Hi.
here's a double sad dose for today...this rainy rainy sad day.
I hope you're all in your pajamas...
Thrown By The Bull - Old Man Luedecke.
(I know you can relate to these lyrics)
and "I've learned that world is a magical and mysterious experience if you're not that smart" a little quote from Old Man Luedecke in the beginning of this live performance, kinda makes up for how sad the whole message of his song is. =(
Thrown by the bull again.
Thrown by the bull again.
thought I had him by the horns
but he tossed me to the wind
thrown by the bull again.
Did I go where I aughtn't be?
Did I go where I aughtn't be?
you know we're all just strugglin' in our way to be free
go where I aughtn't be.
Down in the dirt again.
Down in the dirt again.
I can see my plans unraveled,
can't tell where they end.
Down in the dirt again.
This warfare will never end.
This warfare will never end.
Get a moments breath of peace, but strikes back up again.
warfare will never end.
Did I go where I aughtn't be?
Did I go where I aughtn't be?
you know we're all just strugglin' in our way to be free
go where I aughtn't be.
I'll sleep in a hollow log.
I'll sleep in a hollow log.
Cause you know I just can't stay here, when you treat me like a dog.
Sleep in a hollow log.
Do you wanna know what crazy is?
Do you wanna know what stupid is?
When you repeat the same behaviour and hope for different ends.
wanna know what crazy is.
Did I go where I aughtn't be?
Did I go where I aughtn't be?
you know we're all just strugglin' in our way to be free
go where I aughtn't be.
Would you help me stand up again?
Would you help me stand up again?
cause I just can't seem to do it, I'm just not born to win.
Help me stand up again.
Thrown by the bull again.
Thrown by the bull again.
thrown by the bull...again.
and here's another for a little extra "wah" factor...
First Aid Kit - many of my friends have already heard this, and I actually got it from a lady-friend's facebook post about a year ago.
anyway - it makes made me cry.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 28, 2010
Ironically - this song is called Happiness
It has made me cry almost every time I've listened to it...alone, with my eyes closed.
There is something to it - I think that speaks Universally. It's like a chant, or a mantra.
and it's just beautiful.
I suggest lying down, closing your eyes and listening with earphones or good speakers. The sound quality isn't fantastic, but try to listen past the quality.
Jonsi and Alex - (riceboy sleeps), "Happiness"
It has made me cry almost every time I've listened to it...alone, with my eyes closed.
There is something to it - I think that speaks Universally. It's like a chant, or a mantra.
and it's just beautiful.
I suggest lying down, closing your eyes and listening with earphones or good speakers. The sound quality isn't fantastic, but try to listen past the quality.
Jonsi and Alex - (riceboy sleeps), "Happiness"
Monday, September 27, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 27, 2010
I heard this first in an old movie (For Me and My Gal) and thought "I NEED to cover this song" - it's next on my list of songs to perform - it just does something for me...it's special.
then I found this cover by Fiona Apple, and I'm excited to share it...because I love her.
(Judy Garland does the original)
then I found this cover by Fiona Apple, and I'm excited to share it...because I love her.
(Judy Garland does the original)
Sunday, September 26, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 25th and 26th, 2010
Ok, so I'm sick this weekend...and that gives me the right to once again do a two-in-one blog post of sadness.
As the month goes on and we're getting to a close, I'm finding it harder and harder to remember what made me sad in the past.
I guess that's a good thing because honestly, I never thought I'd run out of sad songs to suggest.
But there are a few that come to mind still, ones that have haunted me and continued to come up in my life from time to time.
The last time I fell in love, the circumstances were pretty grim. My "boyfriend" lived out of town and even though we saw each other quite frequently, sometimes it wasn't all roses and romance. Sometimes the fact that our lives were so separate and incompatible just gave us this horrible sadness and surges of emotion that left us both in tears. We couldn't see an out or an in to what we wanted. We were both falling in love with each other, but we had also both been through real hard times and had so many "shouldn't" thoughts running around our brains. We shouldn't rush into things. We shouldn't be impulsive. Shouldn't we be independent and work on ourselves alone? Shouldn't we take a break from relationships after so much heartbreak and hardship? etc.
I personally felt such yearning and desire and deep love that wasn't really allowed to surface. I thought that if it did, the whole relationship would explode. All the wants and needs and expectations would taint the entirety of whatever we had between us.
In retrospect, I sound like a whiny baby - but at the time it was a true, genuine, and profound sadness. Finally I had found someone who could see into my soul and there was just not too much hope that things would work in our favour.
On a few horrible occasions we had been so frustrated that we would decide to break things off. On one particular afternoon, when we decided to stop seeing eachother, I heard the song of choice for today.
In the last few hours before saying goodbye, we sat together watching "In The Basement" which is a dvd compilation of amazing artists doing live versions of their songs.
When we got to Thom Yorke's performance of "Videotape", all the above feelings spewed slowly and achingly out my eyeballs. Something I will never forget.
Thank God that's over.
This is the exact version of the song.
Videotape - by: Thom Yorke
When I'm at the pearly gates
This'll be on my videotape
My videotape
My videotape
Mephistopheles is just beneath
And he's reaching up to grab me
This is one for the good days
And I have it all here in
Red, blue, green
Red, blue, green
You are my centre when I spin away
Out of control on videotape
On videotape
On videotape
On videotape
This is my way of saying goodbye
Because I can't do it fact to face
So I'm talking to you before
No matter what happens now
I won't be afraid
Because I know
Today has been the most perfect day I have ever seen
As the month goes on and we're getting to a close, I'm finding it harder and harder to remember what made me sad in the past.
I guess that's a good thing because honestly, I never thought I'd run out of sad songs to suggest.
But there are a few that come to mind still, ones that have haunted me and continued to come up in my life from time to time.
