The Journey / Kopano Pt. 3

Sometimes I get overwhelmed at the thought of the massive amounts of beautiful music floating around this world that I get sad. Sad at the fact that I won’t be able to hear all of it before I close my eyes for the last time but then I remember all of the beautiful music I have heard up to this point in my life and what I’ve been able to introduce to my friends that the sadness lifts. When I heard this piece from a man I once thought was a talentless hack I was rendered speechless and had to give him his due, Hans Zimmer has made some amazing music and this piece entitled “The Journey / Kopano Pt. 3” is inspiring, uplifting, and downright undeniably beautiful. Used at the closing of Antoine Fuqua’s movie “Tears of the Sun” starring Bruce Willis this piece is absolutely unforgettable and unforgettable music gets me all the time.

It starts off slowly and melodically giving you the listener no clue what is about to come but then the voices and the indigenous instruments join the strings and the melody becomes so much more. Then the pace quickens and the music begins to swell and the voices get stronger and the lead voice grabs you and despite not knowing he’s saying, he’s got you. The track then explodes in a celebration of sound and beauty taking you on safari through the Serengeti. The thing I love most about this piece is that just when you think it’s over, the second wave comes and it’s even better than the first movement.

I have to take my hat off to Mr. Zimmer for even if this was an unused piece from when he scored Disney’s “The Lion King” that he had sitting around it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that he shared it with the world instead of keeping it to himself adding to the beautiful music floating around this world and thankfully we got to hear it before we close our eyes for the last time.

Stimulation

Here is another sexy ass song for the “after Christmas shopping” cool out. It will bring down your anxiety levels way down and your sexy levels up a notch or two. At least I think it will. The song is called “Stimulation” by Vikter Duplaix and it is smoking. It starts off really simply, beat, guitar, hand claps and finger snaps but then in comes the French tongue and that pretty much let’s you the listener know this is something a little different. It’s not going to be your average r&b or soul song. I have no idea what she saying but it doesn’t matter really because by the time Vikter is telling you that you won’t even leave his bedroom this song has got you. You are bopping your head, snapping your fingers, and grooving to the layered vocals.

Not someone widely known but I don’t think he ever sought that out, Vikter hails from Philadelphia and he’s been around since 2002.He was even nominated for a Grammy back in 2008. He’s done work with Erykah Badu, Me’Shell NdgeOcello, Incognito and so many others so he’s got a good resume, he’s just never had that one hit to make the world take notice. I don’t think this song would have done it but it would have definitely put him on the map and yet the man remains in obscurity.

This track is a sex track or a baby maker strictly. It’s not a driving song even though the beat is hitting. No, this song has one sole purpose and that’s to be played in the background while bodies move in unison by candlelight as they seek pleasure. Vikter doesn’t give me the impression that he’s a really strong vocalist but you can’t really tell since he does the Janet Jackson whisper singing thing on this track. Thankfully that doesn’t hurt this song at all.

However you choose to listen to this song, alone or with company I hope you enjoy it and if you do choose the company option don’t blame me for whatever the outcome is, deal? Enjoy.

Just To Keep You Satisfied

Being that I mentioned this incredibly talented and gifted man in a previous post I thought it was far time to bring him to my blog. I chose to go with none of his more popular songs though and go with one of his more personal ones. It's without a doubt one of my favorite songs by Marvin and it's a song most may have never heard from him. The song is “Just To Keep You Satisfied” by Marvin Gaye singing about his very public separation and eventual divorce from his wife Anna Gordy, Berry Gordy's daughter. This song didn’t get much airplay and was only heard if you bought his brilliant LP “Let’s Get It On”. This beautiful, sorrowful, and mournful song never really got the chance to shine

This version isn’t the original since the original version was initially co-written by Anna. Marvin decided to redo the song and he went back into the studio. This version is what was born out of those sessions. You can hear the lament and heartbreak in his voice and in the lyrics and when he screams “I never loved nobody like I loved you baby” you believe him and can imagine the hurt he was going through. I can relate to him and this song, I understand just where he was coming from thanks to my own personal life. When I came across this song it stopped me in my tracks and I couldn’t stop listening to it. We may not all have gone through a divorce but we’ve all been there when something falls apart around you and all the love you have for someone can’t keep you together.

When Marvin croons “Oh darling / how could we / end up like this/oh baby let me / reminisce” it’s a feeling we all know well and Marvin captures that pain perfectly on this song. He continues to sing “Leave you / I never meant too / Now you see / how much you hurt me but / if you ever need me/ I’ll be by your side” and damn if I can’t relate to that. Take a listen and let me know if you can relate too.

Windows of The Soul

Tis the season and all that (or so I've been told) so as my gift to you I decided to introduce to you a lovely piece of music that you could chill out with your special someone by the fire place and enjoy a nice bottle of wine with. And if you don’t have that someone special, it’s a song you can wrap yourself up in your blanket or enjoy a warm bubbly bath, shut out the outside world and relax to. The song is “Windows of the Soul” by smooth jazz guitar legend Chuck Loeb. This is easy listening at it’s finest and for me, when I’ve had a stressful day and the world has done it’s best to get on my nerves I turn to this song and it always brings a smile to my face.

It’s a delicious song that starts out with some smooth percussion which then brings in the guitars and you can immediately tell this song is one that will be as easy as cotton on your ears. The melody is easy, the pace is nice and it may even make driving around this holiday season bearable (that's if you're driving of course). If you’ve never heard of Chuck Loeb it’s alright, if you aren’t into smooth, contemporary jazz then more than likely you wouldn’t have. Luckily I know of him and love this song and thought it was worth sharing. I think you’ll enjoy it as much as I do and especially whenever the world gets on my damn nerves.

Merry Christmas :-)

El Cantante

I know I haven't posted in awhile. I moved and that was hellish but successful. Then I had to reconnect equipment, settle debts, and unpack. I've been a little busy but I'm back now and I felt it was high time I added some authentic latin flavor to my blog and in my opinion the only person that can do that is the one and only Hector Lavoe. Now of course the only song of his I could possibly share with you is the one that made me a huge fan of the man and of salsa in general and that is "El Cantante". For those that know this classic know how brilliant it is and for those that have never heard this song, well you are in for a wonderful treat. Trust me.

Where do I begin about this song? That was the biggest question confronting me about this entry for Hector and the answer hit me like a brick dropped on my head. THE VOICE! When you listen to Hector sing and how his voice just sounds like silk in any octave. You realize one thing really quickly and that was this man was born to sing much the same way Marvin Gaye was. Silky smooth voices that could handle anything you threw at them make and sound amazing doing it and just like Marvin had his seminal classic "Mercy Mercy Me", Hector had "El Cantante"

Those that know me know I have no grasp of the spanish dialect so I am really not up on every song Hector is saying but to me that doesn't matter. It's beautiful to listen to from the piano to the stings that add a serious dramatic effect to the trombones and the percussion, they all combine to make this one amazing piece of music. However, the song is basically an entertainer telling his fans that while I sing and dance for you and bring you joy, I have feelings too and I am human just like you but you don't want to know that about me, you just want me to sing. It's a serious sentiment sung in such a magnificent voice over such divine music that it's hard to stop listening to. At least it was for me and it brings me back to a time in my life where I danced all night with good friends. I will always love this song and hopefully you will grow to love it too.