The Seekers, and Other Guilt-less Pleasures

Driving home tonight, I got to thinking of specific songs that make me smile, no matter where I am, what I’m doing, or who I’m with. In a three-degrees of separation sort of way, the feeling is similar to what I blogged recently about how some of my writing needs to be mine no matter what anyone else thinks of it. (click HERE for that post). In other words, there are songs (and books, TV shows and movies) I’m not ashamed to enjoy, no matter how completely dorky, un-hip and/or anachronistic they reveal me to be.

Remember that recent BMW commercial where the young dad is driving alone, singing along to “The Wheels on the Bus,” and panics when his service advisor calls to inform him that his car told her that it needs an oil change? I’d be saying, “Yeah, I’m singing along to ‘The Wheels on the Bus,’ so what?”

So tonight I was listening to a CD of The Seekers (the fab Australian group) and on came “Georgy Girl,” their biggest US hit from 1967 and title song of the James Mason/Lynn Redgrave movie. I couldn’t help but smile, something which happens EVERY TIME I hear “Georgy Girl.” Seriously, every time.

The Seekers cavorting, mid ’60s style. Left to right: Athol Guy, Bruce Woodley, Judith Dunham and Keith Potger. Why shouldn’t we smile? Looks as if Keith is about to take a header.

Anyway, I have a long commute, so I had time to consider why that happens. Part of it is the song itself: catchy, bouncy, hopelessly upbeat. But there are other reasons, dating back to when I was nine years old.

My younger sister took dance lessons, and in that wonderful year of Apollo 11, she danced in a recital which I was obligated to attend. All I could say afterwards was “thank you, Mom,” for that afternoon I fell in love with Tami Dalen, a tomboyish blonde and fellow nine-year old who tap danced her way into my heart to the melodic strains of — you guessed it — “Georgy Girl.”

Move over, Neil Armstrong, that’s my moon you’re walking on.

Eighteen years later, I cajoled my new bride (not, incidentally, named Tami) into singing “Georgy Girl” as a duet — accompanied by my trusty guitar — with the cassette player on record, something that hadn’t happened before or since. That tape is now a personal treasure…fun yet conclusive evidence that a) her voice is better than she thinks, and b) mine isn’t.

And just this year, my two daughters frequently selected The Seekers’ Capitol Collectors Series CD for our morning sing-a-long soundtrack on the way to school. So instead of singing duets with my wife, I now partner with my oldest daughter, who sounds much like Judith Durham, which is a good thing. I’m left to drift among the three guy parts (that’s “guy” as in male, not as in “Athol Guy,” the bespetacled bass player), often skipping around like an excited puppy.

So, in parts of four short decades, I’ve gone from blissful ignorance to hormonal happiness, marital joy to fatherly pride…all to the glorious and harmonious soundtrack of The Seekers’ “Georgy Girl.” And that’s a lot of life for one song.

I hope you have a song like that.

If you’re one of the unfortunate uninitiated, here’s a YouTube link to a live performance of “Georgy Girl,” recorded (not lip-synched) with a full orchestra and chorus in 1967. Check out all of those screaming fans, and ask yourself if I really am a dork to like them so much.

And if I am, so what?

- craig hodgkins

PS: Remind me to tell you sometime about “My Cup Runneth Over” by Ed Ames, “Do Wacka Do” by Roger Miller, “Jordan’s River” by the Modern Folk Quartet and “Roll to Me” by Del Amitri.

Clockwise from the top, The Seekers: Bruce Woodley, Athol Guy, Judith Dunham, Keith Potger

~ by Craig Hodgkins on August 22, 2007.