Tabaco y Chanel (2000) – Bacilos

Posted on January 25, 2025 by observationblogger — 4 Comments

Tabaco and Chanel inaugurates all songs (approximately 200) starting with ‘T’ in the alphabetical listing of the music library project.

I don’t know how the smell of tobacco conjures sweet romantic memories of the smell of someone’s skin, but it does in the case of the Latin-American Miami based group Bacilos. And if that wasn’t enough to get the love juices flowing, the group named themselves after a literal translation of bacilli, which is a bacteria widely found in soil and water where some forms are harmful to humans, plants, or other organisms. It is also a play on the Spanish language word “vacilón” meaning a fun, good time.

Tabaco y Chanel is a tender acoustic number with influences from Cuban folk music. I like the melody, percussion and strings in this. Their music has been described as a “fusion of Caribbean rhythms, South American folklore, pop melodies and rock aggressiveness“.
The band was created in 1997 by three students from the University of Miami. Jorge Villamizar – a Colombian singer and guitarist, formed the band with fellow students André Lopes, a Brazilian bassist, and José Javier Freire, a Puerto Rican percussionist. They first played at student bars, parties, and on campus before expanding to small venues in Miami and Miami Beach. 

In early 2000, Bacilos signed with Warner Music Group and in May 2000, they released the self-titled album, Bacilos. It was nominated for two Latin Grammy Awards and received gold certification in Colombia. The single Tabaco Y Chanel was nominated for a Latin Grammy Award. They have released 7 albums and 2 EPs. Their album Caraluna (2002) won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album.

Below is a crude English translation of the lyrics:

[Verse I]
A smell of tobacco and Chanel
Reminds me of the smell of her skin
A mix of honey and coffee
Reminds me of the taste of her kisses
The color of the end of the night
Asks me where I ended up
Where are you?
You only live this once
Where did you end up? Where are you?

[Chorus]
A smell of tobacco and Chanel
And a mix of honey and coffee
They ask me about her (her)
They ask me about her
The stars ask me too
They demand that I come back for her
Oh, come back for her (her)
Oh, come back for her

[Verse II]
A rose that didn’t bloom
But time doesn’t wither it
A promised flower, a love that wasn’t
But that’s still alive
And again the color of the end, of the end of the night
It asks me where I went
That this is only lived once
Where did you go? Where are you?

[Bridge]
But it was the same stars
That one day – marked my hands
And took away the flower, that flower of my life
Of my life

References:
1. Bacilos – Wikipedia

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Dune (2021) – Denis Villeneuve (Friday’s Finest)

Posted on January 24, 2025 by observationblogger — 17 Comments

I haven’t been as floored or thoroughly transported by a Science Fiction / Fantasy film series since George Lucas’ Star Wars and Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings. You could even say the Dune films are a mixture between the aforementioned adventure tales in the sense you follow individuals in a grand and complex world. My Friday’s Finest segment is usually dedicated to low budget, classic, foreign or independent films, but such is my adoration of Denis Villeneuve’s Dune and Dune 2, I felt it incumbent on me to dedicate an article to this epic saga.

IMDB Storyline:
A mythic and emotionally charged hero’s journey, “Dune” tells the story of Paul Atreides, a brilliant and gifted young man born into a great destiny beyond his understanding, who must travel to the most dangerous planet in the universe to ensure the future of his family and his people. As malevolent forces explode into conflict over the planet’s exclusive supply of the most precious resource in existence-a commodity capable of unlocking humanity’s greatest potential-only those who can conquer their fear will survive

Allow me to digress a moment. The best forms of art – the ones that resonate with me deeply over the years – often tend to be an ‘acquired taste.’ Whether in cinema or music, they challenge me as much as they reflect the artist’s effort to create and deliver them. This dynamic brings me to Denis Villeneuve’s Dune films, which epitomise this interplay of complexity and magnificence. These movies take their audience seriously and do not simply trap them into a cinematic odyssey but also tackles the storyline critically.

