If you go back in time to my earlier entries you will find some interesting stories about Notting Hill in the 60s and 70s and also Anti-Media activities in the 80s , bits about the gigs before Club Dog etc....

However I have been having problems with technology and the Dave Russell interviews being repeatedly deleted .

Therefore I have re-issued part one of this interview on Youtube. It's the first time I have ever done anything like this so don't expect miracles!

Enjoy ! and to read onthe background to the things mentioned in this interview go back to my previous post called

Notting Hill and the Arts 1967-1972: an interview with Dave Russell - Pink Floyd, Hawkwind, Gong and more…(Episode One)

This was written back in the winter of 2007 and the weather today is about the same.

Love and peace

Born2rant

Just before Pink fully bricks himself in behind his wall at the end of the first act of Pink Floyd's epic of isolation "The Wall," the band kicks into the hauntingly beautiful "Goodbye Blue Sky," which contains the following passage:

Did you see the frightened ones
Did you hear the falling bombs
The flames are all long gone
But the pain lingers on

It's a song about the mental scarring left over from Pink's father's death in the war and it is another mental brick that Pink uses to complete his Wall after he starts to go mad.

Unfortunately, it could also be used to describe the current situation in the Democratic Party as the psychological and financial wounds of the relatively bitter primary campaign continue to haunt the party in a year that should be a grand triumph and victory over the opposition, which has systematically run just about every aspect of our government into the ground, while shitting on our ideals and principles as a nation.

But instead of being able to capitalize fully on the obvious national desire for change, the Democrats are doing everything they can to shoot themselves in the foot again. The flames from the campaign battle may be long gone, but the pain certainly lingers on.

This past week, the New York Times ran an interesting story about the insurgency within Democratic congressional districts that voted for Obama but saw their representative back Clinton. It is especially problematic in New York, where members of Congress supported their fellow New Yorker:

Brooklyn’s 10th Congressional District, home to more African-Americans than any other in New York, gave Senator Barack Obama his highest margin of victory in the state. But the district’s longtime congressman, Edolphus Towns, did not share his constituency’s preference for Mr. Obama. Now some of those voters are pushing to oust him.

“His decision not to back Obama shows he is out of touch with his constituents,” said N. Chandler, a former city corrections officer who lives in Bedford-Stuyvesant and who had supported Mr. Towns in the past. “And I think the people of this district are ready for a change.”

They are not wrong, but this is not the type of shit the party needs. Obama is trying to woo Clinton supporters to their cause - to have his supporters trying to take out and punish elected Democrats who supported her is no way to gain their favor or trust.

Mr. Towns cannot afford to take the challenge lightly. Two years ago, he won with less than 50 percent of the vote in a three-way race. The man who is running against him now, Kevin Powell, is a community organizer who has the backing of celebrities like the comedian Dave Chappelle, who is scheduled to headline a fund-raiser for Mr. Powell. ...

In an interview, Mr. Towns said he was worried that the compressed primary calendar did not give him much time to make peace with Obama loyalists. “September is not that far away,” he said, referring to the Sept. 9 primary. “That’s problematic for me.”

It's not just New York, it's also happening in a district in Georgia that is considered vulnerable.

This needs to be handled cautiously or else the Dems will blow this chance like they have in the past. This is why the Dems lose - they argue too much among themselves and then Independent voters and others see them as unable to keep their own house in order. That does not instill confidence in their leadership for the country.

Say what you will about the inherent Orwellian evil of their policies, but the Republicans know how to stay on message and they know how to wedge the Independents to their side, a tactic the Clinton campaign tried, something that undeniably helped to create this rift.

But in order to achieve real unity, the Obama camp needs to be very tactful about which candidates they support come primary time.

It's not just hurt feelings. The Clinton campaign not only ran a polarizing, wedge-style kneecapping campaign, but also ran itself into the ground financially, finally closing down with about $22 million in debt. Recently, Obama tried to buy off the initially lackadaisical support of the Clintons by telling his fundraising people to support Hillary Clinton's get-out-of-debt effort, even going so far as to write the candidate a personal check for the maximum amount.

The problem, however, is now that the donors have to bail out a campaign that was dead in the water a good $40 million ago, the party convention is floundering, meaning the great showpiece of the Democratic Party - another example of their leadership, vision and ability to make things happen - is suffering greatly:

With the Denver convention less than two months away, problems range from the serious — upwardly spiraling costs on key contracts still being negotiated — to the more mundane, like the reluctance of local caterers to participate because of stringent rules on what delegates will be eating, down to the color of the food. At last count, plans to renovate the inside of the Pepsi Center for the Democrats are $6 million over budget, which may force convention planners to scale back on their original design or increase their fund-raising goals.

Normally the contender takes over the party machinery and molds it in their image, but in this case, the drawn out primary fight meant the Obama people could not get in until about a month ago and it is very, very late.

But in this case, the Obama campaign can't even ask its donors to contribute to the convention, because it is too busy asking them to pay off the Clinton debt, leaving the convention a good $11 million behind in fundraising efforts. It's unspoken in the Times article, but the Clinton debt is the real albatross here.

The other clusterfuck is that Democratic Party infighting is going to lead to a repudiation of not only their management style (the convention is also way overbudget), but potentially their message, as the grand plans and high hopes held for the Denver convention are also slipping away:

Overly ambitious environmental goals — to turn the event into a “green” convention — have backfired as only three states’ full delegations have so far agreed to participate in the program. Negotiations over where to locate demonstrators remain unsettled with members of the national news media concerned over proposals to locate the demonstrators — with their loud gatherings — next to the media tent.

And then there is the food: A 28-page contract requested by Denver organizers that caterers provide food in “at least three of the following five colors: red, green, yellow, blue/purple and white.” Garnishes could not be counted toward the colors. No fried foods would be allowed. Organic and locally grown foods were mandated, and each plate had to be 50 percent fruits and vegetables. As a result, caterers are shying away.

For the Democratic Party, the danger is that a poorly run convention, or one that misses the mark financially, will reflect badly on the party, and raise questions about Democratic management skills.

