Old school music is cool!

[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”

[Citizen X]

The general perception is that men should not or are not capable of expressing emotion. Should they express emotion there is that tendency of a certain circle of people that will see them as unmanly on the basis of expressing emotion.
Some of the most manly characters, the real macoy cowboy style male singers and song writers expressed emotion rather quite efficiently.! Roy Orbison: Crying; Manhattans and Barry White: Hurt and Stevie Wonder: Lately... just to name a few...I give you 100% manly emotion!
1.Hurt: Manhattans
“You made a promise
And you broke it
He could never love you like I do
Ooh, I feel so bad

Hurt, to think
That you lied to me
Hurt, way down
Deep inside of me

You said your love was true
And we'd never part
Now, you've found someone new
And it breaks my heart
I'm hurt

Hurt, much more
Than you'll ever know
Hurt, because
I still love you so

But even though you hurt me
Like no one else could do
I would never, never hurt you

Even though you've taken
Your love from me
Baby, I want you back
I'll never hurt you

I'll never hurt you
Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no
I'll never hurt you
I'll never hurt you .”

2.Crying: Roy Orbison


“I was all right for a while, I could smile for a while
But I saw you last night, you held my hand so tight
As you stopped to say "Hello"
Aww you wished me well, you couldn't tell

That I'd been cry-i-i-ng over you, cry-i-i-ng over you
Then you said "so long". left me standing all alone
Alone and crying, crying, crying cry-i-ing
It's hard to understand but the touch of your hand
Can start me crying

I thought that I was over you but it's tru-ue, so true
I love you even more than I did before but darling what can I do-o-o-o
For you don't love me and I'll always be

Cry-i-i-i-ng over you, cry-i-i-i-ng over you
Yes, now you're gone and from this moment on
I'll be crying, crying, crying, cry-i-i-ing
Yeah crying, crying, o-o-o-o-ver you”






Lately:Stevie Wonder

“Lately, I have had the strangest feeling
With no vivid reason here to find
Yet the thought of losing you's been hanging
'round my mind

Far more frequently you're wearing perfume
With you say no special place to go
But when I ask will you be coming back soon
You don't know, never know

Well, I'm a man of many wishes
Hope my premonition misses
But what I really feel my eyes won't let me hide
Cause they always start to cry
Cause this time could mean goodbye

Lately I've been staring in the mirror
Very slowly picking me apart
Trying to tell myself I have no reason
with your heart

Just the other night while you were sleeping
I vaguely heard you whisper someone's name
But when I ask you of the thoughts your keeping
You just say nothing's changed

Well, I'm a man of many wishes
I hope my premonition misses
But what I really feel my eyes won't let me hide
Cause they always start to cry
Cause this time could mean goodbye, goodbye

Oh, I'm a man of many wishes
I hope my premonition misses
But what I really feel my eyes won't let me hide
Cause they always start to cry
Cause this time could mean goodbye”

[Citizen X]

My perception of music: I give you “Get into the groove: Madonna
Words of the masculine gender shall be deemed to include the feminine and vice versa
“And you can dance for inspiration
Come on, I'm waiting

Get into the groove
Boy, you've got to prove
Your love to me, yeah

Get up on your feet, yeah
Step to the beat
Boy, what will it be?

Music can be such a revelation
Dancing around you, feel the sweet sensation
We might be lovers if the rhythm's right
I hope this feeling never ends tonight

Only when I'm dancing can I feel this free
At night I lock the doors, where no one else can see
I'm tired of dancing here all by myself
Tonight, I wanna dance with someone else

Get into the groove
Boy, you've got to prove
Your love to me, yeah

Get up on your feet, yeah
Step to the beat
Boy, what will it be?

Gonna get to know you in a special way
This doesn't happen to me every day
Don't try to hide it, love wears no disguise
I see the fire burning in your eyes
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/m/m...he_groove.html ]
Only when I'm dancing can I feel this free
At night I lock the doors, where no one else can see
I'm tired of dancing here all by myself
Tonight, I wanna dance with someone else

Get into the groove
Boy, you've got to prove
Your love to me, yeah

Get up on your feet, yeah
Step to the beat
Boy, what will it be?

Live out your fantasy here, with me
Just let the music set you free
Touch my body and move in time
Now I know, you're mine

Live out your fantasy here, with me
Just let the music set you free
Touch my body and move in time
Now I know, you're mine

Get into the groove
Boy, you've got to prove
Your love to me, yeah

Get up on your feet, yeah
Step to the beat
Boy, what will it be?”

[AndyD]

I have to be honest, I rarely enjoy music about love, I always think that the song invariable falls short of the real thing. I enjoy well written protest songs and very much like songs with a degree of humour which removes the feeling they're trying to take themselves too seriously. One band that springs to mind who mastered this in my opinion was The Smiths. They were very original, somewhat morbid on occasions but the tune didn't necessarily fit the lyrics. Throw in Johnny Marr who was possible one of the most underrated guitarists of that era and in my book you had a great recipe.

Girlfriend In A Coma

Girlfriend in a coma, I know
I know - it's serious
Girlfriend in a coma, I know
I know - it's really serious

There were times when I could
Have "murdered" her
(But you know, I would hate
Anything to happen to her)


NO, I DON'T WANT TO SEE HER


Do you really think
She'll pull through ?
Do you really think
She'll pull through ?
Do ...


