Here is another lovely fragment from Mala of the Heart, this time by Hafiz of Persia (Iran). It reminds me of the need and mutual benefit of kindness in the world. God blooms from the shoulder of the elephant who becomes courteous to the ant. *** Hafiz (ca. 1320-1389) was born in the garden city of Shiraz. It is said that after the early […]
Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. This week the prompt is Elevator Music.
If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.
Now, I have a big problem with this week’s prompt. We do not have elevators in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and I understand that Elevator Music does not have lyrics. Furthermore, Elevator Music is deemed to have ceased to exist with effect from 2009 when Muzac filed for bankruptcy, however they were rescued by Mood Media in 2011, although they ceased trading as Muzac in 2013.
We do have Lifts in the UK but most of our buildings have so few floors that it is hardly worth listening to just a few bars of indeterminate music. Instead, we like to stand silently ignoring all other lift occupants!
So, if you’ll forgive me, I shall interpret Elevator Music as something that lifts the spirits and, thus, I have chosen to offer you the peculiar internet phenomenon of Where the Hell is Matt?
Matt Harding quit his job in 2003 and travelled the world on a minimum budget whilst filming himself dancing, often in front of a famous landmark. Initially just sending videos to his family and friends, he soon became an Internet phenomenon.
His first successful video, in 2005, featured him dancing a “jig” in many different places around the world. The video garnered popularity on the video sharing site YouTube. There are now five major videos plus two outtakes and several background videos on YouTube. Matt dances alone in the first videos. In 2008 others join with him doing the dance “jig”; in 2010 he does the Diski Dance in South Africa. In 2012, the video shown here, he works with other dancers, sometimes using a local dance or another dance step.
On July 22, 2008, and again on July 25, 2010, and July 10, 2012, and June 14, 2020, NASA featured Harding’s videos on the APOD (Astronomy Picture of the Day) Web site. Text accompanying these videos, under the heading “Happy People Dancing on Planet Earth,” claims that humans worldwide share a common love of dance, stating that “few people are able to watch the above video without smiling.” Harding himself has joked that he is impressed by his appearances on APOD, especially since his videos have nothing to do with astronomy, nor are they pictures.
They are, however, uplifting, and they show how everyone dances, irrespective of age, gender, colour, ethnicity, beliefs, you name it – it makes no difference. Even the youngest of children will start moving rhythmically to music, I’ve even seen birds and animals joining in.
Wouldn’t it be marvellous if the Israelis and Palestinians were dancing instead of fighting, or if any other conflict could be settled by a dance?
Here, for your pleasure, is Where the hell is Matt? 2012. There are lyrics below, and all the credits are at the end of the video. Sit back and enjoy!
Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. This week we should aim for a song that has a girl’s name in it which starts with an S.
If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.
This week I’m offering you a great track by The Knack. The song is My Sharona.
In 1978 the band were performing live to great acclaim in many pubs and clubs and they jammed with some famous names such as Bruce Springstein and Tom Petty. They were so good that a bidding war started, between the recording studios, to sign them up. Capitol Records won, by offering the group the greatest sum that had ever been offered to any newly signed artists.
They recorded their debut album, called “Get The Knack” and this single was taken from that album. The band’s stuttering delivery was influenced by The Who!
The lead singer’s girlfriend was called Sharona Alperin, she was 17, he was 25 and already had a girlfriend when he met Sharona. Sharona appeared on the cover of the single and the two were together for several years.
Because the band was so successful, so early, there was a certain amount of resentment amongst other artists and they were even accused of ripping off The Beatles. Although they may have been “manufactured” into looking similar to The Beatles, in no way was their music copied, or similar.
What is really great about this group is their ability to reproduce a pristine performance at every live concert which matches exactly that which was recorded in the studio, all without the use of lots of technical gizmos. Not many artists can achieve that. The backing of drums and base drive this performance along and the lead guitar gives a perfect solo. The lead singer, Doug Fieger, is backed by a perfect harmony from Berton Averre, with even the vibrato in their voices matching seamlessly.
The song was a monster hit in 1979 and, in 1994, was given a resurgence when it featured in a film called “Reality Bites”.
