Harvesting the Ephemeral
Friday July 14, 2006
Song of the Day ... in Music
Today's Song of the Day is inspired by a signature in an email I received. The signature contained a quote from the poem "Kubla Khan, or a Vision in a Dream. A Fragment." by Samuel Taylor Coleridge.
Weave a circle round him thrice,
And close your eyes with holy dread,
For he on honey-dew hath fed,
And drunk the milk of Paradise.
Being a huge Rush fan, I immediately recogized the quote. Rush had recorded "Xanadu" on their their 1977 album A Farewell to Kings, which was inspired by Kubla Kahn. Great song, and it's today's Song of the Day.
"To seek the sacred river Alph
To walk the caves of ice
To break my fast on honeydew
And drink the milk of Paradise..."
"I had heard the whispered tales of immortality
The deepest mystery
From an ancient book I took a clue
I scaled the frozen mountain tops of eastern lands unknown
Time and Man alone
Searching for the lost Xanadu
Xanadu...
To stand within the Pleasure Dome
Decreed by Kubla Khan
To taste anew the fruits of life
The last immortal man
To find the sacred river Alph
To walk the caves of ice
Oh, I will dine on honeydew
And drink the milk of Paradise
A thousand years have come and gone but time has passed me by
Stars stopped in the sky
Frozen in an everlasting view
Waiting for the world to end, weary of the night
Praying for the light
Prison of the lost
Xanadu
Xanadu...
Held within the Pleasure Dome
Decreed by Kubla Khan
To taste my bitter triumph
As a mad immortal man
Nevermore shall I return
Escape these caves of ice
For I have dined on honeydew
And drunk the milk of Paradise"
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Wednesday June 21, 2006
Song of the Day ... in Music
Today is the summer solstice - so welcome to summer! 
To me Fastball's "The Way" is one of those quintessential summer songs. Upbeat, hopeful, and fantastic lyrics. "Exit to an eternal summer slacking" is one of the greatest lines ever.
It's a romanticized take on what happened to an elderly couple that disappeared while heading to a nearby family reunion. The wife had Alzheimer's disease and the husband was recovering from brain surgery. Unfortunately they were discovered dead at the bottom of a canyon far from their destination. I prefer the song's version of events, and imagine that they are still driving around with the top down, wind in their hair and the sun shining gold on their skin.
"They made up their minds
And they started packing
They left before the sun came up that day
An exit to eternal summer slacking
But where were they going without ever
Knowing the way?
They drank up the wine
And they got to talking
They now had more important things to say
And when the car broke down they started walking
Where were they going without ever
Knowing the way?
Anyone can see the road that they walk on
Is paved in gold
And it's always summer
They'll never get cold
They'll never get hungry
They'll never get old and grey
You can see their shadows wandering off somewhere
They won't make it home
But they really don't care
They wanted the highway
They're happier there today, today
Their children woke up
And they couldn't find them
They left before the sun came up that day
They just drove off and left it all behind 'em
But where were they going without ever
Knowing the way?"
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Monday March 27, 2006
Song of the Day ... in Music
Another Monday, morning of sunshine, a promise of a warm day, calls for a beautiful song ...
I discovered Adelmo Fornaciari, better know as Zucchero, by accident. And a fortunate one it was. The gods of music were smiling down on my that day. A local dj snuck on "I Lay Down" one afternoon, a beautiful ballad and duet. I immediately recognized the gravelly voice of the mighty John Lee Hooker, but I had no idea who the other person singing was. At the end the dj announced it was Zucchero, an Italian singer. I was blown away!
This song makes me think of salvation from a broken heart. I like the Italian version best - "Ali d 'Oro (Wings of Gold)."
"I lay down
With an angel
I lay down
With an angel
‘cause she treat me kind sometimes
Come in me (Vieni in me)
Take me home (Portami via)
Wings of gold (Ali d’oro)
Come in me (Vieni in me)
Make me fly (Fammi volare)
Heaven below (Mio cielo)
Thieves in the night
Gettin’ so high
Sweet soul of mine, oh mine.
I lay down
With an angel
I lay down
With an angel
I lay down
I lay down thinking
More than I could
Really say.
