This is quite possibly one of my very favorite days of the year. The vernal equinox - the first day of spring - Nature's reminder that, after a winter of looking within, the time is right for starting things new. New opportunities present themselves. New ways of thinking and seeing start to draw your attention. I love spring!
And I love Tom Waits, so this is perfect!
You Can Never Hold Back Spring by Tom Waits from the 2006 album "Orphans"
Tom Waits website
Friday, March 20, 2009
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
You Can Do Magic - America
I know my husband will wince when he sees this song up here today. I'm not exactly sure, myself, why I'm going with this one other than the fact that the lyrics, "You can do magic. You can have anything that you desire" (and "doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-dit, doo-doo-doo-doo-doo-dit") are firmly planted in my head this afternoon.
The three founding members of America - Dewey Bunnell, Gerry Beckley, and Dan Peek - met while attending London Central High School, at High Wycombe in the mid-1960s. They are all sons of American fathers and English mothers whose families were stationed at the Air Force base in West Ruislip, London.
America released their debut album, "America", in 1971 and while it was a huge success in Holland, it didn't fair too well elsewhere. While in Holland, they worked on recording some other songs, including one written by Dewey Bunnell that he called, "Desert Song." The song had its formal debut at The Harrogate Festival where it received a very enthusiastic response from the audience. After several more performances, both live and televised, the song was re-titled "A Horse with No Name" and was added to the debut album which was re-released in 1972 and quickly went platinum. That was the album (actually it was an 8-track tape) that I used to make my mother play over and over again whenever she drove us anywhere. I loved that song!
In 1977 Dan Peek left the band. Beckley and Bunnell continued on as a duo, supplemented on the road by other musicians as needed. They struggled for several years before finally reaching commercial success once again in 1982 with the release of their 12th album, "View from the Ground", and the single You Can Do Magic which reached #8 on the Billboard pop singles charts.
You Can Do Magic by America from the 1982 album "View from the Ground"
America website
The three founding members of America - Dewey Bunnell, Gerry Beckley, and Dan Peek - met while attending London Central High School, at High Wycombe in the mid-1960s. They are all sons of American fathers and English mothers whose families were stationed at the Air Force base in West Ruislip, London.
America released their debut album, "America", in 1971 and while it was a huge success in Holland, it didn't fair too well elsewhere. While in Holland, they worked on recording some other songs, including one written by Dewey Bunnell that he called, "Desert Song." The song had its formal debut at The Harrogate Festival where it received a very enthusiastic response from the audience. After several more performances, both live and televised, the song was re-titled "A Horse with No Name" and was added to the debut album which was re-released in 1972 and quickly went platinum. That was the album (actually it was an 8-track tape) that I used to make my mother play over and over again whenever she drove us anywhere. I loved that song!
In 1977 Dan Peek left the band. Beckley and Bunnell continued on as a duo, supplemented on the road by other musicians as needed. They struggled for several years before finally reaching commercial success once again in 1982 with the release of their 12th album, "View from the Ground", and the single You Can Do Magic which reached #8 on the Billboard pop singles charts.
You Can Do Magic by America from the 1982 album "View from the Ground"
America website
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Danny Boy - Eric Clapton
I love this song. It always makes me cry. But then, most songs from this era have that affect on me.
The lyrics were written in 1910 by English attorney Frederick Weatherly. The lyrics were modified in 1913 to fit the tune of "Londonderry Air." The song was first recorded in 1915 by Ernestine Schumann-Heink. Nobody knows for sure who the narrator of the song is or where Danny Boy is going or why, although there are many suppositions. You can read the lyrics and decide for yourself.
The lyrics:
Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.
And if you come, when all the flowers are dying
And I am dead, as dead I well may be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.
And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me
And all my dreams will warm and sweeter be
If you'll not fail to tell me that you love me
I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.
Since I love these lyrics so much, why did I decide to include an instrumental version of the song? It's simple. The simplicity of it. There are so many versions out there and most of them are so over-orchestrated and over-sung and over-emoted that it hurts. Simple, honest, almost confessional - that's the way I love this song. That, and I love Eric Clapton.
Danny Boy by Eric Clapton
BBC article on "The Legend and History of Danny Boy" (This is an excellent and very informative history of the music as well as the lyrics and I highly recommend reading it for more insight into this song.)
Eric Clapton website
The lyrics were written in 1910 by English attorney Frederick Weatherly. The lyrics were modified in 1913 to fit the tune of "Londonderry Air." The song was first recorded in 1915 by Ernestine Schumann-Heink. Nobody knows for sure who the narrator of the song is or where Danny Boy is going or why, although there are many suppositions. You can read the lyrics and decide for yourself.
The lyrics:
Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.
And if you come, when all the flowers are dying
And I am dead, as dead I well may be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.
And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me
And all my dreams will warm and sweeter be
If you'll not fail to tell me that you love me
I'll simply sleep in peace until you come to me.
Since I love these lyrics so much, why did I decide to include an instrumental version of the song? It's simple. The simplicity of it. There are so many versions out there and most of them are so over-orchestrated and over-sung and over-emoted that it hurts. Simple, honest, almost confessional - that's the way I love this song. That, and I love Eric Clapton.
