Some Links You Might Enjoy
Sunday, January 30, 2011
ACADEMY AWARDS 2010 RED CARPET
ACADEMY AWARDS
By the way, did you see The Hurt Locker? Did the Academy's decision had something to do with it? I guess so. Anyway, there are many good films from all over the world that are worth seeing and don't get any awards. Plenty of towns have small theaters where you can enjoy gorgeous non-mainstream movies in their original language. Search for them.
Barbara Streisand presents the Directing Award for The Hurt Locker to Kathryn Bigelow: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-DPBOTlSWk
In case you wish to read as you listen to Kathryn Bigelow's speech: http://aaspeechesdb.oscars.org/ics-wpd/exec/icswppro.dll?AC=qbe_query&TN=AAtrans&RF=WebReportPermaLink&MF=oscarsmsg.ini&NP=255&BU=http://aaspeechesdb.oscars.org/index.htm&QY=find+acceptorlink+%3d082-17
Friday, January 28, 2011
EGYPT (2)
Egypt's day of fury: Cairo in flames as cities become battlegrounds : http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jan/28/egypt-cairo-protesters-defy-curfew-elbaradei-mubarak
Egyptians's Fury Has Smoldered Beneath the Surface for Decades : http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/29/world/middleeast/29mubarak.html?_r=1&hp
What Can the Protests in Egypt Achieve? : http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2011/01/27/whats-behind-the-demonstrations-in-egypt/what-the-protesters-want
VAN MORRISON
I don't know how Van Morrison came to my mind after OM KALSOUM. Apart from their genius, the only reason I can think of is that both artists were among those whose records I bought back in the seventies.
To see Van Morrison playing live with this amazing bluesman called JOHN LEE HOOKER, click on the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xi2EgyZo2Pw .
For info about this Northern-Irish genius of music visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Morrison
EGYPT - Om Kalsoum,Umm Kulthum, Om Koultoum, Om Kalthoum, Oumme Kalsoum, Umm Kolthoum
Especially dedicated to the Egyptian people, a most beautiful song by this worlwide admired Lady, the so-called Star of the East (kawkab el-sharq).
Shaping tradition in Arabic song: The career and repertory of Umm
Kulthum: http://almashriq.hiof.no/egypt/700/780/umKoulthoum/biography.html
Thursday, January 27, 2011
William Butler YEATS
Use the following link if you are interested in spoken poetry, which means that you will enjoy the pleasure of listening to great poets read by Tom O'Bedlam: http://www.youtube.com/user/SpokenVerse
Alternatively you can also browse for poems read by their authors. You will find a few.
IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH WITH THE NEWS YOU KNOW ABOUT
On POLLUTION in Madrid and Barcelona: http://www.elpais.com/articulo/english/Environment/Ministry/calls/for/shock/measures/to/combat/pollution/elpepueng/20110124elpeng_3/Ten
On NUDITY IN PUBLIC in Barcelona: http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cataluna/Barcelona/chastened/elpepueng/20110121elpcat_1/Ten
On REAL and BARCELONA in the Spanish Cup: http://www.elpais.com/articulo/english/Love/s/labour/s/lost/for/Real/elpepueng/20110127elpeng_6/Ten
For more daily news in English (mainly about Spanish issues): http://www.elpais.com/english/
RUMER
Here we have a new voice coming from Britain. 'SLOW', her debut single is really good and makes me look forward to purchasing her album Seasons of My Soul.
To listen to 'ARETHA' and learn more click on this link http://www.rumer.co.uk/.
If you want to know what the papers say, you can start here(in Spanish) :http://www.elpais.com/articulo/cultura/Rumer/nueva/revelacion/pop/serio/ingles/elpepucul/20110127elpepucul_4/Tes
and then here http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jul/08/first-sight-rumer.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
REMEMBERING THE FULL MONTY (1997)
and have a good laugh.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/1997/aug/29/1?INTCMP=SRCH
Monday, January 24, 2011
NICOLAS JAAR
DAMIAN LAZARUS 'Moment' (2009)
MONA, from Nashville, Tennessee
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jul/29/new-band-mona
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Now a Brand New Canadian Artist: DIAMOND RINGS
Dance music for people who feel creepy in crowds ...Diamond Rings http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jun/18/new-band-diamond-rings
Hometown: Toronto, Canada.
