Sometimes you come across something so striking. 'STAFF BENDA BILILI are like nothing you have ever seen or heard before. The "Polio" video was shot during the recording sessions for this album.
A group of paraplegic street musicians who live around the grounds of the zoo in Kinshasa, Congo, they make music of astonishing power and beauty. Four senior singers / guitarists on makeshift wheelchairs are supported by a young, all-acoustic rhythm section, plus a 17 year-old prodigy performing infectious guitar-like solos on a one-string electric lute he designed and built himself out of a tin can. Please welcome the utterly soulful and mesmerising sound of STAFF BENDA BILILI.'
Not only do I like to listen to music, I like to study its production, promotion and to try to understand it as a business.
I recently read an blog posting by rocker John Mellencamp in the Huffingtonpost. The title of the article is On My Mind: The State of the Music Business. He makes a few good points, for example he says;
Reagan's much-vaunted trickle-down theory said that wealth tricked down to the masses from the elite at the top. Now we've found out that this is patently untrue -- the current economic collapse reflects this self-serving folly. The same holds for music. It doesn't trickle down; it percolates up from the artists, from word of mouth, from the streets and rises up to the general populace. Constrained by the workings of SoundScan/BDS, music now came from the top and was rammed down people's throats.
"Costello, the pop encyclopedia, can reinvent the past in his own image"
Elvis Costello seems to have been around for ever, he pops up in a variety of genres including Rock, Pop, Classical, Blues, Movies, Opera etc. He has collaborated with numerous giants of the Music Scene and is married to Diane Krall.
I am going to indulge myself and cherry pick some of my favourites, to which I can refer to in the months to come. This is no mean feat because the scope and quality of his work is outstanding. Anyway I'll do it chronologically a la Wikipedia.
His first album in 1977 included a country feeling ballad "Alison" with a biting lyric.
1970's A couple of years later he released Armed Forces. Both the album and the single "Oliver's Army" went to #2 in the UK
1980s The soul-infused Get Happy!! starts Costello's experiments with genres beyond Pop-Rock. The single, "I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down" was an old Sam and Dave song (though Costello increased the tempo considerably).
A couple of years later he issued Almost Blue, an album of proper country music cover songs written by the likes of Hank Williams ("Why Don't You Love Me (Like You Used To Do?)"), Merle Haggard ("Tonight The Bottle Let Me Down") and Gram Parsons ("How Much I Lied"). I am cheating here - this song has Audrey Hepburn and Blue in the title and I like it
A further album Punch the Clock generated an international hit in the single "Everyday I Write the Book", the music video features lookalikes of the Prince and Princess of Wales undergoing domestic strife in a suburban home.
In 1985, he appeared in the Live Aid benefit concert in England, singing the Beatles' "All You Need is Love" as a solo artist. Elvis introduces the song as 'an old northern folk song', and the audience was invited to sing the chorus.
1990's He won a BAFTA co-produce, with Richard Harvey, for writing the music in the TV series G.B.H. by Alan Bleasdale.
In 1993, Costello tries classical music with a critically acclaimed collaboration with the Brodsky Quartet on The Juliet Letters.
He starts several collaborations with Burt Bacharach in the mid '90's. Perhaps many will remember an updated version of Bacharach's song "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" for the soundtrack to Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, with both appearing in the film to perform the song. I like this one -
21st Century
On 23 February 2003, Costello, along with Bruce Springsteen, Steve Van Zandt, and Dave Grohl performed a version of The Clash's "London Calling" at the 45th Grammy Awards ceremony, in honor of Clash frontman Joe Strummer, who had died in December of the previous year.
In May 2003, his engagement to Canadian jazz singer and pianist Diana Krall was announced. In December, Costello and Krall married at the London estate of Sir Elton John. Their twin sons Dexter Henry Lorcan and Frank Harlan James were born 6 December 2006 in New York City.
In 2005,he is in a jazz phase in November he started recording a new album with Allen Toussaint and producer Joe Henry. The River in Reverse was released in the UK on the Verve label on 29 May 2006.
Elvis has had a long-running songwriting collaboration with Paul McCartney since the late 1980's
"Pump It Up", one of Costello's songs, appears on Rock Band 2.