It's a great idea, but when it falls apart, you know the Republicans are going to say "See, I told you these stupid hippie ideas couldn't possibly work. Do you really want these idiots in charge?"

If history is any indication, the country doesn't.

With Democrats not only fighting each other in the primaries but unable to pull off their big party in Denver, the Dems have to be careful or the bright blue future ahead of them may not matter and once again they'll be left confused, tattered and looking at the oval office from the barricade on Pennsylvania Avenue.

Did you ever wonder
Why we had to run for shelter
When the promise of a brave new world
Unfurled beneath a clear blue sky?

Imagine no more. “Flashback – the Classic Rock Experience,” featuring the Mystic Orchestra, is about to storm the concert arenas of America – kicking off August 27 at the Civic Center in Mobile, Alabama (see below for complete itinerary).

With its elite team of musicians, technical wizards and design specialists, “Flashback –– the Classic Rock Experience,” delivers anew the hit music of the all-time greatest artists: Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, the Doors, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd and more, presented in a mind-boggling multi-media spectacle one must see to believe.

“The intention is to present the music like it’s never been presented before,” says Bowen, founder of “Flashback – the Classic Rock Experience,” and its creative director. “I wanted to do it even better than done originally. We have the world’s greatest players, who studied every move the classic bands ever made.”

With music director Frank Gilcken at the helm, the Mystic Orchestra features 14 brilliant rock musicians and singers, as well as an 11-piece string-and-horn section, together elevating classic rock to new heights. For the Mystic Orchestra core band, Gilcken recruited fellow guitarists Phil Hilborne and Jamie Humphries (veterans of the hit Queen retrospective “We Will Rock You” and the Australian Pink Floyd Show, respectively), keyboardist Brian Chatton (Phil Collins and Meatloaf), keyboard/woodwind player David Boruff (Madonna, Chicago) and Australian drummer Adam Troughear.

Rocking the mics, Spanish vocalist Jose Manzano, Katrina Chester (star of the off-Broadway smash “Love, Janis”), Elizabeth Eagan and special guest vocalist Chuck Negron, formerly of Three Dog Night, back to sing that band’s greatest hits and more.

The nearly three-hour show reworks indelible songs of the most highly regarded era in rock: the Doors’ “Light My Fire” and “Riders on the Storm.” Janis Joplin’s “Piece of My Heart” and “Mercedes Benz.” Jimi Hendrix masterpieces like “Purple Haze” and “Foxy Lady.” Other rock classics include Deep Purple’s “Smoke on the Water,” Steppenwolf’s “Born to be Wild,” “Layla” by Derek and the Dominoes, Rod Stewart’s “Maggie May,” as well as Three Dog Night’s “One” and “Joy to the World,” sung by Chuck Negron.

The second half of the show offers something never before attempted in the rock ‘n’ roll universe: Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd playing together. All their greatest songs are featured, including Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” “Kashmir” and “Stairway to Heaven,” as well as Pink Floyd’s “Money,” “Another Brick in the Wall Part 2,” “Wish You Were Here,” “Comfortably Numb” and “Shine On You Crazy Diamond.” This is a carefully crafted meeting of the titans - a loving vision of what might have been.

Behind the scenes, Bowen assembled a world-class production team to mount “Flashback – the Classic Rock Experience.” They include promotions manager and founder of Rainbow Ticketmasters, Lou Dickstein; lighting designers Bryan Hartley and Phil Ealy; art designer Ed Unitsky; and sound mixer Seth Goldman. Collectively, these experts have worked with the top acts in rock ‘‘n’’ roll: Elvis Presley, Led Zeppelin, Janis Joplin, the Doors, Pink Floyd, Kiss, Elton John, Van Halen and David Bowie to name just a few.

Great as the bands were in the ‘60’s and early ‘70’s, they were handicapped by primitive light and sound. For “Flashback – the Classic Rock Experience,” Bowen and his team have no such problems. Six truckloads of intelligent LED lighting, lasers, pyrotechnics, an overhead helium-filled zeppelin with two screens and five additional towering hi-def video screens are all backed up by an EAW Quad 225,000-watt surround sound system.

Bowen is in a unique position to oversee “Flashback – the Classic Rock Experience.” A veteran producer/promoter of at least 1,500 concerts, Bowen has seen and worked with such immortals as the Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Moody Blues, Elvis, Janis Joplin, The Doors, Three Dog Night, and Rod Stewart, to name a few. But he sees this project as the culmination of a life’s work.

Says Bowen, “These legends represent the best rock and pop music ever created. And all with an average tickets price under $40.00” Adding, “And if we do our job right, this re-creation will be a night to remember, a concert event and experience for multiple generations as we tour the nation.”

Tour Dates:

