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My Beloved Americans,
During this July 4th week in a year like no other, I say with deep love and affection: Wear. A. Freaking. MASK. Here are 17 songs about faces, eyes, covering up, and staying the hell away. Listen up! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2zIDAbMDOL0iAYizyrFn7s?si=32zsyx-8SEC5DO1PL3KSqw 1. "Theme From Zorro" The Wellingtons. My all-time favorite masked hero. I made a sword out of a stick and ran through the house slashing "Z's" into my brother. I was 23. 2. "Cover Me" Bruce Springsteen. Wrote this for Donna Summer, changed his mind, put it on "Born in the U.S.A." album. "The times are tough now, just getting tougher..." |
3. "You Won't See Me" The Beatles. From "Rubber Soul." Won't see me because he's wearing a mask.
4. "Doctor My Eyes" Jackson Browne. About a guy who goes into therapy. Record company thought it was a downer. Cut to: His first single, first hit.
5. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" Roberta Flack. 1957 folk song I first heard sung by folk duo Joe and Eddie. Flack's version won 2 Grammys & was #1 song of 1972.
6. "I Can See Clearly Now" Johnny Nash. American reggae singer from Houston. Either a song about things looking brighter or putting on your mask correctly.
7. "I Only Have Eyes For You" The Flamingos. Doo wop group from Chicago. In case you're wondering, the profound lyrics they sing in the background are "Sha bop sha bop."
8. "Your Smiling Face" James Taylor. Goofy pop puppy love song written about and for his marriage to Carly Simon, which, of course, ended badly.
9. "Brown Eyed Girl" Van Morrison. Sir George Ivan "Van the Man" Morrison from Northern Ireland. Original title: "Brown-Skinned Girl." Really. It was 1967. They changed it.
10. "In Your Eyes" Peter Gabriel. Brit giant originated the group Genesis. This has African influences, supplies major moment in John Cusack film, "Say Anything."
11. "I Can't Get Next To You" The Temptations. From Detroit, Motown's finest. Dennis Edwards sings lead. Important message: stay six feet away, mask or not.
12. "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" Crosby, Stills, Nash. Stephen Stills wrote this for his girlfriend, Judy Collins, referencing her penetrating blue eyes. They broke up soon after.
13. "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" The Platters. Written by Jerome Kern for 1933 musical, "Roberta." When I wear a mask, my problem is fog gets in my eyes, not smoke.
14. "Lyin' Eyes" Eagles. Big hit from 1975. Glenn and Don wrote this when they were talking to each other.
15. "Mistaken For Strangers" The National. Continuing mask theme from the one band I can't live without, originally from Ohio, then Brooklyn, now living down the street in Venice. Seen them 10 times and I'm not done.
16. "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" Frankie Valli. Former Four Seasons lead, world's most famous falsetto.
17. "Who Are You" The Who.One of their biggest hits, title song from their last album before Keith Moon died. Re: masks. Self-explanatory.
Have a fantastic facially-covered 4th, and, please... PLAY IT LOUD!
4. "Doctor My Eyes" Jackson Browne. About a guy who goes into therapy. Record company thought it was a downer. Cut to: His first single, first hit.
5. "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" Roberta Flack. 1957 folk song I first heard sung by folk duo Joe and Eddie. Flack's version won 2 Grammys & was #1 song of 1972.
6. "I Can See Clearly Now" Johnny Nash. American reggae singer from Houston. Either a song about things looking brighter or putting on your mask correctly.
7. "I Only Have Eyes For You" The Flamingos. Doo wop group from Chicago. In case you're wondering, the profound lyrics they sing in the background are "Sha bop sha bop."
8. "Your Smiling Face" James Taylor. Goofy pop puppy love song written about and for his marriage to Carly Simon, which, of course, ended badly.
9. "Brown Eyed Girl" Van Morrison. Sir George Ivan "Van the Man" Morrison from Northern Ireland. Original title: "Brown-Skinned Girl." Really. It was 1967. They changed it.
10. "In Your Eyes" Peter Gabriel. Brit giant originated the group Genesis. This has African influences, supplies major moment in John Cusack film, "Say Anything."
11. "I Can't Get Next To You" The Temptations. From Detroit, Motown's finest. Dennis Edwards sings lead. Important message: stay six feet away, mask or not.
12. "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" Crosby, Stills, Nash. Stephen Stills wrote this for his girlfriend, Judy Collins, referencing her penetrating blue eyes. They broke up soon after.
13. "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" The Platters. Written by Jerome Kern for 1933 musical, "Roberta." When I wear a mask, my problem is fog gets in my eyes, not smoke.
14. "Lyin' Eyes" Eagles. Big hit from 1975. Glenn and Don wrote this when they were talking to each other.
15. "Mistaken For Strangers" The National. Continuing mask theme from the one band I can't live without, originally from Ohio, then Brooklyn, now living down the street in Venice. Seen them 10 times and I'm not done.
16. "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" Frankie Valli. Former Four Seasons lead, world's most famous falsetto.
17. "Who Are You" The Who.One of their biggest hits, title song from their last album before Keith Moon died. Re: masks. Self-explanatory.
Have a fantastic facially-covered 4th, and, please... PLAY IT LOUD!