Saturday 9: Gloria;

There are two things that come to mind when I hear today's song: my childhood bestie, who was indeed, Gloria; and Laura Branigan singing the song while seated on a giant rocking horse in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Both are happy memories so thanks for the music, the memories and the questions for today, Sam!

Saturday 9: Gloria (1982)

Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.

 

1) In this song, Laura Branigan is advising her friend to take it a bit slower in her pursuit of a particular man. Did you more recently give or receive advice?  My daughter seeks my advice nearly every day so I'm pretty sure it was "give." Don't ask me if she takes any of my advice.

 

2) Gloria seems determined to rush ahead, regardless of the consequences. Do you consider yourself a big risk taker?  Not so much these days, but when I was younger....yes, very much so.

 

3) Laura herself seemed to be impulsive in love. She met a lawyer at a party in 1978 and they married months later. It worked out, though. They were married for almost 20 years, until his death. Thinking of your circle of friends, has someone more recently been married, divorced, or widowed?  Divorced

4) "Gloria" was originally recorded in 1979 by Italian singer Umberto Tozzi. His version was a Top Ten hit in Switzerland, Belgium and Germany. Have you ever visited any of those countries?  No. I've never been to Europe.

5) In 2018, decades after its initial release, this recording of "Gloria" enjoyed a surge in popularity. The St. Louis Blues used it as their victory song whenever they won a hockey game at home. What's the most recent sporting event you attended?  It was either a Steelers or Pirates game, but it's been long enough ago I can't remember which was the last one.

6) After Laura Branigan died of a cerebral aneurysm at the age of 52, her high school established a scholarship in her honor. When did you most recently return to your old high school, and what was the reason?  It would have been at least 13 years ago and something to do with my kids. They went to the same school my husband and I did and now the grandchildren go there, too.

 
7) In 1982, when this song was popular, the Sears catalog sold an at-home blood pressure monitor that ran on four C-batteries and sold for $190 (that's $600 in today's dollars). Amazon's current best-selling monitor is cheaper ($40) and smaller, running on AAA batteries. Is high blood pressure a concern of yours?  Not really. I had one high stress period when my bp was pretty high and I was put on meds for it. It's been great ever since and I take a very low dose that my doctor keeps talking about doing away with. Now, it is a concern for me if we're talking about my husband or daughter's blood pressure. Both have a history of high bp.

 

8) Also in 1982, The Compleat Beatles, a two-hour documentary about The Fab Four was released to good reviews. Do you enjoy documentaries?  Yes, if I'm interested in the subject.

9) Random question: Which of these chores to you enjoy the least: doing the dishes or the laundry?  Laundry. Hands down.