Archive for category Genre
Sweden is my music capital!
I can’t begin to describe why I think I should relocate to Sweden. Perhaps the first line of this song will explain: “I’m in love with your brother”.
Sweden is my music mecca, I know it.
The Knife – Pass this on (Live)
The Knife – Pass this on
AHHH!!!! FEVER RAY!
Posted by Kim in Electronic, Genre, Indie, Music, Music Videos on July 16th, 2010
Ack! I am now having a musical orgasm because I just discovered that a member of my favorite band The Knife released a solo project under her pseudonym Fever Ray. And that was back in 2009! Where have I been all this time? It is a FANTASTIC record! I cannot stop listening to its haunting tunes and melancholic (somewhat post-apocalyptic) vibe. My heart is flying high in the clouds of musical ecstasy!
Turning to all that jazz
I once wrote how I love to listen to Chet Baker in the morning. As of now, I’m at an all time high on fetishism for his music. So there’s hardly a day that passes that I don’t unwind to one of his songs. Lately, I was looping some of his most painful tunes: the ones recorded at that time that his trumpet playing was characteristically and technically bad. It has a coarseness to it that I found profoundly sad. There’s a song I have in mind entitled, “If you could see me now”.
For now, I’ll give you this rendition by Bill Evans Trio. Leave it up to you to look up on Chet.
Kings of Convenience – Boat behind
Posted by Kim in Folk, Foreign, Indie, Music Videos on July 7th, 2010
I absolutely dig their album “Declaration of Dependence”. Full of feel good song, healthy for the heart. Thanks to Kaye for bringing my attention this music.
Red day
The town is painted red. Happy 14th of February, is all I can say.
When in love, in the mood for Jazz.
John "Trane" Coltrane
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John Coltrane - Ruby, My Dear [Download]
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Chet Baker - My Funny Valentine [Download]
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Mishka Adams - The Very Thought Of You [Download]
Tosca by night
Poster of Puccini's Tosca
Puccini’s Tosca, one of the most popular operas in the repertoire ever since its January 14, 1900 premiere, is a violent drama based on Victorien Sardou’s hit play La Tosca,which was written as a star vehicle for the famous French actress Sarah Bernhardt. In the translation from play to opera, the action was tightened, the characters were “Italianized,” and most of the political motivation was cut. The action of the play and the opera takes place in Rome between noon of June 17, 1800 and dawn the following day, during which time all of the major characters die violent deaths.
– Ten Things You Didn’t Know About Tosca by N.V. Nicassio (source)
Following a very uneventful day, it’s nice to unwind to Tosca over a glass of wine and the soaring spirit of the libretto.
Here I wish to impart with you a characteristically unique rendition of Puccini’s Tosca, which features the performances of the profoundly gifted Maria Callas and Giuseppe di Stefano as tenor. A note on Callas: these recordings were produced at the latter time of her career when numerous critics have slammed Callas’ for her vocal deterioration which was attributed to her mid-career weight-loss. However, I agree with her backers that this show of vulnerability in her voice is precisely what makes Maria Callas a deservingly celebrated Soprano – her vocal inconsistency has only magnified her intense internalization of the Tosca, and is an undeniable testimony of her commanding presence.
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Puccini’s Tosca - Moderato Con Moto [Download]
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Puccini’s Tosca - Vissi D’Arte [Download]
Changes / Indiewho?
My Brightest Diamond
Okay, what just happened there in 2009? It went by like a blur. All snide comments aside about my utter lack of indie juice for that year, I could say that my personal evolution has tremendously affected the course of this website’s content. As I review all my entries it’s been so issue-oriented and later on, I tried to experiment on describing sensations evoked by music and vice-versa. The latter is a somewhat out-of-body experience, if you will, which might require a slight intoxication on my part (again, real or imagined).
But enough of my self-indulgent musings. This year, I wish to introduce a new dimension to this blog which is to feature guest writers. That’s right. Other voices writing on this blog aside from moi. I’m sure by now you’re tired of this highly cynical and weird eccentric behind the keyboard. Fine. We’ll drag in another highly cynical and weird eccentric behind the keyboard! Hah.
