The Voice of Michael Jackson

With all the drama and circus that has surrounded this truly gifted performer as of late, I think its best that we take even a moment to take note of what Mr. Jackson is most highly regarded for; his ability to perform and dance. I really don't have the skills or talent to describe somebody's voice, but this excerpt from Wikipedia will have to do!!!!! I've made some of my own comments in red. NOTE: I was never a huge devoted fan of Mister Jackson. But I really have a deep nostalgia for his place and celebrity in the 90s. His songs as I listen to them now sound timeless and fresh.

From Wikipedia:

Jackson did not use the hiccup technique— somewhat like a gulping for air or gasping— fully until the recording of Off the Wall: it be seen in full force in the "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" promotional video. [11]

The hiccup thing was so awesome! So fierce!!!!
With the arrival of Off the Wall in the late 1970s, Jac

kson's abilities as a vocalist were well regarded. At the time, Rolling Stone compared his vocals to the "breathless, dreamy stutter" of Stevie Wonder. Their analysis was also that "Jackson's feathery-timbred tenor is extraordinarily beautiful. It slides smoothly into a startling falsetto that's used very daringly".[170][171] 1982 saw the release of Thriller, and Rolling Stone were of the opinion that Jackson was then singing in a "fully adult voice" that was "tinged by sadness".[174]

This last observation about sadness in his vocals is something I think most of us overlook. I think this is really why his songs are so moving. 

When commenting on Invincible, Rolling Stone were of the opinion that—at the age of 43—Jackson still performed "exquisitely voiced rhythm tracks and vibrating vocal harmonies".[191] Nelson George summed up Jackson's vocals by stating "The grace, the aggression, the growling, the natural boyishness, the falsetto, the smoothness—that combination of elements mark him as a major vocalist".[175]

He had so much singing talent and it never went away. I really can't think of any other vocalist who kept such a great voice for such a long career. Its really sad to think about all the albums and records that could have been. I hate to end on a sad note, so here is a fun picture from back in the day:

iSteak

So recently I was about to grill up some steaks. I'll admit, I don't grill steaks very often at all, so whenever I do they either end up over done or under cooked. Enter the iSteak. I knew there had to be an app for this problem somewhere. So sure enough I went on the app store and found the iSteak for the ipod touch and iphone. A great little program that essentially has solved my steak cooking problems. It tells you exactly how long to cook your steaks depending on how you want them done and the cut of meat. The steaks turned out flawlessly!

http://www.vimeo.com/5476874

This American Life - My top 5

I've been listening to This American Life for a few years now. Heres some of my favorites. Each one here is world class radio. I've also included links in case you want to listen to them. Hopefully this show goes on forever...


5) Classifieds - Starlee Kine's segment where she puts together a band from the classifieds section should win an award of some sort.


4) 24 hours at the Golden Apple - What could be more interesting than interviewing everyone who goes to a diner over a 24 hour period. They should do more episodes like this!


3) 20 Acts in 60 Minutes - A lot of really great radio on this one. Lots of good stuff!


2) Breakup- Some of Starlee Kine's best work.


1) Scenes from a Mall - The stuff at the mall is okay, but this episode contains my all time favorite segment "Santa Fight Club" by Josh Bearman.



http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=223
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1276
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1179
http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1274
http://thisamericanlife.com/Radio_Episode.aspx?episode=241

What are your favorites??...

Angels and Demons

Angels and Demons...Wow! I really didn't like this movie. Pretty much it's one guy who is a knows it all solve a bunch of very cryptic riddles which is really no fun to watch. Theres a lot of running around and it's only at the end of the movie that things slow down, and we can have a true plot begin to develop. There was one cool scene with special effects but I don't want to give too much away in case you haven't seen it. Why can't Tom Hanks be in movies like he used to



That movie (NOT the influence for my Blog's name) is way more entertaining than Angels and Demons. Go see The Burbs. Not Angels and Demons!!!!!

Record Review: The Yeh-Yeh Girl from Paris! by Francoise Hardy

It’s really a shame you never hear about this album, but it’s a perfect pop record, a buried treasure in every sense of the word. Every song here is upbeat and the whole record has a light carefree tone. French isn’t my first language, but I can still make sense of the songs. The themes of the songs are pretty much what you would expect… “I love him, he loves me”, “he left and it sucks” “ill be fine” etc. etc.. It’s pretty much a record of radio ready singles (ready for 1965), full of hooks galore. Despite the fact that the target audience for this record when it was released in 1965 was probably 12-18 year old girls, it nevertheless stands up today for anyone of any age who wants to hear something that sounds really unique. It has aged well and is really hip in a strange way.
And that brings me to the production. Its pretty much Francoise singing in a longing , sometimes sad, sometimes happy tone. She’s backed by what sounds like a drummer, bassist, and somebody playing a guitar which I think sounds like a telecaster. That’s it. No double tracking or overdubs as far as I can tell. Well maybe some. Somehow that simple formula makes for one of the coolest sounding records I’ve heard in a long time and gives the record a very live feel. You get the sense that her and the band were just hanging out, having fun and recording a song every once in a while at a slow pace. I’ve heard some songs she recorded later in her career , but those are much more mature ballads with a full orchestra. Anyway, enough of my raving. If you want an enjoyable record full of fun songs you can listen to while doing whatever, have at it. If sugary pop, or the French language turns you off, then please steer clear.

