If the winner is the United States — yes, I know that’s a long shot (a small possibility, a very, very, very, very, very small possibility!!) — the players may sing “We Are The Champions” by Queen.  This is a very popular song played or sung in the U.S. when people celebrate a victory (win), especially in sports.  If you know the lyrics (words), you probably know why.  If you don’t, take a look at them below.  If you’re not already in the mood (state of mind or feeling) to cheer on (send encouragement to) your favorite team, then maybe this song will help.  I know that those of you who are rabid (extreme; crazy about something) soccer fans don’t need anything more to help get you in the mood for the World Cup.

But who will win?  Which team will be able to say, “We are the champions?”

~ Lucy

“We Are The Champions”
by Queen

I’ve paid my dues (earned something through hard work or suffering)
Time after time (again and again)
I’ve done my sentence (completed my period of punishment)
But committed no crime
And bad mistakes
I’ve made a few
I’ve had my share of sand (very small bits of rock found at the beach) kicked in my face (“sand kicked in my face” = had obstacles; met people who did not respect me)
But I’ve come through (passed through or survived a period of difficulty)

We are the champions, my friends
And we’ll keep on fighting ’til the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
‘Cause we are the champions, of the world

I’ve taken my bows (bent at the waist, leaning forward, after a performance to acknowledge people’s applause and cheers)
And my curtain calls (after a performance, for the audience to continue clapping to encourage the performers to come back on stage to receive the audience’s appreciation)
You brought me fame (being known to a lot of people; being famous) and fortune (money) and everything that goes with it
I thank you all

But it’s been no bed of roses (easy thing)
No pleasure cruise (vacation on a large ship)
I consider it a challenge before the whole human race (all the living people in the world)
And I ain’t gonna lose

We are the champions, my friends
And we’ll keep on fighting ’til the end
We are the champions
We are the champions
No time for losers
‘Cause we are the champions, of the world

Michael Jackson started early as a performer.  He was only six years old when he began performing with his brothers in the group Jackson 5.  He went solo (became an individual performer) when he was 13 years old, and released (made available to the public) 10 albums. His most successful album was Thriller, released in 1982.  Thriller broke records (become the first or best) by selling 110 million copies, and it remains today the best-selling album in history.

That is why I chose the single (individual song) “Thriller” from that album.  A thriller is a type of novel, play, or movie that has a very exciting plot (story; storyline).  That is certainly true of this scary (frightening) and loooong song!

~ Lucy

“Thriller”
by Michael Jackson

It’s close to midnight and something evil‘s (very bad) lurking (hidden, waiting to attack) in the dark
Under the moonlight, you see a sight (something you see or can see) that almost stops your heart
You try to scream but terror (extreme fear) takes the sound before you make it
You start to freeze (become so cold or afraid that you can’t move) as horror looks you right between the eyes
You’re paralyzed (unable to move)

You hear the door slam (close loudly with force) and realize there’s nowhere left to run
You feel the cold hand and wonder if you’ll ever see the sun
You close your eyes and hope that this is just imagination (product of your mind; not real), girl!
But all the while (during this time) you hear the creature (animal or monster) creeping up (moving close while trying not to make noise) behind, you’re out of time

They’re out to (with the intention to) get you, there’s demons (bad, evil force or creature) closing in (getting closer and closer) on every side
They will possess you (have complete power over you) unless you change that number on your dial
Now is the time for you and I to cuddle (for two people to hold each other to show love or affection) close together, yeah
All through the night, I’ll save you from the terror on the screen, I’ll make you see

Darkness falls across the land
The midnight hour is close at hand (nearly here)
Creatures crawl (move forward on one’s hands and knees) in search of blood
To terrorize y’alls (you all’s; informal version of “all of yours”) neighborhood

And whosoever shall be found
Without the soul (spirit) for getting down (enjoying oneself completely)
Must stand and face the hounds (dogs) of hell
And rot (decompose; decay) inside a corpse‘s (dead body’s) shell (hard outer covering)

