Songs and politics are not strange bedfellows
I cannot seem to satisfy my grandson’s curiosity. Christian Anthony always has a final question. In anything we talk about (and I refuse to babytalk to him) he caps it with “why?” Even when his queries sound difficult to tackle, I endeavor to explain the wherefores, uncertain whether or not my explanation would really mean anything to him.
One day, while I was playing, on my antique component, an old John Gary vinyl entitled Gentle On My Mind, a visitor came. After exchanging pleasantries, we heard I’ll Rock You In My Mind, which my guest came to like rather instantly. I too, could not help but hum along, the song being one of my favorites.
Then Pin, that’s how we call Christian Anthony, asked why I love to listen to old songs. It was really difficult to answer. I was sure he was familiar with my genre of music because I make it a habit to play the so-called “oldies-but-goldies” at every opportunity I have. But, I just could not explain to Pin, in terms most understandable to him, why I love their ballads.
Perhaps in an attempt to help me wriggle out of an unanswerable query, my visitor asked me about our small collection of long playing records. Taking advantage of his cue, I brought him to the corner where we keep our files of old LP records. We classified them into solo, group, vocals, male and female, instrumentals, movie sound tracks, etc.
Like many videoke patrons, my friend could first talk about the song My Way which, according to him is a common cause of frequent conflicts among habitués. The interpretation he had in mind was that of Matt Monro’s. He was unaware that it was written for Frank Sinatra by another great composer/singer, Paul Anka. So, I obliged by pulling out the LP even as I told him that it was supposed to be Sinatra’s finale for a contemplated last farewell concert performance. The lyrics “and now the end is near . . . the final curtain” seemed to portray the situation.
My friend could not hide his surprise when I said that Sinatra’s popularity surged even higher with My Way. Ol’ Blue Eyes could not just retire! No, not yet. And because he promised it was his last concert, he had to do something if he wanted to extend his singing career. He found reason when he sang “I know I said that I was leaving. . .” in another ditty, Let Me Try Again.
While I was narrating trivia about songs and singers, my friend suddenly broke into a wide grin, grabbed my shoulders, looked into my face and exclaimed, “That’s it”. We both realized that it was the answer I should have given to Pin. I could have told Christian Anthony, and his brother Charles Andre, cousins, Coco (for Noelle Consuelo), Benedict and Ryanna, that I love the old songs of many years ago because each of them contained a message.
Moved by the sudden discovery, my guest and I started to go over the LP’s of Ed Ames, Tony Bennett, Perry Como, Vic Damone, and Billy Eckstein. Space limitation prevents me from mentioning here one representative name for each letter of the alphabet. But, yes, most of their songs have remarkable stories to tell behind their meaningful lyrics.
Indeed, most songs portray real life situations. Some are not unlike politics.
In going back to Sinatra’s My Way, I recall that it was in the year 1988 that now Congressman Tomas R. Osmeña, became our mayor and got re-elected in 1992. In so many words, he said, in 1995, that he was done as our chief city executive so that rather than going for a third term, he gave way to Atty. Alvin Garcia, until a conflict, no one really knows what, between him and his anointed successor pushed him to run in 2001. Just the same, when Hon. Osmeña, pushed for the candidacy of now mayor Michael L. Rama, in the 2010 elections, he seemed to have crooned ala Frank. Unfortunately, if Pin were to ask him, Cong. Tom could probably not justify why he wanted to say Let Me Try to be mayor Again.
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