現在無人不曉精品繁多的 Snoopy 曾經只是花生漫畫(Peanut)中的配角. 漫畫初期主要都集中在小男孩 Charlie Brown 身上. 這個極端自卑, 常常被嘲笑(也自嘲), 卻又努力不懈的小男孩的原型其實就是花生漫畫作者 Charles Schluz 本人. 1963年一套有關 Charles Schulz 及花生漫畫的紀錄片 A Boy Named Charlie Brown 的配樂就成了這張節奏明快輕鬆的爵士樂專輯.
This song always gives me the chill. The album version is great, but it is the live version that really shines. This one is on the "Hell Freezes Over" album, and it is always on my portable list.
Just a few days after I entered my current company, I got a chance to go to the sound theatre (I just call it sound room) which is used for testing products. They played this song with one of the company's product, and that was great, it gave me goosebumps. However my colleagues told me that they get so bored of the song that the intro is enough to make them puke. But as they said it is necessary, it is only when you get so familiar with it then you can really tell the difference when it is played on different product. That's so true! So let see when I get to that stage.
However I just used it as a test track when I was trying to make the decision about which earphone to buy. I can only say that I am not familiar with it yet, as I can still find new sound in the track and get so excited about it.
There is another brilliant, brilliant, trumpet intro version that I just got my hands on recently. Can't wait to get myself sick of it with my new toy.
P.S. This new toy is gonna ignite my fire to pick up "song of the week" again, but before that I have to fill up those missing issue before this one.
This is a cover of Jackson C. Frank's "Just like Anything" by the Sand Band. According to Frank, the Song do not really have any meaning, it is meant to be a break or a form of balance from his heavier work. Yet this work is not short on charm and brilliance.
The lyrics might not make much sense, but for god sake, they rhyme. If you look for meaning, then look else where. But if you are looking for a interpretation for yourself, I guess any artist, including Frank, will have no objection to that, or let say they have no control on that.
My interpretation? Honestly, I don't have one, but I find this song kind of sad but soothing. It's like when one is in a calm state where fragments of thoughts flow around freely.
Just like how the lyrics depict... a state of mind.
P.S. I think the MV, though not official, did a great job in bringing up the mood.
xxx xxx xxx
Just like anything
To sing To sing To sing
is a state of mind
Sunlight dances slowly on a drum beats broken rhyme
I speak of answers only to see them in my mind
If I had a penny I'd throw it in the sea
to see if it would float away
Or grow a penny tree
I play the fool of rhythm
To speak of what is sane
I never think of singing to those who feel the same
See how high the rain falls
See the color in my hair
Hunt for golden porridge bowls
Hear the paper tear
Just like anything
To sing To sing To sing
Is a state of mind
Death gives no reason
So why should I
Death has no season
So I know I'll never die
Just like anything
To sing To sing To sing
Is a state of mind
Their first album always reminds me about my days in UK.
When I walked from school campus back home, sometimes I want some upbeat tunes to drive my pace, and their music (well, maybe not the lyrics) is just perfect for that purpose.
And now I surely need to pick up some pace and catch up.
Where is home?
The place where we were born?
The place where we grew up?
The place where we found love?
The place where we found meaning?
I think...
Home is the place where we know something, or someone, is waiting for our return.
xxx xxx xxx
When the Full Moon turns white that's when I'll come home
I am going out to see what I can sow
And I don't know where I'll go
And I don't know what I'll see
But I'll try not to bring it back home with me
Like the morning sun, your eyes will follow me
As you watch me wander, curse the powers that be
Cause all I want is here and now but its already been and gone
Our intentions always last that bit too long
Far far away, no voices sounding, no one around me and
you're still there
Far far away, no choices passing, no time confounds me and
you're still there
In the full moons light I listen to the stream
And in between the silence hear you calling me
But I don't know where I am and I don't trust who I've been
And If I come home how will I ever leave
《Once》是一套很特別的電影，雖然是低成本製作，卻一點也不馬虎，整套戲很自然很有真實感。導演 John Carney 稱它為一套音樂劇，這說法是挺準確的，而且電影的 Soundtrack 都要比很多 album 更有質素。相信這跟電影的參與者很多都其實是音樂人有關，男主角 Glen Hansard 是愛爾蘭 The Frames 樂隊的主音和結他手，女主角 Marketa Irglova 是來自捷克的音樂人並跟 Glen Hansard 另外組成了 The Swell Season, 就連導演 John Carney 本身其實也曾經是 The Frames 的低音結他手。這個背景不單肯定了電影的音樂質素，而且也確保了演員和導演的投入感，因為《Once》就是一個獨立音樂人的故事，我什至懷疑有些是他們的個人經歷。
"games that never amount
to more than they're meant
will play themselves out"
For game like this
Futility and emptiness should be expected
Yet it is still tough when things fall apart slowly in front of your eyes
Things that you tried to make an effort
Things that you put your heart into
When it is time to close the curtain they don't really mean anything
I am not giving up yet
But I am waiting for the curtain call
Before that I will give my best and enjoy what's left of it
發覺我一直都沒有在 Song of the Week 用上小隊長的作品，這是不被容許的，所以要立刻補上。
盧廣仲有很多作品我都很喜歡，沒有艱澀的詞曲，一切都來得很簡單很自然。有些題材生活化得很有喜劇感，例如這首《Rock'n roll 的 style》。讓我想起許冠傑的作品，現在香港這類型作品不多，我可以想到的有 My Little Airport 和小克之前的幾首改詞。這類型作品是挺令人開懷的，音樂真的不用常常都是優美動人，輕鬆頑皮也有其吸引之處。其實人類創作音樂之始應該都是很貼近生活的吧，或者盧廣仲的風格是很原始的哩，是一種返祖現象...
