Yesterday evening I was going to a grocery with a friend of mine, and his mp3 player started playing a nice song called “Piano Man” by Billy Joel.
He was surprised when I told him I didn’t know that song, although I knew the author and other songs by him.
Actually, to be sincere, I was confusing him with Roy Orbison (‘cause I was thinking of “Pretty Woman”, “Anything you want you got it” and “California blue”…yes, that moment Roy wasn’t existing in my mind)…I apologize to him.
Anyways, Chris continued complaining about the fact I didn’t know one of his most beautiful and famous song (together with “She’s Always a Woman to Me” e “Uptown girl”).
The song was written in 1973 and gives the name to the whole album, which has been his first real success.
It’s got the fascination of most of melancholic song, underlined also by the use of the mouth organ (that reminds me Bob Dylan).
It can be read as a complaining about the loneliness of one’s life, ‘cause ruts get you miss something (such as a wife, or any plan), taking as examples customers lives who’re drinking in the bar where the singer is playing the piano.
They seem to find a bit of consolation by listening to the song though.
What can I say? It is a sadly true song. You spend most of your time working, and you have to work if you want to survive, but it steals your free time and, with it, part of your life. And meanwhile time passes…
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, March 30, 2009
"The Morning Hour": Lily Allen, The Fear
I'm on my own for a couple of days... tough, it means I've to wake up alone in bed and I really don't like it- I actually think it sucks!
The words Lily Allen came out just a few seconds after the alarm went off, well before the song, and well within the usual 5 minutes of rambling by the dj- I wasn't happy about that. I find her pretentious, a bit too full of herself and I'm not sure she deserves all the fuss around her (a clothes line, a tv program...).
"The song" he says "is called The Fear... bla bla bla", I dind't have great expectations.
But, hands down, the song is great! the lyrics are genial for the way they mock the fashion/celebrity establishment, though she's totally part of it.
I'll say no more:
I want to be rich and I want lots of money
I don’t care about clever I don’t care about funny
I want loads of clothes and f***loads of diamonds
I heard people die while they are trying to find them
...
And I am a weapon of massive consumption
and its not my fault it’s how I’m program to function
I’ll look at the sun and I’ll look in the mirror
I’m on the right track yeah I’m on to a winner
...
Forget about guns and forget ammunition
Cause I’m killing them all on my own little mission
Now I’m not a saint but I’m not a sinner
Now everything is cool as long as I’m getting thinner
The words Lily Allen came out just a few seconds after the alarm went off, well before the song, and well within the usual 5 minutes of rambling by the dj- I wasn't happy about that. I find her pretentious, a bit too full of herself and I'm not sure she deserves all the fuss around her (a clothes line, a tv program...).
"The song" he says "is called The Fear... bla bla bla", I dind't have great expectations.
But, hands down, the song is great! the lyrics are genial for the way they mock the fashion/celebrity establishment, though she's totally part of it.
I'll say no more:
I want to be rich and I want lots of money
I don’t care about clever I don’t care about funny
I want loads of clothes and f***loads of diamonds
I heard people die while they are trying to find them
...
And I am a weapon of massive consumption
and its not my fault it’s how I’m program to function
I’ll look at the sun and I’ll look in the mirror
I’m on the right track yeah I’m on to a winner
...
Forget about guns and forget ammunition
Cause I’m killing them all on my own little mission
Now I’m not a saint but I’m not a sinner
Now everything is cool as long as I’m getting thinner
"From Texas": Rod Stewart, Baby Jane
Finally I’ve found out the name of the song by Rod Stewart I’ve listened to a lot of time on the radio; I listened again to it a couple of nights ago, in a bar in Bryan (Texas), and lots of guys were singing it.
It took me about a couple of hours to get the name, I opened several videos on Youtube trying to find which one it was.
It’s “Baby Jane” (1986), a song with a particular rhythm that make you dance while you’re listening to it and sing it the whole day after you’ve listened to it.
It talks about the end of a love story with a woman who “threw” him away once she reached for the high society and got what she needed for.
I’m not really keen on Rod Stewart, the song mentioned is one of the few songs by him I know, so I cannot say that I really like him, but for sure I’m in love with his voice.
