24 – Apostle Paul, Classic Film & Mr. Hall

Posted on April 22, 2024 by observationblogger — 2 Comments

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

Was the Apostle Paul the Real Founder of Christianity? With Dr James Tabor
Video discussion at Blogging Theology

I have been wading through a variety of discussions at Paul Williams video channel – Blogging Theology. He is a blogger and bibliophile based in London and the South of France. Here he interviews Dr James Tabor who is a retired full professor from the Department of Religious Studies at the University of Northern Carolina. He wrote his dissertation on Paul at the University of Chicago.

Here they discuss an individual who has had more influence than anyone else on Christianity after Jesus. Some say the Apostle Paul is the real founder of Christianity, but who really was the authentic Paul? Are all the letters in the Bible that claim to be from him authentic and what do we really know about Paul and how do we know it. I hope you enjoy this fascinating and informative discussion.

Paris When It Sizzles(1964)
Movie review at Classic Film and TV Corner

I have been enjoyng reading Maddy’s movie articles at her blog Classic Film and TV Corner. Maddy tells us that she ‘fell in love with the classics at an early age and will love them until my last breath‘. You can read about how she discovered classic era films in this article here.

Paris When It Sizzles(1964)

Paris When It Sizzles seems to be like marmite – viewers either really love it or they really loathe it. I have always loved it. It’s such a lot of fun, romantic and very funny. It takes perfect aim and pokes fun at the film industry, the scriptwriting process, story cliches and genre tropes, acting styles, product placement(“everything to be cooked, of course, in this remarkable non-fattening safflower oil.”)and the New Wave film movement.…

When the film was released the big draw for audiences was the reunion of William Holden and Audrey Hepburn almost a decade on from their first pairing in Billy Wilder’s delightful romantic comedy Sabrina(1954). Sadly their reunion on the set of Paris When It Sizzles would not(apart from a few moments) be much of a happy one…(read the remainder of the article here)

Me And Mr. Hall
Music article at The Elephant’s Trunk

I chuckled so many times reading my good blogger friend’s Nancy article about her infatuation with Daryl Hall from ‘Hall & Oats‘. You’ll have fun, believe me!

Besides my husband, during my lifetime I’ve been madly in love with three other men: George Harrison, Daryl Hall and Rick Springfield. They were all so very talented, gorgeous and sexy! I would cut out their pictures from music magazines, make scrapbooks, hang posters in my bedroom and mail them letters. My missives were never answered but I’m sure that’s only because they were so busy making music. My missives were never answered but I’m sure that’s only because they were so busy making music. I would imagine myself as Mrs. Harrison or Hall or Springfield, which got weird because by the time Daryl Hall and Rick Springfield were dominating the billboard charts I had been married for about 10 years! Things could have gotten strained between me and my husband during that time but they didn’t because he’s a very understanding, realistic man and didn’t feel threatened at all. It also didn’t hurt that I had about as much chance of meeting Daryl or Rick as I did winning the Miss Universe pageant.

Well, dear George has passed away but Daryl and Rick are very much alive and I bet they’re kicking themselves for not answering my letters seeing as how I’m now such a bigshot storyteller, poet and music blogger! I saw Rick recently on TV and I must say I was shocked; maybe it was the lighting but he really hasn’t aged well and someone should gift him with a jar of Crepe Erase. But Daryl is another story; he still sounds fantastic, looks gorgeous and is one big hunk of burning love. And what’s more …. Daryl’s Garage where he does live shows and podcasts is 90 minutes from where I live and his house in Connecticut is only one hour away. (We ~~stalkers~~ fans have to stay on top of things like that!) I just might get my “I ❤️ Daryl Hall Tank Top” autographed after all! Read the entire article here:

Tagged with: audrey hepburn, Bible, Daryl Hall, Dr James Taylor, Film, Hall & Oats, Nancy, Paris when it sizzles, Paul, Paul Williams, the elephant's trunk
Posted in Movies and TV, News

No Hay Nadie Mas (2018) – Sebastián Yatra

Posted on April 21, 2024 by observationblogger — 11 Comments

My daughter Katherine was listening to No Hay Nadie Mas (There is no one else) yesterday and I wondered if I had already added it to my music library project. I found it in my list to download, so here it comes to you now all the way from Colombia. Colombian singer and composer Sebastián Yatra is noted for his romantic lyrics, melding traditional lyricism with modern reggaetón influences. He rose to prominence in Latin America in 2016 when he released the hit Traicionera. Born in Medellín, Colombia and raised primarily in Miami, Yatra began singing at a young age and returned to Colombia to begin his musical career.

