I think Memorial Day is a tricky thing - you want to honor the fallen and remember the service of all our men and women in uniform - but you also might want to steer clear of the maudlin. Don't want too much fake drama, but there's very real emotion involved, especially for anyone who has family or friends serving/served/to be remembered.
For me, I think I lean away from songs that are calculated to make one cry (some country) and more towards thoughts of freedom and remembering the importance of sacrifice. Memorial Day was founded initially to honor the fallen of the Civil War - a war which I think we can all agree was needed. Some things are worth fighting for (please take the political debates on this to political blogs though, that is not my aim here).
The video for "Why We Fight" - The Decemberists is not my favorite, it has a Lord of the Flies dystopian ragtag childrens fighting thing going on; but I do love the song and the lyric:
When we die
We will die with our arms unbound
And this is why
This is why we fight
And then, though not perhaps originally intended for this purpose, and I think the word "hero" gets thrown around too much and verges on the overused, but the men and and women who give their lives in service for others - we benefit, we have freedom... that's real.
Some really random videos from Grizzly Bear. One can debate the ubiquity (and/or sellingoutness, I'm talking to you, internet critics) of Grizzly Bear in the comments. I think a commercial or two is bound to happen if you make good songs, so I don't have a problem with it. They do get a lot of hype, but again, as long as the music holds up...
"Deep Blue Sea" - not a music video, just a performance. You know it's going to have the possibility of being an amazing song if there's someone holding an autoharp. Amazing or terrible. This one is amazing.
"While You Wait for the Others" - What with the fencing mask and all the animals and etc, this video seems to embody the whole "too hipster/too much hype/trying to hard" problem. The music is good, but there's a lot of stuff thrown in and going on but nothing really happens. Although that fits with the atmospheric nature of their work.
This video for "Knife" manages to be slow and strange and creepy in an odd vaguely Star Trek/Planet of the Apes way and I'm not entirely sure what all goes on and/or why. But it's also kind of mesmerizing.
One of the guys in Grizzly Bear is also in Department of Eagles - who take the concept of "weird, mildly unsettling, and mesmerizing" and really go for it in this epic video for the great song "No One Does It Like You" featuring dancing toy soldiers(?) and ghosties.
While briefly chatting online with Miss_Michael this morning (I've been intermittently working from home this week), and in the middle of just briefly catching up, the topic of Nicki Minaj surfaced. Which is interesting because neither of us is really into hip hop (all that much). But she certainly makes striking videos, super colorful, full of outfits and jewelry and ice speakers and shirtless men (naturally) - so they are memorable and fun to talk about, which in my book = points.
And it was also funny to me because a few weeks ago I had made a mental note to post - "Moment 4 Life" (hate the 4!), because I like the fairytale theme (even though I do not like Drake), but never gotten around to it. So our conversation was fortuitous. Let's start with Moment 4 Life, and then move on to Super Bass (which is the video we were discussing this morning).
I like that she calls herself a king, I love that bed, and I love when she says sorry to the haters that they couldn't phase her. I also like the sentiment of wishing that you could have a certain moment for life - especially when she says it and hugs herself at 5:46 - it's that kind of shiver you get when something is so perfect that you know you need to lock that memory in to treasure forever. So that really works for me. I very much also like that it's her own weird fairytale/wedding thing, it fits. But other than theme and some of the sets/outfits, a large part is just Drake talk-rapping, and the two of them standing around, which is boring. It could use more movement, action, something.
Super Bass, however, has all the movement that the more subdued Moment 4 Life lacks. Lots of dancing, wigs, and pink. And ice, and feathers, and black light. (And the aforementioned shirtless men.) Love the use of color. But for me, I kind of cannot get over the line "somebody please tell him who the F I is," it grates on my ears. Other than that, the video certainly "pops"...
My conclusion this summer
was there was much too much rain
So I ran off on Thursday
with a dance troupe from Spain
Well my conclusion for the weekend was that there was too much rain, and I too am tempted to run off with a dance troupe from Spain. Except that I can't dance, soooooo that's out. I love this video, it's cute and evocative and captures the kind of sweet/sad discontent that plays out in the song (and coincidentally, my mood for the day).
In general, the use of drawings in videos pleases me. One can say a lot with some good ink that human features might not convey; with this song, for instance, people pretending to dance as trees in a Spanish dance troupe might come off as too twee. This way it looks like a lovely children's book or something.
