Friday, October 30, 2009

Esotérico; Gilberto Gil

As you know I’m Brazilian. E não desisto nunca. But I haven’t updated my blog with our songs up to now. There is just a little one! My friends ask me: “por que você não põe músicas brasileiras? (why don’t you put Brazilian songs?)” and I try to explain that there are many others that I end up taking a rain check. Today’s post is for them and for my followers from my beautiful country.

Gilberto Gil is largely known here. For you to have an idea, he and his friend Caetano Veloso are like our John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Without Yoko, luckily. And what’s striking is that they are as good as their British fellows. Be sure, I'm not overstating. ;)

Gil was there when Tropicália was born and gave his contribution to its growth. Because his political engagement he was exiled for 3 years (1969-1972) in London during the Military Dictatorship. Years later, in January 2003, he was appointed Minister of Culture by President Lula.


In 1976, Gilberto Gil formed with Caetano, Gal Costa and Maria Bethânia the group “Doces Bárbaros”. “Esotérico” was composed by himself for their eponymous debut album. It was released in a live show in Rio de Janeiro.

In Gil’s official website there is an explanation about the creation of this song. I get so happy when I find these things! I put it below, however, still remembering my friends who complain a lot about my decision to write only in English here, I’ll revenge them now: if you don’t understand Portuguese, you won’t get anything. Rá!

Uma tentativa de transpor a idéia do mistério divino, místico-religioso, para o campo do amor terreno; de desmistificar e humanizar a categorização do esotérico como algo inatingível, colocando-o como inerente à nossa natureza, à complexidade de nosso afeto. O ímpeto da canção nasceu da vontade de falar do sentido esotérico das coisas através de algo que fosse demasidamente humano como é a relação amorosa entre duas pessoas — não deixando, no fim, de remeter a questão para a divindidade (qualquer mistério está aquém do mistério do criador).”

He sings with brother Caê in the YouTube video!

Não adianta nem me abandonar
Porque mistério sempre há de pintar por aí
Pessoas até muito mais vão lhe amar
Até muito mais difíceis que eu pra você
Que eu, que dois, que dez, que dez milhões
Todos iguais

Até que nem tanto esotérico assim
Se eu sou algo incompreensível
Meu Deus é mais
Mistério sempre há de pintar por aí

Não adianta nem me abandonar
Nem ficar tão apaixonada, que nada!
Que não sabe nadar
Que morre afogada por mim


PS: the song stops to play at 2:16. To continue to listen to it, click in the next second.



Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Happy Hour; Svinkels

Do you remember that I told here that there was a french rap in which they only whistle on the studio version? And it was not time to post it yet? I think it's time now. It's not a Tupac song but it’s on too!

“Happy Hour” was composed for Svinkels’ fourth album named “Bons pour l’Asile” from 2003. This song was produced by Ludovic Bource, as we can read here. And that’s all! I looked for something else but there’s few things about the Svinkels and almost none interview. To worth it, my French is terrible...

There’s not a music video or also a decent live record, so I can only give you the audio and one picture of the trio. If at least they were handsome... =P


Get drunk, get stupid,get fucked up, get freaky
Happy hour

[Nikus]
A voir l'heure j'avoue qu'ça donne envie d'avoir à boire
Y-a t'il des amis en vie après l'happy hour d'hier soir?
Allo aujourd'hui tu restes à l'eau, tu pars en Thalasso
Ou tu rappliques illico à cette terrasse qu'on s'mette la race au soleil
C'est l'dernier tango à Buenos Aires l'heure d'la pétanque à Marseille
Du match à Manchester ça lève des pintes en Bavière u m'faut d'l'air
Faut noyer cette journée dans un verre qui durera au moins 10 tournées

[Baste]
Y'z'ont une caricature d'soirée à caractère caritatif
F'sant pitié à des bourges pour qui nous payent plein d'apéritifs

[Nikus]
Chercheur d'orge jusqu'à 20 H dans tous les rades sur la terre
On ira s'coucher à l'heure d'l'apério dans l'autre hémisphère

[Baste]
J'bois à ptities doses tout plein d'petites doses
Mais là j'suis vénér et j'vide le bar à vitesse grand verre
Ça y est y'a l'Nikus quis s'est mis en sup
Qu'est monté sur une table et qui beugle "on veut des chips on veut des chips"
Y'a d'l'excès en terrasse etc ecterrasse
Fais voir c'qu'y a ay fond d'ta bouteille ça c'est l'plan vigipicrate
Mon 5 à 7, j'tourne à l'anis comme Morissette
Fait Péter une p'tite assiette de cahuétes
Tape un pas d'claquette sur l'bar comme Fred Astaire
En vidant d'la biére d'monastèreni dieu ni maître sauf maître kanter
J'suis tellement tripé des tripots qu'si tu veux mon avis, "mon ami"
J'voudrais qu'ces 2 heures durent toute la vie

