HOTEL CALIFORNIA - THE EAGLES

WOW! What a song.... and what a group! You can't think of them without thinking of the whole scene back in the years when so many of us protested. Has it been worth while? Of course it has. Maybe not as much as the more idealists among us wanted, but there has certainly been progress. Today's leaders were the young ones then, and they have undoubtedly been influenced by the songs written then, whether by The Beatles, Bob Dylan or The Eagles, and by the many demonstrations in which they also participated.

This song in particular brings back an awful lot of memories, not the least of them when I heard my son sing it for the first time with his group. Tears literally flooded my eyes.

And here they are, singing it unplugged, years later (1994), older, wiser, better and obviously enjoying it and very pleased with the result, as can be deduced from the mutual congratulations at the end!

Listen to it... slowly, gently, lovingly. Savour its delicious introduction, both guitar and bongos, as the tempo gradually increases, till the applause finally bursts out and those unforgettable words come out: "On a dark desert highway..." A remarkable performance. Absolutely fantastic. Unrepeatable. Simply genius. Love it. Love the Spanish guitar flavour. . Hope you will too. Lyrics below. Video courteousy of youtube.com and marvtheeguy; thank you both.




On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair,
Warm smell of colitas, rising up through the air,
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light,
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim, I had to stop for the night.
There she stood in the doorway; I heard the mission bell,
And I was thinking to myself: "This could be heaven or this could be hell".
Then she lit up a candle and she showed me the way,
There were voices down the corridor, I thought I heard them say...

"Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place, such a lovely face.
Plenty of room at the Hotel California,
Any time of year, you can find it here."

Her mind is tiffany-twisted, she got the Mercedes bends.
She got a lot of pretty, pretty boys, that she calls friends.
How they dance in the courtyard, sweet summer sweat.
Some dance to remember, some dance to forget.
So I called up the captain: "Please bring me my wine.
"He said: We haven't had that spirit here since nineteen-sixty-nine."
And still those voices are calling from far away,
Wake you up in the middle of the night just to hear them say...

"Welcome to the Hotel California
Such a lovely place, such a lovely face.
Living it up at the Hotel California,
What a nice surprise, bring your alibies."

Mirrors on the ceiling, pink champagne on ice,
And she said: "We are all just prisoners here of our own device."
And in the master's chambers, they gathered for the feast,
They stab it with their steely knives, but they just can't kill the beast.
Last thing I remember, I was running for the door,
I had to find the passage back to the place I was before.
"Relax," said the night man. "We are programmed to receive.
You can checkout any time you like, but you can never leave!"

PINK MARTINI

Curious really, just when Martini launch the pink version of their famous beverage, I go and discover this group that's been going for fifteen odd years. This is their web site and you'll find there everything you'll want to know about them.

http://pinkmartini.com/home/
And here's a video of their song "La soledad" (Loneliness). Lovely "Chopin" piano intro, rich tenor voice and a sensually delicious tango rythm that simply seduces your body into swaying to the music, all combine to make listening to it a truly enjoyable experience which I strongly recommend, just as I urge you to listen to "Splendor in the grass"; a simple country tune (reminiscent of "Burning Bridges" from the Kelly's Heroes film) with simple country lyrics, leading in to a slow version of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concierto nº1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZyp2j3Jabg

Lyrics and translation below the video (Thank you youtube.com and MagicBlondGirl). Photos on the left.




Viniste a mi como poesía en la canción
(You came to me like poetry in a song)
Mostrándome un nuevo mundo de pasión
(Showing me a new world of passion)
Amándome sin egoismo y sin razón
(Loving me without selfishness or reason)
Mas sin saber que era el amor
(But not knowing that it was love)
Yo protegi mi corazón
(I shielded my heart)
El sol se fue y yo cantando tu canción
(The sun went off, and I remained singing your song,)
La soledad se aduena de toda emoción
(Loneliness robs me of all emotion)
Perdóname si el miedo robo mi ilusión
(Forgive me if fear took away my yearning)
Viniste a mi no supe amar
(You came to me, I did not know how to love you)
Y solo queda esta canción.
(And all that is left is this song.)

MIQUEL VIVES ARTÈS - R.I.P.

J'ATTENDRAI

Sadly, he passed away during the night of the 29th/30th of September. Curiously enough, it was his Saint's Day, Saint Michael.

He was well over eighty, probably ninety. Miquel Vives was my children's maternal grandfather, my father-in-law. I hadn't seen him in over 25 years, but I retain fond memories of us walking in the mountains of Vandellos, in Spain, or collecting olives on his land in those same mountains, and of our after-dinner conversations over a good glass of brandy and a strong "Faria", the Spanish cigar from Galicia.

