Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music. Show all posts

Sunday, 28 July 2024

Graeme III (the final poem in the trilogy)


I promised the third part of the poëm trilogy on an old crush from the 1990s, named, well obviously, Graeme. Finally, I have enough energy coïnciding with sufficient cognitive clarity to be able to type a short blog-post. In later years, I saw him once more, but we did not meet. From what I can gather, he has a successful career and appears hale & hearty. 😊 


*


Graeme III



my social-worker friend

he’s gay

not as inhibited as myself

tells me

I do not know

what emotional baggage you carry


my most recently-found, close friend

she’s straight

and worldly wise

you’ve encountered her

tells me

not to contact you

not to debase myself


my second most long-standing friend

he’s straight

unconstrained

for ever horny

(around women)

tells me

go for it

you never know


My most long-established friend

he’s unsure

but if pressed

will assert his heterosexuality

(he’s the most repressed person I know)

tells me

… nothing

he just humphs

and changes the subject


I would like to be friends

I would prefer us to be lovers

(full-time relationship or occasional liaison)

I would settle for an amicable affinity

- is compromise a dirty word?


*


Whilst writing I have been listening to multiple versions of Olive’s “You’re Not Alone”, which invariably brings Graeme to mind. I doubt very much he even remembers our encounters, let alone knows of my existence. However, should he read this, I hope he reälises I wish him well.


Below is a link to another version of the music-video:







Thursday, 21 January 2021

Missing - a Poëm


For much of the time I cannot listen to modern music forms as - due to hyperacuity - it causes me physical pain. However, sometimes, when I am fortunate enough to be in a deep bath, I am able to listen to familiar pop-tunes. If my ears start to hurt, I dip under the water until they calm.





This afternoon was one of those lucky occasions. I was listening to Talvin Singh’s “Traveller” (video-clip above), a favourite tune of mine from the nineties. It brought back memories of love-affairs, clubbing, dancing, sunshine, of being actually alive and vibrant. Now I am - and have been for over two decades - severely disabled by chronic-illnesses. Suddenly I found myself weeping for my former life......


Mostly I am an optimist, though tempered by pragmatism. Whilst I allowed myself the space to mourn my losses, I also prefer to turn experiences into something positive - or at least constructive. Very quickly I started forming a poëm in my mind. I had to type it up as soon as I exited the bath-tub. And the result is what follows.



Missing



Missing


Tumbling

Into passion

A new friendship offer

But too great a risk

Spiritual strain

Leads to emotional

Falling


Missing


Tumbling

Into passion

A new love-affair’s call

But too great a risk

Emotional strain

Leads to physical

Falling


Missing


Tumbling

Into passion

A new adult play-date

But too great a risk

Physical strain

Leads to sexual

Falling


Missing



*




Wednesday, 20 January 2021

The Audience: a Poem

Traditionally, my first post of the year is a poëm. This year, however, I was spurred on to write about a health issue (q.v.). So for my second post herewith something I originally wrote in the nineties, prior to becoming disabled, when I used to attend lots of artistic events. I suspect many are missing such activities due to the constant, pandemic lock-downs. Just maybe, I might be now willing to put up with irksome audiences! I have done a wee bit of adding and editing as well as redesigning the layout. Oh, and a warning for swearing!


*

the audience



at every queer performance:


gay men chattering

so much to say

gossiping

and bitching

one of whom

invariably

will leave mid-way

for the lavatory


lesbians

in multiple layers

removing one sweater

at every vital moment

with frizzy hair

enough for three

statically charged

so as no-one can see

anything of import


serious music concerts:


Jewish ladies

hard of hearing maybe

whispering all too audibly

throughout


elderly couples

pass boiled-sweets

triple-wrapped

for maximum annoyance


and there’s always someone

with a chesty cough

a rattling burst

during anything vaguely piano

and everything pianissimo


cinema visit nightmares:


escape from surreality

proves an impossibility

crunching hands clawing at popcorn

incessant banter

questions

patter

a constant stream

of those who arrive late

and then worst fate

bouncing feet

on the back of the seat


rocking ire

might explode

one of these days

for gods’ sake

shut the fuck up


I want to experience

the performance

not the blasted audience


*


Wednesday, 8 August 2018

It’s Severe M.E. Day. I am a pwME, that is a person with Mylagic Encephalomyelitis and I suffer from the severe form of M.E. My cognitive abilities are not up to writing a blog-post this year. Instead, I give you “Autumn Leaves”, some 90’s chill-out music by Coldcut. The lyrics cited & sampled are:


“But I miss you most of all,

my darling,

when Autumn leaves start to fall.”




