My daughter Sophia turns 17 today, an age that doesn’t have the meaning of 16 or 18 but feels relatively momentous in its own right.
In fact, when I searched for songs about (or at least mentioning) being 17, I found a treasure trove. Something about the age appeals to songwriters… probably the idea of being fully immersed in teenagerdom but just on the brink of adulthood.
Before the well-timed Josh Rouse concert, I had another plan for my 4,000th Song of the Day.
I’ve always said that I don’t have a favorite song, but there is one song I know for certain has to be on any list of my five or ten favorite songs, and that is Fiona Apple’s ‘I Know.’ This heartbreaking ballad is the final track on Apple’s 1999 album When the Pawn… and it’s a stunner.
Yesterday’s post was running long, so I saved the second part of my Josh Rouse story for today.
Rouse has been married to a Spanish woman named Paz Suay since the mid-2000s. They raised two children while living in Spain for a decade, then relocated to Nashville a couple of years ago. Paz has appeared as a vocalist on several of Rouse’s albums and in 2007 the duo released an EP titled She’s Spanish, I’m American, on which today’s SOTD appears.
Milestone time! Today marks my 4,000th consecutive Song of the Day post, a streak I’ve kept alive for a week shy of 11 years now.
I wanted to post a special song for this occasion, and as luck would have it I had a very special musical experience a mere nine days ago that provided just the track.
Happy Father’s Day to all of the dads out there, especially my own father, who has loved, supported and challenged me in so many ways over the years.
If the Random iTunes Fairy has a sentimental streak, she’ll serve up a little Frank Sinatra in honor of my dad. Let’s spin the wheel and see what we get.
Meet Me In Montauk 