Angående det tidigare inlägget om Across The Universe så tänkte jag att jag ska lägga upp en cover på denna fina sång. Det är Rufus Wainwright som har gjort denna version (som faktiskt är riktigt bra för att vara en cover). Jag brukar föredra orginalartisternas versioner, men Rufus är duktig och har verkligen inte förstört låten. Han är för övrigt mycket duktig på att göra covers i allmänhet. Alla har väl hört Rufus gudomliga (om än uttjatade) version av Leonard Cohens Hallelujah?

Här är i alla fall ännu en fin version av Across The Universe. Text och musik: John Lennon och Paul McCartney. Artist: Rufis Wainwright.

Varsågoda!

Key: E-flat minor/G-flat major

Verse 1 (chords are approximate):

(e-flat) (B-flat 7)/(d-flat) (E-flat 7)

There I was in uniform / Looking at the art teacher /

(C-flat)           (G-flat)  / (a-flat 7)                       (G-flat)

I was just a girl then / Never have I loved since then

Verse 2: He was not that much older than I was / He had taken our class to the Metropolitan Museum / He asked us what our favorite work of art was, / But never could I tell it was him / Oh, I wish I could tell him — / Oh, I wish I could have told him

Verse 3: I looked at the Rubens and Rembrandts / I liked the John Singer Sargents / He told me he liked Turner / Never have I turned since then / No, never have I turned to any other man

Interlude:

(e-flat)            (a-flat) / (B-flat 7)     (B)           (B-flat)     (a-flat) /

All this having been said, / I married an executive company head /
(C-flat)                     (c-dim) / (c-flat)

All this having been done, / a Tur—ner————

(G-flat)

I own one

Verse 4: Here I am in this uniformish, pant-suit sort of thing, / Thinking of the art teacher / I was just a girl then; / Never have I loved since then / No, never have I loved any other man

Pam and I saw Rufus Wainwright at the Newport Folk Festival in the summer of 2005. He performed “The Art Teacher,” and I’ve since had it around. The song falls somewhere between a show tune, classical art song, and jazzy lounge song. 

In verse 1, that big ole E-flat 7 chord at “Art Teacher” is so pregnant with desire, pulling us towards the subdominant (a-flat minor). It never gets there, veering away from it to the relative major area (C-flat major and G-flat major chords, IV-I, at “I was just a girl then”). This strong harmonic pull that doesn’t arrive reminds us that the protagonist, a high-school age girl with overwhelming adolescent feelings, is pulled in two directions: with desire towards the Art Teacher, but also towards the safer territory she knows is her destiny.

In Verses 2 & 3, her head is swimming as she views classic works of art. The same unfulfilled desire is there (i.e. the same yearning, unfulfilled chord structure); the Art Teacher asks her what her “favorite work of art” is, but she can’t admit it’s him.

The girl finally ends up with an Executive Company Head in the Interlude, who, not surprisingly, arrives with that A-flat minor chord we longed for in the first verse. The weird harmonic syntax of this section, however, totally clouds this arrival; we hardly feel restful there. No, we feel unprepared for its arrival (at “head”), but, relative to the rest of the Interlude, it offers a temporary oasis from the swirling harmonies that surround it. Likewise, owning a Turner (“I own one ”) provide little comfort, for as soon as that G-flat tonal area arrives, we are swept back to the opening E-flat minor again, as the girl revisits her desire for the Art Teacher in the fourth Verse. The melody soars, blah, blah, blah, marking the end of this neat little song.

Dig also that extra little pause in Verse Three, when the protagonist mentions “thinking of the art…. teacher…..” Love how she hangs onto the chord, as though savoring the thought a little longer than she previously allowed herself.

The performance by Rufus, who wrote the song (obviously) is great. He honors the girl’s feelings but provides the proper context by alluding to her childishness, bobbing his head and impishly spitting out the words during the final “any other man” (3:38). Kudos also for daring to write a song from a girls perspective.

Album info: Waiting for a Want (EP) (2004)

You might not expect a tune like “Hallelujah” to pop up on the Shrek soundtrack, but it sure has. Rufus Wainwright covered the tune for the first film of the Shrek series.

For those who have not yet heard this version, fear not of its association with the children’s movie: Eddie Murphy does NOT make a guest appearance in the song.

Rufus Wainwright – Hallelujah

Which “Hallelujah” is the definitive version? I’m opening up a vote once we sample one more version of the song. I’ll do that tomorrow… so check back for details!

