ponderingrandomthings - Tumblr blog

[ponderingrandomthings]

Fairly peaceful crossover song.

Interesting medieval fantasy imagery in this video version (there seem to be many video versions)

Interesting comment from 'moshelevceder' (on the original official video): "For anyone wondering the lyrics are written in Pseudo-Latin, i.e. sounding like Latin but are in fact deliberately devoid of any exact meaning."

I heard this first on a cassette titled 'Inspirational Moments 3'.

[ponderingrandomthings]

This is such a lovely song!

Lyrics speak of family concerns and such things.

I just loved the vocal backup ladies' gestures (I always recall Pink Floyd's P.U.L.S.E. because of them).

I doubt they would have thought (then) how their hand movements and how involved they seem to be in doing their bits - would be remembered by some random guy (me) decades later, who would now (after many repeat listens) make a special note appreciating them and being grateful for their lives.

---

Interesting how some songs live/struggle/fight/endure/thrive - Trivia/Versions:

It was written by John Hurley and Ronnie Wilkins ('eventually' released in 1970).

This was on John Hurley's 1970 album 'John Hurley Sings about People'. (No, I haven't heard of him. I know I should at least read up a bit on him.)

However, this song was first sung in January 1967 by the Four Preps. (That's at least two/three years between the original writers' writing and release.)

Versions/Covers: 1967: Everly Brothers, Wayne Newton, Waylon Jennings 1968: Irish artist Joe Dolan and his backing group the Drifters, Leonard Nimoy (yes - Mr Spock) 1969: Soul group the Winstons 1970: Nicky Thomas 'reggae-inspired version' 1982: Paul Young (didn't chart as a Single), the band Stiff Little Fingers 1983: Paul Young - redone and re-released as a Single (again), this time it charted at #2 in the UK, #1 in Ireland, Italy, Netherlands; this version includes a solo by 'ska and reggae trombonist Rico Rodriguez'. 1994: Reginald Kenneth Dwight (yes - Elton John)

---

Lyrics:

. Living on free food tickets Water in the milk from a hole in the roof Where the rain came through What can you do? Mmm…

Tears from your little sister Crying because she doesn't have a dress without a patch For the party to go But you know she'll get by . [Chorus] 'Cause she's living in the love of the common people Smiles from the heart of a family man Daddy's gonna buy you a dream to cling to [Wow] Mama's gonna love you just as much as she can [Wow] (So cold) And she can… . It's a good thing you don't have bus fare (It's a good thing, ouch) It would fall through the hole in your pocket And you'd lose it in the snow on the ground (Ow, ah, ah, yeah) You gotta walk into town to find a job (What's it now?) . Trying to keep your hands warm (It's so cold) When the hole in your shoe let the snow come through And chill you to the bone (Brrr, cha) Somehow you'd better go home where it's warm . [Chorus] . Living on a dream ain't easy But the closer the knit, the tighter the fit [Double Wow] (The closer the knit) And the chills stay away (Ow, ah, ah, yeah) Just to take 'em in stride for family pride

You know that faith is your foundation (Ooh, now, ooh, now, ooh, now) With a whole lotta love and a warm conversation But don't forget to pray [Mmm] (Forget to pray)

Just making it strong where you belong

[Chorus versions]

[ponderingrandomthings]

Some good catchy old-time pop-rock, from the Australian band 1927. From their 1990 lbum The Other Side. (Same year as Rust in Peace!)

James Barton – drums, backing vocals

Charlie Cole – keyboards, backing vocals

Bill Frost – bass guitar, backing vocals

Eric Weideman – lead vocals, guitar

[ponderingrandomthings]

I once wrote these down on a piece of paper for the copywriter in the Ad agency where I worked (year 2000).

After she said "How do you guys listen these loud bands?"

I said, "If you mange to understand the lyrics, you will see they are very intelligent people."

She then put it up on the softboard with a pin. (Yay!)

