"One Small Step..."

40 years ago today, the now infamous Neil Armstrong uttered those famous words and in doing so, declared a de facto victory in the “space race” and fulfilling JFK’s goal of putting a man in space by the end of the decade.

I was nearly five years old when Armstrong took those fateful steps and it is one of my earliest memories.  Oddly, I remember watching it on that big, old console TV with Walter Cronkite commenting.

It was one of those “American” moments where everyone comes together for common support, regardless of affiliation.  Like the 1980 USA Hockey Team vs. USSR and the days after 911, Americans were united in their awe and pride during these sweltering days of July four decades ago.  Wouldn’t it be nice to have such a commonality again, for something so positive? 

There’s just something about that big old light in the sky that inspires, with music being no exception.  Over the years, many a song have been dedicated to the moon and its alluring and romantic qualities.  In honor of the moon and man’s seeming conquering of it 40 years ago, here is Music Maven’s Moon Playlist:

  Fly Me to the Moon, Frank Sinatra

  Paper Moon, Nat King Cole

  Blue Moon of Kentucky, Patsy Cline

  Harvest Moon, Leon Redbone

  Moon River, Audrey Hepburn (“Breakfast @ Tiffany’s”)

  Moondance, covered by Michael Buble’ because Van Morrison is an anti-internet Nazi

  Bad Moon Rising, Creedence Clearwater Revival

  Moonshadow, Cat Stevens

  Yellow Moon, The Neville Brothers

  Shame on the Moon, Bob Seger

  Dancin’ in the Moonlight, King Harvest

  Cajun Moon, Ricky Skaggs

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