The last time I fell in love, the circumstances were pretty grim. My "boyfriend" lived out of town and even though we saw each other quite frequently, sometimes it wasn't all roses and romance. Sometimes the fact that our lives were so separate and incompatible just gave us this horrible sadness and surges of emotion that left us both in tears. We couldn't see an out or an in to what we wanted. We were both falling in love with each other, but we had also both been through real hard times and had so many "shouldn't" thoughts running around our brains. We shouldn't rush into things. We shouldn't be impulsive. Shouldn't we be independent and work on ourselves alone? Shouldn't we take a break from relationships after so much heartbreak and hardship? etc.
I personally felt such yearning and desire and deep love that wasn't really allowed to surface. I thought that if it did, the whole relationship would explode. All the wants and needs and expectations would taint the entirety of whatever we had between us.
In retrospect, I sound like a whiny baby - but at the time it was a true, genuine, and profound sadness. Finally I had found someone who could see into my soul and there was just not too much hope that things would work in our favour.
On a few horrible occasions we had been so frustrated that we would decide to break things off. On one particular afternoon, when we decided to stop seeing eachother, I heard the song of choice for today.
In the last few hours before saying goodbye, we sat together watching "In The Basement" which is a dvd compilation of amazing artists doing live versions of their songs.
When we got to Thom Yorke's performance of "Videotape", all the above feelings spewed slowly and achingly out my eyeballs. Something I will never forget.
Thank God that's over.
This is the exact version of the song.
Videotape - by: Thom Yorke
When I'm at the pearly gates
This'll be on my videotape
My videotape
My videotape
Mephistopheles is just beneath
And he's reaching up to grab me
This is one for the good days
And I have it all here in
Red, blue, green
Red, blue, green
You are my centre when I spin away
Out of control on videotape
On videotape
On videotape
On videotape
This is my way of saying goodbye
Because I can't do it fact to face
So I'm talking to you before
No matter what happens now
I won't be afraid
Because I know
Today has been the most perfect day I have ever seen
Friday, September 24, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 24, 2010
Elsiane.
Look this woman up. Her musical endeavours are refreshing and invigorating. There was this ode to the 90's in the quality of melody/electronica I first noticed when I was introduced (on facebook) a few years back. More importantly, such a seductive, and honest, and emotional pulse to all the songs.
Homegrown Montreal-styles.
Here's one that first made me feel at peace with the kind of pain that's hard to feel peace from.
Look this woman up. Her musical endeavours are refreshing and invigorating. There was this ode to the 90's in the quality of melody/electronica I first noticed when I was introduced (on facebook) a few years back. More importantly, such a seductive, and honest, and emotional pulse to all the songs.
Homegrown Montreal-styles.
Here's one that first made me feel at peace with the kind of pain that's hard to feel peace from.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 23, 2010
People who are religious sometimes can draw things out of themselves that cynical and skeptical individuals have trouble getting close to.
That's my thought.
Jeremy Enigk is a good example of this.
He expresses my "human condition" so perfectly...the desperate expression of making sense of it all...and by "it" I mean life.
I'm a big fan.
That's my thought.
Jeremy Enigk is a good example of this.
He expresses my "human condition" so perfectly...the desperate expression of making sense of it all...and by "it" I mean life.
I'm a big fan.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 22, 2010
BONJOUR!!!!!!
I decided today to make a little ODE to my daddy. I can thank him for all the love of music I developed in my childhood.
When I was in my early twenties, he showed me an outtake of "The Man That Got Away" performed by Judy Garland in A Star Is Born.
Many have tried to recapture the beauty, emotion, and desperation of Judy's rendition, yet, there is something particularly pure and perfect about this particular outtake.
It brought me to tears and can honestly tell you that I had nothing to be tearful about at the time...she just put me in that place where all my heart could feel was the nostalgia of lost love.
There's also this quality of an authentic moment in time being had by the musicians present. Like an old-school jazz jam. Like I'm looking in on something so intimate and magical between them. (p.s. I think my dad told me that she was dating the piano player at the time...I like that dynamic as well.)
So, here's The Man That Got Away to you from the bottom of my dad's heart and mine.
I decided today to make a little ODE to my daddy. I can thank him for all the love of music I developed in my childhood.
When I was in my early twenties, he showed me an outtake of "The Man That Got Away" performed by Judy Garland in A Star Is Born.
Many have tried to recapture the beauty, emotion, and desperation of Judy's rendition, yet, there is something particularly pure and perfect about this particular outtake.
It brought me to tears and can honestly tell you that I had nothing to be tearful about at the time...she just put me in that place where all my heart could feel was the nostalgia of lost love.
There's also this quality of an authentic moment in time being had by the musicians present. Like an old-school jazz jam. Like I'm looking in on something so intimate and magical between them. (p.s. I think my dad told me that she was dating the piano player at the time...I like that dynamic as well.)
So, here's The Man That Got Away to you from the bottom of my dad's heart and mine.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 21, 2010
Here's an old one...Dave Matthews.
Alright, it's true, I have been, and always will be a HUGE Dave Matthews fan.
I had sort of abandoned him after a few years (in terms of the amount of listening I invested in) and then watched this awesome documentary called "Go Further" starring Woody Harrelson. This was an exceptionally entertaining documentary about sustainable eating/living and it really effected me.
The brilliance and impact was magnified by the great choice of artists performing their songs to bring out some of the themes within the film. I can't for the life of me find the live song that Dave Matthews plays at the end of the film, but I have found the album version.
In any case, I sat in silence crying at the end - during the credits when Dave put his heart and soul into this last message.
The idea of nature being the womb - the earth mother - that we go back to this and envelope ourselves in how big and how beautiful that is. I just felt so much from that particular performance and there was a sadness and love emiting from it that fully seeped into my heart.
so if you're interested in the documentary, pay attention to the credits at the end and see if you feel similar. It's a great movie to watch. and it's funny and light too - not all preachy, but a little preachy.
Alright, it's true, I have been, and always will be a HUGE Dave Matthews fan.
