Watching the Wheels (John Lennon) - This is one of those songs that makes me want to play guitar (so I can sing).
Maybe You Are (Asaf Avidan) - link to his MySpace. It's the 5th song.
I'm just reading Bob Dylan's autobiography (Chronicles volume 1), wonder what he'd think of this 2008 folk singer.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Harley-Davidson, mid-October
There are these moments when everything comes together. A fog lifts. Mundane objects you were gazing at become clear and crisp. Your blood seems to be pumping stronger. Every thought that wells up in your mind tastes delicious. You savor every song that comes on the radio.
Weak (Asaf Avidan & the Mojos)
I'm sure everyone will have their own explanation, be it spiritual, psychological, new age mumbo-jumbo, the freaking "Zone". I just know it's all biochemistry but I can never put my finger on it exactly. It probably has something to do with a strong cup of "Bahia tea" (with cocoa and coconut flavors in it) and a higher than usual ratio of dietary fat, but those two factors are not enough. I'm going to keep chasing it until I find out what it is that suddenly makes me feel like a Harley Davidson and when I have the Golden Snitch in my hand I will cure the world.
Weak (Asaf Avidan & the Mojos)
I'm sure everyone will have their own explanation, be it spiritual, psychological, new age mumbo-jumbo, the freaking "Zone". I just know it's all biochemistry but I can never put my finger on it exactly. It probably has something to do with a strong cup of "Bahia tea" (with cocoa and coconut flavors in it) and a higher than usual ratio of dietary fat, but those two factors are not enough. I'm going to keep chasing it until I find out what it is that suddenly makes me feel like a Harley Davidson and when I have the Golden Snitch in my hand I will cure the world.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Feeling weak in the knees
Layla (Eric Clapton) again, but for a different reason.
Vidui (Confession)
Words: Alexander Penn. Music: Sasha Argov. Performed by Yehudit Ravitz.
Vidui (Confession)
Words: Alexander Penn. Music: Sasha Argov. Performed by Yehudit Ravitz.
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Songs of August 2008
Ordinary World (Duran Duran) - In the nearby Irish Pub a band started playing this song to warm up. My eyes lit up and I RAN inside and sang it without stopping for a week. It was clear and strong and washed a way all the flotsam of doubt while it played.
Shir Preida (Shlomo and Ben Artzi) - "Farewell Song". I couldn't find a clip online.
Shackles (Mary Mary)
The last two are self-explanatory - just my state of mind for a day.
Lay, Lady, Lay (Bob Dylan) - I opened Bob Dylan's autobiography where he told about playing this song to some friends, and of course it came on the radio two days later.
Shir Preida (Shlomo and Ben Artzi) - "Farewell Song". I couldn't find a clip online.
Shackles (Mary Mary)
The last two are self-explanatory - just my state of mind for a day.
Lay, Lady, Lay (Bob Dylan) - I opened Bob Dylan's autobiography where he told about playing this song to some friends, and of course it came on the radio two days later.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
July, 2008 Beginning.
Livkot Lecha ("Cry for you") - Aviv Geffen
This song is associated in most people's minds with the murder of Prime Minister Rabin. I had a near terminal argument with a dear friend when it came on, and it fit my mood.
An interview with Olympic gymnast Alicia Sacramone.
Actually, it's been mostly talk radio lately:
Why I Don't Want To Power Clean 315 Pounds - Tough love from Charles Staley.
And even tougher love from Dave Tate.
I guess tough love is what I've been getting from my friend. At least I hope so.
From The Trouble With Testosterone by Robert M. Sapolsky. Here he approaches one of the questions I've been asking myself all my life. Are we our biology? Is there free will? Does it matter?
This song is associated in most people's minds with the murder of Prime Minister Rabin. I had a near terminal argument with a dear friend when it came on, and it fit my mood.
An interview with Olympic gymnast Alicia Sacramone.
Actually, it's been mostly talk radio lately:
Why I Don't Want To Power Clean 315 Pounds - Tough love from Charles Staley.