For first-time viewers, particularly those unfamiliar with Frank Herbert’s 1965 novel, the plot and intricate world-building of Dune can feel overwhelming. When I first watched Dune: Part 1 in Spanish, my second language, I left the cinema disoriented and unsure of what I had just experienced. It wasn’t until I saw Dune: Part 2 in the cinema and by reading detailed summaries of the first film as a precursor (this time in my native tongue) that I began to fully engage with the narrative and the worlds it presented.

Interestingly, Dune: Part 2 felt more accessible and allowed me to immerse myself completely. You can read more about Dune 2 in my fellow blogger friend’s review of the film – Awe Strikes Back in Dune 2 – Reely Bernie. After two additional cinema viewings, I revisited Dune: Part 1 when it aired on cable TV, and my appreciation for it grew exponentially with each rewatch. By then, I found myself as captivated by the first instalment as I had been by its sequel. Each scene feels necessary, although the film is mostly about setting the stage until the last third of the film. These films moreover, much like the best art, demand patience and effort – but the rewards are undeniably worth it.

The protagonist of the films is Paul Atreides played by Timothée Chalamet whose name has appeared here before but in connection with another film – the recent Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown. This movie which received 8 nominations for the 2025 Academy awards will not premiere in my adopted country Colombia, until the 20th of February. But, better late than never as they say. I found Timothée Chalamet’s acting in these two Dune films nothing short of alluring and radiant so of course I cannot wait to see him in A Complete Unknown which by all’n sundry has been lauded as ‘great’.

The visuals in Dune: Part 1, combined with its hauntingly beautiful sound and music, create an almost otherworldly experience. With each rewatch, I found myself getting goosebumps, marvelling at how every scene felt like it had been meticulously crafted to resemble the canvas of a master fantasy painter. The cinematography captures not just the grandeur of the desert landscapes but also the intricate interplay of light, shadow, and scale, immersing the viewer in this vast world.

I do think that over time these movies will be considered masterpieces, but it will take the cinema world a while to catch up and recognise its excellence – just like it did for me. I count myself fortunate I had the time to invest in Dune unlike what most people can manage in their busy lives. It goes without saying, I cannot recommend these films anymore highly. To elaborate even further, I think the Dune movies will win over lots of Star Wars fans, who were disappointed in the Disney Star Wars tripe in recent years. Unlike these feeble turn-outs, Dune is way more mature and has actually deep lore and captivating characters as do the original Star Wars movies.

Below, I have forwarded two scenes from the Dune 1 film: firstly the weapons training of Paul Atreides with Gurney and secondly the ‘pain test’ Paul undergoes by the reverend mother.

References:
1. Dune (2021) – Wikipedia
2. Dune – IMDB

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It Ain’t Me Babe (1964) – Bob Dylan

Posted on January 23, 2025 by observationblogger — 10 Comments

I like this photo of Bob. You know that standard Elizabethan image of Shakespeare we all see (with the large lace collar which encircles his neck – called a ‘ruff’), well I could imagine something like the above being the standard Bob image in 500 years time. He looks like he is on a mission, a crusade of sorts; A nutty young professor where the ghost of electricity howls in the bones of his face.

Today’s featured song It Ain’t Me Babe which became a hit for Johnny Cash and June Carter is a natural companion piece to another Dylan song presented here last year – Don’t Think Twice, It’s All Right. Both are viewed as ‘breakup’ songs where Dylan undercuts the sadness with clever, almost flippant lines that reveal a wry sense of humor. On a side note, you can compare the It Ain’t Me Babe Scene from A Complete Unknown (the recent Dylan biopic) to the Real Bob Dylan & Joan Baez Performance at the Newport Folk Festival here.

In those characters’ key scene together they take the stage at the 1964 Newport Folk Festival and sing “It Ain’t Me Babe,” a Dylan song that Baez also recorded. Their rendition conveys the depth of their romantic and artistic connection not just to the audience, but also to Dylan’s girlfriend, played by Elle Fanning, watching just offstage.

– Open Culture

It Ain’t Me Babe is the final track from Dylan’s 1964 album Another Side of Bob Dylan. It embodies the changes to his style that he had made since his previous album, the same year’s The Times They Are a-Changin’. Rather than the sociopolitical lyrics found in his work up to this point, the album contained more traditional love songs, with only a few concessions to the protest song style popular among folk musicians and audiences at the time.

