Saturday 9: Everybody Loves a Clown (1965)
Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.
1) Not everyone loves clowns. "Coulrophobia" is the irrational fear of clowns. Do you have any fears or phobias? I am scared of clowns. I'm also afraid of flying (or, to be more precise, crashing).
2) This week's featured artist, Gary Lewis, sings that he jokes a lot at parties. In social settings, are you more a talker or a listener? Talker. Though my friend Patrick said I could take over for Kelly Clarkson because I ask such good questions.
3) He's dreaming of a special girl. Do you often daydream? All the time.
4) Gary named his band The Playboys because they were always late to rehearsals and Gary joked that they would rather play than work. Do you tend to be early, late, or exactly on time? On time or late. I'm never more than 5 or 10 minutes late, but it happens. I think it's a passive rebellion to being slave to train schedule for my nearly 50-year working career.
5) Gary Lewis had first-hand knowledge of clowns. His father was famous funny man Jerry Lewis. Who always makes you laugh? My late uncle always made me laugh. When I was a little girl, I thought he brought magic into every room he entered. I miss him. Today, my nephew reliably makes me laugh.
6) In 2017, Gary was in the news when it became known that Jerry disinherited all six of his sons from his will. Have you ever attended the reading of a will? Until about 20 years ago, I didn't believe this was a real thing. I thought it only happened in Agatha Christie murder mysteries. But then in about 2005, my boss had to go to Nevada for the reading of his mother's will. He was gone for days ... delightful, productive, peaceful days. Then he came back. I hope he'd inherited enough to allow him to quit and get out of my way but alas, that wasn't the case.
7) This past summer found Gary Lewis on The My Generation Tour, performing with other acts from the mid-1960s, like The Lovin' Spoonful, The Hollies, and Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels. Do you enjoy listening to "the oldies?" Oh yes. Every morning I start my day with my shower radio, tuned to the oldies.
8) In 1965, when this song was popular, Muhammad Ali defeated Sonny Liston to become the heavyweight champion of the world. Have you ever attended a boxing match? Professional? No. But my longest-standing relationship was with a guy who was obsessed with the gym and kick boxing. It's hard to watch someone you care about be pummeled. (Just because he was committed doesn't mean he was good.)
9) Random question: What color is your toothbrush? White.
