Music is often best written by those who are angry, those who are frustrated, or those who are bitter. So often music is an artists release of pent emotion, a way of getting thoughts and feelings to boil over. When an artist releases a song that reflects the same feelings in the public, some spectacular things happen.
On Monday 4th May 1970 the Ohio National Guard shot dead 4 people, and injured 9, at a protest rally at the Kent State University in Ohio. The protesters had been demonstrating, looting, and attacking police in the town for the four days following Nixon’s announcement that America would invade Cambodia. An estimated four million people had risen up and protested across the country in response to the Cambodian Incursion, but Kent would go down in history (full account).
Alongside the nationwide protests, Neil Young had heard of the events in Kent, and wrote a song for Crosby, Stills and Nash. The song was simply titled “Ohio”. Within just twenty days of the shootings the song was receiving national airplay across the country, providing a vehicle to carry the message.
The song itself is uncompromising, sharp, and cutting. Imagine yourself what it would be like to write a song accusing your own president of crimes, and your own countries army as “cutting US down”. It is unimaginably frank, and soaked tonally in anger and accusation. It’s frankly brilliant.
You know who Bright Eyes are, but you don’t know you did. Bright Eyes are an Indie Rock band, lead and focussed on Conor Oberst, a twenty something from Omaha. From the age of just two his mother said he’s been “banged his hands on the piano”. Thankfully he’s mastered playing it properly, and in fact, shows mastery of the art as a whole.
Today’s feature is a wonderfully simple and poised song, composed and performed by Conor. Released from the I’m Wide Awake and It’s Morning album in 2004, the song depicts the daily struggle of two people facing depression. The title of the song comes from the Portuguese word for moon, and possibly a number of Hawaiian language references made throughout the verses.
Enjoy the song, and remember to quote the Flaming Lips;
“It’s just an illusion caused by the world spinning round“
I went to Glastonbury some years ago, in fact it’s probably ten years ago… and despite having returned their on numerous other years, it was the year i saw Moby that stood out. At that time he wasn’t a massive superstar, and played the 8pm set on the second stage. Little was I to know he was to be bigger than any other act there… six foot taller in fact.
For those of you who have never attended, imagine Glastonbury as a smelly field, but imagine it too as a place that weird moments can just lift you up and take you somewhere you never imagined. I’ll admit I’d had a few beers (and nothing else), but when Moby played his final tune of the night… the sun was setting directly opposite the stage. The crowd weren’t lively, they were stood watching in amazement at the beautiful melody that Moby creates again and again. Repeating himself, but seemingly never repeating himself.
Not the biggest hit of all, but I’d heartily recommend you put this on your alarm clock, and let it wake you up for a week. You’ll feel truly alive.
Regards as always,
d
November 1st, 2009
Categories: Music . Author: Dave . Comments: 1 Comment
Pearl Jam, a band I remember from a long time ago, yet feel like I don’t know at all. It was the album Ten that got me started, after seeing the video for Jeremy on VH1 almost the first day I got satellite television (18 years ago). It was evocative, powerful, and balanced yet angry. A mix that music rarely achieves.
The rest of the Ten album is masterful too, an almost perfect debut pitched against a 90’s teenage youth full of angst with the world. They met it head on, and clashed beautifully with its raw power and force. Ultimately it would propel Pearl Jam into the limelight, hitting the top 20 in six countries. If you had an older brother in the nineties, this is what he listened to.
It would be easy for me to select a song from Ten, they are all wonderful. But you should buy it, play it endlessly, and wonder how you lived without it.
I’m choosing Do the Evolution, track 9 from the 5th Jam album Yield.
Enjoy
d
October 29th, 2009
Categories: Music . Author: Dave . Comments: 1 Comment
Alongside the nationwide protests, Neil Young had heard of the events in Kent, and wrote a song for Crosby, Stills and Nash. The song was simply titled “Ohio”. Within just twenty days of the shootings the song was receiving national airplay across the country, providing a vehicle to carry the message.
