One thing that you should know about me: I have a deep regard for songwriters. Phil Springer is a songwriter who will turn 100 years old in May. He has over 540 musical credits, the most famous song being one that he cowrote with Joan Javits for Eartha Kitt, "Santa Baby". His daughter, Tamar Springer has written and produced a documentary about her father "More Than Santa Baby". I am very pleased to tell you that you may go to a website and VOTE on this documentary! Please do!
https://forms.gle/KDNYYfsRfnxiAmE98
The website is the Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival People's Choice Awards. Once you see the form, type in "More Than Santa Baby" in the Short Film Category. You might say, "but I haven't seen it!" I haven't seen this documentary either, but I will! And I KNOW that I will love it, so I have no qualms about voting for it.
I hope you have seen the video of Phil Springer playing "Moonlight Sonata " on the piano. Hey, it has 1.6 million views! I am pleased to say that it won a 2024 WEBBY award for Best Individual Performance.
If you click on that link, you will also see a book mentioned: "The Last Legacy of E. Y. "Yip" Harburg". I hope you know his name! He is the one who gave us all the lyrics for many songs, including all of the songs from "The Wizard of Oz"! Yip Harburg and Phil Springer were great friends and song collaborators. (If someone is going through a tough time, give them a bag of lemon drops and hand write this line from Harburg. "May your troubles melt like lemon drops". I am paraphrasing of course, but that is totally lifted from the marvelous "Over The Rainbow"!)
Look! This tree is in bloom right at our front walkway. Do you know what it is? (You won't win anything, just my great respect, if you know.) Spring officially begins tomorrow on March 20th, but it already looks like Spring to me!
Please don't forget to go to that site and vote for the documentary about Phil Springer. I will send a message to Tamar Springer that I wrote this post on my blog. I am thanking you all in advance! You are all just the best!
I too love songwriters and good lyrics. I always have from a young age so I was very surprised when I guy i knew years ago in a well known band told me he never bothered/ listened to his own bands lyrics much. That amazed me as for me it's 50% of the song but being a musician it was all about the music for him and that was enough. The lead singer produced all the lyrics and he just added the guitar riffs. Job done. Glad Spring is here at last.
ReplyDelete(PS I'm having real trouble with yahoo mail not letting me in to see my own emails due to extra security changes ( new owners) so I've put
an 'approval required' setting on my own blog. If it continues I may have to just pack in my own blog or not post as often as it's not worth all the extra hassle. )
Oh, I am sorry if you are have trouble with emails and blogging! I hope you don't stop blogging, I would miss you. Like you, I love the music and lyrics, although I must say, there are some songs that have great tunes but the lyrics could be better. (Elton John/Bernie Taupin comes to mind.) Happy Spring to you in beautiful Scotland!
DeleteGreat songwriters are a treasure.
ReplyDeleteIs this a Lindera obtusiloba?
Very good guess! It does look a lot like a spicebush, and the spicebush swallowtail butterfly is tricked by it too as it lays eggs on either the spicebush or this tree, which is a sassafras! If you go back on my blog, I had photos of the caterpillar on this tree!
DeleteReading your blog, how can anyone NOT know that you love songwriters, Kay? :-D
ReplyDeleteI am sure Tamar Springer will be happy to receive your message - who knows, she might pop over and leave a comment herself.
Tee hee, any of my regular commenters must know of my love of music but there is always a chance that someone new will visit me! Oh, I would love if Tamar would leave me a comment here! Wouldn't that be wonderful?
DeleteVery interesting post, thank you Kay and how lovely to see those signs of spring.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed, Spring comes every year and every year, I am happy to see it!
DeleteJust popped in to let you know my Dear Stephanie, Dear Paul book arrived yesterday. I can't wait to read it. Thank you again for sharing it here and have a wonderful week!
DeleteAwesome! I know you will love it, I promise. x
DeleteI will go vote for it, Kay! You do such a good job of keeping us informed about music and writers and singers of song. I LOVE how much YOU love music. Happy first day of spring- xo Diana
ReplyDeleteThank you very much for voting, dear Diana!! YES! I love music so very much, guess it shows. LOL!
DeleteYes, song writers are a treasure. We never hear much about them. Most of the time it is more about the singers of the songs. Thanks always for sharing. Your spring blooms are beautiful but I don't know what they are..
ReplyDeleteThat is so very true, folks think of a song associated with the singer but not too many look up who wrote a song. You know I always do!! The tree is a Sassafras! It will have 3 different leaves on it, it is a native and I love it!
DeleteSongwriters are literally the unsung heroes of everything we listen to. It is so cool that Phil Springer is almost 100 and still getting so much love, that Webby award for "Moonlight Sonata" is totally iconic. I am definitely going to head over and vote for the documentary because anyone who helped give us "Santa Baby" deserves all the awards
ReplyDeletePhil Springer deserves ALL the awards! You know that I very much agree with that!! "Songwriters are the unsung heroes of everything we listen to". How much I love that! You know I agree 100%. Thanks very much for your comment, you always say the perfect thing. x
DeleteLovely Spring flower. Spring does begin today, I could tell by the fog this morning!
ReplyDeleteWell, I can't feel too sorry for you, in lovely Scotland!!