No Hay Nadie Mas is the 14th song on the singer’s debut album Mantra and has become one of the singer’s most emblematic singles. The music video below was recorded in the south of Argentina, in the snowfalls and forests of El Calafate. It already has more than 1 Billion views on the YouTube platform.
Regarding the album’s title, he explained, “My mantra are my songs. It takes you to that good energy with whatever you’re listening to. All these songs have these positive vibes, especially in the lyrics. They’re just sharing love.”

A crude English translation follows of No Hay Nadie Mas:

[Verse 1]
I remember that day as if it were today
There’s nothing like her, she didn’t even find me
I still remember the time I kissed her
She was my first love, and now I write her song

[Pre-Chorus]
There is something more inexplicable like her gaze
Unmatched like the way she is jealous of me
And tries to hide that it’s not bad

[Chorus]
I will take care of you at night
I am going to love you without reproaches
I’m going to miss you in the storm
And although there are a thousand reasons to give up
There is no one else
There is no one else

[Verse 2]
It took everything, it took sadness
There is no longer room for melancholy
Because next to her everything is more right
I took away her tears, laughter came
When we are together the earth paralyzes, paralyzes

According to The Fader, Yatras music lands “somewhere in between the olden times’ sappy romantics and the new wave’s sensuous vibras.” He is influenced by Latin pop and reggaeton artists Ricky Martin, Shakira, J Balvin, Juanes, and Reik. In an interview with Billboard, he expressed a desire to collaborate with Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli. Yatra believes that contemporary musicians commit an “error in associating ballads with boring and slow and old“, and hopes to rejuvenate intererest in ballads for a younger audience.

References:
1. Sebastián Yatra – Wikipedia
2. Sebastián Yatra is giving Latin ballads a new cool” – The Fader.

Tagged with: Mantra, No Hay Nadie Mas, Sebastián Yatra
Posted in Music

Don’t Go Breaking My Heart (1976) – Elton John & Kiki Dee

Posted on April 19, 2024 by observationblogger — 16 Comments

“Both Elton and I were big fans of those duets on Motown by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell and there hadn’t been any around for a bit—we thought we’d do one ourselves.”
– Kiki Dee

I can’t think of too many other songs that go better with a strong Colombian coffee on a Saturday morning to get me perked up for the day than this one. But it wasn’t always that way. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart was what my parents and their friends boogied to on a Saturday evening trying not to spill from their glasses of sherry – while us kids ran amok in the backyard or somewhere. Now the shoe’s on the other foot; this is what I listen to as my kids hide somewhere from the embarrassment. Well it’s not really like that, but you get the point. I like this song a lot more now as middle aged Dad than as a scrawny prepubescent teen. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart is music for ‘grown-ups’ which heralds back to a bygone era of music.

The song was written by Elton and his longtime songwriting partner, Bernie Taupin, under their respective aliases Ann Orson and Carte Blanche (The names were meant to be a pun on the phrase “an horse and cart, blanche.”). According to producer Gus Dudgeon, John had to record his vocals twice: “Elton sang about three quarters of the song and gave Kiki about four lines. I said, ‘Hang on a minute, is this supposed to be a duet or a guest appearance?’ Elton replied, ‘A duet.’ Then you’ve got to give her at least 50 percent of the song.”

