Category: Music

Songs and singers I like

Recent views & downloads

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MOVIES

A Walk in the Sun (1945)

Can you have a good war film w/o an overkill of fighting?  Yes, and it can be funny, smart, and poignant, too.  This film has an ensemble cast (who have great chemistry together) lead by Dana Andrews.  (I’m sure that the recent Band of Brothers series was partly influenced by this film!)

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0038235/     

The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958) 

This is a big, sweeping, captivating drama starring (the always engaging) Ingrid Bergman as Gladys Aylward, an undervalued English housemaid turned dedicated missionary.  The young, single, and determined Gladys puts her (Christian) faith into action, helping get rid of footbinding, lower illiteracy, and lessen cruelty in 1920s northern China.  Along the way, she adopts many children, who have been abandoned or orphaned.  She falls in love, though hers is not a typical Hollywood romance (which I REALLY liked).  This is a must-see for all fans of classic films!    

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0051776/

Up in the Air (2009)

This is a simple, sharp, and timely film that REALLY packs a punch!  I just saw it tonight, and was (pleasantly) surprised; I don’t want to have an empty backpack.  The always handsome/watcheable George Clooney fits his role to a tee, as do the two main ladies-gorgeous Vera Farmiga and newcomer Anna Kendrick.  Check it out on HBO.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1193138/ 

Vanity Fair (BBC; 1998)

British actress Natasha Little truly inhabits the role of Becky Sharp, the beautiful, charming, and clever Victorian woman who must live by her wits alone, as she has no connections or family wealth.  Becky’s oldest friend, Amelia Sedley is Melanie to Becky’s Scarlett.  Dashing/newly rich George Osborne is a male version of Becky (but more ruthless).  Rawdon Crawley (a mustached Nathaniel Parker) is the gambling man who loves, yet doesn’t quite understand, his wife Becky.  William Dobbin (Philip Glenister) is Amelia’s (often ignored) knight in shining armor.  (Natasha Little also co-starred in the big screen version alongside Reese Witherspoon.   Director Mira Nair said she was VERY impressed by her performance in this miniseries.)    

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0159090/

SONGS

In the past 2 wks, I’ve heard some great (classic) country songs.  Did you know that Freddy Fender is Mexican- American and sings in Spanish and English?  I was esp. impressed by Waylon Jennings’ voice! 

Below are some recent iTunes downloads:

David Allan Coe

The Ride

Willie, Waylon, and Me 

Freddy Fender 

Before the Next Teardrop Falls

Since I Met You Baby 

The Kendalls

Heaven’s Just a Sin Away

Makin’ Believe

Lynn Anderson

How Can I Unlove You 

Waylon Jennings

Sweet Dream Woman

The Wurlitzer Prize (I Don’t Wanna Get Over You)

 

I’m crazy about Crazy Heart!

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This is a must-see film from 2009, esp. for fans of classic country music and Jeff Bridges, who completely disappears into his role of alcoholic/world weary/singer-songwriter Bad Blake.  Gone is the easygoing California-bred star; here Bridges is overweight, terribly dressed, and quite cranky (for most of the film).  The 57 y.o. Bad (his preferred nickname) has been reduced to performing in bowling alleys and hole-in-the-wall bars throughout the Southwest.  He hasn’t written a song in 3 yrs.  He’s under the power of his fave brand of whiskey for most of the day (and night).  But most sadly, he has become a disappointment to himself.

But he still has many fans out there, including a young arts reporter from Santa Fe, Jean Craddock (Maggie Gyllenhaal).  Bad agrees to an interview w/ Jean; they have an easy rapport from which a romance quickly develops.

Jean has an adorable 3 y.o. boy, Buddy, who is very excited to meet Bad and spend time w/ him.  This is not the only kid in Bad’s life…

Bad needs to earn some real money, so he turns to country star Tommy Sweet (Colin Farrell).  Tommy, a very thankful protege, would love to get some songs out of his mentor, but Bad is not sure he has it in him anymore.

Bridges is very watcheable (a character actor w/ a star’s looks, charisma, and confidence), bringing non-showy authenticity to the role.  He can sing very well, too.  My fave songs from Crazy Heart are Hold on You and I Don’t Know (2 versions sung by Bridges and Ryan Bingham, the young singer-songwriter who makes a cameo).

Bad is the main character of a novel by Thomas Cobb.  His personality is a mix of Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings, and Kris Kristofferson.

Jace Everett

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What does it take to “make it big” in show business?  Hard work, determination, creativity, and a little bit of luck.   Writer/producer Alan Ball (Grace Under Fire; American Beauty; Six Feet Under) sometimes browses iTunes for inspiration; he can spend $50-$100 at one pop.  One night, he happened upon Bad Things by singer-songwriter Jace Everett.  This song, which Jace calls “a funny, goofy song,” became the title (theme) song for Ball’s newest HBO show, True Blood.  Jace has many new fans, who otherwise wouldn’t come to country music.  However, Jace has never followed the typical country route.
When you came in the air went out.
And every shadow filled up with doubt.
I don’t know who you think you are,
But before the night is through,
I wanna do bad things with you.

Jace Everett (b. 1972) moved around a lot as a child and didn’t listen to secular music until age 16 (he was deeply involved in church).  He sang in church as a kid, and picked up the guitar as a teenager.  Jace quickly realized that music was something he had to do.  He moved to Nashville to attend Belmont University, but only stuck around for one semester.  “Music school was not going to teach me about the music business,” Jace said in a recent interview on The Leonard Lopate Show (WNYC). 

Jace worked several years as a bartender (Nashville) and construction worker (Texas) before getting a deal with Epic Records.  His sound is a mix of rock and country.  I would recommed him to fans Dwight Yoakam and Gary Allan.  The voice is unique (natural, self-assured, w/ a but of a growl) and the guitar playing is terrific!  

Now we could dress up to the night
Blue jeans would suit me fine
You know we’ve always been good friends
That’ll never have to end
Even if we cross that line
And I make you and you make me
Ooh just a little less lonely

Little Black Dress is one of my (current) fave songs.  A Little Less Lonely is a sly/fun song about a guy who wants a close friend to become  “a friend w/ benefits.”   Jace also wrote the number one single Your Man (sung by Josh Turner).  In interviews, he comes across as a very humble and straight-talking guy.  Here’s to more GOOD things! 

 

Official web site:

http://jaceeverett.com/

A sardonic look at the music biz w/ Jace:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emqt0h8Dtls

David Lee Murphy

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David Lee Murphy (b. 1959) is a successful Nashville singer/songwriter (originally from Illinois).  He wrote the very fun and high energy song On A Mission for the trio Trick Pony.  Before being getting a record deal w/ Mercury in 1994, David co-wrote songs w/ Reba and Doug Stone.  David has also written songs for Aaron Tippin, Kenny Chesney, and Jason Aldean (Big Green Tractor: one of the young singer’s hits).   In 2003, he toured w/ Lee Roy Parnell and John Berry (one of my fave singers).  Another cool fact: we share the same birthday- JAN 7. 

His voice is pure, honest, and no-frills (he doesn’t need any).  Even people who don’t usually like country music can appreciate his sound;  there is NO sharp twang (accent) to this voice.  Instead, there is just something light (youthful; easygoing), smooth, and natural.   I would esp. recommend his songs if you like singers like Mark Chesnutt and Gary Allan.   One of David’s influences was Waylon Jennings; they wrote together shortly before Jennings died. 

  

Just Once (a fun/fast-paced song featured in the film 8 Seconds; David’s 1st hit song)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHCoI31UmEE&feature=related

Dust On The Bottle  (a cool song w/ great electric guitar)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNkF_ZpQ4eg&NR=1

Party Crowd

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIdx1HSFWG8&NR=1

The Road You Leave Behind

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6DLsf8VG5Y

She’s Really Something To See

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U0UvT8Wrhg8&NR=1

We Can’t All Be Angels

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o56pznB8FDY&feature=related

Unfortunately, David has not recorded his own music since 2004.  But he keeps on writing for other singers. 

http://www.davidlee.com/home.php

David is also on FB and Twitter.  Currently, he is one of the many country singers raising money for flood relief in TN. 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/David-Lee-Murphy/131741595263

http://twitter.com/davidleemurphy

Casey & Lee are SAFE!

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Thank goodness that my Idol faves: Lee, Casey, & Crystal are safe for another week!  I was a BIT worried for Casey tonight.  Andrew & Katie are out, but that’s NOT a big shock.  Andrew didn’t do well for the past 3 wks. and Katie didn’t define herself as an artist (though she performed country, pop, & R&B).  I’m glad that Big Mike is safe, b/c I see now that he’s got a LOT of potential.  He’s just a natural performer, and you CAN’T teach that!  Speaking of natural performers… 

It was GREAT to see Adam on the Idol stage once more this week.  Adam is just a  combo of confidence, quirkiness, natural singing ability, intelligence and (surprisingly) humbleness.  He is thankful for his Idol experience.  All the best to ya, Adam!