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Showing results for tags 'Music and Literature'.
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I really do post far too many entries solely about music. The reason for this is the importance of the art form to me: music is a very big part of my life. The medium is so versatile; it can be simple entertainment, it can be a complex masterpiece, it can tell a story, it can be be laden with pure emotion, or it can be a mix of all of these. The possibilities are endless. I am one of those people who always has a song playing in his head. Music moves me in a way nothing else can. Some people are moved to tears by films; I have sometimes been moved to tears by exceptionally beautiful or emotive music. And then there are songs that just rock! At any rate, rather than having my lyrical entries be the crutch of my weblog, as I have viewed them previously, I want to make them the rule. Every week I want to post a song-related entry--like a specific column in a magazine or newspaper. I will endeavor to say a trifle about the song, or why it has been selected for that entry--why it is "in my head" at the time. On that note, examine "Let It Be" by the Beatles. It shows some of McCartney's most brilliant, powerful songwriting; the music is so calming that it's easy to get lost in the melody. McCartney was dissatisfied with the final product, but I think it's virtually perfect. I have gotten the chance to hear the Let It Be...Naked version yet though, so I cannot compare the two mixes currently. "Let It Be" by the Beatles Composed by Paul McCartney When I find myself in times of trouble, mother Mary comes to me, Speaking words of wisdom, let it be. And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me, Speaking words of wisdom, let it be. Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be. Whisper words of wisdom, let it be. And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree, There will be an answer, let it be. For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see, There will be an answer. let it be. Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be There will be an answer, let it be Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be Whisper words of wisdom, let it be Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be Whisper words of wisdom, let it be And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light, that shines on me, Shine until tomorrow, let it be. I wake up to the sound of music, mother Mary comes to me, Speaking words of wisdom, let it be. Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be There will be an answer, let it be Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
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Led Zeppelin are several different kinds of awesome. There are the obvious reasons, such as John Bonham's thundering drums, Jimmy Page's frantic guitar, Robert Plant's charged vocals, and John Paul Jones' pounding bass. One can simply state "Kashmir," for example, to prove the band's godliness. Some reasons, however, are subtler. You ask, "what is one of these reasons?" My friend, they wrote songs inspired by Tolkien. "The Battle of Evermore" by Led Zeppelin Composed by Jimmy Page and Robert Plant Queen of Light took her bow, And then she turned to go, The Prince of Peace embraced the gloom, And walked the night alone. Oh, dance in the dark of night, Sing to the morning light. The dark Lord rides in force tonight, And time will tell us all. Oh, throw down your plow and hoe, Rest not to lock your homes. Side by side we wait the might of the darkest of them all. I hear the warhorses' thunder down in the valley below, I'm waiting for the angels of Avalon, waiting for the eastern glow. The apples of the valley hold, The seeds of happiness, The ground is rich from tender care, Repay, do not forget, no, no. Dance in the dark of night, sing to the morning light. The apples turn to brown and black, The tyrant's face is red. Oh war is the common cry, Pick up your swords and fly. The sky is filled with good and bad that mortals never know. Oh, well, the night is long, the beads of time pass slow, Tired eyes on the sunrise, waiting for the eastern glow. The pain of war cannot exceed the woe of aftermath, The drums will shake the castle wall, the ringwraiths ride in black, Ride on. Sing as you raise your bow, shoot straighter than before. No comfort has the fire at night that lights the face so cold. Oh dance in the dark of night, Sing to the morning light. The magic runes are writ in gold to bring the balance back. Bring it back. At last the sun is shining, The clouds of blue roll by, With flames from the dragon of darkness, the sunlight blinds his eyes. Ooh, Bring it back, Bring it back...
