Songful Style: “Tell Me Baby”

“Tell Me Baby”

Happy Lunar New Year! It’s the Year of the Rabbit…so, I’m guessing a certain someone who lives in St. Paul is celebrating!! I was born in the Year of the Fire Rooster, and I love that I’m “very confident” in myself. Nigel is a Snake, but Snakes are compatible with Roosters so there’s that! Back to Songful Style! You may be wondering what that is. Suzy and Shelbee decided to riff (see what I did there) on Style Imitating Art only with music! So, on the last Monday of the month, we share our looks based on a song selected by one of us. Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, Suzy of The Grey Brunette, Michelle of Funky Fashion Style, 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. This month’s selection comes from Michelle, a California girl! It is “Tell Me Baby” by Red Hot Chili Peppers. Last Month, I chose “Here to Forever.” You can see my look here. Oh, and there’s a link party, too!

The artists…

I was shocked to discover the Red Hot Chili Peppers have been around since 1983! I mean, I remember them and some of their songs, but I had no idea they’d been active for that long. Anthony Kiedis and Flea (real name Michael Peter Balzary) are the only original members. Kiedis and Flea met in high school and formed the band along with guitarist, Hillel Slovak, and drummer, Jack Irons. Over the years, the members have changed as addiction, burnout, and personalities intervened. At one point, Dave Navarro was even a member.

A little more…

Initially, the Red Hot Chili Peppers produced rap songs. As the band improvised with punky funky music, Kiedis would rap. The Red Hot Chili Peppers didn’t really come to my notice until 1991 with the song, “Give It Away.” And, it wouldn’t be until 1999 and “Californication” that the band again attracted my notice. I’m not 100% sure why that is. I think, during that time, I was more into Nirvana, U2, Green Day, and the Smashing Pumpkins. But, I probably should have been listening to the Red Hot Chili Peppers…they are one of the best selling bands of all time. They also “hold the records for the most number-one singles (14), most cumulative weeks at number one (85) and most top-ten songs (25) on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. They have won six Grammy Awards, were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012, and in 2022 received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (source).” In fact, if you want to get into lots more, just check out that Wikipedia page!

The song…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDNcL1VP3rY

They come from every state to find
Some dreams were meant to be declined
Tell the man what did you have in mind
What have you come to do?

No turning water into wine
No learning while you're in the line
I'll take you to the broken sign
You see these lights are blue

Come and get it
Lost it at the city limit
Say goodbye
'Cause they will find a way to trim it
Everybody
Lookin' for a silly gimmick
Gotta get away
Can't take it for another minute

This town is made of many things
Just look at what the current brings
So high, it's only promising
This place was made on you

Tell me, baby, what's your story
Where you come from
And where you wanna go this time?
Tell me, lover, are you lonely?
The thing we need is
Never all that hard to find
Tell me, baby, what's your story
Where do you come from
And where you wanna go this time?
You're so lovely, are you lonely?
Giving up on the innocence you left behind

Some claim to have the fortitude
Too shrewd to blow the interlude
Sustaining pain to set a mood
Step out to be renewed

I'll move you like a baritone
Jungle brothers on the microphone
Getting over with an undertone
It's time to turn to stone

Chitty chitty, baby
When your nose is in the nitty gritty
Life could be a little sweet
But life could be a little shitty
What a pity
Boston and a Kansas city
Looking for a hundred
But you only ever found a fitty

Three fingers in the honeycomb
You ring just like a xylophone
Devoted to the chromosome
The day that you left home

Tell me, baby, what's your story
Where you come from
And where you wanna go this time?
Tell me, lover, are you lonely?
The thing we need is
Never all that hard to find
Tell me, baby, what's your story
Where you come from
And where you wanna go this time?
You're so lovely, are you lonely?
Giving up on the innocence you left behind

Tell me, baby, what's your story
Where you come from
And where you wanna go this time?
Tell me, lover, are you lonely?
The thing we need is
Never all that hard to find
Tell me, baby, what's your story
Where you come from
And where you wanna go this time?
You're so lovely, are you lonely?
Giving up on the innocence you left behind

What does it mean…

I think, on first reading, this song is about trying to make it in Hollywood and failing. It’s a condemnation of all the exploitation one associates with Hollywood. But, if you read it again, I think it’s a story of realizing, while it’s good to have hopes and dreams, sometimes the road we take is the one we were meant to take all along. It may not be the Cinderella type storybook ending, but it’s our own fairy tale ending if we choose to look at it that way. I think this song is, ultimately, about accepting that fame and fortune might not be exactly what we want. “The thing we need is never all that hard to find.” I think this line sums the whole song up!