The lineup: John O'Regan (vocals, laptop, guitar)
The background: Don't know what it says about us, but we love a man in eye makeup and a new romantic haircut. As soon as we saw the picture of Diamond Rings looking like Ziggy Stardust's sci-fi-obsessed kid brother, we knew we had to feature him here, especially because, having done Ollie Wride on Monday, we thought it would make this week a sort of glam sandwich.
He doesn't sound especially glam, though, not in the sense of glamorous, but then, neither did David
Bowie, and he defined the genre with his songs about the apocalypse suffragettes, and time falling wanking to the floor. John O'Regan, who is Diamond Rings, doesn't sing about female freedom fighters or onanistic abstract concepts (or the apocalypse), he deals in stuff that could, broadly speaking, be termed "aggressively downbeat" and "emotionally raw". And he does so in a lugubrious baritone that is quite at odds with his appearance and frankly unmanly dancing in his videos – the boomy register he uses is somewhere in the region of Iggy circa The Idiot or Phil Oakey all the time. You can hear all the words, too, which is deliberate – not for him the somnolent murmurings of the
chillwave boys. His lyrics read like the terse missives of someone who's been hurt and is hell-bent on revenge, rhyming "raw" and "war" like there's no tomorrow (which there isn't, according to Bowie).
Some of his couplets are quite impressive: "You write my wrongs/I sing all your songs ..." He's like a low-rent Neil Tennant, or rather, Tennant when he wrote Rent. He has two modes, dictated by the two
"instruments" he employs: computer and guitar. So half his songs are laptop pop and the other half are grungy, but because his voice is so prominent in the mix, even the latter are more novelty ditties than
excoriating noise-outs. In fact, All Yr Songs, a catchy strumalong, all tragicomic whingeing and tinny machine beat, is like Jilted John after the jilt's kicked in. "I would not want your skin to burn," he sings, less mincing than menacing, blowtorch in hand. That eye-shadow really is deceptive: he boasts of hanging out with "the freaks and the ghouls".
And on new single Show Your Stuff, he rails: "Save your anaesthetic for the boy next door/Nothing in your needle knocks me out no more." Ouch. And all this over a piano riff like a crude version of Chicago house. The chorus is rousing, only you'd feel a bit daft putting your hands in
the air to, "I'm the kind of boy who likes to play war ... Step up to the plate, come on, show me the score". This is dance music for people who feel creepy in crowds and uncomfortable in their own skin, burnt or otherwise.
The buzz: "A voice that's low and tuneful, beats that are primitive and a stage outfit that includes black spandex tights and pink eye-shadow" – Now Magazine.
The truth: He's the lovechild of Neil Young and Neil Tennant.
Most likely to: Be the prettiest star.
Least likely to: Panic in Detroit.
What to buy: Show Me Your Stuff was released by One Big Silence on 31 June 2010.
File next to: Perfume Genius, Esser, Ollie Wride, Myles Cooper.
7 GREAT 2010 SONGS Mavis Staples, "You Are Not Alone"
SADE 'Soldier of Love':
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4xb9TSIITY&ob=av2nm . This video can't be embedded, so click on it. Sorry. And it's freezing cold out here by the Mediterranean. I'll come back and pay a visit to this post in July again.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
SONGS FOR DRELLA
ANDY WARHOL'S 'FACTORY'
This excellent video starts with Bowie's song 'Andy Warhol', included in a great album called 'Hunky Dory' and then Lou Reed's 'Take a Walk On the Wild Side' takes the lead. All wonderfully accompanied by some fine footage of Warhol's films featuring women who revolt against men. And of course, Joe D'Alessandro. I hope you enjoy it.
