Jens Lekman, who I've been in love with since Ashley first played this song for me in her NEW (at the time) honda
What I REALLY wanted to put was my favorite (for now) song from her new album Metals, "The Bad in Each Other"... but since apparently it doesn't exist online you'll have to settle for this. Chickens, just back from the shore.
Hamburgers. Pool Party.
One of my favorite singers, this is from her newest album Passengers. It's funny now to think, based on the first song that I'd ever heard her sing, I thought she only had sort of sad, pretty songs. But seriously, some of them are full rock-outs.
And because I'm feeling the need to force the season
AND, if anyone would care to borrow a book (you can even read it before me if you want!)
Probably not haha. She just hates Stevie's voice, so what can you do? Won't stop me.
One thing I can say for Glee - sometimes they improve songs. Usually they make them worse, or just do an okay impression, but sometimes they get a really great interpretation. "Songbird" was that song this time - frankly, I think it was better than the original.
Kristin Chenoweth sang "Dreams" and it was actually pretty awful; her voice is not suited at all to this music - she's operatic, and Stevie sounds like she just got done chain-smoking right before she sings. Which is why it's great haha.
I could now dive into the basic reasons why I think Glee is the coolest show ever - not because they are all fantastic (or in some cases, even mediocre) singers, but because they're teaching a younger generation about all of this fantastic music that they'd never IN A MILLION YEARS listen to on their own - but I won't haha. I'll just say that Santana did a great job this week! Oh and I wish they'd played one of my favorite Fleetwood Mac songs from Rumours, The Chain, but hey you can't get everything.
Everyone else's memory is of THE night. THE night when we missed our train and slept on a bench in a park. But my best memory is of the night before THE night.
Did I ever tell you that I watched Slumdog Millionaire with 2 Norwegian guys in a 40 seat theater at the back of a hostel in Barcelona at 1 in the morning? I think I have, but who cares. Nobody's forcing you to read this.
It was the most insignificant thing; I was tired and Pau and Angie wanted to use the computers at Kiah and Susan's hostel before we headed back. We had to take the subway to get to our place on the outskirts of the city and nobody would have contact with family for a few days. Literally the only reason we'd stopped there was because Paulina and Angelina were homesick; I was perfectly happy wandering around Spain aimlessly. In my mind, what was a few extra days, or even weeks? It's strange how you almost forget that home exists.
Well, I'd gone into the "computer room", checked my email, and chatted with my sister for about 10 minutes. Funny how quickly we ran out of things to say - this was literally every conversation that we had while I was gone:
"hey" "hey"
"what's up?" "not much. It's hot."
"it's hot here too, even at night. how's work?"
"it's good. Julie [her boss] and I went out to lunch today and then to the container store."
"that sounds fun. did you buy anything?"
"no, I'm fucking poor."
"oh, that sucks."
"yeah. so where are you?"
"[Insert the place that I am]. It's beautiful. [Insert name of random roommate] is being crazy, though."
"that sucks. what did she do?"
"[Insert crazy thing that she did]."
"you want me to tell her to stop being so fucking crazy?"
"no, I'll figure something out. I'm gonna go, I'm pretty tired."
"k."
"say hi to mom and dad for me."
"k."
"love you."
"love you, too."
- or maybe it's just that we didn't need to say a lot. We could talk about experiences later; you don't want to reminisce too early - it ruins the fun of actually doing something.
So I told them I was done (some crazy brit wanted to use the comp anyways) and that I'd be next door; it sounded like Transformers was playing or something, maybe I could take a nap in there - at least it was dark.
But when I walked in, it was something completely different. I was instantly engrossed. The darkness didn't have the effect I'd imagined - instead of dulling my senses I was wide awake. Sounds were louder, smells stronger, colors brighter. I sat, and I watched, and I thought about the time I'd spent away and the things that I'd dome. I thought about my friends and my plans and my finances. And then I finally thought about me, about how I felt at that moment, at that exact moment.
I had a feeling of complete transcendence; here I was, a Mexican-American, sitting in a hostel in Spain with Norwegians watching a film that took place in India where they spoke Hindi and English.