I don't get the amount of buzz about this whole stupid predicted rapture thing - anyone even vaguely familiar with the Bible knows that:
"But of that day and hour knoweth no [man], no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." Matthew 24:36
Regardless of the ridiculous crap out there, it makes for interesting music selections. Several radio stations had "Rapture Playlists" and etc. I just got tagged in a friend's fb post about end of the world songs.
So what songs are appropriate - 1) Songs about the end of course, but maybe also 2) Songs that you love so much that theyare what you want to be listening to while you fight off the onslaught of the Zombiepocalyptic horde.
The first song that popped into my head when pondering this was Do You Believe in Rapture - Sonic Youth. I love me some Thurston Moore. A lot. Fun concert story: I saw them play a free show at racetrack, and there was this fellow in the crowd in a black trench-coat who proceeded to take out a can of beefaroni/ravioli and eat it. With his fingers. Because he had remembered to put a can opener in his trench pocket, but not utensils. It was rather amazing. (Possibly I will share more concert stories if I remember good ones, I think if you go to enough shows you end up with a wealth of magical/horrific stories.)
Back to the song - obviously it has the appropriate theme and lyrics. It also has a dreamy mellow vibe that works well for the subject. The video is quiet, just them setting up/performing and some crowdshots.
Sticking with my beloved Sonic Youth, I think The Diamond Sea qualifies for me as one of the songs that I love so dearly I wouldn't mind hearing it for a last song (though it's not frantic enough to fight off the undead to; maybe for a slow-mo zombie hacking montage?). This song makes me think of my old friend Joe, who used to be the only person at our small church highschool youth group who had similar good (and eclectic) music tastes. He also loved this song.
I believe my favorite YT comment on this is:
When you are stoned and listen to this, your mind goes through a mistical dimension. It's incredible ^^
sergicharlotte
Then there's the more obvious choices like - End of the World - The Cure - sometimes anything can make you feel like it's the end of the world.
I would also recommend anything of Clem Snide, he writes a lot about these things (a reflective fellow) so he has a lot of thematically appropriate songs; plus I love him with my whole heart, I would gladly go to the grave/sky listening to his work. "Tiny European Cars" fits (couldn't find a clip, sorry). "End of Love" is not bad either (sample lyric: "no one will survive the end of love"). His "The Sound of German Hip Hop" hints that it is precisely about media drama about the end of things.
Lyric bits:
"Those who spoke of doom impending, suffering and such
Had found the place in peoples' heart that beauty had once touched..."
Perhaps the most appropriate of his songs about the end would be "Apocalyptic Friend" (vid is a live performance, not complete).
My dear apocalyptic friend, convinced the world will shortly end,
I only want to hold you in my arms
And whisper softly that it's alright, if God decides to kill the lights,
and back to stardust we return again...
I can't recommend Clem Snide/Eef Barzelay too highly. He's got this down.
Then I was thinking of what other "end" type songs I had in my iTunes, and I realized I had this gem. I think this might win. Who wouldn't want to spend any remaining time they had, with the one they loved? I could see this as a happy-sad ending to a movie, couple together, holding hands as the bombs start falling/zombies start breaking through. Face the end with someone by your side...
"Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic till I'm gathered safely in..."
I love you, Leonard Cohen.
Enjoy your weekend, and the happy normalcy it will bring =)
And as always - if you have good ones to add - comment!
Well as we all detoxify from a Eurovision terrible, glittery pop hangover, let's refresh ourselves with something slightly different for the week ahead.
I was trying out various mixes in my car this morning and came across a favorite I haven't heard in a while - The Servant. These songs "Liquefy" and "Orchestra" have a way of earworming into my head - and they have been happily percolating around in there all day. Which is good, because all last week at work the unfortunate song stuck in my head was The Longest Time- Billy Joel. Not that I have anything against Mr. Joel, especially at certain times, and the song is not bad in and of itself in its own old-timey way; but it is extremely annoying after two or three days of incessant doo-wopping.
Note: the face-making in all these videos is GOLD.
Let's start with Billy Joel so that you can share the horror. The video has a man at the remains of his high-school reunion, then his friends(?) come back and they wander around the school, singing and snapping. Not a bad idea for a retro styled song.
Ok, if you are still with me - now on to the palate cleanser, a little something good to marinate in all week. The video for Liquefy is simple - black and white, inky paintings appear around them, they stand and play and dance around a little. It's cuter than it sounds. And, trivia tidbit - who was the vocalist? Dan Black - whose current solo work and lovely video for "Symphonies" (both w/ and w/o Kid Cudi) I also love and have discussed before.
In the next video, for "Orchestra" - they are in a shed (metaphor??? LOL), and there is a lot of really adorkable dancing to warm your heart (and to carry you through this next week), despite the slightly melancholy lyrics.
