“Meet Virginia”
Last month, I said I thought fall was definitely on its way. We had fall, and then summer came back for quite a few days. The last couple of days, it’s been a bit chilly and drizzly. Our temps are supposed to drop drastically in the next day or two. Anyway, welcome to the last Monday in October and another edition of Songful Style! Suzy and Shelbee decided to riff (see what I did there) on Style Imitating Art only with music! Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, Suzy of The Grey Brunette, and I make up the bloggers in this group. You can find all of us on our blogs and Instagram. Our ensembles (pun intended) may be inspired by the lyrics of a song, the artwork of the album cover, maybe the MTV video, or even a memory the song evokes. Shelbee chose this month’s song. Last month, Suzy selected “A Thousand Years.” Oh, and there’s a link party, too!
The artists…
Train was formed in one of my favorite cities, San Francisco! In 1993, Pat Monahan left Erie, Pennsylvania when his Led Zeppelin cover band, “Rogues Gallery,” broke up. In San Fran, he met Rob Hotchkiss who had been performing with the Apostles out of Los Angeles. Monahan and Hotchkiss convinced Jimmy Stafford (also with the Apostles), Charlie Colin, and Scott Underwood to form a band. And, in 1994, Train came into being. The group tried, unsuccessfully, to get signed but ended up independently releasing Train.
A little more…
The group may not have gotten noticed by record companies, but they were good enough to open for various bands. By 1997, they were opening for Hootie and the Blowfish, Barenaked Ladies, Cracker, and Counting Crows. In 1998, the group’s initial independently released album, Train, was released with a different track listing. It was released on February 24, 1998 with “Meet Virginia” sent to radio stations in March. In 2000, the song hit the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. With that album and “Meet Virginia,” the group gained national fame. The album was certified platinum, and the group began to work on a second album.
Even more…
Drops of Jupiter was released on March 27, 2001 and contained the hit, “Drops of Jupiter.” That song was on the Hot 100 for 54 weeks and won a Grammy for Best Rock Song and Best Arrangement. The album was the first of Train’s to become a multi-platinum album. It was also the group’s first top ten album in the US and the UK. The song, “Drops of Jupiter,” was featured in The Animal and Rugrats Go Wild! The album was certified double platinum in both the US and Canada and certified gold in Australia.
A skosh more…
Shortly after these successes, the band underwent changes in personnel as Rob Hotchkiss and Charlie Colin left the band. By 2006, the band decided a hiatus was necessary. In 2009, the group released their fifth studio album, Save Me, San Francisco. The hit, “Hey, Soul Sister,” appeared on that album. The group has continued to tour and produce albums. Train founded the Save Me, San Francisco Wine Company in 2011. The wines are named after various songs. They have collaborated with the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company to pair wines with chocolates and other confections with the proceeds going to “the Family House of San Francisco, which supports families of children with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses (source).”
The song…
She doesn’t own a dress
Her hair is always a mess
If you catch her stealin’, she won’t confess
She’s beautiful
Smokes a pack a day
Wait that’s me, but anyway
She doesn’t care a thing about that, hey
She thinks I’m beautiful
Meet Virginia
She never compromises
Loves babies and surprises
Wears high heels when she exercises
Ain’t that beautiful
Meet Virginia
Well, she wants to be the Queen
Then she thinks about her scene
Pulls her hair back as she screams
“I don’t really wanna be the queen”
Her daddy wrestles alligators
Mama works on carburetors
Her brother is a fine mediator for the President
Well, here she is again on the phone
Just like me hates to be alone
We just like to sit at home and rip on the President
Meet Virginia, alright
Well, she wants to live her life
And she thinks about her life
Pulls her hair back as she screams
“I don’t really wanna live this life”
No, no
No, no
No, no
No
She only drinks coffee at midnight
When the moment is not right
When timing is quite unusual
You see her confidence is tragic
But her intuition magic
And the shape of her body unusual
Meet Virginia
I can’t wait to
Meet Virginia
Yeah, yeah, hey, hey, hey
Well, she wants to be the queen
Then she thinks about her scene
Well, she wants to live her life
And she thinks about her lies
Pulls her hair back as she screams
“I don’t really wanna be the queen”
I, I don’t really wanna be the queen
I, I don’t really wanna be the queen
I, I don’t really wanna live this
What does it mean…
Interestingly, the song is based upon a woman Pat Monahan and Rob Hotchkiss met at a cafe in San Francisco. This woman would come in and talk to them about the troubles in her life. On the surface, the song is about a young woman who wants something more from her life. But, if you read between the lines, you’ll see that it’s also about becoming more than who you are. It’s about realizing you’re not living the life you want or even deserve and doing something about it. I wonder just how many of us have felt this way but haven’t had the courage to make any changes. In Monahan’s words, “Meet Virginia” is about
“not being satisfied with the way things are and being willing to do something about it.” He added: “It’s about breaking free from anything that holds you back. (source)”
The video…
Interesting covers…
OK, this is a fun one with Darryl Hall and John Oates joined by Patrick Monahan. It was done as a Facebook live! Their opening conversation is way out there (pardon the pun)!
