OJOS DE GATA - CAT'S EYES

This is without any doubt one of the most beautiful Spanish songs I have ever heard. The tragic death by overdose in 1999 of the singer, Enrique Urquijo, only adds to its everlasting magic. It tells of the time he met a girl and discovered he was only a simple human being.

I saw Los Secretos at the Luz de Gas in Barcelona in one of the last concerts they gave before he died. The group goes on, with his brother Alvaro at the front.... but its not quite the same.

The video is courtesy of youtube.com and, especially, jmartiramos. Thank you both.
Lyrics below, together with translation.

Fue en un pueblo con mar
(It was in aseaside town)
una noche después de un concierto.
(One night after a concert.)
Tu reinabas detrás de la barra
(You ruled behind the counter)
del único bar que vimos abierto.
(Of the only bar we found open.)
"Cántame una canción al oido
("Sing a song to my ear)
te sirvo y no pagas."
(I'll serve you and you won't pay.")
"Solo canto si tu me demuestras
("I'll only sing if you show me)
que es verde la luz de tus ojos de gata."
(that the light in your cat's eyes is green.")
Loco porque me diera las llaves de su dormitorio,
(Crazy for her to give me her bedroom keys)
esa nioche canté al piano del amanacer todo mi repertorio.
(that night I sang to the dawn's piano all of my repertoire.)
Con el "Quiero beber" el alcohol me acunó entre sus mantas
With an "I want to drink" I settled between her sheets)
y soñé con sus ojos de gata pero me olvidé que de mí algo esperaba.
(and I dreamed of her cat's eyes, but forgot she expected something of me.)
Desperté con resaca y busqué pero allí ya no estaba.
(I woke up with a hangover a looked for her but she wasn't there.)
Me dijeron que se mosqueó porque me emborraché y la usé como almohada.
(They said she got angry 'cause I got drunk and used her as a pillow.)
Comentó por ahí que yo era un chaval ordinario.
(She said I was nothing but an ordinary fellow.)
Pero ¿Cómo explicar que me vuelvo vulgar
(But how do I explain that I become ordinary)
al bajarme de cada escenario?
(Everytime I come off the stage)
Pero ¿Cómo explicar que me vuelvo vulgar
(But how do I explain that I become ordinary)
al bajarme de cada escenario?
(Everytime I come off the stage.)

MICHAEL JACKSON - A TRIBUTE

So much has been said about him that there is very little I can add; only my own impressions. Sadly, he ended up a grotesqque caricature of what I considered to be a real genius.

Unlike the other "Kings" - Elvis (rock) or Sinatra (swing) or Lennon (composer) - in addition to having a good voice and a talent for acting (see his thriller video) he could dance ..... and HOW he could dance! The man literally re-invented dancing - especially group dancing - and gave it the modern look. His choreographies were impeccable, creative, imaginative. His influence over stage dancing today is undeniable.

I want to remember him, though, as he was, in his original self, not as the surgically remastered figure that emerged in later years. That's why I chose this song, Ben. Sung in the early seventies - he was still singing with the Jackson Five then but was beginning to make a name for himself - it features the original Michael Jackson, with an excellent, though slightly immature voice. It also shows a really touching innocence which, unfortunately, was not going to last very long. I've often wondered if he didn't see himself as Ben and yearned for someone to sing this song to him.

Ben, the two of us need look no more / We both found what we were looking for /
With a friend to call my own / I'll never be alone /
And you my friend will see / You've got a friend in me (You've got a friend in me)
Ben, you're always running here and there (Here and there)
You feel you're not wanted anywhere (Anywhere)
If you ever look behind / And don't like what you find /
There's something you should know / You've got a place to go (You've got a place to go)

I used to say, "I" and "me" / Now it's "us", now it's "we" (I used to say, "I" and "me") (Now it's "us", now it's "we")

Ben, most people would turn you away / I don't listen to a word they say /
They don't see you as I do / I wish they would try to /I'm sure they'd think again / If they had a friend like Ben (A friend) Like Ben (Like Ben) Like Ben.

