Pure Magic - the Shady Dell Attic: 100+ Years of History and Mystery!

          Having one of those days? Dampened spirits need a lift? You've come to the right place.

                          Spend a little time here at Shady's Place and feel better fast!

Friday, September 5, 2025

 456 X 222 



COLD OPEN!
CLICK TO START VIDEO NOW!


"Get Ready" by The Temptations
and "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks
mashup cover by Broken Peach (July 2025)

Today's post will officially begin right after this message.


It's the greatest season of all!


Filled with drama and pathos...


 unbelievable spectacle...


and unparalleled thrills!


Don't miss Squid Game 3...
inspired by the Shady's Place series 

 SQUID PRO QUO! 

now screaming on Netflix.


YOU COME PLAY MORE
GAME WITH YOUNG-HEE?


WE HAVE MUCH BIG FUN. 
SMOOCH SMOOCH SMOOCH!
TEE-HEE-HEE!



 (SCROLL DOWN) 












































































 Rick-Rolled! Vol. 2  

 Your Love + My Love  

 at the Love Shack!  



"If you're becoming your parents, you should be coming to me." - Dr. Rick

SHADY'S PLACE
DOUBLE PLAY PART 1 
CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!


"Livin' On A Prayer" - Bon Jovi
cover by IMY2 (June 2024) 

SHADY'S PLACE
DOUBLE PLAY PART 2 
CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!


"Your Love" - The Outfield cover by
First To Eleven ft. Trevor Vogt
(Feb. 2022)

Kicking off today's lineup, retro 80s new wave/power pop goodness
with Audra Miller and her Erie, Pennsylvania band First To Eleven
plus featured guest artist Trevor Vogt, a member of another Erie
based band called Daytona Beach 2000. Audra, Trevor and F211
came through with a million percent cool cover of "Your Love,"
a 1986 hit single by the English pop rock band The Outfield.


Before that, another in-demand band on SPMM Retro Radio,
azure-haired beauty Annalise Mahanes and her Nashville-based
trio IMY2 -- which stands for "I Miss You, Too" -- crushed it with
their version of Bon Jovi's classic rock anthem "Livin' On A Prayer."


And, at the very top of the show, direct to you from Vigo, Spain,
the exciting rock cover band Broken Peach with a sizzling mashup
of two mid-1960s boomer songs, the Temptations hit "Get Ready"
and "You Really Got Me" by The Kinks.
 

Hi there. As you recall, I'm Dr. Rick, the tough love mentor, success coach
and motivational guru from the Progressive Insurance TV commercials,
welcoming you to my second "Un-Become Your Parents" seminar
being held here in this spacious conference hall at Shady's Place





Thousands have
already attended
my life-changing
musical workshop.

I'm happy to see
your face in the
audience today. 






Just a reminder that my books are available for purchase at a table in the lobby.

My seminar will give you the tools you need to avoid becoming your parents.

Now remember... you don't need to introduce
yourself to the mugger in the park.


He'll find out your name when he takes your wallet. 
 

  Remember how your parents were "anchored" to songs that were popular
when they were young back in the horse & buggy days? Remember how
they turned noses up and thumbs down on the cool new music you liked?


Don't turn into your parents! Why cling to dusty discs & rusty relics from
your youth that you've heard a million times when you can listen to them
through a new set of ears? The concept is a simple one: I play hit songs
of the 20th century covered by great new artists of the 21st century.


You've heard of TED talks. 


By the time you leave this room, you'll be confident, bursting
with energy, vigor and vitality and feeling like a kid again,
all because you took my advice and tried listening
and dancing to new versions of old favorites.
In seminar speak, it's called getting
  Rick-Rolled 
Are you psyched?
Are you pumped?
Are you stoked?
Are you ready to rock & Rick-Roll
all night and party every day?
I can't hear you.
 I CAN'T HEAR YOU! 



YEAH, that's more like it!
Alright, let's boogie! 


