PAVAROTTI

Two years ago, the world lost a magic voice, a voice that has enchanted millions of music lovers. Today, I'd like to remember Pavarotti not only as a great opera singer, but especiually as a man who managed to get close to the ordinary people with his repertoire of popular songs. I wonder if in heaven the angels have stopped singing in order to listen to him? WIKIPEDIA HAS AN EXTENDED BIOGRAPHY WITH SEVERAL LINKS. YOUTUBE, OF COURSE, HAS A VERY LARGE SELECTION OF HIS MUSIC.

I had the good fortune of being able to see him, together with Josep Carreras and Placido Domingo, in their last World Tour Concert on 13/7/1997 at Barcelona Football Camp; an unforgettable experience.




That was one of my favourite songs (sung by Pavarotti, of course, although in this case we also have Placido Domingo and Josep Carreras - three for the price of one!). Here are three more: two are popular Napolitan songs - "Mamma" and "Torna a Sorrento". The other one is an extraordinarily beautiful Aria, "Una furtiva lacrima". Check out the great Caruso's version at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t936rzOt3Zc

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.

BARBRA STREYSAND

What an artist! Pure magic in her voice… and such lovely songs! She has also managed to do something quite unique ….blend her voice perfectly with that of other equally great and gifted singers. I’m thinking especially of Barry Gibb (Guilty), Celine Dion (Tell him) and Neil Young (You don’t bring me flowers). Her version of Memories (from the musical “Cats”) is absolutely stunning. And what about “The way we were”? I could go on forever. Thank you, Barbra, for those wonderful, magical, unforgettable and unrepeatable evenings by the fireside, listening to your absolutely enchanting voice.
Here she is, singing “Run Wild”, one of my favourites, from the album “Guilty”. Words & music by the Gibb brothers.

I wandered into your wonderland with eyes open wide.
You turned me into your yesterday, but you will remain inside
of me, like I care for you,
Oooh, I care for you.
Run wild,
out on the edge of time, child,
carry your dreams away, love.
No one can hurt you now,
for you are an island.

I may be broken, but understand, my love will get by.
There will be others along the way, my love, they will try
to care for me like I care for you,
Oooh I care for you.
Run wild,
out on the edge of time, child,
carry your dreams away, love.
No one can hurt you now,
for you are an island.

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.

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