Rufus Wainwright går varm i högtalarna, jag far runt i omgångar och städar och ikväll ska jag mysa ner mig och se Idol. Mörkret har lagt sig över Sigtuna, och mina vinterdrömmar har börjat. Varje vinter drömmer jag väldigt mycket, och vaknar ofta väldigt tidigt på morgonen och tror att jag har försovit mig. Men inatt ska jag försöka sova normalt, för imorgon kommer mamma & pappa hit på en dagstur. Jag har några presenter till dom från Paris & London, som jag skulle behöva slå in men inslagspapper är ingen högprioritet på internat.

I have so much to say about Rufus and his amazing family (except for that bastard Loudon) that there is simply not time today. Instead, I want to focus on the joyful fun of this song, which was written for the soundtrack to Meet the Robinsons (2007).

Rufus Wainwright – Another Believer

It’s been a very, very long time since I kissed anyone, but I suspect it is like riding a bicycle. Not in that you never forget how, but in that you have to go for it or you will tip over and crash. I am not interested in testing that theory just yet, but it is good just to know there is love and romance thriving in the universe.

Hello, I got something to tell you
But it’s crazy, I got something to show you
So give me just one more chance, one more glance
And I will make of you another believer

Guess what?
You got more than you bargained
Ain’t it crazy?
You got more than you paid for
So give me just one more chance, one more glance
One more hand to hold

You’ve been on my mind, though it may seem I’m fooling
Wasting so much time, thought it may seem I’m fooling

What are we gonna do?
What are we gonna do about it?

Hello, I got something to tell you
Hello, I got something to tell you
You’ve been on my mind, wasting so much time.

kisses are a better fate
than wisdom. — e.e. cummings

The decision to kiss for the first time is the most crucial in any love story. It changes the relationship of two people much more strongly than even the final surrender; because this kiss already has within it that surrender. — Emil Ludwig

Never a lip is curved with pain
That can’t be kissed into smile again. — Bret Harte

A kiss makes the heart young again and wipes out the years. — Rupert Brooke

Ancient lovers believed a kiss would literally unite their souls, because the spirit was said to be carried in one’s breath. — Eve Glicksman

Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves. — Albert Einstein

He is super super nice and patient with his fans, even though it was freaking cold outside and I said creepy shit like, “This is my 7th time seeing you!”  (He just laughed.)  I totally forgot to ask him when his opera was premiering in North America because I am socially awkward under normal conditions, much less while Rufus Wainwright has his arm around me:

*does happy dance*

I also was able to snatch the setlist, and he autographed it for me:

Not on the setlist: he surprise-premiered a song off his next album (which he says he just finished writing 5 days ago and thinks maybe it’ll be out in March).  Actually, he played 4 songs off the upcoming album and ended with Zebulon and the aria from his opera!  Swoon.

Good times.

And fine…now that I’m back, I’ll stop with the Rufus addiction and return to my regularly scheduled feminism/texicanism.  Probably.

*Reason #1 is the music, duh.

Nu ska ni få höra en av dom finaste låtarna jag vet, just nu, och en alldeles särskild video som är speciell på alla möjliga sätt.

This is him singing an aria from his opera (yeah, he wrote an opera—Reason #286…).

Stuff like 4:20 – 5:20 happens occasionally, but it’s funny/endearing and doesn’t piss off the fans á la Morrissey or Cat Power:

I ended up not buying a ticket for last night’s show, mostly because I spent $40 on powder and a lip gloss at Sephora yesterday afternoon, even though I rarely wear makeup (but the lip gloss is so very pretty).  Anyway, tonight’s the night: my 7th Rufus concert!  5th row, baby!

Okay, off to Magnolia Cafe (I am in food heaven here)…

I would have thought that this was a commercial for a mobile phone company, but alas, it is not. C’est seulement pour Paris.

It is nearly time again for my annual visit to Paris; it is not yet scheduled, but I feel it is long overdue for me to return. It’s funny that a city I was pickpocketed in on first visit could actually feel somewhat homey the second time round. I can smell the baguette already.

You may not know it, but this is love.

Copyright © 2009 LeNouveauNoir. All rights reserved.

I’m in Austin right now because I’ll be seeing Rufus Wainwright for the seventh time tomorrow night—5th row!—at the Paramount.  Yup, I love me some Rufus.  One of my cats is named after him (you can read why here), and I finally got to meet/take a picture with him this March after the Blackout Sabbath show.