The video…

I don’t often write about the videos, but I thought this one needed a bit of information. Interestingly, all of those people in the video were actually called back for a second audition for the making of a video. If you watch closely, you’ll notice members of the band playing with different groups of individuals at different times until you get to the part where it’s just the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The director of the video purposely didn’t tell anyone who was in the room so he could get genuine reactions. In some ways, the people in the video are actually living the song.

Interesting covers…

There isn’t any video to this one and no singing either, but it’s rather glorious! Hahaha!!! Here is a lullaby version, and it’s actually quite lovely! I seem to be finding only acoustic versions! Here is a piano version. I wish I could play like this, but I can barely play “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star!” I feel a bit like a judge on “America’s Got Talent,” but this version just left me flat. There didn’t seem to be any passion behind the music at all. And, I have to say the Red Hot Chili Peppers have passion coming out of their ears! So, does that make me Simon Cowell?

My interpretation…

It’s funny. We just finished watching a documentary about Woodstock in 1999. When the Red Hot Chili Peppers played, Flea was completely naked. He, cannily, seemed to always know when the camera was on him because that bass was always in the right place! I mention that for a couple of reasons. The first is that takes a lot of balls to play naked outside, in front of thousands, for the cameras, and in front of your bandmates! The second is I, never, not for one single second, intended to dress like Flea at Woodstock! At first, I was going to play it safe…fun tee, black pants, and a white shirt. Then, I thought, “Gurrl, if there’s ever a time to let your freak flag fly, this is it!” So, I went with Flea! I love his multi colored outfit! I’ve had this Johnny Was tee shirt for months and never worn it. I added my Old Navy leggings, and bingo, bango, bongo, I had my look! But, honestly? I wouldn’t wear this anywhere but my front porch! Even I have my limits! From the video, my main takeaway was be you because anything goes sartorially in this video! And, I remember, being a child of the 70s, wearing beading vests, low, low hip huggers and long hair just like the young woman early in the video! I wish I had those things now!

The Lewk!

Flea isn’t wearing any accessories! He didn’t wear any at Woodstock either! Can you believe that? I decided to go with lots of wrap bracelets, some wooden earrings, and an old necklace from Stella & Dot. The studded belt is my youngest son’s! He wore it in high school and left it behind when he moved out. I recently discovered it when we moved, and I thought it was perfect for this challenge! My boots are my old Harley boots. They’re the only thing I have left from our Harley riding days! Le sigh! I miss riding behind Nigel on that big old bike!

Wrap it up, Marsha!

I have to tell you I really, really had no clue what I was going to do with this song for the longest time. But, once I decided to go with my freak flag, I had no problem completing the outfit. It’s weird I should decide to do that given the death of David Crosby this week. I had completely forgotten he sang that in “Almost Cut My Hair.” So, can we talk? Are you a fan of 90s music? Who is your favorite band from that time period? Which person in the video would you say most represents your style? Please leave me a comment or two, and we can talk! I promise to respond as soon as I can. Please know I do respond to all legitimate comments. For some reason, I can’t get to the bottom of why you don’t receive notifications of my response.

A little something more…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwnLJmH2Oq0

Just in case you didn’t know the freak flag reference, here’s a “live” video from 1974 of “Almost Cut My Hair.” RIP, David Crosby!

Affiliate links and such:

Just a reminder that Marsha in the Middle may use an affiliate link. Those links are usually italicized. If you click or make a purchase from an italicized link I provide, I may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Thank you for your support. As of right now, I also have an affiliate code for Kantha Bae! Use MarshaintheMiddle in the promo code box for $5 off any order (excluding Bestie restocks)! I have also become a Halftee Partner. Use the code, MARSHA2098, for 20% off any purchase. In case you didn’t know, bloggers must disclose the use of affiliate links. That’s why I include this in each post.

Thank you!

I hope you know how much I appreciate all of you. Thank you for the comments, subscribing, and emails. It means so very 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, My Bijou LIfe, Fine-Whatever, Is This Mutton, Shelbee on the Edge, Chez Mireile, The Grey Brunette, and Away from the Blue. I also link up with This Blonde’s Shopping Bag, Doused in Pink, and I do deClaire and Mummabstylish. Please check out these wonderful ladies and their blogs! I’m a co-host on the Weekend Traffic Jam (here). 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 also host Final Friday Print Mixing 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! Just a note…Traffic Jam is on a bit of a hiatus as I try to figure out how to continue it.

And, now it’s your turn!

Please link up your favorite posts…cooking, baking, DIY, fashion, gardening…it really doesn’t matter as long as it’s family friendly! If you don’t have a blog, please poke around. You just may discover a new blog! Next month, Suzy will be choosing a song. Look for an update soon!

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