Wednesday, 30 August 2017

Clubbing with Todd Terry*


Clubbing with Todd Terry*




experience
feel the heat
taste the saline sweat
feel the beat
competing
with the inferior in your chest
both subsisting
within the undying constant
pulse of existence
feel the burn
as muscles go into optimum drive
then overload
let your senses overflow
let your spirit free your mind
let your mind release its hold
let your body take control
ignore the destination
just go
dance to the rhythm
bear the cost in your soul
feel yourself flow
the contours in your sight blur
images contort and slow
no human sound can disturb
salient music incessant
and strangely silent
listen to the loquacious angelic hush
the electronic roar
elation kicks in
synthetic drugs
or natural rush
you soar, you soar
existence where there was none
true being has now begun
you become an addict
but just for fun
seek for
demand more
death will eventually come
for sure
your body in motion
one with all flesh here
your spirit sees the light
God is in clubbing
in Oneness is delight
your mind knows
there is nothing to fear
simple love we share
acceptance with joy
our rubric
in dance
in music
our freedom
we let it show
feeling good
onwards we go
forwards to our tomorrow
good being
and feeling good
in our lives we will know
feeling good in every way
whilst clubbing



* inspired by & based on Todd Terry's "Something goin' on" - YouTube link above

Wednesday, 30 September 2015

Musical Chairs

This is my 250th blog-post.

*

[Image description: Matt Alber singing whilst playing his keyboard]


*


Regular readers will recall that I have been moving out of Facebook almost since my blog began. A few months back I deleted the vast majority of my music tastes therefrom: with the exception of Snatnam Kaur and Matt Alber (pictured above), so that I may continue to receive news on their tours, releases, etc. It has taken since then to complete this post - partly due to my on-going ill-health and disabilities.

I have listed my eclectic tastes alphabetically. All bar two acts have a Wikipedia listing, so I have included such after their name. This is followed by any official, or in some cases quasi-official, website. Finally I have listed styles. In this regard I have attempted to be consistent and used as few labels as seemed necessary. I realise music can be labelled in multiple ways and my categorisation in no way should be deemed some kind of attempt at taxonomy. The labels are there simply to give a broad overview.

For some artists, they were what is quaintly known as one-hit-wonders. In these instances, I have posted a Youtube link to their unique success. The four stimulate potent and happy memories in me, each connected to someone I love/have loved very dearly.

I have not listed "classical" composers here, as I intend to draw up a further list at some point.

My selections are not particularly avant-garde or even trendy; they are, however, my choices. I am more than happy to engage in discussion over favourite tracks and so on with regards the artists listed, if anyone wishes to do so.

As a young child, my vision was deteriorating extremely rapidly and I had to obtain new, stronger prescription spectacles every six months. I was advised that I should probably be blind by age twenty-one. Thankfully, that did not come to pass. However, apart from trying to teach myself Braille, I decided that listening to music (or oral books) was far more important to me than seeing with my eyes.

Music speaks to one's inner-being, to one's soul or spirit, to one's psyche. Music brings to mind past loves, happy memories and places where one initially heard a piece. Music resonates with one's whole being. I give you, My Music…


*

A

A-ha     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, new wave, pop, rock, synthpop
Abba     Wikipedia, Official, styles: disco, pop, rock
Acker Bilk     Wikipedia, Official, styles: trad jazz
Alejandro Sanz     Wikipedia, Official, styles: Latino, pop
Alison Moyet     Wikipedia, Official, styles: blues, new wave, pop, rock, synthpop
Amy Grant     Wikipedia, Official, styles: folk, gospel, pop, rock
Anastacia     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, funk, pop, rock, R&B, soul
Annie Lennox     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, new wave, pop, rock, R&B, soul, synthpop
Antony and the Johnsons     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, pop
Armand Van Helden     Wikipedia, Official, styles: disco, electronica, garage, house 
Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli     Wikipedia, Official, styles: classical

B

Babylon Zoo     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, pop, rock
*