Wednesday 8/27/08 MOBILE, AL Civic Center
Friday 8/29/08 TAMPA-ST PETE, FL Times Forum
Saturday 8/30/08 ORLANDO, FL Amway Arena
Sunday 8/31/08 FT. LAUDERDALE/SUNRISE, FL Bank Atlantic Center
Monday 9/01/08 JACKSONVILLE, FL Veterans Mem Arena
Thursday 9/04/08 SAVANNAH, GA Savannah Civic Center
Friday 9/05/08 CHARLESTON, SC N Chas. Coliseum
Saturday 9/06/08 COLUMBIA, SC Colonial Center
Sunday 9/07/08 GREENVILLE, SC Bilo Center
Wednesday 9/10/08 ATLANTA, GA Gwinett Center
Thursday 9/11/08 ASHEVILLE, NC Asheville Civic Center
Friday 9/12/08 CHARLOTTE, NC Cricket Arena
Saturday 9/13/08 ROANOKE, VA Roanoke Civic Center
Sunday 9/14/08 RALEIGH, NC RBC Center Arena
Thursday 9/18/08 HAMPTON, VA Hampton Roads Coliseum
Friday 9/19/08 RICHMOND, VA Richmond Coliseum
Saturday 9/20/08 BALTIMORE, MD 1st. Mariner Arena
Sunday 9/21/08 NEW YORK, NY Nassau Coliseum
Wednesday 9/24/08 WASHINGTON DC Verizon Center
Friday 9/26/08 PHILADELPHIA, PA Wachovia Center/Or Spectrum
Saturday 9/27/08 NEWARK, NJ Prudential Center
Sunday 9/28/08 ALBANY, NY Times Union Center
Wednesday 10/01/08 ROCHESTER, NY Blue Cross Arena
Thursday 10/02/08 UNCASVILLE, CT Mohegan Sun Arena
Friday 10/03/08 HARTFORD, CT Civic Center
Saturday 10/04/08 SYRACUSE, NY War Memorial at Oncenter
Sunday 10/05/08 PROVIDENCE, RI Dunkin Donuts Center
Wednesday 10/08/08 WORCESTER, MA DCU Center
Thursday 10/09/08 MANCHESTER, NH Verizon Wireless Arena
Saturday 10/11/08 ATLANTIC CITY, NJ Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall
Sunday 10/12/08 WILKES BARRE, PA Wachovia Arena At Casey Plaza
Thursday 10/16/08 HERSHEY, PA Giant Center
Friday 10/17/08 TOLEDO, OH Seagate Convention Centre
Saturday 10/18/08 CLEVELAND, OH Wolstein Center
Sunday 10/19/08 PITTSBURGH, PA Mellon Arena
Wednesday 10/22/08 YOUNGSTOWN, OH Chevrolet Center
Thursday 10/23/08 DAYTON, OH Ervin J. Nutter Center
Friday 10/24/08 LEXINGTON, KY Rupp Arena On Cam
Saturday 10/25/08 CINCINNATI, OH Bank of Kentucky Arena
Sunday 10/26//08 COLUMBUS, OH Nationwide Arena
Wednesday 10/29/08 NASHVILLE, TN Sommet Center
Thursday 10/30/08 MEMPHIS, TN Fedex Forum
Friday 10/31/08 BOSSIER CITY-SHREVEPORT, LA TBA
Saturday 11/01/08 AUSTIN, TX Frank Erwin Center UT
Sunday 11/02/08 DALLAS/GRAND PRAIRIE, TX Nokia Theater
Thursday 11/06/08 HOUSTON, TX Toyota Center or Woodlands Tent
Friday 11/07/08 NEW ORLEANS, LA New Orleans Arena
Saturday 11/08/08 LITTLE ROCK, AK Alltel Arena
Sunday 11/09/08 BIRMINGHAM, AL BJCC Concert Hall

The first, light pre-monsoon drizzle had just ended and the reluctant grey clouds still hung about in the evening sky. It was a gloomy weather that brought back memories of things long forgotten.

Harry parked his Mercedes into a nearby lot and stepped out into the open, covered by a full-length raincoat and an extraordinarily large parapluie. The wind was laden with minuscule drops of drizzle and the sweet smell of earth. He took a deep whiff of this pleasant combination of freshness as he walked past puddles that had formed on the pavement.

He decided to linger on in this mood for a while and observe the sights and sounds that the fresh drizzle had brought about and entered an old, almost dilapidated café. The café was dark and he could barely make out the rows of benches and tables. He sat down at the one closest the door, by the side of a large glass window and looked out. The pane was covered with ten thousand droplets and he could vaguely make out the scene outside. He could also see his breath transforming into a thin film of mist on the glass.

His reverie was broken when he saw the reflections of ten thousand droplet-sized waiters arrive at his table. He turned away from the glass for a brief moment, ordered for a coffee and continued gazing at the glass, the film of rainwater and the view it permitted of the outside world. Somewhere in the background, a faint audio began to play:

“Where were you, when I was burned and broken;

While the days slipped by from my window watching…”

It was quite faint and didn’t intrude much with his thoughts or the sounds outside so he let it play. He sipped his coffee slowly, lost in thought of the years gone by.

So engrossed was he in his thoughts that he didn’t realize the entry of a neatly clad woman into the café. He would have continued to gaze at the window when-

“Remember me?” she smiled, sitting right opposite him with a twinkle in her eye.

“Annie!” he exclaimed. It was the one face Harry could never forget.

She smiled that warm smile, full of joy and mirth, which Harry had once adored. It always reminded his poetic self of sunshine and it came as a welcome break to his otherwise gloomy thoughts on this side of the window pane.

“I saw you getting into this café and decided to see how you have been”, she said.

“Coffee?” he offered and she assented.

“I have been fine. I don’t know if it could have been better or worse because life doesn’t offer you iterations, does it?” he remarked.

She smiled and nodded her head vigorously, her pony tail dangling merrily behind her. Harry’s observant eye noticed that she was quite much the same as he had last seen her 5 years ago. He could never tell her then, how much he loved her and she could never understand his meaningful silence. And then it was too late.

“While you were hanging yourself on someone else’s words,

Dying to believe in what you heard

I was staring straight into the shining sun…”

“Oh! You got a car? Which one”, she asked, picking up the keys from the table.

“A Mercedes”, he said and pressed the remote lock. One white Mercedes in the parking lot went ‘Tuick – Tuick’

‘Nice!’ she said and smiled her sunny smile.

“Well, what about you?” enquired Harry.

“I have been here in this town for the past 2-3 years. I stay at ‘Mansion Villa’. Have you seen it?”

“Oh wow! That’s the biggest house in this town. I have passed by it a couple of times”.

Their coffee cups were drying and so was the conversation – in fact there never had been enough verbal conversation even in earlier days. And what the eyes said went unread….

“Lost in thought and lost in time,

While the seeds of life and the seeds of change were planted.

Outside the rain fell dark and slow

While I pondered on this dangerous but irresistible pastime…”

“OK. I need to be leaving now”, she declared.

“Alright, Annie. Nice to have met you after so long. You bring back memories…” he said.

They exchanged smiles and goodbyes after which he walked away towards the washroom and she headed for the door.

Just as he entered the washroom and closed the door behind him, his cell phone rang. He had left it back on the table besides his car keys. Annie heard it and received the call, thinking she might convey the message when he got back.

“Where are you fooling around you sly rascal. I haven’t hired you as a chauffeur to have fun with my car. Now get home as fast as possible. I have an important appointment…” and the line went dead.

