Labor Day Listening & Beyond

Post #2 for the Fall (sure doesn't feel like Fall - soon enough).

Aretha Franklin - "Think" - This is a very early version of a woman empowerment song. Aretha's vocals are powerful, but the message is even more powerful, as it speaks to making a stand about how she feels she is being treated. This song, and songs like this, led the way to songs now that speak of strong, powerful women who know that they have OPTIONS in the world and they are only limited by the artificial limits they may place on themselves (or by society, sadly). (Chris Hakala)

Alicia Keys - "Girl on Fire" -  There is ENERGY and FIRE in this song. (Betsy Rosenblum) - Ms. Keys, while not sounding much like Aretha Franklin, also is a fine pianist and possessed of quite the pliable voice. This is certainly a 21st century Pop tune mining the social commentary of other songs such as "Brave" (Sara Bareilles) and "Roar" (Katy Perry) plus it sounds great really loud. (Editor)

BTS - "Fire" - BTS is a South Korean group that gained a lot of popularity worldwide and was the first South Korean group to make it to both the Billboard top 200 and perform at the AMAs. This is an older song of theirs but it's one of their more popular "classics". (Megan Winslow)
 (Editor's note - you'll notice the heavy influence of American music on this and other "foreign" songs/videos.)

The Who - "Pinball Wizard" - Daniele Dugre-Martin suggested this song from the Rock Opera "Tommy." Peter Townsend, leader and main songwriter of the British quartet, has been playing around with the idea of an extended song cycle since the early days of the band. In fact, his first attempt appeared on the band's second album "A Quick One".  "Tommy" is a fascinating experiment and one could argue endlessly whether Townsend succeeded  (his 1973 opera "Quadrophenia" was much better realized).  This song however is classic Who.  The percussive acoustic guitar opening, John Entwistle's thundering yet melodic bass and Keith Moon's explosive drumming, all frame one of Roger Daltrey's more articulate vocals.  (Editor)

Simon & Garfunkel - "The Boxer" - Thomas Williams chose this song and I concur.  By the time the duo recorded this song (late 1968 - released as a 45 rpm in March 1969), Paul Simon was well on his way to being one of the finest songwriters/storytellers of his generation.  On top of that, his partnership with producer Roy Halee taught him the joys of the studio.  Note the use of several acoustic guitars, the bass harmonica, the firecracker sound from the drums on the chorus (supposedly recorded in an empty New York City church), and the layered vocals.  Shout out to the amazing harmonies of Art Garfunkel, one of the prettiest voices in "folk-rock." While we may not understand the intent of Simon's story, the power of the music makes us pay closer attention. (RBK)

Paul Simon - "Can't Run But" - First move forward to 1990. Paul Simon has just struck worldwide gold with "Graceland", his wonderful if controversial that began life in the townships of South Africa before the death of apartheid. His next album "The Rhythm of the Saints" took to Brazil to record many fine Brazilian musicians including vocalist Milton Nascimento and the "roots" ensemble Uakti. He brought the songs home and added a number of  other musicians, from jazz soloists to the South African musicians who had become part of his touring ensemble.  While not as "popular" as its predecessor, the album remains my favorite Simon to this day.

Here we go to present day - on Friday September 7, Paul Simon releases "In The Blue Light", a collection of 10 songs from throughout his career, pieces he felt the need to reinvestigate, to re-record with new arrangements and personnel.  "Can't Run But" first appeared on the 1990 album and, as you will hear below, moves at quite a pace with percussion of all sorts pushing the music forward.  The song is on the new album as well - here, the majority of the percussion instruments are replaced by the musicians from the "new music" chamber ensemble yMusic.  Listen to how they replicate the rhythms of the original with delightful melodic twists throughout.  (RBK)

First, the 1990 version:



And now we move to 2018:



Enjoy and thanks for stopping by!

Finals Week (Pt 1)

I'm pleased to write that I have enough material for two posts. Let's get right to it.

"Bridge Over Troubled Water" - Simon and Garfunkel - I suppose the medical events of the week reminded me of this haunting toon. (Thomas Williams).

Not much to add other this is one of those songs that, to me, sounds timeless. It could the gospel-influenced piano lines, the "large" orchestral arrangement, and, of course, Art Garfunkel's angelic voice. In the midst of the Vietnam conflict and all the craziness in the world at the time, this song was balm.
(RBK)

"God's Plan" - Drake - “God’s Plan” is about Drake’s life-the story so far in the music industry-which he acclaims to be the god’s plan. He says he has a lot of haters and people who would love to see him go down. But thanks to the Almighty, he has been able to withstand all the negative influences. Feedback has come from various types of people including religious leaders. (Joe Gaffney)

Here is a critique from Eddie Stern, Director of the Brooklyn Ganesh Temple, Brooklyn, NY:

"As for God’s actual plan, who knows what that plan may be? Giving away money to people in need and to programs that will help kids is certainly a good use of money, whether you have a lot of it, or a little of it. On the one hand, people might say that it is a bit self-serving of Drake to film and flaunt his charitable acts. However, one would hope that other people watching his video will be inspired to do the same. It’s good to be inspired by people we admire to think beyond ourselves, and to reach out to those in need. Most religious and spiritual traditions hold that true happiness is found in connecting with the people and world around us, because it is a shared happiness, a shared joy, and not just the pursuit of our own, individual happiness. Shared joy is much more fulfilling. Fulfillment in life is not just having enough money, or having a lot of stuff, it’s about actually fulfilling our souls with shared joy, and shared goodness.”

"Drugs" - Adam Jensen - My song submission this week is Drugs my Adam Jensen. I find it to be a fun (and somewhat comical) song that also touches on the important issue of drug abuse. I think what I like about it most is how distinctive the instrumental melody of the song is.

"Fanfare for the Common Man" - Emerson, Lake, and Palmer - One of the "super groups" of the 1970s and 80s, this trio made a lot of sound for three men, each one a superlative musician.  Here, they tackle a classic work from American compose Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990) that was originally "was inspired in part by a famous speech made earlier in the same year; in that speech, the vice president of the United States of America, Henry A. Wallace, proclaimed the dawning of the "Century of the Common Man". Here, the band rocks out in an empty stadium surrounded by snow and, as you can see, quite cold. Daniele Dugre-Martin suggested this song and was there at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Quebec, CA later that evening after the roof was closed and the snow removed. (RBK)

"People Take Pictures of Each Other" - The Kinks - As I played this song (from the brilliant 1968 Lp "The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society", I remembered our trip to England and all the people taking pictures standing in front of the famous places one could visit: pictures would be snapped and then people would walk away. I wondered "did they ever go in"? I'm a strong believer that Ray Davies, the head of The Kinks, was one of the great songwriters of the 1960s once he got over his "teen" music phase ("You Really Got Me" and "All Day and All of The Night") and started composing pithy portraits of English society. (RBK)