Songs For Surviving A Pandemic (Vol. 1, #3)
Frank Chmielewski
Director of Assessments at The Institutes | Risk and Insurance Knowledge Group
[Other installments are available at the bottom of this page.]
A.??Sugary, Sacharine, Bubblegum Division.
“Sugar, Sugar”; The Archies. 1969’s dynamite fun song attributed to a cartoon show had vocals by Ron Dante, Andy Kim and Toni Wine. Play sweetly loud. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eX28cgKHHyc.
“Tracy”; The Cuff Links. Great, catchy pop tune from 1969, sung by Ron Dante. Play loud enough, sing along for sure. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5P7381-yow.
“Bang-Shang-A-Lang”; The Archies. 1968 brought this, the debut single by The Archies. The lead female vocal is actually Mr. Ron Dante singing in falsetto, with help from Toni Wine. Play fairly loud and swing your body round and round. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af4xQYY-TDk.
“Baby I Love You”; Andy Kim. This Ronettes' cover from 1969 surpasses the original in my book, and is even better than the Ramones’ version. I remember when this tune was new and was blasting from the pavilion at West Point Park, the suburban Philly amusement park that our grade school visited at the end of each school year. Play fairly loud. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZxQusF3GUs&t=64s.
B.???Antidote for above, to avoid tooth decay: stir in a little bit of soul.
“Sugar, Sugar”; Wilson Pickett. What are the chances that a soul artist would have transformative versions of two of my favorite songs, this one and 'Hey Jude'? This 1970 pop hit turned the original upside down and added the groove. Play loud. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrZluYnMJUY.
C.???Why not?
“My Boy Lollipop”; Millie Small. This 1964 quasi-bubblegum cum ska classic helped bring island beats to the world. Debate goes on as to whether Rod Stewart played harmonica on it (he says no, Millie says yes). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiuPND4W6KM.
D.??What are your songs for surviving this viral age?
Technical Editor | Freelance Author | Ghostwriter | Training & Development | Tech Innovation | Keynote Speaker | Insurtech
4 年Sugar Sugar is a nearly perfect pop song. Also in the lighter side of bubble pop, anything written by Neil Diamond or the Boyce&Hart team for the Monkees - let's go with 'Last Train to Clarksville' and the image of "coffee flavored kisses." Edging up the pop a bit, 'Kicks' by Paul Revere and the Raiders, a superb rocking band made silly by some promoter's decision to dress them in period costumes. Finally, a great song that Paul McCartney gave away: 'No Matter What' by Badfinger.