MFC: The Golden Oldies
Not too long ago, Leen told me I needed to clean my side of the closet. Our closet is long and poorly designed. It's also terribly insulated and thus freezing. The people who added the walk-in closet to the upstairs bedroom may have needed more design sense and definitely needed to have better DIY skills. As constructed, it has some space for hanging and three shelves for folded clothes, as you would expect, but it also has 15 little cubbies, which I can only assume are for shoes. This is inconvenient, as I keep most of my shoes on the ground floor and not up in the closet. Each side of the closet has the same layout, so Leen and I have space for 30 pairs of shoes upstairs. This cuts into the space that we have for other clothes or other storage.
I've taken to shoving T-shirts into these little cubbies, but then T-shirts get forgotten as the cubbies run nearly 18 inches in depth, and sometimes I don't want to bend down to see what T-shirt is in the cubby in the way back. So, I decided to clean out my closet, a spring cleaning type. I typically just threw things away when I'd destroyed them. But now I'm in this phase of my fashion life where I don't do that much to destroy them. The exception to that is my sweatpants. I play a lot of games at floor level that involve crawling like the animal game.
The animal game involves Eliot thinking of an animal that starts with the letter A. I pretend to be, say, an alligator, then move on to B, where I am a bear. You get the idea: crocodile, dingo, eagle, all the way up to Z. This requires lots of crawling, and as such, many of my sweatpants have developed toddler-like knees and lots of wear and tear.
So last night, with Leen's help and keen eye, we decided which clothes to toss and which to keep. This meant trying on everything in my closet and deciding whether to throw it away, donate it, or keep it.
In Qatar, I had to wear button-up shirts every day; it was part of the teacher's dress code. They wanted us to look like professionals, which often meant suit and tie. But because I'm an iconoclast, I convinced leadership to let us wear ties and, sometimes, just blazers. But still, I had lots of tailored shirts made by Indian men, and now, since I sit at a desk in my bedroom and wear sweatshirts a lot, I don't have a lot of need for bespoke dress shirts. So while they're all lovely, they're all wasted, hanging in a closet, taking up space. Many of them had shrunk, or it's possible that I grew.
It seems odd that I would hit a growth spurt in my late 30s, but it's possible. Many of those shirts went to the donation pile last night. I hoped to feel more catharsis at the end of this process, like ripping off a Band-Aid. But instead, I feel malaise at my indecision.
The problem was I convinced myself there would be a moment in the future when this one shirt would be essential to making an outfit. Many T-shirts fell into the "save these for the boys" category. I have a Boston Celtics jersey number five. People who know anything about the Celtics might think this is a Kevin Garnett jersey, which is understandable. He is the most famous number five in Celtics history. But my number 5 is a Ron Mercer jersey. This is one of those jerseys that somebody could wear to Bonnaroo or Lollapalooza. In about 15 years, people will lose their minds when they see it. So I had to save it for Roman or Eliot to wear to Coachella 2039.
Typically, I don't consider myself very sentimental. I routinely throw away random pictures that the boys drew or things my mom saved for me for 30 years. For example, my mom delivered my retainer the other day. Why I didn't throw that out after the need for the retainer was done is a mystery. Still, I knew definitively that I could toss it when she delivered it in the green box, which had probably been unopened for over 20 years.
And yet, T-shirts? Sweaters that I like? More complicated to dispose of those — especially when you can't envision where they'll end up.
I once tried to sell some of my stuff at Buffalo Exchange. It's a place where you take a bag of clothing, and some discerning youth sifts through your clothing and then picks which options they want to pay you for. I took in many pieces of clothing, and the clerk told me they'd give me seven dollars: no harm, no foul, just a little dent to my ego. Maybe my fashion sense isn't as good as I thought it was.
I don't think I'll try that with this set of clothing. I think this whole set, the pants, the shirts, the socks, all of it will go to St. Vincent de Paul or Goodwill. It's easier to pull up and drop the garbage bag of stuff into the bin and drive away. No dents to the ego that way. It's all accepted. And if somebody throws it out before it even makes it to the floor, well, then I don't know about it.
In the spirit of old things, this week's songs are classics.
They're not the newest songs; they might not even be the best songs by the artists, but they're my favorite, the sticky ones, the ones that held on.
This Week's Theme: Oldies But Goodies
Song
Sinnerman
Artist
Nina Simone
Released
1962
Lyric
So I run to the Lord
Please hide me, Lord
Don't you see me prayin'?
Don't you see me down here prayin'?
One Word
Spiritual
|More Than One Word|
How much do you know about Renée Magritte? I'd venture to say most of your knowledge comes from one or two paintings you've seen here or there. You might not be able to identify them by name. I can, probably only because I took high school French classes with my mom. She was fond of teaching us about influential French artists. So much so that when I was in college, I decided it would be a great idea to go as Magritte's "Son of Man" for Halloween. It's the painting where the person wears a bowler hat and a suit and has an apple in front of his face. Magritte, you see, was a surrealist. I was trying to be a surrealist with this costume. It bombed. No one knew who I was. I guess Dali is the only surrealist anyone knows.
