Song of the Day: The Heat is On (19th January 2016)

Although I did say that I would be taking a short break from these posts, given that today it was announced yet another talented musician has died, I thought it appropriate to 'honour their work'.

Glenn Frey, perhaps best known for his work with the world-renowned American band the Eagles, passed away yesterday, at the age of  67, after suffering health complications.

Frey became involved as a songwriter with the Eagles in the early seventies, helping them to secure numerous hit songs, making them one of the best selling bands of all time. His lyrics were not his only contribution however, as he often took the position of lead vocals, in songs such as 'Take it Easy', 'Tequila Sunrise' and one of my personal favourites 'How Long.'

The singer's career was a varied one, and along with reaching fame with the Eagles, Frey had a successful solo career, achieving two hit singles in the 80s. Today's Song of the Day is one of these hits, taken from 1984. Entitled 'The Heat is On',  the song was co-written with Harold Faltermeyer, and went on to become the main theme from the comedy film 'Beverly Hills Cop'. It was just one of the film themes that Frey helped to write, his others including 'Thelma and Louise' and 'Ghostbusters II'.

You can take a listen to 'The Heat is On' using YouTube, below:

Lyrics:

The heat is on, on the street
Inside your head, on every beat
And the beat's so loud, deep inside
The pressure's high, just to stay alive
'Cause the heat is on

Oh woo oh ho, oh woo oh ho
Caught up in the action I've been looking out for you
Oh woo oh ho, oh woo oh ho
Tell me can you feel it? Tell me can you feel it?
Tell me can you feel it?

The heat is on, the heat is on

The heat is on, it's on the street
The heat is on

Oh woo oh ho, oh woo oh ho
Caught up in the action I've been looking out for you
Oh woo oh ho, oh woo oh ho
Tell me can you feel it? Tell me can you feel it?
Tell me can you feel it?

The heat is on, the heat is on
The heat is on, it's on the street
The heat is on

The shadows are on the darker side
Behind those doors, it's a wilder ride
You can make a break, you can win or lose
That's a chance you take when the heat's on you
When the heat is on

Oh woo oh ho, oh woo oh ho
Caught up in the action I've been looking out for you
Oh woo oh ho, oh woo oh ho
Tell me can you feel it? Tell me can you feel it?
Tell me can you feel it?

The heat is on, the heat is on
The heat is on, it's on the street
The heat is on, the heat is on
The heat is on, it's on the street
The heat is on, the heat is on

Life Update #1

So we're about halfway through January now, and I have finally returned to University. This is both a cause for celebration, and for, well, despair in my mind.

On the one hand, I get to return to my studies, in English literature, in Creative Writing, and in History. This is something I always have, and always will enjoy. On the other hand, it also means I have a very large influx in work, after a seemingly very long break over the Christmas holidays. Barely a week in, and I am already gripped tightly by coursework, group management and general re-assimilation- to the point of lack of sleep. But hey, it's part of life, and I'm sure I'll get back in the swing of things quickly.

Because of this increased work load though, I do think it might be best if I take a small break from the 'Song of the Day' posts I have been making recently, as even though they are very quickly read, and may seem trivial, they do take some amount of researching, planning and writing, and this takes up time in the day that I could perhaps be using more productively.

However, this doesn't mean I will be abandoning this blog. When I first started it up, I made a post saying that I planned on creating a variety of content, and this is a sentiment I plan to honour. You will probably see some more sporadic posts, perhaps regarding an intriguing word I thought note-worthy, or perhaps even some of my creative prose or poetry, once I have worked out the fine details of my Uni assessment.

2016 has only just started, and I'm going to do what I can to make it as thoroughly memorable as last year.

You'll hopefully hear more from me soon.

M

Song of the Day: Georgy Girl (15th January 2016)

Today's Song of the Day is one of my personal pop favourites.

Written by Tom Springfield and Jim Dale, 'Georgy Girl' was recorded by the Seekers for a film of the same name in 1966.

