The National "Don't Swallow The Cap"

I love this whole album a ton, I am worried I am overplaying so am on a break.  But really wanted to share this song as my favorite pick, because I love the lyrics and the sensibility overall.  I think their songs may seem vague but that leave room for all kinds of interpretations that way that poetry does.  So here we go...
Pull out breaks behind the houses
I don't see what's strange about this.
Tiny bubbles hang above me.
It's a sign that someone loves me.
I can hardly stand upright
Hit my head up on the light
I have faith but don't believe you
This love ain't enough to leave you.

Everything I love is on the table.
Everything I love is out to sea.

I have only two emotions,
Careful fear and dead devotion.
I can't get the balance right.
Throw my marbles in the fight.
I see all the ones I wept for
All the things I had it in for
I won't cry until I hear
Cause I was not supposed to be here.

Everything I love is on the table.
Everything I love is out to sea.
I'm not alone,
I'll never be.
Into the bone,
I'll never grieve.

I'm tired, I'm freezing, I'm dumb
When it gets so late I forget everyone.
I need somewhere to stay.
Don't think anybody I know is awake.
Calm down, it's alright,
Keep my arms the rest of the night.
When they ask what do I see,
I see a bright white beautiful heaven hangin' over me.

I'm not alone,
I'll never be.
Into the bone,
I'll never grieve.
And if you want, (too seriously)
To see me cry. (don't swallow the cap)
Play "Let It Be" (pat yourself on the back)
Or "Nevermind". (too seriously)

There's a time to leave, there's a time to think about
What I wanna say to the girls at the door.
I need somewhere to be
But I can't get around the river in front of me.
Come down, it's alright,
Lead my arms the rest of the night.
When they ask what do I see,
I see a bright white beautiful heaven hangin' over me.

I'm not alone, (too seriously)
I'll never be. (don't swallow the cap)
Into the bone, (pat yourself on the back)
I'll never grieve (too seriously)
And if you want, (too seriously)
To see me cry, (don't swallow the cap)
Play "Let It Be" (pat yourself on the back)
Or "Nevermind". (too seriously)

Never My Love

There is just no way on earth that anyone can hear this song and be sad or gloomy.  It is just one of the prettiest songs ever, arrangement, words, rhythm, the works.  It is perfect.  Enjoy this one.  And if you want more, their albums are all pretty much awesome.

Heart,

Haroula Rose

You ask me if there'll come a time
When I grow tired of you
Never my love
Never my love

You wonder if this heart of mine
Will lose its desire for you
Never my love
Never my love

What makes you think love will end
When you know that my whole life depends
On you (on you)

Never my love
Never my love

You say you fear I'll change my mind
And I won't require you
Never my love
Never my love

How can you think love will end
When I've asked you to spend your whole life
With me (with me, with me)

BE NOT SO FEARFUL - BILL FAY

Today I woke up at 5 am after having gone to bed super late. I went to a film premiere with a friend of mine: "Machine Gun Preacher." An intense film in all ways. (Gerard Butler is really handsome on and off-screen by the way). Anyhoo, I had to get up super early for a doctor's appointment and as with so many times before, I was anxious because of having to get up so early. That, and the fact that I have been non-stop travelling for two months, more or less. Europe, then back here to California, then Chicago and DC and New York and back again. My inner clock is very confused, hands spinning.

The mist that permeated Los Angeles this morning was palpable and really interesting. It matched my mood, as I felt very grey too. When weather manifests my mood I think it's the greatest so I didn't mind it.

This is the song I kept hearing in the back of my mind growing louder. So here it is for all of you, the lovely and inimitable Bill Fay, "Be Not So Fearful." Which also applies to the film I saw last night, also an awakening to many things.

Hope that if you are sad this makes you feel better. It helped me out today. Great songs are little miracles like that, don't you think?

