For a rainy day… Actually Anita O’Day’s version of this song actually cheers me up.
Anita O’Day (born Anita Belle Colton; October 18, 1919 – November 23, 2006) was an American jazz singer widely admired for her sense of rhythm and dynamics, and her early big band appearances that shattered the traditional image of the “girl singer”. Refusing to pander to any female stereotype, O’Day presented herself as a “hip” jazz musician, wearing a band jacket and skirt as opposed to an evening gown. She changed her surname from Colton to O’Day, pig Latin for “dough,” slang for money. (From wikipedia)
I can’t remember the last time I listened to an album in it’s entirety over and over again. I’ve been doing that with these guys. Ladies and gentlemen, Nothing But Thieves.
Emerson, Lake and Palmer were a revelation to me. Musicians who bridged the gap between classical and rock music — along with other prog rockers like Yes, showed this young woman how cool classical music could be. This is one of their loveliest songs both musically and lyrically. And although, Emerson’s keyboards aren’t a strong feature of this song, they subtly add texture and substance to this beautiful piece. This song was special to someone once dear to me, so it evokes a poignant memory…
“Still… You Turn Me On”
Do you wanna be an angel
Do you wanna be a star
Do you wanna play some magic on my guitar
Do you wanna be a poet
Do you wanna be my string
You could be anything
Do you wanna be the lover of another
Undercover you could even be the man on the moon
Do you wanna be the player
Do you wanna be the string
Let me tell you something
It just don’t mean a thing
You see it really doesn’t matter
When you’re buried in disguise
By the dark glass on your eyes
Though your flesh has crystallized
Still…you turn me on
Still…you turn me on
Mmmm…you turn me on
Do you wanna be the pillow where I lay my head
Do you wanna be the feathers lying in my bed
Do you wanna be the cover of a magazine
Create a scene
Every day a little sadder
A little madder
Someone get me a ladder
Do you wanna be the singer
Do you wanna be the song
Let me tell you something
You just couldn’t be more wrong
You see I really have to tell you
That it all gets so intense
From my experience
It just doesn’t seem to make sense
Still…you turn me on
Mmmm…you turn me on, yeah
Mmmm…you turn me on.
Header image credit: Gijsbert Hankeroot via Getty Images
Meg Sorick, Author/Artist 