My boyfriend sent this youtube video to me in a facebook messege. It's a really eerie video but I find myself very entranced by the song itself.
"Bat For Lashes is the work of British singer/ songwriter, multi- instrumentalist and visual artist Natasha Khan. Born in 1979, yet combining influences that span decades, Natasha’s work dwells in the elemental, emerging in timeless forms." http://www.batforlashes.com/biography
Not only is Khan a wonderful musician and singer/songwriter, she is an amazing visual artist and it becomes really aparent in the music video of her his song, "What's a Girl to Do," as shown above.
On my lunch break today, I was explaining to a friend our weekly blog journal and how we can write about any interaction with any media form. I told him that I was focusing my blog on music. Whether it be from the radio, youtube, or even album reviews in Rolling Stone Magazine, I wanted to keep it constant in one way or another.
Shortly after, he reached for my laptop (Goldmemeber as I call him) and began surfing the web. When I looked at the screen, I saw that he was on youtube. He absolutely insisted I hear a particular band and claimed that if he knew me as well as he thought he did then I would love the band and, more specifically, love his favorite song.
So, with that being said, I am blogging, today, to share an amazing band with the rest of you and thank my friend, Costa, for showing me this youtube video.
The band is called Porcupine Tree. The group was formed in the late 1980s by front man, Steven Wilson as a "psychedelic, experimental, and progressive music outlet." http://www.porcupinetree.com/background.cfm
Steven Wilson, who is a self taught singer, songwriter, and guitarist, definitely has talent from the little I have heard. His voice and the composition of music from him and his band have caught my attention and I have to say I am going to keep listening and become more educated on their music.
The song my friend, Costa, showed me is the song "Lazarus," which was a single from the Deadwing album in July, 2005.
The lyrics are very emotional and personal, which allows for a kind of connection between the band and the listener. They are a truly unique band with a great, incomparable sound and stunning musical interconnectedness. I am definitely a music junkie so I tend to get very emotional (in all forms) when I listen to music. This is a band that spoke out to me. The piano is phenomenal in conjunction with the drums and guitar, and in whole the instrumental composition drives the song to tell a powerful story. The lyrics go as follows:
"Lazarus"
By Porcupine Tree
As the cheerless towns pass my window
I can see a washed out moon through the fog
And then a voice inside my head, breaks the analogue
And says
"Follow me down to the valley below You know
Moonlight is bleeding from out of your soul"
I survived against the will of my twisted folk
But in the deafness of my world the silence broke
And said
"Follow me down to the valley below You know
Moonlight is bleeding from out of your soul"
"My David don't you worry
This cold world is not for you
So rest your head upon me
I have strength to carry you"
(Ghosts of the twenties rising Golden summers just holding you)
Call me old fashioned but I am addicted to listening to the radio. I am constantly scanning the stations to hear new and interesting music, news coverage, and conversations. I, personally, am a fan of acoustic and mellow music with the power to inspire and/or make a difference in my life through the effects of lyrics, vocals, and rhythm.
In my scanning of stations, I have been able to expose myself to new artists and new sounds. My feature for the week is the British singer/song writer, Adele.
A few weeks ago, I listened to her song Hometown Glory. It's a song about her love and respect for her hometown, London. Not only are the lyrics outstanding, the composition of the piano piece against her soulful voice creates such a breathtaking and absolutely phenomenal tune.
The lyrics go as follows:
Hometown Glory by: Adele
I've been walking in the same way as I did Missing out the cracks in the pavement And tutting my heel and strutting my feet "Is there anything I can do for you dear? Is there anyone I can call?" "No, and thank you, please Madam I ain't lost, just wandering" Round my hometown memories are fresh Round my hometown, ooh, the people I've met Are the wonders of my world Are the wonders of my world Are the wonders of this world Are the wonders and now I like it in the city when the air is so thick and opaque I love to see everybody in short skirts, shorts, and shades I like it in the city when two worlds collide You get the people and the government, everybody taking different sides Shows that we ain't gonna stand Shows that we are united Shows that we ain't gonna take it Shows that we ain't gonna stand Shows that we are united Round my hometown memories are fresh Round my hometown, ooh, the people I've met Are the wonders of my world Are the wonders of my world Are the wonders of this world Are the wonders of my world
I love that this particular song speaks about the present and allows the listener to visualize living in a city. The lyric, "I like it in the city when the air is so thick and opaque, I love to see everybody in short skirts, shorts, and shades," I get the image of a crowed city and tons of people dressing to impress. She appears to be writing of the social/cultural aspects of London as well as experiencing the beauty of its nature. When she sings of the air being "thick and opaque," she is referring to the fog that drapes over the city, and as she walks through town she admires seeing others out and about. Through out, Adele sings of everything she cherishes about London and sums it all up by reiterating that the memories of living there and the people she's encountered "are the wonders of this world."
Adele's voice and the piano as well as other light acoustics complete this tune. For me, the song becomes alive and I feel like I can really relate with what she's saying and how she's feeling. Just listening to her over a lousy radio set up in my car, I could still hear the emotion and passion she has for what she sings about.
Adele has created a truly inspiring song in all aspects to include lyricism, music composition, and vocal performance. I'm definitely a fan. If you want to learn more about Adele and her music go to http://adele.tv/