Haroula

Here is a beautiful version sung by Jeff Tweedy, wow:

Be not so nervous Be not so frail Someone watches you You will not fail Be not so nervous Be not so frail Be not so nervous Be not so frail Be not so sorry For what you have done You must forget them now It's done And when you wake up You will find that you can run Be not so sorry For what you have done Be not so fearful Be not so pale Someone watches you You won't leave the rails Be not so fearful Be not so pale Be not so fearful Be not so pale You must forget them now It's done And when you wake up You will find that you can run Be not so sorry For what you have done Be not so sorry For what you have done

Airplanes

Well, it's officially summertime now. The 4th of July has passed I hope you all dug the fireworks! I was on the rooftop of my building with some dear friends watching the lights explode from a distance all over Los Angeles. I had just gotten off a plane from Lake Tahoe/Reno where I went for a childhood friend's wedding. It was so much fun, I have never danced that much at a wedding in my life. Maybe it was the altitude. Or the awesome DJ. Or just that everyone was incredibly happy for the couple! Saw some old friends I hadn't seen in a while and the scenery and stars were really pretty. There was even snow up there in July....crazy. As I flew back to Los Angeles, I got a glimpse of the entire lake and all the mountains, it was truly heavenly. One of my favorite books is Yann Arthus-Bertrand's Earth From Above which is all stunning aerial photography.

I found this footage of the Wrights in Italy, the first motion picture footage ever taken from the air:

So it all got me thinking about airplanes and travelling, especially because I will take the long journey from LA to Athens, Greece in a few weeks to spend nearly a month there visiting with my whole family! I cannot wait. I always meet pretty cool people up in the air, or in airports, and I love to travel. Not just for the destinations but the actual process of getting there can be fun too.

And of course, the movie "Airplane" which I want to watch again RIGHT now because it is so funny. The trailer is awesome too:

Flying has always seemed like a miracle to me. I never take it for granted. In my mind it is easily one of the most definitive creations of the twentieth century (or even of mankind) in terms of what humans are capable of accomplishing. Lots of fears about flying too -- the idea of loss of control, etc. Even though in a city like LA we are in our cars all the time and that is actually supposed to be more dangerous. Anyway, we always seem to remember when plane crashes happen, or what people we have lost to crashes.

So I thought I would look at some of the songs about airplanes and flying too. Here are some of my favorites, or most memorable ones or just plain odd ones I found that I thought were cool:

This old Blaze Foley song "If I Could Only fly" put up against images of depressions was striking to me too, love the lyrics to this song:

What are your favorite songs about flying and airplanes? Where are you going this summer? Any exciting plans? I can't believe it is already July! Hope wherever this summer takes you, you are happy and safe and enjoying all the precious moments.

Yours,

Haroula

Galbraith Street

I had the good fortune of seeing Ron Sexsmith live a couple of weeks ago and this song breaks me every time.

GALBRAITH STREET

I woke up on Galbraith Street
Where the houses stood like twins
Oh and even though the door's been closed
I can find a way to get back in

For in daydreams my mind returns
Like a ghost upon the hill
As I knock upon old doors again
And find my friends all live there still

So many good times to speak of in a life
But none compared to the good times I had there

The world looks so much brighter when
You believe in every word
Now I'm holding on to all those years
Like a tear before it falls unheard

So many goodbyes to speak of in a life
But none compared to the goodbyes I said there

The sun went down on Galbraith Street
I saw it from my childhood bed
As the red and gold brick houses stood
Underneath a crimson sky that bled

Now's The Time (the best love song ever)

This is the best love song I've ever heard. Like, ever. It's 3 am on February 10 I have been out and I need to wake early, but I also need to hear this song. In my nerding out on music I discovered this gem of a record, by a man whose voice is incredible and this song brought me to tears. Then the whole album was amazing too. Thank you Val, you may have been forgotten but not for me.



Don't hide your love from me
Don't hide anymore
You are welcome by my side
And welcome at my door
It seems as though you were hurt once before
Don't be afraid anymore
Now's the time to believe in your heart
Now's the time to be sure
Now's the time to be sure
I don't want to know of your past
And things you used to believe
I don't care who's loved you before
That's not important to me
What matters is now and the love that can grow
Nows the time to believe to believe in your heart
Now's the time to be free
Now's the time to be free
People will talk and try to ridicule
Don't you pay them no mind
I promise you someday you will see
We'll leave all their kind behind
There are places to go and so many things to see
Time to be alone
Now's the time to believe in your hart
Now's the time to come home
Now's the time to come home

Haroula Rose KXLU Playlist (12/5/2010)

I have had many people ask me for my playlist and I am excited to share it with you. You can hear it and see the artists included here



I hope you like it, please do not be shy about letting me know! Music is my life, so would love to hear feedback. I will also keep updates on my own music on my facebook page

www.facebook.com/haroularose

Cheers,
Haroula

The Winter

It's December 1 so it automatically makes one think of winter, right? The first song that popped into my head was "Winter Wonderland" so I went online to find out the story of this song. It's from 1934 and there are like a million covers of it. But what was most interesting to me is that Radiohead has done a version of this song....kinda great, right?



