September 18, 2008
“Looking for my wallet and car keys, well they can't have gone too far. Just as soon as I find my glasses, I'm sure I'll see just where they are,"--Tom Rush, folk and blues singer-songwriter.
From time to time in this Full Circle column, I try to bring my generation up to speed on the latest trends and fads that affect us. I love to surf the web. It is my thing, but it may not be yours, and that is perfectly OK.
This time, however, many of you are well ahead of me. Millions of us have already clicked on YouTube to watch a musical video by Tom Rush, folksy guitarist and singer-songwriter of the 60's. His big YouTube hit is titled "Looking for my wallet and my car keys", but it is commonly known as "The Remember Song".
Tom says this on his website about his YouTube phenomenon, "I have been waiting 45 years to become an overnight sensation, and it's finally happened!"
He continues, "My "Remember Song" is up over 3.5 million plays and counting. What's interesting to me is that clearly these are not 3 million kids watching this thing--it's the boomers, who are supposed to be Luddites (term used to describe anyone opposed to technological change and progress) but apparently aren't!"
YouTube, for non-computer users, is a video sharing website where users can upload short video movies.
Trust me, I do not explain YouTube to you with any condescension or superciliousness in mind at all. Rather, it is because I am well aware that there are many of us boomers who could be called "e-challenged".
My husband, my cousin, my neighbor for starters.
And, it is just fine, and do not let anyone say otherwise. I might have to slap them around a bit if they do.
But back to Tom Rush.
He comments on his website about this hot YouTube song, "A video clip of my performance of 'The Remember Song' has gone viral. I felt terrible at first thinking I was being accused of being a musical equivalent of Ebola (common term for a group of viruses) but my children explained to me that this was a good thing."
Take a listen to one more verse.
"Supposed to meet someone for lunch today, but I can't remember where. Or who it is I am meeting. It is in my organizer somewhere. I might've left it on the counter. Maybe outside in the car. The last time I remember driving was to that memory enhancement seminar."
Lost wallet, car keys, organizers. Drat.
We can find YouTube though.
Right on boomers.
