Mestizaje

The songs I discovered via youtube or other people's recommendations in 2012, which I then put into a youtube playlist.. exciting! In order of how they're in the said playlist: (1.) I can't believe I'd never heard of or listened to The Specials before last year. My three faves: Gangsters Ghost Town Hey Little Rich Girl (2.) Already liked Madness, found another to love (in part because of the silly video) One Step Beyond (3.) Saratoga's Maldito Corazon is yum. Warning: head-banging imminent. (4.) Discovered Argentina's Calzones Rotos probably while listening to Los Violadores' (also Argentinian) take on A Clockwork Orange with " Uno, Dos, Ultraviolento ". Los Calzones Rotos did a ska version , to Los Violadores' punk. Delish. Quiero Tenerte El Cuento del Tio - I've realized a lot of songs I love have a Middle Eastern/Arabic tint to it Mugre Milonga Ska (5.) MAD HEADS XL - Ukranian ska. I may have alr...

I watched Twilight Samurai for the first time last month, and discovered my new (second) favorite short (in length) movie fight. Number one is, of course, when we first meet Kyuzo in Seven Samurai. Third is the Magnificent Seven equivalent to Kyuzo, Britt, with his knife skills. Fourth, of course, is Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark. I wonder at my great love for samurai films, in particular Kurosawa's, but other well-loved films, too. What is it about these ronin that inspire hope and admiration? Anyway, here are the clips of favorite short-length fights: (Needless to add, these are all FANTASTIC movies, and please see the whole film if you haven't!) (1). Kyuzo in Seven Samurai (2). Twilight Samurai (3.) Magnificent Seven  - bringing a knife to a gun fight I must really just like those quiet, humble but confident and talented men, like Kyuzo and Britt. Yum. (4.) Indiana Jones and Raiders of the Lost Ark  - bringing a gun to a sword fight ...

For some reason I got into a Stevie Ray Vaughan kick tonight, and it turns out to be a week from the 22nd anniversary of his death. I always want to cry if I think about him too much, and tonight I did. His guitar & music make me feel such joy, such elation in my body and heart, and I become overwhelmed at the knowledge that he is no longer around, though I have known this for most of my life. My dad tells me every time I mention SRV that he had the privilege to see the great man in concert a few weeks before his death, and though Dad has told me many times, I never stop him, knowing that he mourns in a way, too. (I especially get emotional when I hear Stevie Ray play " Little Wing ", because it also makes me think of Jimi Hendrix .) Anyway.

1. Beethoven in "1, 2 Ultraviolento" by Los Violadores (Argentina, 1985) "1, 2 Ultraviolento" is directly inspired by the fantastic A Clockwork Orange  movie, whose main character, as we should all know, is a big fan of Ludwig Van. The beginning of this Los Violadores song plays off Beethoven's Ode to Joy  from his 9th Symphony. A sample of Beethoven's genius: The movie music from A Clockwork Orange  (by Wendy Carlos) "1, 2 Ultraviolento" by Los Violadores. The lyrics use language from the book, as spoken by the droogs, for example. Knowing the influence of the song and the year of its release makes it a rather perfect sound from an Argentinian punk band from that time, no? 2. Also sprach Zarathustra (Strauss) in "Cromagnon" by Korroskada (Basque Country, 1980's) A song featuring the opening minute from Also sprach being used in a song "Cromagnon" immediately makes me think that the band was inspired b...

This came in today: I have been silently (ok, maybe also aloud) squealing in excitement since. I LOVE HARRYHAUSEN! I grew up loving The Clash of the Titans (which I also own) and Jason and the Argonauts--not surprisingly because of my deep love for Greek mythology--and I have always loved the Harryhausen monsters from the Sinbad films. There's something so beautiful about these creatures; I am partial to Medusa, but the scene that never fails to excite me is the skeleton fight at the end of Jason and the Argonauts. Here's a handy and awesome list of The 11 Greatest Harryhausen monsters. While reading the description of the films on each DVD, I got stuck on the theme/character of Sinbad. I get stuck easily, I know, but when there's a fire in my eyes I gotta add fuel, ya know? Sinbad. What kind of name is that? Sinbad the Sailor. What is his origin? What was his original story? How many films were made? How have the tales of Sinbad into the present deviat...

I am working on a few projects right now--the search for employment also involves mountains of free time. Having finished Aladdin's Lamp: How Greek Science Came to Europe Through the Islamic World --I took notes and asked and answered questions of what I learned and already knew--I started on The Inheritance of Rome: Illuminating the Dark Ages, 400-1000 , again using the same note-taking process. It's the only way I can process information.  I have also started reading Age of Aztec , having finished the others in the Pan the on .  I began a project involving reading Jane Eyre  and watching the films, I read twitter updates from the futbol world, my dad and I have taken to watching one or two episodes of Star Trek Enterprise  every night for a month now, I play soccer on three teams, volunteer at the local museum, take care of the doggies...Needless to say, Reader, I am making my way quite slowly through my projects.  Tonight I finished watching Sev...

