Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Since U Been Gone (2005)

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

 

1) In this song, Kelly Clarkson is dissatisfied with her relationship and she's moving on. What's something you've moved on from lately? It could be anything from a romance to the laundry detergent you've been using for years. I've moved on from Trader Joe's. I don't have a car and walk everywhere, and somehow it doesn't seem worth the extra couple blocks when Target is closer. 

 

2) She sings that she can now breathe. Studies have shown that July can be a good month for allergy sufferers because trees and grasses are no longer pollinating. How are your eyes, ears, nose and throat this morning? No complaints.

 

3) Kelly complains that their romance reminds her of a "stupid love song." Let's be more positive: what love song do you associate with positive memories? This is the song I first recall hearing Paul McCartney sing on The Ed Sullivan Show, back when I was 6 years old. It's the moment I fell in love with him. I saw him perform it live in concert at Wrigley Field in 2011. He's coming back to Chicago this fall – just in time for my birthday! – and I hope to be in the audience when he sings it live once again.

 

 

 

 

4) While Kelly's first love is music, she's established herself as a TV personality. In addition to her daytime talk show, she's been a judge on The Voice and hosted an awards show. Have you ever been on TV? Oh, this feels so long ago now! I was at a downtown hotel (The Congress?) on November 3, 1992, with a crowd of other Clinton campaign volunteers, awaiting the election results. This was before BIG flat screen TVs. Instead there were several sets positioned around the conference room and I was sitting on the floor, looking up at one, as Bill gave his acceptance speech live from Little Rock. A local station (channel 7?) captured the moment and used it as part of a news story about how much younger Bill's campaign workers and voters were than Bush's. I was 35 at the time and didn't feel all that young (but hey! I could still easily sit on the floor and bounce back up) but there I was in the front row. I didn't see it, of course. I was still downtown partying. But my mom did and was quite proud. 

5) She has confessed a weakness for Doritos. Would we find salty snacks in your kitchen right now? No. But that's just because I have finished them all.

 

6) Kelly has found her weight the source of public debate. Are you like Kelly, whose weight fluctuates? Or does it stay stable? I was thin until I had my hysterectomy at 54. Then I rapidly gained a ton of weight and have never taken it off.

 

7) In 2005, when this song was popular, a motorist made news in Texas when he was ticketed for driving over 200 mph in a 75 mph zone. Have you ever been pulled over by the police? I have a vague recollection of being in a car that was pulled over back in the 1980s. The memory is hazy because I was pretty drunk but the driver was not. He was not ticketed for whatever it was and was very glad that I kept my mouth shut for once while he was talking to the officer.

 
8) Also in 2005, Tom Cruise had a pop culture moment when he famously jumped on a sofa. Do you remember where he did this? Oprah.

 

9) Random question: Tell us about a photo you wish you'd taken, but didn't. Over the 4th of July weekend I got together with my friends Patty and Bob. I wish one of us had thought to snap a picture.