Manu Dibango

 SONG FACTS: A native of Cameroon, Manu Dibango has enjoyed a long career as a musician and songwriter, developing a fusion of Jazz and African musical styles. This song which was released in 1972, came early in Dibango's career, and was introduced to American listeners by the legendary New York City radio DJ Frankie Crocker on FM's WBLS radio station.

This song made the US Top 40 only briefly, but later became notable for 3 reasons. The first is its refrain, "Ma-ma-se, ma-ma-sa, ma-ma-kossa," which Michael Jackson borrowed for his 1983 hit "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'," but without Dibango's permission. Dibango eventually reached an out-of-court settlement with Jackson over the lyrics. Dibango also had filed a lawsuit against Rihanna.  When Rihanna came calling in 2007, asking to sample Jackson on her song "Don't Stop the Music," Jackson agreed – allegedly without contacting DiBango.  https://www.theguardian.com/music/200.... The third reason is the genré, and the pop culture phenomenon, that the song set in motion.

 "Soul Makossa" was so popular as a dance song that its style began to be emulated and further developed by American dance musicians - and eventually took on a life of its own. As a result, this is now widely regarded as the first Disco record.  Whenever it was dropped on Dance floors in New York it lead to "dance battles." Blacks, Italians, Latino's and Whites couldn't get enough of this groove and strutted their stuff when this monster tune came on.

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This video is for entertainment and so good for exercise, roller skating, dancing and the Soul.  The dance clips in this video are the property of other users on youtube that I downloaded to create dancing entertainment instead of just an album cover.  Soul Makossa means: "I Will Dance."  Contact AquarielCharm at:  https://www.youtube.com/user/Aquariel...

VIDEO CREDITS BELONG TO THE FOLLOWING:

Best dance moves of all time (African school kids dance) 2014 Remix

(BiggDawggProductionz)

"Best dance moves of all time (African school kids dance)2014."

(Dettol Tracks channel)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hB8z6...

"Comedians dancing to MARIAROZA by EDDY KENZO." 

(Eddy Kenzo channel)

Frankie and Johnny - last scene

 Last scene

Frankie looks at the window in the morning and find out that the woman who has been constantly abused by her husband left him.

 

A quick glimpse on each character's morning...

And they are finally together.

(Debussy'a Clair de Lune involve us all.)

Sarvesham Svastir Bhavatu (Peace Mantra) - Tina Turner

I set the video to start on this Indian girl because there is something about her that touches deep in my heart.
It is a kind of wisdom that I believe we all search for but it seems she already has it.
Have a peaceful week.

Northern Sky by Nick Drake

I never felt magic crazy as this
I never saw moons knew the meaning of the sea
I never held emotion in the palm of my hand
Or felt sweet breezes in the top of a tree
But now you're here
Brighten my northern sky.

I've been a long time that I'm waiting
Been a long that I'm blown
I've been a long time that I've wandered
Through the people I have known
Oh, if you would and you could
Straighten my new mind's eye.

Would you love me for my money
Would you love me for my head
Would you love me through the winter
Would you love me 'til I'm dead
Oh, if you would and you could
Come blow your horn on high.

I never felt magic crazy as this
I never saw moons knew the meaning of the sea
I never held emotion in the palm of my hand
Or felt sweet breezes in the top of a tree
But now you're here
Brighten my northern sky.

Just listen. It makes me feel at peace. Have a great week!

Way to Blue by Nick Drake

Don't you have a word to show what may be done
Have you never heard a way to find the sun
Tell me all that you may know
Show me what you have to show
Won't you come and say
If you know the way to blue?

Have you seen the land living by the breeze
Can you understand a light among the trees
Tell me all that you may know
Show me what you have to show
Tell us all today
If you know the way to blue?

Look through time and find your rhyme
Tell us what you find
We will wait at your gate
Hoping like the blind.

