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Friday night at home

elcanguro76 — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 13:55:34 +0000

Friday at home, what better things to do than to chill, head onto Youtube, pick out some tunes and relax with a cold one or two. Here’s three special songs from 2 Special K’s.

Enjoy~!

Kenna – Out of Control

Keane – Everybody’s Changing

Kenna – Say Goodbye to Love

Easy listening – a tribute to the soft rock ballads of the late 70s and 80s

elcanguro76 — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:56:34 +0000

Growing up in suburban Australian in the 70-80′s one of my most vivid memories of my early childhood is being put into the back of my Mum’s Holden Kingswood ’75 series and being ferried here, there, somewhere around Sydney’s North Shore, usually to play school, the speech therapist, the Doctor’s office or shopping centre, listening to 2CH radio station with the slogan of a man breathlessly sighing into the mic ’2CH : Easy listening’. 2CH, have since managed to amend their slogan in the proceeding thirty years to the newer, snazzier slogan ’2cH Easy 1170 – Easy listening hits’, they’re such innovative cats! Though, as this article proves they’re still going strong relying largely on their loyal, over-50 demographic.

The backbone of 2CH was the entire Beatles and ABBA catalogues, a heavy yet reasonably healthy dose of The Carpenters, Olivia Newton-John and Elton John, and the seemingly endless variety of soft-rock outfits of the late 70′s, early 80′s balladeers, the likes of Chicago, Christopher Cross, Anne Murray, Air Supply, and Hall and Oates.

At the time I didn’t know to think of the music itself – apart from Dad’s classical music listening, church hymns, and Humphrey B Bear songs – it was all I knew, but always remembered the bulk of 2CH’s playlist to be slow, easy, sentimental, and though I knew nothing of such things at the time, romantic and bittersweet.

For some strange reason as the year’s go by, I find myself attracted to the songs of my childhood and often finding myself searching through Youtube for the sounds of my early years – the soft, easy listening ballads of yesteryear.

To the balladeers of the 70′s and 80′s, I salute you! And, to all those who, like myself, grew up to their hits here are a few musical tributes to the songs of our childhood.

Enjoy~!

Chicago – If You Leave Me Now (1976)

The Carpenters – We’ve Only Just Begun (1971)

Christopher Cross – Sailing (1980)

Anne Murray – You Needed Me (1978)

“Until It Sleeps” by Metallica – today’s Song of the Day

elcanguro76 — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 09:35:08 +0000

I have pretty eclectic music tastes, I’ve been known to like anyone from The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, to old school Bobby Brown, to Ludacris, through to Silverchair, a-ha and Ben Folds Five. These days I usually prefer alternative, often Brit-rock, outfits such as Silverchair, Travis and Coldplay, but I still also enjoy heavier rock outfits such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica and Chris Cornell.

My music tastes have varied and expanded over the years, I first got introduced to music through my older sisters and as such took a somewhat disturbing attraction to the likes of Boy George, Wham and a-ha. Then around the time of pre-pubescence I started to drift towards the r&b, rap and hip-hop genres taking – ashamedly – a liking to Bobby Brown, Bell Biv DeVoe and countless other now forgotten r&b acts.

As I was going through high school and university, a lot of my friends liked heavy metal music, listening to the likes of Sepultura, Megadeath and Pantera. Most of these bands I had – and still have – little time for as they were just not my kind of music. But, one band who bucked that trend and who I grew to truly like was Metallica. There seemed to be just something more to them that the previous bands mentioned. And, as time went on they seemed to develop a more mature, sophisticated and complex repertoire compared to their earlier, more base lyrics.

Like many, I first took notice of Metallica when they released their self-titled ‘Black’ album with great, raw, rock tracks such as “Enter Sandman” and “Wherever I May Roam”, along with the more reflective rock-ballads “The Unforgiven”, “Nothing Else Matters”.

