Okay, it's time for another post that introduces to you, my lovely, daring, and open minded readers to some beautiful movie music. Now I was up late one night (big shock I know) and I was leafing through my movie channels and came upon this movie. It was almost over but there was a scene where the male lead strode through the early morning dew to speak with the femal lead and profess his love for her. The movie was Pride and Prejudice and the name of the piece is Your Hands Are Cold. Now while all I have ever heard of the story was how wonderful Mr. Darcy is (was, whatever) what I found truly wonderful during this moment in the movie was the music.
Composed by the Oscar award winning Dario Marianelli, when I heard this piece of music I knew I had to have it in my collection. So much so that I bought the soundtrack the very next day. It starts out so purposefully and then turns incredibly lush and soft. It's sweet sugar in musical form as two supposed rivals finally get together and reach an understanding. Then the piano comes in with the strings and the movements are amazing. The piano and the strings dance and play with one another in such a stirring way that it's hard not to at least like this piece of music.
Dario was up for an Oscar for this soundtrack but lost. He won two years later for Atonement (which was amazing in it's own right) but I think they gave him the Oscar then because they knew he deserved it for this movie. And especially for this piece right here. Enjoy!
I have to admit, this song makes me unabasehedly happy, giddy even and I don't know why. Maybe it's the multi-layered vocal harmonies or perhaps it's the drum track (that get's me playing my air drum set every damn time without fail). Maybe it's because it was put together by my favorite production duo of Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis. Maybe it's because when this song dropped music was fun to me. I was listening to it, I was creating it, I was immersed in it (yes even more than I am currently which I know is hard to believe). The song is Human by The Human League and it was undoubtedly their biggest crossover hit in the states. Off of their album Crash and produced by Jam and Lewis, the creative masterminds behind Janet Jackson, Alexander O'Neil, and Cherelle at the time, Human became The Human Leagues second number one song in the US.
The sound of this song is distinctly Jam and Lewis (if you don't think so then listen to Pillow off of Herb Alperts Keep Your Eyes On Me). Jam and Lewis fleshed out the sound they pretty much trademarked on Janet's Control album on this song. Heavy synths and the drum tack dominate this song but what makes this song special in my eyes is the vocal harmonies. Layered perfectly and with such subtlety that you can almost miss it if you aren't playing attention, while one voice goes up, the one just beneath it goes down. You can hear that little trick during the chorus.
The pairing of The Human League with Jam and Lewis wasn't studio bliss, the band left Flyte Tyme Studios in a huff and flew back to the UK leaving Jam and Lewis to finish the record on their own. And while the rest of Crash never did as well as Human, I for one am happy this song was born from that brief collaboration, giddy even, go figure.
I just heard this song (because there was no way I was seeing the movie this song was in) and I think it is absolutely beautiful. The artist is Christina Aguilera and the song is Bound To You. I think we can all agree that Christina can sing. I mean, I don't think there's any debate on that, is there? The girl has some lungs on her and her voice can evoke memories or images of chuuch. Now while she sings every kind of song you would figure a blonde haired pop singer would sing, it's songs like this that seem tailor made for her talents.
It starts off softly enough with just a piano and strings playing a haunting melody. She comes in equally as soft until she gets close to the chorus. She starts picking up steam and flexes her impressive vocal chords. The second verse brings in the percussion and the song simmers on a low flame but it damn sure cooks. I don't know how I could have missed this song. Was the movie Burlesque that bad that the record label wouldn't even dare release this as a single? Or was it and was I off listening to something esle at the time?
I have no idea but I am glad I heard it finally and I urge everyone else to take a listen. If you've heard this song before then enjoy it again and if it's your first time experiencing it, all I will say is you're welcome ;) Enjoy!
I think it's time I post this classic on my blog. It's an oldie but goodie and I was trying to wait until Mothers Day but how hokie is that? I am anything but friggin hokie so I'm posting it now (I'll just find another song for Mothers Day). This is one of only two songs that I know will instantly bring a tear to my own mothers eye (and before you ask, no the other is not posted). The song is Boyz II Men's seminal masterpiece A Song for Mama.
There is not much to say in the way of how great this song is because your ears tell you that much. The tempo, lovely piano accompaniment, and the harmonies were staples of the foursome's sound as they matured as artists. Sometimes they did walk that fine line of schmaltz but thankfully they never really crossed it. What they did instead was deliver some amazing songs from time to time and this song is no exception. This is a truly timeless song and I dare anyone to say different.
Next time you talk to your mother, tell her you love her and if you see her, hug her tightly and kiss her all over her face. If she's anything like my mother she'll ask you what you want. Just look her in the eye and tell her you just wanted her to know how much you love her. And for those without their mothers, remember the good times and all she's done for you and know you make her proud everyday.
Now I have been known to ignore pretty much everything that Rick Ross is involved in but this damn song is just so catchy that I just tune his weak rap right out. It's a catchy Jennifer Hudson and Ne-Yo collaboration entitled Think Like A Man from the soundtrack from the upcoming movie of the same name. Never one to be disappointed when these two artists get together on a track, I gave this song a whirl and I'm glad I did.
The song is high energy from the start with Jennifer flexing her impressive vocal abilities over the catchy track and the lyrics are smart. I do think the chorus was a little over done but when I found myself singing the damn hook I realized it was genius. Ne-Yo brings in the second verse and the song just gets better in my opinion. When he sings Now I'm telling you lies/All because I hate to see the tears in your eyes/Of course I want my cake and eat it too I'm a guy/And of course you don't understand/But you would if you thought like a man it's hard not to love this song. Ignore the rap that has not a thing to do with the sentiment of the song like I do and you will be greatly entertained (and if you like Rick then all the better for you).
Another great offering from two very talented artists actually has me looking forward to the movie. And while I LOVE movies, no song has ever done that to me before. Enjoy!
