Category: music

>DAS RHEINGOLD baby!

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>I know nothing about opera. Recently, however, I listened to Radio Lab‘s podcast on Richard Wagner’s ring cycle, and how some people go crazy for the thing, and how truly brilliant the whole thing is. Somehow it hooked me and I needed to find out more.


As performed in 1990 by The Metropolitan Opera

I checked out the first part, Das Rheingold, of this multi-part massive opera. My daughter and I are slowly working through it and let me tell you… wow! I can see why people go crazy for the ring cycle. For all his faults Wagner must have been a genius. Of course you already knew that.


Wagner emanating.

I mean, just look at those brows! And that forehead! They are operatic all by themselves.

And for all the craziness of opera it has its appeal. Years ago I saw the opera’s La bohème and Carmen, both of which I loved. I’m realizing I need to educate myself about opera and see a lot more. Maybe I too shall become crazy for opera!

>a couple of music videos from Hem

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>Red Wing

Not California

know more here

>…they’ll be dancin’ in the streets (and elsewhere)

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>Did you ever have a goofy idea that turned into something really grand? One reason I love the Internet is how it gets people jazzed about producing and posting things that would otherwise have been just another “wouldn’t it be cool” idea discussed over beers.

Example: This guy made this video:

If you want to watch it in Hi-Res, go here and choose the “watch in high quality” link under the video.

I should add this was sent to me by my friend Brian. Thanks Brian!

>i met the walrus

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>If you were 14 years old, had a tape recorder, and was able to sneak into John Lennon’s hotel room to ask him some questions, what would you ask?

If you still had that tape recording 38 years later, what would you do with it?

A different high school musical: Bugsy Malone

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We own both High School Musical (2006) and High School Musical 2 (2007). I have to say that I like both of them quiet a lot, because they’re so perfectly goofy and I like to see that musicals just might make a comeback. And they tend to get played over and over again in our house. This is, of course, because my eldest daughter loves the films.

I remember (or rather I reminisce) many years ago I was similarly taken with another musical featuring high school aged kids rather than adults. In this case, though, the kids played dress up, apparently raiding the old clothes trunk in their grandparent’s attic. I am referring to the musical Bugsy Malone (1976).

Bugsy Malone was directed by Alan Parker. Interestingly, his next film was Midnight Express (1978). I can’t think to two more diametrical opposed films. The story of Bugsy Malone takes place during prohibition. There are gangsters and gals, rich and poor, big song numbers, lots of dancing, and a pie fight. It’s just good fun, thought it may be a bit dated by now.

The songs were written by Paul Williams. I think it represents some of his best work. Here is the final big number:

One aspect of Bugsy Malone that I alway appreciated was it’s look at all strata of society – or at least a picture of our greater society presented as its simplified “world.” In many ways this is a very mature film, especially given that it’s a musical performed by kids. Here is one of my favorite numbers:

And, in case you didn’t know, Bugsy Malone featured a great performance by a young Jodie Foster:

I don’t have any idea what the future of the musical will be, but I have to say I don’t think it is a dead genre. And I don’t think musicals have to be only animated features. The two High School Musical films show that good songs, good performances, good choreography, and shiny happy people can still make for a fun time.

Finally, if you’ve got nothing better to do at work, here’s the complete Bugsy Malone (complete with Swedish? or Norwegian? subtitles too).

http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=-2544817728959240414&hl=en

>the thermals

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>Thermals are created by the uneven heating of the Earth’s surface from solar radiation.

The Thermals are a band out of Portland, OR. I likes’em!

How We Know

Pillar of Salt

Returning to the Fold

No Cultural Icons

From their bio-page:

The Thermals’ crowning achievement came in fall of 2005, when, reworking the pop-punk format, they discovered a fourth chord. It’s F#minor, in case you were wondering.

>vintage Glass Harp

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>My last post was about the passing of musician Larry Norman. That post got me thinking about my interest in Christian music back in the 1970s. Back then the pickings were rather slim. But there were a few individuals and bands that stood out. One of those individuals was guitarist Phil Keaggy

There is a story (myth?) about Phil Keaggy that goes something like this: Jimmy Hendrix was asked once how it felt to be the world’s greatest guitar player. Hendrix is reported to have replied, “I don’t know, why don’t you go ask Phil Keaggy?” If that is true (it’s probably urban legend) it would have occurred when Keaggy played for the band Glass Harp. Regardless, Keaggy has had a long reputation as one of the best, if not as well known, guitarists in the world.

Glass Harp was not a “Christian” band (whatever that is), and eventually Keaggy left the band to pursue music in the, then new, contemporary Christian music scene. Remarkably, here is a rare clip of Glass Harp (from a once lost 1972 PBS broadcast?) with Keaggy on lead guitar:

One reason I post this is that in the late 1970s and early 1980s my friends and I used to talk about Glass Harp as though it was some golden chalice. We had never heard Glass Harp and we could not get hold of any ablums. We only had stories and rumors. Glass Harp was this great mystery we imagined. Now, to my surprise and pleasure, I find Glass harp on YouTube!

Phil Keaggy is still jamming. And now, again, is Glass Harp with Keaggy.

>Band of Horses: Is There a Ghost

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>Band of Horses is a guitar band through and through. Cease to Begin is their most recent album. Is There a Ghost is a song from that album.

So, just in case you might be interested. . .

Here’s what they look like on Letterman:

Here’s what they look like when you go see them:

And here’s the music video:

I am going to get the album.

>a beatlely evening

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>Last night Lily and I watched A Hard Day’s Night (1964). It was a first for both of us. Here are some images from the opening sequence:








Even now, 44 years later, the film still is fun to watch and one can get a glimpse of why the Beatles were so popular, and still are. Lily asked me why everyone was chasing them and screaming so much. When the end credits showed up she exclaimed “it’s over?!” as though she could have watched at least another hour or so.

>some (not-personally-related-to-me) events that happened new year’s

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>Two things you might have missed New Year’s Eve, each important (and not important) in their own way:

1. The new Radiohead concert film Scotch Mist

Okay, so it’s not A Hard Day’s Night, but I love these guys, and this kind of thing truly inspires me. I’ve got to do a better job of learning to play my telecaster!

2. The new record for the longest motorcycle jump

My first thought was “get thee to a James Bond movie.” Don’t you think Bond films should once again set the standards for record breaking stunts? Sign this guy up.