The Bluebird of Happiness

     – So be like I, hold your head up high ’til you find the bluebird of happiness.

A song can match a mood and it can create one.

Let’s go back in a time machine….to the 1980s. Marty Devlin was driving around the country in his Prince van, putting on tennis clinics. Ken Merritt joined him, and a creative partnership began. Marty credits Ken (aka Smiley Bones), just 19 at the time, with turning the clinics into “shows.” Everything was planned and choreographed, from Marty’s presentations to the music played on Ken’s Bose Acoustic Wave. This red sportscar of a boombox was positioned to protect his row of cassette tapes from the tennis balls flying around while Marty was orchestrating activities on multiple courts. The music matched and enhanced the atmosphere on those courts—energizing, fun, inspiring.

The soundtrack included songs—or short clips of songs—from Bruce Hornsby and the Range, Van Halen, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Stevie Wonder, and Earth, Wind and Fire. There were air guitar competitions “played” on tennis rackets to Bon Jovi. Hit for Prizes, a competition to win Prince apparel, was set to a bit of Pat Benatar’s “Hit Me with Your Best Shot,” and a hula hoop competition to “The Twist.” If you attended the clinic, you may have heard some Jump, Super Freak, and most appropriate for Marty’s approach to life, “Don’t Stop Believing” and “Walking on Sunshine.” Music to entertain, energize, and inspire.

Now let’s go back even further…to the 1940s. “Bluebird of Happiness” was playing on the radio and became Marty’s favorite. It captures so beautifully Marty’s view of life and how to live it. I don’t know if he heard the song and got pumped up, or if the song gave words to what was already in his heart as an 8-year-old.

Here is where you can go to read the complete lyrics. It’s well worth the time to read and listen.

– Cathy Kreyche