Music for Life

Over the last four weeks I've been sending three tracks to a friend of mine each week in response to her saying that she 'loved all types of music'. So this was the test - what would she think of this selection of tracks from here and there.

Part I
First up an epic piece of dance music. I just LOVE this. LOVE it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZSnoaLWCVU

Next is an absolute stonker by A R Rahman (yes, the legend himself) and if you can just ignore the well oiled bodies and listen the the music and the rhythm - oh my god, that rhythm - I dare you to tell me that you dont love it. Go on, dare you......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9dnRFyGQzg

Lastly, Praan is the wonderful song that in this vid. Written by Garry Schyman and sung by Palbasha Siddique. The text is from the Bengali poem Gitanjali ("Stream of Life"). I defy you, Tim, the kids hell even the neighbours and the postman to watch the video not smile, laugh and just feel damn good about life!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zlfKdbWwruY


Part II
This weeks three for free should touch the more mellow, reflective side of the soul.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhN7SG-H-3k Achingly beautiful. Nuff said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUZcHZEficE Steve Hackett, a man blessed by the Gods.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBfKXHoSvDM Beethoven & von Karajan: perfection.


Part III
This week’s three for free showcases humour in music.....

Tom Lehrer, The Masochism Tango http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TytGOeiW0aE The man was a bona fide genius and lyrics like “Bash in my brain and make me scream with pain, then kick me once again and say we’ll never part” are timeless.

Jake Thackray, Sister Josephine http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FE-BKrAAZGc Another forgotten genius.

And I could have gone for Weird Al Yankovitch or any one of thousands of DIY post YouTube parodies but this seems like one of the better ‘modern ones’> The Key of Awe$ome taking the piss out of Kesha’s TikTok http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7n8GqewJ2M “Wake up in the morning looking greener than Shrek, sleeping in a tub can really mess up your neck…….”


Part IV
And so to the last trio of tracks, my final three for free.

I wanted to pick tracks that I admire, that changed the way I think about music and that have stood the test of time: tracks that I can listen to forever. I also wanted to go ‘pop’ having dipped into the waters of world music, quasi-classical and humour. And so armed with a few rules, I then trust my gut and this is what I came up with.

Bowie: Young Americans http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VNw1ZPzqP9Q From the moment it was first released to yesterday I simply never tire of listening to this masterpiece.

The Jam: Down In The Tube Station At Midnight http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgwYYN_f60g&feature=related Quite simply the best lyrics in any pop song ever ever ever. Nuff said. End of.

The Smiths: How Soon Is Now http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_U5HpeA_WSo with a guitar riff and rhythm that send shivers up my spine.

So no Genesis, no Oysterband, no Tubular Bells, no Beatles, no Abba, no Jackson 5, no Police, no Blue Man Group, no West Coast fusion, no Easy Listening (Matt Munro = God), no Soul, no HiNRG, no Disco, no Cantonese pop (oh yes I love MayDay)…oh my god I could fill hours with awesome music.

And that’s your lot.

Enjoy.

~