Sadly, in 2006 Doug Fieger was diagnosed with a brain tumour, but he continued playing after treatment. In 2007 he was diagnosed with lung cancer and died in February 2010.
Bruce Gary, the fabulous drummer, died, age 55, of non-hodgkin lymphoma.
The first video is the one issued at the time of the release of the single. I think the film producer was either recovering from a heavy night drinking or had an idea that an artistic hazy effect would look good!
This video is the band playing live in Japan 2005. A Japanese audience always enjoy themselves!
Ooh my little pretty one, pretty one. When you gonna give me some time, Sharona? Ooh you make my motor run, my motor run. Gun it comin’ off the line Sharona Never gonna stop, give it up. Such a dirty mind. Always get it up for the touch Of the younger kind. My my my i yi woo. M M M My Sharona
Come a little closer huh, ah will ya huh. Close enough to look in my eyes, Sharona. Keeping it a mystery gets to me Running down the length of my thighs, Sharona Never gonna stop, give it up. Such a dirty mind. Always get it up for the touch Of the younger kind. My my my i yi woo. M M M My Sharona
When you gonna give it to me, give it to me. It is just a matter of time Sharona Is it just destiny, destiny? Or is it just a game in my mind, Sharona? Never gonna stop, give it up. Such a dirty mind. Always get it up for the touch Of the younger kind. My my my i yi woo. M M M My Sharona M M M My Sharona M M M My Sharona M M M My Sharona
Ohhhhh My Sharona Ohhhhh My Sharona Ohhhhh My Sharona
As a bonus, for those who love to watch great drummers in action, I have a cover version of Sina playing My Sharona.
Sina Doering (born 6 May 1999), also known by her YouTube Channel name, sina-drums, is a German musician and drummer. She began her career by filming herself playing drums and uploading the videos to YouTube. In 2016, she released her first studio album, Chi Might, which featured a lot of musicians from around the world. She is 19 years old in this recording.
Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. This week the title or lyrics of the song must contain the word Long, Short, Small, or Tall.
If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.
The song I’ve chosen this week contains the word LONG, although you’d be hard pushed to find it. In fact, the word appears twice. It is always referred to as “The Cups Song” and I’m offering you the Official Video version of Pitch Perfect’s “When I’m Gone”.
The singer is Anna Kendrick and, although she is probably best known for her role in this 2012 film Pitch Perfect she was singing long before this. Aside from starring in a few movie musicals over the past few years, Kendrick has even performed on a real life Broadway stage.
Here she is. I hope you enjoy it.
The Cups Song became very popular, especially as a project for amateur groups. If you search you will find many interesting recordings and they all have one thing in common. Everyone taking part is thoroughly enjoying themselves. Albania recorded a world record attempt in 2017 that is pretty spectacular to watch.
One of the best, to my mind, is a recording sung in Irish. I think the language is a real joy to listen to, it is lyrical even if you are being sworn at! The danger with adding this video is that I shall spend a good part of today finding other Irish lyrical songs. I hope you join me!
I got my ticket for the long way ’round Two bottle o’ whiskey for the way And I sure would like some sweet company And I’m leavin’ tomorrow, what do you say?
When I’m gone When I’m gone You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone You’re gonna miss me by my hair You’re gonna miss me everywhere, oh You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone
I got my ticket for the long way ’round The one with the prettiest of views It’s got mountains, it’s got rivers It’s got sights to give you shivers But it sure would be prettier with you
When I’m gone When I’m gone You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone You’re gonna miss me by my walk You’re gonna miss me by my talk, oh You’re gonna miss me when I’m gone
Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. This week the title of the song must start with M or A.
If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.
The video I’ve chosen is a recording of two very good friends who have known each other from way back and are very comfortable together. They first got together in January 1967 when The Jeff Beck Group was formed and went on to help set up The Faces in 1969. Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood are plainly great mates. They are happy to be together and they enjoy playing music together.
Rod Stewart has stated that his goal in life is to play ‘Mandolin Wind’ and make it sound like the record. I think this, despite using the banjo in place of the mandolin for parts of the song, is a pretty good effort!
