Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The inglorious death of romance
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review ^ | 6-11-06 | Tom Purcell

Posted on 06/11/2006 1:20:31 PM PDT by Cavalcabo

Hey, pallie, what the heck happened to romance? I use the word "pallie" in deference to the great Dean Martin, whose birthday was celebrated last Wednesday, and whose music will be celebrated at the Dean Martin Festival in Steubenville, Ohio, next weekend -- in the town of his birth.

I ask because I just looked at Billboard Magazine's Hot 100 list. Sitting at No. 1 on the charts is "Hips Don't Lie," by Shakira. It's on her album "Oral Fixation." Her song is a hit, no doubt, because of its eloquent lyrics:

"Nobody can ignore the way you move your body, girl And everything so unexpected -- the way you right and left it So you can keep on shaking it."

No. 2 on the charts is "Ridin'" by Chamillionaire, a rap performer. Here's a little taste of the song's poetry:

"Tippin' down, sittin' crooked on my chrome Bookin' my phone, tryin' to find a chick I wanna (slang expletive)"

No. 3 on the charts is "Promiscuous" by Nelly Furtado:

"You expect me to let you just hit it But will you still respect me if you get it."

Ah, modern romance. Things sure have changed since Dino dropped off the charts. I think I know why: Romance is dead.

Whereas the top three hits above celebrate human nature at its most base -- wiggling one's hips to stoke male arousal, looking for "chicks" to satisfy your urge, or wondering if a fellow will stick around after he samples the goods -- Dino's simple music spoke to the heart. Consider the lyrics to "Amore":

"When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie That's amore When the world seems to shine like you've had too much wine That's amore."

(Excerpt) Read more at pittsburghlive.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: deanmartin; tompurcell
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

1 posted on 06/11/2006 1:20:33 PM PDT by Cavalcabo
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Cavalcabo

Everybody loves somebody sometimes.


2 posted on 06/11/2006 1:30:21 PM PDT by oflyboy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cavalcabo
When an eel lunges out
And it bites off your snout
That's a moray...

:-)

(Thanks to cartoonist Johnny Hart)

3 posted on 06/11/2006 1:33:23 PM PDT by T'wit (This moment of peace and quiet is brought to you by St. Fu, patron saint of sweet silence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cavalcabo

Dino was so cool.


4 posted on 06/11/2006 1:37:31 PM PDT by Tax-chick (I am a daughter of God, a child of the King, a holy fire burning with His love.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cavalcabo

I guess you could say that Dino had a violent side as well.
Ain't that a kick in the head?
};^)


5 posted on 06/11/2006 1:40:40 PM PDT by Roccus (Cynical romantic or romantic cynic.....you decide.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Cavalcabo
I love Dino's songs, as well as Sinatra's, Bennett's, et al. I loathe most current music.

When it plays at my favorite pub, it sets my teeth on edge. What is the point of a song about "my hump, my hump, my lovely lady hump" anyway? Barf.

6 posted on 06/11/2006 1:41:55 PM PDT by Theresawithanh (Veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I stuck around...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Tax-chick

A favorite pastime - driving down a winding river canyon road in the mountains with window open, Dean Martin on the CD player and singing along.


7 posted on 06/11/2006 1:42:27 PM PDT by marsh2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Cavalcabo
This one was always called "the immortal STARDUST" by Hoagie Carmichael. Now you never hear it unless you know some golden oldies station. It's almost more beautiful as poetry than as music.

And now the purple dusk of twilight time
Steals across the meadows of my heart
High up in the sky the little stars climb
Always reminding me that we're apart
You wander down the lane and far away
Leaving me a song that will not die
Love is now the stardust
Of yesterday
The music
Of the years
Gone by

Chorus:

Sometimes I wonder why I spend
The lonely nights
Dreaming of a song.
The melody haunts my reverie
And I am once again with you.
When our love was new, and each kiss an inspiration.
But that was long ago, and now my consolation
Is in the stardust of a song.
Beside the garden wall, when stars are bright
You are in my arms
The nightingale tells his fairy tale
Of paradise where roses grew.
Though I dream in vain, in my heart you will remain
My stardust melody
The memory of love's refrain.