Have you ever wanted to take a moment and put it in a bottle and seal it air-tight, so that when you got it out again it was just as fresh as when you put it in? It's more that a photo or a mental image; it's feeling the same way, exactly, as you did when you were in the moment. I finally did it, and hearing this music is all that I need to bring it up again.
Someone remind me to look up this night in my diary; maybe I'll post my entry.
I posted a few songs about this band back in May (whoa, why did I think that was like... way more recent??) but here's another one that I heard on the radio today. Because Nic Harcourt now takes his music listening cues from yours truly. Just kidding... not really. But seriously sick beats, it was fun to crank up in the car. I felt super mexican for like 3 and a half minutes.
1. Luckily my "side" job has improved. Marginally. At least I've become a lot better at pretending. I am now the world's authority on flirting with old men.
2. I wish I had more time to be outside. I went on a bunch of bike rides with my dad this past week and they were totally fun, but I want to go kayaking or swimming or something. I was contemplating doing a triathalon, but not until the fall - anyone know about cheap short triathalons?
3. I spent $100 bucks on cds at Borders 2 days ago. Because I was having a bad day... and just because I could:
4. I've played this on loop now for about 20 minutes. Isn't getting any duller:
5. Have started to fantasize about getting a Vespa again. I saw a cute little black one with pink accents parked down the street from me and I almost lost it. Honestly, one has to draw the line for adorable propaganda somewhere.
6. Have decided to pick up Ella Enchanted again. Right on time for my quarterly re-reading of the poor, tattered 1997 edition that I own. Is it just me, or does everyone love tattered, loved old books?
Normally I post music on here that interests me, but usually it's temporary. Okay, that might be an exaggeration. It always interests me, but I usually listen to it avidly for about 2 weeks and then move on. Certain songs and albums pop up repeatedly, whether serendipitously or because I want to hear them, and that keeps these people on the brain. However, when I hear new (i.e. post-initial-infatuation) music by these artists that I really really like, that's when they get put into a different category entirely.
I initially liked Lucy Schwartz because I thought this song was adorable. I even decided not to be too hasty and I let her percolate for a while before making a decision.
I'm not gonna lie, these songs are still like crack to me. I literally listened to her entire catalog (which, truthfully, isn't a ton) at least 5 times today. And now I can add a new song to my list:
"Deemed “too urban” by Jive Records, “Get It” was kicked off of Britney Spears’decade defining 2003 album In The Zone. Several low-quality leaks later, we have the full-quality version of “Get It”."
So I had a Joanna Newsom album a while ago - this one, to be specific - and I honestly couldn't listen to it. I thought the instrumentals were interesting and that the overall sound was cool, but her voice, I just... couldn't do it.
Luckily for me something changed and she's got a much more listenable timbre now, not quite as grating. I actually really like this song and hope to get her new album and listen to the rest soon. Sound a little like Frances Ruffelle to anyone else? Just a smidge? Maybe it's just me. Or the fact that the sound of each of their voices seems to polarize people instantaneously.
Like most normal people, I sometimes think about, and agonizingly critique, 3-minute semi-enjoyable live performances that I've seen by random college vocal showcase artists. For weeks after I've viewed said vocal showcase.
Sometimes things just stick in your head and you feel the need, the compulsion to ask yourself certain important questions about the universe. You're helpless against the universe.
So, since these things happen often I'll give you a "for instance". A month ago (two?) I went to see a vocal showcase, with my friend Sarah, that Casey was performing in. After the show I could not get the performance of this one singer out of my head (I can't really remember her name... Renn? Ren? Rhenn? Rhen?). It was stuck like a broken record.
What started out as me judging her for singing a song that is pretty much un-coverable (in my mind, "why even try?") eventually turned into a mental dissertation of music in its entirety. I'm not sure I can really type up all of my thoughts right now, they're still sort of jumbling around in my head, but a few major things have stuck out, mostly questions (rhetorical and non). It's kind of all over the place, but try to stick with me because I think I have a point. Maybe.
Okay, so, I've had the feeling for years that everyone is driven by compulsions of some sort or the other (not unlike the compulsions I feel from the universe to think about these things), and that possibly artists feel those compulsions more than the rest of the world.
Why do singers want to perform? Is it because they just need to? They have to, they couldn't stop even if they tried?? OR is that just what makes a singer great? Having that itch that they have to scratch. They don't even have to have a great voice, as long as they have the compulsion.