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"Under Pressure" by Queen and David Bowie Composed by David Bowie, John Deacon, Brian May, Freddie Mercury, and Roger Taylor Mm ba ba de Um bum ba de Um bu bu bum da de Pressure! - Pushing down on me Pressing down on you; no man ask for Under pressure - that burns a building down Splits a family in two Puts people on streets Um ba ba be Um ba ba be De day da Ee day da - that's okay It's the terror of knowing what the world is about Watching some good friends screaming "let me out" Pray tomorrow gets me higher Pressure on people, people on streets Day day de mm hm Da da da ba ba Okay Chippin' around - kick my brains around the floor These are the days it never rains but it pours Ee do ba be Ee da ba ba ba Um bo bo Be lap People on streets - ee da de da de People on streets - ee da de da de da de da It's the terror of knowing what the world is about Watching some good friends screaming "let me out" Pray tomorrow gets me higher high high Pressure on people, people on streets Turned away from it all like a blind man Sat on a fence but it don't work Keep coming up with love but it's so slashed and torn Why - why - why? Love love love love love Insanity laughs under pressure we're cracking! Can't we give ourselves one more chance Why can't we give love that one more chance Why can't we give love give love give love give love give love give love give love give love give love 'Cause love's such an old fashioned word And love dares you to care for The people on the edge of the night And loves dares you to change our way of Caring about ourselves This is our last dance This is our last dance This is ourselves Under pressure Under pressure Pressure
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Innuendo I'm Going Slightly Mad Headlong I Can't Live with You Don't Try So Hard Ride the Wild Wind All God's People These Are the Days of Our lives Delilah The Hitman Bijou The Show Must Go On Earlier today I finally managed to get a copy of Queen's album Innuendo. I had been trying to find one for months upon months ; every store at which I attempted to purchase the CD was either sold out or did not carry it. Queen's last album (unless you count Made in Heaven as a true album), Innuendo did not prove as successful or lasting as much of the band's earlier works, such as the classic A Night at the Opera. I do not understand why. It has more raw emotion than any other of Queen's works, from the opening drumroll on the title track to the haunting vocal fade-out on "The Show Must Go On" (which some of you may know is one of my favorite Queen songs). The mood is, overall, dark and bleak, but persevering. The members of Queen knew this would be their last work together. Contemplation on imminent closure and death seeps into the lyrics of many of the songs, though there is a lighthearted, joyful break in the form of "Delilah," which was written about the frontman's pet cat. From driving hard rock like "The Hitman" to the sorrowful, unorthodox structure of "Bijou," and from symphonic majesty in "Innuendo" to the power of "The Show Must Go On," this album grabs hold of the listener and does not loosen its grip. It demands attention and speaks clearly through lyrics, guitar, drums, and more. I highly recommend it. The music will not disappoint.
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"Pigs (The Different Ones)" by Pink Floyd Composed by Roger Waters Big man, pig man, ha ha, charade you are Whoo!
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Ol' Wawa induced a status of thought-provocation in my cerebellum. His preceding post portrayed a ponderous playlist of pieces purporting to personify his personage and presence. After some contemplation, I concocted one of my own. This is not a list of favorite songs, though some of mine did sneak in there, and all of them are definitely good (I am far too arrogant to allow a bad song status as a representation of me). I honestly tried to select ones that fit the categories. At any rate, I composed something, so here it is: The Lyrical "Soundtrack to My Life" Opening Credits: "Baba O'Riley" by The Who Waking Up: "Breathe" by Pink Floyd An Ordinary Day: "Ramble On" by Led Zeppelin The Party: "Let's Get Rocked" by Def Leppard Everybody Dance Now: "Dance the Night Away" by Van Halen The First Date: "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen Falling in Love: "When I'm Sixty-Four" by the Beatles The Break-Up: "Oh! Darling" by the Beatles The Long Night Alone: "Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd Getting Back Together: "Layla" by Derek & the Dominoes Life's Okay: "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd Cruising: "Highway Star" by Deep Purple The Rumble: "Run Like ######" by Pink Floyd The Mental Breakdown: "5:15" by The Who The Flashback: "Back to a Reason Pt. 2" by the Trans-Sibrian Orchestra Regretting: "Time" by Pink Floyd Death: "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd End Credits: "The Show Must Go On" by Queen The Orchestral "Soundtrack to My Life" Opening Credits: "Main Theme from 'Patton'" by the Royal Scottish National Orchestra Waking Up: "Andúril" by Howard Shore An Ordinary Day: "Hope and Memory" by Howard Shore The Party: "The 1812 Overture" by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Everybody Dance Now: "In the Mood" by Glenn Miller The First Date: "Monk Theme" by Jeff Beal Falling in Love: "Mozart" by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra The Break-Up: "Minas Morgul" by Howard Shore The Long Night Alone: "Padmé's Ruminations" by John Williams Getting Back Together: "The Ride of the Rohirrim" by Howard Shore Life's Okay: "Time to Blow" by "Del Paxton" Cruising: "He's a Pirate" by Hans Zimmer The Rumble: "Battle of the Heroes" by John Williams The Mental Breakdown: "Shelob's Lair" by Howard Shore The Flashback: "Minas Tirith" by Howard Shore Regretting: "Symphony No. 5" by Ludwig van Beethoven Death: "The End of All Things" by Howard Shore End Credits: "A Last Illusion" by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra
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"Death on Two Legs" by Queen Composed by Freddie mercury You suck my blood like a leech You break the law and you preach Screw my brain till it hurts ... Death on two legs You're tearing me apart Death on two legs You've never had a heart of your own ... Have you found a new toy to replace me? Can you face me? ... (No, this is not related to anything on BZP. No, I'm also not going to tell you what it is about.)
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"Wish You Were Here" by Pink Floyd Composed by David Gilmour and Roger Waters So, So you think you can tell Heaven from ######? Blue skies from pain? Can you tell a green field From a cold steel rail? A smile from a veil? Do you think you can tell? And did they get you to trade Your heroes for ghosts? Hot ashes for trees? Hot air for a cool breeze? Cold comfort for change? Did you exchange A walk on part in the war For a lead role in a cage? How I wish...How I wish you were here We're just two lost souls swimming in a fishbowl Year after year Running over the same old ground What have we found? The same old fears Wish you were here...
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Camus was a genius. Sartre was a clod. I might elaborate later.
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"I'm Going Slightly Mad" by Queen Composed by Freddie Mercury When the outside temperature rises And the meaning is oh so clear One thousand and one yellow daffodils Begin to dance in front of you - oh dear Are they trying to tell you something? You're missing that one final screw You're simply not in the pink my dear To be honest you haven't got a clue I'm going slightly mad I'm going slightly mad It finally happened - happened It finally happened - ooh oh It finally happened - I'm slightly mad Oh dear! I'm one card short of a full deck I'm not quite the shilling One wave short of a shipwreck I'm not at my usual top billing I'm coming down with a fever I'm really out to sea This kettle is boiling over I think I'm a banana tree Oh dear, I'm going slightly mad I'm going slightly mad It finally happened, happened It finally happened uh huh It finally happened I'm slightly mad - oh dear! I'm knitting with only one needle Unraveling fast its true I'm driving only three wheels these days But my dear how about you? I'm going slightly mad I'm going slightly mad It finally happened It finally happened oh yes It finally happened I'm slightly mad! Just very slightly mad! And there you have it!
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Despite tribulations involving illness and difficulty is locating a parking spot, I had the awe-filling sight of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, with all their pyrotechnics, lasers and lights, glow-in-the-dark violins, and outrageously incredible music before me. The show opened with a slightly curtailed presentation of their first album, Christmas Eve and Other Stories. Interposed between the narrator's crisp relating of the tale of a lone angel were such memorable TSO tunes as "A Mad Russian's Christmas" and their biggest hit, "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24." Expertly coordinated to the musics was a brilliant light and laser show that accentuated the symphonic sound in an exciting visual way. After the narrator (who often played along with the band-members on an air guitar when he was not reciting his story) completed his tale, we were introduced to the members of the band. Following this short break the group erupted into song once more, blasting familiar compositions from The Lost Christmas Eve and my favorite TSO album, Beethoven's Last Night. Among these were the wildly entertaining "Wizards in Winter," "Christmas Nights in Blue," "A Last Illusion," and the electrically-charged rendition of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, "Requiem." The latter was accompanied by breathtaking jets of fire and other pyrotechnics and captured the power and majesty of the famous Fifth Symphony in a way only the Trans-Siberian Orchestra can. One of the best parts of the three-hour show was a preview of the upcoming TSO album Night Castle. The band played their adaptation of "Carmina Burana" (the "O Fortuna" part, specifically) to much applause. Afterward there was a great keyboardist duel between two pianists which led into an explosive finale featuring a second performance of Sarajevo in an even more grandiose style. If you are a fan of the Trans-Siberian Orchetsra, you must see them perform live.
