Friday 27 May 2011

Awake my Soul - The PS22 Chorus



Some inspirational singing of this superb Mumford and Sons song from the PS22 Chorus, a junior school choir from Staten Island, New York. The choir has become an internet phenomenon as well as receiving high praise from the very artists they cover...

P

Tuesday 24 May 2011

Bob Dylan, troubadour extraordinaire...



A passionate cover of Bob Dylan's song 'When He Returns' from the 1979 album 'Slow Train Coming' by Gospel singer Rance Allen to celebrate the bard's birthday. Of course, I adore the original, however, there is also something pretty special about this version with its blistering Hammond accompaniment and no holds barred vocal performance.

There is also another incredible version, albeit gentler, from John Lee Sanders.

This aptly illustrates the concept of 'improvisation' rather than 'intervention'...

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Saturday 21 May 2011

Song for Rapture(fail) Saturday...



Such great lyrics for today, h/t Maggi Dawn's tweet yesterday on what a great funeral song this is ;-)

I'm coming up so you better get this party started
I'm coming up so you better get this party started
Get this party started,
on a Saturday night,
everybody's waiting for me to arrive
Sending out the message to all of my friends
we'll be looking flashy in my Mercedes Benz...

Clearly the LORD did buy Pink her Mercedes Benz then?

More Rapture links:

The wonderful RaptureFail website
Some Grey Bloke's farewell message to Rapturees
Maggi Dawn's historical look at the previous failed rapture dates
The Rapture flow chart to see if you make it

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Tuesday 17 May 2011

Paul Simon makes inspiration blossom...



Sometimes inspiration bears fruit in extraordinary ways! At Paul Simon's recent Toronto concert on May 7th a fan, Rayna Ford, who'd travelled all the way from Newfoundland, shouted out a request for the song 'Duncan' adding that it had inspired her to learn guitar. What follows is one of those special moments that you'd really wish you'd been there to be part of. Regardless, this bit of footage captures the joy and tears all round, especially during the verse:
Oh, oh, what a night
Oh, what a garden of delight
Even now that sweet memory lingers
I was playing my guitar
Lying underneath the stars
Just thanking the Lord
For my fingers,
For my fingers
Fuller story here on NPR Music

P h/t @solobasssteve

Friday 13 May 2011

The Gospel of the Blues...


Film trailer of acclaimed Canadian blues singer Rita Chiarelli's journey of discovery within the intimidating walls of Louisiana State's maximum security prison entitled Music From the Big House. Stunningly shot with an intriguing mix of both Gospel music and the Blues... official wording reads:
From acclaimed director Bruce McDonald, teaming with an Emmy and Oscar nominated documentary producer, comes a rare and exclusive musical journey. Rita Chiarelli, an award-winning recording artist, has decided to take a pilgrimage to the birthplace of the blues - Louisiana State Maximum Security Penitentiary a.k.a Angola Prison. She never imagined that her love of the blues would lead her to play with inmates serving life sentences for murder, rape and armed robbery.

In what was once the bloodiest prison in America, inmates relatives will be invited to listen alongside other prisoners, to hear remarkable voices singing stories of hope and redemption. Let yourself be swept away by one of Blues' most soulful pilgrim daughters who is finding out if music really is an escape.

P h/t The Wedlocks

Wednesday 11 May 2011


A sneak preview of some of the forthcoming soundtrack album from yet another Pirates of the Caribbean epic feauturing the sensational guitar playing of Mexican duo Rodrigo y Gabriela... Tracks from them are featured alongside the post After The Fire band ZipcodeS' producer (and now world famous film composer!) Hans Zimmer.

P