Mikis Theodorakis 1000 songs. Free.

A group of friends of Mikis Theodorakis' music chose 1000 songs from the composer's works and proposed they be freely propagated hand to hand. They made 50 CDs and suggested that anyone who received Mikis' music, make 5 copies and distribute it to friends and so forth. The proposal was accepted with pleasure by Mikis, himself, through the NET telecast "Stin Ygeia Sas".


Then the idea went even further when Mikis agreed to allow his work to be distributed freely on the Internet. The result is http://mikis1000songs.blogspot.com, where you can download 1000 songs by Mikis Theodorakis.

From the blog:

In this blog, you can find 1000 songs of Mikis Theodorakis available for free sharing with the permission and encouragement of the composer:
"For my songs to reach all places of the greek land, all aspects of the greek soul."

The banner from mikis1000songs.blogspot.com

A big thank you to all the people who decided and worked to spread Mikis' grand work.

And, of course, an even bigger thank you to Mikis Theodorakis, the giant man in black I saw for the first time up close in the mid seventies in Chicago and whose music imprinted on my soul from that first concert when I was 10. Once again, he leads the way, allowing his work to be freely distributed on the Internet.

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Sha-la-la-la-la Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen Daughter#2!

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Haste siempre companiera Mercedes Sosa

RIP voice of Latin America.

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An a capella Africa

This is an 'a capella' version of the Toto song "Africa". The astonishing human-made storm will surprise you. This is too good to pass by and wait until Friday to to post on my feel-good-Friday feature.

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Sometimes all it takes is to close your eyes and listen to the music...

Χαρταετοί/Kites - Mikis Theodorakis

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#46 Feel-good flick for Friday

100 Days, 100 Nights - Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings

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In Memoriam Michael Jackson

In a 2003 interview, Michael Jackson said his most honest and autobiographical song was "Childhood".

Childhood
Written and Composed by Michael Jackson.
Produced by Michael Jackson.
Have you seen my Childhood?
I'm searching for the world that I come from
'Cause I've been looking around
In the lost and found of my heart...
No one understands me
They view it as such strange eccentricities...
'Cause I keep kidding around
Like a child, but pardon me...

People say I'm not okay
'Cause I love such elementary things...
It's been my fate to compensate,
for the Childhood
I've never known...

Have you seen my Childhood?
I'm searching for that wonder in my youth
Like pirates in adventurous dreams,
Of conquest and kings on the throne...

Before you judge me, try hard to love me,
Look within your heart then ask,
Have you seen my Childhood?

People say I'm strange that way
'Cause I love such elementary things,
It's been my fate to compensate,
for the Childhood (Childhood) I've never known...

Have you seen my Childhood?
I'm searching for that wonder in my youth
Like fantastical stories to share
But the dreams I would dare, watch me fly...

Before you judge me, try hard to love me.
The painful youth I've had

Have you seen my Childhood....

Thank you for the music Michael.

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Maksim Mrvica - Exodus

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Feel good ad by T-mobile

In a year that started off shitty, I think we all deserve a feel-good youtube flick.
Watch as the people join in.


[more info about the ad here]

Thanks to "zardoz" for the heads up e-mail and making my day.

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Closure and lingering hope combined

I read that this week the parents of Richey Edwards, the fourth member of the Manic Street Preachers who had mysteriously disappeared 13 years ago, legally announced their son 'presumed dead'.

Edwards' parents could have done this six years ago because a missing person's legal status can be changed after 7 years of his/her disappearance but, understandably, they waited and... hoped. Their legal spokesperson was quoted "it's not the same thing as accepting that he's dead".

The not knowing is the worst kind of torture a family and friends have to deal with. It's a black cloud dangling over your head that uncontrollably pervades your thoughts and never gives you closure.

Anyone who has experienced the disconsolate feeling of not knowing the whereabouts of a loved one will tell you it's perpetual agony.
No explanation, no suicide note, no dead body, no closure, ever.

One of the reasons I like the Manics, aside from their music, is how truly loyal they have been and how they stuck together when it could have destroyed them mentally and of course, professionally.

All this time the remaining Manic Street Preachers still consider Edwards part of the band and split the royalties 4 ways, putting Richey's money in the bank which his parents are in charge of. That way, if Richey ever does come back he can pick up where he left off.

After 13 years and seven albums later they have announced that their new album due out in 2009 will consist entirely of Richey Edwards' lyrics. They are quoted "...finally it feels like the right time to use them..."

