So, last night Hubby and I finished up part two of the Martin Scorsese documentary about George Harrison, Living in the Material World. (I can't help it, that title just instantly conjures the Madonna song for me.) But this is not a post about Madonna, because there are just too many awesome George Harrison songs on All Things Must Pass (a major focus of the film) to have stuck in my ear right now. But before I get to the earworm du jour I have to say that I am astonished at how little I actually knew about "the quiet Beatle," considering my obsession with these guys for so long. I mean, I know the major solo hits, and The Traveling Wilburys were the jam, and I definitely think it's time to read Pattie Boyd's autobiography, but his midnight gardening tendencies, his random hoarding of ukuleles, the film company he started for Monty Python just because he wanted to see The Life of Brian and no major studio would produce such blasphemous material (stupid EMI.) These tidbits are all new to me. I mean, I must have watched that movie 800 plus times and never made the connection. And he's even IN the damn movie! How did I miss this?! And here's a fun trivia fact: HandMade Films is still making movies today. Yep.
Anyway, What is Life is the pick of the day, a great song, and sooooo catchy. And here's another fun factoid (I know, two in one post, so exciting!) Olivia Newton John had a UK hit with her version in 1972. Sans leotards and leg warmers. Also, this "pop-anthem" has made it to a lot of movie soundtracks (I'm pretty sure you could play the Kevin Bacon game with it, see previous post) and has been much debated in its meaning. Love for a woman or love for God? Well, either way, it's just a damn good track and there's no point in saying anything more than that. Just listen. Repeatedly.
And if you watch the film, be on the lookout for an intensely odd looking Phil Spector (and his Wall of Sound...and his toupee.) It's one of the highlights, for sure.
Who doesn't love Tom Petty? And if there are people out there who don't love Tom Petty, what on earth is wrong with them? Idiots. That's what. So many great songs, but it's Free Fallin (co-written with fellow Wilbury, Jeff Lynne) that's stuck in my head today. Once when I was in high school (or maybe it was junior high?) I saw the Heartbreakers play at the pyramid in Memphis with all my girlfriends. We heard he was staying at the Peabody (you know, the one with the ducks?) so we went and camped out in the lobby hoping to catch a glimpse. All of the sudden he emerged! He walked right past our table and (I SWEAR) he said "Evenin', ladies" as he strutted on by (wearing his signature shades, of course.) Naturally this caused a lot of giddy, girlie, squealy things to happen, and then he was gone. That was it. My brush with greatness. Sigh... And to this day that was the best damn rock show I've ever seen. Hands down, no argument about it. Sorry Bruce, but it's true.
I have to say though, this isn't one of the videos that I really remember from Petty's catalog of cool videos. He appears to be floating a lot in this one. Not sure if that was an artistic choice or not, but I guess it works. Makes me want to hang out at the mall. Remember when that was where all us cool kids hung out? Do kids still do that? Who am I kidding, I've always hated the mall. I was just trying to fit in.
Anyway, factoid of the day: Tom's middle name is Earl. That's all.
