This Victorian song-story…

…by Lorenna McKennit, a retelling of the first Christmas story, is a delightful mixture of two time periods…and two poverty-stricken children.

At least, One of them is rich, now…and willing to share His riches with those of us who are willing to have them.

Essa é uma daquelas canções que a gente ouve muitas vezes aqui em casa, principalmente quando a Lu vai para a cozinha porque ela tem os seus rituais para cozinhar também…

Eu gosto do ritmo dessa canção que parece nos dizer “levante e vá festejar a vida que habita em você”…

Embora seja uma música de Beltane, acho que vale a pena ouvir sempre…
Grande abraço
Marco Antônio

Jeg befinder mig i en midlertidig Lisbeth Salander-ekstase. Nøj, hvor er den kvinde dog bare L-Æ-K-K-E-R. Med hendes piercinger i næsen, skarpe kindben og sygeste tatovering på ryggen. Hun skal være min kæreste. Godt så.

Lucia læste mit brev op i Det Elektriske Barometer. Hun gjorde det så smukt. Dét var jeg virkelig beæret over. Jeg elsker Barometeret. Jeg elsker Lucia og Alicia og deres smukke stemmer, jeg elsker den dejlige rockede indiemusik, jeg elsker tankevæggen og ikke mindst, så elsker jeg alle de andre dejlige barometerbørn, deres dybe tanker og smukke poesi. Som Mie sagde: “Det eneste der gør en ellers dårlig søndag helt fantastisk”. Oh, so true.

Musikken jeg hører for tiden. Som jeg har nævnt i nogle tidligere indlæg: Mouritz/Hørslev-projektet. Kom Kom Kom. Jeg afspiller den på repeat dagen lang, og jeg fatter ikke, jeg ikke er blevet træt af den efter 5000. afspilning. Måske er det bare sådan en sang, man ikke kan blive træt af. Ellers er jeg røget ind i noget af en electronicaperiode. Jeg tænker Oh Land med den smukke Nanna Øland Fabricius – jeg kender ingen, der kan bære et hus på hovedet og stadig look freaking fucking fierce (til eventen for Kronprinsparrets Kulturpris)! Jeg er vild med hendes på samme tid seje og vildt yndefulde vokal, og så selvfølgelig det her væld af “skæve”, overdrevede – men alligevel tempererede – reallyde og skæve electronicsamples. Jeg er særligt vild med ‘Heavy Eyes’, ‘Audition Day’ og ‘Frostbite’. Lyt til dem her: http://www.myspace.com/ohlandmusic.

I London kan man købe plader til langt billigere prise end i Danmark – hvilket jeg selvfølgelig gjorde nytte af! Min far og jeg gik AMOK i den klassiske afdeling hvilket havde konsekvens af bl.a. Verdis Requiem (som jeg forresten var inde at lytte til i Royal Albert Hall i sidste uge – det var simpelthen så smukt), Mozarts samlede symfonier, Beethovens 4. og 5. klaverkoncert (5. klaverkoncert er sådan… “jeg og min fars”), Maria Callas, Edith Piaf, Hayley Westenra, Danielle De Nise og Loreena McKennit (DEN kvindes stemme er smuk. Og musikken fantastisk. Det var Visby fra Filosofisk Boghandel der preænsterede mig for hende – how come jeg aldrig har hørt om hende før? En smuk blanding af keltisk, irsk og østerlandsk musik – hun er allerede blevet en fast og vigtig bestanddel i min hverdag).

Jeg har ikke været i skole de sidste tre dage, hvilket ikke er så godt.

Denne danskopgave stresser mig en smule. Jeg skriver om Murakamis mesterværk, “Trækopfuglens Krønike”, som jeg før har nævnt. Jeg postede faktisk udkastet til min problemformulering herinde for nogle uger siden. Du kan læse den her: http://maleneschmidt.wordpress.com/2009/10/04/trkopfuglens-krnike/.

Det er lidt… øv. For jeg føler, jeg har LYST til det her, men at jeg ikke KAN. Det plejer i virkeligheden at være omvendt, ha, suk.

