Day two of the Dragonboat festival brought even more fantastic weather and even more fantastic music. Today's fare? Said the Whale.
With my first Said the Whale making my 'best concerts of the year' and the second not quite living up to the standard, I was interested to see what today's show would bring. Despite a somewhat disappointing sound mix (vocals were not nearly loud enough, at some points making it difficult to even hear the words at all) the band put on their regular, cheerily adorable, show. With Ben all covered in sunburn, and Tyler was in fine form, pulling his classic I-used-to-sing-in-a-punk-band faces, the front lines were as entertaining as ever. Looking around you could really tell that a lot of the crowd were there purely for the show, and hadn't watched or rowed in a single race all day.
Sometimes when you go to a festival, there is a small devoted band of fans right up at the front (present tonight, though a fairly large group), behind whom are dozens of festival-goers who have never heard of the band. Sometimes it stays that way for the duration. Sometimes though the crowd grows, and the unsuspecting table-dwellers become fans themselves. As someone who is usually right up front, this is an especially fun experience as you don't see the crowd growing until it is suddenly huge. One song has a regular amount of singing along, a regular amount of clapping, then suddenly the audience volume in next song is much much louder. You look back and are faced with three or four times the number of people standing behind you, all dancing along... And its not just the strangers either!
Its always fun to introduce friends to a new band, and tonight it was also the first time for two of mine. One of them made it through only one or two songs before declaring "Erin, I think I officially have developed a crush" on the always "fedorable" (aka adorable and wearing a fedora) Ben, while the other found Tyler's resemblance to David Tennant infinitely amusing... They also loved the music, but that kind of goes without saying!
Mixing newer material like Lines and Big Sky, with old favourites like Camilo the Magician, False Creek Change, and Black Day in December, the show was well paced, and energetic. I'm always impressed with the way in which Said the Whale weave new songs into their mix. Beginning by asking the audience to indulge them, blasting through the new material, then quickly following it up with a well known ditty, means you don't get the normal slight frustration at not being able to sing along to a song you've never heard before. The first of these two new offerings is bound to become a staple, while the second seemed to need a bit more polishing (I wouldn't be surprised if it sounded a bit different my September's folkfest...), but every other song in the set? Fantastic.
By the end they definitely had the [ever expanding] audience hooked. After ending off with Camilo, they were faced with cheers of "One more song! One more song!" that were loud enough and persistent enough for Ben to come back out and tell us "We'd love to, we really would but we're not allowed! Thank you guys so much! Really, so much!" An encore would have been amazing, but I guess we'll just have to wait for their return in September. Well done Said the Whale- yet another triumph of playing through a bad mix and coming out on top. Lets hope folkfest gives them the opportunity to shine without having to keep asking for their mics to be turned up...!
Showing posts with label Said the Whale. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Said the Whale. Show all posts
Saturday, June 23, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Whales and Horses and Chains
Three-band shows can be odd.
You've got the openers, then you've got the middle band, then you've got the headliners- the first band and the last band stick out, but the middle band is just... well, the middle band. At least at a festival there are lots of middle bands, so they can all be middle bands together, but at a three-band show there's only one middle band. And its weird.
Case in Point:
Said the Whale (headliners), Boxer the Horse (openers) and Chains of Love (the middle band), April 11 2012.
So my sister had seen this tour two days earlier in Montreal, and had texted me during Boxer the Horse to say "You HAVE to make sure you get there for the openers- Boxer the Horse is really good!" Since our musical tastes overlap almost entirely, I took her at her word and got there just after doors. And she wasn't wrong- Boxer the Horse are adooooorable. They're geeky and bouncy and early Beatles meets 90s high-school; not too boppy but just boppy enough. Though it took them a few songs to get really into it, by the third or fourth one in the crowd was well warmed up, dancing and nodding in time with the music. And just when I was starting to think the 90s influence was just in my head, they played a cover of the 'Better than Ezra' song from Empire Records. I'm not sure if they just look a lot younger than they are, or if they are just youngins who love 90s teen flicks, but if I wasn't already hooked, that certainly would have convinced me. They fit perfectly as an opener to Said the Whale and you could really tell why that were on the bill.
