Songs of [My] Life - Steemit Bloggers Contest
She arrived On a Jet Plane (John Denver) in Johannesburg, South Africa – a little Puppet on a String (Sandie Shaw) – and with a Locomotive Breath (Jethro Tull), took a train to Port Elizabeth. There, she made friends with Jennifer Eccles (The Hollies) and another Jennifer, Juniper (Donovan), but didn’t find Atlantis (Donovan).
The house my parents built in East London 1968. Originally, it consisted of the gable, and the chimney and the two windows to the left. This photo was taken in 2010.
After a while, the family moved to East London where she started school and met Pretty Belinda (Chris Andrews) whom, full of Sorrow (David Bowie) she left behind, when the family moved. Again. At the new school, she was Only the Lonely (Roy Orbison), and just had to Get Down (Gilbert O’Sullivan), and face her Waterloo (Abba), until she headed to boarding school.
Hostel dance - 1976 - only just a teenager
Boarding school was all about putting Another Brick in the Wall (Pink Floyd) and avoiding the Bad Moon Rising (Credence Clearwater Revival) in the company of ZX Dan (The Radio Rats), yearning for an African Sky Blue (Juluka). In those teenage years, she was a bit like Sandra Dee (Olivia Newton John) looking for Someone to Love (Queen). Then, one day, her Rhinestone Cowboy (Glen Campbell) rode in, but he had a Heart of Glass (Blondie), leaving her with The Sounds of Silence (Simon and Garfunkel) in the Purple Rain (Prince), with the question, I want to know what love is? (Foreigner).
Finishing school, the Wild Thing (The Trogs), Like a Virgin (Madonna) headed to university. There she found herself in the Eye of the Tiger (Survivor), saying, Papa don’t Preach (Madonna). What a Feeling (Irene Cara), those years of Ebony and Ivory (Stevie Wonder) when, with a lot of De Do Do Do De Da Da Da (Police), Time after Time, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper), Making Love out of Nothing at all (Air Supply), she had to sing the Redemption Song (Bob Marley).
Days of "study" and fun at university
Like Greased Lightening (John Travolta), Tragedy (The BeeGees) struck and it was time to start working Eight Days’ a Week (Beetles), joining the Men at Work (Down Under). So, Here comes Tomorrow (The Dealians), and in the company of Sugarman (Rodriguez), her Last Dance (Diana Ross) took her to Meadowlands (Strike Vilakazi) where she did the Pata Pata (Miriam Makeba) and pleaded, Give me Hope, Joanna (Eddie Grant). The odd Weekend Special (Brenda Fassie) didn’t go amiss, either.
After a while, it was time to Beat It (Michael Jackson), take the Paradise Road (Joy) and Go West (Pet Shop Boys). Not the best decision because Another one Bit(es) the Dust (Queen): a Careless Whisper (George Michael) Tainted Love (Soft Cell). This time, Weeping (Bright Blue), she headed to Mannenberg (Abdullah Ebrahim/Dollar Brand) and found That Crazy Little Thing Called Love (Queen) that was Simply the Best (Tina Turner).
It felt like Another Country (Mango Groove) in a Mad World (Tears for Fears) where Love is a Stranger (Eurythmics), Puttin’ on the Ritz (Taco), and so began another Walk of Life (Dire Straits). It was totally Perfect (Fairground Attraction), for which there could be no Substitute (Clout) and best of all, in a Funky Town (Pseudo Echo) that would keep her Forever Young (Rod Steward and Alphaville).
That Total Eclipse of the Heart (Bonnie Tyler) didn’t last. He was a Karma Chameleon (Boy George). It was time to go Out there on My Own (Irene Cara), and with London Calling (The Clash), she headed for Barcelona (Freddie Mercury and Montserrat Caballé). From then on, it was going to be all Livin’ la Vida Loca (Ricky Martin). It was More than a Feeling (Boston). It was definitely The End of the Road (Boyz II Men). She told him Don’t Bring me Down (ELO) and Jump (Van Halen). She took The Long Way Home (Supertramp) after what felt like The Crime of the Century (Supertramp). No such thing as Love over Gold (Dire Straits).
