Hello. Someone talked me into doing this again. So here it goes:
Woody Allen’s dreamy Midnight In Paris inspired me to look up vintage radio stations to start my work week. I am well aware that roaming the streets of Paris and hanging out with Getrude Stein beats a monday morning in an Amsterdam office in every way imaginable, but you take what you can get: Itunes, Radio Dismuke and The 1920′s Network for instance.
When “When You Wish Upon A Star” came by, I probably looked very much like this and that’s a face I wish upon everyone. The song’s got nothing to do with the roaring twenties or Paris (unless… Euro Disney…. no, let’s not even go there), but Pinocchio, the Blue Fairy and Jiminy Cricket are pretty dreamy regardless and 1940 is a damn long time ago as well.
“When You Wish Upon A Star” was written by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington and originally sung by Cliff Edwards, looking like Jiminy Cricket.
I’ve said before that iTunes’ shuffle algorythm is not to be trusted, but by now I’m truly convinced that iTunes has secret super powers that allow it to always find the right song for the right occasion. Like a Philips Mood Light Of The Future™, perfectly able to determine your mood and serve you with the fitting color value, hue and saturation.
Yesterday, iTunes served She & Him’s cover of “Gonna Get Along Without You Now” at the exact right moment. Like magic. I shared the song and got about a dozen versions of the same track in return. With you I’m sharing the oldest one, the original.
“Gonna Get Along Without Ya Now” was written by Milton Kellem, first recorded by Teresa Brewer on January 10, 1952 and released by Coral Records. And I love it!
After planning a mini reunion with two of my favorite Düsseldorfers in August, I properly celebrated by playing German Graffiti Vol. 1, and then halfway remembered I’ve been meaning to post about one of the songs on there for a long time, but never got around to it.
“Aus” by Peggy Peters (aka Tina Rainford, real name Christa Zalewski, however no relation to Diddy or Prince.) was released in 1964 as the B-side for “Ich setzte alles auf eine Karte”. It is said to be a German cover of Lulu’s “Shout”, but it honestly took me a while to hear the resemblance. And even now that I do, I feel the word “cover” doesn’t really apply. Or maybe it does and what I consider to be covers, are actually nothing more than uninspired copies… Semantics Schmantics!
One could argue my iPod just needs a larger collection of songs, but when this morning it shuffled Maia Hirasawa‘s “Say Goodbye” twice in a row while I was cycling alongside the Amstel river, I just figured it used its supernatural powers to rebuke me for not letting you know about this song / this singer sooner. Although hearing it twice can hardly be considered a punishment, I do take note dear iPod!
So here goes: Maia’s the backup singer for Hello Saferide, but has produced a few lovely solo albums as well. Sweden: the musical gift that keeps on giving! Although in this particular case Japan deserves some credit as well, her father’s from Tokyo.
A search on my own blog tells me I have never mentioned Distortion Records before, which is strange to say the least, considering I bring to them a large chunk of my earnings on a regular basis.
Yesterday I brought home with me “Saints And Sinners” Vol. 1 & Vol. 2. A total of 32 “Obscure Rockin’ Shots From Occident that will cut your head off!!”
I’m happy to report that my head is still attached firmly to the rest of my body, although I must admit that entire muscle groups are protesting out loud. It appears a night of old school riot grrrl jumping followed by a night of even older school rocking and stomping does do damage to one’s body.
Both records are 16 track compilations, put out by Sheik Records, this very month. Buddy Miller’s Teen Twist is one you’ve probably heard before, but to quote the record, it’s the “Wildest version ever!!”
Hello. Someone talked me into doing this again. So here it goes:
