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Post by sandawa on Sept 8, 2006 8:49:37 GMT 7
Songs’, singers’, songwriters’ and your stories
For over a year, I got hooked to what I thought was the best thread in local audio fora. It was started by a guy in another forum known as “bb3” and has the title “Recordings and their stories.” It was so popular back then there were times it would attract dozens of posts in a single day, including contributions from of our members here: RU9, who led me to that thread, and Bayonic, among others.
I was disappointed, however, when the posts thinned out last year notwithstanding the fact that members of that forum are among the most serious hifi enthusiasts in the country owning the most expensive gear ordinary guys like us could hardly afford. I thought they probably listen more to their gear instead of having a balance in this hobby. Nothing wrong with that, considering it’s a to-each-his-own game. Before that thread became almost inactive, there were only me, “bb3”, “bedroom eyes” and “ihatejazz” who would contribute regularly.
I would have wanted to make that thread active late last year but I deemed it improper since it was started by another guy. At least here, I always make the Davao surplus thread that I started very active. For this thread, I would do the same until the mods tell me to stop.
But, of course, it would be best if everyone participates. The vintage guys, who are older in age should show the way considering we were the veterans of the golden age of popular music. The post should be about the song, the songwriters, the singer, or your own story related to the song. Let’s prove to others we have achieved a balance in this hobby, not just show off our gear, or hear them but seriously listen to, understand, and appreciate, our types of music as well.
So guys, let’s start playing those old vinyls and those shiny plastic gems, and share not just the stories behind the recordings or the titles of the songs we're playing, but the things we associate with those words and tunes as well!
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Post by sandawa on Sept 8, 2006 9:15:41 GMT 7
SEND IN THE CLOWNS
I'll start with a song I was listening to this morning: Stephen Sondheim's "Send in the Clowns". It was taken from Broadway's "A Little Night Music." The song (the lyrics tell of the insecurities of an ageing performer) was originally done by Glynis Johns. Send in the Clowns was covered by dozens of artists, including Frank Sinatra and Barbara Streisand, but the most popular was by Judy Collins in mid '70s. It landed in the US top 20 and for that feat, Judy got an unexpected thank you note from Sondheim.
I have many versions of this song but the best to my ears is still the original - Glynis Johns' (mine is from a Time/Bainbridge vinyl -- yes, Time magazine also sold vinyls back then). That's notwithstanding Johns' raspy and uneven voice that initiates a depressing emotion for the listener. Judy Collins' version, however, is smooth and perfect but lacks drama.
Here's an excerpt:
"Just when I'd stopped opening doors, Finally knowing the one that I wanted was yours, Making my entrance again with my usual flair, Sure of my lines, No one is there."
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Post by sandawa on Sept 8, 2006 12:53:49 GMT 7
Here's another one. Last night, I was in the mood playing Pete Seeger singing "Internationale", the socialist hymn. For those who were already in high school during the '70s like me, the local version of Internationale was very popular among political activitists with its opening lines:
"Bangon sa pagkakagupiling, Bangon kauring alipin..."
I have a vinyl version of socialist songs recorded in the 60s in Nueva Ecija by the Jesus Lava-led Philippine socialist party guerillas. I believe those lyrics were the basic source of the Pilipino translation of Internationale later adopted by the communist party.
The song is inspiring to hear when you're in a fighting mood or you want to reminisce those days of idealism, the marches in the streets of Metro Manila, and those friendly chats with activist leaders who failed to convince us to go up the mountains.
Wikipedia says:
"The Internationale (L'Internationale in French) is the most famous socialist (and anarchist and communist) song and one of the most widely recognized songs in the world. The original French words were written in 1870 by Eugène Pottier (1816–1887, later a member of the Paris Commune) and was originally intended to be sung to the tune of La Marseillaise. Pierre Degeyter (1848–1932) set the poem to music in 1888 and his melody became widely used soon after.
"The Internationale became the anthem of international revolutionary socialism. Its refrain: C'est la lutte finale/Groupons-nous et demain/L'Internationale/Sera le genre humain. (Freely translated: "This is the final struggle/Let us join together and tomorrow/The International/Will be the human race.") The Internationale has been translated into scores of languages. Traditionally it is sung with the right hand raised in a clenched fist salute. In English, the traditional workers' pronunciation is not an imitation of that of the French, but rather like "inter-nashshun-ALLEY".