FRANZ FERDINAND

I suppose we all did something stupid at some time or other in our life, something we regret having done, something we probably wish we hadn´t done.

I remember a boat moored on the Thames. We were about 20 at the time and we'd had quite a bit to drink. We thought it would be fun to watch it drift down the river. So, we uncoiled the rope and gave it a little push. We then watched, first amused, and then horrified as the current gently steered it to the middle of the river towards rhe lock that loomed a short distance away in the darkness. We ran like there was no tomorrow.

SO WHO, AMONG ALL THE RIGHTEOUS PEOPLE OUT THERE WILL PICK UP THE FIRST STONE AND THROW IT.

I like this song. I like its message. I like the rythm, the music, the drive. I especially like the video, giving the impression they're walking on a treadmill in a gym, but in a very determined fashion. Good on you, lads. Sock it to them! as we used to say in my time.

Do the lyrics really need explaining? You can find some interesting comments on:

http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/The-Fallen-lyrics-Franz-Ferdinand/A368DAF6BE8037BA48257083000B359D

Here's the video, followed by the lyrics.

The Fallen - Written by: Al Bana, Al Shamobi, Marchand

LILLY ALLEN

Born in West London, this 23 year old singer was “discovered” by a teacher while she was singing an “Oasis” song in the school playground. A childhood full of contrasts – she lived in a council house but went to expensive public schools – might have been the reason for her excesses in drinking and smoking, both of which got her expelled from school and into trouble later on in life. (See full biography at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lily_Allen

Her fear that the world as we know it is doomed, that creativity will eventually disappear and that sponsorship will pay for everything is clearly evident in her latest song “The Fear”. This last point is particularly worrying when you see famous people, such as actors, public figures, sportsmen and sportswomen, advertising from shampoo to cars. Surely these people earn more than enough from their activities. They do not need to advertise and take away the bread from honest, hard-working models and advertising actors and actresses, do they? Her statement in the song that taking your clothes off is not shameful is a clear indication that our moral values have suffered a serious battering. Having taken your clothes off, what do you do next to attract attention; have sex in public? Well that’s already happening on internet, with webcams, and on our mobile phones, with videos cameras. God help the coming generations.

Here’s The Fear. Video (courtesy of youtube.com) followed by the lyrics. Enjoy.


I want to be rich and I want lots of money.
I don´t care about clever I don´t care about funny.
I want loads of clothes and fuckloads of diamonds.
I heard people die while they are trying to find them.

I´ll take my clothes off and it will be shameless,
‘Cuz everyone knows that´s how you get famous.
I´ll look at the sun and I´ll look in the mirror;
I´m on the right track yeah I´m on to a winner.
[Chorus]
I don´t know what´s right and what´s real anymore.
I don´t know how I´m meant to feel anymore.
When we think it will all become clear,
‘Cuz I´m being taken over by The Fear.

Life’s about film stars and less about mothers;
it´s all about fast cars and cussing each other.
But it doesn´t matter cause I´m packing plastic.
and that´s what makes my life so fucking fantastic.

And I am a weapon of massive consumption,
and it´s not my fault it´s how I´m programmed to function.
I´ll look at the sun and I´ll look in the mirror;
I´m on the right track yeah we're on to a winner.

ELVIS

A belated Happy New Year to all. I thought it would be nice to inaugurate it with an Elvis Presley song. I was, and remain, one of his greatest fans. The outstanding quality of his voice, his musical range, the warmth he transmits, make him, as far as I am concerned, the best pop/rock singer ever.

I especially loved his early songs. Then he started to make those awful movies! Some of the songs in them were quite good, though. Nevertheless, my all-time favourite is not one you hear very often. In fact I'm prepared to bet most of you have never heard it. It's called "There's always me" and it really is one the most beautiful and tender songs I've ever heard. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Written by Don Robertson, it was recorded by Elvis in 1961 in Nashville.
I couldn't find a "live" video, but this one's not bad. The pictures are relaxing and the words on the screen are clear. The sound is very good. Thanks YOUTUBE, and thanks Jokarilon.

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..

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!