I've always been pretty into Vivaldi's Four Seasons. In fact, I used to sit around with a friend and play it and try to guess which one was which and why. "Winter" is pretty incredible. I hope you like this strange video



Here is a sand drawing of the same piece:



Hazy Shade of WInter. Long live the Bangles. Though I love Simon&Garfunkel too of course. I recall seeing "Less Than Zero" and I couldn't stop thinking about it for weeks.



The snow on your eyelids that curtsy with age
Is freezing the stares on tyranny's wings.
The bitter is hard and the warmth of your skin
Is diseased with familiar caresses.
Withdrawing from splendor and royal decay
Among all the triumphs and jaded awards
The angry and blazing circus of sun
Blasphemes as the crown prince arises.
You cannot beget all the sins that you owe
To the people of paradise magic
Pretend to answer passion and form
With foreign rationalizations.
Primroses are the jewels that lurk
Among masks of pleasure that flicker with doubt
Embraces of fame that's simultaneously fear
To advance and demand to be recognized.
The river shall flow through hollow green faces
Of caricature's resentment etched out of the tongues.
Both reluctant princess asleep before birth
The classical sensitive failures.
The worshipping wicked cling to the dark of your heart
Lying there and wait with your angels
Moan and ravish from dawn to dusk
The avaricious young lovers.

Songs About Wind

Hi guys,

SO I love the wind, and had this idea that I would compile a few songs together that are about just that! Just played a show with Ruthann Friedman and a couple other folks I like so much (Redeye, Fort King) at a most coolest place ever HM 157. I love Ruthann and this song is really really rad, especially her version. I mean, we've all heard The Association sing it....And the rest are some other songs about the wind that I think might be nice. I am from the Windy City so it's only appropriate.

PS The Bob Segar one down below is a link to a great live performance....there was no embed code but check it out it's grrrrreat

Peace&Hugs
Haroula Rose

RUTHANN FRIEDMAN "Windy"




CAT STEVENS "The Wind"



NINE SIMONE "WIld Is The Wind"



VASHTI BUNYAN "Come Wind Come Rain"



BOB SEGAR "Against The Wind"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bi79wy97Wug

JULIE MILLER "Ride The Wind" (cover)

Found a beautiful, raw cover of this song that I love....



MUMFORD & SONS "Winter Winds"

Late for the Sky -- Jackson Browne

Jackson Browne's third album, 1974. This song, the title track, has been my anthem for this entire year of 2010. It's been a challenging year, emotionally, and this song really got me through a lot of moments. I cried a lot. Kind of every time I played it. Actually, this whole album is pretty mind-blowing. I couldn't decide if I wanted to post this one or "Fountain of Sorrow" because in my mind they are both totally incredible achievements. I love how genuine it is, how human it is, it is so frail and strong at the same time. That sound of the guitar is awesome, perfectly mournful for a death, in this case the death of a relationship which feels like the death of a person in many ways. Jackson Browne is one of my favorite lyricists of all time because of how truthful and poetic he is and how he shapes words and ideas together. Most importantly though, he is really honest in a way that's totally his own. "Late for Sky" might be the best breakup song in the universe.

Oh yeah, I love the movie "Taxi Driver" too.




Late for the Sky

All the words had all been spoken,
Somehow the feeling still wasn't right
And still we continued on through the night.
Tracing our steps from the beginning,
Until they vanished into the air
Trying to understand how our lives had led us there.
Looking hard into your eyes
There was nobody I'd ever known
Such an empty suprise
To feel so alone.

Now, for me, some words come easy
But I know that they don't mean that much
Compared with the things that are said when lovers touch.
You never knew what I loved in you
I don't know what you loved in me.
Maybe the picture of somebody you were hoping I might be.

