ONE MORE TIME

Last year we celebrated the 50th anniversary of some one-hit wonders. Our Top Ten appeared on the SERENDIPITY website. We thought we would celebrate One More Time.

One Hit Wonders, 1973 Edition, by Rich Paschall

It is time for another fiftieth-anniversary party and to be honest, there are not a lot of musical acts on the bill. When I looked at the list of 1973 one-hit wonders I wondered where they all were. Very few jumped off the page and asked to be invited. In fact, I had to play a lot of them just to try and remember how they went. If playing them did not bring back any memories, then we had to send them across the pond for King Charles’s coronation party. He might remember some of them. He is certainly old enough.

One is by a TV star. Another is from the soundtrack of a well-known movie. Of course, there is a novelty song. Many one-hit wonders are after all unique in some way, and many of these are too.

Photo: Garry Armstrong

We have to start with an honorable mention for “Monster Mash.” This was a one-hit wonder for the third time. It originally hit the charts in 1962. Then it was there again in 1970. In 1973 it finished at number 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the year.  It was not done. It hit the charts again in 2021 but did not finish in the top 100 for the year. That is really making the most of one novelty song.

When the Committee on One Hit Wonders finally convened, we did not stay in session long. It was a struggle to come up with a Top Ten, but after a few brownies and chocolate chip cookies, we settled on the following and went out for coffee:

10. Dead Skunk, Loudon Wainwright III. Loudon has been around a long time and is still performing. This was the only song that ever charted for an artist known for comedy songs. He is the father of Rufus Wainwright.
09. Dueling Banjos, Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell. If you saw the 1972 film Deliverance, you know this song. Weissberg and Mandell arranged and played the song on the soundtrack. They are not the actors you see in the film. The song was based on “Feudin’ Banjos” written in 1954. Click on the title for the Weissberg and Mandell version. For the fun of it, let’s go with these two well-known banjo players:

08. Armed and Extremely Dangerous, First Choice. Yes, disco is trying to sneak its way in the door. This was the beat that would take over the airwaves in the next few years.
07. Brother Louie, Stories. This song hit number 1 on the US charts. It was a cover of a song by Hot Chocolate released earlier in the year.
06. Walk on the Wild Side, Lou Reed. We know what you are thinking. Prolific recording artist Lou Reed must have had other hits. This is the only one to hit the Top 40.

05. The Night The Lights Went Out in Georgia, Vicki Lawrence. A star on the Carol Brunett show, Lawrence went on to star on the spin-off Mama’s Family. Click the title for the radio version or see this 1995 performance below:

04. Hocus Pocus, Focus. This hard rock song by a Dutch rock group hit the charts in 1973 but they could not sustain the success with their odd style. Some of this music was used in a 2020 Nike ad campaign. Click the title for the single or watch this Midnight Special performance:

03. Right Place WrongTime, Dr. John. He had already been around a while when Dr. John (Malcolm John Rebennack Jr.) hit the charts with this funky New Orleans-infused R&B entry. He was still bringing it in 2012 with the following performance or you can click the title for the single version.

02. My Maria, BW Stevenson. The song was written by Daniel Moore, but Stevenson finished it with an additional verse. It hit the Top Ten. Brooks & Dunn had a number 1 hit with it in 1996 and won a Grammy for their performance.

01. Wildflower, Skylark. This was the only song to chart in the US for the short-lived Canadian group. David Foster on the piano would ultimately become a record producer and music executive.

Click on any song title to go to YouTube to hear the song.

See also: “Yesterday Once More,” My Top 20, 1973 Edition, rjptalk, April 28, 2024.
“Those Were The Days,” One Hit Wonders, 1972 Edition, rjptalk, November 26, 2023.

YESTERDAY ONCE MORE

Last year we celebrated the 50th anniversary of some classic rock tunes. In case you missed it, the following playlist appeared on the SERENDIPITY website.

1973 Edition, by Rich Paschall

It is time for another 50-year music reunion and we are going to “Stir It Up.” You won’t have to hop the “Midnight Train to Georgia.” Just get on the “Love Train” to the SERENDIPITY Rock and Roll dance hall, museum, and General Store. As always, it’s “The Long Train Runnin’.” If you are asking “Will It Go Round in Circles?” don’t worry. It will stop right at the front entrance so just “Keep On Truckin,” but avoid the “Dead Skunk” in the middle of the road.

The Long Train Runnin’?   (Photo: Owen Kraus)

“Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown” will be the security at the door. “Brother Louie” will be there along with “That Lady.” “My Maria” is bringing “The Cisco Kid.” “Me and Mrs. Jones” will be at the concession stand and you can count on “Little Willy” to be at the coat check. Marilyn, “Daniel” and “Gypsy Man” are the ushers. Garry will be “Reelin In The Years” as our friendly Master of Ceremonies.

There will be no “Hocus Pocus” this year as we Focus on the hits. “Do You Wanna Dance?” OK, maybe “Your Mamma Don’t Dance” but you can “Get Down” and do the “Crocodile Rock.” We understand even “Frankenstein” will make an appearance. Of course, he will be doing the “Monster Mash.” Those with “The Rockin Pneumonia and the Boogie Woodie Flu” will be required to wear a mask to today’s event.

Now it is time for my personal Top 20 from 1973. I know I am going to make “The Cover Of The Rolling Stone” with this list.