The following was extracted from the reference below:
Dylan’s biographers generally agree that the song owes its inspiration to his former girlfriend Suze Rotolo. He reportedly began writing the song during his visit to Italy in 1963 while searching for Rotolo, who was studying there.

Clinton Heylin reports that a Times reporter at a May 1964 Royal Festival Hall concert where Dylan first played “It Ain’t Me” took the chorus “no, no, no” as a parody of the Beatles’ “yeah, yeah, yeah” in “She Loves You“.

[Verse 1]
Go away from my window
Leave at your own chosen speed
I’m not the one you want, babe
I’m not the one you need
You say you’re looking for someone
Who’s never weak but always strong
To protect you and defend you
Whether you are right or wrong
Someone to open each and every door

[Refrain]
But it ain’t me, babe
No, no, no, it ain’t me, babe
It ain’t me you’re looking for, babe

[Verse 2]
Go lightly from the ledge, babe
Go lightly on the ground
I’m not the one you want, babe
I will only let you down
You say you’re looking for someone
Who will promise never to part
Someone to close his eyes for you
Someone to close his heart
Someone who will die for you and more

[Refrain]

[Verse 3]
Go melt back in the night
Everything inside is made of stone
There’s nothing in here moving
And anyway I’m not alone
You say you’re looking for someone
Who’ll pick you up each time you fall
To gather flowers constantly
And to come each time you call
A lover for your life and nothing more

[Refrain]

References:
1. It Ain’t Me Babe – Wikipedia

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It’s In The Rain (2005) – Enya

Posted on January 22, 2025 by observationblogger — 2 Comments

Please excuse my recent hiatus from WordPress, but I went on an impromptu vacation for four days with my daughter Katherine Rose to Melgar, Tolima – jungle country, not too far from here – Bogotá, Colombia. Oh and also forgive my French in the video below. I was doing a Nathy Peluso voice impersonation. ;-P

I heard today’s featured song at the gym last week at the end of ‘Integral’ class. I knew it was Enya, but I wanted to know the title which the Instructor kindly showed me. I know Enya is not everyone’s cup of tea, but given the right moment like in the warm down of last week’s class, almost nothing surpasses the experience at least to my musical senses. It’s in the Rain is the fifth song to be presented here from Enya after her previous entry – Only Time in November, 2023. The song is the second European single and the third track from her sixth studio album Amarantine (2005). Enya performed the song at the 2006 World Music Awards.

The following was extracted from the second Wikipedia reference below:
Amarantine was recorded in Ireland with Enya’s longtime recording partners, arranger and producer Nicky Ryan and his wife, lyricist Roma Ryan. It is her first album not to include a song in Irish and her first to include songs sung in Japanese and Loxian, a fictional language created by Roma. Amarantine received mixed reviews from critics, but it was a commercial success and reached No. 6 on the Billboard in the United States, where it sold one million copies in its first month of release, and No. 8 on the UK Albums Chart. In 2007, the album won Enya her fourth Grammy Award for Best New Age Album.

[Verse 1]
Every time the rain comes down
Close my eyes and listen
I can hear the lonesome sound
Of the sky as it cries

[Chorus]
Listen to the rain
Here it comes again
Hear it in the rain

[Verse 2]
Feel the touch of tears that fall
They won’t fall forever
In the way the day will flow
All things come, all things go

[Verse 3]
Late at night I drift away
I can hear you calling
And my name is in the rain
Leaves on trees whispering
Deep blue sea’s mysteries

[Interlude]

[Verse 4]
Even when this moment ends
Can’t let, go this feeling
Everything will come again
In the sound, falling down
Of the sky as it cries
Hear my name in the rain

References:
1. It’s in the Rain – Wikipedia
2. Amarantine (album) – Wikipedia

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The Book Thief (2013) –  Brian Percival (Friday’s Finest)

Posted on January 17, 2025 by observationblogger — 5 Comments

The Book Thief is a rare kind of film for its day. It gleams like the sun, glistens like rays on the surface of water – for here is a dark tale that lights up the very soul.

