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

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

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.

Internet addiction

So whom do I sue?

The words of an honest man

I'm the master of low expectations.

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

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...

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

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

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

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

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!

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

The making of Superman, an interesting story from behind the scenes

This article reads like an absurdist movie... "Who is this K'Al El' you keep mentioning?"(This coming from the man who was actually heavily involved in the first Superman-movies!!!)

Superman V : The Whole Sordid Saga.

Faith-based disaster planning

"When President Bush was in New Orleans, he said 'We pray there is no hurricane coming this year.' This is what we call faith-based disaster planning."

Jay Leno

Ahhhh, the joys of Bush-bashing... :-)

B5 gives you the finger...

My new wallpaper. A bit too big to publish here, so here's the link...

50 ways to kill an ensign...

A bit of good filk is never a bad idea...

Acoustic acoustics...

Well I finally made the decision to take up the acoustic guitar again. Haven't played it seriously for 7 or 8 years now, too busy and after all; my synthesizers and the band took up most of my time. Now that Solid Air has ceased to be(at least in its last incarnation) I finally have the time to go back to 6 strings, 6 pegs and two hands and a G-string...

In the previous century(I love the way that sounds!) I used to do gigs in small venues. Mixing originals songs and covers, I always tried to find a good mix of songs. Songs that either everybody knew but hadn't heard in years, song that almost nobody knew but which were - in my opinion - absolutely brilliant, and some of my own stuff if it wasn't too bad compared to the covers I played on a night. Songs like 'Don't dream it's over' as well as the works of Loudon Wainwright and Bruce Cockburn are now much better known in my hometown than they were... Possibly because of the way I 'played' them(I ain't going there people! ;-)).

So now I'm back in that saddle, trying to get my fingers flexible enough again to work the songs I want to play. Mind you ; I am definitely not one of those guitar-wizards who can play the intro to 'Oh Well' twice as fast as Peter Green could. I get by and I can support the songs I am singing.

So what's the score Norah? So far I have made a first selection of songs to be played. This is not the definitive set because I always keep tweaking the list until say a week or so before the gig. But this is what I'm thinking of.


Neil Young - Ohio / Southern Man
Tim Buckley - Song to the Siren
Loudon Wainwright - He said, she said
Original song - Somewhere in '06
Queen - '39
Original song - After loving you
Bruce Cockburn - Outside a broken phonebooth with money in my hand
Crowded House - Whispers and moans
Robbie Williams - Better man
Rory Gallagher - For the last time
Pink Floyd - Wish you were here
Tracey Chapman - Fast Car / Revolution
Todd Rundgren - Love of the common man
Fleetwood Mac - Man of the world
Loudon Wainwright - Career moves
John Lennon - Working Class Hero
Neil Young - (keep on) Rocking in the Free World


Added May 11th :

The Church - Under the Milky Way
Michael Penn - No Myth


And on it goes...