Song Lyric Sunday — Jay & the Americans — “This Magic Moment”

My rational mind knows that this week, as every week, Jim Adams chose multiple Song Lyric Sunday theme words: haunted / magic / mystery / supernatural / trick. The only word that registered in my other brain was “magic.” I very briefly thought of remaining true to my Cars and featuring their 1984 hit “Magic,” but I just couldn’t. For me, the only only only song HAS to be “This Magic Moment,” written by lyricist Doc Pomus and pianist Mort Shuman. The song was first recorded in 1960 by the Drifters, sung by the inimitable Ben E. King and peaking at #16 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. Of course, I’m including a Drifters video for history’s sake (and for Ben E. King), but their version isn’t MY version. Neither, for that matter, is Lou Reed’s 1995 effort (video also included below for shits ‘n’ giggles).

As far as I’m concerned, “This Magic Moment” really belongs to Jay & the Americans. Whenever I hear their first guitar chords, I am transported back to one magical night early in 1969, when my then-boyfriend gave me his high school ring as “This Magic Moment” played on the car radio. Those blissful going-steady moments ended far too soon when my father grounded me until my 17th birthday, nine months away. Jay Black and the Americans, on the other hand, had many more magic moments that year, with their version of this sweet song peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was their third, and last, top ten hit.

 

“This Magic Moment”

This magic moment
So different and so new
Was like any other
Until I kissed you

And then it happened
It took me by surprise
I knew that you felt it too
By the look in your eyes

Sweeter than wine (sweeter than wine)
Softer than a summer night (softer than a summer night)
Everything I want, I have (everything, everything)
Whenever I hold you tight

This magic moment (this magic moment)
While your lips are close to mine
Will last forever
Forever till the end of time

(this magic moment)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
(this magic moment)
Oh-oh-oh-oh

Sweeter than wine (sweeter than wine)
Softer than a summer night (softer than a summer night)
Everything I want, I have (everything, everything)
Whenever I hold you tight

This magic moment (this magic moment)
While your lips are close to mine
Will last forever (this magic moment)
Forever till the end of time (magic)

Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh (magic)
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh (magic)
Oh-oh-oh-oh (moment)

Oh-oh-oh-oh (magic)
Oh-oh-oh-oh (magic)
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh (magic)
Oh-oh-oh-oh (moment)

Magic, oh-oh-oh
Magic, oh-oh-oh
Magic, oh-oh-oh (moment)

 

 

Song Lyric Sunday 2

Song Lyric Sunday – Bruce Dickinson – “Tears of the Dragon”

Jim Adams’ theme this week is Chinese Zodiac Animals.  As he points out, there are 12 zodiac animals, each associated with a year in 12-year cycles. Simple? Not exactly.  Each year’s zodiac animal is paired with one of five elements: water, wood, fire, earth, or metal. All five elements cycle through each zodiac animal, creating a 60-year element cycle. For example, 2019 is a Year of the Pig and is associated with the earth element. Twelve years from now, 2031 will also be a Pig year but will be associated with the metal element.  Since I was born in a Water Dragon year, I looked for songs featuring both concepts.

Bruce Dickinson’s “Tears of the Dragon” fit the bill. Struck by the power and raw emotion of the song’s lyrics, I had no idea Dickinson is a Renaissance man whose primary gig is lead singer of the heavy metal band Iron Maiden. “Tears of the Dragon,” the first single from his second solo album, 1994’s “Balls to Picasso,” is not what I would consider heavy metal. Watch the official “plugged in” version, then compare it with an acoustic performance, and judge for yourself.  (Lyrics are included in the description of the official video, as well as here.)

 

 

 

Song Lyric Sunday — “The Old Man”

Today is Father’s Day here in the U.S., and Jim Adams has chosen a fitting theme for this week’s Song Lyric Sunday: Dad/Father/Barbeque. My contribution is one of my late husband’s favorite songs, “The Old Man,” written by Irish composer Phil Coulter.

The first time we heard “The Old Man” was when John McDermott sang it during an Irish Tenors PBS performance. That performance touched a deep chord within my husband, whose father had passed away when Jerry was just 13. We saw McDermott perform the song live as a solo artist and saw Celtic Thunder’s George Donaldson perform it live and on TV many times. We had several CD’s that included “The Old Man,” and I often came home from work to find Jerry playing one. And no matter how many times Jerry heard the song, it reached him as if it were the first.

You can watch a video of Phil Coulter, himself, performing the song here and George Donaldson (with Coulter conducting the orchestra) here . As far as Jerry was concerned, however, no one could surpass John McDermott’s version. Here’s his Irish Tenors performance. (Lyrics are in the video’s commentary.)

 

Song Lyric Sunday – Bruce Springsteen “Fire” and “I’m On Fire”

This week’s Song Lyric Sunday theme, Desire/Lust/Romance/Passion will, as Jim Adam says, “produce a lot of smoking hot music.”  Can’t argue with that! Despite having featured Bruce Springsteen just last week, I’m going with him again because he wrote two of the smoking-est, sexiest, songs ever: “Fire” and “I’m On Fire.” Both of them hit the theme on all fours. And I’m not even going to waste anyone’s time hemming and hawing about how difficult it is to choose just one.

Although Springsteen wrote “Fire” in 1977, he didn’t record and release it until ten years later. By that time, the Pointer Sisters‘ 1979 recording hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, making it their first gold single. “I’m On Fire” was Springsteen’s fourth of seven Top Ten hit singles off his hugely successful “Born In The USA” album, peaking at #6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The accompanying music video received the 1985 MTV Music Video Award for Best Male Video.  Enjoy!

 

I’m On Fire

Hey little girl is your daddy home
Did he go away and leave you all alone
I got a bad desire
I’m on fire

Tell me now baby is he good to you
Can he do to you the things that I do
I can take you higher
I’m on fire

Sometimes it’s like someone took a knife baby
Edgy and dull and cut a six-inch valley
Through the middle of my soul

At night I wake up with the sheets soaking wet
And a freight train running through the
Middle of my head
Only you can cool my desire
I’m on fire

 

“Fire“

I’m driving in my car
I turn on the radio
I’m pulling you close
You just say no
You say you don’t like it
But girl I know you’re a liar
‘Cause when we kiss
Ooooh, Fire

Late at night
I’m takin’ you home
I say I wanna stay
You say you wanna be alone
You say you don’t love me
Girl you can’t hide your desire
‘Cause when we kiss
Oh, Fire
Fire

You had a hold on me
Right from the start
A grip so tight
I couldn’t tear it apart
My nerves all jumpin’
Actin’ like a fool
Well your kisses they burn
But your heart stays cool

Romeo and Juliet
Samson and Delilah
Baby you can bet
Their love they didn’t deny
Your words say split
But your words they lie
‘Cause when we kiss
Mmmmmm, Fire
Fire

Burnin in my soul
It’s outta control