BRING 'EM BACK HOME

Here we are 10 days from Christmas and I can't help thinking about our lads abroad. My nephew's out there, somewhere. They never tell you where, though... shhhh...Military Secret!

So many have died.

They haven't stopped dying, you know. They started dying during the local tribal wars. They fought and died against the Romans. They died when the Vikings came over. They died during the Norman conquest. They died on the American Continent. They died fighting the French, the Spaniards, the Germans, and almost every other nation in Europe. They went on dying further away from home, in Africa, in India, in the Middle East. How many fields are soaked with their blood? How many lands have become their final resting place? How many homes have been shattered by the death of their younger members, and their older members, or by the injuries that were inflicted on them? How long must our boys and girls go on fighting other people's wars away from home? Were we invited there I wonder? Did we ask our lads for their opinion? Did they volounteer to go? Are we now more comfortable in our centrally-heated homes and our aerodinamic-designed cars and the latest telecom gadgets because of their supreme sacrifice? Was it really worth it? To us, I mean; to the people. Not to the petrol companies or their shareholders, or the arms manufacturers; No I'm sure they're not terribly concerned. "Keep it flowing" is their motto; whatever the cost.

Well I say the cost is too high. I say let's make sure that if the lads have to go and face death they do it with their eyes wide open and on a strictly voluntary basis. No Briton should ever be forced again to die far from home. I should think a National Debate is long overdue. Let's ALL do something about it. If you are short of ideas, then copy this posting and send it to the Prime Minister, or to your head of government, to your MP or to your Government Representative. And why not to the newspapers? In fact to anyone with any kind of influence. Let's do everything possible to bring them back home.... and to keep them here.

I chose this song because of my nephew's Scottish ancestry, on his father's side. But mostly I chose it to honour those who didn't make it back home. We used to gather round the fireplace on New year's Eve and watch Andy Stewart's show on TV. We all loved him. God bless you Andy for the many hours of joy you gave us, and God bless you lads and lasses, wherever you may be posted. Come home safely and may Xmas be a happy occasion for you all.

Here's the video (Composed by Andy Stewart himself) below. It was posted on youtube.com by chizz32 on 29th july 2008. Thanks chizz32. Enjoy .... and don't forget our lads!

There was a soldier, a Scottish soldier, who wandered far away, and soldiered far away.
There was none bolder, with good broad shoulder. He'd fought in many a fray, and fought and won.
He's seen the glory and told the story of battles glorious and deeds victorious.
But now he's sighing, his heart is crying to leave those green hills of Tyrol.
Because those green hills are not highland hills,
or the island hills, they're not my land's hills.
And fair as these green foreign hills may be
they are not the hills of home
And now this soldier, this Scottish soldier who wandered far away, and soldiered far away,
sees leaves are falling, and death is calling and he will fade away, in that far land.
He called his piper, his trusted piper and bade him sound alay, a pi-broch sad to play
up on a hillside, but Scottish hillside, not on those green hills of Tyrol...
Chorus
And so this soldier, this Scottish soldier will wander far no more, and soldier far no more,
and on a hillside, a Scottish hillside, you'll see a piper play his soldier home.
He's seen the glory, he's told the story of battles glorious and deeds victorious.
The bugles cease now, he is at peace now far from those green hills of Tyrol..
Chorus

A BEAUTIFUL DUET

This is a lovely song recommended to me by my son and his wife. It was sung at the 2007 Latin Grammy Awards. One of the best duets I've ever heard, Andrea Bocelli (tenor) and Laura Pausini, both italians, were probably the best part of the evening. The melody is so powerful and the words are just so ... right. Live your life without fear; you need experiences to create memories.

Here's the video, with lyrics below. (For an English/Italian version click on Dare to Live photo on the left)


VIVE YA -
Sung by Andrea Bocelli and Laura Pausini

Mira el mañana ahora y no al ayer y las cosas que dejaste atrás
y las palabras tiernas, sin decir abrazos que no encontrarás.
Rostros sin nombre van entre la gente. No hay nada cierto, todo es aparente.
Yo tan solo tengo a mi vida

Vive ya, atrévete a vivir a fondo. Vive ya, que tus recuerdos van pasando.
Vive ya, intenta dar a los demás de ti hasta cuando pienses que no tienes nada más.

