Sunday Sounds 82 - One Way Or Another

Now that Sunday Sounds is back, one way or another I'm going to try and post every week:

Sunday Sounds 81 - Grace (We All Try)

One of my highlights of Glastonbury this year was seeing Rag 'n' Bone Man. It was Sunday afternoon, the weather was nice, and the Other Stage was mobbed for the man who has had the biggest selling debut album of the year, and the decade's fastest selling.

His overnight success has been a long time in the making, and prior to Humans he has had two album almost-album-length-EPs. Which is by way of saying that he had enough material to fill that hour long slot. Two things - other than the amount of love the crowd had for him - stand out in my mind. One was his willingness to acknowledge where he had come from by bringing doing a number with a Hip Hop Collective he used to perform with. His music may have taken a different direction and he may have gone stratospheric but he still seemed grounded. The other is related: he genuinely seemed overwhelmed by the size and reaction of the crowd.

Anyway - here is a special performance of Grace (We All Try) that he did for the BBC Review of the Year in Music show. This is gorgeous - turn it up as loud as you can get away with.

Sunday Sounds 80 - Summertime

Presented without commentary - this speaks for itself.

Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong - Summertime




Enjoy!

Andrew

Sunday Sounds 79 - Swan Lake

Last night I went to see Matthew Bourne's production of Swan Lake. 

I'd forgotten quite how wonderful it was: Sassy, witty, sexy, sensual, violent, it's a fabulous interpretation of the story. It's also a rare thing - a huge commercial success (it's 20 years old and still being performed to packed auditoria) with artistic merit.

Whilst ballet purists may not appreciate Bourne's appropriation of more modern styles of dance or his cultural references, it can't be suggested that the use of all-male swans is merely a gimick. The story is twisted, and the swans become much more swan like: graceful, yes, but aggressive and violent too.

And, of course, Tchaikovsky's score is magical.

Enjoy!

Andrew

P.S. You can see a bit more here.

Sunday Sounds 78 - The 1,000th Post Edition!

There was really only one thing I could choose for my 1,000 post: I'm Gonna be (500 miles) by The Proclaimers.

Enjoy!

Andrew

Sunday Sounds 77 - The New Year's Resolutions Edition...

Today's song came up in conversation with my father the other day but it strikes me that the sentiment of this song should be borne in mind whilst setting New Year's Resolutions, if you are so inclined to do...

Andrew

Sunday Sounds 76 - The Stormy Weather edition

As I type, the outlying rain heralding the coming of Storm St. Jude is steadily drumming on the windows of my attic room...

...so here, is a musical tribute to The Great Storm of 2013, as Jude is bound to be known in future years*, is Ethel Waters with Stormy Weather from 1933. Enjoy:

Andrew

*obviously this assumes the Met Office hasn't over-egged the forecast.

Sunday Sounds 75 - Marilyn

Earlier today, I watched "My Week With Marilyn" which tells the story of the filming of "The Prince and the Showgirl". Filmed at Pinewood, the Third Assistant Director on the production was Colin Clark (son of Kenneth Clark, and brother of Alan Clark) who wrote the memoir the film is based on.

So, inspired by that, here is Marilyn Monroe with "I Wanna Be Loved by You" from Some Like It Hot, which was the next film she made:

Andrew

Sunday Sounds 74 - Firework

Baby, You're a Firework...

OK, maybe not a dead firework...

Andrew

Sunday Sounds 73 - The Rasmus

Once again I find myself apologising for a lack of recent bloggage... I intend rectifying this in the coming week - I have a reasonably sized list of blog ideas awaiting execution!

Meanwhile, it's Sunday afternoon, so here is a Sound for your earholes: The Rasmus with In The Shadows. Enjoy!

Andrew

Sunday Sounds 72 - Smoke on the Water

This week's Sunday Sound is a track that was released 40 years ago today, in a performance dating to July '73. Telling the story of the fire started by a fan with a flare gun at a Frank Zappa concert in the Montreux Casino during the 1971 Jazz Festival, it's an absolutely classic rock tune, with an instantly recognisable guitar riff. 

