Song, first of the month: "Come Go With Me"

*I have been very bad about song of the week. I have decided now to only do it twice a month, at the beginning and the end. This one is a few days late, but you should have seen my schedule this week. 

"Come Go With Me" first and foremost is from the soundtrack of one of my all time favorite movies, "Stand By Me."  If it was chosen to accompany such a superb movie it has to be good.

I watched a lot of "Nick At Night" growing up. So even though my actual childhood was the era of Full House and Family Matters; I have this made-up nostalgia for what would have been my parent's childhood. Writing about this makes me remember how delusional I can be.

Regardless of whether or not this song came 32 years before I was born, I love doo-wop music, whether or not it's paired with a milkshake, bobby socks, or going steady and wearing my "boyfriend's letterman sweater.

The style of music originated in the African American, Northeastern, and industrialized communities in the 1940's, as did all good music, and then of course white musicians popularized it.

The instrumental segments are pretty basic, and not very attention grabbing. Really the only instrument I hear through the majority of the song is some very faint jazz drumming. However, there is short saxophone interlude, but not the highlight of the song.

The draw of doo-wop is the vocal harmonies, the chorus of voices all of different ranges, coming together to create a captivating sound. The harmonies come from the music's origins as the street performers didn't have instruments and had to do the music a cappella. Impersonating an instrument with one's own voice, is a pure mystery to my tone-def self, therefore quite impressive.

Then there are just the adorably innocent lyrics of the song. I think that is why I have a love for this music because it makes it seem like life was so simple. That everyone was in love, and the only thing a young person had to worry about was getting their love "to go with them." I'm aware this isn't true, but I can dream.

So listen to the song, hum along, sing along, snap along, whatever.