February 3, 2015

Dementia and Show Tunes (and Dogs!), Oh My!

The other day, there was a report stating researchers found that singing show tunes helped improve brain function in patients with Alzheimer's/dementia. The researchers held sing-along sessions with hits from The Wizard of Oz, Oklahoma! and The Sound of Music, and found that those who sang along showed "marked improvement" compared to those who just listened.

The hubs and I really worry about our brains - especially mine, which often doesn't work right. This was fantastic news to me, because I know every word to every song from Oklahoma! (and most of them for TSoM and TWoO and, as a bonus, South Pacific). We not only had the albums when I was a kid, but I played Aunt Eller in the school musical. (I shoulda rounded up a pic, but that would be Throw-back Thur, and today's Less-Wordy Wed.)

To prove to myself I still had it, I typed out the lyrics to Ado Annie's "I Can't Say No" from Oklahoma. (Hit that link if you've never heard it. It's not exactly a beautiful tune, but it's fun.) 

So, here are my typed lyrics... accompanied by repurposed dog photos.


I Can't Say No!
It ain't so much a question of not knowing what to do...
I knowed what's right and wrong since I been 10.
"Since I'm only 3, I can do 'wrong' for another 7 years!"
I heared a lot of stories and I reckon they are true...
About how girls are put upon by men.
"I think I'm about to be put upon!"
I know I mustn't fall in to the pit.
But when I'm with a feller... I forget.
"Oops, I fell in to the pit!"
I'm just a girl who can't say no!
I'm in a terrible fix.
I always say, "Come on, let's go."
Just when I outta say, "Nix!"
"Come on, let's go!"
When a person tries to kiss a girl, 
I know she outta give his face a smack.
But as soon as someone kisses me,
I somehow sorta wanna kiss him back!
"Go away. I'm about to kiss him back!"
I'm just a fool when lights are low.
I can't be prissy and quaint.
I ain't the type that can faint.
"Check me out. I'm pretending I fainted!"
How can I be what I ain't?
I can't say no!


Whacha gonna do when a feller gets flirty,
And starts to talk purty?
"Are you getting flirty with me, little boy?"
Whacha gonna do?
Supposin that he says that your lips are like cherries, or roses or berries.
Whacha gonna do?!
Supposin that he says that you're sweeter than cream,
And he's gotta have cream or die.
Whatcha gonna do when he talks that way... spit in his eye?
"Missed his eye by *that* much."
I'm just a girl who can't say no.
Kissin's my favorite food!
"Well, after bacon. After bacon, kissin's my fave food."
With or without the mistletoe,
I'm in a holiday mood.
"Seriously... don't I look like I'm in a holiday mood?"
Other girls are coy and hard to catch, 
But other girls ain't havin' any fun!
"You can totally catch me, dude!"
Every time I lose a wrestlin' match,
I have a funny feeling that I won!
"I think I won this wrestling match!"
Though I can feel the undertow,
I never make a complaint.
"I'm gettin' out! I felt the undertoad*!"
Til it's too late for restraint.
Then when I want to, I can't.
I caaaaaaan't saaaaaay nooooo!
"What? I can't help it... I can't say no!"
So, how about y'all? Do you sing along to show tunes? Or any tunes? (I'm guessing singing along with any tune would help the ol' brain.) Does your dog like it when you sing?

Now... everyone, "Oh, what a beautiful morning..."

* Points if you sang along. Extra points if you got the "undertoad" reference!
Thanks to Blogpaws for hosting Wordless Wednesday!


69 comments:

  1. What a riot these kissing shenanigans! I loved the "about to kiss him back" photo!

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    1. That might be one of my faves too. Although I also like the holiday mood one. :)

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  2. Love it too. Have a wonderful Wednesday.
    Best wishes Molly

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  3. My mom knows things like the Flintstones, The Jetsons, Gilligans Island, The Brady Bunch...that kind of stuff, but her favorite thing to sing of all time has no name. In the fifth grade her class memorized a song listing all fifty states in alphabetical order and she remembers it to this day and often sings it.