"The Russian version was initially translated by Aron Kots (Arkadiy Yakovlevich Kots) in 1902 and printed in London in Zhizn, a Russian émigré magazine. The first Russian version consisted of three stanzas (as opposed to six stanzas in the original French lyrics) and the refrain. Later it was expanded and reworded. In 1944 the Soviet Union adopted the Hymn of the Soviet Union as its national anthem."
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Post by mandrake on Sept 8, 2006 14:31:33 GMT 7
Now that you've mentioned Judy Collins, I remember a song that struck a chord in me way back in '60's: Both Sides Now. Written by Joni Mitchell, Judy made this song a Grammy award winner in 1968. Another Grammy award winner for her was "Send In The Clowns" in 1975. And she also sang "Turn, Turn, Turn" which was written or co-written by Pete Seeger if I'm not mistaken.
I remember first hearing "Both Sides Now" in the soundtrack of a film whose title escapes me now. What I do remember was that the girl in it was, for me then, the most beautiful being on the planet. From then on, everytime I heard that song I had this strange, wonderful, painful feeling somewhere deep in my stomach. It must have been a mixture of adolescent infatuation and lust ;D. Anyway, when I saw a picture of Judy Collins, the feeling (obsession?) transferred to her; she wasn't a bad looking woman at that time. In fact she was the inspiration for CSN's "Suite: Judy Blue Eyes", another song that evokes memories of another kind. But that's another story....
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Post by sandawa on Sept 8, 2006 15:56:15 GMT 7
Oops! Did you know that when I started seriously chasing girls, I looked for someone with resemblance to Judy Collins? Then I met this Spanish-Filipino girl who eventually became my wife. She looked like Judy in her younger years and I'd say still a looker until now (hindi tumaba, dahil sa kunsumisyon)
We were married early morning of December 22, 1982 in Diliman with a pair from the UP Madrigals singing a mix of classical and pop tunes. One of Judy's songs "Since You've Asked" was sung when my wife recited lines during the vow.
Here's an excerpt from that song:
"What I'll give you since you asked Is all my time together; Take the rugged sunny days, The warm and Rocky weather, Take the roads that I have walked along, Looking for tomorrow’s time, Peace of mind.
"As my life spills into yours, Changing with the hours Filling up the world with time, Turning time to flowers, I can show you all the songs That I never sang to one man before."
"Suite Judy Blue Eyes" was written by Stephen Stills for Judy after they parted ways -- they used to be lovers. "Both Sides Now" was sung in the youth rebellion film "Strawberry Statement" if I'm not mistaken. Other popular songs in that film are CSNY's "Teach Your Children" and Thunderclap Newman's "Something in the Air."
Excerpt of which is as follows:
"Lock up the streets and houses Because there's something in the air We've got to get together sooner or later Because the revolution's here, and you know it's right And you know that it's right
"We have got to get it together We have got to get it together now
"Hand out the arms and ammo We're going to blast our way through here We've got to get together sooner or later Because the revolution's here, and you know it's right And you know that it's right."
Yes, "Turn Turn Turn", a big hit for The Byrds, was turned into a song by Pete Seeger but basically comprising words from the Bible's Book of Ecclesiastes, chapter 3, verses 1 to 8.
Song excerpt:
"To everything (turn, turn, turn) There is a season (turn, turn, turn) And a time for every purpose, under heaven
"A time to be born, a time to die A time to plant, a time to reap A time to kill, a time to heal A time to laugh, a time to weep."
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Lordfoo
Audionut
Listen to be heard.
Posts: 225
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Post by Lordfoo on Sept 8, 2006 16:08:54 GMT 7
sir, nasa woodstock ba ung suite judy blue eyes?
I remember the song... favorite ko yan sir...
It's getting to the point Where I'm no fun anymore I am sorry. Sometimes it hurts so badlyI must cry out loud I am lonely. I am yours, you are mine, You are what you are And you make it hard --Remember what we've said, and done, and felt about each other Oh babe, have mercy. Don't let the past remind us of what we are not now.etc.
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Post by sandawa on Sept 8, 2006 16:23:31 GMT 7
Yes "Suite Judy Ble Eyes" was in the original Woodstock of 1969. The title tune "Woodstock," sung by CSNY was written by Joni Mitchell and was just inserted in the film. Joni, who was Graham Nash's lover at that time (she wrote a song for him titled "Willy"), wrote the song when she got stuck in a New York hotel along with other performers. Vehicular traffic to the concert site went for miles and the only way to bring a few performers in was through helicopters. The weather didn't cooperate at the height of the 3-day concert, thus others scheduled to perform failed to make it.
