I haven’t paid much attention to politics this week, but I do know that the spin keeps spinning, the spies are still spying and the psychos are still shooting. Some things never change. I’ve reached an impasse on the political side of things and just have to say screw it, for now. Post your favorite songs and artists and be a DJ unto yourselves. You all have great taste in music, so have at it and have fun.
Lou Reed – Last Great American Whale In honor of the great Lou Reed. RIP
The Beatles – I Am The Walrus
The Rolling Stones – Sympathy For The Devil
Eurythmics – I Saved The World Today
Chet Baker – Almost Blue
Fly Like An Eagle Steve Miller Band
KT, my buddy! Put politics aside today and celebrate with me! “Do you still need me? Will you still feed me? Now I’m 64!”
http://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=A2KIo9hzv3ZSihcAc1f7w8QF;_ylu=X3oDMTBzc2M2MjdyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDdmlkBHZ0aWQDBGdwb3MDMTE-?p=when+i%27m+64+beatles+song+lyrics&vid=6bd34914718536d2090ccc478884dc41&l=2%3A31&turl=http%3A%2F%2Fts1.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DV.4897801516089452%26pid%3D15.1&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymotion.com%2Fvideo%2Fx1qc95_when-i-m-sixty-four_music&tit=When+I%26%2339%3Bm+Sixty-Four&c=10&sigr=121hnmpj4&sigt=10nlv07n5&age=0&&tt=b
Sorry for the long link but Sony pretty much has all the Beatle’s songs wrapped up. Took forever to find this one!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sja3Zkc4AUg
It’s not really my “my birthday too,” but I will pretend it is! 😉
Thanks, My Buddy, I needed that!
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3k8H_9SjoM
Maybe one day the very last soldiers will come marching home. It’s a nice dream, anyway.
Great visuals with that version, KT. Thanks so much
There were some alternate lyrics to that tune that were pretty dark. If you google “Oh Johnny We Hardly Knew Ye” they’re available. Not for the faint of heart, though.
Dropkick Murphys – Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya
Viewer discretion advised.
We sang this at my high school graduation. “Let There Be Peace”
This is Gladys Knight’s version:
Kes, I love the lyrics to that song. Gladys Knight sings beautifully, too.
Her voice and the song both are really timeless, aren’t they Nirek?
Kes I love that song. It is on the same level as another, You’ll never walk alone. I found this really cool rendition by Jerry and the Pacemakers, one of my most favorite groups from the British Invasion.
https://youtu.be/OV5_LQArLa0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gp5JCrSXkJY
Another with lyrics that haunt me.
You may want to fast forward through the lengthy intro to this to get to the truly lovely rendition of Lili Marlene by June Tabor. Sweet and simple:
Country Joe. Listen to the words carefully, they are prophetic.
Wow…the more things change, the more they stay the same, Nirek.
Kes, I was in Vietnam when Woodstock happened. I would have loved to be at Woodstock. Call me a peacenik !
KT, you made me find another anti war song.
Here’s a snappy campaign song that was used in the Lincoln campaign of 1860. A lot of the lyrics are still pretty relevant!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQqO2x39FLs
(Sorry, this was one that would only allow me to post the link. The usual “insert the v” trick didn’t work on it.)
Abracadabra kes! 😉
Ah! Many, many thanks, dear Kalima!
Evolution – Tree of Life
KT, great pick!!!
Continuing on the history theme, here is a collection of photographs of child soldiers who fought in the Civil War, with the well known tune, Danny Boy, in the background. Haunting faces:
So young looking. Child soldiers.
We had one guy in Nam who was only 17. He was killed by a booby trap. Broke my heart, he was called “Baby San” because he looked even younger than he was.
War should never happen.
So true, Nirek. All that potential. We’ll never know how those young lives might have played out, had things gone differently. Such a loss.
The Tree of Life – Lacrimosa
KT – I think that the movie, “Tree of Life” is one of the most underrated films in recent times. It explores with such an incisive, earnest way and with such a wonderful texture, human life, psychology and family.
And the incredible segment showing the creation of existence and life is groundbreaking.
Saw it again last month, just amazing. Thanks for the video to remind me!
Ad, I absolutely agree. It’s really sort of a one of a kind film. It got mixed reviews and some even walked out of the original test screening. It’s definitely not the same old cops and robbers, car chases, huge explosions…etc. It’s not a sappy feel good love story, or it’s opposite, the classic tear jerker.
Tree of Life is one of my favorite films, because of it’s subject matter and it’s complete uniqueness. I thought it had a definite Taoist nature about it. The choosing between “grace,” or “nature.” I personally think they are not exactly opposites and I think the film really did well in showing that.
The film also mirrored several aspects of my own upbringing. The constant tension, the strict father, the more easy going mother and the joyous feelings of freedom that the father’s absence created. Just a superb film.
Coming Back To Me – The Jefferson Airplane
This is very far from being current. I just discovered it. But as a “history nut” I fell in love with it immediately.
It’s an 85 year old Civil War veteran singing a song about the experience of having been a soldier. There’s something so intimate and touching about it that I wanted to share it:
Awesome ,Kes & KT!
Kes found that, somehow and posted it. Haunting.
Wow kes, that is a rare find. How did you come across it? To hear the voice of an actual civil war soldier. Kind of spooky in a way.
Just happened to check YouTube and it was among the suggested vids for me, KT and Nirek.
Apparently they know me very well.
I’m going to post another very poignant one next.
Very cool.
Truly remarkable and haunting, Kes! Thanks!
Natalie Merchant Carnival