OldiesCountry

Do You Remember
picnics in the park
Do you remember
Dancing in the dark
Do you remember
Lying in the sand
All these special moments
We had in wonderland

If I could take these precious moments
Put them in a box
If I could feel these times once more
I’d turn back the clock
Wouldn’t it be wonderful
The way that things were then
I would like to turn back time
Live it all again

Do you remember
Stealing that first kiss
Do you remember
Falling in love like this
Time goes by so swiftly
Time goes by so fast
I want to have these good times
I want our love to last

[Spanish section]

Do you remember
the meaning of romance
Do you remember
when we took the chance
Wouldn’t it be wonderful
Not to think of sorrow
I want all my yesterdays
To be my bright tomorrows

If I could take these precious moments
Put them in a box
If I could feel these times once more
I’d turn back the clock
Wouldn’t it be wonderful
The way that things were then
I would like to turn back time
Live it all again

Times change, People change and Neil Sedaka remains one of the few consistencies in the world today. Yes, Sedaka is very much going strong -with a new album and live appearances- as he has been doing for over five decades..  While the music scene is vastly different today  Sedaka’s singing and playing i as good as ever.  ‘The Music of My Life,’ just released after over a year in the making, consists of original Sedaka material with an emphasis on looking back at his long, successful career.    ‘Music of my Life’ and is an eclectic mix of the many styles Sedaka drawn on in his storied career. The opener, ‘Do You Remember?’ has already become a hit in England  -yes, that’s right – make it five, no , that’s SIX DECADES of hits for Sedaka!. Anyway, Do You Remember is an infectious, Salsa-styled number that harkens back to the ‘good d old days.’ Unlike many vintage artists who will pass off the changing times as ‘Our parents said the same thing about our music and times’.  Sedaka seems more adamant. Listen to the lyrics closely – and not in just the opening song but many of them- and you will see that he is not  afraid to speak his mind. In other words, much of life today sucks (if you will)-  most of the  music, movies and TV.  Good for you Neil for telling it like it is. . If only more people would stand up and reject the status quo. Thankfully, we have Neil and scarily few other true ‘throwbacks’  still staying true to the good stuff.

There’s a little bit of everything on this  new CD, including a fine doo-wop effort and ‘You,’ a classic Sedaka ballad brought back from a few years ago. Though some of the old innocense may be gone from this CD, its still got its share of ‘Happy Days’ ; I like the patented Sedaka storybook lyrics like ‘wonderland’ included on ‘Do You Remember.’This is one of Sedaka’s strongest albums ever, we’ll let you discover the rest of it…. Go to this Amazon link for a nice price and ENJOY! Also, you can keep in touch with Sedaka and his busy schedule – TV appearances like Huckabee , below — and regular touring at: NeilSedaka.com  or listen here just for the melody of 01 Do You Remember but buy the entire CD !

Here is the front page of a music magazine published almost 20 year  ago, deriding the Rock Hall of Fame for overlooking key talents (clockwise, from top right GENE PITNEY, NEIL SEDAKA, DEL SHANNON, CONNIE FRANCIS, THE SHIRELLES and BRENDA LEE.  Since that time,  Pitney , Shannon, the Shirelles and Brenda Lee have finally been inducted, but , amazingly, Neil Sedaka – who had two separate careers, in the 60s and 70s – and Connie Francis , who is the second if not best -selling female singer of all time- are still left out of the Hall, along with many notable names like Neil Diamond,  Chubby Checker Paul Anka, Jan and Dean, Nary Wells, The Ventures, Lesllie Gore and most of the attached list (at left) and others you could probably think of…  It’s always been an issue as to ‘What is rock and roll? ‘, but if they’re  now letting in rap artists and heavy metal,blues and country artists its high time they considered the pop-meisters. Afterall,  pop was the rock and roll in the 50s and 60s as was much of country music.  Many no longer take the Hall seriously once learning that it is run by the head of ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine, a publication that has never really recognized any music prior to 1968, it’s inception, with rare exception.  Early RS publications , for example , idsmissed Roy Oribson as a lightweight who hid behind dark clothes and glasses – that is, until Orbison returned to fame in the 80s, playing with some of Rolling Stone’s faves like Elvis Costello and Bob Dylan.  Unlike some of the sports hall of fames, which put some actual ‘science’ to the test in selected members, the Hall is largely a popularity contest of music writers and publishers, largely of younger age.   Prior to being inducted into the hall, the late great Gene Pitney once suggested they not keep nominating him every year but give his slot to a younger artist more likely to get in.  Same for Del Shannon, who some say was very depressed after being overlooked many times.  Since then, the Hall has become a joke, except to those who may have been inducted or prefer newer music to older.