Don’t go breaking my heart
I couldn’t if I tried
Oh, honey, if I get restless
Baby, you’re not that kind
Don’t go breaking my heart
You take the weight off of me
Oh, honey, when you knocked on my door
Ooh, I gave you my key

[Pre-Chorus]
Ooh, nobody knows it
When I was down, I was your clown
Ooh, nobody knows it (Nobody knows it)
Right from the start, I gave you my heart
Oh, I gave you my heart

[Chorus]
So don’t go breaking my heart
I won’t go breaking your heart
Don’t go breaking my heart (Read the remainder of the lyrics here)

Don’t Go Breaking My Heart became John’s first No 1 single in the UK and his sixth No 1 in the US. Despite being recorded while John worked on Blue Moves it wasn’t included on that album—it appeared on Elton John’s Greatest Hits Volume II. Another version of this song appeared on John’s 1993 album, Duets—but instead of Kiki Dee, it featured RuPaul.

References:
1. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart – Wikipedia

Tagged with: bernie taupin, Don't go breaking my heart, Elton John, Kiki Dee
Posted in Music

Scoop (2024) – Philip Martin (Friday’s Finest)

Posted on April 18, 2024 by observationblogger — 4 Comments

(From left to right) Scoop’s Gillian Anderson and Rufus Sewell / Billie Piper / Emily Maitlis and Prince Andrew

I recall in my adolescent years seeing Prince Andrew, Duke of York in his naval uniform and reading about him being a hero in the Falklands war as a helicopter pilot. I couldn’t help but look up to him; he seemed the epitome of a gentlemen with an outstanding career, beautiful wife and family. How perceptions can be deceiving.

Movie Info:
The film is a behind-the-scenes story of the women who negotiated with the Buckingham Palace establishment to secure the “scoop of the decade” that was the public catalyst for the downfall of the Duke of York, in a televised interview which focused on Andrew’s relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and allegations of Andrew’s sexual assault of a minor.

In the opening scenes of the new Netflix movie Scoop actress Billie Piper (image left) who plays brassy BBC Producer Sam McAlister dressed from head-to-toe in designer gear is walking up to the BBC studios with coffee in one hand and Iphone in the other. Scoop is based on Sam McAlister’s book Scoops: Behind the Scenes of the BBC’s Most Shocking Interviews. She is the producer who secured the Prince Andrew interview.

Billy Piper’s portrayal of McAlister is one of the most fascinating performances I have seen in a long time. I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Piper says of McAlister “She’s a real force of nature, she’s formidable and high energy, and I wanted to take a lot of that into my performance. She is so persistent, but there is something gracious and warm and curious, and kind of child-like about her and her love of what she does.” And by golly did Piper impart those traits in her character. That would have been no mean feat such is the complexity of getting all that right. Also, the movie does a splendid job of highlighting the juxtaposition between McAlister’s ‘very Daily Mail‘ image and the highfalutin middle-class liberal staff at BBC’s ‘Newsnight‘.

Scoop isn’t the type of film I would be pressed to watch. Public scandals and the inner workings of the Press are not high up on my list of topics which entice me. Not to mention the ‘moral exhibitionist’ and ‘virtue signalling’ BBC whom are not my favourite bunch in recent times. But I will praise them for two things: their sports page which I read everyday and their brazened efforts to expose this Royal creep for what he is. I thought this depiction of the downfall of Prince Andrew wouldn’t be anything to write home about, since we all pretty much know what went down, but where I took delight and admiration in viewing were the following aspects of Scoop:

As aforementioned Billie Piper’s spectacular portrayal of McAlister,
The realism of the events and all the portrayals
(Rufus Sewell was very good in the impossible task of playing Prince Andrew but Gillian Anderson bridges that impossibility and makes that, already famous interview, totally and utterly riveting).
The tempo, set productions and runtime. Each scene seems necessary and the movie is compact.

I’m surprised by the lukewarm reception by the public towards Scoop with a rating of just 6.7/10 on IMDB. 79% of critics’ reviews are positive. Coming into this movie, if anyone was ready to chop at a movie’s lofty attempt to reanimate a sequence of well known public events it would have been me, but I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked Scoop. I will definitely be seeing it again in the not too distant future even if it is to watch Billie Piper grace us playing a working-class single mum who eats kebabs, travels by bus and relies on her own mother (Amanda Redman) to care for her teenage son.

