Songs for My Dad: A Father's Day Tribute
The other day, I was doing my jogging to my beloved satellite radio (thanks to my other dad, my father-in-law, for that one) and a song came on that made me think of my dad. Was it "Butterfly Kisses"? "Leader of the Band"? "Daddy's Hands"? Not even close! This song had nothing to do with dads! Why, then, did I think of my dad?
Well, first, you'd have to know a little bit about me and my attachment to music. There are songs that can take me to a very specific moment in my life that I can immediately recall with amazing detail. Usually, something happened that took a snapshot (or, more accurately, one of those 30-second movies that digital cameras take nowadays) of that time and locked it away in my memory for all time. Apparently, something that could make that happen was my dad saying "I like this song".
That seems so simple, right? Well, you'd have to know my dad. On Sunday mornings, we were usually awakened to the sound of "Hymns Triumphant" (version 1 or 2 - he wasn't picky) blaring from the stereo. When I think of my dad listening to the radio in the car, all I can think of is talk radio. When it was music, it tended to be oldies, classic rock, or, most likely, smooth jazz. My dad very rarely had anything good to say about any music that Tracy and I liked. So, for my dad to admit to liking anything "modern" was a huge deal and something I tended to never forget.
I have compiled a list of songs that make me think of my dad. Most of them are because of the aforementioned reasons, but some have other stories behind them. I, of course, will embellish each one with its respective tale. I don't call this blog "Lori's Stories" for nothing. Without further ado, here's the list in chronological order by release date. (On a side note, all but a couple of these songs are available for legal download at iTunes if you're interested.):
1. "Sooner or Later" - The Grass Roots
This probably has the weakest story of all, so how wonderful that I get to start with it! In fact, to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure I have this story exactly right. This is the way I remember it anyway. This song came on the radio once and my mom asked my dad if he remembered the customized versions they used to do for different radio stations. Apparently, when my dad was a teenage DJ, the beginning of the song (the instrumental part, right before the vocals) went "WH--A--P--Sooner or Later!" So, every time I hear that song, I sing that part in my head and think of my dad playing records at a little AM station.
2. "China Grove" - The Doobie Brothers
My dad REALLY likes the Doobie Brothers. More than that, he REALLY likes "China Grove". It's one of the few songs he's still known to crank up. It's also one of the only CDs he'll listen to that isn't smooooooth jazz. Take that, Warren Hill.
3. "Still The One" - Orleans
Once upon a time, this song was used as the ABC image theme. Dad never let me forget that, or how brilliant he thought it was.
4. "We Just Disagree" - Dave Mason
I remember being in the car with my dad one day when I was a kid. We had just pulled out of the subdivision onto General Booth Blvd. and this song came on. I had never heard it before, but my dad somehow knew the words. I didn't think my parents listened to anything that I hadn't heard. My little mind was blown and I never forgot it.
5. "Flashdance...What A Feeling" - Irene Cara
Oh my gosh, my dad and Flashdance... My dad had a major crush on Jennifer Beals, so he was all about it. I actually remember him seeing this in the theater with my mom (my parents didn't see movies. I can only recall three that they went to see together when I was a kid - Flashdance, Romancing the Stone, and Some Kind of Wonderful.) He had the movie poster in his bedroom and he played the soundtrack A LOT. I have fond memories of him playing his Flashdance cassette in the living room while I danced all around like a "maniac". He still loves this song. He probably still loves Jennifer Beals too.
6. "Axel F" - Harold Faltermeyer
Dad has a thing for quirky instrumentals. For the sake of keeping this list manageable, here are honorable mentions in this category: The theme from "Back to the Future", "Oh Yeah" by Yello (as seen in Ferris Bueller's Day Off), "Miami Vice" by Jan Hammer (Dad had the Miami Vice soundtrack in his glove compartment until...gee, it was probably there until he sold the car 4 years ago), and anything by Spyro Gyra. But, of all those, this is the one that instantly makes me think of my dad. I don't know why.
7. "Captain Of Her Heart" - Double
We were on Virginia Beach Boulevard one night, right near the intersection of First Colonial Road. Tracy and I were in the backseat, Mom and Dad were in front. Everything was quiet and then this song came on. Dad mentioned that he liked it, and here I am 20 years later recalling it. Weird, huh?