Annie placed the phone back on the table as she headed out of the cafe.

When Harry got back from the washroom, it was the same melancholy ambience that had prevailed before Annie’s arrival. The sunshine that Annie had brought with her had vanished with her departure.

He headed for the table to pick up his keys and phone and to settle the bill. As he was picking it up, he noticed a small white envelope on the floor, on the side where Annie was sitting earlier.

He picked it up and opened it. It read –

“This is to confirm that Ms Annie has been appointed nanny to my baby and will be permitted to stay with us during her….”

Signed,

Mr Gupta

Mansion Villa

Harry folded the letter and placed it back in the envelope. He left it on the floor where he had found it and headed out of the cafe into the drizzle.

----------------

PS: Inspired by O.Henry’s story “Gift of the Magi” and Rituparno Ghosh’s movie “Raincoat”. All lyrics used in the story are from Pink Floyd’s classic “Coming back to Life”.

]]> http://mysilence17.wordpress.com/?p=85 Sat, 05 Jul 2008 11:05:55 +0000 صبا http://mysilence17.wordpress.com/?p=85 من برگشتم. امروز...

سفر عجیبی بود! ذهنم با خیلی چیزا درگیر بود... با مامانم رفتم سفر. فهمیدم فوق العاده آدم بدسفریه که روحیه خیلی ضعیفی هم داره که تو تضعیف کردن روحیه دیگران استاده و تو این راه تموم تلاششو می کنه...

الان خسته ام... باید استراحت کنم

* خیلی چیزا تو این سفر اتفاق افتاد که دوست دارم بنویسمشون.

* از اون جایی که فقط به لحظه فک می کنم، الان فقط ذهنم مشغوله خستگیه!

Se dice que cuando reproduces el albúm de The Dark Side of The Moon de la (genial) banda brítanica Pink Floyd en el instante en el que empieza la pelicula de The Wizard of Oz la música se sincroniza perfectamente con la película, a este fenomeno los estudiosos de las coincidencias bizarras lo han llamado The Dark Side of The Rainbow por ser una mezcla del nombre del albúm y de la famosa trama de El Mago de Oz, escrita por L. Frank Baum en el 1900.

Cuando se les preguntó a los miembros de la banda porque sucedia esto (o "Why the fuck is that happening?") ellos respondieron que era una mera coincidencia, obra de la casualidad. Yo pienso que no. Nunca eh sido fan de las teorías de conspiración, pero debe de existir una explicación para tan acertada coincidencia. Para los que lo quieran hacer se sorprenderan de la exactitud en que sucede The Dark Side of the Rainbow el truco esta en empezar la reproducción del disco exactamente en el tercer rugido del león que aparece en todas las peliculas de la Metro Goldwen Meyer.

Existe tambien en Youtube una serie de quince videos que muestran la pelicula en perfecta sicronia con la música de poquísima madre de Pink Floyd, pego mi parte favorita.

En esta parte de la pelicula la canción The Great Gig in The Sky (El Gran Concierto en el Cielo) suena cuando empieza la parte del tornado, incrementando y disminuyendo su ritmo al tiempo en que la tensión en la pelicula se desarrolla, muchísimas concordancias aparecen, sin contar el nombre, la canción habla sobre la tristeza y la inminencia de la muerte, fácilmente identificable con el cataclismo que es un tornado, el dichoso cilindro de aire acaba con la vida de Dorothy como ella la conoce, casi como la muerte. Terminando la canción se acaba el tornado, acaba ya la primera parte de la pelicula (aquella en blanco y negro)y se termina tambien el primer lado del LP, a continuación la pelicula es a color y comienza en el preciso instante en que la canción Money empieza, mostrando un mundo folclórico completamente diferente a lo que se escucho en la primera parte del LP, una alegoría de una vida fantástica despues de la muerta (el cielo es policromatico).

¿Coincidencia? yo digo que no.

1. Pink Floyd - Shine On You Crazy Diamond (All names will be linked to their videos on YouTube)
(The video is almost 9 minutes long, so I recommend you start at 7:14. Also the video is from a live concert to give you a sense of what their concerts were like. Absolutely amazing)
Slow and masterful, but it's really the lyrics that made me pick it as number 1. Even though I'm dead, I would like people to think of me carrying on up in heaven (or hell), living life like the crazy fool I am.

Remember when you were young, you shone like the sun.
Shine on you crazy diamond.
Now there's a look in your eyes, like black holes in the sky.
Shine on you crazy diamond.

2. Tenacious D - Tribute (Name linked again)
I guess it wouldn't be right without the party piece, no matter how out of place it would seem.

My karaoke version of Tribute

3. Otis Redding - Dock Of A Bay (It's a nice version)
Slow, simple, great for a funeral. In a way it's how I would like to imagine life after death.

Sittin here resting my bones
And this loneliness won't leave me alone
It's two thousand miles I roamed
Just to make this dock my home

4. Blondie - One Way Or Another (You got the idea yet)
I like the fact that it would scare all those enemies that decided to turn up. Let's face it would funny to see them shit themselves.

One way or another I'm gonna find ya
I'm gonna getcha getcha getcha getcha

5. Frank Sinatra - I Did It My Way (Filled with pictures of Frank Sinatra)
Probably the most overused song at funerals, but that's because the lyrics are perfect. It comes in at number 5 solely for that reason and is only to be used if not already used at someone elses funeral. I always think it is likely to remind people of someone else who had the song played at their funeral.

And now, the end is near,
And so I face the final curtain.
My friends, I'll say it clear;
I'll state my case of which I'm certain.

I've lived a life that's full -
I've travelled each and every highway.
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

6. Lou Reed & The Velvet Underground - Perfect Day (Nice picture of a sunset for the video)
Again, I think the slow and simple melody suits a funeral environment. I mainly like the fact that this song has and always will sound so ironic to me. The slow tempo and simplicity would suggest anything but a 'perfect day', hence my reason for it coming in ay number 6.

Just a perfect day,
Problems all left alone,
Weekenders on our own.
It's such fun.
Just a perfect day,
You made me forget myself.
I thought I was someone else,
Someone good.

