June 7, 2006
A Billy Preston-related Pop Stuff contest!
Judging by the moving responses to my blog, and that of my co-blogger Jon Tully, I can see a lot of you were touched by the music and spirit of the late Billy Preston, who died Tuesday. While you've mentioned his work ethic, his niceness and his organ chops, I always loved his oddly profound lyrics (see my orginal post below this one) and how deep they seem once you've let "the music move (you) around," as Billy sang.
So we're launching the Billy Preston Memorial Oddly Profound Lyric contest. I want you to wrack your brains, your record collections and your little souls for your suggestion for your favorite song words that make you go "Hmmm?...oh, that's what that meant!"
The first thing that comes to my mind is something like The Beatles "And in the end, the love you make, is equal to the love you make." You go "Huh?...Oh, I get it!"
Winners get something from the Pop Stuff CD library. And it's getting crowded. Help me out.
Posted by Leslie Streeter at June 7, 2006 12:13 PMOkay, I have been listening to George Michael's greatest hits, and it took me 16 years to get the profoundness of "Freedom 90", when he laments his day as a video darling from his Wham! days, and he says "There's someone I forgot to be". I don't know why that struck me as really deep today, but I guess that I am having one of those mid-30's days when you think about all of the choices you have in front of you and about how life is short and you don't want to miss any opportunity to express yourself. I found myself shouting to my car stereo "That's right George! Leave WHam! and be yourself". Even though that was 20 years ago that he left Wham! and 16 years since Freedom 90 and he's done quite a good job being himself lately. So I weep not for George. Although it must stink to be on the Andrew Ridgely side of that rant.
Posted by: Twin Sister Lynne at June 7, 2006 9:46 PM"Nothin' less nothin' is nothin'"
Posted by: Barbara Eberly at June 7, 2006 10:24 PMOK, this is weird, but it's a whole song. I actually had this profound thought rather recently, after Prince's appearance on Idol. The song "The Question of U" seems to be about a woman, but I think it's about God. I mean, I think Prince wrote it about God. It's a very sexy song, and when he performs it, it's all about the sex, but I really don't think he wrote that way. Here are the lyrics:
The Question Of U
Prince
(Graffiti Bridge)
So what is the answer 2 the question of U?
What do I look 4? What shall I do?
Which way do I turn when I'm feeling lost?
If I sell my soul, now what will it cost?
Must I become naked - no image at all?
Shall I remain upright or get down and crawl?
All of the questions in my life will be answered
When I decide which road 2 choose
What is the answer 2 the question of U?
"The less I seek my source for some definitive, the closer I am to fine!"
Posted by: Tess at June 8, 2006 9:08 AMone need not look any further than the Beatles themselves...I will give a prize myself to anyone that can explain the produndity: "Semolina pilchard...dripping from a dead dog's eye..."
Posted by: Neal at June 8, 2006 10:44 AMBilly's lyrics: "That's the way, God planned it; that's the way God wants it to be" ???? speaking for God? I hope you aren't being reprimanded in heaven, Billy! I distrust anything that says "WANTS IT TO BE"...sounds kind of presumptuous! But I LOVE BILLY! He was a sweet guy! as far as semolina pilchard dripping from a dead dog's eye....that would be the gooey substance that would run from a sick dog that looks like oatmeal and smells like fish! Yuck!!
Posted by: Barbara Wright at June 8, 2006 11:07 AMExcuse me....that's Semolia Pilchard...Climbing up the Eiffel Tower....
It's "Yellow Matter Custard" that's dripping from the dead dog's eye..
I had the honor of singing a chorus of "That's the Way God Planned it" when Billy came into the audience and put his arm around me at Harrah's in Reno back in the early 80's. I got to see him with Clapton on the last tour. Still incredible.
Posted by: Marty McCray at June 9, 2006 1:40 AM