8 posted on 06/11/2006 1:42:56 PM PDT by T'wit (This moment of peace and quiet is brought to you by St. Fu, patron saint of sweet silence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: T'wit

Haha! Laugh of the day courtesy of T'wit! =)


9 posted on 06/11/2006 1:44:02 PM PDT by CheyennePress
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: T'wit

Hoagy was the best. "Stardust", "Skylark", "Georgia on my Mind."


10 posted on 06/11/2006 1:47:05 PM PDT by az wildkitten
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Cavalcabo

And as for Dean Martin, let me depart the world of pop music to remember him in what Esquire Magazine (I think it was) called one of the ten best movies ever made -- RIO BRAVO. But, yep, he did sing there too. So did co-star Ricky Nelson. Dino was incomparably better :-) Starring John Wayne. Walter Brennan almost stole it from all of them.


11 posted on 06/11/2006 1:49:49 PM PDT by T'wit (This moment of peace and quiet is brought to you by St. Fu, patron saint of sweet silence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Theresawithanh

There is still some very fabulous and romantic being put out by today's artists.

Country music is loaded with elegant, moving lyrics.

There's Michael Buble, Harry Connick Jr., and a string of other jazz musicians carrying on the torch left behind by Ole Blue Eyes.

Then there are guys like Simon Webbe, who you have probably never heard of, who bring class and an uplifting touch of gospel music to R&B--something it has almost completely lost.

Thing is, gangster rap has made inroads into all facets of society. I inevitably roll my eyes when I see some moron driving a car that's going to set him back for years booming this stuff. Materialism has reached an all-time low in that trash.


12 posted on 06/11/2006 1:51:42 PM PDT by CheyennePress
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: CheyennePress

I agree wholeheartedly, I was talking about the "rap cr*p" the kids who invade my sanctuary like to listen to! Should've been more clear in my post.


13 posted on 06/11/2006 1:56:39 PM PDT by Theresawithanh (Veni, vidi, velcro - I came, I saw, I stuck around...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: az wildkitten
All great songs!

Indiana had the two incomparable song writers, Hoagy, who loved Indiana, and Cole Porter, who couldn't wait to get out of the state (and took his piano with him).

14 posted on 06/11/2006 1:56:59 PM PDT by T'wit (This moment of peace and quiet is brought to you by St. Fu, patron saint of sweet silence.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: marsh2

Sounds great!


15 posted on 06/11/2006 2:04:58 PM PDT by Tax-chick (I am a daughter of God, a child of the King, a holy fire burning with His love.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

save


16 posted on 06/11/2006 2:05:29 PM PDT by krunkygirl
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: T'wit

>>Walter Brennan almost stole it from all of them.

He left us some great romantic lyrics too...



He used to plow them rows straight and deep
And I'd come along near behind
A-bustin' up clods with my own bare feet
Old Rivers was a friend of mine.

That sun'd get high and that mule would work
Till old Rivers'd say, Whoa!
He'd wipe his brow, lean back on the reins
And talk about a place he was gonna go...

Now, one of these days
I'm gonna climb that mountain
Walk up there amoung the clouds
Where the cotton's high
And the corn's a-growin'
And there ain't no fields to plow.


17 posted on 06/11/2006 2:17:26 PM PDT by Graymatter
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: T'wit

Stardust was my mother's favorite song. She was a romantic for sure. But that was long ago.....


18 posted on 06/11/2006 2:24:40 PM PDT by Veto! (Opinions freely dispensed as advice)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Cavalcabo

There's always XM Track 4.


19 posted on 06/11/2006 2:25:35 PM PDT by Excellence (Since November 6, 1998)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Graymatter

Yeah, there's nothing quite so romantic as longing for death so you won't have to follow along behind a mule as you plow. /sarc


20 posted on 06/11/2006 2:30:49 PM PDT by gcruse (http://gcruse.typepad.com)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-6061 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson