Born on November 12th

So, To-Day’s your birthday. Big Deal!
Who ever wrote a song about YOU…?

Dressing up as a Cowboy Woody prototype

JACK RYAN (b. 1926 – e. 1991) Barbie’s Dad.

Ryan was a design engineer of children’s toys, including two which have had a lasting cultural impact far beyond the Baby Boomers they were created for: Barbie dolls and Hot Wheels. Together, these iconic toys were responsible for creating the NASCAR culture of race car drivers and the siliconed blondes who hand them trophies.

I’m a Barbie girl, in a Barbie world.
Life in plastic, it’s fantastic!
You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere.
Imagination: life is your creation
“Barbie Girl” by Claus Norreen and Søren Nystrøm Rasted; recorded by Aqua
<<< LISTEN >>>

Mattel, which has owned the rights to Barbie, sued Aqua for cheapening the product.^# But that was just one of many legal issues that have attached themselves to the company and its senior staff over the years. (Ryan and Ruth Handler, Barbie’s co-creator, have each been on been on both sides of the law at one time or another.)

Mattel’s suit was basically pointless, for Toy Story 2 had more fun with Barbie’s image than Aqua did. But then, Disney paid for the privilege, Aqua didn’t.

Oh, and Jack Ryan was once married to Zsa Zsa Gabor.

^# Stranger Than Fiction: Now Mattel is using Aqua’s song to sell Barbies!

Catharsis in singing

NEIL YOUNG (b. 1945) Northern Man.

As a Canadian, Young is hardwired with that nation’s chief cultural neurosis, high-minded insecurity. That is, North-of-the-Borderers are both achingly envious of America’s greatness and thoroughly disgusted by its hypocrisy. Young, looking to make an American buck, headed to Los Angeles to make records and money. Fortunately for his muse, he never lost his sense of cultural superiority.

On his 3^rd solo album, After the Gold Rush, Young took aim at bigoted Southern Americans with a song blasting the Maddox-Wallace-Faubus type of segregationist for impeding the course of inevitable equality.

Sadly for Young’s legacy, “Southern Man” was outdated as soon as it was written. The Ku Klux Klan, resurgent in the early 60s, had been infiltrated by FBI informers; the sharecropping described in the song largely ended a generation earlier. The sharpest barb in Young’s song referred to Reparations: “When will you pay them back?”

In his scattershot song, Young bit off more than he could chew, for one group of Southerners bit back. The defenders of Good Ol’ Boy-ism, Southern Rock group Lynyrd Skynyrd, excoriated Young for dragging all Dixiecans under one stereotypical umbrella. They wrote a song that celebrated the South, and kicked Young’s Canadian bacon back over the border.

Well I heard Mister Young sing about her
Well, I heard ol’ Neil put her down
Well, I hope Neil Young will remember
A Southern Man don’t need him around anyhow
“Sweet Home Alabama” by Ed King, Gary Rossington and Ronnie Van Zant; recorded by Lynyrd Skynyrd
<<< LISTEN >>>

In the genre of the Answer Song, Skynyrd’s response to Young ranks as the most successful of all, both in terms of records sold and in points made. The South in general, and Alabama in particular, has much to recommend it to tourists, purists and cultural jurists.

By the way, Neil Young and Lynyrd Skynyrd are cool with each other. Always have been.

Catharsis in skating

TONYA HARDING (b. 1970) Scrappy Skater.

It could only happen in America. Unless it would happen in a backward Eastern European country in the days of the Iron Curtain. A leading athlete with a powerful enemy was crippled on the eve of a big competition, opening the way for her foe to triumph.

And, also only in America, the knee-whack job responsible for this thuggery has entered our popular cultural lexicon. (I’d had said that she’d become a Meme, but I don’t believe in Memes. They’re figments of our imaginations.)

For some reason, Aggravated Assault has become a subject for humor in our society. No one takes it seriously anymore, much less Warner Brothers and Steven Spielberg, presenters of the television show, Animaniacs.

