Words about Music
The High Holidays, They Are a Changin’
Monday, September 24th, 2007
Apparently, famed singer/songwriter Bob Dylan (otherwise known as Zushe ben Avraham) attended Yom Kippur services at the Chabad-Lubavitch of Georgia:
Recording legend Bob Dylan joined Chabad-Lubavitch of Georgia for Yom Kippur services over the weekend. Dylan, who was in town for a concert following the holiday, was called up to the Torah, but otherwise did not cause much of a stir among the congregation.
Arriving in a ski cap and tallit, Dylan stayed for the duration of the morning services, during which he was called up by his Jewish name Zushe ben Avraham. The singer/songwriter said the blessings in Hebrew without stumbling, like a pro, reported Rabbi Yossi Lew, co-director of the Chabad House.
Dylan’s appearance was kept under wraps at the request of his manager, who found the Chabad House through Chabad.org’s online director.
I wonder if those fluent in Hebrew could understand a word he said in that language…
Categories: Random Acts of Blogging, Words about Music | Comments Off on The High Holidays, They Are a Changin’
ISBS Concert Review: Jimmy Buffett at Madison Square Garden
Friday, September 21st, 2007When I was seventeen, a friend and I went to Florida to hang out at beaches and stare at girls. At one point, we found ourselves in a small beachside bar in Tampa, where we set ourselves up for a few hours with a nice view, some food and drink and a lot of sun. I remember that particular bar because there was a guy there in a Hawaiian shirt with a guitar, a stool, and a microphone. The first thing we heard him say was, “How ’bout a little Jimmy Buffett?” Then he played a Jimmy Buffett tune. Then he said, “How ’bout a little Jimmy Buffett?” and played another Buffett tune. Then he did it again. And again. And again. And…well, you get the idea.
Tonight, twenty years later, I had myself a Cheeseburger in Paradise (actually at the Hard Rock Cafe, but let’s not pick nits) and set myself up in a seat in Madison Square Garden to listen to “a little Jimmy Buffett.”
What a fun show. It’s important to focus on how much fun it was, because focusing on anything else can get a little depressing.
So let’s focus on the fun, shall we? Buffett came on stage barefoot, riding a bicycle, and wearing a turquoise t-shirt and yellow shorts. His attitude was as relaxed as his attire. He did not stop smiling the entire show, chatted with the audience between songs (and sometimes even during songs), occasionally stepped away from the microphone to kick a beach ball or two back into the audience, and genuinely seemed to be enjoying the evening. There were no teleprompters for lyrics or between-song banter as I’ve seen in other shows. This is a man who’s doing something he loves, and revels in that fact at all times. At one point, when the entire Coral Reefer Band had left the stage, leaving him alone with his guitar to serenade us with Boat Drinks, he commented that he was standing alone, center stage at Madison Square Garden. He said, “It took me a long time to get here, and I’m going to enjoy every second of it.” Nothing sums up the general tone & feeling of the show more than that single statement.
He played many of the Jimmy Buffett tunes you’d expect – Cheeseburger in Paradise,
Boat Drinks, Come Monday, Changes in Latitudes, Volcano Rock, Margaritaville, and others. Unlike the guy at the beach bar in Tampa, though, he also played a few songs by other artists, including Willie Nelson’s On the Road Again, Van Morrison’s
Brown-Eyed Girl, and Bruce Springsteen’s Glory Days (a version which proved, incidentally, that The Boss’ music should never, ever be played in Buffett’s signature beach-party style). The entire set list is here.
The Coral Reefer band was outstanding, especially his two guests – Sonny Landreth on slide guitar and Billy Payne (founder of Little Feat), who did a tribute to New York on the keyboard, mashing together songs by various well known New York artists, culminating in a rousing version of Little Feat’s Dixie Chicken.
Throughout the show, the giant monitors on the sides of the stage alternated nicely between shots of Buffett and the band on stage, and what was basically Jimmy’s home movies – shots of him sailing, surfing, and partying with his fans, including the occasional Parrothead flashing her breasts to the camera. Like I said before, what a fun show…
Here’s the thing, though: Jimmy Buffett is sixty years old. And (there’s really no nice way of saying this) he can’t really sing anymore. For many of the songs, especially the slower ones, he half sang, half spoke the lyrics, particularly at the end of a sentence where he was obviously running out of breath, or where the melody called for a note that was uncomfortably high for him.
It was a shame, but to be honest, it really didn’t matter. Because the fact is this: Jimmy Buffett, standing on stage at Madison Square Garden, half-singing Margaritaville while 16,000 fans sing it back at him at the top of their lungs makes for a pretty awesome sound on its own. It’s as if his presence and his voice are close enough to the original to allow people to hear it in their heads, and that’s really all they need. Well, that and a brightly colored Hawaiian shirt, preferably one with a parrot on it.
Categories: ISBS Reviews, Words about Music | 3 Comments »
The Beatles are Coming! The Beatles are Coming!
