May 1: It’s good advice…. “Whistle While You Work” from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs plus another version by The Supremes. Thank you, Dick Leonard, for being such an inspiration to me and so many others. LYRICS SPOTIFY (Here’s to May, by the way!)
May 2: We can’t rewind we’ve gone too far…”Video Killed The Radio Star” by The Buggles. I don’t know where you are or what you’re up to, but I think of you, Dana Bullwinkle, every time I hear this song… LYRICS SPOTIFY
May 3: Today’s guest DJ, Tommy Greenwald, suggests you practice your yodeling. Here’s one of his dad’s favorites for his birthday: “Hocus Pocus” by Focus. Happy Birthday to Dr. Jonathan Greenwald! (No lyrics today, folks.) SPOTIFY
May 4: You’re always in my heart… “Will You Be There?” Michael Jackson LYRICS SPOTIFY Thanks for the suggestion, Dana….
May 5: Ay, ay, ay, ay! Sing, don’t cry… “Cielito Lindo” LYRICS SPOTIFY Feliz Cinco De Mayo!
May 6: Welcome home to the place you belong. We missed you, Bennett! “Take Me Home, Country Roads” written and performed by John Denver. LYRICS & GUITAR CHORDS SPOTIFY
May 7: Mix it with love and make the world taste good… “The Candy Man” sung here by Sammy Davis, Jr. (Thanks to Paul Curtis for the suggestion.) And now you have a craving for the the clip from the actual movie, Willy Wonka, don’t you? Enjoy! LYRICS & SongFacts Spotify
May 8: “Walkin’ In Memphis” by Marc Cohn for Russell and Maya. (HB to Beth Heroux & Lori Gazerro and a special shout out to CBA…love you!) LYRICS & SONG FACTS SPOTIFY
May 9: Look before you leap, still waters run deep…. “Rose Garden” written by Joe South by Lynn Anderson. Thanks to DJ Uncle Donny for another fabulous suggestion! LYRICS & SONG FACTS SPOTIFY
May 10: Believe in yourself…the rest is up to me and you; “Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls” by TLC. LYRICS SPOTIFY Here’s to May and our favorite waterfall….
May 11: How are we to get along if we refuse to see that it will make a difference if you just pretend you’re me? Today is Diversity Day at GFS and the 4th graders will be learning to be empathetic by putting themselves, figuratively, in other people’s shoes. At the end of the day, they’ll sing “It Makes A Difference” written by me and sung here by the folks at Hal Leonard. If you’re interested in singing this song with your chorus, visit Hal Leonard’s YouTube page and click on the link that says: “To purchase or for more info go to: http://goo.gl/vkEwTU“.
May 12: You’re the most brightest star that lights my way… “Today’s The Day” by America. Happy 30th Anniversary (a month or so ago) to one of our very favorite couples on the planet. LYRICS SPOTIFY
May 13: Thanks to my mom for teaching me how to be a mom; it’s my favorite gig ever… “Mama Said” written by Luther Dixon & Willie Denson and sung here by the Shirelles. LYRICS & SONG FACTS SPOTIFY
May 14: “My Grandfather’s Clock” written by Henry Clay Work and sung by me. LYRICS & Song History SPOTIFY
May 15: What you need, I need, too… “Blood Brothers” by Ingrid Michaelson. Happy Birthday to Megan McConaughy Lucier who introduced me to one of my favorite singer/songwriters, Ingrid Michaelson (I’ll be forever grateful for that.) After you’ve sung along, watch the Official Video; we’re all the same under a different name… LYRICS SPOTIFY P.S. Only Peter Propp knows this but this song is my morning alarm ring tone….
May 16: You didn’t think I’d do it, but I did, especially after I read a convincing article that said that this song is simply about people who like to have fun and you, my dear nephew, are one of the most fun people I know. So, this one’s for you, Owen: “Gasolina” (And, according to genius.com, in 2015, the song reached the number 9 position on the “50 Greatest Latin Songs of All Time” list according to Billboard. So there’s that…) Happy Birthday! LYRICS SPOTIFY
May 17: Happy Birthday to the One and Only Very Extraordinary Claudia Robaina. To know her is to Love her. “L-O-V-E” sung here by Nat King Cole and composed by Bert Kaempfert, with lyrics by Milt Gabler. LYRICS SPOTIFY
May 18: You may have a different name, but underneath we’re much the same. You’re probably my cousin and the whole world is our kin! “Family Tree” by Tom Chapin. It’s a GFS favorite! LYRICS SPOTIFY (I love you, cousins!)
May 19: You are my first child and only daughter; truly my “Only One” (written & performed by James Taylor, with Joni Mitchell on back-up vocals (!)). I love you so much and wish you the happiest birthday, Rose. (HB, also, to her soul-sister, Alison King, one of my favorite friends ever.) LYRICS SPOTIFY
May 20: We’ll travel along, singin’ our song, “Side By Side” by Sandler & Young. Happy 80th Birthday to my fabulous father and his equally-fabulous twin brother, Uncle Kenny. I love you guys so much! (And, as a special birthday gift, here’s a clip of Tony & Ralph on the Mike Douglas show…) LYRICS SPOTIFY
May 21: Take time to tell me you really care… “Always & Forever” sung here by Heatwave. And here’s a lyric video sung by Luther Vandross. Happy Anniversary to Donna & Vinny! LYRICS SPOTIFY
May 22: Who knows where this road is supposed to lead? (O knows)…”Meant To Be” by Bebe Rexha and Florida Georgia Line. LYRICS SPOTIFY
May 23: If you’ll be my bodyguard, I can be your long lost pal… “You Can Call Me Al” written and performed by Paul Simon and friends. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
May 24: So glad we flew in a silver plane and so glad that you belong to us…”You Belong To Me” written by Pee Wee King, Chilton Price and Redd Stewart and sung here by Jo Stafford. This song was the first song my Uncle Donny announced on the first day of his DJ career on WCOP back in 1952. LYRICS & SONGFACTS This song is not available on Spotify.
May 25: Tune my body and my brain to the music of the land… “The Garden Song” by Dave Mallett and performed here by John Denver. Happy Birthday to Estelle Mackenzie, colleague and friend extraordinaire. Thanks to you I know the difference between enunciation and the annunciation. 🙂 LYRICS & GUITAR CHORDS SPOTIFY
May 26: Sing a simple melody… “ABC”. Happy Birthday to Mannasses Ogutu and thanks to A Better Chance of Westport for showing us how easy love can be… LYRIC VIDEO, LYRICS & SPOTIFY
May 27: I bet we’ll make some strangers happy when we die… “Estate Sale” by Cheryl Wheeler. LYRICS SPOTIFY
May 28: I thank my lucky stars to be living here today; I’m proud to be an American… “God Bless The U.S.A.” sung and performed here by Lee Greenwood. I so appreciate all that was done in the past to have created the present and secured the future. LYRICS SPOTIFY
May 29: It’s so hard to keep this smile from my face…”Stuck In The Middle With You” by Stealers Wheel. Happy Birthday and thanks to Billy Finnegan who brings so much joy with his funny and fabulous writing and producing (we love “Grace and Frankie“, right, Mom?!) LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY
May 30: We’ll find ourselves on the right road… “Along The Way” written and sung by me. Recorded in Utah in 1986. Happy birthday to Betsy Morris Rosen and Susan Terry Patrick, two of the most fabulous friends and singers I know. And happy anniversary to Greg & Dana Benfer White; what a team! SPOTIFY
May 31: “Ain’t Too Proud To Beg” by The Temptations. LYRICS & SONGFACTS SPOTIFY