Sist tirsdag var det høstjevndøgn, dagen da natta er like lang om dagen. Lys og mørke er i likevekt. Herfra blir det bare svartere. Denne markeringen av årstidens gang blir hvert år feiret på en spesiell måte her i Oslo; lysvandring langs Akerselva. Dette er høstens høydepunkt for meg. Min vanlig spaserrute langs elva fra Sagene og ned mot Grünerløkka er plutselig blitt til en magisk vandring full av flakkende lys, sang, performancekunst, gjøgling, kunst og mystiske lysinnstallasjoner.

Jeg gleder meg til å vandre på fakkelopplyste elvestier i kveld. Det blir høstmagisk. Og vi varmer selvsagt opp til dette med litt høstmusikk.

Emily Jane White – “Dark undercoat”

Pj Harvey – “When under ether”

Siouxsie and the Banshees – Sick child

Bach – Goldberg Variations: Aria (Glenn Gould)

Loreena McKennit – “The mummer’s dance”

La cantante canadese sarà al Teatro Antico il 24 giugno

Taormina (Me) | Brividi per Taormina Arte, con l’unico concerto italiano della McKennitt - in programma il 24 di giugno – che rischiava di saltare, nonostante una prevendita di biglietti che continua a galoppare verso un sicuro tutto esaurito. Poi nei giorni scorsi la conferma: “Loreena McKennit non vuole rinunciare per nulla al mondo al suo concerto in programma al Teatro Antico di Taormina”.

L’artista canadese, d’origine scozzese e irlandese, ha appena inciso una nuova collection dal titolo “A Midsummer’s Dance Through Ireland”, dieci canzoni tutte dal tema irlandese. Un ritorno alle sue origini e a una ricerca minuziosa di sonorità celtiche. Struggente e nostalgica, la McKennitt interpreta le sue canzoni sempre e rigorosamente con l’anima e con l’arpa. Il suo genere musicale spazia dalla musica celtica alla new age, fino ad arrivare al folk tradizionale.

Un altro concerto memorabile si svolgerà il 3 luglio sempre al Teatro Antico di Taormina e sarà quello di Paolo Conte. Il cantautore piemontese, in tour da mesi con il suo ultimo album “Psiche”, forse uno dei più importanti della sua storia musicale, approderà a Taormina dopo aver girato tutta l’Europa. Applaudito e acclamato in Francia e in Germania, il concerto di Conte è atteso dai fan siciliani. Cantautore, pianista, amante di jazz, Conte emozionerà come lui solo sa fare la platea taorminese.

Per i concerti di Loreena Mckennit e Paolo Conte richieste di biglietti continuano ad arrivare da tutta Italia e da tutta Europa. Sono due grandi appuntamenti estivi e gli appassionati per nulla al mondo vogliono perdere questi grande eventi. I biglietti possono essere acquistati in tutte le agenzie di Box Office (095 722 5340) e Ticket One (892 101) e on line su www.ticketone.it

FONTE

Il percussionista reggino specializzato in musica afrocubana alla conquista di spazi nazionali

Prosegue la scalata musicale del giovane percussionista reggino Francesco Surace, detto “Pachito” (piccolo Ciccio) che dopo un anno trascorso tra Cuba e Roma (Teatro Olimpico, Salone Margherita e Auditorium della Conciliazione) è approdato al Filarmonico di Verona per la XVI edizione del Concerto di Natale nell’orchestra diretta dal maestro Renato Serio.
In città si è già fatto conoscere oltre che per le numerose esibizioni a fianco di Domenico Severino, nell’ambito del concerto “Grandi canzoni Grandi autori”, anche nel corso delle “Notti bianche”.
Ma chi è Franceso Surace? Conosciamolo più da vicino. Il musicista oggi ventiduenne ha iniziato la carriera nell’affascinante mondo delle percussioni afro-cubane a soli 13 anni all’interno del Museo dello Strumento Musicale di Reggio, dove grazie alle numerose edizioni del “Progetto Griot” si è messo in evidenza sotto la guida di celebri maestri tra cui il percussionista Luca Scorziello, Giovanni Imparato e Baba Sissoko. Dopo anni di studi tra Reggio e Roma, ha iniziato le sue prime esperienze musicali in vari gruppi pop, fusion, folk e latinoamericani.