Saw this movie for the first time a few months ago, and it was perfect. I love Toshiro Mifune, I love samurai films-particularly those of Kurosawa-I love Charles Bronson, and I love when Westerns can be connected to the samurai ideal, like with The Magnificent Seven , plus I love how friggin' diverse Red Sun  is. ( Google Images ) Now to the music... (again, all songs I discovered this year) 21. Los Caminantes - "Entre mas lejos me vaya" It ain't the suits, if you're wondering, the hair--the video, in all--that drew me to this song. I can't put my finger on why it touched me so, but.. I love this song. I sing it loudly at a local Mexican bar when it comes on. 22. Chencha Berrinches - "Esperando la muerte" I have been looking for Chencha songs since I heard, and fell in love with, " Murcielaga ", which I'd heard on a compilation. Thanks to YouTube, there are now a few more songs, but this one I loved ...

I am currently wearing this hat *the list is rather long, so I'm making it a two-parter. Remember, these are songs I discovered this year, not just songs I listened to all year long. 1. Spinetta - "Bajan" I wish I could remember how I found this song, but I can remember how it made me feel because I still feel the same when I listen to it: his voice is so beautiful and I feel like I am in mourning, despite the beauty. 2. Los Jaivas - "Si tu no estas" It's no secret the love I have for Los Jaivas; one of their songs inspired a tattoo, and many of their songs inspire great hope and nostalgia in me. This song, "Si tu no estas", I find sweet, mesmerizing, and melancholy. 3. Los Tres - "Quien es la que viene alli" Again, I do not remember how I encountered this beauty, but it is cute. I love the guitar, the harmonies, and it is easy to sing along to. - Los Tres - "La torre de Babel" Everything, plus the message.. 5. Goran Brego...

Some dueling musicians and their instruments from movies, inspired by watching the 1977 Scott Joplin bio-pic starring Billy Dee Williams as the great composer himself. I loves me some ragtime, I really do: dueling pianists from the Scott Joplin movie from the one everyone should know, Deliverance , banjo vs guitar: from Crossroads , guitar duel, or Ralph Macchio vs Steve Vai: oh sweet sweet guitar and finally, another piano duel, perhaps my favorite from The Legend of 1900 , with Jelly Roll Morton against the titular character, 1900: gimme a fuckin' cigarette, will ya

musica y futbol -two views of the beautiful game- I'm going to let the lyrics speak for themselves: LA POLLA RECORDS (Spain) -Gol en el Campo- Gol en el campo, paz en la tierra // goal on the field, peace in the land que bonito es el futbol, que pasiones despierta // how beautiful is football, what passion it awakes defiende tu colores, sudar la camiseta // defend your colors, sweat for the shirt que bonito es el futbol para los que gobiernan //how beautiful is football for those who govern estan pegando el palo sin partido de vuelta // they are hitting the post without a return leg Gol en el campo, paz en la tierra Justicia corrompida arbitra la contienda // corrupted justice arbitrates contention patron enloquecido despide libremente // crazed patron takes leave freely y roban la pelota por la extrema derecha // and robs the ball for the extreme right atentos al remate que directa a puerta // look out for the rebound that goes straight at goal Gol en el campo, paz en la tierra Qu...

the importance and thoughts of futbol/soccer/football in song -of RAYO VALLECANO & SKA-P- I had some idea of Rayo Vallecano due to two songs by Ska-P, a Spanish ska-punk band that hails from a barrio of Madrid, called Vallecas. Rayo Vallecano is the team that belongs to that area, one that has a history of fluctuating between the first and second divisions of the Liga. Ska-P are known for their political messages; they do not back down from stating their thoughts on the death penalty , abuse of children by priests , abuse of power by politicians and government , and are f ervently against the long-standing Spanish tradition of bullfighting ; they sing for a united world, without borders , with tolerance. While they have been around since 1994, what they sing about is still very relevant. "COMO UN RAYO" Of the two songs in this post, this is the first I heard, and of the two, it is a sweet lyric of being proud of your team. Son las doce ya, esto va a comenzar // It's a...

the importance and thoughts of futbol/soccer/football in song -of MARADONA- if you didn't know the importance of the great Diego Maradona to Argentinians--and, I think it is safe to say, many who have seen the man in action--then here are three songs inspired by the man himself. LOS PIOJOS -Marado- this song is akin to a national anthem: it begins with a beautiful spoken introduction, told like a reverent tale about a legendary hero Dicen que escapo de un sueno // They say he escaped from a dream en casi su mejor gambeta // in what was almost his best dribble que ni los suenos respeta // that not even dreams respect tan lleno va de coraje // who goes so full of courage sin demasiado ropaje // without too much clothing y sin ninguna careta // and without a single mask Dicen que escapo este mozo // They say that this young man escaped del sueno de los sin jeta // from the dream of those without (jeta) que a los poderosos reta // that the powerful challenges y ataca a los mas villanos...

a quick list of songs I heard that turn out to be directly inspired by songs from other countries with a different language. THE CLASH "JIMMY JAZZ" I first heard Kortatu's "Jimmy Jazz" from their self-titled album. Kortatu is from Basque Spain, and were active from 1984-1988, during the height of rock radical vasco , a Spanish Basque music movement inspired by The Clash, The Sex Pistols, and The Rolling Stones, among others. Here's The Clash: Here's KORTATU taking on "Jimmy Jazz", with basic word-for-word translation in the images "THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN" I actually heard "The Magnificent Seven" years ago, in high school, probably because I was doing a basic search for music from one of my all-time favorite movies "The Magnificent Seven". Later I heard Molotov's "Aguela" and made the connection between the bass of "The Magnificent Seven" and "Aguela". It turns out that Molotov's...