20. Do You Wanna Dance, Bette Midler. The Divine Miss M scored twice in ’73. Her other hit was “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.”
19. Killing Me Softly with His Song, Roberta Flack. The song was a cover of a 1972 version by Lori Lieberman that did not chart. Oddly enough, they are almost identical.
18. Rocky Mountain High, John Denver. No one loved a move to Colorado more than singer-songwriter John Denver. This became an official state song.
17. Daniel, Elton John. The song was written by John and Bernie Taupin. It received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Vocal Performance –  Male.
16. Midnight Train to Georgia, Gladys Knight & the Pips. It was written as the Midnight Plane to Houston. Cissy Houston recorded it as Midnite Train to Georgia, which was released in 1973. Gladys Knight & the Pips covered it later in the year.

“Every sha-la-la-la
Every whoa-ooh-whoa
Still shines.” – The Carpenters

“Smoke on the water, A fire in the sky”

15. Smoke on the Water, Deep Purple. The lyrics of the international hit were based on a true event of the fire at Montreux Casino. The band saw the smoke on Lake Geneva, Switzerland.
14. Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown, Jim Croce. It was the biggest hit of Croce’s lifetime. He had other posthumous hits. He was only 30 when he died in a plane crash.
13. Your Mama Don’t Dance, Loggins and Messina. Written by Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina, this tune is said to be about the generation gap.
12. Superfly, Curtis Mayfield. The song was written by Mayfield for the soundtrack of a movie by the same name.
11. Love Train, The O’Jays. “People all over the world, Join hands, Start a love train, love train.” It was an era when we thought our music could change the world.

“Every shing-a-ling-a-ling
That they’re startin’ to sing
So fine.”  – Yesterday Once More, The Carpenters, 1973.

10. We’re An American Band, Grand Funk Railroad. This was written and sung by the band’s drummer. The tune was autobiographical in nature. It was the band’s first number 1 hit.
09. Stuck In The Middle With You, Stealers Wheel. The song was written by Gerry Rafferty and Joe Egan with Rafferty singing lead. A few years later Rafferty would have a solo hit with “Baker Street.”
08. Reelin’ in the Years, Steely Dan. Written by the lead singer Donald Fagen and guitarist Walter Becker. It was the second single released from the debut album.
07. Ramblin’ Man, The Allman Brothers Band. Songwriter and a founding member of The Allman Brothers Band, Dickey Betts sang the lead vocals for the country rock hit.
06. You Are the Sunshine of My Life, Stevie Wonder. Stevie wrote and produced the song. That’s him on lead vocals, background vocals, piano, and drums.

Chicago at Park West, Chicago

05. Feelin’ Stronger Every Day, Chicago. Written by James Pankow and Peter Cetera, it is said to be about Cetera’s marriage falling apart. He was beginning to feel stronger every day. Cetera sang lead.

04. Diamond Girl, Seals & Crofts. Singers-songwriters Jim Seals and Dash Crofts had a hit the previous year with Summer Breeze.

03. Let’s Get It On, Marvin Gaye. Singer, songwriter, and producer Marvin Gaye turned up the funk for this one. This made him somewhat of a sex symbol and some songs that followed added to that legacy. You can find some YouTube videos of this song where Marvin was playing to the crowd and working up a sweat.

02. You’re So Vain, Carly Simon. The debate rages on. Just who was singer-songwriter Carly talking about in the lyrics of this song? It seems she may have been talking about three different men.

01. Crocodile Rock, Elton John. I could not hear this one enough at the time it came out. Click the title for the radio version or sing along with Elton on the concert version below:

To hear any of the top ten, click on the song title. To hear all of them, click on our 1973 Golden Oldies playlist HERE.

HEY BABY, THEY’RE PLAYING OUR SONG

Last year on the SERENDIPITY website, I recalled some of my favorite songs. In case you missed it, here they are again. What are yours?

Which Ones Hold Your Memories? by Rich Paschall

A lot of people have a song or two that are special. It might be their prom song. It could be the theme song from another high school or college dance. It might be the first dance from their wedding. It just might be the song that was playing when they met, or when they first realized they were in love.

That special song could be remembered from a rock concert or play. It may be the one that was on the radio when you were off on a road trip. You know the one! Everyone sang along at the top of their lungs. When you meet now and hear that song, everyone sings it again, just like 20, 30, or even 40 years ago.

Here is my top ten list. They all hold special memories, but if I was to write this tomorrow, the order might change completely. Except number one would stay the same. That’s for sure. First I have some honorable mentions from recent years.

David Archuleta, Postcards in the Sky tour

I have seen Maroon 5 in concert several times, and I really like Sunday Morning for the memory it evokes. I also love David Archuleta’s Touch My Hand for the thoughts it gives of being on stage but singing to just one person. Hunter Hayes touches a chord with “Invisible.” I will add One Republic’s Apologize, as in “it’s too late to apologize.” Nanon Korapt asked “Just Friend?” in the Bad Buddy series.

Hunter Hayes, Live at Sears Centre, Illinois

10.  Ferry Cross the Mersey, Gerry and the Pacemakers. This 1965 hit seemed to play constantly on a road trip to Galena, Illinois. You had to love Top 40 radio in those days. A video of a 1965 performance that was posted in 2008 has over 7 million views.

9.  Sister Golden Hair, America. This 1975 number-one hit was a favorite of Chicago radio personality Larry Lujack. I heard it often on my America’s Greatest Hits cassette tape. Click on the title for a PBS Soundstage performance Live in Chicago.

