let's talk about the weather...
...because the weather is acting WEIRD. It just occured to me that this winter, we had snow in this region right on schedule for holidays. That is, it snowed twice. We had a slight resemblance of a white Christmas. And now, it has been snowing since the Easter weekend.
I won't be surprised if it snows on my birthday, too.
(for those of you who don't know, my birthday is in August)
I'm listening to a cool Danish band called Sorten Muld right now...They take the lyrics from some old Scandinavian songs (from the late Middle Ages..??) and add a modern touch to them, such as groovy beats and a feeling of trance (or vice versa...a touch of folklore to modern music). Their music is full of longing and sweetness, but it's also gloomy and creepy at the same time.
Here's an example (Danish on the left, English translation on the right):
Ulver (by Sorten Muld)
Ulver han spørger stolt Vænelil
"Vil du være allerkæresten min
Så vil jeg føre dig til den ø
hvor vi skal leve og aldrig dø"
og folen fører liget over heden
"Der er kildevæld der springer med vin
Tro på min tale allerkæresten min
Ja der er vældekilder der springer med vin
Tro på min tale allerkæresten min"
Da de kom udi grønnem lund
lyster Hr. Ulver at hvile en stund
Stolt Vænelil ned på jorden sad
mens Ulver han kaster så dyb en grav
"Hør nu Ulver hvad jeg siger dig
Hvortil skal den grav du gør?
Til Eders hund er den for lang
men til Eders hest er den for trang"
Ulver svarer stolt Vænelil
"Graven er til dig allerkæresten min
Otte jomfruer har jeg gilt
jeg har dem alle fra livet skilt"
Alt sad Vænelil og tænkte ved sig
"Nu må mine runer hjælpe mig"
"Gerne jeg for dig i graven går
men lad mig først rede dit fagre hår"
Han lagde sit hoved i hendes skød
og sov en søvn så dyb og sød
Så lister hun sværdet ud af hans favn
og hugger Hr. Ulver for hund og ravn
og folen fører liget over heden
Ulver poses proud Vænelil
'If you my beloved will be,
I will take you to the island of eternity
Where we shall live and never die'
The horse carries the corpse over the moor
'On the isle are springs which flow with wine
Believe my word beloved of mine
Yes, there are springs which with wine will flow
Believe my word my greatest love
When they came out of the grove so green
Ulver says he wishes to rest
Proud Vænelil sat down on the earth
Ulver digs a grave his best
'Listen Ulver to my song
For whom is this grave, this barrow?
For your dog it is too long
For your horse it is too narrow'
Ulver answers proud Vænelil
'The grave is for you my greatest love
Eight virgins have I loved before
I have seperated them all from this life'
There Vænelil sat on bended knee
'Now only my runes can help me'
'Gladly for the grave I for you will prepare
But first let me comb your beautiful hair'
He lay his head on her bosom
And fell into a sleep so deep and sweet
Then she drew his sword out of his arms
And chopped Mr. Ulver for dog and raven
The horse carries the corpse over the moor
I won't be surprised if it snows on my birthday, too.
(for those of you who don't know, my birthday is in August)
I'm listening to a cool Danish band called Sorten Muld right now...They take the lyrics from some old Scandinavian songs (from the late Middle Ages..??) and add a modern touch to them, such as groovy beats and a feeling of trance (or vice versa...a touch of folklore to modern music). Their music is full of longing and sweetness, but it's also gloomy and creepy at the same time.
Here's an example (Danish on the left, English translation on the right):
Ulver (by Sorten Muld)
Ulver han spørger stolt Vænelil
"Vil du være allerkæresten min
Så vil jeg føre dig til den ø
hvor vi skal leve og aldrig dø"
og folen fører liget over heden
"Der er kildevæld der springer med vin
Tro på min tale allerkæresten min
Ja der er vældekilder der springer med vin
Tro på min tale allerkæresten min"
Da de kom udi grønnem lund
lyster Hr. Ulver at hvile en stund
Stolt Vænelil ned på jorden sad
mens Ulver han kaster så dyb en grav
"Hør nu Ulver hvad jeg siger dig
Hvortil skal den grav du gør?
Til Eders hund er den for lang
men til Eders hest er den for trang"
Ulver svarer stolt Vænelil
"Graven er til dig allerkæresten min
Otte jomfruer har jeg gilt
jeg har dem alle fra livet skilt"
Alt sad Vænelil og tænkte ved sig
"Nu må mine runer hjælpe mig"
"Gerne jeg for dig i graven går
men lad mig først rede dit fagre hår"
Han lagde sit hoved i hendes skød
og sov en søvn så dyb og sød
Så lister hun sværdet ud af hans favn
og hugger Hr. Ulver for hund og ravn
og folen fører liget over heden
Ulver poses proud Vænelil
'If you my beloved will be,
I will take you to the island of eternity
Where we shall live and never die'
The horse carries the corpse over the moor
'On the isle are springs which flow with wine
Believe my word beloved of mine
Yes, there are springs which with wine will flow
Believe my word my greatest love
When they came out of the grove so green
Ulver says he wishes to rest
Proud Vænelil sat down on the earth
Ulver digs a grave his best
'Listen Ulver to my song
For whom is this grave, this barrow?
For your dog it is too long
For your horse it is too narrow'
Ulver answers proud Vænelil
'The grave is for you my greatest love
Eight virgins have I loved before
I have seperated them all from this life'
There Vænelil sat on bended knee
'Now only my runes can help me'
'Gladly for the grave I for you will prepare
But first let me comb your beautiful hair'
He lay his head on her bosom
And fell into a sleep so deep and sweet
Then she drew his sword out of his arms
And chopped Mr. Ulver for dog and raven
The horse carries the corpse over the moor