Can you now recall all that you have known?
Will you never fall
When the light has flown?
Tell me all that you may know
Show me what you have to show
Won't you come and say
If you know the way to blue?

Image: Greeting card by Nicholas Thompson. 

Marvin Gaye, Mercy Mercy Me / Stamp dedicated to Marvin

Woah, ah mercy mercy me
Ah things ain't what they used to be, no no
Where did all the blue skies go?
Poison is the wind that blows
From the north and south and east

Woah mercy, mercy me, yeah yeah
Ah things ain't what they used to be, oh no
Oil wasted on the ocean and upon our seas
Fish full of mercury
Hey mercy, mercy me oh
Ah things ain't what they used to be, oh no

Radiation under ground and in the sky
Animals and birds who live nearby are dying
Hey mercy, mercy me oh
Ah things ain't what they used to be
What about this overcrowded land
How much more abuse from man can she stand?

This version is very special for in the beginning Marvin sings without any instrument. Only his voice and it is so beautiful!

Monday, April 15th, 2019 11:12am

Chris Phillips on "The Jazz Club"

"The US Postal Service has unveiled that its new stamp will be dedicated to the memory of Marvin Gaye. The limited-edition print will commemorate what would have been the singer’s 80th birthday and features artwork from the famed designer Kadir Nelson. The news was revealed in a special ceremony a few days ago which featured Marvin’s family and friends including Smokey Robinson, Mary Wilson of the Supremes and Motown’s founder Berry Gordy."

For those who life is an eternal recovery

For some people recovering seems to be the normal state of mind. After an event that makes us fall we stop, stand still and recover from the recovery appreciating the peace, celebrating the balance, enjoying life and it's simple happiness without daring any action that could jeopardize this quietness of being.
Deep inside we know that from afar, lurking in the darkness, the next trouble is preparing another attack.

It's a question of when according to our experience. We keep going as if walking on a tightrope pretending nothing is happening, showing a courage we never had but knowing that at any moment a phone call, a letter, an e-mail or someone will come to tell us the news.

Again we fall as if never before. Depending on the grade in our scale of strength the fall have it's schedule of recovery. 
What makes us keep on going is the certainty, not during the falling state for it gives the impression we will never recover, that one day it all will vanish as if by magic.

Don't give up, we shall never surrender.

Beyonce, money and Beethoven

According to his biography Beethoven was forced to study music by his father who wanted to turn the young boy into a prodigy in order to help increase the low income of the family.
In the beginning Beethoven didn't like studying the musical instruments but his father made him practice day and night which led to boy to tears.
But for our lucky the genius kept this career.
Some centuries later would a father encourage his son to be a musician?
Would a father buy a guitar, a bass or drums to his boy with the same aim Bethoven's had in mind?
It doesn't sound probable. He would rather boss the lad to become  a footballer and make him practice till tears.
The world don't value great culture anymore, on the contrary, money, propaganda is destroying real art.
In the music spectrum clones are doing what is expected from them and those who become rich in this field lack not only talent but creation. Their souls are bought - reference: Beyonce. 
I think about Beethoven. He worked hard to keep his profession... and the irony of losing his hearing. Still it was in silence he wrote his most important master pieces.
As far as money is concerned he didn't care about it and what we cherish is the wealth of his imagination.

Image: Ludwig van Beethoven in his Study; from a painting by Carl Schloesser. (circa 1811)

What if Paul McCartney had really died?

Let's assume that the conspiracy was proved and Paul has really died in the car crashed.
What does it make a bunch of people comply being part of the big lie and a man accepting the gig of being a clone of the deceased?
Don't know. 
I belong to the tribe of those who is appalled with the phrase "The show must go on." no matter what.
And how quick the show starts. Would you accept a life of lie?
That disgust me.

