Fun
Ready for a Brand New Beat
Dear Ann,
It’s the song of the summer—of 1964. Dial up some Motown and do a little summer dancing.
I feel like listening to some nonfiction this weekend, and remembered this book from a few years ago: Ready for a Brand New Beat: How Dancing in the Street Became the Anthem for a Changing America.
Author Mark Kurlansky, who is known for the single-minded specificity of his books (I first encountered his writing in Cod, and then Salt, both of which I really enjoyed), applies his focus to one song and one summer, but it was a summer in which a lot of tumult and change was happening, and the song was a part of it. I’m looking forward to giving it a listen in audio book form, so I can keep on knitting, and getting up to dance hourly, when my naggy watch tells me it’s time to STAND UP.
You can read or listen on Amazon, and the book (read by Stephen Hoye, who has narrated an unbelievably long list of bestsellers) is also on audible.com.
Love,
Kay
Thank you for the dance Kay. Growing up in the motor city, I’m still swinging and swaying whenever Motown is playing.
This song is absolutely astonishing to me. Every time I hear it, and watch these women singing and dancing their hearts out, incredible.
Great song! They used to block off the streets on Friday and Saturday nights just for this – brings back good memories.
Check this out too!
https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/dancing-in-the-street-detroits-radical-anthem
Oh, man that’s a good one.
Thank you Kay! Brought back great memories. You just can’t help feeling happy and wanting to dance when you hear that song!!!
I didn’t know about this book, thanks for writing about it! This song is part of a playlist that helps me through this time that’s pretty challenging for me. Also Wake Up Everybody, For What It’s Worth, several John Lennon songs, Everyday People, and a little Dancing in the Moonlight.
Thanks as always for MDK, but this past week especially!
Dancing in the Moonlight is special to me too. Instant sharp memory. Love to you, JM. Hang tough.
Thanks for the recommendation. I loved Cod and Salt and I really love Martha and the Vandellas
One of my favorite songs – I need to get this book! Thanks for the recommendation! (And don’t forget – you can probably get it from your local library, too.)
Just bought it, and played the video, too. Thank you!
If you loved a book about a fish and salt, try one about a house… House by Tracey Kidder.