The upbeat tempo of the song combined with melodic vocals from the Australian folk-pop quartet helped the song to reach #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 for that year, and, perhaps more importantly, secured its position in the Coniston Summer Camp Songbook- though it isn't sung as often as it should be!

The song was actually nominated for an Academy Award, but was narrowly pipped by the song 'Born Free', which of course, being another wonderful song gives the impression this defeat was not such an injustice. The film also received a number of nominations in the prestigious award ceremony, and follows the coming of age of London girl Georgy, a naturally maternal, innocent girl as she finds her place in life. Although there are low points in the film, the soundtrack is perky and energetic, full of vibrant guitar and double bass backing, adding an extra element to the lively vocals of Judith Durham and her ensemble.

You can take a listen to this brilliantly cheerful song on YouTube, below:

Lyrics:

Hey there, Georgy girl
Swingin' down the street so fancy-free
Nobody you meet could ever see the loneliness there - inside you
Hey there, Georgy girl
Why do all the boys just pass you by?
Could it be you just don't try or is it the clothes you wear?

You're always window shopping but never stopping to buy
So shed those dowdy feathers and fly - a little bit

Hey there, Georgy girl
There's another Georgy deep inside
Bring out all the love you hide and, oh, what a change there'd be
The world would see a new Georgy girl

[Instrumental Interlude]

Hey there, Georgy girl
Dreamin'; of the someone you could be
Life is a reality, you can't always run away
Don't be so scared of changing and rearranging yourself
It's time for jumping down from the shelf - a little bit

Hey there, Georgy girl
There's another Georgy deep inside
Bring out all the love you hide and, oh, what a change there'd be
The world would see a new Georgy girl

(Hey there, Georgy girl)
Wake up, Georgy girl
(Hey there, Georgy girl)
Come on, Georgy girl

[Fade]

(Hey there, Georgy girl)

Song of the Day: Hedwig's Theme/ Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves(14th January 2016)

It is a real shame that so shortly after the death of one talented star, another follows in its wake.

It was announced today that Alan Rickman, a talented British actor, has passed away after a battle with cancer. Rickman was best known for his roles in films such as Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Die Hard, Galaxy Quest and the Harry Potter series.

It is from the last set of films in this list that Rickman is most easily recognisable to the younger generation. Growing up with Harry Potter books, and films, it is of Rickman whom a child/teen would think when encountering the character of Professor Snape the terrifying Potions master at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. To that end, I thought today's Song of the Day should be a piece from the Harry Potter films.

Written by John Williams, Hedwig's Theme is, like Alan Rickman, one of the franchises most memorable features. It is a waltzing, magical score befitting of the film it accompanies.

Our thoughts must surely be with Alan Rickman's family at this time; his career is long and accomplished, and tributes are pouring in, each one proclaiming him a loving and lovable character, despite his on screen personas.

You can take a listen to Hedwig's Theme below on YouTube. I've also included a link to the Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves main theme, in case Rickman's dashing but villainous portrayal of the Sheriff of Nottingham is more to your liking:

Song of the Day: Road to Hell (13th January 2015)

Despite its rather fearsome name, today's Song of the Day is possibly one of my favourite rock ballads of all time.

Written by English singer/songwriter Chris Rea, the 'Road to Hell' is a two part song which featured on the 1989 album of the same name. The song peaked at #10 on the UK singles chart of that year, perhaps slowed down by the influx of traffic which inspired the song; it has been stated that Rea's inspiration for the ballad arose from the frustration of traffic jams on the M25, or perhaps the A19, near Middlesborough.

Whatever the song's origins, its title is apt, and listeners will enjoy the narrative style which describes a catabasis passed 'a river that boils with poison', and 'dimly lit streets'. This is not a depressing or upsetting song, by any means, but it is one that holds tension, exuding the classic rock vibes of its era. Chris Rea's recognisable husky tone is connotative of sharp-lined, leather seated saloon cars, cruising (or otherwise) down a motorway, at night- perhaps even in the rain. It's terribly atmospheric, and definitely worth a listen.

You can hear Part II (the best part in my opinion!) on YouTube below:

Lyrics:

Well I'm standing by the river

But the water doesn't flow
It boils with every poison you can think of
And I'm underneath the streetlight
But the light of joy I know
Scared beyond belief way down in the shadows
And the perverted fear of violence
Chokes the smile on every face
And common sense is ringing out the bell
This ain't no technological breakdown
Oh no, this is the road to hell

And all the roads jam up with credit
And there's nothing you can do
It's all just pieces of paper flying away from you
Oh look out world, take a good look
What comes down here
You must learn this lesson fast and learn it well
This ain't no upwardly mobile freeway
Oh no, this is the road
Said this is the road
This is the road to hell

Song of the Day: Invincible (from Wrath of the Lich King) (12th January 2016)

Today's Song of the Day comes from the popular video-game franchise World Of Warcraft, published by Blizzard Entertainment. The music comes from the soundtrack of the second expansion of the MMORPG, 'Wrath of the Lich King', and is well known among the community for being the epic backing track to the opening and ending cinematics.

I never really got into World of Warcraft (or WoW for short), but one thing I did enjoy was the soundtrack to the game, especially 'Invincible'. According to the wiki, 'Invincible' was released as part of the WoW 5 Year Anniversary Battlecry Mosaic in 2010, later included in the Wrath of the Lich King standalone soundtrack. It was also available in game, and was dropped upon defeating Arthas Menethil, the titular Lich King, in Icecrown Citadel.

As for WoW, I haven't heard anything about it for quite a while. The series seems to have been overtaken by Blizzard's other titles, Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft (which I love), Heroes of the Storm (also a big fan), Starcraft II (not my type of thing) and Overwatch (still in beta, but looks quite interesting).

To listen to this epic, haunting piece of music, take a look below:

Song of the Day: Space Oddity (11th January 2016)

Admittedly, I have been rather remiss in not listening to lots of David Bowie's music. Unfortunately, it was announced today that Mr Bowie has died, and as such, millions have been flocking to social media to pay their respects and give their thanks for the excellent entertainment which he has provided over many decades.

As I say, I was not very well versed with David Bowie's songs (perhaps to my shame), but one that I did know, and very much enjoyed was 'Space Oddity'. Released as a single in 1969, the song documents the launching into space of 'Major Tom', a fictional character, though it also marked the launching of David Bowie into the UK's Top 5 tracks, and later, after being re-released under license by RCA records in 1975, it was also his first #1 hit.

As for the life of David Bowie, spanning nearly seventy years, it must be said that the star's career was varied. As well as being a multi-talented, multi-instrumental musician, Bowie is famous for his appearances in film, such as in the cult-classic 'Labyrinth' (complete with questionably tight attire) and his other-wordly stage appearance complete with colourful hair and ridiculously 80s glam fashion, posing as the 'ultimate popstar', Ziggy Stardust.

Bowie is survived by his wife, Iman, and two children, Alexandria and Duncan.

You can take a listen to Space Oddity on YouTube, below:

Lyrics:

Ground Control to Major Tom
Ground Control to Major Tom
Take your protein pills
and put your helmet on

Ground Control to Major Tom
Commencing countdown,
engines on
Check ignition
and may God's love be with you

[spoken]
Ten, Nine, Eight, Seven, Six, Five, Four, Three, Two, One, Liftoff

This is Ground Control
to Major Tom
You've really made the grade
And the papers want to know whose shirts you wear
Now it's time to leave the capsule
if you dare

This is Major Tom to Ground Control
I'm stepping through the door
And I'm floating
in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today

For here
Am I sitting in a tin can
Far above the world
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do

Though I'm past
one hundred thousand miles
I'm feeling very still
And I think my spaceship knows which way to go
Tell my wife I love her very much
she knows

Ground Control to Major Tom
Your circuit's dead,
there's something wrong
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you hear me, Major Tom?
Can you....

