" Caros audiophiles, the World Cup Dream, or perhaps I should say the Fantasy, is over for Portugal and for England. But hey, it is just a game, not a war, nobody died, real life goes on.
And, at least here in Britain, we still have our Scottish man Andy Murray to cheer at the Wimbledon tennis.
Dreams made me think of a fantastic old song by the New Zealand group Crowded House. Don't Dream It's Over , like most of their songs, has a mysterious poetic lyric not easy to explain, rather like life itself, but essentially it sounds a bell of optimism, of carrying on whatever the obstacles.
Don't Dream It's Over
There is freedom within, there is freedom without
Try to catch the deluge in a paper cup
There's a battle ahead, many battles are lost
But you'll never see the end of the road
While you're traveling with me
Hey now, hey now
Don't dream it's over
Hey now, hey now
When the world comes in
They come, they come
To build a wall between us
We know they won't win
Now I'm towing my car, there's a hole in the roof
My possessions are causing me suspicion but there's no proof
In the paper today, tales of war and of waste
But you turn right over to the TV page
Now I'm walking again to the beat of a drum
And I'm counting the steps to the door of your heart
Only shadows ahead, barely clearing the roof
Get to know the feeling of liberation and release
Despite the World Cup disappointment, I had a lovely weekend in London: the sun was shining, and with a good friend visited Portobello Market with its clothes and antique stalls,
and strolled through Hyde Park, where Stevie Wonder was playing in concert, and drank caipirinhas... a perfect sort of day.
Which leads easily to this uncharacteristically romantic song by Lou Reed. I have chosen a version in which he collaborated with the BBC
using a full orchestra and many famous singers from different musical backgrounds - pop, rock, jazz, blues, country, and opera. It was so well received that it was then
used to raise funds for childrens' charities and sold a million copies.
Perfect Day
Just a perfect day,
Drink Sangria in the park,
And then later, when it gets dark,
We go home.
Just a perfect day,
Feed animals in the zoo
Then later, a movie, too,
And then home.
Oh it's such a perfect day,
I'm glad I spent it with you.
Oh such a perfect day,
You just keep me hanging on,
You just keep me hanging on.
Just a perfect day,
Problems all left alone,
Weekenders on our own.
It's such fun.
Just a perfect day,
You made me forget myself.
I thought I was someone else,
Someone good.
You're going to reap just what you sow...
Oh what a perfect day,
Wishing you all many perfect days,
A proxima,
PO
What can I say, Philip? Perfect post! I don't want my dreams to be over (oh no!) and I want to have many, many, many perfect days ahead. Like you, I wish you exactly the same, for long, long years. Bjs from a rather sad Portuguese, who saw us loose against our arch-enemy!! But, like you say, real life goes on. And Summer is here... pcp
ResponderEliminarpo,
ResponderEliminari don't know what to say.
it's like a present on a thursday morning.
i had forgotten the first song you posted. maybe that made your post feel like a present, i don't know.
ADEUS is now almost a necessity in our lives. at least in mine.
Maria Lemos
Try this one, maybe you will like it better than A. Variaçoes:
ResponderEliminarhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qkaWV1yHqQ&feature=related
Ananas
Another thing: I found the 1st video interesting as it lets us join the conversation between the musicians. I suspect that it was carefully chosen:)
ResponderEliminarMaria Lemos
Thanks Ananas for your suggestion. Sounds interesting, evocative of Morricone music for spahetti westerns. I'll check out more from Dead Combo...absolutely no point comparing with Variacoes - they are like roses and sausages!
ResponderEliminarML, actually the first video was chosen only after my first choice could not be posted. But I agree, it's nice to have a small insight into how the song was born. You should check the links to other songs from the 3 musicians doing this acoustic performance. PO
So, employing what still rings to my ears as a not very accomplished metaphor, do you mean that Variaçoes would be the sausage, or, since we are speaking of Portuguese authors, chourizo (i.e. parochial), and Combo the rose (i.e. universal)?
ResponderEliminarAnaNas
Hmmm, AnaNas...well, that is one interpretation. Though perhaps V deserves to be represented by something more flamboyant (like a pineapple?), and Combo by a cactus. Anyway, since you are not convinced by the metaphor, I guess that makes me "a silly sausage". PO
ResponderEliminar