O was always going to have to be Roy Orbison, his nickname was, after all, The Big O, although even a cursory search on the internet will reveal that the term The Big O will not necessarily lead you to Roy Orbison.
For now, though, it does, and in particular to his hit, Oh, Pretty Woman. I think I remember it when it first came out, but that's the trouble with this memory lark, you can't really un-remember things. I just know that I know the song.
Where this is leading to is the film Pretty Woman, which used Roy Orbison's song on its soundtrack and which stars Julia Roberts and Richard Gere. The film is OK, but I am always surprised by the number of women who swoon over it for being "so romantic".
I suppose it is if your idea of romance is a multi-millionaire buying sexual services from a woman who has to sell her body in order to pay her bills. Apparently though, this doesn't count when you have the ending in which said rich man saves his favourite prostitute from a life of turning tricks and they both live happily ever after.
I shall just have to lighten up and accept that Pretty Woman is a Hollywood take on the story of Cinderella and that's that. I'm obviously in a minority which reminds me of another of The Big O's singles, Only The Lonely (Know The Way I Feel).
Here's Roy Orbison NOT singing about a prostitute. By the way, the drummer in this is clearly at the point of ecstasy.
Also-rans: Hat tip to John Gill of Skopelos News for his suggestions at a time when I was flagging. I opted for Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark. Reminds me of reporting on Bideford Magistrates' Court when a hack from a rival publication sang the intro to OMD's hit Enola Gay and wanted to know what the tune was. Fortunately the magistrates were out but that didn't stop my fellow reporter getting a few odd looks. I was able to enlighten him which at least shut him up.
Drummers are a happy lot, aren't they? There is something joyful in watching a drummer grinning in the zone! My husband loves Roy O... going to share this with him today. Thanks for the fun!
ReplyDeleteI invite you to stop by page. Opportunity - 4 words. Short and sweet. http://thebrightersideblog.blogspot.com/
I'm glad you liked it. When I watched the video clip through again it struck me that some of the camera angles manage to make Roy Orbison look as it he's tiny! Anyway, a great song and a great singer. I'm coming to look at your blog NOW!
DeleteObviously that should read "as IF he's tiny".
DeleteHe was so cool! It's no wonder the Mavericks want to sound like him :)
ReplyDeleteImitation is the sincerest form of flattery, as someone...er...Oscar Wilde (?) said.
DeleteNice commentary, You have a point about Pretty Woman. I do still like it though. The thing that I took away from it watching it growing up was that kissing is very personal (not that other activities aren't!) But I took it to heart and have never kissed anyone but my husband. So, there are lessons to be learned!
ReplyDeleteSo, there IS something to be gained from watching Pretty Woman. Excellent!
DeleteI first watched Pretty Woman when it came out, and I was 12. I thought it was an okay movie, but there was nothing romantic about it. Sadly, in real life those female prostitutes are exploiting, and Craiglists and BackPage are two of the places where they continue to advertise their services, but they are not supposed to do that anymore. They now are more sneaky about it. Actually, when we get down to it there is nothing romantic about prostitution because in many cases it has far more to do with human trafficking than the glamorous lifestyle escort services portray.
ReplyDeleteI like the film because Julia Roberts is in it. Although it's not my favourite film of hers.
DeleteAwwww, Love your tribute to The Big O!! What a fantastic way to wake up in the morning by listening to "Pretty Woman." Enjoyed your post - keep them coming!
ReplyDeleteVisiting from A-Z Blogging Challenge
Sue
http://www.door2lore.com/3/post/2014/04/oddominousordinary-objects.html
I'm glad you liked it. When I watched the video it reminded me that the song really drives along, no hanging around.
DeleteGoalies and drummers... they are always just a little bit not right.. lol.
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely on the money, there. In fact, I wonder if it would be possible to do an A to Z of bonkers goalies and drummers. Something to ponder for the next challenge?
DeleteMy first memory of Pretty Woman, the song, was Van Halen. I didn't hear the Roy Orbinson version til a couple of years later - maybe in the movie or maybe at a party with a co-worker who was music obsessed and allowed to spin records that night. He had a Roy O get up and did a mean impersonation! I always smile when it comes on the radio.
ReplyDeleteVan Halen? I'm going to have to see if I can find that on YouTube.
DeleteWell, that was wonderful. Thank you! Roy Orbison is a genius. As to Pretty Woman, the movie, I'm betting his music added to the theme that love trumps class, and that even a blue-collar gal can transform herself into a 'princess'. The happy ending plays on stereotypes from Romeo and Juliet to Prince Charming, reinforcing that classic belief for a woman to be happy, a prince must rescue her -- in darker psychological terms, from her own sexuality. But I'm happily married to a prince, so I don't complain. Just visiting from the AtoZ Challenge (I'm over at http://bethandwriting.blogspot.com if you care to visit). Keep writing these!
ReplyDeleteA prince, you say. Well, that's good. Did he find you by making sure your foot would fit in a glass slipper? I hope so! I'm going to pay your blog a visit any moment now.
DeleteI love Roy Orbison - my favs are Only the Lonely and Crying. My sister has one of his albums on cassette, Black & White Night; we listened to it in the car so much that I think we killed it!
ReplyDeleteThat's the trouble with cassettes, you suddenly find they've eviscerated themselves in the workings of your tape player. On the subject of Roy Orbison's hits, what about I Drove All Night? That's a good one and Cyndi Lauper did a good version, too.
DeleteThe most unique and haunting voice. Orbison is like the thinking man's Elvis.
ReplyDeletePretty Woman is a great song, I remember dad playing that on Sundays
ReplyDeleteEntirely agree about both Roy Orbison and Pretty Woman - I think it's a very icky film and that Roy Orbison is one of those voices you don't really appreciate until you're a certain age. Like Sinatra - when I was young I thought he was awful because he didn't sing in time with the music and I didn't rate Roy Orbison (or Johnny Cash for that matter) as I couldn't appreciate the emotions behind the words. Now I am older and wiser :-) I'm visiting from the #atozchallenge, feel free to drop by :-)
ReplyDelete