The Book Thief is the first movie article from my Friday’s Finest segment to appear here in 2025 and it couldn’t be a more apt one to begin with. During the Christmas Holidays just past, my children and I saw The Book Thief twice and we adored it the same both times. It’s one of those movies that as a parent you feel blessed to be able to share with your children, such is its beauty – steeped in historical context of an important time in 20th Century history, specifically the Nazi era.

Storyline:
The film is about a young girl living with her adoptive German family during the Nazi era. Taught to read by her kind-hearted foster father, the girl begins “borrowing” books and sharing them with the Jewish refugee being sheltered by her foster parents in their home. The film features a musical score by Oscar-winning composer John Williams.

The scenery is both breathtaking and captivating. One feels transported, yet insulated from the realities of a terrible war in a terrible time by the endearingly human performances of the actors and the depth they lent to their characters. There are few more enriching and ‘significant’ family movies I have seen. By the end I was a blubbering mess.

The young actress Marie-Sophie Nélisse (see left) was engrossing as the protagonist. The movie is largely seen through her eyes and she convinces over a full range of emotions. I was perplexed during the viewing – how I hadn’t seen her in anything else, because she’s going to be a superstar; and low and behold just 2 weeks ago I saw her in a fantastic Canadian French-language drama film called Monsieur Lazhar which I will write about in the coming weeks.
Geoffrey Rush, although portrayed a “Disney Dad” as some reviewers suggested; was inspirational and perfectly cast to my mind. He manages to convey the emotions of a man living with fear, yet playing it down for the sake of his young adopted charge. ‘Death‘ (as the narrator) tells the story, which makes the severity and grimness of their predicament all the more compelling.

Films of The Book Thief’s quality have become rare these days and are often overlooked or tossed to their side by cynical critics (49% on RT) and dopamine junkies hellbent on their next Hollywood comic book action blockbuster fix. Films like this (from the producers of the Life of Pi) remind us all of our humanity. The film is rather traditional and almost doesn’t fit in with the rest of today’s movies (as aforementioned), but seems more aligned with the older classics.

References:
1. The Book Thief (Film) – Wikipedia
2. The Book Thief (2003) – Wikipedia

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[Nothing But] Flowers (1988) – Talking Heads

Posted on January 16, 2025 by observationblogger — 4 Comments

My friend Nancy over at The Elephant’s Trunk postscripted her January 10th article: ‘By The Side Of The Road‘ with today’s featured song [Nothing But] Flowers by Talking Heads:

I don’t know whose idea it was and I don’t care but having Dunkin Donuts and Baskin Robbins merge was a brilliant move. Now just add Pizza Hut.

I hadn’t heard the song before and I’m largely unfamiliar with the group Talking Heads, but it hit me straight off the bat. I couldn’t help be drawn to its unusual musical composition and innovative sound techniques, which cleverly align with its ironic, anti-establishment message. In addition to the band, the song features Johnny Marr, formerly of The Smiths (who I am a big fan of) on lead guitar.
The song is steeped in African and Caribbean rhythms creating a lush sonic landscape with intricate percussive patterns and melodic layers. The organic instrumentation evokes a return to nature – but the tight, disciplined arrangements remind us of the comforts of modern life and the mechanized, globalized world. David Byrne’s ‘Morrissey-like’ vocals also reflect this juxtaposition between earnestness and parody, underscoring the song’s ironic undertones.

Written by David Byrne, the song tells the story of a man living in a world where modern conveniences have largely disappeared. While he may have initially been happy with this (notice the sarcastically delivered and repeated line “you’ve got it”), the man now yearns for what he knew and had become accustomed to. The song can be understood as a reply to Joni Mitchell’s most famous song, Big Yellow Taxi, which deals with the opposite phenomenon (the destruction of nature to make room for human society). Whilst the song may be seen as comedic in nature, Byrne suggests that environmentalists keen to abandon the comfortable trappings of modern life may not enjoy it very much.

[Nothing But] Flowers is the 5th track off Talking Heads‘ 1988 album Naked and was the second single from the album, released after Blind, and it peaked at number 79 on the UK singles chart. For trivia buffs out there – The song is quoted at the start of Bret Easton Ellis’ novel American Psycho (1991).
The band performs in the video below with an expanded lineup featuring Marr, MacColl, Brice Wassy, Yves N’Djock and Abdou M’Boup, all of whom performed on the studio recording of the song.

