Music from France – Georges Moustaki (RIP )

Georges Moustaki (actually Mustacchi Giuseppe, born 3 May 1934 in Alexandria, Egypt, † May 23, 2013 in Nice, France) was a French singer, composer and lyricist.

He died yesterday at the age of 79

Avec ma gueule de métèque
De Juif errant, de pâtre grec
Et mes cheveux aux quatre vents
Avec mes yeux tout délavés
Qui me donnent l’air de rêver
Moi qui ne rêve plus souvent
Avec mes mains de maraudeur
De musicien et de rôdeur
Qui ont pillé tant de jardins
Avec ma bouche qui a bu
Qui a embrassé et mordu
Sans jamais assouvir sa faim

Avec ma gueule de métèque
De Juif errant, de pâtre grec
De voleur et de vagabond
Avec ma peau qui s’est frottée
Au soleil de tous les étés
Et tout ce qui portait jupon
Avec mon coeur qui a su faire
Souffrir autant qu’il a souffert
Sans pour cela faire d’histoires
Avec mon âme qui n’a plus
La moindre chance de salut
Pour éviter le purgatoire

Avec ma gueule de métèque
De Juif errant, de pâtre grec
Et mes cheveux aux quatre vents
Je viendrai, ma douce captive
Mon âme soeur, ma source vive
Je viendrai boire tes vingt ans
Et je serai prince de sang
Rêveur ou bien adolescent
Comme il te plaira de choisir
Et nous ferons de chaque jour
Toute une éternité d’amour
Que nous vivrons à en mourir

Et nous ferons de chaque jour
Toute une éternité d’amour
Que nous vivrons à en mourir

Music from Germany – Richard Wagner

Wilhelm Richard Wagner (born May 22, 1813 in Leipzig, † 13 February 1883 in Venice) was a German composer, playwright, poet, writer, theater director and conductor. With his music dramas, he is considered one of the greatest innovators of European music in the 19th century.

Today is his 200th brithday

the Opening of “Lohengrin

the Ride of the Valkyries

 

Music from China – Ai WeiWei

Ai Weiwei ( born August 28, 1957 in Beijing) is a Chinese conceptual artist, sculptor and curator and …..now he released his first Heavy Metal single “Dumbass” from his first album “The Divine Comedy”

Ai Weiwei is one of the well-known goverment-critical persons of China , and was imprisoned from April to June 2011.

“This video was not shot for me, and this song, I am not singing for myself,” Ai said. “This is dedicated to all those people who do not have the opportunity to raise their voice, who will never be able to raise their voices. This is not just one generation. In the past 60 years there have been innumerable amounts of people who have been killed or sent away from their homes, even tortured to death.”

“Dumbass (Explicit Lyrics)” 

When you’re ready to strike, he mumbles about non-violence.
When you pinch his ear, he says it’s no cure for diarrhea.
You say you’re a mother-fucker, he claims he’s invincible.
You say you’re a mother-fucker, he claims he’s invincible.
Fuck forgiveness, tolerance be damned, to hell with manners, the low-life’s invincible.
Fuck forgiveness, tolerance be damned, to hell with manners, the low-life’s invincible.
Oh dumbass, oh such dumbass! Oh dumbass, oh such dumbass!
Oh dumbass, oh such dumbass! Oh dumbass, oh such dumbass!
Lalalalala, lalalalala Lalalalala, lalalalala
Lalalalala, lalalalala Lalalalala, lalalalala

Stand on the frontline like a dumbass, in a country that puts out like a hooker.
The field’s full of fuckers, dumbasses are everywhere.
The field’s full of fuckers, dumbasses are everywhere.
Fuck forgiveness, tolerance be damned, to hell with manners, the low-life’s invincible.
You say you’re a mother-fucker, he claims he’s invincible.
You say you’re a mother-fucker, he claims he’s invincible.
The field is full of fuckers, dumbasses are everywhere.
The field’s full of fuckers, dumbasses are everywhere.

Music from the US – RIP Ray Manzarek – The Doors

Ray Manzarek – keyboarder of the legendary Doors , died Monday 5-20-2013 at the age of 74. He formed together with Jim Morison the group the Doors

Here is their song – Riders on the Storm

Music from the US/Nepal – The Mountain Music Project

This is a music video/trailer for an award-winning documentary film, The Mountain Music Project: A Musical Odyssey from Appalachia to Himalaya.

Featuring old-time musicians from Virginia and Nepal sharing each other’s music. Danny Knicely, Tara Linhardt, and the Mountain Music Project explore the connections between Appalachian and Himalayan music traditions.

Music from the US – Soggy Bottom Boys / Dick Burnett / Emry Arthur

Man of Constant Sorrow” (also known as “I Am A Man of Constant Sorrow“) is a traditional American folk song first recorded by Dick Burnett, a partially blind fiddler from Kentucky. The song was originally recorded by Burnett as “Farewell Song” printed in a Richard Burnett songbook, circa 1913. An early version was recorded by Emry Arthur in 1928 (Vocalion Vo 5208). Public interest in the song was renewed after the release of the 2000 film O Brother, Where Art Thou?, as it plays a central role in the film’s plot.

by Emry Arthur

and a very good cover by the Gormans

Music from the US – Screamin Jay Hawkins

Jalacy Hawkins, better known as Screamin ‘Jay Hawkins (born 18 July 1929 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, † 12 February 2000 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France) was an American blues singer, who is known  for his unusual performances and songs like I Put a Spell on You and Constipation Blues .

First he wanted to be a opera singer, but when he failed he started his career as a blues singer and piano player. Hawkins was an excellent Boxer , in 1949 he was the middleweight chapion from Alaska.

On 12th of February  Hawkins died in  2000 and left a large number of children who came from many different women. About 55 children are known, some sources report up to 75 children.

Here is his song “I put a spell on you “

 

Music of Syria – Farid El Atrache

Farid el Atrache ( also al-Atrash and al-Atrasch; born October 19, 1915 in al-Suwayda, Syria; † 26 December 1974 in Beirut, Lebanon) was a Syrian -Egyptian composer, singer and actor.

Hekayet Gharami a song withing a movie stared by Magda an Egyptian Star Acress of the late 50, 60, 70 until…Co-stared Farid El Atrash the singer of this song.

Music from Poland – Dikanda

Dikanda is a Polish folk group that was founded in 1997 in Szczecin. The band’s music is influenced by folk music and music from different nations, such as from Poland, Belarus, Bulgaria and Macedonia. There are also influences from Yiddish, from Roma and Kurdish music.