My good friend Antony sent me this fascinating clip. Cameroonian musician Francis Bebey is playing a one-note flute, explaining how it served as both entertainment and a form of musical communication for pigmy tribes in Africa.
To bring it up to date, he is accompanied by another musician using a modern drum and bass machine.
It is a magical sound, full of history and culture.
These days, my introduction to a new song is often when I hear a snippet of it on a TV advertisement. British readers may know the recent shampoo advert featuring this song. It has taken me a while to find the full original version, but here it is.
It has a great positive message about being a woman, as well as a catchy beat and chorus.
And here are the lyrics, which are worth reading.
Woman
Andreya Triana, Dimitri Tikovoï
I was insecure
Yes, I was frightened
To be myself seemed like a distant dream
Lost in the crowd
I closed the curtains
And I hid my hips and thighs in baggy jeans
But they said, love don’t fail if you’re trying
I knew in my heart I would succeed
When times get hard (Times get hard)
You gotta keep on fighting (Keep on fighting)
All these battles, yes, they made the best of me
‘Cause, I can rule like a queen
Be a superhero
Hold my head high the further I go
I know I can love myself more than anyone else
I am fire and the world’s gotta know
Woman
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
I’m a woman
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
When this life is full of laughter
And the lies are full of pain
I remember how (Remember how)
The early days were darker (Days were darker)
And so I stand up, time and time again
And now I’m sure
Oh yes, I’m certain
If I’m breaking down, well, it don’t make me weak
‘Cause I learnt how (I learnt how)
To stop the hurting (Stop the hurting)
By giving all my love right back to me
Oh, I can rule like a queen
Be a superhero
Hold my head high the further I go
I know I can love myself more than anyone else
I am fire and the world’s gotta know
Woman
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
I’m a woman
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Woman
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Yeah, I’m a woman
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Yeah
‘Cause, I can rule like a queen
Be a superhero
Hold my head high the further I go
I know I can love myself more than anyone else
I am fire and the world’s gotta know
Woman
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
I’m a woman
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
I’m a woman
(Yeah, a beautiful, beautiful, beautiful woman)
Yeah, I’m a woman
(Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Dimitri Tikovoi / Denise Amanda Adam / Andreya Triana
Woman lyrics © Budde Music Uk Ltd
David Bowie’s 1971 album ‘Hunky Dory’ probably ranks as the one record I have listened to more than any other during my lifetime. It was a “You had to be there” moment, when this amazing album was first released. I know every track by heart, and still enjoy listening to it as much as I did when I was only 19 years old. Fifty years ago!
As I got older though, I resisted change. Even now, small changes to my routine can frustrate and annoy me, and I constantly find myself raging at the need for change in almost every single aspect of daily life.
I forgot what it is to be 19 years old, yearning for change.
But David reminded me, when I listened to this song again last week.
Here are the lyrics, written by him a very long time ago.
Changes
David Bowie
Oh, yeah
Mmm
Still don’t know what I was waitin’ for
And my time was runnin’ wild
A million dead end streets and
Every time I thought I’d got it made
It seemed the taste was not so sweet
So I turned myself to face me
But I’ve never caught a glimpse
How the others must see the faker
I’m much too fast to take that test
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Don’t want to be a richer man
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
There’s gonna have to be a different man
Time may change me
But I can’t trace time
Mmm, yeah
I watch the ripples change their size
But never leave the stream
Of warm impermanence
And so the days float through my eyes
But still the days seem the same
And these children that you spit on
As they try to change their worlds
Are immune to your consultations
They’re quite aware of what they’re goin’ through
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Don’t tell them to grow up and out of it
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Where’s your shame?
You’ve left us up to our necks in it
Time may change me
But you can’t trace time
Strange fascinations fascinate me
Ah, changes are taking
The pace I’m goin’ through
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Ooh, look out, you rock ‘n’ rollers
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes
Turn and face the strange
Ch-ch-changes
Pretty soon now you’re gonna get older
Time may change me
But I can’t trace time
I said that time may change me
But I can’t trace time
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: David Bowie
Changes lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management, DistroKid
And here he is singing them. Reminding me of the constant need for change.
I complain a lot, I know. The weather mostly, but other stuff too.
However, I wouldn’t want anyone to ever think that I am not thankful for what I have. A decent home, mortgage-free. A wife to share my life with, and a wonderful dog to be my companion. Enough money to get by, and even save a (little) bit. Relatively good health, even in the midst of a pandemic crisis.
I am better off than so many other people, and I am thankful for that fact.
With that in mind, I was thinking about this song today. I bought the record a long time ago now, (1974) but it often sneaks into my mind.
And never was it more relevant, than in 2021.
Here are the lyrics. I may know nothing about a ‘Gangsta lean’, but I get William’s intention.
Be Thankful for What You Got
William DeVaughn
Though you may not drive a great big Cadillac
Gangsta whitewalls
TV antennas in the back
You may not have a car at all
But remember brothers and sisters
You can still stand tall
Just be thankful for what you got
Though you may not drive a great big Cadillac
Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin’ the scene
With a gangsta lean
Gangsta whitewalls
TV antennas in the back
You may not have a car at all
But remember brothers and sisters
You can still stand tall
Just be thankful for what you got
Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin the scene
With a gangsta lean, wooh
Though you may not drive a great big Cadillac
Gangsta whitewalls
TV antennas in the back
You may not have a car at all
But remember brothers and sisters
You can still stand tall
Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin the scene
With a gangsta lean, wooh
Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin the scene
With a gangsta lean, wooh
Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin the scene
With a gangsta lean, wooh
Diamond in the back, sunroof top
Diggin the scene
With a gangsta lean, wooh
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: William Devaughn
Be Thankful for What You Got lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, BMG Rights Management
And here he is, singing his own song. (Not live, the original 7-inch single)
Let’s all remember to be thankful what what we have.