Mas si tuvieses al hombre al pie de los balcones, que duerme envuelto entre cartones.
Si tu escuchas al mundo una mañana sin el sonido de la lluvia. Vos que no lo creas estás presente. Tú, piensas en lo que piensa la gente. Dios, después de ti estás sólo tú

Vive ya, aunque ninguno te ha enseñado. Vive ya, no se puede vivir sin un pasado.
Vive ya, espera aunque no lo pediste tú, porque canciones siempre habrá y siempre alguno que las cantará.

Vive ya, buscando el amor verdadero
(¿Por qué, por qué, por qué, por qué, no vives esta noche?)
Vive ya, sabes muy bien lo que te estoy diciendo
(¿Por qué, por qué, por qué, por qué …..?)
Vive ya, atrévete a vivir a fondo
(¿Por qué, por qué, por qué, …?)
tu vida solo puedes dar porque ya es tuya
(¿Por qué, por qué, por qué,……?)
Vive ya...
Te digo no ...... Te digo sí ....... Atrévete.... Y vive

LOVE OF MY LIFE

The words used were "Disappointing", "poor", and "not the same". I am of course referring to the Queen + Paul Rodgers Tour.

I was never really a fan of Queen, though I have to admit that Freddy Mercury's voice is outstanding. The lyrics are also good, and some of their songs are quite exeptional.

This one's my favourite. Written and composed by Freddy mercury, it first appeared on the night at the Opera album.

Spanish readers may be interested in this link:
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_of_My_Life
whereas English readers will no doubt prefer the following one: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_of_My_Life
Video and lyrics, as usual. Enjoy.


Love of my life, you hurt me. You've broken my heart and now you leave me.
Love of my life can't you see. Bring it back, bring it back. Don't take it away from me,
because you dont know what it means to me. (beautiful)
Love of my life dont leave me. You've stolen my love, you now now desert me.
Love of my life cant you see. Bring it back, bring it back. Don't take it away from me,
because you dont know what it means to me.
You will remember when this is blown over and everything's all by the way.
When I grow older, I will be there at your side to remind you how I still love you, I still love you.
Hurry back. Hurry back. Don't take it away from me,
because you don't know what it means to me.
Love of my life,Love of my life.
OOOHHH.

L'AMITIÉ & FRANCOISE HARDY

I first heard this song at the end of a film "Les invasions barbares", a really touching and moving story about dying with dignity, surrounded by friends. I strongly recommend it.
The video, an early playback, does not really do justice to the song, but Francoise Hardy's voice is so pure! I can listen to her all day.

Beaucoup de mes amis sont venus des nuages Avec soleil et pluie comme simple bagage

Ils ont fait la saison des amitiés sincères La plus belle saison des quatre de la terre

Ils ont cette douceur des plus beaux paysages Et la fidélité des oiseaux de passage.

Dans leur cœur est gravée une infinie tendresse Mais parfois dans leurs yeux se glisse la tristesse!!

Alors ils viennent se chauffer chez moi Et toi aussi tu viendras

Tu pourras repartir au fin fond des nuages Et de nouveau sourire à bien d'autres visages

Donner autour de toi un peu de ta tendresse Lorsqu'un autre voudra te cacher sa tristesse. Comme l'on ne sait pas ce que la vie nous donne Qu'il se peut qu'à mon tour je ne sois plus personne.

S'il me reste un ami qui vraiment me comprenne J'oublierai à la fois mes larmes et mes peines Alors peut-être je viendrai chez toi Chauffer mon cœur à ton bois.

A HAPPY SONG

A few days ago, I found myself humming a catchy tune. It was a while before I realised what song it was and it took me back to my teens, and my first girlfriend, Rosemary (Rosy). I wonder what’s become of her? Anyway, here’s the song, “Love grows” by Edison Lighthouse (singer Tony Burrows – who left them only a year later) -a lovely, happy tune from the late sixties. Believe it or not, this group is still in demand as a live act, a testimony of their ability to entertain audiences.
Hope you enjoy it; Lyrics below the video.


Words and music by Tony Macauley & Barry Mason
She ain't got no money, her clothes are kinda funny, her hair is kinda wild and free.
Oh, but Love grows where my Rosemary goes and nobody knows like me.
She talks kinda lazy and people say she's crazy and her life's a mystery.
Oh, but Love grows where my Rosemary goes and nobody knows like me.