Next up was Chains of Love, a slightly ska-influenced (or maybe just because the singer's voice reminded me of early Gwen Steffani?) kind of rock-ish gal band complete with tambourine and castinettes playing lead singer. Actually they totally reminded me of Josie and the Pussycats (and yes I mean the band from the vastly underrated early 2000s movie of the same name. What? This whole show reminded me of that era!), except less psudo-punk... OK, to be fair here, I think I should pause and mention something; I am not a fan of girl singers. There is the odd exception to this rule -mostly super-London-y gals like Kate Nash, Lily Allen and Eliza Dolittle, with a bit of weirdness (a la Joanna Newsom) and some francaphones (Coeur de Pirate, Marie-Pierre Arthur) thrown in for good measure- but on the whole, they just don't do it for me. Maybe its the tone of their voices (NB all the above singers are altos...), or some left over, misguided teenage-sentiment "Girl bands are wussy" (lame and un-true, but alas the opinion of many high school aged punks/rockers...), I don't know... I just know I am not a fan.
This makes it kind of difficult to fairly review bands with female vocalists. I am aware of this stumbling block, and I try to compensate for it, but I'm not really sure how... I was quite impressed at the use of tambourine (now I know that sounds like a slight, but it is mean in earnest- very rarely do you hear tambourine used as its own instrument, not just backup, and I enjoyed that it seemed to be a pretty integral part of their sound). And the singer was pretty enthusiastic and used her long hair as long hair should be used (flipping it, but not excessively)... but she is honestly the only one I remember anything about, and there just weren't any songs that caught my fancy.
On the completely opposite end of the spectrum: Said the Whale.
Now this wasn't the best STW show I've ever been to (that distinction would go to their performance last year at The Live Lounge...) but it was mostly because the levels were just way too high. It was loud. And I mean LOUD. This is coming from the person who drives around with music so blaring that people two lanes over on the highway give me dirty looks. I like loud music. I LOVE loud music. But this concert was Too Loud.
Having said that, Said the Whale were in fine form, playing not only new material, but numerous songs from their original EP (Howe Sounds) and first LP (Islands Disappear- my favourite of their albums). Early-set monitors issues left Tyler and Ben unable to hear themselves, but also led to an amazing sing-along version of Emerald Lake AB, which emphasized the absolute dedication of the audience. This was an all ages (well 16+) show and it was clear this was the first real concert for many of the excited attendees. They may not have been jumping and dancing as much as some older crowds, and they may have been a little overly-squealy (As Tyler Bancroft said from onstage "I think I am going to wake up tomorrow morning with high pitched screams ringing in my ears... seriously you are going to lose the ability to sound like that as you get older!"). But I have to say; I have heard audiences sing louder, I have heard audiences sing more enthusiastically, but never before have I heard an audience sing along with Every Single Song. Seriously. Every word of every song. It was amazing.
"The Reason" was a real stand-out, with Ben pleading with the audience (as a stand-in for the intended subject of the song), and "Oh Alexandra" spawned a spontaneous whole-crowd hands-up-swaying (a la lighters, except with cellphones instead), while the ever-danceable "The Light is You" got everyone moving (man I love that song...). Pulling out the ukulele, they signed off with an adorable rendition of "Goodnight Moon" and left the stage to raucous applause.
This was a show of competing elements, pulling my reactions in opposite directions. Boxer the Horse and Said the Whale had great performances, though the sound left something to be desired. Chains of Love combined a bunch of nostalgic 90s elements, but failed to pull it all together. The audience was dedicated, but a overly high-pitched and under-dancing... Overall the show was alright, but I would certainly recommend catching Said the Whale or Boxer the Horse next time they're in town...