It’s a distinctive “rasping”, hot and sexy voice, immediately recognizable...once you’ve got Rod Stewart’s existence! In fact at first I confused it with the voices of other great singers, especially with Roger Taylor (Queen’s drummer)’s one. Actually, they are pretty similar.
I’ve read that Belle and Sebastian performed a cover of this song. I haven’t found it on the web, so please, if someone have it, upload it! Thanks!
It took me about a couple of hours to get the name, I opened several videos on Youtube trying to find which one it was.
It’s “Baby Jane” (1986), a song with a particular rhythm that make you dance while you’re listening to it and sing it the whole day after you’ve listened to it.
It talks about the end of a love story with a woman who “threw” him away once she reached for the high society and got what she needed for.
I’m not really keen on Rod Stewart, the song mentioned is one of the few songs by him I know, so I cannot say that I really like him, but for sure I’m in love with his voice.
It’s a distinctive “rasping”, hot and sexy voice, immediately recognizable...once you’ve got Rod Stewart’s existence! In fact at first I confused it with the voices of other great singers, especially with Roger Taylor (Queen’s drummer)’s one. Actually, they are pretty similar.
I’ve read that Belle and Sebastian performed a cover of this song. I haven’t found it on the web, so please, if someone have it, upload it! Thanks!
Friday, March 27, 2009
"The Morning Hour": Snow Patrol, Crack the Shutters
today has been one of those quite typical London days... it's 6pm, almost weekend, the weather is good and the evening is promising... but there's a memory, rather vague at this point, that still today, the weather in the morning was awful, the grey overcast on the city so deep and heavy that no weekend feeling was remotely possible. Is it possible it was yesterday and not today...?
I distinctly remember that listening to the line of this song "Crack the shutters open wide, I wanna bathe you in the light of day", I opened my eyes and thought..."where the f. is this light of day???" well, now we have a great sunset and the sky is blue! (don't complain about that...)
Not a great fan of Snow Patrol, I actually find them a bit boring; i mean, a few good lines and tunes in the songs but never a real humpf! and after a while most of the songs look similar to me. I have the same problem with another British band who makes good song from time to time, Embrace- jezz,I feel like ratting on pop-rock bands today... Anyway, here's what the radio threw at me today
I distinctly remember that listening to the line of this song "Crack the shutters open wide, I wanna bathe you in the light of day", I opened my eyes and thought..."where the f. is this light of day???" well, now we have a great sunset and the sky is blue! (don't complain about that...)
Not a great fan of Snow Patrol, I actually find them a bit boring; i mean, a few good lines and tunes in the songs but never a real humpf! and after a while most of the songs look similar to me. I have the same problem with another British band who makes good song from time to time, Embrace- jezz,I feel like ratting on pop-rock bands today... Anyway, here's what the radio threw at me today
Thursday, March 26, 2009
"The Morning Hour": Kings of Leon, Use Somebody
Today is a tough day. London is suddenly moved backwards a couple of months to a late January weather and I've been up till late last night working on the laptop- mood is gloomy, spirit is low and the brain is flat like my scooter's back tyre.
Anyhow, Kings of Leon again in the Morning Hour! it's their moment, they have a great album out, they'll be touring the festivals this summer, hence the radios are really pushing them hard on our ears a few times a day... well, I'm glad for once that it's a band I really like, hemm... actually... I dig them!
In such a crappy mood, the high scratchy voice of the singer has been seeping in slowly into my mind and, gotta say it, is making things slightly better by the minute. I'm basically in a loop of "I've roaming around always looking down and all I see..."
Anyhow, Kings of Leon again in the Morning Hour! it's their moment, they have a great album out, they'll be touring the festivals this summer, hence the radios are really pushing them hard on our ears a few times a day... well, I'm glad for once that it's a band I really like, hemm... actually... I dig them!
In such a crappy mood, the high scratchy voice of the singer has been seeping in slowly into my mind and, gotta say it, is making things slightly better by the minute. I'm basically in a loop of "I've roaming around always looking down and all I see..."
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
"Before Leaving": The Housemartins, Caravan of Love
Once I was driving my car, I turned on the radio, and one of my favourite radio channels was playing a song I’ve never heard before and I was hypnotized by it.
