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Ahh the L word! That thing called L O V E love.

Love can be many things. It can make you see life through rose colored glasses or make you want to cry your eyes out. There’s puppy love, true love, forbidden love, and unrequited love. Love can be an emotion, a virtue, or just the thing that makes a great song.

Here are 5 Songs about a Thing Called Love:

Jerry Reed was a country music singer, guitarist, songwriter, and actor. You might remember him from Smokey and the Bandit, he was in the movie and he sang the theme song “East Bound and Down”.

Here he is with “A Thing Called Love”:

Queen is a British rock band that formed in 1971. Before his death in 1991, Freddie Mercury rocked the stage with his lead vocals, piano and theatrics. I think everyone with a TV, radio, or internet connection knows of, listened to, or rocked out with Queen. Many of their songs have been used and re-used in tributes, parodies, television and film.

Here’s Queen with “Crazy Little Thing Called Love”, the single was number two in the UK and became the first U.S. number-one hit for the band.

Before they signed a record deal this British rock band, The Darkness, made a name for themselves with their live shows.
Here they are with “I Believe in a Thing Called Love”:

Leo Reisman was a violinist and bandleader in the 1920s and 1930s. Every once and awhile I’m in a big band music mood. Time to break out the Ginger Rogers moves to “What Is This Thing Called Love” by
Leo Reisman and His Orchestra.

While on my quest for other “Thing Called Love” inspired songs I found the British trance music group Above & Beyond.

Check out this club video of Above & Beyond’s, “Thing Called Love” featuring Richard Bedford:

Queen still rocks on, visit their official site: http://www.queenonline.com/home

The Darkness split up but a few band members are reforming as The Stone Gods, check their MySpace for details: http://www.myspace.com/thedarkness

Visit the official Above & Beyond site for tour dates & more info: http://aboveandbeyond.nu/home

Did I mention I am forty years old now? Oh yes, I think I did. Back in the day, my day meaning the 80’s, it was all about big hair and of course ballads. The 80’s had a lot going on when it came to music mixed with pop culture. Some flaunted Madonna lace and gloves; others were rocking the Newro style. Prince and the Revolution followers wore purple, layered coats and ruffles while the long haired rockers smoked in the boy’s room.

It was an eclectic mix of musically inspired fashion but today I’m focusing on the Big Hair Ballads. The love songs millions could raise their cigarette lighters to with pride. This was a staple to the 80’s like Aqua Net and eyeliner. Here they are:

Still Loving You—Scorpions

Back when I was dating Mr. HIH, way back when this song was a big hit, he loved dedicating “Still Loving You” to me. Isn’t that retro romantic?

Nobody’s Fool—Cinderella

This is a ballad and power anthem all in one. It’s the perfect song to sing just before breaking up with your significant other.

Bringing on the Heartbreak—Def Leppard

Turn this one full blast and cry your eyes out!

Close My Eyes Forever—Lita Ford & Ozzy Osbourne

It wasn’t just the boys with big hair back in the day. Lita Ford adds a feminine quality to this duet with Ozzy.

The Price—Twisted Sister

Sometimes ballads are about loving life itself and because this video intro is priceless, here’s Twisted Sister performing The Price.

“The 80’s are about f’&*%$# partying! That’s what makes it so much fun!”
WARNING: bad words

As always it’s tough to pick just five but I named it The 5 on Friday so here we are. What are your favorite big hair love songs from the decade of decadence?

You might be wondering, why 40’s? On Sunday May 16, I’m going to be 40 years old. According to the Collins Dictionary age 40 is the start of middle age. I’ll go with the Oxford English Dictionary instead, “… the period between youth and old age, about 45 to 60″.

I got to thinking about the number 40 in pop culture. Some say 40 is a magical number. If anything it occurs frequently in literature. Take the idiom forty winks, or “forty days and forty nights”.  How about all those thieves and Ali Baba, there were 40 of them remember?

There’s the spray lubricant WD-40 and the food dye Red 40. Here’s Five more 40’s in Pop Culture I found interesting.

American Top 40

When I was a kiddo I faithfully tuned in to hear the American Top 40 with Casey Kasem. His weekly countdown show was right up there with Solid Gold on my coolness meter.
“Now, on with the countdown!”—Casey Kasem

American Top 40 was born the same year I was in 1970. The show is still around today as At 40 with Ryan Seacrest. Visit http://www.at40.com for more info.

Casey Kasem is one smooth talker. He used his voice over talents for commercials and TV shows, including being the voice of Robin from Super Friends and Shaggy from Scooby Doo.

Hey look at this via YouTube! It’s a faux Shaggy voicing Casey Kasem’s famous rant:
Warning-bad words!

U.S. Route 40

Historical roads have a way of making their way through pop culture.  Listen to Brak from Space Ghost fame & Freddie Prinze Jr.’s duet with “Highway 40” and Ricky Skaggs sing “Highway 40 Blues”.

Visit http://route40.net for history, info and even more songs about Highway 40.

