Category Archives: Songs

These Are the Fables

I have previously posted another song by the Canadian indie rock supergroup, The New Pornographers, “Champions of Red Wine.” Lately, I’ve heard quite a few great songs by this group, and I enjoy their sound with the variety of singers and instruments they use in their music. Today’s selection is one I’ve listened to often,Continue reading “These Are the Fables”

Jersey Girl

I mentioned yesterday that, while writing the post Corin Raymond’s “Morning Glories,” I was listening to the 25-song mix he offered as a perk during his crowdfunding campaign for the album Dirty Mansions. One song from the mix CD that truly captured my heart and soul was “Jersey Girl” by American singer, songwriter, actor andContinue reading “Jersey Girl”

Morning Glories

The fifth annual Crankie Festival takes place this week from Friday to Sunday in Winnipeg, Canada, where I live. The music and art festival website describes the crankie as “a moving panorama, an old storytelling art form that was popular in the 18th century.” My sweety and I have attended most of these festivals, andContinue reading “Morning Glories”

Second livre de pièces de clavecin, Sixième ordre: V. Les barricades mystérieuses (Arr. for guitar by Antoine Fougeray)

My apologies to subscribers and followers for not publishing a post yesterday. I was not feeling very energetic and didn’t have it in me to research or write anything. Later in the evening I thought of a couple of songs, either of which might have made for a quick post, but as I thought ofContinue reading “Second livre de pièces de clavecin, Sixième ordre: V. Les barricades mystérieuses (Arr. for guitar by Antoine Fougeray)”

Fortress Around Your Heart

Today is my 700th post on Song of the Day for Today! Thanks for joining me here. Let’s celebrate with some music, shall we? The English singer, songwriter, musician and actor Sting (aka Gordon Summer, b. 1951) is an artist I’ve admired since first hearing him as the lead singer and bassist of the post-punk,Continue reading “Fortress Around Your Heart”

World Stops Turning

In searching for something in a style I haven’t focused much on in this blog, I went through The 100 Best Songs of 2022 playlist from Apple Music. I found a song by a band I’ve never intentionally listened to, the Ontario, Canada, post-hardcore, hard rock band Alexisonfire. Alexisonfire (pronounced Alexis on fire) is aContinue reading “World Stops Turning”

(There’ll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover

I suppose there should be no surprise that today’s selection came to mind today, with Russia’s War in Ukraine raging on, and World War I vividly recalled in movies like All Quiet on the Western Front (2022), the third film based on the 1928 book by German-born author Erich Paul Remark (1898-1970), and the 2022Continue reading “(There’ll Be Bluebirds Over) The White Cliffs of Dover”

Sign of the Times

Yesterday I was having another look at the video for Psychic Temple’s “When I Know,” as my sweety had commented about the drummer in the video. I hadn’t noticed him much in my earlier views of it, but a few shots of him show him really grooving to the music. Immediately after that video finished,Continue reading “Sign of the Times”

Prélude in G Minor, Op. 23, No. 5

Not only is today Classical Sunday; it’s also that dreaded day when we move the clocks an hour ahead for the spring-forward edition of the absurd, twice-annual time change (which, though only a move of an hour, seems to mess up my internal clock and wake-up time for weeks). We also babysat the older ofContinue reading “Prélude in G Minor, Op. 23, No. 5”

When I Know

This morning I heard another new-to-me song by a group I’d not heard of before. Interestingly, after featuring a piece a couple of days ago and being drawn to the banjo line in it, “When I Know,” by the California, USA-based musical project Psychic Temple, has a catchy string-driven melody with mandolin, double bass, andContinue reading “When I Know”

Rain Plans

Often when I hear a song, it reminds me of other music. Like I wrote yesterday, some tracks from the Pink Floyd album Division Bell reminded me of music from their earlier albums Animals, Wish You Were Here, and The Wall. Other times, a song will remind me of a completely different artist. Does thatContinue reading “Rain Plans”

Take It Back

Today, getting on the road to spend the day caring for our youngest grandson, the sprawling arena rock sounds of English progressive rock superstars Pink Floyd came to life on the car stereo with their environmental anthem, “Take It Back.” The song, from their album Division Bell (1994), is one I didn’t know before hearingContinue reading “Take It Back”

Emmawood

Sometimes a simple song comes along, and you like it, and there’s not too much more to make of it. That’s what I’m thinking about “Emmawood,” from the self-titled debut album by Buildings Breathing, released in 2006, the same year the indie band formed in California, USA. It’s a song I’ve heard several times onContinue reading “Emmawood”

For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fatherless in Ypsilanti

Suggestions of new music to listen to are something I always welcome, as I tend to stick with posting stuff I know or discover. One of our sons occasionally sends me songs to introduce me to something I might not find on my own. For instance, I don’t listen to rap; similar to jazz, IContinue reading “For the Widows in Paradise, for the Fatherless in Ypsilanti”

Do I Wanna Know?

