As was noted by our (psuedo?) celebrity commenters last week, SXSW is nigh and the world is soon to descend.
Let'em have it, Johnny
In quasi-honor of this, I’ve concocted some posts that revolve around particular global locales. The first of the bunch, as you might have guessed, is Vietnam. And I promise, I ain’t gonna post a bunch of folky protest songs. Read on and see for yourself.
For two weeks I’ve traversed the path of love in song.
This was done in a pseudo-homage to the silly holiday that is Valentine’s Day. Now that we’ve paid our dues to the love gods, we must honor the other side of the coin: heartbreak. Just like its counterpart, the abstract notion of heartbreak is rife with possibility and flush with emotional interpretations. This week, we’ll take a look at a few tracks that mine the wealth of heartbreak.
For those that aren’t so big on the French language, this week’s title is a direct translation of last week’s title, Hearts on Fire.
Le baiser de l'hôtel de ville-Robert Doisneau
The material will be in the same vein as last week too, i.e. each song is amorous in nature as a commemoration to the Valentine Holiday.
The connection between St. Valentine and his namesake lover’s holiday is tremulous.
The Kiss-Alfred Eisenstaedt
It is based more on myth and embellishment than actual knowledge. Of course, I’m not the first to point this out. And I don’t say this to be sour. I am merely noting that the holiday is an utter creation. However, since it is such a widespread celebration these days, I’m putting away my own (small) personal qualms to lay out a list of wonderful love songs. Pour the champagne and cuddle up to your man.
Bob Dylan has been a favorite of mine as far back as I can remember.
Dylan album cover (photo by the incomprable Bruce Davidson)
Though I’ve had my own personal struggles with the music from time to time, but there is just so much wealth within it that I always return. It’s no secret that I’ve been stuck on covers recently, so I decided to give the kid from Duluth the treatment. It’s pretty easy to find great Dylan covers (just check out the soundtrack for I’m Not There, it’s fantastic) so I tried to stay out in left field with these.
In the 1800s, Ireland experienced mass emigration.
Those Irish eyes are smilin, Jay...
It is estimated that two in five Irish born people were living abroad. This massive migration of souls created a lasting societal impact in Ireland as well as here in America. A large piece of that impact is the musical legacy left behind by these millions of traveling souls.
As was noted last week, I love covers.
Josh Ritter not only performs wonderful covers, but is my financial rep's doppleganger
This week, I’m returning for round two and featuring artists whose first name starts with the letter J. Arbitrary? Slightly. But when staring at a wealth of material, it’s tough to pick out songs to highlight. The letter J just so happened to become my escape hatch while compiling this post. Once I decided on J, I had to whittle the selections down even further. I ended up with three songs that go from good to great like a staircase. Check them out.
I love covers. They don’t always live up to the predecessor, but they are great <snaps fingers repeatedly> conversation stimulaters! Whether its Hendrix charging Dylan’s “All Along the Watchtower” with a fierce charge of electricity or Ben Folds slyly ironic take on “Champagne Supernova,” covers leave the listener with something to think about. Today, I’ve included just a few that I adore.
I’m writing this now (and by myself) because I know it will be virtually impossible to get Bjorn’s added opinion in a timely fashion. Hell, I barely have it together enough to proffer my timely opinion. Texas has just lost the championship and it was done in an excruciatingly heartbreaking fashion.
Wonderful Wednesday: SXSW Preview
Now that SXSW is officially on our doorstep, I’ve concocted a very compact Wonderful Wednesday to highlight just a few of my favorite groups playing the festival this year. I tried to avoid obvious acts (i.e. Band of Horses) and, since I’m an Austinite, acts that are local staples and/or natives (i.e. Black Joe Lewis). It’s by no means a great list, nor an all encompassing one…Just some of the flavor I dig. Hope it’s enjoyable, folks.
Read More »