DeleteI just marvel at the talents of people and those who are still going strong in their old age is amazing! Never stop moving or creating! Keeps you young, I think. I don't know the name of that beautiful plant, but it says Spring is here! And it is today! Yeah! I know you got some snow and cold down there and I hope it's over for the year! My Mom would have been 100 this May. We were blessed to have her for 94yrs, but I will certainly be thinking of her on her heavenly 100th bday!
ReplyDeleteKeep moving! That is my motto! Oh your beautiful Mother, you are just like her. She lives in you. Have a lovely spring, Yaya! xx
ReplyDeleteYou always find the best stuff. I love investigating your finds.
ReplyDeleteThank you! Now you know I need to do a post about Eartha Kitt now! AND Joan Javits! I mentioned them both but they deserve more than just a mention. I bet Phil Springer would agree!
DeleteI always love your energy and enthusiasm, Kay. I can feel it in every sentence of your post. I too appreciate song writers. They have given much joy to our world. Happy Spring Equinox, my friend. May your Sassafras bring you lots of joy!
ReplyDeleteHappy Spring to you! Enthusiasm and joy, that is you, my friend! May you stay as sassy as my Sassafras. xx
ReplyDeleteI was so impressed with the songwriter ad piano player on Facebook - I am ashamed to say I do not know that much, but it was interesting.
ReplyDeleteDo you mean that you heard Phil Springer on Facebook? I have the link to his website above, I invite you to learn more about him! I love that he was friends with Mickey Rooney! I wonder if Mr Springer was thrilled with Micky Rooney in "Night at the Museum". I bet he was!
DeleteWhat a nice thing to do.
ReplyDeleteHey! I hope you were able to vote too. That would be awesome. Take care.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHe is amazing.
ReplyDeleteHe truly is amazing! I hope you were able to vote!
DeleteYour knowledge of song writers is truly amazing. I certainly remember Eartha Kitt and Santa Baby. Did you know Australia's Kylie Minogue also recorded it successfully? No idea what your yellow tree is, but they are spectacular flowers!
ReplyDeleteSanta Baby has been recorded by many, including Cher who called him to tell him that she put it on her Christmas album, and since she had recorded that song last it was like the cherry on top. 🍒 I will love Cher forever for calling him and telling him that!! Those yellow blossoms are on a sassafras tree, it came up right beside our front walkway!
ReplyDeleteOf course, I know your Kylie Minogue from Australia! They are crazy about her in England!!
DeleteIt's lovely to welcome spring at long last for those who have had seemingly never-ending winter.
ReplyDeleteYes indeed, even our winter in Georgia has been colder and wetter than usual. I am not complaining though, the pictures of snow in further north look brutal.
DeleteHe is a talented pianist. I see you live in Georgia. My daugher lived there for a couple years, and loved everything about it. Thanks for visiting, and if you find out anything about the Princess Beanie Baby, let me know. So glad to hear you have one as well. ; )
ReplyDeleteHey! Thank you for your comment! Our son is 35 years old now but I think we still have all his cuddly toys. Since he had grandparents in two different countries, he had a mix of American and English things! Did we really have room to store these things? No, we did it anyway! LOL! Georgia is hot just now, a bit uncomfortable but hopeful for rain. Visit again! xx
DeleteThanks for your visit today! I will go place my vote!
ReplyDeleteThanks very much for voting! And thanks for telling me you will! Please visit me again, you have a lovely blog. Lakeland looks gorgeous!
DeleteWhat an informative post. I am excited to check out the sites and also to try to vote.
ReplyDeleteOh thank you! I would love it if you could vote for the documentary about Phil Springer! I love your blog! I am thinking I want to make your recipe for ...was it Mexican Bean Bake? That sounds so good!
DeleteHi Kay - Spring is definitely a-coming! Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHey Hilary! Thinking of you in lovely Eastbourne! Walk down the pier for me and look out to sea and think of me! x
DeleteThe name Phil Springer was new to me, but I will definitely go to the site and check out the video.
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by my blog. Looking through your comments I see a lot of familiar names here.
Yes! I saw your comment on one of my friends that I have, therefore, you are also my friend! It would be great if you could vote for the documentary about him. I loved the comment where Melody said anyone who helped give us "Santa Baby" deserves all the awards. I so very much agree!!
Deletephil springer, a name unfamiliar to me BUT much respect playing the piano at 100. your plant is a "hymenophyllum". if you have an iphone and you take a picture of it, there is a circle at the bottom of the picture, in the center, that will identify plants, birds, ducks...etc!!
ReplyDeleteHi Debbie! Glad you appreciate Phil Springer too! have a plant app on my phone but one can't always be certain even with that. The flowering tree is a sassafras tree. It is unusual, as it will produce 3 different shape leaves! I will do a post on it after the leaves develop. Looks like the I Phone identified a fern for you, which is strange, as this is most certainly not a fern! Thanks very much for your comment though! I should have said that I knew what this was I just wondered if anyone else did! I do like the apps that help with identification though, back in the day I spent hours researching plants, trees, birds, frogs, etc!
Deleteglad you figured it out...i guess my phone needs a litt "AI"!!
DeleteNo worries! Hope you don't think I am a know it all! I am more of a hardly know anything kind of gal! Funny thing, I have a fern in a pot on my front steps. What if your phone identified the hidden fern? We could write a horror movie!
Delete