Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Forgotten Heroes -Klaatu

Listening to 'Routine Day' by Klaatu atm. A proper warning against letting your career get in the way of your life.

Weird; this band never made it really big time. although there is something to say for becoming a cult-band...

I remember being mesmerized by 'Hope', it was like a science fiction story set to music, and I mean a REAL SF-story, not Buck Rogers or whatever.


"It started off a routine day
I got through the morning in the usual way
I caught the bus on time
Good morning, Mr. Driver, drive
As I sat inside my overcoat I clutched my cane
And pressed my nose against the foggy window pane
Ho hum
The life I lead would even make a dead man yawn

Midday comes
I break for lunch
With my sandwich and a beer I go on a hunch
To the park where I hope to find
A little bit of peace of mind
As I sat there on a bench amidst the rodent race
I felt a strange sensation that without a trace appeared
But then as quickly disappeared again

So tell me what's the bloody point of playing the game
With so much to lose yet so little to gain
You sell your life away
Can't you see you're just a cog working like a dog
You trade your future for a dead-end job
That's full of routine days
Routine days

I race the clock to the end of my day
The paycheck in my pocket makes me feel okay
But was it worth the grind
Just to keep from falling behind

I stand here in the queue behind a foul cigar
My face discreetly buried in a book on Mars
Humdrum
And I'm waiting on the pier 'til Charon comes"

The Power of Old Metal - Observation One

Yes, of course, modern metal is usually technically superior, modern metal is made up of exquisite patterns and melodies and blahdieblahdieblah...

But once upon a time there was R.U.S.H. A Canadian band with balls AND feeling. Just listen to Cygnus X-1 part I and part II and be amazed. So long ago yet so brilliant...


"In the constellation of cygnus
There lurks a mysterious, invisible force
The black hole
Of cygnus x-1

Six stars of the northern cross
In mourning for their sisters loss
In a final flash of glory
Nevermore to grace the night...."

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

This space is rather dusty, time I re-activate it.

Let's see: the world is still going to pot, life consists of work and more work, but fortunately some interesting stuff is happening in the music scene. Catching up on newer artists like Razorlight, Lily Allen, etcetera. I also found some great Jools Holland records with acts like Muse an King Creosote on them.

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

A damning report

Read this PDF, you can start at page 10. Jeeeezus...

Voting Machines

Monday, July 30, 2007

Fundamental

A couple of weeks ago I went to see Pet Shop Boys(again). Good show although I think the one before this one had a more adventurous setlist. Still, a good show and a good time was had by all.

I was invited to go to the show the morning of the gig. So the afternoon of the concert I purchased their latest album 'Fundamental' to listen to a taste of what I would hear that night. Some weeks passed and I put the album on again, this time to really listen to it. Now I have been a fan from Day One, always thought these guys did something no one else did. And boy did these guys write some great songs; from 'It's a sin' via 'Miserabilism' to 'Can you forgive her?'. All brilliant in my opinion.

So now I catch myself putting the album on and on and on and on... Fundamental is really what it says: a return to the fundamentals of what makes Pet Shop Boys. There is a song that has the same sound-balance and feel as 'It's a sin'. There is one that sounds almost but not entirely like 'Euroboy', and the list goes on. But mind you; they're all new songs and they are all very good to absolutely brilliant. And for the first time as far as I know, the guys actually put in some criticism of society in their lyrics. Not just in the Blair-Bush-Poodle song 'I'm with Stupid' :

"No one understands me
Where I'm coming from
Why would I be with someone
who's obviously so dumb?"

or :
"Before we ever met
I thought like everybody did
you were just a moron
a billion-dollar kid"


but also(and more so) in the gem that is "Integral" :


"If you've done nothing wrong
You've got nothing to fear
If you've something to hide
You shouldn't even be here

Long live us
The persuaded we
Integral
Collectively
To the whole project
It's brand new
Conceived solely
To protect you

One world
One reason
Unchanging
One season

If you've done nothing wrong
You've got nothing to fear
If you've something to hide
You shouldn't even be here
You've had your chance
Now we've got the mandate
If you've changed your mind
I'm afraid it's too late
We're concerned
You're a threat
You're not integral
To the project

Sterile
Immaculate
Rational
Perfect

Everyone has
Their own number
In the system that
We operate under
We're moving to
A situation
Where your lives exist
As information
One world
One life
One chance
One reason
All under
One sky
Unchanging
One season

If you've done nothing wrong
You've got nothing to fear
If you've something to hide
You shouldn't even be here
You've had your chance
Now we've got the mandate
If you've changed your mind
I'm afraid it's too late
We're concerned
You're a threat
You're not integral
To the project

Sterile
Immaculate
Rational
Perfect"




Oh, and you're right guys: 'I learned a lesson from the 20th century I think that we should not dismiss'. Indeed.

