Songful Style Link Party #35: “Pleasant Valley Sunday” by The Monkees
It is time for some song and style with Marsha choosing the tune. When Marsha was a kid, NBC was airing a weekly television sitcom called The Monkees. Luckily for Marsha, her Grandma Rose had given her a small television for her bedroom because her parents wouldn’t let her watch it on the big color television. And that is kind of tragic because The Monkees really do need to be watched in color to capture the truly vibrant essence of this adorable boy band from the 1960s.
I remember watching reruns of The Monkees on Nick at Nite when I was a kid in the 1980s and it was one of my favorite shows. Those boys were so silly and I always loved Davy Jones’s accent!
For this round of Songful Style, Marsha chose The Monkees‘s 1967 song “Pleasant Valley Sunday” which happens to be one of my favorite Monkees songs along with their other tunes “Last Train to Clarksville”, “I’m a Believer”, “Daydream Believer”, “Valeri”, and “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone”.
But let’s check out our song inspiration for this particular style challenge.
The Lyrics
The local rock group down the street
Is trying hard to learn their song
They serenade the weekend squire
Who just came out to mow his lawn
Another pleasant valley Sunday
Charcoal burning everywhere
Rows of houses that are all the same
And no one seems to care
See Mrs. Gray, she's proud today
Because her roses are in bloom
And Mr. Green, he's so serene
He's got a TV in every room
Another pleasant valley Sunday
Here in status symbol land
Mothers complain about how hard life is
And the kids just don't understand
Creature comfort goals, they only numb my soul
And make it hard for me to see
(Ah ah ah) ah thoughts all seem to stray to places far away
I need a change of scenery
Ta ta ta ta, ta ta ta ta
Ta ta ta ta, ta ta ta ta
Another pleasant valley Sunday
Charcoal burning everywhere
Another pleasant valley Sunday
Here in status symbol land
Another pleasant valley Sunday (a pleasant valley Sunday)
Another pleasant valley Sunday (a pleasant valley Sunday)
Another pleasant valley Sunday (a pleasant valley Sunday)
Another pleasant valley Sunday (a pleasant valley Sunday)
Another pleasant valley Sunday (a pleasant valley Sunday)
About the Band and the Song
The Monkees were formed in mid-1960s Los Angeles as a fictional band that was created for the NBC sitcom of the same name. Due to the success of the show which only aired from 1966 to 1968, the Monkees became one of the most successful bands of the late 1960s with band members Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Peter York, and Michael Nesmith becoming global stars garnering multiple international hits, four chart-topping albums, and three chart-topping songs.
Early in the production of the show, the cast members’ musical contributions were limited to lead vocals and occasional compositions. Studio musicians and professional songwriters were responsible for creating all of the other music which did earn the band multiple hits. However, the band wanted full control over their recording process. A brief power struggle ensued with the Monkees taking full control in 1967. They released two albums as a group but within a year of gaining recording control, all four band members were pursuing individual interests under the Monkees name while no longer performing together as a group. Following allegations that they band members were not playing their own instruments as well as the cancellation of the television show, the Monkees had their final recording session before breaking up permanently in 1970.
It really is a very interesting back story. However, for the sake of time constraints, you can probably just go read what Wikipedia knows. Or better yet, check out Marsha’s post. She’s got it covered!
Next let me share a few tidbits about the song. “Pleasant Valley Sunday” was written by Carole King (one of my favorites) and her first husband Gerry Goffin. The lyrics were inspired by their move to West Orange, New Jersey, in the late 1960s and is named for one of the city’s major roadways called Pleasant Valley Way. The song, which describes their dissatisfaction with suburban life, is a social commentary on the status, conformity, and pretentious competition among the suburban classes.
For the Monkees recording, the tempo was sped up from King’s original demo and some of the lyrics were changed against her will. However, the changes made to the Monkees recording helped the song to become one of the band’s most successful hits, peaking at number 3 on the US Billboard Top 100 and leading to a string of subsequent hit songs.
As long as I have known and loved this song, this is the very first time I reading about its history. And now I know why I love it so much! Back in the very early 2000s, I moved to West Orange, New Jersey. The house I lived in is exactly 2.5 miles from the house that Carole King and Gerry Goffin lived in. And I, like them, found myself very dissatisfied with New Jersey suburban life. Actually, it was more of a complete disgust than it was dissatisfaction. “Keeping up with the Joneses” is a real thing that happens in certain places and when you see it up close and personal you realize how truly gross and absurd it all is. Eventually, I got my change of scenery and I am enjoying my pleasant Watertown Sundays.