Awake again, I can't pretend
That I know I'm alone,
And close to the end
Of the feeling we've known.
How long have I been sleeping?
How long have I been drifting along through the night?
How long have I been dreaming I could make it right,
If I closed my eyes and tried with all my might,
To be the one you need?

Awake again, I can't pretend
That I know I'm alone,
And close to the end
Of the feeling we've known.
How long have I been sleeping?
How long have I been drifting along through the night?
How long have I been running for that morning flight
Through the whispered promises, and the changing light
Of the bed where we both lie,
Late for the sky.

Superwolf "I Gave You"

Will Oldham your voice moves my soul and I love this most intense song....So good.



I gave you a child and you didn't want it
That's the most that I have to give
I gave you a house and you didn't haunt it
Now where am I supposed to live ?

I gave you a tree and you did not embrace it
I gave you a nightmare and you didn't chase it
I'd give you a dream and you'd only wake from it
Now I'll never go to sleep again

I'd give you a treasure and you'd only take from it
Look at the hole where jewelry had been
Baby, oh baby, why must you escape from it –
This love that we once called our friend ?

I gave you my body and you ate a plenty
I gave you ten lives and you wasted twenty
Now I'm standing empty, helpless and bare
Without a morsel left of me to give

And you, you have vanished into the air

The air in which I must live

Angie

Straight up wistfulness and wanting...something about this song. I can never turn it off, and if I ever hear it on the radio I have to wait until it plays out. Maybe because it's straightforward and so painful. I don't know....what do you think? "They can't say we never tried" is such a sad and beautiful line.



Angie, Angie
When will those clouds all disappear?
Angie, Angie
Where will it lead us from here?
With no loving in our souls
And no money in our coats
You can't say we're satisfied
But Angie, Angie
You can't say we never tried
Angie, You're beautiful
But ain't it time we said goodbye
Angie, I still love you
Remember all those nights we cried?
All the dreams we held so close
Seemed to all go up in smoke
Let me whisper in your ear
Angie, Angie
Where will it lead us from here?
Angie, don't you weep
All your kisses still taste sweet
I hate that sadness in your eyes
But Angie, Angie
Ain't it time we said goodbye?
With no loving in our souls
And no money in our coats
You can't say we're satisfied
But Angie, I still love you, baby
Everywhere I look I see your eyes
There ain't a woman that comes close to you
Come on baby dry your eyes
But Angie, Ain't it...
Ain't it good to be alive?
Angie, Angie
You can't say we never tried

Because The Night

Mykonos (Fleet Foxes)

I love this song and video:

Last night this song was played for me and my jaw just dropped. Literally couldn't believe what I was hearing....God rest your soul, Judee...



Love, risin' from the mists
Promise me this and only this
Holy breath touchin' me
Like a wind song
Sweet communion of a kiss

Sun, siftin' thru the grey
Enter in, reach me with a ray
Silently swoopin' down
Just to show me
How to give my heart away

And once a crystal choir
Appeared while I was sleepin' and called my name
And when they came down nearer
Sayin', "Dyin' is done",
Then a new song was sung
Until somewhere we breathed as one

Stars, burstin' in the sky
Hear the sad nova's dyin' cry
Shimmerin' memory
Come and hold me
While you show me how to fly

Sun, siftin' thru the grey
Enter in, reach me with a ray
Silently swoopin' down
Just to show me
How to give my heart away

And lately sparklin' hosts
Come fill my dreams descendin' on firey beams
I've seen 'em come clear down
Where our poor bodies lay
Soothe us gently and say,
"Gonna wipe all your tears away"

Love risin' from the mists
Promise me this and only this
Holy breath touchin' me
Like a wind song
Sweet communion of a kiss...

Happy 2010 Heart of Gold

One of the Christmas presents from my boyfriend this year was the Neil Young archives box set vol. 1 and I have been loving it. "Heart of Gold" was the first song I heard this morning, January 1, 2010. Which is a great way to start the new year, and new decade. This re-mastered set of songs has really been inspiring. One of my favorite harmonica solos ever, it always makes my heart stand still. And that haunting pedal steel - doesn't get much better than this, a perfectly crafted song and lyrics and composition married in a way that, contrary to the narrator of this song, never gets old.

