"Little by Little" Oasis

I saw this track on Oz TV on the ABC RAGE program and was caught up in what is pretty much Oasis at their annoying best!! The 'publicity tart' Gallagher brothers put together some brilliant pop tunes from time to time and this is an interesting exploration... from their 2002 album 'Heathen Chemistry.' I think it's great that the songs of theirs I find most poignant are sung by Noel and not Liam. I note this clip includes the signpost for 'Heathen Street.' I like the image that "Y'know I didn't mean what I just said, But my god woke up on the wrong side of his bed."
Is the song a general reflection on mortality? Is it about the breakdown of Noel's then relationship and divorce? Is it written to his daughter in the light of that?

"Little by Little"
We the people fight for our existence
We don't claim to be perfect but we're free
We dream our dreams alone with no resistance
Fading like the stars we wish to be

Y'know I didn't mean
What I just said
But my god woke up on the wrong side of his bed
And it just don't matter now

Cause little by little
We gave you everything you ever dreamed of
Little by little
The wills of your life have slowly fallen off
Little by little
You have to give it all in all your life
And all the time I just ask myself why
You're really here

Dream perfection has to be imperfect
I know that that sounds foolish but it's true
The day has come and now you have to accept
The life inside your head we give to you

No I didn't mean
What I just said
But my god woke up on the wrong side of his bed
And it just don't matter now

Cause little by little
We gave you everything you ever dreamed of
Little by little
The wheels of your life have slowly fallen off
Little by little
You have to give it all in all your life
And all the time I just ask myself why
You're really here

(Hey!)
Little by little
We gave you everything you ever dreamed of
Little by little
The wills of your life have slowly fallen off
Little by little
You have to give it all in all your life
And all the time I just ask myself why
You're really here

Why am I really here?
Why am I really here?

"Where I Stood" Missy Higgins

There's no doubt about 'Youtube'!!
I was watching 'Grey's Anatomy' series 4 ep 9 here at home in Oz on Sunday night [as is our custom] and heard the familiar strains of Missy Higgins over the crashed and upturned paramedic ambulance disaster in the episode...
I was reflecting on how good Missy is at creating moody and deep mood with her tunes and those catchy one liners that expaqnd into a song about a particular relationship but give you glimpses of comment that could be about anyone and any relationship or self examination. It's lines like "I don't know what I've done, or if I like what I've begun" which echoed in just the right moments in this touching storyline of one paramedics observation saving the life of his partner just before taking his own last gasp!!
Determined to post a clip of the song here I should not have been surprised to find the clip from the show uploaded... enjoy!!

"Where I Stood" Missy Higgins
I dont know what I've done
Or if I like what I've begun
But something told me to run
And honey you know me it's all or none
There were sounds in my head
Little voices whispering
That I should go and this should end
Oh and I found my self listening
Cause I dont know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I dont know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
Cause she will love you more then I could
She who dares to stand where I stood
See I thought love was black and white
That it was wrong or it was right
But you ain't leaving without a fight
And I think I am just as torn inside
Cause I dont know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I dont know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
Cause she will love you more then I could
She who dares to stand where I stood
And I wont be far from where you are if ever you should call
You meant more to me then any one I've ever loved at all
But you taught me how to trust myself
And so I say to you, this is what I have to do.
Cause I dont know who I am, who I am without you
All I know is that I should
And I dont know if I could stand another hand upon you
All I know is that I should
Cause she will love you more than I could
She who dares to stand where I stood
She who dares to stand where I stood.

"From Little Things Big Things Grow"

GetUp and other collaborators have sampled Kevin Rudd's 'sorry' and Paul Keatings famous Redfern speech alongside some clever Aussie muso's and with the help of the lead singer from 'The Herd'... have released a fundraising new version of this brilliant Kev Carmody song!!
Download the clip and audio at GetUp.