Baccara     Wikipedia, Official, styles: disco, pop
Barry Manilow     Wikipedia, Official, styles: easy listening, pop, rock
Barry White     Wikipedia, Official, styles: disco, funk, R&B, soul
Basement Jaxx     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, garage, house
Bette Midler     Wikipedia, Official, styles: easy listening, pop, rock
Beverley Knight     Wikipedia, Official, styles: R&B, soul
Billie Holiday     Wikipedia, Official, styles: blues, jazz, R&B, swing, torch song
Black     Wikipedia, Official, styles: new wave, pop, rock
Black Eyed Peas     Wikipedia, Official, styles: hip hop, R&B
Blondie     Wikipedia, Official, styles: new wave, punk
Blur     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, Britpop, Indie
Brandy (Norwood)     Wikipedia, Official, styles: pop, R&B
Bruce Springsteen     Wikipedia, Official, styles: pop, rock
Bryan Ferry     Wikipedia, Official, styles: new wave, pop, rock

C

Chic     Wikipedia, Official, styles: disco, funk, soul
Chicane     Wikipedia, Official, styles: chill-out, electronica, house, trance
China Crisis     Wikipedia, Official, styles: new wave, synthpop
Chris de Burgh     Wikipedia, Official, styles: easy listening, pop, rock
Chris Rea     Wikipedia, Official, styles: pop, rock
Clannad     Wikipedia, Official, styles: folk, Irish, new age, rock
Cocteau Twins     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, pop, rock
Coldplay     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, pop, rock

D

D:Ream     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, pop, rock, R&B, soul
Dan Hartman     Wikipedia, Official, styles: disco, new wave, R&B, rock, soul
Daniel Barenboim     Wikipedia, Official, styles: classical
Daniel Bedingfield     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, electronica, garage, gospel, pop, rock
Deep Forest     Wikipedia, Official, styles:ambient, electronica, new age, world
Don Francisco     Wikipedia, Official, styles: gospel
Donna Summer     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, disco, funk, gospel, pop, R&B, rock, soul

E

Édith Piaf     Wikipedia, Official, styles: cabaret, chanson, torch song
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf     Wikipedia, Official, styles: Lieder, opera, operetta
Ely Guerra     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, chill-out, jazz, pop, rock
Enigma     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, new age, world
Eurythmics     Wikipedia, Official, styles: new wave, pop, rock, synthpop
Eva Cassidy     Wikipedia, Official, styles: blues, folk, gospel, jazz, pop, soul

F

Faithless     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, house, trance
Fatboy Slim     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, house, rave
Frankie Goes to Hollywood     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, new wave, pop, rock, synthpop

G

Gary Numan     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, new wave, rock, synthpop 
George Michael     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, disco, pop, soul
Glenn Miller     Wikipedia, Official, styles: big band, swing
Gloria Estefan     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, Latino, pop
Goldfrapp     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, synthpop
Gorillaz     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, electronica, hip hop
Grace Jones     Wikipedia, Official, styles: chanson, dance, disco, electronica, funk, new wave, R&B, reggae, rock
Groove Armada     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, chill-out, electronica, house
Guillemots     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, indie, rock

H

Heather Nova     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, rock

I

Isha D     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, house
*



J

Jace Everett     Wikipedia, Official, styles: country, rock
James Blunt     Wikipedia, Official, styles: folk, pop, rock
Jamiroquai     Wikipedia, Official, styles: acid jazz, dance, disco, electronica, funk, pop, R&B, rock, soul
Jean Michel Jarre     Wikipedia, Official, styles: ambient, electronica, new age, trance
Joan Armatrading     Wikipedia, Official, styles: blues, folk, pop, rock
John Denver     Wikipedia, Official, styles: country, folk, pop, western
John Michael Talbot     Wikipedia, Official, styles: country, folk, gospel, liturgical
Joy Division     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, new wave

K

Kalimba     Wikipedia, Official, styles: Latino, pop, rock
Keith Green     Wikipedia, Official, styles: gospel, rock
Kiri Te Kanawa     Wikipedia, Official, styles: musical, opera, popera
Kraftwerk     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, electronica, synthpop
Kylie (Minogue)     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, disco, electronica, pop, synthpop

L

Lady Gaga     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, electronica, pop
Liza Minnelli     Wikipedia, Official, styles: cabaret, jazz, musical, pop
Lotte Lenya     Wikipedia, Official, styles: cabaret, chanson, musical
Louis Armstrong     Wikipedia, Official, styles: jazz, pop, swing