Here am I floating
round my tin can
Far above the Moon
Planet Earth is blue
And there's nothing I can do.

Song of the Day: Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra (8th January 2016)

Have you ever seen the film Ladies in Lavender? With (Dame) Maggie Smith and (Dame) Judi Dench? If not, then I highly recommend it. It is a love story, wrapped in a documentary, wrapped in a drama, with lots of beautiful music thrown on top.

It may yet come to pass that I will offer up the main theme from Ladies in Lavender as the Song of the Day, however, for now, I want to share with you the beautifully dark, and melodic tones of 'Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra'. This is the song that the rescued violinist Andrea (played by Daniel Brühl) plays when first handed the violin at the beginning of the film, and it is also the one he plays in a dramatic moment towards the end. When you listen to this piece, and at some point, the main theme from Ladies in Lavender, you will hear that the two are very similar, except I would say that this has a 'darker' tone to it. It is a song of pain, of love, and of experience, encapsulating Andrea's experience at sea, his disorientation in a foreign land with a foreign language, and his love- and the pain that comes with it. 

The piece is played by world-renowned violinist Joshua Bell, and thus it is no surprise how beautiful it sounds! 

I have been learning violin on and off for a long time. The song I always play, every time I pick it up, is the main theme from the film. Guess I'll have to try and learn this one now!

You can take a listen to the song on YouTube:

Song of the Day: Waiting in the Weeds (7th January 2016)

The Eagles have had many hits over the years, including Desperado, Hotel California, and Please Come Home for Christmas, but on one of their newer albums, I found a song that, in my opinion, is an absolute gem.

'Waiting in the Weeds' is the seventh song on the first CD of the Eagles' 2007 album, Long Road Out of Eden. At first glance, or rather, when first listening to the song, you might be mistaken for thinking it is simply a love song, about a man who has seen his love slip away with the passage of time, hoping that it will come back again some day. Although this is the semantic meaning of the song, the writer, Don Henley, offers a pragmatic motivation to the lyrics. He told Billboard Magazine in 2007:

"Here I am, just turned 60. I'm not complaining. I'm thrilled and delighted. None of us ever thought it would go on this long. But we are a determined bunch of guys. We take our time. We are not afraid of the passage of time, necessarily, and we've been sitting one out for a long time. That is kind of what 'Waiting In The Weeds' implies. Again, on the surface, that's a love song, but it's also about this band. We've just been sort of waiting for some of this bad music to die down, for certain trends to go away, so that we can get out there on the dance floor again. We are a band that knows how to bide its time, and how to wait."

The last album before Long Road Out of Eden came in 1979, so it is clear to see that the band were willing to wait in order to produce something that they could be proud of. The result was two cds worth of brilliant music, one of my particular favourites being 'Waiting in the Weeds'.

You can take a listen to the song on YouTube, below:

Lyrics:

It's comin' on the end of August
Another summer's promise almost gone
And though I heard some wise man say
That every dog will have his day
He never mentioned that these dog days get so long

I don't know when I realized the dream was over
Well, there was no particular hour, no given day
You know, it didn't go down in flame
There was no final scene, no frozen frame
I just watched it slowly fade away

And I've been waiting in the weeds
Waiting for my time to come around again and
Hope is floating on the breeze
Carrying my soul high up above the ground and
I've been keepin' to myself
Knowin' that the seasons are slowly changing
Even though you're with somebody else
He'll never love you like I do

I've been biding time with the crows and sparrows
While peacocks prance and strut upon the stage
If finding love is just a dance
Proximity and chance
You will excuse me if I skip the masquerade

