Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Hold On (1990)

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

 

1) This song gives encouragement to someone who is enduring heartache. Have you more recently given support, or received it? Received. I find myself in a new situation. My niece's baby – my grandniece – has been born but she's a preemie (36? weeks and not quite 5 lbs.) and she's been kept in the hospital a few more days. Plus, the birth mother can still legally change her mind about the adoption. So I'm confused. How much celebration is appropriate now? Do I start sending cards and gifts or do I wait until the baby is home in the nursery my niece and her husband have prepared for her? My nephew – my niece's kid brother – has been my sounding board and advisor. He's sensitive and wise for one so young and I appreciate it.

 

2) "Hold On" is featured prominently in the 2011 movie Bridesmaids. It's an anthem for the friends in the film and they love to sing it together. Is there a song that reminds you of good times with a good friend? "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" was my friend John's favorite song. By far. Whenever it came on he would light up like a candle and stop what he was doing to announce, "Yes! This is what I'm talking about!" Even if we were at his home and he knew to expect it. This song brought him such joy, and the joy was infectious. (I miss him so very much.) 

 

 

 

3) The video for this song finds Wilson Phillips outdoors on a snowy mountainside and then on a sandy beach. What's the view outside your window? A lovely pale blue, cloudless sky.

 

4) The mountain segments were filmed in California's San Gabriel Mountains. The girls were flown to the set by helicopter. Have you ever been in a helicopter? No.

 

5) The members of Wilson Phillips are authentic "California Girls." Wendy and Carnie Wilson's father is Brian Wilson, who wrote the Beach Boys hit. Chynna Phillips is the daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas, who sang "California Dreamin'." Have you been to California? If yes, where did you visit? Los Angeles (including Hollywood and Beverly Hills), San Francisco, San Jose (and Freemont), San Diego and Hesperia.

 

6) Another generation of the Wilson family has entered the music business. Carnie's daughter/Brian Wilson's granddaughter, Lola Bonfiglio, participated in the current season of American Idol. Has a family member followed you in your chosen profession? Kinda sorta. I was an advertising writer and my nephew is now a baseball writer. But that's not why I take complete credit for his career choice. I'm the one who taught him to read a box score and I'm the one who took him to his first baseball game.

 

7) In 1990, when this song was popular, satellite radio was in its infancy and streaming was unheard of. Our cars gave us a choice of AM/FM and maybe CD player/tape deck. When you're driving and a favorite song comes on, are you more likely to sing along if you're alone? Or don't you care if anyone hears you? No car. But I never sing in front of people. I even just move my lips in church. I'm completely tone deaf and very embarrassed by my voice.

 
8) Also in 1990, actor Alan Hale Jr. died. He was "the skipper" on Gilligan's Island. Without looking it up, can you name the other six castaways? (If not the actors, then their characters.) Gilligan, the millionaire and his wife, the movie star, the professor and Mary Ann.

 

9) Random question: What superhero would you like to have as your best friend? I'm going to be very specific about this: Adam West as Batman. If he's not Adam West, then I don't want to hang with Batman.