(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 345
Something Old
Our “something old” this edition is the classic cut “Stand” by the American alt-rock band R.E.M. It’s off their 1989 album Green. It climbed to number six on the Billboard Hot 100. The “tongue-in-cheek” track was a take-off of bubblegum pop acts like The Archies and The Banana Splits.
Something New
Our “something new” this time is the music video and most recent release “Magic” by American singer, songwriter, and actress Kara Connolly performing her song "Magic.” Connolly co-wrote the tune with Teddi Gold and Garen Gueyikian. She co-produced it with Dan Sadin and Andrew Heringer.
In a recent e-communique, singer-songwriter and musician Joy Autumn said: “[Connolly is one of the] “L.A. singer-songwriters I love.” Kara's upcoming [album] is…incredible.” Autumn added that Connolly’s music is of “such high quality” and added that Connolly “deserve[s] to be discovered!”
Something Borrowed
Our “something borrowed” for this edition is the song “Sharp Dressed Man" written and recorded by the American rock group ZZ Top in 1983. This clever cover is by the high energy bluegrass band from Chattanooga, Tennessee, Randy Steele and the High Cold Wind. This is a live adaptation of the song that harkens back to the 2022 Charleston Bluegrass Festival. It features frontman Randy Steele on banjo and guitar, Faye Petree on fiddle, John Martin Boulware on mandolin, and Justin Hupp on upright bass. (Check out a full review of High Cold Wind right here.
Something Blue
Last but not least, our “something blue” this edition is the 2020 song “All For The Love Of The Blues” written and recorded by American singer-songwriter and musician Val Kinzler. It features the Val Kinzler Band and guest artist American singer, composer, and guitarist Popa Chubby. Kinzler spoke briefly of writing this and other songs on social media. She said: “Every song I write is lived through. This one has too long of a story to contain here. Y'all will have to wait till my 'Life Sentence' book is published!”
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!
(Images courtesy of The Southern California Bride, Rosie, and/or original owners)