For the Cheese in You

It is well known that I am a sucker for "light rock"--the kind filtered into elevators, grocery stores, and "please hold" automated phone calls. I blame my parents. At 11 years old, I was not allowed to listen to the majority of popular music, as they were convinced I would fall prey to the racy messages embedded into each sexual-innuendo-boasting lyric. At the time, I wept. How could a parent think songs like "Baby Got Back," "Doggystyle," and "Big Booty Hoes" contained inappropriate content for children under 13? I was in the sixth grade and therefore All Knowing and Mature. Why couldn't they see this?

But no matter. I took comfort in the love ballads and jazzy tunes of the seventies and eighties, and even though the music ban was lifted in high school, the damage had already been done. Billy Ocean love songs took over my brain following the months of my first official break-up. Want something peppier? Taylor Dayne's "Don't Rush Me" was not only an instant pick-me-up but also a promoter of abstinence. It was a win-win situation.

Now, as a 25-year-old adult (and therefore All Knowing and Mature), my musical taste has adapted a comfortable mix of the two. Elton John's greatest hits CD is just as viable a choice as Tha Low Down. However, for the commute to and from work, I find myself once again drawn to light rock. I've heard the song below every day for the last week and a half, and not even on the same station. I remember hearing this as a child but not being as affected by it as I am now. Now, you may think you aren't familiar with the genius that is Bruce Hornsby, but anyone who's heard Tupac's "That's Just the Way It Is" should know that Tupac STOLE the title, chorus, and music from Mr. Hornsby himself. Not that I'm bitter or anything.

Anyway, I normally don't feature lyrics here, but I think these can stand on their own, without the accompaniment of song.

Mandolin Rain
(Bruce Hornsby)

The song came and went
Like the times that we spent
Hiding out from the rain under the carnival tent
I laughed and she'd smile
It would last for a while
You don't know what you got till you lose it all again

Listen to the mandolin rain
Listen to the music on the lake
Listen to my heart break
Every time she runs away
Listen to the banjo wind
A sad song drifting low
Listen to the tears roll
Down my face as she turns to go

A cool evening dance
Listening to the bluegrass band takes the chill
From the air till they play the last song
I'll do my time
Keeping you off my mind
But there's moments that I find
I'm not feeling so strong

Listen to the mandolin rain
Listen to the music on the lake
Listen to my heart break
Every time she runs away
Listen to the banjo wind
A sad song drifting low
Listen to the tears roll
Down my face as she turns to go

Running down by the lakeshore
She did love the sound of a summer storm
It played on the lake like a mandolin
Now it's washing her away once again

The boat's steaming in
I watch the sidewheel spin
And I think about her when I hear that whistle blow
I can't change my mind
I knew all the time
That she'd go
But that's a choice I made long ago

Listen to the mandolin rain
Listen to the music on the lake
Listen to my heart break
Every time she runs away
Listen to the banjo wind
A sad song drifting low
Listen to the tears roll
Down my face as she turns to go

Comments

[Luke]

Ugh. Light "rock" is much more damaging to a young (or old) mind than just about anything. It's about as bad as letting your kids play Grand Theft Auto with the naughty patches loaded in.

[honestyrain]

oh beeee careful saying you like regular people music here on the interent. there are bloggers about who are downright snooty about their music likes and dislikes. don't dare say you like anything top 40 for fear of being called out and pointed upon. ;)

[Phil]

Frema...I can relate. I grew up listening to the only two tapes that my parents had in the station wagon...some Beach Boys album and Elton John's Greatest Hits, Vol. 2. I won't even comment on the Beach Boys album (I hate the Beach Boys...ok, there's a comment), but I've always had a connection with Elton because of this. The good thing is that I knew how good 'Tiny Dancer' was when I was like 7 years old. The bad thing is that I didn't know 'Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds' was a great cover of a totally fantastic John Lennon/Beatles song until it was way too late.

Oh...remember the George Harrison song, 'Got My Mind Set On You'? ...Yeah....that's good stuff.

[Becky]

*nothing* beats elton john.

i never listened to that stuff when i was younger, either... and my parents didn't even forbid me - it was my choice.

i still don't listen to it.

right on, sister girl.

[Frema]

I sure do, Phil. I sure do.

Other cheesy favorites:

Michael Bolton, "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You"

Anita Baker, "Giving You the Best That I've Got"

Stevie Wonder, "Isn't She Lovely"

Chicago, "If You Leave Me Now"

Phil Collins/Philip Bailey, "Easy Lover"

I could go on and on about Phil Collins, but maybe it's best to refrain. Except its sususudio hard to stop!

[Anonymous]

How about?

Foreigner - "I Want To Know What Love Is"

Air Supply - "Making Love out of Nothing at All"

mjd

[guile]

i love this song..

[Fraulein N]

My people! I have found my people.

[Silly Hily]

Thank you. To this day, I never knew the actual lyrics of that song.