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”
Tag Archives: Hope
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”
High Fidelity
Well, I just can’t seem to leave the 1980s behind. Let’s have just one more from that decade, shall we? Elvis Costello and the Attractions recorded the high-energy, uptempo “High Fidelity” in 1979 and released it on their 1980 record, Get Happy!! The song is familiar to me, but I have not heard it inContinue reading “High Fidelity”
Heaven
I remember one night very clearly, after closing time, at the McDonald’s restaurant where I worked part-time during the mid- to late-1970s. The night-time cleaning crew had arrived; two grown men with long hair and beards, and plenty of attitude and bravado. They would work all night, cleaning the greasy kitchen and all areas ofContinue reading “Heaven”
(Just Like) Starting Over
I remember, in 1980, being excited about Double Fantasy, a new record by John Lennon (1940-1980) and Yoko Ono, after Lennon had pretty much disappeared from the music industry a few years earlier. Back then, I was a 20-year-old with a few circles of friends, a great job, and several relationships with women that wouldContinue reading “(Just Like) Starting Over”
In Your Eyes
In 1993, Peter Gabriel was touring in support of his 1992 album Us. I’m not sure all the places that his Secret World tour played, but during two nights at the Palasport Nuovo in Modena, Italy, a crew filmed the concerts. The resulting film was Secret World Live, released in 1994 on VHS tape, thenContinue reading “In Your Eyes”
What a Wonderful World
“And I think to myself / What a wonderful world…” (from “What a Wonderful World,” by Bob Thiele [aka George Douglas], George David Weiss) Today’s my birthday. It’s my second pandemic birthday, and while last year I felt a slight tinge of sadness about not gathering with family and friends, this year my feelings ofContinue reading “What a Wonderful World”
All Mixed Up
Just over a year ago, when “lockdown” was still a new term, I wrote a blog post about the song “Good Times Roll,” from the 1978 debut album by the Boston, Massachusetts, USA band The Cars. (Months later I posted “You’re All I’ve Got Tonight,” another song from the same album.) Today, I was outContinue reading “All Mixed Up”
Secondhand
Happy Friday, folks! This afternoon, I went to Costco to do a big shop for my sweety and me and for a friend, and, while driving, Apple CarPlay was on a totally random play, picking from my entire music library. It was pretty cool… heard some things I hadn’t played in a long time! SweetyContinue reading “Secondhand”
Crazy Lowdown Ways
Happy Friday! This afternoon, I was looking for a song with a Friday kind of beat. Then as I scrolled down my YouTube feed, it serendipitously served up the suggestion of the Birmingham, England band Ocean Colour Scene’s “Crazy Lowdown Ways.” I’ve featured the group once before; please see my post on their song, “UpContinue reading “Crazy Lowdown Ways”
The Course
Today I’m sharing a folk song I heard during an online gathering over a month ago and which has stayed with me since. “The Course” is a stirring, soulful anthem by Ayla Nereo, a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, dancer and filmmaker from northeastern California, USA. The song evokes, for me, a sense of fellowship and the togethernessContinue reading “The Course”
Always Returning
After a wonderful morning that began with a delicious cup of coffee and then went on to reading, journaling, meditation, some music and a moderate bike ride early this afternoon, I’m resting before meeting a friend at Canadian Blood Services. We are former colleagues and haven’t seen each other in a long time, so weContinue reading “Always Returning”
Tide
This weekend has been one of contemplation and reflection for me. Some time ago, I had bookmarked the video for Japanese musician and producer Kumi Takahara’s classical strings piece, “Tide,” and today feels like the right day to share it. The Tokyo, Japan-based record label FLAU had posted the video in January as an advanceContinue reading “Tide”
Flower on the Vine
When I was working, weekends and vacations were times to savour early mornings listening to music from my collection or from one of a few internet-based radio stations whose styles I liked. I used to listen to CBC Radio 3, but in 2015 they stopped employing live hosts (a few notable ones being Lana Gay,Continue reading “Flower on the Vine”
Fix You
“Tears stream down your faceWhen you lose something you cannot replaceTears stream down your face and I…Tears stream down your faceI promise you I will learn from my mistakesTears stream down your face and I…” (from “Fix You,” by Chris Martin, Jonny Buckland, Guy Berryman, Will Champion. Full, unofficial lyrics are available at AZLyrics.com.) Today,Continue reading “Fix You”
Things to Live For
Jackson Maloney is an American poet and singer-songwriter living and creating art in Colorado, USA. I came to know him through a mutual friend and at online community gatherings held early in the 2020 lockdown, including early-morning poetry sharing sessions. He released his first collection of poems, Becoming, in 2018, and the ten-song album ThingsContinue reading “Things to Live For”
Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time)
In 2017, Iranian filmmaker and refugee Majid Adin won a contest to produce, along with co-director Stephen McNally of London, England, a video for Elton John’s hit song, “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time).” The competition, called The Cut, called on filmmakers to compete to produce videos for threeContinue reading “Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time)”
Colors
A week and a half ago, I was listening to The Morning Show with John Richards on KEXP Seattle. That morning, Richards played “Colors” by Black Pumas, a psychedelic soul band from Austin, Texas, USA. It is a song I don’t think I had ever heard before. The duo of singer/songwriter Eric Burton and guitarist/producerContinue reading “Colors”
Mary
On many days, I know in advance what song I might post here, but it is often the inspiration of a moment, a serendipitous co-mingling of music with life. That is maybe an uncertain way to go, but it has kept my days interesting while outside everywhere, the 2020 dumpster fire has smouldered. On thisContinue reading “Mary”
True Colors
On March 22, 2020, London, England a capella, jazz, and pop vocal group Camden Voices posted a YouTube video that now has 1.8 million views. It’s the ensemble singing Cyndi Lauper’s “True Colors,” remotely, in self-isolation at the beginning of the pandemic lockdown. “True Colors” is a beautiful song of encouragement and hope — aContinue reading “True Colors”
Here Comes the Sun
I was still only three years old when I was allowed to stay up late, already in my pyjamas, of course, to watch The Beatles when they debuted on The Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964. The Beatles have remained a part of my life ever since, coming in and out in greater measure whenContinue reading “Here Comes the Sun”
Song of the Day for Today 