Oh it's such a perfect day,
I'm glad I spent it with you.

7. Thunderbirds Theme Tune (The version from the credits of the 1996 Thunderbirds movie)
This is mainly for comical purposes only. I couls just see my coffin being taken away to this music. I guess it would sound like I was in the army or something but it's purely for my love of Thunderbirds as a kid.

8. Mitch Miller Band - Show Me The Way To Go Home (Now I couldn't find the version I like on YouTube, so I've settled with another one)
The song is an old drinking song, believed to have orginated in England, but I've really only ever heard it sung in Ireland. I like it because, let's face it, I like my drink and what better to send me out with a drinking with "Show Me The Way To Go Home" in the lyrics.

Show me the way to go home
I'm tired and I want to go to bed
I had a little drink about an hour ago
And it went right to my head
Where ever I may roam
On land or sea or foam
You will always hear me singing this song
Show me the way to go home

9. Green Day - Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life) (It's a bad quality vid, but I'm not searching around for another one)
It has to be the accoustic version, otherwise I don't want it. Again, it's the simple and slow melody combined with such emotive lyrics. It would represent my life and how I have enjoyed it so far, no matter what.

Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don't ask why
It's not a question, but a lesson learned in time

It's something unpredictable, but in the end it's right.
I hope you had the time of your life.

10. Muse - Starlight

I already did this one here.

Em 2005 uma nova lista foi divulgada, praticamente com as mesmas músicas solicitadas nos funerais na Inglaterra.

A lista atual [via Ilustrada no Pop] vem da Austrália e tem umas escolhas bem divertidas:

. Highway to Hell, do AC/DC [Hey Satan! Paid my dues
Playin' in a rockin' band
Hey Mama! Look at me
I'm on my way to the promise land I'm on the highway to hell] <- trilha do funeral do Saddam Hussein, talvez?

. Always Look on the Bright Side of Life, do Monty Python [For life is quite absurd
And death's the final word
You must always face the curtain with a bow
Forget about your sin - give the audience a grin
Enjoy it - it's your last chance anyhow] <- podia ser a trilha do funeral de Heath Ledger.

. Ding Dong the Witch is Dead, do filme O Mágico de Oz [Ding dong !
The witch is dead !
Which old witch? the wicked witch !
Ding dong the wicked witch is dead !] <- essa eu quero no meu velório, mas aposto que tocaram no da Bette Davis primeiro.

. Hit the Road Jack, de Ray Charles [Hit the road, Jack and don't you come back no more, no more, no more, no more!] <- desconfio que quem escolhe essa manda jogar sal grosso sobre a tumba também!

. Another One Bites the Dust, do Queen [Another one bites the dust
Another one bites the dust
And another one gone and another one gone
Another one bites the dust
Hey I'm gonna get you too
Another one bites the dust] <- permita-me ser politicamente incorreta: essa vai para as vítimas de massacres.

. I'll Sleep When I'm Dead, do Bon Jovi [Until I’m 6 feet under
Baby I don’t need a bed
Gonna live while I’m alive
I’ll sleep when I’m dead
Till they roll me over
And lay my bones to rest] <- essa vai pros workaholics. ma nem vem que não sou fã do Bon Jovi.

Site Funeral Information Australia - lista de canções sugeridas.

Site Creative Funeral Ideas [EUA] - lista das 10 canções mais solicitadas [perceba a falta de criatividade] e lista de rocks clássicos sugeridos; outras listas.

Pena que aqui no Brasil o funeral é sem música. Bem que eu gostaria de escolher a minha trilha sonora de despedida - sem nenhuma dessas melosidades tipo as músicas-tema de Titanic, O Guarda-Costa ou Stairway to Heaven, nhé. Mesmo porque acho que vou mesmo é pela Highway to Hell e a única melosidade que concedo é pro Pink Floyd, Wish You Were Here.

Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd
Composição: Roger Waters e David Gilmour

So,
So you think you can tell
Heaven from Hell,
Blue skies from pain
Can you tell a green field
From a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?

Did they get you to trade
Your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
Did you exchange
A walk on part in the war
For a lead role in a cage?

How I wish, how I wish you were here
We're just two lost souls
Swimming in a fish bowl,
Year after year,
Running over the same old ground.
What have we found?
The same old fears
Wish you were here

Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall

Hmm... needs a bit of tweaking don't you think? :D

• Michael Cole has been shipped off to Raw! Hallelujah... now I can finally watch Undertaker matches [when he is back] without Vintage Taker being thrown at me every damn second! Celebrate peoples! There is a god!
• Sis got back from her trip on Tuesday. With the way she is going on about Tirupathi, Bangalore, Mysore and Ooty, I require every bit of strength to keep myself from packing my bags and going on a holiday of my own. Darn, I need a holiday... :|
• She also brought me a book called Popular French Stories translated in English. Have been reading a few... Blue Beard was okayish. Didn't quite have the punch as I expected... which was because the writer didn't pose Blue Beard as a threat.. two dudes [well military men] come, Bluey runs, the hunt him and his bride leaves happily ever after? Gimme a break.
• Another disappointment was Jeannot and Colin by Voltaire. To me, it was a blatant waste of ink.
• The Executioner by Honore something something was great though. It was a gripping tale that you have to read. There was a para in the end that I couldn't quite understand... if you have read the story can you please explain it to me what "Gentlemen. In a month 500 french families will be in mourning. Do not forget that we are still in Spain. We certainly don't want to leave our bones here." in reply to one offier asking him if he had given the order of execution of the Leganes family. I tried searching for an online version but couldn't find this - there's the executioner novel, executioner wrestler [that bloke who fueded with taker a decade ago], executioner panty yadda yadda.
• Today I read "Omphale". This one was good too. I'll keep the author's words in mind "Maybe it is best for one to not return to his first love". Well it was something to that effect. I'm too lazy to Google it.. so why don't you?
• I would have read more, but I had to take some time off the day before... got to listen to some Sabbath don't I? Last year at this same time, I listened to at least 60 hours every week... yeah most of it went over my head as I was working. This year its more like 3-4 hrs and that too on crummy little headphones. The quality is good though.
• Must take the opportunity to thank Brian from North Carolina who gave me his spare Sabotage and Vol.4 cd's [1986 Castle ones!] free.. FROM THE STATES!! Thank you my man, I am indebted.
• Happy 232nd Independence Day to the Americans. Celebrate while you have one... I'm going to conquer the world y'know! :D
• I am in love once again... this time with a Fender Starcaster. Even though my hero prefers Gibson...hey who cares, its a guitar all right... plus that dude's giving a free DVD to learn the guitar.  :D
• Bro got out the chess set yesterday. We hadn't played in years so we sat right down to it. 3 games later, he quit saying "This is why I never play with you. You always win." :| This is what pretty much everyone says. Is it my fault that I win? Why not try and improve your game? I want Broadband so I can get me some good opponents who don't whine. -_-"
• GEEKVERTISEMENT! My guest entry on Sulz's blog is slated to hit 10th of July!
• Zero The Hero has started a Fiction Extravaganza. I got my wish of inserting Gandalf stripteasing a story someday. Plus I killed Kareena again. [THAT BITCH HAZ TO DIEZ!] I am Good. :twisted: Zero The Hero, my man you're up for a promotion.
• The Man of Roma says I need a bit of practice to perfect my short stories. Plus there have been a hundred or so forming in my head so you might see more stories torturing you in the near future. I might write on for tomorrow too. I'll see how it turns out after finishing this up.
• I had a weird dream yesterday. I went to a Pink Floyd concert and somehow went backstage. Dave Gilmour can't be found anywhere when somebody drags me on the stage. I am infront of the crowd with a flute in my hand and they are chanting SING! SING! I look sideways and Roger Waters says "Now start already Dave!" I look at the flute and blow but no sounds come out and everyone starts laughing at me. I know, I'm crazy.
• Lemon tea tastes bland. :|

