Llegó la redención

tranquilidad, estado paranoico en silencio

día 25 del mes después de la revolución

nadie fija su mirada en mi cuerpo vacio

y respiro

los pulmones se hinchan y deshinchan al son pausado de la normalidad

rara, extraña, sin conocerse a sí misma

llenándolo todo con un agua caliente

que adormece los miedos y recupera lo perdido.

Well.

Been AWOL for a while, but I now return with another entry in my ever expanding cache of pointless lists that nobody asked for.

Recently I was involved in a discussion about cover songs. No, I don’t know why. The point is, it spawned this little ditty -

The Top Ten Cover Songs You Probably Didn’t Even Realize Were Cover Songs.

It really is exactly what it says.

Ten: “The Man Who Sold the World.” (Nirvana)

I almost hate to admit it, but I think I genuinely prefer Nirvana’s live, unplugged version of this song to David Bowie’s 1970 original album version. While such a statement may seem somewhat blasphemous, in Nirvana’s defense I heard their version first – and, to add insult to injury, it’s really good. I suppose that your enjoyment of this song, like most on this list, simply boils down to when you were born, or when you first heard it. If you’re a child of the ’70s, you’ll probably prefer Bowie’s version. If, however, you are a child of the glorious ’90s, you’ll probably go for Kurt’s take on it. Regardless, the irony of the situation does not seem lost on Bowie himself. Thanks to Cobain covering it, even to this day when Bowie performs the song himself he comes across “kids that come up afterwards and say, ‘It’s cool you’re doing a Nirvana song.’ And I think, ‘Fuck you, you little tosser!’”

I think even Kurt Cobain could get behind that one. And he wasn’t really known for shooting off his mouth. (Just the area above it.)

Nine: “Black Magic Woman.” (Santana)

I honestly was not aware, literally up to this very moment, that this was originally a Fleetwood Mac song. Peter Green wrote it in 1968; Santana made it a hit in 1970. Better luck next time, Peter Green. Well, at least you still have Fleetwood Mac who I’m sure is going to be huge andOH YOU QUIT THE BAND.

BTW…who the fuck is Peter Green?

Eight: “Mr. Tambourine Man.” (The Byrds)

Bob Dylan is probably one of the most covered artists of all time. I say “probably” because I don’t know for sure and I’m too lazy to look it up. But rest assured, he’s gotta be, like, top twelve at least. Anyways, this is another instance of a song taking me by surprise. I’m sure more people are familiar with the Byrd’s trippy version of this song than Dylan’s original – myself included. Either version is solid, though – in fact, it has the (meaningless) honor of being only one of three songs to be included twice on Rolling Stones list of the 500 Greatest Songs. Not too shabby for a song about tambourines that (at least in Dylan’s version) doesn’t include any tambourineing.

Seven: “Lovers in a Dangerous Time.” (The Barenaked Ladies)

Little bit of Canadian content for y’all.

The Barenaked Ladies are a strange beast. They’re all fairly talented musicians who can write a hook filled pop masterpiece seemingly whenever they want to. It’s usually combined with bizarre to nonsensical lyrics that range from obscure pop culture references, to abstract fragments, to genuinely insightful commentary – all the while being either rapped by Ed Robertson or operatically sung by Steven Page with gleeful abandon.

Occasionally, they have curbed their wackier tendencies to produce something much more subdued and restrained, which can at times border on being fully beautiful.

Like their cover of this Bruce Cockburn song. After it’s release in 1991 (fittingly for a Cockburn tribute album) it became a Canadian radio staple – a certifiable hit for the band. Even now it continues to crop up on the radio from time to time, though you rarely – if ever – hear Cockburn’s original.

Six: “No More I Love Yous” (Annie Lennox)

This song easily could have made my Thirteen Guilty Pleasure Songs You Hate to Love. (Or Love to Hate) list as well. But it didn’t, and luckily it’s found itself a new avenue for infamy on my blog as being a catchy as hell song we all instantly recognize as an Annie Lennox ditty, but was in fact originally written and performed by some band called “The Lover Speaks.” No, I’ve never heard of them either, and when I type the name into Google image search, a confusing array of pictures, none of which features anything remotely similar to a band, comes up. So apparently even the internet has forgotten about them as well.