Tornando all’attualità, lo scorso gennaio Francesco, il “Pachito” dello Stretto, è partito per Cuba per approfondire le ritmiche insieme a grandi maestri di fama mondiale come Changuito (Los Van Van) e “El Panga”, che gli ha assegnato il norme d’arte “Pachito”. Adesso che è rientrato nuovamente in Italia si sta esibendo in moltissimi teatri della capitale accompagnando numerosi musicisti: dal chitarrista Giandomenico Anellino (che ha lavorato con Renato Zero, Claudio Baglioni e Bryan Adams) sino alla violoncellista di Ennio Morricone Kyung-Me-Lee. Sarà anche a fianco della cantante romana Elena Bonelli nella sua prossimo tournèe.
È un momento interessante, quindi, per l’artista Surace, che nella notte di vigilia, il 24 dicembre, ha partecipato al appunto al Concerto di Natale, trasmesso su Raidue e presentato da Mara Venier. Francesco ha accompagnato Irene Grangi, Lola Ponce e Giò di Tonno (vincitori dello scorso Festival di Sanremo), Katia Ricciarelli, Andrea Mingardi, Gigi D’Alessio e Anna Tatangelo e grandi nomi di fama mondiale come Dionne Warwick, Loreena McKennit e Terence Trent D’Arby. Ha duettato anche con Zach Ashton (terzo nelle classifiche Usa).
In futuro lo vedremo ancora una volta a Reggio insieme a Domenico Severino (nello spettacolo “Grandi Canzoni Grandi Autori”) e nel nuovo progetto musicale di World Music “Koralira”, che fonde la tradizione mediterranea e quella afrocubana (f.m.)

As promised, when I found a few more suitable songs for use as a History Class supplement, I arranged them to pass on to you. There are several others on the waiting list. Some are ones you probably already know, others you may not have heard. I have tried to develop a good mixture of types and styles.

If you are not making deliberate use of this concept, you are missing out.

“Penelope’s Song” – by Loreena McKennit – Greek story – lyrics

“The Plagues” from Prince of Egypt – a contest between Pharoah and God, in which God wins…though other parts of this movie are screwed up.

“The Wearin’ of the Green” – Irish – 1798 rebellion – an IRA version

“Swanee River Boogie” - some great piano playing!  I was really looking for a version of “The Old Folks at Home” that isn’t totally lame. Alas, I have searched in vain. I was thinking of something like the duet played on “Hatari”, but with the lyrics included.

“Please Mr. Custer” – by Larry Verne – the 7th U.S. Cavalry mishap, made humorous.

Lisbeth Scott just released her first Christmas Album!  Her angelic voice is so perfectly suited for holiday music – hear it here, you be the judge! http://www.kosmicmusic.com/do/product/MP3_LisbethScott/SCO-10024?&giftStatus=true

Tracks are just 99 cents, and it comes with a FREE 5 song sampler!!  Merry Christmas to me!  I bought several tracks to play at my Christmas party!

“Peace on Earth” includes her original hot single “Take Me Home” plus a couple of other originals including the title cut,  and traditional favorites like Silent Night and Come All ye Faithful.   Her rendition of Silent Night leaves me speachless its so beautiful!

It’s only available in download here…. http://www.kosmicmusic.com/do/product/MP3_LisbethScott/SCO-10024?&giftStatus=true

I didn’t realize she is on over 100 soundtracks including Spielberg’s “Munich,” “The Passion of the Christ”, Disney’s “The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe”, “Prince Caspian” and so many more. If you like Liz Frazer,  Cocteau Twins, etc….you’ll love Lisbeth Scott.

When I was growing up, my mother often played her Johnny Horton record. Later, when I was in high school, her record player quit working, and she purchased a CD of Johnny’s greatest hits. We missed the scratch of the needle.

More importantly, though, I began to realize just how much I had learned from that old record. Whether it was Churchill urging his fellow countrymen on in the search for the Bismarck, or wondering what sort of dance the “Caribou Crawl” was, or laughing at the mental image of the British retreating through the briars and brambles …I got an early and a good grasp of history.

I have Johnny Horton’s Greatest Hits album now, and have begun repeating the experiment with my children.

I have been deliberately collecting other songs and music videos for this purpose, and found “The Edmund Fitzgerald” recently. Here are a few other worthies:

• Seargeant Barry Sadler, and “The Ballad of the Green Berets”
• “Comin’ in on a Wing and a Prayer” (link feature isn’t working so here’s the URL – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B69CquvLHgY).
• Savatage’s album “Dead Winter Dead”(this link is to the homepage of their site)

I am eager to see how influential these songs prove to be as my children mature. Will they have at least as much appreciation for history as I have? I hope and expect, more.

