Jealous Guy (1971) – John Lennon

Posted on November 26, 2022 by observationblogger — 14 Comments


I was fascinated by today’s song Jealous Guy growing up. I don’t know how many times I put the needle down on this record (see image left), but it was a lot. We had one of those old wooden turntables which look like a dresser and I remember sitting at the front of the fireplace and putting down the needle on this thing. Jealous Guy is one of my favourite John Lennon songs, but there are many.

It was between Elton John, Abba and John Lennon in my early youth who I heard the most from. In my adolescent years Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen made centre stage and I locked myself in my room and devoured as much music from them I could muster.

I was dreaming of the past
And my heart was beating fast
I began to lose control
I began to lose control

I didn’t mean to hurt you
I’m sorry that I made you cry
Oh no, I didn’t want to hurt you
I’m just a jealous guy

Interestingly, Jealous Guy wasn’t released as a single but became an international hit in early 1981 reaching #1 in the UK and Australia. I never knew until now that Lennon began writing the song in 1968 and it was demoed by the Beatles before they recorded the White Album. The lyrics were inspired by a lecture given by Maharishi Mahesh Yogi in early 1968, when the Beatles attended his spiritual retreat in India. The first recording appears on the fiftieth anniversary release of The Beatles, which contains all of the demos recorded at Esher.

Jealous Guy has been recorded by many musicians, to mention a few: Joe Cocker & Belinda Carlisle. Lou Reed covered the song for a 2001 Lennon tribute concert. I would like to give special mention to Bryan Ferry’s version which I was always fond of.

Reference:
1. Jealous Guy – Wikipedia

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It’s All Too Much (1969) – The Beatles

Posted on November 25, 2022 by observationblogger — 5 Comments

It’s All Too Much is one of my preferred later-period tracks from The Beatles although I haven’t heard it often. Most of what is contained in this article are excerpts from the Wikipedia reference below. The instrumentals blow my listening senses. George Harrison wrote it as a celebration of his experiences with the hallucinogenic drug LSD, but following a visit to Haight-Ashbury in August 1967, he distanced himself from its usage.

When I look into your eyes, your love is there for me
And the more I go inside, the more there is to see

It’s all too much for me to take
The love that’s shining all around you
Everywhere, it’s what you make
For us to take, it’s all too much

The song features a Hammond organ, which gives the track a drone-like quality typical of Indian music, electric guitar feedback, and an overdubbed brass section. Largely self-produced by the band, the recording displays an informal approach that contrasts with the discipline of the Beatles’ previous work, particularly Sgt. Pepper. The song’s sequence in the Yellow Submarine film has been recognised for its adventurousness in conveying a hallucinogenic experience.

Harrison credited LSD as being the catalyst for his interest in Indian classical music, particularly the work of Ravi Shankar, and Eastern spirituality. He also said his aim had been “to write a rock’n’roll song about the whole psychedelic thing of the time.”

Reference:
1. It’s All Too Much – Wikipedia

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Jar of Hearts (2010) – Christina Perri

Posted on November 24, 2022 by observationblogger — 8 Comments

In previous posts about Christina Perri, I mentioned how daunting it would be to write about today’s featured song – Jar of Hearts. Now that time has come, and I must step up to the plate. This song is my favourite ballad post 2000. I consider it one of the greatest female songs I’ve ever heard. It is fitting Jar of Hearts inaugurates the songs with titles starting ‘J’ in the music project.

Typically, when I write about a song here, I’ll listen to it and write about my reflections during the course of the performance. But here I can’t do that. I’m left speechless with this song as I hear it and I can’t summon the words to write. Every line, every intonation of voice and melodic sequence is pure magic to my senses.

This song is like the original Rocky of Music. You can’t compare anything to the original Rocky movie and the same with this song. Perri has gone out on a limb and created one of the greatest ballads of all time, but you can tell it’s all through blood, sweat and tears. It’s not pretty – dumbed down, on the contrary, this is someone in the 15th round of music who has been felled and then risen up against all odds.

I know I can’t take one more step towards you
‘Cause all that’s waiting is regret
Don’t you know I’m not your ghost anymore
You lost the love I loved the most

I’ve learned to live, half alive
And now you want me one more time

Who do you think you are?
Runnin’ ’round leaving scars
Collecting your jar of hearts
And tearing love apart
You’re gonna catch a cold
From the ice inside your soul
So don’t come back for me
Who do you think you are?