[Baste]

Tu peux préciser au barman sans vouloir l'comander
J'aimerais bien en r'commander une même si c'est peu r'commandable
J'arrive à oublier tout c'que j'voulais oublier
J'vais rouler sous la table et j'commence à étre sec et deshumecté
Tiens c'est chelou l'anis ça r'ssemble à d'la menthe
Pourtant j'ai l'haleine défunte stop zeuzeu faut qu'on s'rince commande deux pintes
Et précise à la serveuse qu'l'autre fou c'est pas pilote
Ça tome pile pour boire des p'tits jaunes
Mauvais exemple pour les p'tits jeunes ramèn ta boutelle de gin
Dans ton boui y'a toute ma tribe comme boo ya
On fait la bringue sur l'zinc la noce la nouba la bamboula
Ambiancé radio nova à j'suis à l'quest rien d'nouveau
Bourras comme djamel pourtant d'pois 12 ans j'fais plus d'judo
Y'a d'la bière gratuite ouvrez grand vos becs les poivrots
C'est pas d'l'opéra, rien qu'du rap d'apéro

[Nikus]
J'm'entiche d'un pastis, puis on potache tel le gang des postiches
Qui s'attalbe, sors les bakchichis, le popo mais pas d'eau potable
Laisse sonner c'mobile on verra pas nos copines
Ça pue d'la boite vocale, c'soir on est trop débiles car on s'met trop minable
Interminable tournée d'enfoiré, cette girafe c'est la tourn' infernale
Tache de pisse sur l'froc, les poches pleines de fric et d'pistaches
A transformer les chiottes en pistoche
J'te postillone qu'ci on a des pistons, eh riton
Une ristourne sur la prochaine, on y r'tourne
Mais c'te plait pas du postillon du rouquin tout roussis sorti du rossillon
Sinon J'sens qu'j'vais piquer un roupillon par terre avec les cotillons


Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Some How Some Way; Jay-Z (Feat. Beanie Sigel & Scarface)

Keeping posting rap / hip hop songs, today I’ll update a song from a legend live in the hip hop: Jay-Z. As well as the rock’n’roll legends (which are my cup of tea), it was expected that the rappers would not do it different. I prove myself that the whistling also appears in world wide hip hop hits with Usher’s song. Now with Jay-Z’s I finish with style this trinity. Unless if I find one whistling rap by Tupac! =P

Jay-Z should need no introduction for being the american artist who put more albums in the first place ever and for selling so many million discs around the world, but as many of you may not know his work (like me!) I’ll write a few lines about him.

Jay-Z is married to the beautiful singer Beyoncé. He was considered by Forbes magazine in 2007 the ninth richest artist in the world. He has commitment phobia. And a dog named Winkels.

This song, “Some How Some Way” is in the 2002 album “The Blueprint²: The Gift & The Curse”. It wasn’t released as a single and doesn’t appear among the best known of the general public. As I said before, I’m not a hip hop fan, but I kind of liked to listen it. And if you want to know about the whistling, you’ll have to go to the end of the song... it’s just a few notes almost when the fade out starts.

(Please believe that) Some how some way
We gotta make it up out the hood some day
Some how some way
We gotta make it up out this life
Some how some way
We gotta make it up out this life
Some way we gotta make it up out this life

Weather we dribble out this motherfucker
Rap metaphors and riddle out this motherfucker
Work second floors, hospital out this motherfucker
Some how we gotta get up out this motherfucker
Some day the cops will kill a motherfucker
I don't always want to be this drug dealing
Motherfucker damn
Wish I could take us all on this magic carpet ride
Through the sky I
Use to play the hall up fifth floor me and my boys we
All poor getting high I
seen the worst of the worst I deserve every blessing
I received I'm from the dirt
I planted my seed on unfertile land Myrtle Park
Marcy, Flushing and Nostrand and
Still I grew some how I knew the sun will shine through
And touch my soul take hold of my hand
Look man a tree grows in Brooklyn

Some how some way
I gotta make it up out the hood someday
Some how some way
I gotta make it up out this life
Some way I gotta make it up out this hood someday

To old Nell, Sigel street I ain't forget you

Twenty niggas on the block trying to chase that buck
Nosey neighbors and haters keep their face on stuck
Cops roll up on the pavement break the dice games up
Behind smoke kids can't chase the ice cream truck
Girls fighting over Rollie young boys hype things up
Niggas fighting over Cold young boys light things up
All the petty ass wars fuck the night scene up
Remember Lil' Eddie man how he light mean up
Then they wonder why we light green up
Back to back steamers trying to relax but I can't
I lean up ain't the L or the refer that steam up
It's my head stress to the point I get a fever
Thinking bout the block and all the mothers and kids
That can't leave and how the Chinks gotta feed'em
For the rest of their life fucking wings fried
Vegetable rice(gotta be kidding)
No breakfast Cap'n Crunch at night
Our kids eating lunch at night
In their beds all bunched in tight
No less than three or four(you know how it go)
Two by the foot two by the headboard
Man I'm getting scared for them (Yeah I know)
Thats how I feel for them
And we gotta grip the shorties on the block
All they do is smoke weed and drink forties
Cop their quarties
Enough to get the latest ROC, newest glock, and old Jordies