Here we stand
Like an Adam and Eve
Waterfalls
Garden of Eden
Two fools in love
So beautiful and strong
Birds in the trees
Are smiling upon them
From the age of the dinosaurs
Cars have run on gasoline
Where? Where have they gone?
Now it’s nothing but flowers

There was a factory
Now there are mountains and rivers
You’ve got it, you’ve got it
We caught a rattlesnake
Now we’ve got something for dinner
You’ve got it, you’ve got it
There was a shopping mall
Now it’s all covered with flowers
You’ve got it, you’ve got it
If this is paradise
I wish I had a lawn mower
You’ve got it, you’ve got I

Years ago
I was an angry young man
I’d pretend
That I was a billboard
Standing tall
By the side of the road
I fell in love
With the beautiful highway
This used to be real estate
Now it’s only fields and trees
Where? Where is the town?
Now it’s nothing but flowers

[Bridge]
The highways and cars
Were sacrificed for agriculture
I thought that we’d start over
But I guess I was wrong
(Hey!)

Once there were parking lots
Now it’s a peaceful oasis
You’ve got it, you’ve got it
This was a Pizza Hut
Now it’s all covered with daisies
You’ve got it, you’ve got it
I miss the honky tonks
Dairy Queens, and 7-Elevens
You’ve got it, you’ve got it
And as things fell apart
Nobody paid much attention
You’ve got it, you’ve got it

I dream of cherry pies
Candy bars and chocolate chip cookies
You’ve got it, you’ve got it
We used to microwave
Now we just eat nuts and berries
You’ve got it, you’ve got it
This was a discount store
Now it’s turned into a cornfield
You’ve got it, you’ve got it
Don’t leave me stranded here
I can’t get used to this lifestyle

References:
1. [Nothing But] Flowers – Genius Lyrics
2. (Nothing But) Flowers – Wikipedia

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Piano Concerto No. 10 (Concerto For Two Pianos), K. 365; 3rd Movement (1779) – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Posted on January 15, 2025 by observationblogger — 5 Comments

I let this jubilant and playful finale play in the background this morning as I tended to a few things and I couldn’t help feel more buoyant and lightness. I first heard it as a teenager in the Amadeus movie soundtrack. The interplay between the pianos can feel like a spirited and witty conversation between two close companions – a representation of camaraderie or good-natured rivalry. It conjures in my mind images of elegant ballrooms or serene outdoor festivities, where joy and refinement coexist.

The following was mostly extracted from the Wikipedia reference below:

It is presumed that Mozart wrote this Concerto to play with his sister Maria Anna (“Nannerl”). She was born in Salzburg on July 30, 1751 and like Wolfgang was taught by their father and became an excellent pianist. Mozart also played this Concerto twice in concerts in Vienna with his pupil Josephine Auernhammer.

The concerto was originally scored for two fortepianos (see image inset) together with two oboes, two bassoons, two horns in E♭, and strings. Mozart expanded the score in 1782 with pairs of clarinets, trumpets and timpani. However, the authenticity of the additions is not beyond question; as they do not appear in the score.

Research by Alan Tyson shows that this was written in Mozart and his father’s handwriting on a type of paper used between August 1775 and January 1777. However, most sources, including Tyson’s book Mozart: Studies of the Autograph Scores or more recently Lindeman’s The Concerto: A Research and Information Guide (2006) indicate that it was composed in 1779.

References:
1. Piano Concerto No.10 (Mozart) – Wikipedia
2. Concerto in E-flat for two pianos, K.365 – Boston Symphony Orchestra

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Sympathy For the Devil (1968) – The Rolling Stones

Posted on January 14, 2025 by observationblogger — 4 Comments

The Rolling Stones received serious heat with Sympathy for the Devil. They were accused by many of it being devil worship. Yet, the point of the song is clearly more about the flaws in mankind as it documents events through history that could be seen as “works of the devil”. Mick Jagger has stated that it reflects the darker aspects of human nature, rather than being a tribute to Satanism: “It’s a very long historical figure – the figures of evil and figures of good – so it is a tremendously long trail he’s made as personified in this piece.”