So yes, expect some guy named Francis to pop into this scene once in a while. By the way, Francis is a guy I can easily monitor. By that, I don’t mean in the Foucauldian sense of the word nor at a predatory sense whereby I am the stalker and he is the stalkee. No. It is like the kind of monitor where I can see him sitting in front of class and slap his back startling enough that will remind him to write some more. Take not that Francis is in no way being remunerated for his efforts yet (at least as far as cash is concerned because I will probably be subject to some ‘homework collaboration’ in the future should he ask for assistance in the event that I will be guilt-tripped to oblige). But you know! You get the point. He is also a ‘prolific’ indie artist. By that I mean he has his own myspace! (Okay, up to you if you get my sick and twisted humor). Kidding. Again, let’s get that out of the way and just anticipate his words because you can probably pick up a thing or two from this extremely tenacious music geek.
I am also dragging some of my other friends into this salad of music geekery. When they are no longer pretending to be busy – like I used to do. Of course, in case they are telling me matter-of-factly that they have work this blah blah blah, I’m sure I’ll find a way to squeeze out a little piece of their wonderful minds once I’ve found their bargain weakness. So there. That’s what you’ll be expecting this 2010 in Southisms. Shove Kim to the sides with her boring commentaries at late and in with the new fabulous music critics who’ve got some fresh insights in to the musical esse.
Now, time for a playlist. Maestro! Music!
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My Brightest Diamond - Something of an end [Download]
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Moby - Shot in the back of the head [Download]
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The Books and Jose Gonzales - Cello Song [Download]
Music perfect for mornings
Chet Baker for the morning
I am a not-so-morning person. So inevitably, I tend to ritualize mornings in order to process the rest of the day awake.
In my last post, I wrote a really felt review of Feist’s album, The Reminder. It’s what I’ve been listening to a lot in the mornings, and I find myself veering away from the educational podcasts I used to listen to. With the passing of time, all I really wished for in mornings was silence.
But music can be quiet. And it might sound crazy to you, but I think it’s possible to somehow illustrate silence through music. We come across music that stirs up some peace in us and distracts us from our everday stress. Typically, I find this in music ranging from an andantino to moderato tempo. Folk songs in mono. Guitars with a hint of blues or cool city jazz. I am very partial to a singing Chet Baker lately, especially in the morning. His cool voice just mellows you out and starting the day with a good sense of temperament, to me, is just the best mornings to live in. I hope you could listen to some of Chet’s music because mind you, there is a huge difference between the sound of cocktail jazz to what “real” jazz is supposed to sound like.
Imagine a morning without anyone playing music. In the streets there should be some faint or abbrasive music in the background, blending in to the ambience of the morning. It becomes as familiar and natural in the morning as the sound of early birds and cars.
The Reminder
Feist Live
I don’t like to admit that I like The Carpenters, because in my mind I wouldn’t count them as a personal favorite but as it turns out I do like how their songs sound like without necessarily subscribing to The Carpenters shrine ring. I sometimes find myself bopping my head to the kind of song that reminds me how The Carpenters write their songs. I’m not saying that, the song that I hear which then remind of another, lacks originality. My guess is that people who write these somewhat parallel songs simply share outbursts of sensation, whether melancholy or joy, and share sensibilities that cut across age gaps.
I also say music is always inspired by another music or the sounds of nature, which sounds just the same for everyone if they just listen carefully.
For that matter, I truly admire Feist’s latest ruminations. Her album The Reminder interestingly evokes that kind of musical fervor in me. Her song reverberates in the room in your brain where they keep memories and nostalgia, real or imagined. And washes you with body tingles with each deep instrumental vibration.
It may sound a bit exaggerated, but I’m writing to you now as I listen through this beautiful album…
A cold heart will burst / if mistrusted first
A calm heart will break / when given a shake
www.kim.southisms.com
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