Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
The Number One Song When You Were Born
As we know, in the study of Astrology the positions of the celestial bodies at the time of birth shape the rest of one’s life.
Pseudoscience? Perhaps. I’m not going to be judgmental here.
However, I will take the opportunity to offer my own, alternate, theory. Dare I say, an improvement on Astrology. That the number one song in the charts at the time of birth shapes the rest of one’s life. I mean, if planets 100’s of millions of miles away should have an influence, why not something much closer?
So, let’s give it a try. Post the song that was number one at the time your were born.
Wikipedia makes the process easy: List of Billboard number-one singles
Some of you might be hesitant, might not want to reveal your age. I understand. Feel free to substitute somebody else’s birthday, we won’t check.
I’ll go first. Elvis Presley, “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear”:
I never actually liked Elvis’ music. So, like with Astrology, there is some interpretation required.
(That beautiful guitar he never actually plays is a Gibson J-200.)
Published in General
Not their best, but at least it’s not embarrassing. Too bad the quality on that video is really bad on top of that.
I’ve never heard the song that’s listed under my birthdate.
As for “Thanks for the Memory,” I really love the version by some guy named Bing Crosby. When LPs came into vogue in the 1950s Bing put out an album called Songs I Wish I Had Sung (The First Time Around) and wrote, “It’s just one of those inexplicable vagaries of show business that a fellow like Bob Hope – a fellow of sharply limited vocal powers, should wind up with one of the great songs of the past 25 years – a song so great that it has even survived thousands of his wheezy renditions.”
Why it’s not remembered like it should be is that, instead of a plaintive ballad, all anyone thinks of is Les Brown’s bouncy arrangement for Hope’s stage walk-ons.
Said EJ. 😜
I like Crosby’s voice better, naturally, but I prefer the original rendition by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross that appeared in the movie, largely because it’s a duet, with each side remembering his or her special memories within their marriage. Also, as Hope sings, Ross reacts to his memory and vice versa.
“The Way We Were” and “Love’s Theme”– 1974
Interesting! Thanks for posting this.
Hmm. For me, it’s “Raindrops keep falling on my head” according to that list. But I was actually born about a month premature, so, ummm….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPEhQugz-Ew
What am I supposed to make of that?
The list goes back just far enough. It’s “I’ll Never Smile Again”
Some of you people are making me feel old…
Mine is “Duke of Earl”.
How ’bout that? “(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons,” by Nat King Cole. By Deek Watson of the Ink Spots, and Pat Best of The Four Tunes.
And Whatdoyouknow… I’m a barbershop quartetter. Go figure.
Bing Crosby’s rendition is super smooth, and a treat. I like the interplay between Bob Hope and Shirley Ross, too. In fact, it reminded me of another couple, a similar setup, but a very different vibe:
My selection for most underrated Beatles song was “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer”.
It never gets any radio play.
However Google said it was this one:
Rain, more than 50% of Beatles fans don’t know it.
Did it again! posted in the wrong window.
Spectacular. I’m not trying to be a Donnie Downer, but I can’t help wondering how we got from where we were then to where we are now.
That is a great tune! I’d even forgotten it when thinking about underrated songs.
“The a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree” by Dawn featuring Tony Orlando. I would have preferred Robert’s Flack’s “Killing Me Softly” or ” You’re So Vain” by Carly Simon. 1973 Also hits that year.
I remember it!
We’re only a year a part! We had a karaoke machine when they were the big thing. I remember one of my sisters singing it and playing “The Way We Were”, on the piano.
You ain’t seen nothing yet by BTO.
No one can stop you now, cause you’re the Duke eaaarllll yeah yeah yeah
So, was your week as strange as mine, or does this not work like astrology?
“The Third Man Theme?” I guess I’m old.
Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra, “Riders in the Sky”. See my handle for the year.
Recorded many times by different artists, and I remember it well.
This does make me feel old. My song sign is “The Doggie In The Window” by Patti Page. It was the number 1 song for more than 2 months in 1953. I would have preferred Stan Freberg later in the year.
They don’t write lyrics like they used to:
How much is that doggie in the window?
The one with the waggly tail
How much is that doggie in the window?
I do hope that doggie is for sale.
I won’t link to a rendition but if anyone wants a recommendation for an Old-Time fiddle tune on the banjo, I’m your man.
There is only 1.
Sweet City Woman.
((Maybe not as old, as you had in mind))
I got “Party Doll” by Buddy Knox. If I had waited three months I could have gotten “Teddy Bear”, but mom wouldn’t have enjoyed those Weeks 40-52 of pregnancy. If I had waited one week, I would have ended up with Perry Como and “Round and Round”….
From then Bob Newhart Show, when Jerry the Dentist was trying to find his birth parents. He found out he was British
Howard: “You’re British? That great! You could be a Duke, or an Earl!”
Carol: “You could be the Duke of Earl”
For my Dad’s 50th birthday in 1976, we went to Walt Disney World, and saw Patti Page perform at the restaurant at the top of the contemporary inn.
So far, so good!
In Astrology, it’s not just the sign you were born under, but the nuances of the movements of the planets. “When the moon is in the seventh house, and Jupiter aligns with Mars…”
And we have that here, also.
In my case I could claim that Elvis is retrograde, returning from “All Shook Up”, Pat Boone is falling, Debbie Reynolds is rising, with Buddy Holly and the Crickets and the Everly Brothers in alignment and rising right behind.
Between “Teen Angel” by Mark Dinning and “Stuck On You” by Elvis Presley, there was this: