27.6.09

Let's Have A Party

So, Michael Jackson has passed, as the whole world probably knows by now. Some of the more interesting articles I've been reading are over at Soul Sides, so do yourself a favor, click your way over there and check them out. For myself, there's not much to say that hasn't already been said, except that it's weird and sad. I was never a huge fan, but I do like the 60s/70s Jackson 5 stuff, especially their Motown-era output.

The Jackson 5 > You've Really Got A Hold On Me
This is a track from Motown Sings Motown Treasures. It's a rarities collection of Motown artists covering Motown tracks, and it's superb. Highly recommended.


The Jackson 5 > Let's Have A Party
I grabbed this track from the most excellent Soulsation! box set. It's on the fourth disc of rarities and unreleased tracks, and I love the laid back, easy feeling that emanates from this song.


Let's have a party, because he probably would have wanted it that way. RIP.

25.6.09

Who's that lady?

RIP Farrah Fawcett. Like any kid back then, I had a major crush on her. I always wanted this poster, but never got it. Shame she had to go out the way she did. I didn't follow her much after she left Charlie's Angels, but for that one glorious season she was on, she was the it-girl.

This Isley Brothers track always reminded me of Farrah. I think it may have been used in an ad campaign for some shampoo or something. It's a great summer song and, in my mind, the song and Farrah both go together perfectly. I hope it's always summer, wherever she may be. RIP.

Isley Brothers > That Lady

20.6.09

And the eyes of the world are watching now

Over the course of the years I've lived so far, I haven't been much of a politically minded person. That said, I have been getting into it more and more over the past couple years. I've been trying to keep up with issues and general shit that's going on with the world. Like a lot of people, this Iran election debacle has been holding my interest for the past week or so and everyone is waiting to see the outcome. If you've been following it, you know the details. If you don't know what's going on and are interested, you can start with some info here.

In any case, I found myself this morning wanting to listen to some old Peter Gabriel. I especially love the first few albums. You know the third album, the one with Peter Gabriel's melted face on the cover? Did you know that Kate Bush sings backup on that album? Pretty cool, eh? So yes, I was listening to that when the song Biko came on and it reminded me of what is going on now in Iran. I don't know much about Stephen Biko except that he died many years ago and that he was an anti-apartheid activist. Some of the lyrics in the song, though, apply to the Iranian situation.

Tenuous connection, you might say, but that's what came to my mind when I heard it today. Especially the first few lines of the second verse, and the blow out a candle lines in the third verse. I guess you could say it's all about the spirit of revolution, or rising up and striking back at the oppressors. I dunno, those lines are pretty powerful to me, like a call to arms. Check out the lyrics and listen to the song. Oh, and apparently "Yihla Moja" means "Come Spirit" in Xhosa, which is one of the official languages of South Africa.

September '77
Port Elizabeth weather fine
It was business as usual
In police room 619
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Yihla Moja, Yihla Moja
-The man is dead

When I try to sleep at night
I can only dream in red
The outside world is black and white
With only one colour dead
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Yihla Moja, Yihla Moja
-The man is dead

You can blow out a candle
But you can't blow out a fire
Once the flames begin to catch
The wind will blow it higher
Oh Biko, Biko, because Biko
Yihla Moja, Yihla Moja
-The man is dead

And the eyes of the world are
watching now
watching now

Peter Gabriel > Biko

15.6.09

Where the stars do drown

It's been a little slow around here lately. My current desktop where nearly all of my music lives, is slowly being dismantled in favor of a new computer I've been building. I'm just about done with it, it's gonna be BIGGER! BETTER! FASTER! MORE! and that should be pretty soon.

In any case, I can still post vids and whatnot, so here's one. I saw Bat For Lashes the other night, and they were fantastic. Seriously, it was probably the best show I've seen this year. And last week I saw, along with BFL, Camera Obscura and Neko Case. That's some top competition right there.

This is
Pearl's Dream, which is my favorite song on Two Suns. You should have heard this song played live. They completely KILLED it. It was spectacular. Also, check out Tara Busch's sweet remix of Daniel. She kinda turns the song into a haunting trip through a darkened forest, it's pretty cool. You can get it here for free. You have to sign up an email address to get it, but just use your spam account (I know everyone has multiple email accounts these days), it's worth it.

*EDIT* Nevermind what I said there, get it here with no hassle!


And lastly, if anybody cares, I'll probably be back a bit more regularly after this week or so. I'm looking at my new computer now and it's installing my goodies, rarin' to go.

no bootable device on Twitpic