This young woman has a lovely voice and hits those notes so well! I think, perhaps, she just recorded this in her bedroom.
Now, this is cool. This video was recorded at a “dive” (that’s what it says in the description) less than 30 miles from me! It’s a stripped down version done by a dude with a nice voice.
I like this folksy version. This guy has a nice enough voice, but I think it’s his presence that sells the song. And, that guitar is pretty snazzy!
Oh, now, this young woman’s voice is beautiful, too! It may be a bit more polished than the other. But, I like both of them.
My interpretation…
Now, are you sitting there wondering if I’ve totally lost it? I decided, since this song was about not living the life you wanted, it was time to get out there and do something about it. Yes, I’m talking about my weight and fitness level. I have arthritis behind both knee caps, but the left is worse. So, that, combined with my frankenfoot, makes walking difficult. But, not walking has led to weight gain which leads to even more pain in my knee. It’s a vicious cycle and one I’m going to break. So, I’m starting out slowly and walking around the neighborhood. Sue, of Women Living Well After 50, has been doing a daily walk with a goal of 84 km in a month. I’m nowhere near doing that, but I’ve decided a daily walk of at least a mile for a couple of weeks then moving up until I’m back to my normal three to five miles a day is a good start. When the weather turns vicious, I can walk in the garage to a video. I’m wearing this sweatshirt and these leggings, both from Old Navy. I have four of these sweatshirt tunics and wear them all the time. I often layer tees and shirts under them. I’ve found the 7/8 leggings from Old Navy are just right in length for me. Let’s hope you (and I) see a real difference in a couple of months!
The Lewk!
Yes, I actually own sneakers for something other than fashion! I actually have several pairs. This is the newest pair of ON Cloudnova Form. Nigel was a fan of them until two of the four pairs he had were showing signs of wear within the first few months. He does tend to wear his shoes over and over and over again. Even so, sneakers at this price point should definitely last longer than three or four months. I like these ok, but I find my Merrells have much better support. That being said, they are also much heavier which makes walking in them harder. Does that makes sense? My hat is an old, old, old one that I “borrowed” from my oldest decades ago. But, the sweat lines inside it are all mine!
Wrap it up, Marsha!
Usually, I try to use an image from the song or video, but I just couldn’t figure anything out. But, then, as I was analyzing the song’s lyrics, it came to me! It’s so odd to realize this song is before the turn of the century! That amazes me, but I guess it just means this song has held up to the test of time. So, can we talk? Have you tried the ON shoes? Do you find they hold up well? What do you think of the covers of this hit song? Are you dressing up for Halloween? Please leave a comment or two, and we can talk. I promise I do respond as quickly as possible. Please check back if you don’t receive a confirmation of my response. Some people get that; others don’t. I have no idea why.
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Thank you!
I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for reading, commenting, subscribing or emailing! It truly means so much to me! If you’d like to follow me on Instagram, you can find me here.