You've got the openers, then you've got the middle band, then you've got the headliners- the first band and the last band stick out, but the middle band is just... well, the middle band. At least at a festival there are lots of middle bands, so they can all be middle bands together, but at a three-band show there's only one middle band. And its weird.
Case in Point:
Said the Whale (headliners), Boxer the Horse (openers) and Chains of Love (the middle band), April 11 2012.
So my sister had seen this tour two days earlier in Montreal, and had texted me during Boxer the Horse to say "You HAVE to make sure you get there for the openers- Boxer the Horse is really good!" Since our musical tastes overlap almost entirely, I took her at her word and got there just after doors. And she wasn't wrong- Boxer the Horse are adooooorable. They're geeky and bouncy and early Beatles meets 90s high-school; not too boppy but just boppy enough. Though it took them a few songs to get really into it, by the third or fourth one in the crowd was well warmed up, dancing and nodding in time with the music. And just when I was starting to think the 90s influence was just in my head, they played a cover of the 'Better than Ezra' song from Empire Records. I'm not sure if they just look a lot younger than they are, or if they are just youngins who love 90s teen flicks, but if I wasn't already hooked, that certainly would have convinced me. They fit perfectly as an opener to Said the Whale and you could really tell why that were on the bill.
Next up was Chains of Love, a slightly ska-influenced (or maybe just because the singer's voice reminded me of early Gwen Steffani?) kind of rock-ish gal band complete with tambourine and castinettes playing lead singer. Actually they totally reminded me of Josie and the Pussycats (and yes I mean the band from the vastly underrated early 2000s movie of the same name. What? This whole show reminded me of that era!), except less psudo-punk... OK, to be fair here, I think I should pause and mention something; I am not a fan of girl singers. There is the odd exception to this rule -mostly super-London-y gals like Kate Nash, Lily Allen and Eliza Dolittle, with a bit of weirdness (a la Joanna Newsom) and some francaphones (Coeur de Pirate, Marie-Pierre Arthur) thrown in for good measure- but on the whole, they just don't do it for me. Maybe its the tone of their voices (NB all the above singers are altos...), or some left over, misguided teenage-sentiment "Girl bands are wussy" (lame and un-true, but alas the opinion of many high school aged punks/rockers...), I don't know... I just know I am not a fan.
This makes it kind of difficult to fairly review bands with female vocalists. I am aware of this stumbling block, and I try to compensate for it, but I'm not really sure how... I was quite impressed at the use of tambourine (now I know that sounds like a slight, but it is mean in earnest- very rarely do you hear tambourine used as its own instrument, not just backup, and I enjoyed that it seemed to be a pretty integral part of their sound). And the singer was pretty enthusiastic and used her long hair as long hair should be used (flipping it, but not excessively)... but she is honestly the only one I remember anything about, and there just weren't any songs that caught my fancy.
On the completely opposite end of the spectrum: Said the Whale.
Now this wasn't the best STW show I've ever been to (that distinction would go to their performance last year at The Live Lounge...) but it was mostly because the levels were just way too high. It was loud. And I mean LOUD. This is coming from the person who drives around with music so blaring that people two lanes over on the highway give me dirty looks. I like loud music. I LOVE loud music. But this concert was Too Loud.
Having said that, Said the Whale were in fine form, playing not only new material, but numerous songs from their original EP (Howe Sounds) and first LP (Islands Disappear- my favourite of their albums). Early-set monitors issues left Tyler and Ben unable to hear themselves, but also led to an amazing sing-along version of Emerald Lake AB, which emphasized the absolute dedication of the audience. This was an all ages (well 16+) show and it was clear this was the first real concert for many of the excited attendees. They may not have been jumping and dancing as much as some older crowds, and they may have been a little overly-squealy (As Tyler Bancroft said from onstage "I think I am going to wake up tomorrow morning with high pitched screams ringing in my ears... seriously you are going to lose the ability to sound like that as you get older!"). But I have to say; I have heard audiences sing louder, I have heard audiences sing more enthusiastically, but never before have I heard an audience sing along with Every Single Song. Seriously. Every word of every song. It was amazing.