I think that what I’m trying to say is, cover though it may be…I think Annie’s pretty much got a monopoly on this song. Good for her!

Five: “Downtown Train.” (Rod Stewart)

Rod Stewart covers Tom Waits. There’s something funny to be said here, but I honestly don’t know what it is.

No, not funny – weird.

The Stewart song is the radio friendly one; the Waits version is the “good” one. In fact, if there ever comes a time when you’re contemplating downloading or buy Rod Stewart’s entire discography, I urge you to just download Wait’s 1985 masterpiece Rain Dogs instead. You can thank me later.

Four: “Hallelujah.” (Jeff Buckley)

Now, to be fair, I think people are about as aware of the Buckley version of this beautiful song as they are of the Leonard Cohen original. Both versions are excellent, by the way – thanks to Cohen’s poetic lyrics and simple, yet evocative melody. But it will forever be associated with Buckley – partly due to his untimely and tragic death, and partly do to his stunning and haunting arrangement of it. Cohen wrote a classic, artistic ballad; Jeff Buckley perfected it.

Three: “Nothing Compares 2 U.” (Sinead O’Connor)

I had no idea this was originally a Prince song. I suppose the number “2″ and the letter “u” in the title should have helped tip me off, but it didn’t. I truly thought this was an original song by Sinead. And, after hearing Prince’s version, I’d like to continue thinking that, please.

Incidentally, this song title was the inspiration behind U2’s name.

No it wasn’t.

Two: “Respect.” (Aretha Franklin)

“Respect” is to Aretha Franklin what “Nothing Compares 2 U” is to Sinead O’Connor – a signature song. A song that we immediately identify with these artists, and, when thinking about these artists, it’s usually the first one that pops into our noggins’. It seems odd then, that both these womens signature songs should be covers. I don’t really know what that says about them, except that they both totally own these tunes. Otis Redding may have been the first to spell out the word “respect” for mass audiences, but it was tailor made for the Queen of Soul. I’ve never heard Otis Redding’s version of the song, and have no need to; no one could possibly come close to matching Aretha.

One: “All Along the Watchtower.” (Jimi Hendrix)

Dylan’s was good. HIS was better.

From the iconic opening guitar riff, to the whacked out solo, this is the definitive version of Bob Dylan’s tune. It’s been covered countless times since, but Jimi’s 1968 version remains the one to top. It’s a song that makes people go “REALLY?” whenever somebody mentions that it’s not a Hendrix track, but one of Dylan’s.

Which I think perfectly sums up just what this list is all about.

Well.

There were a few more songs that I came across that would have fit this list, but I tried to wittle it down to the best ten. Feel free to tell me what I missed and mock my attempt in general below.

So, until tomorrow, enjoy some Annie Lennox.

And you damn well know you will.

Doo doo doo doo doo doo…WHOA OH.

Imagine for a minute if Jeff Buckley hadn’t died after just one released album.  It’s a shame to consider that this brilliant musician drowned when he was just 31 years of age.  The one album released before his death, titled “Grace” is a staple of indie-rock.  It’s both classic and relevant, incorporating simple yet masterful guitar sequences with raw vocals.  It is hard to grasp the immense wealth this album has to offer by listening to individual tracks, or to the album merely once.  I would recommend listening to it devoid distraction (in correct order).  Critics have denoted Buckley’s popularity as the “death effect” that has  made classic other artists like Jimi Hendrix, Nick Drake and Kurt Kobain.  Not to say that any of these artists don’t deserve such outstanding recognition, but death generally causes popular interest in popular music.  Grace is powerful and haunting and in my opinion, one of the top ten albums of all-time.  “A Cold and broken Hallelujah” indeed.

Listen for yourself.

Mojo Pin – My favorite track.  Simple and slow yet captivating.

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/song/Mojo_Pin/609220

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Lover, You Should’ve Come Over – Perhaps the strongest lyrical addition to the album.

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/song/Jeff_Buckley_Lover_You_Should/282101

___________________________________________________________

Dream Brother – Middle Eastern tinges, more electric guitar and pounding drums.

http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/song/Dream_Brother/609230

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If you’re looking for another interesting and unique take on some good music check out a fellow blogger :  http://retailoptimism.wordpress.com/

Hope You Enjoy!

