1000 SONGS - DAY 236 SONG #267

Day 236: (One of) the most beautiful song(s) ever

This is a song from the 1990 collaboration of John Cale and Brian Eno. It is hard to write something about these two guys. As I have been a fan of Roxy Music in their early years (first five albums) and also a fan of Eno from that time on, what should I say about him? That he has recorded some very beautiful albums, based on oblique strategies, as he called that, the old esotericist? That he has composed the sounds for Windows 95 on his Mac? That, as a collaborator and producer, he has done some excellent jobs for David Bowie, Talking Heads, U2 or Coldplay? The same holds for John Cale, who, f.e. has produced the first album by the Patti Smith Group. Maybe best known for his work as a member of the Velvet Underground, he has been active (as a multi-instrumentalist) in a lot of different musical styles and genres, from rock to classical music to experimental. There are many songs by Eno with melodies that will stay in your mind for days (e.g. On Some Far Away Beach from Here Come The Warm Jets or I'll Come Running from Another Green World?). Spinning Away is one among them, refined by the musicianship of John Cale. When I first heard it, I was convinced that this was the most beautiful song ever recorded. It is beautiful, for sure, but there is no ultimate beauty in this here world, as beauty lies in the ear of the beholder. Here it is, Spinning Away from Wrong Way Up:

1000 SONGS - DAY 235 SONG #266

Day 235: A Tribute to Cesária Évora

The last post being about Brazilian musician Jorge Ben, I decided to stay in the lusophone world for this entry, but make a trip to "little Brazil" as Kap Verdian singer Césaria Évora has called her home island of São Vicente in one of her many wonderful songs, Carnaval de São Vicente. It was the first song by her that I came to know, and later on I became a fan of her live record Cesária Évora à l'Olympia. I have not been to the Kap Verdian islands, but I would really like to be there at the Carnaval de São Vicente. My lack of proficiency in the Portuguese language might be an obstacle to the fulfillment of that dream. Be that as it may, here is a rendering of the original recording followed by the Jazzy Carnaval Mix by François K. & Joe Claussel, featured on the CD with remixes of Carnaval de São Vicente and Sangue de Beirona from 1999 (on the CD I own there are more tracks than listed on the site the link leads to; this track is my favourite re-mix, it is really worth listening to for all of the nearly ten minutes it takes). Back then when I was volunteering in a fair-trade shop I very frequently listened to the CD's of Cesária's music the shop had in stock. Enjoy the beautiful music!

1000 SONGS- DAY 234 SONG #265

DAY 234: Some Songs from Brasil

Back in my teens, I owned an album by Jorge Ben, his 1970 recording Força Bruta. I do not own the album anymore and I have not listened to it for 30 years. But, as I do remember 3 songs from that album, I guess they are worth to be listed among my favourite 1000 Songs or so. Jorge Ben is a great musician, here are three tracks from that album and one extra dance track: Oba lá vem ela; Mulher Brasileira and Força Bruta (Samba!!!), the song the album was named after. As a bonus track I add Pais Tropical, for sure the most widely known song by Jorge Ben and maybe something like the secret anthem of Brasil. If you just want to be happy or dance or sing or all of them, start with that one!

1000 SONGS - DAY 233 SONG #264

Day 233 - The Pure Doctrine 

Reckless Kelly, Little Blossom, the pure doctrine of rock music. Nuff said. Isn't it great?

1000 SONGS - DAY 232 SONG #263

Day 232: Another Radio Song

Songs from or about the radio are a constant feature on this blog. Lately I came to know one exceptionally beautiful radio song, thanks to a guy called Hermann who provides me with music throughout the years. It is by Upstate New York Folk Band "The Felice Brothers", from their fifth album "The Felice Brothers" (2008). It fits perfectly to a beautiful August Sunday like today. It moves me to tears, and if you don't like it you can kiss my ass....

Anna Bell, the dying leaves
Are dancing off of the trees.
They got an easy way.

Let's you and me
Go dancing, too,
Wreck our dancing shoes.
Hey, hey, hey.

Please don't you ever die,
You ever die,
You ever die.
You moved me all of my life,
All of my life,
All of my life.
Hum our radio songs,
Radio song,
Radio song.
After every radio's gone,
Radio's gone,
Radio's gone.

Anna Bell, the dying stars
Are falling down on us.
They got an easy way.

Let's you and me
Go falling, too,
Way out into the blue.
Hey, hey, hey.