Saturday 9 times two

(Link in meme-roll)
Lucky Star (1983)
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1. Have you ever wished upon a star?

Yes, but not for at least a couple of decades.

2. In the 1980s, Madonna considered her wrist bangles one of her fashion trademarks. What's one of your fashion trademarks?

Jeans. Cute (but comfy) shoes.

3. Though she got good grades, Madonna could be disruptive at school, known for turning cartwheels in the halls between classes. Can you do a cartwheel?

Never, EVER, could. I'd be hospitalized if I tried nowadays.

4. Her high grade point average earned her a dance scholarship to the University of Michigan, home of the Wolverines. Do you follow college football?

I do only because Beast does. We're going to the Rose Bowl this year, which I couldn't care less about, and the teams...meh: Oregon and Florida State.

5. Madonna co-starred in the movie version of Dick Tracy. Do you enjoy comics?

Not so much. I don't mind reading the occasional graphic novel--my favorite is the fairy tale series by Bill Willingham. But the Dick Tracy thing cracks me up. I know far too much about him.

6. She played Argentinian First Lady Eva Peron in the biopic, Evita and directed a movie about Wallis Simpson. What famous 20th century woman do you wish you could meet/could have met?

Eleanor Roosevelt. I suppose I could hold out hope that Madonna will actually get around to a movie about her, right?

7. Madonna authored a children's book called The English Roses. Tell us about a book that had a big impact on you when you were a kid.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang--book my sister was reading me when I first figured out reading.

8. One of Madonna's "vocal idols" is Ella Fitzgerald. Who is your all-time favorite female singer?

Nina Simone. Or maybe Melissa Etheridge.

9. Madonna once did a Pepsi commercial. What beverages are in your refrigerator right now?

Diet Dr. Pepper. Of course.

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 Feliz Navidad (1970)
Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1. "Feliz Navidad" is Spanish for "Merry Christmas." Can you wish us happy holidays in a language other than English or Spanish?

Buon natale!! And if you prefer Cyrillic: Счастливого Рождества!

2. According to ASCAP (the American Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers), this is one of the 20 most played holiday songs of the last 10 years. What's the most recent carol that you heard?

I can't remember. Well, actually, since I accidentally had my volume up when I linked to the video above, it was the very beginning of this one.

3. Which Christmas song do you hope you never hear again?

Anything by Johnny Mathis.

4. This week's featured artist, José Feliciano, was honored to perform this song at the tree lighting ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. If you were to win a trip to our nation's capital, which sites would you visit?

The Holocaust Museum, the Jefferson Memorial, and the Wall. Oh, and of course the Library of Congress. I missed all of those on the first trip there.

5. As a very young child, José taught himself to play the accordion. If you could suddenly, easily learn to play any instrument, which would you choose?

I keep thinking about taking piano lessons again, but I need a better arrangement for the keyboard in our house--bad chair currently.

6. José says that hearing early 1950s rock on the radio made him want to become a singer. What's your favorite music genre?

Good melody tied to matching lyrics. Or cleverly, not.

7. At 17, José had to drop out of school to help support his family. Too young to enter bars, he played guitar in coffee houses for tips. Have you ever worked a job where you regularly received gratuities?

The only job where I got tips I wasn't allowed to keep them.

8. José and wife Susan have been together for more than 40 years. Who is the happiest married couple you know?

I'm going to give this to an older couple at church who married about 20 years ago, second marriage for both, and who, at least to start with, celebrated an anniversary every month because they didn't think they'd live long enough to hit double digits in annual celebrations. They are so freakin' cute.

9. Jose wrote and performed the theme of the 1970s show, Chico and the Man. What's your current favorite TV show?j

I'm really enjoying the new NCIS in New Orleans. However, I got a call last night from a friend saying I need to watch The Librarians because it's "really funny." Hmmm.