Special show today as it is my name day celebration! Featuring voices that I love listening to, most of the singers heard today on the show have played a major part in shaping my early musical influences. From the breathy, ethereal voice of Olivia Newton-John to the raspy voice of Kim Carnes, through jazz-influenced Joni Mitchell and Rickie Lee- Jones to exotic Kate Bush, women's voices are dominating the playlist. You can download the show from the right side of this blog. I hope you enjoy it! Background photo by Irving Penn.
Dear friend Natassaki invited me to another blogger game: with which song I would say "I love you". The rules are as follows: 1. Pick one or two songs with which you would say "I love you" to your other half or someone that you're interested in. 2. In case you pick two songs, one must be with a male singer(s) and the other with female singer(s). 3. There is no distinction between solo artists or groups. Choose what inspires you the most.
So the very first one that comes to my mind is of course k d lang's "Infinite And Unforeseen":
After Always Love becomes A dream Infinite and unforeseen
It takes you by surprise There, before your eyes A place you've always been A place you've always been
It takes you by surprise There, before your eyes A place you've always been A place you've always been Infinite and unforeseen Infinite and unforeseen
And the second one, from a guy this time: Richard Hawley's "Tonight The Streets Are Ours"
Do you know why you got feelings in your heart Don't let fear of me then fool you, what you see sets you apart And there's nothing here to bind you, it's no way for life to start Do you know that Tonight the streets are ours Tonight the streets are ours These lights in our eyes, they tell no lies
Those people, they got nothing in their souls And they make our tvs blind us from our visions and our goals Oh the trigger of time it tricks you so you have no way to grow But do you know that Tonight the streets are ours Tonight the streets are ours And these lights in our hearts, they tell no lies
And no one else can haunt me the way that you can haunt me I need to know you want me, I couldn't be without you And the light that shines around you No nothing ever matters more than my darling But tonight the streets are ours
Do you know how to kill loneliness at last Oh there's so much there to heal dear and make tears things of the past But do you know that Tonight the streets are ours Tonight the streets are ours And these lights in our street are ours And tonight the streets are ours And these lights in our heart, they tell no lies
And the video clip:
Of course, I have to add one more: it may be corny for some, but for me it's one of the best love songs ever for many reasons: Olivia Newton-John's "Hopelessly Devoted To You".
Guess mine is not the first heart broken, my eyes are not the first to cry I'm not the first to know, there's just no gettin' over you Hello, I'm just a fool who's willing to sit around and wait for you But baby can't you see, there's nothin' else for me to do I'm hopelessly devoted to you But now there's nowhere to hide, since you pushed my love aside I'm not in my head, hopelessly devoted to you Hopelessly devoted to you, hopelessly devoted to you My head is saying "fool, forget him", my heart is saying "don't let go" Hold on to the end, that's what I intend to do I'm hopelessly devoted to you But now there's nowhere to hide, since you pushed my love aside I'm not in my head, hopelessly devoted to you Hopelessly devoted to you, hopelessly devoted to you
And a live rendition of it:
This is the Oscars live performance in 1979 (she was ill when she did this)
I can spend many many hours putting up loved songs but I think these are OK for now. I hope you enjoy them!
From one of my very favourite and close to my heart singers, for a worthy cause:
Olivia Newton-John
What: Olivia Newton-John leads a team of stars from sports and showbiz, along with everyday survivors of cancer, in a 21-day extreme challenge to trek along the Great Wall of China from 7th April 2008. Their million steps journey symbolizes the cancer patient’s journey – with extreme physical and emotional challenges.
Why: Each step of the walkers’ trek can be sponsored at a dollar a step, to fight cancer through the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre Appeal.
Who will benefit: A unique part of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre will be the first Wellness Centre in Australia to be based at a major cancer research and treatment hospital. The centre will provide complementary therapies to support patients on their cancer journey, treating mind and spirit as well as the body. The Wellness Centre is Olivia’s special passion with a focus on the whole person and not just the disease. Cancer patients worldwide will benefit from the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre’s dedicated research facilities and clinical trials, with the development of future cancer vaccines and therapies through the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research - which is head quartered in New York. The centre will be the primary site for clinical trials globally.