Because I can sing (shower, car), but I don't think I'm really that great. I don't have that itch. I don't need to perform in front of people.
Is it possible that (alternatively) a singer can have a beautiful voice and still sound as though they're missing something? It's pretty, but they just can't keep your attention?
What is the compulsion about anyways?
"I need you to hear my voice because it's incredible!!"
I don't think so, or at least I'd like to think it's something more than that. It's about emotions, right? Expressing yourself, maybe finding a connection with someone else out there in the world who can say, "oh my god, I know exactly what you mean!!" when they hear you.
"That feeling that I had that I couldn't put words to, you just expressed it."
I think that about sums it up, right? Opera, pop, jazz, folk, rock, metal. It applies to them all.
So, if it's about emotions, sharing the way that you feel with an audience, then what the heck is the point of singing a cover? "And now Brittany will sing an oldie, but a goodie -" Like anyone would want to hear my Dusty Springfield renditions. Is it just like karaoke for the world?
"Please listen to me sing a Whitney Houston cover, because I can do it just like her, only better."
I don't think so. I really don't. And I think that's where a lot of people don't get it. It's not like the national anthem, where everyone who sings it tries to one-up each other. You shouldn't do a cover because you think you can do it better. Which is why when you do a cover you should not try to sound exactly like the original singer. It's like trying to fail, especially if it's a song that people know, especially if the original singer is amazing. The purpose of a cover is to try and discern a different meaning from the song, a different emotion, you're putting a different tone to the same lyrics. Or at least that's the ultimate purpose of a cover. At the very least, sound different, have a cool arrangement, something!
So back to Ren. It turns out that there are some good covers of her chosen song, one of them by a jazz singer that I love, Dianne Reeves. Notice the difference between the original and the cover? Notice how Dianne Reeves is not trying to be Nina Simone incarnate?
A little sampling, in case you still don't believe me. I'll try to put them in chronological order so you can hear the progression:
Jo Stafford was one of Billie Holliday's favorite singers. I can see why.
The Four Seasons.
Etta, of course. She wasn't the original singer, but she's probably got the most famous cover.
Before you laugh, and besides the creepy movie-within-a-movie thing, just hear me out. It's Reba all the way, right? It conjures up different images than the other covers, it sounds different, it has a different feeling, she's going for something else.
A cover by Beth Rowley, who I think did a good job of changing the song to meet her vocal restrictions, namely that she is not Etta James. And it sounds like she's okay with that.
And just for fun, here are some famous (or little known) originals and their famous (or little known) counterparts:
Dolly. Gorgeous song, so sad and genuine.
Whitney. Completely different, right?
Dusty. We had one of her albums when I was a kid and Danielle and my god Danielle and I loved listening to that thing. I still can't explain it, except to say that it's great.
The White Stripes.
Ah, the sweet sounds of the Bee Gees.
The Bird & the Bee. I actually heard the cover before the original, and I like that it's more intimate, but the original is good, too. And I'm pretty sure that Sia is singing backup, just listen carefully at 1:50 and 2:50.
Ella. I can imagine being at some fancy outdoor party, dancing and listening to a live big band.
Norah Jones. Unlike Ella, this conjures up a completely different image.
The Beatles. Teenagers, fun, going to sock hops, drinking soda pop. Yeah.
As Roger Ebert put it, "When Prudence sings "I Want to Hold Your Hand," for example, I realized how wrong I was to ever think that was a happy song. It's not happy if it's a hand you are never, never, never going to hold. The love that dare not express its name turns in sadness to song."
Makes me wish I had time to go to my ukulele class again. Fail. (on me) Every time I see a cute one, I think of the ukulele love of my life, the Blue Beltona. Oh and the ukulele singer love of my life, James Hill, playing the ukulele love of my life. Someday... le sigh.
Sometimes NPR is just kind of awesome. Actually, most of the time it's pretty awesome, but in this case it's extra, extra awesome.
I know that the MPDG schtick is starting to grate on some people's nerves, but I try really hard to divorce She&Him from all that. I think the music can stand on its own. Here are my favorite songs from Volume Two:
PS - does anyone else hear some Harry Nilsson going on in there?
