Saturday 1 March 2014

Challenge of Music - 1973 Bad, Bad Leroy Brown

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Thank you Erin, of Treasures Found: Inspiration is Everywhere, for hosting the "Challenge of Music Blog Hop". I chose a song that has a strong narrative and which allows me to visualize a piece of jewellery that would have been included in a music video, if a video had ever been made.

I had a difficult time selecting a year for this challenge - The two most important years in my life are 1982 and 1984 - the years my children were born. But did I really like the music during those years? Not so much. I never was a fan of 80's music- and the hits were not stellar in my opinion (sorry). My kids grew up listening to 50s and 60s music in the car - they wanted "bumper" music - the base would resonate through the back seat and the more it vibrated, the more they liked it. Another epic year for me was 1979 which was when I got married - the music was better - but just not as inspirational to me as was 1973.

1973 was the year I was graduating from high school, beginning four years at university (first time away from home) and listening to 'Bad, Bad Leroy Brown' by Jim Croce. With a strong baseline, my kids really thought this song was great bumper music. Click The Song to hear what soon became Croce's biggest single. "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown"  hit No. 1 on the American charts in July 1973. I had my song - I remember listening to it - making decisions that would affect my life forever.

Croce was born in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 10, 1943, to James Albert and Flora Mary (Babucci) Croce.

On Thursday, September 20, 1973, during Croce's Life and Times tour and the day before his ABC single "I Got a Name" was released, Croce, Muehleisen, and four others were killed when the chartered Beechcraft E18S they were traveling in crashed, while taking off from the Natchitoches Regional Airport, in Natchitoches, Louisiana.

It was hard for me to decide the actual year that this song may have been set - my mental image takes me way back to the late 50s when the women wore crystal necklaces and matching earrings - so my piece uses those influences.  My image of Doris is that of a beautiful women who has minimal taste (forget Tiffany's). Her style would most likely be over the top. I imagine Doris as a smoker, a gum chewer and with an attitude that says 'You better respect me, 'cause I'm the wife of a jealous man'.

I see Doris wearing a tight low cut dress and a necklace of "sparkly jewels" that she believes sets her above the others in the bar. But I also tried to update her 50's look somewhat, for today, by adding in some non-sparkly stuff too. Hope you like what I made!



20 comments:

  1. What a blast from the past! Bad Bad Leroy Brown. A fun song and I am sure that Doris would definitely have worn such a necklace to catch his eye as she stood at the bar. Well done!

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    1. Thank you for your comment and for visiting - I do love this necklace - I clearly remember my Mother wearing something similar when she went to church. (no copper in hers though)

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  2. I loved that song growing up! I can totally see Doris wearing that necklace. It's fabulous and perfect for the time.

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    1. Thank you for your comment - I really liked his music - another case of dead too soon. But we do have the memories.

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  3. That is a fun song! I remember it, and I love the thought of a 'bumper' song! you have updated this look for Doris and it looks like something I would enjoy wearing too! Thank you for sharing your talent and your personal music playlist with us in the 3rd Annual Challenge of Music. Enjoy the day! Erin

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    1. Thank you for hosting this challenge. You challenge of colour was the one that got me started blogging and moving down this jewellery path with a little less hesitancy. Thank you for your motivation.

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  4. I remember this song so well and loved singing along with it. I thing Doris would have been proud to wear this amazing necklace!

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    1. Thank you - I also loved to sing along - maybe out of key but .....

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  5. I love it! I don't get to listen to music much anymore since it tends to aggravate my fibro but this hop has brought back wonderful memories of artists I used to listen to all the time. Jim Croce was one of those artists.

    I think that you really nailed Doris with this necklace. I could see her getting older but hanging on to this necklace because it made her look 'classy'. She now wears it when her great grandchildren come to visit her in the nursing home.

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    1. I love your vision. Isn't it wonderful where our imagination can take us. I am so sorry to hear that music cannot be as much a part of your life as you might like. I like to work in silence but not having that choice musy be hard. Take care and live well.

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  6. What a fun necklace! And it goes great with your song. It's been such fun seeing what music everyone chose! I feel like I want to break out many of the cd's that feature the songs folks have picked... off to find Jim Croce's greatest hits!

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    1. I could not agree more - tastes can be so varied - but that is good - thank you for your kind words.

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  7. Love the music from the 70's, so very cool. Your necklace is fabulous and easily fits into both era's! Love the design and your stories - thank you for sharing!

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    1. Hi, your comment is appreciated. Thank you for your kind words, it is such a motivation.

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  8. Lovely necklace! I really like the mix of beads, the many strands and the warm, elegant colours.

    I don't think I've ever heard this song before (probably a question of both age and geography). Unlike you I love 80's music, but it really is about age as much as it is about taste in music in general: being born in 81, 80's music are pure childhood nostalgia. Sometimes the love of certain songs is more (or all?) about the context than the actually song.

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    1. Thanks for your comment. You are so correct. My kids were both born in the 80s so that is "their" music as well. I became my own parents with this "new" music. And they keep trying to convert me. Sometimes it does work.

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  9. I adore this song, and what to say about your design? It epitomizes the style of the song and as well is stunning in its own right!

    xox jean

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    1. Thank you Jean, I appreciate your comment - you are very kind. Glad you like the song.

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  10. I love the idea of bumper music! Alas, my kids prefer the top 40 radio tunes these days. Love your necklace, I can just picture Doris wearing it!

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    1. Thanks for your kind words ----- unfortunately I cannot produce bumper music any more - it went with the car.

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