Yesterday for Classical Sunday, I featured a piece from a film soundtrack. And today, we’re staying with soundtracks; this time from the BBC TV series Peaky Blinders, which starred Irish actor Cillian Murphy (b. 1976) as the series’ lead role for the six seasons it ran between 2013 and 2022. Sweety and I recently startedContinue reading “Do I Wanna Know?”

Ruin and Memory – Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Movement II: Largo (from the film, Pieces of a Woman)

Last night was pizza and movie night for my sweety and me; it’s our Saturday thing. We worked together in the kitchen and even had a slow and wonderful “kitchen dance” to yesterday’s song. We tried a new recipe for the crust; it was thinner and a bit chewier… we both liked it. After indecisivelyContinue reading “Ruin and Memory – Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, Movement II: Largo (from the film, Pieces of a Woman)”

Peacock Dance

I first heard “Peacock Dance” by the New York, New York, USA singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and composer Matt Kanelos sometime around the middle of last year. The song captured my heart and soul; I have loved listening to it since then, and today it’s time to share it with you. “Peacock Dance” is one of theContinue reading “Peacock Dance”

Got to Get You into My Life

Many people will recognize today’s selection as the title of a 1966 song by the English rock band the Beatles. Today though, I’m featuring the famous 1978 cover by Earth, Wind & Fire. The music of this American group, which was formed in 1969 and is still active, touches on many music genres, including rhythmContinue reading “Got to Get You into My Life”

Morning Song for Sally

My selection for today is the eighth song I’ve written about by the American country-folk singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith (1953-2021; please also see “So Long Ago” which I posted in September 2021, soon after her death, for a link that will take you to a series of earlier, interlinked posts on her music). I always enjoyContinue reading “Morning Song for Sally”

When the Day Goes Down

I don’t usually post two songs by the same band in close succession. But then again, it’s well over a month since I wrote about the British new wave/synth-pop band Eurythmics’ blockbuster “Would I Lie to You?” (after you finish you’re here, check out that post; the song and video are amazing!). While I workedContinue reading “When the Day Goes Down”

Barracuda

Today after meditation and other morning routines, I scrolled through social media for a few minutes and serendipitously landed on a video of “Barracuda,” the blazing 1977 hit by Heart, a rock band formed in 1967 (as The Army) in Seattle, Washington, USA. The song actually gets a mention in my post from nearly threeContinue reading “Barracuda”

Home

Today’s selection is the only song I know by the indie folk/alternative rock band Villagers, formed in Dublin, Ireland, in 2008. I think I first heard “Home” on either KEXP Seattle or Apple Music. The song has an interesting structure wherein the single-line chorus, sung in group harmony, has no detachment from the verses, whichContinue reading “Home”

Thaïs, Act II: Méditation

Today for Classical Sunday, I popped onto YouTube and checked my feed’s “orchestral” tab. While today’s selection of a piano and cello duo isn’t exactly orchestral, I still appreciated the discovery. As I listened to the Meditation from Act II of the opera Thais by French Romantic era composer Jules Massenet (1842-1912), I realized IContinue reading “Thaïs, Act II: Méditation”

Once Upon Another Time

The first time I heard the music of American singer-songwriter and actor Sara Bareilles (b. 1979) was when I listened to “Winter Song,” co-written by her and fellow American singer, songwriter and actor Ingrid Michaelson (also b. 1979). It was a cover by the Canadian alternative folk/country trio, The Good Lovelies, performed during a musicalContinue reading “Once Upon Another Time”

Slow and Steady

I am confident that today’s selection will appeal to a dear friend and regular commenter who loves lyric videos. And I imagine he will like the song, too. The instrumentation is varied and creative, with dreamy sounds and interesting claps and other percussive elements that help make a warm and beautiful place that enwraps theContinue reading “Slow and Steady”