And even tougher love from Dave Tate.
I guess tough love is what I've been getting from my friend. At least I hope so.
From The Trouble With Testosterone by Robert M. Sapolsky. Here he approaches one of the questions I've been asking myself all my life. Are we our biology? Is there free will? Does it matter?
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Stranger in Paradise continued
I heard the version I was looking for on the radio and managed to catch enough of the words to google it.
Prince Igor - Warren G feat. Sissel Kyrkjebo
Prince Igor - Warren G feat. Sissel Kyrkjebo
Friday, June 20, 2008
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Sadurday, June 7 - tuning into the force of creativity
You Don't Know Me (Caetano Veloso) - flipped the switch. From the album Transa: wonderful, forceful, lovely craziness.
Friday, June 6, 2008
Late May Songs
American Boy (Estelle feat. Kanye West) - on the radio all day long.
I got a sudden hankering for Walt Disney's "Fantasia", which I haven't seen since I was a kid (I won't post a video - get the DVD).
I watched it without a thought or a doubt buzzing in the background, engrossed, with such rich pleasure I might have been five years old.
It also reminded me it was my childhood dream to be a Disney animator. It must have been marvelous in those days (before they sold their souls to computer graphics).
"Va, Pensiero" from the opera Nabucco (Guiseppe Verdi) - I sang it in choir in 9th grade. It's a great shower song too. I haven't sung in the shower probably since 9th grade.
Here is another favorite shower song from back then: "Bring Him Home" from the musical Les Miserables. (We sang a medley of Les Miserables songs in the same choir.)
One more from my 9th grade choir: Jabula Jesu (Zulu folk song/arrangement). I love youtube for this.
The Ballad of John and Yoko (The Beatles) - "The way things are going, they're gonna crucify me," I thought.
I got a sudden hankering for Walt Disney's "Fantasia", which I haven't seen since I was a kid (I won't post a video - get the DVD).
I watched it without a thought or a doubt buzzing in the background, engrossed, with such rich pleasure I might have been five years old.
It also reminded me it was my childhood dream to be a Disney animator. It must have been marvelous in those days (before they sold their souls to computer graphics).
"Va, Pensiero" from the opera Nabucco (Guiseppe Verdi) - I sang it in choir in 9th grade. It's a great shower song too. I haven't sung in the shower probably since 9th grade.
Here is another favorite shower song from back then: "Bring Him Home" from the musical Les Miserables. (We sang a medley of Les Miserables songs in the same choir.)
One more from my 9th grade choir: Jabula Jesu (Zulu folk song/arrangement). I love youtube for this.
The Ballad of John and Yoko (The Beatles) - "The way things are going, they're gonna crucify me," I thought.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
It followed me home...
and it was so cute, I let it stay. Though generally I loathe Greek music.
Pitzirika (Eyal Golan & Trifonas)
Pitzirika (Eyal Golan & Trifonas)
Saturday, May 17, 2008
A Train of Songs
The search for "Valerie" took me on an associative journey from performance to performance:
Son of a Preacher Man (Joss Stone) - originally Dusty Springfield. Wow. The girl generated enough raw energy doing this song to light up London. It sounded oddly misdirected to me though - she screams her heart out on the words "son of a preacher man!" as though she is screaming for the dying children in Africa, or the hopelessness of the human condition, at the very least.
Joss Stone and Melissa Etheridge singing a tribute to Janis Joplin - Joss's performance is skillful but flat and soulless here to my taste, but Melissa ROCKS. I admit I clicked on the video because of the image of her bald head.
Bruce Springsteen and Melissa Etheridge, Thunder Road. It looks like an indoor performance but I can smell the grass and dusty night air.
Son of a Preacher Man (Joss Stone) - originally Dusty Springfield. Wow. The girl generated enough raw energy doing this song to light up London. It sounded oddly misdirected to me though - she screams her heart out on the words "son of a preacher man!" as though she is screaming for the dying children in Africa, or the hopelessness of the human condition, at the very least.
