Holiday Weekend Music

"The Last Supper" - Jesus Christ Superstar (Soundtrack) - I recently watched the 1973 movie of the Broadway production, "Jesus Christ Superstar".

Very ‘70s! 

All the tracks are great but the music running through my mind of late is the opening meditative track from the last supper scene. 

Note how as they sit they mimic Da Vinci’s painting! (Thomas Williams)

(Editor's Note: NBC will air a live version of the Tim Rice/Andrew Lloyd Webber musical this Sunday 4/01 with a cast that includes John Legend, Sara Barielles, and Alice Cooper (hopefully not in the lead role).  

"Garden Party" - Rick Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band - Song about being booed off stage… (Daniele Dugre-Martin)

At one point in the 1950s, Rick Nelson was second only to Elvis Presley in popularity on the 45 rpm charts and with teenage girls. He reinvented himself as a county-rocker in the early 1980s and this song is a response to the audience's responses when he didn't play his "big" hits and played original material.  (Editor's Note)

"My My My!" by Troye Sivan - I have listened to a lot of his work and it has been interesting to see how he has progressed while maintaining a style. This is one of his newer songs so recently it has taken some priority over his other ones on my playlist as I better acquaint myself with it. (Megan Winslow)

(Editor's Note - Troye Sivan Mellet is South African born YouTuber, Actor, Model and Singer known mainly for "The Spud Franchise" and "X-Men Origins", and "Wolverine." 

Sign of the Times - Harry Styles - I thought that this was serendipitous. After watching news coverage of the March for Our Lives, I got in my car and drove into town to do some errands. I turned on the radio and one of my favorite hits from 2017 was playing, Harry Style’s Sign of the Times.

<!--[if gte mso 9]> The lyrics are poignant. On the one hand, they can be from a parent to a child. According to Styles in an interview with Rolling Stone, the lyrics are “…written from a point of view as if a mother was giving birth to a child and there's a complication. The mother is told, 'The child is fine, but you're not going to make it.' The mother has five minutes to tell the child, 'Go forth and conquer.'" On the other hand, one can imagine the message of the lyrics coming from a victim of recent school shootings to his/her mother. (Joseph Gaffney)

"Just stop your crying
It's a sign of the times
Welcome to the final show
Hope you're wearing your best clothes
You can't bribe the door on your way to the sky
You look pretty good down here
But you ain't really good If we never learn, we been here before
Why are we always stuck and running from
The bullets?
The bullets
We never learn, we been here before
Why are we always stuck and running from
The bullets?
The bullets"

"The President Sang Amazing Grace" - Joan Baez - Composed by Zoe Mulford after the horrible tragedy in Charlotte, North Carolina, this version appears on the new album by Joan Baez (who, like Paul Simon and Elton John, has announced her retirement from touring).  This week, the Atlantic Monthly published on its website the lovely video below to Ms. Baez's version.  Honestly, the song speaks for itself. (R Kamins)

Professor Nystrom Joins the Group

Siggy Nystrom, my colleague in FYS and QU 301, has been viewing from the sideline since this blog began. Now she jumps in with quite a collection of songs.  Here's what she has to say:

"I confess (and many of you already know), I continue to listen to Lin Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton for all of the obvious reasons. It’s in my car CD player while only three other CDs sit in the glove box waiting: Alyson (sp) Krauss Union Station and KD Lang’s “Ingenue” and “Absolute Torch and Twang.” And like Richard, Paul Simon is by far my favorite song writer/singer/creator of harmony. If I’m feeling low, just put on "Graceland", and the world comes alive again.  Speaking of Graceland (sort of) I just received from Amazon my two orders of The Zomba Prison Project, “I will Not Stop Singing” and “I Have No Everything”! The story behind these beautiful voices from prison makes the power of music even more compelling. 

OK, back to dancing with diamonds on the soles of my shoes...."

"Alexander Hamilton" - Original Cast - The most popular musical of the past decade, Wesleyan University graduate Lin-Manuel Miranda not only read Ron Chernow's massive biography of Alexander Hamilton but also used his love for hip hop, rap, pop music, and the influence of Stephen Sondheim ("Sunday In the Park With George", "Into The Woods", and "Assassins", among others) to create a most memorable theatrical experience.  Every new production of the show sells out within minutes and not just for the novelty of the multi-racial cast, the powerful music , and the great voices - listen to the brilliant lyrics, to the speed, to the wit, to the amazing internal rhymes. (RBK)

https://genius.com/Lin-manuel-miranda-alexander-hamilton-lyrics

Here's a pair of songs from k d lang:







"Every Time You Say Goodbye" - Alison Krauss and Union Station - Here's Ms. Krauss with her long-time band!