Will they have a good grasp of current events? There’s no reason they shouldn’t – and want to be involved in bettering the world, too.

Will they have a good start to being able to consider (though not necessarily adopt) differing viewpoints? I am working toward this aim.

In fact, I am so excited by this whole idea that I have decided to share with you songs in several categories, as I come across them … in case you want to let your own children in on the experiment (without telling them that’s what it is, of course!).

I’ll begin with this post, and, when I find several new songs worthy of note, will let you know. If you want to share some gems with me, feel free to do so. Leave a comment including your best titles, and please, mold your children wisely.

By the way, I am eclectic where music is concerned, and certain music genres being Good or Bad aren’t among my basic convictions. I like some kinds better than others, but seek never to be legalistic about types. Purity of soul is important to me, but I also believe in facing reality. If racism, murder, or other sinful behaviors are what really happened – and a song isn’t afraid to say so – it’s worthy of note, as long as it’s presented with a measure of integrity, and conviction.

Also, I take “history” to be much more than names and dates. Real history, told well, allows me to see, feel, and understand a situation, person, or time in an unforgettable way. Therefore, I have included ballads, rock opera, folk songs, heavy metal, and other types – pretty much anything that will mold my children’s thoughts in a true direction.

By obligation to reality, the majority of these songs have to do with war.

If any of these links don’t work, or don’t link to what they say, please let me know.

Here is My List of Social Studies Songs, Built Chronologically:

ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS AND BIBLE TIMES:

“Caravanserai” - by Loreena McKennit – Caravan travel – lyrics

“The Plagues” from Prince of Egypt – a contest between Pharoah and God, in which God wins…though other parts of this movie are screwed up.

“Penelope’s Song” – by Loreena McKennit – Greek story – lyrics

WORLD HISTORY – FROM ROME TO EUROPE IN AMERICA – MIDDLE AGES:

“All Souls Night” – Before the the transition in Europe from Pagan to Christian beliefs. “All Souls Night” (aka “Hallow E’en”) was a festival to honor the dead and all spirits, taking place from October 31st through November 1st. Lyrics.

“The Gates of Istanbul” – by Loreena McKennit – atmospheric rather than historically stimulating – lyrics

“Greensleaves” by The King’s Singers – Henry VIII’s infatuation with Anne Boleyn, with pictures of the king, etc.

“The Lady of Shalott” – by Loreena McKennit (mediocre video, beautiful song); another take, in 2 parts: Part 1, Part 2; and, a “modern” takeon the story;  

“Lullaby” - by Loreena McKennit – religious (greed and power versus righteousness) - lyrics

“Stolen Child” – by Loreena McKennit – a song about Changelings, and the Fairy people supposed to dwell in and under the mountains of Europe and elsewhere. Lyrics.

DISCOVERY OF AMERICA BY EUROPEANS:

WORLD HISTORY FROM ABOUT 1500 to 1700:

“Follow Me Up to Carlow” – Irish war song

AMERICAN COLONIAL:

WORLD HISTORY FROM ABOUT 1700 to 1800:

“The British Grenadiers” - England – without lyrics, quite martial; nice pictures.

“Culloden” – Scottish, 1746 – Several songs as background, some silent, one with lyrics in Gaelic, with pictures showing  the battle site and giving impressions and clan names of the people involved.

“Battle of Culloden Moor” - Scottish, 1746 - In honor of the ones who fought – with a Country Music swing.

“The Highwayman” – France and England – by Loreena McKennit – a fictitious love story…that could have happened - lyrics

“Loch Lomond”with two possible legends - Scottish – other info about the Loch

“The Mummer’s Dance” - by Loreena McKennit – Irish - Mummer’s Plays are still performed, but I chose to place this one here, as the earliest actual documentation for them seem to come from the mid to late 1700’s…and I haven’t yet substantiated where this song belongs. Lyrics.

“Scotland the Brave” – Scottish – (bagpipes and lovely military pictures), and with the words

AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR:

WORLD HISTORY FROM ABOUT 1800 to 1850:

“The Wearin’ of the Green” – Irish – 1798 rebellion – an IRA version

“Boolavoge/Father Murphy/Come All Ye Warriors” - Irish rebellion of 1798

“By the Rising of the Moon” – Irish rebellion of 1798 – (I’d like to include a bagpipes version of this tune, but haven’t found one to link to yet.)