Joss Stone and Melissa Etheridge singing a tribute to Janis Joplin - Joss's performance is skillful but flat and soulless here to my taste, but Melissa ROCKS. I admit I clicked on the video because of the image of her bald head.
Bruce Springsteen and Melissa Etheridge, Thunder Road. It looks like an indoor performance but I can smell the grass and dusty night air.
Saturday, May 17
This is a song that's played for days on end in the past. I love it.
I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues (Elton John)
Later I was driving alone and I was listening to the radio, not just letting it play as a background to my thoughts:
All I Wanna Do (Sheryl Crow)
I love the way the "putt" sound of the drum tap plus hand clapping echoes the consonant sound as she says "All".
I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues (Elton John)
Later I was driving alone and I was listening to the radio, not just letting it play as a background to my thoughts:
All I Wanna Do (Sheryl Crow)
I love the way the "putt" sound of the drum tap plus hand clapping echoes the consonant sound as she says "All".
Memorial Day / Independence Day, 2008
I refused to turn on the radio and hear the depressing songs all through Memorial Day this year, but as it was fading into Independence Day that evening I listened to this one by Ha-Yehudim:
Lo Kal (translation: Not Easy)
And recalled this one:
Hazman Shelach (translation: Your Time)
Then on Independence Day itself:
So Far (Habanot Nechama)
Lo Kal (translation: Not Easy)
And recalled this one:
Hazman Shelach (translation: Your Time)
Then on Independence Day itself:
So Far (Habanot Nechama)
Friday, May 2, 2008
Wednesday and Thursday, May 1
Two Israeli covers.
Inti Omri (Micah Shitrit; originally Umm Kulthum)
Smooth Criminal/"Annie, are you OK?" (J.Viewz; originally by Michael Jackson) - click on the icon below the photo to listen.
Never heard the originals before.
Actually, I never even listened to the cover versions I'm posting, just heard them on the car radio in the background, but they were retained.
Inti Omri (Micah Shitrit; originally Umm Kulthum)
Smooth Criminal/"Annie, are you OK?" (J.Viewz; originally by Michael Jackson) - click on the icon below the photo to listen.
Never heard the originals before.
Actually, I never even listened to the cover versions I'm posting, just heard them on the car radio in the background, but they were retained.
Friday, April 25, 2008
Friday, April 26
Layla (Eric Clapton)
Today was a day of thinking serious thoughts about the future. Late at night my friend O and I went to a cafe and talked about these thoughts. As we were leaving this song came on. I predict it and the thoughtful mood will be with me for a few more days.
Today was a day of thinking serious thoughts about the future. Late at night my friend O and I went to a cafe and talked about these thoughts. As we were leaving this song came on. I predict it and the thoughtful mood will be with me for a few more days.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
The music for this week
Have you ever had the experience where some intangible factors, in the feel and smell of the air, the particular lighting of the current season align together to exactly recreate the "feel" of a certain memory of a time in your mind, and you find yourself as if in a dream, feeling yourself as you were in that memory? And the other parts of this memory are conjured up, a feeling, a person or a song you haven't thought of in a long time.
This week, a wave of dry heat and a street roda at twilight, and for days the feel of the time exactly one year ago was thinly superimposed over my daily experience. This is the song,
Nestor Capoeira's presentation (the first minute of the video)
and a part of the performance we were preparing then, in which this song was the opening (unfortunately I don't have a video of the beginning of the show).
Batizado - Spring 2007, Professor Ido. The performers here are Grito, Apache and Nativo.
This week, a wave of dry heat and a street roda at twilight, and for days the feel of the time exactly one year ago was thinly superimposed over my daily experience. This is the song,
Nestor Capoeira's presentation (the first minute of the video)
and a part of the performance we were preparing then, in which this song was the opening (unfortunately I don't have a video of the beginning of the show).
Batizado - Spring 2007, Professor Ido. The performers here are Grito, Apache and Nativo.