Danny Boy by Eric Clapton
BBC article on "The Legend and History of Danny Boy" (This is an excellent and very informative history of the music as well as the lyrics and I highly recommend reading it for more insight into this song.)
Eric Clapton website
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Gettin' High for Jesus - Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs
Yes, I'm giggling. Some days the irreverent part of me just takes over. Like today.
Indie singer/songwriter Holly Golightly first came on the music scene is 1991 as part of the all girl garage band Thee Headcoatees, a splinter group of the band Thee Headcoats. She released her first solo album, "The Good Things" in 1995. Since then, she has released 14 albums. Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs is the side project she has with her U.S. bandmate, Lawyer Dave. Their debut album, "You Can't Buy A Gun When You're Crying" was release in 2007.
Gettin' High for Jesus by Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs from the 2008 album "Dirt Don't Hurt"
Holly Golightly website
Holly Golightly MySpace page
Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs website
Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs MySpace page
The Brokeoffs website
Indie singer/songwriter Holly Golightly first came on the music scene is 1991 as part of the all girl garage band Thee Headcoatees, a splinter group of the band Thee Headcoats. She released her first solo album, "The Good Things" in 1995. Since then, she has released 14 albums. Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs is the side project she has with her U.S. bandmate, Lawyer Dave. Their debut album, "You Can't Buy A Gun When You're Crying" was release in 2007.
Gettin' High for Jesus by Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs from the 2008 album "Dirt Don't Hurt"
Holly Golightly website
Holly Golightly MySpace page
Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs website
Holly Golightly and the Brokeoffs MySpace page
The Brokeoffs website
Friday, March 13, 2009
Marked Man - Mieka Pauley
Mieka Pauley was born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1981 and raised in Kentucky, Colorado and Florida before returning to Boston for school. She grew up singing and performing, teaching herself to play guitar on her uncle's old acoustic while in high school. She graduated from Harvard University in 2002 with a degree in Biological Anthropology. Yup, Biological Anthropology - "a branch of anthropology that studies the mechanisms of biological evolution, genetic inheritance, human adaptability and variation, primatology, primate morphology, and the fossil record of human evolution," according to wikipedia. All that, and she's a brainiac, too. Wow.
Marked Man by Mieka Pauley from the 2007 album "Elijah Drop Your Gun"
Mieka Pauley website
Mieka Pauley MySpace page
Mieka Pauley Facebook page
Mieka Pauley Twitter
Marked Man by Mieka Pauley from the 2007 album "Elijah Drop Your Gun"
Mieka Pauley website
Mieka Pauley MySpace page
Mieka Pauley Facebook page
Mieka Pauley Twitter
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Karuna - Faun
Today calls for some calm and relaxation. This song brings to mind temperate surroundings, trickling streams and butterflies dancing in the breeze.
Faun is one of my favorite new discoveries. A German band formed in 2002 and catering to a predominantly Pagan audience, they play a variety of instruments including Celtic harp, hurdy gurdy, bagpipes, flute, and timba.
Karuna by Faun from the 2007 album "Totem"
Faun website
Faun MySpace page
Faun is one of my favorite new discoveries. A German band formed in 2002 and catering to a predominantly Pagan audience, they play a variety of instruments including Celtic harp, hurdy gurdy, bagpipes, flute, and timba.
Karuna by Faun from the 2007 album "Totem"
Faun website
Faun MySpace page
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Needles and Pins - The Ramones
Foot doctor gave me a couple cortisone shots today. IN MY TOE! Yes, I'm a big needle-weenie, but this was even more painful that I'd imagined it would be. Ho-ly cow! And I'll have to have it done again in a month. I am so not looking forward to that. It came out during the appointment today that the doctor detests Bette Midler so I thought maybe I'd put up "Wind Beneath My Wings" or some-such just for him, but opted for The Ramones instead. I love The Ramones. They make me happy. Maybe I'll post some Bette next month ... and make sure he sees it. Mwahahahaha!
Needles and Pins was written Jack Nitzsche and Sonny Bono and originally recorded by Jackie DeShannon in 1963. Over the last 40+ years it has been covered by many artists included The Searchers, Cher, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Stevie Nicks, and Willy deVille.
Needles and Pins by The Ramones from the 1978 album "Road to Ruin"
And just for fun (because I like to find stuff like this), here's the Serbian band Vampiri covering Needles and Pins ... in Serbian!
Ona i ja by Vampiri from the 1995 album "Plavi Grad"
Needles and Pins was written Jack Nitzsche and Sonny Bono and originally recorded by Jackie DeShannon in 1963. Over the last 40+ years it has been covered by many artists included The Searchers, Cher, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers with Stevie Nicks, and Willy deVille.
Needles and Pins by The Ramones from the 1978 album "Road to Ruin"
And just for fun (because I like to find stuff like this), here's the Serbian band Vampiri covering Needles and Pins ... in Serbian!
Ona i ja by Vampiri from the 1995 album "Plavi Grad"
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