“Oro, ‘Se do Bheatha ‘Bhaile” (The Wind That Shakes the Barley) – Irish rebellion of 1798 - story behind it.

 “The Minstrel Boy” on bagpipes – Irish rebllion of 1798 -history

“Battle of New Orleans” - by Johnny Horton – the War of 1812 -

PIONEER DAYS AND THE WESTWARD EXPANSION:

MEXICAN-AMERICAN WAR, 1846 to 1848:

WORLD HISTORY FROM ABOUT 1800 to 1850:

“Cotton-Eyed Joe” by Rednex (didn’t know it was this old, did ya? ) – United States folk song, still popular in some places – its story- a dance(the first guy looks – and sounds – like my half-brother-double-brother-in-law. Kind of like “I’m My Own Grandpa” – don’t ask. )

“Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ye” - Trad. Irish, anti-war song, originating during the British East-India Campaign. This simple video may not be over-stimulating, but the lyrics are clear.

AMERICAN CIVIL WAR AND THEREABOUT:

“Army of the Free” - Union forces – same tune as “The Wearin’ of the Greeen”.

“Bonnie Blue Flag” – Confederate - a song about Southern rights, with history thrown in for good measure.

“Chaplain” – Union – (another tear jerker).

“Confederate Anthem” – Confederate – a hard-core Rebel song.

“Dixie, the song” - Confederate – good pictures, a genuine sound.

“For Virginia” – not a single song, but a concept, set to (partially inappropriate for the setting) music, with many gorgeous paintings.

“God Save the South” (same tune as Dixie) – Confederate – several great pictures.

“The Irish Volunteer 11″ - Confederate.

“I Wanna Be in the Cavalry” - by Corb Lund – not just for the Civil War era.

“Johnny Reb” - by Johnny Horton – Confederate; a 2nd video, with exerpts from real letters.

“Lorena” – a love song.

“The Minstrel Boy” became popular again.

“New York Volunteer” – Union – upbeat song with nice photos.

“The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” – Confederate – pictures of destruction of the South.

“Song of the Irish Brigade” , and a 2nd version- Confederate.

“The South Shall Rise Again” – Confederate, upbeat, uses part of “Oh Susannah” tune.

“Wearin’ of the Gray” – Confederate – some nice pictures of leaders, as well as the South.

“We’ll Fight For Uncle Sam” - Irish – Confederate- same tune as “Whiskey in the Jar”.

“When Johnny Comes Marching Home Again” - by Utima Thule (rock style); A classic version, with Civil War pictures.

“Yellow Rose of Texas” – a love song.

A Civil War Music Video - descriptive lyrics, emotionally moving show.

Field Musicians of the Civil War - photographs with appropriate background tunes.

Brass Bands of the Civil War - pictures with appropriate music.

WORLD HISTORY FROM ABOUT 1850’s to 1870’s:

“Charge of the Light Brigade”  - A video game version, but I liked the song. If anybody comes across a better video…

“Green Hills of Tyrol/Scottish Soldier” – Scotland – Its story.

“Kilkelly, Ireland” - An immigration story; the Potato Famine.

“Swanee River Boogie” - some great piano playing!  I was really looking for a version of “The Old Folks at Home” that isn’t totally lame. Alas, I have searched in vain. I was thinking of something like the duet played on “Hatari”, but with the lyrics included.

COWBOY and Wild West SONGS:

“Get Along Little Dogies” – by Marty Robins – driving cattle the traditional way.

“Stampede” – by Chris LeDoux – a story about one danger of cowboying.

“When Cowboys Didn’t [Line] Dance” – by Lone Star – shows the life for what it often was.

“Please Mr. Custer” – by Larry Verne – the 7th U.S. Cavalry mishap, made humorous.

WORLD WAR 1, 1914 to 1918:

“Green Fields of France”, Flanders Field (a tear-jerker) – by ( ), and, a 2nd version, equally impressive.

“When Johnny Comes Marching Home” – with photos from WWI (stirring).

UNITED STATES BETWEEN WORLD WARS, 1920’s and 30’s, Depression Era:

“Coal Miner’s Blues” – West Virginian Coal Mine War – 1920’s – (I wanted a song by Mike Dugger … but, alas, it doesn’t seem to be available to link to.)