People CAN change.
David Rendall cleared up his point in his comment to the previous post.
People CAN change, it's undeniable. People can turn their life around by conscious decision. Smokers quit, once-obese ladies do figure competitions, workaholics escape the rat race. BUT these examples are few and far between.
I think many people have a habit or personality trait that they wish they could change, they feel if they succeeded their life would be hugely improved. They are aware of what they need to change, they appear to try to change it, but most of them never will. So the next question is, How do people change? What's different about the efforts or the journey of someone who has made a successful change, and someone who fails over and over again? And how can a person of the latter description finally leave behind them the accumulating "History of Failures"?
Here is a small summary and analysis of Personal Accounts of Successful Versus Failed Attempts at Life Change, just for a start. This tune is at the top of the charts in here, so more is forthcoming.
People CAN change, it's undeniable. People can turn their life around by conscious decision. Smokers quit, once-obese ladies do figure competitions, workaholics escape the rat race. BUT these examples are few and far between.
I think many people have a habit or personality trait that they wish they could change, they feel if they succeeded their life would be hugely improved. They are aware of what they need to change, they appear to try to change it, but most of them never will. So the next question is, How do people change? What's different about the efforts or the journey of someone who has made a successful change, and someone who fails over and over again? And how can a person of the latter description finally leave behind them the accumulating "History of Failures"?
Here is a small summary and analysis of Personal Accounts of Successful Versus Failed Attempts at Life Change, just for a start. This tune is at the top of the charts in here, so more is forthcoming.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Reading Sunday, April 20
No music for today, but here are two articles I read:
The Health Benefits of Narrative - readable and to the point.
The Freak Factor: Discovering Uniqueness by Flaunting Weakness By David Rendall
- Quote: "My experience (...) indicates that efforts to fix weaknesses are ineffective."
In other words he is saying, people can't change by conscious effort. It's not the main point of the article but it's a big question, a main theme in my mind. Can people change? How? Gradually vs. "making a switch"?
The Health Benefits of Narrative - readable and to the point.
The Freak Factor: Discovering Uniqueness by Flaunting Weakness By David Rendall
- Quote: "My experience (...) indicates that efforts to fix weaknesses are ineffective."
In other words he is saying, people can't change by conscious effort. It's not the main point of the article but it's a big question, a main theme in my mind. Can people change? How? Gradually vs. "making a switch"?
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
An answer to my prayers
Finally a way to find a song when you don't know the title, artist or even a scrap of lyrics. midomi.com finds songs by the tune you hum or sing (in gibberish) into the microphone.
I found this tune which I'm sure you will recognize. It's based on a theme from the opera Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin (no, I had never heard of him before). I couldn't find the version I know, but there are many many versions of this weird melody from jazz style to Anime theme song Garden of Everything (listen till 01:30).
Stranger in Paradise (I said I like weird).
I found this tune which I'm sure you will recognize. It's based on a theme from the opera Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin (no, I had never heard of him before). I couldn't find the version I know, but there are many many versions of this weird melody from jazz style to Anime theme song Garden of Everything (listen till 01:30).
Stranger in Paradise (I said I like weird).
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Wednesday - Juno, lo-fi
Anyone Else But You (Moldy Peaches) from the movie Juno. I love it when the delivery is so guileless and simple, as you listen it feels like you are the one singing it. Here is another song that had this effect when I heard it on the radio once: Shake Sugaree (Elizabeth Cotten) - you can listen to a sample from this page.
Wednesday, March 16, afternoon
Mas Que Nada (Sergio Mendes & Black Eyed Peas) - the only piece by the Black Eyed Peas that bears listening to more than once...
I really think they are insufferable so instead of their original clip, here is one featuring their music to clips of Julie Andrews. It's such a perverted idea for a match I just had to post it.
