Old school music is cool!

[Citizen X]

Tarja Turunen is not just a metal chick! She attended the Sibelius Academy in Finland. This is a music university. This is one of the biggest universities in Europe and was founded in 1882. Some interesting history about this university alone! The primary degree it offers is the Master of Music (MMus) degree.
She also attended the Hochschule für Musik in Germany, a beautiful university with breathtaking scenery. She’s also a rebel chick and as such was dismissed by her band in 2005. Her first interest was actually classical music and not metal..again a nice looking woman too!

[Citizen X]

80’s bubblegum pop always puts me in a good mood. A single song can change what was originally a miserable day. I too have “suitcase of memories.” The 80’s would not be the 80’s without Cyndi Lauper and her song “time after time.” Cyndi co wrote this song in 1985
“Time After Time
Cyndi Lauper
Lying in my bed I hear the clock tick,
And I think of you
Caught up in circles, confusion
Is nothing new!
Flashback warm nights
Almost left behind
Suitcase of memories,
Time after.....

Sometimes you picture me
I'm walking too far ahead
You're calling to me, I can't hear
What you said
Then you say go slow
I fall behind
The second hand unwinds

If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you I'll be waiting
Time after time

After my picture fades and darkness has
Turned to gray
Watching through windows you're wondering
If I'm OK
Secrets stolen from deep inside
The drum beats out of time

If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you I'll be waiting
Time after time”

[Citizen X]

Sometimes I feel like I’m living on borrowed time
John Lennon
“When I was younger
Living confusion and deep despair
When I was younger ah hah
Living illusion of freedom and power

When I was younger
Full of ideas and broken dreams (my friend)
When I was younger ah hah
Everything simple but not so clear

Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrowLiving on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow

Now I am older
The more that I see the less that I know for sure
Now I am older ah hah
The future is brighter and now is the hour

Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow
Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow

Good to be older
Would not exchange a single day or a year
Good to be older ah hah
Less complications everything clear

Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow
Living on borrowed time
Without a thought for tomorrow”

[Citizen X]

"Reggae music can't refuse it
So give us what we want and mek we gwan"
The case for Reggae Music
I fell in love with reggae music in the summer of 1986. For reggae to be reggae it simply must have a certain content: Love, politics , social issues and God. The breath of life was breathed into reggae in the 60’s. The most common characteristic of reggae is it’s rhythmic accents on the off beat. This is mostly accomplished by guitar but can be done with piano as well. Bob Marley provided that the word reggae had Spanish roots and meant “the king’s music.”“The liner notes of To the King, a compilation of Christian gospel reggae, suggest that the word reggae was derived from the Latin regi meaning "to the king.”
I was initially attracted to reggae for two reasons, the love songs were potent and essentially required a tropical sunset beach with you and your partner. It was more than this though that caused me to fall in love with this music. It is music that praises God of your understanding. I’m Christian by faith so the God of my understanding is Jesus Christ. For reggae to be reggae you simply had to incorporate verses from the Bible in it.“Seems to remind me of the days in Jericho, when we were chanting down Jericho wall!”
There was a reason why Jesus said to the Pharisees, “ The prostitutes will get to the kingdom of heaven before you!” If you study the genealogy of Jesus in the book of Matthew you will have to find that Rahab, the prostitute, the one who spied for the Israelites, is included in the geneology of Jesus Christ
Matthew 21:31 “Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.”
In Matthew 1:5 Rahab, the prostitute, is mentioned as one of 5 women in the genealogy of Matthew. This is not a personal opinion, this is what the Bible says!
The Biblical account of Jericho is simple. Joshua, the successor of Moses took instructions from God to march around the city once every day for six days On the seventh day they were to march around the city seven times and the priests were to blow their ram's horns. “This Joshua did, and he commanded his people not to give a war-cry until he told them to do so. On the seventh day, after marching around the city the seventh time, the priests sounded their ram's horns, and Joshua ordered the people to shout. The walls of the city collapsed, and the Israelites were able to charge straight into the city”
So to appreciate the aforementioned in one potent song I give you “Chant down Babylon” by Bob Marley
They essentially chanted down the walls of Jericho with music…
Chant Down Babylon: Bob Marley
Come we go burn down Babylon one more time
Come we go chant down Babylon one more time
(Come we go chant down Babylon);
For them soft! Yes, them soft! Them soft! Yes, them soft! (ah-yoy!)
So come we go chant down Babylon one more time

Men see their dreams and aspiration-a
Crumble in front of their face,
And all of their wicked intention
To destroy the human race.

And how I know - and how I know - and that's how I know:
A Reggae Music, mek we chant down Babylon;
With music, mek we chant down Babylon;
This music, mek we chant down Babylon;
This music, come we chant down Babylon.