By this stage, I was thinking Metallica is a band I like to hear. By the time of their Load and ReLoad albums when most of their more-established, long-term fans were bemoaning their softer, more reflective direction, I was liking them more than ever. And, it’s from Metallica’s Load album that today’s Song of the Day comes from. It’s entitled “Until It Sleeps” and is dark, moving piece about the trails of finding solace amongst the dark dog of Depression that lurks inside many of us. This song’s an example of Metallica’s transition throughout the 90s, a direction which I enjoyed seeing them take.

Enjoy~!

“Djarimirri” by Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu

elcanguro76 — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 13:19:36 +0000

Today’s Song of the Day is from Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu’s debut self-titled album. The song’s name is “Djarimirri” and displays Gurrumul’s beautiful voice whilst effortlessly and enchantingly strutting his guitar alongside friend and fellow musician, Michael Hohnen on the cello. Gurrumul – who I previously wrote about here – was born blind, is very shy and speaks very little English – Michael Hohnen assists Gurrumul as his guide and interpreter – singing the majority of his songs in the Gälpu, Gumatj and Djambarrpuynu Yolŋu Matha languages of his homeland, Arnhem Land.

Guy Maestri's Archibald Prize-winning portrait of Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu

Whilst you will not understand the lyrics of this song and most of his other songs*, you will undoubtedly understand the raw emotion and feeling which burst from his wonderful, passionate voice. These universal human emotions transcend all cultural and ethnic divides and unite us all wherever we may be from, whatever customs we follow and whatever we look like.

(* – Actually, his site does contain English translations of his songs, click the name of the song and the lyrics – along with English translation – will appear)

Accolades and favourable reviews such as this one – where he is described as having “… the greatest voice this continent (Australia) has produced” – for his first album, continue to flood in and Gurrumul’s wonderful voice is starting to be heard outside of Australia, with Gurrumul having recently toured England.

And, without further a due, “Djarimirri” by Gurrumul.

Enjoy~!

Revolver or Rubber Soul?

elcanguro76 — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 12:38:46 +0000

I recently acquired The Beatles’ complete catalogue and I’m glad I did. I forgot just how great these guys were/are. What I’ve enjoyed most is listening to the less well-known – at least, to myself – songs which never received the reception and airplay that the likes of “Yesterday”, “Help!”, “Eleanor Rigby” and the likes did and still do receive. Listening to the albums so far, I have to say my newly-favourite Beatles’ album is Rubber Soul with Revolver being a close second. - Apparently I’m not alone as both albums were ranked very highly in numerous polls on the greatest albums of all time such as Rolling Stone’s where Revolver was placed third behind The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and the Beach Boys’ Pet Sounds, and Rubber Soul was just back in fifth behind Bob Dylan’s Highway 61 Revisited.

Previously, I’d heard only the main hits of these albums and am glad to have finally been exposed to the likes of “I’m looking through you”, “Wait”, “Run for your life”, “I’m only sleeping”, and “Good Day Sunshine”.

Which leads to today’s song of the day, which is “Good Day Sunshine” from The Beatles’ seventh album, Revolver. It’s a perky, up-beat, whimsical song which contrasts perfectly with some of the more darker, serious pieces on the album such as “Eleanor Rigby”.

Enjoy~! As I also leave you with a poll asking you what is your favourite Beatles’ album.

Good ole 80′s Aussie Rock – Johnny Diesel and the Injectors

elcanguro76 — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:48:09 +0000

Lately, I’ve been pining for the music of my early adolescence. Settling the scene, I was a scrawny, short, awkward-looking public school kid growing up in the leafy North Shore of Sydney round the time of the Australian bicentenary of British settlement and/or invasion.

I was about to finish primary school and was on the crest of high school – Australia for the most part has only two tiers of Education (primary and secondary) prior to Tertiary education, which all makes for a big adjustment come high school time!

I was high on the celebrations of the bicentenary, World Expo ’88 and finishing primary school. I had my first case of unrequited love – she loved me but I didn’t have the same feelings for her. I was getting down with some of the great Aussie pub rock bands of the era such as the Choirboys, Jimmy Barnes, INXS, Noiseworks and Midnight Oil.