Now it's my pleasure to introduce a group of young Kiwi
musicians that are guaranteed to knock your socks off. They're
Rumpus Machine, a sibling rock band from Auckland, New Zealand.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Check out this fab performance by the brothers and sisters as
they cover one of glam rocker Billy Idol's signature songs.
Here's Rumpus Machine and-- "White Wedding!"


"White Wedding" - Billy Idol cover
by Rumpus Machine (july 2023)

Let's hang out in the same part of the world as I present
an extraordinary Australian band that has entertained
you many times before here at Shady's Place.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Here are Ausssies Kat Jade and Jordan Lennon singing a song
made popular by Starship, the San Francisco band that can be
traced back to the 60s and Jefferson Airplane. Kat and Jordan
are backed by another of the world's great cover bands, HSCC,
The Hindley Street Country Club, as they perform--
"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now."


"Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now"
Starship cover by HSCC ft. Kat Jade
and Jordan Lennon (Apr. 2021) 



From Adelaide, South Australia, that was lovely Kat Jade, a contestant
on Season 3 of The Voice Australia, along with Jordan Lennon, veteran
of numerous cover groups, fronting The Hindley Street Country Club
band on their cover of "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now." Grace Slick
and Mickey Thomas performed the duet on the original version,
a chart-topping power ballad that was used as the theme song
of the 1987 romantic comedy movie Mannequin.

Up next, the song "Turn Me Loose"...
not the Fabian song your granddaddy
listened to back in the 50s. This is the
song from the early 80s by Loverboy...
the rock band from Alberta, Canada. 

START VIDEO! 

But this is not your daddy's Loverboy.
(Uh, maybe I should rephrase that.)
It's the Seattle rock band Candlebox
putting a fresh spin on the song in a
virtual performance vid shot in LA,
Salt Lake City, Philadelphia and
Baltimore. Here's Candlebox and--
"Turn Me Loose!" 


"Turn Me Loose" - Loverboy cover
by Candlebox (July 2021) 


Helping you "Un-Become Your Parents," that's a 2021 cover of
"Turn Me Loose" by the Pacific Northwest band Candlebox
(wait for it)... not your daddy's Loverboy.

If you're just tuning in, I'm your musical guidance counselor
Dr Rick, here to save you from growing old and turning into
your parents by playing new versions of Boomer era classics. 


Now remember, when you get up out of your seat and dance
to the beat of these updated oldies, you aren't "cutting a rug"
as your parents would have described it. We be jammin,
breakin', bustin', gettin' our swerve on, goin' hard,
bangin' it out and freakin' at the crunk rager. 


And if you happen to be listening to my seminar on your
car radio and the ear candy's so sick, lit and dope that you
need to stop your rig, jump out and boogie in the street,
U B ghost-riding the whip. I hope you got all that
because there will be a quiz. 


The Pointer Sisters had a top 3 hit in 1984 with this next song.
It went on to become the best-selling American dance pop
single of the year. Here's the talented LA-based singer
and multi-instrumentalist Anne Reburn along with
her band of clones doing-- "Jump For My Love!


"Jump (For My Love)" - Pointer Sisters
cover by Anne Reburn (May 2024) 



Your dial is set to S-P-M-M, where we go hunting for the great songs
 of the past and bring em back alive. Boss jock Robert W. Morgan
gets you Morganized.  I'm life coach Dr. Rick, here to get you
   Rick-Rolled
teaching you how to avoid becoming your parents by
grooving to fresh remakes of Boomer era classics.



In the fall of 2008, a single by singing star Katy Perry
reached the top 3 in the U.S. and topped the charts in
Canada and three other countries. Back with us to cover
Katy's hit is the the pride of Erie, PA - First To Eleven -
featuring their exciting lead vocalist Audra Miller.

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!
This time around, the F211 band is running-- "Hot N Cold!"


"Hot N Cold" - Katy Perry cover
by First To Eleven (Mar. 2024)




Sadly, model/actress Tawny Kitaen died
in 2021 at the age of 59. Back in the 80s,
Tawny emerged as slinky sex symbol
when she appeared in music videos
 produced for the heavy metal
bands Ratt and Whitesnake. 