Picture You

The Swedish indie-pop/psychedelic rock band The Amazing is one Apple Music introduced to me. I didn’t know any of their songs other than today’s selection, “Picture You,” before playing some of their music as I sat down to write today’s post. So far, a feature of their music is psychedelia-infused guitar effects and synthesizers. TheContinue reading “Picture You”

Happy (from the film, Despicable Me 2)

It’s snowy and cold today in Winnipeg, Canada, where I live. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun. Just maybe not outside today, as it’s pretty windy on top of all that. So it was a good morning to do 55 kilometres (34 miles) on the indoor bike trainer with some pals onContinue reading “Happy (from the film, Despicable Me 2)”

Aria variata (alla maniera italiana) in A Minor, BWV 989

Today at Song of the Day for Today, it’s Classical Sunday, a weekly feature that’s been a tradition here since July 2020 after a suggestion from one of my brothers. Last week we skipped this segment as we were in the middle of exploring the full album Dark Little Ones (2023) by my son, CanadianContinue reading “Aria variata (alla maniera italiana) in A Minor, BWV 989”

Another Story

Today’s selection comes from the Seattle, Washington, USA-based indie-folk band, The Head and the Heart. I’m surprised I haven’t shared this one before; it’s a beautiful song. I don’t recall where I first heard “Another Story,” but I bought the track from the iTunes Store in November 2022, and it often plays on my AppleContinue reading “Another Story”

Told You So

Ever since posting about the song “Philosophia” by Ireland’s The Guggenheim Grotto, I’ve listened several of their songs playing randomly on Apple Music and have had some suggested for me on YouTube. In 2012, the Connecticut, USA newspaper Hartford Courant referred to their style as “folk-influenced indie-pop.” A piece of theirs that I hear oftenContinue reading “Told You So”

Come on Come on

Here at Song of the Day for Today, it’s back to regularly-scheduled programming, as they say, though today’s selection has a few similarities to the music we’ve read about and heard during the past nine days. I hope you had good time if you joined me to explore the full album, Dark Little Ones, byContinue reading “Come on Come on”

Start All Over Again

We’re on to the seventh track in our review of Dark Little Ones, the new album by Canadian singer-songwriter and musician Kieran West. We started a week ago with “Staying Home.” Today’s song, “Start All Over Again,” picks up the tempo with a drum-driven melody anchored by a distorted electric guitar. It’s a story ofContinue reading “Start All Over Again”

My Older Brother

Content warning:Today’s post and song deal with issues of mental health. Welcome here. Followers of this blog know that on Sundays, I post a piece of classical music. That feature is pre-empted this week as we’re partway through a deep dive into my son Kieran’s new album. Today I’m featuring the sixth track in ourContinue reading “My Older Brother”

First Skate / Last Skate

Welcome to day five of this series on Song of the Day for Today where we’re looking at Kieran West’s new album, Dark Little Ones. If you’re just joining us now, you can also head back to the first “Staying Home” post and catch up. We’ll sit and wait for you right here at theContinue reading “First Skate / Last Skate”

The Day We Made You Cut Your Hair (for I.L.)

Content warning: This post and song contain references to the Canadian Residential Schools system and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirited. This week we’re delving into Dark Little Ones, the new album released on February 4 by Canadian singer-songwriter and musician Kieran West. Each day, we’re looking at one of the nine songsContinue reading “The Day We Made You Cut Your Hair (for I.L.)”

Daisy Bay (featuring Sweet Alibi)

Today’s post is the second in a special series of nine on Song of the Day for Today. Each post will feature a song from Kieran West’s latest album, Dark Little Ones (2023). For some of my son Kieran’s musical history, please visit the first post in the series, “Staying Home.” Today’s track is “DaisyContinue reading “Daisy Bay (featuring Sweet Alibi)”

Anyone Who Had a Heart

Last night after my sweety and I watched an excellent, recorded episode of All Creatures Great and Small on PBS Masterpiece, the television returned to Dionne Warwick: Don’t Make Me Over, a documentary on the American singer, TV host and actor (b. 1940; please visit a previous post on one of her songs). Partway throughContinue reading “Anyone Who Had a Heart”

