BILL MESNIK OF THE SPLENDID BOHEMIANS PRESENTS: THE SUNNY SIDE OF MY STREET - SONGS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD - EPISODE #65: GOTTA GET UP by Harry Nilsson (RCA, 1971)

Harry Nilsson was a man in a hurry. There’s no time, people! Life is happening now, and if you don’t act fast and grab it, you’ll be outta luck. Dead at 52, the former Wunderkind, one of Rock’s most innovative song stylists, exited this earthly realm, having burned out his candle from both ends - in terms of life, work, and alcohol consumption - but, thankfully, he left behind a clutch of living monuments to his originality. This song started life as a B-side to the magisterial Without You, whose soaring vocal allegedly caused Harry to burst a hemorrhoid. He never did anything half-way. And, almost 40 years later, it re-emerged as the musical fulcrum for Natasha Lyonne’s zany existential Netflix series Russian Doll, causing a reported 3,300 percent jump in Spotify streams. It seems you can’t keep a good song down, and every time Lyonne’s character re-awakens, Harry’s ear worm reanimates, winding her back up - a bobbing apple in the enigmatic tub of time. So, you got something to do? Do it now; don’t hesitate! Make that phone call; say what you need to say. Tempus Fugit!