Categories for Songs

Earlier this week i came across the original demo of Imagine by John Lennon on kottke.org. I listened to it. I was stunned. I know this song. Of course. But i never really listened. Never really paid attention.

Now i did. Wonderful. Thank you, John Lennon.

Imagine

Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today… Aha-ah…

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace… You…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world… You…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one

The song i talked about last week, Reasons, from Earth Wind & Fire. Love this song, but it is a hard one to sing. So this time only a part.

At the first sound i crinch. Eew. It gets a bit better, but it is hard listening to myself. Brrr.

Reasons
Now, I’m craving your body, is this real
Temperature’s rising, I don’t want to feel
I’m in the wrong place to be real
And I’m longing to love you just for a night
Kissing and hugging and holding you tight
Please let me love you
With all my might

Reasons, the reasons that we’re here
The reasons that we fear
Our feelings won’t disappear

And after the love game has been played
All our illusions were just a parade
And all the reasons start to fade

La, la la la, la, la la la
La, la la la, la, la la la
La, la la la, la, la la la
La, la la la, la, la la la

After all our reasons why
All the reasons were a lie
After all the reasons love
Love was left aside

And, longing to love you for one night
Please let me love you with all of my might, baby
Ooh baby

Reasons, the reasons that we’re here
The reasons that we fear
Our feelings won’t disappear

And after the love games have been played
All our illusions were just a parade
And all the reasons start to fade

And, in the morning when I rise
No longer feeling hypnotized
For no reasons, our reasons, our reasons
Have no pride

After all our reasons why
All the reasons were a lie
After all the reasons love
Love was left aside

I can’t find the reasons
That my love won’t disappear
Can’t find the reasons
Why I love you, my baby, my dear
Can’t find the reasons
Wanna love you all night
Can’t find the reasons
Gotta squeeze ya, real tight
Can’t find the reasons
Baby yeah
For my tears
Can’t find the reasons
Why I love ya

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I never was a huge Fleetwood Mac fan. I have one single in my collection. Go Your Own Way. A few weeks ago i saw Nerdwriter‘s video on how Fleetwood Mac creates this song, Dreams. I know this song. Of course. But this video made me realize how beautiful this song is. Haunting. So i am choosing this song to sing. Now. I hope you enjoy it.

Dreams
Fleetwood Mac
Now here you go again
You say you want your freedom
Well, who am I to keep you down?
It’s only right that you should
Play the way you feel it
But listen carefully to the sound
Of your loneliness

Like a heartbeat.. drives you mad
In the stillness of remembering what you had
And what you lost…
And what you had…
And what you lost

Thunder only happens when it’s raining
Players only love you when they’re playing
Say… Women… they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean… you’ll know, you’ll know

Now here I go again, I see the crystal visions
I keep my visions to myself
It’s only me
Who wants to wrap around your dreams and…
Have you any dreams you’d like to sell?
Dreams of loneliness…

Like a heartbeat… drives you mad…
In the stillness of remembering what you had…
And what you lost…
And what you had…
And what you lost

Thunder only happens when it’s raining
Players only love you when they’re playing
Say… Women… they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean… you’ll know

Thunder only happens when it’s raining
Players only love you when they’re playing
Say… Women… they will come and they will go
When the rain washes you clean… you’ll know

When the rain washes you clean… you’ll know
You’ll know
You’ll know
You’ll know

I bought cd’s from Crowded House in the 90s from this book and music membership thing i had for a short time. It seemed to me the best i could buy there. It wasn’t my favourite music, but it has grown on me. A couple of Crowded House’s songs have stuck. This one for instance, It’s Only Natural. I love the melody and the lyrics. I hope you will enjoy my performance.

It’s Only Natural
Ice will melt, water will boil
You and I can shake off this mortal coil
It’s bigger than us
You don’t have to worry about it

Ready or not, here comes the drop
You feel lucky when you know where you are
Y’know, it’s gonna come true
Here in your arms, I remember

It’s only natural
That I should want to be there with you
It’s only natural
That you should feel the same way, too

It’s easy when you don’t try going on first impressions
Man in a cage has made his confession
Now, you’ve seen me at my worst
And it won’t be the last time I’m down there

I want you to know I feel completely at ease
Read me like a book
That’s fallen down between your knees
Please, let me have my way with you

It’s only natural
That I should want to be there with you
It’s only natural
That you should feel the same way, too

It’s circumstantial
It’s nothing written in the sky
And we don’t even have to try

But we’ll be shaking like mud
Buildings of glass
Sink into the bay
They’ll be under the rocks again
You don’t have to say
I know you’re afraid

It’s only natural
That I should want to be there with you
It’s only natural
That you should feel the same way, too

It’s circumstantial
It’s something I was born to
It’s only natural
Can I help it if I want to?