Symphony No. 5 in C Sharp Minor, IV: Adagietto

Today for Classical Sunday, I’ve selected a piece by Austro-Bohemian Romantic composer and conductor Gustav Mahler (1860-1911). He was very successful as a composer, and his compositions bridged the 19th-century Austro-German classical style and 20th-century modernism. Unfortunately, his music endured periods of not being played publicly, including a ban across much of Europe in theContinue reading “Symphony No. 5 in C Sharp Minor, IV: Adagietto”

Put Your Records On

This morning after early morning routines and chores, I called up an episode of Guy Garvey’s Finest Hour on the BBC Sounds app (January 22, 2023: “Elbow’s Lead Singer Broadcasts from Cloaky Studios,” recorded in Garvey’s newly-built home studio). Early on in the playlist was a recommendation from the Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom,Continue reading “Put Your Records On”

Lost on You

It’s been nearly three years since I posted a song by the American alternative rock singer, songwriter and musician LP (b. 1981 as Laura Pergolizzi), “Other People.” That song is one of a trio of favourites for one of my siblings (along with “Heaven” and “Everything Now”), and after us talking about it last weekend,Continue reading “Lost on You”

Robotic

Do you ever feel like life needs a “reset” button when things are out of control? Or maybe things are so off-kilter that total reprogramming is what’s needed… That’s what Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based Hannah Georgas (b. 1983) is saying in “Robotic.” “Someone fill me in on what I missedCome on give me hope, tellContinue reading “Robotic”

Solid Ground

Serendipitously, after yesterday’s “walk on the ocean,” today we’re back on solid ground. Browsing through some YouTube suggestions, I found an achingly beautiful video of English indie rock/soul singer-songwriter and musician Michael Kiwanuka (b. 1987) performing an acoustic version of his song “Solid Ground.” There is melancholy in the singer’s plea for help and reassurance,Continue reading “Solid Ground”

Walk on the Ocean

Today on the way home from a three-hour breakfast meetup with two of my brothers, one of the first songs to start playing randomly on Apple CarPlay was “Walk on the Ocean” by the American alternative rock band Toad the Wet Sprocket. It’s a song I’ve heard many times before but always in the background,Continue reading “Walk on the Ocean”

A Change Is Gonna Come

The American singer-songwriter Sam Cooke (1931-1964) is considered one of the most influential soul music artists of all time, and this distinction earned him the title “King of Soul.” Several musicians I follow are admirers of the music Cooke made in his career, from 1951 until his death by homicide in 1964 at age 33.Continue reading “A Change Is Gonna Come”

Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Minor, BWV 1001, II: Fuga

Today on Classical Sunday, I’m featuring a piece for solo violin written as part of a collection, the Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin BWV 1001-1006, completed in 1720 by the German composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750). I’ve previously posted about another work in this series, the Partita for Violin Solo No. 1 in BContinue reading “Violin Sonata No. 1 in G Minor, BWV 1001, II: Fuga”

Lucky Few

This week I’ve taken an abbreviated tour of the decades, and today, we’re up to the current one. The first song I listened to today from the 2020s on Apple Music random play was “Lucky Few,” by indie/folk-rock singer, songwriter and musician Tim Baker of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada. Hearing the openingContinue reading “Lucky Few”

Exodus of the Year

Content warning: lyrics contain a cussword. Today on my circuitous look back at a few decades, we’re on to the 2010s and today’s random selection is by a group formed in the first year of that decade. Royal Canoe is an alternative pop band whose members come from my city, Winnipeg, Canada, and the neighbouringContinue reading “Exodus of the Year”

Fallin’

Continuing with the focus on decades (though I messed up so far by missing the 1970s and posting two from the ’90s… oh well), today I’m featuring a song from the ’00s, 2000-2009. American singer-songwriter and classically-trained pianist Alicia Keys’ (b. 1981 as Alicia Augello Cook) rhythm & blues/soul debut single “Fallin’” sits at #62Continue reading “Fallin’”

Wonderful

Well, since I started the week with a 1970s tune, then posted a song from the ’80s yesterday, I might as well go with that trend and feature something from the ’90s today for my 650th post on Song of the Day for Today. (Edit, Jan. 26: okay, I didn’t start with the 1970s… andContinue reading “Wonderful”

Precious Things

Well, from yesterday’s post on a 1980s song, let’s move on to the 90s! I’ve been a fan of the classically-trained American singer-songwriter and pianist Tori Amos (b. 1963) since one of our sons introduced me to her music through her 2001 covers album Strange Little Girls (please see my posts on her renditions ofContinue reading “Precious Things”

Would I Lie to You?

