Wednesday, January 12, 2011

1000SONGS DAY 18 - SONG # 37

Day 37 - A song that reminds you of somewhere

Among the songs that millions of people like, there are some, that are. nevertheless, good songs. One among them certainly is "SING" by TRAVIS. It reminds me of a place in Upper Austria, a monastery, Aigen-Schlaegl. I could have had a fine week off. After having finished my "habilitation"-thesis, having organised an international conference, having finally achieved somewhat like a tenure-track-position at Vienna University, still not being paid too well, I could have needed some time off. But, in order to gain a fistful of dollars, I had agreed to teach the philosophy course at a kind of summer school for people with interest in catholic theology (a course organised by sympathetic people from the archdiocese of Vienna, not by the bad ones). Having had a hard time, personally, a dissatisfying time, financially, and a sceptic time, philosophically, I found myself among some (clandestine) wives of priests, hypocrites, men and women with subaltern jobs in the catholic church, some of them just interested in theology, others of them in need of some formal education in the field, (almost) all of them with no real interest in QUESTIONS. Unfortunately, my course (as a newcomer) was scheduled for the whole week, so the (few) sympathetic colleagues among the teachers stayed for one day, whilst I had to do due. I will not go into detail, but there were 2 things that kept me alive and helped me survive: jogging in that beautiful landscape (hours I went) and, at night, in my cell (the rooms are modernised monk's cells) listening to Travis on my discman. Hopefully, I have planted the seed of questions before answers in some of the attendants' brains. Here is "Sing", don't know what the video is about, but the song is GREAT



And, as a bonus track, Travis doing a really big hit:


Tuesday, January 11, 2011

1000 SONGS - DAY 17 SONG # 36

Day 36 - A Song that reminds you of a certain event

If I recall it rightly, the first essay written by me that was published in something like a "REAL" (not a student's) magazine was about this song by Julian Cope, - a small event for humankind, but a big event for me. It was featured in "Entschluss", a journal published by the Austrian Jesuits (I understand, the way church membership is declining and the way the catholic hierarchy is trying to handle that problem, there are few people left, that will call that a "real" magazine). It is by JULIAN COPE, it is called SAINT JULIAN, it is about a guy that meets GOD only to tell HIM that he has lost HIM (nowadays people meet GOD to give HIM their capsules for making coffee). What I still like about the song, is the oboe, one of my favourite instruments (if I ever learn to play a REAL instrument it will be the oboe)

1000 SONGS - DAY 16, SONG # 35

Day 35 - A song that reminds you of someone

This song reminds me of a girl I did not marry. I definitely would not say, that I was glad about that circumstance. But I am definitely glad to have married the wonderful girl that is my wife (although she would have deserved a better husband).
This is a song for all the wonderful girls in the world. One can find versions by Santana and John Mayall, too (there is life after the 60ies). But the most dignified version (with the least amount of schmaltz or kitsch) is by the one who wrote the song, J.J. Cale, the master of understated vocals:

Sunday, January 9, 2011

1000 SONGS - DAY 15 SONG # 34

Day 34 - A song that makes you sad

It is not really sadness, but some kind of melancholy connected to sensitiveness for the human condition (la condition humaine) that I associate with KEVIN COYNE, a wonderful British artist. Here is a melancholic comment on the above mentioned conditio humana, from his album "Millionaires and Teddy Bears", THE WORLD IS FULL OF FOOLS:






Matching Head and Feet from 1975 was the first album of Coyne that I have bought, it features Andy Summers (who later became the guitarist of Police) as a sideman of Coyne, and one of the fine tracks on that record is "Lonely Lovers":



In a way, the theme of that song anticipates the theme of his 1979 collaboration with Dagmar Krause Babble - Songs for Lonely Lovers, but that one (and the art of Krause) will be the topic of another (forthcoming) post among the 1000 songs series.

Saturday, January 8, 2011

1000 SONGS- DAY 14 - SONG # 33

Day 33, the same task as Day 3: A song that makes you happy

There are some songs written by Steve Harley that make me happy; here is one from the first Album of Cockney Rebel, a "Glam-Rock" or whatever British band from the early 70ies. I did like their first album immediately, and also their second single "Judy Teen". The two albums recorded by the original line-up of the band, "The Human Menagerie" and "The Psychomodo" are classics, and so is the third Steve Harley album, "The Best Years of Our Lives", by "Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel". The band got re-named after every member but Harley and drummer Stuart Elliott left - due to the not so easy personality of SH (?) -, turning into a changing ensemble of musicians accompanying Harley. Nevertheless, he had his biggest hit with "Make Me Smile" from the third album (at least it was #1 on UK charts) - with the possible exception of "Sebastian" from the first CR album. "Sebastian" is a beautiful song, but I do not think that it is considered to be a song "that makes me happy" by anyone. In contradistinction, listening to "Hideaway" makes at least one person in the world happy, to my knowledge.