When the rain came, I thought you’d leave ‘Cause I knew how much you loved the sun But you chose to stay, stay and keep me warm Through the darkest nights, I’ve ever known If the mandolin wind, couldn’t change a thing Then I know I love ya Oh the snow fell, without a break Buffalo died, in the frozen fields you know Through the coldest winter, in almost fourteen years I couldn’t believe you kept your smile Now I can rest assured, knowing that we’ve seen the worst And I know I love ya Oh I never was good, with romantic words So the next few lines, come really hard Don’t have much, but what I’ve got is yours Except of course, my steel guitar Ha, ’cause I know you don’t play But I’ll teach you one day Because I love ya
I recall the night, we knelt and prayed Noticing, your face was thin and pale I found it hard, to hide my tears I felt ashamed, I felt I’d let you down No mandolin wind, couldn’t change a thing Couldn’t change a thing, no no Ooh-hoo-hoo
Lada-dada, la-da, lada-dada Lada-dada, da-n-dada
The coldest winter, in almost fourteen years Could never, never change your mind, yeah Ooh-hoo-ooh And I love ya Yes indeed, and I love ya And I love ya Lordy I love ya Ooh-hoo And I love ya Lord, I love ya
Let’s hope that 2021 is the start of we humans getting things right, allowing nature to heal herself, realising that to move forward we have to co-operate rather than argue, compromise rather than stick rigidly to our preconceived ideas, love rather than hate, and help those less fortunate than ourselves.
Happy New Year to everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, even those I disagree with, even those who are bigoted, even those who hate.
Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. I am almost certain that my choice today will count amongst the latter!
If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.
Most people, even if they couldn’t say exactly who Sting was, would recognise some of his music. Some will be familiar with his early work with The Police where he was the lead vocalist, bass guitarist, and main songwriter. The band sold over 75 million records, making them one of the best selling bands of all time.
Sting has also had a hugely successful solo career, and has written and performed in a musical, The Last Ship, inspired by Sting’s own childhood experiences and the shipbuilding industry in Wallsend, Tyne and Wear where he grew up.
Not content with this, he has also collaborated with various artists and musicians on multiple projects, worked on films, sung at President Obama’s inauguration and had his brain scanned whilst performing his music!
In October 2006, he released an album entitled Songs from the Labyrinth featuring the music of John Dowland (an Elizabethan-era composer) and accompaniment from Bosnian lute player Edin Karamazov. Sting’s interpretation of this English Renaissance composer and his cooperation with Edin Karamazov brought recognition in classical music.
Here he is singing………..
Clear or Cloudy
The lyrics are a little olde worlde, I suspect it is to help Sting in his enunciation? You may have noted that he is reading the music as he sings. It is obviously a little complicated!
Cleare or cloudie sweet as April showring, Smooth or frowning so is hir face to mee, Pleasd or smiling like milde May all flowring, When skies blew silke and medowes carpets bee, Hir speeches notes of that night bird that singeth, Who thought all sweet yet jarring notes outringeth.
Hir grace like June, when earth and trees bee trimde, In best attire of compleat beauties height, Hir love againe like sommers daies bee dimde, With little cloudes of doubtfull constant faith, Hir trust hir doubt, like raine and heat in Skies, Gently thundring, she lightning to mine eies.
Sweet sommer spring that breatheth life and growing, In weedes as into herbs and flowers, And sees of service divers sorts in sowing, Some haply seeming and some being yours, Raine on your herbs and flowers that truly serve, And let your weeds lack dew and duly starve.
and here singing Come Again
and for anyone who is interested in the derivatives of the Lute, here is a very good introduction.
STOP PRESS
As a late addition I found this alternative version of the song. Quite an interesting comparison.
Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. This week we have the choices of Birthday /Cake /Gift /Party /Surprise. I wonder if that is because Jim is missing all the parties he normally attends now that most of the world is in lockdown? If so, then I’m happy to invite him, and you, to my garden party, and thanks Jim for continuing to host SLS.
If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.
With the fairly decent weather in the UK at the moment it seems the perfect time to have a garden party but, unfortunately, we cannot, so instead I’ve asked Rick Nelson, and Smokie to sing for you.
