Saturday 9

 No Roots (2017)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

1) This song is about a woman who has moved a lot and is always packing boxes. Do you have packing materials (boxes, bubble wrap, packing tape, etc.) in your home right now? Do you have them on hand to ship things, or are you preparing for a move? I save padded envelopes, boxes and bubblewrap to send things to friends. My collection of these items is far greater than my need for them. That's why my home is so overstuffed.

 

2) She sings that she moves from place to place, collecting memories. Would you rather travel light and travel often, or put down roots? Put down roots.

3) She can recall all the gates and house numbers of all the places she's lived. Does your current residence have a fence and gate? Did your previous one? I haven't lived in a home with a fence or gate since I left my parents' house about 200 years ago.

4) This week's artist, Alice Merton, moved often as a child as her father's job took the family from Germany to the US to Canada to England back to Germany ... She wrote this song to help her deal with feelings of loneliness and longing. When you're feeling overwhelmed, how do you work through the feelings? I write. I call my friends. I cuddle my cats.

 

5) Alice is still on the move. Soon she'll be performing throughout Europe. Have you ever had a job that required you to travel? If yes, did you enjoy it? Business travel doesn't bother me. I prefer to arrive the night before so I don't have to stress over making the meeting on time, but as companies get cheaper they're more reluctant to spring for those hotel rooms. Too bad. I like hotel rooms. The little soaps! The pillows! The big screen TVs! The wake up calls!

6) "No Roots" is a favorite of Kelly Clarkson's, who has performed it on tour and on TV. When you think of Kelly, is at as a singer, a judge on The Voice, or as a talk show host? I like her best as a singer. Here she is from Season 1 of American Idol. What a charmer!

 

 

7) In 2017, when this song was popular, Faye Dunaway made Oscar history by announcing the wrong winner for the biggest award of the night, Best Picture. It wasn't her fault as she was given the wrong envelope, but she's one who made the on-screen flub seen around the world. Have you recently had an embarrassing moment? I had gut trouble last month when my oldest friend and I were sharing a bathroom. That was pretty mortifying. Fortunately I've known her since Kindergarten. I've seen her through some embarrassing moments, too.

 

8) Wonder Woman was 2017's most popular movie. She was originally introduced in a 1941 DC comic book. Comic books remain a big business. Have you ever been to a comic book store? I've walk past one regularly but I have never been tempted to go in.

9) Random question: Is your skin itchy this morning? Nope. Ask me again in the winter. I guarantee my answer will be different.