Off Topic: Favorite Music?

[Casablanca100views]

Well, Paul Simon would definitely be on any list of mine. As would Bach.

I  just found out, one of my favourite  songs by Paul Simon sounds a lot like a chorale from Bach's St. Matthew's Passion, a transcendently beautiful piece of music ( sorry to use an embarrassing  word like "transcendent", but it is.) Even though I was familiar with both compositions, I'd never realized that before.

Don't  worry, I'm not going to post the Bach work - I've learned by now that most of you don't enjoy classical pieces on this thread.

But here's the Paul Simon song, a masterpiece of melody and lyrics. Always gives me that lumpinthethroat feeling. It's an American  tune.

 

 

 

 

Very good.  and I love the Brandenburg concertos, so there!

[misswonderly3]

Very good.  and I love the Brandenburg concertos, so there!

 

Yes, Char baby, you're one of the few here who appreciates classical music.  (this is not a jab at those who don't.)

[laffite]

Speaking of classical music, the song "Windmills of your Mind" was inspired by the slow movement of Mozart's Sinfonia Concertante. See if you can hear it.

 

[MovieCollectorOH]

Well, Paul Simon would definitely be on any list of mine. As would Bach.

I  just found out, one of my favourite  songs by Paul Simon sounds a lot like a chorale from Bach's St. Matthew's Passion, a transcendently beautiful piece of music ( sorry to use an embarrassing  word like "transcendent", but it is.) Even though I was familiar with both compositions, I'd never realized that before.

Don't  worry, I'm not going to post the Bach work - I've learned by now that most of you don't enjoy classical pieces on this thread.

But here's the Paul Simon song, a masterpiece of melody and lyrics. Always gives me that lumpinthethroat feeling. It's an American  tune.

 

 

 

Very nice.

 

My favorite music group from the 1960s that played folk music is the Australian group, The Seekers.  They originally formed in 1962/3 and, in spite of life's trials, have managed a 25th anniversary reunion tour and also 50th anniversary in 2014.  They are still together with all the original members, and have done a couple tours and odd gigs here and there. 

 

They began in Australia singing Austalian, Irish, American, and English folk music on a small record label.  Then they traveled to England, for what was supposed to just be a working vacation.  At that time they were also the paid entertainers on their ship.  They stayed in England for a while.  Then at the last minute before they were about to leave for home, there were some cancellations by musical acts at the theaters.  The Seekers were instantly booked and they got their chance, and became successful in England as a pop group.  They eventually topped the charts in England, rating higher than The Beatles and The Rolling Stones at certain points in their career.

 

Here they are on the BBC singing a song Paul Simon wrote for them, during some time Simon spent as a solo artist in England.

 

 

 

 

 

Since this is TCM, everyone has probably seen Georgy Girl.  Here they are back visiting in Australia, during the height of their success, at the Sydney Myer Music Bowl (with the largest crowd it ever had of 200,000 attendees).

 

 

 

[Sepiatone]

I've long held the position that Simon wrote better songs when he was with GARFUNKLE than when he went solo.

 

That's NOT to say, as some have thought, that I don't think ANY of Simon's post S&G songs AREN'T any good.  There ARE several(and "American Tune" is a favorite among them) that are outstanding.  It's just there were more IMHO that were outstanding BEFOR the break up.  There was, to my taste, more poeticism in the lyrics than in later offerings.  But, Simon is ALWAYS a pleasure to listen to.

 

And MISS W?

 

Post as much classical music as you like.  I'M a big fan, and that Bach-Simon tie in is fascinating!  Over the decades, there's been a lot of classical music "borrowed" for popular music.  Actor JOHN WILLIAMS did an interesting RECORD OFFER TV commercial about it in the '70's. 

 

 

Sepiatone

[DownGoesFrazier]

No way. There's no chance I could ever pare a list down to 10 (or 15).

 

As Perry Como might've put it, "it's impossible".

OK, I just re-edited my list to make it a top 20. Beach Boys, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, EW * F, and Isley Bros. have been added.

[darkblue]

If memory serves, I believe this was the first single that Paul put out after the breakup with Artie. I love this song - as I do so many of Paul's songs.