I am still umming and ahhing about which version of Jar of Hearts to present here. There is the live version on the Today Show here (which reminded me of Springsteen’s My Hometown when he did something similar) and then there is the original video version which I’m not overly fond of because of the video depiction. There is also the 10th anniversary version that I like a lot, and don’t forget her stupendous version with the PS22 chorus, but I think I’ll go with the barebones audio and lyrics.

The song appeared on Perri’s debut studio album, Lovestrong (2011). Perri drew inspiration for the song from a real-life experience with a love interest who wanted to rekindle a broken relationship. Perri was unsigned at the time of the song release, which created a lot of discussion between critics who favored the song. The song charted on multiple charts in the United States at 17 and peaked at number 4 on the UK Singles Chart.

The song is so vulnerable, but she was stomping on the piano in our lobby with her combat boots. She was so confident and poised — you could visualize her at Madison Square Garden
—Julie Greenwald, chairman and COO of Atlantic Records

Think of this quote when you watch Christina Perri in Sao Paulo, Brazil singing Human or in Manchester singing Jar of Hearts. Then she gives a masterclass lesson in how to deliver a song just a few months ago with Back in Time.

Reference:
1. Jar of Hearts – Wikipedia

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Isn’t it a Pity (1970) – George Harrison

Posted on November 23, 2022 by observationblogger — 30 Comments

Isn’t It a Pity is from George Harrison’s 1970 album All Things Must Pass. It was his first solo album after the break-up of the Beatles. It also featured as a double A side single with My Sweet Lord. The single was phenomenally successful in North America, and around the world. Both songs were listed at number 1 on America’s Billboard chart, for four weeks. Isn’t it a Pity was initially rejected for inclusion on releases by the Beatles in 1966. The title track All Things Must Pass was also overlooked by the Beatles. Isn’t It a Pity has been described as “a poignant reflection on The Beatles‘ coarse ending.

Isn’t it a pity?
Now isn’t it a shame?
How we break each other’s hearts and cause each other pain
How we take each other’s love without thinking anymore
Forgetting to give back
Isn’t it a pity?

Some things take so long, but how do I explain
When not too many people can see we’re all the same
And because of all their tears
Their eyes can’t hope to see the beauty that surrounds them
Isn’t it a pity?

The track serves as a showcase for Harrison’s slide guitar playing, a technique he introduced with All Things Must Pass. In its long fadeout, the song references the closing refrain of the Beatles’ 1968 hit “Hey Jude“. Other musicians on the recording include Ringo Starr, Billy Preston, Gary Wright and the band Badfinger, while the reprise version features Eric Clapton (see the live in Japan version below) on lead guitar.

In his 1980 autobiography, Harrison explained: “‘Isn’t It a Pity’ is about whenever a relationship hits a down point … It was a chance to realise that if I felt somebody had let me down, then there’s a good chance I was letting someone else down.” His lyrics adopt a nonjudgmental tone throughout. According to musicologist and critic Wilfrid Mellers, writing in 1973, “Isn’t It a Pity” blends the three song types embraced by Harrison as a solo artist – love song, rock song and hymn. He viewed it as the “key-song” on Harrison’s post-Beatles debut solo album.

Reference:
1. Isn’t It a Pity – Wikipedia

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I’ve Got a Plan (1994) – My Friend the Chocolate Cake

Posted on November 22, 2022 by observationblogger — 2 Comments

The songs from the Melbourne ‘gypsy-like romp and ballad’ group ‘My Friend the Chocolate Cake‘ feature prominently at my Music Library Project. Another song I reviewed from them recently – ‘I Guess It Don’t Get Much Better Than This‘ describes today’s song I’ve Got a Plan to a tee. This is one of my favourite Australian songs.

I got a plan
Let’s take off in the blue station wagon
And find the open road to salvation
Away from here

Yeah, I got a plan
Change the patterns that I form a lot
Not try to be something that I’m not
That I’m not

I’ve got another plan – this time it’ll work
Yeah, I’ve got another plan – this time it’ll work
Or I’ll be struck down, struck down

A lot of the Cake’s lyrics (from David Bridie) seem to be about escapism from ‘habitual life’ that society and modern living has forged. I’ve always found their music ‘a key’ of sorts to unlock options about how I might want to live my life more audaciously.

I’ve Got a Plan was the lead single from the Cake’s second album ‘Brood‘. At the ARIA Music Awards of 1995, Brood won the ARIA Award for Best Adult Contemporary Album.
Please excuse the poor audio in the video below, but it’s one of the few music-videos they released. You can find the original audio here.

