Although I don’t participate every week in Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop, I’ve found that some of my favorite posts from the past have been ones that I’ve written in response to one of her prompts. So today, this is the prompt I’ve chosen:
*What was your favorite song when you were 16 years old…is it still a favorite?
I was 16 in 1969. And I refuse to believe that was 45 years ago. As I’ve said before, that was back when music was MUSIC. It would be nearly impossible for me to choose one song from that year as my favorite. So I thought I’d take some liberties with the prompt, and just write about my memories of some of those songs.
Although there were many, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Box Tops, The Beatles and The Grass Roots were all popular artists that year, some with numerous hits.
If you were fortunate enough to remember that era, you recall what a big hit Zagar and Evans had with their song, In The Year 2525. In fact, that was at the top of the charts when our astronauts landed on the moon. I can’t really say that it was one of my favorites, although I certainly listened to it enough. A guy that I had a crush on, and went out with a couple of times, DID like it though. I remember cutting an article about the song out of the newspaper to give him. He wasn’t really interested in reading about it, however….
Our Glee Club (music) teacher at school ordered the sheet music to Good Morning Starshine, by Oliver, for us to learn. She said her main reason for ordering it was so she could see what the lyrics actually were:
Gliddy glub gloopy nibby nabby noopy
La la la – lo lo
Sabba sibbi sabba nooby aba naba
Lee lee – lo lo
Tooby ooby wala
Yeah, they certainly don’t write ’em like that any more….
The silly song, Guitarzan, by Ray Stevens, brings back another memory. My mom and I were sitting in our living room one summer evening with all the windows and doors open (no air conditioning in those days). Suddenly we heard a strange, loud noise and, at first, we were at a loss to identify it. We soon realized that someone was driving down the highway (apparently with all their windows open) with Ray Stevens blaring from the radio.
Another silly song from that year was Polk Salad Annie, by Tony Joe White. We thought it was a cute song, but for a long time, thought it was “Poke Salad Annie”.
Bridge Over Troubled Water, by Simon and Garfunkel, was the class song for my graduating class of 1971, although it was a hit in the spring of 1970. (It does, however, qualify for this post: I was still 16.) I was a Simon and Garfunkel fan, but that wasn’t my favorite of their hits.
On a sad note, Kenny Rogers’ 1969 song, Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town, included a lyric that struck too close to home, following my sister’s murder that year. “And if I could move, I’d get my gun and put her in the ground.” Needless to say, it wasn’t a favorite song of mine or my mother’s.
I was, and still am, a big CCR fan, so if I were forced to choose a favorite song from 1969, it would probably be Bad Moon Rising. And no, I never misheard the lyrics as “bathroom on the right”.
Isn’t it amazing how listening to an old song can instantly take you back to that time in your life? And what a fun, inexpensive way to travel.
~These Days Of Mine~
these days of mine 
You are right! That’s when music was music – it was fun and reflective – depending on where you were. Loved Bridge over Trouble Water and that Ray Stevens was ‘a hoot’ to listen to. Thanks for the memory walk.
You were – and are – adorable 🙂
With older sisters and brothers I didn’t have much of a choice but to go a long and listen to what they listened to – at full volume …
Ray Stevens had a lot of funny ones – remember the one about “You can’t roller skate in a buffalo herd” ~ My Grandma used to giggle at that one.
MJ
You had very pretty hair, Dianna, and a lovely smile. I loved anything Simon and Garfunkel. Remember “Red, Rubber Ball” “So Happy Together,” and Petula Clark’s “Downtown?”
Most definitely, Georgette!
It is interesting how music and memories are so intertwined – I loved all of the Motown music – and definitely remember “The Letter”!! Another great post!!
Look how cute you are! You haven’t changed a bit, Dianna. Bridge over Troubled Water is my mother’s favorite song and mine too. It makes me cry every time I hear it played.
I really enjoyed this post as I remember all those songs even “In The Year 2525”. My sister and I would joke that it was the only future dated song that would never get out of date in our lifetimes anyway. We’ve already passed Skyhook’s “Living in the 70s”, Bowie’s “1984” and it’s a long time since we partied like it was 1999 with Prince :). Remembering the songs we loved is a great way to go back in time.