Friday, April 6th, 2007Off the news wires today:
Beatles May Go Online As Apple, EMI Come Together:
Apple Inc. and music label EMI Group Plc plan to announce “an exciting new digital offering,” EMI said Sunday, a move that could involve putting the Beatles music catalog online.
EMI said it plans to hold a news conference Monday at its London headquarters where EMI Chief Executive Eric Nicoli will be joined by Apple Chief Executive and co-founder Steve Jobs, the company said in an e-mail to reporters.
Currently, no Beatles songs can be downloaded via online music services. EMI has been the distributor for the Beatles since the early 1960s.
If that’s really what they’re announcing, I’m willing to bet that the Beatles set yet another music record, becoming the group with the most music downloads in a single day. And you’ll forgive the geek side of me, but it will also be an acid test of ITMS’ network infrastructure, as we see whether or not the servers can handle a huge spike in requests on a single day.
Of course, we’re still not sure that’s what is happening:
A live Webcast of the event, which will feature “a special live performance,” will be available at http://www.emigroup.com beginning at 1 p.m. local time in London (8 a.m. EDT).
That would be a very, very special live performance, eh?
Categories: Words about Music | 2 Comments »
Billy Joel – All My Life lyrics
Thursday, February 22nd, 2007My trusty Google Analytics stats tell me that many folks have come to this blog looking for the lyrics to Billy Joel’s new single, All My Life, only to find my review of the song, but no lyrics.
I Googled around myself, but had difficulty finding them as well, particularly because of his 1978 hit, My Life, which is gumming up the search results. Hopefully, this will help matters:
All My Life
by Billy JoelAll My Life
I’ve searched this whole world through.
Try as I might
to find someone like you.Years drifted by
but it was always on my mind.
I didn’t know just how long I’d go
until I ran out of time.All My Life
I’ve hurt the ones who cared.
One by one
no loving heart was spared.I’ve been a wild and restless man
but still a man who needs a wife.
That was my dream and now it seems
you’ve taken All My Life.For as long as I could
my intentions were good.
I assumed my affairs
would be fine.But I know very well
there’s a long road to hell
that’s been paved with
intentions like mine.All My Life
I’ve paid for my mistakes.
After a while
the strongest spirit breaks.I’ve had heartache and pain
that cut me deeper than a knife.
Ah, but those days are done
’cause you’re the one
I’ve wanted All My LifeAnd I know very well
there’s a long road to hell
that’s been paved with
intentions like mine.All My Life
my stars were surely crossed.
Now and then
I missed the love I lost.But all that changed
the day you said you’d be my wife.
Who could have known
that finding you would only take me
All My Life.
Categories: Words about Music | 3 Comments »
Partying Like With a Rockstar
Monday, February 12th, 2007
Well, I had an exciting weekend…
The University of Pennsylvania Band, an organization known for its long-standing traditions, as well as its strong musicianship and fun-loving culture, tempted fate by violating what has become one of Penn’s many sacred, musical traditions.
All Right Now, a hit song from the mid-70’s by the band Free, used to be played near the end of a game, whenever the football/basketball team had the game well in hand. After a fateful day at the Yale Bowl in the late 80’s, when Penn lost the game due to a fumbled snap while the band blared the song, the tradition morphed into what it is today: All Right Now is not to be played, or even mentioned in the stands, until after the game is over. Yogi Berra would be proud.
Anyway, last Saturday night, the Band played host to a special guest – Simon Kirke, the legendary drummer from Free and Bad Company. At halftime of the Penn/Harvard basketball game on Saturday, Simon took center court, surrounded by the Band, and rocked out his Bad Company hit, Can’t Get Enough, followed by a cover of Santana’s Everybody’s Everything. And then, with Penn leading by just a scant six points and twenty minutes of basketball left to play, Simon and the Band put forth a killer version of All Right Now! When it was over, the Band stood under a giant ladder and broke mirrors over a group of passing black cats. OK, I’m kidding about the last part, but you get the idea…
Anyway, Simon was fantastic, the Band sounded great, and I’m very relieved to report that Penn went on to win the game, 67-53. After the final buzzer sounded, in what could be a historical first, the band played All Right Now for the second time in the same night.
Pictures are here. Video is coming soon…
Categories: University of Pennsylvania, Words about Music | Comments Off on Partying Like With a Rockstar
ISBS Review: “All My Life” by Billy Joel
Wednesday, February 7th, 2007Billy Joel’s new single was released today on People.com of all places. The site allows you to send it someone as a Valentine’s Day card.
So much to say here. First, let’s start with a review:
This is a classic ballad. And by classic, I mean straight out of the 1940’s. The artist that came to mind immediately was Tony Bennett. If you like “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” you’ll love “All My Life.” Joel’s voice sounds incredible – a truly amazing tone, given his age and his recent health problems. The lyrics are a little sappy in places, but I don’t think that will matter. In the end, it’s going to be a hit on the soft rock charts, and probably on the pop charts too, but only because it’s Billy Joel and he hasn’t released anything in more than 13 years. One thing’s for certain – it’s going to be one of the most popular “first dance at our wedding” songs in a lot of years. It has exactly the right feel for that sort of thing.
