A Woman’s Work Is Never Done. November 17, 2008
Posted by admin in : Songs, Videos , add a commentOver the coming months, I’ll be posting my favourite songs of all time - the one’s that made me fall in love with music all over again the first time I heard them, and cause me to fall a little deeper each time I hear them now.
Firstly, the goose-bump-inducing “This Woman’s Work” by Kate Bush, and it’s accompanying video.
This is one of those songs where the video plays a key role in understanding the song - a man sits alone in a waiting room, impatient, upset, while a woman’s spirit tries to console him; tries to get close to him; but he pulls away again and again. He slips into a reverie where the spirit, his wife, wraps a jacket around him, and we see their love. A nurse pulls him from his reverie, checking on him in the waiting room.
A meal. The wife collapses, and he rushes her to hospital, his last touch of her arm one as she’s rushed away by gurney. Finally, we’re back in the waiting room; the nurse reappears; and she looks positive. She says something to the man, and he sits, in shock, but what seems like relief.
This song will stay with me for the rest of my life.
Pray God you can cope.
I stand outside this woman’s work, this woman’s world.
Ooh, it’s hard on the man, now his part is over.
Now starts the craft of the father.I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.
I know you have a little life in you yet.
I know you have a lot of strength left.I should be crying, but I just can’t let it show.
I should be hoping, but I can’t stop thinking……Of all the things I should’ve said, that I never said.
All the things we should’ve done, that we never did.
All the things I should’ve given, But I didn’t.Oh, darling, make it go, make it go away.
Give me these moments back.
Give them back to me.
Give me that little kiss.
Give me your hand.
www: Kate Bush
Matthew Good? Matthew Bloody Great, More Like. October 24, 2008
Posted by admin in : Songs, Videos , add a commentI’ve put off putting up this particular song on the site since I first began. Why? I hear you scream (Well, I don’t, but you get the idea).
I adore Matthew Good. Ever since I got my hands on “White Light Rock & Roll Review” (still one of my favourite albums of all time - maybe even my favourite….), I’ve passionately got my hands on nearly everything he’s released - either as part of the Matthew Good Band, or on his own.
One thing I noticed very quickly on playing any of his music to others was their immediate reaction of discomfort. After this happened a number of times, I finally challenged someone on it, who admitted, “Well, it’s just that it’s…a bit too heavy. It’s really intense. And long.”
Well, I can’t argue with the intense part. Or the long - Matthew doesn’t really “do” many songs under 6 minutes.
From that day, I adored Matthew a little more.
And I know from my friends faces that this particular track, “While We Were Hunting Rabbits”, holds two awards - being my favourite MG song of all time, and being the song that makes most of my friends the most uncomfortable.
Buy in, it’ll shut you up. Try it, it should shut you up. We’ve brought someone in to shut you up. It’s a life’s work
And I dance. And I sing. And I am a monkey in a long line of kings. We dance. We sing. And we’re all monkeys in a long line, long line. I’m just a boat on the ocean, I’m just a ship lost at sea.
7 minutes 59 seconds of guitars, strange lyrics, and big bells (listen carefully - I do love that bit).
7 minutes 59 seconds of one of the most unsettling videos ever created. (Well, 6 minutes 12 seconds, but it ruins my cool riff here).
7 minutes 59 seconds of my personal music perfection.
Matthew Good - While We Were Hunting Rabbits
www: Matthew Good
For Donovan. September 13, 2008
Posted by admin in : Videos , add a commentBut all I know is
I’m not ready yet
For the light to dim
Got a suitcase, got regrets
But I’m hopeful yet
And I’ll raise this glass of wine
And I’ll say your name
Which Do You Prefer? August 8, 2008
Posted by admin in : Songs, Videos , add a commentWhile randomly flicking through the many dreadful music channels now in existence, I was completely side-swiped by a song that cropped up on late-night MTV2 (where the really weird music comes out to play…)
Cary Brothers is one of Zach Braff’s favourite singers, which basically means you can catch his music on anything Zach stars in - Scrubs, Garden State, The Last Kiss.