"The Reason" was a real stand-out, with Ben pleading with the audience (as a stand-in for the intended subject of the song), and "Oh Alexandra" spawned a spontaneous whole-crowd hands-up-swaying (a la lighters, except with cellphones instead), while the ever-danceable "The Light is You" got everyone moving (man I love that song...). Pulling out the ukulele, they signed off with an adorable rendition of "Goodnight Moon" and left the stage to raucous applause.
This was a show of competing elements, pulling my reactions in opposite directions. Boxer the Horse and Said the Whale had great performances, though the sound left something to be desired. Chains of Love combined a bunch of nostalgic 90s elements, but failed to pull it all together. The audience was dedicated, but a overly high-pitched and under-dancing... Overall the show was alright, but I would certainly recommend catching Said the Whale or Boxer the Horse next time they're in town...
Friday, January 6, 2012
Top Five Performances of 2011 (#5)
So I already know that as you're reading that title you're thinking "Top five? Shouldn't that be top ten?" Unless of course you know me personally in which case you're likely thinking "Oh gawd, not another top five list..." you're welcome dear readers for not regularly inflicting these on you... Either way, I am a fan of the top five list over the top ten because I find it more challenging. And more reflective of actual 'best of's. And just better. So yeah.
I should perhaps start off by mentioning that this is not the top five CANADIAN bands of 2011, even though it pretty much looks that way... What can I say, I love Canadian music! Can I help it if we have awesome bands up here? No. No I cannot help that. I can, however, revel in the fact and enjoy every minute of music listening joy. Also I am not a "Top Five Albums" kind of gal- sure all of these bands released albums in 2011, and sure I absolutely love all of them (and may or may not have done several weeks of chain-listening), but it is too difficult for me to separate a band's on-album work from their live performances. Plus live performances are just awesome. Seriously. So without further ado:
5
Said the Whale - New Brighton - The Live Lounge, Ottawa, ON, September 14, 2011
One of the many bands my sister introduced be to this year who I have since fallen totally in love with- their combination of clever-lyric riddled short songs, cheery attitudes, and wonderful music/voices make listening to their music on headphones or in the car a joy and even better in person. The venue (the live lounge in Ottawa's Bytown Market) made it even better, with some of the best pre-show music I have heard in a long time (perhaps ever actually! Ele will back me up on that) the perfect size (big enough but not too big) a great crowd (enthusiastic, but devoted enough to manage complete silence during the beautifully performed Curse of the Currents), good sound and even a free cd at the door!
As with all good concerts, it has to be at least partially described by saying (cheesy at it always sounds) the vibe was great- everyone was excited to be there, especially the band. Impromptu sing-alongs, acoustic jamming, and cheerful banter abounded. They played all their hits (not difficult for a band with only two full length albums and only maybe three songs clocking in at over two minutes, but still appreciated!) and a slew of new ones which were well received, albeit skeptically at first.
Its always nice to be at a show where you really get the feeling that no one in the room would wish to be anywhere else. This was that show. Excellent.
I should perhaps start off by mentioning that this is not the top five CANADIAN bands of 2011, even though it pretty much looks that way... What can I say, I love Canadian music! Can I help it if we have awesome bands up here? No. No I cannot help that. I can, however, revel in the fact and enjoy every minute of music listening joy. Also I am not a "Top Five Albums" kind of gal- sure all of these bands released albums in 2011, and sure I absolutely love all of them (and may or may not have done several weeks of chain-listening), but it is too difficult for me to separate a band's on-album work from their live performances. Plus live performances are just awesome. Seriously. So without further ado:
5
Said the Whale - New Brighton - The Live Lounge, Ottawa, ON, September 14, 2011
One of the many bands my sister introduced be to this year who I have since fallen totally in love with- their combination of clever-lyric riddled short songs, cheery attitudes, and wonderful music/voices make listening to their music on headphones or in the car a joy and even better in person. The venue (the live lounge in Ottawa's Bytown Market) made it even better, with some of the best pre-show music I have heard in a long time (perhaps ever actually! Ele will back me up on that) the perfect size (big enough but not too big) a great crowd (enthusiastic, but devoted enough to manage complete silence during the beautifully performed Curse of the Currents), good sound and even a free cd at the door!