I have presented below a shortened trailer for the film which doesn’t overstay its welcome as far as trailers go. If you liked the other historical drama of the famous Frost/Nixon interview, then I’d be surprised if you didn’t find Scoop intriguing. Let me know what you thought if you have seen it.

References:
1. Scoop (2024 film) – Wikipedia
2. Scoop (2024) – IMDB

Tagged with: Billie Piper, Gillian Anderson, Philip Martin, Prince Andrew, Sam McAlister, Scoop
Posted in Movies and TV

Nada Fue Un Error (2003) – Coti (Ft. Andrés Calamaro)

Posted on April 17, 2024 by observationblogger — 6 Comments

Nada Fue Un Error (None of this was a mistake) features one my favourite Latin American artists – Andrés Calamaro. My eight-year-old daughter Katherine introduced me to his music a while ago and I have been a fan ever since. Kat like a lady possessed played his tracks Flaca (Skinny) and Te Quiero Igual (I Love You Just the Same) over and over again. When I first heard the latter, I shouted to her: ‘That’s Dylan‘! Calamaro is doing a pretty sweet Bob Dylan tribute even using his signage imagery from Subterranean Homesick Blues. I always thought until hearing his music that strains of ‘Dylan-esque’ texture and music were sorely missing from Latin American music.

Nada Fue Un Error is the second track and third single composed and performed by the Argentine singers Coti and Andrés Calamaro from the debut album Coti (2003). According to the Wikipedia article below: Nada Fue Un Error became an instant summer hit in 2002 and 2003, being the most broadcast on music channels, radio and online platforms, in addition to being the most listened to throughout Argentina.

A loose English translation follows (the first verses):

[Verse 1]
I have bad news, it was not a coincidence
I wanted it to happen to us and you, and you let it pass by
I don’t want you to forgive me and don’t ask for forgiveness
Don’t deny that you looked for me

[Chorus]
Nothing, none of this
None of this was a mistake, woah-oh
Nothing was an error
None of this was a mistake, woah-oh
Nothing was an error

[Verse 2]
Mistakes are not chosen for better or worse
I didn’t fail when you came and you, didn’t want to fail
I learned the difference between the game and chance
Who looks at you and who surrenders

La Nacion article below describes that Nada Fue Un Error is a good example of what Coti Sorokin has specialized in: ‘songs that carry with them the DNA of national and popular rock‘. Coti declared that he is more on the side ‘Pop Rock’ of Andrés Calamaro. ‘We are now closer… He dares to use all the instruments that are put in front of him, but to compose he chooses a guitar and the piano….There are infinite nuances. This is art, and mathematics and theory do not enter. The Beatles: there was no group more ‘Pop’ than the Beatles. Their songs sound simple, but they are not. The important thing is that: making songs that seem simple but are not.

Reference:
1. Andrés Calamaro – Wikipedia
2. Nada fue un error – Wikipedia
3. La Formula del Exito – La Nacion

Tagged with: Andrés Calamaro, argentina, Coti Sorokin, Nada Fue Un Error
Posted in Music

Heaven (1984) – Bryan Adams

Posted on April 16, 2024 by observationblogger — 15 Comments

Yesterday I heard a rebooted, or better stated ‘hijacked’ version of Heaven by Bryan Adams on the gym’s speakers. Once my disgust subsided I reminisced how much I liked this song when I was at the Academy in my early adulthood. I had a ‘section under-officer’ called Hilly whose musical tastes aligned with mine which was a blessing. Our core adoration was in Springsteen and over time we unpeeled the layers to reveal to the other, songs that we dug. Heaven and another by Adams Summer of 69 were part of the procession of music we played prior to heading out on the town. I’m not nearly as attached to them now, but sometimes I like to rekindle songs here which previously burned bright.

Heaven was released as the third single from Adams’ album Reckless (1984). It reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in June 1985 (his first number one), over a year and a half after the song first appeared on record. Heaven was heavily influenced by Journey’s 1983 hit Faithfully, which is uncanny since fellow blogger Nancy (The Elephant’s Trunk) and I were just talking about Journey in relation to her post Embrace the Journey. Adams had played over 100 dates with Journey during 1983, serving as the opening act on their Frontiers Tour. Initially Adams was unconvinced that Heaven was suitable for Reckless since he considered it too ‘light’, but at the last minute he changed his mind.

