music, last week

About a week ago on the way to work I was listening to VU & Nico and beauty of this song just struck me that morning, although I listened to it so many times before over last... wow, 20 years.

Later I was driving home with my son (7 y.o.) and he asked for some music, so I turned the player on and it happened to be this song again. To my surprise he knew and remembered it, even liked it and sang some words along.
(A few months ago he also liked a video of the Einsturzende Neubauten concert, but that's a different story. :)

Also, driving my daughter (11 y.o.) home from her gym, we happened to listen to Pink Floyd's "Wall" on the radio - which was first time for her, and she also told me she really liked it.

Not bad!
Although it may seem bleak compared to her asking to play CDs by Bjork and David Byrne when she was just 2-3 years old. :)

everybody knows

Listened yesterday with my son, while in the car, to Leonard Cohen. His songs are usually sad and slow, not the type my extra-energy 7 year old would typically like. Suddenly, while the first song - "Everybody Knows" - has not yet finished, he asked to go back and play it again when it's over. To my surprise and delight, needless to say.

He was listening intently, and then later said that what Leonard sings in that song doesn't make sense. I asked "why?", and he explained: "he sings: everybody knows the war is over, and the good guys lost - that doesn't make sense".

Does it?

I love my son and Mr. Cohen. "Everybody knows that's how it goes, everybody knows..."

too blind, need help

Was listening to Dylan yesterday ("Slow Train Coming"), and these words stuck with/in me especially:

Shine your light

Shine your light on me

You know I just couldn’t make it by myself

I’m a little too blind to see

Love Dylan.

Nick Cave

On the way to work listened to “No More Shall We Part” album by Nick Cave. He used to be a punk, but with the age he came to Christ and is quite different now. But what I can hear in his later music is really the same as from the older days: a crying soul, beautiful and innocent as a child. Often aching, ill, sometimes angry, but still beautiful in its sincerity, searching and longing for its Creator.

Lord, stay by me
Don't go down
I will never be free
If I'm not free now

Paskha is coming.

"I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me..." (Psalm 23, 4)

By a chance, I got to our Community Orchestra concert yesterday, mostly classical music. Michael, my co-parishioner, was part of it - he plays cello - and I learned of the concert in the church. I'm glad I went, the orchestra did a great job. Out of what they played, 2 pieces were very special to me. Even though their "topics" were different, I listened without looking at the titles.

First one reminded me of Palm Sunday: the trombones (and maybe other instruments) were playing a middle-eastern melody, which triggered me to think in that direction. Generally the music was joyous and sunny but with some worrying, trouble interwoven deep inside.

It turned out to be "Dance Bacchanale" by Camille Saint-Saens.

Then there was couple of pieces where two trumpets solo'd, but those didn't stick with me: either the trumpets were confused, or I simply was not on the right wave for that music.

And then came the piece by Stravinsky which just blew me away. It started very grave and sorrowful, and I thought: this sounds like the Holy Friday. But then somehow it turned into hope, and then into joy which sounded to me like Pascha. It moved me to tears. It's called "Berceuse and Finale" and I found a good recording here, but of course it's not the same as listening to this live in a concert hall.

Closer to the end came a piece by Tchaikovsky, and the beginning was a fantastic moment: it was a beautiful instrumental version of "Thy Resurrection, o Christ, our Savior..." And what better day for this than this Sunday before the Lent starts? But I can't say I enjoyed what came after the opening: it was doubtlessly great music, but after living through Stravinsky's transition I just experienced it sounded too light for me, disconnected from the meaning of the beginning.

Well, let's begin our journey to the Holy Paskha, and hope we come a little closer to glorifying Him with pure hearts.

"Beautiful Boys" by Yoko Ono

In addition to the previous post on boys inside men, here's a beautiful song from "Double Fantasy" album - "Beautiful Boys":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAb-7-G5eBA

The photos are interesting, especially because of John's 70th birthday tomorrow, but they are kind of distracting, diverting attention from the song itself. So, it might be better to listen with eyes shut.

Also, if you don't like the music or singing style, or just want to follow the words along with the music, here is the song's poetry:

You're a beautiful boy,
With all your little toys,
Your eyes have seen the world
Though you're only four years old.
And your tears are streaming
Even when you're smiling,
Please, never be afraid to cry.

You're a beautiful boy,
With all your little ploys,
Your mind has changed the world.
And you're now forty years old,
You got all you can carry
And still feel somehow empty.
Don't ever be afraid to fly.

All you beautiful boys,
Creating multiple plays.
You like to fence in your world
And settle down when you're old.
You can run from pole to pole
And never scratch your soul.
Don't be afraid to go to hell and back,
Don't be afraid to go to hell and back,
Don't be afraid to be afraid.