R.W. Richard's Blog, page 4

Top Pop song year by year of the twentieth century

 Music is on my mind. I had a little time so I compiled the top pop song each year from 1901 to 2000. I used Playback.fm mostly as my source. IMO, for some reason, Rhapsody in Blue became the top pop song. It is so much more than that. To me it is not only the greatest 'song' of the twentieth century, it's the best piece of music ever written and performed. As you go thru this you may say why didn't my song take number one. Sometimes things were happening in the nation that pushed a otherwise good song over a great one like Respect by Aretha Franklin considered by many to be the greatest hit. What you see below is unfiltered.

What I see is the growth of the nation in these songs, many reflect the year in which they made number one.

1901: Stars & Stripes Forever, John Philip Sousa

1902: Tell Me Pretty Maiden, Jimmy Davis

1903: In the Good Old Summertime, Haydn Quartet

1904: Uncle Josh & the Insurance Company, Cal Stewart* Comedy

1905: The Preacher and the Bear, George Fairman

1906: Nobody, Bert Williams

1907: Vesti La Giubba, Enrico Caruso

1908: Take Me out to the Ball Game, Billy Murray

1909: Swing Low, Sweet Chariot, Fisk University Jubilee Quartet

1910: Let Me Call You Sweetheart, Peerless Quartet

1911: Some of These Days, Sophie Tucker

1912: That Haunting Melody, Al Jolson

1913: When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, Chauncy Olcott

1914: By the Beautiful Sea, Heidelberg Quintet

1915: Hello, Frisco! Olive Kline & Reinald Werrenrath

1916: Somewhere a Voice is Calling, John McCormack

1917: Over There,Nora Bayes

1918: Tiger Rag, Original Dixieland Jazz Band

1919: After You've Gone, Marion Harris

1920: Swanee, Al Jolson

1921: I Ain't Got Nobody, Marion Harris

1922: My Man, Fanny Brice

1923: Down Hearted Blues, Bessie Smith

1924: Rhapsody in Blue, George Gershwin* much more than a song

1925: Sweet Georgia Brown, Ben Bernie

1926: Bye Bye, Blackbird, Gene Austin

1927: Stardust, Hoagy Carmichael

1928: T For Texas (Blue Yodel No 1), Jimmie Rodgers

1929: Makin' Whoopee, Eddie Cantor

1930: Happy Days Are Here Again, Ben Selvin

1931: Minnie the Moocher Cab Calloway & his Cotton Club

1932: Night & Day, Fred Astaire & Leo Reisman

1933: Stormy Weather, Ethel Waters

1934: Moon Glow, Benny Goodman

1935: Cheek to Cheek, Fred Astaire

1936: Pennies From Heaven, Bing Crosby

1937: Sing, Sing, Sing (With A Swing), Benny Goodman

1938: Begin the Beguine, Artie Shaw

1939: Over the Rainbow, Judy Garland

1940: In the Mood, Glenn Miller

1941: Chattanooga Choo Choo, Glenn Miller

1942: White Christmas, Bing Crosby

1943: Paper Doll, The Mills Brothers

1944: Swinging On a Star, Bing Crosby

1945: Sentimental Journey Les Brown & Doris Day

1946: Prisoner of Love, Perry Como

1947: Near You, Francis Craig

1948: Buttons & Bows, Dinah Shore

1949: Riders in the Sky, Vaughn Monroe

1950: Mona Lisa, Nat King Cole

1951: Too Young, Nat King Cole

1952: You Belong to Me, Jo Stafford

1953: Vaya Con Dios, Les Paul & Mary Ford

1954: Mister Sandman, The Chordettes

1955: Rock Around the Clock, Bill Haley & his Comets

1956: Que sera sera, Doris Day

1957: Jailhouse Rock, Elvis Presley

1958: Tom Dooley, The Kingston Trio

1959: Mack the Knife, Bobby Darin

1960: Are You Lonesome Tonight?, Elvis Presley

1961: Let's Twist Again, Chubby Checker

1962: I Can't Stop Loving You, Ray Charles

1963: Devil in Disguise, Elvis Presley

1964: Oh, Pretty Woman, Roy Orbison

1965: (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction, The Rolling Stones

