Saturday 9: Yesterday (1965)
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.
Chosen because June 18 is Paul McCartney's 80th birthday.
1) Paul McCartney sings that yesterday all his troubles seemed so far away. Can you recall a time when your life seemed carefree? When I was in college and younger I didn't really have a care in the world. Those were good times.
2) He has always insisted the melody to "Yesterday" came to him in a dream. Did you dream last night? I did, but I cannot remember right now what it was about.
3) The lyrics were inspired, in part, by the death of Paul's mother when he was 14. Thirteen years later, he named his daughter Mary after her. Are you named after anyone? If you're a parent, did you name your children in honor of anyone? I was named after my aunt Linda...my middle name is Lynn. I named Josh after Joshua in the Bible.
4) Over the years, Paul has performed on bass, acoustic and electric guitars, keyboards and drums, but not the first instrument he owned: the trumpet. A present from his dad for his 14th birthday, he exchanged the trumpet for a guitar because, "you can't sing while playing the trumpet." Have you more recently a) exchanged a gift, b) donated a gift you didn't want to charity or c) regifted? I don't really do any of those things with gifts, but maybe re-gift. I am sure I have done that at some point. I love everything people give me.
5) Paul grew up seeing how much his dad enjoyed placing a bet and then listening to the horse race from his favorite armchair in the living room, so he took his salary from making the film A Hard Day's Night and surprised his father with a racehorse. After father and son proudly watched Drake's Drum win at Liverpool's Aintree Racecourse, the horse retired to Paul's farm in Scotland. If money were no object, what gift would you give a loved one? I would gift my family a new house and move my mom in with us.
6) Paul is considered one of the world's wealthiest entertainers, worth an estimated $1.2 billion. This month, as he approaches his 80th birthday, he is winding up a 16-city North American tour, during which he performs 30+ songs in a 2 hour, 40 minute show. If you had all the money you needed, would you continue to work? Or would you kick back and relax? I would kick back and relax. I love teaching, but life is not about work. I would actually travel. You guys know I never go anywhere.
7) Paul first joined the Beatles when he was recruited into the band by John Lennon. They met as teenagers when Paul showed up at a church picnic where John's band was performing. Paul recalls pedaling over on his bike to hear them, his guitar flung over this back. When did you most recently ride a bike? Oh goodness! It was probably in middle school or so. I do not have my bike anymore.
8) Paul met his first wife, Linda, at a London club and then again four days later when she was a photographer at a press party for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Heart's Club Band. Think about one of your romances. Where did you meet? I met my husband Karl at church.
9) TV journalist Barbara Walters played matchmaker for Paul and his current wife, Nancy. During the summer of 2007, when Paul was vacationing in The Hamptons, Barbara repeatedly and intentionally invited them to the same parties and picnics. Have you had any success in a matchmaking scenario -- as either the matchmaker or one of the dates? no
I wanted to update you guys... if you are on my facebook you already know, but last Sunday Molly started being picky with her food and by Monday she was not eating or drinking. She drank a little bit on Tuesday, but she was not feeling any good. We decided to take her in Wednesday at 8:00AM and put her to sleep (she has had bladder cancer if you didn't remember and it was quick...she was acting great until last weekend and was having more blood in her urine and sleeping more). This has been very hard on all of us including our dog Meisha. I had a mammogram yesterday and when I got home Josh was on his hands and knees scrubbing the carpet of stains where Molly had an accident or threw up. If you would not mind, keep us in your prayers, but especially Josh. He did go back to work today, so hopefully that will help also to keep his mind off of things. The first picture on the upper left is her puppy picture, lower left is a year old, upper right is about 2 years ago and lower right where the pic collage logo is was the day before she died. She even looks like she doesn't feel good. Well, she is with Mandy now and not in pain anymore. We miss her so much.