Louisiana has six official state songs, including the first one adopted in 1932, “Louisiana Song,” and the popular “You Are My Sunshine.” The state also has an official environmental song and a song to commemorate Hurricane Rita and Katrina recovery efforts. Most of the songs were already popular before being honored by the state legislature. […]
Copyrighting a song involves finding the appropriate authorities, filling out paperwork, mailing a copy of the song, and paying a fee. In the US, it is done through the Library of Congress. It establishes ownership and date of creation to prevent theft and piracy. A “poor man’s copyright” is not always sufficient. The process takes […]
The phrase “for a song” means to buy something cheaply. It is an idiom used in casual speech and specific to certain regions. Using idioms can make conversation more interesting. When a person buys something for little money or less than he thought he should spend, he can tell others of his fortune by saying […]
Swans mate for life and their supposed silent nature until their death has led to the metaphor of a “swan song” for a final significant performance or presentation. This can apply to anyone, not just artists, and can be intentional or retrospective. The idea that swans are silent is a myth, as they have a […]
In 1965, astronauts on Gemini 6 smuggled a harmonica and sleigh bells onto their spacecraft and played “Jingle Bells” for Mission Control, making it the first song performed in space. The instruments are now on display at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. A few days before Christmas, in December 1965, the spacecraft […]