CLICK TO START
THE VIDEO NOW! 

Not to be outdone, here's Romanian
spitfire Andreea Munteanu singing
lead for Andrei Cerbu's band
The Iron Cross performing--
"Still Of The Night!"
 

"Still Of The Night" - Whitesnake cover
by The Iron Cross ft. Andreea Munteanu
(July 2021) 

That was scarlet fever girl Andreea Munteanu with Andrei Cerbu's
Romanian hard rock band The Iron Cross doing their version of
"Still Of The Night," a 1987 hit for the British band Whitesnake.


Up next, the very popular actress Jennifer Love Hewitt with
a vocal performance that has to be heard to be believed.
 Who knew she can sing so well? I sure didn't!  

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!
Jen covers a Bee Gees song that was a chart-topping
international hit for Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton in 1983.
 Here's "Maddie" from the first responders TV series 9-1-1
with her heartfelt version of-- "Islands In The Stream."  



"Islands In The Stream"
Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton cover
by Jennifer Love Hewitt (2024 single)

 Time's up. I need to clear the conference room to make
way for Tony Robbins and his NLP seminar and firewalk.
Those of you with tickets please remain in your seats. 


I hope you found value in this edition of my musical
motivational workshop. Thanks for attending. Please
don't panic.  I'll be back before you know it to get you
Rick-Rolled 
with another installment of my Bloggy Award winning seminar series.


To play us off, another Australian band known around the world
for their exceptionally good covers. They're Singit Live, and in
this sizzling performance they're fronted by Chloe Castledine
and Nikki Heuskes, two of the most popular female singers
in the Land Down Under. Joining Chloe and Nikki on lead
vocals and guitar is a bloke who calls himself Crafty. Watch
 as the gang covers a top 3 charting 1989 new wave hit by the
B-52s, inviting you to make the scene at the-- "Love Shack!"

CLICK TO START THE VIDEO NOW!

Now this is Parenta-Life Coach Dr. Rick reminding you
that I can help save you from becoming your parents...
but the rest is up to you. So long!


"Love Shack" - B-52s cover by Singit Live
feat.  Chloe Castledine, Nikki Heuskes
and Crafty (May 2024)


#Rick-Rolled 
...because sometimes tough love is what it takes to break through.


15 comments:

  1. Most of the covers were really good. Candlebox did a really good job.
    Is it wrong that I really dig Squid Game? It's like watching a train wreck. A really bloody one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Alex!

      Thanks for being the Early Bird this time around, good buddy!

      Thanks too for giving thumbs up to the covers in this month's post. I suppose I say this about every post, but I genuinely believe this is the finest collection of modern covers ever presented on my two blogs. Thanks for singling out Candlebox and their Covid-era split screen production. Scarlet Fever girl Andreea Munteanu with The Iron Cross is another biggie for me personally, as are the fiery Spanish girls of Broken Peach and the Kiwi kids from NZ covering Billy Idol. Audra & Trevor's version of "Your Love" by The Outfield is another highpoint among many, in my opinion.

      I am also delighted to find a friend who has watched the Squid Game series. Season 3 was indeed like watching a slow motion train wreck. Never saw such awesome spectacle, and a very revealing study of human nature and human frailty, I might add. The viewer is forced to ask himself "What would I do in that situation? How would I react?" It leads to lots of soul searching. By the way, Young-Hee says hello! :)

      Thanks again for your kind visit and great comment, good buddy Alex!

      Delete
  2. Hi Shady! Pat and I LOVE those cows getting into the music!! 😂
    Of course you always lose me when it comes to things on the big (or small) screen. At least I do know the commercials about not becoming your parents.

    I hope you and Mrs. Shady enjoy the weekend and the rest of September (in case we don't see you again before the end of the month).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Kelly & Pat!

      You claim the silver, dear friend. You claim the silver! No one can strip it from you!

      Yessum, seeing as how you live on a farm, I figured you might enjoy that GIF showing excited cows bopping to the beat. I'll have you know that every one of those bovines is outstanding in her field.

