Posts Tagged ‘New Age’

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Midge Ure – "Breathe" (1996)

2009/11/25


A fellow blogger and friend remarked…

I hate it when this happens. I hear a GREAT "new tune" and it's by this really cool artist. Sometimes I post it as a NEW tune. But usually, I catch the actual date and see the song I'm promoting is ten years old already! How can such good music not have found my ears in all that time? Do I live under a rock? The opportunity lost clangs to the floor with a thud.

Case in point: Midge Ure's Breathe came out in 1996. The video looks like it was produced yesterday.

There are usually around 30,000 albums released each year. I think it was a little lower in the 1990s, but regardless there are only 365 days in a year and how could anyone listen to 100 albums a day? Some music is bound to fall through the cracks because music has channels for dispersal, and most people only listen to certain channels, be it particular radio stations, blogs, or whatever. You're more likely to hear some stuff you do not like over and over than you are to find everything you would like. Great opportunities are thus lost with no good solution to prevent this. The most you can do is keep your ears open to new songs, and build on what you like… if you like X and Y is being suggested to you because you like X, then go listen to Y!

This is a cool song. It is a bit new age-y or soft rock-y, and both new age and soft rock have a bad rap. New Age and Soft Rock are just not cool with the punk, rock or pop crowds in general (AKA most of North America) so the song probably was not widely dispersed. It does appear he hit the charts several times in the UK (he is Scottish by the way), including with this song in 1996. His earlier work is more New Wave-y and Glam Rock-y, and so by this, his 4th album (I think), he just didn't have the same audience. I never heard of him or that song before, and you are so right about it looking like it was just produced. The imagery is not time specific which helps. I would not have guessed it is 13 years old. We could totally just tell people it came out last year and pretend we're up on the latest trends! (Fortunately we are already so we don't need to lie. We know we're that cool. *snort laugh*)


Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:


Click here for more info on Midge Ure – Breathe – "Breathe" .

The MP3 may be purchased here…

Duran Duran?

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Loreena McKennitt – "All Souls Night" (1991)

2009/11/02


Today is "All Souls' Day". Mark the day and remember loved ones passed. Celebrate knowing them. Perhaps listen to this song, a good one for your delight on "All Souls' Night".

I can see the lights in the distance
Trembling in the dark cloak of night
Candles and lanterns are dancing, dancing
A waltz on All…All Souls Night.


Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:


Click here for more info on Loreena McKennitt – The Visit – "All Souls Night".

The CD may be purchased here…

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Annie Lennox – "Into the West" (2003)

2009/07/26


I was reminded of Annie Lennox recently by DJ Earworm's release of a mashup requested by Annie Lennox herself. It is impressive and combines an excellent selection of some of Annie's many great songs. It is definitely worth checking out! Sadly it is not available for download the way many of DJ Earworm's mashups are.

I like many of the songs represented, however, the one song sung by Annie Lennox that truly blew me away, both when I fist heard it and now, is "Into the West", which is the closing song on the "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" soundtrack. If you've actually sat down and watched the full 11 hours 38 minutes (extended version) of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, then you know that when you get to the closing it is a heavy moment in all regards. This song is perfect for it. When the song reaches this section, it is so powerful and so full of great triumph and sorrow…

What can you see
On the horizon?
Why do the white gulls call?
Across the sea
A pale moon rises
The ships have come to carry you home

I would be lucky to have such a great song play for me when I sail into the west.

Now I know Annie did not write it alone. It was written by Howard Shore and Fran Walsh along with Annie, but regardless I cannot imagine a better singer for this song. A great song can be wasted on mediocre performers. This one was not!


Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:


Click here for more info on Annie Lennox – Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King Soundtrack – "Into the West".

The MP3 may be purchased here…

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Martin Tallstrom – "Falling Leaves" (2009)

2009/07/21


Sometimes I just feel completely buried alive. Too much to do at work, too much to do at home, everyone wanting a piece of me. It is all my fault though. I let it get to this point. If I just focus on one thing at a time, then that is the best I can do. I could really use a little vacation though. I have had very few days off this year and usually that day and the weekends are used playing catchup on the home "to do" list. I don't know how people have kids and still function. It is a mystery to me.

Anyway, because I keep falling behind I entered "falling" into the search engine and this song, "Falling Leaves" by Martin Tallstrom came up. In this song the acoustic guitar is beautiful and calming. I need to listen to it over and over to soothe my mind. I listened to a number of other songs by him and I am very impressed. This song in particular reminds me of that calm feeling I get when I am out canoeing on the lake, just taking in the world as it is. Nothing to do. No expectations. Away from the world that would pull on my leash (AKA cell phone) and give me 5,000,000 things to do by yesterday. (Why did we create cell phones again?)


Song Recommendations

If you like this song, I also suggest:

I also suggest the music genre:


Click here for more info on Martin Tallstrom – Acoustics – "Falling Leaves".

The MP3 may be purchased here…