This song is sung in first person form, with Mick Jagger playing no one else but Satan himself. These lyrics were inspired by the book The Master and Margarita written by Mikhail Bulgakov. Singer Marianne Faithfull who featured here with The Rolling Stones‘ penned song As Tears Go By; and was Mick Jagger’s girlfriend at the time had given him the book. In the book, the Devil (and his ‘gang’) roams Moscow in the 1930s and play tricks on stupid/greedy people. He is portrayed as an elegant socialite, described as a “man of wealth and taste.”

Sympathy for the Devil is the opening track on the band’s 1968 album Beggars Banquet. It’s vibrant and energetic, driven by its samba rhythm. Jagger stated: ‘It has a very hypnotic groove, a samba, which has a tremendous hypnotic power, rather like good dance music. It doesn’t speed up or slow down. It keeps this constant groove.’ The song has received critical acclaim and was ranked No. 106 on Rolling Stone magazine’s The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list.

[Verse 1]
Please allow me to introduce myself
I’m a man of wealth and taste
I’ve been around for a long, long year
Stole many a man’s soul and faith
And I was ’round when Jesus Christ
Had his moment of doubt and pain
Made damn sure that Pilate
Washed his hands and sealed his fate

[Chorus]
Pleased to meet you, hope you guess my name
But what’s puzzlin’ you is the nature of my game

[Verse 2]
Stuck around St. Petersburg
When I saw it was a time for a change
Killed the Tsar and his ministers
Anastasia screamed in vain
I rode a tank, held a general’s rank
When the Blitzkrieg raged and the bodies stank

[Verse 3]
I watched with glee while your kings and queens
Fought for ten decades for the gods they made
I shouted out, “Who killed the Kennedys?”
When, after all, it was you and me
Let me please introduce myself
I’m a man of wealth and taste
And I laid traps for troubadours
Who get killed before they reach Bombay

[Verse 4]
Just as every cop is a criminal
And all the sinners saints
As heads is tails, just call me Lucifer
‘Cause I’m in need of some restraint
So if you meet me, have some courtesy
Have some sympathy and some taste
Use all your well-learned politesse
Or I’ll lay your soul to waste
Mmm, yeah

References:
1. Sympathy for the Devil – Wikipedia

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6/1/25 – 12/1/25 – 85, Religion & Lynyrd Skynyrd

Posted on January 13, 2025 by observationblogger — 6 Comments
news on the march

Welcome to my first Monday’s News on the March for 2025 – The week that was in my digital world.

85
Reflection post at Britta’s Blog – Letters From Scotland

My family ancestry partly traces back to Scotland, which has always given me a deep appreciation for all things Scottish. This brings me to a relatively recent discovery—Britta’s blog, which she describes as her “letter from Scotland to the world.”

I am a circus skills instructing & common butterfly following German. I am also a performer, writer & linguist, who is annoyingly keen on hillwalking and baking lopsided cakes. I live in Scotland, my chosen home & habitat since the year 2000.

I eagerly look forward to reading Britta’s daily posts, as she is a remarkable writer who expresses herself with eloquence, introspection, and often a touch of humor. She graciously allowed me to share one of her recent posts titled 85, which reflects on memories of her late father while delivering a poignant message about cherishing the present with loved ones. Without further ado, I present to you Britta’s 85:

85

Today would have been my dad’s 85th birthday. Last year, we were still able to celebrate with him. We all walked to a local restaurant, had a nice meal, we sat, we chatted and laughed. We did know of course that we were on borrowed time. That things would change at some point soon. Still, we celebrated. We were happy. And that moment of happiness on his 84th birthday, now a comforting memory on what would have been dad’s 85th.

We learned a lot as a family in the past few years.

First and foremost: to enjoy. What we can. When we can. Without guilt. We also learned not to wait for another day. A better day. There isn’t always tomorrow. But there is today. And today is a good enough day.

