Oh...and a song meme
Mar. 19th, 2024 09:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. Had an interesting discussion with Chidi the other day. We were talking about the film The Color Purple. Apparently a friend of his went to school with Danielle Brooks, and the guy who played Harpo in the film. They all went to Juillard together. And Chidi kind of knows them. He said his friend was really talented, but unlike the other two - never caught a break, and is working as a doorman. The story sticks with me - because it's yet another example of how unequal and unfair the world is - and how so much of success or anything really is down to dumb luck or being in the right place at the right time.
Striesand didn't have any vocal lessons. She didn't train her voice. She never practiced. Not once. She has tinnitus in her ears, always has since she was a child, and rarely listens to music when she isn't recording it. She loves and appreciates music - but sees it as work. When she went to take lessons - she didn't like it and stopped after the first session. She came by it naturally.
Sometimes it is like that. Some people take vocal lessons their entire lives and get nowhere, and others don't take any at all - and become major stars like Streisand. Some people are insanely talented, but never seen, and work as a doorman.
Life is weird.
2. Songs to Know Me By - note these should be off the top of your head (I'm allowing looking up, since I can't remember the titles of songs or who wrote them for that matter.)
* Pavlov's Bell by Aimee Mann
* At 17 by Janis Ian
* Left of Center by Suzanne Vega
* Don't Give Up by Peter Gabriel
* Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell
* Closer to Fine by The Indigo Girls
* What if God was one of Us by Joan Osborn
* Running up that Hill by Kate Bush
* Virgin State of Mind by
* Fade to Black by Rolling Stones
* Let it Be by Paul McCartney
* Live and Let Die by Wings
* Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
* Working Class Man by John Lennon
* Relay by Fiona Apple
* Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles
* Wish you Were Here by Pink Floyd
* Talking About My Generation by The Who
* Nothing Compares to You by Prince (but sung by Sinead O'Connor)
* Purple Rain by Prince
* Sex by Berlin
* Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads
Striesand didn't have any vocal lessons. She didn't train her voice. She never practiced. Not once. She has tinnitus in her ears, always has since she was a child, and rarely listens to music when she isn't recording it. She loves and appreciates music - but sees it as work. When she went to take lessons - she didn't like it and stopped after the first session. She came by it naturally.
Sometimes it is like that. Some people take vocal lessons their entire lives and get nowhere, and others don't take any at all - and become major stars like Streisand. Some people are insanely talented, but never seen, and work as a doorman.
Life is weird.
2. Songs to Know Me By - note these should be off the top of your head (I'm allowing looking up, since I can't remember the titles of songs or who wrote them for that matter.)
* Pavlov's Bell by Aimee Mann
* At 17 by Janis Ian
* Left of Center by Suzanne Vega
* Don't Give Up by Peter Gabriel
* Both Sides Now by Joni Mitchell
* Closer to Fine by The Indigo Girls
* What if God was one of Us by Joan Osborn
* Running up that Hill by Kate Bush
* Virgin State of Mind by
* Fade to Black by Rolling Stones
* Let it Be by Paul McCartney
* Live and Let Die by Wings
* Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
* Working Class Man by John Lennon
* Relay by Fiona Apple
* Here Comes the Sun by the Beatles
* Wish you Were Here by Pink Floyd
* Talking About My Generation by The Who
* Nothing Compares to You by Prince (but sung by Sinead O'Connor)
* Purple Rain by Prince
* Sex by Berlin
* Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads
Songs to Know Me By
Date: 2024-03-21 02:25 am (UTC)Songs that changed how I looked at music (or the world). Let's narrow it down to a dozen:
1. Baba O'Riley - The Who. The opening synthesizer loop is my ringtone. (It's NOT going to be here?)
2. Shangri-La - The Kinks. Closing track of Arthur, their concept album about "The Decline of the British Empire." Powerful finish to their classic era.
3. Tale of Hard Time - Fairport Convention. I could put a million Fairport songs here, but this was the first time I heard a Richard Thompson solo. (I still hear it in my head.)
4. Concierto de Aranjuez - Miles Davis and Gil Evans. The most beautiful jazz track ever recorded. Never fails to calm me down when I'm stressed.
5. When the Levee Breaks - Led Zeppelin. An unearthly performance by John Bonham. I was so obsessed with this track, I had to learn exactly how his drums were recorded.
6. We - The Roches. Album 1, Side 1, Track 1. I fell in love.
7. 21st Century Schizoid Man - King Crimson. Prog rock is born. (Never topped.)
8. Powerhouse - Raymond Scott. The "clockwork" middle section is the soundtrack to a million cartoons.
9. Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty. My favorite single of the 1970s.
10. Blue Rondo a la Turk - Dave Brubeck. A turkish delight in 9/8 time.
11. Fantasy - Earth, Wind and Fire. Those percolating rhythms. Philip Bailey's heavenly falsetto. Pure joy.
12. Umbrella - Rihanna. Hey, maybe 21st century pop isn't so bad after all!
Re: Songs to Know Me By
Date: 2024-03-21 02:33 am (UTC)But the song is great on its own too.
no subject
Date: 2024-03-21 03:28 am (UTC)Fleetwood Mac, the Stones, Suzanne Vega, and Joni would all be on an expanded list (but different songs).