Are you under pressure? I have The Cure.

You might be thinking that this is a blog about the phenomenal 80s group The Cure. I have written blogs on their amazing-ness. It just so happens that while I was writing today, I was listening to The Cure radio station on my Pandora radio station when Queen feat. David Bowie “Under Pressure” came on. In the middle of my other writing tasks, I jumped up, looked for a cat to dance with (found neither) and did a soul dance that may have included a variation of the–um, I think some refer to it as “the corkscrew.”

There’s something about a song that grabs you and makes you completely subserviant to it; this is one such song for me. If you are a music fanatic like me, you might be interested to know what song was number one on the week of your birthday. Back before the Internet was as common as Charmin, my mom and I called in to find ours out. My American #1 was Olivia Newton John’s “Physical.” Dissappointed sigh. But my U.K. #1 was David Bowie and Queen’s “Under Pressure.” Yay for the U.K.! Interestingly enough, as an infant, I had hydrocephalus which literally translates to “water on the brain.” So I really was under pressure.

Another survey study claimed that the song that was #1 on your 18th birthday was your life’s theme. Mine was Rob Thomas featuring Santana on “Smooth.” This would be the song that got Mom into Rob Thomas and subsequently, Matchbox 20. I had resistance to it at first…but the lyrics seem to ring true to my monogamy and belief in lasting love with no b.s.: “give me your heart, make it real or else forget about.” I could groove to that. Mom’s was The Beatles’ “Get Back.” Mom also graduated on her 18th birthday that year the song was breaking radio waves across the nation. The Beatles had been enormous for about five years to that time. Yet, it is interesting because Mom has spent her whole life chasing family, trying to “get back to where (she) once belonged.” She even moved back to where she was born. I hope that she finds her true home where happiness lies. I think that she is still searching.

As for me? Well, I did finally find someone who gave me his heart, made it real and we don’t have to forget about it. As for Queen and Bowie? I knew that I would belong in his world when his two sons simultaneously requested “Queen Jazz!” on a Sunday morning car ride. It’s funny how we can get so under pressure that we forget what makes our soul sing. I recommend that the next time you hear this tune you get a headstart on dumping all that pressure and stress out…be it at the grocery store or in your own kitchen…I say, put on your red shoes and dance the blues…

Rock on,

Rachael

P.S. Here are some links you may like if you were interested in this post:
http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/birthdayno1

“Every pop song on the radio is suddenly speaking to me…”

This won’t be a post about Ani DiFranco. (Sorry, Ani. Maybe next time, because you are so rad.) But I had to use her lead in. You know how when you’re down and out or just busy that you don’t really tune in to the music around you? Or, when you’re lonely or heartbroken, the sappy love songs make you audibly gag? You say to yourself, “God, no, Michael Bolton, please stop!” (Of course, if it was me, I’d say that no matter how I felt, even if I did own his music on cassette as a lovesick little girl.) Or, “Yeeeeeeeah right, Broadway musical. Almost like being in love. The whole human race doesn’t want your smile.” Sad, right?

If you happen to be blessed with love, then everything becomes clearer. You might actually turn to that sappy song in the supermarket and smile, thinking of your newfound happiness. It’s like when you emerge from a foggy mountain and see the sun burst over the horizon. Sometimes, these songs are like that. Sometimes, it’s a matter of perspective.

I went on a date a few weeks ago and as we approached the ice cream counter, Def Leppard’s “Hysteria” was playing. Awkward. It was an okay date but somehow, hearing Def Leppard was weird. I used to write my romantic bits to that album when I was a young girl. I always listened to tracks including “Love Bites” “Love and Affection” and “Hysteria.” Hysteria was the first CD I ever receieved, for Christmas, along with my very first ever CD boombox in 1992. Suddenly, The Cure, Def Leppard, and even syrupy Shania Twain songs have snatched my attention. These songs seems to bubble up to fit the occasion. When someone totally gets you, especially through music, then music becomes even more amazing.

Guilty as charged. Do you think music will mind if I have an affair? I could never be disloyal to that sweet, wonderful magic that is music. What’s even better is when you can share that music magic with someone else.

Are there songs that you hated but the affections of someone else changed your tune? I’d like to know what they are, please!

Be well and rock on,

Rachael

P.S. It goes without saying that the Beatles are louder now than ever. I’ll say it anyway.

I used to dance around my room singing into the vacuum attachment with this one, far, far from any prospect of love, as I was a young girl.