The Toccata and Fugue in D minor is a haunting organ work that can sound as if the organist is playing the entire building. It is easy to imagine how overwhelming it would be to hear this music in a…
Blog Archives
To Sing For You (1965) – Donovan
I had to laugh when I read the first comment under the video of this song: “heyy that’s a good song, man!” Of course it is – especially when that reaction comes from Bob Dylan himself. Dylan’s remark comes after…
Tagged with: Bob Dylan, Catch the Wind, d a pennebaker, Don't Look back, Donovan, to sing for you, What's Bin Did and What's Bin Hid
Posted in Music
Posted in Music
Make It Rain (2004) – Tom Waits
Make It Rain is such a raw outpouring of grit and heartache. As you listen to the pounding, it’s easy to picture a chain gang in the middle of nowhere, hammering away in unison on a remote American rail line…
Everything (2004) – Alanis Morissette
What a strange coincidence. Just over a week ago, in my News on the March segment, I mentioned an old rhyme: “When you’re good, you’re very, very good, but when you’re bad, you’re horrid.” That same split in character is…
To Love Somebody (1967) – Bee Gees
To Love Somebody is one of my favourite love ballads by the Bee Gees. I’m particularly fond of the live version from Las Vegas, 1997, as I am with the rest of their One Night Only show. That concert DVD…
Sofrito (1976) – Mongo Santamaria
Sofrito is a Latin jazz fusion piece by Cuban percussionist Mongo Santamaría. At a time when many Afro-Caribbean artists were drifting toward disco or easy listening, Santamaría held a steady course, balancing the sounds of the era with a deep…
Silver Springs (1977) – Fleetwood Mac
A friend forwarded me this song the other night and I was taken aback by its sensitivity and touching melody. I really like Stevie Nicks’ impassioned singing here, with her quivering, lingering voice. The song comes in waves of that…
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You (1967) – Frankie Valli
When I recently revisited The Deer Hunter, an early scene caught my attention in which the young men sing today’s featured song, Can’t Take My Eyes Off You. It struck me that this track should have been part of my…
Tagged with: Can't Take My Eyes Off You, Frankie Valli and The 4 Seasons, the deer hunter
Posted in Music
Posted in Music
Pretty Fly (For A White Guy) 1998 – the Offspring
In my previous post, I wrote about the gentle, tender Tiny Flame by The Softies – a song defined by its restraint and lack of cheap thrills. Today we flip that idea completely on its head with Pretty Fly (For…
Tiny Flame (2024) – The Softies
This track, Tiny Flame, induces such sweet, heart-warming sentiments, and it does so without fanfare or cheap thrills. I just love the modest, tranquil sound of this gentle song – you’ve really only got a strummed electric guitar and those…
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