Let me translate. Frank Zappa...

http://www.nu.nl/news/1176477/70/Berlijn_eert_Frank_Zappa_met_straat.html

Berlijn eert Frank Zappa met straat
Uitgegeven: 30 juli 2007 19:27
Laatst gewijzigd: 30 juli 2007 19:28

AMSTERDAM - In Berlijn is een straat vernoemd naar de legendarische rockster Frank Zappa. Straat 13 in het voorheen communistische oosten van Berlijn heet vanaf nu Frank Zappastraat.
ANP

Het initiatief voor de naamsverandering is genomen door de filmorganisatie Orwo Haus, die in de straat gevestigd is. Het gaat de organisatie, die stamt uit de DDR-tijd, naar eigen zeggen om hetgeen Zappa symboliseerde.

"Taboes kende hij niet, hij was muzikaal van alle markten thuis, prikkelend en hij liet zich niet inpalmen door kapitalistische ondernemingen", zegt de organisatie in een verklaring.

Broer

Zappa's broer Bobby heeft Orwo Haus bedankt en gezegd dat de in 1993 overleden Amerikaan trots zou zijn geweest.
(c) ANP



Berlin honours Frank Zappa with street.

Released: 30 juli 2007 19:27
Last updated: 30 juli 2007 19:28


AMSTERDAM - In Berlin a street was named after the legendary rockstar Frank Zappa. Strasse 13(Street 13) is now called Frank Zappa Street.

The initiative for the namechange came from the film organization Orwo Haus, located in the street. The organization, which stems from the DDR-era, aims for what Frank Zappa stood for.

"He did not know any taboos, he was musically extremely eclectic, he pushed the envelope and he was not seduced by capitalist companies", the organization states.


Brother.

Zappa's brother Bobby has thanked Orwo Haus en stated that the artist, who passed away in 1993, would have been proud.

(c) ANP

Thursday, July 05, 2007

The most beautiful song of 2007 so far.

Rufus has outgrown his dad


Going To A Town lyrics by Rufus Wainwright.


I'm going to a town that has already been burned down
I'm going to a place that is already been disgraced
I'm gonna see some folks who have already been let down.
I'm so tired of America

I'm gonna make it up for all of the Sunday Times
I'm gonna make it up for all of the nursery rhymes
They never really seem to want to tell the truth
I'm so tired of you America

Making my own way home
Ain't gonna be alone
I got a life to lead America
I got a life to lead

Tell me do you really think you go to hell for having loved?
Tell me and not for thinking every thing that you've done is good
(I really need to know)
After soaking the body of Jesus Christ in blood
I'm so tired of America
(I really need to know)

I may just never see you again or might as well
You took advantage of a world that loved you well
I'm going to a town that has already been burned down
I'm so tired of you America

Making my own way home
Ain't gonna be alone
I got a life to lead America
I got a life to lead
I got a soul to feed
I got a dream to heed
And that's all I need

Making my own way home
Ain't gonna be alone
I'm going to a town that has already been burned down

Wednesday, July 04, 2007

Genesis Pics and Vids

O.K. Here are some links about the Genesis-gig in Amsterdam :

Nice Vids!

Very high quality pictures Pics! from The Splinter Inside

Check out the high-res versions like this one Awesome!

Revived from The Dead!

Not much activity here lately. Too busy living I guess...
Went to Genesis in The Arena in Amsterdam last sunday. Great great show, these guys will still deliver when they're 80 years old(nope, they're not that old yet...).

I'll put up some pictures, video's and reviews later.

Thursday, December 14, 2006

Internet addiction

So whom do I sue?

Wednesday, December 06, 2006

The words of an honest man

I'm the master of low expectations.

--George w. Bush aboard Air Force One
06/04/2003

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

A small hint. Or not so small.

Doing a little thread in Latin somewhere else. I do it with this http://www.tranexp.com:2000/Translate/result.shtml of course. My latin sucks, this actually helps me a get the hang a bit... So here it is my friends; the entryticket to that thread if you can't do Latin.

http://www.tranexp.com:2000/Translate/result.shtml

Testing the waters

This is a test. I have just been converted to Google. Don't feel no different though...

Friday, August 11, 2006

Vergane glorie : Cornelis

For all people who use the Babelfish...


De Jantjes Blues.


