Words For Your Enjoyment: Your Personal Theme Song
February 3rd, 2006
Friday hath arrived doth again, dear readers!
I don’t think I could ever fully embrace or successfully pull off an “Olde English Speaking Tone” but if I could I would often use phrases like doth and hath and ye olde and scalawag (yeah, please don’t argggggh-ue). Nonetheless, Friday hath arrived and that means one thing and one thing only.
Yet another edition of “Words For Your Enjoyment” — where you, dear reader, supply the subject and I write the post that makes the whole world sing.
This week, singing seems to make perfect sense, thanks to WFME co-designer and pal Erik who writes, “Everybody needs their own personal theme song, right? Well, what would yours be?”
A day often doesn’t go by that I don’t imagine myself walking down a busy Los Angeles street with the entire USC marching band behind me. Sometimes it’s the band Survivor playing “Eye of the Tiger” and other times it’s Musical Youth playing “Pass the Dutchie” for those times I’m walking down in the drug-infested parts of town and want the other gang bangers to know that “I’m street.” But often, when I’m not imagining my theme song playing for all to hear, I’m drawing up complicated Excel spreadsheets (where I apply points to each aspect of the songs I’d like for my personal theme songs) in order to determine the be-all, end-all single most awesomest theme song ever.
That song just happens to be “Da Doo Ron Ron” by Shaun Cassidy. Please, be enlightened:
I met her on a monday and my heart stood still
Da doo ron ron ron da doo ron ron
Somebody told me that her name was Jill
Da doo ron ron ron da doo ron ron
Yes, my heart stood still
Yes, her name was Jill
And when I walked her home
Da doo ron ron ron da doo ron ron
The song has an infectious rhythm and a happy attitude (just like me). The song has lyrics that make you really think about life in general (i.e. “Da doo ron ron”). It shows how emotional of a person I am (i.e. “my heart stood still”). It communicates my love of aerobic exercise, pointing to the fact that I’m a healthy guy (i.e. “I walked her home”). It shows that I’ve got a lot of people who feed me important gossip and information and that I’m a really good listener (i.e. “Somebody told me…”). It also shows that I can take my important deep thoughts about life in general (i.e. “Da doo ron ron”) and really try to poke holes in the mysteries of the universe by questioning them more than once (i.e. “Da doo ron ron ron…da doo ron ron”).
I could go on and on with more of the lyrics which would further show how deep and important the lyrics are and how each and every line pertains to me… But if you just listen to the song and you really really know me you’ll see that this song is indeed my perfect theme song for life.
What’s yours?
Some people pick life theme songs because they think it’s what people should see them as. I know a wimpy guy whose life theme song is anything by Eminem. I know a very attractive (yet pious) woman whose life theme song happens to be “Dirty” by Christina Aguilera. I’ve met straight laced businessmen who play nothing but Crystal Method and wanna-be athletes who want the Monday Night Football theme song to be the one that defines their life.
But really people, why not try picking something a little more YOU?
Da doo ron ron.
Yeaaaaaaah. That’s right.
Does your wife know about this “Jill” person?
Comment by Keith — February 3, 2006 @ 9:07 am
Keith - You always gotta go and ruin everything, don’t you Keith?
Comment by Pauly D — February 3, 2006 @ 9:09 am
Okay, mine is “Kick the P.A.” by Korn. Orrrr the theme song to Magic Mountain. You know it?
Seriously, it’s probably “Not Pretty Enough” by Kasey Chambers. And now you’ve made me go and get all introspective and melancholy on a Friday.
Also, you mentioned you’re infectious? You might want to get that checked out.
Comment by Lena — February 3, 2006 @ 9:15 am
Lena - Well, would you consider a strange discoloration the size of a second head protruding from my shoulder blades infectious? I just thought it was, you know, like some kind of cocoon.
Comment by Pauly D — February 3, 2006 @ 9:18 am
Was I 7 when I went to Music Plus on Golden West with my Grandma and got the Shaun Cassidy Album?!! Thanks for the tune I’ll be singing all day!
At this very moment the song that is my theme song is “Since You’ve Been Gone,” by Kelly Clarkson! Love that song. It’s not longer my guilty pleasure. That’s a true chick song. Ok…i’m not quite 20something Chick like these days…but hey…it works.
Comment by Thoughtsgalore — February 3, 2006 @ 9:29 am
Pauly - Hmm, I’ve heard those things can start to grow teeth and hair. What if it starts talking to you? Threatening you? Worse, it could steal your material. Start using it as its own.
Yeah, best to have it lanced.