While I keep discovering new-to-me music from the present and sometimes the past, I find I often go back to songs from the 1980s. That was an influential time for me in developing my musical tastes not only in rock and new wave but also in classical. So back to the 80s it is todayContinue reading “Would I Lie to You?”

Mitt hjerte alltid vanker

Welcome to Classical Sunday on Song of the Day for Today. This morning, I was excited to stumble upon a new-to-me recording by Norwegian violinist Mari Samuelsen (b. 1984). “Mitt hjerte alltid vanker,” which translates to “My Heart Will Always Wander,” is an old Danish hymn. Christian Badzura, the German classical record label Deutsche Grammophon’sContinue reading “Mitt hjerte alltid vanker”

Like I Used To

Today is a grandchild caregiving day with another outing to The Leaf in Winnipeg, Canada, then out for lunch, and tonight I’ll be going to a retirement dinner to celebrate a former colleague. The latter will be my first large gathering since the pandemic began, and the first time I’ll see some of my formerContinue reading “Like I Used To”

Everybody Here Wants You

Today’s selection is new to me, as would be most music by the American singer-songwriter and guitarist Jeff Buckley (1966-1997); I have never been familiar with his music, and certainly not during his short lifetime. I’ve previously posted a cover of “Song for the Siren,” by American musician Tim Buckley (1947-1975) and, for a while,Continue reading “Everybody Here Wants You”

Like a Rolling Stone

Today I went to my YouTube feed and took a little trip down an internet rabbit hole, ending up on a page with videos featuring English guitarist Jeff Beck (1944-2023), who died a week ago in East Sussex, England. I never followed Beck’s career, though I recall my older brothers enjoying his music when weContinue reading “Like a Rolling Stone”

Prière in F Major, Op. 16 (Arr. for Classical Accordion & Piano)

The accordion is not a musical instrument I automatically associate with classical music, though I did hear a concerto for accordion and orchestra back in the late 1980s or early 1990s. Canadian composer and accordionist Jim Hiscott (b. 1948) wrote the concerto and played the solo part, accompanied by the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. It wasContinue reading “Prière in F Major, Op. 16 (Arr. for Classical Accordion & Piano)”

Unconditional

I first heard the music of English musician and singer-songwriter Nick Mulvey (b. 1984) on Guy Garvey’s Finest Hour which airs Sundays on BBC 6 Music. That program has been a staple of my musical diet for years, though I haven’t listened to it much in the last month or two. From the first listen,Continue reading “Unconditional”

The Old and the Young

After lunch and today’s aventure with one of our grandkids, I opened up Apple Music on my laptop and “The Old and the Young,” by the Denton, Texas, USA folk-rock sestet Midlake, was the first song to play. Today’s selection is about holding onto dignity and grace while aging. Younger folk sometimes see older peopleContinue reading “The Old and the Young”

Even in the Quietest Moments

It’s been many years since I’ve listened to the song “Even in the Quietest Moments” by the English progressive rock band Supertramp. The 1977 album of the same name came up in the suggestions on my YouTube stream today. In my previous post on the group’s hit “Gone Hollywood,” I describe seeing the band inContinue reading “Even in the Quietest Moments”

Seattle

Many people are familiar with the British guitarist, singer-songwriter and record producer Mark Knopfler (b. 1949). If not, they’d probably know of Dire Straits, the band he co-founded and fronted from 1977-1988 and 1990-1995. Dire Straits burst onto the music scene in 1978 with their debut, self-titled album. Side two of the record opens withContinue reading “Seattle”

Miss Sarajevo

In 1995, English musician, composer, producer, author and visual artist Brian Eno (b. 1948) teamed up with the Irish rock band U2 on a side project called Passengers. They released one album, Original Soundtracks 1. Eno chronicled the Passengers project in his 1995 diaries, published in 1996 as A Year with Swollen Appendices (the appendicesContinue reading “Miss Sarajevo”

Hit the Coast

Last summer, when I started writing down the names of songs for future posts on Song of the Day for Today, one of the first titles I recorded was “Hit the Coast,” by the Baltimore, Maryland, USA-based synth-pop group, Future Islands. Soon after, I added their hit, “Seasons (Waiting on You).” The latter track wasContinue reading “Hit the Coast”