1966: Strangers in the Night, Frank Sinatra

1967: A Whiter Shade of Pale, Procol Harum

1968: Hey Jude, The Beatles

1969: Get Back, The Beatles

1970: Let It Be, The Beatles

1971: My Sweet Lord, George Harrison

1972: American Pie, Don McLean

1973: Angie, The Rolling Stones

1974: Kung Fu Fighting, Carl Douglas

1975: I Can Help, Billy Swan

1976: Dancing Queen, Abba

1977: Hotel California, Eagles

1978: Stayin' Alive, Bee Gees

1979: Heart of Glass, Blondie

1980: Another Brick in the Wall, Pink Floyd

1981: Bette Davis Eyes, Kim Carnes

1982: Eye of the Tiger, Survivor

1983: Flashdance What a Feeling, Irene Cara

1984: Careless Whisper, George Michael

1985: We Are the World, USA For Africa

1986: Take My Breath Away, Berlin

1987: I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me), Whitney Houston

1988: A Groovy Kind of Love, Phil Collins

1989: Like a Prayer, Madonna

1990: Nothing Compares 2 U, Sinead O'Connor

1991: (Everything I Do) I Do it For You, Bryan Adams

1992: I Will Always Love You, Whitney Houston

1993: I Can't Help Falling in Love With You, UB40

1994: The Sign, Ace of Base

1995: Gangsta's Paradise, Coolio

1996: Macarena, Los Del Rio

1997: Candle in the Wind '97, Elton John

1998: My Heart Will Go On, Celine Dion

1999: Baby One More Time, Britney Spears

2000: Music, Madonna

Writing eulogies

 Eulogy writing 101

At weddings, at funerals many stand up and repeat the Pablum of often said things about the couple or dearly departed. They do this because sharing unique things about the subject injects the speaker into the speech. The speaker often thinks speaking that way will look like an ego trip.

Nonsense.

The listener wants to know more about the couple, the departed. They want to enrich their memories and if you are the only person to do it--do it.

Here’s a shortened version of my eulogy for my, which I feared would not be well received but found out afterwards that people loved it.

Mom’s Eulogy:

 

INTRO (welcome, and names)

But first, so you know, for the last fifteen years mom from age 80 to 95 struggled with Alzheimer’s and she did it with grace. Not once did she get angry. Quite the reverse, she always smiled, handed out kisses. She was known for many phrases but the best one is: “All I know is that I love you.” That’s about all she knew during her struggle.

About five years ago at the Christmas Party put on by my sister, Chris, my sisters and I commiserated over mom’s disease. I blurted out, “I want my mommy back,” without realizing what I just said. Mimi then said, “you just said mommy.” Her eyebrows went up. I surprised myself. I hadn’t been drinking. I hadn’t been crying. I didn’t eat that many of Chris’s cookies. After tears did come to my eyes, I marveled over what I just said trying to understand. I thought about the complex psychology that goes into being human. I wondered if there was a little boy inside me that never left.

Since that time, I thought a lot about it and I began remembering things that led to trapping the boy inside a man. So what I’m about to share with you has never been spoken of before.

Basically, Mom and I were alone for my first five years and because Bill was a baby let’s make that seven years.

So what did mom do to make me who I am today?

Since it was just mom and I when dad went to work, she taught me many things, most of them spiritual, plus she threw in a copious amount of hugs, encouraging words, and later lunch bag notes. I had no pre-K, just mom.

First of all, and most important, she taught me to pray with her the rosary every day. Is it any wonder I became an altar boy or when finishing St. Joe’s College, toyed with becoming a priest? She even took me over to Saint Cecilia’s to join the choir. That didn’t go well, but I tried for her sake because to her I could sing on American Bandstand. I wish. Move over Little Richard for a littler Richard.

Most fun of all, her girlfriends would come over some days and they and mom took turns teaching me to jitterbug, waltz, and whatever I could do without falling down. They’d take my hand and twirl me around. But I fell more times than Chevy Chase. I wish I retained those lessons. Now I dance like Big Bird. As remedial learning, I usually snuck down the basement’s steps to watch the couples dance on Saturday night. My mom and dad, always in love, danced on and on. No wonder I’m an incurable romantic.

Thank you, mom.

I was getting an allowance that I don’t think dad knew about. Mom knew I was interested in the chess set sold for a dollar at the Rexall across from Saint Cecilia’s because I stopped buying nickel candies and I told her I thought the game was cool. Some how my five weeks of five nickels turned into twenty nickels in one day. I never questioned it. It was not a miracle, it was a miracle named mom.

Thank you, mom.

She always told us that we had a purpose, which was to love our neighbor and that all people are neighbors and to love God. Every day she would take me aside and talk about faith and love. I thought I was living with a nun but I knew she was my mom and she danced way too much to be a nun. Besides, there was this guy who came home every night and after a while a whole bunch of kids. No matter the number of kids, mom always showed love for each of us.

She also taught us that love is an action word. Just saying I love you means nothing if you can’t put energy into it.

Thank you, Mom.

She even had a ruler with the golden rule written across it. Which she playfully chased us around with when we did something naughty. But really, I was never naughty. Why would I be with super mom always near?

My mom, with one baby on her hip always said we had two choices, both of them hers.

I told her I was shy with girls and she taught me that everybody wants to be treated with kindness and that I should just talk to them and listen.

I’m listening, Mom.

Thank you so much for celebrating with us the greatest woman any of us had the blessed providence to call, mommy.

