On earth as it is in heaven…
I’ve been listening to this song from the folks at Elevation over and over and over again.
Kingdom Come from Elevation Worship on Vimeo.
LOST Week, Part One, or How I decided to do a LOST week five minutes ago.
So, I just realized that I have less than a week left before LOST, my favorite tv show of all time, is no more. Tomorrow night (err…tonight) is the penultimate episode, and the 2.5 hour finale airs Sunday night. So I decided (5 minutes ago, as this post’s title suggests) to make this week LOST Week here at the blog (warning: possible spoilers ahead). I’m going to write at least one post every day featuring a top 5 list related to the show. I love top 5 lists. I blame High Fidelity.
So. Tonight’s top 5 will be (drumroll) my Top 5 Musical Moments. These are my 5 favorite song cues in the 6 seasons we’ve had this show. This list will be a bit season 1-heavy I think, given the propensity to end episodes with a pop song in that season. But I can live with that if you can. Here we go.
Tie-5. “Make Your Own Kind of Music” by Mama Cass – Episode 201 – “Man of Science, Man of Faith” – This is our first introduction to Desmond (my favorite character on the show…ever), as well as the moment we realize it’s our new Scottish friend down in that hatch. I know, seems so long ago now. I’d love to know what made the writers choose this song for Des to play in his introduction. Dharma initiative’s heyday was in the early 70′s, so it makes sense time-wise, but why that song? Why not something by Creedence Clearwater Revival or Cream? Maybe royalties play a factor, but regardless, it’s an interesting choice. A read of the lyrics might suggest that this song would provide a comfort for Desmond after spending several years alone in a hatch pushing a button. Here’s this stanza, for instance:
You’re gonna be knowing
the loneliest kind of lonely.
It may be rough goin’,
just to do your thing’s
the hardest thing to do.
This song will forever be associated with this moment on this show for me now. And now I think of more than choking on sandwiches and Scooby Doo episodes when someone mentions Mama Cass.
Tie-5. “Downtown” by Petula Clark – Episode 301 – “A Tale of Two Cities” – This song is our introduction to Juliet and New Otherton, as we open Season 3 to the Others’ book club meeting. Now, I know it’s a bit of a cheat to have a tie for 5th, thereby making this a Top 6 list, but just stay with me. Two seasons in a row the writers of Lost introduce us to a new character in an unfamiliar place with an old song. The song has connections to the character that are subtle enough that it takes a reading of the lyrics to find them. Both songs are at least indirectly about isolation, and both characters are completely isolated. Desmond from the entire world, and Juliet from the world she loves and misses. Juliet is stuck on an island with a group of people she agreed to work with and now is expected to help lead (while her leadership role is never directly stated, it’s at least implied that Others like Juliet and Tom Friendly are high in the pecking order under Ben) under a leader she now hates. A leader who has manipulated her into this position. Juliet wants nothing more than to “forget all your troubles, forget all your cares and go…”
4. “Wash Away (Reprise)” by Joe Purdy – Episode 103 – “Tabula Rasa” – This episode is our first Kate flashback episode, where we first follow her fugitive ways. If you didn’t know, “Tabula Rasa” is Latin for blank slate. One of the biggest themes of the first season is that the island offers each of the survivors of flight 185 a new beginning, a fresh start. This may be more important for Kate than for anyone. The end of the episode, featuring this Joe Purdy tune over shots of the survivors finally showing glimpses of optimism and hope, was the first moment in the series that seemed to transcend mere storytelling into something more beautiful. Also, I’ll never forget how the song faded out to ominous tones as the “mysterious” Mr. Locke looked at Michael and Walt. Remember when we had no idea what was up with that guy?
3. “I Shall Not Walk Alone” by The Blind Boys of Alabama – Episode 108 – “Confidence Man” – Sayid steps off to plot the island and escape the man he fears he’s going to become again after torturing Sawyer. The song plays over shots of several of the castaways spending time together, ending with Sawyer, alone with his baggage and the letter he wrote decades ago to the man he’s going to kill, and Sayid starting his journey. The irony here is that as the band sings “I shall not walk alone” Sayid is off down the beach by himself. But again, a reading of the lyrics reveals more.
Beauty that we left behind; how shall we tomorrow find?
Set aside our weight in sin so that we can live again
Sayid hopes to be able to set aside the weight of his sin, of the things he’s done to who knows how many people. And as we see in the next episode, he wishes to find the beauty he has left behind, his dear Nadia. Sayid doesn’t walk alone. He carries the weight of all the victims he’s tortured, and the memory of the woman he loves and prays to meet again someday. Hope and guilt are a strange combination we all carry.
2. “You All Everybody” by Drive Shaft – Episode 107 – “The Moth” – We finally hear the hit song Charlie hints at in the pilot, and it is so totally worth it. “You all everybody acting like the stupid people wearing those expensive clothes” is a lyric ripped from a Jerry Springer-type show, according to the writers. It makes no sense and yet is totally perfect. It’s the only “original” Lost song on this list, because of its association for me with Charlie’s story. A man with a passion for music who falls into the deepest pit of addiction and somehow manages to claw his way out much like a moth. I identify with Charlie’s struggle to break free of his chains, of his baggage.
1. “Are You Sure?” by Willie Nelson – Episode 106 – “House of the Rising Sun” – This song is my number 1 musical moment on Lost because of the perfect intersection of the plot and the music, put together for emotional effect. This song plays as the survivors settle in at the island ‘homes’ they’ve chosen. Some are at the caves, while others remain at the beach with the signal fires.
Look around you, take a good look and tell me what you see.
Are you sure this is where you want to be?
Those lyrics describe the state of the castaways in this moment better than any could. It was another transcendent moment in the history of a show with many transcendent moments, which I guarantee you will be explored further this week. I’m sure I could have more to say on this subject, but it’s 2 AM and I’m downright sleepy. So until tomorrow, Happy LOST Week.
So pick up the tempo just a little and take it on home
They say imitation is the highest form of flattery. The cover song is possibly the closest it gets in the music business. From time to time an artist may record an entire album’s worth of cover songs. And once in a blue moon an artist may even record an album of covers of only one other artist. A Tribute record. Willie Nelson did it with To Lefty From Willie, his 1977 Lefty Frisell tribute. Matt Houck, better known by his stage name Phosphorescent, has continued the tradition with his album To Willie, a record of some of the Red Headed Stranger’s hits and rarities. I’ve always told people I didn’t like country music, which given today’s definition of country music is true for the most part, but I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for Willie. Whether it’s the fragile voice, the perfect songwriting, the hippie braids or the beat-up guitar, there’s just something about him you can’t help but love. I don’t even know if Willie knows about the record Houck has made, but he should be flattered. Matt has managed to not merely cover Willie’s songs, but to put a bit of himself in them. The brokenness in his own voice conveyed in “Can I Sleep In Your Arms” (best track on the album by far) and “To Sick To Pray” coupled with the wry humor/cleverness of “I Gotta Get Drunk” is a dynamite combination. If you’re a fan of Willie, or a fan of Phosphorescent, or a fan of MUSIC, pick up this album.
Here’s a digital version and a physical version you can purchase if you’re interested. Support good art!
My 25 Favorite Albums of 2009
It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? Anyway, I made this list for the .net, but thought I should put it here and expound on it a bit, and maybe, just maybe, I’ll start the new year off with some blogitude and keep it rolling. 2009 was the year I decided to read more and to keep up with it. I read 53 books in all, which averages out to a book a week…you’ll hear more about that in a future post. So 2010? 2010 is going to be the year I blog more. I’ve decided. This is happening. I hope the one or two of you who may find this hold me to that. Anyway, Happy New Year and all that….let’s get on to the music. I’ll post this in alphabetical order by artist, because I didn’t want to rank them. However there is one album that rose above them all…..
Break this tired old routine, and this time don’t make me leave
It’s been a hard few weeks. My girlfriend of a year and three months broke up with me. I lost my job temporarily (got it back now). I still don’t really know where I’m supposed to be when it comes to work or church…or really anything. But I’m living, and I’m going to keep going. I had a really rough summer last year, and this one had been good until recently. It’s hard when something you love and take for granted goes away. Not surprisingly, music’s helping me get through this. This Avett Brothers song (big surprise) has really helped today. Enjoy.
The Avett Brothers~Laundry Room from LaundroMatinee on Vimeo.
I’m starting with the man in the mirror…
This week Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and the King of Pop Michael Jackson all passed away.
I’m a little too young to have been greatly affected by any of the three of these celebrities’ work, though I’m not sure there’s a non-Amish soul in America that hasn’t been at least somewhat affected by Michael’s music. I learned of Michael after he had already started to go crazy and turn himself into a white woman, so I feel like my experience with his music has always been a bit tainted. That said, there’s nothing like putting an old jam from Thriller, Bad, or Off the Wall and trying to moonwalk.
The man was crazy. We all know that. I just hope the legacy left is the music and not the insanity.
And it’s you when i look in the mirror…
U2 3D is (according to its Wikipedia article) the first live-action movie to be done exclusively with digital 3-d technology. I was incredibly excited going into the theater, but that may have been about the glasses. I love 3d glasses. There was a part of me that was skeptical, because I thought there was no possible way that any U2 film could top Rattle and Hum, but now, as the dust has settled, I am in love with this movie. I had to miss the first two songs (friggin’ traffic), which sucks since they opened with “Vertigo” and “Beautiful Day.” As I entered the movie theater I heard the familiar (and awesome) bass line to “New Year’s Day,” and my excitement grew. No longer was my excitement only related to the glasses. I was at a U2 show! And everything was so amazingly vivid! I haven’t seen a film in IMAX since middle school, and I had forgotten how incredible the technology is. I sat as close to the front as possible without having to crane my neck, and locked my eyes to the screen. For the next 80 minutes or so (it ended way too soon!) I sat, completely riveted. This one gets five stars from me, and it’s renewed my U2 love…which is not good for my wallet. Here’s the full setlist from the film:
Vertigo
Beautiful Day
New Year’s Day
Sometimes You Can’t Make It On Your Own (I was reminded how consistently good Bono’s voice is here)
Love And Peace Or Else (the following stretch of songs was pretty incredible and flowed perfectly)
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky
Miss Sarajevo
Pride (In The Name of Love)
Where The Streets Have No Name
One
encore
The Fly
With or Without You
credits
Yahweh
And, as I stated in the last post, it seems that these 3-d concert films are going to become new trend (If U2, the Stones, and Scorcese do it, the rest of the world is sure to follow). I surely hope so.