Some how some way
We gonna make it up out the hood someday
Some how some way
We gonna make it up out this life
Some how some way
We gonna make it up out the hood one day
Some way we gonna make it up out this life

Right here another lil' story bout this click I claimed
Another chapter based on how I get that game
Hanging round my neighborhood and bang my street
Sit and watch the passer-bys play my sweep
South-side sunny side
Blocks I run South Vegas, South Paul
Nigga all got guns
Over here we got this poor (?) get that there
We know tomorrow ain't promise so we get that there
Fuck sitting in the living room guarding the steps
Working inside a slump house starving to death
Serving these nigga flippers, quarter-ounces and
Zippers agents snapping your picture neighbors
Plotting to get ya
Situations is critic I was out here to get it
Living it like a savage cause nigga I gotta have it
And holding back all the mothers for a minute
Pumping hard dog
Erase enough to walk it down and fuck it all dog
Love being willied and your creek gonna rise
I'm be a nigga and these streets gonna rise
(Some how some way)
(Some how some way)
I'm be a nigga and these streets gonna rise

Some how some way
We gotta make it up out the hood some day
Some how some way
We gotta make it up out this life
Some how some way
We gotta make it up out the hood some day
Some way we gotta make it up out this life

[Whistling]

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Country Boy; Tyra B.

“Country Boy” led Tyra B. to the red carpets of the fame. It was the year 2004, she was on a talent show when a radio producer or something listened her and liked her music. So he started to play this song on the radio. In the next year “Country Boy” peaked #35 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Chart and her rising carried on with her next song “Still in Love”.*

“Country Boy” is full of whistlings! If you are like me and love to whistle while you browse here and there, this song is a full plate for you. ;)

Let's make 'em whistle y'all....
Yea, this one right here
Is to all my country boys, yea
Awwww
See I love everybody
Mid-west, east coast, west coast
But its something special
About these country boys
Down here in the dirty south, ya know!?!?!

I met a lil cuttie
He was round my way
Accent was a little funny
Are you from VA
He said no I'm not
Im from ATL
Well u doin the damn thing
And u doin it well
Well I had my share of men
Black whites and indians
But I never had a dude like you
Im trynna tell you now
That I'm feelin ur style
Can I chill one night with you

You aint seen nothing
If you aint had lovin
From one of them country boys
You aint got a clue
If you don't know what to do
When you see one of them country boys

He's got Henni in his cup
24's on his truck
Butterflies in my gut
Cuz he said "wussup!"
He's got fronts in his mouth
Cuz he's from down south
Come and holla at me
Cuz u drive me crazy
Boy, go 'head with yo bad ***
What you need from me just ask
See, cuz a guy like you
And a girl like me
Not usually into rushin,
But u drive me crazy
He's crunk like Jon
With a body like Usher
Up in the club
Never scared like Bone Crusher
I'll take you home
We can tag team wrestle
And if you like it slow,
Give you that red light special

You aint seen nothing
If you aint had lovin
From one of them country boys
You aint got a clue
If you don't know what to do
When you see one of them country boys

From VA to GA
Miami to the Lou
All these country boys
Yall I'm feelin you
The Carolinas to my boys in Alabama
Even down in Mississippi yall I don't think yall hear me
Go 'head with yo bad ***
What you need from me just ask
Take my number
And baby please call
Any time I don't mind at all

You aint seen nothing
If you aint had lovin
From one of them country boys
You aint got a clue
If you don't know what to do
When you see one of them country boys




Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Yeah!; Usher

Aw, leave the rockabilly song behind... Today I wanna shake it!

Yeah!

“Yeah!” is the only song in the Usher’s forth studio album “Confessions” that was released as a single. As a single it became #1 in several charts around the world. Billboard Hot 100, UK Singles Chart, Dutch Top 40, French, German, Canadian Single Charts were a few example of its success. Usher was, with this song, the most successful artist of 2004, peaking #1 on Billboard Hot 100 during twelve weeks. According New Yorker, “‘Confessions’, which has sold nine and a half million copies, may turn out to have been the last true blockbuster in pop music. Since 2000, only five albums have sold more copies.