The foulest (most terrible) stench (bad smell) is in the air
The funk (bad smell and atmosphere) of forty thousand years
And grizzly (with a lot of hair) ghouls (ghosts; appearance of dead people) from every tomb (place in the ground where people are buried after they die)
Are closing in (coming closer; nearly arrived) to seal your doom (to make sure you die)

And though you fight to stay alive
Your body starts to shiver (shake because of cold or fear)
For no mere mortal (average person) can resist (prevent)
The evil of the thriller

‘Cause this is thriller, thriller night
And no one’s gonna save you from the beast (dangerous animal) about to strike (attack)
You know it’s thriller, thriller night
You’re fighting for your life inside a killer, thriller…

Thriller, thriller night
‘Cause I can thrill you more than any ghost (appearance of a dead person) would ever dare try
Thriller, thriller night
So let me hold you tight and share a
Killer, diller (not a real word), chiller, thriller here tonight

‘Cause this is thriller, thriller night
Girl, I can thrill you more than any ghost would ever dare try
Thriller, thriller night
So let me hold you tight and share a
Killer, diller, chiller, thriller…

The Beatles have had so many number-one hits that it’s difficult to select just one of their songs to include here.  After looking at the lyrics (words in songs), though, I realized that many of their songs have simple lyrics that probably don’t require very much explaining.  That’s why I selected “Penny Lane.”

A lane is a small street and Penny Lane is a street in Liverpool, England, the city where the Beatles are from.  Penny Lane is in a busy shopping area, and when Paul McCartney and John Lennon were growing up, they would meet there to take a bus into the center of the city. This song, then, is a nostalgic (with warm feelings for the past) look at a place where McCartney and Lennon spent so many of their younger days.

Since the street Penny Lane became famous, Beatles fans have made it a point to (are certain to) visit this landmark (important historical location).  In fact, the Penny Lane street sign had been stolen by tourists so many times that for several years, city officials stopped replacing it, instead painting the name of the street on the side of the buildings there.  In 2007, however, the city installed (put into position permanently) a new Penny Lane street sign that is very difficult to steal.

Thanks, again, to those who voted, and I’ll include songs from some of the other top vote-getters (people/things getting votes) in future weeks.  Here are the four lads (British English for “guys”) from Liverpool.

~ Lucy

“Penny Lane”
The Beatles

Penny Lane there is a barber (man whose job is to cut hair) showing photographs
Of every head he’s had the pleasure to have known
And all the people that come and go
Stop and say hello

On the corner is a banker with a motorcar (old-fashioned term for “car”)
The little children laugh at him behind his back (without him knowing)
And the banker never wears a mac (short for “mackintoch,” a British English word for “raincoat,” a coat you wear to keep the rain off your body)
In the pouring (very heavy) rain…
Very strange

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
There beneath (under) the blue suburban (not city; neighborhood outside of the city where people live) skies
I sit, and meanwhile back

In Penny Lane there is a fireman with an hourglass (a glass container with two parts, in which sand takes an hour to move from the top part to the bottom part)
And in his pocket is a portrait (picture or image of a person) of the Queen.
He likes to keep his fire engine (vehicle driven and used to put out fires) clean
It’s a clean machine

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
Four of fish and finger pies
In summer, meanwhile back

Behind the shelter (temporary structure that gives protection from the weather) in the middle of a roundabout (British English term for “traffic circle,” where cars coming from several directions move around an area in a circle to reach the next street)
A pretty nurse is selling poppies (type of flower) from a tray
And though she feels as if she’s in a play
She is anyway

Penny Lane the barber shaves (removes hair from one’s face (and other areas) with a razor) another customer
We see the banker sitting waiting for a trim (a minor haircut; cutting off a little hair to make the hair look neat)
Then the fireman rushes in (enters in a hurry)
From the pouring rain…
Very strange

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
There beneath the blue suburban skies
I sit, and meanwhile back

Penny Lane is in my ears and in my eyes
There beneath the blue suburban skies…
Penny Lane.

Finally, it’s your turn to be DJ (disc jockey; the person on the radio who selects the music to be played and who announces the songs).  We’d like to hear what songs you’d like to hear and which lyrics you’d like explained.

