Art, words and Music add a great deal to our lives and culture. They can prompt us to think and contemplate or simply to relax and enjoy. I’ve been told my taste run somewhat eclectic, but that’s ok with me. Here, I’ll share some of my favorites.
My Movie Review
I watched the movie Conclave last night. I hadn’t heard or read much about it, though I knew it was about electing a Pope. It was a little drawn out at times, but refreshing in a way.
It showed the reality of human beings in church leadership… the good, the bad and the ugly. The Cardinals involved were as human as the rest of us, showing doubt, jealousy, covetousness and arrogance along with compassion, respect, acceptance and the strength of faith.
The ending surprised me the most and even brought a few tears (of joy) to my eyes. If you have any interest in the inner workings of the church or human nature in general, give it a watch.
Perhaps I’ll Rise – wfe
I’ve fallen through life like a leaf in a breeze – With occasional winds bringing me to my knees
With little direction and nothing to guide – Just fluttering down in a struggle to survive
Searching for an updraft to carry me away – So that I may enjoy yet another day
With nothing near to end my fall – Drops of rain just hasten the call
In nearing the ground to my ultimate fate – Will it be green earth sea or lake
It really doesn’t matter in any case – I’m just hoping to avoid the rake
Knowing when I touch down it’s the end of me – Perhaps I’ll rise as a fish or tree
The Awakening – wfe
Once you’ve seen the unseen,
And heard voices in the wind
You’re closer to the source,
Than you’ve ever been
If your mind should open up,
And set your world to spin
Just close your eyes so tightly,
And listen to within
You’ve always been the guide,
To secrets buried deep
They haunt your nightly dreams,
And bond you to repeat
Awaken to a bright new day,
That brings a beam of light
To shine upon your soul,
And release the binds so tight
You Know I’m No Good…
Amy Winehouse Stole My Heart
The first time I heard Amy sing I was hooked. Her voice was so emotional and honest that I empathetically felt her pain and pleasure with life in every song she sang.
Among others, George Michael admired Amy Winehouse and called her “best female vocalist I’ve heard in my entire career.” I agree.
British singer Adele paid tribute to Amy by crediting her success to Winehouse. “I feel like I owe so much of my career to her,” Adele told an audience. “That first album, ‘Frank,’ it really changed my life.”
She led a tragic life that ended all too soon, but left a wonderful gift behind for us all. The words and voice of an angel.
Where Is Christina’s World…
Andrew Wyeth was a widely celebrated American artist who specialized in realist watercolor and tempera paintings of people and landscapes. His best-known work, Christina’s World (1948), depicts a young women laying in the grass and looking towards a farmhouse.
Christina’s World (1948) is a modern masterpiece. Or is it totally trite? Almost 70 years after its creation (and a century after Wyeth’s birth, in Pennsylvania), critics and viewers alike remain at a standstill.
Despite the work’s everyday subject matter, it is filled with a haunting sense of urgency and foreboding dread. While his work has been deemed melancholic, the artist preferred to describe it as thoughtful. “I think anything like that—which is contemplative, silent, shows a person alone—people always feel is sad,”
Gimme a F, Gimme an I…
Country Joe and the Fish was an American band formed in Berkeley, California, in 1965. The band was among the influential groups in the San Francisco music scene during the mid- to late 1960s.
The “Fish Cheer” and “I Feel Like I’m Fixin To Die” are Woodstock Festival classics, but two of his other songs are strikingly different and particular favorites of mine.
“Janis” – Joe McDonald wrote this song for Janis Joplin when they were living together in 1967. According to Joe, she was upset with him for breaking up with her to be with Robin Menken, whom he subsequently married, but asked him to write a song for her, and this was the song.
“Here I Go Again” – is a sad song about loss. Loss of a love and loss of a father to war. Lyrics:
“When dawn comes to touch my purple haze, And evening’s drowsiness to carry me away
I know once again that there is nothing we can save, So I’ll pack up my things, I’ll be on my way
Yes, here I go again, Off down the road again, Thinking thoughts of days gone by…
…Here I am again, Singing my songs again, Thinking and dreaming, Oh I feel like I could cry
Father’s gone to fight the war, He left us here alone, I shiver in the lonesome night, Beside the telephone
But time brings no word, I guess he’s not coming home
It feels like the end, It feels like the end, my friend
Here we go again, Off down the road again, Thinking thoughts of things gone by…”
Much of the band’s music was written by founding members Country Joe McDonald and Barry “The Fish” Melton, with lyrics pointedly addressing issues of importance to the counterculture, such as anti-war protests, free love, and recreational drug use.
Through a combination of psychedelia and electronic music, the band’s sound was marked by innovative guitar melodies and distorted organ-driven instrumentals which were significant to the development of acid rock.
The Night Watch Classic…
When I first walked into the museum room in Amsterdam where this famous Rembrandt painting was hung, I was floored. The thing is about 15 feet wide and over 10 feet tall. It was gigantic and so damn gorgeous.
It’s hard to describe the painting without seeing in person. The lighting and mood are exceptional and precisely placed to draw you into the featured characters.
The painting was controversial not because of its subject, but because of the way Rembrandt depicted the group’s members. Rather than giving each of them equal prominence, he created the painter’s equivalent of a motion picture: a group of militiamen who have just moved into action and are about to march off.
