Bear Up North
Cyburbian Emeritus
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Second-to-last chemo treatment today, laying in bed, unable to sleep, listening to an old-old-oldies station. "Downtown" by Petula Clark comes on. I ask myself, "Is that a planning song?"
Don't know if you have had this thread before, thought I'd run it by the assembled planners, because it is, after all, "less than cosmic".
Downtown - Pet Clark - About 1965
First line says, "When you are lonely and life is getting you down you can always go, downtown."
Obviously, she is talking about a downtown with life, unlike the vast majority of America's cities. Small towns often have a vibrant "four corners", but we tend to call them "Uptown".
(Uptown Girl.....??.....Billy Joel.)
Ferry Cross The Mersey - Gerry & The Pacemakers - 1965?
Kind of fits, indirectly, with urban transportation.
Kansas City - Wilbert Harrison (& Others) Mid-60's
"Crazy kind of women there...." or some such line. Obviously talking about a PLANNED red light district, AKA Boston, others.
Speaking of Boston.....Dirty Water - The Standells - 1966
"I love that dirty water, oh, Boston you're my home." Environmental planners, get busy.
The Boss, Sprinsteen - City In Ruins (Title correct?) -= Couple years ago. I believe written as an ode to a Jersey city falling apart, but the message became intertwined with the NYC 911 story and tributes.
Another from Petula Clark, mid-1960's - Don't Sleep In The Subway, Darling. Obvious message about much of America's rapid transit, no doubt the fault of planners.....heh heh.....
Pleasant Valley Sunday - The Monkees - 1967? This one anybody who is or thinks they are (me) a planner can actually visualize the map with the curvy streets and cul-de-sacs.
Can't right now recall any Radiohead, Wilco, or hip-hop planning songs.....I'm old and need your young help.....
Certain that there are lots more.
Bear, Not Sleeping In Subway Or At Home
Don't know if you have had this thread before, thought I'd run it by the assembled planners, because it is, after all, "less than cosmic".
Downtown - Pet Clark - About 1965
First line says, "When you are lonely and life is getting you down you can always go, downtown."
Obviously, she is talking about a downtown with life, unlike the vast majority of America's cities. Small towns often have a vibrant "four corners", but we tend to call them "Uptown".
(Uptown Girl.....??.....Billy Joel.)
Ferry Cross The Mersey - Gerry & The Pacemakers - 1965?
Kind of fits, indirectly, with urban transportation.
Kansas City - Wilbert Harrison (& Others) Mid-60's
"Crazy kind of women there...." or some such line. Obviously talking about a PLANNED red light district, AKA Boston, others.
Speaking of Boston.....Dirty Water - The Standells - 1966
"I love that dirty water, oh, Boston you're my home." Environmental planners, get busy.
The Boss, Sprinsteen - City In Ruins (Title correct?) -= Couple years ago. I believe written as an ode to a Jersey city falling apart, but the message became intertwined with the NYC 911 story and tributes.
Another from Petula Clark, mid-1960's - Don't Sleep In The Subway, Darling. Obvious message about much of America's rapid transit, no doubt the fault of planners.....heh heh.....
Pleasant Valley Sunday - The Monkees - 1967? This one anybody who is or thinks they are (me) a planner can actually visualize the map with the curvy streets and cul-de-sacs.
Can't right now recall any Radiohead, Wilco, or hip-hop planning songs.....I'm old and need your young help.....
Certain that there are lots more.
Bear, Not Sleeping In Subway Or At Home