Let's talk about: tears...

for the last hour or so, on a sunday night, i have been looking through photos. through memories of what has been. what my life entailed for so many years. it was like seeing old friends for the first time in a long time. it is not that i want what life was like during 2001 but that i could feel what it felt to live like that again. almost as if you were able to smell the same scent, or fit the same shoe size, or feel the same way you did, or even at that time be able to see someone through the lenses you have today.

it is not a sad thing it is just a recognizable difference. one that brings tears. almost similar to that of jo in little women when she is looking out the window as beth dies, but honestly more like dottie in a league of their own when she realizes how much she truly loves the sport of baseball. something that is ingrained in you. something that makes YOU who you are. i have begun to recognize those things in my life. find my niche. and whenever we do, i know i am guilty, we try for something else. but besides that, i had tears.

good tears. crying and emotional connectivity is always hard for me so to feel that is wonderful, no matter in what manner. it is the outward and visible sign of the connection to someone, of something, for someone. it is so overwhelming and is a feeling one themselves only truly knows.

but it is also a feeling of satisfaction, that things are okay...

words of wisdom

The very least you can do in your life is to figure out what you hope for. And the most you can do is live inside that hope.

- Barbara Kingsolver,
Animal Dreams

Music of the moment: how beautiful upon the mountains

This is a piece of music I have sung numerous times and i sang it again this past sunday at the Presbyterian church. Recently I have been told that the sound produced has matured, which is a very good thing. This version by F. Flaxington Harker is my favorite. There is so much emotion capable to be move and connect with an audience in a beautiful way that is only visible on the spectrum of what a human can feel.

"open up your eyes...."

i finally saw "across the universe". so very intricately done using beatles music. but it also speaks farther than that, it speaks to multiple generations and allows for so much interpretation on looking at life. acknowledging who your true friends are, redefining family, being who you are, and pushing the envelope on "trust".

on a musical note the vocals in the movie are AMAZING. perfect for the movie. granted it is not the likes of hannah montana, jesse mccartney, or any other popular artist on the radio. but from a vocal stand point and well produced genuine sound that is going to last and have an effect on touching ALL people, and not tweens like the earlier stated only do, musically it is far above what is out there, and credit must also be given to the beatles. that is the true measure of an amazing musician and artist... when you write music that all people can perform and interpret in numerous ways.

my favorite song in the movie was "Dear Prudence" especially because of the warmth of the voices, mostly shown from Dana Fuchs ...who voice distinctly resembles that of janis joplin at times but in this song has a warmth that women always strive fore.

another song from Evan Rachel Wood in "if i fell", shows yet again another warm female voice.

the male voices are all wonderful but it is good to point out that these voices from the female are very true, genuine, full and warm in sound, which make it definitely something to listen to.

awards

Anika Moa took home the award for Best Female Solo Artist at the Vodafone New Zealand Music Awards 2008 (also known as the Tuis)

concert

on tuesday night i went to one of THE best concerts i have been to. it was the Missy Higgins with Joshua Radin concert at the basement in columbus. i originally heard joshua radin about... well lets check itunes:

Purchase Date: 29/11/06 11:08PM

so about two years. the first album i bought was his live session EP which is really good. since then he has released three albums that last of which he bought himself out of his deal with sony and created his own record label Mom and Pop Records. On that label he released "Simple Times". Joshua Radin's music is very melodious with his almost ocean like finger picking of the guitar under the melody line. his voice is unique and has a great depth to it.

missy higgin which i bought about a year and a half ago, her australian single was "scar", brought her much acclaim and many accalaids winning numerous ARIA awards, the australian version of the grammy. her sophomore album also came with acclaim and another ARIA. her (australian) single was "steer" and her (american) single was "where i stood" for reason only known to those who release them.

all this aside the concert i attended was by far one of my favorites. but it brings me to a point that drives me insane. when someone listens to a song and says "this is soooo my life" really is it? it is exactly your life? i understand you may relate to it, that is the point of music to relate to the audience. i would be more comfortable with people saying "i love this song" rather than "this is sooo my life" saying that discredits millions of people who also listen to it and also relate to music. music is for the masses so in that case one song that i LOVE by missy is:

secret

the lyrics to this song are pretty self explanitory for those who know what she has been through, by what has been said through the media etc..... and this ....she is sooo very honest in her music. often times that is hard to find, but she has it.

one of the most amazing things for me during a concert is when the audience sings the lyrics solely... on their own. when i was younger i remembering watching a carole king concert on PBS. the audience began to sing her song accapella, i said "that is the coolest things" to have hundreds of strangers, only friends through the music, sing your music at the top of their lungs for YOU the artist. and that happened on tuesday. when missy was singing "scar" ... in a room of people who relate to the song in SOOO MANY WAYS!!! began to sing.

in total control of an audience, hearing your voice echo and reverberate through the room....and the audience hanging on every word you utter. man... that must feel like nothing else.

i will leave you with one more video from the concert:

you got growing up to do

music touches everyone. all people can love it!! don't try to make it solely yours. share the love. and remember at a concert you have that one thing in common with a hundred other people, and maybe more, but if that is all remember you are not alone....

music of the moment: "the lord bless you and keep you" and "mighty fortress"

these are videos of two of the songs i am singing with the presbyterian church on sunday. it is there kirking of the tartans service and they have asked others to join them for their service.

the first, "mighty fortress" is a arrangement of the martin luther theme by Mark Hayes. at times the song reminds me of "jesus christ superstar". there is large amounts of syncopation and great rhythms.

the second, the lord bless you and keep you, is one we sang in high school but is always beautiful to sing. great harmonys and fugue like entrances.

Musical genius of the day: Patty Griffin

Patty Griffin


Albums: 7
Favourites:
Album- Living With Ghost
Song- Moses

What can one say about one of the most popular and talented folk artist. She has a very distinctive voice, when paired with either piano and guitar, both which she plays, you get a beautiful, unique, and melodic combination. Her influence on singer/songwriters of our time is massive and tons of musicians cover her beautiful songs.

Just a side note, and 3 degrees of separation, at the concert i attended the other night.... missy higgin's covered the song "moses" ... which by the way was amazing.... missy's concert was with joshua radin .... and on joshua's recent album.... patty griffin sang with him on "you got growing up to do"...

Let's talk about: honesty...

"honesty is the best policy and spinach is the best vegetable"

that is one of those movie lines that sticks with you from the ever popular movie Airborne. either way honesty, we only know when someone is not being honest when we find out hey have lied. therefore, there are two sides. knowledge of what they are specifically honest about and what they are not saying or what one has strayed from. it is not one sided and it is definitely defined by certain knowledge that certain people know. with that it is also something that i have great respect for, especially musicians, as a musician honesty is indeed the best policy. however, to quote from another movie, my favorite "Little Women" , "we must write what we don't know"

So is it true must we follow was jo said and write the obscure and unknown, or be honest in our writing and write about what we know for the whole world to hear. For me i wish i could be more honest, and in turn more vulnerable....it is what i like about listening to music and subsequently would like to portray to others. honesty.

that certainly takes vulnerability and openness one must work at. but for me is certainly the best nourishment...or vegetable.... as humans...