As with all good concerts, it has to be at least partially described by saying (cheesy at it always sounds) the vibe was great- everyone was excited to be there, especially the band. Impromptu sing-alongs, acoustic jamming, and cheerful banter abounded. They played all their hits (not difficult for a band with only two full length albums and only maybe three songs clocking in at over two minutes, but still appreciated!) and a slew of new ones which were well received, albeit skeptically at first.
Its always nice to be at a show where you really get the feeling that no one in the room would wish to be anywhere else. This was that show. Excellent.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
"We have reached a crossroads...
...the crossroads between 'Lame' and 'Awesome.' The sign pointing that way says 'Lame.' The sign pointing this way says 'Awesome.' I know which way I'm going...!"
So my sister has been putting a plan into action the past few months- no not a secret plan to fight inflation- but a secret plan none the less. She has been conspiring to make me like all of her favourite bands. And it worked.
Tonight I went to see 'Said the Whale' and "Rah Rah'. Two of 'Krista's bands' that she has been putting on mixed cds since January. Two bands that I never knew existed a few months ago, and now feel like I've been listening to for forever. Even better she's gotten my roomate loving these bands as well! Always nice when you don't have to drag someone along, but can just tell them who is playing and they jump at the chance :o)
We had a great time. The show was awesome (see quote at the top. They weren't kiddin- they chose the awesome path) and of course it got me into the whole "Oh I love live music... live music... concerts... I love them so!" and the thinking, wondering about how there are people out there who possibly don't share that sentiment... I mean as I've said on many occasions- I get it academically speaking. I mean I don't like green peppers, they don't like concerts. Fine. There are reasons- your feet hurt, your voice goes hoarse, you're super tired the next day... (more on that in my next post!) but man is it worth it. Its so much more than just listening to music in a room with a bunch of people you don't know- the vibe (not to sounds lame but yes, the vibe) at a good concert is such a rush. Everyone having a great time, singing along, dancing and jumping... and seeing the band grinning from ear to ear ("The only thing I don't like about tonight is that my face hurts because I can't stop smiling! you guys are amazing!" observed Ben Worcester) having a fantastic time ("this is so short! I mean it went by so fast! ... that's a good thing by the way, it means we're having fun up here!" said Tyler Bancroft) just makes it even better. Like when we saw Karkwa at hillside and the lead singer could not stop giggling at the seventeen year olds rocking out in the front row- you could tell he thought it was hilarious. Or the look on the faces of Graveyard Train when our crowd started moshing and crazy-dancing- the next day they tweeted "Best show ever- we got the Canadians crowd surfing!" To know that its not just you, or even just the rest of the audience who is feeling that (again, please excuse the cheese) magical serendipitous feeling...
In other words its the whole experience. Sharing that time, that space, that experience with a roomful of other people you don't even know, but who you have at least one thing in common with... its golden. Simply golden.
So my sister has been putting a plan into action the past few months- no not a secret plan to fight inflation- but a secret plan none the less. She has been conspiring to make me like all of her favourite bands. And it worked.