So:

Thermal count is rising In perpetual writhing The primordial ooze And the sanity they lose Awakened in the morning To more air pollution warnings Still we sleepwalk off to work While our n-n-n-nervous systems jerk Pretending not to notice How history had forebode us With the greenhouse in effect Our environment was wrecked Now I can only laugh As I read our epitaph We end our lives as moles In the dark of dawn patrol

(No Marty Friedman in this song.)

This was the last song to be added to the album (apparently "the album was slightly too short").

Apparently (The) Dawn Patrol are also movies (1930, 1938 - David Niven, 2014).

I used to think it was also a British squadron that did carpet bombing (I am sure I read that somewhere). But couldn't find anything to validate it.

For those with some more interest: https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/articles/features/14_things_you_didnt_know_about_megadeths_rust_in_peace-33582

[ponderingrandomthings]

An amazing song. Also for the lyrics.

You can ponder over a lot and discuss with a friend...

This is a 5/4 (time signature?).

One highlight:

Masquerading as a man with a reason

My charade is the event of the season

And if I claim to be a wise man, well

It surely means that I don't know

[ponderingrandomthings]

Ha Ha. Love the humor.

[ponderingrandomthings]

A very incredulous musician (and music teacher) asks a simple question that seems basic to him. :-)

Love some of the comments...

"This video perfectly illustrates the madness of being a musician surrounded by normal people. LOL" - kevindie

You have to make this a shirt. "How do I know it’s out of tune? I don’t even know the song." - Johnkiernanmusic

[ponderingrandomthings]

A nice funny, movie. Not a high budget, high drama Hollywood type. [I had to write this because I see some YouTube comments from people whining against it. I guess everything isn't for everyone. That's Ok. I am for this movie.]

Some parts have beautiful expressions from both (Jackson Trent, Anna Fagan).

You wish you had a sibling relationship like these two actors portrayed [sometimes messed up and angry, but when crises come, you get unexpected help from each other - no, this is nothing unique in movies - and it is still a high value experience].

Good scripting. More-than-good acting. Good locales too.

Thank you (all those in the hashtag). It was a very good experience watching this movie.

[ponderingrandomthings]

I found this so funny! Unexpected twist in the humor! Sort of a visual 'paraprosdokian'. [Some more here...]

After you have seen this once, go back to 00:50... maybe you will observe more such instances.

[ponderingrandomthings]

I totally forgot how BEAUTIFUL this music is.

Official HD Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Bibakst1H0&list=PLzuhbZYu5cbD1ej-S4fdbBuxnAXdPOCv5&pp=iAQB

Trivia:

Born on November 14, 1954, in Kalamata, Greece. He set a Greek national record in the 50-meter freestyle swimming competition at age 14.

For a time he earned money by washing dishes at the student union (as a student in the US, completing his B.A. in psychology in 1976).

He figured out his 'calling' after graduation, when he dedicated himself exclusively to music for one full year and found he was the happiest he had ever been.

His first Grammy-nominated album was Dare to Dream (1992), which included 'Aria' - based on Léo Delibes' The Flower Duet (Lakmé, 1883).

His second Grammy-nominated album was In My Time (1993).

"Without financial backing, Yanni risked $2 million of his personal fortune in the Acropolis production." (Wikipedia)

Quote: "It is very difficult, if not impossible, to lie with instrumental music because it deals in emotions only."

And, he has also said that words operate in a different area of the brain, and lyrics "tend to put a song into a box."

I had included (actually started with) 'Yanni produced Madonna's first album' (from memory). But a lot of fact-checking led to nothing (including an AI query). [One more correction received.]

Further Reading: (Wiki)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yanni

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_at_the_Acropolis

[ponderingrandomthings]

Love that sense of humor. Even from the musicians!

The order of appearance (from this site):

Slash

Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen

ZZ Top's Dusty Hill (who plays bass)

Matthew Sweet (Hey, it was the Nineties!)

Joey Ramone

Lisa Loeb

Dave Mustaine

Roy Clark (who plays fiddle in the clip)

Jonny Lang

Michael Stanley

Joe Walsh

[ponderingrandomthings]

Just for the keyboards at 00:42... Slightly incessant.

