Saturday 9

 

Careless Whisper

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

Saturday 9: Careless Whisper (1985)
    

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

 

1) In this week's song, George Michael sings that, when it comes to relationships, "there's no comfort in the truth." Have you ever learned something about a friend, lover or relative that you wish you didn't know?

Drew and I have a friend … she lives alone, is estranged from her family … she asked Drew to be her health care proxy and gave him her Power of Attorney.  She suffered a serious medical incident about a month ago, wound  up in the hospital and is now in a rehab.  We are learning things about her life, details that she didn’t disclose when she was healthy, that I really didn’t want to know.

2) Though this was the top song of 1985, George wrote it years before, when he was still working as a dj at a restaurant outside London. He recalled the moment the sax solo popped into his head. It was while he was on the bus on his way to work. If you go to work, how do you get there (car, bus, train, etc.)? If you don't work outside the home, tell us about a trip you make regularly.

I work remotely 3 days a week, I’m in the office twice a week.  The office is a 15 minute drive from my house.  Nothing terrible.

But earlier this week I had to go to a meeting in Brooklyn.  I took the Long Island Railroad and the NYC Subway.  That was my commute  at my former job, five years ago.  Working in the city was exciting, the commute (over 90 minutes each way) was less than ideal. As in, you’d often find me ranting about the LIRR on Facebook.  I don’t miss that at all. 

 

3) The video for this song was very expensive. It was filmed on location all around Miami, including the luxury Grove Towers Condominiums, but then much of it had to be reshot because George didn't like his hair. Are you having a good hair day today?

Not really.  I didn’t blow it dry after my shower.  It looks ok, but styling it would have been better.

4) 1985 was a big year for George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley. As Wham! they had three songs on the charts and became the first Western pop music act to tour China. Have you ever visited China? Would you like to go?

I’ve never been (unless the China exhibit at Disney counts!) but I’d like to go someday.

 
5) When he wasn't working, George was a creature of habit. For example, he never tired of Cocoa Puffs for breakfast and roast chicken for Sunday dinner. Is there a menu item you find yourself eating again and again?

Not really.  I like variety.

6) George enjoyed living quietly in Highgate, North London. It wasn't until after his death that his neighbors learned he was the "anonymous resident" who had been funding Highgate's Fair in the Square for years. Held in June each year, The Fair is known for its dog show, arts and crafts booths, music and food. Tell us about one of your community's annual events.

 Memorial Day weekend means it’s time for the Bethpage Air Show at Jones Beach.  I caught the dress rehearsal in 2017, blogged about it here.

The Thunderbirds:

 

7) According to Car and Driver, when "Careless Whisper" was popular, so was the Chevy Cavalier, a compact car. Nearly 40 years later, the vehicle landscape is very different. There are fewer compacts sold and last year, the most popular Chevy was the Silverado, a light duty truck. Do you drive a car, a truck, or an SUV?

I drive a blue 2013 Prius C.  It’s a compact.  It’s a hybrid.  I love it.  

I named it Peanut (Jeff Dunham fans will understand).

8) Also in 1985, Bill Shoemaker's earnings reached $100 million, making him the world's most successful jockey. Do you follow horse racing?

Not really, but I do like to watch Triple Crown races.  After all, I live relatively close to Belmont. The racetrack is on the border of Nassau County (where I live) and the Borough of Queens (part of NYC).

Though this year the Belmont Stakes will be run upstate, due to construction at Belmont Park.

And then there was my business trip to Lexington, Kentucky in 2014.  I had a free afternoon, so I went to the Horse Park.  Wrote about it here, with photos here.  

And of course I took video.

9) Random question -- In which race would you do better: the Iditarod, with sled dogs in Nome, or speeding in a race car at the Indy 500?

I hate the cold,I’d never last long in the Iditarod.  I don’t like driving too fast, but maybe I could manage the Indy 500.

  

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!