Still citing New Yorker, “its first single, ‘Yeah!,’ was an uncomplicated song about flirting with girls in a night club; it left plenty of air-conditioned space for Usher to coo and for the producer Lil Jon to bark the interjections (‘O.K.!,’ ‘Yeah!’) that earned him a parody on ‘Chappelle’s Show.’ The lyrics were delivered like flashes of light: brief, anxious, and exciting, and perfectly suited to a voice that is long on control and short on texture. Texture, and a welcome dose of humor, came from the rapper Ludacris, who turned ‘birthday suit’— slang your grandmother could use — into a filthy hoot. To stay at No. 1 for twelve weeks, as ‘Yeah!’ did, you must sound salacious but not dirty, and keep it simple enough to lure out the non-dancers, who can latch on to a phrase or word that they already know: yeah!

About the music video, directed by Little X, you can read here an amazing interview by MTV.com with its director himself.

About the whistles, they are beating slow on the chorus while Usher sings in the background.

[Usher:]
A Town's Down!

[Lil' Jon:]
Yeah, Ok! Lil' Jon!

[Usher:]
Yeah, Yeah Yeah, Yeah yeah, Yeaah
Yeah, Yeah yeah, Yeah yeah, Yeaah

[Usher (Verse 1):]
I'm in the club with my homies, tryna get a lil V-I,
keep it down on the low key, cause you know how it feels.
I said shorty she was checkin up on me,
from the game she was spittin my ear you'd think that she knew me.
So we decided to chill

Conversation got heavy,
she had me feelin like she's ready to blow!
(Watch Out!, Watch Out!)
She saying come get me, come get me,
So I got up and followed her to the floor,
she said baby lets go,
When I told her I said

[Usher (Chorus):]
Yeah (yeah) Shorty got down to come and get me
Yeah (yeah) I got so caught up I forgot she told me
Yeah (yeah) Cause if my girl new it'd be best to hold me
Yeah (yeah) Next thing I knew she was all up on me screaming:

Yeah, Yeah yeah, Yeah yeah, Yeaah
Yeah, Yeah yeah, Yeah yeah, Yeaah

[Usher (Verse 2):]
Shes all up in my head now,
got me thinking that it might good idea to take her with me,
Cause she's ready to leave.
Now I gotta keep it real now,
cause on a one-to-ten she's a certified twenty,
and that just aint me.

Cause I do know if I take that chance just where is it gonna lead,
But what I do know is the way she dance makes shorty alright with me.
The way she getting low!
I'm like yeah, just work that out for me.
She asked for one more dance and I'm
Like yeah, how the hell am I supposed to leave?
And I said

[Chorus]

[Lil' Jon:]
Luda!

[Ludacris (Verse 3):]
Watch out!
My outfit's ridiculous, In the club lookin' so conspicuous.
And Rowl! These women al on the prowl,
if you hold the head steady I'm a milk the cow.
Forget about the game I'm a spit the truth,
I won't stop till I get em in they birthday suits.
So gimmie the rhythm and it'll be off with they clothes,
then bend over to the front and touch your toes.
I left the jag and I took the roles,
if they aint cutting then I put em on foot patrol.
How you like me now,
when my pinky's valued over three hundred thousand,
Lets drank you the one to please,
Ludacris fill cups like double d's.
Me and Usher once more and we leave em dead,
We want a lady in the street but a freak in the bed to say

[Chorus]

[Ludacris (Bridge):]
Take that and rewind it back,
Lil' Jon got the rhythm make ya booty go (clap)
Take that and rewind it back,
Usher got the voice make ya booty go (clap)
Take that and rewind it back,
Ludacris got the flow make ya booty go (clap)
Take that and rewind it back,
Lil' Jon got the rhythm make ya booty go (clap)




Monday, October 19, 2009

Dancing Outtakes Song; Gary Schyman

I was going to post another song today (a ‘60s rockabilly’s which I’ll update tomorrow), but I saw one Matt Harding’s viral video on Youtube and started to look up for more videos. Enjoying his delightful way to make a better world I caught me whistling, then I payed attention in the soundtrack and… bang! there was a contagious whistling in that video.

This contagious whistling song was composed by Gary Schyman exclusively for Matt Harding’s travel. Schyman has already made a few songs for Matt’s recordings, including the award-winning “Praan”, this one.
“Dancing Outtakes Song” is practically instrumental, so I am not putting here its “lalarala”, okay? Okay! =)~



Sunday, October 18, 2009

They’ll Soon Discover; The Shins

The Shins are an indie rock band from Albuquerque, New Mexico, formed only 10 years ago. I only knew one song of them, “New Slang,” thanks to my ex-girlfriend who has a fascination with indie rock bands. I enjoyed the sound of “New Slang” but I hadn’t gone after their other songs. Until yesterday, I must say. Because of “They’ll Soon Discover” and also I had nothing to do, I decided to hear their most famous album, “Wincing the Night Away”. It’s funny: their music makes me wonder about people surfing in low gravity. =P


This whistling song’s not on any album by The Shins. It was composed in 2004 for “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie” and it’s in its soundtrack. The whistling appears at the beginning and is very tiny, only a “lalala”.