We sometimes get questions from podcast listeners who ask about lyrics from Elvis songs, Beatles songs, or songs by other well-known and legendary (remarkable; very famous because of their talent) artists, so I thought we’d start with some of these, taking the top five in record sales (the number of records or CDs sold), and then adding a few other popular recording artists (anyone who records music for sale).

Tell us who your favorite recording artist is of all time.  If the artist does not appear in the poll below, tell us who it is by posting a comment. Also, suggest a particular song in the comments that you’d like to hear.  Let’s see which artist/song gets the most votes or the most mentions and you’ll see that here on the blog.

~ Lucy

Even people who like their job as I do sometimes feel like they want to stay in bed on a Monday.  I hope this little song puts a smile on your face, as it did mine.  And to those people who don’t have to get up and work on Mondays, I have special message for you at the bottom of this blog post.

~ Lucy

P.S. At the beginning of the video, the singer says that she has to admit (say without wanting to) that she’s wearing her pajamas, which are clothes we wear to sleep in.

“Living in a Tree”
by Priscilla Ahn

Living in a tree,
Yeah that’s where I’d like to be,
When the world falls down (collapses; is destroyed).

No one can say nothing,
Which I guess means they’ll say something,
But I won’t be around (won’t be here).

I’ll be in my tree,
Living free,
As any child would wanna be.

Chaos (completely without order; complete confusion) in the streets,
Lonely hearts bear (contain; have) lonely beats (each movement of a heart),
In a world carved (shaped from something hard) with steel and stone.

Miscommunication (not communicating well) leads to fear and hesitation (pausing (stopping temporarily) before doing something),
And it won’t leave me alone.

But now in my tree,
I’m living free,
As any child would wanna be.

Maybe you and me can make a home for us and someday free from the strongest wood of the tallest tree and we’ll be,

Living in my tree,
Living free,
As any child would wanna be.

I remember each year my family and I would go to St. Columba Church (just a few blocks from our house) on Christmas Eve and hear these wonderful songs and hymns (religious songs, usually sung as part of a religious service or event).  The church was always crowded (usually with people you didn’t see in church except on Christmas!), but the mood (atmosphere, feeling) was one of joy and real happiness to be celebrating this great day of Christmas.

The choir (group of singers) was always joined by a man named Connelly, a singer who was a member of the church community who had a beautiful, deep, powerful baritone (very low-sounding) voice.  (Everyone called him “Pops,” but I’m not sure why.  Pops is an (old) informal term meaning “dad” or “father.”)  Toward the end of our celebration, Pops Connelly would have a solo (singing by himself), and it was always the song, “O Holy Night.”  (Holy means sacred, dedicated to God, very good.)  Each year when I heard it, it reminded me of the “true” spirit of Christmas, of why we were there.  The song was written originally as a poem in French in the 19th century (1800s) and was later translated into English.

This rendition (version, performance) was done by the incomparable (unable to be compared to anyone else, because he is so great) Nat King Cole, a popular American singer in the 1940s and ’50s.  Cole doesn’t have the same deep voice, but he always sings with emotion, and it is difficult not to be moved (affected emotionally) by the way he interprets (performs) this carol.

A very Merry Christmas to all who celebrate it on this “holy night”!

~Jeff

“O Holy Night”
sung by Nat King Cole

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! O hear the angels’ voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O  night divine, O night, O night divine!

Fall on your knees! O hear the angels’ voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O  night divine, O night, O night divine!