It was a cappella style song: “Caravan of love” by the British band The Housemartins. I usually don’t listen to this kind of music; actually, I don’t know many songs like these (except for the ones by the Italian band Neri Per Caso). I obviously appreciated the melody and above all the way voices replace instruments, in my opinion it is a very great ability. Maybe I wouldn’t like it so much if it were a “normal” song, played with musical instruments.
Actually I didn’t understand if they use at least a basso (in the live video one component has one).
I invite you to watch also the live video: I am impressed by the fact that Paul Heaton, the singer, sings exactly as in the recorded studio version. He is really great. I admire him. Every respectable singer would be able to sing this way on a live performance!
Anyway I must underline that this son is a cover version of Isley Jasper Isley’s “Caravan of Love” (personally I don’t like it: it’s too “eightish”. And I like 80’s music!!!).
The I.J.I.’s video represents the band in the middle of a crowd of several nationalities. And it becomes more banal especially if you compare it with the Housemartins’ video.
This last one expresses more originally the meaning of the song, also because of Paul Heaton’s Christian believs.
It is set in a church, the singer is a kind of priest who sings from the pulpit, as if he were preaching; the other band components are the believers. They all have a cross shaved in their hair.
In the end of the video they are joking to each others and they are funny; they also sing staying together in the same bed.
It is pretty weird, I like it (the first times I watched both the studio and the live versions dozens of times a day!)
It was a cappella style song: “Caravan of love” by the British band The Housemartins. I usually don’t listen to this kind of music; actually, I don’t know many songs like these (except for the ones by the Italian band Neri Per Caso). I obviously appreciated the melody and above all the way voices replace instruments, in my opinion it is a very great ability. Maybe I wouldn’t like it so much if it were a “normal” song, played with musical instruments.
Actually I didn’t understand if they use at least a basso (in the live video one component has one).
I invite you to watch also the live video: I am impressed by the fact that Paul Heaton, the singer, sings exactly as in the recorded studio version. He is really great. I admire him. Every respectable singer would be able to sing this way on a live performance!
Anyway I must underline that this son is a cover version of Isley Jasper Isley’s “Caravan of Love” (personally I don’t like it: it’s too “eightish”. And I like 80’s music!!!).
The I.J.I.’s video represents the band in the middle of a crowd of several nationalities. And it becomes more banal especially if you compare it with the Housemartins’ video.
This last one expresses more originally the meaning of the song, also because of Paul Heaton’s Christian believs.
It is set in a church, the singer is a kind of priest who sings from the pulpit, as if he were preaching; the other band components are the believers. They all have a cross shaved in their hair.
In the end of the video they are joking to each others and they are funny; they also sing staying together in the same bed.
It is pretty weird, I like it (the first times I watched both the studio and the live versions dozens of times a day!)
"Before Leaving": Men at Work, Down Under
This is the first time ever I write a musical post…so I’ve decided to write one about a video by a band from my beloved Australia: Men at Work.
The song is called “Down Under” and it was composed in 1981; Australia is defined "the land down under" because it lies totally within the southern hemisphere.
This song in one of the most popular and patriotic songs in Australia.
In this video it is possible to see a lot of Aussie peculiarities, a number of elements typical of that country:
- Australian desert, that’s one of the largest desert in the world)-
- Billabong, a watering hole in a dry river bed that’s filled only during the rainy season. It rained for seven days straight before this video was shot.
- The tune of “Kookaburra”, a traditional children’s rhyme. The flute part in the song is based around it.
- Koala. In the video a band component keeps one on a leash. It’s against law to keep a koala as a pet.
- Vegemite, a dark brown food paste made from yeast extract, used mainly as a spread on sandwiches. Personally I don’t like it!!!!
- Australian slang (zombie=marijuana; to chunder=to vomit)
According to Pop up Video, Men at Work wrote the song about “crass European culture being imposed on the natural beauty of Australia”. Actually, in the first part of the video, the band run away (“you better run, you better take cover”) as an European man plant the sign “sold”; this situation can be compared to European conquest in XVII century. Moreover, in the end of the video Men at work’s roadies are carrying a coffin; this could symbolize a funeral for Australian natural beauties killed by greedy conquerors, attracted by the wealth of this “land of plenty”...
