Ten Foreign Songs (from CDs)
December 15, 2009 7:25 am Lists, Music
One/The long and winding road is a good place to start. Yes, it is the Beatles and they had an orchestra full of hits. I dig their final cut “The long and winding road” the most. Prophetic and the best goodbye for the ear.
Bee Gees Greatest Hits/Nights on Broadway Much maligned, but durable and universal in appeal (they do have fans). “Nights on Broadway” gets my vote for memorable and yet magical use of lyrics and music.
The Best of the Moody Blues/Nights in White Satin Another pond hopping example of greatness. “Nights in White Satin” can’t be beat. Unforgettable orchestration.
The Best of ABBA/Take A Chance on Me More supergroup poop. “Dancing Queen” being the marquee song, but I find “Take a Chance on Me” to be equally if not more lively. For a vlock of non-native english speakers, they put out well.
The Very Best of Gilbert O’Sullivan/Get Down A minor player in the 1970’s music scene, Gilbert plays the “lone wolf” well. His style sets a unique blend of rock and folk. From this CD I dig “Get Down” a hard rock, anti-social song that borders on punk—perfect for background music for a movie about The Troubles
Elton John Greatest Hits 1970-2002/Tiny Dancer So much to choose from here–Levon, Yellow Brick, or Tiny Dancer. I went for the “dancing in the sand”. The audio-visuals ride through the mind for deep thought.
The Sound of Music/Maria Another girl with issues. English with a continental flair, this ensemble musical rap sheet rides the emotions like Tiny Dancer does.
Carmina Burana/O Fortuna Given this orchestra debuted in the heart of the Third Reich, both time (1937) and place (Frankfurt), one wonders why such a piece of mideval revelry got the Fuhher’s ok. The opening song says it all–Oh Fortune! Since childhood I have played this…as albumn, cassette, and now CD. Like some 14th century Woodstock, Carmina Burana lives on…happily.
Doctor Zhivago/Kontakion Otherwise known as the Funeral Song, this Ukranian masterpiece is soul stirring to the utmost. Zhivago brought so much “Russian’ culture to the American psyche; this despite being shot in Spain and Finland.
Lalaiki Pamir/Amina There are some songs that hold their own, even if in a foreign tounge. I can only guess at the meaning of the lyrics—there are limits to Googlanity. But get into the beat. “Amina” has an intro to raise the dead. Buying the CD was by chance. Back in the early 90’s my brother let me pick a CD to buy at Boston’s Tower records. Strickly on sight, I went to Oleg Fesov route. Give it a fly.