I remember, especially, that night during the winter of '70/'71 when, driving up the mountain in a heavy snowstorm, his car got stuck. My two baby kids were in that car with their mother! Jaume, her brother, had to walk in the freezing cold and thick snow to the next village for help.

Miquel was an educated man with a vast and varied experience in a dozen different fields, ranging fron the Spanish Civil War, in which he participated, to running businesses, driving taxis, building and modernising houses and working the land.We quarelled back in '82 and never saw each other again, mainly because of his poor health, and also to avoid causing each other unnecessary stress. We did, however, respect each other. I am sure he will be sadly missed.

His favourite song was "j'attendrai" by Dino Oliveri and Louis Poterat/N.Rastelli. It's a French wartime song, based on an Italian song, that tells of waiting for one's loved one's return. Here it is, sung by Tino Rossi, courtesy of Youtube.com and maldoror26, thank you both.The song is, of course, quite old and so is the arrangement. Perhaps a more modern, and possibly more popular, version was Dalida's (1975), but this one, Tino Rossi's, retains a certain melancholic flavour which, I think, is particularly suitable for the occasion.

J'attendrai,le jour et la nuit, j'attendrai toujours

ton retour.

J'attendrai,car l'oiseau qui s'enfuit vient chercher l'oubli

dans son nid.

Le temps passe et court en battant

tristement

dans mon coeur si lourd.

Et pourtant, j'attendrai ton retour.

Les fleurs palissent, le feu s'éteint,

l'ombre se glisse dans le jardin.

L'horloge tisse des sons tres lent,

je crois entendre ton pas.

Le vent m'apporte des bruits lointains

que dans ma porte j'écoute en vain.

Hélas, plus rien,plus rien ne vient.

J'attendrai...(etc.)

REGINA SPEKTOR AND GENIUS NEXT DOOR

This song (from her latest album "Far") was sent to me recently by my son. The lyrics haven't stopped haunting me since.

Regina Spektor, an American, Russian-born singer, has a lovely voice and apparently writes very poetic songs. This particular one, "Genius next door", has a very soothing piano, backing her remarkably cool voice. No real emotion, just stating matter-of-fact what must be a typical tragedy in our society.

Porridge for prison? Prison being the closed circle kids find themselves thrown in when they enter the "lake" - an apparently beautiful drug paradise/wonderland- and/or the jail they eventually end up in; but they don't care.

The neighbours avoid talking about it - can't draw attention to their community, house prices would fall, scandal, shame, etc. - or find excuses "enchantment, weather", whereas the media is constantly looking for precisely that sort of thing to sell more papers, more TV programmes, though they treat it as an everyday affair "coffee, doughnuts". The garbage collectors just limit themselves to clearing the rubbish (syringes, corpses, etc.)

The chorus line:"Hold in your breath 'till you come back up in full" = pot, etc.
Whereas the second time she adds "... you fool!" = warning. The two sides of the same coin.

The genius is the youngster who goes about his ordinary, excitement-free life, ignored by the other kids, but secretly envying them. In the loneliness of his private world he has to resort to his hands, "his secret", for sexual satisfaction and "to get high".

Various photos on the left.

For other interpretations of this song try the following web:
http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858590066/

For more info on RS: http://www.youtube.com/user/spektography

For a full biography go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regina_Spektor

Spanish readers will find all, or at least most, of her songs translated here:
http://www.letrasyletras.com/cancion/559578/Regina-Spektor_Genius-Next-Door.html

Here's the video, courtesy of youtube.com and spektography (thank you), followed by the lyrics. Enjoy.

Some said the local lake had been enchanted,
others said it must have been the weather.
The neighbors were trying to keep it quiet,
but I swear that I could hear the laughter.
So they jokingly nicknamed it "the porridge",
'Cause overnight that lake had turned as thick as butter.
But the local kids would still go swimming, drinking,
saying that to them it doesn't matter.
If you just hold in your breath 'till you come back up in full.
Hold in your breath 'till you've thought it through, you fool.
The genius next door was bussing tables,
wiping clean the ketchup bottle labels,
getting high and mumbling German fables.
Didn't care as long as he was able
to strip his clothes off by the dumpsters
at night while everyone was sleeping
and wade midway into that porridge;
just him and the secret he was keeping.
If you just hold in your breath 'till you come back up in full.
Hold in your breath 'till you thought it through, you foolish child.
Ah! Ah!
In the morning, the film crews start arriving
with donuts, coffee, and reporters.
The kids were waking up hungover.
The neighbors were starting up their cars.
The garbage men were emptying the dumpsters.
Atheists were praying full of sarcasm,
and the genius next door was sleeping,
dreaming that the antidote is orgasm.
If you just hold in your breath 'till you come back up in full.
Hold in your breath 'till you thought it through, you foolish child.
Ah! Ah!

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