What inspires and influences us?
We got a lot of great questions surrounding that topic from you guys. In this video we sat down to answer as many of them as we could squeeze in a single video. It still got close to 30 minutes long so we decided to split it into 2 parts with the second one coming next Friday.
We think the topic of influence is a fascinating one, not only in connection with music and art but life in general. What and who contributes to us living our lives the way we do. We’d love you to chime in on the subject in the comments down below 🙂
Many thanks for all your submitted questions!
Have a great day!
Mona & Lisa
Great listening to you both talking about your influences, looking forward to part two. Love your jumpers.
Hi Mona and Lisa. First let me say I love your music and the intricacies of your harmony. You are the best! Thank you for telling us about the video, “Searching For Sugarman”. OMG! What a wonderful man and story. If that had happened to me, I would not be able to turn away from the rock stardom to go back and do manual labor, though. He is truly an outstanding man.
First, thanks to my fellow club members, I think we came up with a lot of truly interesting questions. I was rapt by the information Mona and Lisa gave us, particularly by some of the artists they referred to. Shirley Bassey and Etta Jones made me take notice, and this gives me a significantly deeper understanding of the scope of music to which you have been exposed. I almost think I have a tenuous grasp of your approach to how you create music, but I’m pretty sure that’s going to require some more pondering and Q&A videos. You’re just going to have to keep making them, I guess. And Lisa, really digging the sweater-on-sweater look, it’s pretty cool.
Hi guys. Loved this! One thing that made me smile was when you told about buying records of someone you’ve never heard cuz that’s exactly what I would do as a kid. Just take a chance and pick a record to see what you get. That’s how I discovered Ian Whitcomb and Harper’s Bizarre which i came to really enjoy. Of course back then records were $3.98 so you weren’t out a lot of money if they stunk! Looking forward to part two!
Loved the comments. Always interesting to get a glimpse into your background. All the interesting and fascinating stories, pictures, and videos just show me so many good and inspiring things and information. It’s like reading a book that is still being written. Thank you both. You are way Groovy!!
Thank you both so much for this segment! Here I am on a Saturday Morning with a cup of coffee and talking music with Mona and Lisa! How cool is that? So a lot of influences you both share are the same for me as well. I was raised by my grand parents so I was listening to a lot of music that kids my age did have listen to, and to me that music helped shape music and will last for ever. Can I throw in just one question? Was Elvis a inspiration to you both or dad? Can’t wait for part 2 next week.
Take care
Bill Isenberg a huge fan from Pittsburgh Pa USA
Great video, thanks.
Had to laugh at singing the Babybel cheese advert to the tune of Barbara Ann.
As a kid there was a car dealer in Adelaide called Bob Moran. His advert was to the tune of Barbara Ann which I used to sing along to, and still do when I hear that song!!!!
Bob Moraaaaaannnnn, he’s your Nissan maaaaaaaan.
I thoroughly enjoyed that quite enthusiastically…You mentioned most of the female jazz greats I love listening to, and of course, Joni, Cass Elliot ( Mama Cass), in the guys category, Eric Clapton, B.B.King, etc… There are some folks/bands that I’m not familiar with at all that you mentioned but am now curious to check out, Great Q asked for Part 1, am looking forward to Part 2 next Friday… I find it most fascinating how we all can enjoy different eras/genres, but find common ground with at least one or two songs from each era/genre. Thankyou for doing this, I loved your commentary, your tongue twisters on a few words, lol …
An #MLTBuzzLuvGroovy Good Time Was Indeed Had ????
This came out great. Your witty banter is so charming. These Q&A videos are fun.
Thank you for taking time to answer everyone’s questions. It’s obvious that you enjoy talking about music, Who doesn’t, right?
I do want to watch that doc Searching for Sugarman. I will take your advice and watch it without looking it up first.
Van Morrison wrote some beautiful love songs. I think his classics will always sound relevant. It seems like more people know Rod Stewart’s version of “Have I Told You”, but I like Van’s original best. I think Van’s vocals are more sincere. And I think every generation loves “Brown Eyed Girl”. That’s a song to put on and watch the crowd. As they begin to recognize the song and start to tap their feet, wait for it…”Do you remember when we used to sing”. And the crowd goes nuts, “Sha la la, la la, la la, la la, l-la te da
Just like that
Part two seems so far away. Time for some Easybeats
JP
p.s. When Mona shouted, “I am ready for another one!” she sounded like she had an American accent?
Sweets Lorraine lol. You two have a great sense of humor, I was gonna say senses of humor, but that sounds funny?
‘You two have great senses of humor.” See what I mean?
I just watched “Searching For Sugar Man”. Thank you for your blind recommendation. I really enjoyed it. I also recommend just watching it without looking up anything about It. You can stream it on IMBD.
