The following music has made an impression on me in the last few days.
1) "Amerika", Amerika Rammstein (lyrics)
The lyrics pretty much say it all. This is a profoundly angry song by a group known in Germany for being controversial. (In the same sitting last night, someone showed me the music videos for both Amerika and another song the group wrote in response to the German Cannibal.) The music video features, among other things, a Sikh smoking Lucky Strikes, an Indian child eating a Burger King hamburger, Iranian protesters, and a group of East Africans in traditional garb eating a pizza in front of a TV. The harshest line is probably the last chorus:
We're all living in Amerika,
Amerika ist wunderbar,(1)
We're all living in Amerika,
Coca-cola, and sometimes War.
This is definitely a song that will remain outside the Empire's cultural mainstream. That's disappointing, since it would be such a great campaign ad for Kerry.
2) "Radio", Greatest Hits Robbie Williams (lyrics) (stream: Windows Media/Real)
This song debuted the morning I landed, but the interesting thing about it isn't that it's new. Rather, this song was a total departure from the Robbie Williams I was familiar with.
That Williams was the one who recorded Swing When You're Winning, a big-band, ballad, and swing album released in 2001. Among the songs which originally brought him to my attention were "Have You Met Miss Jones?"(2) and "Beyond The Sea"(3), both heavily orchestrated, over the top, brassy songs. So, imagine my surprise to find this "jazz" singer breaking out the funky beats in an edgy, paranoid pop song.
The story was filled in for my by a friend who explained that Williams was originally a member of a pre N'Sync boy band. After that band, Williams started a solo career that could only be encompassed with the word "eclectic." After a pop album or two (including Sing When You're Winning), he broke out with Swing. And now, he's back with some dark pop music, which cries out for remixing. That should teach us all a valuable lesson about stereotyping.
Don't look for Williams on the Empire's pop radio stations -- I'm betting this song is too much for pop radio there; wait until the remixes hit the club floors in a few weeks.
3) Mensch, Herbert Grönemeyer
I don't understand much of what he's saying, but I like the way he says it. Check out "Viertel Vor" and "Unbewoht."
4) Neuvo, Kronos Quartet
The Kronos Quartet has worked closely with some of the most inventive and interesting modern composers. In Neuvo, the Quartet has assembled a sampler of the top Mexican composers, from Revueltas to Briseño. The rythms are alternately haunting and jaunty. If the first half the album laments the suffering of the peasent's life, then the other half a celebration of the overwhelming power of joyful music. This is album should serve as an introduction to emotive composition for any music student. Check out "El Llorar," "Perfidia," "Sensemaya" (unfortunately, not the entire Night of the Maya suite), and "12/12."
5) Garden State Soundtrack, Various Artists
Combine Coldplay, Thievery Corporation, and Frou Frou and I wouldn't listen. Put Zero 7, the Shins, Nick Drake, and Iron & Wine (who?) on the same album, and it's fascinating.
The movie reminded me of Harold & Maude, which also had a simple plot, but elegant in both dialogue and image. This album borrows from that film's calm instrumentation (Nick Drake Cat Stevens did the entire soundtrack for Harold & Maude) with Simon & Garfunkle's "The Only Living Boy in New York," Iron & Wine's "Such Great Heights," and "New Slang" from The Shins.
It's a remarkable thing to find a Thievery Corporation song that would complement such a placid acoustic lineup. In fact, "Lebanese Blonde" wouldn't have been my first choice. But serve up the industrial duo between Colin Hay's "I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You" and Zero 7's "In the Waiting Line," and I'm tapping my toe non-stop.
(1) Trans: "America is wonderful"
(2) If you can't find this song, get your hands on the soundtrack for the film Bridgette Jones' Diary.
(3) If you can't find this song, go rent Finding Nemo. There's no excuse for missing this film anyway. The song plays over the closing credits, which would be fun, even without the music.
Ed: 20. Feb., 2005 -- Cat Stevens, rather than Nick Drake. Doh! I knew that....
1) "Amerika", Amerika Rammstein (lyrics)
The lyrics pretty much say it all. This is a profoundly angry song by a group known in Germany for being controversial. (In the same sitting last night, someone showed me the music videos for both Amerika and another song the group wrote in response to the German Cannibal.) The music video features, among other things, a Sikh smoking Lucky Strikes, an Indian child eating a Burger King hamburger, Iranian protesters, and a group of East Africans in traditional garb eating a pizza in front of a TV. The harshest line is probably the last chorus:
We're all living in Amerika,
Amerika ist wunderbar,(1)
We're all living in Amerika,
Coca-cola, and sometimes War.
This is definitely a song that will remain outside the Empire's cultural mainstream. That's disappointing, since it would be such a great campaign ad for Kerry.
2) "Radio", Greatest Hits Robbie Williams (lyrics) (stream: Windows Media/Real)
This song debuted the morning I landed, but the interesting thing about it isn't that it's new. Rather, this song was a total departure from the Robbie Williams I was familiar with.
That Williams was the one who recorded Swing When You're Winning, a big-band, ballad, and swing album released in 2001. Among the songs which originally brought him to my attention were "Have You Met Miss Jones?"(2) and "Beyond The Sea"(3), both heavily orchestrated, over the top, brassy songs. So, imagine my surprise to find this "jazz" singer breaking out the funky beats in an edgy, paranoid pop song.
The story was filled in for my by a friend who explained that Williams was originally a member of a pre N'Sync boy band. After that band, Williams started a solo career that could only be encompassed with the word "eclectic." After a pop album or two (including Sing When You're Winning), he broke out with Swing. And now, he's back with some dark pop music, which cries out for remixing. That should teach us all a valuable lesson about stereotyping.
Don't look for Williams on the Empire's pop radio stations -- I'm betting this song is too much for pop radio there; wait until the remixes hit the club floors in a few weeks.
3) Mensch, Herbert Grönemeyer
I don't understand much of what he's saying, but I like the way he says it. Check out "Viertel Vor" and "Unbewoht."
4) Neuvo, Kronos Quartet
The Kronos Quartet has worked closely with some of the most inventive and interesting modern composers. In Neuvo, the Quartet has assembled a sampler of the top Mexican composers, from Revueltas to Briseño. The rythms are alternately haunting and jaunty. If the first half the album laments the suffering of the peasent's life, then the other half a celebration of the overwhelming power of joyful music. This is album should serve as an introduction to emotive composition for any music student. Check out "El Llorar," "Perfidia," "Sensemaya" (unfortunately, not the entire Night of the Maya suite), and "12/12."
5) Garden State Soundtrack, Various Artists
Combine Coldplay, Thievery Corporation, and Frou Frou and I wouldn't listen. Put Zero 7, the Shins, Nick Drake, and Iron & Wine (who?) on the same album, and it's fascinating.
The movie reminded me of Harold & Maude, which also had a simple plot, but elegant in both dialogue and image. This album borrows from that film's calm instrumentation (
It's a remarkable thing to find a Thievery Corporation song that would complement such a placid acoustic lineup. In fact, "Lebanese Blonde" wouldn't have been my first choice. But serve up the industrial duo between Colin Hay's "I Just Don't Think I'll Ever Get Over You" and Zero 7's "In the Waiting Line," and I'm tapping my toe non-stop.
(1) Trans: "America is wonderful"
(2) If you can't find this song, get your hands on the soundtrack for the film Bridgette Jones' Diary.
(3) If you can't find this song, go rent Finding Nemo. There's no excuse for missing this film anyway. The song plays over the closing credits, which would be fun, even without the music.
Ed: 20. Feb., 2005 -- Cat Stevens, rather than Nick Drake. Doh! I knew that....
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