Saturday 9

Saturday 9: Man I Need (2025)

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

 

1) In this song, Olivia Dean is looking for a man who wants to really communicate and doesn't make her "read between the lines." Tell us about a time when you felt you had to work hard to figure out what someone was trying to tell you. In my old life, when I worked in advertising, it took me a while to understand my client. They are a Fortune 50 company, but their internal culture is so nice, so considerate, that I didn't always understand at first what they really wanted. Example: It was kind of exciting when we went to their offices to present new creative concepts, and so lots of people not directly involved with the project at hand would be in attendance as I did my reveal. Afterward, the VP would go around the room and invite everyone to share their opinion. 

 

"I liked the picture in the first concept but the headline of the second concept." OR "I think it would be better if we made the type bigger." OR "Instead of a young woman on her phone, could we show a dad with his kids?" 

I'd be taking notes furiously. I'd get my team started on the requested revisions. Then the VP would call and say, "We're going with the first concept as is, no changes."

 

WHAT?!? I finally realized the VP just wanted to make all her coworkers feel heard. Which is not the same as actually paying attention to what they said.

 

I eventually learned to not make any revisions until I got that call from the VP. 

 

2) She's eager to meet his best friend and join their friend group. Have you made any new friends recently? Kinda/sorta. Christine has been in my movie Meetup for well over a year, but last month she invited me to hang with her away from the rest of the group. She shares my Cub love and has been texting me all week, asking me which of this weekend's festivities I'm attending. So yeah, I guess we're becoming friends.

 

I'm so excited!

 

3) "Man I Need" was a hit in the fall of 2025. It was so popular that, in addition to CDs, a special vinyl release was scheduled in time for Christmas (2025) gift giving. How do you listen to music most often? Do you play CDs, download, stream, or play vinyl records? Mostly I just say, "Alexa, play [insert artist here]." I'm too lazy to actually cross the room and put a CD into the player or even download an album.

 

4) Olivia Dean recalls that her first public performance was singing at a school talent show. If we had a Sat 9 talent show, what would you do to entertain us? I would stay seated. You do not want to see me dance or hear me sing.

 

5) She says she loved listening to her parents' music collection. How about you? Did you and your parents share musical tastes? How about you and your kids? My dad hated every artist I loved. He's been dead more than 30 years now. I often wonder how he'd feel about being so wrong about the Beatles being a flash in the pan. Come to think of it, he loathed Elvis, too. Always called him "Presley." Streisand bugged the shit out of him, too, but I think it was more her unconventional personality than her artistry.

 

6) Olivia likes to be dressed up when she gets onstage, favoring gowns and heels. She says of her audiences, "If you guys paid good money that you worked hard for, let me give you a show." How do you feel when you're invited to an event that calls for you to dress up? Are you enthusiastic about choosing your outfit, or would you rather keep it casual? I like to see other people dress up. I enjoy checking out their outfits. One of the reasons I look forward to going to the bank is that all the advisors look so handsome in their jackets and ties. All that said, I will be happy to remain in jeans and t-shirts for the rest of my life.

 
7) She enjoys classic film and lists Singin' in the Rain as her favorite. What's the last movie you watched? Do you recommend it to other Sat 9ers? I just watched Something of Value, a 1957 film starring Sidney Poitier and Rock Hudson available on Amazon Prime. It's really hopelessly dated and I don't recommend it, except for the fact that Sidney Poitier and Rock Hudson were ridiculously gorgeous.

 

 

8) In 2025, when this song was popular, the average price tag for a new vehicle was $47,690 and $25,100 for a used one. Are you planning to make a big purchase in 2026? Not $50,000 worth of big, but yes. This summer I want to get a new refrigerator. Hopefully by year-end, I'll have purchased a new bed, too. It's funny, but the bed I've kinda fallen in love with online sits totally on the floor and is being marketed for pre-teen boys. I'm going to go into the showroom and check it out in person. It's a full-size bed (not a twin) and has all those book cases and USB ports and I think it would make me happy.

But I don't have a skateboard or school trophies!

9) Random question: Are you better with love or money? Ha! This is kind of a race to the bottom for me. But I'll say money. It looks like I'm going to be OK in retirement. No trips to Versailles or the Incas or London – like some of my Facebook friends took over Christmas – but I am going to Hollywood for the TCM Film Festival and I don't break out in a cold sweat when I get a bill from my dentist and I never skimp on my cats' care or food. So that's something.