Where you can find me:
Linking up with Nancy’s Fashion Style, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue as well as Deb’s World. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink,I do deClaire, Mummabstylish, and Style Splash. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I also am a co-host for Ageless Style on the third Thursday of the month and Songful Style on the last Monday of the month. I co-host Traffic Jam Weekend every Thursday with Melynda and Lisa. I also host Final Fridays on the last Friday of the month as well as 10 on the 10th on the 10th of the month! I do hope you’ll check out all of these blogs and link parties!
And, now, it’s your turn!
Please link up your favorite posts, DIY, baking, gardening, fashion…you name it…as long as it’s family friendly! Link up with me, visit a couple of others, and leave a comment or two! No worries if you don’t have a blog, just look around! You may find a new blog just waiting for you!
Hi Marsha good for you getting back into the walking despite your limitations with your knees. It is so important to stay active but equally important to listen to your body and try not to do too much too soon. I need to make a note of your link parties so I can join in. Have a lovely week and good luck with the walking. Thanks for the shout out by the way. xx
Thank you, Sue! I am hopeful that losing weight, exercising my legs and just feeling more healthy will stave off any future surgeries for a long, long time! Now, I need to find a yoga studio as I know I will never do it at home on my own!
Have a wonderful week, and you’re very welcome for the shoutout!
Yay for you for getting back out there and getting active. I hope you start to see and feel real results soon! You look adorable in your workout clothes with your workout buddy.
Thanks, Joanne! I certainly won’t be doing the hikes like you do…yet! But, I hope to feel much better soon and up the number of miles each week!
Marsha, I think it’s great that you decided to do something about your fitness / knee problems and I love that it was this month’s song that gave you the push you needed! That’s brilliant! I really need to start walking again. I used to walk the dog every morning, just for twenty minutes or so but then a loose dog in the neighbourhood kind of went for poor Luna and it scared the heck out of me and I’ve been too scared to walk with her since!
I don’t know that brand of sneakers. I do have several pairs of Skechers though, and ASICS. In fact, yesterday I added yet another pair of brightly coloured ASICS to my growing collection lol!!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
Thanks, Suzy! I think this is a relatively new brand, at least, it is to me. I have lots of good walking shoes so that was never an excuse. But, I just needed an impetus, and this song was it! I don’t take Jack with me because the goof insists on poo-ing in the grass even if he’s just gone! And, it’s disgusting, and I hate picking it up with my plastic bag though I do! I hope you see some real differences in the ol’ body in a few months!
My favorite song by Train is “Play that Song” – I could listen to it over and over again!
Good for you for getting active again, you will feel so much better. As someone with arthritis in my hips, knees, and feet – as well as bunions my advice (not that you asked for it) is to make sure you get good shoes and supportive orthotics. It makes a difference. I pay a lot for my shoes but it’s worth it, it must be done.
Go Marsha, I am cheering you on!
xo,
Kellyann
Thank you, Kellyann! My goal is to have beautiful feet like yours! I noticed them in a recent post! Of course, that will never happen as I have the world’s ugliest feet due to surgeries. But, walking I can and shall do. I do have orthotics and very good shoes. I still have my prescription Brooks sneakers, too. I actually have several pairs of good walking shoes. And, yes, I pay lots for shoes because they have to support my feet and the rest of me!
Thanks for your support, my friend!
You are so knowledgeable around music – not heard of but like the song and particularly the young woman in her bedroom’s version.
And well done you for doing the walking. It’s so much easier where I live as we can walk to everything including shops, doctors, dentists, hairdressers, walking is just what we do. But you have a dog and that is one way to do it every day – yay, go for it!
Oh, Penny…I do lots and lots of research for these challenges. But, I do remember this song and several of their other hits. I think my favorite part is finding the covers of the songs.
We live in an odd place. We are, technically, in city limits, but we are out in the country as far as sidewalks and such go. I would love to live in a small town or village where you could walk to every place. That sounds a dream to me! I don’t often take Jack on walks as he seems to always have the need to leave a deposit behind, and I hate picking those up by hand! I have a scoop for at home, but I definitely pick up his “litter.”
Thanks, Penny!