NOTE: The Night Watch (Dutch: De Nachtwacht), is a 1642 painting by Rembrandt van Rijn. It is in the collection of the Amsterdam Museum but is prominently displayed in the Rijksmuseum as the best-known painting in its collection. The Night Watch is one of the most famous Dutch Golden Age paintings.
Pure Musical Magic…
Jethro Tull is another band with music and lyrics that touched my mind and soul. They’re a British rock band that formed back in 1967. Initially playing blues rock and jazz fusion, the band soon incorporated elements of English folk, hard rock, and classical music, forging a signature progressive rock sound that’s very unique with lyrics that typically focused on social issues, for example:
Aqualung’s lyrics describe the harsh realities of life on the streets and the hypocrisy of the church, which claims to offer help but fails to deliver.
Thick As A Brick’s lyrics are a satirical commentary on the education system and the idea of intellectual elitism.
Locomotive Breath lyrics describe a sense of impending doom and a feeling of being trapped and the song’s themes of anxiety, stress, and societal pressures are still relevant today.
Cross Eyed Mary’s lyrics describe a young girl who is mistreated and exploited by society, highlighting issues of poverty, gender inequality, and abuse of power.
Songs From The Wood lyrics describe a celebration of nature and the simple life.
Hymm 43 lyrics describe how people use religion to justify their actions, while ignoring the suffering of others.
Too Old To Rock and Roll lyrics reflect on the passage of time and the struggle to find meaning in life.
Oh, and Ian Underwood’s flute playing is pure musical magic…
The Reality And Emotion Of Art…
Aleah Chapin (b. 1986 Seattle, WA) is a painter whose direct portrayals of the human form have expanded the conversation around western culture’s representations of the body in art. Her work has explored aging, gender and beauty, influenced in part by the community within which she was raised on an island in the Pacific Northwest. In 2020, Chapin’s work took a radical shift inward, expanding her visual language in order to better express the turbulent times we are living in. Consistent throughout her career, Chapin’s work asks the question: What does it mean to exist within a body today?
I’m impressed with her artistic talent, but more importantly the way she represents the realities and emotional attachments surrounding the human body.
MOTOWN Was My GoTo Sound
When I was growing up, even though I listened to early rock from Bill Haley, Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly, Rick Nelson, Elvis, Little Richard and others, the MOTOWN sound and soul were the music most of my best memories were accompanied by… dances, parties and romancing always included music from groups like: the Temptations, Four Tops, Tams, Shirelles, Supremes, Mary Wells, Chiffons and, of course, Johnny Mathis,
Beautiful and Delicate O’Keeffe
George O’Keeffe had such sensitivity and sensuality to her works, perhaps in part, because she struggled with depression and anxiety throughout her life. Her rebellion against her controlling husband was very difficult and even led to her spending time in a hospital. After returning home, O’Keeffe gained an impressive new focus on self-care.
Go Your Own Way…
Fleewood Mac was one of favorite groups. I like each of their albums and I especially like the songs Christine McVee sang, and Lindsey Buckingham’s guitar playing is in a class of its own. Lindsey’s playing on Big Love is unreal, I saw him play it live not too long ago and I just couldn’t keep my eyes off his finger action.
Dreaming The Day Away…
I ran across this recently online and it took me away to a different place an time…
Teach Your Children Well…
This album changed my life. The music and vocals were outstanding, but it was the lyrics that sunk in deep and sent me down a very different path. I still listen to it and refer to their words in many of my writings.
The Van Gough’s You Rarely See
I’ve been fortunate to be able to visit some of the most amazing museums in the world, and several stand out. One of my favorites is The Van Gough museum in Amsterdam. I’d always been fascinated by his work, but saw some wonderful pieces that aren’t so famous and rarely seen.
I Was Only Sleeping Before This
I was a big Beatles fan before Revolver; even saw them live in Memphis, but this 1966 album changed my appreciation of the group and my perception of what music was supposed to be all about.
I Am In Awe Of These Pastels…
I can’t even comprehend the talent it takes to create pastel art of this quality. The creator of many outstanding works, Toby Reid, is an award winning artist and FB friend who went to school locally in Mountain Brook and now lives in Florida.
How Do You Explain Frank Zappa
The Modern Day Composer Refuses To Die
Unless you’re already a fan, Zappa’s music may be hard to take. His lyrics are satirical and often outright crude. His music is like a universe unto itself, going from rock to classical, to progressive to jazz; often within the same song. He’s been described as a genius (with an IQ in the 170’s) within the music world and credited as a modern day composer with few equals.
I’ve included the album Rubin and The Jets here because it’s so different from his typical stuff. It’s classic’50s DooWop with a unique Zappa touch. It’s fun, it’s irreverent and worth a listen.
Peter Paul Rubins’ Legacy
I was very fortunate to have visited Rubens’ home and museum in Antwerp some time ago. This was also his workshop where many of his paintings were created. His self portrait was outstanding and displayed along with many other outstanding paintings.
‘The Judgement of Paris’ hangs in the National Gallery in London and is one of his most famous pieces. It depicts Paris (the shepherd prince) judging the fairest of three goddesses – Juno (Hera in the Greek version), Venus (Aphrodite) and Minerva (Athena). Oh, and it was said to be a difficult decision, but Venus evidently won by making Paris some questionable promises.
The series of paintings, showcased Rubens’ exuberant style and illustrated his love of an idealised female form, with its [beautiful] ‘Rubineseque’ curves.
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