I want to live
I want to give
I've been a miner
For a heart of gold
It's these expressions
I never give
That keep me searching
For a heart of gold
And I'm getting old

I've been to Hollywood
I've been to Redwood
I'd cross the ocean
For a heart of gold
I've been in my mind
It's such a fine line
That keeps me searching
For a heart of gold
And I'm getting old

Keep me searching
for a heart of gold
You keep me searching
for a heart of gold
I've been a miner
For a heart of gold
And I'm growing old

Just Walk Away Renee

Mike Brown of the Left Banke began writing this when he was 16 years old. Its tone, their vocal harmonies, and the instrumentation make my eyes well up. Not actually cry, but the feeling you get just before you cry. In Greek there is a word for this feeling, which always amazes me about the specificity of language. How adorable are they in this live performance?? I adore his tapping right hand on the thigh thing.

And when I see the sign that
points one way
The lot we used to pass by
every day

(Chorus):
Just walk away Renee,
You won't see me follow you back home
The empty sidewalks on my
block are not the same
You're not to blame

From deep inside the tears that
I'm forced to cry
From deep inside the pain I
I chose to hide

(Chorus)
Now as the rain beats down
upon my weary eyes
For me it cries

(Solo)

(Chorus)

Your name and mine inside
a heart upon a wall
Still finds a way to haunt me,
though they're so small

(Chorus)

Sozinho by Caetano Veloso

This might actually be in the top most amazing songs I've ever had the pleasure of hearing. At once somber and sweet, nostalgic and hopeful, it touches on so many things that move your very soul. I am so happy to be on the planet at the same time as Caetano to hear his playing and his words.

Sometimes, in the silence of the night,
I sit and imagine us two
I sit here, daydreaming
Joining the before, the now, and the after
Why do you leave me so free?
Why don't you stick with me?
I'm feeling so alone
I'm not and I don't want to be your owner
But sometimes your love feels so good
I have my desires and secret plans
I only open to you, to no one else
Why do you forget me and disappear?
And if I become interested in someone?
And if she suddenly wins me?
When people like each other
It's clear that they care for each other
You say that you love me
But you don't mean it
Or you mess with me
Or you aren't ready
Where are you now?
When people like each other
It's clear that they care for each other
You tell me that you love me
But you don't mean it
Or you mess with me
Or you aren't ready
Iê iê iê iê iê
Where are you now?
From: http://lyricstranslate.com

The lute, the recorder, violins, double bass, various kinds of percussion, and her voice above all....she can manipulate it so it sounds like some other kind of wind instrument. Savina Yannatou sings in so many languages - long gone ones and contemporary ones - and finds these treasures of folk songs to continue to spread with her incredible presence. Really magical, the way the sirens must have bewitched Odysseus.

Blending Influences

Ok I am just going to go ahead and say that this song is the perfect score for any city, mode of transport or dwelling of any sort. I think that is due to its blend of influences - Avishai Cohen is a total badass double bass player who hails from Israel, but played with Chick Corea and you can clearly hear a kind of sound that is somewhat Eastern European/Middle Eastern/and yet standard jazz rhythms and feelings are present too. Oddly, it reminds me of holidays in December, while at the same time evoking a sense of mystery and rapture at life. I listened to this song on trains in Spain, and planes across that continent as I was headed to the MIddle East, and as I walked the streets I could always feel it echoing my experience. When I was travelling a lot, it always fit. But even now when I am back in the States and not on the go every second, this song manages to move me every time. I hope someday he gets to compose a score for a film, since his music is just naturally so cinematic and reflects life so magically. Enjoy this one!

If Music Be The Food Of Love

So the title of this blog comes from a song by Henry Purcell (1659-1695??) that is so incredibly beautiful in melody and words, a perfect marriage of the two I think. This person is simply bewitched, and the music also betrays this kind of magical feeling of total vulnerability I think. Doesn't it make you want to dress up and have some sort of feast? By candlelight only??

If music be the food of love,
sing on sing on

sing on sing on

till I am fill'd with joy;
for then my list'ning soul you move
with pleasures that can never cloy,
your eyes, your mien, your tongue declare
that you are music ev'rywhere.

