"I am fragile, yet powerful"
Spent most of my weekend staring at the ceiling since I was sick (well, not really--more like examining the insides of my eyelids.) Called out sick from work on Friday, and dragged myself to work today (since I'm still not 100%.)
I was somewhat productive since I made a new MD mix over the weekend. This will be the 3rd mix of what I call "A Different Age, A Different Place" (which is really just what I like to call "songs that go well with Yoko Kanno songs.") They're basically songs with orchestral (whether actual or synth orchestral sound) movements that make them sound more than just pop/rock. Flutes, Sitars and other non-standard pop instruments also help along with fancified foreign languages/styles. So here . . .
"The Ballad of Billy the Kid" by Billy Joel - always one of my favorite Billy Joel songs, and loved the movements therein that make me think of Aaron Copeland's "Hoedown" from Rodeo. One of Joel's best indeed! (youtube preview)
"Justified" by Drea - this is the ending theme to Capcom's Dead Rising. Initially didn't like this song, but after attempting to get the "good" ending in DR several times, it grew on me. (youtube preview)
"Praan" by Garry Schyman and Palbasha Siddique - you guys know that viral video of that guy who went all over the world doing that kooky dance and getting others to join in? Well, this is the song in the 2nd video. (youtube preview)
"Gone Till November" by Wyclef Jean - yeah, a rap tune in this mix? Well take a listen and you'll see why it makes the cut! Note, I had to rip this straight from the video posted on youtube because this version doesn't exist on CD or elsewhere (and this version is superior to the CD version) so the quality isn't the greatest, but it works. (youtube preview)
"Inner Universe" by Yoko Kanno - yeah, have to have at least one Yoko Kanno song on these mixes! Though most of you probably already have this on your music devices or hard drives . . . (youtube preview)
"If I Was Your Man" by Joan Osborne - not the biggest fan of this lady, but this song is very cool. Though it's not one of her hits, so you can't really find it on youtube (do a seach, and you'll get vids of this burlesque group doing a performance to this song!) I did find a place where you can sample it safely at work--unless outmoded social networking sites are blocked at your workplace. (MySpace Music Preview)
"If You Could Read My Mind" by Gordon Lightfoot - a little on the lighter side for this mix, but still a pretty song with some nice work on the Mellotron. (youtube preview)
"Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin - I do wonder why I never included this on previous mixes, but hey, better late than never! Great song by one of the greatest bands ever! (youtube preview)
"Kings and Queens" by 30 Seconds to Mars - I thought I would grow tired of this song since it was used A LOT in commercials and movie promos (hell, it was used yesterday in an NFL Playoff Promo!) But for some reason, I still like it. Guess I'm an emo-douche. (youtube preview)
"Lullaby" by Minako Honda - this is the 2nd ending theme from Magic Knight Rayearth. Always thought Minako was a pretty good singer (better than your average Idol Singer), and she went on to perform in productions of Miss Saigon (as Kim) and Les Miserables (as Eponine.) She died in 2005 of leukemia. Thankfully her music, like this wonderful song (which can easily stand apart from being an anime song!), allows her to live on. (dailymotion preview)
"In the House of Stone and Light" by Martin Page - thought this was Sting the first time I heard this song, way back in 1994. He is a prolific songwriter (previously writing songs like "The King of Wishful Thinking" for Go West, and "These Dreams" by Heart) as well as a bass player like Sting! Still, it's a pretty cool song that fits into this mix. (youtube preview)
"It Can Happen" by Yes - definitely not a song that comes out of Yes' most creative period (this song is off of the 90125 album--after the departure of Rick Wakeman and Steve Howe) but still a good song. Interesting aside, guitarist Trevor Rabin hates this music video because he says the production people plastered so much makeup on him that he says "I look like Freddy Fucking Mercury at times!" I'll let you be the judge! Enjoy the song too! (youtube preview)
"Out From the Deep" by Enigma - yeah, not one of these mixes go by without an Enigma song! This one off of the 2nd album Cross of Changes. Guitar solo in this is pretty damn good too. (youtube preview)
"The Seven Seas" by Sarah Brightman - Sarah does a nice Enya impression with this song. In fact, most of that album Dive is an Enya impression! (youtube preview)
"To Be Free" by Stella Furst- this one's the opening theme to the late 1999 anime Sol Bianca: The Legacy (which is an re-imagining of the 1990 anime, Sol Bianca.) Reminds me, I still need to get the last volume of this. Good song, with the only complaint I have about it is that auto-tuning. Never did like that crap, but it doesn't ruin the tune thankfully! (youtube preview)
"You Only Live Twice" by Nancy Sinatra - yes, this is one of the James Bond themes, but this isn't the version you'll find from the Bond movie of the same name. This is the single version, which differs a little. I like it slightly more than the theatrical version because there is more reverb in the guitars. Only drawback is that this is a monoaural mix. I haven't been able to find a stereo mix of this version. (youtube preview)
Enjoy!