Jantje was aan 't wandelen op het Leidse Plein
Toen vond ie een rijksdaalder en dat vond ie fijn
Hij kocht er zoute pinda's voor, sigaretten en drop
Kortom in no-time waren al z'n centen op

Maar hij werd geschaduwd door een brigadier
Die zei tegen Jantje "Kom jij maar eens hier"
'Kweenie of je 't weet maar rijksdaalders op straat'
'Zijn verloren goederen en horen aan de Staat'

De rechter zei 'Hee Jantje, weet jij wel wat je bent?'
'Dat noemen wij juridisch een jeugd-delinquent'
'Een schande voor je ouders, je toekomst naar de maan'
'Want als je later groot bent krijg je nooit een goede baan'

'Stik maar' zei Jantje, 'met je kouwe kak'
'Ma die is de hort op en pa zit in de bak'
'Wat die er van zeggen lap ik aan mijn schoen'
'En als ik later groot ben zorg ik zelf wel voor m'n poen'

Men haalde er een heel stel psychologen bij
Die vond hem een gevaar voor de maatschappij
Vandaag een rijksdaalder, morgen een huis
Hopsakee de bajes in en weg met dat gespuis

Op z'n verjaardag zat Jantje in de cel
Er kwam geen visite maar kadootjes krijg hij wel
Ma stuurde een ijzerzaag, pa stuurde een boor
'Daar gaat ie dan' zei Jantje en hij ging er vandoor

Buiten de bajes zag hij een auto staan
'Ik leen hem maar' zei Jantje, zo gezegd en zo gedaan
Maar in een scherpe bocht kreeg die kar een lekke band
Sloeg zeven maar over de kop en vloog toen in de brand

Hiermede eindigt het verhaal van onze held
Een Blues voor Jantje zongen de vogels in het veld
Jezus, zei de dominee, sta zijn zieltje bij
Maar Jantje had er maling aan want Jantje was vrij
Jantje was vrij, Jantje was vrij...


Cornelis Vreeswijk

Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Ye Olde Banners

"Even if the flag burning amendment does become law, the larger problem will remain of how to respectfully dispose of older, tattered flags. Well, fortunately the U.S. official Flag Code has a suggestion about this.

Quote: 'The flag, when it is in such a condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem of display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.'

Owwwwcchh.

In response, the House Republicans are calling for tattered flags to be kept alive via a feeding tube."


Jon Stewart

Tuesday, July 25, 2006

Jimi

The story of life


The story of Jesus
so easy to explain
After they crucified him,
a woman, she claimed his name
The story of Jesus
the whole bible knows
went all across the desert
and in the middle, he found a rose

There should be no questions
there should be no lies
He was married ever happily after
All the tears we cry
No use in arguing
all the use to the man that moans
When each man falls in battle
his soul it has to roam
Angles of heaven
flying saucers to some,
made Easter Sunday
the name of the rising sun

The story is written
by so many people who dared,
to lay down the truth
to so very many who cared
to carry the cross
of Jesus and beyond
We will guide the light
this time with a woman in our arms
We as men
can't explain the reason why
the woman's always mentioned
at the moment that we die
All we know
is God is by our side,
and he says the word
so easy yet so hard

I wish not to be alone,
so I must respect my other heart
Oh, the story
of Jesus is the story
of you and me
No use in feeling lonely,
I am searching to be free

The story
of life is quicker
than the wink of an eye
The story of love
is hello and goodbye
Until we meet again

The last words on paper of Jimi Hendrix

Thursday, June 15, 2006

The Ministry of Truth at work



Found in Athens, Georgia...


I had doubts as to where we're going
but I gotta hand it to the Man upstairs
I've been put on a whole new programme
Don't have to handle my own affairs
Everything I need is on my print-out
I don't need anything anymore
I'n not confused by useless knowledge
I don't even know if it's 1984 for sure

Rules rule O.K. ask no questions
Welcome to the Age of Consent
Fasten seatbelt, drive with caution
Don't take shots at the President
Robotman's a wonderful creation
Automatically obeys the laws
Laws of Nature, Man and Science
I don't even know if it's 1984 for sure

What I need is some real emotion
Little love and and a lot of despair
Robotman's got a brandnew problem
Robotman don't know how to care
I paid my dues but the dudes won't let me
I cry out but who the Hell for?
I don't even know what it means to suffer
I don't even know if it's 1984 for sure

Nine-teen-eighty-four..?


Tim Rice/Rick Wakeman

Monday, May 22, 2006

Observations from the sideline - GWB

"George Bush often states that he reads the Bible every day. And I'm thinking: "You're 55 years old, finish the damn book!"

Towelday!

Towelday - the site

Don't forget the 25th of May is Towelday!.