Comment by Lena — February 3, 2006 @ 9:38 am
mine would have to be janis ian’s “at seventeen”:
I learned the truth at seventeen
That love was meant for beauty queens
And high school girls with clear skinned smiles
Who married young and then retired
The valentines I never knew
The Friday night charades of youth
Were spent on one more beautiful
At seventeen I learned the truth
And those of us with ravaged faces
Lacking in the social graces
Desperately remained at home
Inventing lovers on the phone
Who called to say come dance with me
And murmured vague obscenities
It isn’t all it seems
At seventeen.
[sniff] this song really helped me understand and sympathize with all those losers who couldn’t get dates and who cheated at solitaire. it was life-changing, really.
Comment by dgm — February 3, 2006 @ 9:41 am
Mine is “Sweet Child ‘O Mine” by GNR - I have no idea how it started, I just really like the song, but a friend and I have a pact that any time I hear it, no matter where I am at, I have to dance. It has now morphed into I have to do my infamous “Air Guitar”. I even have friends over the past few years who have played the song at their receptions and dedicated it to me. It will be my legacy. I’m so proud…
Comment by Alissa — February 3, 2006 @ 9:50 am
Mine would be “Who let the dogs out?” since it’s usually me. I’m a sucker for the agitation they show when they really need to use the great outdoors.
Comment by Figs — February 3, 2006 @ 9:53 am
Mine is “The Macarena” - simply because I think it’s time somebody brought that song back.
Comment by Dave2 — February 3, 2006 @ 9:55 am
Apollo’s “Joy”, (the 70’s synthesize-infused version of Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.”)
But if there were a whole soundtrack to my life? “We Close Our Eyes” Oingo Boingo, “Coin Operated Boy” The Dresden Dolls, “Out of My Mind” James Blunt, “Blackbird” The Beatles, “Be a Lemonhead” The Elevator Drops, “Heroes” David Bowie, “Elevation” U2, “Bad Reputation” Freddy Johnston…OK, did I mention my soundtrack is a double CD set?
Comment by Flower Girl — February 3, 2006 @ 10:00 am
mine’s Hot for Teacher.
ha. totally kidding. that’s gross.
ummm…maybe Eat It, by Weird Al. or Untouchable Face by Ani DiFranco. you know, because i’m an unstable girl with an eating disorder.
Comment by kristine — February 3, 2006 @ 10:07 am
“Too Shy” by Kajagoogoo. Not so much anymore. I’m totally “still waters run deep”, and “watch out for the quiet ones.” Although hubby might say, “The Bitch is Back” but only every 30 days or so.
Comment by Rachel — February 3, 2006 @ 10:11 am
My current life theme song is “Grey Street” by Dave Matthews. I clearly have some issues to work through. Although I do have a list of songs (17 to be exact) that are kind of my soundtrack. Although come to think of it, I’m also kind of “Regulators” by Warren G, and “The Devil Went Down to Georgia” because I have an almost unreasonable amount of love for that song.
See how COMPLEX I am?
Comment by Amber — February 3, 2006 @ 10:20 am
Gee must I have to “think” so hard this morning Pauly?!
~sigh~
Okay I’ve drunk enough coffee to keep me semi-awake and that’ll have to do…
For some reason growing up I have two songs that will eternally be mine, why you ask? I have no idea but all my “old” friends agree.
Jon bon Jovi “shot through the heart” - I’m a sucker for cheese.
Guns n Roses “paradise city”- Love this song
No matter where I am, I have to sing loudly and out of tune if one of these two songs come on…
Comment by virenda — February 3, 2006 @ 10:35 am
wow, some of you people are really serious. maybe next week pauly should ask about the quote that appears next to your senior high school yearbook picture.
Comment by dgm — February 3, 2006 @ 10:58 am
mine’s by outkast, hey ya
shake it like a polaroid picture
Comment by better safe than sorry — February 3, 2006 @ 11:56 am
Dgm - My highschool year book quote was “You’ve got your whole life ahead of you, unless you turn around.”
Analyze that.
Comment by Pauly D — February 3, 2006 @ 12:00 pm
What a tough question!! I’ll have to get back on this one.
Comment by Kristin — February 3, 2006 @ 12:06 pm
Although I do like Ooooh Child or Ob-la-dee
Comment by Kristin — February 3, 2006 @ 12:06 pm
This may sound a little Desperado…but mine is “Desperado” by the Eagles.
Comment by H. F. Peterman — February 3, 2006 @ 12:14 pm
“Crawling From the Wreckage” by Dave Edmunds (written by Graham Parker!)
“You’d think by now at least that half my brain would get the message”
Comment by Steve Barton — February 3, 2006 @ 12:24 pm
This is my song….but I could be wrong.