I had sort of abandoned him after a few years (in terms of the amount of listening I invested in) and then watched this awesome documentary called "Go Further" starring Woody Harrelson. This was an exceptionally entertaining documentary about sustainable eating/living and it really effected me.
The brilliance and impact was magnified by the great choice of artists performing their songs to bring out some of the themes within the film. I can't for the life of me find the live song that Dave Matthews plays at the end of the film, but I have found the album version.
In any case, I sat in silence crying at the end - during the credits when Dave put his heart and soul into this last message.
The idea of nature being the womb - the earth mother - that we go back to this and envelope ourselves in how big and how beautiful that is. I just felt so much from that particular performance and there was a sadness and love emiting from it that fully seeped into my heart.
so if you're interested in the documentary, pay attention to the credits at the end and see if you feel similar. It's a great movie to watch. and it's funny and light too - not all preachy, but a little preachy.
Monday, September 20, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 20, 2010
I missed an appointment this morning, woke up in a rage of shitty feelings, cried, went back to bed. Felt better, cried again, felt sorry for myself, and then cried some more.
here's a song.
It's about what I wish I could say that I can't. Sometimes even a positive love song can be interpreted as sad if it's got the right audience.
Bjork - Unison.
here's a song.
It's about what I wish I could say that I can't. Sometimes even a positive love song can be interpreted as sad if it's got the right audience.
Bjork - Unison.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 19th, 2010
One of my closest friends is a ART MAGNET...he attracts great people and has a great spirit and great appreciation for all forms of creative expression. I have met some of my other best friends because of him. Back in 2006, he informed me that his very old, close friend Jennifer was playing in the Pop Montreal festival and that he thought I would like her.
The animated video for one of her tracks "Heaven" that I've posted below was my first experience of Jennifer Castle, and I was instantly captivated. I don't think I need to explain why this song is on the "sad" end of the spectrum, but I do think it's worth it to give this lady a bit of promotion.
Going to the show at Pop Montreal, with an intimate crowd of people and a small space to watch Jennifer do her thing, was one of the best live experiences I've ever had. It was enchanting, the room remained silent for an hour straight, she wrapped us all in this highly emotion-infused bubble with her and we stayed there till the end. I was expecting nothing and I received an unforgettable gift in return (pretty sure that's how it always goes). Her newest album, entitled "You Can't Take Anyone" is so full of goodness that it's hard to choose a favourite track. I recommend somehow getting a hold of that album and listening to all the tracks and then telling me which ones you like the best. Very hard to find this artist on youtube...and furthermore, it's well worth the investment in support of such a unique voice/musican/artist.
check out her myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/jennifercastlemusic
("we always change" will be the song I play at my wedding if I ever have one) xo
I mean, come ON, "I don't care about money, I don't care about time, I don't care about reason, reason don't care much for me."
how beautiful is that line?
alright so I leave you with "Heaven" and enjoy the beautiful day!
The animated video for one of her tracks "Heaven" that I've posted below was my first experience of Jennifer Castle, and I was instantly captivated. I don't think I need to explain why this song is on the "sad" end of the spectrum, but I do think it's worth it to give this lady a bit of promotion.
Going to the show at Pop Montreal, with an intimate crowd of people and a small space to watch Jennifer do her thing, was one of the best live experiences I've ever had. It was enchanting, the room remained silent for an hour straight, she wrapped us all in this highly emotion-infused bubble with her and we stayed there till the end. I was expecting nothing and I received an unforgettable gift in return (pretty sure that's how it always goes). Her newest album, entitled "You Can't Take Anyone" is so full of goodness that it's hard to choose a favourite track. I recommend somehow getting a hold of that album and listening to all the tracks and then telling me which ones you like the best. Very hard to find this artist on youtube...and furthermore, it's well worth the investment in support of such a unique voice/musican/artist.
check out her myspace:
http://www.myspace.com/jennifercastlemusic
("we always change" will be the song I play at my wedding if I ever have one) xo
I mean, come ON, "I don't care about money, I don't care about time, I don't care about reason, reason don't care much for me."
how beautiful is that line?
alright so I leave you with "Heaven" and enjoy the beautiful day!
Saturday, September 18, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 17th and 18th, 2010
YES!
combined I SAY!
I know I'm combining two days into one, but, damn it, I've been busy and I can't always keep on top of things the way I would like.
so, there's a bunch to be said. It's been a difficult and wondrously humanizing week for me in particular. I'm always at odds with myself and I always feel like I'm a computer being upgraded. You know, when that pesky sign comes up on your computer " would you like to find upgrades now?" and then you say "remind me later" ? Well, that's like my brain, except I always answer, reboot and begin updates now. so, imagine how exhausting that can be.
In any case, I'm here to deliver you some more "sad", and with that I will leave you with two Imogen Heap songs. Let me talk to you a minute about my feelings for Imogen Heap. First of all, that NAME. I mean, seriously, what's in a name? From the moment I fell in love with FROU FROU I decided that Imogen was someone I wanted to get to know. From her blogs in putting out her latest album, I got some inside info on how dedicated to the craft of music this wonderful lady is, and now I'm a forever dedicated fan.
Beautiful, amazingly handsome, and forever quirky and charming Ms.Heap. I love you, and I feel you. You have a heart of pure gold, and you express yourself with all the responsibility and love of anyone of my bestest friends. Because I neglected yesterday, I will post a few of my fav songs. The ones that make me the most "sad"...or in Imogen's case, the most fulfilled. Her sad ones, in my opinion, are her best ones.
The Moment I Said It...(pay attention to the piano which is the reason I fell in love with the music)
love and kisses and lots of musically enjoyment. and remember, in the words of Imogen Heap..."...sleep, i promise it'll all seem better somehow, in time."
and the next is one that me and one of my most closest friends love LIVE and in the flesh Imogen doing her thing...amazing. YOU MUST SEE THIS WOMAN LIVE!!!
combined I SAY!
