Goodbye Ms Summer, Day 2

I’m still feeling as if yesterday’s news of Donna Summer’s death is some sort of weird, Johnnie-Walker-Red-Label-Scotch-induced dream.

Most of us have an artist who’s songs seem to be the soundtrack of our life.  For me, it was Donna Summer.  Whenever I play one of her songs, images and memories fill my brain, and I’m reliving the moments.

These two songs are from Donna’s 1987 album All Systems Go, an album that didn’t receive too much attention.  Maybe some day I’ll share the full memories these two songs conjure up, but, not now.  It was a dark period in my life, a time that wounded me, yet, ultimately changed me for the better.

The first song takes me to the time of the end of a relationship.  I was 21, and my first real relationship was ending, and, while it was a necessary ending, there was still that nostalgia for the Good Times.  This song made me think of the relationship that ended, and, also, about the desire to move on and find another love.

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As my relationship was ending, this next song seemed to echo so much of what I was going through.  It’s not a broken-heart song.  It’s a song that’s meaning to me is summed up in the lyric:

It’s a life of a boy who’s scared

Of the waves rushing out

And the wind in the air

It’s a sight of one longing to taste of life.

Even now, as a 46 year old man, when The Black Wave of Depression envelops me, I still feel like that boy who’s scared of the waves and the wind, a boy who wants to be free.  There’s a mournfulness in the song, yet the song gives me hope as well, its lyric lifts me up:

It’s the hope

That the time goes by

Take you up on a wing

Teach your soul how to fly

It’s a wish that you live to experience life

And, hey… as a Crazy Man, any song about The Voices makes total sense.

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Goodbye Ms Summer

I’ll admit it:  I’m a Long Time Donna Fan.  Since I was a kid.  And, that was more than a few years ago.  In fact, it was all the way back in 1979, when I, an awkward, gangly thirteen year old, bought my first album, Donna Summer’s “Bad Girls.”  It was a big deal, back then, not only because it was such a success, but, because it was a double album — two records!  I still have it, in fact, though it’s well-worn.

She was known as The Queen of Disco, and, man, could she make you want to get up and dance.  She’ll always be remembered for those Disco tunes, like “Hot Suff”, and “Bad Girls”, and “Last Dance”.  For me, though, it’s the ballads that I love, where the richness of her voice shined!

As my way of saying goodbye to the only celebrity I ever wrote a fan letter too (back when I was about 14 or 15), I’d like to share my favorite Donna Summer songs over the next few days.  I’ll let others share “Hot Stuff” and “Bad Girls”, so you might not recognize some of the tunes, since some weren’t big radio hits.  Hopefully you’ll discover why I loved her voice so much.

Peace, Ms Summer. Peace.

 

A Little Night Music: “I Don’t Feel Like Dancin’”

A Hi-NRG dance version of the Scissor Sisters’ song “I Don’t Feel Like Dangin’” by Jackie ‘O’ — to make you dance around in your chair while you’re at your desk…

 

Noon’s Tune at Noon: “Stay With Me” by Bette Midler

Yes, you’re correct — I’ve changed the name of this series.  What the heck…might as well post Noon’s Tune at the stroke of Twelve Noon.  Right?

Sure.  Okay.

Today’s tune is an oldie from the soundtrack of “The Rose”, starring Bette Midler.  For those who’ve just dropped in from another planet who might not know, “The Rose” is loosely based on the life of the great Janis Joplin.

“Stay With Me” is a song that Janis Joplin did sing, though, it can be tough to find (there are a few live performance videos to be found using The Google.) It pains me to say, Janis fan that I am, I really think that this particular live version by Midler is actually a better version.

For anyone who’s been left, dumped, kicked aside in a relationship… this song is for you.

“You’re Not Gonna Leave Me Here” by Johnnyswim

Love this song!  (Amanda Sudano, the female voice on the track, is the daughter of Bruce Sudano, of Brooklyn Dreams, and Donna Summer, she of the majestic voice!)

http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_924013

Noon’s Tune Du Jour: “Nothing’s Real But Love” by Rebecca Ferguson

 

A bit of blusey, soulful pop music from across the pond.

(Rebecca Ferguson)

Noon’s Tunes: “We Are Young” by Fun. feat Janelle Monáe

No, no…not to worry.  I’m not suddenly turning this into a music blog.

I was keeping a music blog, but, I found that I’d spend hours listening to music, searching for posts.  Not that listening to music for hours is a bad thing, it’s just that I was listing to music, rather than doing the things I really should have been doing.  So, I stopped the music blog.

But, I haven’t stopped listening to music entirely.  Music has always played a big role in my life; reading, writing, and music are the things that bring the most comfort to my soul (cheese and ice cream would be right up there as well).

I’ve always believed that music should not just be listened to, not just felt, but, it also needs to be shared.  This is my way of sharing music I like with you.

Be forewarned: I like a wide variety of music, everything from Rock, to Pop, to Opera, to Folk, to Bluegrass, to Soul, and even a bit of country.  I adore jazz, and The Blues move me like no other music can.

Here, then, is the first of what I hope to be a pretty regular feature: Noon’s Tune Du Jour (Noon is a derivative of my last name — as well as a derivative of a nickname I had long ago, and was rather fond of: Noonski). 

I heard this song a few months back, and, while it was a catchy song from Fun., a group who’s previous album I liked, and while it also featured Janelle Monáe, who I adore, I was rather meh about this song.  Then, this evening, I ran across this acoustic version, and I am  definitely not meh about this version. (The album version can be heard/seen here.)

Fun.: We Are Young ft. Janelle Monáe (ACOUSTIC), posted with vodpod

© 2011 WMG. Fun. and Janelle Monáe perform an acoustic version of the single ‘We Are Young’ from the album, Some Nights – available now on Fueled By Ramen. V.

“Invincible” by XELLE, An Anti-Bullying Song

 

Rony Goffer, JC Cassis, and Mimi Imfurst, collectively known as the music group Xelle have released another single.  Besides being a catchy dance tune, “Invincible” has a strong anti-bullying message.

The song is available for sale on iTunes, and the proceeds will benefit GLSEN ( Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network).  GLSEN “is the leading national education organization focused on ensuring safe schools for all students.”

“Drag Queens In Limousines” by Mary Gauthier

It’s just this simple: I love Mary Gauthier.  Her music –call it Country, call it Folk, call it Americana, or call it bloody brillinat– is as simple and beautiful as it gets.  And the lyric she writes are the purest poetry around.  Who else but Mary would take a phrase, thrown out casually in conversation by a friend, and turn it into such an honest reflection of life.

Listen to any Mary Gautier song, and you will realize there’s no fluff in sight.  Her music is honest (some say it’s brutally honest) and flows from the depths of her heart and soul.  If you want to really hear Mary at her best, listen to her album The Foundling, in which she tells the story of her life: from orphan, to adopted child, to runaway teen, to woman. The Foundling does what great music should do: flow from the soul of the musician into the soul of the listener.

For more: Mary Gauthier