Yesterday once more

For the past few weeks, we haven’t turned on the television at home. Mind you, there’s nothing wrong with our TV set, except for the plug that the dogs chewed on one night.

I’ve changed that plug twice. It worked for a couple of weeks until it suddenly stopped one night too many. That’s the problem now. Somehow my stubby fingers can’t make the wires go properly around the plug. It keeps on becoming undone. I will have to work on it again.

In the absence of the TV, I asked my aunt if she wanted to listen to the radio instead. I could set it up so that she would have a steady stream of news and music while I am at work. She said no.

Truth is, we keep the TV or the radio on just to keep time. When you are so focused on cleaning the house or playing with the dogs, you lose track of time.

Since then, the house has been so quiet that I resorted to turning on my Bluetooth speaker while I am working in the kitchen. I try to guess what my aunt would like to listen to.

On weekends, I put on Fifties and Sixties playlists. It is the weekend anyway. The music would stream as we have breakfast and until I was done with my chores. She would get on with her work as I did with mine.

This week, I’ve been putting on bands and artists my aunt and I love. Monday was devoted to The Carpenters, and yes, the playlist starts with “Rainy Days and Mondays.” Tuesday was for ABBA, and it opens with “Dancing Queen.” Wednesday was some Mozart piano concertos, and the rest of the week followed a similar pattern. There are days for The Beatles, Motown mornings, and even Roberta Flack. I don’t really like putting on disco music in the morning, because I’d never get anything done. How can you resist not doing a little booty shake when “Shake Your Groove Thing” comes along?

What I noticed listening to old songs is that the really popular bands and singers had more than just a couple of hits to their name.

This must be the reason why they and their songs have remained timeless all these years.

Look at The Carpenters. Karen has been long gone for almost 40 years now, but every time I her voice, all those years don’t matter. It’s like “Yesterday Once More” as she sings.

While I cannot say I personally relate to any of ABBA’s songs, you cannot help but sing along to all their tunes, especially if they come one after the other. Yes, more than “Dancing Queen,” there’s “Fernando,” “Gimme, Gimme, Gimme,” “I Do, I Do, I Do,” “Waterloo,” “The Winner Takes It All” and a whole lot more.” Very few people I know talk about “Nina, Pretty Ballerina,” so she has to be in there somewhere.

Yes, there is a wealth of music out there, readily available with a tap of the finger. Sure beats listening to the moment’s depressing news.

“Yes, there is a wealth of music out there, readily available with a tap of the finger.

“Since then, the house has been so quiet that I resorted to turning on my Bluetooth speaker while I am working in the kitchen.