Polka Dot Bikinis, Colorado, TV & Jeter

Sparks Of Insanity By Vinny "Bond" Marini Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Welcome To THE COUCH...Sit on Down and Get Comfy...

Since Busy thunk of it and because I know many will have total melt-downs if THE COUCH is not ready for them today, I am putting it together Wednesday evening and will post it prior to leaving for my interviews tomorrow...


Good thing I had some subject matter ready...which is not always the case.


Many days, I sit down to compose without any idea of what
THE COUCH will be about...

unlike some people who bring notes and stuff... (OH TURN!!!??? - hehehe).

Sad news...Songwriter Paul Vance, who became a pop culture icon with the 1960 smash "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini," has died. He was 68.

No, this isn't a lead-in to a joke like the one about the "HOKEY POKEY", where when they went to put the originator to rest, they "put his right arm in, and he put his right arm out..."


COUCH NOTE: Larry LaPrise, Charles Macak and Tafit Baker were granted the copyright for the song in 1950. According to popular legend they created this novelty dance in 1949 as entertainment for the ski crowd at Idaho's Sun Valley resort.


Anyway...back to our story...


Vance, whose real name was Paul Van Valkenburgh, died Sept. 6 at his home in Ormond Beach, Fla., said his wife of 32 years, Rose Leroux. He had been battling lung cancer for two years.


Vance and songwriting partner Lee Pockriss had a #1 hit for Perry Como called "Catch a Falling Star," but they had their biggest success with the ditty about the girl with a brand new bikini who "was afraid to come out of the locker, she was a nervous as she could be. ... Now she's afraid to come out of the water, and the poor little girl's turning blue."


The song was recorded by 16-year-old teen idol Brian Hyland and a group of girlish backup singers. The song surged to No. 1 on the Billboard charts in August 1960.


In an Associated Press interview that same month, Vance said the idea came while he and Pockriss were working on a demonstration record ("Petticoat Fly," which went nowhere.) He told Pockriss that his wife was thinking of getting a bikini but didn't have the nerve to wear it. The resulting song was written in 25 minutes and recorded within a week, he said.


"When he was young, he sold all the rights to the songs because he was young and foolish and now, 'Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini' is becoming popular again," his widow said in a recent AP interview. This is evident by it's use in a yogurt commercial the last few years.


In addition to his musical compositions, Leroux said, her husband was a Navy veteran in the Korean War (HEY DAD!) and later in life spent time as a painting contractor.

At this point, the information is still not clear (see what happens when I have to compose too early), but our prayers go out to the young woman shot by the dirt-bag at the school in Colorado.

News reports say she was in critical condition when flown to St. Anthony's Hospital.


Senseless....totally senseless....

Inserted at 11:00pm by THE COUCH: The young hostage had died...we pray for her family.
New Season update...

STUDIO 60 is a H-I-T with me...having seen the second episode, this is definitely a must-see for THE COUCH.
The humor is brilliant..the casting superb and the final scene this week, where they show the opening number for the "show" was remarkably well done...
HOORAHS to Aaron Sorkin and the entire staff of writers and cast members.


SMITH is also going to be a fun ride. This week's show brought us deeper into the pecidillios of the different "team members" and they are being portrayed with human qualities... ie they are screw-ups and that will impact how they interact and how their foibles will impact the entire crew.

KIDNAPPED: I saw a repeat episode of the first show and just finished the second episode. Well acted...interesting story. Just wondering how they will keep one story-line going for an entire season.

JERICHO: Watched episode #2 this evening. Not sure this is one I will stick with. It has one more week to really hook me.

Finally...

CRIMINAL MINDS is back with a bang. I truly enjoy this show and it's twists an turns.

NUM3ERS is another fine piece of television. If you have never seen it...check it out.

Yes...been said before, but worth noting again...I AM A TV JUNKIE
Sorry to my friend Leeann (Dixiechick) that her St. Louis Cardinals are giving her such fits. They just can't seem to win any games recently and are now feeling the collective breath of the Houston Astros on their neck.

Derek Jeter and Robinson Cano of the Yankees are inching closer to Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins for the batting championship.

Jeter
is also a strong candidate for the MVP award this season.

