cribbed from facebook

When I couldn’t figure out what to name this blog, I asked friends via email and Facebook for suggestions. I got a lot of great suggestions. However, In order to choose the name I looked at several criteria:

1. It would have to sound teasing-ly intriguing,
2. It should allude to the Number 5, or the words “countdown” or “music.”
3. It should be neat.
4. It should reference a Lapine character from a novel by Richard Adams.

Only one entry fit all four criteria, which was from my friend, Aramathea. Thus theFiver, named for Fiver the rabbit in Richard Adams’ Watership Down, was named. Incidentally, she responded to the news that her suggestion was picked, in part, because: “… seeing as how you suggested this book to me in the first place, isn’t it kind of like voting for yourself? ;D” I would just like to respond by saying: Yes, yes it is.

In order to compile this list, I picked the brain of my friend, Barbara, who has known Arama since childhood. Once brain-picking was concluded, I decided to go the oldies/nostalgia route. The result is a playlist devoid of irony – something simpler and sweeter than I usually post. Enjoy.

01. “Those Were The Days” Mary Hopkin
Barbara tells me this was something they sang before Arama moved away. Hopkin’s 1968 version is one of the best known versions of this standard. According to Wikipedia, the song emerged when Gene Raskin put English lyrics to the Russian song “Dorogoi dlinnoyu.”

02. “Lollipop,” The Chordettes
From the quartet that brought you “Mr. Sandman,” this 1958 is renown for the “pop!” at the end of the refrain. Contrary to what some think, there are other lyrics other than the repetition of the word “lollipop.”

(The guy in the tux is creeping me out a little bit.)

03. “Dream a Little Dream of Me,” The Mamas And The Papas

04. “I’m A Believer,” The Monkees
Like “Daydream Believer” and “Last Train to Clarksville,” this a Monkees signature tune. I’m told that Arama’s and Barbara’s friendship began, in part, in a grade school discussion over who was their favorite Monkee, which is odd, considering The Monkees were cancelled long before they were born. Anyway, I love this song. I always have.

05. “Stand By Me,” Ben E. King
I think this song has made its way onto more mix tapes and playlists dedicated to friends and those who are loved than any other.