I know I'm combining two days into one, but, damn it, I've been busy and I can't always keep on top of things the way I would like.
so, there's a bunch to be said. It's been a difficult and wondrously humanizing week for me in particular. I'm always at odds with myself and I always feel like I'm a computer being upgraded. You know, when that pesky sign comes up on your computer " would you like to find upgrades now?" and then you say "remind me later" ? Well, that's like my brain, except I always answer, reboot and begin updates now. so, imagine how exhausting that can be.
In any case, I'm here to deliver you some more "sad", and with that I will leave you with two Imogen Heap songs. Let me talk to you a minute about my feelings for Imogen Heap. First of all, that NAME. I mean, seriously, what's in a name? From the moment I fell in love with FROU FROU I decided that Imogen was someone I wanted to get to know. From her blogs in putting out her latest album, I got some inside info on how dedicated to the craft of music this wonderful lady is, and now I'm a forever dedicated fan.
Beautiful, amazingly handsome, and forever quirky and charming Ms.Heap. I love you, and I feel you. You have a heart of pure gold, and you express yourself with all the responsibility and love of anyone of my bestest friends. Because I neglected yesterday, I will post a few of my fav songs. The ones that make me the most "sad"...or in Imogen's case, the most fulfilled. Her sad ones, in my opinion, are her best ones.
The Moment I Said It...(pay attention to the piano which is the reason I fell in love with the music)
love and kisses and lots of musically enjoyment. and remember, in the words of Imogen Heap..."...sleep, i promise it'll all seem better somehow, in time."
and the next is one that me and one of my most closest friends love LIVE and in the flesh Imogen doing her thing...amazing. YOU MUST SEE THIS WOMAN LIVE!!!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 16, 2010
Today might be the first day where I feel the transition from summer to fall has actually been completed.
It's good reason to be both excited, and kind of blue all at the same time.
I'm about to start into a large number of articles to read and summarize as well as a gigantic amount of writing. woot (unenthusiastically).
As I sit here in my jogging pants, it's hard for me not to wish I could just listen to my favourite sad songs all f-in day and screw my theoretical understanding of sociological concepts (contemporary or feminist). with some coffee of course and some snacks.
oh music...oh september. How you tease me and tempt me to be bad-ass.
I digress. My post today was a direct result of me being depressed when I was 23...and consequently came upon the latest (at the time) album by Rufus Wainwright. This song, lyrically and structurally completely defined how I felt at the time. In addition to expressing my feelings of regret and heaviness for what I had "...done to myself", I was burdened with the thought that life was brutally harsh and that I was fairly weak in comparison to it's natural state of constant chaos. With all these emotions floating around this particular piece, the structure and the instrumentation is brilliant in all at once reminding me of these feelings, and relieving some of the darkness from my heart and my mind. The throbbing of the keyboard, and the subtleties of fairy-like echoing inside the music transcends all the harsh reality of what he says.
And that my friends, is a true artist. Those who can pull off that magic are responsible for conserving a lot of positivity and love in people they don't even know.
blah blah blah - sounds pretentious, but you get it, right?
The only version I could find embedding for is one with lyrics (a la karaoke) so, try not to pay much attention to the visuals.
xo have a nice, lazy, contemplative evening.
It's good reason to be both excited, and kind of blue all at the same time.
I'm about to start into a large number of articles to read and summarize as well as a gigantic amount of writing. woot (unenthusiastically).
As I sit here in my jogging pants, it's hard for me not to wish I could just listen to my favourite sad songs all f-in day and screw my theoretical understanding of sociological concepts (contemporary or feminist). with some coffee of course and some snacks.
oh music...oh september. How you tease me and tempt me to be bad-ass.
I digress. My post today was a direct result of me being depressed when I was 23...and consequently came upon the latest (at the time) album by Rufus Wainwright. This song, lyrically and structurally completely defined how I felt at the time. In addition to expressing my feelings of regret and heaviness for what I had "...done to myself", I was burdened with the thought that life was brutally harsh and that I was fairly weak in comparison to it's natural state of constant chaos. With all these emotions floating around this particular piece, the structure and the instrumentation is brilliant in all at once reminding me of these feelings, and relieving some of the darkness from my heart and my mind. The throbbing of the keyboard, and the subtleties of fairy-like echoing inside the music transcends all the harsh reality of what he says.
And that my friends, is a true artist. Those who can pull off that magic are responsible for conserving a lot of positivity and love in people they don't even know.
blah blah blah - sounds pretentious, but you get it, right?
The only version I could find embedding for is one with lyrics (a la karaoke) so, try not to pay much attention to the visuals.
xo have a nice, lazy, contemplative evening.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 15, 2010
Hi Friendieeeeees.
alright - so to continue the post from yesterday, I will put up two versions of an amazingly sad and romantic song by an amazingly cool, not-so-alive man named Elliot Smith.
This is Between The Bars -- and it's one of my favourite songs.
The first version is by the artist himself - and the second is by an artist named Madeleine Peyroux which is the version I heard first that really gave my heart a good tugging.(how did that sound dirty to me?)
My brother introduced me to this wonderful lady. I love her voice and her style.
She does some phenomenal covers and her own songs sound like classics.
alright - so to continue the post from yesterday, I will put up two versions of an amazingly sad and romantic song by an amazingly cool, not-so-alive man named Elliot Smith.
This is Between The Bars -- and it's one of my favourite songs.
The first version is by the artist himself - and the second is by an artist named Madeleine Peyroux which is the version I heard first that really gave my heart a good tugging.(how did that sound dirty to me?)
My brother introduced me to this wonderful lady. I love her voice and her style.
She does some phenomenal covers and her own songs sound like classics.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 14, 2010
I've never felt like I fit in. Never since I was able to think as an independent person have I felt "normal" and I'm sure this is quite Universal - and ironically quite "normal" a feeling in most people (especially the sensitive ones)
When I first moved to Montreal, the city came down on me. I was never faced with so many people at once, never faced with so much of a glance at what my place was in the world...just a tiny spec of nothingness in a sea of tiny specs.
