Friday, August 17, 2012
Pearl Jam: Last Kiss
There are several versions to this song beginning with Wayne Cochran in 1961.
The song has also been recorded by J. Frank Wilson, the Cavaliers, Wednesday, and my personal favorite...........Pearl Jam.
Wayne Cochran was inspired to write this song due to the fact he lived hear a highway where several accidents occurred. Makes sense, doesn't it?
There's also a rumor that the song is based on a tragic accident that occurred in Barnesville, Georgia in December, 1962.
Jeanette Clark....a 16-year-old girl along with one other person was killed when the car they were riding in collided with a logging truck.
It is JUST a rumor.
Can you figure out why?
The wreck happened in 1962.....but the song was first recorded in 1961.
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Beethoven's 7th, Allegretto Movement 2
This is one of my most favorite classical pieces……Beethoven’s
Symphony 7…..Allegretto Movement 2.
Some people need comfort food…….and I have my favorites, but
I have comfort music as well and this is one of the pieces. I listen to it as I write…..I listen to when
I’m stressed……when I’m sad…….or when I long for something that isn’t happening
fast enough or more than likely won’t happen at all.
All music at one time or another seems to be my comfort…..but
I always return to this piece.
Always.
Beethoven worked on the composition in the town of Teplice,
a Bohemian spa town between the years 1811-1812, and dedicated it to Count
Moritz von Fries. The Count was
involved with the Vienna Bank. Beethoven
visited his home often and dedicated various works to him.
This movement is considered to be the most popular of the entire score and when
Beethoven debuted the piece it was encored
immediately.
Many times this movement…. the Allegretto…. was performed
separately. I hardly ever listen to
the other movements…..THIS is my favorite.
Apparently, Beethoven’s actions during the conducting of the
piece made it so popular because “he tore his
arms with great vehemently asunder – he jumped in the air.”
Some say this is one of the most perfect symphonies ever
written. I’m not sure about perfect…..but
I do love it.
Adore it…….
.....and sometimes when i listen and close my eyes I can see Beethoven's wild movements as he conducted the musicians.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Fleetwood Mac's Hynotized
This Fleetwood Mac hit was written by Robert Welsh in the early 1970s. Some sources advise a very vivid dream brought it on.
Another influence for the song could be the writings of Carlos Castaneda who wrote about paranormal experiences.
I’ve just always enjoyed the music…..forget what it’s about. :)
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Upside Down
I love this song….it makes me smile to listen to it, and makes me move around even if I’m sitting.
I always loved Curious George, too, and this song is on the soundtrack to the movie released in 2006.
The lyrics mean a little to me:
Who’s to say what’s impossible…..Damn straight!
I want to turn the whole thing upside down
I’ll find the things they say just can’t be found
I’ll share this love I find with everyone
We’ll sing and dance to Mother Nature’s songs
I don’t want this feeling to go away….
I always loved Curious George, too, and this song is on the soundtrack to the movie released in 2006.
The lyrics mean a little to me:
Who’s to say what’s impossible…..Damn straight!
I want to turn the whole thing upside down
I’ll find the things they say just can’t be found
I’ll share this love I find with everyone
We’ll sing and dance to Mother Nature’s songs
I don’t want this feeling to go away….
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Rolling in the Deep
I can't even begin to explain what this song means to me.....Love her voice....love her lyrics......love the music.
Well, I could tell you what this song means to me....but then I'd have to kill you.
Well, I could tell you what this song means to me....but then I'd have to kill you.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Come on Get Higher
This song by Matt Nathanson is the only single to date to receive platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America.
That doesn't matter to me.....all I know is it really, really speaks to me.
That doesn't matter to me.....all I know is it really, really speaks to me.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
A Few Facts Concerning Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon
1. The album has sold 34 million copies worldwide.
2. The album was number one on US charts for one week in 1973, and it made the number two spot in the UK. In 1993, after re-mastering and when it was re-released the album made it to number four in the UK.
3. In Belgium and France the album reached number 1, it was number 2 in Austria, and number 3 in Austrailia. It was number 4 in Holland and number 5 in Spain, Finland, and German but not at the same time. It also made it to number 8 in Brazil during 1973.
4. The Guiness Book of World Records states the album has been on the charts longer than any other album in history……namely 591 consecutive weeks or 11.4 years in Billboard top 200…..a staggering 26 years in some Billboard chart or other.
5. The original title for the album was Eclipse (A Piece for Assorted Lunatics)…..
6. The music and lyrics for the entire album were written during a seven week period in which the band were preparing for a tour which they desperately wanted to premier new material.
7. Some of the lines used on the album were generated from cue cards with generic questions that were given to roadies, anyone at Abbey Road, doormen, and members of Wings including Paul and Linda McCartney. Questions included “Are you afraid of dying?”, “When was the last time you were violent and were you in the right?”, and “What does the phrase ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ mean to you?”