Viva La Musica!

His voice is haunting.

His words are pure poetry.

Jeff Buckley was made to write music. For much of his early life he fought with this inevitable future. He tried his hand at dramatic arts and other art forms but the son of artist Tim Buckley, Jeff truly took his place at his father’s funeral when he took the stage to sing. Witnesses claim that no room has ever been more quiet and focused on one voice.

I heard the voice of Jeff Buckley far earlier then I understood his musical talent. Many have. In his only real hit Jeff created what is now the world famous song Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen. It has been used on countless television shows and film soundtracks and has sold millions of copies.

But it truly only scratches the surface of his talent. Unfortunately, in my opinion, this first layer may be all we will ever know, Jeff mysteriously drowned in an accident in which one of his best friends had turned away only momentarily to look back at a river missing his friend. Jeff’s body was later found down river.

The following two songs can both be found on his album Grace which was named one of the 100 greatest albums of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine.

It’s almost Thanksgiving!!!  It’ll be good to head back to Philly and take a break…although something tells me I won’t.  In the meantime, check out these bands for the soundtrack to your holiday season.

Eluvium – I was totally in the headspace last week for monotonous slow building epic orchestral ambient music and Eluvium aka Matthew Cooper is the KING at this shit.  Check it out.

Philip Seymour Hoffman – Don’t let the name fool you.  It’s actually a band that has nothing to do with the actor of the same name.  Lo-fi experimental pop similar, but inferior to Dan Deacon.

Brit & The Calvary – St. Vincent meets Andrew Bird  (that’s funny since they just toured together) with Grace Potter female rocker twist.  Her studio tracks don’t do justice to her live show, which I got to see a few days ago.

Junior Boys – Electro rock with hint of hip-hop and corny, but cool 80’s vibe to it (aka heavy on the synths).  Look forward to seeing them do a DJ set on Saturday with RJD2 and Lotus at Terminal 5.

Tristan Clopet – I wasn’t really sold on Tristan until I saw this video a few months ago, but for this and that, never added him until now.  Jason Mraz meets Jeff Buckley with a dash of funk (although this video is solo acoustic with a waltzy vibe to it).  Also, check out his cover of Bon Iver.  Note:  I would be lying to myself if I omitted that he’s a client, but I’m adding him for artistic reasons.

My kingdom for a kiss upon her shoulder

Lover, You Should’ve Come Over, Jeff Buckley

[A recuperar, aos poucos, uma categoria de entradas da anterior morada deste blogue.]

Escuchar las primeras notas de esta canción hace que se me ponga la piel de gallina. Tengo que ser sincera y decir que la primera versión que escuché fue en la película Shrek, aunque como todas las canciones que pongo en el blog, son canciones que a lo largo de los últimos 20 años han sido versionadas por numerosos artistas.

Leonard Cohen escribió “Hallelujah” en 1984 y la incluyó en su album Various Positions. No tuvo mucho éxito en los primeros años, pero gracias a las muchas versiones que se hicieron consiguió hacerse famosa. Trata de temas bastante ambiguos que llevarán a que se forme debate acerca de las intenciones del cantante.

Antes de investigar sobre la canción no había escuchado la versión de Leonard Cohen. El ritmo, y el tono de su voz hace que sólo identifique la canción gracias al estribillo, me parece que es demasiado lenta y no tiene acompañamiento casi musical (sólo el de una guitarra).

El primero en versionar ” Hallelujah” fue John Cale en 1991 en su album I’m your Fan.  John Cale le pidió permiso a Cohen para poder modificar una parte del texto. La canción de John Cale es la que se utilizó en la película de Pixard Shrek. Lo curioso es que en la versión en CD que se sacó de la película se sacó la versión de piano de Rufus Wainwright

Jeff Buckley inspirado por John Cale, y no por  Cohen, versiona la canción llegando a ser la más conocida de todas. Incluyéndola en su album Grace logrará en 2004 el puesto 259 de la Revista Rolling Stone (Las 500 mejores canciones de todos los tiempos). En 2007 la revista Q Magazine la clasifica como una de las 10 mejores canciones, haciendo referencia a la versión de Buckley como “lo más perfecto que se puede conseguir”.