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The Trans-Siberian Orchestra has instituted a contest encouraging fans to play one of their best songs, "Wizards in Winter," and make their own music video. Following the creation of this media, entrants must post it on a certain video-sharing web site and submit the url to the TSO. The existence of the contest is, however, secondary in coolness to the fact that they've posted the sheet music for Wizards in Winter online in .pdf format! I've downloaded and printed out the piano music and and working on learning the tune--my skills are rusty though, so it will be a slow process. If I manage to learn how to play it satisfactorally prior to the expiration of the deadline, I may enter the contest.
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December Fifteenth. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Smeag has tickets. That is all.
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One of the unfortunate side effects of time's progression is that of eventual surpression of good music. Some brilliant songs, such as Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and Queen's "We Will Rock You" remain remembered, but too often some very good and enjoyable songs, even ones that enjoyed popularity when released, fade from public's memory. This column in my blog will be dedicated to these forgotten melodies that I enjoy. This week, I'll start with "Dead Man's Party" by Oingo Boingo. "Dead Man's Party" by Oingo Boingo Composed by Danny Elfman I'm all dressed up with nowhere to go Walkin' with a dead man over my shoulder Waiting for an invitation to arrive Goin' to a party where no one's still alive "Dead Man's Party" was the title track from Oingo Boingo's fourth album and probably their best-known song. It is definitelty my favorite, which its catchy yet mildly creepy repeating melody and unsettling lyrics. I was struck by lighting Walkin' down the street I was hit by something last night in my sleep It's a dead man's party Who could ask for more Everybody's comin', leave your body at the door Leave your body and soul at the door Oingo Boingo was actually led by Danny Elfman, who is now known for his film scores--one of his most recent works was the score for the Spider-Man films. All dressed up with nowhere to go Walkin' with a dead man Waitin' for an invitation to arrive With a dead man...Dead Man Got my best suit and my tie Shiny silver dollar on either eye I hear the chauffeur comin' to the door Says there's room for maybe just one more Don't run away it's only me Don't be afraid of what you can't see Don't run away it's only me . . .
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It is no secret that I an a huge fan of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Their music is incredible, blending classical style and driving Rock & Roll. How often to you find an orchestra with liberal electric guitar use? The "TSO," as it is abbreviated, is skilled at creating both original music as well as taking classics and reworking them into a unique new form. You don't hear the Trans-Siberian Orchestra on the radio (save near Christmastime, when you will hear "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo" once in a while), but that's okay; you need to listen to the whole album to get the full effect, especially in the rock opera Beethoven's Last Night (which is my all-time favorite TSO album; I'm listening to it right now as I type this in fact). Paul O'Neill said, when asked what the TSO was about: "It's about creating great art. The purpose of art is to create an emotional response in the person that is exposed to that art. And there are three categories of art; bad art, good art and great art. Bad art will elicit no emotional response in the person that is exposed to it, i.e.; a song you hear in an elevator and it does nothing to you, a picture on a wall that gives you the same emotional response as if the wall had been blank, a movie that chews up time. Good art will make you feel an emotion that you have felt before; you see a picture of a forest and you remember the last time you went fishing with your dad, you hear a song about love and you remember the last time you were in love. Great art will make you feel an emotion you have never felt before; seeing the pieta, the world famous sculpture by Michelangelo, can cause someone to feel the pain of losing a child even if they've never had one. And when you're trying for these emotions the easiest one to trigger is anger. Anyone can do it. Go into the street, throw a rock at someone, you will make them angry. The emotions of love, empathy and laughter are much harder to trigger, but since they operate on a deeper level, they bring a much greater reward."