Did anyone see odds on them winning? I still think this song is kinda lackluster (especially in this live performance). But, congrats, it's nice to see a smallish country get something! And now maybe more people will know how to spell "Azerbaijan" so that's also a win.
The "Big 5" of Eurovision 2011 - France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the UK. They took a boat trip together. Here are their entries. Discuss!
"Que me quiten lo bailao" - Lucia Perez (Spain) - this is very upbeat, but there's a lot going on the video in terms of the carnival around her, and it all runs together. I think the song is OK, and I love dancing and drama, but this was pretty forgettable.
It is, however, not as tacky as this:
"I Can" - Blue (UK) - This is super 90s boy-bandy. With reallllly unattractive guys. I don't get this choice at all (see also: Ireland's choice of Jedward?). United Kingdom, you have SO MUCH GOOD MUSIC, why did this get picked?
"Taken By A Stranger" - Lena (Germany) - Lena won last year's ESC with "Satellites" and I think I actually like this song better. The video features lots of looking at herself in the mirror, and dancing with people in silver bodysuits. Can't help but feel that they're going for a kind of Twilighty vibe with it all? I don't know. Not my fav, but not bad.
"Madness of Love" - Raphael Gualazzi (Italy) - Nice jazzy piano. Actually really like this. Are the clips from a film? I like the little words/letters/lines being drawn around him as he plays - very simple, keeping it classy. Because this features the piano being played, I think it's good to keep the stuff around it very low-key, otherwise it could be a big mess. This stayed in focus, him, the piano, the occasional trumpet blast, just a few film clips to give a little story.
"Sognu" - Amaury Vassili (France) - "Sognu" means "Dream." Some serious singing. And he's pretty cute. Is he the French Josh Groban? Video is nice, a hint of a story & some good landscapes and shots of him on a mountain. The understated video works, because if you have that kind of an epic vocal track, then having too much going on in the video might not be the best choice (cheap and/or distracting; same as piano comment above).
Saw a YT comment saying someone is predicting Lena wins again? I think that would be terrible. Who do you think should and/or will win?
"hahahahahaehaeh this is like bwahahhahah the spot on hipster music video" Mixarenan
And it is completely true. Yes, it is full of the whimsy and the quirk, and guinea pigs, breakfast foods, little drawings, balloons, and everything else you would imagine should be in a twee indie video. Maybe you either love it or hate it. But I like that they just went for it so wholeheartedly. They are all cute (I like the guy with the fluffier hair especially). And I don't know if it's because they're all smiling rather earnestly (neither doing the fake grim thing, nor the sardonic smile), or because it's not in English, but I think it wins you over with the dedicated cheeriness and the bright! colors! Also, let's face it, you want her "Raptor" t-shirt.
I love the whole giant spectacle of the thing, all the voting and the over-the-top performances and etc. And I love seeing videos from foreign countries. Even with the ridiculous amount of hours I spend on the internet and half-assedly following some music news, I feel I don't see nearly enough videos/etc from artists that aren't from the US/Canada/UK (some, but not lots).
So anyways, Eurovision - I like it, but I don't really follow it, so I was just thinking to myself earlier this week that I should probably look up when it is/was if I wanted to post about it again, feeling like it was about time - and lo and behold on Friday I stumbled upon an article in the HuffPo about Norway's entry - "Haba Haba" - Stella Mwangi.
This is a super happy song, and the video is very simple (she walks around, gaining followers in an impromptu quasi-parade) - but so catchy, dance-alicious, and straight-up infectiously cheery that I feel it could go all the way. I really like it. Besides the joyful song, everyone just looks really happy in the video, and she looks beautiful and glowing in her orange puffy dress... And if you read the aforelinked article, you can learn that the song has a lovely meaning/importance as well (she is the daughter of political refugees, so immigration/journey/struggle, some of the central lyrics are in Swahili, etc). Very heartwarming. And I am sometimes cynical and jaded about 'happy' music, often find it cloying or just too sappy; my taste generally runs to the less jubilant and more reflective/mopey. So for me to admit to liking a happy song is rare. But I would buy this immediately (if I could find it on iTunes, which I can't, is it not released here yet? Or something? Are we just behind the times?) to put on some of my happier playlists (woefully short).
Ukraine: "Angel" - Mika Newton has a nicely shot video for a kinda meh song. Keep your eyes peeled for the man in the half shirt and the peek of interestingly manscaped chest hair. He's like an acrobat (breakdancer?) in the circus? Then there's a vaguely menacing man in a top-hat? Points for being amusing.