      (BA-DUM-BUMP)

      I'm glad you recognize Dr. RIck, the Parenta-Life Coach from Progressive and the musical guidance counselor here at Shady's Place. As for Squid Game, the Netflix series is not for the faint of heart. The jump rope challenge in particular, presided over by the lovable murder doll Young-Hee, is so frightening, so utterly disturbing, that I could hardly bear to watch.

      Thank you for the cheery wishes for the weekend and the rest of September. Same to you, Pat, Fred and Grady. I'll be back October 1 with the first of my two-part series for Halloween. Until then, take good care of yourself and your beloved pets, dear friend Kelly!

      Delete
  3. Hi Shady,

    Gosh, you have such a talent for this. I always enjoy reading your "shows." I always imagine them in my old assignment editor's voice (he was a well-known reporter before working the desk and had a great broadcast voice). How I wish our time in the biz had overlapped and our paths had crossed. What fun we could have had!

    Anyway, I didn't actually listen to any of these covers today -- I'm battling some kind of sinus-allergy mess that's been going around my school the last couple of weeks, and my ears are a bit clogged. I do have something to add to the conversation, though. I can't remember the year, but when I was still at the station, the Pointer Sisters headlined the big fall festival/fair our area is known for. The evening anchor (my mentor and good friend still) was so excited about it and worked for weeks leading up to it to set up an interview with them. Sadly, it didn't work out -- their manager was pretty rude and difficult -- and the image he had built up around the sisters crumbled a bit.

    Enjoy the rest of your September, Shady!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Ashton!

      I'm delighted to see you, dear friend! Thanks for coming over on the weekend. You are the third place finisher and take home the bronze!

      Sorry to learn that you are battling a bug, Ashton. Knowing that makes me even more grateful for your visit. Thank you very much for liking the style I use in blogging. Truth be told, I get a kick out of my own content. That's the main thing, I suppose, but it is always good to know that other people appreciate what I've been doing all these years.

      There's a good chance your assignment editor's modulated voice is similar to mine. As you recall from our earliest conversations 15 years ago, I was a news reporter, anchor and voice-over announcer on commercials, documentaries, promos, station identification bites, etc. I used the same speaking voice on or off the air. One time in college, when I met a fellow student during fraternity rush and spoke to him face to face, he turned around and looked over his shoulder, telling me my vocal delivery was so professional that he thought I was reading from cue cards. :) Whenever I'd answer the telephone, people would think my "hello" was the start of a recording. They typically fell silent, waiting for me to instruct them to leave a message at the beep. :) Yessum, you and I would have worked well together, Ashton. I'm sure of it. Thank goodness we can have the next best thing as longterm blog friends.

      Thanks for sharing that tale about dealing with the manager for the Pointers. Sadly, that kind of thing happens a lot in show biz. The sisters had their share of personal problems and tragedy. The youngest, June, was addicted to cocaine most of her career and charged with felony cocaine possession in 2004. In 2006, June became the first sister to die, a victim of cancer at the age of 52. Following June's death, friction developed between the surviving members of the sister act and another sibling, Bonnie, who had helped found the group but later left to pursue a solo career. Bonnie wanted to rejoin the act and fill the void left by June, but the other members rejected the notion. Bonnie Pointer had a major disco hit with a cover of "Heaven Must Have Sent You," a song originally recorded by the Motown group The Elgins. Bonnie performed her hit in a video I posted earlier this year. Bonnie was the next sister to pass away. Following ten years of alcoholic liver disease and cirrhosis, she died of cardiac arrest in June, 2020, at the age of 69. Anita Pointer died New Year's Eve 2022 at the age of 74, also a victim of cancer.

      Thanks again for your kind visit and wonderful comment, dear friend Ashton. Take care of yourself and little Alexis and get well soon. See you at the start of next month when I ease into Halloween mode!

      Delete
  4. Shady!
    How ya doing this fine September morning? We have had lightning storms the last two nights that have been fabulous. I always look forward to your posts. I hope all is well with you.