The same holds for "Judy Teen", a song in a Cockney accent that does not make it easy to understand the words. For example, until very recently I have understood Steve's words "she made us happy", to render the German name "Schneider Seppi". As Judy Teen made 'em appy, it is the song named after her to make me appy :



And, last not (but among these three, probably) least, to have it completed "Make Me Smile", as rendered on "Top of the Pops". Definitely not playback, as Steve changes the lyrics after the first chorus; the whole band gives the impression of having had one or more good nose jobs before performing (Cocaine Rebel?):



Link to the studio recording

By the way, the sad thing is that the bassist of the original line-up, Paul Jeffreys, died on the Lockerbie airplane-accident, along with his bride on their way to their honeymoon.

Thursday, January 6, 2011

1000 SOnGS- DAY 13: THE HEART OF DARKNESS

Day/Song 32: A song that takes you into the heart of darkness

I have done the short programme, according to the rules that somebody has set - the so called 30 days song challenge is over. Now I have 970 (or: 1065 ) days left for free skating; first thing I will do (among the Rittbergers, Salchows, double and triple Lutz and the like) is to make some fundamental changes in categories: no more songs/bands/music I do not like, that are not my favourites or that I simply hate.
First step: Doing away with "my least favourite song" I proudly introduce "a song that takes you into the heart of darkness". This, as a first choice, is "In Heaven" aka "The Lady in the Radiator" from "Eraserhead", a movie by David Lynch (I think it is one among his best), the version done by Tuxedo Moon (far more better than all the other versions, even those brought forth by the Pixies, although I do like 'em):

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

1000 SONGS- DAY 12 - NOT A SONG

DAY 31 - Your favourite song

Why songs? There are other forms of musical expression. "Piece of music" is a fine word. For those who have more time than 3:15 min, here is one of my favourite pieces of music, in my opinion a truly DIONYSIAN one, by IGOR STRAVINSKY: LE SACRE DU PRINTEMPS. By the way, interesting choreography (how did they get the horses to behave accordingly and fit into the overall scheme?)


Monday, January 3, 2011

1000 SONGS - DAY 11: SONGS # 29 & 30

Day 29 - A song from your childhood

Tom Jones was all around my childhood; here is a version of "Green Green Grass of Home" a song I remember that I have come to know through Tom
Then, there is this New-Orleans-style song "IKO IKO" that has been recorded by so many artists. I first heard it(in the time that ideally separates childhood from adulthood - called puberty) as rendered by Malcom John (Mac) Rebenack, who named himself "Dr. John" after a legendary "Voodoo Priest" from New Orleans (19th century). Dr. John (the musician) also wrote a song on Marie LaVeaux, the famous "Voodoo Queen" and one that is an incantation of various lwas and orisha. Here is Iko Iko, as recorded by Mac Rebenack way back in 1972. Hopefully, it stays on Youtube for some time (it is a traditional tune, should be public domain, so wtf, record company?? - I do own the record and this is pr):



In case you want to learn to play that the New-Orleans-Style shuffle [some think it is a Cuban-style clavé - if I have understood it correctly, accents [*] are on 1, the 16th before 2, the 16th before 3 and on 3& and 4 : * - & * 2 - & * 3 - * - * - & -] on the piano, here is Dr. John showing how he does it:



Day 30 - Your favorite song at this time last year

As Dr. John has been a musical disciple of Professor Longhair (oh how I love that name) on the piano (he started as a guitarist, but changed the instrument due to an injury of his left hand), this brings to my mind the latter's "Going to the Mardi Gras" or however. I am not sure, whether it has been among my favourite songs exactly one year ago, but the tune very regularly hits my personal "top of the pops":



So finally, there has been at least one song to every category, I have done my first run in the 30 days song challenge in 11 days; the rest of the 970 (or 1065) coming up soon. Thx 4 listening.