Me say, Music you're - music you're the key,
Talk to who? Please talk to me,
Bring the voice of - of the Rastaman,
Communicating to - 'cating to everyone.

How I (know) - how I know, how I (know) - how I know -
And that's how I know:
A Reggae Music, chant down - chant down - chant down Babylon,
Chant down Babylon, chant down Babylon,
Chant down Babylon!
Reggae Music, chant down Babylon!”

[Blurock]

Yeah man! Reggae just grows on you.

I remember when The Israelites by Desmond Dekker was a hit in 1969. At first I did not like it, but it had such a catchy off-beat rhythm that we just could not resist.

“ Get up in the morning, slaving for bread, sir,
So that every mouth can be fed.
Poor me,the Israelites, sir ”

Although we never played reggae in our band, we used to sing along with the radio, misinterpreting the words as "Wake up in the morning, baked beans for breakfast".....

Bob Marley is of course the king of reggae and is still very popular all over.

[tec0]

The weather is cold, I haven't slept in about 30 hours now and for the most part the day seems to be gloomy and morbid. So I normally listen to some very controversial Music. One of the songs I enjoy is Sirenia the song "On the Wane" I love the poetry in this song it just works…

Do you live a lie?
Are you lost in life?
On the wane tonight
like every night

Do you live a lie?
Would you like to try?
In this world of vainly missions
I'm a god of superstition

Would you grant me a savage prison?
within the walls of your decisions
If you hurt me I won't recover
Don't you turn me down

We are all living a lie
would you like to try?
In these halls of time
we are all giving
in for another day
We shall pass away
on the break of day
We're lost anyway

Do you live a lie?
Do you stand me by?
Would you cope for my existence?
Would you last or cease persistence?

I'm the moon and the seventh dreamer
you're the hewn and a lost redeemer
Heavenworks for a welkin at dusk
you're a frail outcast

"Recall the fragments of a broken life
just like a shattered soul divine
You are the treason-reflecting eyes
You are the darkness that sets in every light"
Do you live a lie?
Are you lost in life?
On the wane tonight
like every night

Do you live a lie?
Would you like to try?
In this world of vainly missions
I'm a god of superstition

Would you grant me a savage prison?
within the walls of your decisions
If you hurt me I won't recover
Don't you turn me down

We are all living a lie
would you like to try?
In these halls of time
we are all giving
in for another day
We shall pass away
on the break of day
We're lost anyway

Do you live a lie?
Do you stand me by?
Would you cope for my existence?
Would you last or cease persistence?

I'm the moon and the seventh dreamer
you're the hewn and a lost redeemer
Heavenworks for a welkin at dusk
you're a frail outcast

"Recall the fragments of a broken life
just like a shattered soul divine
You are the treason-reflecting eyes
You are the darkness that sets in every light"

[Citizen X]

Tec0, it quite clear, you have a thing for Finish and Norway metal chicks! I too am an insomniac.
The following speaks volumes, you know it is as it is!
"We are all living a lie
would you like to try?
In these halls of time
we are all giving
in for another day
We shall pass away
on the break of day
We're lost anyway"

Israelites was Desmond’s first international hit. I’m generally very good at putting reggae songs into it’s historical meaning. This song however remains a mystery to me. I’m not entirely sure of what message Desmond wanted to deliver. At times the lyrics are funny and at other times its lyrics speaks volumes of the pain a man can experience in this life.
“Shirt them a-tear up, trousers are gone.
I don't want to end up like Bonnie and Clyde.
Poor me, the Israelite. Aah.

After a storm there must be a calm.
They catch me in the farm. You sound the alarm.
Poor me, the Israelite. Aah.

Poor me, the Israelite.
I wonder who I'm working for.
Poor me, Israelite,
I look a-down and out, sir.”

[Citizen X]

I love the general attitude of our South African men(It's a guy thing1). The fairer sex’s response to such attitude is equally compelling! Answer me this, were there not times in your life as a man when all you really needed and wanted was a ‘weekend special?” A night when you don’t want to talk, you don’t want to go out to the movies.You don’t want to wine and dine anyone, you don’t want to relate. You don’t need or want a love reaction or an emotional connection. You just want a weekend special!!!!!

Brenda Fassie
“You don’t come around to see me in the week,
You don’t have a chance to call me on the phone,
You don’t come around to see me in the week
BUT Friday night, yes I know, I must be ready for you, just ready for you, just waiting for you!
I’m no weekend, weekend special, I’m no weekend, weekend special
Another lonely night on my own again so I long for your love, I need your touch,
Yes, I do
I’m no weekend special, I’m no weekend special, I’m no weekend special.”
What a tragic loss of a South African Daughter to crack cocaine!!!

