Strawberry Letter 23
by the Brothers Johnson and Shuggie Otis
Songs category pick for the week of 7/28/08
Being the celebrity that got himself kicked out of the exclusive Milk and Honey by acting obnoxious isn’t the only thing you have to give credit to Quentin Tarantino for. He also happens to have pretty impeccable taste in music, if you can forgive him for the fact that the Reservoir Dogs soundtrack was overplayed by every guy you didn’t want to date in high school–then again in college–and accept that it was a revolutionary soundtrack that pretty awesomely got millions of awkward teens grooving to Harry Nilsson Schmilsson.
Strawberry Letter 23, most famously recorded by the Brothers Johnson in 1977, was featured in his best picture to date (in my opinion), Jackie Brown. It was originally written and recorded by a seventeen year old named Shuggie Otis (who I imagine looks like a teddybear) about his girlfriend who wrote notes to him on strawberry scented paper.
Jesus, if I had a lover writing me on strawberry scented paper in 1977, I’d be inspired to write a song about it too–though it’s debatable if mine would have as much soul. But, on closer inspection, maybe there is something of teenage Brittany in the lyrics:
In the garden - I see west
Purple shower, bells and tea
Orange birds and river cousins dressed in green and
Hello, my love
I heard a kiss from you
Red magic satin playing near, too
Ahh, this song just makes me feel good. Like a rainbow flying into my ears. And by the way, both versions are worth a listen.
The song title is also the name of a Dear Abby type show where you can ask Steve Harvey to solve all your problems. Seriously.
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