[Verse 1]
Oh, thinkin’ about our younger years
There was only you and me
We were young and wild and free
Now nothin’ can take you away from me
We’ve been down that road before
But that’s over now
You keep me comin’ back for more

[Chorus]
Baby, you’re all that I want
When you’re lyin’ here in my arms
I’m findin’ it hard to believe
We’re in Heaven
And love is all that I need
And I found it there in your heart
It isn’t too hard to see
We’re in Heaven

Bryan Guy Adams (born November 5, 1959) is a Canadian musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and photographer. He is estimated to have sold between 75 million and more than 100 million records and singles worldwide, placing him on the list of best-selling music artists. Adams was the most played artist on Canadian radio in the 2010s and has had 25 top-15 singles in Canada and a dozen or more in the US, UK, and Australia.

I would have assumed this iconic ballad had a version on You tube with Spanish subtitles so I could share it here in Bogotá, but alas not to be. I was less than impressed with the original official video so I went with the ‘classic version’…… A blast from the post folks.

References:
1. Heaven (Bryan Adams song) – Wikipedia
2. Bryan Adams – Wikipedia

Tagged with: bryan adams, faithfully, heaven, Journey, reckless
Posted in Music

Que Hay de Malo (1993) – Jerry Rivera

Posted on April 15, 2024 by observationblogger — Leave a comment

Que Hay de Malo (What’s Wrong) inaugurates the ‘Q’ songs in the Music Library Project. Hurray!
However it will be short-lived (aww) since just 4 songs exist starting with ‘Q’. Funnily enough, two of them are by Puerto Rican Salsa artist Jerry Rivera starting with today’s featured track.

When I came to Colombia back in 2009, I remember taking an instant liking to Jerry Rivera. Even when I hear his music now; if not on my music player then on Colombian radio, I feel so nostalgic because they are some of the first songs I remember enjoying and are emblematic of the allure of Latin Festivity. What I think distinguishes Jerry’s ‘Salsa Rosa’ music from your pro typical Salsa (‘real’ salsa) are his infectious melodies that remain with you long after hearing and warrant reengaging, at least for me. Most ‘Salsa’ music to my ears, like ‘Vallenato‘ music sounds the same, but there are some exceptions including today’s featured track Que Hay de Malo (What’s Wrong) and another by Jerry presented here in June 2023 – Me Estoy Enloqueciendo Por Ti (‘I’m Going Crazy For You‘).

Que Hay de Malo is Salsa romántica which garnered notoriety in the mid-1980s. It is softer and more delicate Salsa which raise emotions of romance and sex. So, it is a mix between ballada style and slower tempo orchestral music that is adorned with sensual, sexual, flirtatious and romantic lyrics.
Critics of salsa romántica called it a “commercialized, watered-down” form of Latin pop in which formulaic, sentimental love ballads were simply put to an Afro-Cuban beat—leaving no room for classic salsa’s brilliant musical improvisation, or for classic salsa lyrics that tell stories of daily life or provide social and political commentary.

Que Hay de Malo is about a boy who is in love with a girl, but his father doesn’t approve of him and wants her to forget about him. However, he can’t help her feelings and wonders what’s wrong with loving someone and wanting to be with them. He asks why it is bad to dream, laugh and love, and why it is bad to be young and alive. The boy begs her partner not to forget him and questions why her father thinks he’s not good enough for her.

A loose English translation of the first stanzas of Que Hay de Malo follows:

Your father, as usual, has taken to making you forget me.
He says I am not good for you.
He has forbidden you to mention my name
Even if you suffer everything you suffer, when you move away from me he is happy

[Pre-Chorus]
What’s wrong with loving you the way I love you?
Give yourself a flower and live for you
Comfort your soul if it seeks comfort in me?
What’s wrong with loving you like I love you?
Walk hand in hand or die for you
Take refuge in a world of love invented by me?
Could it be that he never fell in love
That at my age he never had a love?