Friday, January 21, 2011
RICHARD LESTER
A film director some of whose films we ought to see again. Many people may know HELP!, A HARD DAY'S NIGHT or SUPERMAN I and III, but he has directed over 20 movies. And 'A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM' is one of the funniest I've ever seen. Do your best and watch it as soon as you can. You won't regret it.
SYLVIA PLATH
http://www.internal.org/Sylvia_Plath/Daddy is the link where you can follow the poem Sylvia Plath reads.
And this is the site for Sylvia Plath's homepage. Very good and loads of information:
This is what The Wikipedia tells us in case you don't want to leave this blog:
Sylvia Plath (October 27, 1932–February 11, 1963) was an
American poet, novelist and short story writer. Born in Massachusetts,
she studied at Smith College and Newnham College, Cambridge before
receiving acclaim as a professional poet and writer. She married fellow
poet Ted Hughes in 1956 and they lived together first in the
United States and then England, having two children together: Frieda
and Nicholas. Following a long struggle with depression and a marital separation, Plath committed suicide in 1963.Controversy continues to surround the events of her life and death, as
well as her writing and legacy.
Plath is credited with advancing the genre of confessional poetry and is best known for her two collections The Colossus and Other Poems and Ariel. In 1982, she became the first poet to win a Pulitzer Prize posthumously for The Collected Poems. She also wrote The Bell Jar, a semi- autobiographical novel published shortly before her death.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
THE CLASH - 'HITSVILLE UK'
THE CLASH - 'SPANISH BOMBS'
JOE STRUMMER
In case you don't know (the younger ones surely won't), let me tell you that Joe Strummer was one of the two frontmen and lead vocalist of the amazing British band THE CLASH (Haven't you ever listened to anthems such as 'London Calling' or 'Should I Stay or Should I Go?). After The Clash split, Joe went on playing in different bands (THE MESCALEROS and others) and even composed the entire score for a film directed by Alex Cox, WALKER. The 'Unknown Immortal' is one of the songs on the soundtrack and is among my favourites, perhaps because of his perfectly-captured Latino atmosphere (The first two lines are sung in Spanish). A different flavour in music after Monteverdi and Mahler. Cheers!
GUSTAV MAHLER (2)
Well, well, well, this is the unavoidable, the essential, the awesome Symphony No.5 Adagietto. If you are one of those who are tired of listening to it, please do leave this blog right away. If you are new to it, play it loud through good quality speakers and enjoy it. I must admit I am featuring it thinking of the newcomers.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
CLAUDIO MONTEVERDI
Monteverdi, 1567-1643. I bought L'ORFEO CDBook last year and now I'm getting a nice surprise on discovering most interesting pieces of his work on YouTube. The only snag about the one I'm suggesting here is that it is too short. But you can play it twice or browse for more. It's up to you. Anyhow, this completes the amazingly beautiful and relaxing moments we all need from time to time.
And don't forget to follow the English lyrics below the screen (on the YouTube Site).
GUSTAV MAHLER (music) - Friedrich Rückert (lyrics)
If you need a peaceful spot where you can lay your mind, go no farther. Listen to this song by the German composer Gustav Mahler and read the poem by Friedrich Rückert. If it makes you feel uneasy or uncomfortable, don't get upset. Watch and listen a second time and surely you will have sweet dreams.
Monday, January 17, 2011
'Oda a Walt Whitman' by Federico GARCÍA LORCA sung by PATXI ANDIÓN
Sung by Spanish singer-songwriter Patxi Andión 'Oda a Walt Whitman' is one of the poems that García Lorca's collection 'Poeta en Nueva York' includes. The song appears on the album 'Poetas en Nueva York', featuring the likes of Leonard Cohen, Lluís Llach, Donovan, David Broza and other artists, each of them singing Lorca's poems in their own language. A real beauty you should own.
