How Dolly Parton was the first Carrie Bradshaw

I know. It’s been a while since I last wrote. But for my defence I’ve been busy (no really). Anyway, lately I’ve been listening to a lot of country music, and yes I realise it is a sort of cliché (broken hearts, star crossed lovers and the whole “unrequited love” bollocks that you will find in most music genres, but you can deny is most prevalent in the country scene)… but I don’t care. It is still better than listening to techno while nursing a migraine.

You can’t listen to Country music without talking about the famous Dolly Parton (now with her own theme park, I kid you not. It’s called (surprise surprise) Dollyville). I started by listening to Islands in the stream, which is really a great song and the lyrics are really quite good (of course, me behind my computer mending a sort of heart/brain problem, it just made me a but jealous but hey, I can’t call Dolly a bitch can I? Nope.

Here’s the lyrics (at the end), and look closely, that guy really loves her, they’re making “love” and everything. Bitch (sorry Dolly). But it really goes to show that she was really putting herself out there, Carrie Bradshaw? Per-lease, Dolly was shouting all over the world in the 80’s how much she loved her man and that she enjoyed sex. Wonderful. And a mere 20 years later, Carrie was sitting with her friends talking about anal and blow-jobs! So passé my dear, come back and talk about making love, that’s the new BJ of the 21st century. You can’t get away with saying “making love” anymore! I say that, and I’ll be neutered on the spot!

So after Islands in the stream, I went to Jolene. If you can believe it, even better. Now personally, I don’t care for the name of Jolene. I’m not american, and to be honest, I don’t know anyone by the name of Jolene in any case. But hey, I didn’t write the song (if it had been me, I’d called it something like… Pauline… works too!). I’ll put the whole lyrics at the end, but listen to this bit (and yes, this is getting more personal, even though I know this PERSON doesn’t read my blog, know of its existence or even read English, but yes I’m talking about you BIACH!)… “Jolene, jolene, jolene, jolene, Im begging of you please don’t take my man”… now I love this line, genius… that said if it was more I wouldn’t say please and I wouldn’t beg either, but hey Dolly’s a far more polite person that myself. She then writes “Please don’t take him just because you can”, and yes I agree, just because you can, don’t. Keep your legs crossed, and sometimes damn it, leave some of the other girls get a guy! This reminds me of a female friend of mine who’s having “boyfriend trouble” (even though in my opinion she is taking everything out of proportion and should wait and see, whatever, I’m happy I’m single (only in the situation though)). She has had… how should I put it, discrepancies in the past (dating guys who were already with girls etc), and I wonder if she is afraid her lover will do the same… the past always comes to bite you in the derrière at some point!) – or is that Karma? Anyway, love that line. She then goes on to say “And I cannot compete with you, jolene”. Now, I am definitely not the most confidant person in the world, but I can’t say she is selling herself short here… that said, I can’t deny that I have felt (and drunkenly said) the same thing. So you go girl, Dolly you’re perfect! At least Dolly’s showing a bit of humility, Jesus, I don’t think I have ever heard Carrie say she has doubts about her physique. She’s always prancing about like some prepubescent girl (I’m not saying I hate Sex and the City, I love it (except the second movie, bad choice… Abu Dhabi… really?)) but seriously she’s far from perfect, she has pretty anorexic arms! And lastly she says “You could have your choice of men, But I could never love again, He’s the only one for me, jolene”. Oh come on, you out there with your hearts of stone, isn’t that just lovely? Now, I don’t know how I feel about a certain someone (so complicated), but I can understand the feeling. No one wants to hear “there are plenty of fish in the sea”, argh. Please. That’s like saying there’s a lot of letters in a can of Alphabetti-Spaghetti. We know. We don’t need whooshing generalities. That said, everyone wants to feel special, and to steal a phrase from old Carrie herself, everyone likes the think that in our life, we have “one great love”. Now, when they come, if they don’t last long, or the passion blows out faster than expected… everyone should have at least one! (and this is where I insert a personal note here, “Ahem. Hello God, person out there, almighty power  (or Powa is your Asian or a teenage girl), Karma, Yahveh,  ‘ilah, Allah, Elohim… whatever, Dude, come on, through me a bone (not a real one please, I’m not a dog), send me something. A guy I can spend a bit of time with, without being fucked about with, playing with my emotions. He doesn’t even have to be the sexiest, or have good taste, look he doesn’t even have to be that intelligent (nothing under 160 IQ ok? Be cool.)… I’m not saying that I’m desperate, or that I’ll take anything… but I’m starting to think it’s me, not guys (even though my parents keep on reassuring me).