Enjoy!

Andrew

Sunday Sounds 71 - the Pentecost edition (kinda)...

It's Pentecost, so today's Sunday Sounds are on fire*

First, Kasabian, with Fire:

and now, Kings of Leon with Sex on Fire, which I have posted before - no apologies for reposting, though!:

Andrew


*Acts 2 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.³ They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. [NIV]

Sunday Sounds 70 - Thine Be The Glory

Blogging has been light for various reasons lately but that may be over-compensated by a slew of posts today, so be (potentially) warned!

Anyway, for Easter Sunday, Handel provides the music to one of my favourite hymns (and, yes, an athiest is allowed to have favourite hymns!)

I was also quite taken by this instrumental version:

Andrew

Sunday Sounds 69

I know, I know... this is a late post. And I hummed and hawed about what to choose. In the end, I decided that given this was number 69 in the series, this was maybe appropriate...

...although there is a link to the subject matter of a brand new blog post series I'm starting tomorrow... Oooh, the intrigue!

Andrew

Sunday Sounds 68

This week's Sunday Sound is something completely different - in the context of my blog but also every time it is performed or heard.

This recording is a full orchestra version. The work is in three movements, although total "performance" time is just 4'33''. It is, of course, John Cage's 4'33":

Enjoy!

Andrew

Sunday Sounds 67 - Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down

Following Alicia Keys appearance in this slot last week, I came across this video whilst preparing a future entry in my NOW! That's What I Call A Tune! series. I've previously lamented being unable to find this version online, so was delighted to find it. 

Enjoy:

Andrew

Sunday Sounds 66 - Girl On Fire

This is just such a Top. Tune. From the incomparable Alicia Keys. On. Fire.

First, though, turn up the volume. A bit more. Right - you're ready. Play.

Andrew

Sunday Sounds 65 - Kevin Spacey as Bobby Darin

For this week's Sunday Sound, I've chosen a clip from a film - Kevin Spacey's biopic of Bobby Darin, Beyond the Sea. This is the title track, with a spot of dialogue to top and tail it:

Enjoy, 

Andrew

Sunday Sounds 64

This week I re-listened to the podcast of  last year's "Your Desert Island Discs". The most requested piece of music amongst listeners was Ralph Vaughan Williams "The Lark Ascending" - with its beautiful soaring melody. It's no wonder it's a popular choice - and not just with Radio 4 listeners, but also amongst Classic FM fans - it was Number 2 in last year's Hall of Fame.

Here's the fabulous Nicola Benedetti performing it:

Andrew

Sunday Sounds 63

Julie Burchill's vile and disgraceful article in The Observer, which followed a week in which a throwaway remark in an article by Suzanne Moore spiralled into a Twitter-row in which she a) failed to understand why it had caused offence, b) apologise for said offence and c) used derogatory and inflammatory language, has been exercising my mind throughout today. A summary of events can be found here.

Like Stephen Tall, I wanted to write a post - but like Stephen, it's not really my usual domain. I can't begin to imagine what gender dysphoria feels like, how difficult it can be to come to terms with, let alone imagine living with it in a society where even medical professionals are insensitive to its implications.

Roz Kaverney has written an excellent analysis of Burchill's article, arguing that using her platform in The Observer, she has legitimised the language of hate. Caron has also written about the peculiar brand of feminism that Moore and Burchill perpetuate in which failure to agree makes you a puppet of Patriarchy. She also suggest that her readers seek to challenge perceptions of Trans-people through social media tools such as Twitter.

When I was out earlier, I heard Emili Sande's "Read All About It Pt. III". Tonight it came back to me whilst seeking to choose a track for Sunday Sounds. (I ruled out dedicating Lulu's Shout to Burchill on the basis that whilst she does indeed make me want to shout, I don't want her to say that she loves me). It strikes me that the lyrics could be applied to the Trans community, and to Liberals in general:

We're all wonderful, wonderful people
So when did we all get so fearful?
And now we're finally finding our voices
So take a chance, come help me sing this

Andrew