On returning from a week in Norfolk, one track stands out as the song we'll remember this holiday by. It's been the most requested tune from Sam this week, and it marks the first time that Sam has actually discovered a song on his own and asked me to put it on a compilation.
5.1 Elton John - I'm Still Standing
How he discovered I'm Still Standing remains something of a mystery. He came home from nursery one day singing it and when I asked him how he knew it, he said a) one of his friends had been singing it and b) it was on TV. I'd convinced myself the track must have been used for a kid's TV show, but I can't find any reference to that on the internet. The song was featured in the animated movie Sing, which Sam saw with his mum about a year ago, but he's never mentioned it until now. Perhaps one of his friends has the film on DVD and (as kids are wont to do) has watched it over and over until he's memorised the whole thing. I suspect I'll never know, but I reckon there are worse tracks to have as your very first request.
Others will, of course, disagree. I'm Still Standing was recorded in 1982 and I'm sure there are those who see it as the moment Elton switched from being a credible songwriter to a glory-hound pop sensation. The video certainly helps that impression. Then again, I've seen others claim that happened back in 1976 with Don't Go Breaking My Heart, while there are also those with the opinion that he never had it in the first place, so there was nothing to lose.
Sam doesn't know any of that. He doesn't know or care who Elton John is (though he liked the video) and isn't remotely bothered about anybody else's opinion of the man or his music. Don't you think that's a wonderful way to be? To just like a song and be oblivious to all the extraneous noise that goes along with it? If only we could all be like that...
Yes, to just like a song and be oblivious to all the extraneous noise that goes along with it, yes, yes!
ReplyDeleteI recall saving the wrappers from something until I had enough for a free 7" single ... but not just any single, only one from a (pretty short) list that I had to send off to claim. This was the best of the bunch, so I sent off for it. And still have it, actually.
I think when I started my blog, even I was a tad oblivious to "all the extraneous noise", so just wrote about what I liked - Very freeing. Two and a half years on, I am now far more aware of this stupid extraneous noise, so not as freeing at all. A great shame really. Still include all sorts over at my place but conscious of the fact the title will appear on your sidebars which can be a bit embarrassing for me, and perhaps for you guys? Don't know but I think Sam has the right attitude anyway.
ReplyDeleteI thought you were on your hols last week but still managed daily blogging this year! Well done. Hope you enjoyed Partridge country.
You've been away for a week in Norfolk and yet you kept the blog going seamlessly, I'm impressed!
ReplyDeleteYes so true about just liking a song and being oblivious to all the extraneous noise that goes along with it. I think we all start off like that, then it all changes - but it does eventually return to that state once more. We then just need to learn to drop the term 'guilty pleasure'...
I used up my entire backlog though, so I'm flying by the seat of my pants again now.
DeletePlus I'm seriously behind in catching up with what you guys have been writing about.
Was going to comment, then noticed C's second paragraph which said it all. Couldn't agree more.
ReplyDeleteYou've been over in my neck of the woods? Whereabouts were you?