dissabte, 27 de desembre del 2008

Stand by me!



That's a worldwide song: people sing it around the world. The song is inspired by a traditional Gospel song. There have been many versions of it but the most famous is John Lennon's version recorded in 1975 for his album Rock'n'roll. Today I've discovered that the song called "Beautiful Girls" by Sean Kingston has closely resembles parts of the violin solo from the original song. However, if you listen this song you would think that they are completely different.
This video is an editing of singers who play in the street. It belongs to a project called "Playing for change" and it's becoming very famous.
I think it's moving to see it.

When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we see
No I won't be afraid
No I won't be afraid
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

And darling, darling stand by me
Oh, now, now, stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me

If the sky that we look upon
Should tumble and fall
And the mountain should crumble to the sea
I won't cry, I won't cry
No I won't shed a tear
Just as long as you stand, stand by me

And darling, darling stand by me
Oh, stand by me
Stand by me, stand by me, stand by me

Whenever you're in trouble won't you stand by me
Oh, now, now, stand by me
Oh, stand by me, stand by me, stand by me

Darling, darling stand by me
Stand by me
Oh stand by me, stand by me, stand by me

dijous, 18 de desembre del 2008

Raindrops keep falling on my head



A simple question:
Where are the clouds in this film?

It hasn't any sense a song like this in a shining day. The objective of this song in a romantic and funny sequence was to create a hit that you could hear on the radio, and then you would fancy watching the movie! " Raindrops keep falling on my head" was written in 1969 by Hal David and Burt Bacharach for the film "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid". They won an Oscar for the Best Original Score.

The thing is that a lot of people of my generation don't know "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid" (Dos hombres y un destino)but everybody can sing this song, hum at least!

Besides, this passage is considered one of the precedents of the videoclip!

dilluns, 15 de desembre del 2008

Golden Gate Quartet

"I guess I've always been a part of music, and music a part of me"


Have you ever heard about a pioneer Virginia gospel quartet called Golden Gate Quartet?


Golden Gate Quartet was a gospel group who was born in 1937. However, it has lived until 2008! So, work it out! Seventy years singing over the world! It's the most famous gospel group in the history of jazz!
The members of the quartet have been changing, of course, but they have created a new style called jubilee, a secularized form of church music. Their voices became instruments playing harmonies in four-part pieces.
Besides, they have played with legendary singers like Louis Armstrong, Ledbelly, Benny Goodman,...

One of the most famous song is "Down by the Riverside". Please, listen to it!

divendres, 12 de desembre del 2008

Weird pills

About the article Taking herbs "helps depression" by Sinead Garvan on the Nicenet:

Today I'm a bit skeptical about alternative medecine. Two years ago I would have said the opposite. I've gone to alternative therapist and they have given me different kind of weird pills (they were made with natural products). In that moment, I believed that with that medication I would be better. Then, I had an argument with a good friend about it. He said me that those pills were a placebo. Maybe I disagree with him but I have to admit that in some things, he was right. In general, the power of our mind can heal us in the little health disorders like headache, backache, sorethroat, hair loss,... I'm sure about this in spite of sounding esoteric. However, after this talk, I didn't change my mind.
Suddenly, one day I realised that I hate consuming any kind of pills: you're ingesting something that will react to your body, but it can't help your own natural process because the fact is artificial!
Today I've a little job in a health food shop. I can't share their mentality but I like listening to their budist and philosophical stories. I know, it's contradictory but it's life!

Do you smile at strangers?



"My landlord's fiancee never locks her house door. And
when the two of them go to Florida for the winter, she leaves her car unlocked,
with the keys inside!"


I've read an article in a blog about the distrust of people. It's a delicate topic. Two weeks ago I realised that I didn't have my change purse. What I had to think: did I lose it? or has someone stolen it? I haven't the answer because I didn't notice anything. However, I could do two things: be distrustful all my life or live more carefree than I was. I've chosen the second option because I think we have no choice. Don't get me wrong, I'm only saying that we have to trust each other. We live in a social world, we need people to survive. Ok, that's right, there are really cruel people: thieves, rapists, killers, hijackers,... it take all sorts! But who wants a life without comunication? Nobody. Who wishes to be cut off?
I love having any kind of relationship! with my familly, with my friends, with shop assistants and I like also with strangers. In some cases, I'm scared, of course. But then, after talking to them, I feel proud.