Stay in me (Stai in me)
Keep me flyin’ (Continua a volare)
Wings of gold (Ali d’oro)
Thieves in the night (Siamo l’inganno)
Gettin’ so high (Baciami il cuore)
Makin’ out so good, so good (Anima mia, oh mia)
I see the sun rise up in your eyes (Vedo nel sole dei tuoi occhi)
Another sun starts to fall (Un altro sole cadere)
We’re at good-bye but not the end no (Siamo l’addio e non la fine)
Have no fear. (Senza ricordi ne’ paure)
Ooh, babe keep takin’ me high (Uh baby, portami via)
Wings of gold (Ali d’oro)
I lay down with an angel ..."
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Thursday March 23, 2006
School of Rock ... in Music
Greg Kihn from KFOX, a Bay Area classic rock station, held a contest for local school bands. All they needed to do was send in their cover of any classic rock song, and the listeners would pick the winners. The cool part was winners got to perform live during his morning show. On the way into work this morning I listened to Valley Christian High School cover "Funky Town", and I was impressed. Map props to Greg Kihn for doing this and promoting music in schools.
I remember my first performance - I was taking classical snare. Another girl and I were to perform in front off all the parents one night. I practiced like crazy - on my snare, on my drum seat, on my pillow ... anywhere. The big night came and I was terrified. It was just the two of us on stage. We started the song, but she faltered and completely stopped a few seconds into it. I saw her freeze out of the corner of my eye, but went back to reading the notes. I managed to make it all the way through with no mistakes. At the end I simply picked up my snare and walked off the stage, relieved. I never heard the audience since I was so focused. Later on my friends told my they were amazed I was able to keep going, and that was the best praise I could ever want.
Wednesday March 22, 2006
Song of the Day ... in Music
After the demise of Jane's Addiction, Perry Farrell and drummer Stephen Perkins formed Porno for Pyros.
Today's pick is from their self-titled debut, and a perfect song for these crazy times, "Pets."
"Children are innocent
A teenager's f***ed up in the head
Adults are even more f***ed up
and elderlies are like children
Will there be another race
to come along and take over for us?
Maybe martians could do
better than we've done
We'll make great pets!
My friend says we're like the dinosaurs
only we are doing ourselves in
much faster than they
ever did
We'll make great pets! ..."
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Tuesday March 21, 2006
Song of the Day ... in Music
Jane's Addiction managed to pull themselves together again for a time and put out Strays in 2003. Their music always painted an image of L.A street fight in progress in my mind. The song "Just Because" is no different. The song ripples with energy, and Dave Navarro's guitar gets the pulse racing. You can check out the video over at IFILM.
Perry Farrell's explanation of the song (via a VH1 interview):
The song is about doing things "just because." You’ll notice that you’ll get a card around Christmas, but never any other time of the year "just because." We wanted to plant the seed of doing little random acts of love "just because."
"If I were you
I'd better watch out
When was the last time
You did anything
Not for me
Or anyone else
Just because
Just because
Yeah
Oh, you really should have known
hey you
You really should have known
Just because
Just because
You've got the most
Ahh, but nobody loves you
Nobody has to
When we first met
And we passed around gifts
That was a long time, ago
And you're feeling fit ..."
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Friday March 17, 2006
Song of the Day ... in Music
One final connection with The Clash ...
The Pogue's had released their Hell's Ditch album and were touring. We had tickets to their show at the Warfield and we were really looking forward to it. Then Shane MacGowan pretty much drank himself to the oblivion, and was dropped from the band. We were dismayed. But then Joe Strummer stepped in, and we were elated! The show was a rockin' affair and we were all Irish for a night.
So what better way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day then to pick "Streams of Whiskey" for the Song of the Day?
"Last night as I slept
I dreamt I met with Behan
I shook him by the hand and we passed the time of day
When questioned on his views
On the crux of life's philosophies
He had but these few clear and simple words to say
I am going, I am going
Any which way the wind may be blowing
I am going, I am going
Where streams of whiskey are flowing
I have cursed, bled and sworn
Jumped bail and landed up in jail
Life has often tried to stretch me
But the rope always was slack
And now that I've a pile
I'll go down to the Chelsea
I'll walk in on my feet
But I'll leave there on my back
Because I am going, I am going
Any which way the wind may be blowing
I am going, I am going
Where streams of whiskey are flowing
Oh the words that he spoke
Seemed the wisest of philosophies
There's nothing ever gained
By a wet thing called a tear
When the world is too dark
And I need the light inside of me
I'll walk into a bar
And drink fifteen pints of beer
I am going, I am going
Any which way the wind may be blowing
I am going, I am going
Where streams of whiskey are flowing"
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Thursday March 16, 2006
Song of the Day ... in Music
Well, since I mentioned Mick Jones last time, I might as well talk about The Clash. Right. And I might as well pick "London Calling" for the Song of the Day. Rolling Stone rated the song as #15 in its list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. So not much to add then, is there? Turn it on, turn it up. Pick up that old beat up guitar that has been collecting dust over there in the corner. Pretend you've got that mohawk, take a breath, and let it rip.
