Friday, August 9, 2013

Michael Franks and Flora the Dachshund | Follow-up Friday

I'm happy to be joining Heart Like a Dog in the follow-up Friday blog hop this week.  This is the blog hop that lets you wrap up your week and leads you right into the weekend.  Hosted by FUF creator, Jodi at Heart Like a Dog and co-hosted this week by Linda at 2 Brown Dawgs.

This Friday's follow-up at Talking Dogs is a bit different.  Rather than reviewing my week (which has been soggy, dark with power outages, plus the dogs still won't watch DogTV... lol), I want to follow up on a blog post I did a long time ago.

Quite awhile back, I featured a Michael Franks song and music video on Dog Song Saturday here at Talking Dogs.  In fact, I'd just lost my heart dog, Lucy, and I dedicated it to her.

As happens often when I feature an original dog song, I've been following Michael Franks ever since.  Not only is he forever linked in my mind to my beloved Lucy, I like his music and I like his advocacy.

According to his biography, Franks has been making lyrical music for 33 years.  17 albums have been snapped up by international fans.  His songs have been covered by the likes of Shirley Bassey, The Carpenters, Natalie Cole, Patti Labelle, Peggy Lee, Lyle Lovett, Ringo Starr, and a host of others.

But, what about the Dachshund, Flora?  I know that's what you're thinking.
Image ©Michael Franks who calls it: "Rodgers and Wienerstein"

Franks and his wife adopted Flora when she was two years old.  She was a puppy mill dog.  Rescued by a no-kill shelter, Hearts United for Animals, Flora "had numbers crudely tattooed on her belly in green ink, a primitive and painful form of identification often used by mill owners to keep track of their inmates."

Flora became a "faithful collaborator" as Franks composed new music.  She lay under his piano, usually with her head on one of his feet.  Flora passed away in 2010 when she was 14. You can view a slide show dedicated to Flora, accompanied by another of Franks' songs, How I Remember You.

If you explore Michael Franks' website (and I encourage you to do that), you'll find that his family's other dachshunds, Nellie and Gina, also were rescued by Hearts United for Animals.  You'll also find that he and his wife actively support their local shelter and speak out against puppy mills.

Time Together is the title track from his Time Together CD and a tribute to his dog, Flora.  He dedicates this song to all of us who have lost a much loved companion.  All the royalties from this song are donated to Hearts United for Animals in Flora's memory.  Available on iTunes, eMusic, AmazonMP3 and Google Play.

Once again, here's Time Together by Michael Franks. 

9 comments:

  1. Hi Y'all!

    Just stoppin' to say "hi" and catch up on the goings on. Have a great weekend whatever the weather.

    Oh, and I pay no attention to the TV, no matter what station is playing. I prefer to listen to music when my Humans are missing.

    Y'all come by now,
    Hawk aka BrownDog

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  2. Awe Sue, what a sweet and beautiful post. Thanks so much for joining the blog hop.

    I'm super far behind in blog reading so I hope all is well with you and yours. That really stinks about the power outages. I think it's raining close to about everywhere in the eastern portion of the country at the moment. :-( Here's hoping it gets itself right soon.

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  3. Sorry to hear about your power outages. I know my dogs would not watch that tv station...lol. It is nice of you to follow up on that artist. I wish people would not purchase from puppy mills. I don't know of a way to discourage those kinds of purchases. Maybe Mr. Franks can do some good.

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  4. What a sweet story, and how wonderful that they adopted her from a puppy mill.

    That stinks that you were without power and having a dreary week. Hope next week is better!

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  5. Oh I love the idea of a follow up to a post you wrote a while ago. This is an excellent, heart-warming story so thank you for sharing it. Have a wonderful weekend.
    Oz

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  6. What a great FUF post. I'm so glad Flora was rescued by them!

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  7. What a sweet tribute! Talentented. :)

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  8. That is pretty cool! Some lucky doggies too!

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  9. What a nice follow up. have a great weekend

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