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Post by sandawa on Sept 8, 2006 17:00:35 GMT 7
A few months after Woodstock, in June 1969, Pinoys also organized the Antipolo Rock Festival (gaya-gaya ;D) I was too young to join the bigger kids in the neighborhood back then but I remember they were talking about new bands named T. Tinio and Balahibo. Unfortunately, there's no documentation of the Antipolo festival, which was raided by the police at the height of the concert. Dozens of teeners, boys and girls, from exclusive schools were caught smoking grass during that raid. BTW, my first screen name at Napster seven years ago was T. Tinio, as a tribute to that band (Funny, but we have a new member named T. Tinio, I noticed a few days ago). Well, I got messages from Filipinos using Napster/Audio Galaxy asking me to change my screen name since it was "too offensive." I didn't agree, but I did change my name from "T. Tinio" to "t. gasTT". This time I got amusing messages. The last one was from somebody who introduced herself as a 35-year mother from QC who was separated for two years from his philandering OFW husband. After downloading my copy of Lani Hall's "Come What May", she sent me a note asking: "Kaya mo bang pangatawanan yang pangalan mo? " I got scared and changed my name to "sandawa."
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Post by zetroce on Sept 8, 2006 19:58:02 GMT 7
;, she sent me a note asking: "Kaya mo bang pangatawanan yang pangalan mo? " I got scared and changed my name to "sandawa." ;D ;D ;D Nalaglag ako sa upuan ko kakatawa sa storya mo sir sandawa.. ;D ;D ;D I read somewhere that in Barry Manilow's song " Mandy ", he is really referring to Brandy. He was once an alcoholic and underwent rehab. I'm not really sure if there is any truth to it but if you are to digest the lyrics: " When you came and you gave what i'm taking, but i sent you away oh Mandy..." did i get the lyrics right? Is it true???
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Post by sandawa on Sept 9, 2006 6:50:08 GMT 7
You're partly right. But song's lyrics were not written by Barry Manilow but by a lesser known artist named Scott English. The Songfacts website said from the original title "Brandy" which was a hit in UK, it was re-recorded by Manilow as "Mandy" in the US since there was a chart hit at that time titled "Brandy, You're a Fine Girl."
I could be misunderstood in my previous post. I got scared because I don't think I can handle an aggressive 35-year old woman with kids. Paano kung kainin ako 'nun? If she was pretty and 25, and I was still living in QC, pangangatawan ko yung pangalan ko. If that was the case, "sandawa" wouldn't have existed in this board. It would have been "t. gasTT".
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Post by sandawa on Sept 9, 2006 7:11:42 GMT 7
This past week, vinyl dominated my room music bucause of my new drawer-type Hitachi turntable. Very nice so far, even if amplified at high volume. Since the '80s, I usually listen to music two hours after waking up and two hours before sleeping in my room. In between those times, the systems in my living room are my sources of music. This morning, I was checking my albums when I found the soundtrack of Michaelangelo Antonioni's film "Zabriskie Point." That has a weird story as far as I'm concerned.
One morning back in 1986 after the EDSA revo, I was cruising on my way to the office when I felt extreme chest pain. I swerved and hit an electric post in between Roco's old house and the ABS-CBN compound in Bohol Ave. The right side of my car was damaged but I was not injured. However, I suffered from shock, had a comprehensive check at Heart Center, and rested for three days.
On the second day of my rest at home, I woke up to play some records on my old Thorens 124 when I noticed the Zabriskie Point LP was on it. I found out the last two titles I was playing before I had that accident were John Fahey's "Dance of Death" and Pink Floyd's "Come in No. 51, Your Time is Up."
It occurred to me Somebody up there had warned me of what would happen the day of the accident but I was moving too fast and ignored the warning. It has been 20 years and I'm still alive but until now, I'm still hesitant to play that record again.
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Post by sandawa on Sept 9, 2006 8:36:20 GMT 7
Incidentally, Pink Floyd's "Come In No. 51, your Time is Up" (an instrumental) was a rehash of two previous tunes of different titles -- namely "Murderistic Women" and "Careful with that Axe Eugene."
The IMDB website has a trivia on Zabriskie Point and Pink Floyd's work in it:
Remembering the scoring sessions for this film, members of Pink Floyd later commented that Michelangelo Antonioni was very difficult to please, offering vague comments like (quoting the bandmembers, mimicking Michelangelo Antonioni's accent) "Eets nice, but too slow" or "Eets a leetle bit too soft."
Film quotes: "Cop: Occupation? "Rebel: Associate professor of history. "Cop: That's too long. I'll just put down clerk."
