OMD's Southern takes bits of Marin Luther King's speeches and places them against an energetic musical backdrop. Even with the horns blaring and the drums pounding, you lose interest in the music and start focusing on the words. Words of a dreamer. Words to make you stop and think. Words for the times.
I remember that Monday morning
When I was subpoenaed to be in court
Many things ran through my mind
I started thinking about the people
All day long, trying to think of something to say to the people
Are you ready for the question?
All in favor, let it be known by standing on you feet
I want young men and young women, who are not alive today
But who will come into this world, with new privileges
And new opportunities
I want them to know and see that these new privileges and opportunities
Did not come without somebody suffering and sacrificing for
Freedom is never given to anybody
Like anybody
I would like to live a long life
Longevity has it's place
But I'm not concerned about that now
I just want to do god' will
And he has allowed me to go up to the mountain
And I've looked over
And I've seen the promise land
I may not get there with you
But I want you to know tonight
That we as a people
Will get to the promise land
So I'm happy tonight, I'm not worried about anything
I'm not fearing any man
Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord
Glory hallelujah, glory hallelujah
Glory hallelujah, glory hallelujah
His truth is marching on
Martin Luther King, Jr. was born on January 15, 1929 and assassinated on April 4,1968. He was the recipient of the 1964 Nobel Peace Prize.
Robert Kennedy said at his rally in Indianapolis on that fateful day of April 4, 1968:
"My favorite poem, my — my favorite poet was Aeschylus, and he once wrote:
Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget
falls drop by drop upon the heart,
until, in our own despair,
against our will,
comes wisdom
through the awful grace of God.
"What we need in the United States is not division; what we need in the United States is not hatred; what we need in the United States is not violence and lawlessness, but is love, and wisdom, and compassion toward one another, and a feeling of justice toward those who still suffer within our country, whether they be white or whether they be black."
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Song of the Day
Friday, January 16, 2009
Song of the Day
Living Colour - what an amazing band! Extremely talented, hard rocking, great lyrics and songs about tough issues. Their debut album Vivid is definitely in my best of all time collection, and one of those tapes that I wore out from constant play.
I also have a great memory of chatting with Muzz Skillings at the 1991 Lollapalooza (the whole Lollapalooza was a great experience in itself) at the Shoreline Amphitheatre. He came out early in the day and sat nearby to check out the bands. No one seemed to know who he was, but I sure did. So I headed over and started chatting about music. At first he was hesitant, then he relaxed when he realized that I was not some crazed fanboy. Finally he said "hey I gotta get going, we're on soon. Great talking to you." and he headed backstage.
“And during the few moments that we have left, we want to talk, right down to
earth, in a language that everybody here can easily understand.” (Malcolm X)
Look in my eyes, what do you see?
the Cult of Personality
I know your anger, I know your dreams
I've been everything you wanna be ohhh…
I'm the Cult of Personality
Like Mussolini and Kennedy
I'm the Cult of Personality
the Cult of Personality
the Cult of Personality
Neon lights, Nobel Prize
When a mirror speaks, the reflection lies
You won't have to follow me
Only you can set me free
I sell the things you need to be
I'm the smiling face of your T.V. ohh…
I'm the Cult of Personality
I exploit you; still you love me
I tell you one and one makes three ohh…
I'm the Cult of Personality
Like Joseph Stalin and Gandhi ohh…
I'm the Cult of Personality
the Cult of Personality
the Cult of Personality
Neon lights, Nobel Prize
When a leader speaks, that leader dies
You won't have to follow me
Only you can set you free
You gave me fortune, you gave me fame
You gave me power in your God's name
I'm every person you need to be ohh…
I'm, the, Cult, of, Per, Son, Al, Ity
I am the Cult of Personality
“Ask not what your country can do for you…” (John F. Kennedy)
“The only thing we have to fear, is fear itself.” (Franklin D. Roosevelt)
Additional Info:
at Amazon.Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Song of the Day
Ah yes, Billy Idol. I have a wonderful adolescent memory associated with this song, and I'm sure Mr. Idol would be proud. Ask me about it some time over a round of drinks ... on a warm summer night.