"I read the news today, oh boy
About a lucky man who made the grade
And though the news was rather sad
Well, I just had to laugh
I saw the photograph

He blew his mind out in a car
He didn't notice that the lights had changed
A crowd of people stood and stared
They'd seen his face before
Nobody was really sure if he was from the House of Lords" 

Nick Drake's Chime of the city clock

During a dark period I listened to this song over and over again and other Nick Drake's songs as well.
Now I'm  fine I decided to revisit the song and, Lord, it is too intense. One of those songs that goes somewhere deep inside you you don't know how to explain  or even where it is..
Impossible to listen to this song without feeling a little pain even if it is the pain that comes with a certain kind of beauty.

A city freeze, get on your knees
Pray for warmth and green paper
A city drought, you're down and out
See your trousers don't taper

Saddle up, kick your feet
Ride the range of a London street
Travel to a local plain
Turn around and come back again

And at the chime of a city clock
Put up your roadblock
Hang on to your crown
For a stone in a tin can
Is wealth to the city man
Who leaves his armor down

Stay indoors beneath the floors
Talk with neighbors only
The games you play make people say
You're either weird or lonely

A city star won't shine too far
On account of the way you are
And the beads around your face
Make you sure to fit back in place

And at the beat of a city drum
See how your friends come
In twos or threes or more
For the sound of a busy place
Is fine for a pretty face
Who knows what a face is for

A city clown will soon fall down
Without a face to hide in
And he will lose if he won't choose
The one he may confide in

Sonny boy with smokes for sale
Went to ground with a face so pale
And never heard about the change
Showed his hand and fell out of range

In the light of a city square
Find out the face that's fair
Keep it by your side
When the light of the city falls
You fly to the city walls
And take off with your bride

But at the chime of a city clock
Put up your roadblock
And hang on to your crown
For a stone in a tin can
Is wealth to the city man

Who leaves his armor down

Image source: I found this gif in two sites and none of them had the credit. If the author happens to watch it, please, leave a comment. Thank you.

Carmen by Carlos Saura

Carmen (1983), de Carlos Saura - Extrait from Luc Séguin on Vimeo.

I'm fortunate to be part of a generation surrounded by culture. Great filmmakers, musicians, painters, writers... you name it.
Carlos Saura is one of these geniuses, I watched all his movies and now I'm having the pleasure of rematch.
Even though I think that on a certain point Carmen loses it's way there are incredible scenes among them this 06:39 minutes of flamenco dance. The casting is perfect.
I hope you enjoy it.

Stephen Fry: Casablanca

"Casablanca for God's sake! If you have not seen Casablanca you might as well just simply show up. to anything. You don't deserve to live. It is as simple as that."* (Click on the video that is set to the time he says that.)

*I'm whispering. I hadn't seen Casablanca. I don't know what happened but our paths didn't cross. One day I was at a shop and I found Casablanca in DVD. I bought it. Quite a relief! I deserve to live!

Lately: I'm watching movies. Yesterday I watched again "Peter's Friends",

It was great watching it again. 

I'm not feeling like talking about the movies. I have a lot to watch today. This is a good review* I found from a British perspective. The image above was a print screen but it is the same of the article with tiny difference.

Have a great Sunday. Don't tell anybody you didn't watch Casablanca. Do what I did..

*Revisiting Peter's Friends

Simon Brew
Mar 14, 2018

I caught fallen stars

Last years I did post the music "Catch a fallen Star". That week I found some paper stars on the floor of the street.
I found it funny and I caught some of them.
Today I changed the handbag and I found the stars. Funny I'm going through some rainy days. 
I'm smiling.

Catch a falling star...

I know that you must not pay too much attention to this song. As it is not part of my culture
I have a different relationship with it for I didn't hear it as a lullaby. One of the perks of not having English as a mother tongue.
It is sweet for me.