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Post by bukra on Sept 9, 2006 10:42:34 GMT 7
great thread nani. blast from the past keep it coming!
ako memorable lang yung tower of power's sparkling in the sand- 12mins. of pure sweet and very sweet pag pinatugtog sa tipar (soiree for the sosyal) kailangan alisto ka, parang laser guided ang mga kelots target na bebot kinukuyog! wawa yung chikas na "benchwarmer"(usually yun ang mga palaban- yakap to the max. di gaya nung iba pwede dumaan ang dapor, parang nakikipagtulakan sa pulis sa rally!) opkors, dapat suot mo walang iba kundi - dobolknit, at amoy brut, english leather or cd eausavage ;D
those were the days my friend....overnite parties with curfew pass always on hand...or else overnite ka sa crame hehehe. alala ko green curfew pass pirmado pa ng isang Lt. g.b.honasan at ni prospero "metrocom ini" olivas?
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Post by sandawa on Sept 9, 2006 13:33:26 GMT 7
You made me smile. I remember those days. "Sparkling in the Sand", that long song of Tower of Power. I got a clean and dynamic version of that from Napster in late '90s to replace my scratchy vinyl version. I got the original US-made CD last year from a friend in Cagayan de Oro of all places. There's another over 10-minute classic, if you remember Guess Who's "Friends of Mine"?
Here's the poem part of the song that Burton Cummings recited:
"Up the 13 steps of the gallows walked the condemned man And time passes very quickly when death is near After having completed the first step, the condemned man knew there were but 12 left Before he would meet death and his soul would leave his body And after having completed the 13 steps the condemned man was met by a giant cloaked figure And with a quick flick of the wrist the man was dead And his soul left his body and went down down down To a place we laughingly refer to as hell But none of us will ever go there because we're all far too groovy The man's body was left to rot on the gallows And a great multitude of black birds came and picked the man's corpse apart Piece by piece Limb by limb Until nothing remained And his blood melted into the ground below
"The gallows was made from a tree created by God The man's blood dripped into the ground which was created by God Even the giant cloaked figure which was the man's own end was created by God Even the man's soul which went down was created by God Even the black birds which picked the man's corpse apart were created by God AND WHERE WAS GOD?
"In Flanders Fields the poppies grow between the crosses row on row to mark the dead
"To Flanders Fields the hippies go to smoke the poppies there below and feed their heads
"And they're all friends of mine, each and every one of them, no better or no worse And we'll probably end up down there together when it's all over."
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Post by sandawa on Sept 9, 2006 13:42:46 GMT 7
By the way, if some of you guys are interested in the songs I mentioned since this thread was started yesterday, I could upload them in a private website for PinoyAudio members to download. I'll probably provide them as samples of two available for, say 6 hours, then remove everything so I won't be charged of commercial-scale file-sharing. I mean this would only be for a small group and the time-window for file-sharing would be quite limited.
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Post by bayonic on Sept 9, 2006 18:19:16 GMT 7
wow ... " friends of mine " i vividly remember that poem .... i turned in that poem as a seat work in college theology and got a 1.0 grade of course I left out the part about flander fields, poppies and feeding your head then i had an argument with a classmate because he claimed that the group's name should be The Who and not The Guess Who oh baby baby baby baby great thread sir .
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Post by sandawa on Sept 9, 2006 18:57:36 GMT 7
I had a similar experience but involving a terror instructor on contemporary literature, if I could still recall. A term paper I submitted was on Buffalo Springfield's (Stephen Still's) "For What it's Worth."
The song is about student activism, the rallies, the resulting chaos, and Stills' advice to calm down. I was asked by the instructor what the message was reduced in one sentence and I told him and the class boldly : "Can't you see, we will outlive them!" It was a message to my classmates not to worry about the terror teacher, he'll die ahead of us anyway. I also got an "A" for that.
Here are the lyrics:
"There's something happening here What it is ain't exactly clear There's a man with a gun over there Telling me I got to beware I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound Everybody look what's going down
"There's battle lines being drawn Nobody's right if everybody's wrong Young people speaking their minds Getting so much resistance from behind I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound Everybody look what's going down
"What a field-day for the heat A thousand people in the street Singing songs and carrying signs Mostly say, hooray for our side It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound Everybody look what's going down."