During one episode of the show, the three antagonizing Protagonists are persecuting an unpesecutable Barney clone. Unable to stop it’s mindless blather, Yakko, Wakko and Dot consider their options for taking it down.

It’s unstoppable
Call in the National Guard
Or Tonya Harding’s bodyguard
“The Anvil Song”, by Peter Hastings; recorded by The Animaniacs
<<< LISTEN >>>

The Animaniacs have served up just about everyone and everything as a target for their juvenile humor, even Saddam Hussein. Going back to Bugs Bunny’s World War II days, Warner Brothers even took on Hitler at the height of his menace. So why wouldn’t they attack the modern-day evil of Barney. And Tonya Harding.

Born on November 11th

So, To-Day’s your birthday. Big Deal!
Who ever wrote a song about YOU…?

 

What the boys were fighting for back home

ABIGAIL ADAMS (b. 1744 – d. 1818) Second First Lady.

If you don’t have the patience to sit through the musical 1776 to see Abigail’s brief cameos, you can catch her on video. The mega-mini-series John Adams shows plenty of Abi; she’s the sounding board that the vainglorious John Adams needed to help plot the new country’s course.

We’ve gone from Framingham to Boston
And we cannot find a pin
“Don’t you know there’s a war on?”
Say the tradesmen with a grin
Well, we will not make saltpeter
Until you send us pins!
“Till Then” by Sherman Edwards, for the musical 1776
<<< LISTEN >>>

In typical Lysistratan fashion, Abigail Adams led the women of Massachusetts on a strike, until the men gave them what they wanted. Which was a metaphor for sex, I’m pretty sure…

The tale of American Independence is the stuff of an all-male revue. The only way writers Stone and Edwards could work a couple of women into the musical’s narrative was to portray the founding fathers as horny husbands. During the show, both Adams and Thomas Jefferson stopped the action to sing to their wives about the frustrations of patriotic duty.

 

Seller of Silliness

LARRY LaPRISE (b. 1912 – d. 1996) Novelty Song promoter.

Musician LaPrise has earned the appreciation of children of all ages – and the approbation of adults of all ages – for popularizing a single simple-minded dance: “The Hokey Pokey.”

Any human being with a social network of any size has attended a function where this ubiquitous song was played and danced to.

The origins of the son are muddy, but what is crystal clear is the imprint this inane tune has made on the human psyche.

Maybe it’s all too simple
For our brains to figure it out
What if the hokey pokey
Is all it really is about
“What if the Hokey-pokey is All it Really is About?” by Jimmy Buffett
<<< LISTEN >>>

I’m impressed when someone can distill all the great questions of man’s existence, and find the answer in a mindless children’s song.

Inherited Twain's mantle as "America's Storyteller", and Twain's hair

KURT VONNEGUT (b. 1922 – d. 2007) Polarizing writer.

You either love him, or you can’t understand a thing he’s writing. Vonnegut rewards patient reading, which is a downer for books sales in this age of short attention spans.

Tiger got to hunt, bird got to fly
Man got to sit and wonder why, why, why
Tiger got to sleep, bird got to land
Man got to tell himself he understand
“Kurt Vonnegut”; quoting from Vonnegut’s Cat’s Cradle; recorded by Born Ruffians
<<< LISTEN >>>

As one dude put it, on SongMeanings.net, only Man “has the illusion of a choice in life, and…we’ll always…do the same things because we’re trapped.” It’s our instinct to question our existence, but it’s our limitation to never find the answer.

By the way, didja notice the similarity to a famous Hammerstein lyric from Show Boat?

Born on November 10th

So, To-Day’s your birthday. Big Deal!
Who ever wrote a song about YOU…?

 

Luther: "There are no atheists in fox stoles"

MARTIN LUTHER (b. 1483 – d. 1546) Rabble-rousing reformer of religion.