The song Sweet Dreams was released in 1983. I wasn’t a huge fan of the Eurythmics. Still, i know their songs as the fabric on which my life played in the early 80s. Still young.

This song has a very basic song structure. Lots of repetition. A clear message: everybody’s looking for something. And then of course: who am i to disagree?

I like the video clip. The cows make an excellent performance. Annie Lennox is a wonderful singer and performer.

Sweet Dreams – Eurythmics
Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody’s looking for something

Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody’s looking for something

Hold your head up, keep your head up, movin’ on
Hold your head up, movin’ on, keep your head up, movin’ on
Hold your head up, movin’ on, keep your head up, movin’ on
Hold your head up, movin’ on, keep your head up

Some of them want to use you
Some of them want to get used by you
Some of them want to abuse you
Some of them want to be abused

Hold your head up, keep your head up, movin’ on
Hold your head up, movin’ on, keep your head up, movin’ on
Hold your head up, movin’ on, keep your head up, movin’ on
Hold your head up, movin’ on, keep your head up

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody’s looking for something

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody’s looking for something

Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody’s looking for something
Sweet dreams are made of this
Who am I to disagree?
I travel the world and the seven seas
Everybody’s looking for something

The “Sweetest Girl”, i remember the first time i heard this song. 1986, 11 February, a Tuesday. That afternoon i went to Haddock, a record shop i didn’t go to that much. Browsing through the records, i just happened to come across it. The summer before i got to know Cupid & Psyche ’85. A record i loved. So this one i bought straight away. Songs to Remember.

Riding home on my bike, i was excited. Happy. I put the record on straightaway. Loving it. Yes, it was different that Cupid & Psyche. Of course. But i still loved the songs.

I still remember what happened when i first heard The “Sweetest Girl”. I did throw the I Ching. I have mentioned it here before. Not sure why i did, but in that time i threw the I Ching a lot, so it wasn’t out of the ordinary for me. I got number 13 Fellowhip with Men with a changing line on the fifth line.

Life leads the thoughtful man on a path of many windings.
Now the course is checked, now it runs straight again.
Here winged thoughts may pour freely forth in words,
There the heavy burden of knowledge must be shut away in silence.
But when two people are at one in the inmost hearts,
They shatter even the strength of iron or of bronze.
And when two people understand each other in their inmost hearts,
Their words are sweet and strong, like the fragrance of orchids.

I didn’t know what it meant. Not apart from what first springs to mind. I was in love. Or so i thought. Not that i changed anything in my life. I was too old to take this at it presented itself. I knew i believed it. I knew it felt true. At the time. But no way i would let this change my life in any way. But, i never forgot it.

Only recently, two years ago or something, i realized i wasn’t in love. I idolized Green, sure. But no love. I never even dreamed of having sex with him. It was some strange calling i felt. Like i felt with other groups, like the Talking Heads. It was always strongest with Scritti though.

Looking back on this string of events running through my life, ending with me giving my drawings to Green, i do realize this does make me feel terribly happy. It is not a big thing, but it is something i cherished within me. At times it went into the background, at times i almost forgot. Almost. But it always remained a part of me and of my life. Something which makes me feel extremely happy.

Last week i suddenly realized i wanted to sing this song, The “Sweetest Girl”. I did mean to do it for last Friday, but my Walking Back Home post simply came into. I love the title of that post. It came so easy, and it is literally true. It is what i did at the time. But there are more meanings surrounding that title. Of course.

Today i did sing this song. Not perfectly. But with my whole heart.

Enjoy.

Scritti Politti
The “Sweetest Girl”
Sweetest girl in all the world
His eyes are for you only
Sweetest girl in all the world
His eyes are for you only
Sweetest girl in all the world
His words have died before me
Sweetest girl in all the world
His words have died before me

When they walk in the park, I never can tell
When they walk in the dark, I never can tell
It’s just loving – ooh loving

The sweetest boy in all the world
His life has got so lonely
Sweetest boy in all the world
His life has got so lonely
Sickest group in all the world
How could they do this to me
The sickest group in all the world
How could they do this to me

What I want I will take, what you think that you know
Oh such an awful mistake to never let go
It’s just loving – ooh loving

The weakest link in every chain
I always want to find it
The strongest words in each belief
Find out what’s behind it
Politics is pride too
Vagaries of science
She left because she understood
The value of defiance

When the government falls, I wish I could tell
When, oh when necessity calls, I never can tell
It’s just loving – ooh loving

Sweetest girl in all the world
These words are for you only
Sweetest girl in all the world
These words have died before me

When they walk in the park, I never can tell
When they walk in the dark, you know that it never can be told

Human Nature is a wonderful song and piece of music.