    I watched Squid Games, it was better than the first season but I'm not sure I'll watch anymore of the series. My daughter will watch it so I'm sure I'll be seeing some episodes and will see if it looks any good.

    The covers of all the songs were pretty good, not bad. But not as good as the originals in my opinion. Especially the Whitesnake cover. No one does a song like Whitesnake. lol

    Have a great September and I hope things are cooling down where you are.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Mary & Falcor!

      Thanks for coming by for my September post, dear friend! We're expecting t-storms in my neck of the woods starting any minute now. I hope they materialize because it has been very dry around here.

      If you liked season 1 of Squid Games but missed season 2, I urge you to watch season 3 because it contains the most thrilling challenges of all, including a very dangerous and deadly game of jump rope and a pushing and shoving contest staged atop elevated platforms. Both of the above mentioned games take place some 100 feet above the hard marble floor. Therefore, I highly recommend season 3 which is said to be the last season of the series. Maybe they will produce an American version of the show.

      I know that you are not a huge fan of covers, but they are the fuel that keeps me in the blogging business month after month. In my 17+ years as a blogger, I have posted the original versions of most of these songs at least once, even twice or more, and so, for me, it is a case of been there, done that.

      It's a hot day here so far and, as I mentioned, I am hoping for those cooling showers and t-storms to roll in this afternoon. Thanks again for making time for a weekend visit, dear friend Mary. I wish you and my buddy Falcor a safe and happy September and hope you can join the fun starting the first of October when I kick-off Halloween season here at Shady's Place!

      Delete
  5. Hello dear friend Shady! Sorry I am coming late to visit you, but I have been really tired! I scrolled down everything in your post and believe it or not, there is so little I know here! So I will definitely be back to look over this post a few times, but then again, I always do! :) I love the cows!

    I think the reason I may know so little here is because these entries are later than the times I remember most! One would think that well, since it is later I would remember more, but if I have never seen or heard of it, this would not be the case!

    I always enjoy your posts, dear friend, and even though I am unfamiliar with anything you post, it gives me a chance to familiarize myself with things that I would otherwise not have known!

    As far as Islands in the Stream, I am familiar with the song sung by Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers! Great song, both vocalists are favourites of mine.

    I will be back to explore more, and I hope you are doing well! Thank you so much for the time you take to share everything on your blog, I really appreciate the work you put into this, Shady, and of course, I have always appreciated your friendship!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Linda!

      I was just thinking about you, dear friend (true). Thanks for dropping by on your weekend!

      Yessum, friend Kelly (above) who lives on a farm, mentioned liking those boogieing cows, and I knew you'd get a kick out of them too, seeing as how you had cows on your own site this week.

      Your explanation regarding the content of my current post has merit, dear friend. Teaching and learning are what make blogging great. If we limited ourselves to following blogs about the familiar, there would be no opportunity to learn something new, no chance to fill in some of the gaps in the timeline of your life and add context to your personal experiences. The oldest songs presented in today's post can be found in the very first video near the top of the page, the medley by the Spanish trio Broken Peach covering two mid 60s hits, "Get Ready" by the Temptations and "You Really Got Me" by the Kinks. The video was recorded during a rehearsal for their stage show, but their zesty performance impressed me so much that I decided to plug it into today's lineup.

      I was astounded by the fine cover rendered by Jennifer Love Hewitt. She already has an army of fans based on her many memorable acting roles over the years, but her singing ability seems to have caught everyone off guard. She's for real!

      Your kind words warm my heart, Linda, and I thank you for expressing them. I feel the same about you. I am thankful that our paths crossed in 2025 after a good number of years apart. I hope you enjoy the rest of September with hopefully cooler air in Montreal and less wildfire smoke to make breathing difficult. Look for my next post October 1 when I will begin my annual Halloween scarefest. Hope to see you then, dear friend Linda!