WALT WHITMAN
Listen to Walt Whitman's poem 'Song of Myself, III' read by Lucille Clifton on The Academy of American Poets website. Once there I'm sure you'll spend quite a while browsing it. I hope you enjoy it.
http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/20277
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Tuesday, January 11, 2011
FLEETWOOD MAC
FLEET FOXES
Thursday, January 06, 2011
ALLEN GINSBERG - 'HOWL'
And thinking of William Burroughs I couln't help also thinking about one of his mates of the so-called BEAT GENERATION. This is ALLEN GINSBERG reading his famous poem 'HOWL'. It's always touchy to listen to a poet reading his own writing. But as you may have trouble in understanding it properly, follow the link below for a Spanish translation. If you don't understand Spanish, I'm sure you'll easily find a version in your native language on the Net. Good luck and enjoy it.
WILLIAM BURROUGHS & KURT COBAIN - TWO GREAT AMERICAN MAVERICKS
FOLLOW BELOW THE TEXT BURROUGHS READS:
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
JAVIER BARDEM
Russian ‘GQ’ holds Javier Bardem up as “the last European macho”
Rodrigo Fernández, Moscow (El País English Edition)
The first issue this year of the Russian edition of GQ magazine features Spanish actor Javier Bardem on the cover, with an interview by the journalist Stas Tyrkin inside. The headline leaves little to the imagination: “Europe’s last macho.”
In the interview, a lot of attention is paid to the fact that Bardem — described as “the model of the Latin Lover, who by the early 1990s was already seen as Spain’s top stud and sex symbol” — was prepared to accept the role of a homosexual in the film Antes que anochezca (Before Night Falls), directed in 2000 by Julian Schnabel.
By way of explanation the actor tells how, while on the film’s promotional campaign in the US, he was often asked whether he had hesitated before accepting a gay role. “Though I’m big and strong, and therefore very different from the personality, who was skinny and weak, I often said I would have found it more disturbing if they had offered me a role where I kill a few hundred Vietnamese. You can only conclude that we are less afraid of violence than of sex in our culture.”
Schnabel’s film brought Bardem his first Oscar nomination. Though he didn’t win, he admits that in those years “things began to happen very fast,” and that his life “seemed to be running out of control.” Not winning the prize was, in a way, good luck for him. “Everything turned out for the best,” he says. “Thank God! Winning an Oscar would have been too much. If they had have given me one, I would have lost my head.”
Of course, says Tyrkin, later he did win one, becoming the first Spanish actor to do so. The second was Penélope Cruz, who is now his wife, and is about to give birth to the couple’s first child.
As for ongoing work, Bardem tells of a shoot he recently completed with Terrence Malick, whom he calls a “master” and a “humanist.” As for film criticism, the actor confesses that, unfortunately, he chooses to read each and every article written about him. Fortunately, the interviewer then quotes John Malkovich, who called Bardem “the best young actor in the world.”
While all these things are well known to the Spanish reader, the magazine does a first-rate job of presenting Bardem to the Russians. It’s surely no coincidence that 2011 is the Year of Spain in Russia, an event that will be celebrated with an extensive program of cultural activities.
Monday, January 03, 2011
WARREN ZEVON REMEMBERED
Sunday, January 02, 2011
THE ROLLING STONES - 'Faraway Eyes'
Whenever I listen to young bands such as the likes of Vampire Weekend I can't help looking back and thinking of their 'ancestors'. The Stones are one of my favourite as you may have noticed from older posts and this song is a gorgeous one. Find the lyrics on the net and you'll laugh or at least smile a lot, I'm sure. This sort of country sound in a Stones' song can be found in a few more songs; they've always have gotten inspiration from American music which, apart from rock'n'roll, blues or jazz, includes country.
This video is part of the Martin Scorsese's 2006 movie 'SHINE A LIGHT', filmed live at the Beacon Theatre in New York City after The Stones had just finished their A Bigger Bang World Tour.
VAMPIRE WEEKEND at last
It's been a long time since I wanted to post a video by these Ney York guys. I bought their debut CD last year, buy they released in January 2008. Cool sound with a cool Valencian sweety drink. Who the heck drinks 'horchata/orxata' in December? I would but they don't sell it in cafeterias or in ice-cream parlours in the winter months.
Saturday, January 01, 2011
THE ROOTS
In just two words: Brilliant and uplifting. Welcome to TWENTY ELEVEN.