It swallowed me I think - and I rebelled against it. And it was a love/hate relationship.
When I lived on Lincoln next to Concordia, I ended up with two really cool roomies that were an absolute dream to experience life with. The life I wanted to create was romantic, and whimsical, and melancholy, and full of adventures, conversations, passion, and constant growth. I always strive to create this for myself.
One day as I was cleaning, I found a mixed tape that I assumed came from one of my roommates that was labeled on both sides, side A said: Side Sad, and side B said: Side Marginally Sadder. It was never discovered who that tape originally belonged to. When I put that tape in, I had no track list and so I spent months and months trying to find out who the artists were that I loved the most (ya, the internet wasn't readily available back then).
I remember now that I found out there was some Nick Drake, some Foo Fighters, and my all time favourite on Side Marginally Sadder was a band called Mojave 3 playing a song called "Prayer for the Paranoid".
This song was so perfect for my state of mind at the time. It captures a city swallowing two people, changing them, discouraging them, making them feel "abnormal", alone, ill-fitted.
At least that's what I got from it. I think that tape was meant for me, and I was meant for it.
I lost it a long time ago, but I still think of it. We had a real relationship and it opened me up to a grey area of sad that I didn't know existed before.
So, here's Mojave 3 with Prayer For The Paranoid. And over the next few days I will post some more songs that I remember from "Side Sad and Side Marginally Sadder".
xo
When I first moved to Montreal, the city came down on me. I was never faced with so many people at once, never faced with so much of a glance at what my place was in the world...just a tiny spec of nothingness in a sea of tiny specs.
It swallowed me I think - and I rebelled against it. And it was a love/hate relationship.
When I lived on Lincoln next to Concordia, I ended up with two really cool roomies that were an absolute dream to experience life with. The life I wanted to create was romantic, and whimsical, and melancholy, and full of adventures, conversations, passion, and constant growth. I always strive to create this for myself.
One day as I was cleaning, I found a mixed tape that I assumed came from one of my roommates that was labeled on both sides, side A said: Side Sad, and side B said: Side Marginally Sadder. It was never discovered who that tape originally belonged to. When I put that tape in, I had no track list and so I spent months and months trying to find out who the artists were that I loved the most (ya, the internet wasn't readily available back then).
I remember now that I found out there was some Nick Drake, some Foo Fighters, and my all time favourite on Side Marginally Sadder was a band called Mojave 3 playing a song called "Prayer for the Paranoid".
This song was so perfect for my state of mind at the time. It captures a city swallowing two people, changing them, discouraging them, making them feel "abnormal", alone, ill-fitted.
At least that's what I got from it. I think that tape was meant for me, and I was meant for it.
I lost it a long time ago, but I still think of it. We had a real relationship and it opened me up to a grey area of sad that I didn't know existed before.
So, here's Mojave 3 with Prayer For The Paranoid. And over the next few days I will post some more songs that I remember from "Side Sad and Side Marginally Sadder".
xo
Monday, September 13, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 21, 2010
Here's an old one...Dave Matthews.
Alright, it's true, I have been, and always will be a HUGE Dave Matthews fan.
I had sort of abandoned him after a few years (in terms of the amount of listening I invested in) and then watched this awesome documentary called "Go Further" starring Woody Harrelson. This was an exceptionally entertaining documentary about sustainable eating/living and it really effected me.
The brilliance and impact was magnified by the great choice of artists performing their songs to bring out some of the themes within the film. I can't for the life of me find the live song that Dave Matthews plays at the end of the film, but I have found the album version.
In any case, I sat in silence crying at the end - during the credits when Dave put his heart and soul into this last message.
The idea of nature being the womb - the earth mother - that we go back to this and envelope ourselves in how big and how beautiful that is. I just felt so much from that particular performance and there was a sadness and love emiting from it that fully seeped into my heart.
so if you're interested in the documentary, pay attention to the credits at the end and see if you feel similar. It's a great movie to watch. and it's funny and light too - not all preachy, but a little preachy.
Alright, it's true, I have been, and always will be a HUGE Dave Matthews fan.
I had sort of abandoned him after a few years (in terms of the amount of listening I invested in) and then watched this awesome documentary called "Go Further" starring Woody Harrelson. This was an exceptionally entertaining documentary about sustainable eating/living and it really effected me.
The brilliance and impact was magnified by the great choice of artists performing their songs to bring out some of the themes within the film. I can't for the life of me find the live song that Dave Matthews plays at the end of the film, but I have found the album version.
In any case, I sat in silence crying at the end - during the credits when Dave put his heart and soul into this last message.
The idea of nature being the womb - the earth mother - that we go back to this and envelope ourselves in how big and how beautiful that is. I just felt so much from that particular performance and there was a sadness and love emiting from it that fully seeped into my heart.
so if you're interested in the documentary, pay attention to the credits at the end and see if you feel similar. It's a great movie to watch. and it's funny and light too - not all preachy, but a little preachy.
SadSeptemberSongs: September 13, 2010
Well - it's Monday, and there's nothing more discouraging than a Monday morning...
so finding a sad, woe-is-me song was not too hard today.
Death Cab For Cutie...Brothers on a Hotel Bed.
(don't be a hater, have an open mind and soak it in)
and if you liked that, see them playing it live in the studio:
and may you get through the crappiest day of the week with some inspiration and energy left to spare!!!
xo
so finding a sad, woe-is-me song was not too hard today.
Death Cab For Cutie...Brothers on a Hotel Bed.
(don't be a hater, have an open mind and soak it in)
and if you liked that, see them playing it live in the studio:
and may you get through the crappiest day of the week with some inspiration and energy left to spare!!!
xo
Sunday, September 12, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 12, 2010
IT'S FINALLY THAT TIME!!!
