(Note: this series was originally published elsewhere.)
Something in music: origin
One evening at a hot, trendy L.A. nightclub on a rare solo outing, yours truly found himself standing alone at the bar preparing to review the upcoming act. Before he had taken more than a few notes, however, he was bookended by a pair of vivacious vixens who insisted on engaging your rockin’ writer in cozy conversation. Strangely, the subject of “marriage” arose.
One of the young ladies noted that when a gal is about to get hitched, she needs “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.” Your provocative penman was immediately inspired. After all, those very same terms could be applied to music too: “Something old” or classic, “something new” or recently released, “something borrowed”, a cover, and “something blue”, a blues song or a song with “blue” in the title. The rest is history.
‘Something’ in Music 280
Something Old
Our “something old” in this edition is the classic cut “Don’t Bring Me Down” written by American lyricist Gerry Goffin and singer-songwriter and musician Carole King and recorded by the Animals. The single dropped back in 1966. The song was the band’s first release with then new drummer Barry Jenkins.
Something New
Our “something new” this time is the new song “Shadows” written and recorded by Texas-based singer-songwriter Laura Marie. It’s off her upcoming EP titled Too Sweet: Songs for Setting Boundaries. Marie commented on the song in a social media missive.
She said: “Ever try to set a boundary with someone but keep getting sucked back into the same drama? They say or do something, and you’re right back in it. Or, you start the same pattern all over again with someone else. ‘One lesson learned on repeat’.”
Marie added: “I wrote ‘Shadows’ while I was discovering the power of walking away. Not winning, not getting the last word, not being right or the other person being wrong, not getting an apology, or the other person getting whatever it is I think they deserve. Just me finally being done.
She concluded: “The win is being free of the pattern. Makes me feel like dancing.” The track features Marie on vocals, Jake Owen on guitars, bass keyboards, and programming arrangement, Mauro Refosco on drums and percussion, and Andy Dollerson on additional keys and programming.
Something Borrowed
Our “something borrowed” this time is the 1934 song “Summertime” by American composer George Gershwin and author and lyricist DuBose Heyward for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. This eclectic audio adaptation is by the image-nihilistic avant-garde American group The Residents. It first appeared on their 1984 vinyl George & James (American Composer Series – Volume 1). (Yes, your rockin' writer reviewed the release back in his college days!)
Something Blue
Finally, our “something blue” this edition is the song “All Over Again.” This is an adaptation of the 1968 B.B. King classic cut by the Phoenix, Arizona-based American band known as Until The Sun. The band’s current roster includes Alyssa Swartz on vocals, Brandon Teskey on guitar, Bruce Jensen on bass, and Chris Tex on drums. (Read all about the group’s new release right here.)
Did we mention your favorite “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue”? If not, let us know. Don’t forget to send us your bride photos too!