8.  Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? Chicago.  Recorded for the band’s first album, Chicago Transit Authority, 1969, it was released as a single the following year. Click on the title for a PBS Soundstage performance live from Chicago, of course.

Chicago, the band

7.  Save The Last Dance For Me, The Drifters. The 1960 hit came back around several times and by several artists. I particularly recall its use in the final episode of Season One of Queer As Folk.

6.  Good Vibrations, The Beach Boys. I could have picked several Beach Boys Songs for this spot, especially Heroes and Villains. They recall a particular era for me. Even a few years ago, Brian Wilson and his band were still performing it.

5.  Color My World, Chicago. Again off the “CTA” album. It was a popular theme for dances, proms, and weddings. The late Terry Kath did lead vocals on the hit song. These days original member and trumpet player Lee Loughnane sings it. Below is founding member Robert Lamm on vocals. There is nothing like Chicago playing for the hometown crowd.

4.  Horse With No Name, America. It is a favorite of my closest friend and it became our road trip song. This 1972 hit was written and sung by band member Dewey Bunnell. This performance is another from the excellent PBS Soundstage series. Most of the Soundstage concerts were shot at WTTW studios in Chicago near the campus of Northeastern Illinois University.

3.  That’s Life, Frank Sinatra, 1966. A friend who ran karaoke often asked me to sing it. If she had no one to start off her show, she would just announce that I would be starting and play this, even if I was not going to sing anything. I ended up singing it a lot:

2.  Cherish, The Association. A friend asked me to write a lyric for his sister’s wedding song. Someone else asked me after the wedding how I thought to rhyme cherish with perish (as in, “their love will never perish”).  Listen and discover:

1. Beginnings, Chicago. I saw them in concert at DePaul University when the first album was hot and the hits were being released one after another. This was the theme of many dances and certainly many weddings and proms. I can not adequately explain the memories that go with this song. From my seat on Chicago’s lakefront:

Add your favorites in the comments below.  Maybe we will sing along with you. To see any of the music videos for the songs above, just click on the song title.

WRITING AND INSPIRATION

Are you thinking about the subject of your next article? My thoughts on writing were posted on SERENDIPITY last year at this time.

Stream Your Consciousness, by Rich Paschall

Are you at a loss for what to write next? Are you searching for a suitable topic? Are you sitting in front of a blank screen? Do you have writer’s block? Do not worry! The staff at the SERENDIPITY Writing School and Pancake Emporium are here to help. There will be no 30 minutes of reading only to find that we are trying to sell you some overpriced books on the subject. There will be no video sales for a Master’s class by people who have not mastered the class. We have real ideas for your next masterpiece in writing.

When I first came to Serendipity more years ago than I can remember (unless I look it up), I offered a Christmas-themed short story Over the years I have made some minor edits. It is amazing how you can spot little errors or things that could have been worded better when you re-read something a year or two later. If you believe the story is really good, then it may deserve a second chance or even more. Longtime readers may enjoy it again if you don’t run it too often, and newer readers will get the chance to enjoy it for the first time. “A Christmas Surprise,” ran three years in a row before it sat on the shelf for six years. Then we ran it again. Maybe it will run again someday. It is still a favorite of mine.

Favorite songs of years past can be a fun read, especially for those who remember the year in question. I started writing my favorite songs from 50 years earlier a few years ago and have continued each year. It is fun to bring up these old memories and look up a few facts about each. If someone was not alive for the year you are writing about, they may enjoy learning something about it. Think of it as a history lesson with music.

Beware Top Ten or Top Twenty lists. Oh yes, they are a lot of fun to put together, but you may fall down the insidious YouTube black hole. While finding suitable music videos for a top ten list of any theme, you may find yourself watching all sorts of unrelated videos. The cruel algorithms on YouTube will start suggesting other videos of a similar nature and all of a sudden you have spent a half hour watching everything other than what you are looking for. Stay focused or your 650-word article with five music video links will take you three days to write. This can also be true for lists of television shows or movies. I always like to look for some scenes or trailers and voila, another detour! If you are lucky, the detour will give you some new ideas.

My Colombian roommate and general pain in my…I mean friend, has been the inspiration for several articles over the years. Some of his characteristics and actions have been hidden in some short story characters. Some articles were suggested by him, while others have been all about him. Recently, there was The Christmas Tree Dilemma, which only needed a little embellishment to be complete. You don’t have a funny mate?

Believe it or not, I did not think to write about my travels until Marilyn suggested it to me a few years ago. I usually research in advance, take pictures while traveling, and pick up informational brochures along the way. It was an obvious theme. Now a trip can result in more than one article. A recent trip to the Philippines meant an article about traveling Halfway Around The World and the concert we saw there, Ohm-Nanon Fan Meeting in Manila.

Ohm Pawat (L) and Nanon Korapat, a writing prompt?

Book, movie, and television reviews can give you a long list of ideas. I have commented on television shows from the US and other countries. While British shows may be of interest to our American readers, I never thought that foreign language shows would be of interest until I wrote about movies In Another Language.

Last year I wrote about the 12-part Thai mini-series and international hit, Bad Buddy. This was a case of getting a YouTube prompt for short scenes and the trailer so often that I finally went down the YouTube rabbit hole. It caught my interest, as so many of those things do, and I started watching. I binge-watched until I caught up to it at episode 11 and had to deal with the cliffhanger for an entire week. I wrote about that too (So How Does It End?). I would not have thought the several Bad Buddy articles would have done too well, but the #BBS (Bad Buddy series) fans shared the links all around and they became my most-read items last year. Don’t underestimate the value of some social media fans and fanatics.