M

M People     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, disco, soul
Madonna     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, disco, electronica, folk, jazz, pop, swing
Malena Ernman     Wikipedia, Official, styles: cabaret, chanson, jazz, opera, popera
Mama Cass Elliot     Wikipedia, Official, styles: folk, pop
Maria Callas     Wikipedia, Official, styles: opera
Marlene Dietrich     Wikipedia, Official, styles: cabaret, chanson
Maroon 5     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, pop, rock
Matt Alber     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, disco, easy listening, folk, torch song
Meat Loaf     Wikipedia, Official, styles: rock
Michael Card     Wikipedia, Official, styles: gospel, liturgical
Mieczyslaw Horszowski     Wikipedia, Official, styles: classical
Mika     Wikipedia, Official, styles: pop, rock
Moby     Wikipedia, Official, styles: ambient, dance, electronica, house, techno
Mono     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, trip hop
*


N

New Order     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, dance, new wave, synthpop
Nightcrawlers     Wikipedia, Official, styles: acid jazz, house, soul
Nina Simone     Wikipedia, Official, styles: blues, folk, gospel, jazz, R&B
Noël Coward     Wikipedia, Official, styles: musical, operetta, pop

O

Oasis     Wikipedia, Official, styles: Britpop, rock
Odyssey     Wikipedia, Official, styles: disco, soul
Olive     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, trip hop
*

Orchestral Manœuvres (in the Dark)     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, new wave, synthpop
Orquesta sinfónica de RTVE     Wikipedia, Official, styles: classical

P

P!nk     Wikipedia, Official, styles: folk, pop, rock, R&B
Pat Benetar     Wikipedia, Official, styles: pop, rock
Pet Shop Boys     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, dance, pop, synthpop
Peter Skellern     Wikipedia, Official, styles: easy listening, musical, pop
Phil and John     Wikipedia, Official, styles: gospel
Phillip Glass     Wikipedia, Official, styles: classical, opera
Portishead     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, trip hop, rock
Pulp     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternatice, Britpop, indie, rock

R

R.E.M.     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, pop, rock
Rodrigo y Gabriela     Wikipedia, Official, styles: flamenca, pop, Latino, rock
Roxy Music     Wikipedia, Official, styles: new wave, pop, rock
Roy Orbison     Wikipedia, Official, styles: country, pop, rock
Röyksopp     Wikipedia, Official, styles: ambient, chill-out, electronica, house, synthpop

S

Sade     Wikipedia, Official, styles: R&B, soul
Scissors Sisters     Wikipedia, Official, styles: disco, pop, rock
Sebastien Tellier     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, new wave, pop, synthpop
Sigur Rós     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, ambient, electronica, pop
Simon and Garfunkel     Wikipedia, Official, styles: folk, pop
Simply Red     Wikipedia, Official, styles: pop, soul
Sister Sledge     Wikipedia, Official, styles: disco, pop, R&B, soul
Snatam Kaur     Wikipedia, Official, styles: liturgical, new age, world
Snow Patrol     Wikipedia, Official, styles: indie, pop, rock

T

Texas     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, Britpop, pop, rock
The Blues Brothers     Wikipedia, Official, styles: blues, R&B, soul, rock
The Cure     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, new wave, rock
The Divine Comedy     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, pop
The Gipsy Kings     Wikipedia, Official, styles: flamenca, Latino, pop
The Human League     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, new romantic, synthpop
The Ink Spots     Wikipedia, Official, styles: easy listening, pop, R&B
The Mamas and the Papas     Wikipedia, Official, styles: folk, pop
The Monks and Choirboys of Downside Abbey     Wikipedia, Official, styles: Gregorian, liturgical
The Tourists     Wikipedia, Official, styles: new wave, pop, rock
Todd Terry     Wikipedia, Official, styles: house
Tracey Chapman     Wikipedia, Official, styles: blues, folk, pop, rock, soul
Transglobal Underground     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, fusion, world
Tricky     Wikipedia, Official, styles: trip hop

U

U2     Wikipedia, Official, styles: rock
Ultravox     Wikipedia, Official, styles: electronica, new wave, synthpop
Underworld     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dance, house, trance
Urban Species     Wikipedia, Official, styles: dub, funk, hip hop, jazz
Ute Lemper     Wikipedia, Official, styles: cabaret, musical, opera

V

Vangelis     Wikipedia, Official, styles: classical, electronica, new age, rock
Vienna Blood     Wikipedia, Official, styles: country, rock

W

Wilfried     Wikipedia, Official, styles: punk, new wave, rock

Y

Yazoo     Wikipedia, Official, styles: alternative, new wave, synthpop