The 40 Year Old Virgin

This “screwball comedy” was a big hit back in 2005. It also had a major impact on men getting their chests waxed. Ouch!
Click here if you’re not too squeamish.

Purchase The 40 Year Old Virgin on DVD via Amazon.

40 by U2

A song by U2 from 1983, enough said on this one.

UB40

UB40 had some big hits during my favorite decade, The 80’s. One of them was “Red Red Wine”. I remember hearing it for the first time over the intercom in 7th grade home room. It was a strange scene, all the 13 year olds bopping their heads to a song about wine consumption. I’ve never been a wine person myself, unless I can eat a whole pound of brie while sipping.
Click here for video.

Visit http://www.ub40.co.uk/ for upcoming tour dates and album information.

 Rochelle

Chris Rock had a show loosely based on his real life family and the character named Rochelle is his mother in Everybody Hates Chris. You can watch the show via Nick at Nite, click here for more info.

It’s a Valentine’s weekend and love is in the air. What better way to get in the mood then with 5 songs from Air Supply? Don’t answer that!

Air Supply has every phase of love covered. If you’re Lost in Love, experiencing Young Love, asking The One That You Love for another day or even All Out of Love. For those of you with a love for 70’s and 80’s love songs Air Supply will be here Now and Forever.The 5 on Friday is back this week inspired by love and full of hot Air Supply:

Lost in Love

Young Love

The One That You Love

All Out of Love

Now and Forever

Become an AIRHEAD, find tour info, and much more at the Official Air Supply site: http://www.airsupplymusic.com

Happy Valentine’s weekend!

Sesame Street premiered on November 10th, 1969

So I wasn’t going to post about this today because I’ve already posted more than a few times about the beloved street called Sesame. Jim Henson and his team of creative people have given us so much over four decades I just had to put together a quick post. One thing I’ve loved about Sesame Street is the fun edutainment clips that are usually animated in some way that teach us something. A number, a letter, a virtue, a feeling.

Take a stroll down Sesame Street with these 5 favorite clips:

Now don’t forget… a loaf of bread, a container of milk and a stick of butter.

Don’t hate her because she’s beautiful. She’s a Martian Beauty:

Roller Disco in Central Park:

They need to add a 0 on to this 4! Get FUNky!

V is for Vaccuum! Please don’t remind me:

Halloween is almost here and I’m still searching for a costume. This year I’m contemplating the idea of being myself. What will you be for Halloween? Maybe these videos will give us some ideas.

How about something retro in plastic and polyester?

There’s always the outer space theme?

Maybe 80′s Flashback Fashion? Let’s listen to Mr. T’s advice on this one.

For all you Star Trek fans out there Klingon never goes out of Halloween style, especially if you add a little hip hop.

Alright, how about something scary? A werewolf or a vampire?

Any other ideas?

I went to the hair salon last weekend wanting a drastic change. I’m a natural blond that needs artificial help going from Dishwater to Dazzling Blond. Every few years I get the urge to do something different. I’ve had long hair, short hair, brown hair, and during my Tori Amos phase in the mid 90’s I tried out being a redhead.

With my drastic change attitude the stylist suggested adding black to my blond color for a two-toned fun effect.
Why not?

After seeing my hair a few friends mentioned others that share similar Two-Toned Do’s. Let’s look at 5 in pop culture.

Deborah Harry

Deborah Harry, the lead singer of the pop rock group Blondie expressed her unique style with two-toned locks more than a few times.

Check out the cover of Parallel Lines from Blondie. You can purchase this CD via Amazon, click here.

http://www.deborahharry.com

Cruella de Vil

Cruella De Vil, Cruella De Vil, if she doesn’t scare you no evil thing will. This villain has a nasty obsession with the spots of 101 Dalmatians. She also has radical black and white hair.

Terri Nunn

http://www.terrinunn.com/

It would be easy to spot the lead singer from Berlin while “Riding on a Metro”. She’d be the one with the cute hat and Two-Toned do.

Artwork by Krayel Art Studio http://krayel.com/

Click here for the video of “You Don’t Know” by Berlin.

Rogue

Comic book fans and X-Men enthusiasts will know this character. Rogue is a young woman that can’t touch another without sucking out their life force. Speaking of sucking, the actress that played Rogue in the movie X-Men has a cute boyfriend that’s been sucking blood for decades. Anna Paquin played Rogue and now she plays Sookie Stackhouse in one of my favorite TV shows True Blood. Sookie’s hair is one nice shade of blond.

Speaking of True Blood how about a video by Depeche Mode:

Drew Barrymore

This month, Drew Barrymore made her feature directorial debut with the film Whip It at the Toronto International Film Festival. The debut of her Two-Toned hairstyle on the red carpet had the internet a buzz with Hate it or Love it polls.

Check out this footage from Red Carpet Diary:

Opening October 2nd, this film will be a must see. Based on the novel Derby Girl by Shauna Cross, Whip It stars Drew Barrymore, Juliette Lewis, Andrew Wilson and Ellen Page, sounds good doesn’t it?

Click here for the official Whip It site.