Saviour = someone who saves or rescues you from some danger; here, Jesus Christ
long lay = for a long time there existed/there was
pining = experiencing some pain (mental or physical) because you have been disappointed in love; wanting or desiring the return of someone you love
felt its worth = believed that it was valuable
weary = tired
rejoices = celebrates
yonder = over there, at a great distance, far away (old-fashioned, poetic term)
breaks…morn = begins a new morning, a new day, with the sun rising
Fall on your knees = kneel, put both knees on the ground as if to pray
divine = relating to God
Christ = literally the “anointed” or chosen one; here, Jesus Christ, whose birth is celebrated on Christmas (the “mas” is short for Mass, the Catholic religious service)

When I was young, it was not uncommon during the weeks leading up to (right before) Christmas for carolers to come to the front door.  Christmas carolers are groups of people who go from door-to-door (one house to the next) singing Christmas songs.  School groups, church groups, groups of neighbors or friends, would get together, usually informally, to go Christmas caroling.  When a group of carolers come to your door, you and those in your house become the audience–you applaud and if the group is small or if you know some members of the group, you may offered them a snack, such as a cookie or slice of cake, or even a holiday-related drink, such as apple cider (like apple juice) or eggnog (drink made with egg, cream, spices, and sometimes alcohol).  Then, the carolers move on to the next house.  These days, it’s less common to see Christmas carolers, and I can’t remember the last time I had Christmas carolers come to my house in Los Angeles.

In the Christmas spirit, Jeff and I agreed that we would each pick our favorite Christmas carol for the blog.  (Jeff will post his on Christmas Eve, December 24th.) I found this to be a very difficult choice to make because I love listening to and singing carols, even when it’s not Christmas, to the dismay (distress; pain) of anyone around me.  To choose just one among so many is nearly impossible.

After a lot of thinking, I picked “Little Drummer Boy.”  A drummer is someone who plays the drums, of course, which is the musical instrument where you hit a round top with sticks. (The lyrics “pa rum pum pum pum” represents the sound of the drum.)  I love its melody (main notes in the song) and the story of a poor boy who wants to honor (pay respect to) someone important (in this case, Jesus), but all he has is his music to give.

To all of you, our wonderful listeners, I wish you a very happy holiday and a wonderful new year!

~ Lucy

P.S. This is another wonderful version of the song sung by the Vienna Boy’s Choir.

“Little Drummer Boy”
by the Harry Simeone Chorale

Come, they told me, pa rum pum pum pum
A newborn King to see, pa rum pum pum pum
Our finest (best) gifts we bring, pa rum pum pum pum
To lay before (present to) the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

So to honor Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
When we come.

Little Baby, pa rum pum pum pum
I am a poor boy too, pa rum pum pum pum
I have no gift to bring, pa rum pum pum pum
That’s fit (appropriate) to give the King, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Shall I play for you, pa rum pum pum pum,
On my drum?

Mary (Jesus’ mother) nodded, pa rum pum pum pum
The ox and lamb kept time (to maintain the tempo or rhythm), pa rum pum pum pum
I played my drum for Him, pa rum pum pum pum
I played my best for Him, pa rum pum pum pum,
rum pum pum pum, rum pum pum pum,

Then He smiled at me, pa rum pum pum pum
Me and my drum.

What Oprah didn’t know was that there was a surprise for her: a flash mob.  A flash mob is a large group of people whose members know to be at a particular place, at a particular time by communicating electronically, such as through email or Twitter. It’s pretty amazing what this flash mob does!

~ Lucy

“I Gotta Feeling”
The Black Eyed Peas

(4 times)
I gotta (got a) feeling…
That today’s gonna (going to) be a good day
That today’s gonna be a good day
That today’s gonna be a good, good day

Today’s the day
Let’s live it up (spend one’s time in a very enjoyable way)
Twenty-four seasons
Let’s give it up
Look how she smash it
Like Oh My God
Jump off that sofa
Keep watching…OPRAH

I know that we’ll have a ball (have a lot of fun)
If we get down
And go out
And just lose it all (relax completely; lose control)
I feel stressed out (anxious; worried)
I won’t let it go
Let’s go way out spaced out
And loosing all control

Fill up my cup
Mazel tov (Jewish expression meaning “congratulations”)
Look at her dancing
Just take it… OFF
Let’s paint the town (go out and enjoy ourselves)
We’ll shut it down
Let’s burn the roof

(2 times)
Cause I gotta feeling… (WoooHooo)
That tonight’s gonna be a good night
That tonight’s gonna be a good night
That tonight’s gonna be a good, good night