8. Wings guitarist, Henry McColluch provided the line, “I don’t know I was really drunk at the time” that is used at fade out of Money.
9. The stoned laughter used in the background of Speak to Me and Brain Damage is from Peter Watts, a road manager for the Floyd pictured on the back of the Ummagumma sleeve. His daughter is Naomi Watts, a famous actress…..
10. During the recording of the album studio time was interrupted for one of two reasons….soccer or Monty Python television broadcasts. The members of the band were such Python fans that they used some of the money made from the initial success of the album to help fund Monty Python’s Holy Grail film.
11. The album was recorded at Abbey Road on then state of the art 16-track equipment. In order to create the tape loops necessary to achieve the rhythmic chiming of the sound effects for Money……the tape had to be physically cut and mended precisely using a ruler and manually feeding them into a tape machine for duplication.
12. Parsons received a Grammy as the record won the “Best Engineered Album” award.
13. Australian radio listeners voted the album the best album to have sex to in 1990.
14. Us and Them was originally written by Richard Wright in 1969 as an instrumental piano solo intended for use in a movie. The song was meant to be used over slow-motion scenes of student/police riots at UCLA. The music was finally rejected but once Waters penned lyrics the song made on Dark Side.
15. Throughout the 1990s rumors persisted that the album was intended to be played back while watching The Wizard of Oz. Many similarities were depicted between the music, lyrics, and the film. The band have denied that the classic film made an impression on them while recording the album, but if you want to judge for yourself be sure to start the CD at the third roar of the MGM lion at the start of the film!
16. At the end of Eclipse listen for the voice that says, “there is no dark side of the moon really, as a matter of fact it’s all dark”,…..if you listen closely you can hear a muzak version of the Beatles’ Ticket to Ride. It was probably being played in the main offices at Abbey Road and was picked up on the microphones.
I've written about Dark Side of the Moon before.......here.
2. The album was number one on US charts for one week in 1973, and it made the number two spot in the UK. In 1993, after re-mastering and when it was re-released the album made it to number four in the UK.
3. In Belgium and France the album reached number 1, it was number 2 in Austria, and number 3 in Austrailia. It was number 4 in Holland and number 5 in Spain, Finland, and German but not at the same time. It also made it to number 8 in Brazil during 1973.
4. The Guiness Book of World Records states the album has been on the charts longer than any other album in history……namely 591 consecutive weeks or 11.4 years in Billboard top 200…..a staggering 26 years in some Billboard chart or other.
5. The original title for the album was Eclipse (A Piece for Assorted Lunatics)…..
6. The music and lyrics for the entire album were written during a seven week period in which the band were preparing for a tour which they desperately wanted to premier new material.
7. Some of the lines used on the album were generated from cue cards with generic questions that were given to roadies, anyone at Abbey Road, doormen, and members of Wings including Paul and Linda McCartney. Questions included “Are you afraid of dying?”, “When was the last time you were violent and were you in the right?”, and “What does the phrase ‘The Dark Side of the Moon’ mean to you?”
8. Wings guitarist, Henry McColluch provided the line, “I don’t know I was really drunk at the time” that is used at fade out of Money.
9. The stoned laughter used in the background of Speak to Me and Brain Damage is from Peter Watts, a road manager for the Floyd pictured on the back of the Ummagumma sleeve. His daughter is Naomi Watts, a famous actress…..
10. During the recording of the album studio time was interrupted for one of two reasons….soccer or Monty Python television broadcasts. The members of the band were such Python fans that they used some of the money made from the initial success of the album to help fund Monty Python’s Holy Grail film.
11. The album was recorded at Abbey Road on then state of the art 16-track equipment. In order to create the tape loops necessary to achieve the rhythmic chiming of the sound effects for Money……the tape had to be physically cut and mended precisely using a ruler and manually feeding them into a tape machine for duplication.
12. Parsons received a Grammy as the record won the “Best Engineered Album” award.
13. Australian radio listeners voted the album the best album to have sex to in 1990.
14. Us and Them was originally written by Richard Wright in 1969 as an instrumental piano solo intended for use in a movie. The song was meant to be used over slow-motion scenes of student/police riots at UCLA. The music was finally rejected but once Waters penned lyrics the song made on Dark Side.
15. Throughout the 1990s rumors persisted that the album was intended to be played back while watching The Wizard of Oz. Many similarities were depicted between the music, lyrics, and the film. The band have denied that the classic film made an impression on them while recording the album, but if you want to judge for yourself be sure to start the CD at the third roar of the MGM lion at the start of the film!
16. At the end of Eclipse listen for the voice that says, “there is no dark side of the moon really, as a matter of fact it’s all dark”,…..if you listen closely you can hear a muzak version of the Beatles’ Ticket to Ride. It was probably being played in the main offices at Abbey Road and was picked up on the microphones.
I've written about Dark Side of the Moon before.......here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)