How many times have you wondered why you seem to recall a song or poetic verse so easily? If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “Why is this song stuck in my head?” Then this excerpt from author Roy Williams’ Magical Worlds of the Wizard of Ads will answer that question.

Doubt is what happens when the security guard of the rational, logical left brain isn’t sure whether to accept an idea or not. But unlike his left-brain counterpart, the right brain doesn’t make judgments at all.  He isn’t concerned in the least about plausibility; that’s the left brain’s job. So when your idea is rejected at the door of the left brain, just knock on Righty’s door. He’ll let anyone in. Once inside the mind, your idea can scoot over to the logical left on the waterslide of symbolic thought.

There are several ways this can be done. One of them is to use an anapest: “For the moon never beams/without bringing me dreams/of the beautiful Annabel Lee.” * An anapest is a rhythmic pattern of syllables composed of two light verses followed by a heavy third stress. (Anapests don’t have to rhyme, but they often do.) Since anapests are inherently musical, they enter directly into the nonjudgmental right brain, and upon crossing over to the left (via the dorsolateral prefrontal association area) they often become stuck in the phonological loop.

In other words, you can’t get them out of your head. Ever notice how much easier it is to recall phrases that have a lyrical beat?

*Edgar Allan Poe

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I Remember You

It’s the motto of a great networker, by remembering the names of the faces you meet it can propel you to greatness amongst the masses. There are numerous ways to assist you with that goal. What works for me may not work for you. I do know this: If people are important to you, you’ll discover your method to help you remember.

Glen, Francis, & Ottis

Glen Travis was born on born April 22, 1936 in Billstown, a tiny community in Pike County Arkansas, he is now 76. He was the seventh son of 12 children. His father was a sharecropper of Scottish descent. His Uncle Boo was an Austrian circus clown. He started playing guitar as a youth without learning to read music. He credits his uncle Boo for teaching him the guitar.

Francis Edward Ifield was born in Coundoun, Coventry, Warwickshire, England, on 30 November 1937, he’s 75 today. Frank moved with his Australian parents to Dural (31 miles) from Sydney, about 1946. It was a rural district and he listened to hillbilly music (now called country) while milking the cows. He learned how to yodel in imitation of country stars like Hank Snow.

Born in Tampa, Florida, as Ottis Dewey Whitman, Jr. on January 20, 1924, he’s now 89. Growing up, he liked the country music of Jimmie Rodgers and songs of Gene Autry, but he did not embark on a musical career of his own until the end of World War II, after he had served in the South Pacific with the United States Navy.  Even though he is right handed he plays guitar left handed. Why do you think that is?

I Remember You (1941 song)

Australian singer Frank Ifield recorded the song in a yodeling country-music style in 1962. Glen Campbell has a sweet rendition on YouTube with nearly 6,000 hits.  Ottis “Slim” Whitman introduced by Andy Kaufman has garnered nearly 138,000 hits.

Numerous people have recorded “I Remember You”, I’ve just narrowed it down to 3 plus one group. The Beatles recorded it in Hamburg, Germany during 1962. At the time the Beatles were in their apprenticeship phase. My opinion is they butchered a beautiful melody.

Just click on the artists name to have a listen to their version.  What’s your favorite?

Frank Ifield

Glen Campbell

Slim Whitman

The Beatles

You may be asking yourself why I wrote about this song. Frankly, Frank’s version was playing in my phonological loop when sat down to compose this month’s issue.

Nuff said.