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Song of the Day #33: “Up, Up and Away,” by The Fifth Dimension

1 Jul

           Up, Up, And Away

                Ever have one of those moments where a song sparks an immediate memory. When I heard “Up, Up and Away,” for what I thought was the first time around a year ago I immediately thought to myself that I had heard the song before on an old video that I used to watch when I was little. I was right. It is funny how a song can spark a memory. “Up, Up and Away,” off of the 1967 album also entitled, “Up, Up and Away,” hit tremendous success mainly because of its fantastic use of harmony and melody. To say it was a hit is almost discrediting the song. It cleaned house at the 1968 Grammy Awards, winning five awards, including song of the year.

          A little fun fact. The song was written by Jimmy Webb, an American songwriter, who also wrote, “By The Time I Get to Phoenix,” which was made popular by none other then Johnny Rivers, the man who signed The Fifth Dimension to his Soul City Records. I love connections.

Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWVe3AB8OY8

60’s Band of the Week #4: The Fifth Dimension

1 Jul

Due to an increasingly busy schedule I have not been able to get to the 60’s band of the week for a while. Yet, I got some time now and I thought I would focus today on a band that most people today may know because of the prevalence of their music in commercials and television shows. They combined pop and soul with jazz and R&B and over an established career have had over 25 members. They were too good for our third dimension and got tired of the fourth dimension. They are, of course, the original five of The Fifth Dimension

Now in 5D!!!

Now in 5D!!!

Band: The Fifth Dimension

Origin: Los Angeles, California

Genre: Soul and R&B mixed with Pop elements

Founded: 1966 – present (original members up to 1975)

Original Line-up:

–         Billy Davis Jr

–         Florence LaRue

–         Marilyn McCoo

–         Lamonte McLemore

–         Ron Townson

Name: The Fifth Dimension was an update on the name and image of a group named The Versatiles which included the members of The Fifth Dimension. I assume it played on the fact that there are five members in the band but that is only an intelligent guess

History: The history of The Fifth Dimension is quite similar to most histories of vocal groups. A bunch of singers start singing and other singers join. Now we can leave it at that and the history of this group will be a few sentences but I believe it is necessary to make things a little more complex. The beginnings of The Fifth Dimension occurred in the early 60’s when Marilyn McCoo and her friend Lamonte McLemore teamed up with two friends to form The Hi-Fi’s. They worked tirelessly with a vocal coach to improve their voices and this work paid off when Ray Charles took an interest in them and had The Hi-Fi’s tour with them in 1963. Yet, internal problems caused the two friends Floyd Butler and Harry Elston to go their separate ways. Humorously they went and founded The Friends of Distinction who recorded the famous soul, “Going in Circles.” Okay that was off topic let us continue

Both McCoo and McLemore (sounds like an awkward Irish law firm) sought a new group to replace their past members. Florence Larue, a friend of theirs and a talented musician in her own right, was approached to join the group. McLemore recruited Ron Townson who was an accomplished gospel singer and McLemore’s Cousin Billy Davis Jr, also a gospel singer, joined immediately after his cousin asked him too.

So, there you have it, the band was born as The Versatiles. Johnny Rivers, the rock and roll singer, had recently started a label named Soul City Records and signed The Versatiles who changed their name to The Fifth Dimension.

5D

Best Album:

The Fifth Dimension hit their biggest success with the release of their album The Age of Aquarius. The album included the hit from the musical hair entitled “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine in. A two-part song which included two catchy hooks. The album also included “Wedding Bell Blues” and “Workin’ On A Groovy Thing” which were both popular hits in their own right. The album topped at #2 on the US top albums list.

Check out the best song in the song of the day section.

Fun Facts:

Did you Know

–         The Fifth Dimension appeared as special guests in a third season episode of “It Takes a Thief,” where a special chord they played in their song “One Less Bell To Answer,” could trigger a bomb. Is this good for their music or bad?

–         “Wedding Bell Blues” was the title of the 100th episode of The Gilmore Girls.

Lyric of the Day #32: Daydream Believer by The Monkees (both literal and actual)

30 Jun

                  Daydream Believer

                   When I was first introduced into the world of literal translation of popular pop songs I sat laughing at the literal version of the youtube video of A-ha’s “Take on Me.” A “literal version” takes a video of a song and sings the song in the same key and melody but with different lyrics which jokingly poke fun at what the video is doing. Today I came across a video of The Monkees performing “Daydream Believer,” and the reason why this literal version is better then others is because the entire video is them playing the song in goofy ways. Here is the link for the literal version: http://www.fark.com/cgi/vidplayer.pl?IDLink=4476482.