"The apology to the Stolen Generations on 13 February 2008 marked a place in Australian history that The GetUp Mob - featuring Kev Carmody, Paul Kelly, Urthboy and Missy Higgins, have commemorated with the release on April 21 of the new GetUp StandUp version of 'From Little Things Big Things Grow'."

Dub_fx made a great impression in Pitt St Mall

Beat boxing and hip hop derivative rythms are not usually my favourite form of music but on the last 2 Thursdays I've found myself in Pitt St Mall [looking for Juan Mann to ask him for a pair of his shoes... another story] and Dub_fx has been there beat boxing, mixing his own samples and entertaining the crowd!! There's something quite powerful in his voice and the haunting tunes. Thye are often reworked familiar songs and the intricate backings and his own beatbox style are quite unique and the sound system does well. I video'd 5 mins with my phone and will access that when I can get my computer to play the MP4!!
It's an impressive sound and you can check him out here on MySpace. I bought one of his $10 CDs and will use the music at a youth event some time soon!! Check him out on youtube and this clip in Manchester...

Andrew Johnston Wows Them on BGT

Reminiscent of Paul Potts here's young Andrew who tells his story of being bullied at school for his singing and then produces an amazing audition!!

Wollondilly White Waratahs Womens Rugby Points

I've previously written about this girls rugby team who were featured in the 'Daily Telegraph' last year. They are a bunch of new players trying hard but getting thrashed by over 100 points on occasion. At the end of the season they scored a goal and last Saturday scored their first try!!
Of course their notoriety annoys some other competitors as they'd rather see successful women's teams being reported [nothing personal of course, just a reflection on what the media finds interesting].
I'm not sure players in the same comp have an entirely independent view on things but either way I still say this team is what rugby is all about... having a go!!

"Black Fingernails, Red Wine" Eskimo Joe

"Black Fingernails, Red Wine"
Black fingernails, red wine
I wanna make you, all mine
A lot of people, underground
You wanna get there
You gotta go straight down

There's a culture, everywhere
Smoke clouds, hang in the air
It's so loud, can't hear you talk
You and I, should take a walk downtown

Straight down
Downtown
Straight down

The argument over god continues
In this house
All of us stand and point our fingers
At the ground
All of us stand and point our fingers
Straight down

Red-letter day, black heart
Its gonna tear you, all apart
It's so loud; can't hear you call
You and I, are gonna fall straight down
Straight down
Downtown
Straight down

The argument over god continues
In this house
All of us stand and point our fingers
At the ground
Argument over all continues
In this house
All of stand and point our fingers
Straight down x3

Black fingernails, red wine
I wanna make you, all mine
A lot of people, underground
You wanna get there, you gotta go straight down

The argument over god continues
In this house
All of us stand and point our fingers
At the ground
The argument over all continues
In this house
All of us stand and point our fingers
Straight down x3

I was listening to my 'Shuffle' the other day and was reminded I had added this song. I think it's an interesting track from a band with a hard working A&R manager. I say that because 'Eskimo Joe' emerged from Perth with a standout single as many new bands do and it became known as "the Cardigan song" or it's real title "Sweater." It was about being outed, ostracised and ridiculed for wearing his grandad's hand me down brown woollen jumper... At this stage the lead singer was pretty solid in that Alex Lloyd kind of way... and these days they have heavily styled haircuts and wardrobe, he's dropped significant weight and they've very much left their break out album behind. I recall seeing them as support for 'Silverchair' and 'The Offspring.'
BUT that's all an aside to this intriguing song!!

I don't know what the song is about but I was caught foot tapping to the hook about "the argument over God continues in this house" Is it about nightclubs and the different crowds and arguments? Is it about blame and futility? It's a questioning, brooding sound and a catchy tune...

"Teenage Song"

Saw this clip on the Today Show last week and it seems to be cropping up on a few blogs!! Great clip for talking about all sorts of communication issues with teenagers: family issues; asking them what they'd like to see/do in any club or program; generational differences etc!!