Costello is also a very knowledgeable music fan, and often champions the works of others in print. He has written several pieces for the magazine Vanity Fair, including the summary of what a perfect weekend of music would be. His collaboration with Bacharach honoured Bacharach's place in pop music history. Costello also appeared in documentaries about singers Dusty Springfield, Brian Wilson, Wanda Jackson, and Memphis, Tennessee-based Stax Records. He has also interviewed one of his own influences, Joni Mitchell.
a mournful look at the displacement of immigrants and the effects of war. MIA samples this in Paper Planes
Alabama - John Coltrane
'After the murder of 4 girls in the Ku Klux Klans bombing of the Sixteenth Street baptist church in Birmingham, Alabama. Coltrane apparently patterned his saxophone playing on Martin Luther King's funeral speech.' A masterpiece.
Brother Can You Spare A Dime - Bing Crosby
'They used to tell me I was building a Dream' - the bewilderment of someone grappling with shattered pride.
' But now my branches suffer/And my leaves don't offer/Poetry to men of song'
War Pigs - Black Sabbath
'like a Hieronymous Bosch painting come to life. ... pacifism noir.... Birminghams infamous hippie-haters .. close to their flower-powered anti-Vietnam war peers'
And the band played Waltzing Matilda - Eric Bogle
'First Person tale of Gallipoli - a rambler who answers his country's call and returns minus his legs., it skews patriotic fraud like nothing else. Impossible to sit through its seven minutes with dry eyes'
Quote 'It's known as the "Elbow route". A band - ideally from the North-West of England- persevere, totally against pop's grain, build a loyal fan base over several years, endure all manner of setbacks, and then finally become enormously successful. This might be Elbow's story, but the blueprint was established by Doves.'
Pounding
There Goes the Fear must be the most headrushing, euphoric song ever written about paranoia, terror and mid-life crisis.
I found this video very inspiring. The notes at YouTube say;
This is the brand new video for "Penny On The Train Track". Starring Ben Kweller's remarkable 82 year old grandmother, Bubbie. Filmed by Ben and edited by Ryan Foregger in NYC.
Ben Kweller - Penny On The Train Track
I hope when and if I make it to 82 years old, that I have this kind of energy. I also like the music too.
1. Gypsy Rose 4:56 2. Old Hat 4:12 3. Fight 2:54 4. Hurtin' You 2:47 5. Ballad Of Wendy Baker 3:58 6. Sawdust Man 4:12 7. Wantin' Her Again 2:42 8. Things I Like To Do 2:09 9. On Her Own 4:01 10. Homeward Bound 3:50
Excuse my ignorance. I never listened to classical music before I heard the Moonlight Sonata(Piano Sonata No. 14) so if I make any mistakes, I'm apologizing in advance even though my Dad will probably explain it to me later. Moonlight Sonata is one of my favorite pieces because it's so beautiful and relaxing, plus it's what introduced me to Beethoven.
This one is called Fur Elise and to tell you the truth I'm not really sure why I like it, I guess it's because I heard it so much in the past.
To tell you the truth I really like Symphony No. 3, like Moonlight Sonata it makes me happy. As I was looking for it I got confused and stumbled upon Symphony No. 9 which as it turns out is just as beautiful.
In an increasingly anodyne and homogenised world media it is gratifying to find the occasional unconventional artist. In these exceptional cases it is important to be aware of the background of a musician before being able to understand the music and Steve’s ability to connect with people through his music. Steven Gene Wold, commonly known as Seasick Steve once said of his life:
Hobos are people who move around looking for work, tramps are people who move around but don't look for work, and bums are people who don't move and don't work. I've been all three.
Seasick Steve appeals because of both the things he is not and the things he is. In a youth obsessed music scene he is not by any stretch of the imagination youthful; he will not readily admit his age which is either 57 or 67 depending upon the review one reads. He is not easily fitted into any ready genre, originating from California rather than the American Deep South – this gets in the way of those who try to categorise him as an American bluesman, although Steve prefers to be called "a song and dance man."
Steve is a true character; most of his music is about his early life living rough and doing casual work. He is an accomplished and idiosyncratic musician as shown by his choice of favourite instruments which include
The Diddley Bow - it only has one string and is played with a slide (He uses an old screwdriver for this purpose). It consists of a 2 foot long 2x4 wooden plank, with a semi-loose guitar string nailed to it at both ends
The Three-String Trance Wonder - This is a normal guitar, but with only three strings.
The 'MDM' (Mississippi Drum Machine) - A small wooden box that is stomped upon, providing percussion. It is decorated with a Mississippi license plate ("MC33583"), and a small piece of carpet.