Sunday, January 2, 2011

1000 SONGS - DAY 10: SONGS # 26-28

Day 26 - A song that you can play on an instrument

I can play no real instrument; I can play some simple songs on the drums. At least, I pretend. Here is a tune recorded in the early 90ies by BAD BISHOP'S DAUGHTER; lyrics and music are by Clarissa Horak, the singer, featured are Andreas Wernitznig (guit.) and Göran Bredberg (bass); me, I play the drums - to be honest, I do like what I play on the hi-hat at the outro of the song:


THE POP SONG


Day 27 - A song that you wish you could play

Back to real musicians: Frank Zappa wrote this piece of music called "The Black Page" with respect to the fear musicians feel when being confronted with a sheet full of notes (so that it literally seems to be black). There is an anecdote about Terry Bozzio who auditioned for Zappa's band and got the drum notes handed out, only to return a few days later being able to play it. Nevertheless, this video features Chad Wackerman on drums. As far as I can judge, this is a challenge to all the musicians involved:




Day 28 - A song that makes you feel guilty

Gordon Gano sings a kind of prayer (taken from Violent Femmes' album "3")



See my ships
they are sailing
in and out of the harbor
will they go together
or must they stay apart
yes I know it's in my heart
surely you see what's inside of me
Jesus is coming soon
I can hear Gabriel
blow his trumpet tune
this I know
this I know
our Lord is coming soon
mercy mercy me
Marvin Gaye he was shot
by his father
o my Father
have mercy on me
cold Kane o my cheap thrill
o my shame for Cain
and the devil
momma I need water
I'm thirsty
surely you see
what's inside of me

Saturday, January 1, 2011

DAY 9 - SONGS # 21-25

Day 21 - A song that you listen to when you're happy

Does anybody say to him/herself: "Oh I'm happy - let me listen to that and that song!"? At least not me - but there are songs that come to my mind when I am happy or that can make me happy. One of them (others to be featured later on) is IGGY POP "THE PASSENGER" (many strange videos to that on YouTube):



Plus the cover done by Siouxsie and the Banshees (I like this video more than the other one that shows her trapped in some transparent bowl and rolling around aimlessly).



Day 22 - A song that you listen to when you're sad

Same as above. LOU REED, two songs from "Berlin", the album by Lou that I have been listening to more than to any other of his recordings: CAROLINE SAYS II - it's so cold in Alaska:



And SAD SONG:



Day 23 - A song that you want to play at your wedding

I am married. For 29 years. Does not seem to me that a change is gonna come in that (basic as basic can be) aspect of my life. A woman from my neighbourhood (that I find rather attractive, too) told her daughter a few months ago when introducing me to her: "this is the man that I will marry in my next life"; I answered: "go ask my wife" - she replied: "I am talking about NEXT not this life". She didn't quite understand me: I didn't say "ask for permission", what I meant is: "ask for experience". Experience tells me, that , at least when married to me, the quarrelling starts on wedding day.
So here is JOHNNY CASH once more, this time accompanied by JUNE CARTER, doing "JACKSON", one of the best wedding songs ever (and much more realistic than "I will alwaay-aay-aayys loooo-oo-ooove you-ou-ou-ouuuuu" - one of my favourite choices for a song I hate). I could have also looked for a video of the Hazlewood/Sinatra-version of that Leiber/Wheeler tune. First video comes from the Gran Ol' Opry, second one from St. Quentin. I have the impression, that June Carter does not feel too well in that situation (understandable, since she will have asked herself: I am the first woman that most of these guys have seen for - how long?).





Day 24 - A song that you want to play at your funeral

As I am still alive, plans for my funeral can still be made. I want that people dance at my funeral and have a good time. Later on I will post some real dancing tunes in that category. I will start today with paying hommage to 2 female musicians that - sadly enough - have already passed away. Most people will not know, that "WHEN I DIE" - a song made famous by Blood, Sweat and Tears, has been written by LAURA NYRO :



In January 2010, KATE MCGARRIGLE died of cancer. She formed a brilliant duo with her sister Anna, she once had been married to Loudon Wainwright, she is the mother of Rufus & Martha Wainwright. All excellent musicians and/or songwriters. Here is an a-cappella-version of the traditional "DIG MY GRAVE", featuring - if my ears don't deceive me - long-time fellow musician and friend Chaim Tannenbaum.



Day 25 - A song that makes you laugh

HUGH LAURIE, PROTEST SONG - best comment on Robert Zimmerman ever (although there is nice parody by Bowie, too). Here is an early version, without switching to a Reggae-rhythm and without the final part where he says: "all we gotta do is", then looks around and finally blows his harp.