I gotta feeling
Tonight’s the night (HEY! )
Let’s live it up (Let’s live it up)
I got my money (I’m paid)
Let’s spend it up (Let’s spend it up)
Go out and smash it (Smash it)
Like, oh my God (Like, oh my God)
Jump off that sofa (Come On! )
Let’s kick it OFF

Fill up my cup (Drank)
Mazel tov (La chaim)
Look at her dancing (Move it Move it)
Just take it… OFF
Let’s paint the town (Paint the town)
We’ll shut it down (Shut it down)
Let’s burn the roof (Woooooo)
And then we’ll do it again

Let’s do it (4 times)
And do it (2 times)
Let’s live it up
And do it (3 times)
Do it, do it
Let’s do it (3 times)
Do it, do it, do it, do it

Here we come
Here we go
We gotta rock
Easy come, easy go (something that you get easily can go away just as easily)
Now we on top
Feel the shot
Body rock
Rock it don’t stop
Round and round
Up and down
Around the clock (all the time; without stopping)

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday
Friday, Saturday, Saturday to Sunday

Get, get, get, get, get with us
You know what we say (say)
Party everyday (x2)

I gotta feeling (WooHooo)
That tonight’s gonna be a good night
That tonight’s gonna be a good night
That tonight’s gonna be a good good night

I gotta feeling (WooHooo)

The video below has a montage (collection of short videos edited together) from the movie.  There are spoilers (information that will tell you what happens in the story), so if you haven’t seen the movie yet and want to see it, you may only want to listen, and not watch the montage.

~ Lucy

“As Time Goes By”
(music and words by Herman Hupfeld; sung by Frank Sinatra)

You must remember this
A kiss is still a kiss, a sigh is just a sigh.
The fundamental (basic) things apply (is applicable; is relevant),
As time goes by.

And when two lovers woo (try to gain each others’ love)
They still say, “I love you.”
On that you can rely (depend)
No matter what the future brings,
As time goes by.

Moonlight and love songs
Never out of date (old-fashioned).
Hearts full of passion (strong emotion of love)
Jealousy (the emotion of wanting what others have) and hate.
Woman needs man
And man must have his mate (partner; lover; wife),
That no one can deny.

It’s still the same old story
A fight for love and glory (recognition for achieving something great)
A case of do or die (something that must be done, even though it is difficult and/or dangerous)
The world will always welcome lovers,
As time goes by.

It’s still the same old story
A fight for love and glory
A case of do or die
The world will always welcome lovers,
As time goes by.

The movie isn’t a musical (movie with a lot of singing and dancing), but music plays a very large part in the film.  The film takes place in Dublin, Ireland, and is about a struggling musician who busks (plays on the street) and who meets a young Czech immigrant (person who moves permanently to another country) who sells flowers on the street. The film was a favorite at the Sundance Film Festival, and won “best foreign film” at the 2007 Independent Film Awards, awards given to smaller independent films (films not made by a major movie studio (company)).  I really enjoyed the movie.

The main song from the soundtrack (collection of songs from a movie) is called “Falling Slowly,” and it received an Academy Award in 2008 for “best original song.”  In fact, all of the original songs in the movie were composed (written) and performed by the two lead actors, who in real life, are not actors, but musicians.  Since seeing the movie, I can’t get this tune (song) out of my head.  I hope to infect (give the disease to) you, too!  If you like this one, here is the other song, “If you want me,” that’s been haunting (won’t leave) me even more!

~ Lucy

“Falling Slowly”
by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová

I don’t know you, but I want you
All the more for that (even more because of that0
Words fall through me, and always fool me
And I can’t react (respond)
And games that never amount to (result in) more than they’re meant
Will play themselves out (come to a result on their own)

Take this sinking (falling into the water) boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You’ll make it now

Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can’t go back
Moods (emotions) that take me and erase me
And I’m painted black
You have suffered enough and warred (had a battle) with yourself
It’s time that you won

Take this sinking boat and point it home
We’ve still got time
Raise your hopeful voice, you have a choice
You’ve made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody (main notes in a song)
I’ll sing along

I paid the cost too late
Now you’re gone