Completely outGoogled by his namesake, Mr. King, Luther still holds sway among thoughtful white Christian bands like the punk-ska Supertones. Plus, he has a religion named after him. All in all, he’s got a pretty good résumé.

See wisdom and knowledge is one thing that we lack
You’ve been a Christian how long and you’re still on Similac
So I call on Martin Luther and all the Reformation
Back then the common people couldn’t read God’s revelation
You had to be a monk or a priest or read Latin
That was all before the revolution happened
“Return of the Revolution” by Matt Morginsky and Tony Terusa; recorded by The O.C. Supertones
<<< LISTEN >>>

These guys know their Reformation. Like Luther, the songwriters want to nail their message on the doors of believers who still suck at the teat when they should be chawing on solid food.

 

I hope George didn't tip the painter

GEORGE II (b. 1683 – d. 1760; né Georg August of Hanover) King of England, 1727-1760.

A first-generation Brit (born in what is now Germany), he was a thorn in the side of his father, the non-English speaking George I. He shouldn’t have been in such a hurry to be king, for his reign was plagued by troubles, from his son Frederick, his daughter Maria Theresa, and from the Jacobean pretender to the throne, Bonnie Prince Charlie.

It was during Charlie’s revolt, called “The Forty-Five” because it launched in 1745, that this modest tune – published the year before – was enlarged and popularized to stir patriotism and adherence to the Crown.

God save our gracious King,
Long live our noble King,
God save the King:
Send him victorious,
Happy and glorious,
Long to reign over us:
God save the King.
“God Save the King” (1745) by Anonymous; recorded by John Wesley Harding
<<< LISTEN >>>

When America rebelled, they didn’t have any good songwriters like Anonymous, so they stole old English tunes for their patriotic songs, “America” (aka “My Country ‘Tis of Thee”) and “The Star-Spangled Banner” (based on an old drinking tune).

Normand, ready to shoot up-- I mean, shoot her lover-- I mean, shoot a film.

MABEL NORMAND (b. 1895 – d. 1930) American film actress.

She didn’t lead a world-changing religious movement, nor build an empire. But Normand inspired a musical, which is more than Luther or Hanover can say. Though Norma Shearer, Clara Bow and Mary Pickford were all arguably bigger film stars of the Silent Era, Normand was funnier, and that provided the hook that lured in investors.

It was Mabel’s work with the legendary producer of slapstick comedy, Mack Sennett, that inspired the ultimately unsuccessful musical, Mack & Mabel. It’s not that the time period couldn’t produce rich material for a successful show. Fanny Brice was famously celebrated in Funny Girl, and her Broadway career began the same year Normand’s film career began: 1910.

Somehow the ceiling
Seems a little higher
From the very moment I see Mabel come in the room
It feels like someone
Lit a roaring fire
But it’s just the glow I get when Mabel comes in the room
“When Mabel Comes In the Room” by Jerry Herman; sung by the company in Mack & Mabel
<<< LISTEN >>>

Jerry Herman, a notorious plagiarizer of his own work, culled the best features from his earlier showstoppers “Hello, Dolly” and “Mame”, and recycled them. Sadly, his less-than-fresh work quickly passed its Sell By date, and the show closed after just 8 weeks.

Born on November 9th – MARY POPPINS EDITION

So, To-Day’s your birthday. Big Deal! What classic movie were YOU ever in…?

Wanted to be a fireman

EDWARD VII (b. 1841, né Albert Edward of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha; d. 1910) King of England, 1901-1910. The setting for Disney’s most popular live-action film, Mary Poppins, was the tail-end of the Edwardian Era, the high-water mark of the British class system. Big changes were coming, but the soon-to-be-dead Ed had no clue…

It’s grand to be an Englishman in 1910:
King Edward’s on the throne;
It’s the age of men.
I’m the lord of my castle,
The sov’reign, the liege!
“The Life I Lead” by R.B. Sherman & R.M. Sherman; sung by David Tomlinson in Mary Poppins
<<<LISTEN>>>

Was the Texaco Fire Chief

Contrary to popular opinion, Mary Poppins did not single-handedly bring an end to Upper Class privilege.

