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In Greek mythology, the muses were the daughters of Zeus the king of the gods and Mnemosyne the goddess of memory. The muses inspired men to create what we commonly call the fine arts. In this digital realm, you will find music of both high and low culture, from literature to the visual arts to what we narrowly call music in English. Enjoy and be grateful for being human; for the muses have richly blessed our race.

Popular Music

Popular culture is trash, but we like it anyway

Monday, July 4, A.D. 2011

Anchors Aweigh

As a patriotic and filial tribute, I present Charles A. Zimmerman’s “Anchors Aweigh” on this Independence Day:

Thanks for serving, Dad!

Wikipedia has an article on the song’s development in naval culture.

Posted by Joseph on Monday, July 4, A.D. 2011
Folk Music • High Culture Music • Popular Music • (0) Comments • Permalink

Thursday, February 24, A.D. 2011

A Woman’s Fantasy (or Nightmare)

A few days ago, I presented Johannes Nyholm’s trailer for Las Palmas. Having found the baby bar trashing amusing, I looked at his other work. He appears to make music videos for several Swedish bands. The one that I liked most was his video for Jenny Wilson’s “Let My Shoes Lead Me Forward.” How many hours did it take to make?

I am a sucker for labor intensive, low tech artistry. From Švankmajer’s stop-motion to Aardman’s claymation, the creativity is more accessible than computer wizardry. Industrial Light & Magic and Pixar are pretty amazing, but there is a charm to magic that does not require a computer.

Posted by Joseph on Thursday, February 24, A.D. 2011
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Friday, January 21, A.D. 2011

Storytelling’s Fiction

I resisted buying Belle and Sebastian’s Storytelling for a long time. I wondered why anyone would buy an original score film soundtrack that was not composed by John Williams. Besides, I have never seen Todd Solondz’ film, Storytelling, and I have no desire to do so. It looks like one of those Lifetime meets unhappy and misanthropic New York Jewish Lefty indie flicks that I find pretentious, objectionable, and depressing. Nonetheless, I finally purchased Storytelling last year to complete my Belle and Sebastian album collection, and I was pleasantly surprised. I don’t know why I was surprised. I am a pessimist even with Stuart Murdoch (p.b.u.h.). It’s shameful—how I have little faith.

Anyway, the theme to several songs is “Fiction,” which is one of the parts of Solondz’ movie. Here is a video of the English countryside that a Portuguese fan set to the memorable tune:

The leitmotif for the Fiction part of the film continues, and here is “Fiction (Reprise)” near the end, set to a bizarre and wholly B&S appropriate fan video by an Argentinian woman:

I also really like Jackson’s “Wandering Alone”:

Another Stevie-esque manifestation.

Posted by Joseph on Friday, January 21, A.D. 2011
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Friday, January 14, A.D. 2011

Are You Coming Over for Christmas?

Yesterday was the Apodosis of the Nativity (on the old calendar), and today is the celebration of Christ’s circumcision and the feast of Saint Basil. That means that the Nativity season is winding down, as tomorrow is the forefeast of the Theophany. The twelve days are almost over. To celebrate the end of the season, here is Belle and Sebastian’s “Are You coming Over for Christmas?” The video is apparently a Christmas greeting that some folks made for their friends, who appear to be nuns (Mother Ann and Mary Agnes). If so, that makes the song selection a bit odd, but maybe the bizarre mixture fits Belle and Sebastian perfectly.

Belle and Sebastian also did a recording of “Veni Emmanuel” for the charity album, “It’s a Cool, Cool Christmas.”

The harmonica is so very Stevie-esque.

Posted by Joseph on Friday, January 14, A.D. 2011
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Thursday, January 13, A.D. 2011

Bron-Y-Aur Stomp

Happy birthday to my nephew, Austin! As Austin appreciates hoedowns, rock, and dogs, what better song to feature than Led Zeppelin’s “Bron-Y-Aur Stomp”:

I love the fact that the “blue eyed Merle” mentioned was Plant’s dog Strider. Of course, he named his dog Strider.

Posted by Joseph on Thursday, January 13, A.D. 2011
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Friday, December 31, A.D. 2010

Lombardo’s Auld Land Syne

Here is “Auld Lang Syne” by Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians:

I wish you the best in the new year.

Posted by Joseph on Friday, December 31, A.D. 2010
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Thursday, December 23, A.D. 2010

Enya Hails the Messiah

Here is Enya (Eithne Patricia Ní Bhraonáin) singing “Veni Emmanuel.”

I read that Enya’s songs sometimes have scores of voice layers of her singing and that she does each take individually. If I understand the process correctly, it seems quite impressive. I had assumed that some sort of digital recording magic created the various layers, but I guess that it only integrates them.

Posted by Joseph on Thursday, December 23, A.D. 2010
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Wednesday, December 22, A.D. 2010

I Can See Your Future

I am always happy to listen to Belle and Sebastian’s new offerings. In October, I bought my copy of Belle and Sebastian Write about Love, and I have listened to it dozens (upon dozens) of times so far. I immediately appreciated “I Didn’t See It Coming” and “I Want the World to Stop,” but I only casually liked the others songs. However, I have found that the songs are good “growers,” and now I really like new tunes, even the ones for which I did not much care at first, like “Come on Sister,” “Calculating Bimbo,” and “Sunday’s Pretty Icons.” “The Ghost of Rock School” is wonderful; I love the imagery in the lyrics. “Read the Blessed Pages” is heartrending.

There have been many fine reviews of the album. Although I disagree with pop critic Brad Bain’s comments about God Help the Girl, he opines the following concerning the new album:

And they really are an ensemble, even now, after a nearly five-year break since The Life Pursuit. Playing as a group has always been one of their strengths; for a band that has an instantly recognizable sound (the first 12 seconds of “I Can See Your Future” or “Write About Love” might as well be someone yelling “THIS RIGHT HERE IS A SONG BY BELLE AND SEBASTIAN”), they have no particularly distinctive instrumentalists, just a finely developed sense of how to support each other’s timbres and rhythms.

I laughed (yes, out loud) when I read that, and his point is very astute. Bain also remarks how the album grows on you—a common review theme for the album. Here is “I Can See Your Future” and those heralding first twelve seconds:

Sarah Martin is cool.

Posted by Joseph on Wednesday, December 22, A.D. 2010
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Monday, November 29, A.D. 2010

Pale Blue Eyes

I present my favorite song by the Velvet Underground, “Pale Blue Eyes,” from their eponymous album:

Unfortunately, I have not found a good fan video for the song.

Incidentally, “Pale Blue Eyes” ties as my favorite song about adultery with “Lyin’ Eyes” by the Eagles. They are both miserably beautiful in their own sorrowful ways.

Posted by Joseph on Monday, November 29, A.D. 2010
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Tuesday, November 23, A.D. 2010

Another Sunny Day

Here is an odd fan video for Belle and Sebastian’s “Another Sunny Day” from The Life Pursuit:

Don’t they look cheery?

Posted by Joseph on Tuesday, November 23, A.D. 2010
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