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Post by bayonic on Sept 9, 2006 18:59:17 GMT 7
Here's another one. Last night, I was in the mood playing Pete Seeger singing "Internationale", the socialist hymn. Billy Bragg recorded a cover version with new lyrics ( at the suggestion of Pete Seeger ) on his 1990 The Internationale EP. Another song in the EP is " The Red Flag " ... although I prefer Aztec Camera's version from their " Covers And Rare " compilation CD. The anthem The Red Flag was written by Irishman Jim Connell in 1889 after attending a lecture on socialism at a meeting of the Social Democratic Federation. It was inspired by the current London Dock strike together with the Irish Land League activities, the Paris Commune, the Russian nihilists and the Chicago anarchists. Originally it was written to the tune of the White thingyade, an old Jacobite song, but more well known to the tune of 'Tannenbaum' which Adolphe Smith Headingley started the custom of singing it to. In Connell's own words he knew that the song would live because of the last line 'This song shall be our parting hymn' words that can best sum up the thoughts and feeling of every genuine socialist. The Red Flag soon became the anthem of the International Labour Party and it echoed around the world, sung with fire and fervour. Ramsay MacDonald tried to have it replaced as the Labour Party Anthem in 1925 but even though there were over three hundred entries in a competition he was unsuccessful. However Tony Blair and 'New Labour' decided in 1999 the stirring old socialist anthem would no longer be sung to close the Labour Party Conferences but it will continue to be sung 'no matter what Blair or New Labour might think.'. It waved above our infant might, When all ahead seemed dark as night; It witnessed many a deed and vow, We must not change its colour now.
So raise the scarlet standard high. (chorus) Beneath its folds we'll live and die, Though cowards flinch and traitors sneer, We'll keep the red flag flying here.
It well recalls the triumphs past, It gives the hope of peace at last; The banner bright, the symbol plain, Of human right and human gain.
With heads uncovered swear we all To bear it onward till we fall; Come dungeons dark or gallows grim, This song shall be our parting hymn.btw ... that's another great idea you have sir sandawa ; of uploading songs for errr.... educational purposes.
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Lordfoo
Audionut
Listen to be heard.
Posts: 225
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Post by Lordfoo on Sept 9, 2006 19:04:38 GMT 7
How about the Motown Sound songs?
Cloud nine? Macarthur's Park of the 'Four tops? Heard it through the grape vine. I'll be there... when Michael Jackson was still a black boy?
Pero ang peborit ko talaga noon. si James Taylor... specially ung You've Got a Friend and the track, I've seen Fire and Rain which were the first songs I memorized when I finally received my Cebu made guitar.
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Post by sandawa on Sept 9, 2006 19:20:12 GMT 7
Great inspiring lyrics, Bayonic. Don't worry Foo, we'll go into Motown in the succeeding days.
Since we're now into socially relevant songs, here's one from Leon Rosselson, known as as England's Bertold Brecht. In early '80s I discovered a wealth of "message songs" from the British Council. Borrowed a few LPs and taped them, some of which I've treansferred to CD.
The story of Patience Kershaw, a young girl forced to work in a coal mine in UK due to poverty in mid-1800s is currently happening in many poor families in Philippine urban and rural areas. Child exploitation is all around us.
Here are the depressing lyrics of "Testimony of Patience Kershaw":
"It's good of you to ask me, Sir, to tell you how I spend my days Down in a coal black tunnel, Sir, I hurry corves to earn my pay. The corves are full of coal, kind Sir, I push them with my hands and head. It isn't lady-like, but Sir, you've got to earn your daily bread.
"I push them with my hands and head, and so my hair gets worn away. You see this baldy patch I've got, it shames me like I just can't say. A lady's hands are lily white, but mine are full of cuts and sags. And since I'm pushing all the time, I've got great big muscles on my legs.
"I try to be respectable, but sir, the shame, God save my soul. I work with naked, sweating men who curse and swear and hew the coal. The sights, the sounds, the smells, kind Sir, not even God could know my pain. I say my prayers, but what's the use? Tomorrow will be just the same.
"Now, sometimes, Sir, I don't feel well, my stomach's sick, my head it aches. I've got to hurry best I can. My knees are weak, my back near breaks And when I'm slow, and when I'm scared these naked men will batter me. But they're not to blame, for if I'm slow, their families will starve, you see.
"Now all the lads, they laugh at me, and Sir, the mirror tells me why. Pale and dirty can't look nice. It doesn't matter how hard I try. Great big muscles on my legs, a baldy patch upon my head. A lady, Sir? Oh, no, not me! I should've been a boy instead.
"I praise your good intentions, Sir, I love your kind and gentle heart But now it's 1842, and you and I, we're miles apart. A hundred years and more will pass before we're standing side by side But please accept my grateful thanks. God bless you Sir, at least you tried."
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