In the end, my fervent hope is that it brings him tremendous success, and that the success gives him the “bug” to get back into the studio and record more popular music. It’s been too long since we’ve heard anything new from Billy Joel, and this song made me realize I’ve missed that. So come on, Billy, how about an entire album? Whaddaya say?!?
One other thought: this one on the geekier, more technical side:
The People.com link is the entire song, not just a clip. And it provides functionality to send it to someone else. That means I’m about 6 clicks away from making a perfect digital copy of the song & dropping it on my iPod for free.
That said, two weeks from now, the song will be available for sale on iTunes Music Store, assumedly for 99 cents. Unless I find myself inspired and with some free time on my hands in the next two weeks, I’ll probably just kick in the 99 cents and buy it on the 20th.
My, how far we’ve come. If this song sells well on iTunes, or at Amazon, or wherever else they’re planning on offering it, I think it will be conclusive proof that the horror stories the RIAA has been telling us about music pirating are officially bullshit. This is a new recording from one of the most successful artists of all time, available for free to anyone who wants it, and yet people are poised to pay money for it for the convenience of not having to deal with audio-ripping software. How far we’ve come, indeed…
UPDATE: For those looking for the lyrics to the song, they’re here.
Categories: ISBS Reviews, Tech Talk, Words about Music | 1 Comment »
The Real News about Apple’s deal with Apple Corp.
Tuesday, February 6th, 2007Wil Wheaton points out that the settlement between Apple, Inc. and Apple Corps not only paves the way for Beattles music to appear in the ITMS, but also for Apple to sell pre-loaded iPods.
He didn’t say it, but I think it works like this: Apple, Inc.’s deal with Apple Corps was that Apple, Inc. would never get into the business of selling music, in order to prevent confusion with Apple Corps. Apple, Inc. has long argued that iPods, iTunes and ITMS don’t violate this agreement, because what they’re selling is data, not music. Now that a settlement has been reached, this questionable distinction has been lifted, and pre-loaded iPods are possible.
I agree with Wil on this – I think the possibilities are almost unlimited. In his post, he talks about buying entire music catalogs in digital form (along with the music player itself), increased access for Indie bands, and specially themed iPods (e.g., Christmas iPods). His commenters go even further, discussing implications for audio books and “iBootlegs” (entire concerts available for sale on an iPod, perhaps on the way out of the arena?). I’m sure there thousands of other possibilities here, many of them representing major shifts in how we interact with (and/or purchase) music.
Very cool…
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Famous Last Words? Apparently not…
Wednesday, January 31st, 2007Short of classical compositions, we haven’t heard anything out of Billy Joel for The Longest Time. One might say he’s maintained a Code of Silence. I’m sure he’s had his reasons, but Don’t Ask Me Why. (OK, OK, enough with the song title puns).
Anyway, today we got a triple whammy:
First, Joel has produced a new pop single called All My Life in honor of his (current) wife, Katie Lee Joel. Not only that, but he’s gone all hi-tech on us:
The Phil Ramone-produced track will premiere February 7 on People.com, where it will be available for streaming and as music for a Valentine’s Day e-card.
It will then be sold exclusively via Apple’s iTunes Music Store from February 20 through March 6, after which it will available at most digital retailers. A commercial CD release of “All My Life” will follow on a date to be announced, according to Joel’s label, Columbia.
Second, Joel will be performing the National Anthem at Superbowl XLI in Miami on February 4th. I have a bootleg recording of him singing the anthem at Yankee Stadium before a World Series game. Let’s just say I hope he does a better job of it this time around.
And finally, there’s a 20-stop tour beginning in February in Jacksonville, FL. Nothing in the NY/NJ area yet, though. Still, I’m Keeping the Faith that Worse Comes to Worst, he’ll play Half a Mile Away from 52nd Street Somewhere Along the Line.
AAHHH!!! I can’t stop! HELP!!!
Categories: Words about Music | 2 Comments »
Keep your CD’s away from my iPod
Tuesday, January 23rd, 2007I don’t understand this product:
The Sharper Image Dual CD Stereo with Universal Dock for iPod
The handsome wall-mountable Dual CD Stereo features a motorized door that automatically folds down at the touch of a button. Besides CDs, it also plays and charges all dockable iPod models.
Come on! If you have a CD and an iPod in the same machine, that machine ought to be ripping the songs off the CD and synching them to the iPod, so that you’ll never need the CD again. This kind of setup just encourages indecisiveness…
Categories: Words about Music | 1 Comment »
Read this entry – it’s not too long!
Tuesday, December 5th, 2006Just in case anyone was still unsure about the dwindling nature of the American attention span, note that the BillBoard Awards have a category called “Best Video Clip,” but not one called “Best Video.”
How long is a music video – 3 or 4 minutes? Is watching the whole thing such a chore now that we need to reduce it down to the musical equivalent of a sound bite? And then give out an award for the artist that does it best?
It’s like we can’t bring ourselves to focus on a single idea for any length of time anymore. It’s like we. . . . . oh look, a tree!
Categories: Words about Music | 1 Comment »