In the meantime, put on your best snarl, and start pumping that fist.
"I'm all out of hope
One more bad dream could bring a fall
When I'm far from home
Don't call me on the phone
To tell me you're alone
Its easy to deceive
Its easy to tease
But hard to get release
(Les yeux sans visage) Eyes without a face
(Les yeux sans visage) Eyes without a face
(Les yeux sans visage) Eyes without a face
Got no human grace your eyes without a face.
I spend so much time
Believing all the lies
To keep the dream alive
Now it makes me sad
It makes me mad at truth
For loving what was you
When you hear the music you make a dip
Into someone else's pocket then make a slip.
Steal a car and go to Las Vegas oh, the gigolo pool.
Hanging out by the state line,
Turning holy water into wine
Drinkin' it down
I'm on a bus on a psychedelic trip
Reading murder books tryin' to stay hip.
I'm thinkin' of you you're out there so
Say your prayers.
Say your prayers.
Say your prayers.
Now I close my eyes
And I wonder why
I don't despise
Now all I can do
Is love what was once
So alive and new
But its gone from your eyes
I'd better realize ..."
Monday, May 12, 2008
Song of the Day
Apologies for the cheesy video - but it's the only one I can find for "Holy Lamb (Song for Harmonic Convergence)" by Yes. It is off their Big Generator album, which I have been playing all day long. Over and over again.
Even though it is a short and beautiful song, it packs a lot of power and inspiration. And it has one of the most amazing crescendos I have ever heard. As Jon Anderson puts it, it is a song about any belief that puts you at peace with yourself, others and nature. Enjoy!
"Holy lamb, see the world we started
Is it so low again?
Like a light that's lost upon the stage
So the more it shines, it goes away
Surely then, see the curtain rising to show us once again
All the magic of the earth and the skies
See the more we find
The more we realize
That every time, see the laws of nature keep telling us like a friend
Spirit of emotion dancing to the wind
High above, high above
So sure inspired again
I can tell a new story now
Can we see through this mask of uncertainty, surely now?
How can it be so hard when all there is to know
Don't be afraid of letting go
It takes a loving heart to see and show
This love for our own ecology
Hold the light! Hold the light!
Out of love we'll come a long long glorious way
At the start of every day a child begins to play
And all we need to know
Is that the future is a friend of yours and mine"
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Runnin' With The Beatles
I love musical mashups like this this one, and seeing David Lee Roth juxtaposed with The Beatles is humorous in itself. Scream more Dave!
Monday, March 03, 2008
Song of the Day
Today's Song of the Day is "Call and Answer" from their album Stunt. It's a gently melody with very powerful lyrics about a frustrated romance. Love can be patient, but enough is enough.
Additional Info:
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Song of the Day
"Breathe it in and breathe it out
And pass it on, it's almost out
We're so creative, so much more
We're high above but on the floor
It's not a habit, it's cool, I feel alive
If you don't have it you're on the other side
The deeper you stick it in your vein
The deeper the thoughts, there's no more pain
I'm in heaven, I'm a god
I'm everywhere, I feel so hot
It's not a habit, it's cool, I feel alive
If you don't have it you're on the other side
I'm not an addict (maybe that's a lie)
It's over now, I'm cold, alone
I'm just a person on my own
Nothing means a thing to me
(Nothing means a thing to me)
It's not a habit, it's cool, I feel alive
If you don't have it you're on the other side
I'm not an addict (maybe that's a lie)
Free me, leave me
Watch me as I'm going down
Free me, see me
Look at me, I'm falling and I'm falling."