And I've been waiting in the weeds
Waiting for the dust to settle down along the
Back roads running through the fields
Lying on the outskirts of this lonesome town
And I imagine sunlight in your hair
You're at the county fair

You're holding hands and laughing
And now the ferris wheel has stopped
You're swinging on the top
Suspended there with him

And he's the darling of the chic
The flavor of the week is melting
Down your pretty summer dress
Baby, what a mess you're making

I've been stumbling through some dark places
Now I'm following the plow
I know I've fallen out of your good graces
It's alright now

And I've been waiting in the weeds
Waiting for the summer rain to fall upon the
Wild birds scattering the seeds
Answering the calling of the tide's eternal tune
The phases of the moon
The chambers of the heart
The egg and dart of small gray
Spiders spinning in the dark
In spite of all the times the web is torn apart

And I've been waiting in the weeds
Waiting for the time to come around again and
Hope is floating on the breeze
Carrying my soul high up above the ground and
I've been keeping to myself
Knowing that the seasons are slowly changing
Even though you're with somebody else
He'll never love you like I do

Song of the Day: Time After Time (6th January 2016)

For quite a while now, I have owned a wonderful little compilation CD of songs by the Cliff Adams Singers, entitled 'The Sing Something Simple Collection: Time After Time'.

Featuring nearly 30 songs, this BBC produced album lives up to its name, as the songs are simple, catchy, and pleasant. Today's Song of the Day is the eponymous 'Time After Time', which combines beautiful harmonies, lovely instrumental backing and an old-timey feel to create an easy listening atmosphere that will be broken only by you joining in with the singing as the mood strikes you.

The Cliff Addams Singers originally featured on the BBC Light Music programme in 1959, singing some of the songs that feature on the album I own. They made the charts several times in the 60s and 70s with their traditional instrument and pleasant vocal arrangements, often in medley format.

Unfortunately, the Cliff Addams Singers' version of Time After Time is not available on YouTube, however below is a selection of songs from the group, along with some conversation with the singers. A recording by Frank Sinatra, of the same song, but with more of a jazz style, also makes for great listening:

Lyrics:

Time after time
I tell myself that I'm
So lucky to be loving you

So lucky to be
The one you run to see
In the evening, when the day is through

I only know what I know
The passing years will show
You've kept my love so young, so new

And time after time
Youll hear me say that I'm
So lucky to be loving you

Time after time
I tell myself that I'm
So lucky to be loving you

Yes so lucky to be
The one you run to see
In the evening, when the day is through

I only know what I know
The passing years will show
You've kept my love so young, so new

And time after time
You'll hear me say that I'm
So lucky to be loving you
So lucky to be loving you
So lucky to be loving you

Song of the Day: Lean on Me (5th January 2016)

'Lean on Me' by Bill Withers is, strangely, the only song I remember singing in Music class at secondary school. This might have been because we spent more time listening to our teacher sing (off key too!) than actually doing it ourselves. However, although nobody else seemed to enjoy the soulful style that Withers was so great at producing, the song struck me, and I went on to listen to more of his work because of it.

'Lean on Me' was the first song on American artist Bill Wither's album of 1972, entitled 'Still Bill'. It was his first (and only) single to hit #1 on both the Soul Singles and Billboard Hot 100.

Withers, of course, came from an unpriveleged background in the mining town of Slab Fork, West Virginia. Being a mining community, where workers chipped in together, both in work and communal living the song is clear in both its inspiration and message. It is heartfelt, and heartwarming. We should try and help others, wherever we can, because someday we will need some help too and they might just be there for us.

You can take a listen to the song below on YouTube:

Lyrics:

Sometimes in our lives
We all have pain, we all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on

Please, swallow your pride
If I have things you need to borrow
For no one can fill those of your needs
That you won't let show

You just call on me, brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on

Lean on me when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend, I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need somebody to lean on

You just call on me, brother, when you need a hand
We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem that you'll understand
We all need somebody to lean on

If there is a load
You have to bear that you can't carry
I'm right up the road, I'll share your load
If you just call me

Call me (If you need a friend)
Call me (Call me uh-huh)
Call me (When you need a friend)
Call me (If you ever need a friend)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (If you need a friend)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (Call me)
Call me (Call me)
Call me

Song of the Day: Burning Heart (4th January 2016)

I feel like there are very few people that would agree with me when I say that Rocky IV was at least a decent film.

