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Move On Up
Curtis Mayfield
Curtis
1970

I won't lie.  I first heard this song because parts of it were sampled in Bran Van 3000's "Astounded".  I must admit that I thought that the samples lifted from Curtis Mayfield outshone BV3's original material (ouch, I know, but it's true).

I can happily say that I didn't hear much of this year's concert rehearsals (the children were a nice distance away, ensconced in the library) AND, for the first year, I didn't sit through the entire show.  As a result, SOUL isn't tainted for me (not like, say, the amazing Corey Hart...I don't think I can listen to "Sunglasses at Night" ever ...again).

I like soul, but it is something I have to be in a certain mood for.  For some unfathomable reason, I associate it with summertime...and popsicles...and running through sprinklers.  Maybe it is because it is some of the first music we all seem to be introduced to (if that makes sense)...like you said, a lot of it is somehow engrained in our collective unconscious.  Which, is probably why it is so appealing and why it made a good theme for this year's MUSICAL.

But.  Back to Curtis Mayfield.  This song makes me feel like I am the Pepsi inside a plastic, two-litre bottle and I am getting shook up and shook up until finally I have no choice but to BURST.  Those horns!  That smooth voice!  The lyrics!  I cannot listen to this and remain completely still.  Not shimmy my shoulders.  Not pump my little fists.