Actually there is not much to say about this song, but since I heard it the first time, it has always been one of my favorite morning tune. Some say the lyrics is about hangover after the Saturday night fever, some say it is about taking drugs. I don't know what are the reasons behind these interpretations, I just find the music makes a perfect match with the lazy, relaxing Sunday morning. The meaning is not really that important for me.
There is a video clip that contain precious footage of the band member when they were making the song (the first result in youtube when you search for "The Velvet Underground Sunday Morning"), however I found this MV aesthetically more pleasing. Let's enjoy a Sunday morning with this gem.
xxx xxx xxx
Sunday morning, praise the dawning
Its just a restless feeling by my side
Early dawning, Sunday morning
Its just the wasted years so close behind
Watch out, the worlds behind you
There's always someone around you who will call
Its nothing at all
Sunday morning and I am falling
Ive got a feeling I don't want to know
Early dawning, Sunday morning
Its all the streets you crossed, not so long ago
Watch out, the worlds behind you
There's always someone around you who will call
Its nothing at all
Watch out, the worlds behind you
There's always someone around you who will call
Its nothing at all
When I heard it in the movie "The Tree of Life", it sounded very familiar and I tried real hard to recall its name and its composer. But I really had no idea, as the movie went on, I just gave up. Finally, I tracked it down and found this brilliant version.
However, I still have no idea why it sounds familiar to me.
The great thing about this masterpiece is that the Czech composer, Bedřich Smetana, was completely deaf when he composed Má vlast Vltava. It is very hard to imagine how this could be done. I guess for these musical genius, music do not live with them, but live in them, that way music is truly everywhere in their life.
On a side note, when I was looking for this piece of music on youtube, I stumbled upon this brilliant Czech Beer advertisement.
English Translation of the ad:
- I can't write a national song, because I can't hear anything.
- But master...
- I CAN'T HEAR... a pen!
- "My Country" by Bedrich Smetana
- Go away!
- Pilsner Urquell inspiration taste.
"Love is not a habit, a commitment, or a debt. It isn't romantic songs tell us it is - love simply is... No definitions. Love and don't ask too many questions. Just love." (Coelho 2006: 258)
"You say you'd love to travel, but you misuse the word love. Love is a relationship between people. Your one desire is for the harvest to be a good one, and that's why you've decided to love the earth. More nonsense: love isn't desire or knowledge or admiration. It's a challenge, it's an invisible fire." (Coelho 2006: 183)
"It can not be desired because it is an end in itself. It cannot betray because it has nothing to do with possession. It cannot be held prisoner because it is a river and will overflow its banks. Anyone who tries to imprison love will cut off the spring that feeds it, and the trapped water will grow stagnant and rank." (Coelho 2006: 196)
"After all, what is happiness? Love, they tell me. But love doesn't bring and never has brought happiness. On the contrary, it's a constant state of anxiety, a battlefield; it's sleepless nights, asking ourselves all the time if we're doing the right thing. Real love is composed of ecstasy and agony." (Coelho 2006: 129)
"According to the Lebanese poet Khalil Gibran, it was more important to give than to receive, but while these were wise words, I was part of what is known as "humanity," with my frailties, my moments of indecision, my desire simply to live in peace, to be the slave of my feelings and to surrender myself without asking any questions ........." (Coelho 2006: 243)
I take each step with courage and fear Did I say I am just a boy
上一篇說到香港的獨立音樂，其實除了 the pancakes 外香港還有很多值得支持的獨立音樂。我自己也是近年才留意多了，所以不算知道得很多，不過也希望分享幾個我知道的，讓更多人支持香港的獨立音樂人。
Ketchup 是我在英國時朋友介紹給我的。說是一個組合其實跟 the pancakes 一樣都是 one man band，而且不單是唱作，連 Album 的封面和 Artwork 都是他自己一手包辦，據我所知他曾經當過平面設計，作品絕對高水準。而他的音樂作品都是英文，我記得他曾經說過其實純粹是因為他覺得英文比粵語容易填，而從他對粵語歌的認識而且在演唱會上也會 cover 不同粵語歌可見應該真的只是填詞的技術性問題。
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