ED WYNN (b. 1886, né Isaiah Leopold; d. 1966) Actor and comedian. Wynn’s penultimate film role cast him as chimney sweep Bert’s laughable Uncle Albert – a character nowhere to be found in the original stories.

“I Love to Laugh” by R.B. Sherman & R.M. Sherman, sung by Ed Wynn in Mary Poppins
<<<LISTEN>>>

Wynn paid the Disney studios one more visit before dying of laughter. He appeared in The Gnome-Mobile as Rufus, The Gnome-King. Also re-appearing in that film was…

Dotrice, back when she could get away with murder

KAREN DOTRICE (b. 1955) British actress. Poppins fans loved Dotrice, and her screen brother Matthew Garber, so much that Disney put the kids in their own vehicle, a tricked-out Rolls Royce Phantom called The Gnome-Mobile. Dotrice and Garber were at the pinnacle of their insufferable cuteness when reciting the qualities they were looking for in an ideal governess.

“The Perfect Nanny” by R.B. Sherman & R.M. Sherman, sung by Karen Dotrice in Mary Poppins
<<<LISTEN>>>

Born on November 2nd

So, To-Day’s your birthday. Big Deal! Who ever wrote a song about YOU…?

THE BIRTHDAY GIRL

Marie-Antoinette (born 11/2/1755) French queen who lost her head

<<<LISTEN>>>
Lovely Antoinette
Your shadow’s falling
Along the land.
Anger born of hunger
Poisons the hearts of your loyal men.
- “Marie Antoinette,” by Darryl Way and Sonja Kristina Linwood for Curved Air

She keeps Moet et Chandon
In a pretty cabinet
‘Let them eat cake‘ she says
Just like Marie Antoinette
- “Killer Queen,” by Freddie Mercury for Queen

…Antoinette, dainty queen,
With her quaint guillotine.
Those were the Good Old Days.
- “Those Were the Good Old Days,” by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross for the musical Damn Yankees

A⁷ – D⁷ – Abm⁷ – Db⁷ – Dm⁷ – G⁷ – C⁷ – Db⁷ – F^#7 – F⁷ – F⁷ – Em⁷ (^b5) – A⁷ – Dm⁷ – Bb⁷ – Dm⁷ – Bb⁷ – Dm⁷ – Bb⁷ – Dm⁷ – Bm⁷ – E⁷
- Chord progression from “Marie Antoinette,” a jazz tune by Wayne Shorter for Freddie Hubbard

“Why Don’t They Eat the Cake?”
“A Perfect Queen”
“You’ve Got to Give Them What They Want”
“Why Can’t I Just Be a Smith”
“Thank God, We’re All Mad”
“Off With Her Head!”
- Song titles from Marie Antoinette, a musical in German, lyrics by Michael Kunze

OTHERS BORN ON THIS DATE:

Joseph Radetzky von Radetz (born 11/2/1766) Austrian general

<<<LISTEN>>>
- “Radetzky March,” by Johann Strauss Sr.

James K. Polk (born 11/2/1795) 11^th President of the United States

<<<LISTEN>>>
Austere, severe, he held few people dear
His oratory filled his foes with fear
The factions soon agreed
He’s just the man we need
To bring about victory
Fulfill our manifest destiny
- “James K. Polk,” by Matthew Hill for They Might Be Giants

Warren Harding (born 11/2/1865), 29^th President of the United States

<<<LISTEN>>>
Warren Gameliel Harding
Playing cards in a smoke-filled room
Winning and losing, filling the time
I just want someone to talk to
- “Warren Harding,” by Al Stewart

Burt Lancaster (born 11/2/1913) film actor

<<<LISTEN>>>
La cagaste Burt Lancaster
La cagaste Burt Lancaster
La cagaste Burt Lancaster
Voy a meterte la cabaza en el bater
- “La Cagaste…Burt Lancaster,” by David Summer for Hombres G
(Loosely translated,  “You fucked up, Burt Lancaster; I’m going to stick your head in the toilet.”)