Nocturne No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 9, No. 1

Content warning: This post and song contain references to the Canadian Residential Schools system and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirited. Welcome to the first Classical Sunday of the year on Song of the Day for Today! I’m glad you’re here. Today, I am featuring a nocturne for piano by the Polish composerContinue reading “Nocturne No. 1 in B-Flat Minor, Op. 9, No. 1”

Crystal Caving

The song “Crystal Caving” sometimes plays from the personalized choices Apple Music serves up on its “Steve’s Station” playlist while I prepare the toppings for our traditional Saturday pizza, for pizza and movie night. My sweety simmers marinara sauce in large batches and freezes it, and creates the crust. I make the toppings and bakeContinue reading “Crystal Caving”

Warning Signs

Today, Song of the Day for Today is three years old! Thanks for dropping by today to share a little music together. Music is such a powerful force in life. It can influence moods, motivate and move us, create community, and enrich us. Happy, sad or in-between songs, all music can be inspirational and therapeutic.Continue reading “Warning Signs”

Days

As with Sunday’s selection, today’s is a song I only first heard in the last year and, likewise, on Apple Music’s personalized picks. “Days” comes from Reality (2003), the 24th studio album by English singer-songwriter and actor David Bowie (1947-2016). Though I’ve considered myself a fan since first hearing his music in the early 1970sContinue reading “Days”

Heading for Nowhere

I first heard the Victoria, British Columbia, Canada band Jets Overhead through their song “Heading for Nowhere,” a song with an appealing, road trip kind of vibe. The song has a very catchy and highly melodic sound, founded on a driving beat featuring the trademark, fuzzy sounds of bassist Jocelyn Greenwood’s instrument setup and otherContinue reading “Heading for Nowhere”

Coming Up Close

Hi! And happy new year! For those who receive my posts by email, it probably comes as a surprise to see a message from me today, since I haven’t published a post since April 29, 2022. If you’ve dropped by here in the past, you will know I enjoy listening to music throughout the day. AndContinue reading “Coming Up Close”

Both Sides Now (from the film, CODA)

As a person born with the miraculous gift of hearing, I savour the sounds of music, people and the world, every single day. Music has such power that it can elicit many moods and feelings. Each morning, I turn on my computer and speakers and listen to music while going about my morning routines. It’sContinue reading “Both Sides Now (from the film, CODA)”

Champions of Red Wine

I can’t remember for sure but think I first heard “Champions of Red Wine” by Canadian indie rock group The New Pornographers on KEXP Seattle’s The Morning Show with John Richards. Either that, or on Apple Music. Anyway, The New Pornographers aren’t a band I know much about, though after reading about them today IContinue reading “Champions of Red Wine”

Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007, I: Prelude

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) wrote the Cello suites, BWV 1007-1012, six pieces for unaccompanied cello, between 1717 and 1723. The suites are very technical and complex; not unusual characteristics for Bach’s music. Surviving copies of the original manuscript were not annotated and, therefore, difficult to interpret. The music was not well known or publicly performedContinue reading “Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV 1007, I: Prelude”

Nothing Good Comes to Those Who Wait

Nine years after its release, I still find the alternative rock compilation Arts & Crafts: X a captivating grouping of musical brilliance. No wonder it is one of my favourite compilation albums. I’ve previously posted about two other tracks from the album: the hypnotic and brooding tale of a solo travelling musician, “Lonely Is asContinue reading “Nothing Good Comes to Those Who Wait”

Line of Fire

Today’s selection is a song I’ve heard many times on Apple Music, and have thought several times about sharing. It’s by Junip, a Swedish rock band. A trio of childhood friends, Jose Gonzalez, Elias Araya and Tobias Winterkorn, formed the band in 1998. Araya left the group around 2010, and the remaining duo has keptContinue reading “Line of Fire”

Sicilienne, Op. 78 (Arr. for Flute and Guitar)

In 1892, a theatre manager in Paris, France, asked French organist, pianist, composer and conductor Charles-Camille Saint-Saens (1835-1921) to write incidental music for the production of a play by the French poet, actor and playwright Jean-Baptiste Polequin (aka Moliere, 1622-1673).  Articles on Wikipedia tell that Saint-Saens was too busy to take on the proposition. HeContinue reading “Sicilienne, Op. 78 (Arr. for Flute and Guitar)”

I Talk to the Wind (Duo Version)

