DurhamNtx's blog: "Music"

I woke this morning and read my e-mail, checked out all my messages. Something in one of them reminded of this song, and I wanted to hear it again. I can't listen to it without getting teary-eyed. It is impossible for me. In the wake of the 9th anniversary of 9-11, I felt compelled to remind others that we still have other things to be sad about, to remember,  to fix in our damaged and troubled world.

Luka

Written and performed by Suzanne Vega
from the album Solitude Standing by Suzanne Vega

My name is Luka
I live on the second floor
I live upstairs from you
Yes, I think you've seen me before
If you hear something late at night
Some kind of trouble, some kind of fight
Just don't ask me what it was
Just don't ask me what it was
Just don't ask me what it was

I think it's 'cause I'm clumsy
I try not to talk too loud
Maybe it's because I'm crazy
I try not to act too proud
They only hit until you cry
And after that you don't ask why
You just don't argue anymore
You just don't argue anymore
You just don't argue anymore


Yes I think I'm okay
I walked into the door again
If you ask that's what I'll say
And it's not your business anyway
I guess I'd like to be alone
With nothing broken, nothing thrown
Just don't ask me how I am
Just don't ask me how I am
Just don't ask me how I am

My name is Luka
I live on the second floor
I live upstairs from you
Yes, I think you've seen me before
If you hear something late at night
Some kind of trouble, some kind of fight
Just don't ask me what it was
Just don't ask me what it was
Just don't ask me what it was
They only hit until you cry
And after that you don't ask why
You just don't argue anymore
You just don't argue anymore
You just don't argue anymore

 

Rock on!
Shawn

From the Washington Post today:

Mike Edwards, one of the early members of the British rock ensemble, Electric Light Orchestra, died Sept. 3 in an accident.

Mr. Edwards was driving a white van along a countryside road in the southwestern county of Devon when a 700 pound hay bale tumbled down a hill and landed on the windshield of his vehicle, killing him instantly, police said.

He was a particularly eccentric character of the band, who was known for wearing a tailed tuxedo, and playing solo tunes using a grapefruit for a bow.

He also had one particular piece, called the "dying swan," when at the end of his routine, his cello would "explode."

He played with ELO from 1972 to 1974 before becoming a Buddhist, changing his name to Deva Pramada, and making money teaching the cello.

He played in this piece, "Ma-Ma-Ma-Belle". Enjoy.

 

Rock on!

Shawn, AKA DurhamNtx

Lately I have been stuck on old cartoons (Loony Tunes, Merry Melodes, etc.) and someone reminded me of a song Pat Boone did in 1962 which made it all the way to the top 10 on the charts. 

Speedy Gonzales

Written by  Buddy Kaye, Ethel Lee and David Hess
Performed by Pat Boone

(spoken)
It was a moonlit night in Old Mexico.
I walked alone between some old adobe haciendas.
Suddenly, I heard the plaintive cry of a young Mexican girl...

(in obnoxious soprano)Laaaaaaaa!
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-laaaaaaaaaa!
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-laaaaaaaaaa!
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-laaaaaaaaaa!

You better come home Speedy Gonzales
Away from tannery row
Stop all of your drinking
With that floosie named Flo!
Come on home to your adobe
And slap some mud on the wall!
The roof is leaking like a strainer
There's loads of roaches in the hall.(La la la la)

Chorus:
Speedy Gonzales
(Speedy Gonzales)
Why don't you come home?
Speedy Gonzales

How come you leave me all alone?

(Speedy Gonzales' voice)
Hey, Rosita, I have to go shopping downtown for my mother,she needs some tortillas and Chilli Peppers!

(in obnoxious soprano again)
Laaaaaaaa! La-la-la-la-la-la-la-laaaaaaaaaa! La-la-la-la-la-la-la-laaaaaaaaaa!
La-la-la-la-la-la-la-laaaaaaaaaa!

Your doggie's gonna have a puppy
And we're running out of Coke.
No enchiladas in the icebox
And the television's broke
I saw some lipstick on your sweatshirt
I smell some perfume in your ear
Well, if you're gonna keep on messin',
Don't bring your business back a-here!
(La la la la)

Chorus
(Speedy again)Hey, Rosita, come quick! Down at the cantina,
they're giving green stamps with tequila!"

