The Left Banke

I don't know if this qualifies as degenerative music from my father's era - dangerous back then but safe for me to listen to as a kid.  Anyways - here's a better known song by The Left Banke "Walk Away Renee" - but then another one I heard in a Pizza Parlor in Spokane at the Mall.

I could barely hear it - only the chords here and there and I wanted to hear it better and could only make out one line "Was I surprised, Yeah" - enough to do a Google search.  "Pretty Ballerina."  I like the minor key - if I can call it that - with the minor "ups" used to emphasize a positive mood hen usually its the opposite in music - using a major key for an up and a minor for a down.

Anyways - I didn't know but "Walk Away Renee" and "Pretty Ballerina" are both about the same girl, Renee Fladen, a girlfriend of one of the band members.  I didn't realize this song was such a hit back then either, somehow I'd missed it despite my love of degenerate music from the 1960's counter culture with my detestation of drugs......wait a minute....my Uncle Gary and Aunt Lynn are both flower children.....flower seniors?  Hmmmm....

Anyways, I had a roommate in the navy who was WAY more into music than I am - Charles Culbreth - (if you're out there Charlie - been looking for you - hope you made it back with the FMF - never heard back from you after you shipped out to Cherry Point SOI).  He had a rare appreciation for music including how different voices were so unique.  Anyways, Charlie really helped me appreciate a lot of things I took for granted - even though I'm a musician and a musical artist ( I compose my own variations of music on the piano when I get the whim) - every time I hear something odd in music, I can hear him saying "No! NO NO NO! Wait! Listen......do you hear....THAT! Right there! Listen!" and he'd bring out something hidden in a chord or a stanza that really was a piece of talent but could so easily be overlooked.  It was amazing. This music reminded me of him. 

So, the second "odd piece" is in memory of an old shipmate who I haven't heard from after he went to his next assignment who brightened my life through his love of music and his ABILITY to appreciate and extrapolate it.

Anyways, this is also a song that really works with my voice.  I've got a great range and the ability to shift pretty seamlessly - but - mmm yeah.  Interesting! 

Pretty Ballerina

I had a date with a pretty ballerina
Her hair so brilliant that it hurt my eyes
I asked her for this dance
and then she obliged me
Was I surprised, yeah
Was I surprised,
no not at all

I called her yesterday,
it should have been tomorrow
I could not keep
the joy that was inside
I begged for her to tell me
if she really loved me
Somewhere a mountain is moving
Afraid it's moving without me

I had a date with a pretty ballerina
Her hair so brilliant that it hurt my eyes
I asked her for this dance
and then she obliged me
Was I surprised, yeah
Was I surprised, no not at all

And when I wake on a dreary Sunday morning
I open up my eyes to find there's rain
And something strange within said,
"go ahead and find her
Just close your eyes, yeah
Just close your eyes and she'll be there"

She'll be there...