Saturday 9

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Saturday 9: Surf City (1963)


... Because Melissa suggested Jan and Dean. Unfamiliar with this week's tune? Hear it here.


1) When the song was written, "Surf City" was a fictitious town.* Tell us a song that is set in a real place.

This is one of the best!

Austin by Blake Shelton

Zoomie after getting stuck in the mud!

2) In the song, Jan and Dean sing about riding around in a 1934 station wagon, which means the car was 29 years old when the song was recorded. How old is your vehicle?

My Zoomie is 5 years old. It is a 2011 Ford Fiesta.

3) Are you good on a surf board?

I don't know. I have never been on a surf board.


4) When you spend time out in the sun, are you careful about applying sunscreen?

No. I have allergies to just about everything, including air, it seems. I don't put on anything that I don't have to because I don't want to risk an allergic reaction. Also, I do my best to avoid being out in the sun.

5) Dean's original partner was Arnie Ginsburg. When Dean was drafted into the Army, Arnie didn't feel like waiting so he abandoned show business and went back to college. Today he holds several patents. What is something you wish someone would invent?

I think that a time machine would be fun! There are so many people that I would love to be able to go back and talk to or even meet for the first time.

6) Jan was a perpetual student who juggled college with recording. He not only graduated from UCLA, he completed two years of medical school at the UC Irvine School of Medicine. Have you ever considered going back to school?

Yes, and I did it. It was the biggest, most expensive mistake of my life. With the way grades are inflated these days just so the schools can continue to get money, the grades ultimately are worthless and are no indication of a student's knowledge. Lest I leave you thinking "oh, she must be sour because she got bad grades", I did not. I had a 4.0 GPA. But, as I said, with grade inflation, how can I trust that it is even accurate?

7) In 1966, Jan was sidelined by a serious car accident. During the years that he was unable to perform, partner Dean became a graphic artist. He designed logos and album covers for Steve Martin, Diana Ross and others. Do you feel you respond most to words, pictures, or music?

Words have always been my friend, but I love photography and music, too. Music can bring back a lot of memories and good feelings. Words, well, they are just all around great. Pictures are fun to create. I respond to all of them on various levels.

8) In 1978, CBS made a TV movie about Jan and Dean. If they approached you about a made-for-TV movie of your life, who would you like to play you?

I wouldn't put that on anybody!

9) Random question: Growing up, how did you learn about the birds and the bees? (From books/the web, from parents, from your friends...)

I was the oldest and my mother had no clue how she should approach it. The pediatrician suggested some books to my mother. I don't remember anything about the event other than being so totally embarrassed that I had my head under a blanket the whole time. I couldn't look at her and didn't want to be seen by her either.




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