Monday’s Music Moves Me: Songs About Music (more or less)

Monday's Music Moves Me 2 Minutes

So the theme today is “songs about music,” chosen by Naila, one of the hosts of this weekly feature. Here are five songs that I think fit the bill, and if they don’t, I’m sure you’ll understand. Isn’t that right, Marie?

The Band Played Waltzing Matilda – John McDermott of The Three Irish Tenors A beautiful and very sad song about a veteran of the ANZAC forces that fought the Battle of Gallipoli. It’s a little stretch, but throughout the song they make reference to the military bands playing “Waltzing Matilda,” the unofficial national anthem of Australia.

Canned Music – Dan Hicks & His Hot Licks It was during the summer of 1972 that I first learned about Dan Hicks and His Hot Licks, when they made an appearance on The Tonight Show to promote their latest album, Striking It Rich, from which this song comes. Dan died earlier this year, and I wrote a tribute to him a day or so later.

Begin the Beguine – Artie Shaw & His Orchestra Written by Cole Porter for the 1935 musical Jubilee. A beguine is a sort of slow rhumba, and it also refers to the music that accompanies the dance. I chose Artie Shaw’s famous instrumental cover of it; the lyrics are here, if you’d like to read along.

Listen To The Music – The Doobie Brothers I bet nearly everyone will include this one… From their 1972 album Toulouse Street, it reached #11 on the Hot 100 that year.

Birth Of The Blues – The Rat Pack with Johnny Carson The theme song from the 1941 movie, originally sung by Bing Crosby. Here we see Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., and Frank Sinatra in “Vegas, Baby!” with Johnny Carson contributing a surprisingly good vocal performance, holding his own with three of the greatest. Johnny makes a wonderful observation at the end.

And that’s Monday’s Music Moves Me for September 19, 2016.

Monday’s Music Moves Me is sponsored by X-Mas Dolly, Callie, Stacy, Cathy, and Naila Moon, so be sure and visit them, where you can also find the Linky for the other participants.


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Published by John Holton

Internet disc jockey, lover of old TV (especially the commercials), inveterate wise guy.

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19 thoughts on “Monday’s Music Moves Me: Songs About Music (more or less)”

  1. Pingback: The “Fun With Spam” Week That Was – The Sound of One Hand Typing

  4. Your songs brings back so so so many memories I cannot begin to tell you. Thank you so much for joining us today and bringing your wonderful tunes back to mind! hugs Rock on my friend… Rock On!

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  7. I always enjoy Waltzing Matilda, but the Rat Pack takes the cake, pretty much always for me 🙂 I may have been born in the wrong time or missing a life I used to have. Unsure.

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    1. Dean, Frank, and Sammy together were pure magic, with Joey Bishop, Peter Lawford, Angie Dickinson… I trust you’ve seen the original “Ocean’s 11,” with all of the above and more? If not, you have to. Great and very funny movie.

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      1. I have. I love old movies 🙂
        I like the new Ocean’s 11, too, but only the first, not the sequels.
        I love the Rat Pack, all of it/them — have since I was a wee one.

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  8. Here’s an old favorite of mine that is all about music and how it inspires:

    “What To Do” by Wally

    Or there’s “Songwriter” by The Good Rats

    I’d think these two kind of fit the criteria.

    Arlee Bird
    Tossing It Out

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  9. Eric Bogle wrote “And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda” he IS Australian by way of Scotland (he has a very strange accent!) and you should hear him perform it. Beats the tar out of any other.

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