I do have a question though, what the heck was Robert De Niro talking to Joe Strummer about?
"London calling to the faraway towns
Now that war is declared and battle come down
London calling to the underworld
Come out of the cupboard, all you boys and girls
London calling, now don't look at us
Phoney Beatlemania has bitten the dust
London calling, see we ain't got no swing
'Cept for the ring of that truncheon thing
The ice age is coming, the sun is zooming in
Meltdown expected the wheat is growing thin
Engines stop running but I have no fear
Cos London is drowning and I live by the river
London calling to the imitation zone
Forget it brother, you can go it alone
London calling to the zombies of death
Quit holding out and draw another breath
London calling and I don't wanna shout
But while we were talking I saw you nodding out
London calling, see we ain't got no highs
Except for that one with the yellowy eyes
The ice age is coming the sun is zooming in
Engines stop running the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear error but I have no fear
Cos London is drowning and I live by the river
Now get this
London calling, yes I was there too
An' you know what they said - Well, some of it was true!
London calling at the top of the dial
an' after all this, won't you give me a smile?
London calling ...
I never felt so much a' like..."
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Monday March 13, 2006
Song of the Day ... in Music
It's Monday, so let's start with a beat we can jump up to. "Rush" by Big Audo Dynamite II (BAD II) has got the energy to get you moving. The song features a dance-oriented heavy back beat, clever sampling ("Baba O'Riley" by The Who) and Mick Jones' minimalist guitar work.
"If I have my time again
I would do it all the same
And not change a single thing
Even when I was to blame
For the heartache and the pain
That I caused throughout the years
How I'd love to be your man
Through the laughter and the tears
Situation no win
Rush for the change of atmosphere
I can't go on so I give in
Gotta get myself right outta here
Now I'm fully grown
And I know where it's at
Somehow I stayed thin
While the other guys got fat
All the chances that are blown
And the times that I`ve been down
I didn't get too high
Kept my feet on the ground
Situation no win
Rush for the change of atmosphere
I can't go on so I give in
Gotta get myself right outta here
And of all my friends
You've been the best to m
e
Soon will be the day
When I'll pay you handsomely
Broken hearts are hard to mend
I know I've had my share
But life just carries on
Even when I'm not there"
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Friday March 10, 2006
Song of the Day ... in Music
Beck's album Sea Change ranks among my all time favorites. It's an absolutely fabulous album, every song getting at least a 4 star rating in my iTunes. The theme is the stages following the end of a relationship, and the album is full of emotion and ache.
Today's Song of the Day is "All In Your Mind." A song to softly fade into the weekend.
"Well it's all in you mind
It's all in you mind
Well it's all in your mind
And I wanted to be
I wanted to be
Wanted to be your good friend
Well I cannot believe
You got a devil up your sleeve
And he's talking to me
And I cannot believe
And I wanted to be
I wanted to be your good friend
You're all scared and stiff
A sick stolen gift
And the people you're with
They're all scared and stiff
And I wanted to be
Wanted to be your good friend "
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Thursday March 09, 2006
Song of the Day ... in Music
As I held her in my arms, her fingers played with my face. Suddenly she grew still and her eyes opened wide as the sky and she leaned a little closer. She had discovered her reflection in my eyes. She stared and didn't blink. Slowly, silently her fingers tried to touch the image. A new discovery, and I was there. Her older sister started a new school. New teachers, new rules, no friends. She held me tightly with tears in her eyes. "Daddy don't go." And now there were tears in my eyes. I hugged her and tried my best to soothe her, but my best wasn't enough. And when I walked away ... her expression asked "how could you do this to me?" I shut my eyes and struggled to clear my throat. I remembered the fear and apprehension, and I ached for her. If only I could wipe those feeling away like her tears ... It's Thurday, and it's just another day.