He has been married to Elizabeth, a Norwegian for 27 years with whom he had five children – they have recently moved from Norway to Norfolk, England. It is, approximately, the couple’s 57th home – a recent heart attack has made him consider living in one place (for a time at least).
He has a long history of musicianship, learning the guitar at the age of 8. Steve left home at 13 to avoid abuse at the hands of his stepfather, and spent many years living on the streets. In the late Sixties, he ended up in Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco at the height of the hippy revolution. He got to know Janis Joplin and would hang out at her house. “I reckon she was the greatest. She would bleed for you,” he says of the legendary rock’n’blues singer. “She turned herself inside out when she played. For me, that’s what I look for in music: people ripping themselves inside out.”
He later became friends with Kurt Cobain, because he recognised the Nirvana front man as one of the few musicians who understood the blues. “Kurt played Leadbelly songs – there was a serious deal going on there. He was a nice fella.”
In the nineties he worked as a recording engineer and producer. During this time he worked with Modest Mouse producing several of their releases.
Steve made his first UK television appearance on Jools Holland's 'Annual Hootenanny' BBC TV show (broadcast on New Year's Eve 2006) where he performed a live rendition of "Dog House Boogie" on the 'Three String Trance Wonder' and the 'Mississippi Drum Machine'. The crowd at that concert was interspersed with both real and faux celebrities who were blown away. After that show his popularity exploded, as he explained in an interview: ‘I can't believe it, all of the sudden I'm like the cat's miaow!’
He does not affect the trappings of rock-stardom – playing a surprise busking gig at Earl's Court underground station before heading to the Brits, for which he was the oldest ever nominee. He also flouted London Mayor Boris Johnson's alcohol ban on the Tube as swigged from a bottle of whiskey on his way to the ceremony. In the near future he is collaborating with indie band The White Stripes and will appear at Bestival 2009.
I Started Out With Nothin and i Still Got Most of it Left is the third album by Seasick Steve. It was released on the 29 September 2008. It entered the UK album chart at number 9 on 6 October 2008. The record features guest musicians Ruby Turner, Nick Cave and KT Tunstall Album Tracks.
The work is largely autobiographical and given Steve's popularity as a showman, spoken introductions are occasionally included. "This is a song about nothin'," he cheerily drawls before the opening title track.. I include live versions of some of the songs that appear on the album.
Happy Man Ruby Turner is gospel-hollering on the album although KT Tunstall was originally touted.
Prospect Lane
Thunderbird – he lets rip here, one of the better tracks this is a drinking anthem
Fly By Night
Just Like A King (Seasick Steve and Nick Cave) this is effortlessly funky. The solitary star guest, Nick Cave, turns in a brilliantly restrained performance which is alternately brooding, lascivious and hilarious: "I'm a prizefighter baby, when I step inside your ring." Steve invites Nick Cave over to swig bourbon on the porch and the resultant track is a delightful strum-along between two troubadours who've seen quite a bit of the world.
One True This is a song in which Steve relates how he woke up one morning, and found his dog had doggone died, leaving him all alone in a world of hurt. He had a mess of them dead dog blues, so he did what came natural – reached for his old three-string guitar and wrote a song about it. The resulting paean to his late German shepherd, Boss, ("he was my one true friend")
Chiggers offers some hilariously fine advice over what to do if you ever get attacked by a mass of evil blood-sucking bugs (the chiggers of the title) - “I wear my socks up to my knees, they still till make a motel out of me" he sings These relate the experiences of his past life as a teenage vagrant and migrant worker.
My Youth - a beautiful itinerant's lament for his "wasted" life,
Steve closes up shop with a hilarious, meandering yarn about the day he realised that he could never settle down
Steve has an apparently artless and downhome manner which has struck a chord with UK music fans disenchanted with pop's endless strategising and lack of human warmth.
When I was searching for Breathe by Jane French I found this song by Anna Nalick it's also called Breathe. I used to listen to it all the time on the Radio, but since I don't really listen to the Radio that much anymore(and it doesn't play on the Station I listen to) I forgot about it.
I was laughing because it says this song was on Grey Anatomy. I really wouldn't know because I stopped watching that show a long time ago, but it reminded me of this other Song by the Fray that happened to be on the same exact show. It's called "How to save a life"
Since I'm feeling gracious here's another song from the Fray called "Over my Head"
It is mind boggling how relevant Marvin Gaye's 1971 album, What's Going On is today. Many of the themes fit so well. And as they say, "the more things change, the more they stay the same."
Consider the track What's Happening Brother.