Tonight I went to see 'Said the Whale' and "Rah Rah'. Two of 'Krista's bands' that she has been putting on mixed cds since January. Two bands that I never knew existed a few months ago, and now feel like I've been listening to for forever. Even better she's gotten my roomate loving these bands as well! Always nice when you don't have to drag someone along, but can just tell them who is playing and they jump at the chance :o)
We had a great time. The show was awesome (see quote at the top. They weren't kiddin- they chose the awesome path) and of course it got me into the whole "Oh I love live music... live music... concerts... I love them so!" and the thinking, wondering about how there are people out there who possibly don't share that sentiment... I mean as I've said on many occasions- I get it academically speaking. I mean I don't like green peppers, they don't like concerts. Fine. There are reasons- your feet hurt, your voice goes hoarse, you're super tired the next day... (more on that in my next post!) but man is it worth it. Its so much more than just listening to music in a room with a bunch of people you don't know- the vibe (not to sounds lame but yes, the vibe) at a good concert is such a rush. Everyone having a great time, singing along, dancing and jumping... and seeing the band grinning from ear to ear ("The only thing I don't like about tonight is that my face hurts because I can't stop smiling! you guys are amazing!" observed Ben Worcester) having a fantastic time ("this is so short! I mean it went by so fast! ... that's a good thing by the way, it means we're having fun up here!" said Tyler Bancroft) just makes it even better. Like when we saw Karkwa at hillside and the lead singer could not stop giggling at the seventeen year olds rocking out in the front row- you could tell he thought it was hilarious. Or the look on the faces of Graveyard Train when our crowd started moshing and crazy-dancing- the next day they tweeted "Best show ever- we got the Canadians crowd surfing!" To know that its not just you, or even just the rest of the audience who is feeling that (again, please excuse the cheese) magical serendipitous feeling...
In other words its the whole experience. Sharing that time, that space, that experience with a roomful of other people you don't even know, but who you have at least one thing in common with... its golden. Simply golden.
Camilo (the magician) by Said The Whale
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Homes Dissapear
With the end of summer fast approaching (where did it GO?) I find myself getting preemptively nostalgic for all the fun-times, fun-friends, fun-weather, and fun-music I've been a part of this past few months (and mark my words it has been a lot of all of those things... living with El, visiting Montreal, going to the cottage, roller derby, hillside, working with some fantastically awesome people, working some fantastically awesome shows (how did I get paid to watch John Foggerty and have a front row seat at the Canada Day fireworks?!?), and enjoying one of the most beautifully warm and sunny summers I've ever experienced). Most of the time I'm in it ("You're so in it right now, you're just so in it...") but the past few days I've definitely had some of those moments where I can't help but think "I don't want it to all be over..."
Melodramatic sentiments aside, its gotten me thinking about how much I have really started to feel at home here, and what that means. Sure I think its a beautiful city, I love biking along the trails and walking along the paths. I love being close enough to Quebec to walk over from work and bike home at 2am and for French to sound as familiar as English. I love the weather and the green and the rivers... I love so many physical things about where I live, but so much of what has made me feel like I live here has been ephemeral- people, events, experiences. Much like in University, you construct a place out of everything it means to you, and when you try to hold on to that, or when you try to go back, its just not the same because the remnants of the physical things are all that is left. Everything changes around you (and though you may not feel like you're changing too, inevitably you are) and one day you wake up to discover that its all different- the place you thought you were building just doesn't exist any more.
A few days ago I happened upon the song False Creek Change by Said the Whale and was transfixed by how well it captures just this kind of thing- the inevitability:
False Creek changed in '86
the year Expo exploited her shore
It's been twenty two years laying down bricks
and there's no room for me here any more, any more
there's no room for me here anymore
I made my mark in '84
Born to the month of June
My home at the heart of Charleson Park
I never thought I'd be leaving so soon, so soon
Never thought I'd be leaving so soon
I've watched The Walls of Yaletown
growing up over my mountain view
My old horizon under the clouds
I'll be sad when I'm thinking of you
I'll be sad when I'm thinking of you
Now all the old men and their boats have gone
and I will be leaving too
My little red roof by the old duck pond
I'll be saying farewell to you
I'll be saying farewell to you
Sometimes its sad, sometimes it means that its time for you to go (sorry Halifax), but more often its a matter of realizing that you've already gone, more precisely its already gone ("It never occurred to me to think of space as the thing that was moving...") that it can never really exist again. It seems sad and final and depressing, but the thing is that you can't really miss it because it was never a real thing to start with. And if it was never really a real thing to start with the fact that it can never again be a real thing really makes no difference, right? Too much?