...and the Land Down Under is really a land of plenty, in every sense. I love it!!!
NO WORRIES!
The song is called “Down Under” and it was composed in 1981; Australia is defined "the land down under" because it lies totally within the southern hemisphere.
This song in one of the most popular and patriotic songs in Australia.
In this video it is possible to see a lot of Aussie peculiarities, a number of elements typical of that country:
- Australian desert, that’s one of the largest desert in the world)-
- Billabong, a watering hole in a dry river bed that’s filled only during the rainy season. It rained for seven days straight before this video was shot.
- The tune of “Kookaburra”, a traditional children’s rhyme. The flute part in the song is based around it.
- Koala. In the video a band component keeps one on a leash. It’s against law to keep a koala as a pet.
- Vegemite, a dark brown food paste made from yeast extract, used mainly as a spread on sandwiches. Personally I don’t like it!!!!
- Australian slang (zombie=marijuana; to chunder=to vomit)
According to Pop up Video, Men at Work wrote the song about “crass European culture being imposed on the natural beauty of Australia”. Actually, in the first part of the video, the band run away (“you better run, you better take cover”) as an European man plant the sign “sold”; this situation can be compared to European conquest in XVII century. Moreover, in the end of the video Men at work’s roadies are carrying a coffin; this could symbolize a funeral for Australian natural beauties killed by greedy conquerors, attracted by the wealth of this “land of plenty”...
...and the Land Down Under is really a land of plenty, in every sense. I love it!!!
NO WORRIES!
"The Morning Hour": The Beatles, All You Need is Love
It surprises me that since I started the Morning Hour more than 3 weeks ago, today is the first time I'm writing about The Beatles.
This is a great song to start the day as the message and the lyrics could not be simpler and more direct.
Nevertheless the song's structure is highly complex and puts together a national anthem, some pieces of Classical Music and pop-touches; simple but rich and sophisticated!
For me The Beatles are an interesting case of personal, total mis-perception and mis-understanding. I discovered them relatively late compared to my first hi-fi and embrional CD collection, thanks to my girlfriend passion for them. I had always thought they had been singing short and simple songs (Yellow Submarine, Michelle, Love me Do) and I was also very familiar with their best hits (Hey Jude, Let It Be etc) without being too keen into them. Jezz if I was wrong!
Once I started "listening" to their song, read their biography and put them into their social context, I got hooked and amazed! Not the very polished good guys I thought they were; most of them were ill tempered, sometimes aggressive, sometimes crazy. They used, and abused, alcohol and drugs, they wrote great and intense lyrics but also totally delirious ones. Not just the Fab 4, to my eyes they became a cool rock band!
Anyway, for the interested ones, i strongly recommended reading: Shout: The Beatles in Their Generation, Philip Norman (1997).
Long and unsual note for today... but then, here it goes
Norman, Philip (1997). Shout: The Beatles in Their Generation
This is a great song to start the day as the message and the lyrics could not be simpler and more direct.
Nevertheless the song's structure is highly complex and puts together a national anthem, some pieces of Classical Music and pop-touches; simple but rich and sophisticated!
For me The Beatles are an interesting case of personal, total mis-perception and mis-understanding. I discovered them relatively late compared to my first hi-fi and embrional CD collection, thanks to my girlfriend passion for them. I had always thought they had been singing short and simple songs (Yellow Submarine, Michelle, Love me Do) and I was also very familiar with their best hits (Hey Jude, Let It Be etc) without being too keen into them. Jezz if I was wrong!
Once I started "listening" to their song, read their biography and put them into their social context, I got hooked and amazed! Not the very polished good guys I thought they were; most of them were ill tempered, sometimes aggressive, sometimes crazy. They used, and abused, alcohol and drugs, they wrote great and intense lyrics but also totally delirious ones. Not just the Fab 4, to my eyes they became a cool rock band!
Anyway, for the interested ones, i strongly recommended reading: Shout: The Beatles in Their Generation, Philip Norman (1997).
