1) This record and video were inspired by popular tunes of the 1920s. Looking over your lifetime, which decade produced more of your favorite songs?
Oh, I'm an 80s baby all the way!
2) "Cinderella Rockefella" topped the charts in England, yet barely broke into the Billboard Hot 100 here in the States. Still, the number was known to American audiences, performed as a duet on variety shows like The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (Tommy and Kate Smith), This Is Tom Jones (Cher and Tom) and The Dean Martin Show (Nancy Ames and Dean). Do you remember watching musical-comedy programs? Did you have a favorite?
I don't remember these, no.
3) It was written by Mason Williams, a prolific composer and comedy writer, as well as a talented guitarist. He is best known for "Classical Gas," his 1968 instrumental. Do you enjoy instrumentals? Or does a piece of music need lyrics to become one of your favorites?
I like classical music, but I really loathe contemporary instrumental music. I find I really need the vocals or I go mad without them. No clue why.
4) This week's featured artists, Esther & Abi Ofarim, were considered the Sonny & Cher of Europe. A married couple, they had hits in the 1960s in both the UK and Germany and were depicted in magazines as the perfect young husband and wife. Fans were disappointed when, in 1969, they quit performing together and divorced in 1970 after 12 years of marriage. Can you think of a couple you knew in real life whose split shocked you? Or can you usually see it coming?
I don't think I really know many people in my personal life who have split up. I guess it would shock me if I found out they did. Celebrities, on the other hand... can you say "mixed bag"?
5) Comparisons to Sonny & Cher are apt because, as with the Bonos, the wife's show business career fared better than the husband's, post-divorce. Esther's BBC specials were "appointment TV" in the UK during the 1970s. Today, with the advent of streaming and DVRs, viewers don't have to make sure they're in front of the screen when their favorite show airs. Tell us about the last show you watched. Was it live, streamed, on DVR or DVD/Blueray?
Well, for our bedroom, we put in a large Roku TV, since I'm partially (a LARGE part) bedridden. We put in regular cable, and through the Roku, we also subscribe to Netflix, Disney+, Discovery+, and a couple other services I forget. My favorite show I've newly discovered is "Somebody Feed Phil." Have you guys seen this show on Netflix? I freakin' love it. His facial expressions are the best.
6) She had a solo hit with Esther in Kinderland, a collection of children's songs. Can you recall the lyrics of a favorite song from childhood? Where did you learn it (home, church, Scouts ...)?
All of the above, and more. I've still got tons of fun and funny and ridiculous and dumb songs from childhood in my head, like the hysterical and gross, "The Hearse Song." Fun stuff to remember!
7) Abi continued performing after the split, but more often worked behind the scenes as a record producer and music publisher. Would you say you have a good head for business?
OH, noooooooo. No way. Absolutely not. It is my achilles heel, for sure.
8) After they finished school, both Abi and Esther served in the Israeli Army, and Abi saw combat. Have you served in our military? Did you ever consider enlisting?
Nah. My husband did his 20 years. So I married into it, and we both quickly realized I wouldn't do well actually in the military.
9) Random question: How many keys are on your key ring, and do you know what each one is for?
Oh yes. If I don't know or remember what it's doing there, it loses its place. I don't need to carry around that kind of dead weight!
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That was fun! And now I've got a kid (just one, the other two are working) to try to drive up the 90 minutes to Annapolis Pride today. This month, we are slam! in the middle of all kinds of pride and the two youngest and oldest want to go to everything! So we'll see what we can do. Here's hoping I can get a handicapped spot! Happy Saturday, Lovelies.
Fin.