So, what do you think about it?:

1)Do you think that we have to be cautious in every moment?
2)Do you think that we have to trust strangers?
I would like to say goodbye with some music:
Today I've discovered two nice songs in my memory. They were hidden long time ago but I've rescued. Would you like to share them with me?


Going to a town by Rufus Wainwright

dimarts, 9 de desembre del 2008

Painting clouds in a canvas


Have you ever contemplated the sky and have thought: "I've to draw it"?

In the history, there have been some artists who has thought about it. Dahl is one of them. He insisted on the thorough study of the nature.
Johan Christian Clausen Dahl (1788-1857)is a Norwegian romantic painter who has revolutionized the landscape paintings of the XIX century. He belongs to "Dresden School", where the most important painter was the romantic Friedrich. I'm sure you've heard about him. However, I think that his real master was the nature.
Of course, Dahl's oeuvre has many types of landscapes: marines, with shipwrecks, moonlight scenes, pastoral idylls at sunset, ... but I only want to talk about his landscape studies. He's one of the pioners of open-air in the early 19th. He did little outdoor oil sketches of the sky, in different moments of the day because he wanted to explore carefully the changing processes of nature.


So, today I'm going to recommend something really absurd:
look at the sky!

divendres, 5 de desembre del 2008

The revolution of electronic paper


Do you know something about one of the most revolutionary inventions?

In the future, we won't read a book, we won't write in a notebook and of course, the embarrassing newspapers will disappear.
I've heard about it because I know people who like computer issues but I can't understand it yet. How will we write? Technicians say that you could write but it's a screen! We can't write words in a laptop if we haven't a keyboard.
There's already a Plastic Logic's factory in Dresden that produce electronic newspapers.
I completely agree with the huge waste of natural resources that we are doing with the paper industry. It's one of the arguments of scientists. However, I can't imagine myself without a pen in my pocket and a loaded folder in my rucksack. Could you do it? We have been born in the society of paper in spite of technological evolution.

Soon, I'm going to write an article about a painter fromDresden but this is another story.

Please! Post me comments if you have something to say! I will appreciate your voice!

dijous, 4 de desembre del 2008

Dharma Bhadur and an another Everest record




Today I've heard a chocked item of news. We could see it as good news, or as bad news I think:

This year, we have had the world's oldest climber ofEverest. However, a Nepali helper has had to pay a big price for it. He has lost most of his fingers and some toes. With seventy-six years, Sherchan has become the oldest men climbing this charismatic mountain. That's great, I know but maybe he didn't realised that he has been helped by a heroe.
When the champion was celebrating his record, Dharma Bhadur was in a hospital where doctors amputated the fingers on both his hands as well as toes on his right foot. Sure, I don't doubt his good intention of this guide that took off his gloves during the ascent to help Sherchan put on his clothes.
On the other side, how can he compensate his lost? Where is the reward?

Definitely, I think this mountaineer has been so selfish. Now, he will appear in the history books but I can't stand the idea of making a disabled person who can't works now. Because guiding mountains, for Nepalies is the only way to survive.

I recommend you two websides for look up more information about it:
http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/world-news/aide-pays-for-76-yr-olds-everest-record_10068268.html
http://www.tv3.cat/programa/136938435/Telenoticies-migdia

dimecres, 3 de desembre del 2008

Presents of life

Have you ever received a present from life?
Surely, some people would answer me "every day" because we could understand the life as a gift. But I'm talking about little nice anecdotes like I've lived yesterday. I'm going to explain it better:
Some weeks ago I read an article in this blog about a café near my university that I like so much. Well, the thing is the owner of this coffee shop has written me a comment appreciating my positive words. They were so grateful. I couldn't never think that I'll have an answer of them. Of course, I don't expect it. I feel really happy when I saw it. However, if I want to talk about a café that I like it, the next time I won't say how is called! I'm embarrassed!