Song Of The Week (March 15th, 2015)

This week’s Song of the Week comes Nick Mulvey who debuted in May 2014 with the album “First Mind” which charted to number 10 in UK. Before debuting as a solo artist he was a percussionist in the acclaimed “Portico Quartet”. He holds a degree in music from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and was influenced by his Cuban and Congolese guitar teachers. His musical style is inspired by the likes of Nick Drake, Tom Waits and it combined a variation of African styles.

Nck Mulvey – Cucurucu

Lyrics:

“Softly, in the dusk, a woman is singing to me;
She takes me back down the vista of my years, until I see
I see a child underneath the piano, in the boom of the tingling strings
Pressing the poised feet of his mother who smiles at him as she sings.

Cucurucu, cucurucu

Softly now in the evening dusk, a woman is singing to me;
She takes me back down the vista of my years, until I see
A boy, a child underneath the piano, in the boom of the tingling strings
Pressing the poised feet of his mother who smiles at him as she sings
Yearning to belong, yearning to belong
My heart beats with a ceaseless longing of a yearning to belong
In spite of myself, and all of these nursery songs
My heart beats with a ceaseless longing of a yearning to belong

Cucurucu, cucurucu
Singing cucurucu, cucurucu

Till the melodies of childish days, are upon, upon me
And they take me back, back down the river
They keep leading me on, they lead me to the sea
And all of my manhood is cast
Down in the flood of remembrance, and I weep like a child for the past.

Singing cucurucu, cucurucu
Singing cucurucu, cucurucu

I see a child underneath the piano, in the boom of the tingling strings
Pressing the poised feet of his mother who smiles at him as she sings.
Listen to me son, I’ll tell you why your feather’s strong
Cause he can still say every single day, he’s yearning to belong
Yearning to belong, yearning to belong
My heart beats with a ceaseless longing of a yearning to belong
In spite of myself, and all of these nursery songs
My heart beats with a ceaseless, meets with a peaceless burning to belong

Singing cucurucu, cucurucu
Singing cucurucu
Singing cucurucu, cucurucu
Cucurucu“

Song Of The Week (May 11th, 2014)

This week’s Song of the Week comes from another Swedish artist, Karin Dreijer Andresson, also known as Fever Ray. She is also known for her collaboration with her brother Olof with whom she had formed “The Knife”. The single “If I Had A Heart” from Fever Ray’s debut album was used as a soundtrack for the opening credits of the television series “Vikings”.

Fever Ray – If I Had A Heart

 

Lyrics:

“This will never end

‘Cause I want more
More, give me more
Give me more

This will never end
‘Cause I want more
More, give me more
Give me more

If I had a heart I could love you
If I had a voice I would sing
After the night when I wake up
I’ll see what tomorrow brings

If I had a voice, I would sing

Dangling feet from window frame
Will I ever ever reach the floor?
More, give me more, give me more

Crushed and filled with all I found
Underneath and inside
Just to come around
More, give me more, give me more

If I had a voice, I would sing“

Song Of The Week (May 4th, 2014)

This week’s Song of the Week comes from iamamiwhoami, an electronic music project project from Sweden. The single “Fountain” is one of the songs that will be included in their 3rd album “Blue” which will be released in November this year.

iamamiwhoami – Fountain

 

Lyrics

“What lies beyond the fringe of the woods?
Dust to dust, so we leave for good
When all has gone to blazes I start to run
Until I find places where nobody’s gone

No more weight on your conscience
With ease, I go back to the start

Surge like a fountain
Riptide
And swallow me
Flourish like a fountain
Inside
Gather force from the sea
Now you’re new and shiney
Hold tight
Let it wash me clean

Crawling through deafening cold
Turning head, there’s no sight of home
Though my body’s aching, we have to push on
For every start, no line is drawn

Surge like a fountain
Riptide
And swallow me
Flourish like a fountain
Inside
Gather force from the sea
Now you’re new and shiney
Hold tight
Let it wash me clean

From watching eyes I blindly rove
To guard my stories and find my god

What lies beyond the fringe of the woods?
Dust to dust, so we leave for good”

Song Of The Week (April 27th, 2014)

This week’s Song of the Week comes from Milky Chance, a German duo. I heard of this band when a friend of mine sent me one of their tracks “Stolen Dance” that he had listen on a German radio station. A few weeks later Milky Chance released their first album “Sadnecessary” and their song just went viral after that.