Pleasures invade both eye and ear,
so fierce the transports are, they wound,
and all my senses feasted are,
tho' yet the treat is only sound.
Sure I must perish by our charms,
unless you save me in your arms.

The More Personal, The More Universal

It's been said time and again that the more personal one gets with their experience, the more universal it becomes. This is a such a beautiful human truth, that once we share those things that can make us feel singularly alone or somehow unrelatable, we are no longer alone. So it goes with songs and poetry, or visual art or any mode of expression; these specificities become universal principles and emotions that we can all relate to. Todd Rundgren hits this on the head in his hit song 'Hello, It's Me,' where we can all see ourselves or those we know written in there somewhere...

Hello, it's me
I've thought about us for a long, long time
Maybe I think too much but something's wrong
There's something here that doesn't last too long
Maybe I shouldn't think of you as mine

Seeing you
Or seeing anything as much as I do you
I take for granted that you're always there
I take for granted that you just don't care
Sometimes I can't help seeing all the way through

It's important to me
That you know you are free
'Cause I never want to make you change for me

Think of me
You know that I'd be with you if I could
I'll come around to see you once in a while
Or if I ever need a reason to smile
And spend the night if you think I should

It's important to me
That you know you are free
'Cause I never want to make you change for me

Think of me
You know that I'd be with you if I could
I'll come around to see you once in a while
Or if I ever need a reason to smile
And spend the night if you think I should

Think of me...
Think of me...
Think of me

'Mon Amie La Rose' (Francoise Hardy)

And then there are those story songs, that move like water, encompassing anything and everything in one theme. In this case, mortality. One thing we all know is that everything comes and goes, there's a beginning and an end to it all. In the words of Robert Frost, "nothing gold can stay":

Nature's first green is gold
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf's a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay

+++

So Francoise sings about a rose telling her the meaning of life in 'Mon Amie La Rose' echoing that idea of finality, and how it all went by so fast, and all those things that seemed so important are no longer. Makes me want to rethink whatever I am stressed about, that's for sure :)

We are truly insignificant
And that's what my friend the rose
Told me this morning

I was born at dawn
Baptised in dew
I blossomed
In the rays of the sun
Happy and in love
I closed my petals at night
And when I awoke I was old.
Yet I had been beautiful
Yes, I was the most beautiful
Of all the flowers in your garden

See, the God that made me
Now makes me bow my head
And I feel I'm falling
And I feel I'm falling
My heart is almost bare
I have a foot in my grave
Already I am nothing
You admired me only yesterday
And I shall be dust
Forever, tomorrow

We are truly insignificant
And my friend the rose
Died this morning

Last night the moon
Kept vigil over my friend
And in a dream I saw
Her soul, dancing
Dazzling and naked,
Above the heavens,
Smiling on me.
Let those who can, believe
But I need Hope
Or else I am nothing

'How Can I Tell You?'

I guess I'll start with one of my all-time favorite songs 'How Can I Tell You' by Cat Stevens. I first heard this song when I was about 15 years old and it felt like the whole world stopped. Its strength lies in its simplicity, and therein also is the sincerity, the soul of a song I think....I found a great video on youtube of a live performance too.

How can I tell you that I love you, I love you
but I can't think of right words to say
I long to tell you that I'm always thinking of you
I'm always thinking of you, but my words
just blow away, just blow away
It always ends up to one thing, honey
and I can't think of right words to say
Wherever I am girl, I'm always walking with you
I'm always walking with you, but I look and you're not there
Whoever I'm with, I'm always, always talking to you
I'm always talking to you, and I'm sad that
you can't hear, sad that you can't hear
It always ends up to one thing, honey,
when I look and you're not there
I need to know you, need to feel my arms around you
feel my arms surround you, like a sea around a shore
and -- each night and day I pray, in hope
that I might find you, in hope that I might
find you, because heart's can do no more
It always ends up to one thing honey, still I kneel upon the floor
How can I tell you that I love you, I love you
but I can't think of right words to say
I long to tell you that I'm always thinking of you
I'm always thinking of you....
It always ends up to one thing honey
and I can't think of right words to say