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Chimpanzee, God Save the King & Bale – Gol !!!!!

Posted on November 21, 2022 by observationblogger — Leave a comment

Zoo Cam Captures Emotional Reunion of Mother Chimpanzee and Baby
Video article at ABC Australia News

Chimpanzee Mahale gave birth to a baby boy, named Kucheza, at Sedgwick County Zoo in Wichita, Kansas, via caesarean last week.  But her baby was not breathing well on his own, and the pair were separated, according to the zoo’s post on social media. Two days later, the zoo captured her returning to her enclosure and finding her baby there, swaddled in a blue blanket.

God Save the King Sung Officially For the First Time
Video presentation from The Royal Family Channel

This is my favourite anthem. Forget your Nobel prizes and other awards; to sing this at a World Cup beats them all. Look here at Rooney, Beckham, Gerrard, Rio, Terry and Lampard sing this. Now it’s for the King. God save him!

Bale – Gol Mundial (As Seen by the Public)
Videos in public at Franco Ibarra

World Cup time. Hurrah! XMAS has come early. Today’s Gol by Gareth Bale as seen in the crowds. I worked with people from Wales during the fire season back in Melbourne more than a decade ago. Now they come up to the might of England. God Save Them.. Haha.

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It Makes No Difference (1975) – The Band

Posted on November 21, 2022 by observationblogger — 10 Comments

There are no more superlatives left to describe the Band’s performance in their last concert The Last Waltz. You know when you are beholden to the best art when your only feeble reaction is – ‘How on God’s earth did they do that‘? I’m still staggered by this mesmerizing concert and how one of the all-time great American directors Martin Scorsese managed to showcase it in all its glory. We as admirers of great music are truly blessed. Can you imagine for a second, a world which existed if Scorsese had not recorded this? Skip that… I don’t even want to entertain the thought. Rick Danko’s voice here is just ‘Wow’!

It makes no difference where I turn
I can’t get over you and the flame still burns
It makes no difference, night or day
The shadow never seems to fade away

And the sun don’t shine anymore
And the rains fall down on my door

Now there’s no love
As true as the love
That dies untold
But the clouds never hung so low before

It Makes No Difference is a song written by Robbie Robertson and sung by Rick Danko that was first released by The Band on their 1975 album Northern Lights – Southern Cross. According to Robertson, “I wrote this song specifically for Rick to sing and when we first started discovering the possibilities, it kept expanding to more levels of emotion. What Garth and I could add to finalize the statement of this song was purely instinctual.“
Allmusic critic Rob Bowman claims that it “might be the best romantic ballad ever done by the group.” The Sarasota Herald-Tribune described the song as “poignant” and praised its eloquence as being worthy of a Grammy Award.

Reference:
1. It Makes No Difference – Wikipedia

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It’s a Dream (2005) – Neil Young

Posted on November 20, 2022 by observationblogger — 2 Comments

It’s a Dream is the second song to appear here from Neil Young’s 2005 Prairie Wind album.  It features in the Heart of Gold documentary directed by Jonathan Demme (Silence of the Lambs) about Neil Young’s Prairie Wind concert at the famous Ryman Auditorium also known as Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville. This song is simply beautiful, almost transcendental. The lyrics mesh perfectly with Neil’s yearning tone. I couldn’t stop listening to it when it first came out.
‘Bobdylaniscool‘ wrote at Songmeanings: ‘The verses are just snapshots in time, which to the speaker are like dreams… Just as dreams escape us when we awake, so do our memories as we age. And when we die, they no longer have anywhere to stay.‘

In the morning when I wake up and listen to the sound
Of the birds outside on the roof
I try to ignore what the paper says
And I try not to read all the news
And I’ll hold you if you had a bad dream
And I hope it never comes true
‘Cause you and I been through so many things together
And the sun starts climbing the roof…

It’s a dream
Only a dream
And it’s fading now
Fading away
It’s only a dream
Just a memory
Without anywhere to stay

For anyone interested in Country / Americana music I couldn’t recommend Demme’s documentary Heart of Gold more highly. The Prairie Wind concert in the documentary is a great introduction to Neil Young’s music although it’s more a sombre, melancholic and retrospective repertoire of what he does. It is a reflection of Neil’s childhood and his dedication to family. Prairie Wind is the 26th studio album by Young. Young recorded the album in Nashville before undergoing minimally invasive surgery for an aneurysm in the spring of 2005, and some of the songs on the album appear to be informed by Young confronting his own mortality.