Rob Verhorst/Rolling Stone

"Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" - Paul Simon - As noted above, this song is from Simon's career-changing and genre-busting album "Graceland."  Much of the music came about when the songwriter traveled to South Africa to investigate the amazing dance music coming from the ghettoes and shantytowns of the apartheid state.  He took much flak for breaking the ban that Musicians Unions around the world had about performing in South Africa.  If one wants to pick nits, Simon gave no concerts, rarely picked his guitar, but led jam sessions and brought the tapes back to the United States to create his program.  He also paid the musicians double their normal rate for their studio time and made sure everyone was fed.  When the album became a huge hit, he brought a number of his collaborators to the US to tour with him, jumpstarting the international of the vocal choir Ladysmith Black Mambazo.  Up until the death of guitarist Ray Phiri, Simon used him and bassist Bagithi Kumalo (he's such a brilliant player) on his recordings and on his tours. (RBK)

"I Will Not Stop Grieving for You, My Wife" - Zomba Prison Project - Produced by author and Grammy-winner, Ian Brennan (Tinariwen, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, Malawi Mouse Boys), the Zomba Prison Project’s debut album “I Have No Everything Here” was the surprise “world music” hit of 2015. Featuring prisoners and officers from Malawi’s maximum security prison— many that were previously non-musicians— the record offered songs of heartbreaking and forthright loneliness, regret, and despair coupled with a sense of resilience and courage under the most extreme of circumstances. The album received the first Grammy nomination ever for the country of Malawi, an honor that sadly the overwhelming majority of African nations have still yet to receive. 

What We Listened, Thought About, & Played on This Spring Break

Plenty of time indoors this week to contemplate our Spring schedule, the colder weather, the books we have been waiting for enough time to read, and our other jobs we do during the week. Then there is the music we listened to or tried to listen to during the time away (not all of us were off-campus this week).

"1000 Nights" - Frenship - I like the more relaxed feel that it has while still having a lot of different sounds. (Megan Winslow)

" Frenship are an electropop duo hailing from Los Angeles, California. Frenship members James Sunderland and Brett Hite met while working at fitness store Lululemon and became fans of each other's music. This led to the two stoking the creative embers, and they eventually began creating music together." (AllMusic)

"Beware of Darkness" - George Harrison - He gives great advice when I need it. (Betsy Rosenblum)

The Beatles's lead guitarist and resident spiritualist released "All Things Must Pass" as his first post-Fab Four record.  His struggle with wealth and fame are well-known but he also bankrolled Monty Python, toured with the Traveling Wilburys (Roy Orbison, Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, and Bob Dylan), and was good buddies with Eric Clapton.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" - Queen - Characterized by vocal harmonies and ranging from progressive to hard rock, Queen’s “style” could never be nailed down….If you didn’t know who the group was but thought the incredible voice sounded familiar it was probably Queen. Winning Grammys and Juno awards their songs can still get an audience clapping along.  And who can forget Brian May?  Rocker and astrophysicist? (Daniele Dugre-Martin)

"American Tune" - Kurt Elling - As I stated on an earlier post, Paul Simon is one of my favorite songwriters (ever).  Kurt Elling is a wonderful jazz singer who cut his teeth on the Chicago scene in the 80s and 90s.  Not only can he scat sing with the best of them (Eddie Jefferson, Jon Hendricks) but he also has a poet's ear for lyrics.  He's recorded "American Tune" (as a voice and piano duo) but this orchestrated version moves me to my soul. Composed in 1973 as the US was mired in the Vietnam War and reeling from the Watergate scandal, the song is both pessimistic and optimistic.  Elling's version has similar intent (the video is aimed at the issues with immigration, racism, sexism but there's the promise of "tomorrow's another working day.") - Richard Kamins

"Whisky Lullaby" - Brad Paisley and Alison Krauss - This came from Thomas Williams and I won't even try to speak for him.  The song comes from Paisley's 2003 album "Mud on the Tires" and was composed by Country music legend Bill Anderson and Jon Randall.   Anderson has had a long career with a slew of big hits but also wrote songs for many of his contemporaries. Yet, this song started because Randall was going through a divorce and had started drinking. He met Anderson and they put the song together and gave to Paisley who then shared it with Ms. Krauss. Released as a single in 2004, it won the 2005 Country Music Association Song of the Year.  The accompanying video is set in 1947 and the man is coming home after the long war.  Many people complain that country ballads are corny and unemotional - not this one.  Even without the video, the song has lasting power. Plus, Alison Krauss's voice is so lovely.  (R Kamins)

QU Spring Break Play List

My music for the week is the "1812 Overture" by Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893).   It took me nearly a week to figure out why it has been on my mind, but it finally dawned on me that it matches the music from (the 2001 HBO series) "Band of Brothers", which I’ve been watching all week.  

"1812 Overture" - www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DFsF_0tfiM.

"Band of Brothers" theme song composed by Michael Kamen  (1948-2003) - www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA2FOVlNb6Q.