And on that harpy note, We bid you adieu! :)

Un pequeño homenaje a:

David Gilmour,  vocalista, guitarrista, compositor y líder de Pink Floyd en su segunda etapa.

A pesar de yo tocar el bajo no puedo dejar a un lado un buen solo, creo que una canción sin solo es como un whisky sin hielos, como ponerte una briaga y no ir por un buen taco al pastor, como tener sexo sin clímax.

De ahí la expresión “hazle el amor a la guitarra” y David es un maestro en eso, un guru en el kamasutra musical y eso lo puede comprobar uno en cada una de sus composiciones tanto en los discos de Pink Floyd como los de solista. Este hombre no necesita tocar un trillón de notas por segundo para hacer un excelente solo, 1000% feeling.

Junto con Roger Watters formaron una dupla que hizo que Pink Floyd formara a ser una leyenda en estos tiempos hicieron, deshicieron, experimentaron con la música aun punto inexplicable que la gente no llegaba o ni llega a entender su música, portadas y concepto visual en vivo.

Después de años de una buena amistad entre David y Roger llega lo que menos quiere uno, la separación y rompimiento de una de las bandas mas importantes de todos los tiempos que ha trascendido y seguirá por décadas y décadas hasta que llegue una banda a quitarles esa bandera que tiene Pink Floyd.

Y un claro ejemplo de David esta grabado en un himno para mi HIGH HOPES , que al final de esta reseña les dejare. Esta canción tiene todo letra música feeling y un gran solo ejecutado magistralmente por Gilmour y etiquetado por Pink Floyd es de esas canciones típicas de Floyd que agarran el cuchillo te cortan todo el cuerpo te lo abren te sacan tripas entrañas pero te dejan un rayito de luz ,y que puedo decir del solo, me paro y me quito el sombrero ante tal obra maestra, cada vesque escucho esta canción y llega el solo se me pone chinita la piel se acelera el ritmo cardiaco y un hormigueo por todo el cuerpo.

Quien sabe donde habrá aprendió música David, pero lo que si no se aprende en ninguna escuela es el sentimiento que le mete a esos solos que ya pocas veces vemos en estos tiempo.

Esperar si se da otro guitarrista como el, darle tiempo al tiempo y solo hay que guardar esas grandes esperanzas.

FOREVER AND EVER....

LONG LIVE ROCK N ROLL

LONG LIVE DAVID GILMOUR

Keep it Alive… Keep it Metal

Cheers, Rokko Rockman 

Para mas información detallada de David pulse aquí

-IRONFIST UP YOUR ASS-

The tracks are long (9+ minutes) except for a 5 minute one, and I wish they were longer.  Its been playing continuously in my iPod for the last few weeks.

Please post comments if you have listened to it!

Es geht um eine Studie der Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore (US-Bundesstaat Maryland), die im "Journal of Psychopharmacology" veröffentlicht worden ist. Die Mehrzahl der Probanden berichtet 14 Monate nach dem psychedelischen Trip, sie seien allgemein zufriedener, kreativer, selbstsicherer, flexibler und optimistischer als vorher. Studienleiter Griffith: "Diese Aussagen sind sehr erstaunlich. In der psychologischen Forschung gibt es selten so anhaltend positive Berichte von einem einzelnen Erlebnis."

• Nouveau bootleg : Rome VPRO Rebroadcast (Pink Floyd, 1968)
• Nouvelle version FLAC d'Elysées Floyd (Pink Floyd, 1970)
• Nouveau bootleg : Syd Barrett's Last Gig (1970)
• Nouveau bootleg : Amsterdam LP Remaster (Pink Floyd, 1971) - must have !
• Nouveau bootleg : Amsterdam Free Concert (Pink Floyd, 1971)
• Nouveau bootleg : Versailles 88 (Pink Floyd, 1988)
• Ajout du CD 2 des BBC Archives 1970-1971 (Pink Floyd, 1970 et 1971)
  
• Upload de Cruel But Fair (Pink Floyd, 1975)
• Remise en ligne d'Echoes by the Lake (Pink Floyd, 1975)
• Nouveau bootleg : Animals Tour Debut (Pink Floyd, 1977)
• Remise en ligne des CD 2 et 3 de La Claque! (David Gilmour, 2006)

La majorité des bootlegs ont été uploadés par Roger Keith, thanx !

