SPRING CLINGING
There’s something bad in everything good: when spring comes, can spring cleaning be far behind? — Evan Esar
Spring has come, but in my sequestered domain, this doesn’t mean spring cleaning must follow. Though my closets be crammed and my drawers be loaded — make that cluttered — I’ll have no problem leaving spring cleaning far behind (even if others stink otherwise).
Now, I’m not saying that spring cleaning doesn’t have its place. For example, it might be worth the bother if you’re young and in love:
Speaking of “young love,” how old do you think the above song is? If you guessed it dates back to the ‘Golden Age’ of popular music (1920s, 30s, 40s), welcome to one of my happy places. If you’re thinking I’m clinging to the best of those romantic old songs out of naught but nostalgia, nothing could be further from the youth — my guileless youth that Father Time gradually re-placed. But suppose the mature me were unable to relate to the ever-young work of, say, Twain, Stevenson and Swift — it wouldn’t be that their writing has become outdated. I would simply have lost the capacity to appreciate its timelessness.
In like manner, whether it be seen as ‘gilding the lily’ of youth or burnishing the harmony of maturity, I still think of the oldies as younger than springtime….and on that note, I’ll tune out:
Little Monster Girl, 
The Observation Post 
Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, MCC, SCAC 3:35 am on March 20, 2017 Permalink |
My happy place too . What every happened to harmony — and words you could understand – and “girl singers” who sang without belting out most of the song – dressed, even? But don’t think its because I’m growing old. I’ve said the same thing since I was in my 30s.
But I’m with you – and Quentin Quisp – on spring cleaning, “There is no need to do any housework at all. After four years the dirt doesn’t get any worse.”
Another one from him (Naked Civil Servant):
“Keeping up with the Joneses was a full-time job with my mother and father. It was not until many years later when I lived alone that I realized how much cheaper it was to drag the Joneses down to my level.”
xx,
mgh
(Madelyn Griffith-Haynie – ADDandSoMuchMORE dot com)
ADD Coach Training Field founder; ADD Coaching co-founder
“It takes a village to educate a world!”
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mistermuse 8:53 am on March 20, 2017 Permalink |
I like the quotes. As for “girl singers belting out most of the song” — that wasn’t unheard of (get it? — ha ha) in the ‘old days.’ Remember Ethel Merman, for example? She wasn’t one of my favs, but she was definitely loud (and dressed)! 🙂
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Madelyn Griffith-Haynie, MCC, SCAC 4:47 am on March 21, 2017 Permalink
Good point. I guess I was thinking more of the singers who fronted the Big Bands. I never was sure if Merman was actually “singing” lol – but that voice was perfect for Broadway, and she could certainly sell a number like nobody else. And I do like some of the female performers today – just not as much as I loved the ones from the 30s-40s-50s (even as a teen in the 60s).
xx,
mgh
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mistermuse 10:21 am on March 21, 2017 Permalink
Merman may have been the loudest, but she wasn’t the earliest girl singer who belted out songs. One of the first (and probably most well known) pre-Merman belters was Sophie Tucker, heard here in in a 1926 recording of her most famous song:
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Don Frankel 6:32 am on March 20, 2017 Permalink |
Can I say The Girls From Mars, they send me? But Spring cleaning is in the same league as New Year’s Resolutions as it much talked about but seldom accomplished.
Richard Rogers what a treasure.
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mistermuse 9:08 am on March 20, 2017 Permalink |
I thought girls were supposed to be from Venus, men from Mars. But “supposed to be” is no longer in the stars — girls can be from wherever they want to be, and more power to them! And you’re right about Spring cleaning and New Year’s Resolutions.
Richard Rodgers is indeed a treasure, and Oscar Hammerstein ain’t bad either (though I’m more partial to Rodgers’ original lyricist partner, Lorenz Hart).
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Carmen 6:34 am on March 20, 2017 Permalink |
Great tunes, Mr. Muse! As soon as I started listening to the second one, I thought, “I’ve heard that guy before!” Sure enough, he does “Bring Him Home” (Les Mis)
First day of spring here and – what do you know! – school is cancelled. (I think for the 13th day since December) Icy roads, apparently! Means I’m on my 3rd cup of coffee. 🙂
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mistermuse 9:19 am on March 20, 2017 Permalink |
Thanks for the heads up about Isaac Benelli. I couldn’t place him despite the fact he has such a beautiful voice that he must have been on Broadway. I need to start paying more attention to today’s (and not just yesterday’s) Broadway scene!
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scifihammy 7:21 am on March 20, 2017 Permalink |
You can’t beat these old well written and well sung songs. 🙂
Enjoy your Springtime – the cleaning can wait! 🙂
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mistermuse 9:27 am on March 20, 2017 Permalink |
Thank you. This must be the start of fall where you are in South Africa, so to return the favor, I’ll say Enjoy your autumn — the leaf raking can wait! 🙂
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scifihammy 11:04 am on March 20, 2017 Permalink
Oh for sure the leaf raking can wait. And if I wait long enough, a good wind will blow it all away! 🙂
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arekhill1 11:22 am on March 20, 2017 Permalink |
Living in the Golden State, as well as during my time in Hawaii, cleaning can be accomplished any time of year. When the filth and dreck of one’s home becomes too much to tolerate even when drunk, it is subject to scouring no matter the season.
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Carmen 11:33 am on March 20, 2017 Permalink |
Geez, I’d love to see my husband THAT drunk. . . 🙂
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mistermuse 1:55 pm on March 20, 2017 Permalink |
Some might say your attitude lowers the standard in ‘standard of living,’ Ricardo, but as long as you can get to the beer in the fridge without undue difficulty, it seems like a workable concept to me.
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D. Wallace Peach 10:10 am on March 21, 2017 Permalink |
I’m with you about leaving Spring cleaning in the dust! 🙂 Thanks for the tunes!
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mistermuse 11:27 am on March 21, 2017 Permalink |
Thanks, Diana. I like your “cleaning in the dust” pun so much that I can’t wipe the smile off my face! 🙂
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inesephoto 5:54 pm on March 21, 2017 Permalink |
Something beautiful to brighten my day is always available on your blog 🙂
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mistermuse 9:15 pm on March 21, 2017 Permalink |
Any and all appreciation is always appreciated (and your blog will likewise have a brightening effect on any reader who wishes to check it out). 🙂
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inesephoto 6:05 pm on March 22, 2017 Permalink
Thank you so much for your kind words!
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BroadBlogs 9:33 pm on March 21, 2017 Permalink |
Spring renewal! Yay!
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Little Monster Girl 10:08 pm on March 23, 2017 Permalink |
Hi mistermuse! Would you like to answer questions with me on my weekly Friendly Chat on my blog? I’m going to post it in a short while.I get the questions from Cee’s Share Your World and I share my answers every week with another blogger, and I’d like you to do it this week if you like! 😀 Here’s the questions for this week: https://ceenphotography.com/2017/03/20/share-your-world-march-20-2017/
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mistermuse 7:28 am on March 24, 2017 Permalink |
Many thanks for thinking of me, but due to very limited time (not to mention computer skills), I don’t feel I can commit to such an undertaking for the foreseeable future. Please accept my regrets and apologies.
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Little Monster Girl 12:26 pm on March 24, 2017 Permalink |
No worries! Thanks anyway! 😊
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