Ok, I know the Monkees were not one of the groundbreaking musical innovators we’ve featured here before. They weren’t the Beatles. But I have to say, I’ve had this song in my head all day since hearing that Davy Jones had passed away, so I’m posting the video to “Daydream Believer.” Unfortunately, the more fun video had the embed feature disabled, so I’m linking to it here. — amanda
7 thoughts on “Oh, Davy…”
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Clinkjet – the Monkees were the beneficiaries of the talent from the Brill Building in Tin Pan Alley where all those great songwriters kept kickin’ out the hits, on the cusp of the transition to the era of the singer/songwriters.
Aword: ah, yes, Lonesome Picker. I still think that California Bloodlines was his best album, and probably my fave on that one is “July, You’re a Woman.” Almost, but not quite enough, to make me dust off the turntable and drag out the vinyl. Then again, I may have cds. Meanwhile, I’m enjoying the link.
Thanks.
JannKinz
Oh my Biggest Crush Ever was on Davy Jones!!
And Jann – I hadn’t realized John Stewart had died! Seems like only yesterday I was looking him up on the internet and he was still kickin’. He is in my hands-down top few favorite musical artists ever.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8LNFGCE1AE&feature=related
“Some Lonesome Picker”
Good call about John Stewart from the Kingston Trio. They also had songs written by Neil Diamond, Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart, and who can argue with Carole King and Gerry Goffin? Not bad for a knockoff, two-season show. It’s no surprise they had such an impact on so many of us…especially considering they had the talent to make the show and the songs work (my big sister actually caught one of their original tours). I’m probably preaching to a fairly large choir here. Most people I know in the babyboomer world have at least *one* favorite Monkees song.
Yes, Davy Jones did still look hot. In one of the pictures of him on tv this morning bore a very striking resemblance to Michael Douglas. Any time I hear of the Monkees and “Daydream Believer” I think of John Stewart, a favorite singer/songwriter of mine (who died in 2008).
“Daydream Believer” was written by John Stewart, a member of the Kingston Trio for several years in the 1960s. Stewart included that song in his 1971 album, “The Lonesome Picker Rides Again.” In that recording, the last time he sings the chorus he changes the lyrics to “Cheer up, sleepy Jean, oh what can it mean\ To a daydream deceiver and an old closet queen?”
The Monkees were a backdrop to my high school years. John Stewart was part of my musical library during college, and as an adult. Thanks, Amanda, for the jog down memory lane.
JannKinz
And it’s strange – because Lucio Dalla, one of Italy’s most prolific singer-songwriters passed away today too, aged 69 – the whole country is in shock because of the news. Though I doubt if anyone outside Italy has heard of him.Here’s one of his most famous songs, about Caruso, written from the hotel room Caruso died in, over the bay of Sorrento. Not to everyone’s taste – but he was very talented and quite a figure when he first emerged at a time when Italy was very Catholic and backward.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2VRd8EtYzM
watched all the show as reruns in the late 70s and was a total fan, with a huge crush on davy when i was 8. still know most all the songs by heart. they toured in the mid 80s and came to a town close by, i bought a ticket but never got to go, they weren’t that cool to anyone else as a teenager in those days. saw the news yesterday, he was still pretty hot i thought.
Oh Gosh! I didn’t know that he had died… I was madly in love with him when I was a little girl. Thanks for posting this, Amanda.