1) While today this is considered a children's song, "Mairzy Doats" was a #1 hit and a staple on radio stations in 1944. Do you know any of today's most popular songs? (Here's this week's Hot 100.) Nope. As it turns out, I only recognize a handful of the artists singing them. I like to think I'm not hopeless. I do like some new music when I hear it. I just don't seek it out, preferring to wallow in the music of my youth most of the time.
2) One of the song's writers recalled that the song was inspired by an old English nursery rhyme. Tell us a rhyme you remember from childhood. I had very curly hair as a little girl and my mom used to tell me this one:
There was a little girl and she had a little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good she was very, very good,
Right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good she was very, very good,
But when she was bad she was horrid.
3) This week's group, The Merry Macs, was formed by three brothers -- Judd, Joe and Ted McMichael -- who learned to harmonize at home. Did you grow up in a musical household? Not at all. My dad played a snare drum in school, but otherwise not one single person in my family on either side did anything musical until my son came along. He, also, played drums and while he can't read music, he's taught himself to play bass guitar.
4) When the McMichaels decided their new group needed a woman's voice, they asked Cheri McKay to join them. Realizing all their names began with Mc, they began calling themselves The Merry Macs. Have you ever performed with a singing group? (Yes, that garage band you played in after school counts.) If yes, what was your band called? As mentioned above...no musical talent here.
5) The Merry Macs' first gigs were playing high school dances. Do you have any memories of school dances you'd like to share this morning? Not really. I only went to a few and I don't remember much about them. They just weren't my thing.
6) Once their recording career took off, The Merry Macs went to Hollywood. They appeared in a film with the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. Who last made you laugh? Tattoo on an old episode of Fantasy Island.
7) In 1944, when "Mairzy Doats" topped the charts, sunscreen was invented. It was first developed to protect soldiers during WWII, and that original formula was sold to Coppertone. Do you regularly use sunscreen? Are you kidding? With this pasty white, freckled skin, I practically bathe in the stuff when I am outside in the summer.
8) Also in 1944, a board game called Murder! was introduced in England. In 1949 it made its way to the United States and was renamed Clue. It's still popular today. Can you name any of the original 6 "characters" in the Clue game? (Extra credit: One was replaced in 2016; who was it?) Miss Scarlet, Col. Mustard, Professor Plum, Mrs. Peacock, Mr. Green...and I think Mrs. White...were the originals. I have no idea which was replaced.
9) Random question: The new house you just bought comes with a big mirror on the ceiling of the master bedroom. Would you take it down or leave it there? It would be the first thing gone.
3) This week's group, The Merry Macs, was formed by three brothers -- Judd, Joe and Ted McMichael -- who learned to harmonize at home. Did you grow up in a musical household? Not at all. My dad played a snare drum in school, but otherwise not one single person in my family on either side did anything musical until my son came along. He, also, played drums and while he can't read music, he's taught himself to play bass guitar.
4) When the McMichaels decided their new group needed a woman's voice, they asked Cheri McKay to join them. Realizing all their names began with Mc, they began calling themselves The Merry Macs. Have you ever performed with a singing group? (Yes, that garage band you played in after school counts.) If yes, what was your band called? As mentioned above...no musical talent here.
5) The Merry Macs' first gigs were playing high school dances. Do you have any memories of school dances you'd like to share this morning? Not really. I only went to a few and I don't remember much about them. They just weren't my thing.
6) Once their recording career took off, The Merry Macs went to Hollywood. They appeared in a film with the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. Who last made you laugh? Tattoo on an old episode of Fantasy Island.
7) In 1944, when "Mairzy Doats" topped the charts, sunscreen was invented. It was first developed to protect soldiers during WWII, and that original formula was sold to Coppertone. Do you regularly use sunscreen? Are you kidding? With this pasty white, freckled skin, I practically bathe in the stuff when I am outside in the summer.
8) Also in 1944, a board game called Murder! was introduced in England. In 1949 it made its way to the United States and was renamed Clue. It's still popular today. Can you name any of the original 6 "characters" in the Clue game? (Extra credit: One was replaced in 2016; who was it?) Miss Scarlet, Col. Mustard, Professor Plum, Mrs. Peacock, Mr. Green...and I think Mrs. White...were the originals. I have no idea which was replaced.
9) Random question: The new house you just bought comes with a big mirror on the ceiling of the master bedroom. Would you take it down or leave it there? It would be the first thing gone.
Thanks, as always, to Crazy Sam @ Saturday 9 for the music and questions!
Poor Mrs. White. The one you barely remember is the one they replaced. She was the cook. In the original Brit version, they had a character known as The Vicar, a minister who happened by the house the night of the murder. When the game came to America, he was replaced because the manufacturers didn't think we Yanks would accept a man of the cloth as a murder suspect.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've ever seen an episode of Fantasy Island, which is weird because I was such a vid kid and was always in front of the set. I didn't even know Fantasy Island was funny! I'll have to check it out (about 50 years late).
Hi Stacy. Interesting post. I remember my mom singing that song around the house and to me when I was little. I could sing it today, and remember the words. My mom sang and played the piano. I took lessons for years and we have a piano, but I don't practice much. Charly knows how to play the trumpet. One of our daughters took piano lessons, and I tried to teach the other daughter, cut she wasn't interested and I didn't have the patience for it, so I quit. Wow, we used to watch Fantasy Island eons ago - haven't even thought about that show for years. I hope you have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteI remember that nursery rhyme ... and have been known to say it to my own curly girl (pup Macie). I used to love Fantasy Island. Aaaah, Mr. Roarck's voice!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed your answers today and visiting your blog.
ReplyDeleteI would also take down the ceiling mirror.
Have a good Saturday.
https://gloriasretiredlife.blogspot.com/
Oh, I loved Fantasy Island right after the Love Boat--what a lineup for babysitters!
ReplyDeleteLove your answers.. You brought back a fun memory. I used to write that poem on the board as cursive practice and have the children illustrate it..
ReplyDeleteNursery rhymes crack me up. That mirror would have to come down at my house too. Loved your answers! Have a nice weekend.
ReplyDeletehttps://lorisbusylife.blogspot.com/
"Wallow in the music of my youth..." I love that. I wallow sometimes, too!
ReplyDeletehttp://inmywords.kimdeister.com/2021/07/10/saturday-9-mairzy-doats/
No musical talent here either except I did sing when in my youth and young adulthood. Neck surgery took away what little voice I had. I still enjoy singing but lost all range. That's OK. It wasn't really important anyway.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your answers.
Blessings. xx
I wallow a lot in that old music that we grew up with. Today's music generally doesn't click with me, but I'm not their audience now. Some new things I like. But generally, no.
ReplyDeleteMy dad played the bongos, funny thing is, I have no musical talent whatsoever. My dad was pretty gifted; musician and artist. Have a beautiful weekend, friend.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't surprised to find Mrs. White was replaced. Not politically correct to be white these days. Shouldn't have gone there! It was still a very fun Saturday 9. No one I've read so far wants mirrors!! LOL
ReplyDeleteStacy, you had me laughing about the sunscreen! But I totally understand. My mom was fair skinned. She got skin cancer on her face. I hope you will be able to enjoy your pool soon.
ReplyDelete