Saturday 9

Bye, Bye Blackbird

Welcome to Saturday 9! Hosted by Sam!

Saturday 9: Bye, Bye Blackbird (1957)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) In this song, Julie London complains about all the "hard luck stories" people are handing her. Did you more recently listen to someone else's problems, or share your own?

I purposely called my cousin’s wife who is suffering with some issues that are very similar to some I’ve dealt with, so I could hear her story and share some encouragement with her. 

2) She promises to arrive "late tonight." What time do you think is too late to drop in on someone? 

I would really wonder why someone was stopping by after 9 pm. 

3) Julie's nickname was "The Liberty Girl" because she was Liberty Records' first successful artist. The second was singer-songwriter David Seville, who had a couple novelty hits as "The Chipmunks." There were three singing chipmunks. Without looking it up, can you name them? Simon, Theodore, Alvin.. I’m not a bit sure if that is right and I’m not looking it up.

4) Julie's love of music was shared by her mother.When Julie was a little girl, mother and daughter would listen to Billie Holiday records together. What recordings did you enjoy when you were very young? My parents purchased a lot of stereo albums when they bought their stereo. Most of them were instrumental themed albums by 101 Strings.... Old West, South of the Border, show tunes, light classical, movie themes. I really enjoyed lying on the glider on our porch on hot summer nights listening to these tune waft through the living room windows! 

5. She began modeling when she 17. Julie was working as an elevator operator when a talent agent saw her and decided she would photograph well. With the advent of push-button elevators, elevator operator is a job that doesn't exist anymore. Can you think of another job that was once common but now is rare (or non-existent)? Full service gasoline attendants.

6) Julie recorded more than 30 albums and was named "most popular female vocalist" by Billboard magazine in 1956. If you could see any entertainer -- male or female -- in concert, who would you choose? I would love to see Chris Botti, along with the others on his Boston live cd.. Sting, Yo Yo Mah, and Lucia Micarelli. 

7) She appeared in Westerns on both TV and in the movies. Have you ever dreamed of being a cowboy/cowgirl?

As a child when I went to Grandma’s,  I was Dale Evans, Tommy was Roy Rogers, Johnny was Pat Brady, and Linda was the Indian! I’m so glad I was the oldest cousin!

reasonable facsimile

8) For six seasons, Julie played Dixie McCall R.N. on the show Emergency! The series was about Los Angeles paramedics and firefighters. Do you often hear sirens in your neighborhood? Not too often, but  we moved here 33 years ago, and we live across from a school. Every Saturday at noon they would set off the civil defense siren that blasted us for about a full minute or two. 

9) Random question: You're pulled over for speeding. Do you think you'd have an easier time talking your way out of it if the officer was a man ... or a woman? I have talked my way out of it once with a male officer, and come to think of it, every time has been a male. I would think a female would probably bit less forgiving.