I really think they are insufferable so instead of their original clip, here is one featuring their music to clips of Julie Andrews. It's such a perverted idea for a match I just had to post it.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Sea of Death
A couple weeks ago I was reading "Mar Morto" by Jorge Amado (in Hebrew translation), accompanied of course by the following soundtrack:
É doce morrer no mar (Dorival Caymmi sings).
É doce morrer no mar (Dorival Caymmi sings).
Beatbox on Tuesday, April 15
Today was Beatbox Day in this head. When you're in the throes of rhythm the world around you sounds like a jam session that just trailed off when you entered the room: rustles, birdsong, traffic, footsteps, your own breathing and rhythm of motion - you almost get all the sounds grooving in unison but not quite.
The factory scene from "Dancer in the Dark" starring Bjork
An autist's language (by Amanda Baggs)
Compare.
OK, and here is some beatbox. (These videos are worth watching as well as listening to.)
Felix Zenger - a real pro, almost too clean and perfect to be real...
Michael Jackson (clip 1) (clip 2) - incredibly talented, all other things aside.
Will Smith - just funny...
Baiana (Barbatuques) from a previous post also starts with some cute beatbox.
At the end of the day I calmed down:
Teardrop (Massive Attack)
The factory scene from "Dancer in the Dark" starring Bjork
An autist's language (by Amanda Baggs)
Compare.
OK, and here is some beatbox. (These videos are worth watching as well as listening to.)
Felix Zenger - a real pro, almost too clean and perfect to be real...
Michael Jackson (clip 1) (clip 2) - incredibly talented, all other things aside.
Will Smith - just funny...
Baiana (Barbatuques) from a previous post also starts with some cute beatbox.
At the end of the day I calmed down:
Teardrop (Massive Attack)
Monday, April 14
While my Guitar Gently Weeps (George Harrison)
The guitar solo kept me up at night...
The guitar solo kept me up at night...
Monday, April 14, 2008
Sunday, April 13 song
Negrume da Noite (Blackness of the Night) - Here sung by Virginia Rodriguez.
(I don't watch these videos by the way, only listen to them - just ignore the visuals.)
(I don't watch these videos by the way, only listen to them - just ignore the visuals.)
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Ladainha
Eu sou feito de sangue e suor
Foi talhado de orgulho e magía
O meu pai foi criado na dôr
Minha mãe negra escrava Maria
Eu nasci num cantinho do inferno
Cujo nome chamava senzala
Eu durmo escutando gemido
Enquanto a chicote me embalha
O meu corpo marcado de acoite
Minha boca colada de sede
Eu rezo por antepassados
Deitando dentro de uma rede.
Vamos embora, Camarada,
Camara, vamos embora.
The March 08 Playlist
Easy (Faith No More)
- This one played for two weeks. (Attach full meaning.)
Aguas de Marco
- Thanks to Amitai.
Me & Bobby McGee (Janis Joplin)
- I was walking down the street and I saw written in the wall, by the entrance to someone's house: "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose." It caught on (attach no meaning though).
The Ladainha that Itapua Beiramar sang in our roda. (See next post)
Wuthering Heights (Kate Bush)
- I like weird.
Twist in My Sobriety (Tanita Tikaram)
- This one played for two weeks. (Attach full meaning.)
Aguas de Marco
- Thanks to Amitai.
Me & Bobby McGee (Janis Joplin)
- I was walking down the street and I saw written in the wall, by the entrance to someone's house: "Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose." It caught on (attach no meaning though).
The Ladainha that Itapua Beiramar sang in our roda. (See next post)
Wuthering Heights (Kate Bush)
- I like weird.
Twist in My Sobriety (Tanita Tikaram)
I always have a song playing in the background of my mind. I can be singing the same song for a week, or it might change during the day. Sometimes it's just a song I heard that got caught in my head (I even catch the school recess bell melody if I'm not careful). Often it reflects my mood, state of mind, the thoughts I'm preoccupied with. Hearing a song can make me recall exactly how it felt inside my head the last time it was playing in there.
I'm going to use this blog to track the playlist in my head.
I'm going to use this blog to track the playlist in my head.
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