(Again the obnoxious soprano)Laaaaaaaa! La-la-la-la-la-la-la-laaaaaaaaaa! La-la-la-la-la-la-la-laaaaaaaaaa!La-la-la-la-la-la-la-laaaaaaaaaa!
(repeat and fade)

Rock on!
Shawn

Most of you know I enjoy a broad range of music - from AC/DC to Brahms to Zager & Evans to ZZ Top. I was in a mood to listen to some country while taking my mom to get her car (the alignment needed adjusting) and I heard this...

Consider Me Gone
Performed by Reba McEntire

Every time I turn the conversation
To something deeper than the weather
I can feel you all but shuttin' down

And when I need an explanation
For the silence you just tell me
You don't wanna talk about it now.

What you're not saying is coming in loud and clear
We're at a crossroads here.

Chorus:
If I'm not the one thing you can't stand to lose
If I'm not that arrow to the heart of you
If you don't get drunk on my kiss
If you think you can do better than this
Then I guess we're done
Let's not drag this on
Consider me gone

With you I've always been wide open
Like a window or an ocean
And there is nothing I've ever tried to hide
So when you leave me not knowin' where you're goin'
I start thinkin' that we're lookin'
We're lookin' at goodbye.

How about a strong shot of honesty?
Don't you owe that to me?

Chorus

Consider me a memory.
Consider me the past.
Consider me a smile in an old photograph
Someone who used to make you laugh.

If I'm not the one thing you can't stand to lose
If I'm not that arrow to the heart of you
Then I guess we're done
Let's not drag this on.
Consider me gone.
Consider me gone.
Consider me gone.
Just consider me gone

And I kept thinking all through the song, "THIS is love, And it DOES exist! THIS is what I'm working for - how it SHOULD be."

Today is an Almond Joy day, I think...

Rock on!
Shawn

Dammit! I seem to have this song stuck in my head, and HAVE had for 3 days now! Starship's We Built This City On Rock 'N'Roll

 

 I think I need to infect one or two of you with it too! I'm tired of keeping it to myself!

Rock on!
Shawn

 

Mary Travers, one of the folk group Peter, Paul and Mary, died yesterday at the age of 72. She was battling leukemia. I hope she and Puff live happily playing in the land  of Honah Lee.

Rock On!
DurhamNtx, AKA Shawn

 

 

I heard this song this morning listening to VH1 Classic! It woke me up! (The rest of the house too - I was singing to it...)

 

 

 

Rock on!

Shaw, AKA DurhamNtx

Link: You Took The Words Right Outta My Mouth (Hot Summer Night) by Meat Loaf

I love this song! Seems especially poignant lately...

Rock on!
Shawn, AKA DurhamNtx, DIT, The Dog, #3 on the menu...

Hope Arden asked me to review her video Broken From The Start v2. I don't usually like doing reviews or critiques, because it's difficult for me not to inject honey or venom into the review - I can't easily remain neutral. But here goes... I like the song - it strikes a chord (so to speak) with me - I have had several relationships which made me think there was something wrong with me. The song itself is simple, yet hauntingly effective. "Broken From The Start" questions a lover's decision to leave the relationship. The singer tries to sort out her feelings as she deals with her loss of her lover - "Is it MY fault you left? Are you going to return?" Loss of a lover is never easy, and the singer gives the viewer the depth of her pain - "Was I broken from the start?" The song is simple, yet well-crafted, helping the listener to feel as the composer does - a real tear-jerker. The video is cool. The INXS-like use of the signs is a cool way to emphasize the lyrics. The B&W home movie feel adds to the impression that the video is aimed at the ex. The imagery - waking from a sleepless night, reverting to childhood toys for comfort - give the viewer a better sense of the nature of the song. It seems to say, "I hurt so much, I can't deal with it sometimes." Except that I don't like crying in my merlot, and always want to hold someone hurting or crying in songs like this, I really like the song, and the video. Hope Arden is talented, and her silver throat and talent make this song worth listening to. Her own vocal style coupled with her talent for composition produced a beautiful song, and her creative ability helped create a cool video. Rock on! Durham