I’ve decided to say goodbye to my old Cup of Joe. He’s met me too many mornings and now he’s getting greedy with my afternoons. I’ve loved coffee since I was a kiddo but it’s time to see how I’ll feel without caffeine flowing through my veins. If you didn’t read The 5 on Friday devoted to what was once my favorite cuppa, please check it out here:

http://housewifeinhollywood.com/5-pop-culture-cups-of-joe/

Now on to new horizons, or at least a different perspective while watching the sunrise.

Teeccino

This caffeine-free herbal coffee has an interesting flavor and an aroma reminiscent of my dad’s old pipe tobacco. It can be brewed just like a Cup of Joe so you can still have that percolating habit in the morning. Every time I try to quit caffeine the first thing I miss is the coffee aroma and sounds of the coffee pot. Could be one too many Folgers Waking Up commercials but I love the routine of waking up to a hot, just-brewed beverage.

Teeccino has lots of great health benefits including potassium, and soluble fiber. It also helps restore alkaline balance and because it’s rich in inulin it can help improve digestion and absorb calcium and minerals.

Teecino comes in a variety of flavors. I think I’ll try Hazelnut next.

Postum

Postum was created in 1895. Yes, 1895!

If only I could find a retro commercial with the Postum invisible cartoon ghost named, “Mister Coffee Nerves”. I read he would appear in the ads to people suffering from coffee’s negative effects. Of course the people in these commercials always gave the instant beverage Postum a try and they’d say goodbye to irritability, insomnia, and of course “lack of athletic prowess”. This would send Mister Coffee Nerves running.

Click here to see a printed ad of Mister Coffee Nerves in action.

You can’t get Postum these days, it was discontinued in 2007, but we can look back at the history of coffee alternatives with a smile.

Roastaroma

This full bodied tea by Celestial Seasonings  is the ultimate tea trickster. It has a bold taste and dark thick color that can fool even the most caffeinated of coffee drinkers to sit and relax with a nice cup of herbal tea.

“This full-bodied, caffeine-free alternative to coffee has been a trusted favorite for more than 30 years. With the robust flavors of roasted chicory and barley, a hint of chocolate from roasted carob and just a touch of cinnamon and allspice, Roastaroma is hearty enough to give you a lift in the morning and delicious enough to enjoy all day long.” — Charlie Baden, Celestial Seasonings Blendmaster Since 1975

Soyfee

For those of you that find joy in soy you might want to try this coffee alternative. I think the name is fun and the taste isn’t bad. There are many benefits to soy and Soyfee can be brewed just like traditional coffee. It comes in many flavors too so try it for yourself and let me know what you think.

Smoothies

So after trying a few coffee substitutes I think I’ll mix it, or blend it up, a bit and go with a smoothie every other morning instead of my regular hot cup of something.

Here’s a Raw Food Rap from Dan the Man with the Master Plan

–Remember, for the full effect always click on hyperlinked text–

When I think of talk shows I think Merv Griffin, Arsenio Hall, Johnny Carson, David Letterman, and Tavis Smiley. When I think of radio talk shows I think about Petey Green, Howard Stern and my favorites on NPR.

With the popularity of podcasts these days we can find talk shows with niches that interest us and we can listen online. I’ve listed some of my favorite online talk shows all with their own unique style. Try them on and see if any fit.

5 Online Talk Shows:

1. PYDK Podcast

Eugene Ahn hosts the online interview show, the People You Don’t Know Podcast. Eugene talks to people who are doing interesting things in their lives. At the end of each interview they recommend someone they think would be great for an upcoming episode.

I was lucky enough to be a featured guest on Episode #16 Culture Shock. Click here to listen.

http://pydkpodcast.com

2. The Jeff Clark Spot

Jeff Clark doesn’t hold back when he hosts The Super Sonic Robot Talk Show. His latest is a Back to School Special starring Mary Birdsong and heavy metal stylist Tricia Hobby. Like I said Jeff doesn’t hold any laugh material back, the show has a parental advisory for explicit lyrics. While listening, you might also get a taste for grits, greens and sweet tea.

http://thejeffclarkspot.com

3. Geekland Podscast

“The Graceland for Geeks” and “Your one stop geek shop, for all things geek.”

These guys keep every geek satisfied with their comic book talk. If you think you know comic books then you need to listen in while Willie Gillis, Chris Eaton, Ben Songer & Justin Vactor break it down.

http://www.geeklandpodcast.com/

4. Random Talk Radio with Inga

You never know what you’ll hear when Inga talks with people in the entertainment industry on her Random Talk Radio show. It’s also the official radio for G Tom Mac. Remember “Cry Little Sister”?

This Friday’s episode she talks with actress and international model Jennifer Gimenez. Jennifer was on Inga’s show once before talking about Sober House. This time she’ll dish out details about her new show Model Latina: Miami and the upcoming Sober House Season 2.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/randomtalkradio

5. You Tell Me

That’s right I couldn’t come up with a number 5. So I’m asking you the HIH viewers to tell me an online talk show you enjoy.

Leave me the name and URL of your favorite podcast in the comments below.