Saturday 9

 

Promises, Promises

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 to answer the questions, however, and here is today's questions!

Saturday 9: Promises, Promises (1983)

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

1) In this week's song, Naked Eyes lead singer Pete Byrne admits he believed his girl's promises, right from the start, but now he knows he should have been more careful with his heart. Do you consider yourself more trusting or skeptical?

I’ve gotten more skeptical as I’ve gotten older.

 

2) He looks back on when he and his girl laughed like kids. When did you recently literally laugh out loud (opposed to keystroking LOL)?

Of course.  Drew thinks of himself as somewhat of a comedian.  And sometimes he’s actually funny.

 

3) He accuses her of not being able to finish what she starts. How about you? Do you finish what you start, or can you think of projects that you're unlikely to ever complete?  

It depends.  Sometimes I follow through.  Sometimes I get an idea, start something, but don’t follow through.  

 

4) Naked Eyes was a British New Wave band who had four Top 40 singles, including "Promises, Promises." They never toured 40 years ago because it was difficult to recreate their synthesizer-driven sound onstage. Is there a band or singer you would have liked to have seen perform live, but never did?

I’ve told this story before, I think, but …

I started law school in August 1981.  Just a few days into the school year I started to feel sick.  Really sick.  Turned out I had mono.  I missed 10 days of school.    If I’d missed any more time I would have had to drop out, and I wouldn’t have been able to start again until August 1982. A full year later. 

My doctor gave me permission to return to school, but with the understanding I’d do nothing except go to class.  No social activities.  Nothing.

Simon and Garfunkel announced they would perform reunion concert in Central Park on September 19, 1981.  A group of my friends decided to take the train into Manhattan to see the concert.  I followed my doctor’s orders and stayed home.  And regretted it ever since,

Here’s a song from the concert.

 

And the entire concert can be found here.

 

5) While "Promises, Promises" is about an untrustworthy lover, Peter Byrne says he and bandmate/cowriter Rob Fisher worked well together because they knew they could trust one another professionally. By sharing honest assessments of creative ideas, they knew Naked Eyes would never put out "rubbish." If you want an honest opinion on something important, where do you turn?

Drew usually tells me what I need to know instead of what I want to hear,

6) Madonna was a Naked Eyes fan. Are you a Madonna fan?

I used to be.  Lost interest a long time ago.

7) In 1983, when this song was on the radio, the Lotus 1-2-3 program made it easier for PC users to build spreadsheets. Are you answering these questions on a PC or a Mac? Laptop or desktop? Android or iPhone? 

iPad.

 

8) Also in 1983, America West Airlines took off for the first time, taking passengers from Las Vegas to Phoenix. Where did you go on your first flight? What about your most recent flight?

First flight was in 1972, when I was 12, and my grandmother took me and my sister to Miami Beach for two weeks.

Last flight was in December 2022, coming home from a Caribbean cruise,

9) Random question -- Finish this statement: If I knew then what I know now, I would have ______________. 

 Moved to Manhattan.

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!