Monday, September 17, 2007

I've never been to me

A few things from 70s memorabilia lists:

1. That Canadian guy doing a spoken word tribute to America or Americans. I can't remember any details except that it played on AM radio all the time and everyone listened to it all the way through every time it played and nodded their heads with solemnity and a sort of understated pride. I think there was some patriotic music in the background as he said shit like "Americans understand the value of freedom" in a booming voice (although I can't accurately remember one single line). Everyone talked about how wonderful it was and how only a Canadian could do it and that if an American had done it, it wouldn't have counted.

He was probably getting a hand job from Nixon while he was doing the recording.

2. That one song that was a nun (I'm pretty sure it was a nun) singing "Our Father who art in Heaven ..." No other details. Maybe it was called The Lord's Prayer? It played constantly as well. Unlike the Canadian guy America tribute, everyone sang along to God Song and talked about how singing the Lord's prayer along to a radio was a modern permutation of religion.

3. Clarence Carter's 1971 song Patches.

4. Paul Anka's Having My Baby.

5. Charlene's 1977 hit I've Never Been to Me. Don't remember it? Here's a tickler from your humble hostess:

25 comments:

Erin O'Brien said...

Hi everyone.

My mom is undergoing surgery for cancer this week and my husband's mom is also hospitalized, hence my scarcity in the comments and around the blogosphere lately.

I love it when you visit and read. And I surely laughed like hell when I made the YouTube for this post. The blog is a great respite for me among the other pressures.

I am here and my ears are on. Thanks for reading and watching and throwing a laugh or two my way. It means the world to me.

Erin

Anonymous said...

Erin - I hope everyone is OK after their respective hospital visits! Wow.

I wanted to pop in an say yes, I remember the song, it was simply "the Lords prayer."

One time the guys at KVIL (radio station in Dallas) recorded us because we called to request the Lord's Prayer and the Streak, which was out about the same time. They got a kick out of that, but it was just kids who like funny songs.

Also around the same time: CONVOY. I still can't see more than two trucks together on the highway without imitating a CB and saying "This here's Rubber Duck, you got your ears on?"

Hang in there, you are a great respite for some of us, too ;)

Whitenoise said...

Erin- good luck with the health issues.

The Canadian broadcaster was Gordon Sinclair. The tribute was written in 1973 and performed on his Toronto-based program.

Anonymous said...

Dear Erin,

I've never commented before now, though I've been reading your blog regularly for about 8 months.

I don't remember this song. It's so many things and you do it great justice--none better!

I love your music videos (Mrs. Robinson is also a fave).

Best thoughts for your mom and mother-in-law.

Katherine

Trée said...

Thoughts and prayers for all concerned.

Reading the Signs said...

Hi Erin, lovely rendition - but I bet that you really have been to "Me". Have been enjoying your blog for a while now.

Anonymous said...

Hi Erin. My thoughts are with you and the goat, your mom, and mother-in-law.

FYI: The song "I've never been to me" was featured in the movie "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert". It's a fantastic-campy-drag queen-road trip-and love story all wrapped up with some great "family values". If you haven't seen it, do so... it'll cheer you up!

Cheers,

Warren

Helen Mansfield said...

That ditty has always chapped my ass. It's up there for me among the worst songs ever, along with Bonnie Tyler's "It's a Heartache."

Love and well wishes to all.

WDKY said...

Wow - what a smile!!! (And voice...)

First time visit, so I won't try to catch up on what's been going on. Just thought I'd say hi :-)

Cappy said...

Also, don't fail to miss these '70s relics:

Leisure suits.

Dennis Kucinich bankrupting Cleveland.

Gary Dee

Dennis Kucinich and his dog, Sandy.

Ralph Perk.

Dennis and the Grdina sisters.

PDD said...

Hey beautiful!

I'm so sorry about your mom. I send tons of love to both of you. I know everything will be alright!

You should sing more. You know you have a good voice ;)

Love ya tons!

XO
PDD

Anonymous said...

Erin, your mom and Eric's mom are in my thoughts and prayers. Here's to their speedy and full recovery.

Now then, more memories from the 70's, specific to Cleveland...

1. That Houlihan and Big Chuck skit where they illustrated just how dead downtown Cleveland was on the weekends by rolling a bowling ball down Euclid Avenue and it didn't hit anything or anyone.

2. Gib Shanley burning an Iranian flag on the air after the hostages were taken.

3. The Cleveland Indians' red uniforms.

4. "Cleveland's a plumb."

5. Mayor Ralph Perk's hair catching fire.

6. Dorothy Fuldheim

7. The Blizzard of '77

8. Mike Phipps

9. The newscaster for Channel 43 doubling as "Superhost."

10. The Ghoul

John Sheppard said...

What the wife said.

And then there's the immortal Bread classic "Baby I'm-a Want You." Makes my nutsack shrivel every time I hear it.

Or my personal least favorite, "Billy Don't Be a Hero."

WDKY said...

Hey Erin... I was stopping by (again) so I could add you to my Reader, and I realised how remiss it was of me to comment on your smile and not to wish all in your family a speedy recovery. So... may I wish all in your family a speedy recovery?

Take care, and thanks for making me smile (too) yesterday. Feel free to call me baby (by which I mean, call me "baby") anytime!

Scarlet Hip said...

Thank you for that trip down bad music lane.

Hope all is well, I know the feeling of having more than one family member in the hospital at the same time. Hang in there!

Anonymous said...

And here are some more songs from the 70's that are like fingernails on a blackboard:

1. "Una Paloma Blanca," by Slim Whitman

2. "After the Lovin'" by Englebert Humperdinck

3. "If You Leave Me Now," by Chicago

4. "I Can Sing a Rainbow" by Delta Goodrem

5. "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart," by Elton John and Kiki Dee.

Mongrel Porksword said...

I've done it in the sun, and I ain't no preacher's son, neither...

Ken Houghton said...

"Una paloma blanca" wasn't Slim Whitman for the hit version.

"Don't Go Breaking My Heart" was used at the end of Ella Enchanted. It was about as redemptive as the use of that Barry Manilow song in Four Weddings and a Funeral.

Hope all goes well (or as well as can be) with the parental generation, Erin.

And for those who don't remember "Never Been to Me," (reimmortalised here) you may be lucky enough to have forgotten the follow-up with Stevie Wonder ("Used to Be").

Libby Spencer said...

Sending white light to you and your family. I don't remember that song and I'm older than you. Must be a midwest thing. I don't remember the Canadian either or the Lord's prayer. I was listening to the Doors and Led Zepellin.

Erin O'Brien said...

You guys rock.

Mom came through with flying colors. I am exhausted, but relieved.

Thanks for all the well-wishes and 70s memories.

Backatcha soon,

Erin

country mouse said...

Glad your mom is doing okay.

And when are you joining the karaoke circuit? ; )

Tom Bozzo said...

Hope your mom's recovery is going well, and that you can get some rest.

Anonymous said...

Oh, my gosh, Erin! Now I have "I've Never Been to Me" stuck in my head for the day. You are a brave woman. Love your video!

As for, Having My Baby, that takes me back to a particular night in the 70s in Phoenix. My boyfriend and I are parked at a gorgeous spot above the city... when THAT song comes on. Talk about a mood breaker!

Anonymous said...

Got here through a link from a financial blog.

Look, Erin - you may thing you're cool with your inappropriate mockery, but it's clear you've never been to "you".

And that chorus has to be delivered in a squeaky voice. What were you thinking!?

Hope all hospital visits end well.

Anonymous said...

Oh God, I remember all of those, LOL