 

 

[DownGoesFrazier]

If memory serves, I believe this was the first single that Paul put out after the breakup with Artie. I love this song - as I do so many of Paul's songs.

 

My favorite of all the songs that Simon did by himself is "The Obvious Child".

[Sepiatone]

If memory serves, I believe this was the first single that Paul put out after the breakup with Artie. I love this song - as I do so many of Paul's songs.

 

Seems I recall "Mother and Child Reunion" being on the radio befor "Julio", but they were so close in release that it's hard for me to call.  Might have come out before around HERE is all  For all I know, one or the other could have been a "B" side.  As I long before quit BUYING singles, I wouldn't know.

 

 

Sepiatone

[TheGayDivorcee]

I'm going to pretend the recent conversation didn't happen, except to say, good music is good music, and is to be found everywhere and every time period. And nobody here poses as younger than they are.

 

The latest TCM promo for its July programming has got this amazing song. I remembered the lines "I wanna go out but I wanna stay home", googled them, and found this:

 

TCM consistently comes up with great tunes for its promos. Somebody's doing their job right.

Really good song, I wondered about it every time it was played.  This may be my favorite TCM promo ever!  Yes, that employee needs to take a bow.  

[TheGayDivorcee]

Here's one of those meaningless coincidences. Twice in the last two days I've heard the song "Sunday Girl" in a movie.

First time was while watching Noah Baumbach's Margot at the Wedding. There's this really touching scene where the young boy in the story starts singing it, recording it into one of those old cassette tape machines. Then, the very next day, the same song was used at the beginning of Girl Most Likely.  Which, by the way, wasn't a very good movie, but what can I say? I like Kristen Wiig.

 

I just thought it was odd that I heard  this not especially famous Blondie song twice in a row in two completely different movies. 

It is a good song, though, with a sweet melody and nice vocals from Debbie. And today is Sunday. Since they're different, I've got the English and French versions. 

Depeche toi.

 

 

Funny, as that isn't one of their more well known songs, but it's nice to see people know it.  The line "I saw your guy with a different girl, looks like he's in another world" still gets to me.  Such a great group.  I remember being mesmerized by Deborah Harry, and buying thigh-high black boots like hers.  That was such a fun era in music, and clothing!  

[TheGayDivorcee]

In this episode of 'The Larry Sanders Show' (titled 'Artie's Gone'), Paula (played by Janeane Garofalo) slips the group Porno for Pyros into the show. I bought their album because of this appearance.

 

 

Is that Perry Farrell (sp)?   

[TheGayDivorcee]

 

 

Speaking of Simon and Garfunkel, my PBS station just aired their Concert in Central Park. I was especially moved by "America," inspired, says Wiki, by a road trip Paul Simon took with his girlfriend Kathy (she of the song) in 1964.

[Sepiatone]

 

 

Speaking of Simon and Garfunkel, my PBS station just aired their Concert in Central Park. I was especially moved by "America," inspired, says Wiki, by a road trip Paul Simon took with his girlfriend Kathy (she of the song) in 1964.

This just helps prove my earlier point.

 

Songs like "America", "The Boxer", "A Most Peculiar Man", "April, Come She Will",  And others composed by Simon in the S&G years kind of(for me) leave "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover"  and some other post S&G tunes in the dust!

 

 

Sepiatone

[DownGoesFrazier]

 

Speaking of Simon and Garfunkel, my PBS station just aired their Concert in Central Park. I was especially moved by "America," inspired, says Wiki, by a road trip Paul Simon took with his girlfriend Kathy (she of the song) in 1964.

I was at their concert in Central Park.

[DownGoesFrazier]

I have recently posted a list of my top 20 rock/soul acts. In thinking about which artist has the best two songs, I have decided that it is none of my top 20. It is Midnight Oil, with "The Power and the Passion" and "The Dead Heart". Look at the video of the former. Peter may be even a worse dancer than Elaine Benes.

[TheGayDivorcee]

I was at their concert in Central Park.

Wow!  It looked like a big love fest. How wonderful to have been there.

