The Regular Friday Post
Rando Lyric: What else can we do
Last week’s rando lyrics: The lyric, “I'm glad that we are different ” is from the song "Let’s Live For Today”. The Grass Roots version was written by Guido Guilio, Michael Canciarelli & David Shapiro, and performed by The Grass Roots. It was recorded and released in 1967 on the Dunhill label. Produced by P.F. Sloan & Steve Barri..
From Wikipedia:
“"Let's Live for Today" is a song written by David "Shel" Shapiro and Italian lyricist Mogol, with English lyrics provided by Michael Julien.[1][2] It was first recorded, with Italian lyrics, under the title "Piangi con me" (translating as "Cry with Me") by the Italian-based English band the Rokes in 1966.[1][2] Later, when "Piangi con me" was due to be released in the United Kingdom, publisher Dick James Music requested that staff writer Julien compose English lyrics for the song.[2]
The song was popularized by the American rock band the Grass Roots,[1] who released it as a single on May 13, 1967.[3] The Grass Roots' version climbed to number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, eventually selling over two million copies and being awarded a gold disc.[1][4][5] The song also became the title track of the Grass Roots' second album, Let's Live for Today.[6] Since its initial release, the Grass Roots' rendition of the song has become a staple of oldies radio programming in America and is today widely regarded by critics as a 1960s classic.[2]”
Credit: Wikipedia Links: Single: Let's Live For Today Album: Let's Live For Today
See Also: Genius: “The 1967 American version of the 1966 Italian hit by The Rokes “Piangi con me”. Link Single: Let's Live For Today
Welcome to The Regular Friday post!
Today’s “A Song To Play” is a song from my (barely) pre-teen days, but the Wikipedia excerpt above is right - it was a 1960s classic - The Grass Roots were nearly as inescapable at times as other pop bands - like Tommy James and the Shondells, Paul Revere and The Raiders and all the others that tried to compete with the Beatles and Rolling Stones. It was the best of times and….
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Some Stuff:
The woods are lovely, dark and deep…. (Ed - yes I’m aware of what some commenters believe those poetic lyrics are a metaphor, umm, for…I’m fine!) across the street from my house…..kinda tired of winter though….
Some Links (Ed. - limited to timely links this week from Music Business Worldwide)
Industry Moves - Apple and other places - Moves at Apple always interest me - they pay more per stream than Spotify, but Spotify has definitely nailed the interface “ease-of-use-and-sharing” model. Hope this takes some of the clunkiness out of Apple Music and gives Spotify a real competitor. We’ll see.
Music Pirates - Argggghhhhh…..
* An exception to the MBW hegemony this week. This is a wise and interesting take on the “biz”…
Pharrell Williams (“trendhop” is such an interesting word….)
A Song To Play:
A 4/4 common time, middle of the road tempo at 115 BPM, but a somewhat unusual Key of EMajor. The result is a lot of sorta quick changes (115 BPM is not exactly light speed, but it does move along…) between barre and cowboy chords. Try it using the chord diagrams below if you’re up for it (or advanced enough to be used to it). If it’s too challenging, try capoing on 4 and use the chords Am, C, F, G, and Em (Ed. - I’m going to leave it to you to use your transposing skills).
Have fun!! …lol
Chordify Link: Let's Live For Today
Lyrics Credit: Genius Link: Let's Live For Today
[Verse 1]
When I think of all the worries
That people seem to find
And how they're in a hurry
To complicate their minds
By chasing after money
And dreams that can't come true
I'm glad that we are different
We've better things to do
May others plan their future
I'm busy loving you
[Chorus]
One, two, three, four
Sha-la, la-la-la-la, live for today (Hey, hey, hey)
Sha-la, la-la-la-la, live for today
And don't worry 'bout tomorrow, hey
Sha-la, la-la-la-la, live for today
Live for today
[Verse 2]
We were never meant to worry
The way that people do
And I don't need to hurry
As long as I'm with you
We'll take it nice and easy
And use my simple plan
You'll be my lovin' woman
I'll be your lovin' man
We'll take the most from living
Have pleasure while we can
[Chorus]
Two, three, four
Sha-la, la-la-la-la, live for today (Hey, hey, hey)
Sha-la, la-la-la-la, live for today
And don't worry 'bout tomorrow, hey
Sha-la, la-la-la-la, live for today
Live for today
[Bridge]
Baby, I need to feel you inside of me
I got to feel you deep inside of me
Baby, please come close to me
I got to have you now, please
Please, please, please
Gimme some-a loving
Gimme some-a loving
To gimme some-a loving
To gimme some-a loving
Baby, gimme some-a loving
Gimme some-a loving
Got to have all your loving
Gimme some-a loving
I need all your loving
Give me some love
Now I need all your loving
[Chorus]
Sha-la, la-la-la-la, live for today (Hey, hey, hey)
Sha-la, la-la-la-la, live for today
And don't worry 'bout tomorrow, hey
Sha-la, la-la-la-la, live for today
Sha-la, la-la-la-la, live for today
The “ME!” Section…..
What I’m Listening2: - “The Upper 25” (This week I took the 25 songs that were at the top of my “Liked Songs” list - I think those were in a temporal order rather than “favorite” order) - 25 playable songs (Note - you may have to go to Ultimate Guitar or Chordify - subscriptions required, but worth it - to find chord charts for them)!
Shameless Self Promotion Section:
My song is out! Link: “>Long Road Back<”click on this link for streaming options, then scroll down for links (or just click on these links) to Amazon, Apple, Pandora, iTunes and even Spotify
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Disclaimer Section
This Substack is free, I receive no compensation of any kind from companies or products I mention (except when you click on one of the links above for my song - then I might make 0.003 cents - yes 3/1000ths of a cent… just sayin…). Some linked or quoted material may be copyrighted by others, and I credit them. I rely on the “Fair Use” doctrine for educational purposes (Link: Fair Use). *I do not use AI for any of the text that’s found here, things I link to (such as some images) might…
-Michael Acoustic
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This Week’s Conversation With Mika, The Cat:
Mika: “I swear you are the funniest looking cat I’ve ever seen!“
Me: “I’m not a cat…”
Mika: “That’s why you’re so funny lookin’…” (belly laugh…cat humor…)
Cheers and keep playing!!
Michael Acoustic
“It’s never really final - you just run out of things you can bear to change…”
Great song, brings back memories.
The Pharrell article was really helpful. Plan to quote it in my next post. Thanks for that!
Are you sure Mika wasn't using jazz lingo? She seems like a cool cat.
fun song to play, Michael!