Something in music: the origin

One night at a 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 scribbled down 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’s about to get hitched, she needs “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.” Your provocative penman was immediately inspired. After all, those same terms could be applied to music: “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. And the rest is history…

‘Something’ in Music 379

Something Old

Our “something old” this edition is the classic cut “Sometimes You Can’t Make It on Your Own” by the Irish band U2. It is the third cut on the group’s eleventh album titled How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb which dropped in 2004. It was the second single off the album.

Something New

Our “something new” this time is the new music video and song “God & Country” by Christian singer/songwriter Anne WIlson. The Kentucky native co-wrote the song with Jeff Pardo, Matthew West, & Trannie Anderson. The song is included on her upcoming new album, Rebel, which drops on April 19th, 2024. It features Kris Donegan on guitar, Jacob Arnold on drums, Kristen Rogers on background vocals, and a “bass duet” by Court Clement and Tony Lucido.

Something Borrowed

Our “something borrowed” for this edition is the 1980 song “9 to 5” written and first recorded by American entertainer Dolly Parton for the movie of the same name. This cover version was performed live by outlaw country artist Sara Petite at the 1st Street Bar in Encinitas, California in 2023. If you’d like to see Petite in person and are in the Long Beach area, you’re in luck!

Petite will be performing live at Twang City’s monthly music event on Saturday, February 24th, at DiPiazza's in Long Beach, California. According to a recent post on social media , this “amazing night of music” will also include your hosts, Los Angeles’ own high energy country band John Surge & The Haymakers and the “rough and rowdy country band” Hillbilly Crutch.

Advance standing tickets are available online for $5.00 (plus a $2.00 fee) or at the door for $10.00. Table seats are also available for $15.00. As noted, you can get a booth and have some DiPiazza's food while you enjoy the show.

Something Blue

Last but least, our “something blue” this time is the track titled "Lasting Kind of Love." It was written and recorded by Serbian blues artist Ana Popović and Grammy winner Keb’ Mo’ who is also a featured artist. The song originally appeared on Popović's eighth album, Like It on Top which dropped in 2018.

It includes Popović on guitar and vocals, Mo’ on guitar, Akil Thompson on guitar, Michael B. Hicks on keyboards and background vocals, Eric Ramey on bass, Marcus Finnie on drums, Roland Barber on trombone, Evan Cobb on saxophone, Josh Harner on trumpet, and Jason Eskridge and Moiba Mustapha on background vocals.

If you’d like to know what Popović is doing now, you’re in luck! Popović is currently an awards nominee for the Memphis-based Blues Foundation's 45th Annual Blues Music Awards to be held on Thursday, May 9th, 2024 at the Renasant Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee.

Here is an official list of the nominees:

Acoustic Album
Wild Ox Moan, Catfish Keith
Raw Blues 1, Doug MacLeod
Sticks & Strings, EG Kight
Ridin' the Blinds, Hudspeth & Taylor
Ghost Hymns, William Lee Ellis

Acoustic Artist
Catfish Keith
Doug MacLeod
Eric Bibb
Keb’ Mo’
Kevin Burt

Album of the Year
Teardrops From Magic Slim, John Primer
Live In London, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
SoulFunkn'Blues, Blackburn Brothers
Soul Side of Sipp, Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)
Get Your Back Into It!, Nick Moss Band featuring Dennis Gruenling

B.B. King Entertainer
Beth Hart
Bobby Rush
Lil’ Ed Williams
Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)
Vanessa Collier

Band of the Year
Larkin Poe
Nick Moss Band
Selwyn Birchwood Band
Southern Avenue
Tedeschi Trucks Band

Best Emerging Artist Album
When the Levee Breaks: The Music of Memphis Minnie, Candice Ivory
The Right Man, D.K. Harrell
Up Next, Mathias Lattin
Everybody's Buddy, Nic Clark
Tony Holiday, Mississippi Motel

Blues Rock Album
POWER, Anna Popovic
Writing On The Wall, Coco Montoya
Blues Deluxe Vol. 2, Joe Bonamassa
Blood Brothers, Mike Zito and Albert Castiglia
What Key Is Trouble In?, Nick Schnebelen

Blues Rock Artist
Ana Popovic
Joe Bonamassa
Kenny Wayne Shepard
Mike Zito
Warren Haynes

Contemporary Blues Album
Live In London, Christone "Kingfish" Ingram
Ridin', Eric Bibb
Behind The Veil, Jason Ricci and the Bad Kind
Healing Time, Ruthie Foster
Exorcist, Selwyn Birchwood

Contemporary Blues Female Artist
Carolyn Wonderland
Danielle Nicole
Janiva Magness
Teresa James
Vanessa Collier

Contemporary Blues Male Artist
Chris Cain
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Marquise Knox
Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)
Selwyn Birchwood

Instrumentalist - Bass
Bob Stroger
Larry Fulcher
Michael “Mudcat” Ward
Rodrigo Mantovani
Willie Weeks

Instrumentalist - Drums
Derrick D’Mar Martin
June Core
Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith
Tom Hambridge
Tony Braunagel

Instrumentalist - Guitar
Christoffer “Kid” Andersen
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Derek Trucks
Laura Chavez
Sue Foley

Instrumentalist - Harmonica
Billy Branch
Bob Corritore
Dennis Gruenling
Jason Ricci
Kim Wilson

Instrumentalist - Horn
Deanna Bogart
Jimmy Carpenter
Mark Kaz Kazanoff
Trombone Shorty
Vanessa Collier

Instrumentalist - Pinetop Perkins Piano Player
Ben Levin
Dave Keyes
Jim Pugh
Kenny "Blues Boss" Wayne
Mitch Woods

Instrumentalist - Vocals
Billy Price
Diunna Greenleaf
John Nemeth
Ruthie Foster
Shemekia Copeland

Song of the Year
“Bobby's Blues” performed by the Blackburn Brothers,
written by Brooke Blackburn
“Horns Below Her Halo” performed by Selwyn Birchwood,
written by Selwyn Birchwood
“Midnight Heat” performed by Christone “Kingfish” Ingram,
written by Tom Hambridge & Richard Fleming
“The Bait In the Snare” performed by Nick Moss Band featuring Dennis Gruenling,
written by Nick Moss
“What Kind Of Fool” performed by Ruthie Foster,
written by Ruthie Foster, Hadden Sayers & Scottie Miller

Soul Blues Album
Stuff I've Been Through, Alabama Mike
SoulFunkin' BLUES, Blackburn Brothers
All My Love For You, Bobby Rush
Walking Heart Attack, Johnny Rawls
Soul Side of Sipp, Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)

Soul Blues Female Artist
Annika Chambers
Kat Riggins
Terri Odabi
Thornetta Davis
Trudy Lynn

Soul Blues Male Artist
Alabama Mike
Billy Price
John Nemeth
Johnny Rawls
William Bell

Traditional Blues Album
Teardrops For Magic Slim, John Primer
Nothing But Time, Monster Mike Welch
Get Your Back Into It!, Nick Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling
Savoy, Taj Mahal
Oscar's Motel, The Cash Box Kings

Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female Artist)
Diunna Greenleaf
Rhiannon Giddens
Shaun Murphy
Sue Foley
Teeny Tucker

Traditional Blues Male Artist
Billy Branch
Cedric Burnside
John Primer
Jontavious Willis
Nick Moss

Are you interested in attending the event? Check out the Blues Foundation website for tickets and further information.

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 Matej Kmet Photography and/or original owners)