Old Folks at Home (Swanee River)

Way Down Upon the Swanee River. What a nice song! and apparently Florida's state song. I wonder what Manitoba's provincial song is...
Here, enjoy this old rendition by an singer from France named Emma Calve. According to Wikipedia, Calvé was probably the most famous French female opera singer of the Belle Époque era. Contemporary accounts of her voice describe it as extraordinary


And of course, something more contemporary, a man playing it on a carrot


Enough for now. I think it is awesome that theres some really old songs out there with unreal melodies like this one.

Okay, just look at the covers of these albums. The similar style is striking. Either could have been a postcard sold in the 30s. But the similarities don’t end there. Billy Corgan said of Mellon Collie, its a record about
"the human condition of mortal sorrow". Aeroplane also deals with similar themes of loss and suffering and was influenced by the Diary of Anne Frank. Musically the 2 records are totally different. One is a radio ready hard rock record, while the other is a low fi folk rock record. One is two cds long, the other is only ten songs. Both however are populated by good songs, and the goodness far outweighs what is mediocre. Aeroplane is a lot more escapist, mellon collie routed in reality. Mellon Collie is double platinum, while aeroplane only sold a few hundred thousand. I think Aeroplane over the sea is the record Billy Corgan would have liked to have made. He was too confined in his own product line to venture into that territory however. Both are highpoints in 90s rock. Its interesting that Corgan and Mangum both had to go to the Century’s early years to find inspiration, at a time when that era seemed forgotten. ooo and if your looking for more similarities they both have 6 words in their title. any more?

PS I realize that a lot of ppl either love or hate either of these records...

Soundtrack of "Be Here to Love Me: A Film About Townes Van Zandt".
I got this CD a few weeks ago. It's a double disk so its taken me a while to digest. If you've seen the documentary then you know Townes Van Zandt is an amazing songwriter with an incredible story. A lot of his songs were performed by other people, but he put out his own records which he had trouble keeping in print. He wasn't very famous across the world or anything. His songwriting is too honest for that. His song structures are often very structured. Most of their meaning comes from the lyrics which again are really direct about what he was feeling, example: "Days full of rain, skies coming down again. I get so tired of these same old blues." His songs can pull you up to very high highs then drop you down to the pits. Often he's been described as a cross between Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan. He isn't as cool as Johnny Cash, and his songs are a lot more direct than Dylan. Listening to his records is like listening to an old man giving advice around a campfire. I mean that in the best of ways.
So what of this compilation? Its not a greatest hits record, rather it gives a much more balanced view of Townes' entire career. His early recordings like Waiting Around to Die sit alongside live unplugged performances which were featured in the movie. These are the best part because they give you a better sense of how he was onstage. "This song's about this good friend of mine named Rex Bell. Its called Rex's blues. You cut cards with Rex and you get a 3, he'll get a 2." I'm not going to judge the songs other than saying they're lyrically as beautiful if not more beautiful than anything being produced today. Full productions for some songs are included. All in all the record makes for a rewarding and often beautiful listen, though it is difficult at times. After all, Townes Van Zandt was an intense person with great burdens. He was the songwriter's songwriter. It's the real deal.

POEM 1

A nice picture of a fountain




Okay Here is a poem I wrote. I have a ton in my notebook that I'm very slowly in the process of typing.

This one is called

BEING THERE

Its about being at peace and in a good mental state. starts off sad wiith this guy who's completely alone but at peace. then this other couple who are taking a break from their relationship, then a servant at a rich italian villa, then a dialogue between a group of theatre performers chillin back stage. then things get very introspective indeed.


Part 1: Europe

On the ocean liner,
We once presumed the ice berg mist
Spraying through the air on the foghorm mourning.
Cold needles spat into the heart of our view
We sat and did nothing
“Three Cheers To the Governor, If he would be so kind!”

The coated beach along the rutting shades
Invites those who stab and pull
A million mussels and a million clams
Before breaths of afternoon resignations

We shall think it all through

When Charles should awaken he will observe
This embroidered tapestry on the walls
And the dance therein contained (!)
A few feet away one can observe Charles
Teardripping, tip, tip, onto grey concrete through musty breeze.
His suffering is temporary.