Right image: by Psycuror

Oceans

The sea will rise
Please stand by the shore
Oh, oh, oh, I will be
I will be there once more

"The Guests" by Leonard Cohen: the refugees

"The Guests"

One by one, the guests arrive
The guests are coming through
The open-hearted many
The broken-hearted few
And no one knows where the night is going
And no one knows why the wine is flowing
Oh love I need you
I need you
I need you
I need you
Oh . . . I need you now

And those who dance, begin to dance
Those who weep begin
And "Welcome, welcome" cries a voice
"Let all my guests come in."

And no one knows where the night is going ...

And all go stumbling through that house
in lonely secrecy
Saying "Do reveal yourself"
or "Why has thou forsaken me?"

And no one knows where the night is going ...

All at once the torches flare
The inner door flies open
One by one they enter there
In every style of passion

And no one knows where the night is going ...

And here they take their sweet repast
While house and grounds dissolve
And one by one the guests are cast
Beyond the garden wall

And no one knows where the night is going ...

Those who dance, begin to dance
Those who weep begin
Those who earnestly are lost
Are lost and lost again

And no one knows where the night is going ...

One by the guests arrive
The guests are coming through
The broken-hearted many
The open-hearted few

And no one knows where the night is going ...

Unwanted guests= refugees 

Grace Jones's Libertango - I've seen that face before

Strange, I've seen that face before,
Seen him hanging 'round my door,
Like a hawk stealing for the prey,
Like the night waiting for the day,

Strange, he shadows me back home,
Footsteps echo on the stones,
Rainy nights, on Hausmann Boulevard,
Parisian music drifting from the bars,

Tu cherches quoi, rencontrer la mort?
Tu te prends pour qui
Toi aussi tu detestes la vie

Dance in bars and restaurants,
Home with anyone who wants,
Strange he's standing there alone,
Staring eyes chill me to the bone.

Dans sa chambre, Joel et sa valise,
Un regard sur ses fringues,
Sur les murs, des photos,
Sans regret, sans mélo,
La porte est claquée, Joel est barré.

Bob Dylan awarded the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature

In 2012 Bob Dylan received from the Nobel Peace prize president Obama the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Today Bob received Nobel Prize " "for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition".  This is the reason for a literature prize.

I like Bob Dylan but it seems to me that this is another one for the list of those controversial Nobel Prizes. Literature is the leading Nobel Prize of controversy.
Perhaps Nobel Prize permanent secretary Sara Danius who said: "He is a great poet in the English tradition." confused "lyricist" for "lyric".

I'm sure that those who are from the literary field are very disappointed but the majority of people think it is fair and well deserved. A book, is a book, is a book.

I have a bachelor degree in literature and whenever someone comes up with a very beautiful lyric claiming it is "poetry" I ask the person to read it aloud.
Usually, they cannot do read it with a good intonation.
Call me old-fashioned but I don't mix the two arts. I have even already read lyrics as a poem in class to call the attention of students but I always explained to them that it is just like comparing a book and the film based on it. They are different arts.

Brazilian children's day: "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and UNICEF lies

"In Brazil, Children's Day (In Portuguese: Dia das Crianças) is celebrated on 12 October, coinciding with Our Lady of Aparecida's day, the country's Patron Saint holiday. It is also the day of the "discovery" of America (Columbus Day), in reference to the "New Continent". In Brazil Children's day is celebrated by kids receiving presents from their parents." (emphasis mine) Wikipedia.

We do not follow the international day November, 20. I dedicate this song to all of those children who are being mistreated or even killed because they are poor and black.

This is a reality and nobody cares. UNICEF claims on their site - The right to grow without violence* - that they are working but in reality, nothing is being done.

*"UNICEF works to mobilize governments and society to transform this situation. In addition, UNICEF has supported improved reporting systems and stimulated specialized care, which strengthen both family and community life." - it is a lie. UNICEF does nothing.

Edouard Léon Cortès meets Erik Satie in Paris

A great video uniting Erik Satie's music and paintings by Edouard Léon Cortés.

Below two paintings of "les bouquinistes"- secondhand booksellers - that are still at the same place and is part of the Parisian  universe.