Olivia with Adam Shutton, Heath Ledger's friend and inspiration for his role in Brokeback Mountain
When: The Great Walk to Beijing takes place in April 2008 over 21 days. It will be officially launched in February for you to sponsor your favourite walker at “a dollar a step” on their million steps in the fight against cancer.
Olivia and Australian swimmer and TV host Johanna Griggs
Who’s supporting the event: The Great Walk to Beijing 2008 is headed by Olivia Newton-John who will lead a team of walkers, which will include high-profile celebrities, Olympians, everyday cancer survivors, business leaders, corporate partners. The event is brought together by the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre Appeal at Austin Health in Melbourne, Australia, www.oliviaappeal.com
Facts about cancer: Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world and will continue to rise with an estimated 9 million people dying from cancer in 2015, and 11.4 million dying in 2030,according to the World Health Organisation.*
A dear friend, Gone4sure, had a brilliant idea: he invited bloggers that are passionate about music to join him in a countdown of the best and worst albums of the year. Everyone who has joined has to post one album in each category each day, starting today, until December 20th, when everyone's top-20 No. 1 album will be posted. Then a tally will be made and the collective results will be published by Gone4sure in his blog. So starting today, among the regular postings, you can watch the countdown take place. If anyone wants to see the other participants' countdown, I have placed a list of the participating blogs on the right. Enjoy:
Best albums of 2007 - No. 20
Kylie Minogue - X
The Ice Princess of pop strikes again. Kylie's new album barely made it to the list, bumping out another lady off my list. Why? Because, contrary to my expectations, She has released a brilliant collection of songs, amazingly pulling off the feat of being credible. With production credits split between "veterans" like Richard Stannard and Guy Chambers and "fresh" faces like Calvin Harris, the Freemasons and Bloodshy & Avant (the Swedes behind Britney’s "Toxic", X does a great job of matching big hooks with forward-thinking production tricks.
For the pop lovers, her first single, "2 Hearts" and the disco extravaganza "Wow" will be favourites. Her music does not sound dated though: "Speakerphone" and "Nu-di-ty" are prime examples of the fact that she and her producers have crafted a thoroughly current and fresh sound for her. In a nutshell, she sounds like Roisin Murphy's glamorous and optimistic sister. -The artwork is totally 80s inspired. Not much of a surprise given current trends, but it is a bit disappointing. If you have seen Olivia Newton-John's Soul Kiss single covers, you will recognize the inspiration, along with the infamous Patrick Nagel paintings.
Worst albums of 2007 No.20
Michael Buble - Call Me Irresponsible
He looks cute, has a nice voice and some of the most experienced people in producing to help him make records. How can he make a blunder? Well, easily. Releasing record after record of bland crooner material, he did an even worse thing this year: killing standard after standard originally performed by such legends as Leonard Cohen, Eric Clapton and Johnny Mercer to name but a few. The video included below is the only song that barely stands above the rest, with Boyz II Men accompanying him on vocals. To sum up the record: boring, bland, forgettable.
Once upon a time there was a loving couple who had a wonderful child, their life's blessing. When they lost her at age 5, fro ma rare form of cancer, after trying to cope with their enormous loss, they started wondering if they could do something to help other children avoid this fate. This is the way CHEC (Children's Health environmental Coalition) was founded in 1991 by Jim & Nancy Chuda and Olivia Newton-John, their dear friend and Colette's godmother. Since then many years have passed and lots of things have happened regarding making home a safe and healthy environment for children. CHEC is now called Healthy Child Health World, and continuous to help parents understand the world they bring their child into and how to make it a safer place environmentally. With a special focus at home and the dangers lurking in it for children's health, it strikes a sensitive chord into every parent's heart.
Their website is a wealth of information and knowledge about many things regarding the environment and children. It is separated into six main categories:
1. Food and nutrition
2. Baby care
3. Prevention
4. Non-Toxic and Natural Products
5. Hazards and Threats
6. Sustainability and Lifestyle
They even have a blog, which is a very interesting read. You can donate for their cause and enlist in their mail list to receive periodical updates by normal mail or e-mail. Your children will thank you for it.
All photos courtesy of Healthy Child Healthy World