Johnny Vander Meer (born 11/2/1914), Baseball pitcher who threw two no-hitters in succession.

<<<LISTEN>>>
Whitey Kurowski, Max Lanier
Eddie Waitkus and Johnny Vander Meer
Bob Estalella
Van Lingle Mungo
- “Van Lingle Mungo,” by David Frishberg

Earl “Speedo” Carroll (born 11/2/1937), Rock’n’roll tenor

<<<LISTEN>>>
Now, they often call me Speedo
But my real name is Mr. Earl
Known for meetin’ brand new fellas
And takin’ other folk’s girl
- “Speedo,” by Esther Navarro for The Cadillacs

Stefanie Powers (born 11/2/1942), actress; and Shere Hite (born 11/2/1942), author

<<<LISTEN>>>
Tree Sri Govinda and Snow White
Edgar Cayce and Shere Hite
Francis Drake who also was a knight
And Stefanie Powers
We welcome you
- “Welcome” by Steven Kilbey & Marty Willson-Piper for The Church

Born on October 30th – SONGWORTHY EDITION

So, To-day is your Birth Day. Big Deal! Who ever wrote a song about YOU?

Praying for Victory

William F. Halsey Jr (born 10/30/1882)
Naval commander in the Pacific campaign of World War II

“Admiral Halsey notified me
He had to have a berth or he couldn’t get to sea.
I had another look and I had a cup’a tea
And a butter pie.”
- “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” by Paul McCartney, for Wings

Pound's hair... Goddamm

Ezra Pound (born 10/30/1885)
American poet and literary critic

“And then you took in hand
Pricked by poisoned pin
Painted the world one color
Oooh you drew me in
You draw me in
We won’t read the end
Ezra Pound”
- “Ezra Pound” by Kevin Griffin, for Better Than Ezra

The Good Sport, left

Clifton Clowers (born 10/30/1891)
Overprotective father

“They say don’t go on Wolverton Mountain,
If you’re looking for a wife.
‘Cause Clifton Clowers has a pretty young daughter;
He’s mighty handy with a gun and a knife.”
- “Wolverton Mountain”, written by Claude King and Merle Kilgore (Clowers’ nephew)

Say what you want, this isn't gay

Charles Atlas (born 10/30/1892)
Italian-born bodybuilder and entrepreneur

“He ate nutritious High-Protein
And swallowed raw eggs
Tried to build up his shoulders,
His chest, arms and legs
Then a magazine advert with a new muscle plan
(said…)
In just seven days I can make you a man.”
- “Charles Atlas Song,” from Rocky Horror Show by Richard O’Brien

Timmy Schmit, when he was little

Timothy B. Schmit (born 10/30/1947)
Folk-Rock musician (Poco, The Eagles)

“If we leave really early and we hurry
We can get in with the band
‘Cause little Tim Schmitty’s got his old man’s van
So let’s get to gettin’ while the gettin’ is right
And roll with the rhythm tonight”
- “My Music” by Jim Messina and Kenny Loggins

Born on October 29th

So, To-day is your Birth Day. Big Deal! At your age, just what have YOU accomplished?

Oldest baby in the world

At age 21, funny-faced Fanny Brice (born 10/29/1891 as Fania Borach) created an infantile character named Baby Snooks, a popular role she played to increasing acclaim right up to her death 38 years later.

D'oh Boy

At age 30, faceless Dan Castellaneta (born 10/29/1957) first gave voice to the Great Yellow One, Homer Simpson, on the Tracey Ullman Show.

Back when he was somebody

At age 33, Palestinian-born (technically, yes) Ralph Bakshi (born 10/29/1938) creates the world’s first X-rated animated feature (which is probably equivalent to a PG-13 today), Fritz the Cat.