“Song of the South” - by Alabama – a “good” life even during the Depression.

WORLD HISTORY, WORLD WAR II, 1939 to 1946:

“Sink the Bismarck” - by Johnny Horton – the search for the powerful German war ship.

“Comin’ in on a Wing and a Prayer”(Big Band style) – many beautiful plane pictures, upbeat – trust and thanks to God for a job well done.

“Praise the Lord and Pass the Amunition”. (If you find a version of this song that has a good attitude toward it, please pass it on to me. This one – and the others I found – are derogitory. This is the least so of the versions I found.)

“One” - by Metallica – a story about a soldier after he gets practically blown up.

WORLD HISTORY, 1950’s and 60’s:

WORLD HISTORY, 1970’s and Vietnam War:

“The Edmund Fitzgerald” – by Gordon Lightfoot – the story of a sinking ship in 1975 – more infoand another worthwhile video.

WORLD HISTORY 1990’s:

“Dead Winter Dead”- by Savatage – a rock opera.

AROUND THE WORLD TODAY:

“The Ballad of the Green Berets”- by Saergeant Barry Sadler – this song originated in the 1960’s, but this version is given a modern Muslim vs. U.S. twist, using animation based on toys.

“Battle of New Bagdad”  – Iraq – a hopeful song, with humorous clips from old cartoons.

“The Day That Never Comes” – by Metallica – a story about soldiers in the Middle East (probably Iraq).

“Disposable Heroes” – by Metallica – graphic war images (the kind the media normally won’t show you).

“Don’t Tread On Me” - by Metallica – Military images.

“The Minstrel Boy” with pictures from many places and several times – be careful, this one doesn’t skimp on reality.

“Nothing Else Matters” - by Metallica - September 11th, 2001- Pictures from individuals and the media.

Love this song, so hypnotic.

Die Tage werden kürzer und kälter, die Supermärkte nerven uns bereits
jetzt mit ihrem viel zu frühen Aufgebot an Weihnachtsartikeln und von
der vielerorts beschworenen Besinnlichkeit im Hinblick auf die Feiertage
am Jahresende ist natürlich wenig in Sicht. Für die dennoch ruhigen und
besinnlichen Momente abseits von Leuchtreklame und Geschenke-Hatz
kommt nun das aktuelle Album aus dem Hause Loreena
McKennit’s daher. Es handelt sich dabei um eine aufgestockte Version der
1995er “A Winter Garden” E. P., zu deren 5 Tracks sich nun 8 neue,
aufgenommen in Peter Gabriels “Real World Studios” im Frühjahr 2008, gesellen.
Dass die besagten 5 Songs bereits 13 Jahre auf dem Buckel haben, fällt im
Gesamtrahmen nicht auf. “Five Songs for the Season” war anno ‘95
der Untertitel, und in diesem Sinne ist auch diese Veröffentlichung zu verstehen.

Man muss nicht unbedingt mit dem bisherigen Schaffen und dem Werdegang der
Künstlerin vertraut sein (- ich bin es nicht -), um diesem Werk etwas
abgewinnen zu können, denn dieses Album ist keine stumpf zusammengestellte
Weihnachtsmischung, sondern wartet mit einigen abwechsungsreichen Momenten
auf. Zu den für den Laien zu erwartenden keltischen/britischen Einflüssen
gesellt sich öfters auch Orientalisches, es gibt drei Instrumentals und
es kommen mindestens drei Sprachen über den Verlauf des Albums zum Einsatz.
“Gloucestershire Wassail” fällt mit seinem A-capella-Chorgesang etwas aus
dem Rahmen und ist auch der einzige Song, der mir eher negativ auffällt.

“Eine frische Erinnerung an die Vielfalt so vieler Traditionen in Hinsicht auf
Musik in der winterlichen Jahreszeit” soll “A Midwinter Night’s Dream” laut
McKennit darstellen, und viel besser kann man dieses Werk wohl auch nicht in einem
Satz zusammenfassen. Weltmusik in traditionellem Zusammenhang, die man
sowohl in stilleren Momenten allein genießen kann als auch als originelle
Hintergrundmusik zur Bescherung.