Una de las últimas versiones es la de la cantante británica Alexandra Burke (5º ganadora del certamen británico de Factor X).  Su versión llegó a ser número uno en Diciembre de 2008 en el Reino Unido.

En mi opinión una de las mejores versiones es la de Imogen Heap, no conozco mucho más de esta cantante inglesa, pero como amante de las series americanas es la canción que apareció en el final de la segunda temporada The Oc, y que marca un antes y un después en el desarrollo de la historia …

Esta publicación se la quiero dedicar a una gran amigo que me ha ayudado y me ha dado muchos consejos para el blog . Mañana día 24 será su cumpleaños y que mejor forma de agradecérselo que con una canción que le gustará. Destacar que su versión favorita es la de Jeff Buckley.  ¡FELICIDADES CURRO !

(no se me olvida decir que la idea de esta canción fue suya, gran conocedor y amante de la música)

baby i’ve been here before
i’ve seen this room and i’ve walked this floor
i used to live alone before i knew you
i’ve seen your flag on the marble arch
but love is not a victory march
it’s a cold and it’s a broken hallelujah

Charlotte Pichon Muñoz

Thanks to everybody who commented on my last blog post! I really appreciate you sharing your playlists with everyone and introducing us to some great new music!

As I was responding to your comments, something hit me. You guys have shown us an incredible ammount of support over the last few years. You’ve called your local DJs to request our music. You’ve come to our shows and purchased our CDs. And your votes have caused us to win more contests and get onto more playlists than I could count. Each of you has helped make what we do possible.

Last week was really cool because we had twenty people contribute to our post! But, our anlaytics show that hundreds of people read it. Why is that? I’m not sure. But I feel that it is – at least in some part – due to the fact that so often the creation and delivery of art is a one way street. I want to change that; so I’d like to invite you to take a moment to do three things:

1. Visit atris.wordpress.com (This will be more fun if everyone goes to the same page.)
2. Scroll down to the comment box and introduce yourself. Write a few words about anything you’d like. How did you first hear our music? What city are you from? What are your favorite movies? Pretend we just met at a coffee shop. If you’d like share your blog address, Twitter ID or someplace where we and other people can learn more about you that would be great too!
3. Check the box that says Notify me of follow-up comments via email.

Please don’t do this for us, do this for yourself and for everyone. It takes a certain amount of bravery to put yourself out there; but it’s worth it. We love to get to know people with similar interests, ideas, and opinions. And it’s really cool when group discussions are started. If you have something in common with someone who posts, let him or her know! It makes me feel great to see people responding to my comments, and I love to chime back in to share my thoughts.

Looking forward to meeting you!

-Mason

Yes, covers. everbody has that cover of a song they consider blaspemous, and yet others will say are brilliant. But, do they have a point?

Cover songs are (in my opinion) essential to music. If you want to get into a band, and you have no idea where to start; find some covers they have done. They allow you to get a good grasp of what the band sound like.

I hate times like this, when the new sink installed separates from the piping underneath – great plumber. Now I have to call. I’m in the car on the way to the City and the XX??DDA in front of me stops short, the camera goes flying (digital, of course) and I hear a crack. I’m trying to check its’ function as I drive, and I realize that’s risky in City traffic, but a digital box keeps blinking and I’m thinking this digital baby is dead, or dying. I would not worry so much if it’s my film camera, which sits happily on the seat next to me, an old Mamiyaflex that kept its’ balance.

CD: Andrew Bird. All his cd’s have merit, and I’m liking him very much and I hear the sweet crooning and think of Jeff Buckley

DVD: Murphys Law, Season One. I love the Brits series, and so far like this one.

DVD: Wire In The Blood. Complete Sixth Season. Did not know this was even coming out, stumbled upon and I love this creepy series. Big fan of Robson Green, who has played many diverse, interesting characters and is oddly enough, a well known singer in Britain.

