Sunday, March 29, 2009

3/29/09 Blog/Playlist: Complicated Love

Before I go on about my show, I want to acknowledge something. I've said often that here on Radio Free Nashville I think we're blessed to have some of the best programming going on here. I call these things as I hear them and I want to say there was some great radio done this weekend. Geo on the Radio who is on Saturday from 1-3 in the afternoon (and whose show I used to follow, by the way) did an amazing show yesterday. He had Kim McLean and her band as guests; they were on my show a couple of weeks earlier and it's always interesting when you hear artists go on different shows and how it turns out (and of course a win-win for the artist in terms of exposure). Well, there was such a spirit in the studio yesterday and I do believe God showed up there. And, if you heard the Dan Seals tribute in the first hour of his show, it was honest and real, breaks your heart in a million pieces, very special and to me, that is what makes great radio. So Geo, good job my friend.

Segment 1 – Complicated Love
I started writing a piece which ended up as my next website podcast (haven't done one in ages), and out of that came the idea for today's theme set. It's about complicated love. It's not a look through rose colored glasses...remember I'm the gal who didn't do a Valentine's Day show. Even Facebook is with me on this one; one of the relationship statuses one can pick from on a profile is "it's complicated." (I changed mine to that this weekend to promote the show and I scared some people). All this brings about a thesis or a question I'm going to ask at the end of this set and I hope some of you MySpacers, Facebook group members and others might weigh in on this. I'm going to give the first of a couple of opinions on the complications of love from someone who in his lifetime had quite a few things to say musically on this issue, Mr. Gene Pitney.
Gene Pitney – It Hurts To Be In Love
Shirelles – Mama Said
Lovin Spoonful – Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind
Beatles – No Reply
Rascals – How Can I Be Sure

Ok, here is the question I have on this issue of complicated love and all its trials. If, going into this thing, you knew your heart was going to get squashed like a bug on the wrong side of a windshield, would you do it anyway? Would you do the middle stuff... flowers, holding hands, listening to music together and tearing up in the same places? It seems to me like there's no ala carte to this love thing. You can't just pick the good and skip the bad.

So what say you? Go ahead--make a comment!

Segment 2: Record Box
I'm going to bring Gene Pitney back for the start of the record box set to weigh in on the question.
Gene Pitney – True Love Never Runs Smooth
Lesley Gore – That's The Way Boys Are (Thanks, Lesley, for your explanation on how boys work, great public service there! You might have helped out a bunch of people, course when you get older you substitute boys with men.)
Flirtations – Nothing But A Heartache
Connie Francis – Don't Break the Heart That Loves You

Segment 3 – Soul Stew
One of the mainstays of my MySpace profile player is one of the most poignant soul songs on the issue of complicated love, a timeless song of the Motown era.
Jimmy Ruffin – What Becomes of the Brokenhearted
Drifters – Please Stay
Billy Paul – Me and Mrs Jones

Segment 4 – Non-oldie/new/current
Now this first song starts out with a complicated love situation but resolves with a scenario that most would wish for. But what if it's not you on the receiving end? Then you need to find a way to pick up the pieces and go on and it takes a bit of self-encouragement to get yourself started.
George Adams – Stronger Than Words
Cher – The Way Of Love
Samantha Mooney – Take This Heart
Denise Van Outen – Somewhere Someplace Sometime (from the musical "Tell Me On A Sunday)

Encouragement:
I think this last song from an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical about a gal who was a bit unlucky in love shares a good bit of advice about what to do if indeed you end up like that bug on the windshield. If someone leaves you or doesn't pick you, maybe it just wasn't meant to be. Maybe if you had that kind of experience, you can look back and end up grateful for not being there at the present moment...because maybe you're in a place in your life that's better or you otherwise realized, nah, it wouldn't have worked. Easy to say now but hard to feel when you're hurting. But hold on...it will pass.

If you're nursing a broken heart and you need a little help, here's some great advice courtesy of T.D. Jakes.)

Closer – King Curtis – Soul Serenade

This is probably one of the most ambitious shows I've ever done creatively. I put a lot of work into this. I think it came out okay.

So, what's MY take on complicated love? Go here and pick episode #27.

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