That’s it. So ladies (and gentlemen if you are out there and are still reading)… be happy in your own skin, beat the shit out of any boy stealing hag, and believe that you will love again, even after heartbreak (marzipan chocolate helps, i promise).

–

Islands in the Stream – Dolly Parton 

Baby, when I met you there was peace unknown
I set out to get you with a fine tooth comb
I was soft inside, there was somethin going on
You do something to me that I can’t explain
Hold me closer and I feel no pain
Every beat of my heart
We got somethin goin on
Tender love is blind
It requires a dedication
All this love we feel
Needs no conversation
We ride it together, ah-ah
Makin love with each other, ah-ah

Chorus:

Islands in the stream
That is what we are
No one in-between
How can we be wrong
Sail away with me to another world
And we rely on each other, ah-ah
From one lover to another, ah-ah

I can’t live without you if the love was gone
Everything is nothin if you got no one
And you did walk in tonight
Slowly loosen sight of the real thing

But that wont happen to us and we got no doubt
Too deep in love and we got no way out
And the message is clear
This could be the year for the real thing

No more will you cry
Baby, I will hurt you never
We start and end as one, in love forever
We can ride it together, ah-ah
Makin love with each other, ah-ah

Repeat chorus

Tag:

Sail away
Oh, come sail away with me

Repeat chorus

Fade:

Repeat chorus

– 

Jolene

Jolene, jolene, jolene, jolene 
Im begging of you please don’t take my man 
Jolene, jolene, jolene, jolene 
Please don’t take him just because you can 
Your beauty is beyond compare 
With flaming locks of auburn hair 
With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green 
Your smile is like a breath of spring 
Your voice is soft like summer rain 
And I cannot compete with you, jolene 

He talks about you in his sleep 
There’s nothing I can do to keep 
From crying when he calls your name, jolene 

And I can easily understand 
How you could easily take my man 
But you don’t know what he means to me, jolene 

Jolene, jolene, jolene, jolene 
Im begging of you please don’t take my man 
Jolene, jolene, jolene, jolene 
Please don’t take him just because you can 

You could have your choice of men 
But I could never love again 
Hes the only one for me, jolene 

I had to have this talk with you 
My happiness depends on you 
And whatever you decide to do, jolene 

Jolene, jolene, jolene, jolene 
Im begging of you please don’t take my man 
Jolene, jolene, jolene, jolene 
Please don’t take him even though you can 
Jolene, jolene

Music & Lyrics

T-T-T-Treble Clef!

I can’t of course speak for any of you (the whole 3 people that read this!) but I have a couple of songs that in all honesty move me to tears. Some people are more interested in the lyrics, some the song and others it’s the assimilation of both of these crafts, writing and music. I am more of the latter, but that said, depending on the music genre I may not care for what the song says and be more interested in the tune…

Today, while looking back as some groups I used to like when I was a bit younger, I stumbled upon a playlist I had made a long time ago, all about “beautifully sad songs”. We all know the kind of songs I’m talking about, the songs you always seem to go back to during time of need, a bad break up, a fight with a friend/family member, a bad grade, being shouted out or just having bad news. Today, I am glad isn’t one of those days, but that is maybe because I am so happy at the moment. But what really prompted this, apart form finding the playlist, was while searching on peoples profiles, I noticed a lot of people (mostly guys you would be surprised!) with romantic/depressing song titles as there facebook status. Now, I don’t believe all of these guys are post break-up or in a depressed state, but it begs me to think that men in general seem to be becoming more and more romantic, and all this in a day and age where there has been a sudden surge in recent years in “macho muscly guys” being N°1 in women’s desires, (which makes me really want to be sick, but that’s just me).