Girlfriend in a coma, I know
I know - it's serious
My, my, my, my, my, my baby, goodbye


There were times when I could
Have "strangled" her
(But you know, I would hate
Anything to happen to her)
WOULD YOU PLEASE
LET ME SEE HER !


Do you really think
She'll pull through ?
Do you really think
She'll pull through ?
Do ...
Let me whisper my last goodbyes


I know - IT'S SERIOUS

[Citizen X]

Good morning Andy,
Music is very accommodating in that there’s a different genre that will cater to everyone.Yes, it does hold true that there is difference between the sentiments expressed in a love song and the actual relationships that people have. Our South African divorce rate attests to what you saying. A love song creates an ideal sought after. I agree with you in so far as there is difference to the happy companionship that a love song emits and our history of domestic violence. No love song applicable there! Bubble gum pop love songs are feel good music. The lyrics and music are designed to capture your imagination. I too enjoy well written protest songs and songs that are poetic master pieces. I know this song ‘Girlfriend in a coffin,’
Andy, I’ll tell you what: I’ll meet you halfway, with two equivalent songs to ‘Girlfriend in a Coffin,’ 1: ‘one of my turns: Roger waters and 2:’Dont leave me now:’ Roger Waters
“Day after day
Love turns gray
Like the skin on a dying man
Night after night
We pretend it's all right
But I have grown older
And you have grown colder
And nothing is very much fun, anymore
And I can feel
One of all my turns coming on
I feel
Cold as a razor blade
Tight as a tourniquet
Dry as a funeral drum

Run to the bedroom
In the suitcase on the left
You'll find my favorite axe
Don't look so frightened
This is just a passing phase
One of my bad days
Would you like to watch TV?
Or get between the sheets?
Or contemplate the silent freeway?
Would you like something to eat?
Would you like to learn to fly?
Would you like to see me try?
Would you like to call the cops?
Do you think it's time I stopped?
Why are you running away?”

Don't Leave Me Now

“Ooooh, babe
Don't leave me now.
Don't say it's the end of the road.
Remember the flowers I sent.
I need you, babe
To put through the shredder
In front of my friends
Ooooh Babe.
Dont leave me now.
How could you go?
When you know how I need you
To beat to a pulp on a Saturday night
Ooooh Babe.
How could you treat me this way?
Running away.
I need you, Babe.
Why are you running away?
Oooooh Babe!”








My perception of music: I give you “Get into the groove: Madonna



“And you can dance for inspiration
Come on, I'm waiting

Get into the groove
Boy, you've got to prove
Your love to me, yeah

Get up on your feet, yeah
Step to the beat
Boy, what will it be?

Music can be such a revelation
Dancing around you, feel the sweet sensation
We might be lovers if the rhythm's right
I hope this feeling never ends tonight

Only when I'm dancing can I feel this free
At night I lock the doors, where no one else can see
I'm tired of dancing here all by myself
Tonight, I wanna dance with someone else

Get into the groove
Boy, you've got to prove
Your love to me, yeah

Get up on your feet, yeah
Step to the beat
Boy, what will it be?

Gonna get to know you in a special way
This doesn't happen to me every day
Don't try to hide it, love wears no disguise
I see the fire burning in your eyes
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/m/m...he_groove.html ]
Only when I'm dancing can I feel this free
At night I lock the doors, where no one else can see
I'm tired of dancing here all by myself
Tonight, I wanna dance with someone else

Get into the groove
Boy, you've got to prove
Your love to me, yeah

Get up on your feet, yeah
Step to the beat
Boy, what will it be?

Live out your fantasy here, with me
Just let the music set you free
Touch my body and move in time
Now I know, you're mine

Live out your fantasy here, with me
Just let the music set you free
Touch my body and move in time
Now I know, you're mine

Get into the groove
Boy, you've got to prove
Your love to me, yeah

Get up on your feet, yeah
Step to the beat
Boy, what will it be?”

[Citizen X]

Virgin Active Gym, Lenasia, is now a distant memory for me. I just don’t have that much needed time to have a workout and distress in the steamroom..I met a cute Guji chick Cherita there, in what was to be my final days at the gym. Now, I didn’t really want to ask her out or anything like that but I really wanted to tell that whenever I play Lionel Richies “Ballerina Girl,” she is the woman that comes to mind as this ballerina girl!
"Ballerina Girl" Lionel Richie
“Ballerina girl
You are so lovely
With you standing there
I'm so aware
Of how much I care for you
You are more than now
You are for always
I can see in you my dreams come true
Don't you ever go away

You make me feel like
There's nothing I can't do
And when I hold you
I only want to say
I love you

Ballerina girl
The joy you bring me
Every day and night
Holding you tight
How I've waited for your love

Sometimes I've wondered
If you'd ever come my way
Now that I've finally found you
This is where my heart will stay whoa

I'm never gonna break your heart
Never will we drift apart
'Cause all I wanna do
Is share my whole life with you

'Cause you make me feel like
There's nothing I can't do
I guess I finally realized
There's nothing else like loving you

Ballerina girl
You are so lovely
I can see in you
My dreams come true
Don't you ever go away
Ballerina Girl”