Today's Song of the Day is Brian Eno's "Just Another Day." A nice mellow song to nod your head and hum along to.
"Oh it's just another day,
It's just another day on Earth
Oh it's just another day,
Just another day,
It's just another day on Earth
Oh it's just another day on Earth
It's just another day on Earth
One day, we will put it all behind,
We'll say, that was just another time,
We'll say, that was just another day on Earth
We'll say, that was just another time,
One day, we will put it all behind,
We'll say, that was just another day on Earth
Just another day,
It's just another day,
Oh it's just another day on Earth
It's just another day on Earth"
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Tuesday March 07, 2006
Song of the Day ... in Music
Malcolm Treece and Miles Hunt left Pop Will Eat Itself and formed The Wonder Stuff. Their 1989 release Hup! was in my opinion one of the year's best. Great beats, catchy rhythms and fun lyrics. I'll put on emphasis on fun, because their songs were energetic and always put a smile on my face.
I saw them at the Warfield in San Francisco, and they put on a great show. At one point Miles Hunt finished playing and stood there, arms behind his back, watching the show in the mosh pit. It was hard to tell what he was thinking, but he seemed rather amused. It's good to see they are still around.
Today's Song of the Day is "Radio Ass Kiss." If I ever started a podcast, this would be my theme song.
Radio Ass Kiss on the air!
Say what you like now no one cares
Radio Ass Kiss on the air!
Say what you like now no one's scared
I caught the DJ pulling up his trousers
I'm staying tight lipped he's doing me a favour
I caught the DJ pulling up his trousers
Switch the station try another flavour
It's not seen, it's not heard
It's not mentioned by the spoken word
So bugger the plugger cos there'll be another
It's easy for the blind to see
And gives the company a policy
God bless the DJ jeepers yowsers
Who's got the problem?
Just look at my behaviour
God bless the DJ jeepers yowsers
Peel me off the cross
We don't need another saviour
It's not seen, it's not heard
It's not mentioned by the spoken word
So bugger the plugger cos there'll be another
I'm not making an apology
Or calling it my policy"
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Wednesday March 01, 2006
Song of the Day ... in Music
Consolidated was mentioned in the previous Song of the Day entry. Trouser Press has a great description of their musical style:
"Using house, hip-hop, rock, funk, rap, industrial noise and an endless flurry of samples, the band's devout message includes anti-sexist, anti-racist and anti-capitalist rants as well as a militant stance in favor of reproductive choice, animal rights and vegetarianism."
They were on the same wavelength as the Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, but were more frantic and preachy in their rap. I saw them a few times, and for the most part, their message was lost on a crowd intent on dancing and drinking. People aren't interested in being preached to on a Friday or Saturday night.
Today's Song of the Day is Consolidated's self-titled song - a rapid fire proclamation of their musical mission.
"Consolidated hasn't been shown on TV
Consolidated is not available in stores
Consolidated is not even a consumer product .... yet
This is no rock and roll band
It is a unique creative vision of a small isolated group
of individuals
a team skilled and dedicated
searching for the knowledge that will enable them
to improve the quality of their lives
and the lives of those around them
Consolidated! ..."
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Tuesday February 28, 2006
Song of the Day ... in Music
In talking about Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, Consolidated and even the Beastie Boys, I think it's best to discuss Pop Will Eat Itself (PWEI) first. Because it all began with them after all. They started as an indie guitar band, but there music soon became a fusion of rock, pop and rap which was dubbed "grebo."
It all culminated and peaked in their amazing release, "This Is The Day...This Is The Hour... This Is This." The CD is filled with great songs, and I would have to say my favorite is "Not James, We're Busy." But the quintessential PWEI song is "Def.Con.One." Take a heavy guitar riff and decent drum beat, sample "The Twilight Zone Theme" and "Funky Town", and tongue-in-cheek lyrics that comment on the Reagan era and you get one heck of a song. Make sure you play the prelude "Poison To The Mind" first though to set the mood. If you're interested, there's a decent remix by Steve Smith (Real format).
Take one!
Take two!
Take three!
Right about now! (right now)
Ten to doomsday, moving fast...
Heads up! Mind that blast.
No time to sleep, it's Def.Con.One.
Can't get no sleep as the ticking ticks on,
No time for fear, it's Def.Con.One,
No time to eat but get me some ...