Milky Chance – Stolen Dance

 

Lyrics:

“I want you by my side
So that I never feel alone again
They’ve always been so kind
But now they’ve brought you away from here
I hope they didn’t get your mind
Your heart is too strong anyway
We need to fetch back the time
They have stolen from us

And I want you
We can bring it on the floor
You’ve never danced like this before
But we don’t talk about it
Dancin’ on 
Doin’ the boogie all night long
Stoned in paradise
Shouldn’t talk about it 
And I want you
We can bring it on the floor
You’ve never danced like this before
But we don’t talk about it
Dancin’ on
Doin’ the boogie all night long
Stoned in paradise
Shouldn’t talk about it 
Shouldn’t talk about it 

Coldest winter for me
No sun is shining anymore
The only thing I feel is pain
Caused by absence of you
Suspence is controlling my mind
I cannot find the way out of here
I want you by my side
So that I never feel alone again

And I want you
We can bring it on the floor
You’ve never danced like this before
But we don’t talk about it
Dancin’ on
Doin’ the boogie all night long
Stoned in paradise
Shouldn’t talk about it 
And I want you
We can bring it on the floor
You’ve never danced like this before
But we don’t talk about it
Dancin’ on 
Doin’ the boogie all night long
Stoned in paradise
Shouldn’t talk about it 
Shouldn’t talk about it 

And I want you
We can bring it on the floor
You’ve never danced like this before
But we don’t talk about it
Dancin’ on
Doin’ the boogie all night long
Stoned in paradise
Shouldn’t talk about it 
And I want you
We can bring it on the floor
You’ve never danced like this before
But we don’t talk about it
Dancin’ on 
Doin’ the boogie all night long
Stoned in paradise
Shouldn’t talk about it 
Shouldn’t talk about it“

Song Of The Week (April 13th, 2014)

This week’s Song of the Week comes from Arctic Monkeys’s latest album AM launched on the last quarter of 2013. With a total of five albums which all peaked to number one in the UK Album Chart, an achievement that reminds me of Oasis – one of the greatest band of the 90s – with 7 from 7 number one albums, Arctic Monkeys is one of the bands that seems to get better and better with each album released.

The opening track of AM ,”Do I Wanna Know?“, is just brilliant and could arguably be considered one of their best singles so far. Alex’s vocals, the psychedelic mood and the obsessive drum beat make you wanna listen to this song again and again.

Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know?

 

Lyrics:

“Have you got colour in your cheeks?
Do you ever get that fear that you can’t shift 
The type that sticks around like summat in your teeth?
Are there some aces up your sleeve?
Have you no idea that you’re in deep?
I dreamt about you nearly every night this week
How many secrets can you keep?
‘Cause there’s this tune I found that makes me think of you somehow
And I play it on repeat
Until I fall asleep
Spilling drinks on my settee

(Do I wanna know)
If this feeling flows both ways?
(Sad to see you go)
Was sort of hoping that you’d stay
(Baby, we both know)
That the nights were mainly made for saying things that you can’t say tomorrow day

Crawlin’ back to you
Ever thought of calling when you’ve had a few?
‘Cause I always do
Maybe I’m too
Busy being yours to fall for somebody new
Now I’ve thought it through
Crawlin’ back to you

So have you got the guts?
Been wondering if your heart’s still open
And if so I wanna know what time it shuts
Simmer down and pucker up
I’m sorry to interrupt
It’s just I’m constantly on the cusp
Of trying to kiss you
I don’t know if you feel the same as I do
But we could be together if you wanted to