He performs pretty frequently on the east coast, which made seeing him live fairly easy.  But now that I’m back in Texas, my Rufus concertgoing days are gonna be relegated to a slow trickle (as are my PJ Harvey and Of Montreal shows…sigh).  So yeah, don’t judge me if I end up buying a ticket for tonight’s show as well!

As an aside, when I was teaching at the college level, I used “Memphis Skyline” as my example for the song analysis/symbolism project I assigned, and 95% of my students hated me for that (But come on.  The Jeff Buckley tragedy as told through the mythology of Orpheus?  It’s freaking brilliant).

Anyway:

And finally, “Gay Messiah,” the last encore song at the Radio City show:

So I’m going to a town that has already been burned down. The United States is like that mother who has abandoned me more than once. Yet still I cannot help but love this country.

I won’t be posting much over the next few days.  I’m driving up to Austin in a while (if I ever manage to get my shit together…I’m such a procrastinator).  I have a couple of posts scheduled to go up, and I might squeeze a post in while my friend is at work on Monday or Tuesday.

For the most part, I’ll be busy stuffing my face at ethnic restaurants (you have no idea how much I miss Thai and Indian food), checking out indie/art house movies, looking for the place that sells donuts the size of your head, and stalking Rufus Wainwright (more on that on the Monday Mix).

Little Rufus is coming with me:

He’ll be busy trying to steal cat food/water/litter that doesn’t belong to him, sleeping, and stalking Meena (my friend’s cat).

Peace out.

Låtar som...
♥ … har gjort mig glad: Håkan Hellström – Känn ingen sorg för mig Göteborg
♥ … har gjort mig ledsen: A fine frenzy – Almost lover
♥ … jag vill dansa till: Lady Gaga – Poker face
♥ … jag vill dansa ännu mer till: The pussycat dolls – Buttons
♥ … lugnar ner mig: Pet shop boys feat. Rufus Wainwright – Casanova in hell
♥ … jag lyssnar på för att bli pepp: Kaiser Chiefs – Ruby
♥ … påminner om min kärlek: Taylor Swift – Teardrops on my guitar
♥ … påminner om gamla tider: Britta Persson – You are not my boyfriend
♥ … påminner om ångest: Linkin Park – In the end
♥ … jag lyssnar väldigt mycket på just nu: Miss Li – Stupid girl
♥ … är väldigt, väldigt bra: Avril Lavigne – Innocence
♥ … lyssnas på i ilska: Marilyn Manson – This is the new shit
♥ … jag lyssnar på när jag är kreativ: Okkervil River – Okkervil River song
♥ … påminner om sommardagar: Ingrid Olava – Les mondes engloutis
♥ … påminner om våren: Rockettothesky – On cherry tree song
♥ … påminner om en bra film: The Velvet Underground – I’m sticking with you
♥ … jag lyssnade på när jag var 13: Britney Spears – What u see is what u get
♥ … jag lyssnade på när jag var 15: Kent – Stoppa mig Juni (Lilla Ego)
♥ … jag lyssnade på när jag var 17: Marilyn Manson – Tainted Love
♥ … jag lyssnar på just precis nu: Anna Ternheim – Summer rain

How would you describe a city like Paris? Do you automatically think of a Robert Doisneau image of two lover kissing in front of the Hotel de Ville or is the Eiffel Tower lit up at night inscribed in your memory?  Paris is undoubtedly magical, but the beyond the confines of the tourist trails is one of the most multi-cultural, artistic and unconventional capitals in Europe.

The Paris Ile-de-France Comite Regionale du Tourisme has just launched a short viral film to promote the young and vibrant side of the city that many visitors end up missing.

The three and a half minute film entitled Kisses From Paris is directed by French actor/director Yvan Attal (who is also Charlotte Gainsbourg’s partner) and is sound tracked by Rufus Wainwright’s atmospheric Leaving For Paris.   The Paris tourist board loved his sketch in New York, I Love You so much that they commissioned Yvan to express his own creative vision of the “New Paris Ile-de-France”.

The film features two young lovers, played by Zoé Schellenberg and Pierre Perrier snogging their way through Paris, stopping only to marvel at the amazing sights around them.  In between declaring how much they adore each other, the couple study the art at the Beaubourg and the Palais de Tokyo, stroll along the Canal Saint-Martin, go to a gig at the Chateau de Vincenne and hunt for vintage treasures at the Saint Ouen flea market.

The film is intense, stylish and dreamy but in a more realistic than whimsical way. It reminds me of Before Sunrise and its sequel Before Sunset (shot in Paris), where Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy meet on a train and get to know each other in a day before going their separate ways, then meeting up in Paris nine years on.

