or a fine wine. But all of these things involve something external to the self. Love, on the other hand, is all we can actually give of ourselves to another.
With that thought in mind, just because I ‘love’ my readers, please enjoy this very special Valentine’s Day song of the week, L-O-V-E as performed by Nat “King” Cole.
L-O-V-E By Nat King Cole
L is for the way you look at me O is for the only one I see V is very, very extraordinary E is even more than anyone that you adore can…
Love is all that I can give to you Love is more than just a game for two Two in love can make it Take my heart and please don’t break it Love was made for me and you
L is for the way you look at me O is for the only one I see V is very, very extraordinary E is even more than anyone that you adore can…
Love is all that I can give to you Love is more than just a game for two Two in love can make it Take my heart and please don’t break it Love was made for me and you Love was made for me and you Love was made for me and you
The Pax Plena Song of the Week is a bit of an enigma to me. I enjoyed the song when it was first released, but the video of the piece is perhaps even more endearing than the song itself.
When Michael Bublé’s Haven’t Met You Yet was released in August 2009, the first thing that caught my attention was how clear Bublé’s vocals were throughout the piece. This wasn’t a surprise really. In fact, it was very much befitting the performance one would expect from an international music sensation. But I had grown accustomed to hearing Bublé singing softer, more contemplative songs in his earlier work (see here). I was pleasantly surprised to hear how fun the music of Haven’t Met You Yet was. Accented by a driving beat, and bright chords, the melody aptly captures the whimsical thoughts conveyed by the lyrics.
The song tells the story of a lonely bard, making promises to the love of his life. Pledging his persistence, devotion, and commitment, the singer is poised to enjoy a love that lasts a lifetime, but for the seemingly insignificant detail that he has not yet met the love of his life.
The thoughts communicated in the song are familiar ones – at least to anyone who has ever wondered whether there is a ‘better’ half of them out there. But what’s unique about the message of this song, in particular, is the light-hearted way the question is communicated. Far from being a forlorn, brooding inquiry, Bublé treats the matter with a lot of hope, and for better or worse (depending upon your experience) with a lot of optimism.
The qualities of the song’s music are amplified in the song’s music video.
The basic concept of the music video is that of a smitten Bublé meeting the love of his life in a random grocery store. The stunning blond he meets, of course, is none other than Bublé’s real-life fiancée Luisana Lopilato. After meeting the woman of his dreams, the video illustrates Bublé’s thoughts on the future he expects to have with the girl he has fallen for at first sight. In a nod to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, the music video culminates with a high school band performing for the couple in the supermarket, while the entire motley of customers, cashiers, and employees join the mini parade.
Above all, this song is fun. It reminds even the jaded among us that love is something to be hopeful for. Per usual, Bublé’s performance is amazing. Luisana Lopilato’s doe-eyes, and golden tresses don’t hurt either.
Besides, who wouldn’t like to fall in love while a ticker-tape parade swirls about?
Haven’t Met You Yet By Michael Bublé
I’m not surprised, not everything lasts I’ve broken my heart so many times, I stopped keeping track Talk myself in, I talk myself out I get all worked up, then I let myself down
I tried so very hard not to lose it I came up with a million excuses I thought, I thought of every possibility
And I know someday that it’ll all turn out You’ll make me work, so we can work to work it out And I promise you, kid, that I give so much more than I get I just haven’t met you yet
I might have to wait, I’ll never give up I guess it’s half timing, and the other half’s luck Wherever you are, whenever it’s right You’ll come out of nowhere and into my life
And I know that we can be so amazing And, baby, your love is gonna change me And now I can see every possibility
And somehow I know that it’ll all turn out You’ll make me work, so we can work to work it out And I promise you, kid, I give so much more than I get I just haven’t met you yet
They say all’s fair In love and war But I won’t need to fight it We’ll get it right and we’ll be united
And I know that we can be so amazing And being in your life is gonna change me And now I can see every single possibility
And someday I know it’ll all turn out And I’ll work to work it out Promise you, kid, I’ll give more than I get Than I get, than I get, than I get
Oh, you know it’ll all turn out And you’ll make me work so we can work to work it out And I promise you kid to give so much more than I get Yeah, I just haven’t met you yet
I just haven’t met you yet Oh, promise you, kid To give so much more than I get
I said love, love, love, love Love, love, love, love (I just haven’t met you yet) Love, love, love, love Love, love I just haven’t met you yet
Unlike many families, the Fodder Family Christmas is traditionally held on Christmas Eve. Some of my earliest memories of life come from Christmas Eves spent in the drafty Brown American Indian Baptist Church, just five miles south of Walters on Highway 5.