About My Outfit
My pleasant Watertown Sundays are actually not that pleasant in the wintertime. There is so much snow outside. I believe we have gotten more than 9 feet of snowfall this season already. And much of the lake effect snow has been missing us. There are towns just a few miles south of here who have received over 20 feet of snow this year. It is hard to imagine it so I will just clarify for you…it is a lot of freaking snow.
Because of all the snow, I photographed my outfit indoors which I always hate doing. There is not enough space, the light is terrible, and my maximalist home decor proves to be a distracting backdrop. But I had the fire blazing in the fireplace which seemed suitable for the lyric “Another pleasant valley Sunday,
Charcoal burning everywhere.” I am burning firewood instead of charcoal but let’s not caught up in the details.
For my outfit, I took inspiration from what the band members are wearing in the video as well as the song title. Because I knew I was restricted to indoor photos, I wanted to create a casual outfit that I would wear around the house on any pleasant Watertown Sunday. This teal and gold thrifted tunic resembles the style of Davy’s tunic but it has the colors of Peter’s shirt and vest. Taking another cue from Davy, I paired black pants (leggings, in my case) with my white platform boots. Then I layered on lots of chunky necklaces like Micky is wearing over his striped turtleneck, which inspired me to add a black turtleneck underneath my tunic. I completed my outfit with some teal beaded hoop earrings and topped it off with a handmade teal beanie simply because I like to wear hats.
After I finished photographing, I took off my boots, shed all the necklaces and the hat, and curled up in front of my fireplace for the rest of the day.
About Songful Style
Songful Style is an ageless style challenge series hosted by Shelbee of Shelbee on the Edge, Marsha of Marsha in the Middle, and Suzy of Suzy Turner, The Grey Brunette (formerly The Grey Brunette).
Each month we will share a song with the lyrics and video and we invite you to use whatever aspect of the song that inspires you to create an outfit.
It is similar to Style Imitating Art where we use artwork to inspire our outfit creations. Except Songful Style gives you lyrics, music, video, and album artwork to inspire your fashion creativity. You may even find inspiration in a memory triggered by the selected song. It is all open to your own personal interpretation and just a fun way to discover new music and get a little bit more creative with your wardrobe.
Anyone is welcome to join us on a permanent basis or you can just play along without any obligation to do anything other than feel inspired. We are flexible and fun and just want to find more ways to play dress up because it’s what we enjoy doing!
We will be posting on the last Monday of each month and will announce our song choice for the following month at the end of each post. You are welcome to style your own song inspired outfit and add it to the link party or link anything that you want to share even if it has nothing to do with the song.
I hope you will check out how my fashionable friends have styled their outfits inspired by the Monkees and “Pleasant Valley Sunday”.
- Marsha of Marsha in the Middle
- Suzy of Suzy Turner, The Grey Brunette
Featured Favorite from Songful Style Link Party #34: “Follow the Sun” by Xavier Rudd
If you enjoyed our musically inspired outfits for this round, please come back on March 31, 2025, to see how we style my next song choice, “Wish I Knew You” by The Revivalists. You are welcome to join us if you are feeling a bit style stagnant. It is a great way to view your wardrobe from a totally different perspective!
Keeping it on the edge,
Shelbee
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I am a midlife woman, wife, and stay-at-home mother of 2 boys and 2 cats. I have a passion for helping other women feel fabulous in the midst of this crazy, beautiful life.
16 Comments
Suzy Turner
You shouldn’t worry about the indoor photos, Shelbee because I think they came out great! I know the light is never the same as outdoors, but it’s also nice for us to see the wonderfully quirky and maximalist backdrop that you do have lol! And I love the blues and greens you’ve got going there. As for the outfit, it’s simply perfect and the cherry on top is definitely the hat! I love seeing you in hats!
I can’t imagine what it must be like to live with so much snow. We always enjoy it when we visit, but it must be a nightmare at times when you have so much of it to contend with!
Stay warm, my friend!
Big hugs
Suzy xx
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aww, thank you so much, Suzy. I really appreciate that. I do love my maximalist decor but I am just not a skilled photographer! LOL It is hard to imagine the amount of snow we get here. We have actually been fortunate that most of the snow has remained a bit south of us. Some of those towns hardly ever get the big snow dumps because they are just south of the snow belt, but this year those fortunate places are not so fortunate! They can have it for a season or two. I am certain it will shift back north to us soon enough. It is a lot. An overwhelming amount for sure!
xoxo
Shelbee
Daenel T.
Oh, Shelbee, I love love love that tunic. It’s stunning. I like the base layer of black tee and leggings — I don’t know why it’s never occurred to me to do that under my tunics.