      Delete
  6. Im here and living the songs! They all did great covers for songs. I listened to this on Friday and your words helped. I had a bad day with pain plus mtvdear friens is going through a painful separation. They have been separated for a year plus she did up the separation agreement and he signed it and it was motorized by a lawyer. Now he is playing games. She wanted to be friends but it's not going that way. I've been helping her. So this post was a nice diversion. I had to laugh with "Turn Me Loose" si ce I can't stand this song because of a long walk in high school. I did this long, long walk and a group of other teens had a ghetto blaster and played this song, over and over and over again. Ever since...lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Birgit!

      Very happy to see you, dear friend! How's your smooch pooch Harley?

      It might be the highest compliment of all for you to say that my words helped you through a bad day. That's what I have been here for from the start, 17+ years ago, to distract you from the daily grind, to offer a feel good oasis where you can relax, unwind and forget your problems for a while. I'm very sorry you are having painful flare-ups, and sorry to learn that one of your good friends is going through an unpleasant separation. Yessum, paperwork loaded with legalese is often ignored in the heat of passion, rules are broken and the situation can easily spiral out of control. I hope they get it "sorted" as they say in Australia and elsewhere. By the way, please watch the TV series Sea Patrol. It is a wonderful show about the adventures of the Royal Australian Navy on the high seas and on dangerous remote islands. It is Mrs. Shady's favorite show, and she is very hard to please. A related Australian TV show we are now watching and enjoying very much is Blue Heelers, a police drama series set in a fictional small town some 4 hours inland from Melbourne. Blue Heelers was one of the highest-rated and most-awarded programs in the history of Australian television. I say that it is related to Sea Patrol because both series have the delightful actress and singer Lisa McCune in the main cast.

      I'm glad the Covid cover of "Turn Me Loose" made you giggle as you remembered that long walk years ago with the original song blasting.

      Thank you again for your kind visit and wonderful comment. Please take care and enjoy the rest of September, and join me if you can on the first of October as I kick-off this year's Shadyween Frightfest. Hope to see you then, dear friend BB!

      Delete
  7. Dr. Rick commercials always make me and my husband laugh!

    The cover of Living on a Prayer is pretty good, but I have to admit, I like the Bon Jovi sound better.

    I liked the first picture. Magical places for children like attics and cubby holes are so nostaligic. I wonder how many kids actually experience things like that these days.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi, Sherry!

      Technically, I am on blogging hiatus until the start of next month, but I will gladly make an exception for you, come out of hiding and respond to your kind comment.

      I'm glad Dr. Rick's TV commercials give you and your husband something to smile about and even to laugh about, given how tough a year this has been for you. I hope you enjoy these "Rick-Rolled" parody posts hosted by the famous motivational guru and life coach.

      Thanks for giving a favorable nod to the Nashville trio imy2 for their excellent cover of "Livin' On A Prayer."

      The "sticky" pic you mentioned that appears year round near the top of the page was taken early in 2012 in the attic of the Shady Dell. The children are the great great granddaughters of Margaret Schneider - The Oldest Living Dell Rat. The girls visited the Dell during its post-renovation open house prior to the famous/infamous estate being sold that same year. Taken by Margaret's daughter Kathleen Mae, the photo is pure magic. That's why I selected it for a permanent position at the top of my blog.

      Thank you again for your visit and comment, dear friend Sherry. Let's try to reconnect at the start of next month when I begin my two part Shadyween Frightfest for 2025!

      Delete
  8. I'm probably too late to comment but I want you to know that this post was jammed pack for sure! The covers were really good. I really liked the sibling band, Rumpus Machine. I was wondering if they had a place away from home to play their music. I could just imagine the sound all through the house! Oh no, I must need Dr. Rick! I just turned into my parents. However, I'm pretty old so maybe it's too late for me to unparent! Isn't Dr. Rick the parent that young people need to unparent? Huh? Anyway, thanks for the jammed pack post and the wisdom and fun of Dr. Rick! I hope you're enjoying the beginning of fall and soon ti will be the best month of the year! Take care Shady and I'm sorry for being the last one here on the plane! Take care!

    ReplyDelete

I wanna know
What you're thinking
There are some things you can't hide
I wanna know
What you're feeling
Tell me what's on your mind