[Citizen X]

THE PRETENDERS: Don't Get Me Wrong
I love the Pretenders and Chrissie Hynde in particular. She was a stunning woman in her time. She’s the original female voice of UB40’s “I got you babe” They created a magical moment in musical concert history where she joined Ali Cambell on stage for “I got you babe,” There was one part of the song that was purposely paused for a spectacular fireworks display. The band is not without its painful moments in the form of death of members due to drug overdose.“She was involved with early versions of The Clash and The Damned.”
Now see how Bob Marley unpacks these facts quite nicely in his song “Punky Reggae Party.”
“Im sayin the Wailers will be there,the Damned, the Jam, the Clash ,Maytals will be there. Dr. Feelgood too!Its a punky reggae party and its tonight
its a punky reggae party and its alright.”

“Don't get me wrong
If I'm looking kind of dazzled
I see neon lights
Whenever you walk by
Don't get me wrong
If you say hello and I take a ride
Upon a sea where the mystic moon
Is playing havoc with the tide
Don't get me wrong
Don't get me wrong
If I'm acting so distracted
I'm thinking about the fireworks
That go off when you smile
Don't get me wrong
If I split like light refracted
I'm only off to wander
Across a moonlit mile
Once in awhile
Two people meet
Seemingly for no reason
They just pass on the street
Suddenly thunder, showers everywhere
Who can explain the thunder and rain
But there's something in the air!!
Don't get me wrong
If I come and go like fashion
I might be great tomorrow
But hopeless yesterday
Don't get me wrong
If I fall in the 'mode of passion'
It might be unbelievable
But let's not say so long
It might just be fantastic
Don't get me wrong”

[Citizen X]

Ever being in love with a beautiful woman?
When you in love with a beautiful woman: Dr HooK
“When you're in love with a beautiful woman it's hard
When you're in love with a beautiful woman you know its hard
'Cause everybody wants her, everybody loves her
Everybody wants to take your baby home

When you're in love with a beautiful woman you watch your friends
When you're in love with a beautiful woman it never ends
You know that is crazy and you wanna trust her
Then somebody hangs up when you answer the phone

When you're in love with a beautiful woman you go it alone
Maybe it's just an ego problem, problem is that I've been fooled before
By fair-weather friends and faint hearted lovers
And every time it happens it just convinces me more

When you're in love with a beautiful woman you watch her eyes
When you're in love with a beautiful woman you look for lies
'Cause everybody tempts her everybody tells her
She's the most beautiful woman they know

When you're in love with a beautiful woman you go it alone”

[Citizen X]

Yahweh
Classic Reggae simply will not be reggae if an artist, singer, song writer and band did not dedicate some of the songs to God of their understanding. I’m not Rastafarian, but I do understand its origins and belief system.
YHWH( how do you pronounce it?) you can’t not without the addition of one or more vowels. Yahweh(much better for pronounciation) and that was the reason it was changed. God according to my understanding and faith is Yahweh, aka, Jehovah aka The Lord aka Jesus Christ(and I acknowledge and respect my fellow human beings expressing their beliefs according to God of their understanding.
Bob Marley made numerous songs about God according to his understanding. He utilised several verses from the Bible in his songs.
We’ll be forever loving Jah: Bob Marley
"Forever Loving Jah"
We'll be forever loving Jah;
We'll be forever loving Jah!

Some they say see them walking up the street;
They say we're going wrong to all the people we meet;
But-a we won't worry, we won't shed no tears:
We found a way to cast away the fears,
Forever, yeah!

(We'll be forever loving Jah) We'll be forever!
(We'll be forever loving Jah) Forever, yes, and forever!
(We'll be forever loving Jah) There'll be no end.

So, old man river, don't cry for me;
i’ve got a running stream of love you see.
So, no matter what stages - oh stages -
Stages - stages they put us through,
We'll never be blue
No matter what rages, oh rages,
Changes - rages they put us through,
We'll never be blue:
We'll be forever, yeah!

'Cause only a fool lean upon -
Lean upon his own misunderstanding, oh ho, oh, yeah!
And then what has been hidden
From the wise and the prudent
Been revealed to the babe and the suckling
In everything, in every way, I say, yeah!


'Cause just like a tree planted - planted by the rivers of water
That bring forth fruits - bring forth fruits in due season;
Everything in life got its purpose,
Find its reason in every season,
Forever, yeah!

