JUKEBOX: Move Over Movember
Whether you’re growing out a sweet ‘stache, slowly transforming into a bushy mountain man, giving your legs a month free of razor-burn, or simply letting your long locks wave in the breeze, we’ve got a JUKEBOX for you. We’re celebrating Movember (or No-Shave November) by honoring hair — because it’s fabulous on your head, on your face, or any other place!
1) “Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair,” Nina Simone (1959)
Nina Simone’s soulful voice brings out the true lament in this loving and regretful ballad, an old traditional folk song. Hair plays a lot in a person’s appearance; it’s no wonder the narrator chooses to focus on that feature more than any other of her lover’s. This is a sad song for a rainy day, but behind the nostagia is a glimmer of loving hope.
2) “Santa’s Beard,” The Beach Boys (1964)
We’re bringing you a taste of the holidays a little early (please forgive us if you’re a strictly post-Thanksgiving holiday song listener). This silly song off The Beach Boys’ Christmas Album reminds us that hair can be deceitful. And there’s nothing worse than a child finding out that the department store Santa is nothing but an imposter in a poorly-applied beard. (DON’T WORRY KIDS, SANTA IS REAL!)
3) “SWLABR,” Cream (1967)
First off, this song has the best title ever, because if you’re unfamiliar with Cream, and you’re scratching your head about what “SWLABR” means, I’ll tell you: “She Walks Like a Bearded Rainbow” (although the recently departed Jack Bruce once said that the “W” stood for “was”). The song is a heavy rave, brashly telling the listener about an unfaithful lover who isn’t as great as she appears. Now if only I could find a picture with a mustache at IKEA…
4) “Let Your Hair Down,” The Temptations (1973)
We’re grooving right along with this funky Motown tune by the Temptations. You don’t need a prescription for stress relief if you listen to this upbeat and positive song about letting loose and relaxing. A nice homage to a classic phrase, “Let Your Hair Down” is about taking the time to enjoy life, have fun, and not fall victim to other more vice-oriented ways of dealing with life’s anxieties.
5) “Permanent Waves,” The Kinks (1978)
As REBEAT’s resident Kinks fanatic, I couldn’t not share this witty track from 1978’s Misfits album. Much like the previous ditty, this song looks at hair as a cure to life’s problems. Getting a hip, trendy new style can give you confidence, a pep in your step, and maybe even make you irresistible to a special someone. But the moral of this song’s story is that you should really invest in an umbrella.
Enjoy this follicle-rich playlist of 20 songs and feel free to tell us your Movember motivation tunes in the comments!
