Who’s Ready To Water Ski This Vacation?
The Go-Go’s are! Who better to get us ready for a summer of fun that the most popular all-female band of all time…so for this look at “Music A – Z”, let’s use the letter “V” to get our summer started!
“Vacation” by The Go-Go’s
After a massively successful debut album, The Go’Go’s returned with this catchy, upbeat album for the summer of 1982!
The band’s second album was filled with hits like the title track, and also “Get Up And Go” and “Cool Jerk”.
Here are the lyrics to the title track:
“Can’t seem to get my mind off of you
Back here at home, there’s nothin’ to do
Now that I’m away, I wish I’d stayed
Tomorrow’s a day of mine that you won’t be in
When you looked at me, I should have run
But I thought it was just for fun
I see I was wrong, and I’m not so strong
I should have known all along that time would tell
A week without you
Thought I’d forget
Two weeks without you and I
Still haven’t gotten over you yet
Vacation, all I ever wanted
Vacation, had to get away
Vacation, meant to be spent all alone”
Here’s the music video with lots more water skiing from the band – or at least a really wet green screen:
Next up is an Artist I didn’t know until my wife had her on her TV show – and I fell in love with her sultry voice and retro style:
“Valentine” by Laufey
This 26 year old singer is from Iceland, and she has a bit of an Amy Winehouse vibe.
Laufey draws inspiration from a blend of classic and contemporary influences. She cites jazz legends like Ella Fitzgerald and Chet Baker, as well as pop artists like Taylor Swift and Norah Jones. She also references classical composers like Chopin and Tchaikovsky.Laufey’s music incorporates elements of jazz, pop, and classical styles, creating a unique sound that appeals to a wider audience.
The song “Valentine” is from her 2022 album “Everything I Know About Love”…
“I’ve rejected affection
For years and years
Now I have it, and damn it
It’s kind of weird
He tells me I’m pretty
Don’t know how to respond
I tell him that he’s pretty too
Can I say that? Don’t have a clue
With every passing moment
I surprise myself
I’m scared of flies
I’m scared of guys
Someone please help
‘Cause I think I’ve fallen
In love this time
I blinked and suddenly, I had a valentine
(Valentine)
Here is Laufey & the Iceland Symphony Orchestra – performing “Valentine (Live at The Symphony)”…
Now, who is old enough to know these guys?
“Valleri” by The Monkees
This “formed for television” band became a pop culture sensation in the 60’s, an American version of The Beatles…their TV show was a big hit and they had a number of smash hit songs like “Last Train To Clarksville”, “Pleasant Valley Sunday” and this one…here is “Valleri”:
Now, did you know the band made a film…with Jack Nicholson?
A wild, psychodelic “head” trip, Jack Nicolson wrote the screenplay! See more of this musical madness here:
Next up is a recent song that caused a lot of social media controversy:
“Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo
If you want to really dive into the controversy, search the song title and Taylor Swift…and how fans of both saw the song as a cutting rebuke of Swift.
Rodrigo has stated that “Vampire” isn’t about someone using her fame to climb the social ladder, but rather about someone who is manipulative and takes advantage of others. OK…
Check out these harsh lyrics:
“I hate to give the satisfaction asking how you’re doing now
How’s the castle built off people you pretend to care about?
Just what you wanted
Look at you, cool guy, you got it
I see the parties and the diamonds sometimes when I close my eyes
Six months of torture you sold as some forbidden paradise
I loved you truly
You gotta laugh at the stupidity
‘Cause I’ve made some real big mistakes
But you make the worst one look fine
I should’ve known it was strange
You only come out at night
I used to think I was smart
But you made me look so naive
The way you sold me for parts
As you sunk your teeth into me, oh
Bloodsucker, fame-fucker
Bleedin’ me dry like a goddamn vampire”
Ouch!
Here is the music video:
Up next is a popular song by an Artist who was Oscar-nominated for best original song:
“Vanilla Sky” by Paul McCartney
Director Cameron Crowe asked Macca to write the them song for his 2001 sci-fi thriller starring Tom Cruise:
McCartney got Oscar-nominated for the effort. Here he is performing it live at the 2001 Academy Awards:
McCartney has had an amazing career, including collaborating with other Artists:
Macca collaborated with the Artist youth on three different album under the name of “The Fireman”…but was this album really “McCartney III?”
See my look at this music mystery here:
Finally, how could any list of “Songs With A ‘V'” not include the King himself?
“Viva Las Vegas!” by Elvis Presley
Yes, Elvis loves to dance, and that’s Actress Ann-Margaret dancing along..this light confection of a film was another of his 60’s hits:
Elvis knew how to command a stage, and his unique voice makes this upbeat pop rocker a joy to watch…
Speaking of Elvis…countless people get married in Las Vegas – many using an Elvis IMpoeronator to perform the ceremony!
Well, that may be all over now, because Elvis may have left the building!
See my story here!
If you like my “Music A- Z” series, you can see more by simply searching on the main page…I also cover lots of other music, like these that all used the word “dreams” in some way…check them out!
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Leave me a comment with your thoughts on “V” music, and if you like the story, please share on social media – thanks!
Categories: 70's Music, Academy Awards, Art, Classic Rock, Cult Movies, Music, Obscure Music, Pop Culture, Talent/Celebrities
johnrieber 
So many good songs, here, from The Monkeys to Elvis, and more. Thanks, John!
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I saw Viva Las Vegas at the cinema whan I was 12. I loved Ann-Margret, and still do! I would add this version of ‘Valerie’ by Mark Ronson/Amy Winehouse. I prefer it to the original by The Zutons. (Amy is not in the video, they use other girls miming to her voice) Best wishes, Pete.
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Love me some Elvis! My wife and I were just in Las Vegas and we specifically discussed the Elvis weddings with the friends we were with.
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I love that! It’s goofy and certainly memorable! Hope you had some fun and left with some $$$ in your pocket!
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Quite a vast variety today, John. I had not heard about the controversy about the Olivia Rodrigo song. I like a lot of her music.
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Thanks for the comment, always great to hear from you!
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really liked this post- I knew the Vacation song by the Go-Go’s but never saw the video – so that was cool and really liked the voice of Laufey and liked her singing with the Iceland Symphony Orchestra
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I didn’t know here until she was on my wife’s show and it’s great music…perfect to put on when doing some work on the computer! Thanks for your comment, always great to hear from you!
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:0)
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Vacation to Viva Las Vegas . . . a very cool list. Of course, you had me just mentioning The Go-Go’s. I fell hard for them. Loved Belinda Carlisle and Jane Wiedlin.
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I’m old enough to remember buying that Monkees song as a single!
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I had older sisters who LOVED the band and bought the albums, so I grew up learning them! My brother on the other hand loved rock so I got his Grand Funk Railroad albums too!
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Grand Funk Railroad never really took off here, so I know very little of them. At 12-13 I was very much in the Monkees’ target audience.
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quite an an unusual mix, John, and as your reader above, Clive said, I remember that song too
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