This past week I decided to add a review of another Thai mini-series, Dirty Laundy, starring one of the lead actors from Bad Buddy. I would not pass along the reviews of foreign series if I had not enjoyed them myself. Readers certainly would not be interested in that. Panning American or British titles is one thing, there would be no interest in bad foreign language entertainment, and I have seen enough of that.

Sorry to tell you, but…

My most-read story so far was the harrowing true story of a boy who was almost beaten to death by his father for being gay. I saw the boy (now an adult) tell it on a YouTube video. I wrote the story, tracked down the subject, and asked for his comments and OK to run it. The video is now recommended for viewing by the “It Gets Better” organization.

Sometimes looking out the back window can be an inspiration to write about the birds who are Bob, Bob, Bobin’ Along. You may notice that Marilyn uncovers a lot of action just outside.

Of course, if all else fails, you can write about not knowing what to write about. It works for me.

Note: Hit any of the blue links above to go to that article.

THE MEANING OF LIFE

Last year at this time, as we often do, we contemplated the meaning of life. The results were published in the scholarly journal, SERENDIPITY. Here they are again for your perusal and edification.

And Other Important Items, by Rich Paschall 

You may be asking your AI-infused search engine, “What is the meaning of life?”  It will probably tell you that the answer is too profound to be known and understood.

Ha! We here at the Serendipity’s Think Tank and Boulangerie have contemplated this and other critical universal questions. There is nothing artificial about our intelligence. We offer you honest answers to the meaning of life as well as, “What are black holes?” “Why does WordPress keep tweaking its editors?” “What is the purpose of deep dish pizza?” and “Why does the rain in Spain stay mainly on the plain?” There are no Eastern philosophers here — or Western ones for that matter — only the sharpest minds in this dull world.

Even dogs are searching for the meaning of life and treats. Mostly treats.

While Bing, Nat, Burl, or any of your other friends are Searching For You, we will provide you with the wisdom of the ages. There are a lot of ages around here so you definitely can not go wrong. Let us first consider other popular theories.

“Only an artist can divine the meaning of life.” 

— Friederich Schlegel

Shortly after offering this opinion, we fired Friederich. We found his material to be neither rational nor scientific. We considered burning it with the Torch of Science but we needed the light in case of a power outage. By the way, he was a lousy artist anyway.

Thinking about the Meaning of Life.

“Cognizance of order, coherence and purpose in one’s existence, the pursuit and attainment of worthwhile goals, and an accompanying sense of fulfillment”

— Gary Reker and Paul Wong

Clearly, there was too much thinking in their tanks. Half of our team did not understand what they were saying and the other half went to refill their tankards. They were not even adequate in the Boulangerie. We fired them too.

A good crew of lads came to us and joined the Think Tank immediately.  We found them to be of superior intellect and put them to work on the all-important question. They went straight to work and while they were not as fast as any of your Christmas friends with the strange names, they were efficient and trustworthy. Here is their answer:

“Well, it’s nothing very special. Uh, try to be nice to people, avoid eating fat, read a good book every now and then, get some walking in, and try to live together in peace and harmony with people of all creeds and nations.”

— Monty Python

Of course, this was not specific enough for the scientists in the room. They found that the parameters were too vague and they could not adequately measure peace, good, and brotherhood. So we tried a little Crystal Blue Persuasion. Jeremy Bentham chimed in with the “happiness principle.” We thought “being” was being forgotten and in favor of measuring external value.

“So don’t you give up now, ooh-ooh, It’s so easy to find, Just look to your soul (look to your soul), And open your mind.” 

— Tommy James

In the corner, Immanuel was mumbling something about moral worth but I Kant understand him so we will pass on that theory. Adam Smith found value in labor and property so the conservative thinkers loved him. Zeno (obviously a nickname) was trying to teach harmony with the universe. It is hard to teach harmony when you don’t even know the melody, so let’s move on, shall we?

“Everyone dies alone. But if you mean something to someone, if you help someone, or love someone. If even a single person remembers you then maybe you never really die at all.”

— The Machine

People of a certain age and hitchhikers across the galaxy know the meaning of life so there is no need to Google it or search any longer. We will give it to you. We have given it deep thought. If you had a supercomputer you might get it, but Douglas has rushed over from the Think Tank with it and here it is.

42

In Chicago, however, the meaning is 23. Ponder that for a while.

See Also: “Searching For You,” A New Search Engine
rjptalk, February 25, 2024.
“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy,” by Douglas Adams

DIRTY LAUNDRY

Last year at this time we reviewed the mini-series Dirty Laundry, a part of the Midnight Series. You can still find it on YouTube. I promise it will make you smile. The following originally appeared on SERENDIPITY.

A Midnight Series review, by Rich Paschall

Yes, I have been watching another Thai mini-series, and this time it is just for laughs. The Midnight Series is three separate mini-series, Dirty Laundry, Midnight Motel, and Moonlight Chicken. The first two are six episodes apiece and the last is eight episodes. If you are willing to suspend disbelief, as the saying goes, and laugh along, then these might be for you. The loose tie-in among the three is that the most significant action occurs at night.

