Is it normal to not be able to listen to any music other than ELO? Seriously. In the last 3 days I have tried to segue out of the ELO phase – but nothing satisfies, and I have to go back. Over. And over. And over. And over. And over.
Something is wrong with me.
Perhaps Jeff Lynne has secretly hypnotized you with his timeless facial hair, bitchin’ afro, and surgically attached sunglasses.
I recommend trying to dilute the pure ELO with some Traveling Wilburys (less concentrated Jeff Lynne dosage) and wean yourself off of it from there.
If all else fails, you may need to have someone perform a Santeria ritual or something to break the spell. Best of luck.
Don’t break the spell! Because then that means I have to stop listening to The Jackson 5 over and over.
And I refuse. Frankly.
(BTW, if it makes you feel any better, a couple of weeks ago I was obsessively listening to “Xanadu.”)
Not at all. ‘Out Of The Blue’ is a great album to put on repeat, and just leave it there…
Is it normal? Nope. But that’s okay!
Re: All ELO all the time.
Conor thought it was normal this August. It is all we listened to. Day.and.night.
But that was ok. That was what needed to be done. We are currently back on Queen, in honor of Freddy Mercury’s 60th birthday. (That is what jolted him out of the ELO phase.) It will be interesting to see what, if anything gets him out of Queen, again, as this last Queen obsession lasted 11 months. Literally, the only thing he wanted to listen too. PS I just noticed there is a printout of the members of Queen hanging above my computer desk that some 12 year old boy that shall remain nameless obviously printed out yesterday and hung….
Beth – I just love how into this old classic stuff he is! I knew about the Queen obsession but not the ELO one. Conor cracks me up – taping up pictures of Queen about the house. hahahahahaha
The main song I am obsessed with right now (although there are so many) is “Mr. Blue Sky”. Can’t get past it.
Hey you with the pretty face
Welcome to the human race …
I even get a little choked up at that line – even after I’ve heard the song 10 times in a row.
no red, this is not good, something must be done! quick: country music! find some Gretchen Wilson and move on!!!!
“Something is wrong with me.”
Apparently, but we forgive you. ELO?? Lord.
DBW – please imagine me singing the following at the top of my lungs RIGHT IN YOUR FACE:
“It’s a livin’ thing …
It’s a terrible thing to-o lose …
It’s a given thing
What a terrible thing to lose …”
Or this – sung RIGHT AT YOU – as I do a little dance:
“You wanna stay out with your fancy friends
I’m telling you it’s got to be the end
Don’t bring me down, no, no, no, no, no
I’ll tell you once more before I get off the floor:
Don’t bring me down!”
Yeah, Gretchen will cure ya.
Maybe some Sugarland, too.
Gretchen Shmetchen. She’s good but she ain’t ELO.
“I’M ALIVE
AND THE WORLD SHINES FOR ME TODAY
I’M ALIVE…”
…you can’t help yourself if you are in denial… I think you’re reaching out in a desperate cry for help…
Well, the new Tom Petty album was produced by Jeff Lynne. That might be a way out (assuming, of course, that you really want one!).
Jeff – ha! I love Tom Petty too.
Xanadu, baby. Xanadu.
That’s all I’ve got to say.
Truly.
Nothing else needs to be said.
okay, instead of Gretchan — Tom Petty Live – Pack Up The Plantation — one of the greatest live albums of all time!!!
Makes Me Want To Shout!
Wait, you mean there are people who don’t listen to their music “Over. And over. And over. And over. And over”? What’s wrong with them?
I’ll see your 3 days of Jeff Lynne and raise you 18 months of one Rob Thomas song. OK, I admit I have listened to many many things in between, but still…
Michelle – ha!!! I so do that. I listened to Lenny Kravitz’s “Fields of Joy” at least three times a day for a good 8 or 9 months. I still listen to it almost constantly – and it’s been years now.
I think Mr Blue Sky is my very favorite of ELO. that and Turn to Stone. and Evil woman. and Living thing. and I’m Alive.
mere – in your days as a breezy teenager, you were the one to introduce me to ELO!
I loove Mr. Blue Sky … such a fun song.
Hey, I just read your comment to me above. Point taken, Sheila. You know I was just pulling your leg. BTW, I like the image of you dancing and singing loudly right in my face. I can hear you now, “Cram it, you old curmudgeon.”
She used to think I was the greatest thing
I went and gave the girl a diamond ring
She said that she would rather die
Than ever leave me
I haven’t seen her face since then
And if the law don’t get her, then I will
Four little diamonds
I won’t bring you down, Bruce… Rock on, Jeff Lynne.
Well, it’s been a long time since my ELO phase, but I do recall calling the local prog-rock station at the peak of the obsession, and requesting “Kuiama.”
Deejay’s reaction: “Kuiama?”
Oh DBW – in my little fantasy world, which is going on at all times, as I did my little dance RIGHT AT YOU – you were laughing. It was a FUNNY moment not an angry moment. :)
Ken – hahahahahahaha
“in my little fantasy world, which is going on at all times”
You, too, huh?
I knew you were being funny, and, yes, I would be laughing. I love the way you keep capitalizing RIGHT AT YOU and RIGHT IN YOUR FACE. It reads brash. For the record, I was never a big fan of ELO, but they are represented in “THE COLLECTION.”
Oh, your collection of 20,000 records or whatever? I am in awe. I am not worthy.
Oh … I think I’ve asked you this before, but I will ask it again: I am trying to track down an incredibly eclectic album – that nobody but me (and a couple others) care about – and I can find no evidence of it online. How do I go about finding it> Even if it;s just on vinyl?? Do you have any suggestions?
What was the name of it again? I wrote it down, and gave it to a friend of mine who buys albums daily. Give me the name again, and I will try to track it down for you.
I don’t remember the name – but I know it was The Whiffenpoofs, the singing group from Yale. And they have a bunch of other albums out – but the one I am looking for is the 50th anniversary album – and it came out in 1959.
Songs on it I remember:
Mountain Greenery
Scarlet Ribbons
So it would definitely have The Whiffenpoofs in the title – and it came out in 1959.
????
GREAT album – I have a scratchy tape of it – but I would love to find a newer version and get it put on CD or whatever.
OK. I will check it out for you. No promises, because it is obscure, but I might surprise you. Of course, I might find it, and it will be unplayable–one never knows. I know some people who sell internationally, so I’ll make some calls.
I would be forever in your debt. Maybe I should just call Yale, come to think of it???
Anyway – I SO appreciate it. I would owe you one, big time.
Calling Yale might be a good idea. I will pursue it on my end. On that note, I am going to bed. I have, what is for me, an early morning. Goodnight, scribe, essayist, wordsmith, published author.
You could try a little Bad Company to break the spell. It’s amazing how well “company of strangers” has aged.