When they were in grade school, my son and my nieces were
held captive to Oldies music as I drove them around in my SUV. Back then, they
were content in listening to 106.7 Easy Listening radio. In truth, they did not
have a choice because they were “forbidden” to change to any other radio channel. Thankfully, this was after my son tired of his obsession with Barney and kid songs and he, obediently, ceded the radio control to me.
As they grew older, they led their own lives and listened to their own music.
Years later, I was pleasantly surprised that they actually appreciated my
Oldies music to this day; thankfully (again), they abhor those curse-laden rap songs.
(P.S. After my son read this post, he cautioned me against generalizing against Rap music. I clarified that there are some rap songs that I actually like, but I do cringe at the profanity on most of the songs).
Oldies music covers the beautiful music of the mid-1950s to the
1980s: pop, rock and roll, and doo-wop. It is the music of my youth, the songs that I heard growing up in the Philippines. I am
glad to hear their music recreated by the youth of today. And when I am being nostalgic and sentimental, I happily search for new covers.
I'LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER YOU
A 1964 single by the Australian group The Seekers with strong-voiced Judith Durham as the lead vocal. The song reached No. 1 in the United Kingdom pop chart and No. 4 in the United States pop chart and No. 2 Easy Listening on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. The lyrics make me cry; the song a paean to everlasting love. For those lucky ones who will be together with their loved ones "forever and a day" in the promised land.
When the group toured for their farewell concert in 2013, the guitar intro still thrilled the audience and the then70-year old Judith's voice still soared beautifully and with conviction. This song has become my latest LSS (Last Song Syndrome).
The Seekers - (1964)
Keith Potger and Nicki Gillis (2017)
Keith Pother was an original
member of the Seekers.
Mirusia Louwerse (2020)
There's a new world somewhere
They call the promised land
And I'll be there someday
If you could hold my hand
I still need you there beside me
No matter what I do
For I know I'll never find another
you
There is always someone
For each of us, they say
And you'll be my someone
Forever and a day
I could search the whole world
over
Until my life is through
But I know I'll never find another
you
CRAZY
The ballad was composed by Willie Nelson, but the most
popular version was by Patsy Cline. My first memory of the song was that of or
waitress in my grandmother’s restaurant who used to sing along to the jukebox.
She said it was a song for her crush who was in love with another woman.
Patsy Cline (1961)
Allison Young (2018)
BEYOND THE SEA
The song was written in 1945 and has been recorded by many
artists, but Bobby Darin's version is the most popular one. There was a Navajo version in the movie Finding Nemo.
Bobby Darin- (1960)
Reneé Dominique (2017)
HAPPY TOGETHER
A song by American rock band the Turtles. The groovy folk-
oriented song was featured in several tv shows and movies: Big Bang Theory,
King of the Hill, a Stephen King movie, and the Super Smash Bros.
The Turtles (1967)
REO Brothers - (2020)
IMAGINE
John Lennon wrote his biggest single of his solo career,
apart from the Beatles. The song was quite controversial but for me, it was a
hymn of comfort, a promise, and an encouragement to imagine a world in peace.
Ironically, I remember sobbing in the movie theater as the music played in the end credits of “The
Killing Fields” of the war in Cambodia.
John Lennon (1971)
Davina Michelle (2018)
REO Brothers (2020)
THAT'S LIFE
Written in 1963, Frank Sinatra recorded it later. The song's uplifting lyrics told us to pick up ourselves from any setback whether you were just a "puppet, a pauper, a pirate, a poet, a pawn, a king".
Frank Sinatra (1966)
Dennis van Aarssen (2019)
The Best of Renee Dominique Cover Playlist
REO Brothers' Top Favorites (compilation)
As an Oldies fan, I am happy to discover young ones preserving this beautiful music. There is still hope for this world. These songs will stand the test of time, and hopefully, the profane and demeaning rap songs will just die a natural death, forever consigned in music hell.
Update: 6/21- Because of my new-found enjoyment of K-pop BTS music, I am now enamored of 'some" rap songs. Who knew that this Oldies fan will bop along the rapid-fire raps of the BTS. Consider me part of Army nation now, hahaha!
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