Saturday 9: Blue Heaven (1955)
Unfamiliar with this week’s tune? See the video and watch it below!
1) The music for “My Blue Heaven” was written by Walter Donaldson. Mr. Donaldson was a gifted piano player who used his talent to entertain the troops on leave during WWI. What’s something you’re naturally good at?
Languages. I was a linguist in the Army, mostly Polish and Vietnamese with a smattering of German. French and Latin were my thing in school and beyond, and since then I’ve been refreshing my French, Polish, and Vietnamese. Lately, I’ve been learning German more fully, and Swedish.
2) The lyrics were written by George Whiting. He began his career on stage as a song-and-dance man. While touring, he met and fell in love with another singer on the bill. They went on to marry and have three daughters. Have you ever engaged in a workplace romance?
That’s how I met my husband! Not my first workplace romance, but definitely me last!
3) In this song, Doris Day sings about a cozy home. Look around the room you’re in. What makes it cozy?
Candles, throw blankets, books, fairy lights, and kitschy things that hold memories.
4) For four consecutive years, Doris was the most popular film actress in the world, with fans flocking to theaters to see her. Is there an actor or actress whose presence in a movie or TV show makes you say to yourself, “I want to see that?”
Not necessarily. It’s more about the plot of the show or movie that will attract me. I’m not usually going to watch something just because a certain person happens to be in it. The premise has to do it for me first.
5) For all her film and music success, she found herself broke in the late 1960s. Her husband had mismanaged her fortune, something she didn’t discover until after his sudden death. Do you know how much is in your checking account right now? (We’re not asking the amount; just whether you know.)
Not to the exact dollar, but pretty much. I’m the bill payer in this house.
6) Away from performing, Doris’ passion was animal welfare. At one point she shared her home with more than a dozen dogs and went on to establish the Doris Day Animal Foundation. Do any pets share your home?
We have a cat named Javanyx and a shih tzu named Loki. And assorted fish in my kid’s aquarium upstairs.
7) In 1955, when this song was a hit, cars came with AM radios but they were pretty unsophisticated by today’s standards. The car needed to be on and “warmed up” a bit before the signal was picked up and that signal could easily be lost if you were bouncing over rough terrain. Today most new cars come with Bluetooth so you can enjoy infotainment through your phone. Do you listen to music, podcasts, audiobooks, etc., as you drive?
If I’m not going far, I listen to the radio. I usually have it on either a local Hawaiian-music station or an oldies station. For a longer trip, I might put on my own music or listen to a podcast.
8) Also in 1955, the first McDonald’s opened. Does your community have a McDonald’s?
In nearby Wahiawa, yes.
9) Random question: How long have you known your newest friend?
Pushing a decade, I think!
You and I had the same answer for #4
I am impressed that you know so many languages. I took Spanish and Latin in high school but never had reason to use either, and have mostly forgotten them.
I like how you answered #3. It sounds homey.
I wish I shared your aptitude for languages. My dear friend Henry toggled back and forth from Spanish (his native tongue) to English and occasionally French. It was amazing!