Ladies and Gentleman, a long long time ago there was a band: Splashdown that created some wicked 90's poptastic electronic inspired songs. I had a huge hard-on for this band thanks to a guy who worked at my friends local college radio station in Ottawa. Actually I started liking a crap-load of music thanks to this awesome fellow and my friend.
However, a few years later they broke up and I was devastated. I hoped with all my heart that something would come of them again in some form, and luckily, something DID come of them all...
The lead singer, Melissa Kaplan went solo doing some video game vocals and I believe a few movies/documentary gigs as well. When she finally put out her first album, I was most definitely one of the first to order it.
Pretty much every song on the album is amazing and I urge you all to get a copy of it ASAP. Her project is called: Universal Hall Pass, and her two albums are "Mercury" and "Subtle Things".
Here is my favourite sad song on the album, "Misdirected"
http://iacmusic.com/artist.aspx?id=14259
If you need a little sampler, this is the song that first got me excited about the album...it's not sad, but it's BRILLIANT and I've never grown tired of hearing it time and time again. It's called Dragonfly. LOVE IT!!!
Ladies and Gentleman, a long long time ago there was a band: Splashdown that created some wicked 90's poptastic electronic inspired songs. I had a huge hard-on for this band thanks to a guy who worked at my friends local college radio station in Ottawa. Actually I started liking a crap-load of music thanks to this awesome fellow and my friend.
However, a few years later they broke up and I was devastated. I hoped with all my heart that something would come of them again in some form, and luckily, something DID come of them all...
The lead singer, Melissa Kaplan went solo doing some video game vocals and I believe a few movies/documentary gigs as well. When she finally put out her first album, I was most definitely one of the first to order it.
Pretty much every song on the album is amazing and I urge you all to get a copy of it ASAP. Her project is called: Universal Hall Pass, and her two albums are "Mercury" and "Subtle Things".
Here is my favourite sad song on the album, "Misdirected"
http://iacmusic.com/artist.aspx?id=14259
If you need a little sampler, this is the song that first got me excited about the album...it's not sad, but it's BRILLIANT and I've never grown tired of hearing it time and time again. It's called Dragonfly. LOVE IT!!!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 11, 2010
I will hold this post to be "Self-Evident" and appropriate for the date.
I know it's not quite in the standard song format, and well, Ani Difranco is getting much attention this week...however, there couldn't be a more necessary reflection for today.
I'm sending out all my love and hope into cyberspace today. xoxoxoxo
Ani Difranco - Self-Evident
I know it's not quite in the standard song format, and well, Ani Difranco is getting much attention this week...however, there couldn't be a more necessary reflection for today.
I'm sending out all my love and hope into cyberspace today. xoxoxoxo
Ani Difranco - Self-Evident
Friday, September 10, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 10, 2010
story time...
This is what I imagine when listening to my next post:
Set in an old run-down farmhouse in Georgia. The outside only looks put together from far away. The inside smells like potatoes and onions and chicken. The hallways are small and narrow, the stairs are steep. It feels haunted at night when everyone falls asleep.
In this story we see the cycle of generations passing within a family's history through this house. The silences that create memories, and profound emotions in the impressionable children learning to be people within it's walls. Life and death, both simultaneously and separately, the connection between them - the euphoria and the contrasts between them. The darkness of them, and the lightness and freedom in them. I could go on...this is worth posting because it's so difficult to paint a picture in someone's mind that is as vivid as an entire family history..and not just a history, but small moments within that history - small pains and happiness, small joys and sorrows and tastes and smells and lessons. This is not unlike the Sufjan Stevens song I posted earlier this month in it's sentiment and commitment to capturing moments in time that somehow we all connect to.
Sodom, South Georgia by Iron and Wine.
This is what I imagine when listening to my next post:
Set in an old run-down farmhouse in Georgia. The outside only looks put together from far away. The inside smells like potatoes and onions and chicken. The hallways are small and narrow, the stairs are steep. It feels haunted at night when everyone falls asleep.
In this story we see the cycle of generations passing within a family's history through this house. The silences that create memories, and profound emotions in the impressionable children learning to be people within it's walls. Life and death, both simultaneously and separately, the connection between them - the euphoria and the contrasts between them. The darkness of them, and the lightness and freedom in them. I could go on...this is worth posting because it's so difficult to paint a picture in someone's mind that is as vivid as an entire family history..and not just a history, but small moments within that history - small pains and happiness, small joys and sorrows and tastes and smells and lessons. This is not unlike the Sufjan Stevens song I posted earlier this month in it's sentiment and commitment to capturing moments in time that somehow we all connect to.
Sodom, South Georgia by Iron and Wine.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 9, 2010
In a time that is saturated with people who are neurotically challenged, insecure, and unable to think an original thought of their own, or who need to prove how hip, how cool, or how uncool/hip they are...it's refreshing to find those special individuals who are not afraid of expressing things their way, even though their way hasn't been reflected back to them by a million shallow voices, or even by their families and their friends.
It takes so much strength and depth to follow through and commit to music that has had no prior basis for it's rules and theory and music that can't be compared to anything.
This is why I love all the artists that I have posted. They do not question themselves - not that they have zero fear, but the fear they have does not stop them from expressing their most sacred and intimate truths. Music of this nature makes me feel like I'm connecting to myself - I feel suddenly less misunderstood, less lonely, less melodramatic, less neurotic, less shallow...I remember that I have such strong values and morals when it comes to creativity and art and music and expression and communication.
and I respect people who have a similar passion within their connections to music.
Post for today = Antony and The Johnsons: Hope There's Someone...
Thank you Antony...seriously... for expressing yourself so intensely and so innocently...it's like your heart is literally bleeding. I'm sure this song has comforted many people.
It takes so much strength and depth to follow through and commit to music that has had no prior basis for it's rules and theory and music that can't be compared to anything.