[Chorus]
What’s wrong with dreaming, what’s wrong with laughing?
What’s wrong with being young and living?
What’s wrong with loving, what’s wrong with feeling?
What’s wrong with singing just for yourself?
What’s wrong with loving you like I love you?
What’s wrong with being young, singing and living, love? (Read the remainder here)

Que Hay de Malo is the second song and lead single from Jerry Rivera’s fourth studio album Cara de Niño (Baby Face). The album was nominated at the 37th Grammy Awards for Best Tropical Latin Album. Que Hay de Malo, became Rivera’s first single to reach on the top ten peaking at number-four.

Reference:
1. Jerry Rivera – Wikipedia

Tagged with: cara de niño, jerry rivera, que hay de malo
Posted in Music

Dry Your Eyes (1976) – Neil Diamond (The Last Waltz)

Posted on April 14, 2024 by observationblogger — 16 Comments

In my youth I watched The Jazz Singer which was a starring vehicle for Diamond and played the soundtrack to death. It was Neil Diamond’s biggest selling album in the United States, selling over 5 million copies reaching No 3 on the albums chart. Neil Diamond took part in The Band’s send off concert The Last Waltz singing today’s featured track – Dry Your Eyes. In the midst of performers like Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Muddy Waters, Neil Young, and Van Morrison, Diamond’s appearance as a glitzy entertainer wearing a light blue suit; an outfit more befitting a Las Vegas show, seems to have surprised some.

Looking deeper, it was clear that the Band were gathering different types of music, or as guitarist Robbie Robertson mentioned, the spokes of a wheel. So, Neil seemed to represent the New York Songwriters part of the wheel. Neil’s song is side-by-side with Helm and Robertson talking about NYC. In 1975-76, Robertson had recorded the LP Beautiful Noise with Diamond, using the Shangri-La Studios, shown in the film. The final song on that LP was Dry Your Eyes.

Dry your eyes and take your song out
It’s a newborn afternoon
And if you can’t recall the singer
You can still recall the tune

Dry your eyes and play it slowly
Like you’re marching off to war
Sing it like you know he’d want it
Like we sang it once before

And from the center of the circle
To the midst of the waiting crowd
If it ever be forgotten
Sing it long and sing it loud
And come dry your eyes (read the remainder here)

Diamond was born in Brooklyn, New York City, to a Jewish family. All four of his grandparents were immigrants, from Poland on his father’s side and Russia on his mother’s. He was a member of the Freshman Chorus and Choral Club, along with classmate Barbra Streisand. Diamond recalled they were not close friends at the time: “We were two poor kids in Brooklyn. We hung out in the front of Erasmus High and smoked cigarettes.” Later on in this music library project a song duet by Barbra and Neil will feature called You Don’t Bring Me Flowers which my mother cried to every other day after I came home from school.

Sadly, I read here that 81 year old Diamond announced in 2021 that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease which is affecting his speech and movement- the disease is currently incurable.
Diamond has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling musicians of all time.

References:
1. Neil Diamond – Dry Your Eyes (featuring The Band) – Reddit
2. Neil Diamond – Wikipedia

Tagged with: dry your eyes, neil diamond, the band, the last waltz
Posted in Music

Penny Returns (Interlude) 2022 – Hans Zimmer, Michael Tucker, Stefani Germanotta (Top Gun ‘Maverick’ Soundtrack)

Posted on April 13, 2024 by observationblogger — 7 Comments

Penny Returns (Interlude) is the second piece of music from the Top Gun ‘Maverick’ soundtrack after the previous entry – Hold My Hand by Lady Gaga. I have remarked about my fascination with this movie a few times. I saw it again last night and I found myself in awe all over again. Today’s featured music Penny Returns (Interlude) appears in the initial Darkstar ‘hypersonic’ sequence. One might have expected more ‘gung-ho’ cerca Top Gun ’86 music at this point, but this is where this sequel deviates and supersedes the original. This music spectacularly captures the beauty of the moment of a freed man in the tranquillity of the skies; dreaming to go beyond the limits of aeronautics.