Magritte is not officially involved in the film The Thomas Crown Affair, which stars Pierce Brosnan and Renée Russo. However, the wardrobe choice described above plays a key role in a pivotal scene.
I'm not going to spoil a 25-year-old film, but Brosnan plays a wealthy businessman who masterminds a daring art heist at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. He's trying to escape using a collection of men dressed like the "Son of Man" character to distract the authorities. The police are watching on a series of security cameras. Dennis Leary, the guy from "The Wire," and Renée Russo look on as Nina Simone's "Sinnerman" sets the tempo for Brosnan's daring work.
It only JUST hit me that "Son of Man" and "Sinnerman" SOUND A LOT A LIKE—inspired musical choice.
Watching this film is probably the first time I ever heard this song. I've listened to the whole thing in subsequent years because the art heist only takes five minutes, and the song is closer to 10. Nevertheless, it's a dynamic song choice full of energy, mystery, and all-around good vibes.
In the song, Simone combines gospel, jazz, and folk to tell the story of a sinner man. He's led a life of wrongdoing and is trying to evade the consequences of those actions. It's a perfectly selected song for an art heist. Wherever the sinner runs, they cannot escape. The song continues to build as Simone gets more impassioned as she questions, "Sinnerman, where are you gonna run to?" The song is about sin and the struggle for salvation, much like "The Thomas Crown Affair." In closing, some people will tell you that "GoldenEye" is Pierce Brosnan's best James Bond film, but for my money, his work in "The Thomas Crown Affair" is actually his best Bond film, despite it not being a Bond film at all.
Song
Hard to Handle
Artist
Otis Redding
Released
1968
Lyric
Action speaks louder than word and I'm a man of a great experience
I know you got you another man but I can love you better than him
One Word
Pick-Me
|More Than One Word|
This would be one of those examples of a song that I consider a favorite, though many might not have it even in their top three. Redding is probably famous for that song where he whistles—sitting on the bay dock. Redding became famous during the 1960s because of his powerful performances, memorable voice, And poignant writing. Famously, Redding kicked off the summer of love at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967, and his legendary appearance introduced his music to a broader audience. Otis was about to be the next big thing in music if not for his untimely death, as his plane crashed into a lake in Madison, Wisconsin, in 1967 at the age of 26.
I was watching Top Chef last week, and the contestants took a break at the Monona Terrace. Frank Lloyd Wright designed the building, so the contestants did a challenge in the spirit of Frank Lloyd Wright's architecture. No one mentioned that the lake they were looking at was the same one that Otis Redding crashed into. It's ironic, perhaps tragically so, that his most famous song is about sitting and looking at a body of water. And then he crashed and died.
Released in 1968 on his posthumous album "The Immortal Otis Redding," the song "Hard to Handle" has an infectious groove. In 1990, a band called the Black Crowes covered the song, and it became a massive hit. I have to assume that the cover is currently more popular than the original, but this is sort of like the book being better than the movie. No shots at the Crows, but for my money, Otis Redding did it better.
Not to co-opt a classic song with a petty squabble, but I want to write about something that’s hard to handle. Today, I went and got a manicure. I used to get them frequently in Qatar, and today, after doing some good work, I decided to treat myself to a good cut. Long story short: the woman did a terrible job and left my nails filthy. As if she thought that having dirty nails was a signifier of a job well done. NOT FOR ME JENNIFER. NOT FOR ME. I came for you to remove the dirt, not leave it there as a reminder.
Hard to handle, for sure.
Song
Gimme Shelter
Artist
The Rolling Stones
Released
1969
Lyric
Rape, murder
It's just a shot away
It's just a shot away
One Word
Violent
|More Than One Word|
Alongside the Beatles, the Rolling Stones are one of history's most iconic and influential rock bands. They defined the sound and ethos of the British invasion during the 1960s. They were at the forefront of the global music scene for a better part of the last 50, no, closer to 60 years. It would be hard to overstate their influence on music, culture, and society as they inspire generations of new musicians and fans. They definitely sell merch at Target, so I mean, that's huge for them.
Different people rank different Rolling Stones songs in their top five. I think it's pretty common to see Satisfaction, Painted Black, Jumping Jack Flash, and Sympathy for the Devil in the top five. For me, though, Gimme Shelter is number one. The song has one of those instantly recognizable opening riffs played by Keith Richards. Combine that with Mick Jagger's legendary vocals and delivery as he sings with ease about desperation. The powerful backing vocals (RAPE, MURDER: I’ts Just A Shot Away) sung by a woman named Merry Clayton are a mere cherry on top. Put it all together, and you have a song with a haunting quality and staying power.
Obviously, the song has been used repeatedly in pop culture. From multiple Scorsese films to many dramatic moments on television in video games and probably in commercials and whatever else you can find. This song is everywhere. But that's because it slaps. Despite being nearly 65 years old, the song has a powerful and timeless appeal, so it made my top 100.
