It’s said that Thursdays child has far to go, but then if you read that rhyme you’ll notice only people born on a Wednesday get a bashing (full of woe). Lots happened in 1979: on Feb 18th it snowed in the Sahara desert for 30 minutes, In March the first Space Shuttle was completed and delivered to JFK Space Centre, and later in the year US car giant Chrysler asks the government for $1BN to avoid bankruptcy (familiar?).
Musically, the top selling song of the year was My Sharona, by The Knack. A pretty cool song, especially (imo) when covered later by Pearl Jam. This was within inches of being my song of the year, other deserved mentions should go to;
The song I’ve picked wasn’t a massive seller, and is only really loved now by a little niche of fans. ELO are always in my playlists, sometimes I sit with their greatest hits on repeat, and this one I can listen to forever. ELO were a little weird for some people in the late 70′s, nowadays nobody below 28 really remembers who they were. Enjoy it, this one is a gem.
February 3rd, 2009
Categories: Music . Author: Dave . Comments: 1 Comment
The other day I was searching for a video for Stevie Wonders Heaven Help Us All, a fantastic Tune. Amongst the search results was one of those songs that takes you WAY back, to when you were a kid. One of those songs that literally conjures images in your head–of people, places and things. No shame, here’s that song.
The whole thing got me inspired, and I’ve decided that starting this week I’m going to post a favourite song for each year of my life. Songs that shaped me, scared me, inspired me, made me dance, made me laugh, and made me love. I’ll start this week, and I can’t hide the fact I’m excited by the thought of it… like looking back through a family album.
February 3rd, 2009
Categories: Music . Author: Dave . Comments: 1 Comment
Some people struggle to motivate themselves, believing the world is often against them. Take a look at Michael Jordan, one of the finest basketball players of all times. His every move was scrutinised, every point counted, every foul marked down. When the game was on the line, the ball went to Michael. The reason we succeed is because we remember the failures, and we learn. Winners subconciously remember these actions, over long periods of time… and therefore win, naturally.
Dale Earnhardt once said “Second Place is just the first place loser“; I prefer to believe there are equal amounts to learn for both.
“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan
“He piled upon the whale’s white hump the sum of all the general rage and hate felt by his whole race from Adam down; and then, as if his chest had been a mortar, he burst his hot heart’s shell upon it.”
Herman Melville wrote this amazing line, to describe the feelings of Captain Ahab as he confronts his arch enemy Moby Dick. The whale would eventually take Ahabs life, an obsession for revenge too far.
I’ve always rated Patrick Stewarts acting skills above that of a Star Trek movie, he has roots in classic theatre, and it shows. The scene below is a moment he is pushed by his need for revenge, in much the same way Ahab was. The quote used from Moby-Dick is a loose translation of the original book… but delivered with poise and balance. This scene is worth watching, outside of the fact it’s a “Trekkie” thing.
dl
And he piled upon the whale’s white hump the sum of all the rage and hate felt by his whole race. If his chest had been a cannon, he would have shot his heart upon it.
