‘Something’ in Music 81

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 Old

Our “something old” this time is the classic cut "Piano Man." This song was written and recorded by American singer-songwriter and musician Billy Joel. It was his very first single in North America. It is also the title track off his second studio album which dropped in 1973.

Something New

Our “something new” this time is the new single and music video “Guardian Angel” by American singer-songwriter and guitarist Peggy James. Her Americana/country-influenced song is meant to shed some light on us all during a difficult time. In a recent email, she discussed her first of the year. The Wisconsin performer is planning “to release a string of singles” this year that will culminate “with the release of a full length LP.” “Guardian Angel” is now available on digital formats on Happy Growl Records.

Something Borrowed

This edition’s “something borrowed” is “California Sun.” The song was first recorded by American R&B singer Joe Jones and written by Henry Glover in 1960.This cool cover id by the American punk rock band The Ramones and appear on their 1977 platter Leave Home.

Something Blue

Our “something blue” this time is the song “The Thrill Is Gone.” It was co-composed by the West Coast blues artist Roy Hawkins and Rick Darnell. American singer-songwriter and guitarist B.B. King made it a blues standard when he recorded it for his 1969 platter titled Completely Well.

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 sexy or funny bride photos too!

(Images courtesy of EquallyWed amd KitschMix respectively)