Archive for October, 2009

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Louis Victor Jules Vierne – "Toccata in B Flat Minor" from "Pièces de Fantasie" (1920s)

2009/10/31

Some music for all you trick-or-treaters out there. Oh wait… you're out and about and not sitting at the computer looking for Halloween music. Damn. Well then this post is for next year! Let the preparations begin!

Organ music is frequently associated with Gothic music (what with organs being very popular in Gothic cathedrals). Even playing a "light" piece of music can result in the song coming across as very foreboding and heavy. In a cathedral the power of the organ helps convey that sense of an immense power all around you (AKA God). Very clever I think.

I listened to many organ pieces in search of the best one I could find for Halloween. This piece by French composer Louis Victor Jules Vierne and performed by Olivier Latry struck me as heavy, dark and perfect!

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:

Click here for more info on Louis Victor Jules Vierne – "24 Pièces de Fantasie" – "Toccata in B Flat Minor".

The CD may be purchased here…

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Bobby "Boris" Pickett – "Monster Mash" (1962)

2009/10/31

Halloween is finally here! For breakfast I drank some blood (orange juice) and for a snack I am surly to eat some brains (made of butter cream on cupcakes). Perhaps aftewards I will finish carving out faces and spilling guts (on pumpkins) while listening to the screams of small children (trick or treating). I do like the sounds of screaming children. Don't you!?

And of course I will be dancing the Monster Mash, though some may object…

Out from his coffin Drac's voice did ring,
It seems he was troubled by just one thing,
He opened the lid and shook his fist and said,
"Whatever happened to my Transylvania twist"?

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:

Click here for more info on Bobby "Boris" Pickett – "Monster Mash".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

Leave a Comment | Posted in Song of the Day, The Illustrious G | Tagged , , , , ,

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Sir FiNiX – "The Haunted Music Box" (2006)

2009/10/30

While searching for creepy songs, I came across this little music box song by Sir FiNiX (and originally posted to newgrounds.com). It is just what one would want from a Halloween music box.

To add to the creepy, this afternoon G and I did purchase 2 rolls streamers and a bag of balloons and the total as $6.66. From the receipt…

1 BALLOONS 9IN ROUNDS 2.59
1 PARTY FAV BRT OR CRP-81 F 1.79
1 PRTY FV SCHBUS YW CRP-81F 1.79

3 Items
Subtotal 6.17
Tax .49
Total 6.66

We bought them to make paper-mâché jack-o-lanterns. How appropriate, right?! I'm sure we'll have a devilish good time with them too!

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:

Click here for more info on Sir FiNiX – "The Haunted Music Box".

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Rasputina – "Transylvanian Concubine" (1996)

2009/10/30

We definitely need some Transylvanian Concubine for our Halloween preparations! Don't you?

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:

Click here for more info on Rasputina – Thanks for the Ether – "Transylvanian Concubine".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

Leave a Comment | Posted in Song of the Day, The Illustrious G | Tagged , , , , , , , ,

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Danny Elfman – "Main Titles" from Beetlejuice (1988)

2009/10/29

I was querying G what songs she enjoyed for Halloween and she referenced the theme to Beetlejuice. I admitted it was indeed a good choice. Her response was naturally "I'm brilliant." What can I say?! She is right. It is quite possible most of Danny Elfman's works would qualify for they mostly have that perky creepiness that oh so appropriate for Halloween!

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:

Click here for more info on Danny Elfman – Beetlejuice Soundtrack – "Main Titles".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

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Carl Orff – "O Fortuna" from "Carmina Burana" (1936)

2009/10/29

"O Fortuna" is the first part of the movement of Carl Orff's "Carmina Burana", though the bits of the rest of the "Carmina Burana" I have heard are hardly as intense. The lyrics are actually a medieval Latin poem and if you read the full translation to English, the song is actually quite profound in its review of "Fate". Here is one part:

Fate
-monstrous and empty,
you whirling wheel,
stand malevolent,
well-being is vain
and always fades to nothing

With such weight and darkness I am adding it to my Halloween playlist.

Really the song is so powerful it is a pity it has been grossly overused and abused by commercial media and popular culture. Gatorade? Really? Boo! I say. Boo!!!

Now Carlton Draught beer … maybe I'll cut you some slack. But only because the men are all in medieval style gowns in a giant valley, and it appears as though there might actually be a battle. However part of me is disappointed about the lyrics. It just cheapens the original, though I suppose it is funny. Ok, I forgive you, but only because I like beer!

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:

Click here for more info on Carl Orff – Carmina Burana – Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi – "O Fortuna".

The MP3 (of the version by Leonard Slatkin with Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, which I believe is the same one as above) may be purchased here…

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Bruno Coulais – "End Credits" from Coraline Soundtrack (2009)

2009/10/28

One of the creepier (and best) movies I've watched this year is Coraline. I've been itching to watch it again because it is perfect for Halloween. The music also has an eerie tone, as large children's choirs frequently do. Perhaps there is just something creepy about a large group of children all doing the same thing at the same time. Unnatural perhaps?

Written by French composer Bruno Coulais, the song is sung by "The Children's Choir of Nice". Can you hear the French? I was straining to understand the lyrics until I learned all the lyrics were intentionally gibberish, some actual words mixed in but no meaning behind the phrases:

Creaking Van Iddli Fla Lu Va
Pretty Sah Lu Feh Iddli Twu Ki Padi
Trelly Goilly Doilly Seli Pretty Chedi
Emi Swalin Gwoh
Seri Ferin Dorin Greh
Fairy Seiry Don
Sweedes Machin Twinky Doo
Fweeden Soreti

Oosi An Tweeban Retiso
Neh-Neh Fehreeden
Sindwee Bin Doh
Swin Ting Lan Twenty Some Dring Doli
Sweet Lan Bih City Tran Dolinda
Pretty Leheleni Switi Kull
Meli Swimmin So

In my search for the lyrics, I found someone has made up a fake translation. I believe it is LIES! As evidence (other than the wiki page that says it is gibberish), here is a quotation from a site that interviewed the director, Henry Selick:

Capone: So what language are they singing in. To me it doesn't sound like a language I know. It sounds made up even.
HS: [smiles big] It is! It's all nonsense words. You might hear a little accent, and you're not sure, but that's something Bruno likes to do. He uses sounds. It's all sung nonsense.

Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:

Click here for more info on Bruno Coulais – Coraline Soundtrack – "End Credits".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

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