[Sepiatone]

I have recently posted a list of my top 20 rock/soul acts. In thinking about which artist has the best two songs, I have decided that it is none of my top 20. It is Midnight Oil, with "The Power and the Passion" and "The Dead Heart". Look at the video of the former. Peter may be even a worse dancer than Elaine Benes.

It's dicey doing this sort of thing.

 

For instance, what YOU consider to be "Rock/Soul" might NOT be considered so by someone else.

 

I'M not saying either way, just sayin'---

 

Same goes with your using the much subjective "the best".  For example(and as I've mentioned somewhere before) there are those I know who would say "Stairway To Heaven" is Led Zeppelin's "best" song!  I happen to strongly disagree with  this. Maybe the two songs you posted(which I never heard, or heard OF, so no judgement, mind you) are YOUR "favorites" by Midnight Oil, but maybe somebody feels ANOTHER two of their songs ar the "best".

 

 

Sepiatone

[DownGoesFrazier]

It's dicey doing this sort of thing.

 

For instance, what YOU consider to be "Rock/Soul" might NOT be considered so by someone else.

 

I'M not saying either way, just sayin'---

 

Same goes with your using the much subjective "the best".  For example(and as I've mentioned somewhere before) there are those I know who would say "Stairway To Heaven" is Led Zeppelin's "best" song!  I happen to strongly disagree with  this. Maybe the two songs you posted(which I never heard, or heard OF, so no judgement, mind you) are YOUR "favorites" by Midnight Oil, but maybe somebody feels ANOTHER two of their songs ar the "best".

 

 

Sepiatone

How dare they?..... and I think the two best LZ songs are "Whole Lotta Love" and "Immigrant Song", and there are not too many others that I like. With the exception of the Dave Matthews Band (horrendous), Led Zeppelin may be rock's most overrated group.

[TheGayDivorcee]

Stairway to Heaven has become so played, parodied, etc., that you can forget it's a really, really good song.  When I'm in the car and it comes on the radio, or on my i-Pod, I still get a little jolt of excitement.  Here's a clip of Jimmy Page talking about its creation, a tad long, but worth a listen if you have any interest in the song:

 

 

[TheGayDivorcee]

 

 

You don't hear much about Be Bop Deluxe these days, or even back then.  I saw them at a college gymnasium in 1980 or so. I like Bill Nelson's spiffy attire here.  Do they no longer make double-breasted jackets, I wonder?  

[darkblue]

That 'Maid in Heaven' single was a very Raspberries-like power pop item.

 

Good thing it didn't become a hit or Eric Carmen would've been right p!ssed off. The Raspberries couldn't get the album-buying public to pay any attention to them in spite of a few top-40 placements.

[DownGoesFrazier]

Stairway to Heaven has become so played, parodied, etc., that you can forget it's a really, really good song.  When I'm in the car and it comes on the radio, or on my i-Pod, I still get a little jolt of excitement.  Here's a clip of Jimmy Page talking about its creation, a tad long, but worth a listen if you have any interest in the song:

 

 

It IS a good song. I don't have it on my ipod because the tempo is too slow. More than half of my ipod's use is when I'm on the spinning bike.

[Sepiatone]

I'll concede only far enough to say that "Stairway To Heaven" construction-wise, is a well written tune.  It just never appealed to me all that much, and got FAR more accolade than it ever deserved IMHO.

 

I don't have the time(at this typing) to watch the clip, but I'm curious if Page ever does either admit to, or even mentions an inspiration by SPIRIT's RANDY CALIFORNIA and his instrumental piece "Taurus".

 

There's been a huge controversy over that with many claiming Page STOLE the basic theme of  "Taurus" for "Stairway". 

 

I'm not claiming any belief in any direction as Both seem based a "riff" I've heard in many other tunes before AND since.

 

 

Sepiatone

[TheGayDivorcee]

That 'Maid in Heaven' single was a very Raspberries-like power pop item.

 

Good thing it didn't become a hit or Eric Carmen would've been right p!ssed off. The Raspberries couldn't get the album-buying public to pay any attention to them in spite of a few top-40 placements.

Interesting Raspberries comparison--there is a similarity.  Here's my favorite song of theirs from the same Old Grey Whistle Test appearance.  I might have posted this before, so sorry for any duplication.