8. "Venus" - Bananarama/"Two of Hearts" - Stacey Q
I'm grouping these together, because they pretty much have the same story. Dad was working on a project in LA in 198...hmmm....let me think...it had to be 86. So, Dad was in LA for a while in '86 and he heard these songs there for the first time. He couldn't get enough of them. He bought the singles and put each on one side of a cassette so he could listen to them together and feel like he was in LA. To this day, he says that those songs are LA to him. Whenever I'm in the car and "Two of Hearts" comes on, I roll down the windows and crank it to 11 for my dad. Not so much "Venus". I was never really into that song. Anyhoo...
9. "This is the Time" - Billy Joel
This is the song that pretty much inspired this whole thing. I remember we were on 460 on the way to Hopewell and this song came on. I don't remember my dad saying he liked it (I think he did, though) as much as I remember us sitting in the car trying to figure out what Billy Joel says at the end of the chorus (we settled on "we won't although we'll want to".) I think the lyrics to the song make my memories of it that much more poignant, especially since I spent most of my youth in a beach town. This is one of my favorite songs of all time, so I'm glad I get to include it here.
10. "When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going" - Billy Ocean
I remember sitting in the "new" Wendy's on General Booth Blvd. (probably eating something from the trendy salad bar) when this song came on and my dad excitedly said, "Oooh! The song from "Jewel of the Nile!" (oh man, was that the movie they saw and not "Romancing The Stone"? I'm confused now.) My dad's favorite thing about this song was the video with Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny Devito singing backup for Billy Ocean. Sadly, that Wendy's has lasted much longer than Billy Ocean's career. Well, I guess that's only sad for Billy Ocean. I love Wendy's.
11. "You Can Call Me Al" - Paul Simon
That last song reminded me of how much Dad liked this one. It was another one of those songs that he loved because of the video. Admittedly, it's one of my favorites of all time too. By the way, Dad, Tracy and I know that even though we weren't allowed to watch it, you used to watch MTV when you thought no one was looking. You don't need to pretend anymore.
12. "When I Think Of You" - Janet Jackson
Wow, I guess 1986 was a great year for Dad and music. Well, I'm going to betray myself by admitting that I don't have a story for this song. I just remember that Dad really loved it. Moving on...
13. "Head to Toe" - Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
I totally remember Dad picking me up from school one day in the little red Sentra and turning up the radio pretty loudly when this song came on. Dad just didn't do things like that.
14. "Breakout" - Swing Out Sister
My dad really liked Swing Out Sister. I remember he went to some Q94 radio promotion and won an album (yes, an album, as in a vinyl black disc that was played with a needle) of his choice. He picked Swing Out Sister's "It's Better To Travel". To this day, if he hears this song he'll go, "Ooooh...Breakout!" Admittedly, that doesn't happen often. Like I said, he's all about the talk radio and the smooth jazz. So sad.
15. "Faithful" - Go West
Go West is my favorite band and my dad typically didn't like anything I liked. So, when we were on 301 one weekend afternoon getting ready to exit onto 295, and my dad mentioned he liked this song when it came on the radio, I remembered that for all time. Now, I know what you're thinking, "Didn't your dad like anything between 1988 and 1993?" The answer is no, no he didn't.
16. "Tell Me Where It Hurts" - Kathy Troccoli
My dad really loved this song. He even has the CD! I remember him telling me it was because, deep down, that's one thing men want to hear from their women. I took that as advice and I've never forgotten it.
17. "Color Of The Night" - Lauren Christy
This song came out when Dad was doing Saturday mornings at Mix 105.3. This was one of his favorite songs that he played. I know that because he pretty much said it every time the song came on.
I was hoping to make this list an even 20, but I can't think of anything else to add here. The truth is, I don't think my dad has liked anything that's come out in popular music in the past 12 years. Maybe I could change that. Maybe next year I'll make the "17 songs my dad would probably like" list and send it to him.
Regardless, I'm glad I have these songs that make me think of my dad. They will always have special meaning to me because of him. I'm sure he does, but I hope he knows this Father's Day how special he is to me, how much I love him, and how much I cherish the happy memories I have of being his daughter.
