Music

This Week’s Heavy Rotation #27

Hot latitudes, cool attitudes

Note: Each week I take a look back at my playlists and share songs that were either played the most, got stuck in my head, or just stood out. Many are new to me, but there are old faves mixed in as well.

Below is my Top 5 of the last 7 days:

6th man: Doris Day- Sentimental Journey

I’m going backward this week.

In basketball, the 6th man is usually the best player not in the starting 5. They can score but are also used when the team needs a spark. They’re both catalysts and playmakers. They may be in a supporting role, but the starters are better players because of them.

Off the court, we often have a roster of 6th men (and women!) who give us a boost. We don’t always give it much thought but take the time to think about it, and you’ll see they're everywhere.

There are the obvious ones such as a partner or spouse. Your “ride or die” friends make the cut too. If you really want to get in the weeds, we can talk about the barista that makes your coffee every day. Couldn't make it without them, right? But go a little deeper, and you’ll see people like coaches who gave you just the boost you needed, right when you needed it.

So what does any of that have to do with Doris Day?

We celebrated my grandmother’s life this past week. It was a small affair, packed with the fond memories and stories you’d expect from a life well lived. It was, well, sentimental.

People talked about how she taught them to dance — I too learned while standing on her feet as she guided me around her living room (we usually listened to Dean Martin).

Others noted that she gave them their first job at the department store where she worked for so many years. I knew she’d worked there, and I had a vague idea that she worked in the back.

What I didn’t know until the service was that she’d worked her way up to credit manager. And in turn, used that position to extend 100’s of women their first lines of credit. That might be fairly routine today, but in the 1950s and ’60s it was unheard of — women often still needed a husband or other man to cosign for them. Sure, some of these ladies just used it to buy a dress or two, and that was that. But for many, this simple act was the first empowering step on the road to financial independence.

I’m not a man of faith, but listened politely to Amazing Grace, and a couple of other hymnals. When the pastor announced that we’d end with one more song, I admittedly groaned a little inside. But a strange thing happened as the first few notes of this rang out; people started quietly singing along. I looked around, and saw a lot smiles. Just as she’d have wanted it.

It’s a safe bet that my grandmother never touched a basketball in her 97 years on this planet. But like the proverbial 6th man, she spent her time making sure those around her were just a little bit better off.

Julian Cope-World Shut Your Mouth

It’d be easy to dismiss Cope as a one-hit-wonder, but that would ignore his work with Teardrop Explodes, extensive solo work, and the books he’s authored. That said, if you’re gonna be known for one song, it might as well be one that sounds this good at 35. Interestingly (or not) this is on 1987’s Saint Julian album, not its predecessor, World Shut Your Mouth.

Death Cab For Cutie did the song justice with this great cover version.

The B-52s- Girl From Ipanema Goes To Greenland

After reading Jessica Lee McMillan’s article on Rock Lobster, I went down a bit of a B52s rabbit hole. A lot of people got to know the band through their later work, like “Roam.” Others from the early stuff like “Rock Lobster” and “Planet Claire.”

But in between those bookends are some great albums; Whammy, Mesopotamia, and Bouncing Off The Satellites, where this appears.

Bouncing marks a literal and metaphorical shift in style for the group. The quirky lyrics and party band mood were still there, as was the big hair. But this record marked a shift to more sophisticated sounds and heavier grooves. The record was met with lukewarm critical reviews, low commercials sales, and is often overlooked in discussions about the band.

I think this track is about 10 years ahead of its time. We just weren’t ready for it yet. Maybe we still aren’t?

Samantha Fish- Bitch On The Run

The Kansas City-based Fish is a new artist for me, and I’ve clearly been missing out. I’m not the biggest Blues fan in the world, but once this song starts going, look out!

All gas, no brakes; that’s my kinda song.

The Dandy Warhols- Every Day Should Be A Holiday

When in Portland, one must listen to Portland bands. I don’t make the rules.

Dua Lipa- Levitating

Yes, really. A classic case, of “one of these is not like the others.”

Like an extra in the movie of my life, Dua Lipa seemed to be in the background everywhere I went this week.

She’s on the cover of Vanity Fair this month, which I read while on a layover. I heard it in the car a couple of times while out of town. And I heard in a restaurant where we ate. It’s everywhere, and it’s infectious.

And objectively, it’s the perfect pop song; catchy, danceable, and easy to sing along to.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

As always, thanks to the readers and writers here at The Riff. It’s truly awesome to see new people joining us daily! If you’re new here, be sure to check out the work of Terry Barr, Alexander Briseño, Paul Combs, Kathryn Dillon, Reuben Salsa, Keith R. Higgons, Rob Janicke, Sarah Paris, Vidhipssa Mohan, MDSHall, Nicole Brown, Alex Markham, and so so many more.

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Last week’s list: