Music Monday: 3 More Favorites September 19, 2011
Posted by nrhatch in Happiness, Mindfulness, Music & Dance.trackback
In response to a recent WP Prompt which suggested writing A Top Ten List of Favorite Songs, I posted 10 Favorites. After reading Creating Reciprocity’s recent post about the amazing benefits of music, I decided to share 3 more:
1. Al Stewart ~ Year of the Cat
Al Stewart, a Scottish singer-songwriter, paints poetic images with lyrics. In Year Of The Cat, he encourages us to accept what is being offered, here and now, without obsessing about the future and its inherent uncertainty.
Highlighted with romantic piano runs and soaring saxophone interludes, here’s Stewart sharing . . . a morning from a Bogart movie in a country where they turned back time:
When we take time to enjoy the journey . . . we’re so engrossed, we barely notice that the bus and the tourists are gone.
2. Simply Red ~ Holding Back The Years
Simply Red were a British soul band that sold more than 50 million albums over a 25-year career. Their style drew influences from blue-eyed soul, new romantic, rock, reggae and jazz.
Since their early days the main driving force behind the band was singer Mick Hucknall, who by the time the band broke up in 2010 was the only original member left.
Listen for the horn solo and keep holding on . . .
3. John Lennon ~ Watching the Wheels
Lennon, of course, needs no introduction. His song, Watching the Wheels, serves as a simple reminder that we must measure success in life using our internal barometer . . . without worrying about what other people say about the choices we make:
I’m just sitting here
Watching the wheels go round and round
I really love to watch them roll
No longer riding on the merry-go-round . . .
I just had to let it go.
Aah . . . that’s better!
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Spirit Lights The Way 
White Bird – Quicksilver Messenger Service
OK.
Hmmm…
Ohmmm . . .
I’m not sure why but I can’t stand Simply Red! Weird 🙂
BFF doesn’t like the group either. I only have one CD and I enjoy it . . . when BFF is not around. 😎
“Everybody Wants to Rule the World” by Tears for Fears … particularly love the slow rythmic buildup in beginning.
Thanks, Judson.
Oh man, that guys hair in holding back the tears. Yes, I know, not supposed to be focused on that!
Hand me the scissors! 😉
Great songs, especially the first one. I saw Al Stewart (who I’d never heard of) perform Year of the Cat on a show called the Old Grey Whistle Test one night and went out and bought the album the following day, the only time I’ve ever done that.
This video is at the Old Grey Whistle test! Maybe you were there? That would be cool.
I always get myself into trouble trying to list favorite songs, bands, albums etc…
so many wonderful options (which is a very good thing, I guess)!
🙂
That’s why I didn’t do a “TOP TEN” list . . . depends on the day and even on the time of day.
Easier just to share “favorites.” 😎
1 out of 3 ain’t bad, but I hate that one (Simply Red). Hard to believe we are of a similar age when I don’t know any of your music 🙂
And these bands all hail from Britain. 😀
I’m blushing 🙂
Britain exported some mighty talented musicians from its shores. 😎
LOL. There’s nothing like religion, politics and music …………….
Just so! 😆
Music Monday… ! Oh wow, are you starting a new trend?
Love that Al Stewart – never got around to buying it though. Perhaps now I will 🙂
Perhaps. Not sure. Haven’t entirely decided. Judging from the overall tenor of the comments, perhaps not. 😉
Glad you recognized one you enjoy.
Ahhh…off down memory lane…a song can be so evocative…
This is my FAVORITE Lennon song and I love loads of them.
When I stopped practicing law, “everyone” (but BFF) warned me that:
* I was making a BIG mistake
* I needed to come up with a PLAN (and a PLAN B)
* I couldn’t waltz through life to see where I ended up
In response to their advice (designed to enlighten me), I would listen to this song over and over . . .
While watching the shadows on the wall.
Al Stewart’s Year of the Cat has also been a favourite of mine; and John Lennon, don’t get me started – or no, just give me anything by him, anything at all…
Love these lines in Wheels:
No longer riding on the merry-go-round . . .
I just had to let it go.
Thanks, Ruth. When fears made me think that “they” might be right . . . I listened to Lennon to remind myself, “I just had to let it go.”
His words resonated and reassured me.
Awesome songs!!
*#*
Thanks, Andi. Three seems a more manageable number to share at one time than ten. Wish I’d broken up the last post into smaller bites.
I love that Simply Red song… It played in my head for months when it first came out… ah memories of music. 🙂
The melody and instrumentals (including his voice) appeal to me (even if the lyrics don’t really speak to me).
Until this week, I’d never watched the video before ~ doing so made me view the song as far sadder and more negative than it seemed before.
I always heard it as “acceptance” and “resilience” . . . but now it seems more like “defeat” and “resignation” and “resentment.”
I still like the song . . . I’ll just put the visual images out of my head when listening . . . I won’t miss the floppy hair. 😉
Love these, Nancy, but my favourite for today must be Year of The Cat – in honour of Jina’s birthday 🙂 Thank you for that!
Happy Birthday, Jina! {{meow}}
Another great selection. I think I need to join in on Music Monday. Whats the trick to adding the actual video and not just a link to the video?
It’s easy. Right next to the link for adding photos is a link for adding videos.
Click on it and it opens, and gives examples on how to insert links from youtube. Then press “insert” just like with a photo.
You just type [ youtube = ] around the url address . . . no spaces.