I hear this song everywhere. It comes up a lot. I'm sure the drama of singer Ian Curtis's suicide shortly after the release propelled it some. I'd like to think that it also fueled the fire for the rest of them to carry on as New Order. A classic in my book and yet I discovered The Illustrious G was really not familiar with it. Shocking!
As a fan of the mashup, I must also provide you a link to Dsico's "Love Will Freak Us", a combination of "Love Will Tear Us Apart" with Missy Elliott's "Get Ur Freak On". Mashups are all the more fun when you know both songs of course, so here is a link to "Get Ur Freak On".
I cannot decide if La Roux is completely ridiculous or completely awesome. I'm favoring awesome though. I do know I happened upon this song and video the other day and I keep coming back to it. There is something mesmerizing about singer Eleanor Jackson and no it is not the Flock of Seagulls red hair or eye shadow. Perhaps it is her androgyny? I do love the 80's inspiration without apologies. The video is like what you would've expected in the 1980s if the graphics technology had been as advanced as it is now. La Roux may be a over the top and gimmicky, or they may be the pendulum swinging the other way casting aside current notions and trends of what music and fashion should be.
A friend, who I am sure must be reading this blog, suggested this song yesterday, which happened to be Sunday afternoon, saying "if you're seeping in some agony". I may not be in agony but my current dilemma is not fun.
One of my favorite quotations from the Harry Potter books is "Dark and difficult times lie ahead. Soon we must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy." - Albus Dumbledore in "Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire"
I know I am part to blame for the circumstances that have unfolded. I have allowed others to make the "easy" choice. I have tried correcting the course, and failed. I do have choices at this time, though many of them suck. The best ones take a lot of time and preparation. The easiest ones destroy my reputation, the people around me, and leave a path of destruction, so to speak. My issue at hand is far from life and death, but still the quotation applies. What is easy is not what is right for me or for others. Others have failed me, and they will have to face the consequences. For now I must be strong enough to take over where they have fallen and to stay on the high road.
First Movement – Part 1; Allegro ma non troppo (D minor):
(Part 2 and movements 2 & 3 below…)
Today as I prepare to head to work to perform what may be a futile exercise I am reminded of what is known as one of the most challenging Piano concertos in the world, Sergei Rachmaninoff's "Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor, Op. 30". Being a cellist and active in my Orchestra in school, I often explored classical music in middle school. One day I happened upon a garage sale where they were selling countless vinyl records of classical music for $0.10 each. I bought about 20 of them. $2. Pretty sweet! One was a recording of "Rachmaninov's Concerto No. 3 in D minor" played by pianist Witold Malcuzynski and the Warsaw National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, conductor Witold Rowicki. I love this recording. The orchestra and Malcuzynski are a one. Perhaps it was the emotion of Malcuzynski returning to his homeland in Poland after being away for all of WWII and the reconstruction that fueled the energy of all? Perhaps it was Malcuzynski's own connection to Rachmaninoff's story, both of them living as exiles for part of their lives? Perhaps the orchestra, formed from the ashes of the war, that help drive the emotion? It is superb!
Unfortunately I cannot find a place to buy the recording made in 1961 from let alone share it with you via audio stream. So we will have to "settle" for a recording by Vladimir Horowitz, though it is hardly settling. Horowitz knew Rachmaninoff personally after Rachmaninoff's exile from Russia, meeting in 1928. Rachmaninoff was a friend and mentor to Horowitz and Rachmaninoff is quoted as saying, "This is the way I always dreamed my concerto should be played, but I never expected to hear it that way on earth." So although I personally love the Malcuzynski recording, the Horowitz recordings are the ones most likely to reflect what Rachmaninoff had in mind, perhaps even more so than the recordings of Rachmaninoff himself playing his number 3 concerto.
There are three movements, and if you have not heard them, they are a must!
First Movement – Part 1; Allegro ma non troppo (D minor): (See above.)
First Movement – Part 2; Allegro ma non troppo (D minor):
Second Movement; Intermezzo: Adagio (F sharp minor/D flat major):
Third Movement – Part 1; Finale: Alla breve (D minor – D major):
Third Movement – Part 2; Finale: Alla breve (D minor – D major):
PS: You'd better believe I will be blasting this one on my computer speakers in the office. That's right. I'm a rebel!
Everyone has taken a piece of me this week. I have little left to give to you, but I am happy for a day to breathe. I can give you a little "Something for the Weekend" though.
I still have "Submarine Symphonika, "the first song from The Submarine's "Honeysuckle Weeks", stuck in my head from a couple of days ago. It is sunny outside. The sun shining on this Friday. Blue skies, as I struggle to be optimistic about the weekend. It has been a long week and I am likely going to have to work over the weekend to not fail. I do hate failure. One of my weaknesses I suppose.
By the way, this song totally reminds me of The Cardigans. Something about her voice in this song.
I've been working long hours this week and last. 11 hours. 12 hours. It wouldn't be so bad if I wasn't already burned out as of early February. It also wouldn't be so bad if my coworkers weren't allowed to take vacation either. Instead I wanted to take 1 stinking day in February but it would've delayed the project, so no. Back to your cell, er… cube you Corporate Slave!
I've been working on my escape plan though. Shhh… don't tell!
Careful now, when the truth comes out
You'll be gone; you're the one he depends on
Tess, don't tell
It's just for you; it's not for anybody else