Comment by meme — February 3, 2006 @ 3:22 pm
My personal theme: some days it’s “Hold On” by Wilson Philips. But, what happens to all that emotion and angst when they take “your” song and it becomes the jingle for a car or diapers or somesuch? I’ll tell you, they took “our” song, “Melt with you” by Modern English and sold it to Burger King! Now, when I hear it on the radio, my mouth waters. Well, actually that happened before they sold out.
Comment by susan — February 3, 2006 @ 3:48 pm
As befitting anyone who spends most of the day surfing:
Day Job - by the Dance Hall Crashers
http://www.mp3.com/tracks/1257106/dl_streams.html
Comment by C Ro — February 3, 2006 @ 4:08 pm
So this one summer, at band camp, the cafeteria had a working jukebox. By our third day, the director angrily pulled the plug, demanding to know who kept ordering up the 50 straight plays of Aerosmith’s “Rag Doll”…
“Yes, I’m movin’, Yes, I’m movin’
Get ready for the big time
Tap dancing on a land mine
Yes, I’m movin’, I’m really movin’
Yes, I’m movin’, Yes, I’m movin’
Get ready for the big time
Get crazy on the moonshine
Yes, I’m movin’, I’m really movin’
Sloe gin fizzy
Do it till you’re dizzy
Give it all you got until you’re put out of your misery!”
Comment by Sara J. — February 3, 2006 @ 8:42 pm
Um, and just for the official record… I have no idea who programmed the juke to play that song so many times.
Comment by Sara J. — February 3, 2006 @ 8:45 pm
Right now mine is “Fix You” by Coldplay. Love that song!
Comment by Jaclyn — February 3, 2006 @ 8:55 pm
Oh and “Cubicles” by My Chemical Romance.
Comment by Jaclyn — February 3, 2006 @ 8:56 pm
you are so not ’street.’
my theme song…
believe it or not, I”m walking on air
I never thought I could feel so free-ee-ee.
flyin’ away on a wing and a prayer
who could it be? believe it or not
IT’S KATH-LEEN!
Comment by Kathleen — February 3, 2006 @ 8:56 pm
“Jenny Says” by Cowboy Mouth. Surprising that they got me so right without actually having met me. Random chaos and angst, whoopee!
Comment by Jennifer — February 3, 2006 @ 9:49 pm
Okay, this is an easy one. One a good day it’s the 007 Theme and for every other day (that isn’t necessarily good or bad) it’s “Footloose”. I guess I’m into movie soundtracks.
Comment by kartooner — February 4, 2006 @ 7:50 am
ok this is gonna sound weird, but i was actually singing that song last week. i blame it on being sick. but that is too weird. i don’t have a personal theme song. you think up one for me.
Comment by Enigma — February 4, 2006 @ 4:01 pm
Maybe I’ve been reading too many pirate books with my little guy, cause all I can think of is “Yo! Ho! Blow the Man Down!”
Comment by groovebunny — February 5, 2006 @ 1:21 pm
what a wonderful theme song, mr. d. since my name is jill, i like it a lot. my theme song changes frequently but it is currently “texas plates” by kellie coffey.
Comment by jill — February 5, 2006 @ 7:40 pm
Oh dear blogger, I feel the need to post my personal theme song:
as sung by Cinderella, BTW a word that is not found in your entire blog ~ what’s up with that?, la, la, la…no matter how your heart is grieving if you keep on believing, the dream that you wish will come true! “sing with me….”
Words to live by or at least dream by!
Smooch,
The Tart
Comment by Jody ~ Cheap Tart — February 8, 2006 @ 12:16 pm
I just came upon your comments on “Da Doo Ron Ron” by chance & thought my little story might give you a laugh, or maybe at least a smile. In August, 1977, I was driving my hour’s drive home from work trying to think of names for my first child who was due in Sept. I was trying to think of a name (boy’s & girl’s) that would go well with my last name (so the kid wouldn’t cringe every time someone called his/her name in school) when this Shaun Cassidy song came on the radio. “Somebody told me that her name was Jill”. Jill rhymes with my name, Phil, which I always thought sounded okay. So when I got home I suggested “Jill” to my wife & she thought it was great. Only it would have to be Jillian, Jill for short, she said. But with only one “L” , I said, Jil, like Phil (and, more formally, Jilian). I don’t remember if I ever told my daughter Jil that Shaun Cassidy named her, but I guess I can now. What the heck, she’s 28 and a banker, she can handle it.
Comment by Phil — April 28, 2006 @ 2:16 am