There's something about her hand holding mine, it's a feeling that's fine. and I just gotta say:
She's really got a magical spell and it's working so well that I can't get away.

I'm a lucky fella and I've just got to tell her that I love her endlessly,
because Love grows where my Rosemary goes and nobody knows like me.

AMY WINEHOUSE

What can I say about this remarkable English singer (London) that hasn't been said before? 25 years old, jazz/soul, MTV award, Grammy Award, Best Song Award for "Rehab", Best female singer, best..., best... & best... I could go on.

Just listen to this tremendous voice singing a really powerful song: Rehab by Amy Winehouse - from the album "Back from Black". The video is from the Glastonbury Concert.
Lyrics below. Enjoy

(official page - worth a visit: http://www.amywinehouse.co.uk/)


They tried to make me go to rehab, I said no, no, no. Yes I been black, but when I come back, you won't know, know, know. I ain’t got the time and if my daddy thinks I'm fine. He’s tried to make me go to rehab, I wont go, go, go.
I’d rather be at home with Ray. I ain’t got 70 days, 'Cos there’s nothing, there's nothing you can teach me that I can’t learn from Mister Hathaway. I didn’t get a lot in class, but I know it don’t come in a shot glass. They’re trying to make me go to rehab, etc..
The man said, why you think you're here? I said, I got no idea. I'm gonna, I'm gonna loose my baby, so I always keep a bottle near. Said, I just think you’re depressed, kiss me, yeah baby, and the rest. They're trying to make me go to rehab, etc.
I don’t ever wanna drink again I just, ooo, need a friend. I'm not gonna spend 10 weeks, have everyone think I'm on the mend. It’s not just my pride. It’s just till these tears have dried
They’re trying to make me go to rehab, etc..

BYE BYE BLACKBIRD

There are so many versions of this old favourite that it wasn't easy to decide on one in particular. It really is a sad song, but so many singers give it a happy treatment. I'm not sure about its origins though it would appear that it was composed by Ray henderson (music) and Mort Dixon (lyrics) in 1926. I chose this very pretty, slow version sung by Olivia newton-John in the opening of the film "The Wilde girls" where she stars with her daughter.

Peggy Lee's version is also an interesting one, though a little older, as it includes a spoken part. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYHeiSz425A&feature=related)

Here's the song. Lyrics below. Enjoy.


Pack up all my cares and woes, here I go, singing low. Bye, bye, blackbird.

Where somebody waits for me, sugar's sweet, so is he. Bye, bye, blackbird.

No one here can love or understand me,

Oh, what hard luck stories they all hand me.

Make my bed and light the light, I'll arrive late tonight. Blackbird, bye, bye.

ELTON JOHN

Which song? There are so many. Daniel? Nikita? Candle in the wind? The man's a genius and his music has rocked us and knocked us during the last four decades. Crocodile Rock? Need I go on? Anyway, one of my favourites is this one: "Something about the way you look tonight". Great lyrics, beautiful music, and Elton sounds at his very best. The model, of course, is Kate moss... at HER best. Lyrics below. Enjoy.

Something about the way you look tonight.
Music by Elton John - Lyrics by Bernie Taupin
Available on the album The Big Picture

There was a time, I was everything and nothing all in one. / When you found me, I was feeling like a cloud across the sun. / I need to tell you, how you light up every second of the day. / But in the moonlight, you just shine like a beacon on the bay. /And I can't explain, but it's something about the way you look tonight, takes my breath away. / It's that feeling I get about you, deep inside. /And I can't describe, but it's something about the way you look tonight, takes my breath away. / The way you look tonight. / With a smile, you pull the deepest secrets from my heart. / In all honesty, I'm speechless and I don't know where to start. etc..

TOKYO HOTEL

Here's something a little more up to date. Tokyo Hotel's "Scream", the English version of their 2005 German hit "Schrei". I detect a certain similarity in style between parts of this song and the Oasis hit "Don't look back in anger" - which I particularly like - (Watch out. Stay awake /And so, Sally can wait). Anyway, here's their video. Lyrics, as usual, on the left. Enjoy.
By the way, the singer's pronounciation in English is really good, don't you think?