(We'll be forever loving Jah) We'll be forever!
(We'll be forever loving Jah) On and on and on!
(We'll be forever loving Jah) We'll be forever, yes, yes -
(We'll be forever loving Jah) "

[AndyD]

I like songs with good imagery, songs when you close your eyes you see the events unfolding in your minds eye that the lyrics are about. Here's one from my youth that has always been one of my favourites ever since I first heard it;

DOWN IN THE TUBE STATION AT MIDNIGHT

-The Jam- (Paul Weller)

The distant echo -
of faraway voices boarding faraway trains
To take them home to
the ones that they love and who love them forever
The glazed, dirty steps - repeat my own and reflect my thoughts
Cold and uninviting, partially naked
Except for toffee wrapers and this morning's papers
Mr. Jones got run down
Headlines of death and sorrow - they tell of tomorrow
Madmen on the rampage
And I'm down in the tube station at midnight
I fumble for change - and pull out the Queen
Smiling, beguiling
I put in the money and pull out a plum
Behind me
Whispers in the shadows - gruff blazing voices
Hating, waiting
"Hey boy" they shout - "have you got any money?"
And I said - "I've a little money and a take away curry,
I'm on my way home to my wife.
She'll be lining up the cutlery,
You know she's expecting me
Polishing the glasses and pulling out the cork"
And I'm down in the tube station at midnight

I first felt a fist, and then a kick
I could now smell their breath
They smelt of pubs and Wormwood Scrubs
And too many right wing meetings
My life swam around me
It took a look and drowned me in its own existence
The smell of brown leather
It blended in with the weather
It filled my eyes, ears, nose and mouth
It blocked all my senses
Couldn't see, hear, speak any longer
And I'm down in the tube station at midnight
I said I was down in the tube station at midnight

The last thing that I saw
As I lay there on the floor
Was "Jesus Saves" painted by an atheist nutter
And a British Rail poster read "Have an Awayday - a cheap holiday -
Do it today!"
I glanced back on my life
And thought about my wife
'cause they took the keys and she'll think its me
And I'm down in the tube station at midnight
The wine will be flat and the curry's gone cold
I'm down in the tube station at midnight
Don't want to go down in a tube station at midnight

[tec0]

Another little something that I enjoy… It just helps me to bend my reality.

Epica "Illusive Consensus"

So sweet caress, never long to last!
You entered my soul and gave hope to my life.

So sweet caress, never hope to last!
You left me behind all alone and aghast
Captured inside such an austere Elysium

Imperfect feelings, futile grief
Love a device against all solitude
As it all went on, the love became
A field in a dream that once had been real

So sweet caress, never long to last!
Destroy this illusion we need a change of fate!
Your frantic thoughts are only a condemned cry

Primo somniare videbamur deinde veritas se praecipitavit

I secretly longed for something which had never existed

First I thought it was a dream but then it smashed into reality
Beautiful on the outside, decayed deeply within

I secretly longed for something which had never existed

Devoted to a body without a soul

Numquam non tibi diffidam

[Citizen X]

Yes, music does indeed have that effect. It paints a picture for you!’ Down in the Tube Station at midnight,’ is very upbeat, it’s not a slow moving song but does have a serious message

“I first felt a fist, and then a kick
I could now smell their breath
They smelt of pubs and Wormwood Scrubs
And too many right wing meetings
My life swam around me
It took a look and drowned me in its own existence
The smell of brown leather
It blended in with the weather
It filled my eyes, ears, nose and mouth
It blocked all my senses
Couldn't see, hear, speak any longer
And I'm down in the tube station at midnight
I said I was down in the tube station at midnight”
Okay, so it’s not really that nice to be “down in the tude at the midnight station.” It does rather quite effectively create imagery: Late at night, smell of beer and noise and environment of a pub. The smell of leather, leather has a characteristic smell that only genuine leather can emit.
A song that conjures up imagery of a railway track and train sounds on a quite night: Definitely the very song I plagiarized to impress this cute chick several years ago. “Somebody: Depeche Mode.” I used the words of that song and sold it to her as my own poetry. The very next week not one but all the radio stations played that song! Give me a break, I was young and insecure. Going forward I will acknowledge the source of all the lyrics I use!!

[Citizen X]

Frankie Valli
Can't Take My Eyes Off You :
Frankie Vallie gave the breathe of life to the song”Can’t take my eyes off you,” in 1967. In my opinion Heath Ledger immortalized the song in the movie ’10 things I hate about you.’ He won this chick’s heart in a very creative manner using the song, ‘can’t take my eyes off you.” Check out this video, really classic!

“You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you
You'd be like heaven to touch
I wanna hold you so much
At long last love has arrived
And I thank God I'm alive
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you

Pardon the way that I stare
There's nothing else to compare
The sight of you leaves me weak
There are no words left to speak
So if you feel like I feel
Please let me know that it's real
You're just too good to be true
Can't take my eyes off of you

I love you baby and if it's quite all right
I need you baby to warm the lonely nights
I love you baby, trust in me when I say
Oh pretty baby, don't bring me down I pray
Oh pretty baby, now that I've found you stay
And let me love you baby, let me love you”