A SPECIAL VALENTINE'S DAY TWO-FER SPECIAL FROM BILL MESNIK'S "SUNNY SIDE OF THE STREET" SONGS: ANNE BRIGGS SINGING "SHE MOVED THROUGH THE FAIR", AND ELVIS COSTELLO PERFORMING "OPPORTUNITY"! NO NEED TO ASK WHATS LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT- JUST ENJOY

DIG THIS WITH BILL MESNIK AND RICH BUCKLAND- THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS

Hello Young Lovers!

Welcome to a special Saint Valentine’s Day TWOFER from The Splendid Bohemians:

Today we’re featuring two enchanting, encyclopedic British song stylists: Anne Briggs and Elvis Costello. First up: the majestic Ms. Briggs.

SHE MOVED THROUGH THE FAIR by Anne Briggs (Topic, 1963)

Barefoot and bedraggled, Anne Briggs became the muse of the British Traditional Folk Boom in the early nineteen sixties. Her short performance career of mystical magic was retired at age 27, leaving behind a limited, but monumental discography.

I first heard She Moved Through the Fair on Irish Heartbeat, made by Van Morrison and the Chieftains, and it’s ethereal message left me paralyzed with romantic longing. But, that was just the prelude to my discovery of the plangent tones from this Goddess of acapella Celtic song.

OPPORTUNITY by Elvis Costello and the Attractions (Columbia, 1980)

This cut from my favorite Elvis Costello album, GET HAPPY!!! Is R&B funky with a Stax inspired beat and tasty organ punctuations by Steve Nieve. The music is absolutely giddy, and although the acrid lyrics - (so typical of the former Declan Patrick MacManus during this early period) - may be pessimistic and sneering, the overall effect is energizing.

In fact, the recurring refrain: “this is your big opportunity….”, with the caveat: “don’t turn around” indicates the intense, forward-looking dedication with which this artistic social climber fueled his rocket-like ascent to the firmament of the musical masters. Although Elvis succeeded handily, his early anti-authoritarian stance reminds me of so many other also-rans that, in preparation for their inevitable fall to irrelevance and obscurity, padded the ground below with a protective “fuck you” attitude. But, you knew all along that underneath the bravado that they really craved the gatekeepers recognition.

The jaunty music belies the message of the sour lyrics, implying an alternate, more inspiring interpretation: Be alert! Recognize your opportunities and grab them while you can.