pazoo.net

I sit here today at my desk with a ton of things to do and write and my mind is focused on the tragic events of Saturday’s senseless shooting. I have lived in Tucson all my life and never has my hometown been so rocked. How can I write an article on retroflection when my heart is so filled with sadness and then, it got me thinking…

 When I was sad as a child, I turned to humor. Not that I see humor in this situation, but when I need a break from my tears, and my heart that is aching, I turned to humor. So I will do my best to reflect on what amused me as a child growing up.

 I suppose there is one person that always brought a smile to my face as a kid, and that was Carol Burnett. The show began in 1967 when I was just 9 years old. I laughed so hard most the time at this red head that delivered humor to my living room. I recall when I got in trouble at home for doing something mischievous and I was sent to my room, I would think of Carol Burnett and something she said, and would giggle to myself.

 The show ran for 1967 to 1978 and won 22 Emmys and through those years, I don’t think I missed a single episode. I am unsure what was some of the funniest moments of the Carol Burnet Show were to me. “As the Stomach Turns” made me giggle something fierce, and I am unsure who can forget, “Went with the Wind” the parody of Gone with the Wind.

 I loved it when they cracked each other up and they still continued to film the show. I knew that feeling well and know how much harder you laugh when you try not to laugh. The TV commercial parodies used to make me laugh as well and my friends and I as kids would make up TV parodies all the time.

 The humor that Burnett, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Tim Conway, and Lyle Waggoner gave me was absolutely priceless. This great cast literally made Americans laugh through good times as well as bad times thanks to characters such as Mrs. Wiggins, and Eunice of Mama’s Family, the old married couple and of course, the cleaning lady.

 I think one thing that sticks with me about Carol Burnet was her Tarzan yell which I admit I still occasionally do. The other treasure the show gave me was the end song of “I’m so glad we had this time together,” and what I called an ear wave, which I catch myself still doing here and there.

 So with earlobe between my thumb and fingertip, I am so glad you spent a few minutes reading and hope it gave you something light hearted to think about for a brief moment.

 By the way, what was your favorite Carol Burnett Skit?

jango.com

I was sitting at my desk today having to write for several publications and when I have deadlines to meet, I turn the tunes on and just sink myself into my work. When I have days like this, I believe picking my tunes out can make or break my writing day.  I do not want anything too distracting yet want to keep somewhat of a drive going. Today selecting music seemed difficult and I just could not make my mind up. Finally I selected Four Way Street by Crosby Still Nash and Young and it got  me thinking…

I was always a big fan of David Crosby, Stephen Stills, Graham Nash and Neil Young who had all been in successful groups before coming together in the fall of 1968. Crosby had joined The Byrds in 1964, Stephen Stills played guitar for Buffalo Springfield, Graham Nash was the force behind The Hollies and Neil Young, well need anyone say anything about Neil Young except to sit in awe of his pure talent and songwriting?

I am unsure where music would be today without these talented singer songwriters. They were instrumental in the folk singer songwriter arena of music.  As a young hippy in training and a musician, I skillfully learned each and every one of this groups music which alternated between and quartet, trio and solo artist. It didn’t matter what form they were in, I learned their music. Whether it was CSN or CSNY or simply Neil Young on his own, my fingers played their music on my guitar.

For me several things stood out with these four musicians.  As single singer songwriters they were great, but when the four got together, the harmonies and guitars was enough the shake my world. Four men sounding like a bird. Their harmonies were tight and moved you from your head to the bottom of your souls.

The other thing that struck me as a kid listening to this group was their political activism. Their songs reminded us of the horror and terror of the war and they took their anger and disgust about the senseless war and put it to music. Somehow it helped us understand how pointless the war really was and they did it with song. To me, as a kid, this was great. Today as an adult I applauded them for their shear courage to use their music to protest the war.

Their first stage performance together was in August of 1969 and Joni Mitchell was their opening act. I have days when I think what I would have done to be at that show, but I was only 12 or 13 at the time. That was also the night they said on stage that they were heading to Woodstock and the rest, well the rest is history.

Their first album with Young, Déjà Vu, came out in 1970. I was a kid and my sister and I played it so much, we each had to have our own copy. I follow the career even today of Neil Young and Stephen Stills. I must admit I have every album and of both these artists and in all honestly, I never get tired of listening to them.

These four guys both as solo artists, or as a group in one way or another has had such great hits like, Carry On, Déjà Vu, Ohio, Our House, Teach Your Children, Woodstock and more should be put right up there with The Beatles, Stones, Elvis, Led Zeppelin, The Who and the other greats that shaped and molded music.

Now after writing this, I have decided to get my friend Four Way Street for her Birthday tomorrow as I cannot think of better musical masterpiece to give someone in their mid 50s. In fact, you might want to take another listen to them if you have not heard them for a while.