music posts in english
-
Songsmith Bruce Springsteen tells dark bedtime stories – and the world wants more
The album "Nebraska" by Bruce Springsteen was first released in 1982. We'd listen to a tape of it on the battery cassette player we took in our car on long trips. "Nebraska" was a twilight choice. With each song we carried an extra passenger who would briefly be there, tell their tale, then vanish, leaving space for the next one.
-
The Dave Simmons Soul Show BBC Radio One 1972-74
Here's my tribute to the Dave Simmons Soul Show including links to recordings of the original broadcasts on the YouTube channel Getting Mighty Crowded. I'm reposting because the channel has released a special video connected to this article. So proud!
-
Telling Bob Dylan’s Singular Story
Bob Dylan may be in his 80s now, "A Complete Unknown" has come along and changed the times, presenting Dylan as a young man again in the image of Timothéé Chalamet. I am no longer the 17 year-old who was bowled over by "Blood On The Tracks" in 1975 but this biopic made me want to share the story of how I went seriously Dylan. Here's the final episode.
-
Is this the perfect time to discover Bob Dylan?
Have you seen "A Complete Unknown"? I recommend it. My door to Dylan was not a biopic but a biography which sent me in search of Dylan songs at a time when Dylan was no longer making music. Here's episode 2 of my story about searching for a complete unknown.
-
My own search for Bob Dylan
The release of the Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unkown" makes this a perfect time for a whole new generation to discover a great artist. How does this compare to my encounter with Bob Dylan's songs during a quiet period in his career in 1972? I was 16, he was 31, and things were pretty quiet on the media front. Here's episode 1 of my story looking for a complete unknown.
-
Songsmith Van Morrison And The Power Of Musical Resonance
Van Morrison is a great explorer of the power of resonance and in "Listen to the Lion" he gives us a powerful example. It's basically a love song, but it explores territories which are older and deeper than most love songs. It still resonates with me years after first hearing it. Let me try and tell you why.
-
The rocky road to becoming a guitarist 2
This is Part 2 of the Learner Tale told by Chester Kamen, a musician mainly known as a rock guitarist, in which he reflects on how he learnt his craft. He walks us through the experience of being a self-taught musician in a competitive field where he met and worked with Bryan Ferry, David Gilmour and Madonna among others. He also reflects on his new life as a rock musician in a jazz context. A whole new challenge.
-
The rocky road to becoming a guitarist 1
The shortest path to becoming yourself is rarely a straight line, and learning to get there can take a lifetime. The Learner Tales series continues in conversation with guitarist Chester Kamen talking about how he learnt his craft and became a professional musician. He reflects on the learning path it takes to get to play with people like Bryan Ferry, David Gilmour and Madonna.
-
The Musical Box
Like most people, my musical box contains its own personal mix. You'll find stuff about discovery, about heroes. There are recollections of those songs which just won't stop playing on your inner juke box. There are also pieces on Tango, which I discovered in France, and which taught me to dance and to live and listen to music differently. I hope you enjoy the mix!
-
Songsmith Wreckless Eric Singing About That Special Someone
Songsmith Wreckless Eric and that Special Someone. It's summer up here in the Northern Hemisphere and time to fall in love again. How about making that definitive this time? Not as easy as it sounds? Questions like these are at the heart of "(I'd Go The) Whole Wide World" by Wreckless Eric which tells the story of a mother's answer to her son's despair at ever finding that special someone. Take it away, Wreckless!