The English progressive rock band King Crimson is a group I don’t know much about. There’s a lengthy article about them on Wikipedia, and I skimmed it looking for bits of info I’d maybe recognize about the band, which formed in London, England, in 1968. The only members of the band I’m relatively familiar withContinue reading “I Talk to the Wind (Duo Version)”

One Quiet Night

It’s a snow day here on the prairies in Canada. A spring blizzard started overnight and is expected to continue until Friday morning, bringing up to 80 centimetres (31 inches) of snow in some areas. We’re more likely to receive less than half of that amount in Winnipeg, Canada. Today’s snow is heavy, wet andContinue reading “One Quiet Night”

Étude Op. 25, No. 1 in A-Flat Major

Today on Classical Sunday, I’m sharing a solo piano piece by Frederic Chopin (1810-1849). I’ve previously posted several works by the Polish composer. The Etude Op. 25, No. 1 in A-Flat Major was composed in 1836 and features fast arpeggios throughout. The piece is also known as “Aeolian Harp” and “The Shepherd Boy,” the latterContinue reading “Étude Op. 25, No. 1 in A-Flat Major”

Charango

In my May 2020 post about the Morcheeba song “Otherwise,” I tell how I heard of the group and found the British electronic trio’s fourth studio album, Charango. Please check out that post and song while you’re visiting. Today’s selection ventures into a genre I know almost nothing about, rap. The album title track “Charango”Continue reading “Charango”

Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)

Today’s selection was English singer-songwriter Kate Bush’s most successful song of the 1980s. It opens her 1985 album Hounds of Love and was also issued as a 12-inch single record. I remember being very excited about the record’s release and buying the single and, later, the album. The single was released as “Running Up ThatContinue reading “Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)”

String Duo No. 1 in G Major for Violin and Viola, K. 423, II: Adagio

Earlier today, I thought I would like to post about a piece featuring the viola. It’s an instrument with a beautiful tone, slightly deeper than a violin and less so than a cello; it helps fill out the soundscape of a string orchestra. Surfing around YouTube, I landed on a wonderful string duo featuring AmericanContinue reading “String Duo No. 1 in G Major for Violin and Viola, K. 423, II: Adagio”

Spring Frost

Today’s selection is the eighth track I’ve shared from the 2020 collaboration album Mixing Colours by English ambient musicians and brothers Brian Eno and Roger Eno. In my June 2021 post on “Iris,” I provide a link to an earlier post that, in turn, links to the other six. The extended 18-track collection was theContinue reading “Spring Frost”

Running to Stand Still

Listening to the Irish rock band U2’s “Running to Stand Still” yesterday, I was struck by the beauty and slowed-down simplicity of the song. As I sought information about the piece, I found a lengthy and fascinating Wikipedia article telling about the background, composition, recording and production of the song from U2’s highly successful 1987Continue reading “Running to Stand Still”

Piano Concerto No. 5 in E Flat Major, Op. 73: II. Adagio un poco moto

If you’ve been following this blog for a while, you’ll notice I feature a piece of classical music each Sunday. The practice developed from a suggestion one of my brothers made a couple of years ago to feature classical pieces more often. And if you’ve really been watching and listening, you’ll know I’m partial toContinue reading “Piano Concerto No. 5 in E Flat Major, Op. 73: II. Adagio un poco moto”

Verbovaya Doschechka

Sometimes, even the shortest piece of music can hold a depth of feeling and meaning far beyond the time it has your attention. An excellent example of this complex brevity is “A Gaelic Blessing” (which I posted here in August 2020 to mark the occasion of a friend’s ordination ceremony). Today’s selection is another wonderfulContinue reading “Verbovaya Doschechka”

Talk Talk

The opening track on the 1982 debut album by English new wave/synth-pop band Talk Talk, led by singer Mark Hollis (1955-2019), is “Talk Talk.” Reading up on the song this evening, I learned that Hollis’s previous band, The Reaction, recorded and released it in 1977 as “Talk Talk Talk Talk.” That’s a lot of talk.Continue reading “Talk Talk”

The Unfolding

It has been over a week since I made a blog post to My Song of the Day for Today. The past week has been quite full, with Covid-deferred appointments finally starting to happen again. Yesterday, a reader reached out through my Contact page with a brief but sufficient message, “Hey Steve, song of theContinue reading “The Unfolding”