Happy Father's Day to all the fathers who are making memories with their children this year, and especially the ones who are still enjoying the privilege of being the special man in their little girl's life. Never underestimate the power of a dad's love and attention.
Well, first, you'd have to know a little bit about me and my attachment to music. There are songs that can take me to a very specific moment in my life that I can immediately recall with amazing detail. Usually, something happened that took a snapshot (or, more accurately, one of those 30-second movies that digital cameras take nowadays) of that time and locked it away in my memory for all time. Apparently, something that could make that happen was my dad saying "I like this song".
That seems so simple, right? Well, you'd have to know my dad. On Sunday mornings, we were usually awakened to the sound of "Hymns Triumphant" (version 1 or 2 - he wasn't picky) blaring from the stereo. When I think of my dad listening to the radio in the car, all I can think of is talk radio. When it was music, it tended to be oldies, classic rock, or, most likely, smooth jazz. My dad very rarely had anything good to say about any music that Tracy and I liked. So, for my dad to admit to liking anything "modern" was a huge deal and something I tended to never forget.
I have compiled a list of songs that make me think of my dad. Most of them are because of the aforementioned reasons, but some have other stories behind them. I, of course, will embellish each one with its respective tale. I don't call this blog "Lori's Stories" for nothing. Without further ado, here's the list in chronological order by release date. (On a side note, all but a couple of these songs are available for legal download at iTunes if you're interested.):
1. "Sooner or Later" - The Grass Roots
This probably has the weakest story of all, so how wonderful that I get to start with it! In fact, to be perfectly honest, I'm not sure I have this story exactly right. This is the way I remember it anyway. This song came on the radio once and my mom asked my dad if he remembered the customized versions they used to do for different radio stations. Apparently, when my dad was a teenage DJ, the beginning of the song (the instrumental part, right before the vocals) went "WH--A--P--Sooner or Later!" So, every time I hear that song, I sing that part in my head and think of my dad playing records at a little AM station.
2. "China Grove" - The Doobie Brothers
My dad REALLY likes the Doobie Brothers. More than that, he REALLY likes "China Grove". It's one of the few songs he's still known to crank up. It's also one of the only CDs he'll listen to that isn't smooooooth jazz. Take that, Warren Hill.
3. "Still The One" - Orleans
Once upon a time, this song was used as the ABC image theme. Dad never let me forget that, or how brilliant he thought it was.
4. "We Just Disagree" - Dave Mason
I remember being in the car with my dad one day when I was a kid. We had just pulled out of the subdivision onto General Booth Blvd. and this song came on. I had never heard it before, but my dad somehow knew the words. I didn't think my parents listened to anything that I hadn't heard. My little mind was blown and I never forgot it.
5. "Flashdance...What A Feeling" - Irene Cara
Oh my gosh, my dad and Flashdance... My dad had a major crush on Jennifer Beals, so he was all about it. I actually remember him seeing this in the theater with my mom (my parents didn't see movies. I can only recall three that they went to see together when I was a kid - Flashdance, Romancing the Stone, and Some Kind of Wonderful.) He had the movie poster in his bedroom and he played the soundtrack A LOT. I have fond memories of him playing his Flashdance cassette in the living room while I danced all around like a "maniac". He still loves this song. He probably still loves Jennifer Beals too.
6. "Axel F" - Harold Faltermeyer
Dad has a thing for quirky instrumentals. For the sake of keeping this list manageable, here are honorable mentions in this category: The theme from "Back to the Future", "Oh Yeah" by Yello (as seen in Ferris Bueller's Day Off), "Miami Vice" by Jan Hammer (Dad had the Miami Vice soundtrack in his glove compartment until...gee, it was probably there until he sold the car 4 years ago), and anything by Spyro Gyra. But, of all those, this is the one that instantly makes me think of my dad. I don't know why.
7. "Captain Of Her Heart" - Double
We were on Virginia Beach Boulevard one night, right near the intersection of First Colonial Road. Tracy and I were in the backseat, Mom and Dad were in front. Everything was quiet and then this song came on. Dad mentioned that he liked it, and here I am 20 years later recalling it. Weird, huh?