I find Rodriguez’s lyrics thought provoking and want to hear more. Do you know anyone who has any bootleg cassettes I can copy?
JP
Hello Ladies,
What an interesting first half of the Q&A.
I happen to know all of the Jazz and Bleus artists that you mentioned. I did see Ella Fitzgerald one year at Mardi Gras. (FAT TUESDAY,day before Ash Wesnesday, she was with Pete Fountain) and brought down the house during the day long parade. ( 6am to 10pm) You Tube has all kinds of Mardi Gras clips if you get a chance to watch it. Did you all remember Etta James in your dad’s Studio?
The harmonies question was also very much appreciated. Not surprising the answer you gave. All those are extraordinary examples.
Those influences have endured the test of time and have influenced millions everywhere. Now the MonaLisa Twins are part of that Category .
Your harmonies remind me so much of the Beach Boys Surf Music. Your tight harmonies are the staple of your music and is very evident in all your vocals.
Thanks Ladies for everything.
Continued much Success
Rick Ross
I agree with you about the Kinks but I do not think they were fully appreciated in the US…..The major hits were huge over here, i.e., You Really Got Me, All Day and All of the Night…..but Sunny Afternoon, Well Respected Man About Town and the like were songs I always liked……but only made it to the top 20 in US. My opinion is those to songs should have been higher. I really liked your talking about the older music BB King, Shirley Bassey, and others…….seems like so many start back there. Mike
Love sitting with you and talking about music! Learned some interesting facts about your past and influences! I really want to hear you do And Your Bird can Sing! Were you ever in to the Dave Clark Five? I agree with you about the Kinks. Quite the influential band. Especially Come Dancing. Can’t wait for next weeks video! You’re the grooviest!
I enjoyed the Q & A very much. I recommend the works of English singer/songwriter Vashti Bunyan. Her story is remarkable. She recorded about 2 albums worth of songs in the mid sixties but they got lost in everything that was going on. In 1970 she recorded the marvelous “Just Another Diamond Day” which was also overlooked. She left music and in the next 30 years had and raised her children in rural England. In 2000 a friend let her know that the rare copies of that album were selling for between $3 – 4 thousand dollars! She got the rights and the album was finally released on cd in 2005. She then made two more lovely albums. I hope you enjoy these tracks. Also check out wonderful Linda Thompson. Cheers! “Just Another Diamond Day” https://youtu.be/2-erNldHdV8 “Train Song” https://youtu.be/6A6N4dunDxU
Love listening to you both talking music or anything in particular, time just flies by, can’t wait until next week for part 2. So many great artists revealed in your discussion to check out that influenced you. Gerschwin eh! Will have to check out his work for sure, I think Brian Wilson mention Gerschwin as one of his influencers, and Searching for Sugarman I will definitely have to check out. Early Kinks stuff is so awesome, those melodic raw guitar sounds. If you ever come across their mid 1960s greatest hits album, I highly recommend it, just packed with their best early stuff! I love digging through the used vinyls at the Thrift Stores. Thoroughly enjoyed this and will probably go back and watch it several more times tonight. Thanks so much for this! 🙂 🙂
I have to add one more thing. Your harmonies eclipse the Byrds, Beatles, Beach Boys, Simon and Garfunkle, and The Everly Brothers. There are no other female singers who can match your vocal diversity either, and that is no hyperbole, just the truth!
Thank you for another FAB video. It’s so nice to see you sharing this way. Feels like we’re all sitting around the living room chatting. Relaxed, upbeat, fun and informative! It’s nice to see that almost all the music you mentioned would have been my answers as well.
Emitt Rhodes is an example to me of a very talented musician squashed by the record industry, almost like Badfinger. Emitt sadly passed away just recently without much notice. Clapton’s “While My Guitar..” solo would be top of my list. Speaking of And your bird can sing, Josh Turner is a great young guitarist. Here’s a video of him doing “And Your Bird Can Sing” in a park.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPAtGpU_xY8
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: nobody, but The Beatles has touched me musically like MLT. When I want to be excited about other musicians out there, I get a bit disappointed, because though they are good, they just can’t compare to The MonaLisaTwins.
Thank you for doing these videos and looking forward to Part 2!
Tomás ????????????????
Just catching up on the forums, I see Lisa had talked about this video! ☺
Hi Mona & Lisa,
Thanks for this enjoyable share. Your musical influences and interests are so much broader than my own at your age. My world in the 60’s was pretty much top 40 radio. Vaulting forward a few decades I can hardly believe all the great artists I missed at the time. But the cool thing about recorded music is that it’s all still there to discover. It’s so great that you’re sampling and trying out new sounds. I love doing the same thing now. Keep broadening those horizons and developing ‘big ears’. Seattle Bob
Thanks for sharing. Very interesting and insightful. Much appreciated but surprised that there was no mention of the influence of Rundle Mall art on your musical journey!