The 1950's define my teen years (and your Mom's too). In 1950, we were 10 years old. In 1959, we were just ending our teen years. The songs or the decade are imbedded in our minds and it seems like "just yesterday".
The 50's were special. It was the era of rock and roll, swiveling hips and swooning teenagers. You could still understand the words to the music and the lyrics were just as stupid as today.
Yesterday we had tickets at the Fireside for "Songs of the 50's". I was looking forward to the trip down memory lane. Sometimes presentations at the Fireside can disappoint but not yesterday. It was a hand clapping, foot-stomping kind of day.
A diversion in the entertainment was when two people were brought up on stage to play "Name that Tune", One particpant (a man) was 90 years old. The problem was he couldn't hear very well so he looked confused as the songs played. Then being 90 years old, he couldn't remember the song titles. Being older his reflexes were slow to ring the bell. You get the idea. Cute guy but .......... During the first song of the contest, a lady sitting in the first row jumped on stage and whispered the answer to the old guy. He rang the bell and won. Not fair, but old guys are entitled do anything they want to.
Three songs "brought the house down". People were standing at their seats, clapping, dancing and singing. Old people with energy, imagine that (maybe you don't want to imagine that). The first song was Tutti-Fruitti originally performed by Little Richard (a screaming maniac). There was so much energy on stage that afterwards it left the audience wanting more.
The second song to stir the soul was "The Twist" made famous by Chubby Checker. It wasn't a pleasant sight seeing 80 year old people standing and violently rotating their bodies to the "twist".
Lastly, they performed the Jerry Lee Lewis redition of "Whole Lot of Shaking Goin' On". The only way you could see the performers on stage was by standing up.
So it was a fun day.
The lesson Grasshoppers is that you can go back in time for short periods of time through music. The music acts as benchmark to significant moments in your life. I'm sure the 70's, 80's and 90's mark your minds. When you retire, you too can go to the Fireside to see a performance in the afternoon on a Thursday during the work-week. "Eat your hearts out".
Love,
Dad