                After you watch this how about checking out the actual song. Well, here the actual lyrics. Compare them and let us know which one you like better.

“Oh, I could hide ‘neath the wings
Of the bluebird as she sings.
The six o’clock alarm would never ring.
But it rings and I rise,
Wipe the sleep out of my eyes.
My shavin’ razor’s cold and it stings.

Cheer up, Sleepy Jean.
Oh, what can it mean.
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen.

You once thought of me
As a white knight on a steed.
Now you know how happy I can be.
Oh, and our good times start and end
Without dollar one to spend.
But how much, baby, do we really need.

Cheer up, Sleepy Jean.
Oh, what can it mean.
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen.
Cheer up, Sleepy Jean.
Oh, what can it mean.
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen.

[Instrumental interlude]

Cheer up, Sleepy Jean.
Oh, what can it mean.
To a daydream believer
And a homecoming queen.
[Repeat and fade]”

Fun Fact: The song was written by John Stewart (not the comedian) who was originally with The Kingston Trio

Song of the Day #31: “Girl In The War,” by Josh Ritter

29 Jun

                Champagne      

                   The jesters have reached 1000 views thanks to your views and support. So, let us pop open the champagne and celebrate. Hmm, champagne that reminds me of a tune (like most things do). No, not Champagne Supernova by Oasis. How about “Girl in the War,” by the talented Josh Ritter, singer-songwriter from Moscow, Idaho. A man who should also pop open the champagne for making the right career move. The son of two neuroscientists, Ritter originally went into school with the major of Neuroscience. But, his drive to revolutionize American narrative folk music caused him to switch his focus onto the performance of beautiful music. Great idea. His exceptionally creative and smart lyric continues to mix with his subtle melodies and guitar licks. “Girl In The War,” only portrays a simple taste of his musical intelligence. It also mentions champagne.

              Girl in the War

              “Girl in the War,” makes fantastic use of the most simple of verse chord progressions. Two chords that barely vary. The lyric writes of a conversation between Peter and Paul (both saints by the way). Both are talking about a girl in the war (whose eyes are like Champagne) and their conversation culminates into the lines, “Because the keys to the kingdom got locked inside the kingdom
And the angels fly around in there, but we can’t see them, And I gotta girl in the war, Paul I know that they can hear me yell
If they can’t find a way to help, they can go to Hell,” which maintains numerous religious undertones. The kingdom is Heaven which St. Peter guards. St Peter holds the “keys to the kingdom.” Yet, Ritter, who is fantastic with clever wordplay, makes mention that the “Keys of the kingdom got locked inside the kingdom.” The angels are in there but we cannot see them. No one can get in and no one can see inside heaven’s grand doors. Instead we get the image of wars, guns, violence, and blood that crowds our eyes and with no way to help ends up looking like hell. Yet, at least we can sees the eyes like Champagne. Interesting imagery and interesting song.

Check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqLssKusGzM

Lyric of the Day #30: “Good Riddance,” by Green Day

28 Jun

        Graduation

              Today my brother graduated from High School and is eagerly awaiting attending Cornell in the fall. My brother thanks you for the internet round of applause. The ceremony was early but enjoyable and afterwards my family went out to brunch and I overate. What? My day’s events are not exciting. True, this is a music blog. I apologize let us get to the music. In honor of all those high school seniors who have/will be graduating high school in these past/future days, I have searched my scattered mind and bloated stomach for a song to not only encompass your accomplishments, but also to give you some great lyrics to guide you through the summer and onto freshman year. So, I have avoided being incredibly cliche with “The Graduation Song” by Vitamin C, and I have chosen to be just plain old cliche with “Good Riddance,” by Green Day.

“So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind    Time Of Your Life
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it’s worth it was worth all the while

It’s something unpredictable, but in the end it’s right.
I hope you had the time of your life.”

           – “Good Riddance,” by Green Day released as a single in 1997.

        These lyrics do an amazing job in extending the broad message that one must take the memories and hold them close because life is rather unpredictable but in the end stability is reached. While this song, according to its writer and singer Billie Joe Armstrong was written as a goodbye to a girlfriend who was moving to Ecuador, forcing their break-up, the message extends to everyone. So, whether one is saying goodbye to Ecuadorian chick or saying their bon voyage to one stage of their life, the song wonderfully explains that in all of these events, “I hope you had the time of your life”

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