(Do I wanna know)
If this feeling flows both ways?
(Sad to see you go)
Was sort of hoping that you’d stay
(Baby, we both know)
That the nights were mainly made for saying things that you can’t say tomorrow day

Crawlin’ back to you
Ever thought of calling when you’ve had a few
‘Cause I always do
Maybe I’m too busy being yours to fall for somebody new
Now I’ve thought it through
Crawlin’ back to you

(Do I wanna know)
If this feeling flows both ways?
(Sad to see you go)
Was sort of hoping that you’d stay
(Baby, we both know)
That the nights were mainly made for saying things that you can’t say tomorrow day

(Do I wanna know?)
Too busy being yours to fall
(Sad to see you go)
Ever thought of calling, darling?
(Do I wanna know?)
Do you want me crawling back to you?“

Song Of The Week (March 9th, 2014)

Last week’s song is aimed against the military–industrial complex which build weapons, buy off politicians and then convince people to join the wars they start.

Bob Dylan – Masters Of War

Lyrics:

“Come you masters of war
You that build the big guns
You that build the death planes
You that build all the bombs

You that hide behind walls
You that hide behind desks
I just want you to know
I can see through your masks

You that never done nothin’
But build to destroy
You play with my world
Like it’s your little toy

You put a gun in my hand
And you hide from my eyes
And you turn and run farther
When the fast bullets fly

Well like a Judas of old
You lie and deceive
A world war can be won
You want me to believe

But I see through your eyes
And I see through your brain
Like I see through the water
That runs down my drain

You fasten all the triggers
For the others to fire
And then you sit back and watch
When the death count gets higher

And you hide in your mansion
All the young people’s blood
Flows out of their bodies
And is buried in the mud

You’ve thrown the worst fear
That can ever be hurled
Fear to bring children
Into the world

Oh for threatening my baby
Unborn and unnamed
You ain’t worth the blood
That runs in your veins

How much do I know?
Oh to talk out of turn
You might say that I’m young
You might say I’m unlearned

But there’s a one thing I know
Though I’m younger than you
That even Jesus would never
Forgive what you do

Well let me ask you one question
Is your money that good?
Oh will it buy you forgiveness
Do you think that it could?

I think you will find
When your death takes its toll
All the money you made
Will never buy back your soul

And I hope that you die
And your death will come soon
I’ll follow your casket
By the pale afternoon

And I’ll watch while you’re lowered
Down to your deathbed
And I’ll stand over your grave
Till I’m sure that you’re dead”

Song Of The Week (March 2nd, 2014)

The song selected for last week is “Big Jet Plane” by Angus and Julia Stone. The Australian brother and sister duo had released two studio albums so far, one of them wining multiple awards at the  2010 Australian Music Awards (ARIA). In the same year “Big Jet Plane” had won the award for “Single  of the Year”.

Angus & Julia Stone – Big Jet Plane

Lyrics:

“She said, “Hello, Mister, please to meet you”
I wanna hold her, I wanna kiss her
She smelled of daisies, she’s smelled of daisies
She drive me crazy, she drive me crazy

Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane
Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane
Hey hey, hey hey

Be my lover, my lady river
But can I take you, take you higher?

Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane
Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane
Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane
Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane

Hey hey, hey hey
Hey hey, hey hey

Gonna hold you, gonna kiss you in my arms
Gonna take you away from harm
Gonna hold you, gonna kiss you in my arms
Gonna take you away from harm

Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane
Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane
Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane
Gonna take her for a ride on a big jet plane

Hey hey, hey hey
Hey hey, hey hey
Hey hey”

Song Of The Week (February 23th, 2014)

This song is about the war journalists Gerda Taro and the dead of her parter Robert Capa. Taro is regarded as the first female photojournalist to have died while covering the front lines of a war.

Alt-J is an English band formed in 2007. Their debut abum “An Awesome Wave” had won the Mercury Prize in 2012. The Mercury Prize is an award that is annually to the best album from the United Kingdom and Ireland.