The video presented below is from the Prairie Wind concert in Jonathan Demme’s documentary.

Reference:
1. Prairie Wind – Wikipedia

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It Don’t Matter to Me (1970) – Bread

Posted on November 19, 2022 by observationblogger — 5 Comments

It Don’t Matter To Me was a late inclusion to the Music Library Project. In my last article – Everything I Own another song by the Los Angeles soft rock band Bread, Max at PowerPop told me how much he liked today’s featured track. I had always liked it too. Bread frontman David Gates said of It Don’t Matter To Me: “I wrote that song a year or so before joining Bread, mostly for my personal pleasure. I thought it would be good for the group – it has this unusual bridge that takes off and does some crazy things musically.”

It don’t matter to me
If you really feel that
You need some time to be free
Time to go out searching for yourself
Hoping to find time to go to find

And it don’t matter to me
If you take up with someone
Who’s better than me
Cause your happiness is all I want
For you to find (peace)
Your peace of mind

This version of the song is a re-recorded version of a Gates song from their first album. The song was a Top 10 hit in the U.S. and Canada. The part of the song I really enjoy hearing is the guitar wailing above the string section at 2:10 in the video below. This is the third song to appear here from Bread and the fourth featuring Gates. My favourite by him is Goodbye Girl and I’m a huge fan of the movie as well based on the Neil Simon play.

David Gates was from Tulsa, Oklahoma and knew Leon Russell and both played in bar bands around the Tulsa area. Both Gates and Russell headed for California to check out the music scene there. You can read more about the formation of Bread in the article below.

References:
1. It Don’t Matter to Me – Wikipedia
2. Bread – Wikipedia

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Billy Elliot (2000) – Stephen Daldry (Friday’s Finest)

Posted on November 18, 2022 by observationblogger — 6 Comments

I had heard about the movie Billy Elliot and its accolades, and I don’t know why it took me so long to see it. It might be that my shallow expectations of a coming-of-age story of a prepubescent teen taking to ballet didn’t really entice me. A few years ago, I stumbled upon it when I was zapping through cable-tv, and the little I saw impressed me. Then I saw Billy Elliot in its entirety and ‘Wow’! I saw it again, this time with my kids and they were glued to the screen; and I thought we might be onto something here. Then we all saw it again two nights ago and were fascinated.

IMDB Storyline:

In County Durham, during the endless, violent 1984 strike against the Margaret Thatcher closure of British coal mines, widower Jackie Elliot Widower (Gary Lewis) and his firstborn, fellow miner Tony (Jamie Draven), take a dim view of 11-year-old second son Billy’s (Jamie Bell) poor record in boxing class, which worsens when they discover he sneakily transferred to the neighboring, otherwise girls-only-attended ballet class. Only one schoolmate, closet-gay Michael Caffrey (Stuart Wells), encourages Billy’s desire, aroused by the teacher, Mrs. Wilkinson (Dame Julie Walters), who judged him talented enough for private lessons, to train and try out for the world-renowned Royal Ballet audition. Only the prospect of a fancy career unimagined in the pauper quarter may twist pa and big brother’s opposition to indispensable support.

When we were watching another movie recently – the Elton John bio-pic Rocketman, my eldest son pointed to the actor playing Bernie Taupin and exclaimed, ‘That’s Billy Elliot! ‘Billy Elliot‘? I responded, ‘No way‘! I thought he was seeing things. It escapes me how he recognised the actor Jamie Bell from Rocketman. Around 2,000 boys were considered for the role of Billy before Bell was chosen for the role. Bell won the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for his depiction of Billy Elliot.

My son Jesus Mateo also added that he loved the Billy Elliot soundtrack and above all the song London Calling by British punk band – The Clash. It is indeed a great music soundtrack which includes Children of the Revolution, Cosmic Dancer and Get it On. In the scene presented below where Billy is confronted by his disapproving – father (and that’s putting it mildly) contains some of my favourite music from the film as well as Billy Elliot’s (Jamie Bell) superior dancing.
Billy Elliot received positive critical response and commercial success, earning $109.3 million worldwide on a $5 million budget. This is an unusual but superb family movie which I encourage everyone to see. Thank you for reading.

References:
1. Billy Elliot – Wikipedia
2. Billy Elliot – IMDB

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