La sento
è là fuori da qualche parte,
così lontana
eppure appena aldilà del vetro,
perché è nel tempo
impigliata
alla mano di chi
non la conosceva
e le ha donato un anno;
la vedo
appena aldilà del buio
quando chiudo gli occhi
e c’è la sabbia
fresca alla sera
e il rumore delle onde
e parole d’amore.
No, quelle non riesco
a sentirle più,
non sono quelle banali
del cinema
ma è il suono che hanno
le frasi più semplici,
dato da chi è felice
e dietro queste palpebre,
dietro questi vetri
mi piace ripetermi
di essere libero,
ma perché allora
questa paura
di due ombre
che non conosco più?
Ombre unite
di persone divise.

Gian Luca Sechi

WORD

jive [jahyv] n. 1. swing music or early jazz 2. the jargon associated with swing music and early jazz 3. Slang. deceptive, exaggerated, or meaningless talk: Don’t give me any of that jive! ∞ v. 4. to play jive 5. to dance to jive; jitterbug 6. Slang. to engage in kidding, teasing, or exaggeration 7. Slang. to tease; fool; kid: Stop jiving me! ∞ adj. 8. Slang. insincere, pretentious, or deceptive

BIRTHDAY

Frank Calder (1877), Soichiro Honda (1906), Gordon Lightfoot (1938), Martin Scorsese (1942), Lauren Hutton (1943), Danny DeVito (1944), Lorne Michaels (1944), Gene Clark (1944), Stephen Root (1951), Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (1958), Jeff Buckley (1966), Sophie Marceau (1966), Daisy Fuentes (1966), Kimya Dawson (1972)

STANDPOINT

Short and sweet today. I’m really quite annoyed with the all the goddamn Christmas ads, sales, etc. that are all ready all over the place.

Despite my misanthropic tendencies, I’m really kind of a softie in some ways. I like the holidays. I do.

But this time of year has been kind of tainted, for me, by all the commercialism. Even those of you out there who possess the unending optimism I enjoy frowning upon know this to be true.

For lack of a better, more definitive sentiment: BAH! HUMBUG!

QUOTATION

There are about five things to write songs about: I’m leaving you. You’re leaving me. I want you. You don’t want me. I believe in something. Five subjects, and twelve notes. For all that, we musicians do pretty well. → Elvis Costello

TUNE

I know. I’m beating this HTC commercial thing into the ground. I just like it. Really like it. More than I like most people. For those of you wondering what song is actually playing, it’s a remix of “Sinnerman” by Nina Simone. One of the comments on YouTube simply reads, “Futureproof.” Sums it up.

GALLIMAUFRY

→ Oprah Winfrey and Sarah Palin were on the same stage and no one thought to do the proper thing and plant explosives. Christ, people, do I have to think of everything?

→ In what’s becoming sadly commonplace, another celebrity has died young. Ken Ober, the host of the late-80s MTV game show “Remote Control,” passed away yesterday at the age of 52. As of yet, no one’s sure how.

→ All right, on a personal note, here’s a picture of my favorite piece of art – “Woman with a Water Jug” by Johannes Vermeer. It’s only 18 in. by 16 in. The detail is amazing. Best part is that the painting currently resides in New York City at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Jeff Buckley: November 17, 1966 – May 29, 1997

Today would have been Jeff Buckley’s 43rd birthday, had it not been for the tragic accident in Wolf River 12 years ago.

There really isn’t much I can say about Jeff’s life, music or legacy that hasn’t already been said by others many times before.

I will say this though: I love Jeff , with my very heart and soul.  He was an astonishing talent, a beautiful human being and the world is a much poorer place without him in it.

I miss you Jeff, Happy Birthday. x

Satisfied Mind.

Hallelujah.

Last Goodbye.

Here are a selection of some of my favourite Jeff songs, feel free to add yours or simply enjoy his glorious talent.

Playlist.

]]> http://maryalexe.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/remember-this-man-as-a-strange-delight/ Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:23:22 +0000 maryalexe http://maryalexe.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/remember-this-man-as-a-strange-delight/

Astăzi l-am fi sărbătorit. O putem face oricum.

Puteţi trage cu urechea şi la cîteva bucăţi faine cîntate de Jeff in mai 1995 în campusul de la Berkeley, pentru promovarea superbului album “Grace” – singurul album de studio pe care a apucat să-l pună pe piaţă – ce fusese lansat cu mai puţin de un an înainte şi nu cu mult înainte să-l pierdem, aici.