Spearhead24

Det er noe med høsten som gir meg lyst til å holde meg hjemme om kveldene. Helst i sofaen med en bok og en kopp te. I tillegg trenger jeg selvsagt musikk som bidrar til passende stemning. Musikk som er behagelig nok til at den kan gå uforstyrrende i bakgrunnen, men interessant nok til at man bare kan lytte mens man stirrer ut av vinduet på lyset som forsvinner. Gjerne melankolsk, men også trøstende og beroligende. Her har dere låter fra fem artister som følger meg denne høsten.

Loreena McKennit – Marco Polo

Iron and Wine – Boy with a coin

Magnolia Electric Company – Don’t fade on me

Feist – My moon, my man

David Sylvian – Orpheus

Este año tenido la oportunidad de ver a Noa en Directo en el Palau de la Música y hoy he podido disfrutar de Loreena McKennitt en el Poble Espanyol. Fruto de la casualidad, ayer mientras pagaba en Fnac, el señor que iba detrás mío llevaba el nuevo cd de Loreena McKennitt cuya existencia desconocía. Dos minutos después veía un póster en la calle anunciando su concierto para el día siguiente.

Aunque a priori la localización no sonaba convincente la verdad es que no ha estado nada mal. En el marco de un espacio abierto hemos podido disfrutar de un

atardecer  gradual y de una acústica que me ha sorprendido gratamente. Más gratamente me ha sorprendido la sencillez de esta artista que aparece en el escenario a la par que sus músicos, todos entremezclados formando un todo, sin diferencias.

Hay muchos que comparan a McKennitt con Enya, y esos son los que la conocen bien poco. La música de McKennitt es el resultado de una investigación de sonidos (no sintéticos), historia, búsqueda de orígenes, que nos recrea escenas místicas e históricas; y las deja flotar en un universo atemporal. He cerrado los ojos mientras cantaba “The lady of Shalott” y me he sumergido en el mundo del Rey Arturo, he visualizado bosques y ha sido una sensación genial.

Dos horas de viaje a través del tiempo que no olvidaré.

P.D: Y para una velada de estas características, me he puesto camisa!! Tan raro en mí!

I’ll be simple today.

Top 5 Songs To Listen To While Watching The Sunrise ALONE.

1. Enya – Caribbean Blue
2. Loreena McKennit – The Highwayman
3. U2 – Where The Streets Have No Name
4. Marianne Faithfull – So Sad
5. Bathory – Ring Of Gold

Και με το που ξημερώσει για τα καλά ρίχνεις και ενα I Want To Break Free από Queen, και μετά άντε να σου πάει σκατά η μέρα. Music can make anyone’s day!

I have always loved Ireland. I’ve never been there. However, I have been fascinated by its long history, rich culture, deep folklore, and its beautiful landscapes, which I have a life goal of setting foot on. I also love its music (especially the Celtic artist, Loreena McKennit). I’m not sure what it is, but there is just something epic and at the same time mysterious about that small country. Its been through alot, but its still there. In the end, I have always wanted to be Irish. Not that I don’t have pride in my own roots, Japan itself is an amazing place to be connected to, but I have always admired Ireland.

Cut to present day. I haven’t gotten a haircut in months. This is not a fashion statement, just a matter of not prioritizing a trip to the barber, and the reluctance to spend money on such a service. As a result, my hair has gotten ginormous, poofy, and extremely thick. I saw one of my friends over iChat and he thought I was wearing a hat, but no, it was my hair. My sideburns have grown over the sides of my face like wild shrubbery. It rivals the chops of Wolverine. I kid you not.

It was this past Sunday that Tina observed something that sent a shock through my system. She was sitting by me at church and said, “You have red hair in your sideburns!” What? I’m Japanese, I’ve had dark brown hair (that looks like black) for my entire life, and it has been no different. To have anything else would be going against nature. She gave me a mirror so I could see for myself, because I certainly didn’t believe her. Sure enough, tangled among the scraggles in my sideburns, were a few strands of auburn reddish hair. How could this be? In all my 23 years my hair has been consistent in color. This really did fascinate me. It fascinated me so much that I had to show another friend, Dan Jones, for confirmation. I then showed two of my home-teachies, just for a third and fourth witness. It is decided that I, in fact, have red hair. I have always wanted to be Irish, and I think this is a sign to me that the Irish is coming out . . .