Dirty Laundry stars Nanon Korapat as an aspiring murder mystery novelist named Night, who is doing his dirty laundry at a late-night laundromat and writing his mystery story as he waits. On the night shift at the laundromat is Neon (Film Rachanun). She envisions Night as her dream guy and loves watching him work. Neon has to put up with quite a collection of odd-ball late-night characters. One night Night saves her from an upset patron after her boyfriend has been coming on like a bright light to Neon.

Foei Patara plays Nick, an aspiring rock star, who is guilty of flirting with others. Jenny Panhan plays his girlfriend Smile who wants Nick to give her solos at his performances. Their fights and absurd attempts to play rock music at the laundromat allow the GMM TV veterans to “chew the scenery,” as yet another cliche saying goes.

Night’s flow of creativity is interrupted by the rockers, so he invites Neon to go get something to eat with him. “Is this what you call a date?” she asks.  Night replies, “You can call it that.”

Night (Nanon Korapat) [L] and Judo (Pond Naravit)

When they return from the “date” they find Judo (Pond Naravit) taking off his clothes and throwing them into a washing machine. They stop him before he goes too far. He says he is used to taking off his clothes. Later we find out he is an exotic dancer.

When Night leaves the laundromat he leaves a unique shirt behind. When he does not return to the laundromat, it will be Neon’s only lead to finding him. She gets the help of a friend to search the neighborhood by day looking for Night.

When she finds her way to the right apartment building she learns Night has not been there. She tricks her way into Night’s apartment looking for clues. When mobsters arrive, she hides in a closet where she finds a briefcase full of money. Of course, she leaves with the briefcase. Night figures out Neon stole it and he demands its return. That’s when we learn someone has stolen the stolen suitcase which was obviously already stolen. Got it?

Night and Neon will try to figure out who stole the suitcase while going through the list of characters who populated the late-night laundry. Night’s life could depend on returning the money to “Mama-san,” the leader of illegal businesses.

Behind the scenes (Nanon and Film)

In addition to the rockers and the exotic dancer, they must consider Chompoo (Godji Tachakorn) the caretaker at the apartment building where Night lives. Also in the mix is a tone-deaf karaoke singer who is worse than the alleged rockers. They will need to track them all down, and of course, this will include going undercover, so to speak.

Night and Neon hatch a series of plans to try to find the stolen briefcase at each suspect one at a time. The misadventures and failed attempts will lead them to a final showdown in episode six.

Nanon Korapat has already proved his acting skills in a variety of roles and now gets to tackle a somewhat silly comedy adventure. Film Rachanun is the perfect partner in search of the real thief. Pond Naravit gets a turn at broad-based comedy and the chance to show off his…uh, dancing skills.

Foei Patara has played a large variety of characters at GMM and others. Here is a chance at some outrageous comedy. Foei has appeared in some serious stories recently including “10 Years Ticket” starring Ohm Pawat and the soon-to-be-released Double Savage, also starring Ohm.

Jenny Panhan is a go-to performer in comedic roles. She is also a frequent host and presenter on GMM. The entire cast has done well with this one and you will find no weak performances. Enjoy the adventure and the search for the stolen cash.

Find the Midnight Series including Dirty Laundry on the GMMTV YouTube channel with English subtitles. You may need to find it on Disney+ Hotstar in Thailand and other SE Asia countries. 

LIBERATION: A MUSICAL THAT ALMOST WAS

On Sunday my friend and the composer of the Liberation music mentioned below sent me a text: “Happy birthday, Betty. 75” She has been gone for many years now, but her hard work and dedication to our play were not forgotten. The following previously appeared on the SERENDIPITY website.

“Just imagine how awful we’d feel,” I told Betty one day, “if we got to the end of our lives and never produced our play. Especially if we really could have. We’d always regret it.”

That’s how I pushed Betty to produce Liberation. I knew she wasn’t entirely convinced, but that was her way. She was critical and skeptical of everything. It was her strength.

Twenty years earlier we had done summer theater together. After rehearsals, we’d adjourn to Betty’s apartment to tell jokes, sing songs, and laugh our way to midnight. Those times would become our “good old days.”

We worked on a variety of projects over a few summers and developed a talented circle of friends. Betty was 2 years my senior, always the stage manager and sergeant-at-arms. She kept us in line during our silliest youthful moments.

Rich and Betty at the Pajama Game rehearsal

With a trunk full of exuberance, we decided it would be a great idea to write our own musical, a big production like those we had been part of in the past. Betty and I would write the book.  Michael, who had already overwhelmed us with a beautiful original song, would compose the music. I had already worked on a Christmas song with Michael and thought I could write the lyrics.

Maybe in a year or two, we thought, it could become our very own summer theater production. It didn’t take long to come up with what we thought was the right story.

It was the middle of the Women’s Liberation era and we decided to use the movement as the setting. We did not envision a drama but rather a lighter treatment, the story of a strong woman being kept from advancement merely because she was a woman.

Betty and I went to work on our outline. We needed the “who, what, where, when, how.”  “Why” was easy. We wanted to do it and didn’t need a better reason. You can guess who crafted the strong-willed women in the story. Of course, we used people we knew as models for some characters, but I can never reveal that information unless we win a Tony. Then I can give up secrets.

As we wrote the story, I handed off lyrics to Michael for various songs we wanted. We weren’t quite sure how all the songs would fit, but we knew what we wanted to say. After seven months of working on the story, with more than half a dozen songs in hand, Betty and I dumped everything and started over. It had become a complete muddle.