However, whether you enjoyed the over the top patriot-pandering that was the fourth installment of the Rocky film franchise, the songs that were included in the soundtrack surely stand out as 'awesome' in their own right.

A lot of these tracks, such as the infamous 'Eye of the Tiger', were written and performed by American rockband 'Survivor'. Aside from Robert Tepper's 'No Easy Way Out' which was the musical highlight of Rocky IV (and may feature as a Song of the Day in its own right someday!) my favourite song from the movie was 'Burning Hearts'

Of course the song is another piece in the 100 piece jigsaw of American propaganda that Rocky IV so blatantly portrayed. It talks of the struggle of East versus West, Rival nations and suggests a Cold War where the masses live in fear. Of course the film suggests that this friction between peoples is unacceptable, which is perfectly true- it's the fact that is the American who somehow brokers world piece that makes the film so skewed. Saying this, I still really like the film, though I'm not sure I could tell you why. I'm babbling. Never mind, just enjoy the song!

You can listen to the song on YouTube below:

Lyrics:

Two worlds collide
Rival nations
It's a primitive clash
Venting years of frustrations
Bravely we hope
Against all hope
There is so much at stake
Seems our freedom's up
Against the ropes
Does the crowd understand?
Is it East versus West
Or man against man
Can any nation stand alone

In the burning Heart
Just about to burst
There's a quest for answers
An unquenchable thirst
In the darkest night
Rising like a spire
In the burning heart
The unmistakable fire

In the burning heart

In the warriors code
There's no surrender
Though his body says stop
His spirit cries - never!
Deep in our soul
A quiet ember
Know it's you against you
It's the paradox
That drives us on
It's a battle of wills
In the heat of attack
It's the passion that kills
The victory is yours alone

In the burning Heart
Just about to burst
There's a quest for answers
An unquenchable thirst
In the darkest night
Rising like a spire
In the burning heart
The unmistakable fire

In the burning Heart
Just about to burst
There's a quest for answers
An unquenchable thirst
In the darkest night
Rising like a spire
In the burning heart
The unmistakable fire

In the burning Heart
Just about to burst
There's a quest for answers
An unquenchable thirst
In the darkest night
Rising like a spire
In the burning heart
The unmistakable fire

In the burning heart

Song of the Day: In the Hall of the Mountain King (1st January 2016)

Today is the first day of the new year, 2016, so why not start it off with a bang?

'In the Hall of the Mountain King' is one of Edvard Grieg's most iconic pieces, taken from his Peer Gynt suite of 1876. It is undoubtedly famous for rousing the spirit and putting fire in the blood.

I apologise if that sounds rather hyperbolic (and graphic), but to me, this really is a piece full of energy. Ignoring the basic scientific principle that energy cannot be created, it must be said that the way Grieg has his instruments 'collide' in a fierce cacophony of sound, yet somehow avoids individual 'cannon blasts' creating discordance with each other, is truly expressive of the composer's masterful nature.

Peer Gynt is an epic fairy tale, dramatised by Henrik Ibsen, in which the eponymous hero eventually finds himself in the Hall of the Mountain King, a place of squalor, ruled by the Troll King, Dovregubben. The Song of the Day is the music that accompanies this dream sequence and one can feel the Scandinavian influence coming through, as well as the surreal appearance of goblins, trolls, and other creatures, popping up with frenetic energy, culminating in the arrival of the Troll king himself. If only life was that interesting, huh?

You can take a listen to this wonderful piece of music on YouTube, below: