May
My soundtrack part #2
I grew up on Madonna. I can’t say I have similar love for any oversexualized pop stars since her, but she came around when I was a toddler, before I could form any of my own ideas and these songs are way too ingrained in me to reject.
What can I say about “Live to Tell”? It’s melancholic. It’s beautiful. It’s dark. And vocally, it’s full of so much raw power, and restraint where it needs to be. Remember restraint? It’s also a skill. I don’t care what people say about Madonna as a vocalist - when she nails it, she nails it.
There is something so amazing and special about “A man can tell a thousand lies, I’ve learned my lesson well” in a pop song. Amen, lady. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve dreamt of grabbing a chair in a crowded room, straddling it, and singing those words. Somehow the visual was empowering.
I really had high hopes to properly cover this song one day. But, I don’t really “do” covers. Then I thought I’d do a videoke version, which I then decided was pretty lame unless I put some thought into it being visually dazzling, you know, besides really rad make up. I tried to get a good back-light configuration going, but it was a prosaic attempt. I then entertained the idea of doing a harmonium version, but one of the crucial keys is broken. So, here were are. A karaoke version soundcloud rejected cos of copyright worries. Oh please. But you know, it’s really fitting. Back when I first heard this song, years ago, I used to tape myself singing along into a microphone to songs on the radio. I still have those tapes somewhere. And I’m sure there’s a five-year-old Zohra, doing this very song, probably of similar tape-hiss quality, breaking copyright law.
Of course I added some un-karaokesque vocal layering thing in the intro, cos I am who I am.
So, thank you again, Daddy, for teaching me, and Mommy for and letting me spend hours doing that and reading Lovecraft for babies. As a child, I don’t think there could have been anything more thrilling than making tapes of yourself rocking out and playing it on your singing bear. CHASING THAT DRAGON.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPsghb06luk
I’m super psyched to do these, actually. It’s not only a good challenge for me as a vocalist, and you know, I might turn you guys onto something new… like Madonna, or the Beatles, or whatever….
Just kidding.
xoxo,
Z
May
In the aftermath of Jonathan Toubin’s accident, it seemed like hundreds of people came out of the woodwork to share their own personal JT stories. And these were not your typical, “I met him on the street through a mutual friend” stories. Oh no, it was always straight out of the pages of a coming of age novel. In some ways, I was deeply moved to have such a deep connection with someone who brought so many people so much joy. Then the perfectly human side of me didn’t like it a bit. As if your special moments diminished mine. For this, I blame God. I am as he made me. Which is, at times, a total monster.
Before the tragic accident, I used to go visit JT, usually on Wednesday nights at Motor City, when he had free reign to play whatever he fancied. I’d sit around in the DJ booth with him, as he’d regale me with stories of basslines from old soul songs… he’d always be playing some kinda air guitar, or moog, or drums… it was always awesome. His passion for music and his ability to chat about it with me in his Professor-like way just filled me up with ecstatic joy. That’s just the kind of guy he is.
Anyhow, this song, by the Kinks is our common ground. It’s such a perfect piece of music. It’s that perfect balance of melancholy and beauty.
If I get to live until I’m old and gray, I’ll surely still throw this song on and think of my wonderful friend Jonathan Toubin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6M8hrmGQOHk
Apr
We all have a soundtrack to our lives. There are the songs we love, and keep in our explicit memory, and then there are ones that fall into our lap, either by pop culture or our best friend, and get stored in the emotional memory. Either which way you cut it, they have a profound way of filling us up with joy and nostalgia sickness, all in one breath.
I want to share my soundtrack with you. One song at a time.
Back when my sisters and I were very young and living in a one level, raised above a snake pit house in South Carolina, it was really up to us to make our “fun”. This could be done in one of the following ways: take home a farm animal, watch MTV, listen to records, dance to records, have dance contests using said records, sing over taped songs on the radio, and kick a ball.
My sisters were a bit older than me, and the three of them made quite a Bananarama. When I was included in the mix, I was the Davy Jones to their Micky, Peter, and Mike. I was really Brandoesque about it, I lived and breathed Davy - from my itty bitty stature to my Ramona Quimby haircut.
This song is absolutely one of my favorite pieces of music. It was written by Carole King, who really is four hundred thousand times more exciting than the folks she hung with. Everyone knows James Taylor is what they play in the elevator down to hell.
Her demo if you wanna dig deeper:
http://www.dangerousminds.net/comments/an_elegy_for_davy_jones_carole_kings_demo_for_porpoise_song
Apr
I should save this for “Throwback Thursday” but I just made up “Saw-this-oldie-but-goodie-Pic Sunday”.
These were treatments of my record cover that I completely forgotten about, and have some affection for.
The photos were taken by the lovely Aliya Naumoff. Brian Williams, who designed the record did the first layout from this wonderful shot Aliya got from a polaroid camera. It’s obviously pretty Magritte inspired, whom I love.
The second was done by a fellow singing lady friend, who I’m not sure would want me to credit her, but she’s got cameras for eyes.
I’ve been have a great deal of fun rummaging through old pictures and music. More oldies and new stuff to come…
xo,
Z
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