The failed attempt taught us what we needed to know. We defined each character and his or her role in the story. We had the setting, the conflict, the resolution. No phony Hollywood love story ending with characters living happily ever after, but a satisfying ending nonetheless.

Soon we were writing scenes in order. A second act was already in hand from our early efforts. The title tune became a collaborative effort of the three of us. And the song we envisioned for the main character, “I Believe,” was Betty’s favorite. The show took over a year to write but when it was finished, we were proud of the book and its songs. It was finally what we wanted.

Sadly, when it came to marketing, we fizzled. We showed the book to a few people we thought might help us, but nothing came of it.

Our labor of love had been real labor for Betty. She did a LOT of typing. Before personal computers, she typed and retyped copies using carbon paper (look it up!). I have no idea how many times she retyped scenes to incorporate changes. I have not spent as much time typing here as Betty did on Liberation.

Twenty years later, I told Betty the play would not be dated if we told it as a flashback. The main character would have again hit the glass ceiling and would be inspired to move forward by remembering what had happened twenty years before. We needed a new opening, a new ending, and one more song.

She agreed to give it a go. So, Betty and I toured theaters, met with theater companies, and brainstormed strategies to raise money. We wrote new material and polished old material.

Michael, however, had moved on and was reluctant to revisit the show, but we needed him. We not only wanted him to write a new song but to score the entire show. That meant arrangements, scene-change music, and an overture. We worked hard to convince him. He eventually gave in to our constant nagging about “the good old days.”

L to R: Betty, Rich, Michael, the Liberation writing team

Betty, as always, was fueled by cigarettes and TAB cola. She typed all the drafts, and we burned up a lot of hours on the phone discussing the new material. When I finished crafting an original speech for the main character Betty said in her usual manner, “Richard, that’s a great speech. No woman would ever say that, but it’s a great speech.”

“OK”, I replied, a little deflated, “What would she say?”  Betty gave a voice to the main character and hero of our story. In the end, we were more than pleased.

The story of Liberation’s production by a local theater company on a large stage with an orchestra is a sad story you’ve heard before. We had no control over the final show. The company mounted a political drama with music. It wasn’t the musical comedy we’d written. On my own, I agreed with the theater company to scale back the musicians for the third weekend and cancel the fourth and final weekend. I didn’t consult my colleagues; we were losing money we didn’t have.

It had taken a couple of years to revive the idea of getting it produced. The work we did the second time around was just plain work.

Betty and I drifted apart after the show closed. She was terribly disappointed that my salesmanship did not put her dream on stage. She had dedicated much of her life to a youthful whim, and it had come to nothing.

A few years ago I learned Betty had emphysema. No surprise really. She had been a long-time chain smoker. Then one day I got an email from Michael. He told me Betty passed away. He had read the news in an alumni newsletter and was crushed no one had informed us.

I was stunned. Somewhere in my mind I always believed I’d give Betty her show, the one we originally envisioned. I imagined I’d drag her away from her typewriter and give her the spotlight she’d never shared when we performed.

Maybe now she’s been liberated from her suffering, but it is not the Liberation she deserved.

Find the lyrics to the song on Sunday Night Blog here.

SEARCHING FOR YOU

Last year, Microsoft launched a new Bing search engine. I reported my findings on SERENDIPITY as shown below.

A New Search Engine, by Rich Paschall

You can probably name the most popular search engines but might be surprised to learn there are over a dozen USA-owned search engines. When you start adding in others from around the world, especially if you have a VPN (a virtual private network), the list is quite extensive. I have tried at least a half dozen of them over the years.

Until recently I mostly used Google. It is the most popular search engine in the world. It has almost 92 percent of the market share. Of course, that means companies are eager to buy ads so they can land at the top of your search. How many times have you seen the first three or more results are actually sponsored results? How many times have you clicked on the top result without realizing someone may have paid to put it there?

The word “Google” has become synonymous with searching for something on the internet. If you don’t know something, you can always “Google it.” If you want to find a restaurant in the area, you will “Google it.”  If you need a phone number, you no longer look in the phone directory, you “Google it.” If you ask me how many search engines there are in the world I will say, “Wait a minute, I will Google it.”

All the search engines do a “web crawl” to find the best results to present to you, plus sponsored results, of course. Google just seems to have faster results with a better presentation. They have mastered the science and cornered the market. No matter what search engine you use, can you imagine anything better than finding the results you want quickly?

New Bing search engine with AI chat

Finally, a new search engine has come along that might amaze you. It has a familiar name but an important new feature. Microsoft has taken its Bing search engine and infused it with OpenAI technology. That would be Artificial Intelligence. You can chat with your search engine and it will seek results based on your conversation.

You should have seen enough science fiction to know this was coming. Aren’t those Star Trek captains talking to computers all the time? Now you will be able to do the same, even if you are not a Starfleet Commander. You won’t need to buy an extra device. This works like ChatGPT for all of you computer geeks but is apparently a powerful upgrade.

Since I have been using Edge and Bing recently, I suddenly found the new search engine on my desktop. In order to test out the technology, I asked the search engine an important question. You only need a microphone hooked up to your computer. Laptops have them built-in and I would guess all of us have them for our desktop computers by now.

Do they really need artificial intelligence?

“What are the best Buffalo chicken wing recipes?” I got a number of responses. Bing was prepared to type one out for me and print it. “What restaurants have the best Buffalo chicken wings in my zip code?” I got several responses. In the name of science, I went to a restaurant in the neighborhood that I had never heard of and ordered their chicken wings. The service was good, the atmosphere was nice for a bar/restaurant, and the wings were really good. My computer is no longer a dumb machine waiting for my intelligent input.

The new Bing shows you some test questions (plan a dinner party for 6, plan a trip three hours out, plan activities for kids) just so you get the idea of the types of things you may want it to do. So now you will have an artificial planner, assistant, partner in…whatever. It can plan your next vacation and calculate the costs. I rarely come close to figuring vacation costs in advance so it will be interesting to see how well that works.

You can still type your searches just like before, but you may enjoy talking to your desktop instead. It is fun at first, but I will probably revert to just typing search terms.

Considering their advances in software and their considerable resources, one might wonder why it took so long for Microsoft to take a major step forward in this area of technology. Captain Picard would be proud, that’s for sure.

FAN MEETING IN MANILA

Last year we were happy to get tickets to see Ohm-Nanon Fan Meeting in Manila. The report on the trip and meeting of the stars was originally posted to SERENDIPITY.

Ohm-Nanon review, by Rich Paschall

One of the reasons for taking a trip to HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD was to see Ohm-Nanon’s 1st Fan Meeting in Manila. Famous Thai celebrities Ohm Pawat and Nanon Korapat have been taking their act on the road. After their immensely popular mini-series, Bad Buddy, and what seemed like never-ending personal appearances, the popular performers have been doing a series of “Fan Meetings,” that is to say, variety shows, around southeast Asia

After a show in Thailand dubbed “ON Friend City,” the guys soon found themselves traveling to neighboring countries to perform and meet fans. The “Fan Meetings” went to Seoul, Korea, and two shows in Taipei. Then Manila was on the schedule for January.

It did not seem possible that we could actually get tickets to the show. They were, after all, in high demand. The performance in Bangkok filled the large convention hall. The evening show in Taipei sold out so fast that another was added for the same afternoon. I thought the same would hold true for Manila, but we got two tickets. So a friend who lives in the Philippines and I made plans to attend.

Ohm & Nanon go to the Philippines

An enthusiastic crowd was on hand to greet the performers. Local fans had prepared a goodie bag for attendees with a light stick, pictures of the performers, and a sign to hold up at the end of the show. Red and green light sticks were waved about during the show.

The show opened with a filmed introduction of the guys that was also used at the Bangkok show. After that, the crowd chanted “Ohm-Nanon” until the guys entered to sing “Same Page?” The song was used in the Bad Buddy Series.

After the opening number, the guys were interviewed by a local host. Throughout the question and answer session, the crowd was calling out the guys by name and shouting “We love you” or chanting “OhmNanon.” Several times the host had to ask the crowd the please let Nanon answer his questions, but the crowd could hardly contain their joy that the guys had come to the Philippines with their show.

Unlike the musical extravaganza in Thailand, road shows tend to resemble the appearances the guys make on television shows back home. They include songs, interviews, and some games for the amusement of the crowd.

Ohm sang “Unlovable,” the theme song from his most recent drama series, 10 Years Ticket. He explained it was the first time he was singing the song in public. Ohm is used to having Nanon or another GMM TV performer on stage with him. If he was a bit nervous, he nevertheless did well with the number.

Nanon followed with a lively performance of the theme from Bad Buddy, “Just Friend?” The crowd was happy to sing along when instructed. The two joined up at the end for another Bad Buddy tune, “Our Song.”

Ohm Pawat (L) and Nanon Korapat

Both Ohm and Nanon speak English and did not need a translator like they did for appearances in other countries. This made the show enjoyable in the Philippines where most speak English or at least understand a little. Our observations indicated that everyone in the crowd and all the workers were speaking English.

After the show, the crowd on the main floor got to go up on stage to high-five the guys and say hello. Everyone who went up had their hands sprayed with a sanitizer and was instructed not to wear rings or other jewelry on their hands and to keep the line moving. The boys graciously greeted hundreds of people in what turned into a real “Fan Meeting.”

Everyone in the first three rows of MVP seats got signed autographed posters. One hundred other seats on the main floor were randomly drawn to receive autographed posters. My seat won one. I tried to give it to my friend rather than take it home, but he insisted I take it. We all got another unsigned poster when we walked off the stage after meeting the performers.

Concerts I have attended here have always had merchandise on sale. I thought GMM TV missed a golden opportunity when they did not sell t-shirts or DVDs of Bad Buddy or ON Friend City. On the other hand, they were just handing out things to the audience members. It will probably be the only time I attend a show where audience members get a goodie bag.

The theater, Samsung Hall, was not meant for concerts. The acoustics were awful and the sound was generally too loud. I have attended loud concerts before, but the sound usually has some balance. The vocals could hardly be heard in the opening number and honestly were not much better later on. Samsung should be embarrassed to have its name on the place. They promote the theater as very flexible, meaning they can reconfigure the seating and stage as needed. The risers with the seats on the main floor were metal, as were the stairs up to the stage. It was hard to tell about the stage or seating on the balcony. Nothing bounces sound around the room like a lot of metal construction.

It was a long way to go to see Ohm and Nanon sing a few songs and play some games. I did not look at the time, but the show likely lasted over an hour and a half. It was worth it to see them live, despite the quality of the theater. I enjoyed it, but if I had known they were going to add shows in Singapore, Hong Kong, and VietNam, I may have asked my friend to meet elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

See also: “Halfway Around The World,” A Trip to Manila, rjptalk, Sunday Night Blog, February 11, 2024.
“A Trip To Manila,” photo gallery, “rjptalk,” Sunday Night Blog, February 4, 2023.
“Giving It Your All,” Ohm Nanon Friend City review, rjptalk, Sunday Night Blog, October 22, 2022.
“Ohm-Nanon Fan Meeting in Manila,” Photo gallery, “rjptalk,” Sunday Night Blog, February 11, 2023.