8. "Venus" - Bananarama/"Two of Hearts" - Stacey Q
I'm grouping these together, because they pretty much have the same story. Dad was working on a project in LA in 198...hmmm....let me think...it had to be 86. So, Dad was in LA for a while in '86 and he heard these songs there for the first time. He couldn't get enough of them. He bought the singles and put each on one side of a cassette so he could listen to them together and feel like he was in LA. To this day, he says that those songs are LA to him. Whenever I'm in the car and "Two of Hearts" comes on, I roll down the windows and crank it to 11 for my dad. Not so much "Venus". I was never really into that song. Anyhoo...
9. "This is the Time" - Billy Joel
This is the song that pretty much inspired this whole thing. I remember we were on 460 on the way to Hopewell and this song came on. I don't remember my dad saying he liked it (I think he did, though) as much as I remember us sitting in the car trying to figure out what Billy Joel says at the end of the chorus (we settled on "we won't although we'll want to".) I think the lyrics to the song make my memories of it that much more poignant, especially since I spent most of my youth in a beach town. This is one of my favorite songs of all time, so I'm glad I get to include it here.
10. "When The Going Gets Tough, The Tough Get Going" - Billy Ocean
I remember sitting in the "new" Wendy's on General Booth Blvd. (probably eating something from the trendy salad bar) when this song came on and my dad excitedly said, "Oooh! The song from "Jewel of the Nile!" (oh man, was that the movie they saw and not "Romancing The Stone"? I'm confused now.) My dad's favorite thing about this song was the video with Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny Devito singing backup for Billy Ocean. Sadly, that Wendy's has lasted much longer than Billy Ocean's career. Well, I guess that's only sad for Billy Ocean. I love Wendy's.
11. "You Can Call Me Al" - Paul Simon
That last song reminded me of how much Dad liked this one. It was another one of those songs that he loved because of the video. Admittedly, it's one of my favorites of all time too. By the way, Dad, Tracy and I know that even though we weren't allowed to watch it, you used to watch MTV when you thought no one was looking. You don't need to pretend anymore.
12. "When I Think Of You" - Janet Jackson
Wow, I guess 1986 was a great year for Dad and music. Well, I'm going to betray myself by admitting that I don't have a story for this song. I just remember that Dad really loved it. Moving on...
13. "Head to Toe" - Lisa Lisa and Cult Jam
I totally remember Dad picking me up from school one day in the little red Sentra and turning up the radio pretty loudly when this song came on. Dad just didn't do things like that.
14. "Breakout" - Swing Out Sister
My dad really liked Swing Out Sister. I remember he went to some Q94 radio promotion and won an album (yes, an album, as in a vinyl black disc that was played with a needle) of his choice. He picked Swing Out Sister's "It's Better To Travel". To this day, if he hears this song he'll go, "Ooooh...Breakout!" Admittedly, that doesn't happen often. Like I said, he's all about the talk radio and the smooth jazz. So sad.
15. "Faithful" - Go West
Go West is my favorite band and my dad typically didn't like anything I liked. So, when we were on 301 one weekend afternoon getting ready to exit onto 295, and my dad mentioned he liked this song when it came on the radio, I remembered that for all time. Now, I know what you're thinking, "Didn't your dad like anything between 1988 and 1993?" The answer is no, no he didn't.
16. "Tell Me Where It Hurts" - Kathy Troccoli
My dad really loved this song. He even has the CD! I remember him telling me it was because, deep down, that's one thing men want to hear from their women. I took that as advice and I've never forgotten it.
17. "Color Of The Night" - Lauren Christy
This song came out when Dad was doing Saturday mornings at Mix 105.3. This was one of his favorite songs that he played. I know that because he pretty much said it every time the song came on.
I was hoping to make this list an even 20, but I can't think of anything else to add here. The truth is, I don't think my dad has liked anything that's come out in popular music in the past 12 years. Maybe I could change that. Maybe next year I'll make the "17 songs my dad would probably like" list and send it to him.
Regardless, I'm glad I have these songs that make me think of my dad. They will always have special meaning to me because of him. I'm sure he does, but I hope he knows this Father's Day how special he is to me, how much I love him, and how much I cherish the happy memories I have of being his daughter.
Happy Father's Day to all the fathers who are making memories with their children this year, and especially the ones who are still enjoying the privilege of being the special man in their little girl's life. Never underestimate the power of a dad's love and attention.
Comments