Thursday, January 19, 2006

Sappy entry # gazillion-and-three from me...

1. I'm a sap.
2. I used to be a music teacher... which I've posted/commented about before.
3. Music MOVES me... not just lyrics, not just singing. All of it.
4. I'm a really, really big sap.

One of my all time favorite songs is "Don't Stop Me Now," by Queen, words and music by Freddie Mercury. Today, as I listen to this song at my desk, it's making me cry. I have NO idea why... and I don't cry at work. Usually, these feelings are reserved for songs like John Lennon's "Imagine," Elton John's "I Want Love," Ewan McGregor's version of "Your Song" from Moulin Rouge... or some other tune that is truly heartwrenching. But Queen? What is wrong with me? This is the song that I use to get moving, pumped up, ready to do battle, workout... anything that requires oodles of energy.

As I sit and try to analyze this, I think of two possible reasons:

Reason 1- I watched a documentary on TLC about a man with Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa. His name was Jonny Kennedy, and the title of the show was "The Boy Whose Skin Fell Off." (it's actually a BBC docu). This was a great docu, but also really hard to watch. DEB is an absolutely horrendous disease. But Jonny's outlook on life was so incredible... and "Don't Stop Me Now" was his theme song. He was a huge Queen fan, but this one song was his song... he even had it played at his funeral. So now, I think of Jonny when I hear this song.

Reason 2- Freddie Mercury's voice. I don't care what anyone thinks (or thought) about this man... he had the best singing voice EV-ERRRRR. The expression that he could achieve was unmatched, I think, by any singer I've ever heard (and I've listened to more than your average music lover). Don't believe me? Listen to Queen's "Somebody to Love" or "Who Wants to Live Forever." The guy just had an absolutely tremendous voice. I think about his last days, and the videos they have of him trying to get through his last-ever recordings... snd it just makes me terribly sad.

I'm not trying to bum anyone out, but this is just what I'm thinking about today. Two men, ultimately "stopped" by the diseases that took their lives... but yet they're still going strong.

"Don’t stop me now, I’m having such a good time, I’m having a ball
Don’t stop me now, If you wanna have a good time, just give me a call
Don’t stop me now (’cause I’m havin’ a good time),
Don’t stop me now (yes I’m havin’ a good time),
I don’t want to stop at all."

15 comments:

Paisley said...

I love Freddie Mercury's voice. I think he was an amazing vocalist.

The song that always gets me is "I'm Still Standin'" by Elton John because it was the closing song of the Ryan White TV movie that was on eons ago. It played the song and showed photos of Ryan White. I think it was right before he died.

All the songs that make you sappy are great songs! Sap away and sap proud!

Martin Boutros said...

You're showing your age G.F.

'love queen! Have you ever heard mercury interviewed - his talking voice was so different to his singing/projecting voice.

don't call me MA'AM said...

Thanks, Paisley. I agree. I just wish I weren't so "sappy" all the time... but we'll leave that for another post!

Rev, my 14-yr-old stepson's favorite groups are Queen, Pink Floyd, and The Doors. So, as far as you know, I could be anywhere between 14-50. ;-)

Anonymous said...

Oh my God, Elton's "I Want Love" is one of my favorites. Robert Downey Jr is tied for first place in my dream man category (something about his fight and creativity), and when the video came on at the concert with RDJ mouthing the words I about died.

don't call me MA'AM said...

And his dreamy eyes (RDJ). He has nice eyes.

I don't know what exactly it is, jurgen... I think the word "yearning" comes to mind when I listen to "I Want Love." It's like the most basic need, but not always that easy to get, ya know? Damn... I'm getting way to philosophical lately. I need to think SHALLOW. Like ohmigod! Did you SEE Mariah Carey's dress at the Corroded Globes show? She looked like a sausage about to pop her casing! (that's better)

don't call me MA'AM said...

Oops... "too." As in, way TOO philosophical. I hate typos.

Anonymous said...

No, no...I agree totally. Maybe it was RDJ and the video and how he wasn't smiling, just mouthing the words. It just made me so sad but happy that he's clean now, and then it made me think about all the fights I've fought and it ended up being every emotion for me.

"Every emotion for me" sung to the tune of "always a woman to me," but of course.

And GOD, his eyes. And mouth. And his INTENSITY. Mmmmm. I loves me a creative but intellectual man, I do.

Ludicrousity said...

Can't say I'm a huge queen fan, I like them, but not that much, dont' own any of their music. I love Ewan McGreggor's 'your song'. So intense! He's got a brilliant voice. I can totally relate to the 'music moves me' thing you said. It moves me so intensly, words can't describe. If I could, I'd be a professional muso. I'ma huge sap too. Everything makes me cry. I'm such a wuss!

don't call me MA'AM said...

Ewan McGregor should sing full time and act on the side. I mean, he's a great actor, but he can SIIIINNGG!

MPB, Queen rules. Queen rocks. I don't know what else to say... their music is just synonymous with a certain era in my life. Everybody play the game... of love!

Darren said...

Well, great. I'd never even heard of Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa before, but now I have to go to WebMD to make sure I don't have it.

Ludicrousity said...

I'm a bit in love with Ewan after Moulin Rogue. The first time he sang in that movie, I melted. I was on a date and I spent the whole movie drooling over Ewan. Hmmm...

don't call me MA'AM said...

Yeah, Darren. I've seen your pictures. You don't have it. I'm not a doctor, but I'm pretty sure. :-) Rest easy, dude.

Ludi-- I don't get movie crushes easily (except Hugh Jackman, of course!)... but Ewan can sing me to sleep ANY day.

Mair said...

Oh, how I heart "Your Song." And Ewan McGregor. And that movie.

And I'm a huge sap, too.

I feel better now, having said that.

don't call me MA'AM said...

Yay! Saps of the World... Unite!

Mair said...

SWU! Which is sort of like "swoon," which is what saps do! I think we've got ourselves a club!