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Manic Street Preachers - From Despair To Where

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#45 Feel-good Flick for Friday

Blind Guardian - The Bard's Song


This is my ringtone and every time my cell phone rings I start to sing the words. This song (and group) just give me goose bumps.

THE BARD'S SONG: IN THE FOREST

Now You all know
The bards and their songs
When hours have gone by
I'll close my eyes
In a world far away
We may meet again
But now hear my song
About the dawn of the night
Let's sing the bards' song

Ref.:
Tomorrow will take us away
Far from home
Noone will ever know our names
But the bards' songs will remain
Tomorrow will take it away
The fear of today
It will be gone
Due to our magic songs

There's only one song
Left in my mind
Tales of a brave man
Who lived far from here
Now the bard songs are over
And it's time to leave
Noone should ask You for the name
Of the one
Who tells the story

Ref.:
Tomorrow will take us away
Far from home
Noone will ever know our names
But the bards' songs will remain
Tomorrow all will be known
And You're not alone
So don't be afraid
In the dark and cold
'Cause the bards' songs will remain
They all will remain

In my thoughts and in my dreams
They're always in my mind
These songs of hobbits, dwarves and men
And elves
Come close Your eyes
You can see them, too

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Documenting the song that I have been listening to over and over this week

Coldplay - Viva La Vida

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#43 Feel-good Flick for Friday

"Trains And Winter Rains" by one of my all-time favorite new age artists, Enya , who has has a new album titled "And Winter Came" coming out on 11/11/08


City Streets passing by,
Underneath stormy skies.

Neon signs in the night,
Red and blue city lights.
Cargo trains rolling by,
Once again someone cries.

Trains and winter rains,
No going by, No going home.
Trains across the plains,
And in the sky, the star alone.

Everytime, it’s the same.
One more night, one more train.
Everywhere empty roads,
Where they go, no one knows.

Trains and winter rains,
No going by, No going home.
Trains across the plains,
And in the sky, the star alone.

Da, da, da, da…

Trains and winter rains,
No going by, No going home.
Trains across the plains,
And in the sky, the star alone.

Trains and winter rains,
No going by, No going home.
Trains across the plains,
And in the sky, the star alone.

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The day I stood for 6 consecutive hours

REM from Athens, Georgia in Athens, Greece last Sunday night. They appeared as headliners for the free concert organized by MTV to celebrate the arrival of MTV Greece.

I could kick myself for not going to see REM live (and free) but I don't think I could stand standing in line for hours, uncertain if I'd be admitted, since entrance was on a first-come first-serve basis. MTV Greece consolingly broadcast the show live on TV and it was rewarding to view close ups of the group on stage.

Although two weeks have gone by, my knees are still aching from Jennifer Lopez's concert which Daughter#2 wanted to really, really go to. Her friends were either not allowed or not interested in going so she batted her eyelashes, said 'pleeeeeeeeease?' and chump mom that I am, I said 'hey, why not?'

The tickets wrote "gates open at 5.30 p.m." but not the actual show time. This being Daughter#2's first pop concert and her not wanting to miss a thing, she dragged me to the venue as early as 5.30 p.m.

Did the gates open at 5.30 p.m.? Nope.
They opened at 8.00 p.m.
It had been drizzling, cold and miserable outside and I was trying not ruin Daughter#2's outing by keeping all the foul words under my breath.

The wait was extremely long and a lot of people in the crowd started doubting whether Ms.Lopez was actually ever going to appear and if we would ever feel our toes again.

Daughter#2 had opted for "as close as I can get" position, whereas I found a nice nook on a guard rails to lean against, away from the fuss and elbowing. You would not believe how valuable that small rail became as people started dropping like flies from exhaustion on the floor and shooting me grumpy looks as I (pretended)looked relaxed against my rail. 5-6 peopled thought they had found the solution to their suffering and hoisted their tooshies on the rail in front of my face. Luckily for me, they could only sit for a few short minutes since the thin metal rod hurt their butts like crazy.

Jennifer Lopez finally came on stage at 9.40 p.m. The show was decent, albeit short, ~67 minutes. She did all her known hits (there's buzz she lip sung), there was no encore but the staging, special effects and her on-stage energy were impressive.

As I stood there watching JLo do her thing and people of all ages around me going gaga I recalled how different the time I accompanied Daughter#1, age 14 then, at her first concert, heavy metal nonetheless. Her favorite metal group was appearing in Athens and she wanted to see them and none of her friends' parents were allowing their kids to go. Again, I offered to take her so she wouldn't miss out on the chance to see them live. THAT was definitely a blast. Having grown up in a strict family environment without the privilege of attending any rock concerts I was as enthusiastic about being there as Daughter#1. You haven't seen energy, until you've been in a small venue with thousands of black garmented metal heads swaying to and fro and jumping up and down in sync with music. Un.for.gett.a.ble.