Alls I'm saying is that instead of spending my time being sad that the summer is ending and all of my ephemeral summer experiences are slowly fading away, I am going to spend my time enjoying them. Savoring every last second. Because they're not really the last seconds at all- they're just the seconds at the middle of the beginning- or at worst at the beginning of the middle...
Melodramatic sentiments aside, its gotten me thinking about how much I have really started to feel at home here, and what that means. Sure I think its a beautiful city, I love biking along the trails and walking along the paths. I love being close enough to Quebec to walk over from work and bike home at 2am and for French to sound as familiar as English. I love the weather and the green and the rivers... I love so many physical things about where I live, but so much of what has made me feel like I live here has been ephemeral- people, events, experiences. Much like in University, you construct a place out of everything it means to you, and when you try to hold on to that, or when you try to go back, its just not the same because the remnants of the physical things are all that is left. Everything changes around you (and though you may not feel like you're changing too, inevitably you are) and one day you wake up to discover that its all different- the place you thought you were building just doesn't exist any more.
A few days ago I happened upon the song False Creek Change by Said the Whale and was transfixed by how well it captures just this kind of thing- the inevitability:
False Creek changed in '86
the year Expo exploited her shore
It's been twenty two years laying down bricks
and there's no room for me here any more, any more
there's no room for me here anymore
I made my mark in '84
Born to the month of June
My home at the heart of Charleson Park
I never thought I'd be leaving so soon, so soon
Never thought I'd be leaving so soon
I've watched The Walls of Yaletown
growing up over my mountain view
My old horizon under the clouds
I'll be sad when I'm thinking of you
I'll be sad when I'm thinking of you
Now all the old men and their boats have gone
and I will be leaving too
My little red roof by the old duck pond
I'll be saying farewell to you
I'll be saying farewell to you
Sometimes its sad, sometimes it means that its time for you to go (sorry Halifax), but more often its a matter of realizing that you've already gone, more precisely its already gone ("It never occurred to me to think of space as the thing that was moving...") that it can never really exist again. It seems sad and final and depressing, but the thing is that you can't really miss it because it was never a real thing to start with. And if it was never really a real thing to start with the fact that it can never again be a real thing really makes no difference, right? Too much?
Alls I'm saying is that instead of spending my time being sad that the summer is ending and all of my ephemeral summer experiences are slowly fading away, I am going to spend my time enjoying them. Savoring every last second. Because they're not really the last seconds at all- they're just the seconds at the middle of the beginning- or at worst at the beginning of the middle...
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Soul-Time-Sing-A-Long
I love to sing along with songs. You know this about me (and possibly about yourselves!) though I don't think I wrote that quite properly... it should read:
I LOVE to sing along with songs!!!
There are many things that make me happy, but this would be top five, maybe even top three.... actually more like top two. I love it so very very much. Very much.
There is something about singing in the car specifically.... in the summer, windows rolled down, driving way over the speed limit, with the music so loud your ears are ringing and singing so loudly that your voice goes hoarse (I actually once sang so enthusiastically to 'Bicycle Race' by Queen while on the way to work that I lost my voice and had to write things down for the whole day...) and I can't even put into words how much joy this brings me. I have tried on several occasions and just never seem to be able to quite capture it... However, on a recent road-trip I re-heard one of my all time favourite songs (I'm not afraid to admit it, its uber 90s alternative, and not exactly the most profound thing ever, but I can't help it, it speaks to my soul!) and was reminded of all of the things I love about singing in the car. As cheese as it is, this experience is so fully encapsulated in Open Road Song that I feel the need to block-quote it...
"I crack a window and feel the cool air cleanse my every pore, as I pour my poor heart out to a radio song that's patient and willing to listen, my volume drowns it out. Yeah but that's okay, 'cuz I sound better than him anyway, any day. Yeah my voice is sweet as salt. I search for comfort and I find it where I found it many times before, though times before can be forgotten..."