Gomez - Bring It On

Pink Floyd - The Wall

Van Morrison - Astral Weeks

Pink Floyd - Wish You Were Here

The Smashing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness

The Jam - Extras

Toots and the Maytals - Pressure Drop

The Specials - The Specials

Bob Dylan - The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan

Nick cave - B-sides and Rareties (3 disc set)

...N.B I will now get in the car , get 5 minutes down the road and think "how did i leave out..."

Dark Side of The Moon - 1973

1. Speak to Me - Nick Mason - 1:30
2. Breathe - David Gilmour, Roger Waters, Richard Wright - 2:43 
3. On the Run - Gilmour, Waters - 3:30
4. Time - Gilmour, Waters, Wright, Mason - 6:53
5. The Great Gig in the Sky - Wright, Clare Torry - 4:15
6. Money - Waters - 6:30
7. Us and Them - Waters, Wright - 7:34
8. Any Colour You Like - Gilmour, Wright, Mason - 3:24
9. Brain Damage - Waters - 3:50
10. Eclipse - Waters - 1:45

Download: http://rapidshare.com/files/126210023/1973-The_Dark_Side_Of_The_Moon.rar.html

Não é coincidência! O nome é mesmo inspirado no clássico The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), do Pink Floyd. É aí que está o grande lance do Easy Star All-Stars, que tem como slogan Creating New Classics in Reggae (Recriando clássicos em Reggae). O Dub Side... não é inspirado apenas no nome do álbum clássico do rock. Ele é uma versão reggae do The Dark Side, de cabo a rabo.

Nos mínimos detalhes, The Dark Side foi adaptado para a música e a cultura reggae. A começar por Speak to Me/Breath, a famosa intro também está presente, mas diferente. Assim como On The Run que também conta com os sons de nave e efeitos futurísticos, agora tem uma batida eletrônica marcante é introduzida. O ínicio de Time não podia ser diferente. Os sons de relógios foram trocados por despertadores eletrônicos, galos cantando e um trompetista de exército acordando o batalhão.

Money é, talvez, a melhor adapatção feita pela banda. Os sons de moedas e caixas registradoras se foram e entraram sons tipicamente reggaesticos, eu diria (ouça para tirar a prova). O andamento da versão original contribui para a versão reggae. Assim o Easy Star All-Stars adicionou guitarras com uá-uá e teclados estilo órgão, deixando a música bem interessante.

Dub Side of the Moon, porém, tem 13 faixas, e não 9 como The Dark Side. Algumas destas extras são Great Dub in the Sky e Any Dub You Like, que explicam pelo título do que se tratam.

O Easy Star All-Stars tem outro cd no mesmo estilo de Dub Side, fazendo uma versão de Ok Computer do Radiohead, chamado Radiodread. Ótimo nome, mas isso já é assunto para um próximo post...

Se David Gilmour em pessoa disse que o trabalho é muito bom e que vale a pena conferir, não sou eu que vou discordar! O link para download está na parte de comentários.

Abraço! Edgard

I'm trying out this IMEEM thing. Darn those kids and their technology!

Die Doppel-DVD, bei EMI Music Germany veröffentlicht, enthält mehr als fünf Stunden Bildmaterial, darunter eine "On-the-road" Dokumentation und Gastauftritte von David Bowie und Robert Wyatt.

David Gilmour - Remember That Night: Live At The Royal Albert Hall (2 DVDs) - hier informieren & bestellen

David Gilmours "On An Island" Konzert in der Royal Albert Hall wurde von einem Kritiker beschrieben als "ein nahezu perfektes Konzert, mit ebenso vielen magischen Momenten wie Überraschungen". Nun haben die Musikfans, die die Tour von 2006 vielleicht verpasst haben, die Gelegenheit, diese magischen Momente doch noch zu erleben:

Extra-Klasse-Clip: Echoes

- mit der über fünf Stunden langen Doppel-DVD, auf der sich unter anderem das von Kritikern mit Lob überhäufte Konzert in London mit herausragenden Gastauftritten von David Bowie, Robert Wyatt, David Crosby und Graham Nash befindet, sowie über 160 Minuten mit diversen Extras, darunter ein erstaunlich intimer Dokumentarfilm über Gilmour und seine Band auf Tour. Die DVD ist außerdem mit einem 20-seitigen Booklet ausgestattet.

CLIP: "Fat Old Sun" HQ

Das zweieinhalbstündige Konzert zeigt Gilmours Band, bestehend aus Richard Wright von Pink Floyd, Phil Manzanera von Roxy Music, dem Neuzugang Steve DiStanislao am Schlagzeug sowie den Pink-Floyd-Veteranen Dick Parry, Guy Pratt und Jon Carin.

Das Doppel-DVD-Set "Remember That Night" beinhaltet auf Disc 1 das weithin gelobte Konzert, bei dem das Nummer-1-Album "On An Island" sowie Pink-Floyd-Klassiker wie "High Hopes", "Shine on You Crazy Diamond" und "Comfortably Numb" gespielt wurden. Außerdem ist hier eine seit Pink Floyds "Live at Pompeii" erstmals wieder verfilmte Live-Version von der 20-minütigen Tour de force "Echoes" zu sehen.

Für die stimmungsvollen Lichteffekte zeichnet das Beleuchtungsgenie Marc Brickman verantwortlich; die Aufnahmen hat David Mallet gemacht, einer der weltweit führenden Musikfilmregisseure. David Mallet, der mit 23 Kameras vor Ort war, nutzte die neueste digitale High-Definition Technik, und das Ergebnis ist beeindruckend. Die wegweisende DVD ist ein absolutes Muss und erhältlich als Standard DVD, und in Kürze auch als HD-DVD und als BluRay.

"Remember That Night" Disc 2 ist prall gefüllt mit seltenen Delikatessen und bislang unveröffentlichtem Material. "Breaking Bread, Drinking Wine" ist ein 46 Minuten langes Road Movie, das während der Tour von 2006 gefilmt wurde - hier hat man das Gefühl, man sei selbst dabei und säße mit im Bus. Die DVD zeigt David Gilmour von einer ungewöhnlich privaten Seite als Mensch und Musiker, der mit seiner Band und der Crew die Höhen und Tiefen des Tourlebens auskostet respektive aushält, darunter Sturzfluten, eine Bühne, die zusammenbricht, ein Russe, der mit Weingläsern musiziert, und Schwierigkeiten mit deutschen Zügen.