Daughter#2 and I, each tried to pitifully capture some concert moments on our cell phones. The steady video takes are from me who wasn't jumping up and down, the bouncy video take is from Daughter#2 who was busy singing along, dancing and waving her hands in the air.

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#41 Feel-good Flick for Friday

Feel-good Friday flicks are back with a song I'm stuck to, crank it up and "clap hands, c'mon!"


This is the official music video for Nikka Costa's new single "Stuck To You," directed by Alma Harel. "Stuck To You" appears on the Stax Records / GoFunkYourself album PEBBLE TO A PEARL, in stores October 14th, 2008.

FUN FACT: Nikka's trumpet player got lost on the way to the video shoot and couldn't find the place. Turned out that the catering guy was a trumpet player so they used him instead!

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Paul Potts

The other day, clicking through youtube, I stumbled on a clip of last year's "Britain's Got Talent" show, which I wasn't aware of. I was drawn to the title of a clip "Paul wows Simon Cowell", my curiosity was peaked to find out who had managed to impress the well-known talent seeker.

And wow. I was immediately captivated by this underdog story, this bloke's humble demeanor and his amazing talent. It was the first time I got goosebumps watching a youtube video.


[first audition performance]


[semi-finals performance]

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Mestizaje

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KISS (Knitting Is Strongly Subscribed)

With my recent civilized rant about Mariah Carey's moronic song and video "touch my body" and THIS post I may start competing with the likes of ΤΗΕ defamer. I know I said I don't like bashing celebrities but when KISS decide - at the youthful age of ~58 to go on world tour with full makeup and (get this)... full costume I can't resist the urge to poke fun.

Last weekend KISS gave a concert here in Athens. Did I go? No, I'm not a fan.I like "Beth", their (only?) ballad and I know some of their tunes because I grew up listening to FM ROCK radio but that's where our paths end. I didn't really like them back in the 70's when they came out with all their gimmickry: the ludicrous costumes, ridiculous shoes and, of course, the world renown makeup. They might have had a fighting chance with me as a rock band if Gene Simmons had kept his tongue in his mouth (as nature intended, otherwise we'd all breathe like dogs). They were smart enough to find a newfangled concept to sell themselves as a rock group - I'll give them that - at a time where a lot of rock bands were struggling to come out on top. I bet the Finnish rock band "Lordi", the winners of the 2006 Eurovision song contest had posters of KISS next to their Moomin bedroom lamps when they were kids.

My brother, on the other hand, liked them and even sneaked their LP 'Detsroyer' in the house. Luckily then (unfortunately for now) he destroyed the album's cover, lest Mom found it and send for the priest from her village all the way to Chicago - for an exorcism. As it turns out, the album is in my possession because my sibling never brought himself an LP player, making me keeper of all long-play and 45 vinyls. I'm thinking I could make a buck out of the selling the album, but without the cover what self-respecting KISS fan would want it?

Anyway, a few years later, KISS' popularity waned, they took off their makeup ending the mystery that made KISS sell for the amount of time they could push the satan's knights notion and weird look. They had reunited -like most rock bands who decide to keep their image alive (and sell some more to newer generations). And it was only recently Greek rock radio stations started blaring that KISS were coming to the Terravibe rock-fest stage (at the outskirts of Athens) with full show, with complete makeup and costumes. I shuddered at the god-awful-ugly aesthetics of imagining them almost 60, still wearing their tighter than tight, spandex lycra, silver-studded gear and trying to prance on a stage with those appalling shoes.

I have nothing against old-rockers as long as they just come on stage with a pair of jeans (lycra and/or leather pants should be reserved for robust, youthful tooshies), a decent shirt (pretending a naked 60 year old torso is sexy is just plain sad) and smart shoes (broken bones at their age do not mend easily).

When KANSAS toured Europe a few years back I caught their show in Athens, and Robby Steinhardt was still with them. They made me proud to be a fan because there was nothing embarrassing about their appearance or stage performance at the ripe age of ~55-60. They even looked sexy, no gimmicks, no makeup, no blood-spitting. Just good old rock.

Here's a funny video about old rockers

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Feeling Good, Nina Simone

This was an assignment posted by youtuber TamaraConnolly for a motion graphics class in the SVA MFA Design program. The assignment was to create a music video using just type and typographic elements in black and white. I love it.

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