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Lyric of the Day #26: Mystery Lyrics

24 Jun

          Let’s have a little fun. We have been doing these lyrics for a long time (26 times to be exact) and the same old lyric conversation can get a little monotonous. Well we like to think it is mucho amazing everytime but that is besides the point. By the way did you like how I just incorporated espanol in that last sentence. I bet you can put two and two together and figure out that this mystery post will have something to do with the spanish language. We shall play a game with these lyrics. I am going to post some lyrics in spanish from a song. Can you guess the song that they appear in. Here is the kicker. The lyrics are in Spanish in the song which is sung by an English punk band. Ringing any bells. Here are the lyrics.

Esta undecision me molesta
Si no me quieres, librame
Diga me que tengo ser
Saves que robas me querda?
Me tienes que desir
Me debo ir o quedarme?

Any Clue. Impress us in the comment section. I will post the answer later.

The answers must be in proper question format

The answers must be in proper question format

Links of the Day: Ray Charles and Tommy Emmanuel

24 Jun

Links

I know it has been a while since we gave you some links to click on and enjoy, but, this was only because we love our readers so much that we wanted the links to be extra special. Did that sound convincible? But, it would seem like that today because these links that we have for your viewing pleasure today are indeed special. When you combine the soulful Ray Charles and the guitar-crazy Tommy Emmanuel in one post good stuff must be emitted.  

Ray Charles being awesome

Ray Charles being awesome

 Did you know that Ray Charles appeared on the Johnny Cash Show? Did you know that there was a Johnny Cash Show? Well both of these things did indeed happen and the combination of country and soul legends is unmatchable. Taped on his 40th birthday on September 23rd 1970, Ray Charles makes Johnny Cash and the rest of the musical proud by playing an incredibly soulful version of “Ring of Fire” that was then released on his country album Love Country Style. Wow. A must check out video

 Check it Out: http://www.fark.com/cgi/vidplayer.pl?IDLink=4464899

Tommy Emmanuel also being awesome

Tommy Emmanuel also being awesome

 One must stare at awe at the super human that is Tommy Emmanuel. You want to see acoustic guitar done right. Check this video out where Mr. Emmanuel will show you how one goes about shredding on an acoustic guitar. If I tried this I would break a string and one or two fingers. This is just remarkable.

Check it out:  http://www.fark.com/cgi/vidplayer.pl?IDLink=4466834

Lyric of the Day #25: “Boy With a Coin” by Iron & Wine

22 Jun

              Yesterday’s lyric of the day by my trusty partner in crime Josh Baum made a good point. There is not much to say about these lyrics but the fact that they flow with the song very well. This is quite important. The lyric can be a fantastic story but if it does not flow with the song then the song will continue to be skipped over by listeners. So, with that in mind, today I bring for your lyric fancy a song by the fantastic songwriter Sam Beam who understands the importance of well-placed words in song

            “Boy With a Coin,” released on The Shepherd’s Dog and as a single in 2007, is a perfect example of a song whose lyric flows perfectly with the beat. In this case, an upbeat acoustic guitar riff with clapping and amazing repetition. Yet, when one looks deeper into the lyric it is not just a random array of words that flow well, but, an interesting lyric that can spark much discussion. Let us take a look at the excellent last verse.

          “Boy with a coin he crammed in his jeans
           then making a wish, and tossed in the sea
           then walked to a town that all of us burned
           when God left the ground to circle the world”

                    – “Boy With a Coin,” by Iron & Wine off of The Shepherd’s Dog

        I believe Sam Beam is using the coin as a symbol throughout this song, but specifically in this segment. The coin is representing the youthfulness of the child who tosses it into “the sea” while “making a wish.” An optimistic child would believe in this wishfulness. Yet, as he walks back to town he sees that its “burned” which symbolizes an unfortunate loss of innocence for the child. He attempts to hold onto this nonexistent reality of wishes but is forever destined to enter a world which is harsh and sad. What do you guys think?

This single cover goes right along with the concept of the song. The snake represents the ultimate loss of innocence and Beam who frequently plays with religious concepts displays the ultimate temptation in the Garden of Eden in this cover. Just like the boy with a coin, the snake and the apple. The wishful state mixed with the ultimate reality of life outside of eden.

This single cover goes right along with the concept of the song. The snake represents the ultimate loss of innocence and Beam who frequently plays with religious concepts displays the ultimate temptation in the Garden of Eden in this cover. Just like the boy with a coin, the snake and the apple. The wishful state mixed with the ultimate reality of life outside of eden.

Song of the Day #24: “Father and Son” by Cat Stevens

21 Jun

           Cat Stevens  Happy Father’s Day to all you dads out there, including my own father, and what better song can be chosen to honor dads then “Father and Son,” by Cat Stevens (Yusaf Islam). “Father and Son,” is off of his 1970 release Tea for Tillerman and it played a large role in establishing Cat Stevens as a recognizable voice in the music of the time. In the song Stevens sings of a conversation between a father and a son, where the son is attempting to branch off and shape a new life and the father does not understand why the child would want to do this. Stevens uses a crafty vocal and sings in a deeper register for the father and a higher, more emotional, voice for the son portion. This interesting dynamic adds an exciting element to the great song. So, on this father’s day, take a listen to this song and enjoy the day.

Check it Out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlGLuRlhW3c

Lyric of the Day #23: “Talking Hard Work” by Woody Guthrie

21 Jun

              Woody Guthrie       I apologize for the tardiness of this post and for all those keeping track this post should technically have been posted yesterday. Yesterday though was quite a busy day filled with working hard for the money (I did not prostitute myself so do not worry).  So, in honor of the busy day due to working hard let us talk some hard work with the great folk pioneer Woody Guthrie. Guthrie did have it a wee bit harder. At fourteen he was left with his siblings in Oklahoma as his father worked to re-pay real estate debts in Texas and his mother sat dying of Huntington’s disease in an Oklahoma Hospital for the insane. Guthrie worked numerous odd jobs around his town until he realized his musical ability and began playing songs for coins or sandwiches. If anyone knows how to talk hard work it is Mr. Woody Guthrie. Enjoy the lyrics below:

While we are on the subject of hard work, I just wanted to tell you that I am a man who likes hard work.
I was born working and I worked my way up by hard work.
I aint ever got no where, but I got there byhard work.
Work of the hardest kind.
I been down and I been out
I been disgusted I been busted and I couldnt be trusted.
I worked my way up and I worked my way down