Long and unsual note for today... but then, here it goes
Norman, Philip (1997). Shout: The Beatles in Their Generation
Friday, March 20, 2009
"The Morning Hour": Bruce Springsteen, Dancing in the Dark
Oh yeah, I know this one will please at least two good friends of mines who have tried for years to push the Boss in my playlist.
When the alarm went off today the news were on, I thought "Jeez, this is going to be a crappy day", then I snoozed and the Boss was on later, so i guess the day is safe. London is blessed with a great sun today- let's hope it lasts over the weekend!
This video is a weird and usettling gem for a number of reasons:
- the tight white shirt worn by Springsteen with the short sleeves rolled up: a pack of Red Malboro under that sleeve would be just the final touch;
- an Elvis-like pelvic movement restlessy performed by the Boss for more than 6 minutes- these days it would qualify for a red dot even on MTV;
- a perfectly shaved and hair-combed Springsteen who may just be the lead charcater of a soap opera, miles away from the rusty gentleman we see today;
- a no more than teen Courtney Cox (Monica from Friends) who's invited to dance with him on the stage with a ridicolous bow by Springsteen.
God bless the '80s!
When the alarm went off today the news were on, I thought "Jeez, this is going to be a crappy day", then I snoozed and the Boss was on later, so i guess the day is safe. London is blessed with a great sun today- let's hope it lasts over the weekend!
This video is a weird and usettling gem for a number of reasons:
- the tight white shirt worn by Springsteen with the short sleeves rolled up: a pack of Red Malboro under that sleeve would be just the final touch;
- an Elvis-like pelvic movement restlessy performed by the Boss for more than 6 minutes- these days it would qualify for a red dot even on MTV;
- a perfectly shaved and hair-combed Springsteen who may just be the lead charcater of a soap opera, miles away from the rusty gentleman we see today;
- a no more than teen Courtney Cox (Monica from Friends) who's invited to dance with him on the stage with a ridicolous bow by Springsteen.
God bless the '80s!
Thursday, March 19, 2009
"The Morning Hour": The Killers, Spaceman
It's the first post and since we have to begin somewhere, why not beginning from the Morning Hour?
The Morning Hour has been so far a mini-blog in Facebook though I doubt most of the "friends" have actually ever read the notes below the posted video.
The idea is to record the first song that the alarm throws at me in the morning - ok, sometimes it's the second or third song given the amount of snoozing necessary before some corageous brain cell decides to wake up. The song in the Morning Hour has a different power compared to the rest of the music I listen to in the rest of the day; it usually sticks in my mind and can, I believe, influence my mood and my day as a whole.
Today it was Spaceman from The Killers, from their new album. I didn't know the song but it sounded good and quite catchy. It's well within "the Killers' style" but it wasn't bad as a pre-coffee tune! I gave a look at the lyrics as well and, consistently with the band's history so far, they are not banal nor stupid; certainly worth a few minutes of your time.
It's funny that, among the first things that the song made me think today, it's another song from my time in high school by a band called Babylon Zoo titled Spaceman as well. It's funny cause their frontman had really weird blue eyes and his picture had stuck into my brain for months back then, but it was years I hadn't recalled it. It's a great song too!
Anyway, here's Spaceman from the Killers:
The Morning Hour has been so far a mini-blog in Facebook though I doubt most of the "friends" have actually ever read the notes below the posted video.
The idea is to record the first song that the alarm throws at me in the morning - ok, sometimes it's the second or third song given the amount of snoozing necessary before some corageous brain cell decides to wake up. The song in the Morning Hour has a different power compared to the rest of the music I listen to in the rest of the day; it usually sticks in my mind and can, I believe, influence my mood and my day as a whole.
Today it was Spaceman from The Killers, from their new album. I didn't know the song but it sounded good and quite catchy. It's well within "the Killers' style" but it wasn't bad as a pre-coffee tune! I gave a look at the lyrics as well and, consistently with the band's history so far, they are not banal nor stupid; certainly worth a few minutes of your time.
It's funny that, among the first things that the song made me think today, it's another song from my time in high school by a band called Babylon Zoo titled Spaceman as well. It's funny cause their frontman had really weird blue eyes and his picture had stuck into my brain for months back then, but it was years I hadn't recalled it. It's a great song too!
Anyway, here's Spaceman from the Killers:
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