Clip: Making of "Remember that Night (10 Minuten Clip!)"

Zu den weiteren Extras zählen Bonus-Tracks vom Konzert in der Royal Albert Hall, Gilmours allererste Darbietung des Syd-Barrett-Klassikers "Dark Globe", "Astronomy Domine" von "Live From Abbey Road" und die AOL-Sessions, die auf Tour in L.A. eingespielt wurden. Desweiteren finden sich auf Disc 2 fünf Songs aus dem BBC Mermaid Theatre Konzert sowie ein fünfminütiger Dokumentarfilm, der auf Tour in L.A. gedreht wurde. Das ganze wird abgerundet von einer Fotogalerie, die die Tour Crew zeigt, aufgenommen von der Fotografin Polly Samson.

Das 20 Seiten starke Booklet enthält über 80 Fotos, die während der Studioaufnahmen, auf Tournee und in der Freizeit gemacht wurden.

"Remember That Night" ist gleichsam ein Backstage-Pass, mit dem die Fans viele der musikalischen Höhepunkte der Tour von 2006 miterleben können und an der Entstehung des Nummer-1-Albums "On An Island", das im März 2006 veröffentlicht wurde, teilhaben können. Der Veröffentlichung folgten Tourneen durch Europa, die USA und Großbritannien, wobei die Konzerte in von Gilmour höchstpersönlich ausgewählten Venues stattfanden - der Künstler zog dabei intimere Hallen den großen Stadien, in denen er so oft gespielt hatte, vor. Dies war Gilmours erste Tour, seit er 1994 mit Pink Floyd die Division-Bell-Tour absolviert hatte.

"Ich genieße diese Tour sehr, wir haben wunderbar viel Spaß und sind sehr zufrieden" David Gilmour

"Dies ist wahrscheinlich die amüsanteste, professionellste und problemloseste Tour, die ich in meinem Leben je mitgemacht habe." Rick Wright

www.davidgilmour.com

Track Listing:
DISC ONE - Live At The Royal Albert Hall:
1 Speak To Me
2 Breathe
3 Time
4 Breath (Reprise)
5 Castellorizon
6 On An Island featuring Crosby & Nash
7 The Blue featuring Crosby & Nash
8 Red Sky At Night
9 This Heaven
10 Then I Close My Eyes featuring Robert Wyatt
11 Smile
12 Take A Breath
13 A Pocketful of Stones
14 Where We Start
15 Shine On You Crazy Diamond featuring Crosby & Nash
16 Fat Old Sun
17 Coming Back To Life
18 High Hopes
19 Echoes
20 Wish You Were Here
21 Find The Cost Of Freedom featuring Crosby & Nash
22 Arnold Layne featuring David Bowie
23 Comfortably Numb featuring David Bowie

DISC TWO - Bonus Features:
Live-Aufnahmen aus der Royal Albert Hall:
1. Wot's... Uh The Deal 2. Dominoes 3. Wearing The Inside Out featuring Richard Wright 4. Arnold Layne featuring Richard Wright 5. Comfortably Numb featuring Richard Wright
Dokumentarfilm: Breaking Bread, Drinking Wine
Live-Auftritt von der Tour im Sommer 2006: Dark Globe
Aufnahme aus den Abbey Road Studios: Astronomy Domine
Auftritt bei den AOL-Sessions: This Heaven
Live-Aufnahmen des BBC Mermaid Theatre Konzerts:
1. Castellorizon 2. On An Island 3. The Blue 4. Take A Breath 5. High Hopes
Dokumentarfilm: The Making Of 'On An Island'
Dokumentarfilm: The West Coast
Musikvideos: 1. On An Island 2. Smile
Bonus Track: Island Jam 2007
Fotogalerie

David Gilmour - Remember That Night: Live At The Royal Albert Hall (2 DVDs) - hier informieren & bestellen

Quelle: EMI Music Germany / Fotos: N/A, Amazon.de

But none of that was the best part. The best part was towards the very end of our time there, she started playing Amazing Grace. And we all sang it together, in both languages at the same time. I can't really think of very many other moments in my life that have amounted to the beauty of that one.

*** *** *** *** ***

Before I left the states to come here this summer, my friends at work surprised me with money to bring here and spend on the kids. I can't begin to describe how ecstatic I was about this.

About two weeks into my trip, I had a random dream that we took the kids to the Beijing Wildlife Park. On Friday, my friends from work in Pennsylvania made that a reality.

So, Friday morning, 10 kids and 11 adults piled into two cars and drove to the Beijing Wildlife Park. It started out a bit overwhelming, as in two of the kids cried when they saw the horses, and half of the kids cried when we saw the monkeys. Yeah ... horses and monkeys and uncontrollable crying and some freaking out.

But, the kids did all eventually calm down. And they had a great time seeing the monkeys and giraffes and wolves and deer and bears and peacocks and lions and chipmunks and racoons and tigers. They got to see lions jump through rings of fire and bears walk on balls. We even all piled into one of these:

And once in that safari truck, we took a trip through many different animal habitats, and watched bears stand on their hind legs right infront of us to eat raw chicken above our heads, and hand fed cabbage to many different kinds of deer and pigs, and all in all had a wonderful time.

We also went out to eat at a restaurant in Beijing. Just chew on that for a bit ... 10 kids at a restaurant. Haha. It really was great times. And the people at Lookaway are amazing for helping it all to happen!

*** *** *** *** ***

And, as some side notes, my pictures are updated. The pictures on Facebook are the ones I have edited and picked my favorites. I also put the names of the kids and some comments on those pictures so you know the context. The pictures on Photobucket (album one, album two) are unedited, and every single picture I've taken is uploaded onto those photo albums, and it's up to you to fish through them as I've left no context, no names, and there are at this point over 350 of them. Enjoy!