Song
Anyone for Tennis
Artist
Cream
Released
1968
Lyric
And the ice creams are all melting on the streets of bloody beer
While beggars stain the pavement with fluorescent Christmas cheer
And the Bentley driving guru is putting up his price.
Anyone for tennis, wouldn't that be nice?
One Word
Unusual
|More Than One Word|
I went out for the tennis team in my first year of high school. Initially, I made the JV team, which is basically what happens when you show up — no one gets cut from the tennis team. But I had aspirations to go higher. I joined a doubles team with a senior who went by the nickname herm. Herm had a nonchalance on the tennis court that I did not have when I started playing the sport. I was a bit of a hot-head. Quick to anger, slow to recover.
Tennis is a sport that is equally as mentally and physically challenging. Don't get me wrong; you must have incredible athleticism and outstanding hand coordination. However, there's also a part where you just need the right mindset to win the point and keep playing.
I am reminded of my time on the Reedsburg Beaver tennis team because recently, I was asked to write a Facebook post for a brand piggybacking on the upcoming Zendaya film Challengers. Suppose you haven't been paying attention to Zendaya in 2024, coming off of her Dune 2 role. In that case, she is playing a tennis player turned tennis coach who inspires her husband to tennis greatness by way of maybe starting a relationship with her former boyfriend and her husband's best friend.
All of this is somewhat tennis-related but very sexual.
I'm not sure that the brand I'm writing for wants to play in the thruple swimming pool this film seems to be in, but I write the things that people assign to me.
In my attempt to find inspiration for this post, I spent a lot of time thinking about my career on the tennis court, which did not involve any Zendaya-like figures. My coach was a 6'4 calculus teacher who used the word "dink" long before it gained popularity on the Pickleball scene. He does my taxes. He's a great mind, both mathematical and tennis. However, I wonder how I would've flourished if a Zendaya-esque figure was my coach.
Anyway, in search of something to get the creative juices flowing, I spent a lot of time listening to Cream's Anyone for Tennis. Cream was a British rock band formed in 1966, and it mainly consisted of Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker. They are considered one of the first super-groups in rock history.
I have to hand it to them. Cream is a great band name, especially for a band made up of three world-class musicians on their respective instruments. With Clapton on guitar, Bruce on bass, and Baker on the drums, Cream showcased the best that music had to offer at the time —the cream of the crop if you will.
Some may prefer their other hits, White Room, Sunshine of Your Love, and Crossroads. But for me, this goofy song, Anyone for Tennis, does it. The band existed only briefly, but this irreverent song brings me great joy and reminds me that even when going for greatness. It's OK to be silly and unusual sometimes.
Herm taught me something like that as well. But I think his most lasting impact was that whenever he needed to calm me down on the tennis court, he would quote the Destiny's Child song Bootylicious and look at me and say, "They weren't ready for this jelly." That song will not be making the top 100. But I wanted to check it here as a way of remembering Herm.
Anyone for tennis? Wouldn't that be nice?
Song
For Your Love
Artist
The Yardbirds
Released
1964
Lyric
(For your love) I'd give the moon if it were mine to give
(For your love) I'd give the stars and the sun, for I live
(For your love) To thrill you with delight
One Word
Loving
|More Than One Word|
Eric Clapton, as an individual artist will not be making the list. But this song, or at least his work on it, marks his third appearance in some way, shape, or form in the top 100 (he also played guitar on the Beatles While My Guitar Gently Weeps). That's a pretty good legacy for an artist who, as a solo artist, I wouldn't say I like that much. Granted, if rumors are true, he hated this song so much he left the band. Regardless…
Wonderful Tonight is a snooze and I can't write another word about Clapton without saying the last half of Layla is genuinely boring. I remember someone adding it to our soccer team's warm-up CD in high school. There's no doubt that the beginning of that song goes hard. The guitar showcases Clapton's incredible ability. But then, and it's like the person who added this song never even listened to it all the way through; it becomes a melodious piano ballad.
It's not pump-up music. It's fine. But if I wanted a good piano, I would put on Bach. Anyway, Clapton is widely regarded as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He played the guitar with a blues flare and wrote original compositions that shaped the direction of Rob's music for years to come.
The Yardbirds served as a launching pad for three of the greatest guitarists in rock history, featuring Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. All of these guys are part pioneers of the British R&B and rock scenes and established the band as one of the most exciting acts of the time, but unfortunately, not one of the most long-lasting acts in history. This band has been forgotten and overshadowed by these men's successes in subsequent phases of their careers. With that in mind, it's essential to take a moment and reflect on how cool this song is. Albeit be it fanciful.
He wants to give the moon to someone? That's dangerous, as I've already covered in other posts.
Also, he wishes to give the stars to someone.
That's a bad idea; stars are just hotter suns. Don't give people stars—bad idea.
It's a good song but that is a definitively bad idea.