IT'S MY LIFE

Here I am, sitting at home with my grandson, talking about music. He's not twelve yet and he's already strumming his father's guitar and making interesting sounds.

Anyway, we're trying to find common ground, songs that we both like, and it turns out that he's a Bon Jovi fan! He went to see them when they came to Barcelona last month.

(http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=KDrzqV3sR3c ).

I thought this song, that we both like, was a good example of Bon Jovi's music to add to my collection of favourites. I'm sure you'll enjoy this unplugged version where you can make out the words a bit better.

Lyrics on the left.

LONELINESS

I don't remember ever really suffering from this, though I know others who do. It really is terribly sad to discover that a lot of people ARE lonely. But what IS loneliness? Who suffers from it? What causes it? When does it occur? Can it be cured?

I can't honestly pretend to be able to answer all these questions, and quite frankly I'm not sure I'm qualified to try and do so. I have done a little research on the subject, though, and I'm convinced that you can deal effectively with loneliness by increasing your physical and social activities. Join a club, any club, or an association, any association. Take up a new activity, a new hobby, such as painting, or pottery, or solving puzzles, or making small models. Design your own clothes, write a book, or a diary, or poetry. Read, and read, and read: other people's experiences will undoubtedly make your own suffering lighter. Chat on the internet, or by sms. Send e-mails. Look for information on the internet - there are literally millions of interesting webs you can browse through. Reach out, with your hand, with your phone, with your mind. There's always someone out there waiting for YOUR call.

But above all, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. You probably don't think it's true, but you are the object of admiration of more than one person. Other people really do like you. Other people love you. Other people think you're great, fun, interesting. DON'T LET YOUR SELF-ESTEEM GET LOW. Try looking at yourself in the mirror every morning and say to yourself over and over again: "I AM SPECIAL, I AM SPECIAL" Because you really ARE special. I think, I really do think, you're very special.

Although ultimately commercial, these links seem interesting.
http://www.selfesteem4women.com/index.php?ad=
http://www.retirement-matters.co.uk/gparchive/loneliness.htm
http://www.seniors.gov.au/internet/seniors/publishing.nsf/Content/Loneliness+and+social+isolation
Spanish speaking readerswill find these links quite useful.
http://revista.consumer.es/web/es/20011001/interiormente/
http://www.elmundo.es/magazine/m64/textos/soledad1.html

Some songs that tackle "loneliness are:
Goodbye my loneliness by Zard (will really make you feel on top of the world!)
Loneliness by Tomcraft / The loneliness by Babyface / Killing loneliness by HIM /
4 seasons of loneliness by Boyz II men / love steals us from loneliness by Idlewild /AND MORE

Here's one song, though, that stands high above the rest. The lyrics are beautiful, the music is lovely, the voice is so special - Gladys Knight - Help me make it through the night. I just Love it! She starts by dedicating it to "especially for all of you out there...." . (Try Elvis Presley's version too - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U2yMPsAsHQY

APOLOGIES and PEACE CONCERT

First of all, I want to apologise publicly to Georgina for spelling her name wrongly. I'm sorry georgina, I thought it was spelt the Italian way.

Next week - on Thursday 26th, to be precise - we're holding a peace concert at the FIAC Escola d'Idiomes in Sabadell. (C/Fortuny - touching near Plaza d'Angel). The occasion is the end of the course. Some of the teachers there thought we could also pay a tribute to all the students who demonstrated against war and injustice in 1968 (Paris, especially).

One of the songs we'll sing is a 1963 Bob Dylan classic: "Blowing in the wind".

Here's a video from youtube.com. It's an original version sung by Bob Dylan and Joan Baez - two giants of the protest song movement. The lyrics are on the left.

WA, YEAH

A few days ago, while zapping, I stumbled across a pop concert at the Liceu. I thought they were singing in English, at first. The group was backed by an orchestra and the tune was quite catchy. Before I could make out the words, the song had ended. However, after a short pause, they sang it again, this time in Catalan (I say Catalan, but in fact it was the Catalan spoken in Majorca, which is only slightly different, I think).