I think we can all agree, that copying and pasting the lyrics of a certain song on your profile says something. It is a subterfuge I believe. Instead of telling the person “You’re the one that I want” or “You’re strange and beautiful” etc etc, by using this technique, you can hide behind the beauty or the song, and not tell the person directly.

I think this is a good and bad solution, good because it works as a catharsis to the author. It is a way of telling the world he/she is happy/in love/angry etc without having to give any explanation and of course without the added confrontation… It is also a sightly bad idea because, as girls are (and I think I am pretty well versed in the female psyche…) temperamental, and generally a bit self-centered… which means if a girl sees that message, and “kinds likes that guy” she will take it for herself… and then the unlucky guy is on the receiving end of some future strange female advances… ha ha ha. True fact!

But anyway, back to subject… here are the songs that I find speak to me, and also are pretty depressing songs, but that doesn’t take away the fact that these songs are truly beautiful… so, in conclusion, thank christ for music and what it brings to each and every one of us!

–

Playlist :

✓ Maybe Tomorrow – Steriophonics

✓ Cartwheels – The Reindeer Section

✓ Play – Flunk

✓ Walnut Tree – Keane

✓ Trouble sleeping – The Perishers

✓ Chasing Cars – Snow Patrol

✓ Hide And Seek – Imogen Heap

✓ So Sweet  – Johnathan Rice

✓ Forever Young – Youth Group

✓ Strange and Beautiful – Aqualung

✓ Eastern Glow – The Album Leaf

✓ Into Dust  – Ashtar Command

✓ Come Back Around – Feeder

✓ You’re All I Have  – Snow Patrol

✓ Caught By The River – Doves

✓ If You Leave  – Nada Surf

✓ The End’s Not Near – Band Of Horses

✓ Drops Of Jupiter – Train

✓ You Got Me All Wrong – Dios Malos

✓ Hello Sunshine (Super Furry Animals) – Syd Matters

✓ Apologize Ft. One Republic – Timbaland

✓ Debaser (The Pixies) – Rogue Wave

✓ Wires – Athlete

✓ Hardcore Days & Softcore Nights – Aqueduct

✓ Bitter Sweet Symphony   -The Verve

✓ Goodnight And God Bless – Robin Foster

✓ Greenfields – Faultline.

✓ Publish My Love – Rogue Wave

✓ Chicago – Sufjan Stevens

✓ Paint The Silence – South

✓ Just The Way I’m Feeling – Feeder

✓ I Fall In Love Too Easily – Chet Baker

✓ Crepuscolo Sul Mare  – Piero Umiliani

✓ Trouble – Ray Lamontagne

✓ Where Is My Boy – Faultline.