Additional Info:
- K's Choice Website
- K's Choice at Wikipedia
- "Not an Addict" video at YouTube
- Paradise in Me album at Amazon
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Song of the Day
Today's song is Level 42's "Something About You", which was released in 1985. A great song for Valentines. It's about a human sort of love, powerful and messy and tending to dip itself into tragedy from time to time, but managing to persevere.
However if it doesn't work out, and it all falls apart, you can play their song "Leaving Me Now" which happens to be on the same album. Such convenience!
"Now
How can it be
That a love
Carved out of caring
Fashioned by fate
Could suffer so hard
From the games
Played once too often
But making mistakes
Is a part
Of lifes imperfections
Born of the years
Is it so wrong
To be human after all
Drawn into the stream
Of undefined illusion
Those diamond dreams
They cant disguise the truth
That there is something about you
Baby so right
I wouldnt be without you
Baby tonight
If ever our love
Was concealed
No one can say that
We didnt feel
A million things
And a perfect dream of life
Gone
Fragile but free
We remain
Tender together
If not so in love
And its not so wrong
Were only human after all
These changing years
They add to your confusion
Oh and you need to hear
The time that told the truth"
Additional Info:
- Official Level 42 Website
- Level 42 Wikipedia entry
- "Something About You" video on YouTube
- Level Best album at Amazon.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Song of the Day
While researching the album, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that it was named one of Amazon's Best of 2007. If you visit the band's website, you can check out the video and song for free.
"I wish that we could talk about it,
But there, that's the problem.
With someone new I could have started,
Too late, for beginnings.
The little things that made me harassed,
Are gone, in a moment.
I miss the way we used to argue,
Locked, in your basement.
I wake up and the phone is ringing,
Surprised, as it's early.
And that should be the perfect warning,
That something's, a problem.
To tell the truth I saw it coming,
The way, you were breathing.
But nothing can prepare you for it,
The voice, on the other, end.
The worst is all the lovely weather,
I'm sad, it's not raining.
The coffee isn't even bitter,
Because, what's the difference?
There's all the work that needs to be done,
It's late, for revision.
There's all the time and all the planning,
And songs, to be finished.
And it keeps coming,
And it keeps coming,
And it keeps coming,
Till the day it stops
I wish that we could talk about it,
But there, that's the problem.
With someone new I could have started,
Too late, for beginnings.
You're smaller than my wife imagined,
Surprised, you were human.
There shouldn't be this ring of silence,
But what, are the options?
When someone great is gone.
We're safe, for the moment.
Saved,
For the moment"
Additional Info:
- LCD Soundsystem's Website
- "Someone Great" video at YouTube
- Sound of Silver album at Amazon
Monday, January 28, 2008
Song of the Day
Flash to the present, and Silverchair is still here making great music. Daniel has short hair and has mellowed out. But he still has an amazing voice. "Straight Lines" is from their latest album, Young Modern, and is the Song of the Day. It's a great song to wake up to, one that will get you out of that bed inspired and raring to go.
"Breathing from a hole in my lung
I had no one
With faces in front of me
Racing through the void in my head
To find traces
Of a good luck academy
Sparks ignite and trade them for thought
About no one
And nothing in particular
Washed the sickened socket and drove
Resent nothing
There's good will inside of me
Wake me up lower the fever
Walking in a straight line
Set me on fire in the evening
Everything will be fine
Wake me up strong in the morning
Walking in a straight line
Lately I'm a desperate believer
But walking in a straight line
Something I will never forget
I felt desperate
And stuck to the marrow
Invisible to everyone else
I'm a sex-change
And a damsel with no heroine
Wake me up lower the fever
Walking in a straight line
Set me on fire in the evening
Everything will be fine
Wake me up strong in the morning
Walking in a straight line
Lately I'm a desperate believer
But walking in a straight line
I don't need no time to say
There's no changing yesterday
If we keep talking and
I keep walking in straight lines ..."
- Video at YouTube
- Silverchair's album Young Modern at Amazon
- Silverchair at Wikipedia