HALFWAY AROUND THE WORLD

Last year I took a long trip across the Pacific. I reported on my adventure on the SERENDIPITY website (reprinted below).

A Trip To Manila, by Rich Paschall

Reaching the Philippines from the middle of the United States can be a long process in both time and distance whether you decide to head east or west. It is almost the same distance no matter which way you go. Westbound from O’Hare International Airport to Manila is about 8100 miles as the crow flies. Since you are not a crow, you must take an airplane. This will make your trip a little longer.

On my latest adventure, I decided to head to the Philippines to visit with a friend and see a show (Ohm-Nanon’s 1st Fan Meeting in Manila). I looked for the shortest travel time and for the best price. Since there was no direct flight from ORD, I needed to choose the quickest way. All Nippon Airways (ANA) offered a direct flight to Tokyo’s Narita Airport with a connection to Manila. The first flight was over 13 hours and the connection was almost 5 more. When you consider the connection time, the trip was supposed to take about 21 and a half hours.

ANA

No matter what the itinerary tells you, it is going to take you longer to get there. A lot longer. I got up at 6 AM to start my day. The morning flight was scheduled to be off the ground at 10:40. It was almost 6:40 AM when I called for Uber to take me to Terminal One. That meant I was headed to one of the busiest airports in the world as the rush hour traffic was starting to build. I know, it was not the greatest plan. I made it in plenty of time.

At the ticket counter, I asked what it would cost to upgrade to business class for the first flight. I thought USD 450 was reasonable, all things considered and went for it. Some airlines and locations will view this upgrade request differently. Some may think that it is close to flight time and they should take any additional money they can get. If the flight is mostly full anyway, they have the additional provisions on board. Other airlines may think that you are desperate to seize the last chance for an upgrade and they will request an outrageous amount to move you up in class. Some travel bloggers will advise you to dress nice and talk sweetly to the gate agent in hopes they will bump you up for free. I doubt this works as often as they suggest.

At the ANA lounge at Narita airport, I asked what it would cost to upgrade for the flight to Manila. The agent advised it would cost USD 3000 to upgrade. I told her I did not pay that much for the entire trip, including the USD 450 upgrade. This was the case of trying to get every Yen possible, but they did not get it from me.

Dusit Thani hotel, Makati, Philippines

Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport is located just a few miles south of Manila. The large international airport looks modern, but it is sorely lacking in organization. Once we arrived at Customs, it took over an hour to get through at 10 PM. My friend arrived at 9 PM to be there in time to meet me. He waited 2 hours. Before leaving the airport I used the currency exchange to get some local currency. Usually, an airport is a terrible place to exchange money, but hotels are worse if they will do it at all. I learned I would not have done much better in the city anyway. I received 54.20 Philippine Pesos for the US Dollar.

When we reached the hotel, I had been up for almost 28 hours. This may be okay for a young person, but I would never attempt it again. I should have planned a day at the first stop. I had never been to Tokyo before so some rest and a quick tour around may have been a better plan.

The Manila area hotel was Dusit Thani, owned by a Thailand company. It is rated as a five-star facility there. I would have been lucky to get a three-star facility in Europe for the same price. You will quickly discover that rates are low and the US dollar will go far in the Philippines. If you are looking for an economical vacation this may be it. On the other hand, transpacific airfare will not come cheap, no matter the airline.

Tour guide and me at SM Makati mall

We found good deals and prices at the giant shopping mall SM Makati just across the street. At the food court, you can pick up a complete meal for just a few dollars. I congratulate myself for getting through a meal using chopsticks. I can not say how many times I dropped food back into the bowl but I did finish. I admit I avoided the more exotic choices and dishes that included unfamiliar foods.

Transportation is cheap and we were able to catch a cab as needed. When we got a cab at the hotel and at the theater, the attendant or security guard would write down the cab company, license number, date, and time on a small form and hand it to you. It includes several emergency numbers, including the police. This practice is apparently meant to discourage cab drivers from taking advantage of tourists and others. Locals might also have the Grab app, a ride-share service like Uber.

When we got in a cab to go to the show at Samsung Hall, the meter was not on. This is a red flag and you should probably get out of the cab. The driver wanted 2000 pesos to take us to the show. My friend offered him 150 since this was the rate we paid the previous day to go to the same location, including the tip. We settled on 200 rather than arguing further. Considering the exchange rate, it was inexpensive to me.

View from the hotel

For your return trip, it might be best to get to MNL at least 5 hours in advance. You must stand in a long line to get into the area of ticket counters where you will stand in a line there, followed by the security line. None of these lines will move quickly. The first line seems totally unnecessary and a person who travels frequently and now lives in MNL says 4 to 5 hours in line is not unusual.

The Philippines is made up of over 7600 islands and covers an area of about 120,000 square miles. It lies south of Taiwan and north of Indonesia. With diverse cultures and locales, it can provide an interesting vacation. The warm weather during a cold Chicago winter was certainly a plus.

See also: “A Trip To Manila,” photo gallery, “rjptalk,” Sunday Night Blog, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2023.