Now, I like Cary. He’s a singular, not a plural - there are no brothers Cary. I loved his first EP, “All The Rage”. I enjoyed his album from last year, “Who Are You”. He’s a good singer-songwriter - he’ll churn out the catchy tunes and he’ll make a great career selling his music to Scrubs/Grey’s Anatomy/One Tree Hill/Zach Braff’s next film. But thanks to DJ Tiesto, I have to say, I am impressed.
Tiesto, a Dutch DJ, has taken Brother’s “Ride”, and turned it into a dance-floor hit. And you know what? I hate most dance music. But I love this. In fact, I love it more than the original. For some reason, the dance beat makes the song more lonely for me…
You are everything I wanted. The scars of all I’ll ever know. If I told you you were right, would you take my hand tonight? If I told you the reasons why, would you leave your life and ride? And ride…”
I’ve included both versions below - the original, and the dance remix. What do you think?
I’ll Have A Big Mac, Large Chips, And A Bon Iver. July 13, 2008
Posted by admin in : Articles, Gigs, Videos , 4commentsFrench blog La Blogotheque run a wonderful series of intimate concerts, The Take-Away Shows. These are amazing - sparse, beautifully shot, and overpowering.
This is Bon Iver, with Skinny Love.
Check out the change at 2.13 - the definition of intensity.
It’s All About Today. Literally. May 17, 2008
Posted by admin in : Videos , add a comment
I’ve posted a live video of the National singing “About Today” before, but I recently came across this extended version, with a truly hair-raising last couple of minutes.
The greatest song about the moment a relationship is truly over, by the greatest band on the planet at the moment.
Chilling Sunshine March 8, 2008
Posted by admin in : Videos , add a commentI’ve seen Sunshine again recently - my favourite science fiction film for some time. Actually, my favourite film full stop for some time.
I honestly believe it to be the greatest visual & aural masterpiece I’ve ever seen - the visuals are awe-inspiring, but the audio….the audio….
The audio ties intimately into the film - supporting every single scene, every single visual; Looping and swirling and embedding; at times slinking under your skin, quietly affecting you without your knowledge, and at others, completely sweeping over you, beating your senses into submission, plowing through your core.
If you haven’t seen it, and intend to, the below video may spoil a little, so avoid. If you’ve seen it, or if you don’t intend to (and if not, why not?), then watch, and feel your chest fill up; your lungs fill; your breath catch; and your muscles tense….
Facing Mortality February 24, 2008
Posted by admin in : Videos , 1 comment so farFolkfrapp? January 27, 2008
Posted by admin in : Songs, Videos , add a commentI recently read that Goldfrapp had gone folk, much to the consternation of those in love with their electro roots (and apprently more in line with their first album release, “Felt Mountain”). While I’m not a huge fan of electro or dance, a couple of Goldfrapp’s tunes have found their way onto my MP3 player and into my head. However, none of this prepared me for this absolutely gorgeous tune - “A&E” is a folk ditty with some very slight electronic leanings.
The lessening of the electronic beats also allow Alison Goldfrapp’s vocals to come to the fore, and “A&E” showcases her voice - reminiscent of “Hounds of Love”-era Kate Bush, her trademark deep, throaty purrs are diluted, to be superceded throughout most of the song with a high, clear pitch.
And the video is pretty.
The Most Unexciting Video Idea In The World November 21, 2007
Posted by admin in : Videos , 3commentsThere you are - a high-flying video director. You get a phone call - it’s America’s best band, asking YOU to create their new video. You! SO you run home, and think, and think, and think. You create storyboard after storyboard. Hundreds, no, thousands of sheets of paper are used in your quest for this - your biggest break. This could make your career. You may never need to work again!
After weeks, weeks of hard work, you sit down with the band, and you unveil your idea - the greatest idea you’ve ever had. The greatest video that will ever be made.
It’s a group of people at a party. They start to move to the music. And then they dance. The end.
The band stare at you - are they going to throw you out on your ear? Or are they going to take a chance?
