Musica: Sigur Ros and Iceland

Icelandic band Sigur Ros held a competition for video mixing their songs with footage of Iceland they had provided. This is one I found that meshes the beauty of Iceland very nicely with Sigur Ros's song Staralfur. If you enjoy seeing Icelandic scenery as I do, I'm sure you will enjoy this one...

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Classic Icon: The Owl

All right then... Most of us have heard of the famous nonsensical poem "The Owl and the Pussycat", and the fact that Winnie the Pooh insisted on having a friend named Owl, who coincidentally, was one.

So, when I came across a picture of a Little Owl coin, and as the owl is associated with the goddess Athena, who is associated with the arts, which is associated with this site, I thought it would be the subject of the day's post.

Owls, whose popularity has experienced a recent resurgence due to the success of the Harry Potter phenomenon, have long been symbols of wisdom and culture. In ancient Athens, the form of monetary exchange was a coin nicknamed the "owl". The goddess Athena was on one side, the owl, considered the mascot of the city, with olive branch and crescent moon on the opposite. These coins are quite cute as you can see, and very popular with collectors.




An interesting song re owls is the following - "The Owl with Knees" written and performed by a band called The Books. Lyrics posted below...



Eat rye straw
Leave, withdraw
Drink ink tea
Stay with me

Fame stay shy
By way of why
Wait, lie low
Old ones' odd odes

Read. Read on
Read, read on
Breathe, be calm
You're gone, gone on

It's strange to see how time agrees
To slow down for owls with knees.

Read. Read on
Read, read on
Breathe, be calm
You’re gone, gone on


Contemplation of the meaning of this song takes the place of the poem of the week, lol...

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Musica: Here Comes the Sun

Two classic versions of one classic song. Thoughts?

The Beatles:


Nina Simone:

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Dale Warland Singers

For the Christmas holiday, I post a peaceful song from the Dale Warland Singers.

The medieval carol The Friendly Beasts

Enjoy... :)

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Musica: Louie, Louie

Something lighter for today, yesterday's post being darker and introspective. So a fun video of The Kingsmen performing "Louie, Louie". People always debate over the lyrics, and there have been a number of versions, with varying lyrics, but I've posted the theoretically official Kingsmen lyrics below. I'll let you debate the rest... The video does end a little oddly edited.

Louie, Louie, oh no,

We gotta go.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, baby

Louie, Louie, oh baby,

Oh we gotta go.

A fine little girl, she waitin for me;

Me catch a ship across the sea.

I sailed the ship all alone;

Me never think how I make it home

Chorus

Three nights and days I sailed the sea,

Me think of girl oh, constantly.

On the ship, I dream she there;

I smell the rose in her hair.

Chorus

Ok, let’s give it to ‘em! Right now!

Solo

Me see Jamaica moon above;

It won’t be long me see me love.

Me take her in my arms and then

I tell her I never leave again.

Chorus

Let’s take it on outta here now

Let’s go!

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Arlo Guthrie: Timeless

I kind of like the idea of putting up three songs as a mini-setlist, or at least two for comparison. In this case, I have Arlo doing City of New Orleans in 1978, and quite a bit later with the Boston Pops (typically not my favourite). Like Pete Seeger, his appeal is timeless.





A while back I discovered on YouTube Arlo's wife Jackie has a plethora of Arlo's videos up; her site is here. There's really great things there... I highly recommend you check it out if you're a fan of Arlo at all. In the spirit of the season, don't miss Arlo as Santa (the Communist?) in The Pause of Mr. Claus.

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The Evercool Dean Martin

Well... today has to be Dean Martin. Some days it's just that way. With all due respect to Frank Sinatra, Dean was it, in and out of the Rat Pack. The sense of humour, the charm, the tremendous charisma, the wit, the looks, the cool... and even if he didn't have any of that, there's that smooth voice that invites you to grab your favourite partner and Sway...

I've also included in the setlist, in honour of the season (and the snow we theoretically will be getting tonight), Let It Snow.

Did you know... Dean, in addition to his television programs, made over 50 films? From Westerns to musicals to comedies with longtime partner Jerry Lewis. Talk about versatility. They don't make them like him any more - more's the pity.

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Classic Jazz Master: Erroll Garner

For the first jazz post, I'd like to start with just a simple video, but it's of a master of the art, Erroll Garner. Just to watch and listen speaks for itself. I will go into more on Erroll later... but for now, just enjoy...

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Musica: "I Sing I Swim" from Iceland's Seabear

An interesting song from the Icelandic band Seabear. It does have a video, with some nice Icelandic home movies, but I think the song stands on its own. I chose this as the first post as it is one I have recently discovered, and it has kept me company while I have been getting this blog off the ground (which wasn't easy as it took quite a bit longer than I had anticipated, due partly to assorted computer issues!). Lyrics as follows:

When the birds are sleeping, That's when the trees sing
You left your winter clothes, And your teeth marks in my skin
So shake the leaves, off the trees, Watch them float down the stream
Your son, your daughter, Swimming in the water

And I miss you, even when you're around
I'm a black cloud, sending lightning to the ground

So darling please, show your teeth
Just one more dance to help me sleep
Oh girl, cold water eyes
Fill the past with friendly nights
Human skin, can be hard to live in
You'll feel better in the morning
Wash your hands in the lake
You've got a heart, some place

Trails lost in the snow, Make way for winter's eerie glow
And that black rock in your bedroom, I hope you'll climb it soon
In your boat, tied to a tree, I hope you'll find the sea

Throw me a dream please, it's been a dreamless sleep
For such a long time, such a long time
Sing myself awake
Watch the branches break
No one could ever take your place

Wash your face in the lake
You've got a diamond under your skin

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