Reblogging a post from 2015 about a very old song that I love so much. Apologies to those who have seen it previously.
I was thinking about this song today, and it is in my head.
Pennies From Heaven
This song originated as the feature track from the 1936 film of the same name. Originally sung by Bing Crosby in that film, it was later recorded by almost every famous singer since. The list of those who covered the song is too long to write here, but it includes Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughan. For me, this is best heard sung by a ‘crooner’, and the sadness underlying the central message of hope comes over well if it is recorded in a somewhat plaintive tone.
In 1978, the BBC produced a landmark television series of the same title, written by Dennis Potter, and starring Bob Hoskins, Cheryl Campbell, and Gemma Craven. The song featured heavily of course, and the version used was by Arthur Tracy. This was also made into a -best forgotten- Hollywood film adapted by and starring Steve Martin. The TV series…
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Back in 2016, I published a post about the British music group, Jamiroquai.
https://beetleypete.com/2016/09/04/whatever-happened-to-jamiroquai/
It was rather a niche subject, but I thought it might be of interest to other British fans of that band. I had little idea then that it would become something of a blogging phenomenon, and spawn many more posts on the subject. Regular readers are probably stifling a yawn right now, thinking ‘Oh no, not that again!’
Since that day, it has stayed as the most-read post on this blog, by far. It even leads the regularly-read ‘About’ page by more than 1,000 views.
As of this morning, that post is still proudly holding top spot, with 5,014 views in four years.
But why am I mentioning it again? (I hear you cry…)
It always has at least one view every day, sometimes as many as six. Since that avalanche of views four years ago it has slowed to a trickle, but it is always there in the stats.
Then I noticed this, number five in the most-read posts since last Sunday.
Whatever happened to?: Jamiroquai
108 views
Could it be happening again?
‘Vision On’ was a British children’s television programme, shown on BBC1 from 1964 to 1976 and designed specifically for children with hearing impairment. One of its most popular features was ‘The Gallery’, where children were encouraged to send in their artwork. This would then be displayed on screen. As the camera panned across the art works, there was a short theme tune played, for the benefit of those viewers who could hear it.
Having been plagued with songs and tunes in my head of late, I thought I had escaped that when the most recent one went away.
But no. Now I have this, the theme from ‘The Gallery’.
If anyone is remotely interested, it is called ‘Left Bank Two’, and was recorded by The Noveltones in 1964.
Regular readers will know that I recently had the song ‘I Wanna Be Like You’ stuck in my head. That took over two weeks to go away, and caused problems with concentration, and getting off to sleep too.
Then this morning I woke up with another Disney song playing on a loop, and felt sure it would ruin the Christmas festivities.
So I went to the woods in Beetley, and consulted the Beetley Wizard. After crossing his palm with a £1 coin, he told me what to do.
I had to share the song with exactly 7,047 other people. One of them would get the song transferred into their head instead, and I would be free!
So be warned. Don’t play this clip!
I am reblogging this 2014 post because other than Jude and Sarah, hardly anyone has ever seen it. I still love this record!
Woman Trouble
In the year 2000, I was 48 years old. I had just moved to Camden, and was living alone, for the first time in ages. I had a new car, and like many tracks featured in this series, I heard a record on the radio in that car, that I had had not heard before. I couldn’t keep still in my seat, and found myself jiggling around, oblivious to strange stares from other drivers, in the heavy traffic leading out to Brent Cross. I didn’t really catch the name of the song, as I was too busy humming along to it, and car-dancing like a fool, to listen to the announcement at the end. I wanted to listen to it again, straight away, and felt empty when it had ended.
I had to endure the embarrassment of going into a record shop in Central London the next day…
View original post 392 more words
From the first time I ever heard an Al Green record, I was hooked on his smooth soul voice, and excellent vocal range. I don’t think he has ever released a song I didn’t like, and some of his recordings have remained favourites of mine throughout my life.
The lyrics of this song have always resonated with me ever since I first heard it at the age of 23. He co-wrote the song, which was released in 1975 as a single from his latest album at the time. Here are the words I always like to hear.
L-O-V-E (Love)
I started to write this song about you
And then I decided that I would write it all about love
And it appeared to me
That you wasn’t happy
And that’s for sure, positively
That’s what the world is made of
So give me more L-O-V-E, love
Love is a walk down Main street (oh love)
Love is an apple that is so sweet (love)
Love is something that can’t be beat (love)
L-O-V-E is strange to me, oh
I can’t explain this feeling
Can’t you see that salvation is freeing
It’s all in the heavens, can’t you see
You can always depend on me
To give you love
Love is a flower in my soul (oh love)
Love is a story that just can’t be told (love)
Can’t you feel it burning more and more (love)
Stop and look at the big wheel roll
I can’t explain this feeling
Can’t you see that salvation is freeing
I would give my life for the glory
Just to be able to tell the story
About love
I didn’t mean to make you mad
A sweet story, I thought I had
But maybe time will bring us together
And I can be such a happy fella
About love
Love is something that is so divine (oh love)
Love is a feeling that’s a friend of mine (love)
It can’t be measured by no sign (love)
In your heart or even in your mind
About love, Love is as bright as the morning sun
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Al Green / Mabon Hodges / Willie Mitchell
L-O-V-E (Love) lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
And here is Al singing them.