We miss you.

Thank you, Mom.

The Kiss

The Kiss

Perhaps the most intimate way of sharing and showing love. The Kiss shows affection, that you care. You could kiss your dog, friend, lover, even a tree. It’s all about recognizing that we are not alone and want to celebrate the beauty of life.

A romance novel without showing any given kiss is sorely lacking, IMO. Some writers become hyper aware of the altered state brought on by sex but forget that the kiss is the perfect glue that holds elements of all the emotions swirling around intimacy.

In a scene with a kiss, we must show not tell, because it is that important (especially in a romance novel). Kisses can be life changing.

Perhaps you have met in your life’s travels a person who harbors a secret crush. In greeting they seem unsure if they should go for your lips but you head for her/his cheek. There’s drama there that most people are unaware of. This is the stuff of story arcs and character development.

On a lighter note I have seen people kiss a bear bottle and isn’t there a candy called a kiss?

Drama as a tool in romance

 Why is the Bachelor in Paradise gaining quickly in popularity? It's all the drama. If people want to stay on the show somebody has to give him/her a rose. The problem is they spend so much time with that person to stay on the show that some develop feelings. I know, kind of backwards but it works. There have been many engagements and some marriages.

When writing romance there's nothing wrong with someone dating for the wrong reasons. It is a frequent plot device. Here, the reader wants someone or both to have a change of heart. In any case the reader reads on in the hope that the two dummies will finally realize they are meant for each other.

If you'd like to watch a bunch of dummies going crazy Bachelor In Paradise is for you.

The male point of view in romance novels.

I started this blog years ago, in my mind, to correct misinformation about the male POV.

In so many romance novels men were treated as Alpha beasts attracted to large breasts and more simple in their thoughts. Therefore, suggesting that they think less, certainly speak less (true on the average), and let their penis decide issues.

I displayed alternative ways of writing the male character. I suggested renaissance thinking as a possibility for a mindset, that a decent percentage of men preferred an Audrey Hepburn to a Marilyn Monroe.

And now I recommend men who support the ‘me too’ movement, racial equality, religious freedom, gender issues, and choices, etc. If you are stuck on alpha men, why not nuance them with these?

All humans have flaws, and all the better they show up in a novel as something that will change perhaps with the help of his or her opposite.

And as a suggestion, here's a quote from Writer's Digest: "Because a romance involves a man and a woman, each character participates in the development of the romance and the resolution of the conflicts." Write on.

Cultural appropriation

Wiki: Cultural appropriation is the adoption of an element or elements of one culture or identity by members of another culture or identity. This can be controversial when members of a dominant culture appropriate from minority cultures….

Did I appropriate, which sort of rhymes with propagate, my Filipina wife, lol. I remember some people telling me I shouldn’t mix tribes because that’s what the Bible teaches. Believe me, I was not impressed by that argument. It’s a false read, often used by the KKK.

As authors, do we have a responsibility to not write about other cultures than our own? Of course not. If so all fiction would be auto-biographical. I can’t tell you where that leaves the sci-fi people. Words would be banned because they’re all appropriated.

Seriously though—do write stories with sensitivity, but don’t buy into you were never a dog so how can you write using a dog’s point of view? My first book had a wolf POV and I loved every word I wrote. My first book also went back in time 100,000 so I guess I appropriated Neanderthals and peoples leaving Africa. No one complained.

They call America a melting pot for a reason.

Query letters

Queries are hard to write. The only way to know if you got it right is if an agent asks you to send a full manuscript. This is the email query I sent that made an agent ask for a full and who knows fi they'll like it.

Dear xxxxx,

We met at, or I know you from, or we share a common interest in fiction about multi-culturalism.

I often write about beautiful, smart heroines from marginalized communities. My story is like a contemporary version of The Queen's Gambit but more realistic—as a chess master I know if you want to win, drugs or alcohol will stop you. [This reference comes from The Queen's Gambit. If the agent doesn't get it, then to my way of thinking he/she isn't right for this project.]

My publisher The Wild Rose Press doesn’t do coming-of-age stories. The Chess Master, a 66,000-word contemporary is a novel set first in Camden NJ then NYC. A little black girl, Tayshia, from a rundown neighborhood, loses her daddy but keeps him in her heart primarily through memories of playing chess with him.

It is also a story about her two sisters, brother, Mom, the family’s friends, and an ex-spy who all travel the journey with her as she xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. The ex-spy must eliminate his nemesis xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx. Roadblocks confront them on the journey but it is her growth that is the crux of the story.

Sami Robinson, a woman of color, and author of Broken Toy has collaborated with me on the story. Sami is at: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxgmail.com.