But it’s on anyway! The Shins have the song of today!

When you were young and wise, scratching your letters in the sand
And your imagination led you all around by the hand
La la la la
Did you ever wonder what dizzy adventures there might be
Unfolding in the currents under the waves at the bottom of the sea

He’s odd, but he’s got a lot of vision
And his buck teeth, cock eyed smile
Can’t stop this invertebrate on a mission
He’s in charge!!

A sinister design, a wild goose chase for a crown
With your eyes aligned, before they tear apart your town
If you wanna win, save all of your kin in the ocean
Stay your ground, don’t be discouraged
Don’t let ‘em turn our brains into porridge

Your odd, but you’ve got a lot of vision
Your buck teeth, stalwart heart
Can’t stop this invertebrate on a mission
He’s in charge!

But it’s a long hard fight, the corner turns, and it’s always another mile

People think day and night, they think they got your number,
But they’ll soon discover!


PS: I took this pic from The Shins official webpage. It’s beautiful, isn’t it?

Saturday, October 17, 2009

Wet Sand; Red Hot Chili Peppers

“Wet Sand” is the 13th track on the disc 1 (Jupiter) of “Stadium Arcadium”, the Red Hot Chili Peppers latest album. This double album was the most acclaimed of all already released by the band, winning two Grammy Awards, one for “Best Rock Album” and other for “Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal”.

23 years after Kiedis and Flea having played their first riffs together, the band having gone through overdoses, breakdowns and a huge success around the world, having released 9 studio albums and recorded more than 130 songs, here comes “Wet Sand”, the only one in which Kiedis whistles while Frusciante soles his eletric guitar.

In Songfacts.com I discovered that Kiedis wrote it inspired “about a complicated, dysfunctional woman I’ve fallen in love with,” but I don’t know where they took it. So...

My shadow’s side so amplified
Keeps coming back dissatisfied
Elementary son, but it’s sooo...
My love affair with everywhere
Was innocent why do you care
Someone start the car, time to go...
You’re the best I know

My sunny side has up and died
I’m betting that when we collide
The Universe will shift into a low
The travesties that we have seen
Are treating me like benzedrine
Automatic laughter from a pro

My, what a good day for a walk outside
I’d like to get to know you a little better, baby
God knows that I really tried
My, what a good day for a take out bride
I’d like to say we did it for the better of...

I saw you there so unaware
Those hummingbirds all in your hair
Elementary son, but it’s so...
The disrepair of Norma Jean
Could not compare to your routine
Balarama beauty going toe to toe

My, what a good day for let it slide
I’d like to say we did it for the better of..

I thought about it and I brought it out
I’m motivated by the lack of doubt
I’m consecrated but I’m not devout
The mother, the father, the daughter

Right on the verge just one more dose
I’m traveling from coast to coast
My theory isn’t perfect but it’s close
I’m almost there why should I care
My heart is hurting when I share
Someone open up and let it show

My, what a good day for a walk outside
I’d like to think we did it for the better of...

I thought about it and I brought it out
I’m motivated by the lack of doubt
I consecrated but I’m not devout
The mother, the father, the daughter

Oh, you don’t form in the wet sand
You don’t form at all
Woah, you don’t form in the wet sand
I do, yeah...

You don’t form in the wet sand
You don’t form at all
Woah, you don’t form in the wet sand
I do, yeah!




Friday, October 16, 2009

Helpless; Faith No More

“Helpless” is a song from “Album of the Year”, the latest Faith No More album. It’s not a single, nor a known song, not even is a B-side and it hasn’t a music video. But like all songs of this album it is very well laboured, what shows the technical quality that FNM reached in the end of the 90s.

In the Amazon.com website, there are two gorgeous analyses about this song that I must post here:

Helpless is the song title of track five and clocks in at over five minutes long. A beautiful, serenading song that floats along with some great dreamy sounds and a simple, acoustic sounding guitar piece. Again, how talented is this band? The technical proficiency, songwriting, and structure of each song are unique and sound. Many felt this album had no ‘direction’ but who says it has to ‘go’ anywhere? This album has a collection of songs that vary greatly in theme and sound, and that is what makes it all the more enjoyable as a truly complete album. (...)

"
Helpless is a spectacular quasi-ballad piece with dreamy synth passages, although again weighed down by Hudson’s lack of imagination and skill. Quips like ‘For every wish, I wonder why — Why all I want is something beautiful — A place to rest’ toss the listener rather casually into serious depression, while the eerie whistling and other sound effects hint that the band is laughing at your pain all along.”

