Maná - Oye Mi Amor

Music Appreciation

On March 10, 1999, Mexican rock band Maná, performed in Miami, Florida for MTV Unplugged. 

The pop rock group from Guadalajara, Mexico, have sold more than 25 million albums worldwide. 

They have won nine Billboard Latin Music Awards, three Grammys and two World Music Awards, to name a few.

I was first introduced to Maná from a friend in college we called Tibu, short for tiburon (Spanish for shark).  I remember watching him and another good friend of ours, Rocky, dance on the bed of Tibu's black Ram truck to Mana at South Padre Island.

Since then I became a fan of Maná and made several purchases of their albums.  For me, the best time to listen to Maná is during hot summer months; preferable at a beach sipping a cold beer or margarita. 

Source: Wikipedia

Beach tunes favorites

Below is a list of songs and music that I think should be part of your summer beach playlist. 

Feel free to send me your suggestions too.

Jake Shimabukuro - Peace Love Ukulele (Album)

The Surfaris - Wipe Out

Dick Dale - Misirlou

The Beach Boys - Surfer Girl

The Beach Boys - Surfin' USA

The Rivieras - California Sun

The Embers - I Love Beach Music

Jeff Buckley - Hallelujah

Jimmy Buffett - Come Monday

Jimmy Buffett - Margaritaville

Garth Brooks - Two Pina Coladas

The O'Kaysions - Girl Watcher

Bryan Hyland - Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini

The Catalinas - Summertime's Calling Me


The Beatles - In My Life

Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs - Stay

Ramones - Rockaway Beach

Kenny Chesney - When the Sun Goes Down

Ziggy Marley - Beach in Hawaii

Bob Marley - Could You Be Loved

Source: United Hemispheres, December 2010, http://www.nutsie.com/top100sradio/Top%20100%20Beach%20Music%20Songs/2638735, http://www.theboot.com/2011/06/24/beach-songs/, http://www.popculturemadness.com/Music/Summer.html

The Cure - Pictures of You

Music Appreciation

I first remember listening to Pictures of You during a morning bus ride to my high school.  Chris, a high school friend of mine, would bring his boombox and play The Cure's Mixed Up CD.  We started our morning drive to Mercedes from McAllen listening to all the songs on that CD. 

Perhaps one of the most memorable mornings was when Kristalee, wearing a short little black dress and dark stalkings, sat next to me on our way to school. I was terrified and didn't move.  I probably had many opportunities to say something.  Maybe I could have told her how much I liked her wavy hair.  Maybe I could have mentioned that she looked so much like Julia Roberts.   So many maybes.  Sadly, I didn't.   

Instead I wrote her a Valentine's note sharing my feelings.   I ignored her after that.  I didn't want to confront the questions or even her response.  Yes, pitiful. 

Eventually, one of the girls got tired of the CD.  Chris stopped the music and changed it to the local station.  We didn't hear The Cure on the bus ever again, but I did go out and spend my a $20 allowance to get the CD.

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Leo Fuchs

Photography Appreciation

Born in Vienna, Leo Fuchs moved to New York City with his family in 1939.  His first work was in Broadway nightclubs as a glamour photographer.  

Considered a "pioneer of celebrity photography," Leo Fuchs spent most of his time in Hollywood taking pictures of icons and sex symbols of the 1950s and 1960s. 

Paul Newman (1959)

Audrey Hepburn (1958)

Gregory Peck and Mary Badham (1961)

You can see more of his "never-before-seen" photos at the following link: http://www.gq.com/entertainment/celebrities/201011/leo-fuchs-photographs-hollywood-archives.

Sources: GQ, November 2010; http://leofuchs.com/; http://www.leofuchsarchives.com/

Gilda Radner's "Let's Talk Dirty to the Animals"

Acting Appreciation

Remember Baba Wawa the Saturday Night Live character that was a spoof of American broadcast journalist Barbara Walters?  That was one of many characters created by comedian Gilda Radner.

Born in Detroit, Michigan on June 28, 1946, Gilda Radner began her acting career along Eugene Levy and Martin Short in the film adaptation the musical Godspell. 

She then joined other comedians such as John Belushi, Chevy Chase and Bill Murray to be a part of perhaps one of SNL's best cast. 

 
After winning an Emmy Award in 1978 for her work on SNL, Gilda Radner starred in her Broadway Show, Gilda Radner - Live from New York.

Sources: Wikipedia

Iggy Pop - Candy

Music Appreciation (A Retrospect)

There was a girl in eighth and ninth grade whose nme was Candy, and I remember her becoming famous.  Not because of who she was or what she had become, but of the song that was in mainstream radio and video. 

I recall watching Kate Pierson and Iggy Pop in the Candy music video.  Honestly, I had developed a crush on Kate Pierson, and this video didn't suppress my attraction.

The Girls of Summer

Photography Appreciation

"Spruce Girls" by Vern C. Gorst