(Incidentally, this is the same church where I met my wife at the tender age of 13).
As did many of the children, I had a sense of dread as we lined up to participate in the annual Christmas Program. Like criminals waiting to be executed, we somberly walked down the narrow aisle toward the front, parading before the stained glass windows and our adoring families, badly reenacting the birth of Baby Jesus. Invariably someone would fall, see their mother, or make a b-line for the exits in the middle of the procession. And every other year or so, the odd child would simply stand on the stage and cry, giving my mother/director fits.
Of course, nothing matched my personal dread, standing before a packed congregation, and reading the Christmas Story from the book of Luke, usually chapter two:
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. (Luke 2:1-2 ESV)
Not to brag, but I have sometimes been asked how I developed what scant public speaking skills I have. My stock answer is that nothing steels the soul quite like reading the Christmas story to a church full of Baptists on Christmas Eve.
And let’s face it, if you can learn to properly pronounce “Quirinius” while speaking in public, well quite nearly anything can roll off the tongue.
At any rate, my big relief came when the bell tolled, sending a signal to Santa Claus that the torture of the children was over.
Bounding through the front door, parading past the stained glass windows, Santa Clause came with a big bag of presents for all the boys and girls – whether good or bad, much to my chagrin. That particular moment always struck me as an incredible teaching opportunity to stiff the kids that had screwed up our Christmas play.
Santa seemed to think better of it.
Of course, this came as little surprise. Santa Claus was always one to let the odd bit of mischief go unpunished. I knew this first hand. After all, the part of Santa Claus was played by my Grandfather who was generally quite keen to turn a blind eye to the trouble-making caused by his grandchildren.
Many years have passed, and Grandpa Fodder has long since relinquished his role as Santa Claus in the Brown Church Christmas Program. I suppose hip replacement surgery makes it somewhat perilous for squirming children to sit on his lap these days. But the Christmas tradition soldiers on every Dec. 24th.
Church services were followed by our family Christmas at the Fodder Family Farm. Our stockings hung neatly above the cramped living room. Toys packed deep within the branches at the base of the Christmas tree. Nothing compared to the smell of the cedar as we entered the house. The scent was even more satisfying, knowing that I had helped cut the tree from a grove near the creek behind our house.
After Christmas dinner, pie, and coffee (I began drinking the nectar of the gods around age five) it was finally time to open presents. As the living room became a wasteland of wrapping paper, I could always look forward to the pouting face of my youngest sister when she did not get the Bratz Doll of her choice.
But what I remember most about the Church service, and our family gathering was the music. From the church singing carols in unison, to the small cd player tucked into the corner of our living room, it was always the Christmas music that set the spirit of the evening. Christmas would surely have been memorable and special without the sounds to match. But with them, the evening was perfect.
Among the pantheon of hymns, no song stood out more in my mind than the timeless Christmas Carol, Silent Night as performed by Bing Crosby. I could wax eloquent about the song’s timelessness, and the depth of meaning it communicates. But the carol’s genius is in its brevity, and its profundity in its simplicity. A simple song, for a simple message of redemption that mankind will never fully grasp.
The Bing Crosby version of the Silent Night, circa 1947 is the gold standard for the song. Crosby’s performance is notable for its starkness. A simple white backdrop and a boys choir are all that accompany the voice more widely associated with Christmas than any other. The carol will almost certainly blare from the iPod player as we open Christmas presents Friday night, in the same cramped living room you see above. For if Christmas isn’t about tradition, then nothing is.
With that, please enjoy the Pax Plena Song of the Week: Silent Night as performed by Bing Crosby. Lyrics follow after the jump.
Silent Night, Holy Night By Bing Crosby
Silent Night, Holy night, all is calm, all is bright ‘Round yon Virgin Mother and Child Holy Infant so tender and mild Sleep in Heavenly peace Sleep in Heavenly peace
Silent Night, Holy night, shepherds quake at the sight Glories stream from Heaven a far Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia Christ the Savior is born Christ the Savior is born
Silent Night, Holy night, Son of God, love’s pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace Sleep in heavenly peace Sleep in heavenly peace
Pax Plena 