U23D at IMAX

"----------------------!!!!!"
Spoiler Alert
I went this afternoon to the IMAX in Sydney though most local cinemas are offering their version of this amazing cinematic achievement!! It's been a while since I went to a 3D film but this was certainly something else... of course I'm biased about U2 but while this was not "even better than the real thing" it was amazing!
Although I enjoyed the second of the two Vertigo Tour concerts I went to I still missed something of the experience because of the immense challenges of a Stadium show and I now feel like I experienced something I missed that Friday night in the rain at Homebush.
The visual 3D effect brings the screen right off the wall and the four band members remind me of those brass tribute statues of sports people where they are usually 2/3s bigger than real life.
There are many highlights including:

• Bono & Adam look straight at the camera & you feel they are about to speak to you
  
• Bono reaches out and you feel like you could touch his hand
• The crescendo of the second half of songs including a brilliant rendition of "With or Without You" and "Where the Streets Have No Name"
• The overhead and close shots of Larry drumming are amazing
• During "The Fly" when the ZOO TV wordings come off screen and fly out to you in your seat
• The Buenos Aires crowd... I'm sure I nearly got my eye poked out, got sprayed when a water bottle is thrown
• Not to mention the idiots who left as the credits rolled... missing the unplugged gem "Yahweh" just into said credits
• Besides my favourite song "Pride [In the Name of Love]" was also BRILLIANT!!
  

I hope they do a Shrek with this and sell the DVD complete with cardboard 3D glasses. I have the data projector booked!! But for now I will be back a few times just to marvel at what the film makers have achieved... the first live action 3D film in history spread across about 7 or 8 South American concerts and some sound check run through close ups so the cameras weren't an issue for paying punters at every show and every time.
Bono's moments of excess and indulgence are largely not included so this is a sharp version of the essential messages from the concert, less preaching more an experience of music with hints thrown in.

1. "Vertigo"
2. "Beautiful Day"
3. "New Year's Day"
4. "Sometimes You Can't Make It on Your Own"
5. "Love and Peace or Else"
6. "Sunday Bloody Sunday"
7. "Bullet the Blue Sky"
8. "Miss Sarajevo" / Reading of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
9. "Pride (In the Name of Love)"
10. "Where the Streets Have No Name"
11. "One"

First encore

12. "The Fly"
13. "With or Without You"

End credits

"Yahweh"

Worship Unplugged #49 "Ocean" John Butler Trio live

My next audio-visual I'm happy to share when it's done will be to this brilliant piece of music from John Butler which I first encountered on his 'One Small Step' fundraiser CD. Great guitar playing evoking the sights and sounds of the powerful Western Australian Ocean...

40 Years since the death of Dr Martin Luther King Jnr

The legend, story and footprint of MLK is one of my favourite inspirational stories!! We couldn't afford to bring Bernice King to Oz in 2003 but would have been very keen if we'd been able to find the budget!!

MLK's speeches and landmark quotable quotes are all over the net and those well known lines from Washington have been repeated, parodied and honoured ever since...

"I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal,"' King told the crowd at the capital's Lincoln Memorial.

"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character."

Five years later, at just 39, he was shot dead by escaped inmate James Earl Ray, while he was standing on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel on April 4, 1968.



Even more eerie is the 'mountain top' speech by a servant of God who knew his 'truth' was upsetting the balance of power in the same way Jesus talk of the rule and reign or values of God caused the Easter events we remember!! This parallel is celebrated by that band nobody wants me to keep talking about [check out the age of the audience in U23D when you get the chance]!!

"Pride [In the Name of Love]" U2
One man come in the name of love
One man come and go
One man come here to justify
One man to overthrow
In the name of love!
One man in the name of love
In the name of love!What more?
In the name of love!

One man caught on a barbed wire fence
One man he resists
One man washed on an empty beach
One man betrayed with a kiss
In the name of love!
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love!
What more? In the name of love!...
nobody like you...there's nobody like you...Mmm...mmm...mmm...
Early morning, April 4
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride
In the name of love!
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love!
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love!
What more in the name of love...