LISTEN TO THE MUSIC
Weeks after his brother Bryan’s passing, the first time my husband, Arnee, an avid radio fan, radio show host, and DJ (See I Just Enjoyed the Music, dated November 19, 2024, at sharonmarkcohen.com), turned on the car radio as we were out for an evening drive, he jolted.
“That was Bryan’s favorite song by The Beatles that’s playing now, and it’s the first time I’ve turned on the radio since he died,” he said with amazement. It’s an early Beatles, he continued, “You’ve Got To Hide Your Love Away.”
The most interesting part was that it was one of the questions I regretted I hadn’t gotten to ask Bryan (See bigbrycohen@gmail.com, dated August 5, 2025, at sharonmarkcohen.com). As it turns out, Arnee knew the answer all along. He said that while the song playing was his brother Bryan’s favorite Beatles song, his all-time favorite song was probably Dion’s, “Runaround Sue.”
We both remember Bryan laughing as he sang, Mrs. “Bloom,” you’ve got a lovely daughter…a play on the Herman Hermits’ melody, “Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got A Lovely Daughter.” That was because the maiden name of Bryan’s wife was Bloom.
When Arnee graduated from grammar school, his brother Bryan, seven years his senior, took him to the iconic Vogel’s Record Shop on Broad Street in Elizabeth and bought him two 45s. He still has the Vinyls, “Tell Him,” by the Exciters, and “Easier Said Than Done,” by The Essex.
While we grapple with the new normal of no more Sunday evening calls with Bryan, Arnee knows his two older brothers will always be with him. Life goes on, and we look for clues that they’re “around.” That’s why it was jaw-dropping when Bryan’s favorite Beatles song came on the radio the first time Arnee turned the dial after losing his beloved brother.
If you were wondering, Arnee’s favorite song is “My Girl” by the Temptations. He says that his favorite Beatles song is probably “Hey Jude.”
My favorite song is “Lightning Is Striking,” by Lou Christie. My favorite Beatles song is “P.S. I Love You,” the words Arnee quoted in a letter and sent from college at Rutgers when we were dating.
Three things that ring out that the guys surely would have discussed that week on their Sunday night call…
1) The untimely death of my husband’s law partner, Gail, who worked with him for 33 years. They never spoke a bad word between them.
2) Our visit to the City of Woodstock, New York. We may even have played the tape of the instrumentalists performing on the street.
3) As we were driving, the song “Spirit in the Sky” was discussed with Norman Greenbaum on a radio interview with Lou Simon. A Jewish guy from an Orthodox background and education, Greenbaum, wrote and sang the monumental song about Jesus.
Listening to the music brought some closure and opened the ride for discussion and memories. Comfortingly, the fondest memories can be evoked by listening to music.