That's all for today!


The air is warm
I hear the wind and the trees
I know I'm there, but I'll never be
The wind is soft tonight, the tide is low
And I know the way
(I never felt better now)

Sometimes life, it moves too slow
Slows to a crawl, and then the poetry is lost
And without speed, hope becomes certainty
And for once I'm certain
(I never felt better now)

A garden is it's own perfect world
Where everything has a place
Every leaf, every stone, every speck of dirt
But where's my place?
I even tried to get arrested today
But everyone looked the other way
I count the hours, and I count the days
But for once I'm certain

(whistling)
Don't want your help
Don't need your help
Don't want your help
Don't need your help
Helpless

You found a way to make me say
Help me please someone

The water's clear
I see that it's full of dimes
For every wish, I wonder why
Why all I want is something beautiful
A place to rest
(I never felt better now)

HELP!
HELP!
HELP!


Thursday, October 15, 2009

Dream a Little Dream of Me; The Mamas & The Papas

“Dream a Little Dream of Me” was composed in 1931 by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt and the lyrics was written by Gus Kahn. It was sung by many artists, especially by jazz singers, like Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Barbara Carroll, Nat King Cole, Bing Crosby... But it became better known when The Mamas & The Papas recorded it.*

In its Wikipedia article we can read that “the group had often sung the song for fun, having been familiarized with it by member Michelle Phillips whose father had been friends with the song’s co-writer Fabian Andre in Mexico City where Michelle Phillips’ family had resided when she was a young girl. Fellow ‘Mama’ Cass Elliot suggested to group leader John Phillips that the group record ‘Dream a Little Dream of Me’; according to him she was unhappy while recording the song, objecting to its campiness, but Elliot herself would tell Melody Maker: ‘I tried to sing it like it was 1943 and somebody had just come in and said, ‘Here’s a new song.’ I tried to sing it as if it were the first time’.”

The Mama & The Papa’s version was the only one that had the fade out whistling until 2008. Last year a singer called Nicole Atkins released a cover album named “Digs Others People’s Songs” and this “Dream a Little Dream” was recorded on it. Here is the link of her performance.



Ah! I almost forgot! Cass Elliot version reached #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1968, same year of its releasing.

Stars shining bright above you
Night breezes seem to whisper "I love you"
Birds singin' in the sycamore tree
Dream a little dream of me

Say nighty-night and kiss me
Just hold me tight and tell me you'll miss me
While I'm alone and blue as can be
Dream a little dream of me

Stars fading but I linger on dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longing to linger till dawn dear
Just saying this

Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me

Stars fading but I linger on dear
Still craving your kiss
I'm longing to linger till dawn dear
Just saying this

Sweet dreams till sunbeams find you
Sweet dreams that leave all worries far behind you
But in your dreams whatever they be
Dream a little dream of me



Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Como o Macaco Gosta de Banana; José Cid

As the monkey likes banana, I like you! This is the translation of the title and the chorus of the song composed by this Portuguese singer born in Chamusca, Santarém. His musical style varies between pop music and progressive rock, passing by love ballads. Cid became internationally known after the recording of his opera-rock album “10.000 Anos Depois Entre Vénus and Marte” in 1978. This album got the amazing feat of being between the “100 best progressive rock albums of all time” by Billboard magazine. But, as might be expected, it had mediocre sellings.


Quite different from the songs from his ‘78 concept album, “Como o Macaco...” is turned over to the general public, since it is quite crude and simple in all aspects. Cid revealed twice that he regretted having written this song, the first one in the “Jornal de Notícias” and the second in the dominical magazine “Pública”, both from Portugal:

Há frases de que se arrependa?
Uma única: ‘Como um macaco gosta de banana eu gosto de ti’.
This song was released as a single in 1982. According to some blogs and news sites, it had some little success in Australia and South Africa. In Brazil it has been covered by the band “João Penca e Seus Miquinhos”, which was as much or less successful as the remake.

A minha palmeira é muito porreira, eu sei
Mas no meu deserto tu foste o oásis que achei
Tu ficas louquinha quando tiro a casca à banana
Ficas tão tontinha que a tua cauda abana

Como o macaco gosta da banana eu gosto de ti (de banana!)
Escondi um cacho debaixo da cama e comi, comi (de banana!)
Minha macaca gira e bacana, o teu focinho é que não me engana
Pois se a macaca gosta da banana tu gostas de mim
Como o macaco gosta da banana eu gosto de ti

Um orangotango transformou um Tango num Rock
É a nova moda que põe Portugal em amok
Quem foi ao ataque foi o chimpanzé e o saguini
Minha macaquinha, estão apanhadinhos por ti

Como o macaco gosta da banana eu gosto de ti (de banana!)
Escondi um cacho debaixo da cama e comi, comi (de banana!)
Minha macaca gira e bacana, o teu focinho é que não me engana
Pois se a macaca gosta da banana tu gostas de mim
Como o macaco gosta da banana eu gosto de ti


Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Walk Like an Egyptian; The Bangles

“Walk Like an Egyptian” is the first song from The Bangles to reach #1 on the charts around the world. It did it in U.S. Billboard Hot 100, Australian, Dutch and German Singles Chart, reaching 2nd and 3rd places in many other countries. According to Wikipedia, it was the first song of an all-women band that peaked the Billboard’s top.