This is why I love all the artists that I have posted. They do not question themselves - not that they have zero fear, but the fear they have does not stop them from expressing their most sacred and intimate truths. Music of this nature makes me feel like I'm connecting to myself - I feel suddenly less misunderstood, less lonely, less melodramatic, less neurotic, less shallow...I remember that I have such strong values and morals when it comes to creativity and art and music and expression and communication.
and I respect people who have a similar passion within their connections to music.
Post for today = Antony and The Johnsons: Hope There's Someone...
Thank you Antony...seriously... for expressing yourself so intensely and so innocently...it's like your heart is literally bleeding. I'm sure this song has comforted many people.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 8, 2010
There are so many Ani Difranco songs that make me cry - or that easily invoke me to become passionate about things I didn't know I had any passion for.
There is no way to explain how much impact Ani has had on my life and my feelings. It has been a mind-opening trip and there are so many choice albums to delve into.
One of these amazing albums is called Reveling and Reckoning.
It's a double CD with everything you can imagine to offer, including for the first time in Ani's album history, some guitar ramblings (sans vocals) by Ani that don't necessarily need a song structure to express a strong emotion/sentiment/story.
some of my favs include: School Night, Grey, and Garden of Simple.
Today I'm posting a song that still puts me in a state of aw. The crafting of poetry and chords and dynamics is unmatched. Like nearly every Ani song.
Just an ode to devotion and the tough times we go through for the people we fall for. I guess that could be referred to as life for some of us...which does make it pretty big. Ani has a way of explaining the hardships of the world in the most poetic and comforting ways...so that you never feel like you're alone, even when your "little pink heart" is aching. (Ani Difranco, Grey)
There is no way to explain how much impact Ani has had on my life and my feelings. It has been a mind-opening trip and there are so many choice albums to delve into.
One of these amazing albums is called Reveling and Reckoning.
It's a double CD with everything you can imagine to offer, including for the first time in Ani's album history, some guitar ramblings (sans vocals) by Ani that don't necessarily need a song structure to express a strong emotion/sentiment/story.
some of my favs include: School Night, Grey, and Garden of Simple.
Today I'm posting a song that still puts me in a state of aw. The crafting of poetry and chords and dynamics is unmatched. Like nearly every Ani song.
Just an ode to devotion and the tough times we go through for the people we fall for. I guess that could be referred to as life for some of us...which does make it pretty big. Ani has a way of explaining the hardships of the world in the most poetic and comforting ways...so that you never feel like you're alone, even when your "little pink heart" is aching. (Ani Difranco, Grey)
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 7, 2010
Almost Blue - Elvis Costello (as performed by Chet Baker)
Rumour has it that Elvis Costello was pretty fond of Chet Baker and loved his rendition of The Thrill is Gone (another "slit your wrists" kinda song). Apparently, Almost Blue is inspired by The Thrill is Gone.
I'm not sure of the circumstances that led to Chet singing Costello's composition, but I am sure that it is one soulful, mournful rendition.
Every part is necessary in this recording -- Chet's trumpet solo, the piano - everything falls perfectly into place. I love that the intro is long...it's impossible to skip over it and get the full effect and idea of it's beauty.
And CHET - oh Chet...even though it was later on in his life, and he was obviously missing some teeth...he does such a bang-up job of telling you things without TELLING you things just from the mastered tone of his instrument...it's like another appendage. That's the magic of a real jazz musician...
Enjoy.
Rumour has it that Elvis Costello was pretty fond of Chet Baker and loved his rendition of The Thrill is Gone (another "slit your wrists" kinda song). Apparently, Almost Blue is inspired by The Thrill is Gone.
I'm not sure of the circumstances that led to Chet singing Costello's composition, but I am sure that it is one soulful, mournful rendition.
Every part is necessary in this recording -- Chet's trumpet solo, the piano - everything falls perfectly into place. I love that the intro is long...it's impossible to skip over it and get the full effect and idea of it's beauty.
And CHET - oh Chet...even though it was later on in his life, and he was obviously missing some teeth...he does such a bang-up job of telling you things without TELLING you things just from the mastered tone of his instrument...it's like another appendage. That's the magic of a real jazz musician...
Enjoy.
Monday, September 6, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 6, 2010
Cinematic Orchestra, Featuring Roots Manuva: All Things To All Men (2002)
why am I posting this song today? This is something that time and time again rips my heart out of my chest.
The lyrics are so sad (might be a contender for the number one heartbreaking song out of all the songs this month) - and universal, just a moment in time when a higher power brings down some extra force into the writer and gives them a hit of unexplainable magic.
That's why.
...timeless, beautiful, inspiring, and full of empathy for the world.
That's my kind of sad.
why am I posting this song today? This is something that time and time again rips my heart out of my chest.
The lyrics are so sad (might be a contender for the number one heartbreaking song out of all the songs this month) - and universal, just a moment in time when a higher power brings down some extra force into the writer and gives them a hit of unexplainable magic.
That's why.
...timeless, beautiful, inspiring, and full of empathy for the world.
That's my kind of sad.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 5, 2010
Bon Iver (yes, happy winter without the "h"): Frontman Justin Vernon. Well, let me say, the man expresses a unique, and warmly familiar heartbreak and yearning.
I loved the album For Emma, Forever Ago. [no doubt having an impact was Vernon's run-in with Mono, a band breakup, AND a lover breakup too (Wikipedia, 2010)]
Every tune made me feel a sense of longing, a calm after the storm of something that took a lot out of the body and soul...something like lost love haunting the subject - or at least working it's calming numbness - with bouts of pure pain and passion.
I love it in any case - this is the first Bon Iver track that I fell in love with (not true, it was one called Brackett wi, but this one stuck). It's called RE: STACKS...
If you like it, please guide your ears to: The Wolves Act I and II, and Blindsided; both equally amazing in their own special ways.
