I’ve been featuring songs, but this entire album is worthy of mention. I find Sinead to be one of the most emotionally charged and expressive artists of this generation, and this album - her first, from 1987 - is the one that, to me, demonstrates that quality the most. While in some of the songs she takes on the persona of others (like in “Jackie”, where she narrates the story of a sailor gone to sea - from the wife’s perspective) or is a mere observer, she is just as passionate when perceiving others as she is when she is retelling a personal story. This album, too, runs the gamut from grieving to angry to elated to flirtatious…Below are a few samples of my favorites. But seriously, go buy it. You won’t regret it.
I’m testing out my posting abilities from my new shiny white iPhone. And yes, I am well aware that no one else in the world gives a crap, and that this is a totally self-indulgent, uninteresting post. My apologies to all.
This is one of those songs that I can’t…stop…playing…over…and…over. As a total obsessive-compulsive, I get like that sometimes. But while this song certainly has its share of gratuitous white-boy-trying-to-sound-soulful moments, the soaring chorus totally makes up for any other transgressions made (in my opinion, of course)! And I do find a truly genuine, sweet and bittersweet all at-once feeling that causes me to believe this guy really means everything he’s singing about.
I’m waiting for this song to show up on an episode of Grey’s Anatomy any minute now.
Sometimes it’s just time for a good laugh. Today feels like one of those days for me. So this post combines the serious (i.e. a song for serious emotional consideration) with the just plain ridiculous…
First to get the serious out of the way! This is a really beautiful recording of Stevie Nicks’ original demo of her song “Planets of the Universe”, which she never released until a few years ago but wrote back in the 70’s. I have always loved her music, but this song, and the sparseness and rawness of this demo, are so impressive to me.
Stevie Nicks - “No Light” demo
And now for the ridiculous! This video is an SNL skit featuring Lucy Lawless as Stevie Nicks, the now-proprietor of a Mexican restaurant. I saw this a few years ago and loved it, and it’s just as funny now. “Now there you go again, you say, you want fajitas…”
I have loved this song for years, but I just saw it on an episode of Grey’s Anatomy and it reminded me of how much I was moved by it… If there were a soundtrack to the experience of loss and longing, this song would make the list for sure. Rare also - because so much electronic music tends to translate into an emotionless-ness…
I just found this post on “Interesting Thing Of The Day”. It’s about “complaints choirs”… Yeah, it’s exactly like what it sounds like. But a lot funnier. And, hopefully, not altogether serious.
Though these songs are not supremely representative of the emotionality I am constantly craving with music, they have a certain aural yumminess to them…
Today’s theme is…. well, gayish! Put on your best Studio 54 clothes (circa 1979!) and turn up the boombox!
Today I thought I’d post a bunch of fun links to read about music as it relates to emotion…Some funny, some academic, but all interesting in their own way!
Off to see Suzanne Vega play tonight at the Spa Little Theatre in Saratoga. The two songs I am posting I think are wonderful representations of her ability to tell a story that really emotes; interestingly (at least to me!) is that her voice is someone tonally flat, yet she captures the feeling of an experience so well. “The Queen and the Soldier” is in the style of a traditional medieval ballad, and has a very interesting and thought-provoking story. Gorgeously heartbreaking. In contrast, “Room Off The Street” captures the essence of a whimsical evening of romance, flirtation, and pure enjoyment in the moment.
Ani Difranco - Hello Birmingham (from the “To The Teeth” album)
Not to be all cliche, but I really love this song. I find it amazing how she manages to turn this dialogue between two cities - which could so easily lapse into impersonal political soapboxing - into a personal, emotional, and tender gesture.