Songfacts stated that the “songwriter Liam Sternberg wrote this. He got the idea when he was on a ferry boat, and saw people struggling to keep their balance. The way they held out their arms and jerked around made it look like they were doing Egyptian movements, and if the boat moved suddenly, they would all topple over.”

But The Bangles’ girls didn’t like to play this song. One of the reasons was that “Walk Like an Egyptian” was a cover, not theirs. Another reason is that it supposed to be just a fun song and not a top hit. We can see this in an interview for PopEntertainment.com:

“‘I was coming from the point of view of a songwriter,’ admits singer/guitarist Vicki Peterson. ‘I wanted to be given respect and recognition as [one]. I thought the band itself had a point of view and a voice and something to say that was being underestimated by our label. I kept looking to bands like R.E.M., who never went outside the band, really, to write. Maybe I’ve since learned that was not actually true. But, the perception was, it was the band’s voice. I wanted that for the Bangles.’

“Particularly weird was the number one smash ‘Walk Like An Egyptian’. The band had heard the demo sung by singer Marti Jones and thought it would be fun to record. But, suddenly, they were best known for the song that was a bit of a novelty. Their fourth single, ‘Walking Down Your Street’ was the Hoffs composition and became a minor success. Then as a soundtrack single for the movie Less Than Zero, the group recorded Simon & Garfunkel’s ‘Hazy Shade of Winter’, which just missed hitting the top spot.


Well, below I put the original videoclip in which Debbi Peterson pretends to be whistling when there is a synthesizer doing it.

All the old paintings on the tombs
They do the sand dance dont you know
If they move too quick (oh whey oh)
Theyre falling down like a domino

All the bazaar men by the Nile
They got the money on a bet
Gold crocodiles (oh whey oh)
They snap their teeth on your cigarette

Foreign types with the hookah pipes say
Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh
Walk like an egyptian

The blonde waitresses take their trays
They spin around and they cross the floor
Theyve got the moves (oh whey oh)
You drop your drink then they bring you more

All the school kids so sick of books
They like the punk and the metal band
When the buzzer rings (oh whey oh)
They're walking like an egyptian

All the kids in the marketplace say
Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh
Walk like an egyptian

(whistling)

Slide your feet up the street bend your back
Shift your arm then you pull it back
Life is hard you know (oh whey oh)
So strike a pose on a cadillac

If you want to find all the cops
Theyre hanging out in the donut shop
They sing and dance (oh whey oh)
Spin the clubs cruise down the block

All the japanese with their yen
The party boys call the kremlin
And the chinese know (oh whey oh)
They walk the line like egyptian

All the cops in the donut shop say
Ay oh whey oh, ay oh whey oh
Walk like an egyptian
Walk like an egyptian




Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Music; Gigi D’Agostino

Gigi D’Agostino is one of the most famous Italian DJ of all time. He shares with Benny Benassi the top of the leaning Tower of Pisa of the electronic music. But how he has a song with whistling, he’s my favorite of both. uhuhu

“Music” is a song from D’Agostino’s 1999 album, L’Amour Toujours. In that same album there is one of him best known songs, the eponymous “L’Amour Toujours (I’ll Fly With You)”.

Because the name of the song has been impossible to find out about it. When I type “music” has a lot of information related to the “dance music” and nothing about the tune in question. Too bad...

I've got to kind of learn the music
Music, music, music
Music, music, music
Music, music, music

Holding your hands
I can feel it's love and I am falling in silence
'Cause when I'm holding your hands
I can feel it's love and I am falling in silence

Holding your hands
I can feel it's love and I am falling in silence
'Cause when I'm holding your hands
I can feel it's love and I am falling in silence

Never leave his side
Never leave his side
Never leave his side
In silence

Never leave his side
Never leave his side
Never leave his side
In silence

I've got to kind of learn the music
Music, music, music
Music, music, music
Music, music, music

Holding your hands
I can feel it's love and I am falling in silence
'Cause when I'm holding your hands
I can feel it's love and I am falling in silence

Holding your hands
I can feel it's love and I am falling in silence
'Cause when I'm holding your hands
I can feel it's love and I am falling in silence

Never leave his side
Never leave his side
Never leave his side
In silence

Never leave his side
Never leave his side
Never leave his side
In silence





Monday, October 5, 2009

Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard; Paul Simon

The reason I didn’t update “Me and Julio…” yet is that I was seeking for a decent videoclip and didn’t find it. Well, finally I did. So, let’s go to the introdutions!

“Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard” was composed by the genial Paul Simon in 1971, one year after his breakup with Art Garfunkel, and released on his first solo album, the eponymous “Paul Simon”, ‘72. There is a lots of speculations about the meaning of the crime that the protagonist and Julio realized in the schoolyard. Asked what “Mama Pajama” means, Simon has stated in a interview for the Rolling Stone magazine that "I have no idea what it is... Something sexual is what I imagine, but when I say ‘something’, I never bothered to figure out what it was. Didn’t make any difference to me”.

Paul Simon made a videoclip for it in 88. I am posting this official one and a great performance in a live show. Beyond these, ‘cause I’m very generous, I’m giving to you the link of a Sesamo Street episode in which he sang with the kids. Enjoy it!

The mama pajama rolled out of bed
And she ran to the police station
When the papa found out he began to shout
And he started the investigation
Its against the law
It was against the law
What the mama saw
It was against the law

The mama looked down and spit on the ground
Everytime my name gets mentioned
The papa said oy if I get that boy
Im gonna stick him in the house of detention
Well Im on my way
I dont know where Im going
Im on my way

Im taking my time
But I dont know where
Goodbye to rosie the queen of corona
See you, me and julio
Down by the schoolyard
See you, me and julio
Down by the schoolyard
Me and julio down by the schoolyard

In a couple of days they come and take me away
But the press let the story leak
And when the radical priest
Come to get me released
We was all on the cover of newsweek
And Im on my way
I dont know where Im going
Im on my way

Im taking my time
But I dont know where
Goodbye to rosie the queen of corona
See you, me and julio
Down by the schoolyard
See you, me and julio
Down by the schoolyard
Me and julio down by the schoolyard






Friday, October 2, 2009

Ce Jeu; Yelle

From September to October, from Mexico to France. And from France, Yelle.

Yelle is the name of a french electropop band or a pseudonym of the singer who leads the trio, Julie Budet, formed also by GrandMarnier and Tepr, I don’t know. “Porquoi Yelle? Je m’appele Julie, donc aucun rapport! Ça vient de Yel, pour enjoy your life. On l’a féminisé en rajoutant un “e”, parce cue Yel était déjà le nom d’un groupe belge…

In her debut album from 2007, it’s the song “Ce Jeu”, which moreover became a single in 2008, peaking #15 in the radios of the France.

They are saying she has a Kate Perry’s style and look, but I can’t stop to think she’s more like a French Gwen Stefani.


Fou et telemement evident
Que je n'trouve plus de sens
A ce jeu excitant
Si bon mais si lassant
Tu aimes me manipuler
Et j'aime en faire autant
Nous sommes tout deux victime
De ce doux jeu d'amants

Je f'rais l'effort, je te connais par coeur
Il suffit que je t'ignore
Pour que tu revienne en pleure
Je m'occupe de toi
Tu repars c'est ça
Toujours le même schéma
Et j'anticipe a chaques foi

Fou et telemement evident
Que je n'trouve plus de sens
A ce jeu excitant
Si bon mais si lassant
Tu aimes me manipuler
Et j'aime en faire autant
Nous sommes tout deux victime
De ce doux jeu d'amants

Passion, émotion
Et correction d'équations
J'agite la solution
Mais j'ai toujours la même sensation
C'est telement evident
Que je ne trouve plus de sens
A ce jeux excitant
Si bon mais si lassant

Je ne veux pas d'un amour sans faille
Trop parfait tu ne m'interresse pas
Folle de toi surtout quand tu pars
Fou de moi j'y vais de ce pas

Fou et telemement evident
Que je n'trouve plus de sens
A ce jeu excitant
Si bon mais si lassant
Tu aimes me manipuler
Et j'aime en faire autant
Nous sommes tout deux victime
De ce doux jeu d'amants

Je me perd parfois
Souvent c'est bien fait
Et tu caches ta joie
Parce que tu m'a eu
Comme une proie bête et gentille
Qui ne tire pas d'leçons
Du piége grossier et facile
D'un charmant garçon

Mais c'est vraiment trop facile
Des qu'tu sourie tu m'fascine
Comme un aimant sur un fil de fer
Tendue et abile
Mais c'est vraiment trop facile,
C'est ma pomme qui te fascine
Je tourne le dos pour partir
Tu sais qu'elle n'est pas acide.

Fou et telemement evident
Que je n'trouve plus de sens
A ce jeu excitant
Si bon mais si lassant
Tu aimes me manipuler
Et j'aime en faire autant
Nous sommes tout deux victime
De ce doux jeu d'amants