This scene also sets us up with the themes that will follow through the rest of the film. As Maverick comes so close to touching the heavens, and quietly calls out ‘talk to me Goose,’ watching the sun breaking over the horizon, we see Maverick once again pushing the limits, and looking for his friend [seeking redemption]. How could the audience member not become a well of emotions? This piece also reminds me of the music “Tienes que darle cuerda” composed by Sergio de la Puente for the film Sin Fin which I presented in December, 2023.

In June 2017, the original Top Gun composer Harold Faltermeyer returned to score for the sequel. Later, in October 2018, Hans Zimmer (Dark Knight and Dune fame) joined Faltermeyer to score for the film. Zimmer produced a new original theme for the film that was featured in the February 2022 trailer, and was played by guitarist Johnny Marr who has featured here prominently with The Smiths. Marr claimed that the theme was “completely accidental” and did not watch the preview of the film before scoring. Speaking in an interview to Marr said “I think there was some issue with how the theme was sounding, and I was around and I have a guitar. It really was as simple as that.”
It’s said the director confirmed that today’s track for Penny and Maverick was incorporated from the Lady Gaga song and its a more calmer and slower version of the song.
Overall, thank god for this movie..there is still hope in Hollywood.. It’s a passionate effort to translate this good feeling of pure cinema to the audience.

References:
1. Top Gun: Maverick (soundtrack) – Wikipedia

Tagged with: Hans Zimmer, Harold Faltermeyer, johnny marr, Penny Returns (Interlude), Top Gun: Maverick
Posted in Music

Propuesta Indecente (2013) – Romeo Santos

Posted on April 12, 2024 by observationblogger — 1 Comment

This Bachata track Propuesta Indecente ‘Indecent Proposal‘ was intended to follow-up the last Bachata track here Darte un Beso by Prince Royce, but I was hesitant to post it due to the vulgarity of the lyrics. During much of its history, Bachata music was disregarded by middle-upperclass Dominican society and associated with rural underdevelopment and crime. As recently as the 1980s, Bachata was considered too vulgar and crude to be broadcast on television or radio in the Dominican Republic. Up to now I have presented a modern form of ‘refined’ Bachata music with softer lyrics, but today’s track Propuesta Indecente is an exception. Despite all that musically it appeals to me a lot as it mixes the sound of Dominican Bachata and Argentinean tango. Bachata is played with guitars and percussion (bongos, maracas amongst other instruments).

A crude English translation of part of the song follows (and warning it could offend some readers):

[Intro]
Hello, they call me Romeo
It’s a pleasure to meet you

[Verse 1]
How well you look
I’m ahead of you, I don’t care who he is
You tell me
If he has ever done anything naughty

[Pre-Chorus]
An adventure is more fun if it smells of danger

[Chorus]
If I buy you a drink and get close to your mouth
If I steal a kiss from you, let’s see, are you mad at me?
What would you say if I seduced you in my car tonight?
Let the windows fog up and the rule is that you enjoy
If I disrespect you and then blame the alcohol
If I lift your skirt, would you give me the right to measure your sanity?
Put your body into play
Does this indecent proposal seem prudent to you?

The following is cherry picked from the Wikipedia references below:
Romeo Santos released Propuesta Indecente on his second studio album Formula, Vol. 2. I did not enjoy the depiction in the ‘award-winning’ official video with 2.1 billion views, so I have presented the audio version below. The song reached Number 2 in Colombia, 1 in Mexico, 16 in Spain and 79 on the Billboard Hot 100. As of 2021, Propuesta Indecente is the second best-performing Latin song of all-time on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart following Despacito.

Santos was born and raised in The Bronx, New York City on July 21, 1981, to a Dominican father and a Puerto Rican mother. He had a humble upbringing, with his father, who worked in construction, being underpaid but being able to make ends meet for his family. His mother was staying at home and taking care of the children in the family. Santos attended public school in the Bronx, and Santos began his career by singing in a church choir at a young age. Romeo was exposed to Latin genres of music including salsa, merengue, and bachata, listening to it at a young age because of his parents’ love for it.

References:
1. Propuesta Indecente – Wikipedia
2. Romeo Santos – Wikipedia

Tagged with: Formula Vol 2, Propuesta Indecente, Romeo Santos
Posted in Music

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