But, one group – and individual in particular, really captured my imagination. The band went by the name of Johnny Diesel and the Injectors, the lead-singer and driving force behind the band went by the moniker, Johnny Diesel. With rock-star looks, a soulful voice and angsty, bluesy songs – Johnny Diesel and his Injectors were sure to make any adolescent girl dreamy and adolescent boy envious.

Johnny Diesel – born Mark Lizotte was an American-born Perth lad who grew up inspired by music and pumping gas to make a living whilst pursuing his dream – hence the Diesel moniker. Mark Lizotte is still involved in the Australian music industry, being the brother-in-law of another Aussie rock icon, Jimmy Barnes.

Today’s clip is a live version of their 1988 hit “I Don’t Need Love” which propelled the young rock outfit onto the national rock scene. The clip is taken from the iconic TV show Hey, Hey It’s Saturday and fittingly contains dodgy audio.

Enjoy~!

It’s Liberation Day!

elcanguro76 — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 03:18:38 +0000

I often find myself mired in self-doubt, anxiety and depression. Yet, the thing that keeps me going when I feel low is the innate beauty and wonder that is this world. Despite all our faults, us humans are capable of so much yet we’re tragically so self-destructive at the same time. But, it’s all good. It keeps life interesting. It’s liberation day!

Song of the Day – “Ali in Jungle” by The Hours

elcanguro76 — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 11:19:32 +0000

Today’s Song of the Day is “Ali in the Jungle” by UK Indie/Rock band, The Hours. “Ali in the Jungle” was released in 2006 and comes from the band’s debut album, Narcissus Road.I came across this song a couple of years back as it was featured on FIFA 08 football video game’s soundtrack.

As its title alludes to, the song is about overcoming adversity, rising from despair, and gaining hope from desperation just like ‘Ali in the Jungle’ – referring to the classic boxing match ‘the Rumble in the Jungle‘ between the greats Muhammad Ali and George Foreman who went at it with Foreman all over Ali at first only to see the shrewd Ali come from a seemingly unwinnable position to outfox and outbox Foreman.

The song contains a great beat and inspirational lyrics referring not only to the heroic feats of Ali, but also of ‘Simpson and the donkey’, ‘Nelson in jail’ and ‘Ludwig Van’, all great men who overcame adversity and drew strength from within.

The song also has a great video clip to it, click it out below.

Enjoy~!

Better Man

elcanguro76 — Thu, 28 May 2009 06:05:22 +0000

This post strikes up my 150th and I thought it appropriate to attach a song to this momentous post. To all the 9,880 page hitters who’ve reached this site, I sincerely thank you for taking some time out of your day, entering a phrase on Google and ending up at my blog, may many more share your wonderful, random experience!

Today’s Song of the Day to celebrate this occasion is a live performance of “Better Man” by British singer-songwriter, Robbie Williams. It’s a somewhat, reflective, wistful piece on the trials and tribulations which befall a man on his quest to being a better and more complete human being. Seeing as I’m – somewhat inexplicably – currently in a minor melancholic rut as I’m prone from time to time, I found this piece fairly apt as a man on his journey for redemption (particularly self-redemption) for past failings and inadequacies, and for the glue that binds us together and helps us propel ourselves onto newer and greater heights things, not before realised, understood or fully anticipated – love, peace and understanding.

Enjoy~!

Song of the Day : “The World I Know” by Collective Soul

elcanguro76 — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 13:00:05 +0000

Another day, another Song of the Day. This one comes from Georgian outfit, Collective Soul, and is entitled “The World I Know“ from their self-titled and highly successful second album released in 1995. It’s a beautiful, melancholic track – can you see a trend here, call me a depressed, malcontent but I like sad music! – about life, life’s trials and finding the infinite beauty in life and the will to roll with the punches. I find the video clip perfectly encapsulates the mood of the song.

Enjoy~!

The World I Know – Collective Soul