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Posts Tagged ‘music’

“Dominique”

Posted in Arts, tagged , on May 6, 2013 |

I still think this is catchy and sweet as all get out.

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“Besame Mucho”

Posted in Arts, tagged , , , on April 15, 2013 |

I’ve watched this whole concert many times.  Beautiful.  And it doesn’t hurt that it was in my neck of the woods!

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“On Broadway”

Posted in Arts, tagged , , , on April 8, 2013 |

Still one of the coolest, catchiest songs ever.




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Six Similes About Writing

Posted in Language and Literature, tagged , , , , , , , on March 28, 2013 |

Writing is like:

  • architecture.  Form follows function; the design of the piece, especially the basic structure, should require every element to contribute to the overall mission of the creation’s existence.  A solid foundation must be established first–in writing, the introduction is critical.  An outline of major topics and examples is like the layout of various beams and girders in construction.
  • sculpture.  Michelangelo said that he saw his sculptures inside the marble blocks, and simply chiseled off anything that wasn’t part of it.  We should do the same with our drafts.
  • bees.   (more…)

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Bela Fleck & Chick Corea

Posted in Arts, tagged , , , , on March 18, 2013 |

I didn’t even know that these two had teamed up to record together until I heard an ad for a show they’re doing next week at the Smith Center here in Las Vegas.  Here’s a couple tracks from the album they’re touring for:

 

 

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“No One Is To Blame”

Posted in Arts, tagged , , on March 18, 2013 |

Decent 80′s track; excellent live acoustic performance.

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“Foggy Mountain Breakdown”

Posted in Arts, tagged , , , , on February 18, 2013 |

So apparently Steve Martin plays a pretty mean banjo.

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“She Was The Prize”

Posted in Arts, tagged , , , , on February 11, 2013 |

My vote for most romantic song ever:

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“Talkin’ Seattle Grunge Rock Blues”

Posted in Humor, tagged , , , , , on February 5, 2013 |

Twenty years later, this joke still works!

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“Then He Kissed Me”

Posted in Arts, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on January 28, 2013 |

I’ve never seen GoodFellas, but I found this scene on YouTube when looking for this old song by the Crystals.  What a work of art!  Scorcese perfectly uses the period music and adoring, long tracking shot to establish this guy’s bravado, in the service of impressing a girl.

I mean, when a club holds a table for you, you’re powerful, but when they build a new one in front when you show up, that’s serious!

But the technical artistry here is the best part.  Getting that shot must have been tough, but it was worth it.  It’s a joy to watch.

Reminds me of this long tracking shot from Orson Welles’s Touch of Evil:

But, of course, like all kids who grew up in the 80′s, “Then He Kissed Me” mostly reminds me of the opening of Adventures in Babysitting:

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U2′s Best MLK Tribute

Posted in Arts, Politics and Society, tagged , , , , on January 14, 2013 |

With MLK Day a week away, here’s an earlier version of U2′s “Pride (In the Name of Love)” than the one most know.  The first half sounds pretty much the same, but in the second half, you’ll notice that the track is extended, and Bono’s voice is even more passionate: he lets loose with an exuberant praise so unrestrained, his voice is audibly shredded raw by the end.

This holiday could use some of that passion.  Due in part to the rise of politicized tribalism, and all the myopia that engenders, Martin Luther King Day has long since become a staid formality.

Its celebration has about as much to do with the life and work of Dr. King as the celebration of Christmas has to do with Jesus Christ–the presence of the true meaning is nominal, at best, replaced by a simplified, commercialized, mainstreamed version, bland enough to suit the times, with just enough empty inspiration in it to give us some cheap, warm fuzzies without actually making us examine ourselves and change anything.

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Good King Wenceslas

Posted in Arts, tagged , , , on December 26, 2012 |

Today is the Feast of Stephen, referred to in the beginning of this English Christmas hymn, sung here by the inimitable Loreena McKennit:

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Classic Chariots of Fire Scene

Posted in Arts, tagged , , , , , on December 16, 2012 |

I love how this scene illustrates both the free joy and excruciating focus of running.  I wish the clip included the bit of speaking in the chapel at the very start–it’s a great setup to the beach run.  Still, a memorable scene of boundless youthful energy in its prime, set in a pristine, bygone time and place.  Perfect intro to a fantastic film.

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Ave Atque Vale: Dave Brubeck, 1920-2012

Posted in Arts, tagged , , , , on December 10, 2012 |

 

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Clapping Along to Strauss

Posted in Arts, tagged , , , , , , on October 8, 2012 |

Heard about this on NPR’s Performance Today while driving home from work last Monday.  Apparently, every New Year’s in Vienna, a concert closes with this piece, with the audience clapping along and the conductor encouraging it, as seen here.  What fun!  I’d love to be in that audience, wouldn’t you?

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