Then there's this little number where she may or may not be a hawk? Like flying in the sky. "Feel the passion" - Aurela Grace (Albania). Some of the aerial shots are really lovely, if you overlook the fake flying and etc. The bridge she stands on is also nice. Song is pretty boring.
This one - "Running Scared" - Eldar & Nigar (Azerbaijan) - also has pretty scenery, even if the song is kinda forgetable. I like the shot where they pass each other in the cable cars. It's a nice touch. I have to say he looks like a 16 yr old smaller-eyed version of Elijah Wood, and she looks a lot older. But the video is nicely executed and the song is not bad.
Bulgaria - "Na Inat" - Poli Genova - goes for a kind of harder pop, and it wasn't in English, which I like. More local flavor. According to other version on YT "Na Inat" means "For Spite" - which kinda comes across in the video a little, even if you don't know Bulgarian.
Sweden - "Popular" - Eric Saade - goes for a nice trashy Eurobeat techno number about yearning to be popular - but hey, it features a "Dance Battle" so I am all for that. Unfortunately, the video is a little dark and hard to make out all the dancing.
Israel - "Ding Dong" - Dana International - she is renowned for both her personal life (Israel's first drag queen, trans) and for winning the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest with "Diva". This song is a solid pop number, and the video, with her swanning around in various outfits (I like the red dress against the white with the cherries), is fittingly glam, yet still rather understated. I don't know that I can take any song seriously that features the words 'ding dong', but I guess it refers to bells/silent prayers, so it's not as silly as the title might lead one to believe at first glance.
On a completely different track is "With Love Baby" - Witloof Bay (Belgium) - who do an a capella song, in a very retro/classy style. Beatboxing break at 1:30! It's kinda groovy and fun. I like it a lot, and I think the video is good with the dancing, and the b&w to color changes (love the blue/coral), trying to keep it interesting. Certainly striking in tone and style, especially compared with some of the other more generic pop songs.
Anyways, that's about all I have patience for right now. I encourage you to explore the Eurovision channel on YouTube, because it's worth it - some ok songs, a lot of glam, the chance to see entries from tiny countries you may not otherwise know anything about - and for the LOLZ (outfits, sets, weird performances, etc).
So my fb friend M shared this link the other day, and it's funny because I've never met her - she is besties with one of my besties and we are friends because we were supposed to be bridesmaids together last year - but apparently we have a lot of similar tastes, and this unfolds in things she posts that I then like and comment on. Like our shared love and appreciation of David Bowie's performance in Labyrinth. Despite needing it to stay in stalking contact with tiny circle of actual friends, I almost always feel like deleting my fb page because most of the people I used to know, don't care/I don't talk to anyways, so what's the point? But it is the little things, like bonding with almost-strangers over tightpantsed superhottievillians, and seeing people who have lovely eclectic tastes in music that sometimes brighten my outlook.
So she posted this: "Lloyd, I'm ready to be heartbroken" - Camera Obscura. Which happens to be one of my favorite songs, and the video is also pretty amusing. Some amusing dancing/retro-style goes on, and the singer kinda just stands there, slumpy, juxtaposing nicely. I like the whole vibe and the colors, not to mention the giant pink bear with bloody claws. The YT comments analyzing it (is it depressing vs. is she being brave and ready to love, etc) are also amusing.
If you haven't listened to much Camera Obscura, you should. Lovely, hazy, indie pop. Just the thing for summer days or drizzly drear.
This video goes for a slightly different retro vibe - as if the band was being filmed back then. I really like it. Quiet, but interesting enough. I generally like videos that do the homage to previous styles/genres/artists.
"Tears for Affairs"
"French Navy" tells a tale of love, and in cute cinematic way. I would watch a movie of this.
"Let's get out of this country" - Sometimes we all feel this way, and the video puts action to the sentiment of leaving. "...We'll find a cathedral city, you can convince me I'm pretty...."
Anyone brave enough to comment, please share what music/videos people have posted to fb or blogged about/etc that have warmed your heart because you loved them too.
"...As vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart." Proverbs 25:20 (KJV)
This could be interpreted as bad - corrosive, acid; or as a good thing - effervescent, cleansing.
It probably depends on the song and the heart.
(Disclaimer: videos are posted from outside sources that are beyond my control, I cannot assure what copyright protection practices each individual site may have.)
All you need to know about me is that I love Bob Dylan, Jesus, books, art, music, the internet, bad TV, cooking, my cats and crossword puzzles. In some order.