Alt-J – Taro

Lyrics:

“Indochina, Capa jumps Jeep, two feet creep up the road
To photo, to record meat lumps and war,
They advance as does his chance – very yellow white flash.
A violent wrench grips mass, rips light, tears limbs like rags,
Burst so high finally Capa lands,
Mine is a watery pit. Painless with immense distance
From medic from colleague, friend, enemy, foe, him five yards from his leg,
From you Taro.

Do not spray into eyes – I have sprayed you into my eyes.
3:10 pm, Capa pends death, quivers, last rattles, last chokes
All colours and cares glaze to grey, shrivelled and stricken to dots,
Left hand grasps what the body grasps not – le photographe est mort.
3.1415, alive no longer my amour, faded for home May of ‘54
Doors open like arms my love, Painless with a great closeness
To Capa, to Capa Capa dark after nothing, re-united with his leg and with you, Taro.
Do not spray into eyes – I have sprayed you into my eyes.
Hey Taro!”

You can listen the entire album here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=COH5vS0XxVc

Song Of The Week (February 16th, 2014)

With a little delay here is last week’s song of the week:

First AID KIT – Emmylou

This is a song by a Swedish duo formed in 2007. In February 20, 2013, they were awarded four Swedish Grammis awards for 2012 Artist Of The Year, Songwriter Of The Year, Best Pop Of The Year and Album Of The Year.

Lyrics:

“Oh the bitter winds are coming in
And I’m already missing the summer
Stockholm’s cold but I’ve been told
I was born to endure this kind of weather
When it’s you I find like a ghost in my mind
I am defeated and I gladly wear the crown

I’ll be your Emmylou and I’ll be your June
If you’ll be my Gram and my Johnny too
No, I’m not asking much of you
Just sing little darling, sing with me

Now so much I know that things just don’t grow
If you don’t blessed them with your patience
And I’ve been there before I held up the door
For every stranger with a promise

But I’m holding back, that’s the strength that I lack
Every morning keeps returning at my window
And it brings me to you and I won’t just pass through
But I’m not asking for a storm

I’ll be your Emmylou and I’ll be your June
If you’ll be my Gram and my Johnny too
No, I’m not asking much of you
Just sing little darling, sing with me

And yes I might have lied to you
You wouldn’t benefit from knowing of the truth
I was frightened but I held fast
I need you now at long last

I’ll be your Emmylou and I’ll be your June
If you’ll be my Gram and my Johnny too
No, I’m not asking much of you
Just sing little darling, sing with me

I’ll be your Emmylou and I’ll be your June
If you’ll be my Gram and my Johnny too
No, I’m not asking much of you
Just sing little darling, sing with me
Just sing little darling, sing with me”

(source: Wikipedia)

Song Of The Week (February 9th, 2014)

This week’s song is from Gary Clark Jr. a Grammy-winning emerging artist from Texas. He was describes by many as the future of blue.

Gary Clark Jr.  – When My Train Pulls In

“Everyday nothing seems to change.
Everywhere I go I keep seeing the same old thing & I.
I can’t take it no more.
Oh, I would this town but I ain’t got no where else to go.
Wake up in the morning, oh, more bad news.
& I. Sometimes I feel like I was borne to lose & I.
It’s driving me out of my mind.
I’ll catch the next train & I. I’ll move on down the line.

Whoah I’ll be ready now. I’ll be ready when my train pulls in.
Whoah I’ll be ready now. I’ll be ready when my train pulls in.
I know my time ain’t long around here.
& I can’t live this life again.

Walking down the streets you might run across a smilng face.
But they’ll stab you in the back as soon as you turn & walk away
& I. Oh Lord it’s bringing me down.

If things don’t change around here, ain’t no use in me hanging ’round.

Whoah I’ll be ready now. I’ll be ready when my train pulls in.
Whoah I’ll be ready now. I’ll be ready when my train pulls in.
I know my time ain’t long around here.
& I can’t live this life again.”