He gets up to speak out of the shadows proud
A million accounts to the welcome crowd

“If he would be so kind…and if you should wager
Your sole account…” and so forth he deals and doles
He used to have hair and tolerance
For those that spat and choked on Atlantic tides.
He fancies a sole carnation on his chest.

He works with numbers, and nobody cares.
Because he gives speeches,
We are moved and swayed. We are moved by his bravado
Of numbered dues and death. Tip Top.

In a smog tinged breath in kerosene fumes,
Outside the newspapers rattle and whisp.
If I listen closely I can hear a blowhorn
Summoning a hundred paperboys to morning stoops
And hotel lobbies.

Part 2: Actions and Dialogues

You bid me farewell a month ago
And with requested a timepiece
One with crossed hands
And writing on the face in vague English
Ticking and beckoning me to answer the question:
Shall I wait. Do I always?

I remember that writing on cousin Vaughn’s wrist
And sister Claire’s breast
I remember the ticking and the appointment, exhaust and anxiety

The first date was just fine
We had gone to the park and sat on a blanket
Drank rum and laughed for an afternoon
You had left your coat at home
The weather was fine
The rest o the day was a blur although,
I had a sore throat later on

Most of it registers
I remember the shopping, I will always be shopping, wasting money
The tills, the stop lights,
The tills I remember best
And the bags, I have no idea for those.

It shall be a fun trip for me
Take guard here while I see it all
I’m sure you will be just fine
No need to lock the doors these days
No one will come. My friends are gone.
Magnificent shopping these days
Just the best.

A centurion strolling through his garden kissed his wife
And rubbed his sons hair,
A sign for good luck.
His wife picking grape leaves cursed the daylight.
And in Asia, along the Ganges, a very similar scene
At the exact same time.
And across the Ocean at an Algonquin camp
A hunter mimicking the act within the same hour.
Not far away in the villa a musician Plucking the notes of a common tune
Got no notice from the women. He lives alone as do they
He is not always in tune anyway.

All this is fine, but that was then
I ignore the Thames

Up there, the air up there
Inside this chamber the buttons are covered in cheap plastic
We are pioneering at breakneck speed
Too fast, too fast
On our sally

Border Leon gave me this stamp
Red wax
Dripping onto the page I put my finger below
A demonic sting jars me aware of the letter’s destination.
I am branching out.
Caribbean hot wax, or a bill to the family salon
The Lambardo servant master will sign it upon arrival.
The marble statue shall be placed above the candle stalks
Before the dinner guests arrive.
Guillo come here won’t you please? The guests want a wine glass
For the reception. I’ll be here in the courtyard. They take it with some care,
So please…
Jazz o Jazz! O how I love that Jazz
I’m on fire, I’m on fire
But oh how I love that Jazz,
Like insect legs rumbling in my ear canals
O its coming on! The floor is going to take a beating they say
Let me get that wine for you down in the cellar
O

You see him tonight?
Somethin a’ that. Just got off stage.
Gee dam. I gotta see him.
Once in a long time, next year this still aint Broadway.
Go fix up dinner for the whole crew.
No no. Excuse me, but have you ever been to Paris?
How about Averyron?
Aveyron? Nono, it was not so much. I have a headache right now.
Go but come back soon.
Okay.
Like you said. Forget about Broadway. This isn’t so much.
He’s just a juggler.
Alright, now did you see how they were shouting for more?
You see how they were banging their fists on the front of the stage?
Yah, I saw that. Well I suppose he can juggle quite well indeed.
We had to juggle a lot back in Blackpool. That was a while ago
But he’s even better than us in our youth.
Our Youth?! Speak for yourself. I only had my first a few months ago.
And I think im right on track. Just on time.
Ah okay. Well like I said this aint a comedy act or a circus.
Hey you ever seen the lights show uptown?
Ya once with my first. Smoked a full cigar that night.
Daring of you.
Well that aint even part of it.
It was quite spectacular. This mister Tesla, this mister Marconi.
That’s the real magic. It aint the second act with the disappearing Samurai.
Aha.
There now you’ve done it.

Part 3: In our Ends we Find our Beginnings

Into the calm dimming we shall go
And its all just a matter of time
Waiting and growing you achieve
That which makes me smile

Go then, go like a race car
On a ten speed mentality
Double spring the inner mechanisms
Science and speed
Lots’a noise

I have soared in a trance
Past the white mountain
Past the forts.
My wings will not melt,
But vaporize in an electric mess

Disconnected thoughts cause me to tremble
With joy
I don’t quite move too much.
Though, when I lay my head down,
I am at peace
At the developments of the time

As I stroll along the darkened streets
I stop for a moment, a fleeting moment,
And consider the hundreds across the way
In pub seats and rose restaurants
Lifting a glass to toast
The joy of the time,
And I smile.
I wish it for you. I really do.