I was somewhat productive since I made a new MD mix over the weekend. This will be the 3rd mix of what I call "A Different Age, A Different Place" (which is really just what I like to call "songs that go well with Yoko Kanno songs.") They're basically songs with orchestral (whether actual or synth orchestral sound) movements that make them sound more than just pop/rock. Flutes, Sitars and other non-standard pop instruments also help along with fancified foreign languages/styles. So here . . .
"The Ballad of Billy the Kid" by Billy Joel - always one of my favorite Billy Joel songs, and loved the movements therein that make me think of Aaron Copeland's "Hoedown" from Rodeo. One of Joel's best indeed! (youtube preview)
"Justified" by Drea - this is the ending theme to Capcom's Dead Rising. Initially didn't like this song, but after attempting to get the "good" ending in DR several times, it grew on me. (youtube preview)
"Praan" by Garry Schyman and Palbasha Siddique - you guys know that viral video of that guy who went all over the world doing that kooky dance and getting others to join in? Well, this is the song in the 2nd video. (youtube preview)
"Gone Till November" by Wyclef Jean - yeah, a rap tune in this mix? Well take a listen and you'll see why it makes the cut! Note, I had to rip this straight from the video posted on youtube because this version doesn't exist on CD or elsewhere (and this version is superior to the CD version) so the quality isn't the greatest, but it works. (youtube preview)
"Inner Universe" by Yoko Kanno - yeah, have to have at least one Yoko Kanno song on these mixes! Though most of you probably already have this on your music devices or hard drives . . . (youtube preview)
"If I Was Your Man" by Joan Osborne - not the biggest fan of this lady, but this song is very cool. Though it's not one of her hits, so you can't really find it on youtube (do a seach, and you'll get vids of this burlesque group doing a performance to this song!) I did find a place where you can sample it safely at work--unless outmoded social networking sites are blocked at your workplace. (MySpace Music Preview)
"If You Could Read My Mind" by Gordon Lightfoot - a little on the lighter side for this mix, but still a pretty song with some nice work on the Mellotron. (youtube preview)
"Kashmir" by Led Zeppelin - I do wonder why I never included this on previous mixes, but hey, better late than never! Great song by one of the greatest bands ever! (youtube preview)
"Kings and Queens" by 30 Seconds to Mars - I thought I would grow tired of this song since it was used A LOT in commercials and movie promos (hell, it was used yesterday in an NFL Playoff Promo!) But for some reason, I still like it. Guess I'm an emo-douche. (youtube preview)
"Lullaby" by Minako Honda - this is the 2nd ending theme from Magic Knight Rayearth. Always thought Minako was a pretty good singer (better than your average Idol Singer), and she went on to perform in productions of Miss Saigon (as Kim) and Les Miserables (as Eponine.) She died in 2005 of leukemia. Thankfully her music, like this wonderful song (which can easily stand apart from being an anime song!), allows her to live on. (dailymotion preview)
"In the House of Stone and Light" by Martin Page - thought this was Sting the first time I heard this song, way back in 1994. He is a prolific songwriter (previously writing songs like "The King of Wishful Thinking" for Go West, and "These Dreams" by Heart) as well as a bass player like Sting! Still, it's a pretty cool song that fits into this mix. (youtube preview)
"It Can Happen" by Yes - definitely not a song that comes out of Yes' most creative period (this song is off of the 90125 album--after the departure of Rick Wakeman and Steve Howe) but still a good song. Interesting aside, guitarist Trevor Rabin hates this music video because he says the production people plastered so much makeup on him that he says "I look like Freddy Fucking Mercury at times!" I'll let you be the judge! Enjoy the song too! (youtube preview)
"Out From the Deep" by Enigma - yeah, not one of these mixes go by without an Enigma song! This one off of the 2nd album Cross of Changes. Guitar solo in this is pretty damn good too. (youtube preview)
"The Seven Seas" by Sarah Brightman - Sarah does a nice Enya impression with this song. In fact, most of that album Dive is an Enya impression! (youtube preview)
"To Be Free" by Stella Furst- this one's the opening theme to the late 1999 anime Sol Bianca: The Legacy (which is an re-imagining of the 1990 anime, Sol Bianca.) Reminds me, I still need to get the last volume of this. Good song, with the only complaint I have about it is that auto-tuning. Never did like that crap, but it doesn't ruin the tune thankfully! (youtube preview)
"You Only Live Twice" by Nancy Sinatra - yes, this is one of the James Bond themes, but this isn't the version you'll find from the Bond movie of the same name. This is the single version, which differs a little. I like it slightly more than the theatrical version because there is more reverb in the guitars. Only drawback is that this is a monoaural mix. I haven't been able to find a stereo mix of this version. (youtube preview)
Enjoy!