I had no idea that The Monkees were made up for the TV show, I always thought they were given the TV show because of the success.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Daenel, thank you so much, my friend. A black column is one of my go-to formulas for layering statement pieces on top. It makes things really easy and creates more versatility in my closet as well. I giggled a little at that last part you shared! It’s always fun to learn the back stories, don’t you think?
xoxo
Shelbee
Nancy
I love how you always make such a effort to match your outfit with a theme! I actually don’t know The Monkeys. I think I must have heard their music at some point but it doesn’t ring a bell.
See you tomorrow!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Aw, thanks so much, Nancy! It’s like a game to me and I try to hit as many details that I can! Sorry we had to cancel today’s Zoom. Let’s get another date on the calendar soon.
xoxo
Shelbee
Di
Shelbee, the colors in your home are beautiful! They suit you so well, as you look great against your interiors! The outfit you chose for this challenge is so perfectly in harmony with the happy Monkee’s pop song, and the time. Hope you are able to stay cozy indoors as much as possible, until the sun shines and the snow starts to melt away!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thank you so much, Di. You take the most beautiful indoor photos! I wish I had a set up like yours for these long, cold winter days. But I work with what I’ve got and I am grateful for al of it! We have a few warmer days this week which are leading straight into more snowy days this weekend and next week. Ugh. Time to go split more wood! I hope you have a wonderful week, my friend.
xoxo
Shelbee
Leslie Susan Clingan
Enjoyed seeing you inside for a change. Your photos are lovely no matter where you take them. Glad you had the toasty fire going to warm you once you finished with your photo shoot.
Your tunic is spot on. Looks very much like Davy’s and so many of the tunics that were popular in the ’60s. Great boots, too!! Always wanted some white patent leather go-go boots back in the day.
Had no idea Carole King wrote Pleasant Valley Sunday. Thank you for sharing the history of this song. As a little girl, I never gave the lyrics any thought. And haven’t heard the song in a long time, although I think maybe there was a remake not too long ago by someone else.
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Leslie! I really appreciate that. I am definitely enjoying my fire this winter. I had a pair of black patent go-go boots about 25 years ago that I loved so much! I have no idea whatever happened to them. White ones are super fun, too. But pretty impractical for me at this stage of life. I didn’t know anything about this song either before researching for this post. I mean, I knew the song and really loved it but the back story really fascinated me! I suppose that is part of what makes these challenges so fun. Not only do they offer a chance to look at our wardrobes from a different angle, but they also teach me stuff that I didn’t know before! I hope you have a lovely week, my friend!
xoxo
Shelbee
Marsha Banks
Wow!!! I was blown away by the fact you lived that close to Carole King’s old house! And, you saw for yourself what the song was about…that’s amazing! It’s funny that all three of us focused on Davy’s outfit first. You did such a fabulous job picking out things from the others though I’m kinda surprised you didn’t wear a beanie with a big puff on it like Michael always did (he’s not wearing one in this song which is weird). I am sort of jealous of you having that much snow, but then I realize I really am not. This has been the snowiest winter we’ve had in several years though. Most of the snirt is even gone as the temps have gone up.
And, I love your maximalist interior! I think it reminds me of the Monkee’s pad! I was so surprised to read about why the show ended. I just know I was heartbroken!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
I thought you might get a kick out of the fact that I lived that close to Carole King’s house! I did not know that myself until researching for this post. But it is a super fun fact, isn’t it? LOL You know, I didn’t even think of a pom pom beanie like Michael always wore. Darn it. I wish I had! Definitely don’t be jealous of this amount of snow. It is a giant pain in the arse! It was warm yesterday so there was a lot of melting but that froze over night. You should see the hellish icy landscape out there now. I was watching these poor kids walking to school this morning and they were slipping and sliding and falling all over the place. Some just walk in the road because it is not as icy but then that presents all kinds of hazards because drivers can’t see much over and around the huge snow banks that line every single street! It is kind of a nightmare and I am really quite over it! Maybe I need a big dose of the Monkees to cheer me up!
xoxo
Shelbee
Emma Peach
The tunic is beautiful and it goes so well with the blue in your home. I don’t like doing photos indoors for exactly the same reasons, and while we don’t have snow, we do have plenty of rain!
Emma xxx
http://www.style-splash.com
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Emma! I do like that my outfit matched my fireplace! LOL Right now I would like some rain to wash away some of this snow!
xoxo
Shelbee
Edwin N. Storey
Such a fun blast from the past! The Monkees had such an infectious energy, and ‘Pleasant Valley Sunday’ is definitely one of their best. Love how music can inspire style—can’t wait to see the looks this song brings to life!
shelbeeontheedge@gmail.com
Thanks so much, Edwin! This is such a fun way to get creative in our closets and keep life just a little bit more interesting!
xoxo
Shelbee