Big Mac, fries to go...
Big Mac, fries to go...
Get me Big Mac, fries to go...
Get me Big Mac, get me fries to go...
Watchman!
We love you all...
Hup! Hup! Heads up!
Ground floor coming up...
How sick is Dick?
How gone is Ron?
How sick is Dick?
How gone is Ron?
What's the time?
It's Def.Con.One!
Say, what's the time?
Just get me some ...
Goodbye city, hello moon,
Hands up! Vote Dr. Doom!
You know it makes sense...
It's Def.Con.One, hey! What's occuring? What goes on?
It's the only choice...
So get me some ...
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Friday February 24, 2006
Song of the Day ... in Music
Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy, formed in 1990, was a San Francisco based duo of Michael Franti and Rono Tse. They attacked issues such as homophobia, misogyny, and racism. Smart cutting lyrics, sampling and scratching, beats from various musical styles and Franti's Chuck D like vocals were weaved together to produce an amazing debut album, Hypocrisy Is the Greatest Luxury. Too bad they didn't last. Michael Franti is still active and putting out good music with Spearhead.
Usually people will point to "Television, The Drug of the Nation" when you mention Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy. But I'm going with ""Language of Violence" for the Song of the Day.
"The first day of school was always the hardest
The first day of school, the hallways the darkest
Like a gauntlet, the voices haunted
Walking in with his thin skin, lowered chin
He knew the names that they would taunt him with
Fagg*t, sissy, punk, queen, queer
Although he'd never had sex in his 15 years
And when they harassed him it was for a reason
And when they provoked him it became open season
for the fox and the hunter, the sparks and the thunder
that pushed the boy under, then pillage and plunder
It kind of makes you wonder how one can hurt another
But dehumanizing the victim makes things simpler
It's like breathing with a respirator
It eases the conscience of even the most conscious
and calculating violator
Words can reduce a person to an object,
something more easy to hate
An inanimate entity, completely disposable,
no problem to obliterate
But death is the silence
in this language of violence
Death is the silence
But death is the silence
in this cycle of violence
death is the silence
It's tough to be young, the young long to be tougher
When we pick on someone else it might make us feel rougher
Abused by their fathers but was at home though
so to prove to each other that they were not homos
The exclamation of the phobic fury
executioner, a judge and jury
The mob mentality, individuality was nowhere
Dignity forgotten at the bottom
of a dumb old dare and a numb cold stare
On the way home it was back to name calling
Ten against one they had his back up against the wall and
they reveled in their laughter as they surrounded him
But it wasn't a game when they up jumped and grounded him
They picked up their bats with their muscles straining
and they decided they were gonna beat this fella's brain in
with an awful, powerful, showerful, an hour full of violence
Inflict the strictest brutality and dominance
They didn't hear him screaming, they didn't hear him pleading
They ran like cowards and left the boy bleeding
in a pool of red 'til all tears were shed
and his eyes quietly slid into the back of his head
dead...
You won't see the face 'til the eyelids drop
You won't hear the screaming until it stops
The boy's parents were gone and his grandmother had raised him
She was mad she had no form of retaliation
The pack didn't have to worry about being on a hitlist
But the thing they never thought about was that there was a witness
to this senseless crime, right place wrong time
Tried as an adult one of them was gonna do hard time
The first day of prison was always the hardest
The first day of prison, the hallways the darkest
Like a gauntlet the voices haunted
Fagg*t, sissy, punk, queen, queer
Words he used before had a new meaning in here
As a group of men in front of him came near
for the first time in his life the young bully felt fear
He'd never been on this side of the name calling
Five against one they had his back up against the wall and
he had never questioned his own sexuality
but this group of men didn't hesitate in their reality
with an awful, powerful, showerful, an hour full of violence
Inflict the strictest brutality and dominance
They didn't hear him screaming
They didn't hear him pleading
They took what they wanted and then left him bleeding in the corner
The giant reduced to jack horner
But dehumanizing the victim makes things simpler
It's like breathing with a respirator
It eases the conscience of even the most conscious
and calculating violator
The power of words, don't take it for granted
when you hear a man ranting
Don't just read the lips, be more sublime than this
Put everything in context, is this a tale of rough justice
in a land where there's no justice at all ?
Who is really the victim ?
Or are we all the cause, and victim of it all ? ..."
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