And she still has lovely hair, Georgette!! Such a shame that most so-called present day music just doesn’t measure up. Not that most of it qualifies as music! Loved the memory walk!
I remember all those songs and that was a great time for me. Love this post Dianna. Fun to read this morning!!!
GREAT post!!! I love CCR and actually was listening to them the other day! Nothing like cranking up that music while making cards or cleaning!!! When Chris calls me I always have to turn it down because I blast it. 🙂 We have a lot of the same memories of music—it is such a great part of life, isn’t it?? I will have to look up what was popular when I was 16!!! Great prompt!
Amazing how I so clearly remember those songs from my days in kindergarten. HAHAHAHAHA! Anyway, yes, music is a time machine like almost nothing else. For me, Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May” transports me to high school like almost nothing else….
LOVE Maggie May….don’t you find you can “name that song” with just the first note or two?
Just the first note or two is exactly right, Dianna. And now sometimes it feels a bit bittersweet because I get so filled with nostalgia, I guess.
Music always transports me and since you and I are about the same age, I sure can identify with all of those songs you wrote about. I laughed at the lyrics to Good Morning Starshine! I always thought they were garblely goop and I see they are! 😉 I can remember playing Bridge Over Troubled Water for piano lessons. Ooo, it was hard to play. I still have the sheet music somewhere and I’m not even sure I can still play it. Loved taking the musical trip with you today.
Wow 1969 I was in college in Sunny Southern California! I got to see CCR in concert. Loved their music but they hardly moved on stage. Hhmm I wonder why? Being in CA it was hard to not listen to the Beach Boys but I wasn’t a big fan. I also got to see Iron Butterfly in concert. That was an experience for a small town PA girl to be in the middle of that crowd. Remember In-a-gadda-
da-veda? Well, the song went on and on and on, with fire on the stage and every member of the band collapsed being carried out on stretchers with the drummer being the last, collapsed over his drums. The fans were as “high” as the band…except for little old me and my date. We were probably the only ones that really remember the concert! Well, thanks for all these memories that came flooding back. Sorry to ramble on just like Iron Butterfly!
This takes me back! Funny how sometimes the lines we heard were not the lines that were written! Great post.
Bridge over troubled water is a family favourite. Our Mummy finds it makes her feel a little sad though
xxxx
What a great post…….I love that feeling you get when you hear a song from your own past and associate it with a moment in time when you were listening to it years ago. I never get tired of hearing those “oldies” – especially since now I myself am an “oldie” !!
Pam
Love this post – and the different memories! Simon and Garfunkel were way up on my list – I listen to them in the car all the time! Fun to post on the same subject!! I’ve been a lousy “commenter” lately – still a regular here, and will try and leave you more comment love!!
It’s funny… but these days I’m starting to notice some of the songs that were popular when I was younger being played on music feeds in different businesses. – the other morning in Hardee’s, I heard a song playing that was popular when I was maybe 13 or 14..
But NOTHING like the music when you were a teenager! – music was certainly music; and almost all of today’s modern ‘artists’ don’t stack up !
How beautiful you were at sweet 16! And still are.
Ha, I remember all those songs! They were still playing them in 1972.
Wow! I remember ALL of those! I was 15 in 1989 and my favorite song that year was Chrimson and Clover (Tommy James and the Shondells) and Honky Tonk Woman by the Stones and One by 3 dog Night!
What a great year!!!
Thanks for tripping me down memory lane!!1
And I’m guessing that pesky keyboard accidentally put 1989 in your comment….right?? Or was that Nellie walking across the keyboard!?
You are right, music really can take you back. This is a great list of songs.
Stopping by from Mama Kat’s
Those were good music days and but I love the 50’s music. Nothing like the music of today.
That’s funny about the music teacher getting the music to figure out the lyrics! I have to look up some of the old lyrics to figure out what was sung, and some I now recognize, though had no clue then as to what was meant. I like Simon & Garfunkel, too. Sound of Silence is my favorite.
Music was indeed actually music back then. I’m a CCR fan, myself.
OH! I did #5 prompt but your post made me go back to 1994 to remember what was playing and OMG! I feel through a youtube black hole of 90s music videos… I think I was more shocked by the outfits. The music? I still love it. Thanks for the time travel tip 😀