Track Listing
1. What's Going On 3:53 2. What's Happening Brother 2:43 3. Flyin' High (In The Friendly Sky) 3:49 4. Save The Children 4:03 5. God Is Love 1:41 6. Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology) 3:16 7. Right On 7:32 8. Wholy Holy 3:07 9. Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler) 5:33 10. God Is Love 2:50 11. Sad Tomorrows 2:22
Aretha Franklin - a Bacharach & David song written for Dionne Warwick. I like Aretha doing anything - she could literally sing the telephone book cover to cover.
James Brown - this guy can dance!! Get up offa that thing, and dance 'till you feel better, Get up offa that thing, and try to release that pressure!
I know this sounds weird, but sometimes I get introduced to new songs just by watching TV. This has actually happened to me twice so far. This was the theme song to Passions when it was on TV. It's sung by Jane French and it's called Breathe. I'm not sure if I listened to any of her songs before this, but I thought it sounded pretty so I decided to share it with you.
This was the theme song to Wolf's Rain when it was on TV. It's sung by Steve Conte and it's called Stray. I'm not too fond of this version of the song because in my opinion it goes on too long, but you guys might like it.
If you do this is another song by Steve Conte, it's called Heaven's not enough.
OK - I'm not quite sure about how she is going to pan out - she looks good and has some radical views. I do hope there will be more rock chick and less Kelly Clarkson type music.
Well there are certainly lots of basques in this 2001 cover of Labelle's 1975 single "Lady Marmalade" with Christina Aguilera, rapper Lil' Kim and Mýa that I remember on the soundtrack of the film Moulin Rouge! It is definitely enjoyable!
Pink has gained some notoriety with her campaign for PETA,she sent a letter to Prince William criticizing him for fox hunting and one to Queen Elizabeth II protesting the use of real fur in the bearskins of the Foot Guards....
I always feel amazement at the number of people who watch YouTube videos - over 28 million for this one which has her in the bath -I suspect a very high proportion being teenage boys So What
I was doing some research on Led Zeppelin, and came across this band called Dread Zeppelin. Words do not fully explain, you have to watch the videos, and listen to their music. Sublime is an understatement.
Congratulations go out to Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, Record Of The Year, Album Of The Year, Best Pop Collaboration With Vocals.
Robert Plant, T-Bone Burnett, Alison Krauss on Charlie Rose
Notes from YouTube; Robert Plant, T-Bone Burnett, Alison Krauss on Charlie Rose discussing their album, Raising Sand. The FULL program airs Wednesday November 14.
Sometime ago I wrote about the pregnant rapper M.I.A. and commented on how she is all over the news with regards to her performance at the Grammy Awards. Since then Ron sent me an article that I think fans might want to read, or maybe you are just curious and fascinated by her like me.
When I originally considered posting this video of Etta James, I had something to say about the row going on between her and Beyonce Knoles. But as time has passed, I've kind of forgot what it was I wanted to say about that. No biggie, there is still all that great music that Mrs. James has and is still making over the years.
There is a certain degree of musical snobbery when the topic of 'blue-eyed soul' comes up. Well I have blue eyes and am white and I enjoy all sorts of music. I don't like the idea of ghettozisation of music - surely its about creativity not race, colour etc. I include a list of my favourite artists often labelled as such.
Dusty Springfield - this performance spot on - so are lots of Black versions as well but so is this!
Van Morrison Elkie Brooks - I first saw her in her Vinegar Joe days. Steve Marriott Average White Band - Scottish soul at its best. I remember seeing them 35ish years ago at 3.00am having breathed in substances - (only ever done that 3 or 4 times by the way) - brilliant
Steve Winwood George Michael I melt everytime I hear this
Free Download Friday: Steven Wilson
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I wrote a review of Steven Wilson's new album, *4 1/2 *for the Moshville
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Beth Hart - Might As Well Smile
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Notes from YouTube
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Berikut 10 ahli Teknologi Paling Berpengaruh di Dunia
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*[image: 1. Salman Khan]*
Salman adalah pencetus khanacademy.org, sebuah platfor...
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I’ve been captivated by Bill Callahan ever since I discovered him at my
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The rebooted *American Idol* is just fine so far, thank you. I had thought
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*Apologies for the short, PR post. Slammed. TR-One are analogue-obsessed
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[image: Photobucket]
"1930's USA Daisy CO's Rare Buck Rogers No. U-235 Atomic Pistol with
Original Box- Arguably the best looking Art Deco style ray gun ev...
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