Earlier this week i saw a teaser for Stranger Things season 2. I enjoyed watching the first season late last year. The Michael Jackson song Thriller is used in the second half of the teaser. This triggered something in me. For the past few days i’ve been listening to this album. Dancing to it!

When this album came out, i was too much into new wave music to pay much attention to this. I do remember the clip though. The first time it was broadcasted in the Netherlands. I was babysitting two little children in my house. We were sitting on the couch, me in the middle and watching television. I knew Thriller would be on. We talked about it a bit. And watched it, the full fourteen minutes! Scary! The children closed their eyes sometimes. Me too!

When Bad came out a couple of years later, i did buy the album. I was more into mainstream music at the time. Years lter i bought Off the Wall and Thriller on CD.

I admit, i wasn’t a huge fan. But this week it did sink in more than ever. The album Thriller is absolutely wonderful. Off the Wall is great too, but i gotta say it here, Thriller is sublime. Not all the songs, no. But still. Billie Jean, Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’, Beat It, Thriller, P.Y.T. And then of course Human Nature.

My version i do like. Still not excellent, no. But yes, i do like it. I should have practiced more i guess. I did sing it for the past few days a couple of times. But these songs i sing is not about me being perfect.

I hope you will enjoy this!

Human Nature – Michael Jackson
Looking out
Across the nighttime
The city winks a sleepless eye
Hear her voice
Shake my window
Sweet seducing sighs

Get me out
Into the nighttime
Four walls won’t hold me tonight
If this town
Is just an apple
Then let me take a bite

If they say,
Why, why, tell ’em that it’s human nature
Why, why, does he do it that way
If they say,
Why, why, tell ’em that it’s human nature
Why, why does he do me that way

Reaching out
To touch a stranger
Electric eyes are everywhere
See that girl
She knows I’m watching
She likes the way I stare

If they say,
Why, why, tell ’em that it’s human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
If they say,
Why, why, tell ’em that it’s human nature
Why, why does he do me that way

I like livin’ this way
I like lovin’ this way

(That way) Why why
(That way) Why why

Looking out
Across the morning
Where the city’s heart begins to beat
Reaching out
I touch her shoulder
I’m dreaming of the street

If they say,
Why, why, tell ’em that it’s human nature
Why, why, does he do me that way
If they say,
Why, why, ooo tell ’em
Why, why does he do me that way
If they say why, why, cha cha cha cha cha cha
Why does he do me that way
If they say why, why, why, ooo tell ’em
Why does he do me that way
If they say why, ooo tell ’em
Why does he do me that way
If they say why, da da da da da da da da
Why does he do my that way, I like living this way
Why, oh why, why, why

I remember two singles my eldest sister had: the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour double EP and the Beach Boys Good Vibrations single.

Later, when i was lots older, i got most of the Beatles albums on CD. And the Beach Boy album Pet Sounds. I loved it. Timeless classic. But it was never my favorite album. I loved the music, yes, but other bands were closer to me. I learned their music when i was much younger.

Past weekend i made more space available on soundcloud. All the reading aloud stories are moved to ellenpronk.com, making available 37 minutes for more music.

I have grown to love this song, God Only Knows. It is deceptively simple. The first words I may not always love you give me a feeling of loss, a sense of powerlessness in the control of one’s feelings. The next three lines counteract the first line though. As long as the object of the singers feelings is alive, as long as there are stars above her / him, he / she never needs to doubt it. The singer will make the listener so sure about it. Ending with a hopeless question. A short text, filled with uncertainty and hopeless longing to live right.

The second chorus brings it in even deeper. Life would go on, of course. But the world would show nothing to the singer. In doubt about what good livin’ would do to him. Ending with the same question.

Beautiful.

Also a bit frightening. But still, beautiful.

God Only Knows – Beach Boys

I may not always love you
But long as there are stars above you
You never need to doubt it
I’ll make you so sure about it
God only knows what I’d be without you

If you should ever leave me
Though life would still go on, believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would livin’ do me
God only knows what I’d be without you

God only knows what I’d be without you

If you should ever leave me
Though life would still go on, believe me
The world could show nothing to me
So what good would livin’ do me
God only knows what I’d be without you