✓ You Already Take Me There – Switchfoot

✓ Wish I Was Dead Pt. 2 – Shout Out Louds

✓ California (Phantom Planet) – Mates Of State

✓ Smile Like You Mean It (The Pixies) – Tally Hall

✓ Something Pretty – Patrick Park

✓ Hello Sunshine – Super Furry Animals

✓ It’s Been A While – Staind

✓ Goodnight And Go – Imogen Heap

✓ Glory Box – Portishead

✓ How Come  – Embrace

✓ Dice – Finley Quaye

✓ Eve, The Apple Of My Eye – Bell X1

✓ Can’t Get It Out Of My Head (ELO) – John Paul White

✓ The View – Modest Mouse

✓ Fast Car – Tracy Chapman

✓ I Need Some Sleep  – Eels

✓ Your Ex-Lover Is Dead – Stars

✓ Learning To Breathe – Switchfoot

✓ Scarecrow – Beck

✓ Little House Of Savages (live) – The Walkmen

✓ Stop and Stare – OneRepublic

✓ A Lack Of Color – Death Cab For Cutie

✓ Comfort In Sound – Feeder

✓ J’y Suis Jamais Allé – Yann Tiersen

✓ Just A Ride – Jem

✓ Sex and candy (acoustic) – Marcy Playground

✓ Orange Sky – Alexi Murdoch

✓ Outside – Staind

✓ Rain City – Turin Brakes

✓ Coming Up From Behind  – Marcy Playground

✓ Plug In Baby – Muse

✓ Time Is Running Out – Muse

Me, Music and Auricular Masturbation…

Ok, let me start off by saying that this article is not about sex, and self appreciation… but is about something quite different.

I love music. I actually passionate about a lot of things and as cliché as it sounds, I like to think of myself as an artist. Sure, i’ll admit, I’m not sitting in my parents garage rocking out to Motley Crue and Kiss, nor am I painting Munch’s Scream in my schools back room and sadly (ha!) neither am I writing tortured poetry about my childhood and how I hate my parents. I do of course how that sounds, but I don’t think people should categorize someone as an artist (or not) on the recognition of his/her work. It all falls down to society’s desire to make you that new toy they want, and as soon as the fashion has passed… you have become another disused human being. Sometimes this can be the catalyst and push people to try harder, be more inventive etc. That said, some people are never happy, an artist doesn’t necessarily have to constantly create home runs in art. What will speak to someone won’t speak to someone else and vice-versa.

Now, back to the music. For some time i have noticed to crescendo of people orgasming in front of cheap, commercial reality television. Why? No seriously why? It is pure trash, and I think the only “substance” that you could possibly get from this, would be… a way of escaping some sort of horrible reality that one may be living? Are our 21st century counterparts lives so bad that they have to watch other people’s misery play out before them in order to extract some sort of confort out of it? Maybe I’m being too harsh, I have a tendency to do that. I shall try to remedy that in the future.

Anyhow, I’m looking forward to discovering new things in Sweden. By meeting new people and discovering the likes and dislikes, you can learn something new, and what people tend to forget, the music you listen to generally says something about you. If a certain song speaks to you (as well as a substantial percentage of the world I imagine!) it means that there is a message, either consciously on unconsciously is being passed on to you… I have discovered this year, when giving English lessons to this 16 year old kid, something which to some people may seem strange but I think, well, i think I’m right.

He said to me when I asked what music did he like, he replied, and I quote “I don’t like music.”

WHAT? How can you not like music? Music is the essence of everything? Noise, is everywhere. How can you not appreciate any sort of sound? I find this, extremely creepy not to enjoy music. It is one thing to find listening to say, Sepultura strange, it is not to everyones taste, neither is jazz to some people, or bluegrass (arghhhhhhh!) but it is still music. In the music world, I believe that everyone is catered for in some way. It is like saying, you don’t like art. I can’t possibly imagine a world without art. Yes, art does not serve a particular purpose, true, but even a psychopath (o.k. fine he wasn’t a psychopath, but in any case, he is undeniably fucked up) like Hitler liked music and art. He even took steps to steal art from rich and famous people across Europe.

Art, Music and Writing is necessary in a world where some people need to escape their every day chores into another world, that they can feel was created just for them. So maybe, in some way, reality television is a good thing (but culturally, it doesn’t teach us much…).

For me, writing is like breathing for me. I may not be good, but that doesn’t mean that I shouldn’t try.

So, auricular masturbation… what gets your ears orgasming? :-p For moi, I have to say having the eclectic upbringing I had, I think i’ve been lucky in my musical tastes. Of course, my parents think that a lot of the stuff I listen too is a ton of crap (cf: generally electronic stuff) but they do realise that I have good taste… Apart from my love of jazz and blues (my childhood and well 15 years of jazz piano helps!), I really love rock and electronica which I would say are my number ones!

So, tell me blog readers (are there any? lol), what makes your feet curl musically? What makes your head spin? And finally, what makes your ears orgasm? :-p

xoxo

Music How I Love You...