Happy to get that creepy mongrel out of their hair

At age 37, the unHeather, Winona Ryder (born 10/29/1971 as Winona Horowitz) played Amanda Grayson, aged mother of famous fictional character Dick Grayson. Excuse me, I mean Spock.

Frank Sinatra's hand on the back of anonymous smiling man

At age 43, heavyweight arranger Neal Hefti (born 10/29/1922) composed his most famous tune, the theme to Batman. (Sample lyric: “Na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na, Batman!”)

Born on October 28th

So, To-day is your birthday. Big Deal! At your age, just what have YOU accomplished?

Hopkins, with unknown companion

At age 23, bosomy buddy Telma Hopkins (born 10/28/1948) was enlisted by Tony Orlando to help turn his studio ensemble “Dawn” into a real live touring act.

 

 

Proof that 'gay' is infectious

At age 30, Wheaties icon Bruce Jenner (born 10/28/1949) made his one foray into Hollywood a doozy, starring in the cult classic Can’t Stop the Music.

 

 

 

Lanchester, playing The Face That Sunk A Thousand Ships

At age 32, pop-eyed Elsa Lanchester (born 10/28/1902), one half of Britain’s Tracy/Hepburn, appeared as the Bride of Frankenstein; contrary to popular belief, the monster was not played by her husband, Charles Laughton.

 

 

 

Jack Soo, Sex Symbol

At age 44, coffee maker Jack Soo (born 10/28/1917 as Goro Suzuki) benefited from the dearth of Asian film actors by being cast in the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, Flower Drum Song.

 

 

Never too busy to keep the highways clean

At age 47, engineering professor Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (10/28/1956) became Mayor of Tehran when he was selected by the City Council, its members chosen by no more than 12% of the eligible voters; by such mandates are great leaders created…

 

Born on October 27th

So, To-day’s your Birth Day. Big deal! At your age, what have you REALLY accomplished with your life…?

He talked the silly talk, and walked the silly walk

At age 24, silly walker John Cleese (born 10/27/1939) appeared with British sketch group Cambridge Circus on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

Not a Cowboy, but a Bullyboy

At age 26, stone-faced Theodore Roosevelt (born 10/27/1858) left behind a budding political career and retired to his ranch in the Dakotas, where he built a life-long friendship with lawman Seth Bullock.

Who is she, again...?

At age 30, inexplicably famous Marla Maples (born 10/27/1963) stretched her 15 minutes of fame into five-plus years of marriage to Donald Trump.

Did it quickly

At age 31, fragile Sylvia Plath (born 10/27/1932) entered the writer’s confessional to create her semi-autobiographical novel, The Bell Jar.

Did it slowly

At age 37, well-greased Welshman Dylan Thomas (born 10/27/1914) rose to the occasion of his father’s impending death to pen the memorable memorial “Do not go gentle into that good night.”

Born on October 26th

So, Today’s your Birth Day. Big deal! At your age, just what have YOU acccomplished with your life?

Secretary of Fashion

While attending Wellesley College, 19-year-old Hillary Rodham Clinton (born 10/26/1947) worked to make Edward Brooke (a Republican) the first popularly elected Black senator in America.

Battle of the Birthday Boys

At age 30, heavyweight champion Jack Sharkey (born 10/26/1902 as Joseph Zukauskas) lost his title to bulky 26-year-old boxer Primo Carnera (born 10/26/1906).

Hillary-detractors claim she introduced them

At age 47, Edward Brooke (born 10/26/1919) became the first black Senator elected by popular vote (thanks in part to Hillary Rodham); some ten years  later he was the first Black Senator to sleep with a network television anchorwoman.

Did her part during the Depression by feeding starving artists

At age 55, Williamsburgher Abby Rockefeller (born 10/26/1874) opened the fledgling Museum of Modern Art partly so she wouldn’t have to continue using her New York City apartment at 10 W. 54^th St. to show her acquisitions.