The song was written by Rick Nelson and was a hit in 1972. It is a story about him being booed at a concert in Madison Square Garden in October 1971 and you can read about that here.
Without further ado, please enjoy Garden Party, first by Rick Nelson, followed by Smokie.
Went to a garden party to reminisce with my old friends A chance to share old memories and play our songs again When I got to the garden party, they all knew my name No one recognized me, I didn’t look the same
But it’s all right now, I learned my lesson well. You see, ya can’t please everyone, so ya got to please yourself
People came from miles around, everyone was there Yoko brought her walrus, there was magic in the air And over in the corner, much to my surprise Mr. Hughes hid in Dylan’s shoes wearing his disguise
But it’s all right now, I learned my lesson well. You see, ya can’t please everyone, so ya got to please yourself
Played them all the old songs, thought that’s why they came No one heard the music, we didn’t look the same I said hello to “Mary Lou”, she belongs to me When I sang a song about a honky-tonk, it was time to leave
But it’s all right now, I learned my lesson well. You see, ya can’t please everyone, so ya got to please yourself
Someone opened up a closet door and out stepped Johnny B. Goode Playing guitar like a-ringin’ a bell and lookin’ like he should If you gotta play at garden parties, I wish you a lotta luck But if memories were all I sang, I rather drive a truck
And it’s all right now, learned my lesson well You see, ya can’t please everyone, so you got to please yourself
Jim Adams’ Song Lyric Sunday gives us the chance to share familiar, and sometimes not so familiar, songs. This week we’re asked to go with Promise, Vow, or Oath and I’ve chosen to link to the word Promise.
If you fancy sharing one of your favourite songs you can find out how to participate, and also listen to all the great entries, here.
In the lyrics, the singer (who refers to himself as “the poor boy”) tells of his journey from Norfolk, Virginia, to the “Promised Land”, Los Angeles, California, mentioning various cities in Southern states that he passes through on his journey. It has subsequently been performed by numerous other artists, including the Grateful Dead which should please Jim!!!
However, I reckon that the best cover of this song was provided by Johnnie Allan
He was Born in Rayne, Louisiana, and grew up in a musical family. At age six he obtained his first guitar and by age thirteen he was playing with Walter Mouton and the Scott Playboys, a traditional Cajun music band. About two years later he switched to Lawrence Walker and the Wandering Aces, another traditional Cajun band.
Throughout the 1960s he pursued his music career while developing a distinguished career in education and would often use the school PA system to advertise his latest records!
He combined his love and expertise in music and education as the author of two books on Cajun culture.
Just look at this album cover. What a fantastic head of hair!
I’m including two versions of the song. The original recording and a later supposedly live performance where they were miming!
I left my home in Norfolk Virginia
California on my mind
I straddled that Greyhound
And rode into Raleigh
And on across Caroline
We had motor trouble that turn into a struggle
Halfway across Alabam’
And that hound broke down and left us all stranded
In downtown Birmingham
Right away I brought me a through train ticket
Ridin’ across Mississippi clean
And I was on that midnight flyer out of Birmingham
Smoking into New Orleans
Somebody help me get out of Louisiana
Just to help me get to Houston Town
There are people there who care a little about me
And they won’t let the poor boy down
Sure as you’re born brought me a silk suit
Put luggage in my hand
And I woke up high over Alburquerque
On a jet to the promised land
Working on a T-bone steak a la carte
Flying over to the golden state
Ah when the pilot told us in thirteen minutes
He would set us at the terminal gate
Swing low chariot come down easy
Taxi to the terminal zone
Cut your engines and cool your wings
And let me make it to the telephone
Los Angeles give me Norfolk Virginia
Tidewater four ten o nine
Tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling
And the poor boy is on the line
Working on a T-bone steak a la carte
Flying over to the golden state
Ah when the pilot told us in thirteen minutes
He would set us at the terminal gate
Swing low chariot come down easy
Taxi to the terminal zone
Cut your engines and cool your wings
And let me make it to the telephone
Los Angeles give me Norfolk Virginia
Tidewater four ten o nine
Tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling
And the poor boy is on the line
"If only half of the history that has happened in Nottingham had happened in some other place, that place would be famous; but because it did happen here no one knows".
