Earwigs...It's all about that bass...or is it?

Have you ever had an earwig problem? I'm not talking about the insect...I'm talking about theat song you can't get out of your mind. Someone defined it this way: “Earwigs” – songs that we don’t really like at first, but they’re so catchy that we eventually end up liking them (termed earwigs because of the way they come in through our ears and burrow into our brains)."

Most recently for me, it's been Meghan Trainor's song "It's All About that Bass". I liked it the first several times I heard it...then it became annoying. For those of you that have missed it, here it is:

 

Since I'm in my sixth decade, music has changed a lot. Back in my younger days, we had a different type of bass in mind. Oddly enough, it caused earwigs back then too. Here's one of my favorites from circa 1963:

 

Listening to Mr. Bass Man finally cured me of my "It's All About that Bass" earwig. Unfortunately, I get the strangest looks when folks hear me muttering
boom boom boom boom
And a dit dit ba boom boom bom

Earwigs...you just have to live with them...There really is no cure.

 

R.I.P. Rod McKuen

Rodney Marvin "Rod" McKuen 

 (April 29, 1933 – January 29, 2015) 

 

I was born in the 50's and lived through the 60's. While I never became a hippie or embraced the whole Flower Power generation, certain influences ran strong. One of these is my deep admiration and respect for the poetry of Rod McKuen. I'm not sure what it was that captured my attention. The verses...the pacing...or the maybe it was the pacing of the stanzas.

Last week, Rod passed away. I'm not sure if there's another poet that can fill his shoes. My favorite poem was called "Election". He dedicated it to Sister Mark Sandy.  It can be found on page 69 of his volume of poetry "In Someone's Shadow":

I used to wonder why

God only came to visit me on Sunday.

He must have been as bored with me

               as I with Him.

One hour once a week was once enough.

God's really hurt nobody but the poor

and still they go voting every year.

                           An echo not a choice.

I'll deal with death when it comes knocking,

            the same is true with God.

 

Even I don't practice what I preach.

If I believed there were no God

I'd have to face the possibility of no me.

These words still resonate in my soul. Thank you for touching me with your poetry.

Rest in Peace, Rod...you will be missed.