You truly need to see this young man play everyday to see the things he brings to his team. He doesn't hit the home runs of others, but he is always, and I mean always getting the big hit at the right time. He truly deserves to win the MVP over the other candidates.

There is NO WAY a part-time player (read, David Ortiz, Boston Red Sox, a Designated Hitter who does not play the field- ever!) should be awarded this honor.

But I can tell you one thing...offer Jeter his choice of the Batting Title or the MVP or another World Series ring and he will grab the ring immediately.

THAT, folks is why he was named CAPTAIN of the NY YANKEES.
OK, THE COUCH needs to recline for the evening...as I mentioned, it will be a long day tomorrow.

Five interviews...six hours...bringing a rag to wipe the drool that will form as I am asked the same questions over and over by different people.

I trly wonder why they would not just put me in a conference room with all five and let them interview me for a two-hour session. Seems like that would make much more sense.

HA...me making sense!
Thanks for sitting on THE COUCH, hope you enjoyed your stay.

FIND AN OPPORTUNITY TO PAY IT FORWARD!

Remember .. Nets For Malaria - UNFoundation.org/malaria - find the big SI's Nothing But Net logo ... Or call 202.887.9040. Every cent goes to buying nets to place over the beds of children in Africa to stomp out Malaria. PLEASE HELP.

Keep that spark of insanity kids...It helps keep you an individual.

11 Of Your Sparks

  1. Unknown Says:
  2. I'm glad I could help out dude. I know this will be sitting here until you come back. NUMB3RS is one of my favorite shows. I've been a junkie for a long time, and the fact that I love David Krumholtz has nothing to do with it!!!

     
  3. Anonymous Says:
  4. ah, I am hooked on Studio 60. I like it a lot. I can forget that that's Chandler as Matt, even. hahahah
    Kidnapped, too, I was wondering the same thing....there's no way they can run with the same characters being the ones kidnapped all season. That'd get boring. but I like this show :)

    I also like ABC's Six Degrees. If you've missed the first episode, it's replaying on www.abc.go.com in its entirety. Quick, go catch the first show!

    Good luck on these interviews, Bond. You just haven't been discovered by the right team yet. The right one will happen for you!

     
  5. Anonymous Says:
  6. From the mind of Meribah:

    Hmmmm. An itsy bitsy teeny weenie yellow polka dot bikini...now there's something I don't have! **makes note to get one** LOL

     
  7. Coco Says:
  8. Hey Bond - hope everything went well today for you. Talk to you later, hon. Wiped out. Hugs.

     
  9. Rainbow Says:
  10. **biting nails** Sooooooooo How did the interviews go?

    Hugs!

     
  11. Amanda Says:
  12. Good luck with thee interviews Bond. I'm sure yyou'll do great. Rregarding Mr Ortiz, I agree he shouldn't be the MVP. After his remarks about only power hitters should win the MVP, I coouldd care less if he ever won anything again. However, Mr. Mauer might have something to say about your boy Jeter winning it. Mauer does also play the most grueling position there is in mlb, plus he's been awesome at the plate. Should be interesting to say the least. *hugs*

     
  13. Liz Hill Says:
  14. Hey--a freely associative mind can be hard to keep track of

     
  15. Anonymous Says:
  16. you had me at "Polka Dot Bikini"

     
  17. BUSY: uh huh,,, nothing to do with david...uh huh

    ROBS: Interviews were OK I guess.. I can't gauge interviews anymore..too many over the last 20 months I thought went great and went no where.. but was 5.5 hours witha 15 minute break...and I answered the same 6-7 questions for each of them plus their "personal-fiefdom"questions

    MERI: expect you are out shopping today dear! LOL

    COC: Thanks and also with you and your presentations.

    SUE: See above

    AMANDA: true Mauer is a threat with the Batting title.. I am not so sure about MVP. And, as my son has been a catcher his whole career, i totally agree it is the most demanding position on the field.

    TURN: huh????

    DAMM: Gee...why does THAT not surprise me.! LOL

     
  18. Liz Hill Says:
  19. Okay-- you have got to do comment moderation in context OR I have got to write out long descriptions in my comment---LOL

    You gigged me for note taking---in your blog--in color even--

    WOOOOOOOOOOOO

     
  20. TURN:
    Well...OK, now I get it... I just didn't understand since you were freely associating!

     

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