Beautiful lead guitar at 2:35

Other good songs in the album (Prisoners in Paradise):

(08) Bad Blood

(09) Homeland [slow, sentimental song]

Album Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0ZwxadkABs&list=PLmfJ4jTRqK3YN-G2bFaPNCLKsoxSjOb8H&index=2

[ponderingrandomthings]

A very famous [and great] album (that sadly eclipsed subsequent albums).

This album has some really melodic songs.

Highlighting this song in particular because:

At one point (at 2:50), the keyboard bits start...

Then there are two keyboards being played (3:00)...

The faster keyboard stays in the background...

The slower keyboard is the solo (unusual way to compose, I think); you can notice this at 3:08

Other memorable songs (besides the famous ones) in the album are:

(4) Danger on the Track

(5) Ninja

(7) Time Has Come

(8) Heart of Stone

(9) On the Loose

(10) Love Chaser

[So, you may end up listening to the entire album...]

The Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvBmSTLn7A0&list=PL6ogdCG3tAWhEnOgbSRbQVlGMwE0u7BPP&index=6

Just a few thoughts:

This is a great album cover.

Joey Tempest has written some very interesting songs. This one is about Red Indian tribes (you can go to the Wikipedia page and see how they were removed). Do also read 'Trail of Tears' on Wikipedia (lyrics: 'Cherokee; Marching on the trail of tears') It seems like his songwriting (not just this song) has historical basis. Like the song 'In the Future to Come', some of the lyrics are: So many years ago The people on this earth They were laughing They didn't think of anything else Than love and peace But generations failed to see That they were causing Trouble for the future They didn't know that one single war Would continue to increase For years, I found it odd for someone to criticize 'love and peace' (as concepts/values). How would 'love and peace' cause trouble for the future - for generations? That seemed contradictory to normal expectations. It remained a vague, unresolved thing for years, till much later, when I read that ' love and peace' was also a reference to the Woodstock Generation (LSD, love and peace). Also reminds me of lyrics to Rush's song 'Between the Wheels: 'And another lost generation…'

Some sites mention 'John Norum (guitarist) 'left after the controversial song Cherokee'. [Wonder if it was just a career thing.] Feels like reading 'Peter Gabriel left Genesis after the masterpiece album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.' Makes one feel a bit odd.

[ponderingrandomthings]

Love the slow bass (lead?) at 3:00 followed by a lovelier lead solo at 3:18.

[ponderingrandomthings]

This is quite a wild movie... :-) And this scene (overdone) was quite quite funny...

[ponderingrandomthings]

Just in case, you're looking for such type of a thing...

[ponderingrandomthings]

Another quieter song from an otherwise loud/extreme metal album by Vials of Wrath.

Seems like a very stark and despairing religious sentiment (read below).

Lyrics are taken from one of the poems by George McDonald (1824-1905) 'Diary of an Old Soul'.

-----

Lyrics:

Thou wilt interpret life to me, and men Art, nature, yea, my own soul’s mysteries Bringing truth out, clear-joyous, to my ken Fair as the morn trampling the dull night. Then The lone hillside shall hear exultant cries The joyous see me joy, the weeping weep The watching smile, as Death breathes on me his cold sleep

-----

Interesting/Trivia on George McDonald:

"W. H. Auden, J. R. R. Tolkien, Madeleine L'Engle, C. S. Lewis, G. K. Chesterton, Elizabeth Yates and Mark Twain all claim to have been influenced to some extent by his writings." (Source)

He was a Scottish author, poet and Christian Congregational minister.

He was a mentor of fellow-writer Lewis Carroll.

After graduating in 1845 (chemistry and physics), "he spent the next several years struggling with matters of faith and deciding what to do with his life." (Goods to know…)

"His sermons—which preached God's universal love and that everyone was capable of redemption—met with little favour and his salary was cut in half." (Hah)

He is often regarded as the founding father of modern fantasy writing… claiming "I write, not for children, but for the child-like, whether they be of five, or fifty, or seventy-five."

[Got carried away... This post should have focused more on the song and music by Vials of Wrath... Sorry Mr. Dempsey W. Mills! Blame it on my erratic attention span.]