Being present, in the moment, without looking back at what no longer is, without looking forwards at what might never be – being present doesn’t always come naturally to me. I have to remind myself that ‘now’ is as good a time as any. That ‘now’ deserves my full attention. That at some point in the future, I’ll look back at my ‘now’ and say things like ‘wasn’t that a perfect day?’

So, 85. And I think back of 84. Of all of us eating out, enjoying the food and time spent together. Of how easy it felt. Of how we raised our glasses and sang happy birthday. Of how we all forgot for a moment that this would in all likelihood be his last.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Is Religion Good For Society?
Video debate hosted by the Big Conversation at Premier Unbelievable

Why this truly evocative and informative debate arrived to my feed so long after it’s premier is anyone’s guess. Subject matter aside it was so refreshing to see the debate discussed with such respect and maturity from its participants. This takes the Jordan Peterson vs Sam Harris debates up a notch in light of its conciseness and objectivity. I hope you find it as enlightening and enjoyable as I did.

Daily Wire host and renowned political thinker Ben Shapiro goes head-to-head with Oxford graduate of philosophy and theology, now international public speaker and debater, Alex O’Connor. Hosted by Andy Kind, Shapiro and O’Connor debate Is religion good or bad for society? What is the concept of free will? Does it even exist? What about the idea of the self, and the foundations of morality in society, and do we all have to agree on them?

Lynyrd Skynyrd: Groundbreaking Documentary Of A Legendary Band
Video presentation at Amplified – Classic Rock & Music History

Two North American ‘Southern Rock’ groups featured here recently and in quick succession, namely the Allman Brothers and Lynyrd Skynyrd. In the early years both groups were familiar with, and shared recognition and support of the other’s music. In this wonderful documentary here (which I listened to yesterday as I watched the NFL in the background) tells the captivating history of the band through a blend of new and archival interviews, firsthand accounts from band members and those intimately connected to the group, location shoots, news reports, and a gripping narrative of the tragic 1977 plane crash.

That is all. Thank you for reading.

news on the march the end
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Posted in Movies and TV, Music, News, Reflections

O Mio Babbino Caro (Gianni Schicchi) 1918 – Giacomo Puccini (Ft. Maria Callas)

Posted on January 12, 2025 by observationblogger — 8 Comments

O Mio Babbino Caro (“Oh my dear Papa”) is a soprano aria from the opera Gianni Schicchi (1918) by Giacomo Puccini (image left) to a libretto by Giovacchino Forzano. ‘It is sung by Lauretta after tensions between her father Schicchi and the family of Rinuccio, the boy she loves, have reached a breaking point that threatens to separate her from Rinuccio. It provides an interlude expressing lyrical simplicity and single-hearted love in contrast with the atmosphere of hypocrisy, jealousy, double-dealing, and feuding in the medieval Florence of Puccini’s only comedy‘. Lauretta says that if he does not permit the marriage, she will jump off the old bridge into the Arno river and kill herself.

Below is the English Translation:
Oh my dear papa,
I love him, he is handsome, handsome,
I want to go to Porta Rossa
To buy the ring!

Yes, yes, I want to go there!
And if I loved him in vain,
I would go to the Ponte Vecchio,
But to throw myself in the Arno!

I am anguished and tormented!
Oh God, I’d want to die!
𝄆 Papa, have pity, have pity! 

The aria was first performed at the premiere of Gianni Schicchi on 14 December 1918 at the Metropolitan Opera in New York by the popular Edwardian English soprano Florence Easton. It has been sung subsequently by many sopranos. Dame Joan Hammond won a Gold Record in 1969 for 1 million sold copies of this aria. Below is the voice and artistry of Maria Callas singing the aria. The video opens with Maria stepping onto the stage and kneeling, as the aria is intended to be sung. The illustrated video was designed by Matteo Cozzo.

Maria Callas delivered a remarkable blend of emotional fervor and natural dramatic soprano, wielded with exceptional musicality and a passionate acting instinct. It’s said her performances showcased a profound immersion in every character she portrayed and is one of the truly magnificent voices of 20th century. I’m looking forward to watching her biopic – Maria which will appear here in cinemas shortly.

References:
1. O mio babbino caro – Wikipedia

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