The ms. has been endorsed and edited by Doctor Leroy Dubeck, former United States Chess Federation President, Cy Lakdawala, pre-eminent author of 50 chess books published through Everyman Chess and/or New in Chess, and Ann Robson, a gifted author who belongs to my critique group. I am an RWA member and have held board positions with RWASD (San Diego). Check in with my editor at The Wild Rose Press Judi Mobley at judi@thewildrosepress.com if you like. Leroy and Cy are renowned influencers in chess. I too have a strong chess following.

ABC’s The Bachelorette

Lately ABC seems to think that spicing up the show with late entries is the way to grow market share. I did my master’s thesis on this subject and made formulas to suggest a better approach. I know I can’t match the various full time specialists who tweak things.

But everybody I know who enjoys the Bachelor franchise says the same thing. They’re attracted to true love because true love is what everybody wants in their lives and they don't like the tricks. The number of tricks ABC employs should be inversely proportional to audience share.

I am the man who argues with himself. On the other hand, in a romance novel, there are always roadblocks, that come along and seem to spell disaster for the couple or about to be couple. The ‘couple,’ we all want to see together if the story is written properly. But are the tricks and trops the same thing. I think not. Because fiction is different than reality, right?. Fiction takes us to unlikely heights whereas most people live by their hearts and rather than count the bumps on their journey they recount the joy of loving someone.

This season had a guy in the final four who floored me with his irrationality. He walked off because Katie wouldn’t declare her love, no matter how many assurances she gave. Damn, he’s on a show in which he knows that the bachelorette must keep her feelings close to her vest out of respect for the other three men left.

So did ABC go wrong with its tricks? Actually you decide by turning on or tuning out. If you watch, it is likely you’ll see a train wreck rather than a love story. If you like train wrecks rent the movie The Fugitive. If you love love, well let’s hope for Katie’s sake that it comes together for her tomorrow night.

Stimulus, organism(s), response

One way and a very good way of writing is to always keep SOR in your thoughts and have it show up on the page.

It could be simple things. I’m currently in my third draft of The Chess Master. Here I copy a scene into Natural Reader (the free version is good enough) I listen and read along as it speaks and take notes. You not only catch missing periods, etc. but catch stilted sentences, missing reactions, or ways to enrich the story.

Not everything written need be reacted to by the other person on the receiving end of the remark or question. Sometimes it’s better to leave the obvious to the imagination of the reader. Especially at the end of a scene.

Stimulus: Something physical and/or mental is happening to your character.

Organism: The body and/or the mind reacts, which must be true to human nature and your character(s). If your character is not human, I always say, wow. That is hard, rewarding, and fun.

Response: Use body language to describe the response unless it is the POV character. The POV character can observe the body language, speculate on its meaning (or not), and also have some body language sprinkled in depending on how in depth you want the action of the moment to go. The none-POV character however can carry it further with extended reactions. Perhaps a fight ensues.

So I listen to my story and I note that the littlest girl in the family does not say anything while an older sister teases her. Okay that’s simple, but I forgot. So the mere sticking out of her tongue enriched the story.

The MacGuffin

The MacGuffin is a plot device. Wiki: “The MacGuffin(McGuffin) is an object, device, or event that is necessary to the plot and the motivation of the characters, but insignificant, unimportant, or irrelevant in itself.

Director and producer Alfred Hitchcock popularized the term MacGuffin and the technique with his 1935 film The 39 Steps, an early example of the concept. Hitchcock explained the term MacGuffin in a 1939 lecture at Columbia University in New York City:

It might be a Scottish name, taken from a story about two men on a train. One man says, 'What's that package up there in the baggage rack?' And the other answers, 'Oh, that's a MacGuffin'. The first one asks, 'What's a MacGuffin?' 'Well,' the other man says, 'it's an apparatus for trapping lions in the Scottish Highlands.' The first man says, 'But there are no lions in the Scottish Highlands,' and the other one answers, 'Well then, that's no MacGuffin!' So you see that a MacGuffin is actually nothing at all.

Bob: But it is often something. In Pyscho, it’s the money stolen from the bank by a supporting character. In the Maltese Falcon, it’s the bird, which happens to be fake. In a romance, it could be a never-sent love letter, a lost charm, a mythical pearl. It drives the plot. Often it is a good substitute for horrible things happening to the hero or heroine, IMO. Why, because some stories are primarily interior driven. Since we need some action to propel the story and characters forward and something visual other than their pretty faces etc., the McGuffin serves as a focal point for the readers as an important reason to keep reading. There is some contention over whether the audience cares about the fate of the McGuffin. Hitchcock says no. Lucas says yes. I say it depends on how your story is written and what you hope to achieve. I like a novel in which there is a “b” story surrounding the McGuffin. In The Maltese Falcon, the bird represents greed and how far men will compromise their morals. So the “b” story is the corruption of men.

As my grandson informed me, it is important not to confuse the McGuffin with the McMuffin.

It’s a matter of taste.