Hi, Marsha. Love that you are getting back to walking! I like your sweatshirt and leggings. I haven’t worn that brand of sneakers. I have worn Easy Spirit, Sketchers, etc, etc. Just before our trip to Ireland I bought new hiking shoes. I was breaking them in on my walks around the neighborhood before depending on them while on holiday. I found they really supported my ankles better than regular walking shoes, even though they were cut like regular walkers below the ankle.
I did not recognize the artist or songs featured today. Don’t know what I was doing at that time. But it seems to me that a really good song is good no matter how old it gets. And the memories it evokes brings just as much joy as it ever did.
Hanks for featuring you Westie today. She reminds me so much of our beloved MacLeod.
Thanks, Eileen! My husband has worn Sketchers, but I don’t think I have. I have a pair of Brooks sneakers that are closing in on 16 years old. They were prescribed for me when I first started having problems with my feet. They are my most comfortable shoes ever, but they look every bit of an orthotic shoe!!! If I know I’m going to be walking a lot and on uneven surfaces, I’ll go for the Merrells almost every time. They’re heavy but dependable.
I love music, and my kids would have still been around the house when this song came out…which means it truly is old! Oh, yes…the memories! A song can come on the radio, and I’m instantly transported somewhere else in place and time. One of those is Gordon Lightfoot’s “If You Could Read My Mind.”
I’m so glad Jack gives you smiles. Too bad you don’t live next door and could dog sit the little booger!
I wish I lived next door also. I would love to have the opportunity to babysit Jack!
We would have so many chats over lemonade, Diet Coke, tea or coffee!
Marsha, I love how you translated the song into your adorable workout outfit! What a great shade of purple, too. And good for you for making the stuff happen that you want to happen! This was another fun challenge!
Shelbee
Thank you, Shelbee! You know I love just about any color of purple…this is called nebula. I am determined to be a different person in a few months. I love all the fashion challenges…they make blog posts a tiny bit easier!
I just got a pair of ON shoes earlier this summer and I would not recommend getting them in white! Ha, ha! I had someone trip over my shoes the first day and they left a big gray foot print (I was sitting in a stadium). Arghhh! Then I dripped ice cream on them and you name it. I do love ON tho, but I had to return them to get a half size bigger and once I did that they’ve been so comfy. So, if I ever get another pair I’ll try a color! I love your pair and that they aren’t solid white like mine. Your dog is so cute, the yoga pose had me laugh. I love walking, so glad you are getting back to it! I feel like getting out in nature just clears my head, esp when life gets busy!
Carrie
curlycraftymom.com
Oh, that had to hurt in many ways when you got stepped on! These things are not inexpensive and to have a gray foot print on your shoes…bummer! I did size up half a size in these which surprised me. But, I think, by doing that, the instep doesn’t fall exactly right. I may put my own orthotics in them (if I even can).
I just had to put that photo in. It was a happy little accident! And, yes, being in nature is so good for the soul.
Thanks, Carrie!
I’m not much for music as I don’t listen to it often. I recognize songs from decades ago but not a lot from the past 20 years or so. Kind of clueless about the hoopla on Taylor Swift as a result. Oh well. Good luck to you Marsha on getting back on the active track. All it takes is one step at a time.
Rena
http://www.finewhateverblog.com
I’m with you about Taylor Swift though I do kinda admire her business acumen. I am very into music and always have been. I can’t sing or read a note of music, but I love listening to it.
Thank you, Rena! I hope you’ll see some differences in the coming months!
I love that you are walking and taking charge of your fitness. Thanks for the background on this song. Love your sneakers by the way!
https://www.kathrineeldridge.com
Thanks so much, Kathrine! I should have kept walking all those years ago. I wouldn’t be in the predicament I’m in now. But, there are better days ahead!
Here’s me giving you a standing ovation. I totally understand how pain stops us from doing things, yet breaking the cycle is key. I think this is the best!!
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Thank you, Jodie! I’ve known I just need to get moving, but there’s always an excuse, right? I even walked today when it was 39 degrees…at 11:00 in the morning!
Good for you for getting out there and walking!! And the outfit is so cute too!
Thanks, Erin! To be honest, what I usually wear is not near this nice! It’s usually faded, ripped, and stretched out a bit.