Could Have Been Worse...How About "Grandma Got Run Over By Peter Cottontail"..?

Heard any good Israel Isidore Baline songs lately?
No?

Actually, the chances are pretty good that you have.

Especially in the last few days.

Mr. Baline was a pretty prolific songwriter.
And, I feel safe in adding, pretty darn successful, too.

In fact, he wrote the song that is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the best selling single of all time.

A song that he wrote while relaxing by the pool at the Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Arizona.
Lot of irony, there.

More about that in a minute.

First, though, I wanted to share with you that I’ve noticed that certain holidays get a fairer shake than others when it comes to songs that are written about them.

Christmas is obviously the champ.

And even though the only really well known song that pays tribute to New Year’s is “Auld Lang Syne”, it’s the kind of song that, heard once or twice, you’d swear you’ve heard it ten million times, so that counts as a multiple.

Other holidays get the short end of the metronome, though.

Thanksgiving, for example?
Where is the perennial, pop music favorite extolling the virtues of turkey and dressing?
Well, there is “ We Gather Together To Ask The Lord’s Blessing.”

Hardly number one with a bullet.

And Valentine’s Day?

Seems like a day soaked in romance would be second only to Christmas in terms of the tunes dedicated to it and dragged out every year and played ad nauseum for three to five weeks prior on every radio station in town.

But, no.

In fact, I can’t even think of a song that has the word Valentine in it, with the exception of “My Funny Valentine” and that’s not what I would call a barn burner, either. In fact, if you listen to Chet Baker’s version, you’re going to be tempted to stick your head in the gas oven even IF you have somebody in your life on Chocolate and Hallmark Card Day.

Halloween?
Not really, no.

Labor Day?
Well, I could try and stretch the point and nominate Huey Lewis” “Working for A Livin” or Lee Dorsey’s “Working In A Coal Mine”, but it would be a pretty lame stretch.

Then again, how about Paul Anka’s “Havin My Baby” for a Labor Day song?

I’ll give you a second to think about it.
Okay.

Yeah. I know. Pretty lame, too.

Well, I think the presidential candidates should have their feet held to the fire about the issue. After all, if they’re not going to give us any substantive answers to questions about the economy or the war or the price of gas, the least they can do is offer up what plan they have to make Martin Luther King Day a more musical event.

In the meantime, back to Mr. Israel Isadore Baline.

Who was not only a hit songwriter, but quite the patriot, too.

For he donated all of the royalties to one of his fairly successful dittys to the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and Campfire Girls

The very successful songwriter who wrote the all time best selling single while sitting by the pool in Phoenix, Arizona.

And the songwriter who wrote the song that I told you earlier had very likely been heard by your or yours in the past few days.

For Mr. Israel Isadore Baline wrote songs under a much better known pseudonym (are you digging the Paul Harvey “Rest of the Story” thing I have going here?)

Irving Berlin.

And the song that benefited the Scouts and Campfire Girls?

“God Bless America”

The song written by the Arizona pool that is the best selling single of all time?

“White Christmas”

And the song that trumps Valentine’s Day and Halloween and Labor Day by giving this holiday it’s own musical identity?

“Easter Parade”

Good thing Mr. Berlin came along when he did.

Or we might wake up every Easter morning to the sounds of The Four Seasons singing “Candy Girl” until we want to want to go hop hop hoppin down the trail to the looney bin.

Thanks, Israel.