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    1. Oh, Yep, I know all those kinda "show tunes" too! That's great that she still remembers the 50 states song. I never learned that one. Sounds like good brain exercise!

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  4. One of your best posts ever! The photos were perfect! I don't know show tunes, but I definitely love to sing along to the car radio where no one can hear my horribly off-tune voice. I know the words to many of my teen-years favorites. I can do a mean Bohemian Rhapsody!

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    1. I love to sing along to the radio too. Isn't it funny how you won't be able to remember what you did for lunch yesterday, but then you hear a song you loved as a teen, and every single word comes right back to you!

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  5. These are brilliant! I don't know the tunes but the pics and the captions made me laugh. What a Wonderful WW post!

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  6. That is so cute. Love how you paired the photos. This past summer when every single road was ripped up or down to one lane I kept getting stuck in these massive traffic jams. No road was safe and there was no warning before you were stuck! My 15 minute commute would turn into 45 minutes or an hour, (don't get me started). Anyway, I started turning on the Broadway Channel on my XM. I would sing along (in my head) with all the show tunes. I swear they saved my blood pressure or me from road ragging, or both. :)

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    1. That's awesome! (Not the traffic part...) Reminds me of the time before iPods and such, my sister's car radio died on a road trip so we spent six hours just signing every show tune and song we could think of!

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  7. BOL!!!! Great post and hilarious photos!!!

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    1. Thanks! Funny how easy it was to find to go with the words!

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  8. Love it! Though we do sing around the house, we're not big on show tunes. We tend to sing songs with the lyrics changed to include the dogs :-)

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    1. That's funny! I was going to change the words to doggy lyrics, and then I realized I didnt need to for this song!

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  9. Ha ha ha! On the wings of yesterday's post, I would have to answer a resounding yes! And I think Rita demonstrates the song quite adorably! We visit a nursing home that's specifically for Alzheimer's patients and most nights, they are in singing show tunes when we go in!

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  10. Love this. I was totally singing along.

    A Broadway Channel?! That is fabulous and I must research it.

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    1. I know! I never knew! (And I knew you'd be singing along!)

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  11. Well done. Actually there have been studies for years that kids remember stuff they sing. That is one of the reasons the School House Rock was so popular. Kids remember the stuff.

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    1. Oh, yeah! "Conjunction junction, what's your function?..."

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  12. Mom laughed and laughed....she needs to start singing....stella ose

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  13. LOL...I love that. I will have dementia I suppose. I only know a few songs, and none from Oklahoma.

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    1. Well, I don't think it helps you avoid it. I think the research so far says it just helps improve your brain if you already have it. So, I'm sure you're all good! :)

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  14. Well, being of the same "ilk" as you, I earn points and extra points. I'm biased, of course, but my fave is the flirty photo.

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    1. You're the only one so far to mention the extra points! You win!

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  15. Harley is the only one who likes my singing, so I sing all the time! You are absoDOODLEtutely correct about dementia and songs. When I visit the facility my mother used to live in, they played show tunes and old songs constantly. I am forever leaving there humming the last song I've heard for the rest of the afternoon. Nice post!

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    1. That's a good boy to like his Momma's singing. Rita comes over when I sing - not sure if it's cuz she likes it or wants me to shut up! That's nice that your mother was in a facility that would play nice music for everyone. I would definitely have an ear-worm or two after visiting!

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  16. BOL & thanks for the laughter!!! I loved reading your post & enjoyed the photos & captions very much ;-) I sing along in the car every now & then for a very patient K9 audience...

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    1. The car really is the best place for a singalong! Especially when you have a captive, er, engrossed audience!

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  17. OMD this is one of the most clever things I have seen! The pictures are just priceless, especially the kissing back one! Love Dolly

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    1. Oh, hooray - I'm glad everyone is liking it. Right after I posted it, I thought, "Is that the dumbest thing ever?" I wasn't sure if folks would think it was goofy or not. But then... I like goofy. :)

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  18. Great pictures and commentary :) Thanks for sharing!

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  19. What a unique and special talent you have...
    I do know some show tunes...it just gets ingrained in there when you're young. I don't sing out loud though...scares the dogs ;)

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    1. Oh, I bet the pups would like it! Maybe they'll sing along. :)

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  20. Wonnderful pics! I love the spittle in the eyebrow hair!

    Terry
    from Matildasjourney.com

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  21. Waht a fun post!!! Yes our mom loves to sing along!
    hugs
    Mr Bailey, Hazel & Mabel

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  22. That's fantastic! Looks like you still got a lot of function in that noggin' to me! Keep on singing! *wags* - Gilligan from WagsAhoy.com

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    1. The noggin' works really well sometimes ... and other times, it's like the fat little hamster is asleep in his wheel!

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  23. I was in a couple of musicals in college (Annie Get Your Gun and The Sound of Music, and I didn't have big parts), and if I hear those songs I definitely sing along, though I don't think I could type out all of the words!
    I'm impressed you got all of the words, and found so many (very cute) photos to go with them!
    Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets

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    1. Oh, very impressive to be in the musicals in COLLEGE! I only managed in HS. :) (And of course you were in musicals - cuz we're twins!!)

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  24. That is awesome! I LOVE show tunes! Of course, don't get me started on Wizard of Oz, Cats, Chicago, or Cabaret. Every. Single. Song. Permanently ingrained! ☺

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    1. Wilkommen, fellow show tune lover! (Oh, I love Cabaret!)

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  25. Perfect photos to go with words!!! Thanks for the smile.

    PS I'm in trouble - I don't know any show tunes!

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    1. How are you with School House Rock tunes? Or just songs from you're youth? You'll be fine!

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  26. These photos are ADORABLE!! You should enter them in our #MyDogValentine Photo contest!! There is so much love in the kiss interrupted photo!

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  27. BOL!!! What a Fantastic post - so creative & clever! Great job on matching pics & lyrics. Who could say No to those adorable doggie faces?? I'm sharing the heck out of this post, it will make anyone's day (-:
    Love & Biscuits,
    Cathy, Isis & Phoebe
    www.dogsluvusandweluvthem.blogspot.com

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    1. Oh, thanks for sharing! It was surprising how many pics I could easily find to go with the lyrics!

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  28. That is one musical I'm not terribly familiar with! Funny story though. I once had a short-term job in Oklahoma. I'm getting ready to drive home after the first day, and I turn on the radio. Oklahoma where the wind comes sweeping down the plain... (only song I'm vaguely familiar with from that musical).

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    1. Too funny. I wonder if folks who live in Oklahoma hear that music all the time? (And get really sick of it!)

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  29. I'm pretty good with some shows. WoO, Dirty Dancing, but off the top of my head I can't think of any others. I'm sure there's more though!!

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    1. Oooo, Dirty Dancing - good one! I'm sure there are more! They'd come back to you as soon as you heard them!

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  30. I don't know the words, but enjoyed the post! Who is the ACD in the fourth picture?

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    1. I don't know who that little cutie is - just one of the many random dogs Rita used to play with down at the beach.

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  31. haha awesome pics. I know the words to disney songs, that count?

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  32. Love the captions with the photos, I didn't sing, I was laughing too much. Others sing in the shower but I love to sing when I'm alone in the car (or with just Toby). I'm sure I look completely demented to the other drivers.

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    1. Oh, I love to sing in the car. I'm sure I look demented too!

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  33. Very cute, love all the pictures and captions. I don't know any show tunes, my mind is going ot be mush.

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    1. I'm sure any songs would work. Comercial jingles? Theme songs from TV shows? You'll be fine!

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