Anyway, I checked up and, to my great surprise, nobody had heard of this song until Giorgina, one of my students said:"Antonio Font". In fact, their name is Antònia Font - a curious name for an all-male group! The song was great and I really enjoyed it. I hope you enjoy it too. Video on the left. Lyrics below

WORDS AND MUSIC BY - JOAN MIQUEL OLIVER
Jo cant sa lluna i s'estrella, sa jungla i es bosc animat,

es tren, es vaixell, s' avioneta i es teu submarí aquí aparcat.

Jo cant es cafè i sa galleta, quan dius tu podries ser meu,

què sexy, que dolça i que freda, wa yeah!

Sa zebra que passa un semàfor i com se desmonta un bidet,

cosmètics i Margaret Astor, ja sé com s'escriu Juliette.

Jo cant sa rosa i es cactus i moltes més coses també,

un llapis d'Ikea, un pistatxo, wa yeah!

Què divertit lo que escric quan estic avorrit,

per exemple es teu cos, es jersei destenyit,

es carrer blanc de sol, es meu cos a damunt,

per exemple, es teu llit de penombra i llençols

amb es termo espenyat, per exemple dormits ...

Jo cant sa lluna i s'estrella, sa jungla i es bosc animat,

es tren, es vaixell, s'avioneta i es teu submarí aquí aparcat.

Jo cant sa fruita vermella i quan acabi riuré,

calàpets, nenúfars, princeses, wa yeah!

REPEAT TWICE - from "Què divertit ..... to .... dormits ..."

On the death of BO DIDDLEY

The great man has just passed away.

Most of my younger readers have probably never heard of him. He created the rythm: TUM - tu - tum -TUM - space - TUM TUM (also known as the Bo Diddley beat and copied since by a large number of groups and singers).

You can read his full biography in English at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_Diddley

and in Spanish at:
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_Diddley

Here's a great video (posted by "fredys" on youtube.com - thanks, fredy) taken from the 1972 or '73 film "Let The Good Times Roll". It shows Bo Diddleys in great form; a truly unbeatable sound.

Lyrics: With a beat like that...... WHO NEEDS LYRICS!

Belinda Carlisle

Belinda Carlisle's fans will know that she was the lead singer of the all-female group "The Go-Go's". Gifted with a powerful voice, she was one of the founder members of this New Wave music band. The Go-go's broke up in 1985.

B.C. went solo and, in 1993, she released her album "Real", her fifth, which was quite different from her previous work. "Big Scary Animal" , from this album, was an instant hit.

I like this song, especially the introduction. The heavy drum beat, reminiscent of a jungle tom-tom, really does transmit the strong animal feeling that passionate love can lead to.


Lyrics on the left.

For more information, try these links:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belinda_Carlisle
http://www.musica.pro/artistas/Belinda-Carlisle/

A moving ballad

I chose this song to start this blog for several reasons. In the first place, I've been a fan of Eric Clapton ever since I saw him in a concert in Camberley, Surrey. I was 18 at the time and Clapton was a member of The Cream, together with Ginger Baker on drums and Jack Bruce on the bass - see http://www.es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cream. I was absolutely captivated by his dexterity with the guitar. I wish I could play half as well!

The song itself was composed together with Will Jennings. This is what Jennings says:

"Eric and I were engaged to write a song for a movie called Rush. We wrote a song called 'Help Me Up' for the end of the movie... then Eric saw another place in the movie for a song and he said to me, 'I want to write a song about my boy.' Eric had the first verse of the song written, which, to me, is all the song, but he wanted me to write the rest of the verse lines and the release ('Time can bring you down, time can bend your knees...'), even though I told him that it was so personal he should write everything himself. He told me that he had admired the work I did with Steve Winwood and finally there was nothing else but to do as he requested, despite the sensitivity of the subject. This is a song so personal and so sad that it is unique in my experience of writing songs." – Will Jennings

The words "my boy" refer, of course, as everyone probably knows, to Eric Clapton's 4,5 year-old son who died after falling fron a 53rd floor in Manhattan. As a father myself, I can imagine the pain and suffering he and his wife must have gone through. Thankfully, he has now overcome that tragedy.

http://www.terra.com/ocio/articulo/html/oci52662.htm

The following link shows Clapton singing this beautiful song.

http://www.videos-star.com/watch.php?video=VRsJlAJvOSM