I can’t take my eyes off this video– her crazy face, the Charger, her rose headpiece. We all made wish lists from it–Shino wants her red sneakers, Julie wants the tattoos, I want the tigers and Laura wants her bed. This is an old school video from the days when there was excitement surrounding a new music video, over the top and heavily produced, just like they should be. Enjoy!
Some of my favorite Christmas songs:
Nat King Cole’s “Christmas Song” makes me crave chestnuts and a fireplace!
Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” for before there was Justin Bieber.
James Brown ” Santa Claus, Go Straight to the Ghetto” is a little known favorite of mine.
I checked in with my ladies here at Castor & Pollux and they added their favorites too! Shino is especially partial to Mr. Lennon’s “Happy Christmas, War is Over”. Who can blame her? This song brings the strongest man to tears.
Kash feels right at home in Kentucky with Ernest Tubb’s ole timey “Blue Christmas”
Julie Henriette gets sentimental over “Christmas Time is Here” by Vince Guaraldi for Charlie Brown’s Christmas
What’s you favorite song/carol/hymn/chant??? Happy Holidays!
One of the best things about living in New York is the quality of its street musicians. Today’s “Listen” Segment is dedicated to street/subway concerts. We will be uploading some videos over the course of the day.
This first one is a lovely little duo named Bird Courage singing “Willow Tree”. Isn’t it strange that some of the best acoustics are found in the subway halls?
This second one is Joshua Bell (who happens to be the best violinist in the world) playing on his Strad at a subway station pretending to be a street musician…
Notice the only ones who stop to listen – a little boy and a lone music geek!
This next one is Beirut – slightly staged – but still!
This one is in L.A., but the singer in the video (Lykke Li) could have been found in Washington Square park playing for pennies just a couple of years ago.
Who is your favorite street musician??
A quickie today. Seems like there are many Saras popping up in my life lately, here’s a tribute to them. And, also one of my favorite songs ever.
I’ve always been fascinated with Japanese culture. When I was a kid I even went through a phase where I insisted that I be addresed as Tomoko, ate only with chopsticks, wore wooden clogs and was always trying to get my hands on a proper kimono. Anyways, when John suggested this video for the Listen post I fell madly in love and haven’t stopped listening (except for when Rihanna is playing, but that’s another story. Or possibly another post). Enjoy this enchanting song as you get ready for Thanksgiving. It’s perfect cooking music, hanging out music, traveling music. Any way you listen, it’s sure to make you happy.
Have a beautiful holiday with friends and family and let us know about your favorite songs for this time of year.
For today’s “Listen” segment in Loving’s Five Senses, we want to share our Rainy Day playlist with you.
The theme here is Genius. We pay a moment’s tribute to the musical magicians that make us sway and swoon.
Leonard Cohen‘s “So Long Marianne”
Kanye West‘s “Runaway”
Jacqueline du Pre playing Max Bruch’s Kol nidrei
What’s on your rainy day playlist? Stay Dry and Enjoy!
Today’s “Listen” segment of Loving’s Five Senses covers songs by Florence + the Machine from the album “Ceremonials.”
Reminiscent of an intoxicating concoction of Wagner’s opera “Tristan and Isolde” and U2’s “The Joshua Tree”, this masterpiece is not for the fainthearted. BIG themes are covered here: sex, death, love, and violence all shake the ground that Ms. Welch walks on with her graceful gait.
In the video “Shake it Out” Flo conjures up utter decadence with painted fingernails, gaudy jewelry, black velvet, and blood-red chiffon. From the menacing and violent third refrain, we follow her in epileptic twirls as she ultimately makes peace with heartbreak by climbing a tree, all while dressed in a billowing white dress fit for Stevie Nicks.
“What the Water Gave Me” is inspired by the suicide of Virginia Woolf and death by drowning, an Ophelia-theme that re-emerges throughout the album.
These and many other motifs are timeless and deeply human. And because of this, there is no doubt that this music will be part of the human story in 200 years’ time. Join the historical movement! Shake it out!
Pre-Raphaelite Beauty with some Studio 54 sequence.
Will you be my Silver Spring?
Whoa!
Today’s “LISTEN” segment in Loving’s Five Senses celebrates Portland (and you all know my love for Portland given my Oregon roots) – singer/song-writer, Rebecca Gates. I’ve enjoyed her company over many evenings of drinking and eating. Not only is the music warm and beautiful, she is too. If you’re fortunate enough to be in Portland, you should give her a call.
In the 1990’s Rebecca founded the indie band, The Spinanes, with Chicago drummer, Scott Plouf. Their discography ranges across tracks like the funky “Kid in Candy” and the lyrical “Epiphany”. After the Spinanes, Rebecca went on to do vocal collaborations with Elliott Smith and Ben Lee. Her rich musical past weaves itself like a golden thread through her present-day tonal consciousness.
Her deep, soulful grace turns every song into a moving ballad (as witnessed in her solo rendition of “You Don’t Love Me Yet”) reminiscent of great alto rock heroines of yesteryears Cowboy Junkies, Susan Tedeschi, and K’s Choice.
Experience the sound of Rebecca Gates LIVE tonight, Wednesday November 2, from 6-7 PM EST at the “Upright Citizens Brigade” Theatre or on WFMU’s Seven Second Delay. The show is broadcast live on WFMU 91.1 in the NYC/NJ area and is archived online at WFMU.org.
Hot Chip – I Feel Better
