I've taken a little side trip from my usual Rock 'n' Roll/Americana/Alt Country/Surf Guitar music and am rediscovering Beethoven. I've taken a real shine to his sixth symphony (the first movement is my favorite), and I've also been listening to a long list of his Sonatas.
I've been a Mozart fan because I love a strong strings presence in classical. But I have to admit Beethoven's piano compositions are really interesting, and the perfect soothing background music as you sit at your desk and wade through piles of tax forms, bills and junk mail.
Anyone else care to share thoughts on music - favorites, new finds, recommendations, best Mariachi fusion band...?
A gathering place for Kulkas and those who were once Kulkas but due to unfortunate circumstances have had to accept life's curve ball and begin going by some other name.
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It really tickles me to know that all of my "children" know the joy of listening to classical music. That is lost on so many Americans.
As you may remember, I have been practicing for years on Beethoven's Pathetique Sonata. When I strted piano lessons some 5 years ago, I was not aware of the gentle beauty in Beethoven's work, thinking it was mostly bombastic. (Da Da Da DAAAAAH) He is definitely one of my favorite composers now.
A few years ago I discovered a new favorite - Dvorak's Cello Concerto in B minor. Does anyone else in the family know it?
There is a rapping/ reggae Amish man who's name escapes me right now. It starts with an "M". Matisyahuah or something relatively close to that. He's pretty good. One of you younger folks, please help me out here. I also really like a lot of hard rock such as Deftones. But honestly, I really like anything at all that has a good beat. Many people say that, I know, but I do mean that.
I am wondering what is something that you all (notice, no y'all.. we may live in the south, but we aren't very southern) would be embarrassed to let others know is in your music collection. I'll start. Fergie- Glamorous. Let the shaming begin.
It's Matisyahu. And he's not Amish, he's Jewish. I've seen him perform on TV and actually, he's pretty darn good.
Guilty musical pleasures: The Bangles' "Walk Like an Egyptian" and DVD's of My Fair Lady and West Side Story.
Stop me if you've heard this before, but your mentioning My Fair Lady brings back a memory for me. It was back when I was teaching music in Kentfield, in the dark ages 40 some years ago. I was presenting the song "Why Can't a Woman Be More Like a Man" from the LP recording. This was to a 7th grade class, I believe. I really wanted them to catch the words, so as I placed the needle on the proper band, I urged "Listen, listen." In the total quiet, we all heard "Damn, damn, damn, damn." I had forgotten that Rex Harrison started the song that way. Pretty embarrassing back then.
I absoltuly love "My Fair Lady" My favorite song is when they are at the horse races and they all sing - in a VERY stoic manner "I've never been so keyed up."
I really enjoyed listening to classical hawaiian music when I sift though bills or cook or attempt to do homework. I especially like Hapa, and Keola Beamer (both CDs "borrowed" from my parents)
guilty pleasure - Disney music. All of it - but especially older theme songs (Alladin, Sleeping Beauty, Lion king) In my defense, some of those sound tracks have really wonderful music - the Lion King and Tarzan both being owned by my parents as well.
Okay, so last night while paying bills and doing other work online, I fired up Napster and found Keola Beamer's "Soliloquy - Ka Leo O Loko." Really nice stuff. There's a couple of tracks which have two guitars playing together, which really caught my ear. Good recommendation!
Then when that was done I ended up playing the soundtrack to My Fair Lady. I still like "Wouldn't it be Loverly" best, followed closely by "Little Bit of Luck" and "Hymn to Him". I don't know if anyone else listens to Prairie Home Companion, but once they had Bonnie Raitt in a skit where she sang "Wouldn't it be Loverly." If you're unfamiliar, Bonnie's voice is not as pure and polished as Julie Andrews'. Her voice is a little smoky, a little rough around the edges. I think that quality put a much better spin on the song. As you said, Emily, a bunch of people in Victorian collars standing stock still and singing "I've never been so keyed up" is kind of silly -- as is Julie Andrews' perfect, silken voice singing as a street urchin.
Note for Southern Kulkas: That song "I Could Have Danced All Night" as performed by Hank Azaria, Nathan Lane, Robin Williams and crew is from "My Fair Lady!"
Back to Hawaiian music - those with DSL or better should poke around for Israel Kamakawiwo'ole doing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow." It's just ukulele and voice. Excellent. (His friends called him "Iz.")
P.S. Currently listening to "The Essential Chieftains" by, well, The Chieftans.
Cody and his mom danced to the Israel Kamakawiwo'ole Somewhere over the Rainbow song
My goodness, we are an eclectic bunch!
I feel like those twins and triplets who are adopted by different parents then find each other later in life and find out they like the same things and act the same way.
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