Kimberly Dalferes | Author

Crazy, Southern, Irish Gal, Author

Midlife Swagger: We All Deserve An Anthem

by

The State of the Union address happened this week. As I watched President Obama it occurred to me that part of the swagger, in addition to being one of the most powerful people in the world, is that he has a theme song. Interestingly, they didn’t play Hail to the Chief as he walked into the House chamber–guess they figured all eyes were already on him.

Hail to the Chief – A Brief History

There’s some fun history behind Hail to the Chief. First Lady Sarah Childress Polk is most often credited with encouraging the playing of Hail to the Chief whenever her husband, President James Polk, entered a room. “Polk was not an impressive figure, so some announcement was necessary to avoid the embarrassment of his entering a crowded room unnoticed. At large affairs the band…rolled the drums as they played the march…and a way was cleared for the President.” http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.200000009/default.html

Hail_to_the_Chief_Chorus_Sheet_Music

God love a short man that needs to make an entrance (you know my affinity for the short man). Polk wasn’t even the shortest president: at 5 ft. 8 inches President Polk would have towered over our shortest president–James Madison who measured in at 5 ft. 4 inches tall.

This all got me to thinking: what would I want playing when I enter a room??

Everyone, especially those of us hanging out in the middle-aged cheap seats, deserves an anthem. For a little inspiration, I reached out to my gal pals with this query: what would you choose as your theme music?

Their answers were awesome–here are a few of my faves:

“You Dropped A Bomb on Me” by the Gap Band – been my theme song forever – long story, LOL.

Mary Anne Payne, Forever 51

“You Gotta Be” by Des’ree. “You gotta be bad, you gotta be bold, you gotta be wiser.” 

Barbara K. (You, my friend, are absolutely already there)

I actually imagine a theme song in my head when I have to go into a big roomful of people. It’s “Brick House.”

Anne Parris, Midlife Boulevard

anne brick house

“Galileo” by the Indigo Girls. How long ’til my soul gets it right!’

Risa Nye, Writer

“Best Day of My Life” by American Authors. It’s fun and catchy, and reflects my optimistic outlook on life. The band’s lead singer Zachary Barnett notes: “We wanted to tell this story of how no matter what’s going on–whether you’re stuck at your job or having a bad day–there’s always an escape from that, and there’s always a way to make any day the best day of your life.”

Elizabeth Flora Ross, The Writer Revived

My grandkids and kids know my fave is “Old Time Rock And Roll” by Bob Seger. For years they’ve played it whenever we’re celebrating holidays or birthdays or gatherings. It’s Gramma’s theme sing they say. Going to play at my funeral too!

Joan Bickley Stommen, Gramcracker Crumbs

 

“Both Sides Now” came to mind today, since I’ve looked at life from both sides (of the US) now.

Mindy Klapper Trotta, BetterAfter50

Wish I could list all the great anthems that were suggested. A solution: Jacqueline Wolven was inspired to create a playlist on Spotify with all the recommended theme songs – THX Jacqueline! http://spoti.fi/1KKcwei

As for moi, from this day forward please ensure that the following is playing each time I enter a room, office, bar, store, coffee shop, boardroom, outhouse, etc. Thank you for your support.

How about you: what’s your anthem?

Cheers,

Kimba

Comments

  1. Oh fun idea! We’ve always played, “You can’t always get what you want” every New Year’s Eve at the strok of midnight, but I’m not sure I’d want it as a theme song. And my two favorite songs are both kind of too depressing to want any attention paid to me while listening to them. I’m going to think on it.

  3. Hi Kim,
    Really fun post.
    For mine I will say Metallica – Nothing Else Matters.
    Thank you for the fun post 🙂
    Have a fantastic day!
    Emi

    • Metallica! Gotta say I didn’t except them to show up in the Middle-Aged Cheap Seats! You, my dear, definitely rock out!

  4. A great suggestion that they play “Hail to the Chief” for President Obama, however the Republicans especially John Boehner would have fell out his Chair!!

    • Oh, that’s such a pretty Billy Joel song. It fits you Jacs. The guys in college once serenaded me with “Only the Good Die Young.” “Catholic girls start much too late…” Ahem… well, if the school uniform fits…

  6. When you asked this originally I thought “I got nothing” and as I read this I still have the same answer. But now I am going to be on the look as I am always quoting music lyrics.
    One of my favorite music Quotes is “What a fool Believes” but I don’t see that as my entrance song LOL!

    • Haha, that might not be a good making-an-entrance anthem, but I do love that song. My favorite of Michael McDonald is “I Keep Forgettin.”

  8. Love this and found it fascinating to read about the history of Hail to the Chief. For me, I love the lyrics of Joni Mitchell’s “Woman of Heart and Mind” but they need to put to the empowering sound of the theme from “Rocky!”

  10. Hope this doesn’t come up twice Kimba because I tried to submit it once and got a “server error message” – so here goes.

    When I was in travel my theme song was “On the Road Again” by Willie Nelson and I used to drive everyone crazy playing it to the point of distraction before every trip.

    These days my theme song could be Jumpin Jack Flash or Celebration of Life – just depends on how sassy I’m feeling. 🙂

  11. What a fun post. Guess if I wanted an anthem, it would be “Heard it thru the Grapevine”, but only by Marvin Gaye. Loved Greg’s post..poor baby!

  12. This is so much fun. I’m completely drawing a blank on what my theme song would be, but I know i’ll be thinking about it all day!

  15. What an awesome idea!

    Talk about finding a way to psych yourself up for life! I’m going to have to think about my song, but for now I’m going with Eminem’s “Lose Yourself.” That will get you motivated for whatever you need to do!

    Jess

  16. Tickled to be included in this post! At various times in my life, my song has made me laugh and cry. It’s interesting to see how everyone else responded–thanks!

  18. I came back to say that I DO know my husband and my anthem as a couple–Moon River! I have to think further about my own. Yeah, I know, I am now obsessed with this.

  19. I remember this and it was so fun seeing what my other favorite midlifers consider their own theme songs! Anne’s just cracked me up because I could picture her so clearly! Loved this!

  20. Oh my I have never ever thought about a theme song for me lol too funny. I guess I will have to think about that one for sure! Thanks for sharing this I learned a few things I didn’t know and I always love that!

  22. OK, I have no idea what MY anthem is/would be, but I do recall (many years ago) Paul Riser doing a bit about how the president is the only one with his own theme song. He then sang the following to the tune of “Hail to the Chief”: “I am the dentist, I’m gonna pull your tooth out.” To this day, I cannot hear “HTTC” and not hear Paul Riser’s version in my head.

  23. Love this! The way you’ve connected the President entering a room to fabulous women walking in anywhere…..hell yeah, heads should turn! Thanks for including my comment. I forgot about this Risky Business clip….back when we still liked Tom Cruise! LOL It’s def an oldie from late 60’s/early 70’s like Bob and I…..but “still damn good” he says. Well done, Kimba!