The Husband and I, exchanging vows - 2002
Then, My Oh My (Van Halen), completely unexpectedly, at the end of a long Telegraph Road (Dire Straits) she found A Groovy Kind of Love (Phil Collins) that was full of Honesty (Billy Joel) that had her Dancing on the Ceiling (Lionel Ritchie). Jabulani (PJ Powers) – happiness was the word. She had found her Charlie (Rabbit) and he wasn’t a Man on the Moon (Ballyhoo). He did want to Kiss her all Over (Exile) on a Bed of Roses (Bon Jovi).
Post Script
This is my entry into this week's Steemit Blogger's contest. I was hard pressed (notice the joke, those of you who remember vinyl) to choose just one. I have favourites that apply at different times and others that I hated and now love. There are songs missing from this list and which I'd love to have included, like Johnny Clegg's Asimbonanga (We have not seen him [Mandela]), but I really couldn't work it in, but couldn't leave it out, either. It is up there with another evocative song from my youth, Bright Blue's Weeping. Both are iconic songs of the struggle against Apartheid.
However, I have saved my absolute favourite to the end. It comes from one of the world's greatest guitarists and whose music underpins virtually every stage of my life - from my teens, and until now. Why this song? I have no idea, but it resonated for me the first time I heard it in the summer of 1980. At the time, I did not know that it was Santana, or the name of the tune - it's instrumental. It haunted me for years, and one of the first records I ever bought, was the Santana album that included this song. I now have it on CD - the same album - along with a number of other Santana albums that are all precious and special for different reasons. One of the memories and experiences I shall treasure forever, was seeing Santana live in South Africa - I had waited nearly 40 years. It was worth the wait and every penny. Especially when he played this.
There it is - until next time
Fiona
The Sandbag House
McGregor, South Africa
Photo: Selma
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Posted from my blog with SteemPress : https://www.fionasfavourites.net/2018/11/20/songs-of-my-life-steemit-bloggers-contest/
Wow, what a list @fionasfavourites
Loads of great tracks. Awesome choice with Santana though.
Gaz
Thank you!
Wow @fionasfavourites! That is a LOT of songs. You know your stuff. Hope you win.
#steemitbloggers
Thank you! It's a lot of years! ;)
Wow! You really threw the Kitchen Sink (21 pilots) at this one :D Love the way you incorporated all the songs and told your life story through the song titles, very imaginative - used to listen to Santana a lot when I was growing up as well - looks like the challenge is biting me on the proverbial backside now hahaha - thanks for entering the contest :)
Wow, you listed even more of them than me! hahaha, that will teach him not to ask for ONE song! Great collection by the way and I love it how you have written it all down and incorporated it in like a little story!
Yes, that will teach both @zord189 and @nickhavey!
The pleasure is all ours.... and the pain of having to judge... think a few grey hairs appearing by the end of the day here :D
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This is BRILLIANT @fionasfavourites! Hahaha, wow... when you were talking about favourite songs, you really did meant more than one. LOL! Haha loved reading this!
I am glad. I enjoyed writing it! And so many I left out! ;)
part 2? :P Ngehehe
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This is fantastic! Wow, how long did it take you do write this up? I'm amazed at not only the wonderful array of music choices, but how you seamlessly worked them all in! Bravo!
Thank you. All told, it took about a day! I really had fun doing it, and once I got into it, it just flowed. :)
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Enjoyed the music over the years, many so familiar playing on radio or our hi-fi of the day. Still have our vinyl collection never gave it away, too many memories.
What a pity the house with gables no longer looks the same @fionasfavourites well done.
I only had a little vynil collection - I had more on tapes and they're FUBAR! The vinyl I did have, is now on CD. Pity our CD player is acting up. And as for the house, I was interested in what had been done: my folks designed it so it could be extended!
Still have our collection, at least ten years ago we found software, set up the turntable and put everything into digital, after tapes started to pack up with heat.
Everything saved and backed-up in a few places now.
We pass the house we grew up in whenever we go inland visiting on the highveld, swimming pool added many years ago with a few upgrades, main home remained the same. Now you can google everything and see if any changes happen LOL....