(Thomas Williams)

"Ohio" - Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young - In a world of increasing crack down on dissent, this is a fitting song (Daniele Dugre-Martin).
(Editor's note - The tragic shooting at Kent State University took place on May 4, 1970. David Crosby saw the famous picture on the cover of LIFE Magazine (see below), gave it to Neil Young, and several hours later, the Canadian-born guitarist has written the song. Crosby booked a studio and, within three hours, the quartet had produced both the A and B sides of 45 rpm. Side B was the acoustic version of Stephen Stills' "Find the Cost of Freedom."  The single was released to radio stations within the week and then to the public 12 days after the tragic event.)

"Fortunate Son" - Creedence Clearwater Revival - John Fogerty and company put out five albums from 1968 - 1970 and each one was a mix of blues, rock, folk, and more and better than the one before it.  Fogerty knew a great "hook" when he heard it and this song built on Doug "Cosmo" Clifford's speaker-rattling drums tells the story of how rich kids get out of serving their country, how old folks, especially politicians, have no issue sending young men off to die.  Fogerty wrote several other "protest" songs ("Who'll Stop The Rain" and "Don't Look Now") and liked to poke fun at the California governor at the time ("Ronnie the Popular") but mostly the band is known for the songs, "Proud Mary" and "Down On The Corner."
(Richard Kamins)

"2am" - Bear Hands - It has a very relaxed sound, and is actually a very good song to listen to at 2am (especially because I am usually the only one I know awake at 2am if I do stay up that late). I like that it really reflects how you (or at least I) often think when it's 2am.

(Megan Winslow)



Because it's Break Week, I leave you with two songs, one from 1970 and the other from 2011. The older song is Bobby Bloom's only hit, "Montego Bay", with its Caribbean feel, whistling, and easy feelings. This version has the surprise ending that the original 45 cut out!



The other is Bruno Mars and "The Lazy Song."  A bit profane but it's another song with whistling, an Islands beat, and, most of the time, you can sing along. Come on, it's a vacation song!

-

Enjoy!

Week 4 - Music for Many Moods

"Sunshine Superman" - Donovan - Donovan’s music is a blend of world music, psychedelics and acoustic. Influential for the past 50 years, he has worked with and written for some of the best known groups in the business.

Sadly, he is also one (of two) musicians I’ve walked out on…the Who being the other….it’s a long story. (Daniele Dugre-Martin)

(Editor's note - In the wake of Bob Dylan going electric, a number of "folkies" followed suit. Donovan was one of the more successful crossover artists.  As "trippy" as the lyrics might be, the blend of harpsichord and tabla drums is quite delightful.)

"Aloha" - Møme - As I just found by googling the name to get the special character, Møme is a French DJ, and this song was in the top 10 songs in France in July 2016 (who knew!). I was originally going to submit this song because it has a very unique, chill, upbeat sound. But it's very interesting that it was a top song in France and makes me want to look at the top charts in other countries more often. 

(Megan Winslow)

"The Gunner's Dream" - Pink Floyd - My mood has been dark these past few days.  So much so that I was reminded of Pink Floyd's 1983 "Final Cut".  It's an anti-war anti-Reagan screed that works well to fuel depression (even if you liked Reagan).
(T. Williams)

(Editor's note - After its beginnings in the psychedelic 60s, Pink Floyd - and, in particular bassist and songwriter Roger Waters - took a turn to the left and began creating much more political and societal music.  Waters still does.)

"The Train and the River" - The Jimmy Giuffre Trio with Jim Hall  - Reed master (saxophones and clarinets) Jimmy Giuffre (1921-2008) first came to critical attention in 1947 as a member of the Woody Herman Big Band when he wrote "Four Brothers", a song that featured the reed section - it's a swing music standard to this day.  In the mid-1950s, he put together a series of trios that combined folk and blues music elements with improvisation. By 1961, the trio moved into more avant-garde territory with free improvisation that eschewed conventional rhythms for a more flowing style.



The above tune, however, was the first Giuffre song I ever heard and is one of my all-time favorite albums.  It's bluesy, quiet, and, to me, very soothing.  Guitarist Hall (1930-2013) influenced a slew of guitarists through his career, doing so by working with artists as diverse as Ella Fitzgerald, saxophonist Sonny Rollins, pianist Bill Evans, and trombonist Bob Brookmeyer (who joined the Giuffre Trio replacing the bassist- see video below).

"The Green Country Suite (New England Mood)" - Jimmy Giuffre 3 with Jim Hall and Bob Brookmeyer - This trio made two albums, the first being "Trav'lin Light" released in 1958 and "The Western Suite" from 1960.  The tune above, as you can see, came from the earlier album and is wonderfully contemplative, so quiet at a time when rock 'n' roll was a loud intrusion and the Civil Rights Movement was making national headlines.  Brookmeyer, from Kansas City, went on to be a great composer for Big Bands and a mentor to many of today's young composers - you'll hear his music in a later post.

(R Kamins)