Kisses From Paris does nothing to dispel the myth of Paris as a city for lovers and not all of us have a Louis Garrel look-a-like to kiss all over town, but it offers a new, alternative Paris to fall in love with.

To find out more about ‘le nouveau Paris’ and to win a trip to Paris, visit the website.

To celebrate LGBT Pride month music-blogger quietcore recently blogged an interesting collection of cover songs by LGBT artists. These blowin’ your cover-posts features music by gay(-friendly) artists inlcuding many of our community’s favorites.

Queer classics like “I will survive” (in a pretty laid-back version by Jill Sobule), “a little respect” (by wheatus and through all the electric guitars still as catchy as the original) or “do you really want to hurt me?” (this time by violent femmes) are no surprises in this context. While songs like “you don’t own me”, “my love” and “are u that somebody” provide more of my beloved SUBTEXT-flavour.

click and listen:

• pt. 1

• pt. 2

• pt. 3

Chanteur canado-américain, né en 1973, beaucoup le connaissent pour sa chanson dans Shrek, Hallelujah (si, si, tout ceux à qui j’en ai parlé ne connaissent que cette chanson).

Si j’en parle aujourd’hui, c’est parce que j’aime beaucoup sa musique, souvent pleine d’émotion. Évidemment, je ne peux pas mettre tous les titres que j’aime de lui ou sinon, la liste serait bien trop longue.

- Hallelujah (que j’aime énormément):

- I Eat Dinner (que j’aime tout autant):

- Across the Universe:

- Going to a Town:

Ok, Paste. You got 50 slots to fill with what you thought were the best albums from 2000-2009. I wrote a top 10 list, so there were some great albums that just barely missed the cut–and they didn’t make your list, either, Paste. I mean, with 40 more slots to fill than I had, you could have at least included the following.

21. Gorillaz — Gorillaz (2001)

20. The Dresden Dolls — Yes, Virginia (2006)

19. Belle and Sebastian — The Life Pursuit (2006)

18. The Black Keys — Attack and Release (2008)

17. Stereolab — Chemical Chords (2008)

16. Muse — Absolution (2003, U.K./2004, U.S.)

15. The Raveonettes — Lust Lust Lust (2007, U.K./2008, U.S.)

14. Rufus Wainwright — Want One (2003) [made the Paste list]

13. The White Stripes — Get Behind Me Satan (2005)

12. Regina Spektor — Begin to Hope (2006)

11. Loretta Lynn — Van Lear Rose (2004) [made the Paste list]

Kuumeisena kotona tarkastelen kuvataideopettajuutta vähän toisenlaiselta suunnalta:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M1ReFah2lCQ

Kyseessä on siis YouTube-video, jolla Rufus Wainwright esittää suorassa lähetyksessä kappaleensa ”The Art Teacher”. YouTube videon pohjalta voisi kirjoittaa paljonkin siitä, millainen materiaali, aineisto ja millaiset lähteet ovat tutkijalle ja/tai tutkimukselle [eri asia osin!] olennaisia, välttämättömiä – mitkä taas muuten vaan raikastavia ja “pöllyttäviä”. Millaisia näkökulmia tutkimuskysymykseen voi jokin outo lähde avata: kuinka moni onkaan ihastunut (tai rakastunutkin) opettajaansa ja mitä kaikkea se voi tuottaa? Ihmiselämään yleisesti, opetustilanteeseen, opettajalle, oppilaalle… ? Millainen suhde opettajalla on opettamaansa aineeseen – miten se näkyy opetuksessa, luokkahuoneen tunnelmassa jne.?

Tässä vielä kyseisen biisin lyriikat, jos niistä on vaikea saada selvää videolta:

“The Art Teacher”

There I was in uniform

Looking at the art teacher

I was just a girl then;

Never have I loved since then

He was not that much older than I was

He had taken our class to the Metropolitan Museum

He asked us what our favorite work of art was,

But never could I tell it was him

Oh, I wish I could tell him –

Oh, I wish I could have told him

I looked at the Rubens and Rembrandts

I liked the John Singer Sargents

He told me he liked Turner

Never have I turned since then

No, never have I turned to any other man

All this having been said,

I married an executive company head

All this having been done, a Turner – I own one

Here I am in this uniformish, pant-suit sort of thing,

Thinking of the art teacher

I was just a girl then;

Never have I loved since then

No, never have I loved any other man