Jeff Buckley (November 17, 1966 – May 29, 1997), American singer-songwriter,

1. Writing an overdue paper.

I am currently writing a long overdue paper comparing Heidegger and Benjamin’s concepts of ge-stell and gewalt, respectively. Maybe I’ll post it up when it’s done. I like having comprehensive cyberspace retreats to muck around in my own dirt in. I feel guilty for the paper’s lateness, though. It’s three weeks behind schedule.

When that’s done, which it should be in the vicinity of Tuesday morning, I will go on to write my paper for ‘Intellectuals in the World of Medieval Korean History’ (three or so pages long – shan’t labor too much); look into colonial-era-and-wartime NK novelist Han Sorya and the 1920s’ debates on Anarchist-Proletariat Literature (an ongoing extensive research program I’ve set for myself, so it registers as relatively less weight); prepare for the literature meeting I organize on Thursday; read up on the political theory behind the concept of ‘balancer’ states with a focus on its applicability to South Korea; and read the article for Wednesday’s ’Intro to International Politics’ class. I have to look for the Homo Sacer .pdf I saved last semester.

I enjoy making to-do lists like these. The matter-of-fact activity required in thinking through these responsibilities gives me a feeling of accomplishment, and helps tether me to my tasks. (Otherwise, I would meander through the ozone.) 

 2. Words and nuances.

Just something I remembered I wanted to jot down. This happened like, last month, I think.

I was reading a random Asimov novel – I believe it was the Naked Sun, one of those quickly-dashed-out novels on detective Bentley and R. Daneel Olivaw – when something caught my eye. It was the description of a robot in the act of giving Bentley a bow, and the word specifically used was: ‘[it lowered its upper body]…in the travesty of a bow.’

When I saw this, I was struck by the many levels at which the word affected me. Literally, dictionary.com defines ‘travesty’ as follows:

song = “japhy“

named after the infamous Japhy Ryder – of Dharma Bums fame (my favorite of Kerouac’s books) – this song is more or less an ode to a few poets whom I have loved deeply: Japhy Ryder (a fictionalized caricature of Gary Snyder I have been told), Tom Waits, Rumi, Jeff Buckley, Leonard Cohen and Nina Simone. the song is an ode, and a love song, and it is a fantasy: each verse is my mind wandering to a moment we might have had together and then the inevitable knowing that I would have to leave, that I couldn’t live up to the perfection of each of these moments, and might have my heart explode if I tried. of course that changes in the latter half of the song, where maybe it would be healing to stay just a little longer . . .

this version features marc verwaerde – of Parisian band “Chapter 9″ – on guitar. he and I were both on Sellaband and did two collaborations together. this one was never completed. though only for my fault, his guitar part as you’ll hear is just gorgeous. but a song of his “Surrender” came out quite lovely. you can read more about that, and request the song from him here: http://chapter9.fr/WordPress/tag/annie-bacon/

lyrics:

if I’d met Japhy Ryder in time
I’d be his lover and he would be mine
we’d take baths at midnight
and howl at the trees
I’d fall asleep against his cheek
and in the morning I would leave

if I could get old Tom to come down here
we’d sit and talk and maybe have a beer
I’d ask about jesus and his mother’s kitchen sink
his voice would growl and his breath would probably stink
we’d fall asleep against the dawn
and in the morning I’d be gone

if I had been Shams of Tabriz
I would meet Rumi and bring him to his knees
He would whisper blissful poems
while we built ourselves a home
I’d fall asleep beside his pen
and in the morning leave again

in the morning the reasons change
the sun exposes meaning
but lovers hide their love in metaphor
that’s what poetry is for

and if I’d met Jeff Buckley that day
when he walked to the river and stood on the bank
“you really miss him don’t you” is all I would say
and I’d let him collapse on my shoulder and sob
I’d stay all the through the night
to make sure he’s alright

and if Leonard had only seen
my “sleepy golden storm” in his dream
I’d kiss each his fingers and beg to be touched
and cry out for poems, it can’t be too much
I’d fall asleep inside his words
and all my sadness would be cured

and if nina hadn’t left me so soon
I know she’d hate me and wish me to the moon
but I wouldn’t speak all night long
just to hear one verse of song
I’d never sleep while she played
and pray my sins had been forgave.