82

Build Me Up Buttercup
The Foundations
1968

On June 19, 1998, I returned home after serving my two-year mission in Oaxaca, Mexico. It was a great time to be alive, as they say. Three nights before returning home, Michael Jordan made his signature shot over Bryon Russell to seal his (and the Bulls’) sixth championship. World Cup 1998 had just begun, and I watched many of those games from my parents’ new recliner chair that summer. And on July 15, 1998, a little movie called There’s Something About Mary was released in the theaters.

As memory serves, I think I watched (and paid for) that movie three times that summer. It probably wasn’t the *best* movie to watch post-mission, but I will say this: I have never, before or since, laughed as hard in a movie as I did when I saw this. This scene, in particular, I was literally on the ground. Just watching it now just took me back 25 years (and it is crazy to think that this movie is now a quarter-century old).

Anyways, at the end of that movie the Farrelly Brothers made the genius move to throw a bunch of outtakes (before it was really common to do outtakes) while the credits rolled, to what was (to me, anyway) a relatively obscure song called “Build Me Up Buttercup.” I don’t think I ever remember hearing that song on the radio or anywhere else growing up. And what a perfect song it was for the ending of that movie and in general — it’s just a perfect pop song. The vocals are great, you get a little sax/trombone backing combo (with some piano, of course!), you get the call and response. What’s not to love here? So when I listen to this song, it takes me back to the good ol’ days of 1998 but this bad boy is 55 years old! Certainly should be featured on your happy song playlist.

Other Songs Considered:
This was a one-and-done