Enjoy...and don't forget to let me know how you like them - or your reactions.
Happy Labour day long weekend.
I loved the album For Emma, Forever Ago. [no doubt having an impact was Vernon's run-in with Mono, a band breakup, AND a lover breakup too (Wikipedia, 2010)]
Every tune made me feel a sense of longing, a calm after the storm of something that took a lot out of the body and soul...something like lost love haunting the subject - or at least working it's calming numbness - with bouts of pure pain and passion.
I love it in any case - this is the first Bon Iver track that I fell in love with (not true, it was one called Brackett wi, but this one stuck). It's called RE: STACKS...
If you like it, please guide your ears to: The Wolves Act I and II, and Blindsided; both equally amazing in their own special ways.
Enjoy...and don't forget to let me know how you like them - or your reactions.
Happy Labour day long weekend.
Saturday, September 4, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 4, 2010
As a segue from Little Dragon, I would like to now present you with a great Saturday morning tune by Jose Gonzalez.
Yukimi Nagano's muse? or friend? or I dunno what, or how, or when they met or why...but in any case - Jose Gonzalez is top 5 on my list of amazing writers (at the moment, you never know when these things change - I use to think Bryan Adams was pretty amazing).
Also from Sweden, Jose Gonzalez has released two albums, Venner, and In Our Nature. Both are on par with each other and this is very hard to accomplish after a 1st time big success. As a matter of fact, I introduced my boyfriend to the second album first, and he liked it better than Veneer.
I love Jose so much that it is almost impossible for me to choose one song. But for the sake of keeping it "sad" and autumn-like, I will choose one of my favourites: Cycling Trivialities. This one made me cry while I was cleaning one random day years ago now - so out of nowhere heart-wrenching. He has this great vibe of insight and warmth and kindness. Like he wants to always spread love around - in every song, even the dark ones.
The version I've found includes Yukimi and is live for a telethon (not sure which cause, maybe someone can figure it out for me).
Have a great Saturday morning - until tomorrow. Enjoy
Yukimi Nagano's muse? or friend? or I dunno what, or how, or when they met or why...but in any case - Jose Gonzalez is top 5 on my list of amazing writers (at the moment, you never know when these things change - I use to think Bryan Adams was pretty amazing).
Also from Sweden, Jose Gonzalez has released two albums, Venner, and In Our Nature. Both are on par with each other and this is very hard to accomplish after a 1st time big success. As a matter of fact, I introduced my boyfriend to the second album first, and he liked it better than Veneer.
I love Jose so much that it is almost impossible for me to choose one song. But for the sake of keeping it "sad" and autumn-like, I will choose one of my favourites: Cycling Trivialities. This one made me cry while I was cleaning one random day years ago now - so out of nowhere heart-wrenching. He has this great vibe of insight and warmth and kindness. Like he wants to always spread love around - in every song, even the dark ones.
The version I've found includes Yukimi and is live for a telethon (not sure which cause, maybe someone can figure it out for me).
Have a great Saturday morning - until tomorrow. Enjoy
Thursday, September 2, 2010
SadSeptemberSongs: September 3, 2010
Song of the day: Little Dragon "Twice"
I have recently been turned on to Little Dragon despite my best efforts not to take well to Yukimi Nagano. She might just bother me because I'm jealous --- which is highly likely because she's absolutely aesthetically perfect to look upon, has this stoic sense of maturity both musically and personally (from what I've seen), and has killer pipes. Oh, and did I mention that her writing style is both refreshing and soulful?
I was introduced to her accidentally while indulging in my love for Jose Gonzalez live on YouTube. She sings back-up for Gonzalez and does a pretty humble job of it too.
"Little Dragon is an electronic music band, based in Gothenburg, Sweden. It consists of Swedish-Japanese singer Yukimi Nagano (vocals, percussion) and her close high-school friends Erik Bodin (drums), Captain Källgren Crunch (bass), and Håkan Wirenstrand (keyboards)." (Wikipedia, 2010)
It's just beautiful and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
I have recently been turned on to Little Dragon despite my best efforts not to take well to Yukimi Nagano. She might just bother me because I'm jealous --- which is highly likely because she's absolutely aesthetically perfect to look upon, has this stoic sense of maturity both musically and personally (from what I've seen), and has killer pipes. Oh, and did I mention that her writing style is both refreshing and soulful?
I was introduced to her accidentally while indulging in my love for Jose Gonzalez live on YouTube. She sings back-up for Gonzalez and does a pretty humble job of it too.
"Little Dragon is an electronic music band, based in Gothenburg, Sweden. It consists of Swedish-Japanese singer Yukimi Nagano (vocals, percussion) and her close high-school friends Erik Bodin (drums), Captain Källgren Crunch (bass), and Håkan Wirenstrand (keyboards)." (Wikipedia, 2010)
It's just beautiful and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
SadSeptemberSongs: September 2, 2010
Going with the general folk-feel of the last post, I want to share with you one of my favourite Sufjan Stevens tunes.
This one is sad - the lyrics are everything in this song - Stevens is an incredibly gifted writer and his words are as epic, and as cinematic as his music.
It's called Casimir Pulaski Day, from the album Illinoise (2005)
here's a live version of the song that I love - except for the fact that it's out of sync. But maybe you can just close your eyes and appreciate the 'liveness' of it on a sound level alone.
(if you're interested, also listen to "Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois" and everything else by him for that matter, cause it's all THAT amazing)
This one is sad - the lyrics are everything in this song - Stevens is an incredibly gifted writer and his words are as epic, and as cinematic as his music.
It's called Casimir Pulaski Day, from the album Illinoise (2005)
here's a live version of the song that I love - except for the fact that it's out of sync. But maybe you can just close your eyes and appreciate the 'liveness' of it on a sound level alone.
(if you're interested, also listen to "Concerning the UFO Sighting Near Highland, Illinois" and everything else by him for that matter, cause it's all THAT amazing)
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