Its the singing-along part! The you-drowning-out-the-music part! The finding-comfort-in-pouring-your-heart-out part!
Back in high school all of my car-songs needed to be of a certain type to be able to 'work'- loud, fast, rock. Thats's what car music was to me, but my car-music tastes have broadened vastly in the interim... From Sons and Daughters by the Decemberists to Valley Town by Elliott Brood they have widened to include songs that paint sweeping vistas, that use intricate harmonies and gut-grabbing melodies, not just those that are loud and fast. And yet the all important lyrical factor has remained unchanged. I know many people who would disagree with me on this, but lyrics are as important to a song as the melody, the production values, or the instruments its played on.
I sing along with songs. You need good lyrics to sing along to, and I need to sing along for a song to be real to me. Singing along is how songs seep into my soul and become an inseparable part of me. Its how they transport me in time (Semi-Charmed Life), its how they make me homesick (Oh Alberta), its how they make my heart burst (Wake Up)...
Two of my current favourites are Ghosts by Laura Marling and Gentleman by Said the Whale. Neither are all epic, neither are all loud, neither are what one might call all hard-core... but both have absolutely sweet and beautiful lyrics that melt my insides when I hear them and even more so when I sing along.
Whether the song is quietly beautiful or heart-thumpingly exciting- that feeling of flying down the open road, singing at the top of your lungs.... perfection.
I LOVE to sing along with songs!!!
There are many things that make me happy, but this would be top five, maybe even top three.... actually more like top two. I love it so very very much. Very much.
There is something about singing in the car specifically.... in the summer, windows rolled down, driving way over the speed limit, with the music so loud your ears are ringing and singing so loudly that your voice goes hoarse (I actually once sang so enthusiastically to 'Bicycle Race' by Queen while on the way to work that I lost my voice and had to write things down for the whole day...) and I can't even put into words how much joy this brings me. I have tried on several occasions and just never seem to be able to quite capture it... However, on a recent road-trip I re-heard one of my all time favourite songs (I'm not afraid to admit it, its uber 90s alternative, and not exactly the most profound thing ever, but I can't help it, it speaks to my soul!) and was reminded of all of the things I love about singing in the car. As cheese as it is, this experience is so fully encapsulated in Open Road Song that I feel the need to block-quote it...
"I crack a window and feel the cool air cleanse my every pore, as I pour my poor heart out to a radio song that's patient and willing to listen, my volume drowns it out. Yeah but that's okay, 'cuz I sound better than him anyway, any day. Yeah my voice is sweet as salt. I search for comfort and I find it where I found it many times before, though times before can be forgotten..."
Its the singing-along part! The you-drowning-out-the-music part! The finding-comfort-in-pouring-your-heart-out part!
Back in high school all of my car-songs needed to be of a certain type to be able to 'work'- loud, fast, rock. Thats's what car music was to me, but my car-music tastes have broadened vastly in the interim... From Sons and Daughters by the Decemberists to Valley Town by Elliott Brood they have widened to include songs that paint sweeping vistas, that use intricate harmonies and gut-grabbing melodies, not just those that are loud and fast. And yet the all important lyrical factor has remained unchanged. I know many people who would disagree with me on this, but lyrics are as important to a song as the melody, the production values, or the instruments its played on.
I sing along with songs. You need good lyrics to sing along to, and I need to sing along for a song to be real to me. Singing along is how songs seep into my soul and become an inseparable part of me. Its how they transport me in time (Semi-Charmed Life), its how they make me homesick (Oh Alberta), its how they make my heart burst (Wake Up)...
Two of my current favourites are Ghosts by Laura Marling and Gentleman by Said the Whale. Neither are all epic, neither are all loud, neither are what one might call all hard-core... but both have absolutely sweet and beautiful lyrics that melt my insides when I hear them and even more so when I sing along.
Whether the song is quietly beautiful or heart-thumpingly exciting- that feeling of flying down the open road, singing at the top of your lungs.... perfection.
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